by MJ Fletcher
Truthfully, I was starting to confide in Faith more than most.
Chapter Three
Status: Secrets and lies are necessary or so I keep telling myself.
“What are you going to do?” Val sat on the stool opposite me and slid a steaming cup of coffee across the table. I’d promised to meet her on her break at the Cape Beanery.
“I’m going to tell him we’re over.” I tapped my fingers on the sides of the cup. It was mid-November and the weather had taken a turn toward winter.
“I thought he might still be hung up on you. I told Edgar we should set Slade up with someone but he didn’t think it was a good idea, since Slade was always talking about you.”
“Great, so this’ll be nice and easy then,” I said sarcastically and lifted my cup and took a sip, savoring the taste.
“When are you going to do it?” Val asked eagerly and I knew she had something in mind.
“Why?”
“Well, there’s this dance at my school and I want Edgar to take me. I wanted to set Slade up with a girl from school so Edgar wouldn’t feel so lonely— or you know— seem so odd.” She shrugged.
I loved Val. She was right there with me, hooking my ex up to get him off my back. “When is it?”
“Two weeks.”
“Fine, I’ll do it before then so you can set up your little shindig.” I laughed and took another sip. Actually, her plan really helped me out. I needed something to push me to have the conversation with Slade and at least this put me on a timetable.
“How is everything else going? Any news?” Val leaned in conspiratorially and grinned.
When she had been kidnapped and learned the truth about me and my friends and about the Old Kind, protocol dictated that her memory of the events be wiped. Jess and I had convinced Dad not to do it and ever since Val has been voracious about anything having to do with the Old Kind. I suppose it didn’t help that her boyfriend was a Mapmaker. It also was nice having an outsider’s point of view on the craziness that was my life.
“Not really, I’m sure Edgar will fill you in.” I took a swallow of my coffee and glanced out the window.
“He told me about your near miss the other night,” Val said like an irate parent and cocked an eyebrow and gave me her best disapproving look.
I was tired of everyone trying to talk sense into me when they were really reprimanding me. “Edgar already talked to me about this and I get it. You’re all very worried about me. ”
“We’re concerned that’s all. I can’t imagine how difficult it is for you with what happened to Nightshade. I want you to know that you can talk to me whenever you need to.” Val clasped my hand and squeezed tightly.
I smiled at her and patted her hand reassuringly. Val was a good friend; they all were, though lately the only one not giving me hell was Faith.
The bells on the door rang as customers entered the Beanery and Val rushed off to greet them. I clutched my coffee cup letting the warmth seep in and stared out the window.
Why did she have to bring up Nightshade? Why did everyone for that matter? It was difficult enough keeping the memories at bay without everyone reminding me about him every five seconds. Even when I did think about him, more often than not, we were arguing. The man had had a way of driving me nuts. The few quiet moments we had spent together were the ones I held onto; our embrace in a narrow, dark closet, a night under the desert stars, and the night of the school dance forever frozen in a picture. If I concentrated hard enough I could even smell his familiar scent and naturally there was a hint of leather to it. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath trying to conjure it up in my mind.
His eyes came first, the blue and then the gray; next I saw his crooked smile. I smiled recalling the self-confident way he would talk or stand beside me. The pain returned as his image faded. I had assumed he would always be there, but he was gone and now I was alone. The man I had thought was a pain-in-my-butt and wanted to get rid of, was the one person I wanted desperately to see now more than anyone.
“Are you trying to inhale that coffee?” Faith’s voice cut through my memories and I opened my eyes and turned to her sitting across from me with a wide smile on her face.
An itch tickled at the base of my neck and I laughed at her comment as I reached back to scratch it. “Where’d you come from?”
“Just finished practice.” She pulled her bag off her shoulder and slung it over the back of the chair. Faith had been given her own DS team after our last misadventure. They’d wanted me to take on a team full time, but I declined and told them that she deserved it.
“How’d it go?”
“Not bad, the team is coming together. I think if the First Kind showed up, we would give them a run for their money. Of course, we would do a lot better if you were a member.” She winked at me and I smirked at the implication.
“Sorry, I’m done listening to DS for the moment.” I’d had enough of the Old Kind and their ways to last a lifetime. I was more interested in staying on the outside and working for Dad and my other side job with Gavin that no one knew about.
“For not being active with DS you certainly do keep busy. I haven’t seen you in over a week. What’ve you been up too?” Faith leaned forward and I knew she didn’t believe for a moment that I hadn’t been doing stuff on the sly.
“Nothing much, just school stuff,” I said.
“Yeah, right, school stuff. Well, whatever you’re up to be careful. The Societies are practically at war with one another. All its going to take is one match to light the fire.”
Faith sat straight on the stool and for a moment I thought I caught a hint of satisfaction flash across her face. How could that be? It didn’t make sense, Faith wouldn’t want a war. We were fighting to prevent that. I realized I must have misread her.
“Thanks, Val,” Faith said as Val dropped off a cup of coffee for her and refilled mine.
Faith was right about one thing, if the situation got any worse the Old Kind would declare open war on one another. And I bet that was exactly what the First Kind wanted. I should have been more careful the other night. Here I was trying to gather information to prevent further chaos and I probably helped them get closer to their objective... whatever that may be.
I needed to get to the Diesel Factories and check in. I shouldn’t have waited this long. I had foolishly allowed myself to be distracted. Maybe my friends were right; maybe I was playing things to tightly. If my actions set off a war, the First Kind could stroll in and take over with ease. I needed to get out of here and report on my mission.
“Chloe was just telling me how she has been busy with school work lately.” Faith waved at me and rolled her eyes toward Val.
“I know, she always has her head buried in a book,” Val confirmed with a smile, though refused to look straight at Faith.
Most of my friends still didn’t trust Faith enough to let her in on our little secret. I knew it was mostly Jess’s doing. I doubt she ever really got over the way Faith made it obvious that she was interested in Nightshade. I slid my fingers along the base of my neck and rubbed vigorously at the annoying itch and wondered if I was allergic to something. If it kept up I’d have to go have it checked out.
“I should probably get going.” I stood and grabbed my bag, throwing the strap over my shoulder and brushed passed Val who regarded me with a puzzled expression.
“Chloe, wait up,” Faith called after me and I heard her struggling to get her bag off the chair as I rushed out the front door.
I didn’t want her catching up to me, but it wasn’t as if I could open a portal and disappear. She would follow the residual signature and find out where I was going. I flipped my hoodie up and zipped it quickly against the biting cold. I reached down into my bag looking for my gloves and realized I had forgotten them.
“Hey, where are you rushing off too?” Faith caught up with me, looped her arm through mine, and squeezed me close to her.
“I needed some fresh air, that place is filled w
ith too many painful memories for me.” I nodded toward the Beanery. It was partially true, but I wasn’t about to tell her that I was leaving to go and report at the Diesel Factories.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to pry.” She bumped her shoulder into mine as we walked.
“Don’t worry about it; you’re the least of my problems. It’s everyone else who wants me to talk, talk, and talk some more.” We crossed over onto Hughes Street and were surrounded by Victorian homes that ran down each side.
“Well, you helped me when all that stuff went down with my lunatic ex.”
Faith’s ex-boyfriend Jasper had not only attacked her, but kidnapped and threatened Val. My head swam for a moment as I thought about Jasper, and I steadied myself against her as we walked. A wavering image, like a phantom of sorts, seemed to hover just out of reach and for some reason I felt it extremely important that I make out what it was, but as hard as I tried I couldn’t see it clearly enough.
“I’m here to return the favor whenever you need me. I know it must have been painful for you to see what happened to Nightshade.” Faith’s voice cracked and I had to remind myself that she had been interested in him as well and suffered in her own way.
“It was painful and it’s something that I don’t want to keep reliving.”
We turned onto Franklin and started walking toward Lafayette Street. A cold wind followed after us making me hug my arms tighter to my body. I wandered if I should confide in Faith about what happened with Nightshade, maybe even about what I had really been up too. I had grown used to having friends I could rely on and keeping secrets was tiring.
“You know you can always talk to me,” Faith said on cue.
I looked up thinking maybe now was the time. Then I saw the yellow façade of the old church, Nightshade’s home, rising above the surrounding buildings. I hadn’t been over here for months but the converted building looked the same as it had the last time I was here. Thoughts of telling Faith melted away as I remembered Nightshade standing shirtless in his front doorway smiling at me.
We stopped in front of the small black gate that surrounded the entryway to Nightshade’s home. I glanced at the old wooden door and then the windows and saw that there were lights on inside.
“Chloe,” Faith called out to me and I realized I had already walked through the gate and up toward the door. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
“Yes, I’ll see you later.” I turned away from her and knocked on the door. I heard Faith retreat to leave me alone to meet... who? Who occupied Nightshade’s house now? The sound of movement behind the door caught my attention and I heard the knob turn. My heart leapt in my throat as the door swung open.
Chapter Four
Status: Ghosts are a funny thing...
“Can I help you?” The woman’s voice was eloquent and beautiful just like her. She was tall and statuesque like Lauren Bacall, an actress out of some old black and white movie. She tilted her head and looked down at me, her eyes searching my face and when I looked in her eyes... I knew exactly who she was and why she was here.
“I knew your son,” I whispered and my bottom lip quivered.
“Come in dear.” She stepped aside and motioned for me to enter.
I heard the door close behind me as walked into the living room. I had been here enough times to know where everything was. I looked down the hallway and saw that the door to Nightshade’s room was open and the light was on. My eyes lingered on it, as if any minute he would step out.
Nightshade’s mother walked past me into the kitchen area and filled a tea pot with water, then put it on the stove. She took out two mugs and sat them on the kitchen island. I walked over, pulled out a stool, and sat down keeping my eyes downcast, unable to look at her. I unzipped my hoodie and flipped the hood down. What was I thinking? Why did I come in here and what could I say to this woman? She had lost her son and here I was planning to tell her what? I loved your son but never gave him a chance and treated him terribly and still he gave his life for me.
“I’m sorry.” It was all I could think to say. I finally looked up; she stood across from me staring into what felt like my soul. She had Nightshade’s eyes or he had hers I suppose. They appeared glassy and puffy and I knew she had cried as much or more than I had in the last few months.
“Thank you,” she said in a whisper and smiled. The tea pot whistled and she turned, grabbed it, and poured steaming hot water into the cups, then offered me a tea bag.
I dropped it in letting it steep like my mother had taught me. My mother who was responsible for Nightshade’s death, but was it really her fault? I was the one she was after. Nightshade was there to protect me and back me up as always. He never questioned my actions or decisions. He jumped right in joining me in every hair-brain scheme and rescuing me from most. In the end it was me who was at fault, and I guess that’s what I had been denying all this time.
“It was my fault he died,” I blurted out. I hadn’t meant to be so blunt, but I had kept it bottled up for so long that I couldn’t hold back any longer. My body trembled and I clutched the tea cup trying to keep my hands steady. “He was protecting me; he stayed in my place. I tried, I really did try to make him change places with me, but he wouldn’t listen. He never listened to me, he just always... he just always...”
I bit at my quivering lower lip trying to calm myself. I couldn’t look at her or say another word. I so wanted to tell someone what had happened... the truth of what had passed between Nightshade and me. But I couldn’t get it out; I didn’t have the courage.
“Did you know that James’ father had died?” Her voice was low; her tone even.
I nodded, remembering he had mentioned that his father had passed but we had never really spoken about it.
“He was a lot like his father, head strong and always rushing in to save the day. My husband was on assignment, tasked with bringing down a splinter group from the Skeleton Key Guild. His team was ambushed and surrounded. My husband fought five men, keeping them at bay until every member of his team made it through that portal. When they dragged him through his wounds were so severe that he didn’t last more than a day. Nightshade men are honorable; they never back down and I would expect nothing less of my son. His death is not your fault, Chloe.”
I looked up and saw tears running down her cheeks. I couldn’t contain them anymore, tears burst out of me as if a damn had exploded. My body shook as I wept uncontrollably and Nightshade’s mother came around and wrapped her arms tightly around me. I closed my eyes and let her embrace me and when I took a deep breathe I could have sworn it was Nightshade’s scent that I smelled and I let out a sob of anger and sadness.
“I loved him.” The words ripped from my body like a physical wound.
“Come with me.” Mrs. Nightshade grabbed my hand and walked me down the hall to Nightshade’s room.
We walked in and I could see that she had been packing some of his things away. His long coat and scarf hung on the back of his closet door waiting for his return.
“Sit down.” She motioned toward the bed.
I sat down curling my legs under me. I’d slept in this room once when we were on the run. I had no idea at the time that it was Nightshade’s bedroom. He had stayed across the hall and I hadn’t figured it out until the next morning.
Mrs. Nightshade stepped into the closet and I heard the sound of boxes shifting. She came out and sat on the bed across from me holding a box that she placed gently on the bed between us. Her hand slid over it tracing the edges slowly.
“This is what they brought to me afterwards. When they finally sent an extraction team, they recovered James’ car and a few personal items.” She patted the box lovingly, as if some piece of him was in there.
“I didn’t know that.” Dad had never told me that they sent anyone in. Then again I wasn’t exactly in any condition to be aware of anything in the days that had followed his death.
“It was kept quiet, since they didn’t want to concern anyo
ne any further with it and they were still trying to keep the truces, which now seems silly.” She sighed and I wasn’t surprised that she was aware of how badly relations with the Old Kind had gotten.
I stared at the box, my mind racing as to just what they may have recovered. It’s not as if we had brought a bunch of stuff with us. We had been too busy running crazy trying to rescue Val. I so wanted there to be something in the box that I could hold onto that would link Nightshade and me, something that would prove it all real. But it was a fool’s thought and why did I need it. I had those last few moments with him to forever hold in my heart and mind. Maybe it wasn’t enough; maybe I needed more or hungered for more. I missed him so much.
Mrs. Nightshade lifted the top off and placed it to the side. She reached in and pulled out James’ leather jacket. It seemed so out of place neatly folded instead of resting comfortably on him. She took out the keys to his Hudson Hornet and placed them beside the jacket and then pulled out a long silver chain with a round pendant that twirled in a circle hanging from it.
My breath caught as I recognized the symbol of the Polymorphs, the very thing that had made me realize—that like me—James was not only a Guilder but also a Polymorph.
“May I?” I reached out and Mrs. Nightshade handed it to me. I slid it along my palm letting it rest there and stared at the intricate symbol, my fingers tracing it gently.
“Here it is.” Mrs. Nightshade pulled out a cell phone and tapped its surface.
I recognized Nightshade’s phone, though was surprised that it was what she had been looking for, I turned back to the necklace and squeezed it tightly. “We fought all the time. I can only remember a handful of times that we didn’t.” I chuckled at the memory.
