by Chloe Adler
Aurelia appeared in the hallway at that moment, hands on her hips.
"It was your idea? I should have known." She was addressing Sadie, her eyes narrowed and dark.
"Mom, this is not the time," Sadie said. "I'll be happy to come back and discuss it with you when Chrys is settled."
"Don't bother coming back at all. Either one of you," Aurelia hissed, sounding more like a snake than a person. Abruptly spinning around, she stomped back into her bedroom and slammed the door. Loudly.
Sadie put her hand on my shoulder. I jumped.
"Sorry, I forgot. I was just trying to comfort you," she said in a small, quiet voice. That must be an effort for her. Sadie didn't do anything small or quietly. "Don't worry about Aurelia, she'll come around."
"Like she did with you?" I asked.
"It's better than it used to be," she reminded me.
I had to agree. For most of Sadie's life Aurelia hadn't been able to look at her. I winced.
Sadie saw my discomfort. "It wasn't your fault. It was never your fault." She offered me a small, though genuine smile.
What could I say? If I hadn't been so perfect, maybe Mama wouldn't have hated her so much? In the end, it turned out that Sadie's father had not been mine and Iphi's. She'd never known. None of us had, until recently. We'd all thought Taylor was our Dad. He had raised us until I was thirteen. Then one day, without a word, he'd just disappeared. We'd spent most of our teenage years blaming ourselves. Aurelia had spent our teenage years distancing herself from us and plotting to control Sadie's powers. It always seemed like the day Taylor disappeared was the day we lost our mother as well. Yet our father had apparently left us to save us. How could we go from vilifying our father to canonizing him so suddenly? It was something we all still struggled with.
"Why don't you wait outside?" Sadie said.
I hadn't realized that I'd followed her into my room and was standing there like an idiot.
"I want to help." I shook my body like a dog shaking off trauma. The motion was something Dad had done a lot when I was a kid, and it had stuck. Sometimes I did it without thinking. It looked ridiculous, and I'd tried to restrain myself, but now it was too ingrained.
"It's decided," she said in a placating tone that gently curbed my annoyance at her distraction.
"What?"
She shook her head and lifted two boxes labeled "clothing." I narrowed my eyes at my sister. I knew she had my best interests at heart but that old feeling of mistrust reared its ugly beak.
"Where is she?" Jared bounded around the corner in false excitement and almost walked into me.
"Who?" I asked him.
"You." His beatific smile lit up that gorgeous face.
Jared could melt the heart of an eighty-five-year-old celibate virgin.
"Me?" My face scrunched up.
"Yes, darling, you." And just as suddenly as he'd appeared, Jared had my elbow in his hand and was leading me out of the house. I fought my instinct to shrug him off. I'd always been envious of Sadie's relationship with him. They were so in sync with each other, often finishing the other's sentences. It was like Sadie had a special, secret life with him and Burgundy that was filled with mystery and intrigue.
Instead of letting myself question his motives, I let him lead me to his car, an adorable slate-colored Mini Cooper. My heart spun a little dance as he bent to open the door for me. The pleasant scent of new leather filled my nostrils as I breathed in. I leaned back into the bucket seats and closed my eyes. After a minute or two I realized Jared hadn't slid in beside me and I opened them. He was standing with Sadie and Burgundy a few feet away at the moving truck, conversing. He nodded once before placing a kiss on Burgundy's cheek.
The green-eyed monster poked me in the ribs again. Those three had a close-knit friendship I couldn't begin to imagine. It was like those fast friends in children's cartoons that do and share everything together, even their emotions. I'd never had even one best friend, let alone two.
Jared opened the car door and slid in next to me.
"Ice cream?" he asked, the left side of his lips hitching up in his delightful half smile.
I looked at him quizzically and he laughed, a deep belly laugh that I'd never heard from him. Not that I had much experience with Jared. He'd never shown any interest in me before.
Starting the engine, he peeled out. "I'm messing with you, Chrys," he said, still laughing. "What do you want to do?"
"Me?"
He looked over at me. "I don't see anyone else in this car, do you?"
"Umm."
"The park it is," he replied and took a right at the corner of Opal Street, which led away from our house and toward the ocean.
"This is the wrong way," I tried to add helpfully.
"I know." His voice held a secret.
I was annoyed. Why was everyone always trying to control me, treating me like I couldn't handle the truth or make up my own mind about things? Whatever. I knew my sister's best friend wouldn't take me anywhere dangerous and I hated conflict. Leaning back, I closed my eyes again.
"Are you sure we shouldn't be helping them move me?" I asked, my eyes still closed.
"We are," he said.
Of course. They needed to get me out of the way while the grown-ups took care of the real work, and poor Jared had pulled babysitting duty. I sighed, settling deeper into the seat.
I didn't know what he was talking about and didn't want to push. Why bother? A few minutes later, the car started to slow and I opened my eyes.
Chapter Five
The car started to slow. I opened my eyes and I blinked several times to clear the film-residue that had settled over my eyes. Outside, the water sparkled blue. The tide was in and the boats on the dock were bobbing and swaying.
"What are we doing here?" I asked Jared.
"I thought it would be relaxing to take a dock walk." He smiled over at me. There was something he wasn't telling me.
He exited the car and walked around to open my door for me. Always the gentleman, he helped me out with an extended hand.
"I'm not particularly fond of the docks," I said as I looked up at him, his topaz eyes sparkling warmly in the midday sun. I had mistaken that warmth for openness and vulnerability a few years ago, when Sadie had introduced us. Now I'd come to think of it as kindness and acceptance. Something dark must have happened in Jared's past, given the leery, suspicious way he acted toward people he didn't know. Like so many of us, he was hiding his pain deep beneath the surface.
Jared extended his hand toward me. His fingers were long and elegant. They were prettier than mine, I noted, still not feeling comfortable with putting my hand in his. I shook my head but instead of dropping his hand, he opened and closed his fingers as if to say 'come on.'
"I don't want to," I said.
He laughed, dismissing me and finally dropping his arm. "You act like everyone has cooties."
"Maybe they do," I snapped back.
"Suit yourself. I'm just trying to be friendly, put you at ease."
"I know, it's just that--"
"Let's go for a walk," he interrupted. "It's a gorgeous day. Have you been on Langton Dock?"
"I haven't."
"Why not?" He was walking just ahead of me, leading me through the parking lot.
"I've heard stories about the docks being dangerous."
"Only the Gates, not these. And especially not Langton. This is the artist's dock."
I clapped my hands together. "It is?" My heart lit up.
"Yes, that's why I wanted to bring you here." His smile filled me. For once, I felt seen.
We walked along together and I had the urge to reach out and grab his hand. Strange. I refrained.
Together we stepped onto the dock. It was wooden and wide. The houseboats on either side were decked out in bright colors and themes. I giggled as we walked by a clown boat painted in stripes and sporting a big red nose. On closer inspection, the nose was made of wood. The rounded windows of his eyes were painte
d with blue diamonds extending above and below. Bright green plants sprouted up from a roof garden to signify hair.
Another houseboat was painted black with a huge stained glass window in the front sporting a yin-yang symbol. There was also a Zen garden in front, two large Buddhas flanking the front door and a cascading roof fountain.
Another boat looked like it was straight from a Dr. Seuss book, tilted to the side with differently shaped rooms protruding at odd angles.
Jared followed my gaze. "That one is called The Seuss. Each one has a name so that when people come to visit, instead of addresses, the owners give a name."
"That's really neat." My head swiveled left and right, trying to take everything in. The dock itself was lined with plants overflowing from large pots. There were succulents, flowers that were currently dormant and even some small fruit trees.
"We can enter some of these on certain days to tour the artists' studios."
"Really?" Why had no one ever told me about this place before?
"Yes, that's why I brought you. Today, the ceramicist has an open studio, as well as a water colorist, a guy who does pen and ink and an encaustic painter."
I nearly squealed. I didn't mind that there was no acrylic or oil on display. I was obsessed with all art. I didn't even have a particular style I liked. Give me Renaissance artists, modernists, impressionists, surrealists. I loved it all.
"Let's go in order," Jared was saying but I'd let go of his hand, and completely out of character, I was skipping down the dock.
"Chrys-o-the-mis!" Jared called out my name in a mock Southern twang.
Behind me, he was standing on a ramp leading into a little houseboat that looked exactly like a log cabin floating on the water.
Why had I never been on the docks before? Oh yes, Aurelia had told me that only riffraff lived here and I had believed her.
I made my way back to Jared as he knocked on the front door. An elderly gentleman opened it a moment later.
"Hi, Alistair. My friend and I are here for the art walk," Jared said in a surprisingly respectful tone. I'd always thought of him as a carefree party guy.
Alistair motioned us inside. "Thank you for coming." He turned to me and offered his hand. It was cold and dry.
"Chrys," I said as I placed my hand in his.
"Lovely to meet you." He smiled at me. His teeth were lightly stained, though his fangs glowed white. The bottom row crowded out his front teeth so that two were crooked. There was genuine delight in his smile nonetheless. And something else, a haunted shadow in his eyes.
Alistair ushered us into a small room to the right of the entrance, where his ceramics were on display.
It was obviously the room he used as his studio too. The kiln was off to one corner and his throwing wheel sat in another. The walls were lined with shelves, and several long tables sat in the room's center. His artwork was displayed on every surface. Bowls, cups, sculptures. Some had delicious-looking glazes that resembled marbled sherbets.
"These are gorgeous," I marveled, bending down to look at a particularly elaborate drinking cup.
"Thank you," he responded. "You may pick them up if you'd like."
As I bent to grab it, the front door opened.
"I brought you a sandwich," came a slightly familiar voice.
Jared turned around just as Carter entered the room with a sandwich in hand.
"Did you . . ." I looked from Jared back to Carter, not able to finish my sentence.
Jared tilted his head to the side, a quizzical look on his face.
"You've met?" he asked.
I put my hands on my hips. "You know we've met, Jared. I met Carter at your house, the other day."
"Well, not properly. You were leaving when he arrived, no?" Jared openly returned my gaze, nothing concealed.
Carter made his way over to me, handing the sandwich to Alistair on the way. When he stood in front of me, I dropped my eyes.
"You look lovelier than you did yesterday," he said.
"Yesterday?" Jared asked. "You saw him yesterday?"
His voice took on an authoritative quality, dropping several octaves, sounding protective. My chest puffed out. Jared, who had always belonged to Sadie, was on my side now.
"I ran into him at The V Club," I told Jared.
"You were at The V Club?" He didn't bother hiding the incredulity in his voice.
"What's The V Club?" Alistair asked.
"The vampire club I work at, Grandpa," Carter responded.
"Oh, of course," Alistair responded. "I thought it was called The Vampire Club."
Carter laughed and it sounded genuine and deep, from the belly.
I felt my insides liquefy.
"We had to change it because saying 'vampire' outright was making some of the humans and other Signum uneasy."
Alistair waved his hand in the air dismissively. "We existed before all of them and they still hold it against us."
I turned to glance at Jared, but he was looking at Carter. I couldn't believe it. He was licking his lips.
Mine, I thought. How dare he? I narrowed my eyes at Jared but he was still ogling Carter. Carter did not seem to notice. He was watching me.
Spark. "Let's go," I said to Jared, though he was paying me no mind. I turned toward the door, letting my emotions get the better of me. Flare. Suddenly, one of Alistair's gorgeous bowls exploded on a shelf right above Carter's head. He looked up, startled, but didn't move.
My eyes squeezed shut and my shoulders dropped. Breathe, Chrys, you can calm this. Another bowl exploded and then another. Alistair ran toward them, his hands flying up to his mouth. Carter just stood there, staring at me. A slight upturn at the corner of his lips made him look more impressed than afraid. Weird. Why?
Great, I was making a scene. So much for exiting gracefully. I moved forward blindly, my face burning, my body visibly shaking with mini tremors.
"Chrys, stop!" Jared yelled.
"I'm trying," I whispered and he reached for my elbow to steer me.
"Get out of my house now, witch." Alistair's voice was deep and menacing. I wanted to apologize but his fangs were bared, his stance held wide as he flexed his fingers.
You did not want to anger a vampire. Still, I couldn't move fast enough. So humiliated. Small.
Unlike his grandfather, Carter kept his easy stance. A slight smile played on his full lips. His head was cocked to one side as if he was studying me but his eyes were full and soft.
Why was he staring at me like that? I'd disgusted his grandfather. Myself. Such lack of control. Jared used slightly more force, steering me out the front door.
"I'll stop by later tonight," Carter's voice rang out after me.
"You'll do no such thing, boy," Alistair said after him through a clenched jaw.
We stood outside the house for a moment. I was unable to move. I was shaking. Was that a child crying? From Alistair's house or from another one on the dock? The boats were berthed closely together.
"What were you thinking?" Jared's tone was not unkind.
I shook my head. "I don't know. I lost control." I couldn't meet his eye.
"Obviously, but why? We were just standing there, talking."
I couldn't tell him I was jealous of the way he'd looked at Carter. I'd sound like a witch gone nutters. I said nothing.
"You really need to learn how to control your powers."
I crossed my arms over my chest and walked away. Jared followed me.
"Hey, let me take you back to the house."
"Great, so Aurelia can be the next to reprimand me? Or Sadie?"
Jared tried to place a hand on my arm, to make me stop walking or provide comfort, I didn't know. I shrugged him off and kept walking down the dock toward the parking lot.
"I meant your new house, Casa Mañana."
I stopped walking and turned around to face him. Tears stung my eyes and I must have looked ridiculous. Emotions swirled.
"Why were you licking your lips when you looked
at Carter?" I knew I was acting like a child as soon as I said it, but his features softened. Was that pity in his eyes?
"Chrys," he said.
"Chrys what?" My anger rose again. I closed my eyes and pursed my lips to try and contain it.
"Hey, it's okay, I'm not a threat," Jared said but I didn't open my eyes. "I'm not your enemy."
"Answer me," I demanded. Something large crashed on the dock. My eyes flung open like the drawer of an old cash register. A very heavy-looking ceramic planter was upended next to Jared. For the first time, he looked afraid. Afraid of me. Maybe I could jump off the dock and let the frigid Pacific cool my cheeks.
If my new roommate was afraid of me, he wouldn't let me move in. I'd have nowhere to go. Could the day get any worse? I sat down in the middle of the dock and started a deep-breathing exercise Iphi had taught me. After a minute Jared sat down next to me.
"I'm sorry," I whispered.
"I know," he said. "Look, Chrys . . ."
I looked up at him, tears staining my cheeks. "Tell me, I want to know," I said, folding my hands in my lap.
"Carter was intimate with Burgundy, and I . . ." He shook his head.
"You've both slept with Carter?" Of course they had. I couldn't even conjure up any anger. Defeat, yes. Anger, no.
"Not me." He reached to touch my arm. I leaned away.
"Not you what?"
"I haven't slept with him."
"What then?"
His lips puckered. "I watched."
What could I say? I was disappointed, there was no denying it.
"It wasn't serious for any of us. We were just having fun," he continued. "It didn't mean anything beyond the satisfaction of the moment."
I couldn't meet his eyes. I didn't know why I even cared. Clenching my teeth together, I asked the one question that I didn't really want to know the answer to. "Sadie?"
He shook his head and the pounding in my ears lessened.
"Hey, it's okay." He reached toward me again but I shook my head no.
I waited for the spark but it didn't happen. Nor a fizzle. Instead of my usual anger, a calmness descended. My jaw unclenched. My hands unclenched. My heart unclenched. The skin over my entire body tightened, as if I were donning a loose cotton coat that had just gone through the dryer.
