The Evensong

by Lindsay Payton

  “Here, it will help, I swear,” she said, crouching in front of me. Her eyes were an intense bright blue, standing out in the darkness of the room.

  I sighed, the burst of oxygen momentarily fighting off the nausea. “What is it?”

  “Some bay, beebalm, a little bit of cinnamon—it might not taste spectacular, but it should help,” she replied, tucking her dark hair behind her ear.

  “There’s got to be more in here, I can smell it,” I replied.

  She sighed. “Yes, there is, but just drink it, okay?”

  I nodded and took a hesitant sip, ignoring the odd tastes under the citrus and cinnamon. Just the first sip soothed my stomach, so I eagerly drank the rest, hoping for relief. It didn’t seem to help the headache much, but I could deal with that a little better.

  “God, you’ve got a gift, Aly,” I said, almost finished.

  She laughed and stood, going back into the kitchen, calling back, “I know.”

  I spent the next five minutes just lying still trying to quiet the storm. I knew I didn’t have that power, only Elementals did, but I still tried anyway. Stop rain, quit for a while, slow down, stop raining, please stop. Of course there was no difference, but just lying still made me feel a little better. It was so much better that I didn’t ask Hunter to leave the room when he slumped in the armchair next to the couch and turned on the TV.

  We were wrapped up in A Haunting on Discovery when Omar came through the front door, hair soaked from the rain, which was still going strong. Thankfully my headache was just a dull throb now, nowhere near as painful as it had been before.

  “All this rain is crap, I can’t handle this much water,” Omar was saying to Rene as he walked into the kitchen. They talked about work and applications, and then Rene lowered her voice, probably mentioning something about me. I ignored it at first, but then Omar’s face appeared over the couch, looking down at me.

  “Feeling better, faker?” he asked.

  “Who are you, Lisa?” I replied, looking back at the TV. He laughed and came around the couch, nudging my legs aside so he could sit down. I stretched my legs right back over his lap, huddling deeper into the couch for warmth.

  “What’s on?” he asked.

  “Shh! It’s the best part,” Hunter snapped quietly.

  “Oh.”

  I tried not to laugh, folding my arms over my chest for further warmth. In the kitchen, Rene and Alysana were making dinner, chatting over the stove and Alysana’s small collection of potted herbs on the sill of the kitchen window. Hank and Justine were in the kitchen too, apparently doing homework before the meal.

  “I wish the rain would stop,” I said when the show had ended.

  “Are you still feeling sick?” Omar asked.

  “Not really sick anymore, I just have the headache. I’m afraid to get up, it will probably be worse.”

  “I’ll float you up to your room,” Omar suggested.

  “No—I already feel weird, that will make it worse.”

  Omar laughed and asked Hunter for the remote. With a casual wave of his hand, Hunter sent the remote across the room towards Omar.

  “What’s for dinner?” I asked as he flipped channels.

  “Chicken and rice. Nothing special,” he said. Even if it was ‘nothing special’ to him, I was still anxious for it; I hadn’t eaten most of the day.

  When Rene called us all to the kitchen, I rose slowly, the throb in my head increasing a little. I took my usual seat between Omar and Alysana, serving up as the others filtered in.

  “Here’s a new one,” Rene said, pulling out a liter of soda from the fridge. “I didn’t have time for tea, and I had a craving.”

  The liter was passed down our side of the table first, and Omar filled my cup for me. I drank a little, thinking the caffeine might help my headache.

  It took a few minutes for everyone to flock to the table. The noise of the silverware and small talk filled the room, almost drowning out the sound of the rain. It was comforting to be there, sitting with the family I knew. It was just slightly different. Rene served as the mother figure to all of us, and I thought of most of the younger ones as siblings. That included Hank and Justine, who were both only thirteen. Justine was the newest addition, having been with us for hardly a year. I’d known Omar and Alysana the longest, but both of them were my best friends, further reasons why I didn’t want Omar to leave.

  Rene tapped her knife against her glass, gaining everyone’s immediate attention. She smiled slightly and laced her fingers together on the table.

  “So. News for the night,” she started, looking at each of us in turn. “Everyone should remember that Hunter’s birthday is in a week.”

  Hank hollered and Hunter pumped a weak fist into the air. “Woo-hoo. The big 2-1.”

  “That’s right. Cold beers all around,” Rene said. “Except for you two.”

  Hank and Justine seemed a little put off, but I knew Rene would probably change her mind one way or the other. She’d make them something else in exchange.

  “And Omar has sent out two applications to college,” Rene went on. She beamed at him while I shrunk back in my seat. “And I just found out this evening that Alysana will be looking into colleges as well.”

  I looked at Alysana, shocked. She was smiling sheepishly, staring down at her plate. She’d never told me anything or mentioned any interest in leaving. Everyone seemed to be shipping themselves away; would I be left alone with Hunter until I was twenty-one? Or older?

  Rene went on with a few more announcements, but I wasn’t really listening anymore. Alysana seemed so comfortable here with everyone. She had her plants and her garden, a good job, friends … and she was giving that up for what? A strange city, being lonely and isolated? I didn’t get it.

  After eating a slice of one of Meryl’s cakes, I stood and washed my dishes before heading up to my room. I didn’t wait for Alysana to finish eating; in fact, I hoped she would take a while longer.

  My room was still cold from the storm, which had changed to a light drizzle. Mouse was perched on my bed, ears erect, and she meowed loudly as I closed the door behind me. I lay down on the bed, facing the window on the left wall. Beyond it was nothing but the dark sky covered with clouds. I wondered if it was raining all over town. By morning, the air would smell of the swamps; a deep, rich smell of moisture and water plants. I decided I would call in sick and take a day to just go to the swamps. Alysana never wanted to join me since she thought the place was disgusting. Omar would be at work, and I thought a trip alone would be nice. I needed some time to clear my head.

  Someone knocked twice on my door and opened it a little before I could answer. Alysana peered inside, and I didn’t say anything, concentrating on petting Mouse.

  “Hey,” she said quietly, stepping inside. “I’m sorry I didn’t say anything … I didn’t really decide on it till today. I was looking at the brochures Omar was getting, and it just looked so nice.”

  “Where do you think you’re going to go?” I asked, sitting up.

  “I don’t know,” she shrugged, leaning against the wall. “I thought California might be nice. I’ve never been to the beach, not since I came here.”

  I wrapped my arms around my knees, sighing. “Are you going to look for your parents?”

  She scoffed. “No, I’m on my own there. I just want to go to school, look into being a botanist.”

  “You don’t need to look into that, that’s your gift,” I said. “Isn’t that cheating?”

  “Okay, maybe I’ll minor in botany. I like animals, too.”

  I nodded, smiling a little. I really had no reason to be mad—I was just being selfish.

  “Why don’t you come with me?” Alysana asked, suddenly looking excited. “We could get an apartment on the beach, get jobs in Hollywood. It would be sweet.”

  I laughed. “Hollywood?”

  “It’s just a thought,” she shrugged. “Will you think about it?”

  “Yeah, I’ll think about it.�
� A lie. I needed time to think on other things.

  She left, saying she had some research to do. I let her go, deciding I should finish what little homework I had.

  Outside, the rain had almost stopped, and I couldn’t wait until morning. The swamps would bring out some answers.

  THE SWAMPS

  I woke up early the next morning, finding the sky was still gray. Mouse had fallen asleep next to me, huddled in a ball under the covers. It was still chilly, enough that goosebumps rose on my arms.

  I changed quickly, taking a hoodie from my closet after I’d slipped on my shoes. It was slightly warmer than the air, and I rubbed my arms as I stepped into the hall. I closed my door slightly and tiptoed past Alysana’s room, down the stairs to the first floor. It was even too early for Rene to be up; the kitchen was empty. I glanced into the living room before I reached the front door and I noticed a blanket spread over the couch. A figure lay under it, the head covered with the blanket. Judging by the drawings on the coffee table, it was Omar.

  There was a basket of extra blankets next to the TV, and I took a second to grab a few and drape them over him before I left. He was so immersed in his work, he sometimes forgot to really take care of himself.

  Outside, the air was even colder than the house. I pulled my hood over my head and stuffed my hands into the hoodie pockets. I didn’t have to take a car with me since the swamp was so close.

  Halfway up the road, I wished I had taken a car. The wind wasn’t particularly fierce, but it was cold enough that my nose started to run and my cheeks were losing feeling. I jogged the last few minutes, hands over my nose and mouth for warmth. The wall of the swamp trees was close enough that I could see the dark scars on the bleached trunks. The dank smell was strong now, and I could almost taste it when I slowed to a walk at the path.

  I stood still for a moment, taking time to catch my breath. The ends of my jeans were wet and stained with mud, which would only get worse the second I walked into the swamp. I could hear a woodpecker hammering at a tree and a warbler chirped further inside. Taking a deep breath, I stepped into the trees, immediately walking off the path, taking my own way.

  Soon, the open road I had taken disappeared behind the trees and the ground became increasingly unstable and soggy. I almost tripped once since my foot landed in a particularly soft spot, and my ankle nearly twisted. I quickly moved on, ducking under some of the moss hanging from low branches. There was a specific place I liked to sit, and I hoped it would be a little dryer than the rest of the swamp. The chances of that were slim, but I still tried to think positive.

  The fallen tree that I called mine was unoccupied, as usual, and a darker color since it was wet. There was no way to fix that, so I just sat down in the center, keeping my hands in my sleeves. The log overlooked the area where the ground disappeared, replaced by murky water. The trees shot out of these waters, rimmed with algae and draped in moss. You could hardly see the other side of the swamp since the trees were so dense. This was my spot of meditation, totally immersed in nature of the wildest kind.

  The water stirred a few feet out, making me jump a little. I knew it was probably a caiman or a turtle, which made me smile a little. Something moved out of the corner of my eye, and I turned to look, barely spotting a newt before it disappeared under my log. This was an ideal day to be here; just after the rain, life was teeming.

  I rested my head in my hands, closing my eyes. Just having my eyes closed made my other senses peak. The almost-still water seemed to be louder as it shifted subtly; the birds that still slept were waking slowly, just ruffling their feathers. Concentrating on these sounds, I breathed evenly, letting myself detach from my physical body.

  I drifted through the treetops first, feeling how the moss moved gently in the slight breeze, and grazed past the trees. I paused by a warbler, probably the one I had heard earlier. Carefully, I just touched its being and momentarily felt the clear chirp in my own throat.

  I slipped into the water next, one of my favorite things about the swamps. It was full of life of all kinds. It was thick with algae and different mosses, and the tree roots twisted and spiraled out from the trunks. I was just following one of the many fish, when I happened to branch out to something else on shore.

  I jolted back into my body with an unnerving force. I looked up, trying to catch my breath. There seemed to be a lump in my throat, making it hard to breathe. I’d never been forced back like that … I must have just been surprised at feeling a person nearby.

  After a second of breathing hard, I spotted it—the person I had felt. He was standing on the opposite side of the wide swamp, perched on one of the thick tree roots sticking out of the water. I’d never seen him before, not here and not in town. His hair was long, just touching his shoulders, falling into his eyes in jagged pieces. But it was his eyes that really held me; almond-shaped, cat eyes that were more impish than anything. He stared at me looking just as surprised as I felt. He adjusted his hand on the tree for balance, and I stood, turning away fast and going back the way I came.

  When I was sure he couldn’t see me, I ran the rest of the way, the swamp splashing up and soaking my jeans to my knees. I could still feel his presence back there, and I found myself still running after I left the swamp, and I continued all the way down the road and back up the porch of the house.

  I was ridiculously out of breath when I stopped just inside the door. I was also very cold. Rene was just standing between the living room and the kitchen, her favorite mug in her hands. She stared at me with a slight frown, a thick shawl draping around her shoulders.

  “Riley, what are you doing?” she asked.

  Leaning against the door, my jeans covered in mud, I must have looked crazy.

  “I—I was at—the swamp,” I gasped.

  “Did you run home?”

  I nodded, pushing my bangs away from my face as I removed my damp hoodie. I was shivering hard, and Rene looked impatient as she walked into the living room and came back with a blanket.

  “Here, you’ll get sick if you do this so much,” she said, putting it around my shoulders. It was long enough that it dragged along the wood floor, and she looked at my pants. “Come on, drop them, I’m doing the wash now.”

  I turned away and peeled my jeans off, keeping the blanket tight around me. I handed over the soaked denim, doing as she asked when she told me to wait in the living room. Omar was still on the couch, lying on his back and staring at the ceiling.

  “Hey,” he said as I sat in the armchair, keeping my legs covered. “Where’d you go?”

  “The swamp,” I replied, huddling into the blanket.

  “This early?”

  I shrugged. “I wanted some alone time.”

  “To project?”

  I nodded, thinking about the nice projection I was having before he interrupted … whoever he was.

  Rene brought me a cup of coffee, complete with sugar and cream as I liked it. I sipped it carefully, letting her question me as much as she wanted. She worried about me too much sometimes, and especially now since Omar was leaving; she knew we were close.

  “What brought you to the swamps so early?” Rene asked, pushing Omar’s feet out of the way so she could sit.

  “I just wanted some time to think things over,” I said, “and to project.”

  Rene nodded, letting her mug float just next to her hand. “You know I don’t like it when you do that alone. I don’t mean going to the swamps, but projecting there. You’re very vulnerable when you do that.”

  “I know.” I tried to hide my annoyance. I’d heard this millions of times. “There’s no one out there anyway, just today.”

  She looked at me sharply. “There was someone there?”

  “Yeah. I’d never seen him before, not in town, I mean,” I replied.

  She looked thoughtful, and her mug shook a little, giving away her unease. “Hm. Him … was he older?”

  “No—I mean, definitely older than me, younger than you.”

>   “Aha. I can only think he might be the heir to that home—the big house on the other side of town closer to the swamps. Sharon was just telling me about that.”

  “What house?” I asked, trying to think of it.

  “The gentleman who lived there was never really around; he traveled a lot, but he just died a few weeks ago. Sharon wanted to sell the place to locals, but then they found the will. I guess the guys name was on it.”

  “Why would he be in the swamp?” Omar asked. “Only freaks like Riley hang there.”

  I rolled my eyes at him, then listened to Rene again.

  “If he lives nearby, he was probably curious. I don’t know if that was him for sure, but it’s possible if Riley didn’t recognize him.”

  I shrugged slightly, the guys face coming up in my mind. Again I thought of his eyes, somewhat shielded by his hair. They could be pretty up close …

  I shook my head slightly. What was I thinking? He had intruded on my turf, my projecting. He was a stranger in the town, and I bet everyone was talking about him.

  “Were you feeling any better today?” Rene asked, moving on.

  “Sort of … I was just planning on staying home though.”

  She nodded in understanding, standing when she heard Hank coming down the stairs. He appeared with his hair tousled, one of his cats cradled in his arms.

  “Is there anymore cat food? They’re all complaining,” he asked Rene as she passed him. They went back into the kitchen, and I was left to finish my coffee and think about the swamp.

  “Why didn’t you wake me up before you left?” Omar asked, sitting up and leaning against the arm of the couch.

  “Like I said, I wanted to be alone,” I replied. “No offense.”

  “None taken,” he shrugged and yawned, smacking the empty space on the couch. “You’re probably still cold, huddle over here.”

  I smiled slightly and waddled over, keeping the blanket secure around my waist. I sat next to him and brought my legs up onto the couch with me. I thought we were going to watch TV, but Omar turned towards me, resting his arm on the back of the couch.