by Gina Keliher
I start walking back to the car and eventually Jason catches up.
“That would have been perfect. You and Poppy would make great parents and they’re small enough Poppy could take her everywhere. She used to love her accessories.” Jason starts.
“A puppy is not an accessory. It’s like a little baby. You have to take care of them constantly. Train them, feed them, and nurture them.” I’m ranting a little.
“I didn’t mean it like that, but they were cute.”
We arrive in Croydon and spend the next hour wandering around aimlessly. I have no idea what to get Poppy and no matter what I look at all I can see is those cute brown button eyes.
Eventually I turn to Jason. “She would have loved her wouldn’t she?”
“I think so but I don’t know her as well as you.” He nods.
“You know her well enough. Whatever I buy her will never measure up to a little something that Poppy can love and spoil. She would have been perfect.” Here goes the bottom lip. I’m going to start crying!
“Then it’s a good job I told the lady to hold her. Here,” he passes me a piece of paper with a phone number, “I told her we’d call her back today to make arrangements to get her.” He’s smiling from ear to ear. He knows he did well. “Now let’s go get bowls, leads, toys and whatever else we can load the car up with.”
I call the lady, Sheila, and she laughed that she knew I wouldn’t say no. We make arrangements for Jason to collect her Friday. I’ll be busy with manicures and pedicures and then he’ll meet us at home.
We buy a bed, a brown lead with tiny little studs on it and a matching collar. Food, toys, treats, little tiny booties and Jason even buys a silly little ballerina outfit. I hate it, Poppy will adore it.
We pile it all into the car and stop back at Sheila’s on the way back to give the pup a cuddle. I pay the £100 and promise to call Sheila with any questions. I also ask her to see if anyone knows a good vet in the Wimbledon area and she promises to see what she can find by Friday.
The drive home is fantastic. I’m holding Jason’s hand again and we’re both smiling and laughing and trying to think of names, knowing Poppy will find her a unique one.
Chapter Thirty Nine
Jason is going to hold onto everything we’ve bought and he’s offered, threatened, to wrap it.
“Please don’t.” I’m being ridiculously theatrical. “It gives us an excuse to see each other in the week. We could do it together?”
“My wrapping is not so bad you would have to give up any of your precious time to spend with me unnecessarily.” Oh, he can do theatrics too.
“Lunch Thursday? At the house. I’ll make sure Poppy has somewhere to be.”
“It’s a date.” He’s laughing at me and I like it.
We’re almost home and again I’m thinking how much fun we had. Maybe I’m biased, but I’m sure Jason’s Being lightens around me. That sounds big headed, I know.
“Is that Adam?” I ask, pointing out the window.
We’re waiting at the lights, about fourth car back and I can see someone leaning against an alley wall. There’s a young kid, maybe thirteen or fourteen that’s handing something over. The older person, I’m sure it’s Adam, takes it, puts it in his pocket and then reaches into his other pocket and passes something back.
“Jason.” I whip round so fast something pops. “Is that Adam and is he, is he, selling drugs?” I snap my head back around to look down the alley.
The darkness oozing out of the guy, almost enveloping the younger kid.
“Alice, what are you doing?” Jason screams.
I’m trying to get out of the car and am pulling on the door handle. Jason is leaning over me trying to grab my hands.
“Are you crazy? That person could be dangerous. Stay in the car.”
I’m dangerous, just let me out of here. But it would be a bit ridiculous to just jump out of the car, kill someone and then expect to get a ride home. Not that we’re far, I could walk home from here. The light changes and Jason slams his foot down on the accelerator, almost hitting the car in front in his haste to get away.
“Jason, you didn’t answer me. Was that Adam, selling drugs to kids?”
His response is to shake his head. Not good enough for me. I’m staring at him and my eyes must feel like lasers burning into him.
“I didn’t see. I was too busy trying to keep you from charging up there and confronting god knows what.” He speaks to me like I’m a little kid. I don’t like it and I can feel another fun day slipping away.
“You’re lying. I don’t know why you choose to protect someone like that. I protect my friends because they’re good people. But that,” I’m sticking my thumb over my shoulder, “that is just… I don’t know how to say it. I’m actually lost for words on how you can possibly call that a friend.”
“It couldn’t have been him. I’m pretty sure Adam’s out of town. But I’ll get back to the Adam police on that one OK?” Yup, fun’s over.
We pull up to my house and I know I have to say something. “See you Thursday?” No answer. I lean over and kiss him on the cheek.
“You drive me crazy Alice. I honestly don’t know what to do with you.” He does sound exasperated.
I smile and shrug my shoulders. “Just trying to save the world Jason.” I tease, not really.
He leans over me and we have a proper kiss. A nice kiss. I want it to be a great kiss but truth be told it just isn’t. I like it, don’t get me wrong. Oh stop analyzing and just get on with it. I grab hold of Jason’s neck and kiss him a little more passionately.
“Whoa there.” Jason says a bit embarrassed, pulling away. “Let’s save that for Thursday.”
If he looks embarrassed imagine how I feel. ‘Whoa there’ is not good when you’re trying to snog someone.
“K, Thursday then. I’ll speak to you soon.” I get out of the car and stand there waving until Jason is out of sight.
I wander up the path, unlock and open the door and walk inside. As I’m closing the door behind me I hesitate and open it a little wider again, looking back into the street. It’s quiet and no one is around, no one in the shadows. I close the door and head upstairs, disappointed.
Chapter Forty
Ugh, Monday morning meetings. Not like we have one every Monday morning but it makes it feel like a real job if I complain that way. I’ve told them about my almost positive sighting of Adam selling drugs and I can see Robbie is furious with me. Nothing I could have done at that time. Robbie obviously disagrees.
“So, the party is only five days away. It sounds pretty positive that Adam will be there and he should be easy to dispose of, but I’m wondering seriously if we need him to draw Ian out.” Adrian begins.
“Oh he said he’d be there, ‘wouldn’t miss it for the world’.” I say matter-of-factly before realising my mistake. “At least that’s what Jason said.” I add as if they’re the stupid ones. Need more tea to wake up before I speak again.
“That may be the case but I believe our best avenue to Ian is Adam. As much as it pains us all, I think we should keep him alive until Ian is taken care of.”
General grumbles from all around.
“Getting rid of Ian will mean no more ‘leadership’ and people like Adam will be easier to find. They’ll make more mistakes and we’ll find them easier. It will make a bigger effect.” Adrian continues. “But there is something else I wanted to tell you about.”
It sounds serious so we all stop complaining and gather around. Story time.
“At paintball last week, we talked about the fact that Ian appears to be going solo. He does not feel he needs the support of his fellow ‘Takers’. I’ve spoken with hierarchy and they have permitted me to tell you this story. Very few know of it, it’s not something we talk about and it should not be shared with other ‘Gifted’ you meet.” He pauses, for effect.
It works. We’re all very curious now.
“As you know, we guide pure Beings and remove the dmane
d Beings. Rarely, we encounter ‘Takers’ and, as we just talked about, removing them is paramount. It causes chaos and enables our job to be done more effectively.
“It is not often we encounter a lone ‘Taker’. They are normally in groups, such as ours. There was an occasion some time ago when a ‘Taker’ that was travelling alone happened upon a ‘Gifted’.”
“Who killed who?” Robbie interrupts.
“Well, no one died.” Adrian mentions, shaking his head.
“What do you mean?” Annabel and Robbie together.
“They just shook hands and parted ways? Why were they both alone, that’s improbable and just plain ridiculous.” Annabel finishes.
I’m just staying quiet. I want to hear this as it sounds a little bit familiar.
“They fell in love.”
“Hm. They did what?” I did not hear that right, did I?
Everyone is looking at Adrian with expressions ranging from disgust to disbelief to downright confusion. That last one’s me.
“Regardless of whom we are and what we do, we are mortal, human beings. The attraction between them was too strong for them to ignore.”
I want to run. I don’t want to hear this in front of everyone else. I feel as if I’m on fire. No way. Ian’s hot but I am not falling in love with a ‘Taker’. Not going to happen. Ever. Promise.
“Did they live happily ever after?” Poppy, the optimist.
“No Poppy. She was a ‘Taker’, and although she loved him, it was her way to do evil. She killed his parents. He believed for a long time it was the accident it was staged to look like. He was blinded by her love.”
“No, that’s terrible. What happened?” Poppy’s enthralled.
“After that, she killed his mentor.”
We all look at Adrian. We’d never let anything happen to our parents or our mentor. Adrian is family.
“The killing went on. Family, friends and then she turned on him. He was too weak to fight her. When he realized what she had done, killed all the people he loved, he didn’t even want to fight her. He told her to kill him too.”
This story is horrific and just a little familiar. Why do I feel, no, not possible. I look at Adrian with a ‘oh my god I know who this story is about’ look. He shakes his head gently. Not in front of the others.
“You said no one died.” Stefan says, always a stickler for detail.
“Correct. She didn’t kill him. She had taken everything he lived for. She left him a broken man. He was so strongly ‘Gifted’, one of the best, but from that day on he retired. Couldn’t do it anymore. She walked away and was never seen again. He lost family, friends, everything. But sadly, to him, he lost his heart too. He truly loved her.”
“Should have killed him.” Robbie says. “He can’t have been ‘Gifted’ if he loved a ‘Taker’.”
“No.” Why did I jump up and draw so much attention to myself? Oh well, here now. “No. I don’t believe that. Look at me. Jason is almost dark. What would I do if he slipped just a little further? He must have believed he could save her?” I look at Adrian for conformation.
“Save a ‘Taker’? Have you been reading fairy tale’s Alice?” Robbie snorts.
“I believe in true love.” Poppy adds. “They should have run away to a deserted island. Just the two of them and they could have lived happily, right Adrian?”
Desert Island. Just the two of them. Oh, please. Am I dreaming? Oh so déjà vu.
“Well, I’m not sure of that,” Adrian humours her, “but the moral of the story is, the only time a ‘Taker’ has been sensed on their own it was to find their way into the heart of one of us. Find their way in and then rip their way out. They have to be able to separate one pure Being, a ‘Gifted’, from the group to make us weaker. But for one of us to trust these, these monsters, that could get us all killed.” I can’t remember Adrian ever sounding so emotional about a subject before. It’s weird.
Alrighty then. Point taken. Why is everyone looking at me?
“OK, good chat. Thanks for that.” I say. What?
“You’re the only one that’s seen him. Is he after you Alice?” Poppy looks both excited and horrified at the thought.
“Me? Don’t be silly. He waved that’s all. Remember? Just wrong place wrong time. That’s me.”
“Just be very careful Alice. And the rest of you, don’t let her out of your sight until this is over.” Adrian warns us all. “Brunch?”
I follow Adrian into the kitchen.
“Something you want to share with me Alice?” He asks.
“It was Parker wasn’t it? He’s the one that fell in love.” I ask.
“It doesn’t matter who it was Alice, just make sure it doesn’t happen to you. Here, take these out to the gang.”
I feel dismissed again. I also feel very alone and very stupid. I could have gotten my friends killed, my family, Adrian. All over a good snog. It’s not as if he’s the only good looking guy in the whole world or anything. Just the best looking one I’ve met so far. And courteous, polite, thoughtful. That billowing black smog that he radiates is a bit of a bummer though.
And there’s Jason. Puppy loving softie. Not exactly a hundred percent good guy, but that’s also OK. Perfect would be boring. Still good looking, an alright kisser. Kind of person your mum and friends would like. Sorry Jason, that wasn’t exactly a point in your favour.
OK, serious thinking time. Kill Ian. Waste of good looks but chances of running away to DesertIsland slim, so need my family and friends. Sorted.
Chapter Forty One
“You really like him don’t you?” Poppy asks on the train home.
No guesses for who I was thinking about.
“Honestly? I’m not really sure.” She’s my best friend. Can I tell her everything? All of it? “Poppy, there’s so much more to it than whether I just like him.” I begin.
“I can imagine. Best mate is a damed Being, other mate is the absolute enemy. Dopey room mate, I’d be a little unsure myself.”
“That and I’m not twelve anymore.” I make light of it. I almost blurted it all out then but she doesn’t need the burden.
As we’re walking back to the house we see dad weaving sown the street.
“Hi Mr. Shaw. Liquid lunch?” Poppy asks giggling.
“Just one Penelope.” My dad lies. “I bumped into your man and we had a good chat.” Dad says to me.
“Oh, lovely.” Say no more. Please, not now. I’m going to throw up.
“I invited him to dinner with us. Thought it was about time you told mum.”
Shut up dad.
“But your mum knows Jason long legs,” Poppy is looking at me confused, “surely you remember him?” She says to dad.
“Jason? No not Jason. His name is…”
“I’d love to chat but we have to run. I’ll call you about dinner. Get home safe. Love you.” I’m literally dragging Poppy to the front door.
I throw the door open and propel her inside and slam it behind me.
“Few more than one I think. Cup of tea?” I ask.
“Sure.” Poppy says, but it’s in slow motion. “I think a cup of tea and a chat is just what we need. A cup of tea and then you tell me what the hell is going on! Your dad knows Jason and it obviously was not him that we were just talking about. I knew something was going on. You’re daydreaming 24/7. I thought you were preoccupied with Jason and the party but there’s someone else isn’t there? You have a boyfriend that you didn’t even tell me about? I thought we were best friends.” She’s literally screaming. I’ve never seen Poppy so upset.
“Please Poppy. Stop.” She’s throwing clothes in a suitcase.
I’ve told her everything. Well, not everything. I didn’t tell her about the night after the funfair. I did tell her about the coffee shop and the kiss but I made it sound like he kissed me and I pushed him away. No mention of nosy Mrs. Camberley. I didn’t exactly tell her about Sainsbury’s shopping either. I just mentioned he was outside and my dad saw us and assumed w
e were together. I did however tell her about the letter sent to Lisa’s.
“You’ve lost it over a sexy chuckle.” She’s disgusted with me and I’m exhausted with the fight. “You’ve put us all in danger. I really would never have believed you could be so stupid Alice. This stinks!” She’s beginning to sound deflated too.
“Please don’t go Poppy. I can’t fight him on my own. I need you.”
“That is the first sensible thing you’ve said. I think we need to get Adrian over here and tell him the truth.”
“No. I’m begging.” And crying. “Poppy it’s bad enough that I’ve let you down. Please don’t tell him yet. I promise I will but I can’t stand the way you’re looking at me and if he looks at me this way too...” I’m literally howling.
“Here.” She hands me a tissue and actually takes a break from packing, sits on the bed beside me. “I don’t know what to do Alice. You heard that story. Ian was drinking with your dad for goodness sake. No offense, but your dad looked a bit tipsy wobbling all over the street. Do you know how easy it would have been for Ian to kill him on the way home? He’s playing with you. Letting you believe he wouldn’t hurt anyone. He’s breaking down your defences Alice and then he’ll go for the kill, your family and friends.”
“So what do we do Poppy? I thought I was strong enough to do this on my own but, but, but I’m not.”
“Even more reason to tell the gang. Then we can all support you.”
“Robbie will kill me!” I howl.
“No he won’t. I don’t think. Oh honey what are we going to do?”
She finally puts her arm around me and lets me cry. This delicate little girl, so fun and full of life shouldn’t be comforting me. She should be happy. I’ve really messed up. Thoroughly.
“Please can we see what happens with the party? I won’t be alone for even a minute until then. If he shows, we kill him. Surely the longer I go without seeing him the stronger I become? The less resistant to his ‘charm’.” And that word sets me off again. Felt strong for a minute there.
