The Dance

by James Goodman

  “You don’t find my needs vile?” Kyle turned to face her, a look of surprise stretched across his face.

  “Oh, lover.” She sighed, stroking his cheek. “Your needs are a part of who you are and I love you, all of you. How could I think anything about you is vile?”

  “So, can I bring my instruments?”

  “I… we need for them to be alive for—”

  “I promise I will leave them largely intact. I have been working with the human body for a long time. I’ll cut only deep enough to get the reaction I want and then we can end the party with the Dance that you enjoy so much.”

  Nina was silent as she considered his proposal. She knew she needed to keep him happy, but she wasn’t sure she could handle another botched ceremony. She was so close to completing her own transition that it was only a matter of time before she drew the attention of others.

  “I won’t even bring the fishing line,” Kyle added, fearing her silence meant certain denial for him.

  “We can do both.” She held up a finger as Kyle opened his mouth to speak. “That is, provided it doesn’t cause complications with the Dance. If something goes wrong—”

  “I’ll be careful, I promise.”

  “Well then, gather what you need. I’m ready to go.” She walked out of the closet.

  Kyle selected a handful of tools and laid them out on the bed, seeming to take extreme care in choosing each instrument. Nina paced anxiously while she watched him load them into the bag.

  “Okay, I think that’s everything. Do you have a picture of our destination?”

  “No.” She shook her head. “I want to try something different this time.”

  “Like what?” He looked at her queerly as she moved closer to him.

  She placed her fingers on either side of his head and closed her eyes.

  “I want you to relax,” she said softly. “I am thinking of the room where we need to go and I am projecting those thoughts to you. Nod if you understand.”

  She waited for him to comply before she continued. “Clear all the thoughts from your head. I want you to feel me inside your mind. Remember your breathing.”

  Kyle focused hard, searching for something in his head that shouldn’t be there. Lights from the room danced on the back of his eyelids, making him wonder why there was movement in the room.

  Don’t wonder, just concentrate, Nina’s voice whispered in his mind. He resisted the urge to open his eyes when he realized she hadn’t spoken aloud.

  He slowly became aware of the image of a tree. It was fuzzy and distorted, like a picture taken of an object that is too close to the lens. The edges of the tree began to look crisp as the image grew clearer. Soon, he could see that it sat in the corner of a room. More and more details of the room came into focus. He could practically smell the lingering fragrance from the evening meal.

  “Once you can see the room, I want you to take us there, both of us this time,” Nina instructed.

  Kyle took a deep breath, picked a spot in the center of the room and pictured them standing there. As he focused his energies, the familiar sound of rushing water washed over him, extinguishing the dancing lights. For a split second, he had the sensation of falling, and then he felt carpet beneath his feet.

  He opened his eyes and his chest rose with pride. “This gets easier every time I do it.”

  Nina stood beside him, smiling in approval.

  “There are no stairs,” Kyle observed as he walked through the room.

  “Where are your partners?”

  “Oh, you want me to try that again, huh?”

  Nina merely nodded.

  Kyle chuckled to himself. No matter what I do, she always wants more. He closed his eyes and let his mind reach out to find the sleeping couple, but he couldn’t feel anything happening.

  “It’s no use. I got nothing.”

  “Ah, lover, you have nothing to be upset about. You have shown some wonderful progress here today.”

  “Would you mind doing the honors?” He motioned toward the hallway.

  “Not at all,” she said with a shrug. “Follow me.”

  They crept down the hallway, stopping in front of the last door on the left. Kyle cringed as a creak groaned from the hinges when he opened the door. He peeked into the room, making sure the couple on the bed hadn’t moved.

  “It’s show time,” Kyle whispered before his mouth spread into a grin.

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Tom could barely focus on the road; his anger was all consuming. He had just left a lawyer’s office and the bastard’s comments still ate away at his mind.

  You can’t be serious. This case looks cut and dry. Why didn’t you fight for more rights in the original custody battle? Oh, you have a history of drinking—

  “I hope you rot in hell, you God damned shark!” Tom yelled at the windshield. “What a sanctimonious ass. Sitting there judging me.”

  Get a hold of yourself, man. It was just a preliminary visit. There are plenty of lawyers in this town.

  He tried to calm his nerves, not wanting his children to see him so worked up. He knew he didn’t have much time left with them and he wanted their memories of him to be pleasant ones.

  By the time he pulled into the driveway, he was even able to work up a smile. Sherry was in the doorway before he could even get out of the car. Of course, SHE’S smiling. What would she have to be upset about? The world is her fucking oyster.

  “Hi, Tom,” she said with a little wave as she opened the storm door. “Come on in. The kids are still upstairs packing, but they’ll be down when they’re finished.”

  Great, I guess that means I get a little more quality time with you and Dan. “I appreciate you asking them if they wanted to come with me during the week like this.”

  “I told you that I would let you spend as much time as you wanted with them and I meant it. Besides, it’s not like they have school tomorrow.”

  Tom bit his tongue, but hearing her say, “let” made him blink rapidly. Keep it cool. Don’t give her any reasons to take away what time you have left with your children.

  He followed her into the living room, trying to think of something pleasant to say. Nothing was coming to mind, so he decided to see how long she would let the silence reign. Momma always said: if you don’t have anything nice to say—

  “In case you’re wondering, Dan is at work,” she said, taking a seat on the sofa.

  Damn, so much for the silence. She wants to make small talk.

  “I figured as much.” He stood near the bottom of the stairs.

  “You can have a seat if you want.” She motioned to the chair. “The little scamps are liable to be a while.”

  “No, thanks. I’ve been sitting all morning. If it’s all the same, I’d rather stand.”

  “Suit yourself.”

  Stop talking. Just shut up! God, even the sound of her voice makes me want to scratch my eyes out.

  “You know, Tom. We never really finished discussing—”

  “Sherry, I would really rather not get into that right now,” he interrupted.

  “Fine,” she said with raised eyebrows at his curtness. “I just wanted you to know I am willing to do whatever I can to make sure you still get to see them.”

  “We both know that once you move them so far away, it’s only a matter of time… Never mind, I said I didn’t want to get into this.”

  “It's only matter of time before what? Come on, Tom. We are both adults here. Let’s talk this through.”

  Tom glared at her. Does she get a kick out of tormenting me? He let out a heavy sigh and turned to look back up the stairs.

  “Look, they are both getting older. They will make new friends once you get settled in. I remember what it was like to be young. I remember how important it was to spend time with friends. It’s part of growing up, part of establishing your own identity. How long do you think it will be before they would rather spend the summers with their friends than with a dad they barely know?�
�

  “Oh, Tom. Is that what’s been bothering you? No matter where they go or what they do, it will never change the fact that you are their father. They love you. If I didn’t know it in my heart, I wouldn’t be going through all of the trouble of making time for the three of you.”

  Oh, sorry if my relationship with John and Julie is putting you out in any way. “Yeah, but…” Tom suddenly didn’t want to share any more about his fears with the person who was causing his pain. “I’m sure, you’re right.”

  “Daddy!” Julie jumped down the stairs two at a time.

  “Hey there, pumpkin.” Tom caught her as she leapt into his arms.

  Her brother was close behind her. Tom spread his arm to embrace him too, but John hesitated, sticking his hand out instead.

  “Oh, it’s like that now, is it?” Tom shook his son’s hand. “Getting to old for hugs from the old man?”

  “Dad,” he protested, clearly embarrassed by his father’s perception.

  “Don’t worry about it, son. I remember going through the same thing with my dad. Would it surprise you to know that before I was out of school, I was back to giving him hugs?”

  “You hugged grandpa?” John wore a look of disgust on his face.

  “I still hug him when I get a chance,” he answered with a nod.

  Julie quickly grew bored with their conversation. “Daddy, I’m hungry.”

  “Hungry? It’s only two o’clock. Didn’t you have lunch?” Tom cast a quick glance over his shoulder at Sherry.

  “They just ate at eleven.”

  “I’m still hungry,” Julie insisted.

  Tom laughed, scratching his chin as if he were in deep thought. “Let me guess, you’re hungry for pizza.”

  “That sounds like fun!”

  “You mean it sounds yummy?”

  “Oh, dad.” She smiled at him.

  “Dad, she’s been gabbing non stop about Papa Joe’s ever since mom told us you were coming to pick us up,” John told him in an exasperated voice.

  “Papa Joe’s, huh?” He smiled at his son. “Are you too old to go to a place like that?”

  “I’m sure I can find something to do there,” he said, feigning disinterest. “I’m not really hungry right now, though.”

  “It is a little early yet.” Tom looked at his watch again. “Do you think you could possibly hold out for another couple of hours?”

  “I guess so,” Julie answered with a tiny frown.

  “You know, they just opened a new park not six blocks from Papa Joe’s. What do you say we go see what all the hubbub is about?”

  “Parks are for little kids, dad,” John protested with as much indignation as he could muster.

  “Sometimes that’s true, but this one also has a skateboard park right next to it.”

  John’s eyes lit up at the prospect of skating with other kids, telling Tom all he needed to know.

  Tom ushered them to the door. “All right, it’s settled then. Let’s get you two loaded in the car.”

  “A skateboard park?” Sherry followed on their heels. “Do you really think that’s safe?”

  “Hell, you let him ride it around here all the time,” he said earning him an icy stare. “I’ll make sure he wears his pads.”

  “John, you be careful out there.” She ignored Tom’s response.

  “They’ll be fine. Seriously, don’t worry about them.” For God’s sake, just let me enjoy the time I have with them, you nagging bitch.

  The idea of her moving so far away sounded more appealing by the day.

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Tom gritted his teeth as he drove away from dropping his kids back off at their home. He knew time was running out, but there was nothing he could do to keep them from moving away.

  A little drive might help me clear my mind.

  He turned onto the expressway and drove west, letting the lights of the city comfort him as they moved slowly by his window.

  Wow, the river is a little riper than usual. He scrunched up his nose as the smell of rotten eggs flooded the car. The Arkansas River was notorious for its sulfur smell, in varying degrees of potency, throughout the day.

  Without warning, the hair on the back of his neck rose. He felt as if he were no longer alone, instinctively looked over his shoulder into the backseat, and found it empty. Damn, I must be getting a little jumpy in my old age. He laughed aloud.

  He couldn’t hear the laughter that joined his. Long, slender fingers stretched out from behind him, tracing the side of his face without actually making contact. A gravely voice began to chant in an ancient tongue, but Tom’s mind wouldn’t let him hear it. Lips the color of burnt charcoal leaned close to his ear.

  “You’re going the wrong way,” Eramael whispered on fetid breath. “Turn around. Go back to the city.”

  Tom felt the tug at his mind. Something wasn’t right, but he couldn’t put a name to it. He had the overwhelming urge to turn around. He continued to drive, resisting the sensation. With each exit he passed, the pull intensified to the point it was almost painful.

  “Maybe, you need to take some time off. You’re starting to lose it, brother,” he told his reflection in the rearview mirror.

  “Why are you fighting so hard?” Eramael’s lips were inches from his ear. “You said you wanted to go for a drive, so drive.”

  Eramael let his fingers rest lightly on Tom’s temples as he willed him to do his bidding.

  Tom blinked rapidly, struggling to understand what was happening to him.

  Oh, what the hell. Let’s just see where this takes me.

  He gave control of the car over to the unseen force that tugged at his mind. He drove blindly, turning whenever his senses tingled. This is crazy. I haven’t been this far into the Southside in ten years and yet, here I am, bee-bopping along like I know where I’m going. The thought of it made him laugh uneasily.

  “Stop next to that curb,” Eramael commanded, letting his hands drop to his lap.

  Tom pulled over and turned off the engine.

  What now? He wondered as he looked out the window.

  It was hard to make out much more than an outline of the house in the cloudy night sky. “You’d think people with houses that big would want to keep them lit up a little better than that,” he muttered as he rolled down the window.

  He looked up and down the street, finding it odd that he was in front of the only house on the block that was completely dark.

  “This is ridiculous. They’re probably off on some grand vacation.” He snorted as he reached for the car keys.

  “You need to get out and check the house. Something bad is happening even as you sit here, you thickheaded oaf,” Eramael barked, reaching to grab either side of Tom’s head as he spoke.

  Tom leaned back in his seat, casting another glance out the driver side window. As long as I’m here, I guess it wouldn’t hurt to check it out. He let out a heavy sigh and opened the car door. He grabbed a flashlight from the glove box and clicked it on before he stepped out into the darkness.

  “You need to hurry. If they feel you coming, they will get away.” Eramael wished Tom could actually hear his words.

  Tom felt a sudden sense of urgency and rounded the corner at a jog. He moved the beam from the flashlight around the yard, but had a nagging feeling that the house was where he needed to be. As he rounded another corner, he pulled up short. Light spilled out into the backyard from a single window. He could see a shadow flitting across the grass as someone moved briskly around the room.

  Tom clicked off his flashlight and pressed his back against the wall, edging his way up to the window.

  “Stupid human, you should have used the door,” Eramael said as his fingers traced symbols in the air. He began chanting softly in his ancient tongue. He could only hope it was enough.

  Tom took a deep breath and peered up over the windowsill. It was all he could do to choke back a gasp as the scene in the room registered. He saw a grizzly bear of a man holding what look
ed like a mace, with long thin spines protruding from the head of it. He tossed it from hand to hand, while looking down at the bed. He was bare-chested, wearing only a pair of jeans. Even his feet were bare. His skin was the golden brown of someone who toiled for hours in the sun. His hair was so blonde, it was almost white; a deep contrast to his skin. The sides and back were close-cropped, but he wore a spike on the top that stood a good six inches above his head.

  Ah, the elusive Kyle. Why did all of those people say he had dark hair?

  The beast moved to the side of the bed and Tom knew he had to act quickly. Now that The Puppeteer was out of the way, Tom could see that there was an elderly couple bound and lying on a bed. From Tom’s vantage point, he could see blood pooling on the pillows behind their heads.

  Son of a bitch! I’ve caught that bastard in the act. Where the hell is Pearlman? I’ve got to get in there. He ducked away from the window.

  “Yes, you need to stop them,” Eramael said gleefully.

  Tom rushed to the front of the house. He wanted to be as far from the bedroom as possible if he had to pick the lock. He grabbed his radio from his belt almost as an afterthought.

  “This is Detective Wiley, requesting immediate backup at six-two-zero-one-two, South Urbana. I have visual contact with a suspect presumed to be The Puppeteer, over.”

  “I copy the request Detective. Units are on their way. Please, stand by until back up arrives, over.”

  “Yeah, like that’s gonna happen.” He grunted as he switched off the radio.

  He turned the doorknob and cursed under his breath when the door didn’t budge. I’m losing time, here.

  He tried to pick the lock. After three failed attempts, he stood up and kicked the door just below the knob, flinging it open with a crash. He sprinted through the house, praying he wasn’t too late.

  “Put your hands in the air, asshole!” Tom shouted as he jumped into the bedroom.

  Kyle looked over his shoulder with apparent disinterest. “I don’t remember inviting you to this party.”