LeOmi's Solitude

by Curtis, Gene

  When she stole the Journal, it was obvious that she couldn’t be trusted again. You have the knife that was supposed to be mine. It has been passed down through our family for generations. Don’t lose it.

  Our Grand-Père would have told you everything too, to keep himself from a life of imprisonment, but I couldn’t let him do that.

  Grand-Mère’s days are at an end also, because of her betrayal. What is it about you that clouds people’s judgment and takes them on different paths than they would normally take? Such as this letter. Telling you these things could be a death sentence for me.

  When I asked you to tell me what your only heart’s desire was, and you said to have your family back, well, that was when I realized how much our family meant to me too. Dad and Basque are persistent. But my time is running out.

  By the way, I saw you at the Olive Tree many times. It is impossible for us to go there together, but it would have been nice.

  Take care, little sister.

  Ruby

  “Bekka, we have to go to New Orleans.”

  Chapter 20

  Only the Punished Linger in Desolate Ground

  LeOmi knew it was Sergeant Polaris walking amongst a lot of other detectives at the station, even from behind. He had that distinctive bowlegged walk.

  “Sergeant.” Twelve sergeants turned and looked. She pointed at Sergeant Polaris.

  “Yeah? Oh hey, I wasn’t expecting ya.”

  “Have you heard anything?”

  He ushered LeOmi and Bekka to his cluttered desk. He moved stacks of files and papers out of the chairs and motioned for them to take a seat.

  “I haven’t heard anything, but I know that your grandmother’s spies have been lying around for days, with nothing to do.”

  “She could have just left the city, but I am very worried,” LeOmi said.

  “Well, as usual, she hasn’t left a paper trail, so it’s hard to locate her.”

  “I have to find her, Sergeant, to make sure that she is all right.”

  “Right, yeah, I understand. Is there any other family or any friends she might be visiting?”

  “No, no, no…No one.”

  “Well, I’ll do what I can do.”

  “I know Sergeant; just keep a look-out, would you?”

  “You got it. Hey, what about that other matter?”

  “Sergeant this is the other matter. I believe Compton is the man that we are looking for and he is responsible for my Grand-Mère’s disappearance.”

  * * *

  LeOmi and Bekka looked through the house, and there was no sign of them. It seemed that Hannah hadn’t packed anything for them, but there were some papers that had been moved near Grand-Mère’s desk.

  Finally near morning, Bekka said, “I don’t see anything to show us where they may have gone, and maybe they want it that way.”

  LeOmi had been in Grand-Mère’s chair for hours, going through books and papers.

  “We need to report this.”

  “You go and tell the Council, maybe they know something that we don’t know.”

  “Maybe.”

  “I’ll stay here and continue looking.”

  After Bekka left, LeOmi went to the library; there on the table was Interactions between Earth, Wood, Fire, Metal and Water. There was a paper sticking out of the book, Hannah’s handwriting.

  We have gone away. Don’t look for us.

  3030 River Street was where she lived.

  Forgive.

  * * *

  LeOmi crouched behind the tall bushes resting her back against the wall. From this position she could see the river, and the house.

  “This is the place.” Her own voice surprised her; she knew she must be nervous.

  Then silently to herself—Henry would say; Remember, be as quiet as a mouse.

  The last rays of the setting sun were shining on the glass doors of the huge house, but no light could get in. Nothing was illuminated inside. The windows were dark glass that seemed to reflect light away instead of letting light come in.

  LeOmi slipped off the backpack while she watched. Usually the coneys would pop out and scurry up a tree, but today they were in their Nightingale Floors.

  LeOmi reached in the book bag and pulled out the knife. It was actually very beautiful. This knife knew more secrets than she would ever care to know, generations of secrets.

  The door across the street opened and Julian Compton, the man who was responsible for ripping a big hole in her life, stood on the steps looking up and down the street, first toward the city, then towards the river.

  LeOmi opened her backpack to put the knife back in even though it was almost calling out “revenge”. She put her hand on the hilt and squeezed it as hard as she could. Then she released it and grabbed the cell phone. She hit the redial.

  One Ring

  Two Oh pick-up why don’t you.

  Three

  Four—“Sergeant Polaris.”

  “Sergeant, its LeOmi. He is at the house. I can see him. He is there right now.”

  “Slow down LeOmi, you mean Compton is at your mother’s house.

  “No. I mean where she lived last. By the River. Hurry-up.” LeOmi pushed the button to end the call and tossed it back into her backpack.

  “Oh, no,” came out of her mouth. He had seen her—or heard her. She stood-up as she turned to face him, forcing a smile upon her lips.

  “Well now. Who are you? What are you doing hiding behind the bushes?”

  Waiting for you, don’t you recognize me?

  “Who am I?” LeOmi smiled–the same smile that Ruby had smiled at Slone, “They used to say that I look just like my mother.” LeOmi was still smiling.

  Just make friendly conversation until Polaris gets here.

  He turned his head sideways to look at this young girl of about twelve years. Her black hair was short and spiked with white tips. She was dressed in all black.

  “Are you pretending like you are some sort of Ninja or something? You do look quite familiar.”

  He rubbed his chin and LeOmi saw the crest, a crossed scimitar and quill; the crest of the Neo-Phylum. His voice was soothing—almost pleasant and hypnotizing. LeOmi found herself looking straight into the man’s eyes.

  This can’t be him.

  “Let me introduce myself,” He leaned forward, a slight bow and extended his hand. “Julian Compton, and your name is…” He paused, “Now it is your turn.” His hand still extended. He gave a smile, like a serpent.

  As if on cue, the police car pulled up in front of the house.

  She turned to look at Sergeant Polaris as he stepped from an unmarked police car. She looked at Compton to make sure that he saw who was there.

  Oh, this was the sweet moment that she had been waiting for—his face; she could see it in his face. She could see him put it all together.

  He lunged for her. Without thinking she hit him—the way Henry had taught her. It could kill if enough force was applied. But she didn’t want to kill him. He needed to suffer for what he had done to her mother.

  He hadn’t expected that, another sweet moment. LeOmi saw the tears of pain come into his eyes, also unexpected –Sweeeet.

  “I guess it hurts. So will this.”

  Why did I say that? Never warn your opponent.

  Her little voice reminded her head why she had said it, It felt good—that’s why. All the while she was in the process of a roundhouse kick and her foot hit him on his left check. He went down on one knee. She saw the blood and spit drooling out of his mouth onto the grass.

  More sirens now. Of course he heard them too. He was grabbing at her, like her Grand-Père had grabbed for Ruby, desperate for freedom instead of imprisonment. Then he saw the flash of metal. She showed him the knife that she held in her hands.

  “Oh little girl.” He spoke with that sugary sweetness still in his voice. Still confident, but as he spoke, blood splattered out of his mouth on his fine jacket and dribbled down his chin.

  That is
when she saw that he saw. He looked down at his hand—almost as if he was willing his hand to be some kind of weapon all in itself. His large signet ring seemed to vibrate with his thoughts. Then he calmed as if–it could wait. There was always time.

  “Where did you get that little trinket?” as he gestured toward the knife.

  LeOmi tried to mock his sugary sweetness, “Don’t you recognize it?” She turned the knife so that he could see. “The coroner took it out of my mother’s chest. Do you remember it?” She smiled prettily again for him.

  Oh yes, he recognized it. He stood in one free swift elegantly effortless movement, no longer the weak old man.

  “So, you are my Gossamer’s daughter?” Honey still dripping from his voice. But the blood was becoming annoying to him.

  “I could tell. You…much about my Gossamer.” he took his index finger and ran it over his lips. There was that ring again. A ring like Grand-Père wore. As LeOmi followed the ring with her eyes, he flicked the blood and spit towards her as he grabbed her arm. She was much faster than he was, but she let him grab her arm, just as her mom had given herself to him, given over her will. But…

  “I think that it is about time you seriously started thinking of a new home in New Orleans—maybe some of the finer prison accommodations.” He was still so confident yet the desperation was still there.

  He grabbed the arm that held the knife. Just then the sun setting was incredible. It seemed like life stood still in that decisive second when the sun hit the water and the water simmered; almost winking at her and the world seemed to pause for an instant. It was time to choose.

  Instinct took over, all those hours of training. She wasn’t even sure how it had happened at that point. Later—she would never forget.

  She turned with her body and what seemed like an instant of super human strength, she turned his arm and shoved the Ruby Knife in under his rib cage—the hilt of the knife hardly visible, the point somewhere in the area of his heart, if there was a heart in that foul body. She looked into his eyes. As Grand-Père had looked into hers.

  “An eye for an eye? My petit Gossamer.” A possible laugh came from his mouth—along with more blood. She could see the life leaving his eyes and with that the sugary sweetness of his voice. “Do you think that this makes us even—little girl?”

  She didn’t hold him up any more. She let go of her grip on his arm and he crumbled to the ground lifeless.

  At that point—LeOmi heard a voice calling her name. She looked around and realized that many people were all around her, policemen with guns drawn and the voice again.

  “LeOmi, it’s okay now, step away.” It was Sergeant Polaris. His words seemed to echo in her ears. “Step away.”

  Just then, the smell seemed to jolt her back to reality. Looking down, her hands were covered in blood. The smell was like hot iron and salt mixed together. The evil steam from it seemed to envelop her, it seemed to have a power all its own. There was so much blood, pouring out of Julian Compton.

  Sergeant Polaris was there when LeOmi’s legs seemed to stop working and she folded to the ground.

  Chapter 21

  Lack of a Sense of Humor is a Delicate Thing.

  The sunrise was beautiful as always, but today it seemed like there was only the slightest amount of haze, and it quickly diminished. The haze always added more color and shimmers.

  Bekka stowed her notebook, “Graduation Day festivities begin with a breakfast at The Oasis at seven a.m. I don’t need to get your dad. Jesse has offered to get him.”

  LeOmi turned with her mouth open.

  “Technically Jesse doesn’t get a day off from the orphanage, but his charges have a stand-in today.”

  “When will they be here?”

  Bekka repeated, “As I said, Graduation Day festivities begin with a breakfast at The Oasis at seven a.m. Graduation Ceremonies will follow at nine a.m. with trophies and awards to be distributed. Then at three p.m. the Graduating Class is presented to family and faculty. You and Fireball will lead the pack.”

  “I will?”

  “You’ll be happy to know that you are forty-eight points above Slone.”

  Bekka didn’t get up from her comfortable spot on the ground, but she did make the usual do-si-do arm gestures.

  The coneys had made their way down the Olive Tree to LeOmi’s lap. Usually by this time, they had already been enticed to the book bag with carrot and apple slices.

  “Have you picked-up your Blazon? You’ll need that for the Graduating Class procession.”

  LeOmi nodded, still trying to form her question.

  “Emerald? Are they the top ranking tribe?”

  “Yes.”

  A smile came on LeOmi’s face. The coneys jumped down and went to Bekka, and then they came back to her. They stood on their haunches in her lap and put their feet on her arm and sniffed the air.

  Bekka and LeOmi started laughing and then, apples, carrots and grapes were distributed.

  * * *

  After their last run of the school year, LeOmi went back to the dorm. Gail was waiting outside of her room.

  Shyly she said, “I’m not going back to the Summus next year.”

  LeOmi said, “Good, I knew you had sense.”

  Gail smiled and nodded. As she was walking down the hall she yelled over her shoulder, “See you next year.”

  I sure hope so.

  * * *

  LeOmi was a little early, but her dad and Jesse were already at The Oasis. They had chosen a booth as close to the main entry as possible and as soon as they saw her arrive, they stood to greet her. An awkward family group hug was attempted but the men were so tall that they rested their chins on different parts of her head.

  Her father said, “Hey, no spiked hair.”

  LeOmi self consciously smoothed down the usually spiked tufts of her hair.

  Then he fingered the scarf that she had gathered as a hair band. “She would have liked that.”

  “I think so too.”

  “Let’s eat, I’m hungry.”

  “I was telling Jesse how much I enjoyed real Belgium waffles. I would like to try that again.”

  * * *

  Mrs. Shadowitz began the announcements promptly at nine a.m. She stood center stage. “Guests, teachers and staff, students, I offer this simple prayer.” She paused. “God, grant us peace as we humbly serve you.” She paused again.

  “I have some news. Mr. Diefenderfer has decided to step down from teaching in order to lead the team in the fulltime study of the recently recovered artifacts. He has named, as his permanent replacement…Timothy Augustus Fairbanks.”

  Through the cattle calls LeOmi said, “That is Mark Young’s counselor.”

  “He has always wanted to be a teacher.” Jesse whispered.

  LeOmi whispered back, “He has filled in for Mr. Diefenderfer since they first went into the labyrinth.”

  “I have an announcement to make and, I must say, it’s about time. Gerod Hudson and Shana O’Riley have asked me to announce their engagement. They haven’t set the date yet, but they plan to have a traditional Magi wedding. For those of you who don’t know, that will be one humdinger of a party. They plan to invite all of you back here for that event.”

  I hope I’ll be there.

  “Now…for the awards.”

  Mrs. Shadowitz directed the audience’s attention towards LeOmi, “Emerald Tribe’s LeOmi Jones.”

  LeOmi made her way to the stage, pulling her hood up and ascending the stage steps to receive her awards.

  Bekka stood beside Mrs. Shadowitz to gather the awards as Mrs. Shadowitz called them out. “She received perfect scores in all classes.” Bekka handed Mrs. Shadowitz seven plaques as she called out each class.

  “Top points in flags matches.” A trophy.

  “Top overall points.” A trophy.

  “David’s Crown of Courage—twice.” Two medallions.

  “Overall school champion.” A trophy.

  “And a freshman to
boot. It has been many, many years since a freshman has achieved this honor.”

  The audience applauded and LeOmi looked around and she saw new true friends. Mrs. Shadowitz and Bekka clapping loudly. Mark, Chenoa, Nick, Jamal, Cap’n Ben, Krisa, Gail and Emerald Team. Kayleen, Ms. Vanmie, Mrs. Kirby, Mr. Diefenderfer, Lydia Jefferies, Albert, and of course Jesse and her father and even Gunnison was clapping just as hard as her father.

  “That makes her the winner of an all expenses paid, two week vacation, anywhere in the world for her and her family.”

  LeOmi stood concentrating on breathing while standing at attention, and then she awkwardly exchanged hugs while she juggled the trophies and awards, first with Mrs. Shadowitz, then with Bekka. While standing there, LeOmi remembered Henry’s shelf at the ranch where he had displayed all her awards.

  Here are more awards Henry.

  Slone was next. –

  “Beaten out of first place by a mere forty-eight points, Ruby Tribe’s Slone Voif.”

  * * *

  By three o’clock all the students were mounted and ready for the final commencement of the day signaling the end of the school year. It was a sight to see. There were people and horses everywhere.

  A few moments before they were to begin, Bekka who had been a blur of activity all day long, suddenly appeared beside LeOmi. “Something has just happened, just go with it.” Bekka disappeared as quickly as she had appeared.

  LeOmi noticed Chenoa Day making arm gestures trying to get someone’s attention.

  Chenoa was a few rankings behind Slone and she was trying to get Mark Young’s attention as he rode The General past the procession towards the front of the line. Then Chenoa finally whispered loudly, “Mark, what are you doing?”

  “Tim told me to come to the front of the line. He said to listen to the announcements.”

  Mark had a flag with a number one on it. The General and Mark took a position in front of LeOmi and Fireball.

  Slone said, “What…?”

  Mrs. Shadowitz amplified voice stopped him from finishing his question, “Well, it seems that there has been a bit of breaking news. Ladies and Gentlemen, it seems that we have some extracurricular points to add for one of our students. Faculty and staff…brace yourselves for this…Mark Young has tagged Tim Fairbanks in the Assassin’s Game. He has earned two thousand three hundred and twenty-one points…”