by C. Gockel
Drake angled his body so that I was no longer in his direct line of sight. He answered Will, “His construction business is doing well. He sends his regrets that he couldn’t be here.” I didn’t know what to think. This Drake guy had caught me in mid-air but refused to accept my hand or allow me to thank him properly. Instead he pretended as if I weren’t there. After the welcoming I’d received from Gus and Chris earlier, this guy’s response to me had me dumbfounded.
Will was all smiles when he said, “I’ll make sure to catch up with him soon. Thank you, Drake, for your quick action.” Will’s eyes darted in my direction, making it clear that he was appreciative of Drake for not letting me swan dive into the cement. Will placed his hand on the small of my back and guided me forward, away from Drake. Once we were several strides away, he leaned down and whispered to me, “I should have warned you. Betrothed men will not address you directly and under no circumstances will they physically come in contact with you.”
“But he caught me in mid-air. I was just trying to say thanks.”
“It’s okay. He’s not offended. He knows you aren’t familiar with our customs. I am sorry I wasn’t paying closer attention. I didn’t realize you’d lost your footing until Drake had already caught you.”
“I didn’t even see him near us until he caught me.”
Will smiled and nodded, “Centaur men are very fast.”
“Like Superman fast?”
“Pshaw...Superman was a comic strip character... But I guess that’s pretty accurate. Most Centaurs can sprint short distances at the speed of sound.”
My mouth opened and my eyes widened. He couldn’t be serious. “The speed of sound?”
“Well, I could say ‘faster than a speeding bullet,’ but depending on the caliber and weapon the bullet is shot from, some bullets travel several times faster than the speed of sound.”
“You’re serious?”
“Camille, I know this is all new to you. I rather hoped we would have been able to slowly immerse you into our ways, but now I wonder if we shouldn’t have assembled a handbook of some kind.” Will’s smile never wavered, but there must have been something else he desperately wanted me to know. Just as he opened his mouth, he stopped and his posture abruptly changed – his hand still resting on the small of my back was now rigid.
“William, it’s so nice to see you again.” A tall, thin man, somewhere in his late forties or early fifties was walking directly toward us. He stopped directly in front of Will with what I could only describe as a forced smile. “I’m happy that one of your sons is finally taking his place in the kingdom. I genuinely hope your other four are not forced to settle for a human.”
William ignored the snide comment and graciously said, “We’re very happy for Bruce, too.”
“One is enough for your bloodline, so you have my heartfelt congratulations.”
“Thank you.” Will was looking around the yard and out to the grove. I recognized the look: he was planning a getaway from this guy.
“I heard the bride’s father required a handsome dowry be paid. I hope that’s an ugly rumor?”
“Kyle, the negotiations of the heart are not for any of us to speculate on.”
“The heart, or the wallet?” Kyle gave a hearty laugh and slapped Will on the back.
I looked at Will, wondering if he had really bribed the bride’s father. If it were a lie, he would be screaming right now, defending the honor of the bride and her father. At least I thought so. I didn’t know him all that well, but he didn’t strike me as someone who would let a verbal assault go unanswered.
The man’s eyes roved in my direction. I felt the weight of his stare; I wasn’t frightened, but definitely uncomfortable. “So this is Camille Chiron. It is lovely to meet you. You look just like your mother.”
I looked at Will, silently asking if I was supposed to shake his hand or not. I didn’t want to look like a complete idiot and was desperately hoping for some sort of an indication on what I should or shouldn’t do. I wanted to correct him. I’d been Camille Benning my whole life. This week I’d gotten used to being called Camille Strayer, but no one had ever called me Camille Chiron. Still unsure of what was and wasn’t acceptable, I simply replied, “Thank you. Did you know her very well?”
“Better than most. We were betrothed.” He didn’t drop his stare as it went from uncomfortable to excruciating. Then a light bulb went off: this was the man my mother owed her blood debt to.
Will ended the conversation abruptly, “Kyle, I was hoping we could have our discussion after the nuptials.” I felt my own nervousness straighten my back and widen my eyes as reality set in that this man believed I owed him my life.
The weight of his stare was nearly painful. The look on his face did not match his words, “I wouldn’t dream of delaying such an important event. Of course we can talk after.”
He didn’t flinch, move, or break eye contact with me. I felt Will’s hand urging me forward. I could imagine why my mother had rejected him. Although every person I saw looked like they’d stepped off of a magazine cover, there was something about Mr. Richardson that didn’t feel right: a weakness of some kind, as if a part of him were missing. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but there was definitely something amiss when I compared him to all others in attendance. I couldn’t see what would have ever gained her interest in him to begin with. As I looked at the guests, young and old, there was definitely a common thread — attractiveness. They weren’t attractive in a Venice Beach kind of way, but in a Hollywood Movie Star kind of way. Tall, muscular, full heads of hair, charismatic smiles, and thoughtful words greeted me with each new introduction. I wondered silently what was so different about Kyle Richardson.
As we took our seats waiting for the ceremony to begin, I could feel eyes watching me. I worried that Kyle Richardson was staring me down, but when I turned my head, I was just in time to see Drake, the man who had caught me in mid-air, turn away. He sat next to a beautiful lady. Her long blonde hair flowed nearly to her waist; she had high cheek bones, a light complexion and perfect posture. She looked like the poster child for beauty. As I continued looking their way, she turned her gaze toward me and gave me a slight grin in silent greeting and raised her fingers in a casual hello. Wow, I could see why Drake wouldn’t want to rock the boat with her. I shared a half-grin with her and moved my gaze to where Bruce stood up front with the minister.
The ceremony was remarkably short. It mirrored every other wedding I’d ever attended until the very last announcement was made, “The two joined here today are now one in our kingdom’s eyes. Welcome them into our home. Should one perish before the other, remember Hylonome’s sacrifice when Cyllarus was lost in battle against the Lapiths. Neither will now breathe without the other.”
Not having a clue who Hylonome or Cyllarus were, I made a mental note to do some research. Will’s words echoed in my mind from the other night – that he and Gretchen had been on the outs when he met my mother – everything I’d heard since then sounded like that wasn’t really an option. I’d give it some time then ask Gretchen a little more. As thrilled as I was to finally have someone to call “Dad,” I still wasn’t convinced he was for real. Sure a living, breathing person, you bet – but I had a nagging feeling that something still didn’t feel right. This final statement of the wedding vows seemed ominous, unwavering. I wondered if I was taking this vow too literally.
I didn’t have long to consider the vows or what my father had done twenty-three years before – because within minutes a full-blown party erupted. The men who had introduced themselves to me in the house, Chris and Gus, and a slew of others after the ceremony each took his turn with me on the dance floor. Although a lot of fun, it wasn’t the best venue to get to know potential husbands or even potential boyfriends.
The dance floor had been assembled in a wooded area with lights beautifully strung from the trees. I staggered off the makeshift dance floor after my sixth partner had cut in, introduced himself, told me abou
t his lineage. I decided to find one of my obviously absent brothers, thinking it might be more fun to dance with one of them over a desperate Centaur looking for a wife.
I felt a hand wrap itself around my forearm and pull. The shock of being pulled forward made me stumble as I ended up eye-to-eye with my mother’s jilted ex-fiancé. My mouth gaped open, and my eyes were wide. He hissed, “Well, aren’t you the little Homecoming Queen?”
Chapter 12
(Camille Benning – Charleston, SC)
My eyes narrowed, and I didn’t try to camouflage the venom in my voice, “Get your hand off me before I remove it.”
Although his grip loosened, he didn’t release my arm. “Show some respect, you wretched little ...” He didn’t finish his sentence as Will was suddenly standing beside us, eyes blazing. He kept his words to himself but stared at Kyle – as if the two men were both considering their next move. When, after a full minute, no words were spoken, you could nearly cut the air with a knife and fork. Finally, Will’s eyes fell to Kyle’s hand, still wrapped around my forearm.
Kyle’s voice was full of hate, “She may belong to you, Will, but remember that I choose her fate.”
Will’s response was strong and commanding, “Kyle, I told you I would be willing to meet with you and discuss the debt owed to you. You choose nothing.”
Kyle’s grip tightened on my arm again, and I couldn’t imagine what was going though his mind, “I’m sure we’ll come up with something that is mutually beneficial.”
These two would have continued to talk about me like I wasn’t actually there if I’d let them. I wrenched my arm away from Kyle’s hand, put my back to Will and glared at Kyle while I spit out, “I owe you nothing. My mother made a choice more than two decades ago that you weren’t good enough for her. Get over it already.”
I could still feel the burn on my forearm from his grip as Kyle returned my glare. In a calm, hateful voice he said, “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
My adrenaline was coursing through my blood when I nearly shouted, “I know that if you had been half the man you pretend to be, you’d be my father. Instead you’re trying to intimidate me and my father – it’s not going to happen, Slick.”
The words were no sooner out of my mouth when I felt my feet lifted off the ground and wind against my face. I saw nothing but a blur of trees and bushes for five full seconds until I was gently put back on the ground. The sensation had been so foreign my senses couldn’t give me a good explanation of what had just happened. My feet were firmly back on the ground, my body upright, and two warm hands were on each of my shoulders. I looked up into the eyes of the person who had flown with me at ground level. It was the third time I’d seen those light blue eyes tonight: Drake stared down into mine. His hands on my shoulders were warm; he was close enough that I drank in his cologne. I recognized the scent immediately — Calvin Klein’s Eternity, the same fragrance I bought for Daniel. It was my favorite.
His eyes held me for longer than they should have: he must have realized when his gaze quickly dropped to the ground. Still furious at Kyle, I didn’t have much time to process what had just happened. “What did you do that for? Better yet, what did you just do? Where are we?”
“Camille...I’m sorry...I was listening.”
“And?”
“You aren’t accustomed to our ways. Your words might as well have been a sword. Kyle could have struck you down. I just moved you out of his way.”
“You moved me? How? Can you fly?”
He shook his head and chuckled, “No, I can’t fly. I ran, but it feels a little like flight, doesn’t it?”
“Where are we?”
Drake abruptly let go of my shoulders. He must have remembered the no touching policy. “A mile to the west of your home.”
“A mile?” I couldn’t shield the disbelief from my voice, “So you just snapped your fingers and we’re suddenly a mile away?”
Drake shook his head, “I didn’t snap my fingers. I just told you, I picked you up and ran.”
I couldn’t believe he had done that, and I wasn’t pleased that he had scooped me up while I was trying to make a point with Kyle Richardson. “Why would you do that? I was in the middle of a conversation.”
“I’m not sure. I was...I was worried what he might do to you.”
“I can take care of myself.”
Drake shook his head, “Not against a Centaur. We’re all warriors. I had to get you away from him.”
“But why?”
“Centaurs are unpredictable when they’re angry. I couldn’t let him lash out at you. I didn’t know if your father would be fast enough to stop Mr. Richardson.”
I knew Drake had the best of intentions. He believed I needed his protection and gave it to me willingly, twice. I hadn’t asked for his help either time. I didn’t even know I needed his help the second time. I couldn’t help but acknowledge that his fast action definitely kept me from being a bloody mess earlier, and maybe even a second time at the hand of Kyle Richardson. “Well, thanks.” I stretched up on my tip toes and gave him a kiss on his cheek.
Drake took a step back from me and placed his palm over the side of his face, cradling it as if I’d just slapped him. His eyes looked like blue saucers as I made a mental note that it’s not okay to shake hands or kiss a betrothed Centaur’s cheek as a “thank you.” He didn’t need to say it; I could see how badly I’d offended him written all over his face.
Before he had the chance to chastise me for yet another “Camille misstep,” another blur to my right appeared: Brent with a worried look on his face. “Good save, Drake. But you’d better get back. You don’t want Bianca to find out you swooped in and saved Camille, twice. I’ve got her.” Drake nodded and took another step away from me. He glanced at me again; it looked like he wanted to say something but changed his mind at the last second. I watched him lower his head and disappear into the night.
“Okay, Brent, what the hell is going on?”
“I think that’s pretty obvious. Dad was trying to work a deal with Kyle Richardson to come to terms on your blood debt, and you pretty much sliced the guy wide open and started shoving big fat salt pellets into his wounds. Good job, Camille.” His words were harsh but his tone was amused.
“So is Will ..., I mean, is Dad...pissed?”
“Shocked is probably a better description. I doubt you’ll be included in any of their discussions anymore.”
“Level with me, Brent. Is what my mom did that big of a deal?”
Brent’s humor drained in that instant. “Yes. Choosing a partner is sacred. You don’t get to choose and then change your mind. I think Mr. Richardson is a certifiable jackass, but your mom broke one of the seven tenants. It is fully within his right to collect a blood debt.”
“I keep hearing that, but humor me: what, exactly, is a blood debt?”
Brent motioned to a rock planted on the ground. I sat down while he squatted in the grass beside me. “A blood debt happens when someone in our society has been so incredibly wronged it affects their bloodline. In human terms it is closest to premeditated murder. If I had wronged another Centaur and owed a blood debt, it would literally be a death sentence for me. Lucky for you, there are so few female Centaurs in the world that no one would collect it against a woman. But your mom really did wrong Mr. Richardson. It was within his right to take the life of someone in her family.” If I had to pay a blood debt for my mom, could one of my brothers be forced to pay it? I shuddered at the thought.
“But, that was over twenty years ago. Why now?”
“I wish I knew, Camille. When Dad pulled us all together and told us the whole story, no one could believe that he hadn’t exacted his revenge when it all happened. Maybe he didn’t because your mom went into hiding or something. It doesn’t make sense. Reality is that Dad will do everything he can, but, ultimately, it’s up to Mr. Richardson.”
“But you just said he can’t kill me.”
Brent shook his hea
d, “It’s a negotiation. I think Dad would promise him nearly anything not to lose you. If Mr. Richardson intended to carry out a death sentence, other herds would step in to protect you. It would mean war.”
“Isn’t there a statute of limitations or something? The person who owes the debt isn’t even alive anymore.” I caught myself speaking callously of my mother and felt a rush of her envelop me. Gretchen told me that my mother was still with me and that I could communicate with her. I turned away from Brent when I felt my mother’s presence. I yelled into the darkness, “Mom, you’d better have a plan because there is no stinkin’ way I’m going to owe that man a thing!”
I could smell my mother’s perfume. I felt warmth encompass me and saw the slightest outline of her face appear in front of me. She seemed to be saying something, but I couldn’t understand. It didn’t matter how hard I concentrated, I couldn’t make her image sharpen, and I wondered if maybe it was my imagination.
Brent started to say something, but I held my finger to my lips to quiet him. I concentrated on the outline of her face, hoping to bring her better into focus. I could see her figure desperately trying to tell me something, but still no sound. I shook my head at her, “I can’t hear you.”
Her outline began to diminish. I could still see her in the same spot but no longer with the vibrant colors from just seconds before. Brent held out his elbow, offering to escort me back. Since it was obvious that my psychic sensor was still malfunctioning, I decided to pump Brent for more information. We began a leisurely stroll back when he advised, “If you choose someone right away, Mr. Richardson won’t have a chance to force his son on you.”
Still reeling from having seen my mother’s ghost or spirit or whatever it was, I didn’t give Brent’s suggestion much weight. I was in my own little world when I realized he’d stopped walking and was staring at me. “Camille, did you hear me?”
Embarrassed at being lost in thought, I uttered, “Uh, what? No, I’m sorry, I wasn’t listening.”
