Snow, Blood, and Envy

by Haus, Jean

  I take in the calm scene before me. Melted snow drips from the trees surrounding us. The forest is quiet as the sun casts its soft light across the mountainside and the world turns from dark shadows to bright greens and white sparkling snow. A bird chirps above and the last remnants of fear trickle out of me like the water dripping onto the soot dotted snow. I’ve truly escaped from the nightmare into reality.

  I let out a laugh of joy. Spin in a circle in the bright morning and face Jai.

  He pulls his gaze from the ash circle. His eyes are wide, shocked. He blinks and steps toward me. I’m in his arms in less than a second. Under the rising sun amid the echo of water plopping in the snow, we hold each other in a tight, suffocating embrace.

  “It’s really over,” I say against the strength of his chest.

  His chin hits the top of my head in a nod.

  We‘re cold, dirty, exhausted, and his leg is a mess, but we are alive. My fingers clutch at him, this boy who risked his life to save me. This boy who makes me feel whole again. I never want to let him go.

  He holds me just as tight. “Finally… it’s just us,” he says with a touch of humor laced in his tone. I can hear the pain in his voice too.

  I step back and stare at his leg. Blood, dark and thick, wets the denim on his thigh. A different fear enters me. “You need to get to a hospital.”

  He tugs me back into his arms. “We got some cleaning up to do first, but before that…” His cold fingers brush my jaw before his warm lips brush across mine.

  It’s the best happily-ever-after-kiss, ever.

  Chapter 49~Snow

  Home, I’ve never been happier to see my father’s high-rise. Actually, I don’t think I’ve ever been happy to see it before. I’m worried about my father. After we drove to the nearest hospital—I found the keys to the Mercedes in Mali’s fur coat—they re-stitched Jai’s leg in the emergency room and sent us on our way. We found a motel and slept for almost twelve hours. Once awake, the first thing I did was call my father’s cell. I got no answer. After repeated attempts, I woke Jai and we left within the hour. The way back took less than ten hours—much quicker than our rambling escape.

  The doorman doesn’t recognize me in my white spiked hair until I speak his name and say hello. Frowning at his mess-up, he tips his hat and opens the door. I pace the length of the small box while the elevator ride seems to take forever.

  “Relax, you don’t know if anything’s wrong yet,” Jai says, pulling me to a stop.

  I nod, but I can’t help fearing the worst, that she already got rid of my father. Inside the apartment, I bellow, “Hello? Dad?” again and again.

  No answer. Maybe he’s out, but a strange foreboding has me searching the place. We check the main rooms before heading to the bedroom. The room is neat. Nothing is out of place except the bathroom, which has my heart racing. Broken pieces of the mirror cover the counter and floor and dried blood covers the pieces.

  “Nivi, in here,” Jai calls from the bedroom.

  I rush to find my father tied up on his closet floor. His hands and feet are bound behind him, a scarf covers his eyes, and a rope twists across his mouth. Tight with fear, I stumble toward him. His chest rises and my own constricts with air. Jai and I scramble to loosen the bindings. I jerk the scarf away and wild eyes meet mine. Once they recognize me, warmth replaces fear. My hands shake as I tug the rope from his mouth.

  “Nivea, you’re safe. You’re alive,” he says in a raspy voice. “You were right…she drugged me…tied me up…”

  I realize he’s been lying like this for almost two days. Seeing such a powerful man in such a state makes blood rush to my temples. “It’s over. You’re going to be fine.”

  Jai tugs at the bindings on my father’s wrists. “We need a knife.”

  “Is that…” my father rasps as Jai leaves.

  “Jai. The guy you met at the club. Don’t worry, he’s a friend.” A boyfriend? Perhaps? Not the time to worry about such things. Ignoring the thought, I tug on a knot. “He helped me escape from Smith and Mali and the Tong.”

  “The Tong?”

  I smile sadly. “It’s a long story.”

  Jai returns and in minutes my father is free. We hug for a long time. I can’t remember hugging him for so long or with such ease.

  In such a weak state, we have to help him walk to the kitchen. After several glasses of water and several granola bars that I have to force him to eat, he asks, “What happened? Where’s Mali?”

  Jai leans against the cupboards and raises an eyebrow at me.

  I bite my lip. Ugh. I so don’t want to do this. “Well…I was right. Mali wanted my inheritance and she wanted to get rid of you too.” I’ve had hours of driving to put this together. I want to make this easy on him. Besides, the real story isn’t so believable. “She and Smith were lovers.” Nothing like breaking love’s grip with some cheating.

  Jai keeps his face immobile.

  My father looks confused.

  I open the freezer. “I’m sorry you had to find out.” I pull out bags of chicken nuggets and fries from the bottom.

  He shakes his head. “After what she did, hell even before…well let’s just say lying tied up on the closet floor I couldn’t find a reason why I married her. Why I was so enamored with her…” He shakes his head again as if his memory is fuzzy. Like Smith, I realize the bitch put a spell on him. “Where…where is she?” he asks.

  The way he asks makes me think he doesn’t want to know, yet the question is inevitable. Just like I knew he’d be asking, which is why I’m prepared. “I’d decided to go to the cabin and hide out.”

  My father clenches the glass in his hand. “She asked me about the cabin.”

  I nod. “They were following us. The roads were icy. Her car slipped off into a deep ravine.” In reality, Jai drove the vehicle to the edge of a cliff. We tied a brick to the accelerator, and then pulled the brick off with a rope.

  His mouth drops. “Did you contact the authorities?”

  I set the oven to four hundred. “We…ah talked about it, but I was worried about you. I didn’t want to deal with an investigation. Nor did I want to share the fact my step-mother was out to kill me.”

  After looking to Jai, who nods, my father rubs his temples. “I’m not sure what to think, what to do.”

  I pull out a pan from the stove drawer. “First, eat then think.”

  After we eat—he doesn’t even complain about the processed food—my father gives me another hug and rambles off to the shower. I open the dishwasher, but before I can load the dishes Jai’s hands tugs me into his embrace.

  He holds me for a long time before saying into my hair, “I have to go. Ping keeps texting me.” I nod. Why does that not surprise me? He leans back while gripping my hand. “I’ll call you tomorrow?”

  I look into his dark eyes suddenly shy. Funny how when your life is in danger it’s easy to be open and honest, now we stare at each other like we’re two freshmen at our first Homecoming dance. A soft smile finally lifts my lips. “Please.”

  He looks down the hall to where my father disappeared then at me. His gaze lingers on my mouth. Longing wells within me, but after a quick squeeze on my fingers he leaves.

  Filled with disappointment, I shut the dishwasher and take a deep breath. The dishes can wait. I have one more thing to do before this is truly finished.

  After I get a hammer from the laundry room, I enter the guestroom. In between strange plants my refection trembles. I drag out boxes and boxes of mirrors. It takes forever. They cover the bed, the desk, and the floor. Souls trapped behind glass bound in by brass and gold and silver with ancient magic. Sorrow at the destruction Mali wrought through time surrounds me, curls through me. Lives ruined and destroyed for eternal life and youth. My life almost ruined.

  But no more.

  I dig in my pocket for her bracelet, the last remnant of her power, and hope this will work. I smash the jewelry to bits until bone chips and dust, a sprinkling of death at my fee
t, scatter across the wood floor.

  As I stand, a low hum builds and reverberates around the room. Somehow—most likely from the tie of our souls—I can feel the hum inside of me. With a sprint of anticipation, I move to the center of the floor.

  The hum grows until it sounds like thousands of beating wings getting ready for flight. Glass wavers. I stand still while shadows behind my reflections shift and flash. Faint faces, joyful and triumphant, flicker across mine in the glass.

  The beating grows faster and I wrap my arms around myself.

  CRACK

  With the sound of thunder, glass shatters and explodes all around me. Crystals surround me and I can see nothing but the bright shine of glass like I’m caught inside a flash of lightning. Then the roar of tinkling sounds like the rush of a waterfall. The shattered glass thins and sparkling reflections hang in the air while invisible wings flutter past me, softly brushing my cheeks and arms. Their mass movement shakes the walls as the wings brush past me faster. A huge gust rolls through the room almost knocking me to my knees before the window shatters and a burst of flapping, stronger than ever before, surges outwards. I can feel bliss and freedom with every flutter against my skin.

  One more surge of flapping and then nothing.

  I look around at destroyed plants and the tiny shards of glass on every surface of the room, except for a small circle around me and I smile.

  Chapter 50~Snow

  Three days later, I rush down the school steps after my first day back. The sight of my father’s Porsche waiting at the snowy curb has me running across the sidewalk. I’ve a ton of make-up homework to do, but it will have to wait until the weekend. Tonight’s important. When I get near the car, my driver gets out. Excitement bubbles in my stomach. I’m hot for my chauffer, I realize with a silent, silly giggle.

  Jai tosses me the keys as he walks around the car. “I don’t even have to ask.”

  I catch the ring with a grin. “I won’t let him dock your pay.”

  He opens the passenger door. “You should. He pays me too much.”

  In the car, Chilly hops in my lap. Scratching a furry ear, I say, “For the last time, he’s paying you about half of Harrison’s salary.”

  “How am I going to survive as an architect apprentice after living like this?”

  I roll my eyes and shift into drive. “Live frugally. You’re used to it.” His only response is a snort. “You done moving?” I ask, waiting for a red light.

  “For the most part. Chang and Ping are cleaning the old place up for Feng Lu right now.”

  I know they’re not, but I don’t say anything. “So the new place is ready for me to see?”

  His gaze snaps from the road to me. “You’ve never seen it?”

  “Do you know how many properties my dad owns?” He shakes his head then rambles off the directions. When he’s done I ask, “And Juan?”

  “He’s agreed to live with Rosa. He’s actually excited to start school next week.”

  “I’m jealous. I’d love to live with Rosa.”

  “You and your dad seem better.”

  “We are. He’ll never know how to be a true parent but…that’s okay. He’s still so ostentatious though.” I whip around a corner.

  “I haven’t heard you complain about the car selection.”

  Okay, so I like fast cars. “There are some bonuses that come with living with my dad.”

  He shakes his head as I change lanes and whiz through a yellow, well yellow turning red, light. I turn on the radio and tap my fingers on the steering wheel. Nervous tension bubbles inside me the closer we get to his apartment. By the time we pull in front of a refurbished five-storied building across from a pretty park, I’m nervous to the point of feeling sick, but I smile and say, “This is nice.”

  “As long as you’re not comparing it to your place.”

  I roll my eyes as we cross the snow covered sidewalk together. On a green neon leash, Chilly rambles ahead and races through the door Jai holds open. Even though Chilly’s already halfway up the wood steps, I pause in the small hall.

  Jai brows rise. “You nervous or something?”

  I search for an excuse. “No, just overwhelmed.”

  “You? What about me? I suddenly have a legitimate job, a real apartment, and,” he looks at me with a horrified expression, “a girlfriend.”

  I laugh and he pulls me up the stairs. I almost flee when his hand grasps the knob. Instead, I plaster an even look on my face. He swings it open and gestures for me to go in first. My palms almost drip with sweat as I cross the threshold.

  Across the room, Chang, Ping, and Song have tight faces too, but the woman in front of them appears the most nervous. There is also joy in her eyes. Small with fine bones, she doesn’t look her age, doesn’t look like she’s been slaving away for years on end.

  Jai almost trips behind me and stops. His eyes round on the woman. “Mother?”

  She smiles while tears well in her shinning eyes. Jai looks between us obviously trying to figure out how she’s here. She only has eyes for him.

  The room is tense with silence.

  I scoop up the ball of fur rushing to everyone for a pat and move to the side. The stillness is nearing heartbreaking until Jai steps forward and she rushes into his arms. A collective sigh travels through the room as they hug. When they pull apart and stare at one another in wonder, I feel like an intruder.

  I tip my head toward the door. “Why don’t we go pick up some dinner?”

  “We bought groceries,” Chang says. “We actually have a real kitchen now.”

  With a shake of her head, Song pulls him toward the door by the ear. “I’m not in the mood to cook.”

  I glance back one last time before I shut the door. With arms wrapped together, they’re staring at each other.

  Mother and son.

  The hole in my heart constricts as I step into the hall. It’s still there, but it’s getting smaller each day. Each day that I face the past. I made an appointment with my therapist for next week. I went on Facebook last night and sent messages to my friends in Cleveland. I even pulled out old photo books. I haven’t looked through them yet. When I do, it will be a tearful reunion, but I’m not scared anymore. After that one long beautiful second with my mother, keeping her memory alive is so worth living with the heartache. And to think I was almost gone, after treating her like that…

  I’m starting to realize holding in her memory was just as painful as embracing it.

  ****

  No one wanted Chinese takeout, which wasn’t surprising. My taste buds were quite happy when they decided on pizza. When my mother’s voice came into my head, don’t forget your greens, Nivi. I smiled to myself and added a large wop salad to appease her.

  While we eat, Chang and Ping fill the silence with their usual stupid banter. None of us complains. Chilly sits at my feet waiting for scraps. Song agues a bit with the buttheads. Jai’s mother appears happy but stays quiet. Jai appears content but distant, which has me nervous again.

  Song and Li, Jai’s mother, wave me away when I offer to help with the dishes. I argue until Jai’s hand wraps around my waist. “You still haven’t got the tour.”

  I smile up at him. “Alright, show me around.”

  He spins me around in a circle. “This is the dining, living, and kitchen room combo.”

  Since I’ve been in the room for an hour, I laugh. The furnished apartment is plain in creams and browns with sturdy woods and leathers to last. “I like it. It doesn’t look like my father’s designer has been here.” I point to the far wall. “The fish tank looks familiar.”

  Jai grins. “I had to do a little of my own decorating. Let me show you the best room.” He pulls me down the hallway. The little traitor, who’s usually glued to me, stays in the kitchen and waits for dropping crumbs.

  Jai’s room is large with the same plain furniture as the rest of the apartment. From the large window on the other side of the bed, I can see the lights of the park. “Nice
view,” I say while my eyes avoid the bed.

  He slams the door.

  I spin around.

  The look on his face, narrowed eyes and skin tight across his cheekbones, has me stumbling back until my feet hit the wall. He comes at me and pins me against the cool surface with his hands sprayed at both sides of my head. Caught between his arms, inside his anger, I stutter, “W-what—“

  “How much did you pay them?” he asks through his teeth.

  My stomach lurches to a halt. So that’s what this is about. “One hundred thousand,” I say in an even tone.

  His body tenses. “Your father gave you the money?” I shake my head. “Your inheritance from your mother?”

  “No, from Mali,” I say in a steely tone. His pride is really pissing me off.

  “Mali?” he echoes.

  “My bank account grew while I was away. There’s over twenty million in it.” Astonishment etches his face. “That’s just the tip of the iceberg. In seven years when missing becomes deceased, I’ll inherit stocks, her company, and properties all over the world. Right now, the net worth is over a hundred million.”

  His eyes now bulge.

  “However, except for your mother, I’m not touching any of it. Every cent will be donated to various organizations. Girls like me and their families paid for her wealth and power with their souls and bodies. My mother… paid with her life.” My hands clench at my sides and I stare at his black t-shirt covered chest. “So I’m trying to pick things like schools for girls in Rwanda. Or medical help for the teenagers with AIDS in South Africa. Chinese girls brought here to brothels. Or even abused girls here in the US.” I lift my head. “Things that will honor their sacrifice …” I stop at his look.

  He rests his forehead on mine. “Thank you, Nivi, for the gift of my mother. Sometimes it’s hard to believe I’m with someone so amazing.” His hands come up and hold my jaw and my heartbeat picks up. “I remember watching you. You’d come and go, walk your dog, smile at the doorman… you looked so alone, so lost, so sad that I wanted to reach out to you.” He lets out a demeaning laugh. “Though I knew it was impossible, knew it was wrong, I was pretty sure I was falling for you even then.” My breath catches. “Now,” his lips come near mine, “I know I’m in love with you.”