by S W Vaughn
"Yeah. It's heated.” Dawn sat a few feet away. “Nice, isn't it? I bet it cost a ton to put this baby in."
Grace struggled to contain her revulsion. For a moment she'd forgotten whose money had provided this little piece of paradise. The pool lost some of its appeal. “Sure,” she said evenly. “It's great.” She turned to look for Evan and spotted him standing near the glass wall, watching them. Watching her? In the low light, she couldn't be sure.
David clambered out at the shallow end and walked down the length of the pool toward them. “Isn't anybody else coming in?” he called.
Dawn shook her head. “No way. My hair takes forever to dry and I hate sleeping on it wet. It frizzes out like crazy."
"Count me out,” Grace said.
"Fine. Wimps.” Grinning, David kept going until he reached the wall behind the deep end. “Betcha you're about to get wet anyway."
"David, don't you dare.” Dawn scrambled to rise, but David was already running toward them at full speed. “Stop! You're going to—"
It happened fast. David slipped, went down and skated over the tiles like a wet bar of soap in a bathtub. He curled reflexively and rammed into Grace's back. Frothy water closed over her before she realized she'd gone in.
Water muted the world. Garbled shouts reached her from somewhere above. The initial shock dissipated and darkness rushed toward her. She was sinking, facing down. She twisted her body, found shifting and refracted light. Light meant up, surface, air. She let the descent continue. She would push off the bottom.
Her back bumped something solid. She extended an arm, touched the smooth vinyl of the pool floor. Felt a powerful tug on her shirt that refused to slacken. A vacuum grate.
Don't panic. Bracing her palms against the floor, Grace pushed hard. Her shirt strained against her, tangled tighter. She bucked and thrashed, kicked her legs, tried to slip out of the restricting material. Her lungs burned and begged for oxygen. The light, far above, began to fade.
A distant splash sounded. A dark shape descended from a cloud of bubbles, blocking the light. Arms encircled her, wrenched her free. A body pressed against her. Weightless now, they rose through depthless blue and entered the light.
Grace gulped air and coughed out water. Evan held her firmly above the surface, waited for her breath to catch, and guided her to the edge of the pool. With Evan's hands on her waist and Dawn's beneath her arms, they hauled her out and laid her on her back to the accompaniment of David's babbled apologies.
"Oh my God. I'm sorry. Grace, are you all right? I'm so sorry. That was really stupid. Can't you swim? Grace? Are you okay? I'm sorry! Evan, is she all right? She isn't saying anything..."
Grace closed her eyes and held up a hand. “I'll live.” She felt Evan climb out and settle beside her. “Thank you. The grate..."
"I know.” Evan's voice had taken on a husky timbre. “You're welcome. You need a towel."
Grace grunted agreement. She remained still, drawing careful breaths until her dizziness subsided and the roaring in her ears diminished. At last, she opened her eyes and sat up.
Dawn released a shuddering sigh. “Well. I think we've had enough excitement for one night, don't you?"
"I'll say.” Grace spotted Evan approaching with an armful of towels. She struggled to her feet, stepped back from the pool, and looked at David. “I guess you were right about me getting wet."
David flushed crimson. “Does that mean you forgive me?"
Grace nodded. “Actually, I feel kind of refreshed.” She smiled, and David rewarded her with a dimpled grin.
"Here, squirt.” Evan stopped behind Grace and tossed a towel to David. While Dawn moved to help her brother, Evan draped another one gently around Grace. His hands stayed on her shoulders a touch too long, and his fingers trailed down her arms. A pleasant shudder worked through her body.
"Thanks,” she whispered. “Again."
He didn't answer immediately. At last he spoke softly beside her ear. “Just ... don't die, okay?"
"I won't."
"You guys coming?” Dawn called.
Grace shook herself and glanced at Dawn. “Yes. I think I can sleep now."
"Me, too.” Evan smiled, small but genuine. “For about a year."
They headed for the door behind Dawn and David. As Dawn opened the door to usher the boy through, David said, “This was kinda fun. Can we do it again tomorrow night? Except, you know, not the drowning part."
"David!” Dawn admonished.
Grace turned to Evan. “Is he always this ... happy?"
"Pretty much. David runs on two speeds—hyper and asleep."
"Mm-hm.” Articulate response eluded her. Evan's proximity banished the chill from her damp skin and melted her thoughts in mid-formation. A twinge of disappointment accompanied speculation on what might have happened if Dawn and David hadn't interrupted.
It worried her that she wanted to find out.
They trouped upstairs in mutual silence and parted amid murmured goodnights. Grace stumbled into her room, and didn't bother changing her wet clothes before falling into bed.
Sleep claimed her instantly.
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Chapter 22
Every day, the Adirondack house felt a little more like home.
The others accepted Grace completely. Even Bailey warmed up to her after the girl realized she had no interest in Michael. In fact, Grace went out of her way to avoid him after their initial confrontation. He served as a reminder of the bleak life awaiting her when she was deemed ready. And besides, he was sleeping with her mother.
Grace's observation gradually gave way to interaction. The detachment she'd always maintained had slowly eroded in the knowledge that almost everyone here shared what set her apart from the rest of the world. They knew what it was like to glance in a mirror and fear the image it reflected. They understood the confusion of hearing words without sound not intended for their ears. They were company to her misery.
She had been shattered, and they didn't know they were putting her back together.
Saturday afternoon found Grace, Megan, Dawn and Bailey in the pool. Ace and David had eschewed video games in favor of exploring the woods. Evan had declined a swim and wandered off after the younger boys with a sketchpad and an iPod.
Grace lounged in the shallow end, watching Megan and Dawn sit on the steps and fail to play underwater ring toss. The object of the game was to land a series of heavy, bright-colored rings on a weighted stake at the bottom of the pool. Their throws fell consistently short or to the side, and Dawn insisted between giggles that the stake kept running away.
In the deep end, Bailey broke the surface near the edge and pulled herself out of the water with a single smooth motion. Her electric blue suit clung like skin, glistening in the bright sunlight reflected through the glass panels of the pool house. She crouched and executed a series of fluid stretches, stood, and dove in without a ripple. Her body torpedoed through the water, under the rope that marked the division between shallow and deep. She surfaced a few feet in front of Dawn and Megan holding one of the rings.
"You guys are doing it wrong.” Bailey wasn't the least bit breathless after swimming the entire length of the pool underwater.
Dawn made a face. “Let's see you do it, then."
"Fine. Move over."
They scooted. Bailey settled on the step next to Megan. She held the ring out, waved it in the air a few times, and tossed it underhand. The bright yellow circle sailed in a smooth arc and plunked into the water, drifting gently down to ring the stake and slide to the base.
"Wow.” Dawn regarded her with frank admiration. “How'd you do that?"
Bailey smiled. “I'm not as blonde as I look. See, the water distorts things, makes them look closer than they are. You have to aim past the stake."
"Cool!” Dawn grabbed a green ring from the stack next to her on the deck. She jiggled it in front of her and copied Bailey's underhand toss. The ring wobbled in mid-air and hit th
e water at an angle. It nudged the stake during its descent, but failed to loop the post.
Dawn laughed. “At least I hit it this time. Wanna try, Megan?” She passed a ring over.
Megan gave the stake a dubious look. “I still think it's running away.” She shrugged, drew back, and flipped the ring out over the water. The inner edge of the ring caught the top of the stake and hung there. “Wicked! It does work."
"Told you.” Bailey stood and ascended the steps. She crossed the tiled deck to a bench stacked with folded towels, leaving wet footprints on the surface in her wake. “Think I'll try and soak up some of this poor excuse for sun."
Megan tossed her head. “The sun's not good enough for you?"
"It was better in Florida.” Bailey wrapped a towel around her waist and spread a second one out on the deck. “The water was warmer, too."
"Why don't you go back to Florida, then?” Megan said under her breath.
Bailey stretched out on the towel. “Because I like the view here. And I don't mean the mountains."
"Michael's taken, you know."
"Not for long. She's not like us. She'll get old and ugly."
"Do you mind?” Grace said before she realized her intention to defend Kendra.
"Oh, that's right. She's your mother. Sorry.” A tight smile appeared on Bailey's face. “Well, not really."
Grace uttered a sarcastic snort. “No matter how pretty you are, Bailey, you can't compete with my mother's money."
"I don't have to. The way I figure it, mistresses get the best of both worlds. He'll use her money to indulge me, and I'll warm his bed when that frigid bitch can't."
"Oh, give it a rest,” Grace said. “Michael doesn't even look twice at you."
Bailey pasted on a saccharine smile. “He hasn't even looked once at you."
Grace stiffened. “If you think I want anything to do with that piece of—"
"Guys! Do we have to fight?” Dawn swished her feet in the water and frowned. “Let's talk about something else. Bailey's from Florida. Where are you from, Megan?"
"Utah. Cedar City.” Megan grinned. “The middle of nowhere."
"Does that mean you're Amish?"
Megan laughed. “No. Utah's famous for the Mormons, not the Amish. They live in Salt Lake, and there aren't even that many there. We had electricity and everything."
"We didn't.” Dawn pointed her toes and circled a foot. “Me and David ... I mean, David and I are from Kansas. We're Amish Light—that's what Mom always said. They kicked her out after she had me, but she still wanted to stick with the life."
"Oh. Damn. I'm sorry."
Dawn shrugged. “It's okay. That whole live-off-the-land thing isn't as cool as it sounds. It was hard because we were alone, but Dad came around sometimes. That's how Mom ended up with David."
"Whoa. You actually knew your father?"
"A little. He couldn't stay very long, but he helped out a lot when he came."
"Did you know he was..."
"An angel?” Dawn smiled. “No. Not until Michael found us."
"Angels suck."
All eyes turned to Bailey. She lay on her back, eyes closed, arms folded under her head. Her expression remained neutral, but a muscle twitched along her jaw.
"That's not nice, Bailey.” Dawn's voice trembled a bit.
"Why not? It's true.” Bailey sat up, her eyes flashing fire. “Maybe your father turned up once in a while, but I bet he didn't give a shit about you. Probably just wanted to bone your mother a few more times."
Dawn flushed. She buried her face in her arms with a stifled sob.
"You're such a bitch!” Megan whirled toward Bailey. “You're not the only one who never met your father, you know."
"It was my mother.” Pure ice edged Bailey's tone. “She squeezed me out and took off. Left me alone with my father. Apparently I look just like her—at least, that's what my father said when he started ‘confusing’ me for her. The bastard."
"Oh, no,” Megan whispered. “Bailey, I'm sorry."
"Don't be. I took care of him, when I got strong enough.” Something in her face shut down and she shook her head. “Sorry, kid,” she said to Dawn. “Maybe your father's all right for an angel. But he's still an angel, and they're all jerks."
Dawn released a watery sigh and raised her head. “It's okay. I—” She broke off and looked to her right, out the back door of the pool house. “David?” She shot to her feet, splashing water everywhere. “David!"
Dawn jumped out of the pool and raced through the door. Megan glanced at Grace and ran after the girl.
"What's going on?” Grace waded toward the steps as fast as possible.
Bailey stood. “Ace and David just ran out of the woods. They look scared. I think ... oh, Jesus. I think they're bleeding."
"Come on!” Grace pounded up the steps, and Bailey followed her out.
They reached the boys less than a minute after Dawn and Megan. David and Ace collapsed on the ground, panting. They were scratched and filthy, their clothing torn. Bits of sticks and leaves tangled in their hair. A few splotches of bright blood stood out on David's grungy white shirt. The front of Ace's dark shirt was soaked. Maroon smears decorated the thighs of his jeans.
Dawn knelt beside her brother. “What happened? Are you all right?"
David shook his head hard, still too winded to speak.
Megan dropped next to Ace with fear in her eyes. “Where are you bleeding?"
Ace gulped in air and glanced down at his shirt. “Not my blood,” he gasped. “Evan's."
* * * *
No! Grace shivered and stared toward the woods. “Where is he?"
"We couldn't carry him.” Ace winced, closed his eyes. “Oh, man. I'm sorry. We tried, but he was too heavy. Ran as fast as we could. We gotta go back and get him.” He struggled to one knee and slipped back down in the grass with a pained grunt.
Megan helped him to his feet. “What happened?"
"A bear.” Tears shone in David's eyes. He lurched upright and collapsed against Dawn. “We were having a snack and this bear just came from nowhere. We played dead. It wouldn't leave us alone. You're s'posed to play dead with bears, aren't you?” A shrill note entered his voice. “It wouldn't stop. And Evan ... we didn't know he was out there. He jumped out and yelled. Then he ran and the bear chased him. He saved us..."
Grace silently cursed Michael all over again. If she wasn't drugged, she could have gotten to Evan and brought him back in a few seconds. He couldn't be that far away. She forced herself to calm down and think. “Okay. Bailey, can you get Michael and tell him what happened?"
Nodding, Bailey turned and sprinted across the yard toward the distant greenhouse.
"Dawn, take David and Ace inside. Get somebody to check them over. Megan, will you come with me to get Evan?"
"Wait a second.” Ace grimaced and swayed, then righted himself. “You don't know where he is. I do. I'm going with you."
Grace hesitated. “All right,” she said after a pause. “But we have to hurry."
Ace nodded. “I know."
Dawn hustled David toward the house, and Ace set off for the woods with Grace and Megan in tow. Halfway to the tree line, he stumbled and fell on hands and knees.
"You're wiped out.” Megan helped him up again. “Just tell us where he is and we'll find him ourselves."
Ace shook his head. “Not wiped out. My back..."
"What's wrong with your back?” Megan lifted his shirt and gasped. Four crimson furloughs scored him across the center of his spine. “You said it wasn't your blood!"
"Not on the front.” Ace tried to smile. “I'll be fine. Evan won't be if we don't get to him quick. Let's go."
"Wait.” Megan glanced at Grace and held a finger to her lips, as she had in the tree house. She laid a hand flat against Ace's back. He drew a sharp breath and stilled. After a few seconds, Megan removed her hand.
Ace turned to stare at her. “What did you do?"
"The bear never touched yo
u. Got it?"
His mouth opened and snapped shut. “Got it."
"Lead the way.” Megan gestured at the trees.
Ace broke into a run. The girls sprinted after him. They crashed through brush and bushes, weaving through trees and scrambling over logs for what seemed like hours. At last they reached a clearing that bore evidence of a struggle. Ace stopped in the center and turned in a slow circle.
"This way,” he said, pointing at a claw-torn tree. He moved slowly, glancing back and forth until he spotted his objective. “There."
Grace followed his gaze. Evan lay facedown and motionless on a sprawling patch of moss, his face turned to one side. Deep gashes and flaps of torn skin showed clearly through shredded clothing. Splashes of glistening red contrasted sickly with the deep green carpet around him. The bottom of his jeans had been torn from his right leg, and flashes of bone were visible in his mutilated ankle. A thick, splintered branch lay just beyond one outstretched arm as though he'd tried to defend himself with it.
"Evan!” Grace rushed toward his head and knelt, brushing pine needles and debris from his face. His eyes were slits of white. She held a trembling hand in front of his mouth and felt a faint puff of air. “He's breathing. Megan..."
Megan dropped at his feet. “I can't heal him completely. They'll know ... and I don't think I'm strong enough yet. But at least I can make sure he doesn't die.” Her hand hovered over his torn ankle and hesitated. She placed it just above the wound. His flesh knit over the bone, and the gash closed slowly. “Jesus,” she said through clenched teeth. “Feels like his guts are ripped out."
"Should we try and turn him over?"
"No. I don't have to see it. Besides, it'll probably damage him more."
What if the bear's still around? Grace twisted to view the surrounding woods. A shambling, uneven path of torn earthen clods led away from Evan, deeper into the forest. Several broken branches and trampled vegetation marked the bear's escape route. Though she couldn't be certain, Grace thought the animal had left at a run. She turned back to Evan. Some color had returned to his skin. His breath quickened, stirring particles of dead leaves.
