by K. A. Poe
“I don't know...let's go home,” I mumbled.
“Do you feel well enough to drive?” his voice was full of concern.
“Is something wrong with her?” Paul's voice sounded irritable.
“She is just a bit woozy.”
“Is she about to phase?” Kim asked in awe, knowing that was one of the signs. There was no doubt she was eager to see it again.
“No, she's not,” Salem replied, holding me up completely as my legs gave out. “She is just really tired. She has been suffering from nightmares lately and hasn't slept much.”
“Well, she shouldn't be driving. Let me take her home,” Paul insisted.
“No!” I shouted, “No...I'll be fine. I'm feeling better, really. You two can go.”
Kim looked wary, but grabbed her brother's shoulder and led him away from us. “She'll be fine, Paul. She is probably just feeling uneasy about being here, considering the circumstances.”
I watched my father and aunt walk out of the yard, across the sidewalk and into the Jeep Wrangler parked at the curb. Salem held me up until I felt stable enough to stand on my own. I hesitantly grabbed the hair and sniffed it, but I could smell nothing unusual.
“I know this is going to sound bizarre, but would you smell this for me?” I asked, offering the strand to Salem.
He didn't even question me before giving it a whiff. “Vanilla,” He said, handing it back to me but my hands fell to my side. The strawberry blonde hair fell into the grass beneath us.
With a groan, I fell to my knees and held my head in my hands. “This can't be happening!”
“What is it?” Salem crouched beside me, “It has something to do with Claire, doesn't it?”
I barely nodded my head. “She smelled strongly of vanilla the day we met. What does this all mean?”
“I don't know, Alex,” he answered and frowned. “Let's go home.”
“How can I go home knowing she could be back at any moment?”
“And just what would you do if she showed up right now?”
“I don't know!” I said with an agitated tone, “there's just something going on and I know it!”
“We'll ask Karen about it tomorrow, all right? Perhaps she will know something useful.”
“Maybe…” I grumbled in agreement and retreated to the Alero.
When we returned home, I ate a quick dinner then ran upstairs to take a shower. As I removed my sweater I heard something clatter to the floor. The golden heart twirled around on the tile then came to a sudden stop as it hit the side of the bathroom cabinet. It fell open and I nearly screamed when I saw the picture inside. Lifting it carefully to get a better view, and to confirm that I wasn't imagining things, I closely admired the image held within the tiny gold heart.
On the left side was a black and white picture of a girl I recognized immediately. My hands trembled, causing me to nearly drop it. I forgot all about showering and ran downstairs, as steadily as I could. Salem was sitting in the nook chair reading when I came into the living room.
“Salem,” I could barely speak, “you might want to look at this.”
He put the book aside and took the locket from me. The grief in his eyes was unbearable. “Hannah...” his voice was a mere whisper, “Where did you find this, Alex?”
“It was in the creek, stuck between some rocks,” I explained, “I had forgotten about it until now.”
“I don't understand...” his eyes were focused on the picture, a mixture of pain and confusion swept across his face. “How could this be here?”
“I don't know,” I frowned, “the only explanations I can think of are that Raziel had it while he was here, or Hannah has been here.”
The confusion cleared, “That must be it. Raziel must have had it,” he sighed. “May I keep it?”
I almost laughed. “Of course,” I embraced him tightly and felt his arms wind around my waist. “I wish it had just been an ordinary old locket.”
“I don't,” he replied, to my surprise. “It's amazing, really...It belonged to Hannah, and I never imagined I would see or feel anything of hers ever again.”
“Well, in that case, I’m glad I found it,” I smiled up at him and he kissed me lightly.
“As am I,” he replied.
“I guess I should go to sleep,” I said with a sigh. “Tomorrow will be here before I know it.”
He agreed and placed the locket on the bookshelf then followed me upstairs.
13. PICNIC
The sun was out once more, which made Salem slightly more hesitant to have a picnic because he feared Karen would be startled by his pale complexion. He was even more reluctant when I offered to cover him in foundation to make him appear tan. I stayed indoors to take the shower I skipped out on last night, while he went out to the lake and started setting up the picnic.
I quickly dressed in something simple – a dull gray tank top and denim shorts – and ran downstairs when I heard the doorbell ring. I was confused at first. It was the first time I had ever heard the melodic sound, as no one ever came to visit before. My mood shifted from excited to disappointment when I saw two silhouettes behind the doors. As I opened them, my heart sank. Standing beside my tall blonde friend was her shorter, younger cousin. With much effort, I forced a welcoming smile across my lips and invited them inside.
“Wow! This place is amazing!” Karen exclaimed as she eagerly entered the house. Her eyes were wide as she took everything in. “Found a rich one, huh, Alex?!”
I laughed and shook my head. “No. He's not rich.”
“Right, whatever you say,” she rolled her eyes, “People who aren’t rich usually live in huge houses with tons of fancy stuff.”
Claire seemed much less impressed. I wondered if she was somehow used to luxury. The only object in the room that seemed to catch her attention at all was the bookshelf. When she noticed my eyes were on her, she looked away and pretended to become fascinated by the white piano instead.
“So, where is this guy anyway?” Karen asked after she finished absorbing her surroundings.
“He's out by the lake getting the picnic ready,” I commented, still watching Claire. She was now standing beside Karen, focused on the back door. I was somewhat cautious about going out just yet, in case he wasn't done summoning everything. “He told me to wait here with you guys until he came back to let us know everything was ready,” I lied.
At that very moment, my cell phone vibrated on the end table beside the sectional. Salem's name appeared across the screen.
“Everything ready?” I asked when I answered his call.
“The picnic is set and awaiting your arrival,” he replied and hung up.
“Sounds like everything’s set,” I said with another false grin and led the girls through the back door.
“Wow, it’s beautiful out here, too, Alex,” Karen said as she admired the vast blue lake. Claire seemed moderately impressed by the views as we walked across the crisp green grass. Salem had his back to us, standing at the very edge of the water. His black hair shimmered elegantly as the sun hit it. My eyes settled on the thick blue blanket spread out across the ground. There was a stack of paper plates and plastic cups and a pitcher of pink lemonade sat atop a round tray. In the center of the blanket were a basket and a bowl of grapes. I could distinctly smell fresh bread, which led me to believe we would be having sandwiches.
Karen's eyes were set upon the mysterious figure she had been dying to meet. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, suddenly overcome with anxiety. What if it was obvious that he wasn't normal? Would they notice? I reminded myself that I hadn't noticed anything strange about him when we first met, but I also considered the fact that we weren't in bright daylight at the time. Salem was wearing a short-sleeved, silk blue V-neck shirt and black slacks; I wondered if the girls would find his attire awkward. I approached him quietly, took his hand and wheeled him around to face my friend and her cousin. Karen's eyes lit up as they did any time they fell upon a good-looking boy, whereas
Claire didn't seem impressed – in fact, she looked more surprised by his appearance than anything else.
“Girls, this is Salem,” I said with a grin.
“Wait!” Karen gasped, “I remember you!”
Salem smiled somewhat with recognition. “You directed me to Alex's car the day before her birthday.”
“Well, you have apparently met Karen before,” I laughed. How had I completely forgotten that fact? “And this is her cousin, Claire.”
Claire's gaze fell on me when I spoke her name, then turned toward Salem. “Hello,” she said in her magnificent voice.
“Hello,” Salem repeated with a strange look in his eyes that I couldn't quite place. “Shall we?” he asked, gesturing toward the picnic.
I sat beside Salem on the left side of the blanket, while the two girls sat on the opposite end. Claire took no interest in the food, reminding me of how she had seemed to reject her drink at the cafe. Salem at least made an effort to pretend, pouring himself a cup of lemonade and sipping it every now and then. I poured myself and Karen a cup – it was the perfect combination of sweet and sour. There were four ham and cheddar sandwiches in the basket, I offered one to each of them. Salem neglected his, just as Claire ignored hers. I watched her closely as I bit into my sandwich, wondering just what would possess her not to eat. My mind wanted to wander into the darkest of thoughts, but I couldn't allow it right now – perhaps she had an eating disorder of some sort. She was awfully thin after all. I noticed Salem deliver me a simple wink as he popped a grape into his mouth and I fought back a chuckle as I wondered what sort of effect ingesting real sustenance had on him.
“This is all wonderful!” Karen exclaimed, talking more so about the scenery than the food. “I can't believe you got so lucky, Alex.”
“Uhh, thanks, I think,” I laughed and returned to my sandwich.
“How long have you lived here?” her voice now directed toward Salem. Slight jealousy boiled in my blood as I watched the way she ogled at him.
“I have been here in Colorado for…a few years,” he commented, smiling once at her before turning his gaze toward the lake. I knew he had been here far longer, but he couldn’t quite tell them that he had been here for a period far longer than his apparent ‘age’.
She thought for a moment, and then asked “Where’s your family?”
He cringed at the mention of his relatives. “They passed away, a little while after I moved here.” He lied again.
“Oh no!” Karen frowned, “I am so sorry to hear that!”
“It is tough, but I have managed without them,” Salem shrugged, although I knew how terrible he felt. Claire appeared to glare in his direction for a mere moment – or perhaps I had imagined it.
“Do you play the piano?” Karen asked after finishing her sandwich, in attempt to change the subject.
Salem smiled, “Not often. It was more of a gift for Alexis.”
My eyes widened, “What? You never told me that!”
A light wisp of laughter escaped his smiling lips. “You never asked.”
Then my stomach churned as the question came from Karen, “You play the piano, Alex?”
I coughed on the last bite of my sandwich. “Yeah. Sometimes…” My cheeks flushed vermillion as I tried to look away.
Salem put his hand to my chin and lifted my face to look at him, “It's nothing to be ashamed of,” he looked now at Karen, “she plays very beautifully. I am surprised you didn’t know.”
I groaned and jabbed him in the shoulder with my elbow. “People from my school sort of make fun of the kids in music class, Salem.”
“I had no idea,” he frowned, “Regardless; it still isn't something you should be ashamed of. You should let them listen to your song.”
I shook my head, “No, no...They wouldn't want that.”
“Oh, I’d love to hear it,” Claire said with a bizarre smile.
“You would?”
“Of course. I’m very curious.”
I sighed, “Fine. But, if Jason hears anything about it – you’re both in big trouble! He’d never let me hear the end of it.”
“I won't tell him, I swear.”
Salem stayed outside to clean up while I led the girls back to the house. My fingers were shaking nervously as I edged toward the beautiful white piano that was mine. I could not fathom the fact that this had been created solely for me. Claire and Karen crowded around me as I sat on the bench and rested my unsteady hands against the smooth keys. I swallowed back my anxiety, shut my eyes and let my hands do their thing. It was the same light, melancholic tune I had played in music class the first day Salem and I met – the song that I had affectionately titled Nevermore after my love of The Raven.
The music stopped and the room fell silent. I waited impatiently for the outburst of laughter I was expecting from Karen; however when I glanced back at her, her mouth was gaping open with amazement. Claire's eyes were focused elsewhere – back on the book shelf across the room.
“That was...I don't even know how to put it into words, Alex,” Karen babbled. I barely heard her as I stared suspiciously in her cousin's direction.
“Thanks,” I mumbled. “Could I talk to you up stairs for just a minute? In private?”
“Yeah, sure,” she replied, “Besides, I’d love to see the rest of the house! That okay with you, Claire?”
Claire turned toward us suddenly, as if she had been daydreaming before. “What? Oh. Yeah…sure. I’ll just look around down here.”
14. SUSPICIONS
Karen was beyond enthusiastic about the bedroom. She blabbered on about the beautiful bed, the bizarre mirrored floor, the canopy, the bay window that gave a clear view of the surrounding nature. I sat on the edge of the soft mattress, twiddling my thumbs as I pondered how to ask her what was on my mind.
“Is something bothering you, Alex?” she finally asked after she took a quick glance at the bathroom.
“Sort of,” I admitted, “it's about Claire.”
“What about her?” she sat beside me, her expression grew serious, “you don't like her?”
“No, that's not it...do you know if she is seeing Mitchell?”
Karen burst into laughter. “What?! No! She's never even met him or Jace. Why, do you have a thing for Mitch or something?”
“Funny,” I looked at her sternly, “I just heard a rumor that some strawberry blonde girl has been hanging around at the house, and sneaking through Mitch’s window. I just thought it might be her was all.”
“Nah, it must be somebody else. She’s not the only one with blonde hair you know.” She smirked.
I nodded my head slowly, struggling to believe it. “That’s all I wanted to ask you. I’m really glad you got to come over and meet Salem and everything.”
“Me, too. He's amazing, Alex. You are one lucky lady!” She giggled.
“Thanks, Karen,” I laughed and hugged her briefly.
As we walked down the spiral staircase, I could hear Salem talking quietly to Claire. I could barely make out any of their words, but she seemed to be questioning him about the locket. So that is why she had kept staring at the bookshelf so much – the locket. What was it about that heart that she was so interested in? They fell silent when we approached, and I saw Salem carefully tuck away the locket.
“It was a pleasure meeting you, ladies,” he said when Karen approached her cousin's side, “however, I believe it is time you ought to go home.”
“Oh, of course,” Karen said politely, “Thank you so much for letting us come by! I hope we didn’t overstay our welcome or anything.”
“Not at all,” Salem said with a polite smile.
“Yes...” Claire said, “thank you for showing us your home.” Something in her tone made me uncomfortable.
“Hopefully we can do it again sometime,” I replied, mostly toward Karen.
Karen gently hugged me, and before I had the chance to step away, Claire laid a gentle hand upon my shoulder. The same jolting, electric feeling swam th
rough my veins – and if I wasn't mistaken, Salem noticed it.
I watched quietly as the two girls walked through the tall white doors and vanished from sight. With a sigh of relief, I threw my arms around Salem and buried my head in his chest. His thin, cold arms crossed around my back as he held me against him and rested his head on the top of mine.
“I wish you would have told me before that the piano was for me...” I whispered.
I could feel his lips form a smile against my hair, “I apologize if I embarrassed you.”
“You didn't. Karen actually liked my song,” I said in awe.
“That doesn’t surprise me. It is magnificent.” His embrace tightened somewhat. “You are right about something being unusual about Claire.”
“I know. And I found out, according to Karen, that Claire has supposedly never met Jason or Mitch, let alone been to the house.”
“I observed some unusual behavior,” he commented, “she appeared fascinated by Hannah's locket. She did not eat, nor drink, during the picnic. And as she was leaving, I believe she did...something to you.”
“It was that same feeling I mentioned the first time I saw her,” I shuddered. “Do you think that’s what caused the nightmares?”
“I hope not,” he replied as he hugged me even tighter. “There was also something bizarre about the way she smelled.”
“Vanilla?” I asked, staring up at him. “That's nothing unusual. Lots of girls smell that way.”
He smiled and shook his head, “I must admit that I sometimes forget you cannot smell things quite as strongly as I can. I believe the excessive amount of vanilla perfume is being used to cover something up.”
“Like what?”
“You may have been right to speculate that she might be a vampire,” he replied scornfully. “And if that is the case, she has done her research and taken a lot of effort to attempt to cover it up.”
“Why would she do that?”
“I do not know,” he sighed, “perhaps she is afraid someone will discover her secret.”
