After the last quartet, the crowd talked in hushed whispers and the judges tallied their scores. When the emcee went to the microphone, he tapped out a few amplified thumps. He leaned in close and boomed through the sound system. “Students, performers, and guests, without further ado,” he said in a thick Scottish brogue, “I will present the finalists and winner of this year’s Aberdeen’s International Festival of the Arts string quartet competition. When I call your name, please come up and stand with me on stage and accept your award.”
The auditorium went silent except for a couple of coughs and a door clunking shut.
“Our second runner up is…” He opened an envelope. “…from the United States…”
Kaitlyn grabbed Chloe’s hand. Chloe searched the auditorium for Todd.
“Philadelphia’s Dynamic String Quartet.”
A flutter of activity not far away got Philadelphia to their feet and blocked Chloe’s view of the two far sections. Sit down, would you? They went up on stage and Chloe could see again to scan the room for Todd.
“Our first runner up, all the way from Hong Kong…”
Chloe stopped listening. She hadn’t liked them much.
When the emcee prepared to announce the grand winner, Chloe saw the top of Todd’s head on the far side of the auditorium. Her heart pounded. He saw me play! Now he could see her take the stage to accept first place.
Applause erupted around her. She missed what the emcee had said.
“What’d he say?” she asked Tricia and Jessie, but Tricia jumped up and left her seat. “We won?” she asked Jessie, who was turning away, too. Chloe pivoted back to Kaitlyn with a smile, excited to share the moment with her.
“What did he say? Did we—”
“I’m sorry, Cello. The group from Australia won.”
Jessie spun back and narrowed her eyes at Chloe. “If you see Todd, tell him he better keep far away from me or like he’s going to find out what it feels like to swallow a trumpet.” And she snapped around and followed Tricia out of the auditorium.
CHAPTER 5
Chloe sat on her hotel bed not packing. Kaitlyn folded her long black skirt and put it next to her yellow sequin dress in her suitcase on the other bed.
“What’re you thinking about?” Kaitlyn asked.
Chloe couldn’t help but let out a deep sigh, even though it felt pathetic. “Todd. I just wish we could talk. He’s so busy. His phone must be dead. It keeps going to voicemail. I’ve left him a million messages.”
Kaitlyn stopped packing, sat next to her, and gave her a side hug. “You were so happy yesterday.”
“I wish I could see that flying glowing thing again. It was incredible. When it touched me, I just knew everything would be okay.”
Kaitlyn dug in her purse and pulled out car keys. She dangled them in front of Chloe.
“How’d you get those?”
“Tricia told me to move the car. She’d parked in a double yellow zone. I haven’t returned them yet.”
“But won’t her mom want them? Her name’s on the lease.”
“She doesn’t care. She got the car for Tricia.”
“You think I could go back to the castle? Look for that thing I saw?”
“Maybe it’s still there.”
“But we take off in four hours.”
“It’s not that far away.”
True. It wasn’t. She had to go. Right then. It would be good. “I can drop you off at the airport with my stuff.” She jumped up and started jamming everything into her suitcase. “I should go alone. You can tell everyone I’m coming. I’ll buy you a chai soy latte and a good paperback. I’ll be back in plenty of time.”
“It will be great for you to see it again.” Kaitlyn went back to folding her clothes into her suitcase.
“And I need to get my sandals,” Chloe said as if to justify the idea.
“Those were such cute sandals. It’d be sad to just leave them there.”
Kaitlyn was so cool about everything. Even Todd.
Kaitlyn closed her suitcase, picked up her viola, and said, “I’m ready when you are.”
***
Chloe and Kaitlyn got through security, bought the promised drink and book for Kaitlyn, and happily settled her in the gate seating. Chloe left her carryon with Kaitlyn to speed up her return through security.
“When you see Todd, tell him I’m coming soon. We’ll finally get a chance to talk on the plane.”
She was back on the road to Dunnottar in no time. And it felt right to be going. Her nerves tingled with excitement.
They’d gone to the castle the day before because it once belonged to some dead ancestor on her dad’s side. Her friends planned the trip to keep her mind off Todd. But that was when they thought it was over between them. Now I know otherwise. We aren’t breaking up. She just knew it. And the thing was a sign.
It felt like only a few minutes had passed when she pulled into the parking lot about a quarter mile from the incline to the top of Dunnottar Castle. She jumped out of the car and set off for the ruin down the gravelly dirt road. Within a few steps, she broke into a trot, but Kaitlyn’s flip-flops were too small. They hurt between her toes on the way down the incline, then slipped sideways and let little pebbles under her feet going back up the uneven steps to the entryway of the castle. She finally just pulled them off.
When she got to the top, she dashed to the side where she had jumped the day before. Old walls of ruined buildings kept other tourists from seeing her. She took baby steps toward the ledge and balanced there. She closed her eyes and thought hard, willing the thing to return. Nothing happened. She scanned the sky. Nothing but squawking gulls floated on invisible breezes. She bent her knees and stood up fast, like she was going to jump, letting her feet leave the ground by at least a half inch.
A chunk of gravel knocked loose and skittered down the cliff making puffs of dust on its way. It needs to think I’m really going to jump again. She leaned forward, pressing her chin out. A deep breath. Just tilt far enough—
A huge hand grabbed her arm and anchored her to land.
“Be careful. It is a long way down.”
Embarrassment shamed her first, that she was caught doing something no one would understand. But then she got miffed. What business was it of anyone’s what she did?
She turned and found an incredibly tall Arab-looking guy holding her arm. Trying to shake him off did no good. His hand wouldn’t budge.
“Can I have my arm back?” Her smile was forced, but she didn’t want to cause trouble.
“Certainly. Once you come away from the edge. You could fall.”
“I’m fine.”
He steered her away from the edge anyway. His giant arm was like a crane, moving her whether she wanted to or not.
“Thanks, but really, I don’t need anything. I’m fine.”
“You looked as though you intended to jump. That wouldn’t be good.”
“Well, that would be stupid.” She just wanted him to leave her alone. How could she find the thing with him there distracting her? What if he’s preventing it from coming back? “I’m just looking for my sandals. I left them here yesterday.” It was a lame excuse for being way out on the edge, but no other ideas came fast enough.
“Are these your missing footwear?” He released her arm and held up his other hand. Her sandals dangled from his fingers.
“How’d you—?” It didn’t matter. She just needed him to give them over and leave her alone. She grabbed them off his fingers and hopped around to put them on while he watched. He extended his arm for her to hold on, but she did it without his help. It was silent and awkward. “Well, thanks then,” she said once she stopped bouncing and straightened up. “Have a good day.”
“No need to rush off.”
“I just want to look at the scenery a bit. Kind of want some time to think, you know? By myself. I don’t have much time. Don’t want to keep you. So….”
“Oh, I don’t mind.”
Well, I
do! She couldn’t summon the thing with him around.
“I saw you yesterday.”
“You what—where? Here?” Did he see me jump? “What do you mean?” Her blood rushed with adrenaline, making her heart thump. Did he see the thing, too? Could he possibly be standing with such a straight face if he had? “You saw me?”
She watched him closely for a telling reaction. If he’d seen it, too, maybe he came back to find it again. Maybe he could help her find it.
“With your three friends. You seemed riled.”
That didn’t answer anything. “What was I doing? When you saw me…us.” Did his odd expression mean anything?
“You were playing the tourist, right? And—”
And what? Could she just straight out ask him? Did he see a glowing, flying being swoop her out of the air? “Did you see anything unusual?”
“I did.”
What did you see? her brain screamed but she kept her face as neutral as possible. “Like?”
Their noses almost touched when he bent down close to her. He smelled like old booze. She backed up, but he spoke so quietly, she had to lean in again to hear.
“I believe you leapt.”
“So you saw what happened!” she blurted out, no longer careful. “You saw it?”
“What were you thinking?”
“Never mind that. What about what happened after I jumped?”
“After? When you ran screaming for your friends?”
“No, after I jumped, before I went screaming. Did you see it?” Why won’t he just say it? “The thing.”
“The thing. Hmm. You mean the updraft that knocked you down? Your stumble backwards?”
“I did not stumble backwards.”
“I was at a great distance. Hard to see clearly, really.”
“So you didn’t see it?” Chloe had so wanted him to say he’d seen it, too. Obviously, he’d missed it. Or wasn’t able to see it. Maybe it was only visible to her. “Never mind.” He needed to go away. How could she find it when he was around and he couldn’t even see it? Maybe it would never come as long as she wasn’t alone.
After a deep chuckle, he leaned in closely again, bringing the sour smell with him. “Ah, do you mean the glowing being that actually flew through the sky?”
“Yes!” she screamed. His smell didn’t matter anymore. “Yes, then you did see it!” She grabbed his massive arms and jumped up and down. “Wasn’t it beautiful?”
“You thought so?” His smile spread wide.
Was he mocking her? She stopped jumping, feeling a little ridiculous to react so intensely when he stood like marble. Embarrassed, she let go of him. “Well, yeah. Didn’t you think so?”
“I’m just curious about your impression. You really thought he was beautiful?”
“Are you kidding? The most beautiful thing I’ve every seen!”
“Truly?”
“Didn’t you think so? I mean, it was incredible.”
His perfect teeth glowed white next to his dark skin. Maybe he wasn’t making fun of her.
“I had to come back and find it.”
“It seems to have captured your fancy,” he said.
“That’s why you’re here, too, isn’t it?” Her heart was flopping with the thought someone could confirm for her what she’d seen.
“Jumping again is not a wise idea,” he said.
“Oh, I wasn’t…well, you’re right.” Chloe felt stupid that he’d figured out her plan. And when he said it, it sounded pretty lame. She sat in the grass, facing toward the open sea. “I guess we’ll just have to wait.” The breeze picked up her hair and tossed her curls in her face. She hadn’t taken time to straighten it and the humidity was kinking it up.
He sat down, too. They watched the sky for a while. Then he said, “Are you thirsty?”
“Nah.” The thing was sent to me as a sign.
“Of course you are. When was the last time you had refreshment?”
“Don’t know. I’m fine.” It means Todd still wants me.
The zipper of his backpack ticked open. “What would you like? I’ll give it to you. No cost.”
He wasn’t going to give up. Okay, why not? It might take a while to show up. “What’ve you got?” Her eyes stayed up on the clouds. If she could just find it again, somehow everything would be better. Maybe even my parents will be better.
“What would be your absolute first selection?”
“Water’s fine.” Maybe it meant something, or someone, was watching out for her. Actually cared about her.
“Humor me. A little more exciting than that.”
All right already. The guy sure didn’t seem to be into this after seeing such an incredible sight. Maybe he’d relax if she just let him give her some trail mix or something.
She leaned back to see in his pack but he pulled it away. “You got a lot of choices in there?”
He nodded.
“What I really want is Chick-fil-A and waffle fries. I’m starving. I missed lunch. I wish you had that in there.”
His eyes opened wide like he was shocked.
“No way.”
“Fiat panis.” He pulled a Chick-fil-A sack out of his pack. “Or more accurately, Let there be chicken.”
She grabbed it and opened it up. Hot, thick, fried oil aroma swirled up in the steam. “How’d you know that?” She scooted back next to him.
He shrugged and smiled again.
“Ketchup?” she asked.
“Of course.” He pulled out a bottle of Heinz.
“And honey mustard?”
“Absolutely.”
After he presented a packet of honey mustard, he pulled out a dripping amber bottle of beer. He presented it to her like a waiter holding a wine bottle.
She studied the label. “Too-tank-ham— What’s that? Egyptian Ale,” she read. “King Tut beer?”
“Actually, it’s Queen Nefertiti’s recipe. She made a unique brew. They tried to copy it after excavating her brewery. Even though it’s not an exact reproduction, it’s surprisingly close. It’s one of my favorites. The first bottle sold for over seven-thousand dollars. Have one.”
“I can’t.”
“No charge. Not for you today.” He gave her another smile, one like he had practiced it in front of a mirror. “Here, my supply is endless. Take it.”
“No, really. I signed a contract with my orchestra. We all did. Not to drink alcohol on the trip. We had to for insurance or something.”
“Who will know?”
“Well, I will for one. I made a pledge.” Man, was he for real? “Right now I wish I had a strawberry shake to go with my chicken burger.”
He winked at her then opened his pack again. “All right then, oh Virtuous One. A shake ye shall have.” And out came a frosty super-sized cup from the back pack. “It’s not seven-thousand dollars, but I can assure you, it’s a good one.”
Chloe couldn’t help but laugh. “Are you kidding me? And it’s strawberry?” She was too delighted to be cautious. A hard pull on the straw confirmed the flavor for her. “That is so cool! I can’t believe you had that in there.” She pulled the lid off and dipped in a waffle fry. The salt sizzled on her tongue around the berry sweet. “Oh my god! The flavor. Mm, it’s heaven.”
After a long draw off his bottle and a deep sigh, he leaned back on his elbows and shut his eyes like he was in bliss.
“Want one?” Chloe extended a fry to him.
He shook his head without opening his eyes.
She tore down along each side fold of the Chick-fil-A bag and flattened it to spread the meal in front of her. The first bite was still in her mouth when she bit off the second. “This is the best chicken in the world,” she said around a full mouth. “I didn’t know they even had Chick-fil-A over here.”
“They do now.” He took another long swig of beer. “What would you like for dessert?”
“Dessert? I’ve barely start—” Chloe jumped to her feet. Out in the sky over the sea a bright light flashed. “Loo
k! There. Did you see it?”
“Probably an aeroplane,” he said.
“You didn’t even look.” Chloe guarded her eyes and studied the spot. “I think it’s the thing.” The food had distracted her, and she had almost missed it. “See? Right there.”
“It isn’t.”
“You’re not even looking. Look. It might be it!”
“No.”
“See where I’m pointing? Would you look?”
He glanced for less than a second and shook his head.
It flashed again. She concentrated on the spot. And it clearly was a plane. Disappointed, she sat back down. Her appetite was gone. She was there for another sign, not to gain five pounds on junk food. This guy didn’t seem that intent on finding anything. Maybe she should be more careful.
“Do you think we could do something to summon him?”
“I don’t imagine so. Do you like to dance?” Another bottle rattled from his pack and he popped the top with a church key.
“Dance? No, not really. Well, sometimes. Not now. Anyway, how do you think we can find it?”
“How about hang gliding? Or bungee jumping?”
“What? No. I’m talking about the thing.”
“But I want to know about you. What do you like to do? Do you enjoy revelry? You like beer, yes, when you have not signed away your right to drink it?”
“I was hoping you were going to help me here.”
“You are being obsessive. Let’s talk about something more interesting. Did you know this ale is one of the most expensive in the world? What do you think of that?”
What did she think? That all she hoped for was to see it again, to be reassured that life was okay, that someone would have noticed if she wasn’t going to be around anymore, that some supernatural wonderful being wanted her to know she mattered.
“You like eating, yes? I know some excellent restaurants. There is one in Paris—”
Chloe's Guardian (The Nephilim Redemption Series Book 1) Page 3
