Seth turned his face towards her, listening with understanding eyes, but Vivian stared up at the ceiling remembering.
“Maeve helped us control our powers, to understand. When she died she left the Underground to Jean and I. That is why I have the power to kick people out, and take people in. We are the only ones who can change things. It’s a power, a very strong one, and it has to be given to work.”
Silence followed. She felt like she had spoken too much. She looked up, a strand of hair falling from behind her ear. Seth brushed his hand against her cheek tucking the strand behind her ear. The sweet tingle from his hand touching her cheek went through her body, and she smiled.
"It's getting late." Vivian stood abruptly not daring to look at him feeling her face grow warm. By the time she crossed the room, and closed the door she wore a goofy smile.
When she looked up she saw Jean, Flint, Avery, and some others gathered around the hallway staring upon her with their arms across their chests bearing mischievous grins. She desperately wondered why witch's never gained the power of disappearing to another place, and nervously diverted her eyes to the floor.
"Soooo....." Jean drawled, winking.
"Go away, all of you," she said spinning around locking herself in her room, but the smile she had when she was with Seth was still there. It was something she had not felt in so long.
Chapter Seven
No Such Thing As A Fairy Tale
Vivian woke up with her usual first thoughts of staying in bed all day long. It was a sweet thought, pulling the covers over her head sinking back into the comforting mattress, and slipping into dream land. This morning however, she saw a note on her nightstand with Avery sitting cross-legged on it reading, giggling to herself.
"What are you doing?" Vivian groaned, propping herself up on her elbow.
"Reading," she said simply.
"What are you reading?"
"A letter to you from Seth."
Vivian became utterly awake now, her eyes going wide. "What?"
"A letter to -"
"I know, but what are you doing reading it?"
"Seth asked me to send it, and well.... He does not know me too well to know my curiosity."
"Avery, why did I keep you on as our messenger?"
"I do not know."
"Do me a favor, and go away."
Avery grumbled words in her language as she stood. Some of the ink on the paper rubbed off on her legs, but she paid no mind. Turning around, she stuck out her tongue, and flew out through the crack of the door.
Vivian kicked the blankets off of her, rushing to close the door. She snatched up the letter from her nightstand, reading frantically.
Vivian,
I feel the need to repay the kindness you gave of taking in my brother and I. I know there is no way I could, but maybe this is a start. Dress casually, and go to the shack.
Seth
Vivian smiled laying the letter back on the nightstand. Jumping in front of her dusty full-length mirror she observed herself. Oversized sweatpants and a sweatshirt with her light brown hair in a low bun, locks of hair falling around her face. With each wave of her hand, her outfit changed. Jeans with holes in the knees, and a baggy white shirt. It would do.
"Heard you have a date?" Jean appeared in the mirror behind Vivian.
"Avery may be three inches tall, but she has a big mouth."
Jean laughed, until she took a better look over Vivian's shoulder into the mirror. "What are you wearing?"
Vivian rolled her eyes. "I guess you're going to give me some help?"
"Of course, I can't let my sister go out like this."
Vivian had no sense in fashion, but she liked what she wore. However, when it came to wearing something that the opposite sex are attracted to, Jean knew what she was talking about. She was a fashion guru. She had even tried to alter the elves way of dressing.
Jean moved her hand over Vivian, and she felt her clothes tighten. Turning back to the mirror she saw that she wore a black cropped top, and jean shorts. It was simple, and nice. With a tug of the band in her hair, her hair tumbled in her face. She shook it back, and stood in front of Jean waiting for her opinion.
"I like it. Now, go brush your teeth."
"I have to eat first - "
Jean cut her short, "no, there's no need. Just go."
Vivian looked curiously at her, before retreating to the bathroom at the far end of the room. After spitting out the toothpaste foaming in her mouth, she glimpsed up to the mirror. She still had the silly smile she had last night. She was sure she even smiled in her sleep.
"Have a good time," Jean waved from the bed, looking over a book that laid on the nightstand.
Vivian grabbed her keys from the dresser, and walked fast to avoid anyone who wanted to interrogate her. And in her jeep she drove very fast, anticipating whatever Seth had planned. Her stomach was in knots, and her heart fluttered fast. So this is what it felt like to be a teenager going on a date. To be somewhat normal. She had always loved her weird, and strangely beautiful life, but to have a taste of normal, is like having a first taste of chocolate. It was wonderfully different from anything else, and so sweet.
Stopping outside the shack she thought she would be too excited, and run in there like an idiot. Instead, she sat out in the jeep trying to untie the knots that had formed in her stomach, to somehow slow the butterflies. After a few passing moments she stepped out of her jeep. There was no way she was going to stop the rushing that was inside of her, and she no longer wanted to. This was normal.... Such a weird word, normal.
Pushing open the rusty door to the shack she was greeted with a wicker picnic basket lying in the middle of a checkered blanket. It was something straight out of a mushy movie, the ones she refused to watch, because she knew nothing could ever be like that.
Out of the far shadows, Seth appeared. "How do you like it?"
"It's nice.... What gave you this idea?"
"Jean actually. She said you have never been on a picnic?"
"She's right," Vivian walked to the checkered blanket, both of them sitting cross legged.
"I thought I would collide worlds. Mine being the picnic; with yours being the shack."
"Into symbolism?"
"No, but it sounded smart."
Vivian laughed, "yes, I suppose it did."
It was hours that they had been on that blanket. They both laid down, the basket, and food pushed aside. Laughter filled the sad shack that night. It echoed, reminding them of how great of a time they were having.
"I was four, Jean was five, and she convinced me that by closing my eyes no one could see me. I was in so much trouble, the teachers thought I had a problem, because every time they would ask a question in class I would close my eyes. I really thought no one could see me."
"Oh, here's something," Seth chuckled. "I don't know how old Jake and I were, but I told him that the light beneath the escalators was a monster that would pull you under. It backfired. For years we had to take the stairs, because he refused to ever go on them."
Vivian smiled. "Never knew you could have fun, and serious conversations with one guy."
Seth smiled back.
Sliding her hand over the back of her neck she realized how hot it suddenly had become. Smoke had begun to cover Seth's face, and curl down into her lungs making her choke. She looked over to the back of the shack, and with watery eyes, she looked out the window seeing red flames sparking high above the window. How had they not noticed that? When did it start?
"Seth!" She exclaimed, and went to stand, but Seth was covering his mouth and nose with the sleeve of his shirt, held her tightly by her arm dragging her face down.
He nodded towards the door where the fire had not reached yet. Suddenly this boy that was scared of his own shadow, had taken over, and in spite of the danger they were in, she smiled. He was no longer the vulnerable guy she had saved, what seemed so long ago.
They both began to crawl towards the door when a
flaming branch was thrown through the window beside them. Glass shattered around them both, the branch lying near the other side of the shack. Vivian threw her arms over her head. A new fire had now started to block the exit, and the fire from there and from the back of the shack had now enclosed them in a tight circle to where they lay.
She didn’t believe it at first, she thought her eyes were playing tricks on her, but through the flames outside the window she saw a pale face, long black hair, and yellow eyes like a raven.
“Astrid!” Vivian yelled inhaling smoke, and coughing.
Seth looked up to the window, but when he did, she was gone.
When raising her hand against the flames surrounding them closer every second, they started to decrease. Beads of sweat collected at her hair line falling down her face. While the flames lessened, so did the smoke, and they were able to breathe, the coughing and sputtering slowly stopped. Soon the only thing that was left was the burnt floor, and them.
Outside the shack was the piercing sound of sirens growing close. Vivian jumped up from her place on the floor dragging Seth behind her by the hand. It was déjà vu, except this time she wasn’t carrying him, and this time they both jumped into the jeep speeding off into the darkness once more.
The drive didn’t seem short enough to get away from the danger they left behind. But it was nearing night before Seth and Vivian reached the Underground. They sat outside in the jeep staring out at the field. It was not even estimated what time it was, but they figured late, as the sun was slowly sinking into the horizon. Minutes passed, the moon rising, but neither of them spoke, not until Vivian voiced her idea.
“Go inside, I’ll see you tomorrow.” She tried to lick her lips, but her mouth was parched.
Seth didn’t look over from his side window. “What do you mean?”
“I’m going to get the book.”
"Right now?" Seth looked over from the window glaring straight into her eyes. It was uncomfortable so she turned her gaze towards her hands gripping the steering wheel.
"Yes, this has to stop."
"Why?"
"You want to be human."
Seth turned his body around to face her leaning his back against the door. “Just because I want to be human, it doesn’t mean I can’t come around, does it?”
“It does. You will be human, therefore you will have to live among them. You can’t have any contact with us. Especially me.” She could feel tears welling up in her eyes, and the second she blinked they fell fast down her cheeks. She bowed her head to hide them, but with his thumb, Seth wiped the tears aside.
He leaned forward, his lips brushing against her ear. Very softly he whispered, “then maybe I don’t want to be human. Maybe I don't ever want to go back."
“Yes you do.” She squeezed her eyes tight trying not to let anymore tears fall. Now she was the vulnerable one.
“No, I don’t. I can stay here with you. I want to stay.”
Vivian’s heart jumped at his words, but then quickly fell. She couldn’t allow him to stay. If he could have the chance to go back to his family he should take it. “No…. We’re going to find the book, and you’re going to be human again, and you will go.” Vivian said.
“I heard what Jean said, that nobody is supposed to be changed. Don’t you go by the book?” Seth responded.
“Yes… But I know how much being human means to you.” She pursed her lips.
“Vivian, I don’t have a family to go back to. All I have is my brother, and I will not scare him with what I am. I will find a good family for him. For the past three weeks I’ve lived with the other creatures, and I love it. I’m not some kind of beast that I thought I was before. And most of all, I want you. If being human means losing you, it’s not worth it.”
Her lips parted to say something, but she didn’t know what. Now her mouth was gaped open in surprise. This was not what she expected him to say. She wanted him so badly to stay, to be apart of them, but now she knew he had a little brother, she knew that even if she kept him he would leave in the end anyway. There is no such thing as fairy tales.
He shook his head sadly. “No, please, Vivian, I want to stay.”
“No!” She practically screamed. “Don’t do this Seth. It’s the right thing to do….”
“I was made this way for a reason, and I believe it was to be with you.”
She looked away back at the orange colors that painted the nightly sky. “I know why you were made this way…. It was so I could change you back. You could be the first human to know us, and not hate us. The first human to know us, and love us.”
Seth’s voice cracked. “You don’t believe that.”
Vivian pushed down the lump in her throat that was trying to force tears, and shaking. “Yes I do. This isn’t a romance. It isn’t anything.”
She closed her eyes, the tears shining on her lashes. A door slammed beside her, and it broke her heart again, but not because he did it, but because she did. She broke her own heart.
Opening her eyes she looked over, watching him retreat back. It was a beautiful picture, his back and the orange black sky, the stars above almost as bright as the sun. She leaned her head on the wheel, and tears fell down the crinkle of her eyes, and down the leather of the steering wheel.
Chapter Eight
A Visit to the Past
Vivian started the ignition, and drove away from the Underground, but not even the driving helped her heart. Vivian did not know where she was going. Not at first. She wasn’t sure if she should get the book. Maybe Seth was right about him changing, that it was meant to be so they could be together. But it couldn’t be that. Vivian was fine, she didn’t need a silly boyfriend, some stupid romance to fit into her weird life. She was fine…..
The drive was not long, though Vivian felt a million miles away from their family, they only lived a block away from the field where the Underground lays. She had never driven this way before. It was always the other direction towards her parent’s house.
During the journey, she had stopped frequently to pound her fists on the steering wheel, making the drive much longer than it should have been.
It was all due to the fact that she was breaking a promise to herself to never set foot near her family again, and the thought of facing them was agonizing, like a large stone that resided at the bottom of her stomach. The thought of Jean doing it was a relief until she remembered when Jean would say, “you should do it, you haven’t seen them since it happened. Go on!” She pounded the wheel a few more times.
When Vivian had finally made it, she took notice that the baby blue color house had not changed at all. A strip of different colored flowers lined the cobblestone walkway to the white double doors. It was an old Victorian house, but a classy old, it was in no way falling apart.
Vivian unstuck her hands from the wheel she had been clutching. Memories flooded out the anger for a moment. She recaptured images that made her heart plummet, and wonder very deep down if her choice to not change was a mistake.
She was lost in the memories, so much that she did not pay attention to where her steps lead her, or where her fingertips trailed. A huge tree she could not wrap her arms fully around was in front of her. A far away small voice - Jean’s voice - came floating back. Don’t fall, she said, and with that, almost like a jinx, Vivian had fallen hard on her right arm causing a sharp snap of pain as the bone broke.
“Vivie!”
Before she had the chance to look around, a small blonde haired girl clung tightly to her leg.
“Joan,” Vivian whispered. She knelt down wiping the tears away from the girl’s cheeks.
“Vivie, where have you been?”
She smiled thinking of telling her baby cousin the truth that she was living with all types of creatures. She laughed quietly at her own thoughts. “I’ve just been away.”
“Are you here to stay? Where’s Jean?” Joan questioned.
Behind Joan stood a woman with curly very light brown hair, almost blond
e. Anger came back forcefully into Vivian. It was Aunt Karen, mother to Joan, and a thorn in Vivian's side. Vivian gently pushed Joan’s fingers away from the clawing at the fabric of her jeans. Standing up, she shook her head causing Joan to cry again. It was not much comfort, but she stroked her hair.
“She’s away, and I’m sorry baby cousin, I’m not wanted here, neither of us are.” vivian didn’t take her eyes off of Aunt Karen.
“Joan, inside,” Aunt Karen’s voice was scratchy, like wet fingers running over a balloon.
Flaxen curls covered Joan’s face as she tried to hide her tears. She didn’t take any steps to obey her mother, but stood there still.
“Joan, I’m telling you to go inside the house now.” With no response, Aunt Karen said in a firm voice that she thought was tough, “Joan Marie, inside right now.”
Joan looked up at her cousin. “Are you ever coming back?”
Vivian tore her eyes away from her aunt. She wanted so badly to say yes, and see the smile that use to be present on Joan. But she couldn’t lie to her, because it would only hurt her more in the end. “No…. I won’t.”
“Why?”
“Joan!,” Aunt Karen said threateningly.
Vivian knelt down slightly to her eye level. “It will be okay. You’ll see me sometime. Maybe not soon, but sometime.”
This didn’t seem to comfort Joan, and she turned and walked back inside the house slamming the door. In a large window of the house, Joan stood watching. Maybe it was too far for Vivian to see, but she could have sworn Joan was crying.
"Excuse me?"
The wet balloon voice caught her attention back to Aunt Karen standing there with her hands on her hips. With Joan out of ear-shot, Vivian had no reason to hold her tongue any longer. “I’m surprised.”
Book of the Hidden Page 6
