by R G Peterson
“Come on,” he said, “I need to discuss what happened with you. It’s about Terry.” But she refused to look at him the rest of the way home. When he tried to drop her off, she sent daggers through him one more time, stomped up her stairs and stormed inside.
Chapter 47
“Would yeh two give it a rest?”
Despite the Clan meeting every day at lunch, things had turned cold between Terry and Anthony and between Grace and Nick. Everyone knew why Grace was upset with Nick. She voiced it in a condescending manner every time someone brought up what happened at Balankanche Cave or even alluded to it. Grace would stare at Nick and make a sarcastic comment about him being her hero and savior.
When Nick tried to explain that he couldn’t take seeing her hurt again as she had been in Westford, Massachusetts, she would go on at length chastising him for not allowing her to make that decision for herself. She reminded him how she had saved him at High Point State Park. This led him to bringing up how he had saved her at the pond and also in the frozen water of Lake Michigan and how she didn’t seem to have a problem with it when he sent her and the others ahead out of harm’s way at Oak Island. She answered back that at least he had given her the choice that time and not made the decision for her.
“Would yeh two give it a rest?” Maddy said sternly the following Wednesday, having heard the argument since they had gotten back from Puebla, Mexico. “What’s the matter with yeh two? We’ve got bigger things ta worry ‘bout than who saved who or what someone did or didn’ do.”
Grace glared at Maddy feeling she was being disloyal to her and turned her back on her so she was facing Terry.
When Terry looked at her, she said, “What are you looking at?”
“Nothing…absolutely nothing.”
“Yeah, well, why have you been treating Anthony like garbage since we got back? Is he absolutely nothing as well?”
Terry’s rage flared. He stood up and leaned into her. “Don’t you dare question what I do or don’t do? Do you understand?”
Grace jumped to her feet and in a low growl hissed, “Yeah, well someone has to before you go off half-cocked and start killing people again.”
“Whoa, whoa,” AJ said as he scanned the cafeteria to make sure nobody overheard what they were talking about, but some heads had begun to turn. “Come on, you guys. Settle,” he pleaded.
Grace and Terry were locked in a staring contest that only ended because Anthony got up from the table, grabbed his backpack and dejectedly walked off.
Grace shook her head in disgust at Terry. “He’s never done anything to you but be your friend. How could you?”
“Well maybe that’s the problem then isn’t it? Maybe if we were no longer friends Thanatos couldn’t use that against me, now, could he?”
“What’re you talking about?”
Terry threw up his hands and stormed off, but as he left he said, “Why don’t you ask your boyfriend there?”
She spun and looked at Nick, who was focused on a spot two inches in front of him on the lunch table.
“Okay, buster, spit it out,” Grace demanded.
Nick hemmed and hawed before saying, “The reason Terry agreed to let Thanatos mentor him was because Thanatos threatened to make sure everyone in the school would know that Anthony’s gay.”
“And you didn’t tell me?”
Nick looked away from her and mumbled, “I sort of promised I wouldn’t.”
“What? How could you keep something like that from me?”
“Terry didn’t want Anthony finding out and feeling responsible or guilty. I think he thought if I told you, you’d tell Anthony. When we got back from the pyramids the other night that was one of the things I was going to tell you. I thought it was time you knew.”
“So what stopped you?”
Nick rose to his feet, “And when was I supposed to do that? You wouldn’t speak to me, remember?”
Grace’s anger flared once more before it sank in what Nick had said was true. Then her expression turned to one of contrition. Not quite ready to concede, though, she said, “Well you should’ve made me.”
Nick threw up his hands as Terry had a moment before and sat down with a thud. He looked away from her and mumbled, “Yeah, like that would’ve gone over real well.”
Grace fought the smile that was creeping onto her face, sat down and looked away so Nick wouldn’t catch it.
“Okay, yeh two. That’s enough. Make up,” Maddy insisted. “Come on now.”
They looked back at each other and gave regretful smiles.
“Sorry,” Nick said. “I should’ve told you what I saw and what I was gonna do. Like I did before. But when I saw Terry being held by Thanatos and not being able to get free I kinda panicked. Sorry.”
“Okay, but next time, if there is a next time, I expect you to tell me.”
Nick nodded as AJ sat up straight and asked, “What did you say?”
Nick looked at him confused. “Um, I said I’m sorry and it won’t happen again?”
“No, no, not that part. The part where Terry couldn’t get away. Shouldn’t he have been able to? Doesn’t he have all of the powers? Nothing should be able to stop him, should it?”
“Yeah, how ‘bout that?” Maddy asked. She searched Nick’s face to see what he thought.
He shrugged, “I dunno. When I saw how pissed Grace was I didn’t think ‘bout anything else, I guess.”
Grace gave him a brief smile before she grew serious and said, “Do you think that’s what the riddle means? The one about the ‘four no match for Aether?’ ”
Nick thought about it and after a few seconds began to nod, “Yeah, that makes perfect sense. I could see him struggling to get free, but Thanatos held him tight and he couldn’t get loose. That’s gotta be it. He’s got all four powers, but he was unable to do anything. Thanatos must be Aether.”
“Like Superman’s kryptonite. Right?” AJ offered.
“Yeah, like that,” Nick said absent mindedly as he thought about the implications of what they had stumbled upon. Almost to himself he said, “If the other four elements are useless against Aether how can we possibly beat him?”
They all pondered Nick’s question, but no one had a solution.
Chapter 48
“Even AJ, who can be a real pain in the butt”
On Friday, the 23rd, Grace went and talked to Terry at the mansion. The days were turning warmer, so they went for a walk along the lakeshore. Once they were there they realized the wind was so brisk that they huddled inside their thicker spring jackets as they strolled along the wet sand, collars turned up against the stiff breeze coming off Lake Michigan.
“So what’d you want to talk ‘bout?” Terry asked as he looked away from her and out across the great lake.
“You know what I want to talk about. It’s Anthony.”
“Yeah, well, I don’t know if there’s much to say, really.”
“Come on, Terry. You guys have been close for way too long now. He’s hurting.”
They walked about twenty yards before Terry answered her. “You know I don’t feel the same toward him as he does toward me. He’s a good friend. That’s all.” When Grace started to answer, he held up his hand to signal he hadn’t finished. “I like him. He’s a good guy. Actually, he’s a great guy. And in some ways it bothers me that I can’t…I don’t know. You see, I’m not really attracted to anyone. Guys or girls. Never have been. I’m just not interested in anyone that way.”
He shrugged to acknowledge he didn’t know why. “I know you guys all kinda fall for one another, but I’m not sure why. I don’t get it.”
He pulled his gaze away from the water and looked at her. “You know I see it all around me. People falling in love. But I don’t understand it. I seem to see things only in terms of loyalty not love. I don’t know if I’ve ever felt the way you guys seem to feel about one another. Like? Yeah, I like people. I like you and Nick and Anthony and Maddy and Miriam. Even AJ, who can be a real pain
in the butt, you know? But I’ve never been attracted to anyone in ah…ah…”
“A physical way?”
“Yeah, like that.”
They walked to the end of the Warrington property line and stopped. They turned and looked out over the lake, each with their own thoughts.
Terry attempted to comprehend why he seemed to be different than the others. Was it because of the way he was raised or was it because of some genetic trait? Did that prevent him from the emotions others felt?
Grace dwelt on her friend Anthony and how he always fell in love with someone who didn’t feel the way he did or was unable to respond in kind.
Without a word they turned and walked back toward the mansion. Grace slipped her arm inside Terry’s.
“You know,” she said, “despite everything that’s happened, we all love you and care for you very much.”
He gave her a quick glance and a brief nod.
“After what happened at Balankanche Cave are you still going to let Thanatos tutor you?”
Terry shrugged his shoulders as if to say he wasn’t sure. He looked out over the lake once more. When he turned back to her a few steps farther along the beach, she nodded acknowledging that Terry had a tough decision to make.
“It was quite clear to me that he wasn’t going to hurt me. He needs me. Or at least he thinks he does. It’s you guys he wants. I guess he’s not happy that we’re all still hanging out together. He especially doesn’t like the affect Nick’s having on me.”
Grace pulled on his arm bringing him closer to her. “If it’s okay with you I’d like to talk to Anthony about why you’re doing what you are.”
He stopped walking, pulling her to a stop as well with her arm lodged inside of his. He gave her a questioning look.
“Don’t you think he should have a say in this? After all, it does concern him as much as it does you or any of us,” Grace said.
He examined her for a long time before he concurred with a succinct nod.
Emboldened by the progress she made, she broached the subject of him becoming more aloof from the rest of the Clan. “I was thinking. Actually, it’s more of a something I’ve noticed. Actually, Nick has noticed it too. Anyway, what’s going on that seems to be taking you further away from the rest of us?”
Terry looked out toward the lake once more, “Whadya mean?”
“Well, you seem to be more, um…distant, lately. Is it for the same kind of reason you’re moving away from Anthony? You’re afraid Thanatos will use that against you?”
“Um, no. I mean, yeah. Somethin’ like that.”
She gave a slight tug on his arm. “Come on. Talk to me. What’s going on in your head? I can see the wheels turning when we’re all together. You’d make a terrible poker player, you know.”
For the first time in weeks Terry smiled, “You think so, huh?”
“Yeah, definitely.”
“Let me think about it. Okay? I promise to tell all of you soon. And yeah, go ahead and tell Anthony. You’re right. He should know. The decision is as much his as it’s mine.”
They walked the rest of the way back to the mansion in silence. When they got back to the massive house Grace raised up on her tiptoes and gave Terry a quick peck on the cheek. Unlike Nick, he didn’t blush. He gave her a sad smile.
She morphed into a sparrow and flew home.
As he watched her fly out of sight, he said to himself. “I wonder if Nick now has Fire since I seemed to’ve lost it today?”
Chapter 49
“Okay, here’s what you need to know”
Saturday they met at the high school dance and gathered in the corner just off the concession stand. There were two things on their agenda. One was to explain to Anthony why Terry had grown so distant. The second was to see how far Nick had gotten with the Mayan glyphs.
As they stood in a circle Anthony avoided eye contact with Terry. Grace stood on one side of Anthony and Maddy the other. Across from him stood Terry who was flanked by Nick, (standing next to Grace) and Miriam then AJ.
“Okay, here’s what you need to know,” Grace said to Anthony. He gave her a confused look as he tried to figure out where the conversation was headed. “Thanatos threatened Terry that if he didn’t agree to let him tutor him he was going to make sure everyone in school knew about you.”
Anthony stepped back, “You mean?”
“Yup,” AJ said.
“Oh my god.” Anthony exclaimed and swung his attention to Terry, who turned his head to avoid any eye contact. “Why didn’t you say something?”
“Well, it seems Nick isn’t the only one in the family who makes decisions for others,” Grace said in a chastising tone.
Nick turned and looked at the same non-thing Terry was focused on.
“But, but, that should’ve been…I should’ve had…it should’ve been up to me, too.”
“Exactly,” Grace said. “Anyway, it’s in the open, so to speak. Me personally, I don’t think anyone, well most people, anyway, really care about that stuff anymore. It might be big news for a day or so, but after that we’ll all go back to talking about who’s dating who and which couples just broke up.”
Anthony scrutinized her, then said, “Um, maybe if that person happens to be white. And wasn’t hoping for some sort of basketball scholarship. But…”
“Well that’s why it’s up to you to decide. Should Terry tell Thanatos to stick it someplace or do you want him to continue to go along with him mentoring Terry?”
“Oh man, when you put it that way, it kinda sucks.” Anthony swept his eyes from one person to the next, eventually landing on Terry who refused to make eye contact with anyone. Anthony held his gaze until Terry finally looked at him shamefaced. Anthony turned back to Grace, “Are you sure?”
“Well, about as sure as I can be. Heck, and even if there are people who don’t think it’s right, you’ll still have all of us. We’re behind you.”
AJ spoke up, “We’re the cool kids after all. The best looking. The best athletes.”
Maddy interrupted, “The most conceited. Oh and don’ forget the smartest. Well most of us, that is.”
They all laughed. “Okay then,” Anthony said. He waited a second and said, “Thanks. You guys are the best.”
They came together for a group hug, although Terry did so reluctantly.
When they moved back to their original places they all turned to Nick in expectation.
He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper, spread it out and said, “I’ve got quite a bit of this, but it’s unclear as to what they were trying to say or predict. Anyway, here’s what I’ve got so far. I’m gonna give them to you in the reverse order we found them. The sixth pyramid first, then the fifth…you know what I mean. Anyway, I was right that the first three walls all had the same prediction. The same one that’s on Grace’s plaque and our mom’s book that Slate stole from her. You know the whole, twins will be born on…”
“Yeah, yeah, you can skip that,” AJ said to move Nick along to hear what they were most eager to know.
“Okay, the first one, the one in the sixth pyramid, said, ‘Four days accompany sixteen haab begin four phases pass add remove from twins omission last phase.’ ”
Nick stopped and looked around.
“What? Huh? What the heck’s a hub?” AJ asked.
“Yeah, well, haab is a Mayan year.”
AJ shook his head in exasperation.
“What ‘bout the next one?” Miriam asked.
“Um, the next one,” Nick glanced at the paper, “Ah, wait, there was more to the first one. Reveal six times.”
“Sounds a lot like what was on your mom’s ring,” Miriam offered.
“Does it say what’s supposed to be revealed?” AJ asked in a hopeful voice
“No. That’s all it says.”
“Oh man,” AJ moaned.
“Was that it?” Maddy asked.
“Yeah, for that one. The next wall – the fifth pyramid –
said,” Nick consulted his notes again, “Two know one three rule four two become four know all betray final enemy.’ ”
“That’s as clear as mud,” AJ exclaimed in frustration.
Grace reached out and took hold of Nick’s hand, “Tell them the last one.”
Nick didn’t need to look at the paper. His voice carried a gravity they hadn’t heard from him before. “It says, ‘Four lose to Aether one distant solve hole bow and arrow tale archer path – or paths – lose to win.’ ”
“Whole, like w-h-o-l-e?” Miriam asked.
“Um, no. I think, h-o-l-e, hole. But that’s not quite right either. There’s an extra symbol in the glyph, but there’s no word I can find like that, so I just used hole.”
“And path or paths? What the heck does that mean?” AJ said growing annoyed.
“Yeah, for some reason the glyph for that is repeated twice. So I don’t know if it means path or paths.”
AJ swung his attention to Terry, “Anything, riddle solver?”
Terry gave AJ an exasperated look and shook his head. “You just won’t let it go, will you?” He gave it one last final shake, looked at Nick and asked, “Are you sure that’s what they say?”
“Yeah, kinda. Some of the glyphs can be translated a little differently, I guess, but that’s the way I see it.”
AJ grabbed hold of Maddy’s hand and said, “Hey, listen, they’re playing a slow song. You guys let me know when you’ve figured it out. Come on, Maddy, let’s dance.”
AJ half-dragged Maddy out on the dance floor and they moved into a dance embrace and began gently swaying to the music. The other five watched them go. Anthony gave Terry a furtive glance and a wistful smile, thinking how he would like to be out there with Terry.
“Uh-oh,” Nick said. “Come on, there’s gonna be trouble.”
They hurried over to where AJ and Maddy were dancing, arms around each other, their eyes closed. Aaron Anderson was dancing nearby when he spotted AJ and Maddy moving ever closer to him. When they were within arms reach, he extended his hand to touch AJ and make him wet his pants.
