Jane studied my face absorbing my awkwardly delivered request. She blinked heavily a few times and her face went frighteningly blank. After a split second, the life returned to her eyes and she smiled warmly.
“You know, Eliza, that sounds like a fabulous opportunity for you. Of course you can go.” She responded exuberantly.
I smiled weakly in response. “Thanks, Jane. Yeah, great opportunity.” I said softly.
She hopped off the couch and dashed toward the bookshelves.
“Ah, I still have it! This is a travel guide for London. Its old but the basics are all in there. Oh Eliza, I’m so excited for you!” She bubbled. Then suddenly her brows knit together.
“You know, I’ve stashed away a few things for you for Christmas but we’ll need to get a plane ticket for you.” She added tentatively.
I saw the wheels of her mind turning. She was certainly worried that we wouldn’t have enough funds for my plane ticket. I waved my hands as if attempting to brush off her concern.
“Oh no. We don’t have to worry about that. Ren’s family is going to cover my ticket. They insisted!” I assured her.
“And I’ve got some cash saved that I can use for spending money while I’m there.” I added quickly.
Jane’s expression softened but the crease between her brows remained.
“So, I suppose you’ll be gone for Christmas?” She asked sadly.
I smiled with relief.
“No way. We’re not leaving until the day after. Do you really think I’d leave you alone on Christmas?” I asked.
Finally, the crease flattened.
“Oh good. I’d really miss you, babe. Besides, I’ve already got my menu planned out and it feeds three.” She said with a mischievous smile.
“Oh really? So Adam will be around this year.” I clarified, trying not to sound too concerned.
Adam had spent a string of Christmases with us in the past but over the last few years with their relationship under strain, his attendance had been spotty.
“Yes, he is.” Jane answered with a meek smile and started for the coat rack by the door, shimmying as she walked as if she was trying to shake off any remnant of vulnerability.
“So, Eliza, sounds like you’ll be starting the New Year to the chime of Big Ben, huh?” She asked.
The thought hadn’t occurred to me. Every year Viva threw a big New Year’s Eve bash and I always attended. The next day Jane and I had a tradition of writing down our New Year’s resolutions and sticking them in a jar but before we put in our new one, we always revisited the one from the year before and laughed about our success or failure. It was strange to imagine starting the year any other way, much less thousands of miles away from Jane.
“I guess so.” I responded with a frown.
“Babe, don’t look so disappointed. Maybe this year you’ll get a kiss from someone other than me!” She joked with a twinkle in her eye.
My cheeks flushed.
Sparing me any further embarrassment, Jane snatched her coat from the hook and yanked the door open without glancing at me.
“Ok, I’m off. See you later tonight babe. Love you.” She said and yanked the door behind her.
I couldn’t help but notice the amused smile on her face.
19
“You’re going to London?!” Bryn shrieked with excitement.
Pete fell back from the table feigning as if he’d been blown away. “Easy there. You sound like she just told you she’s going to Mars.” He joked.
I nodded shyly. “Yeah. We leave right after Christmas.”
Bryn, Pete and I were sitting in the back of Bishop’s Tea Room for our annual Christmas gift exchange, not that we ever got each other anything serious. In fact, each year we tried to top the goofy gifts from the year before, occasionally resurrecting gifts from years before that were particularly amusing. Ren wasn’t there. When we’d invited him, he said he was busy helping Nan with some things and couldn’t make it. I knew that was just an excuse. He was well aware of the tension that had been building between Bryn and me over all the time I spent with him. As the year drew to a close, I needed to show both Bryn and Pete that their friendship was still important to me whether Ren was around or not.
“So… are you going to meet Ren’s parents or what?” Bryn probed solicitously.
Pete rolled his eyes at her but I could tell he was curious too.
“That’s the plan…” I mumbled, thinking through the web of lies I’d have to keep straight when I got back home. It wasn’t going to be easy pretending that I had met Ren’s parents when I most certainly wasn’t.
“Hmmm. That’s a big step.” Bryn shot me a sly grin.
Now it was my turn to roll my eyes. “Not really! Don’t make a bigger deal out of it than it is. They just don’t want Ren to travel alone. So, I get a free trip. That’s it.” I groaned.
“O-k.” Bryn smirked.
“How about some presents?” Pete interjected, trying to change the subject.
“Good idea. I’ll go first!” I offered.
When I’d planned the gifts I wanted to give Bryn and Pete, I had been feeling nostalgic. While in previous years I’d always opted for the most ridiculous item I could find that reminded me of each of them, this year I’d been looking back on our friendship in a different light. Things were changing for me, while things for them were staying relatively the same. Lately, many weekends when I’d usually be hanging out with them on Main Street or heading out to shows, I’d been with Ren. Bryn, Pete and I were still friends, but our days of wasting time together were fewer and further between and I knew that trend would inevitably continue.
I stooped under the table and pulled two poorly wrapped packages from a bag.
“Hmm, I think it’s safe to say Macy’s isn’t going to hire you for the season.” Pete said sarcastically.
“Haha.” I said smirking back at him, “here,” and handed him a floppy package.
“Thanks.” He said grinning.
I handed the other package to Bryn.
“Thanks, Eliza.” She said brightly.
As they tore through the overly taped wrapping I watched both of their expressions flash from surprise to glee as they recognized the items in their hands
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Pete said laughing as he held up a too small t-shirt before him.
“That’s right. You are now the proud owner of an autographed Rabid t-shirt. The legend lives on.” I said. Rabid was a garage band comprised of bunch of former Port Rune high school kids that used to play in town when we were in junior high. They’d long disbanded when the band members went off to college.
“I can’t believe you still have this. Classic. Thanks, Eliza.” Pete said with a truly appreciative grin.
“Ahhh, I remember these!” Bryn gushed and leaned over to hug me.
I’d given her a string of three elastic necklaces containing beads we spent hours and hours putting on necklaces and bracelets when we were in elementary school. To make the necklaces, I’d dismantled all of my old jewelry to make something new for her. I knew she’d recognize the beads.
“I’ll put it on right now!” She said excitedly.
“Glad you like them.” I said feeling happy that my gifts had the affect I’d been hoping for – to remind my friends of happy memories.
“Ok, ok, now me!” Bryn said bubbling with excitement.
She reached under the table and retrieved two perfectly wrapped packages with curling gold bows. My gift looked so perfect I felt a little guilty ripping off the paper.
The item inside made me tear up. It was a copy of Anne of Green Gables. Not only was it a book I loved when I was younger but Bryn had always said that we were like Anne and Diana.
“Bryn… thank you.” I said softly.
“Sweet!” Pete remarked.
As touching as my gift was from Bryn, I was a little surprised to see that Pete looked to be holding a pair of tickets in his hand.
“How did you get these?” He asked
Bryn. “I thought they were sold out.”
Bryn grinned coyly. “Oh, I have my ways.”
Spying the writing, I realized that Bryn had given Pete tickets to an annual winter music festival that was held every year in Boston. The tickets were not only hard to get but expensive. That was much more of a gift than we usually gave each other. I eyed my friends curiously.
“Ok, guess it’s my turn.” Pete said slapping two small presents before us wrapped in newspaper.
“Ooh, these look fancy.” I said ripping into mine.
“Niiiice, Pete.” I laughed when I saw my gift. It was road map of the Port Rune area.
“Oh, that’s not all. Open it up.” He said with a wicked grin.
I unfolded the map. He had outlined in different colored markers the routes from my house to various places of interest in the area.
“Wow! I’ll never get lost again, Pete. Thanks to you.” I said laughing.
I glanced over at Bryn who was quietly studying the back of a CD case. Her cheeks glowed pink. My eyes darted in Pete’s direction. As he watched her, he shifted self-consciously in his seat.
I could see that it was a CD Pete had made because the small printed descriptions on the back of the case that Bryn was reading were in his handwriting. What I couldn’t see were the actual descriptions but from the look on Bryn’s face, they meant a lot to her. And from the look on Pete’s face, they meant even more to him.
At that moment, I realized how self-involved I’d been. I’d been so wrapped up in my own world that I’d obviously failed to notice that my life wasn’t the only one changing. I felt hot all over, a little embarrassed and a little sad.
Bryn’s gaze flitted over Pete. “Thanks.” She said softly.
Pete shifted nervously in his seat and grinned. “Hope you like it.” He said.
“You know I will.” Bryn beamed back at him.
Pete looked around and cleared his throat. “Anyone need a refill?” He asked.
“Sure.” Bryn and I both answered.
Then Bryn turned her attention back to me, happily twisting her fingers in her necklaces.
The moment passed and everything was back to normal. I smiled thinking, our new normal.
20
The weeks before Ren and my departure for London flew by in such a flurry of semester end exams and holiday preparations that I barely had time to worry that I wasn’t ready for our first assignment.
On Christmas morning, I awoke groggily after a night of heavy food and fun with Jane and Adam. A steel gray sky emitted flat light through the gauzy curtains of my bedroom. As the heating vent blew air over the window causing the curtains to billow, I caught glimpses of fat fluffy snowflakes floating past the glass.
I lay in bed, enjoying the quiet winter show like confetti at a party drifting past my window when a glint of yellow caught my eye. I turned toward my nightstand and found a shiny foreign object. The object, most certainly, had not been on my nightstand when I fell asleep. I crept tentatively closer to investigate.
It was a gold bracelet stretched out on a torn piece of white paper containing a note scrawled in thick black ink.
For your other wrist. Merry Christmas. Ren
My heart fluttered and heat rushed up my neck. I hadn’t thought to get Ren a present, though it seemed so obvious that I should have. I lifted the intricate piece of jewelry off the paper.
The length of the bracelet was a series of thin linked circles. The clasp was a set of arms and hands held up in a u shape, one on each end of the bracelet. I studied the curious design but couldn’t figure out how the ends were meant to join. Perplexed, I held one end of the bracelet in each hand and carefully brought them together.
As soon as the golden fingertips touched they sprang to life and grasped each other firmly. I was so shocked by the bizarre animation that I nearly dropped the bracelet in my lap. Instead, with shaking fingers, I set the now fastened bracelet on my nightstand and picked up my cell phone to text Ren ‘thank you.’
* * *
“Please stow all carry-on luggage beneath your seat or in the overhead compartments.” A heavily made-up flight attendant shouted down the aisle with feigned cheer.
I flushed from the exertion of muscling my backpack under the seat ahead of me in the hot dry air of the plane and squirmed out of my pea coat. As I settled back into my seat, my eyes darted nervously to Ren’s pack. He was kicking it in an attempt to jam it under the seat and I worried we might draw the cranky flight attendant’s attention. Despite the layer of spells protecting us, I’d nearly panicked when I heard the warning chanted from the airport loudspeakers that travelers should not accept any items given to them by others. The mysterious object was concealed in Ren’s pack still tightly wrapped in brown paper.
Ren flopped back into his seat with a heavy sigh, yanked his water bottle out of the pocket of the seat in front of him and took a long swig.
“Would you like some, Eliza? It’s important to stay hydrated on these long flights you know. Helps with the jetlag.” He offered earnestly.
I wriggled around in my seat. This was the longest flight I’d ever taken and the only one that spent an extended period of time over the ocean.
“No thanks.” I mumbled and unconsciously began twirling my new gold bracelet.
“It’s the symbol for heka.” He said close to my ear, laying his fingertips over the sliding metal.
I glanced down. After texting Ren ‘thank you’ for the gift, I’d been so busy with Christmas day festivities and packing that I hadn’t spoken to him about it further.
“Oh! Thank you... again.” I babbled, an embarrassed blush passing over my cheeks. “I meant to ask you about it. I… wasn’t expecting a present.” I said feeling guilty that I hadn’t broached the subject first but Ren had already turned his attention to the stream of passengers marching down the aisle next to us.
“Made by elves. They make a lot of jewelry. Mine the metal and jewels themselves.” He added quietly, still distracted by the bustle in the aisle.
I coughed, clearing my throat. “Ren?” I asked pointedly.
His eyes continued to rove about the cabin.
“Ren.” I said again louder.
“Oh, yes?” He asked sitting back and turning his attention to me.
“Rubbernecker. I was going to ask how you snuck the bracelet into my room.” I snipped playfully.
“Eliza, we’re on assignment. We need to know if anyone of interest is on this plane.” He responded.
“As for the sneaking… elfish jewelry has elfish ways.” He added with a sly smile.
The thought of being trapped on a plane for eight hours with a ‘person of interest’ concerned me more than the antics of my jewelry.
“Do you sense anyone?” I asked.
Ren peeked past me across the two other sets of seats in our row before responding.
“No, not yet. Do you? Search around… see if you feel any signals.” He said.
I scanned the cabin but felt nothing unusual from the passengers around us. Suddenly, my wrist began to feel hot and raw. I abruptly stopped spinning the bracelet and clasped my hands tightly in my lap to keep from fidgeting.
“By the way, why didn’t you ever tell me that some of us live such a long time?” I whispered.
Ren scanned the faces of the passengers around us carefully before answering. “It’s alright Eliza. They can’t understand you. One of the spells Nan cast on us protects our conversation from the ears of others. That is, unless the other is one of us, which is why we need to be careful but it seems we’re the only ones here, so far.” He said with a wandering gaze.
It hadn’t occurred to me to ask for the full list of protective spells Nan had cast over us. She’d said they were for safe traveling and success of our mission. Now I wondered what fell under those broader categories. I shook my head dismissively trying to focus.
“I’d like to know more about the age thing. Why don’t some witches age normally?” I pressed.
Ren shrugged but shifted in his seat squaring his shoulders in my direction. “I don’t know. Truth is, I don’t think anyone knows, even those who are affected. Uncle Harold’s one of them.” He added as an afterthought.
I stared questioningly at him for a moment before speaking. “What do you mean? He’s Nan’s uncle right? So, how old could he be?” I asked while mentally calculating the possibilities.
“Well, he’s her uncle, rather her very great uncle. He’s nearly three hundred years old from what I’ve heard. He’s just a few generations off from when Nan’s ancestors left for America.” He added.
“Really? Has he always lived in London? Wouldn’t people notice?” I asked.
“I don’t know for sure. He’s always lived round and about London I think. He never married, so it’s not like he’s had children growing old next to him or anything. I’m sure there are spells that could help with suspicion.” He said thoughtfully contemplating the issue.
“That’s why we’re going to see Uncle Harold. He understands more of the history of these things. In any case, he’ll know how risings like these have been put down in the past.” He explained, which reminded me of another pressing question.
“I understand that this Viking guy isn’t sane or whatever, but this has happened before?” I asked suspiciously, sensing that I was about to learn of another aspect of the Heka Society that might be unpleasant.
Ren slumped back in his seat. Rolling his head in my direction he eyed me seriously. “Do you remember when you asked me if there was a danger that you could not learn, you know, to tame your gifts?” He asked carefully measuring his words.
I nodded solemnly in response recalling that unpleasant conversation months before.
“Well, it’s not just about controlling yourself. That’s not really the hardest part of being a witch. It’s the balance of power and using it for what is right rather than self-serving purposes. The Heka Service is the body of witches and wizards who police our kind. Sometimes, a powerful witch or wizard will become seduced by their own power and that’s when trouble starts.” He said grimly.
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