I didn’t answer, but I narrowed my eyes and studied her face.
“Bristol,” Mrs. Carter said. “Do you understand?”
Again, I didn’t answer. I just replayed her words in my head. Was she telling me she knows about how some McKnights and Blackburns had abilities?
I wasn’t sure, but I decided it was time to leave.
“I’ve got to go,” I said, grabbing my bag and getting up. “I’ve got someone waiting for me.”
“Can I make a suggestion?” she asked, before I could leave.
I shrugged.
“Sure,” I said. “Why not?”
She got up and came around her desk to me.
“Try forgiving Payne,” she said. “Let go of the anger that’s pent up inside of you. Once that anger is gone, you’ll have a clearer picture of how you feel about him.”
I shook my head.
“I don’t know how to just forgive him. I’m trying.”
“That’s a hard thing to do,” Mrs. Carter admitted. “In your case, maybe you should start with forgiving yourself. You deserve to be loved. It’s all right to be loved. Accept that. Be at peace with Payne and let go of the anger. Then you can forgive.”
I nodded and went for the door. Just as I got my hand on the knob, something occurred to me. I turned around.
“You said before about how you understood how it was especially difficult for a Blackburn to have grown up outside of Spirit. Aren’t I the only one who has?”
“No,” Mrs. Carter answered. “There have been others. Not many, but a few people from each family have left. Most come back, but some don’t.”
I nodded and thanked her again. My mind was spinning as I left. I walked through the school and headed toward the front doors. I ran into Scarlett along the way.
“Hey there, Bristol,” she said. “We’ve been looking for you. Dante’s outside.”
“I was talking to someone,” I said. “Sorry.”
“Oh,” Scarlett said. “It wasn’t Payne?”
“No,” I said. “It was a teacher. It’s not important.”
“Okay,” Scarlett said, looking relieved. “I mean, I wouldn’t talk to him. I don’t know if I’d talk to any of the McKnights. And let me tell you, after what that scoundrel did, I wouldn’t talk to him to let him know he was on fire.”
I stopped short and glared at Scarlett.
“Look,” I said. “You need to understand something. There’s a lot of history between me and Payne, and I’m still sorting things out. I don’t know what happened, but Priscilla said that both she and Payne might have been drugged at your party. I’m going to have to talk to Payne again, and I’m trying to forgive him. I don’t know what happens after that, but I need to deal with it. So please, don’t tell me how I should feel, okay?”
Scarlett looked taken aback by my outburst. She reached out to take my hand, but I quickly turned away. I heard her racing after me, but I didn’t slow down or stop until I was outside with Dante.
I quickly climbed into the back seat, letting Scarlett get in the front. I didn’t talk the entire way home. Instead, I let things roll around in my head.
When we pulled up at my home, Dante walked me to my door.
“Hey, sugar,” he said. “Something wrong?”
“I’m fine,” I said. “I’m having a bad day.”
“I get that,” Dante said. “You want to talk about it? I can ditch my sister and come back.”
“No,” I said. “Thanks, but I just need to think tonight.”
Dante nodded.
“Did I do something?” he asked. “I mean, something new that I’m not aware of?”
I actually smiled a little.
“No,” I assured him. “It’s not you. I just have stuff on my mind. We’re okay. Maybe we’ll hang out tomorrow.”
“All right,” He said as he sauntered back to the car. “Take care, sugar.”
I waved and went inside.
I got up to my room and sat down by Ricky who as usual was the only one who never upset me.
I replayed my conversation with Mrs. Carter in my head. Then, as Ricky was running on his wheel, I pulled out my cell phone and made a phone call.
“Hey,” I said. “I need your help.”
It was a beautiful fall Saturday. The leaves were changing colors, and the breeze was brisk and cool. We were sitting in the food court of the Spirit Mall, right outside Nerd Patrol. It was the best and only place for help with computers, electronics or anything gadgetry.
Teenagers moved in packs, gossiping and planning their shopping for the day. Young children held their parents or grandparents hands while waiting online to go into a merry go round in the middle of the court. I sat at a table across from Dante, waiting.
“I’m fine here alone,” I told him. “If you don’t want to wait for Ian.”
Dante smiled at me.
“I’m more than happy to chew the fat while we wait,” Dante said. “I don’t suppose you want to share why we’re meeting him again? You have a hankering to chart how many of your people win at bingo compared to the McKnights?”
“No,” I said. “Although if anyone would, it would be Ian.”
“So,” Dante said. “What are you looking for?”
Before I could answer, my cell rang.
“Hi, Uncle Mark,” I said. “What’s up?”
I listened as Dante watched me carefully.
“No,” I said. “I haven’t seen him. Have you called Mrs. Wilson or Skyler?”
I listened again.
“Well, I’m at the mall with Dante by the food court,” I said. “I’m supposed to meet another friend as well. Do you need me to come home?”
After another few moments, I told him I’d keep an eye out for Simon. Uncle Mark assured me there was nothing to worry about, but he didn’t sound like he believed it himself.
I closed my cell phone.
“I take it your uncle can’t find Simon?” Dante said.
“No,” I said. “He and Skyler were supposed to be working on homework together at our place. They should have been there twenty minutes ago.”
“Probably stopped for a slice of pizza or something,” Dante said. “I wouldn’t worry. Now, what’s Ian supposed to—?”
My cell phone went off again. I barely had to look at the caller ID.
“Hey, Maggie, what’s up?”
Dante rolled his eyes.
“Look, Payne will forgive you. And no, I don’t want to go over what happened or what I think happened. What? No, I don’t think Priscilla slipped him anything, but—” I paused, trying to get a word in edgewise. “Because I talked to her and—”
Wow, she was on a roll today.
“No, I’m not kidding. I wanted to hear what she had to say. She says she was drugged too.”
I had to pull the phone away from my ear for a second. Maggie definitely did not believe me, and she was using very colorful language.
“No, well, I do believe her.” Now I rolled my eyes. “She didn’t say that Payne drugged her. In fact, she was pretty certain he was drugged as well.”
I did my best to ignore Dante, who was smiling and enjoying the show.
“No, that doesn’t mean everything’s fine with me and Payne, it’s more complicated than that. Look, I should go.” I threw my head back in exasperation at her response. “Well, for one thing, I’m being very rude talking to you. I’m with Dante.”
Dante grinned and winked at me with the mention of his name. “No, he’s not the complication. Look, I’ve gotta go. I’ll talk to you later. Bye.”
I closed my phone and looked to Dante.
“Sorry.”
“Well,” Dante said. “At least that was mildly entertaining.”
“Yeah,” I said. I was trying to figure out what to say when Dante’s phone rang, for a change. He frowned as he looked at the caller ID.
“What’s up?” he asked as he answered
the call.
I saw more than a little impatience in his eyes at first, but that was slowly replaced by concern.
“Yeah,” Dante said. “Her uncle just called to see if we had any clue, which we don’t. We’re at the Spirit Mall Food Court. Where are you?”
He listened a moment and nodded.
“All right,” Dante replied. “I’m right here, and I won’t let her out of my sight. If I hear anything, I’ll let you know. Text me if you find him.”
Dante ended the call.
“So,” he said. “About before . . . ”
“Forget it,” I said. “Who was that?”
“Nobody.”
“Nobody?” I repeated. “I don’t think so.”
Dante remained mute.
“It was Payne, wasn’t it?” I said.
Dante rolled his eyes. “He got a call from your uncle. He and Hunter are going to drive around and look for Simon.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I asked.
“Because I don’t want to worry you over what’s probably nothing,” he answered. “Now, why don’t you tell me why we’re meeting Ian?”
“I have a hunch,” I said, but the rest of my answer was interrupted by Dante’s cell phone playing the theme song to the old TV show “Bewitched.” Scarlett’s ringtone.
He answered with an eye roll. “I can’t really talk now. Yes, I’m with Bristol.” He nodded. “Yes, just Bristol.” Dante blushed and lowered his voice. “No, we’re at the mall. Would you get your mind out of the gutter? Bye.”
He blew out a breath as he pressed end.
“Sorry,” Dante said.
“How was her mind in the gutter?” I asked.
Dante winked. “You really want to know?”
I thought about that a moment.
“No. Never mind. Let’s just ignore our phones, okay?”
I put my cell phone face down on the table in front of me.
“Agreed,” Dante said, as he did the same. “So, where were we?”
Honestly, I wasn’t sure at this point.
Before I could figure it out, my phone rang again: this time with the theme from Star Trek.
“Oh,” I said, feeling apologetic. “Sorry, that’s Simon calling.” I hit the answer button. “Hey, where are you? Your dad’s worried and—”
I heard a shout, followed by a cry and a scream in the distance. There were dragging noises mixed with curses and the sharp sound of a slap, followed by a whimper of pain.
“You stupid—” someone screamed, not to me, but to Simon. “I’ll call her when I’m—”
The call ended.
“Simon!” I yelled. “Simon!” I jumped out of my seat and called him back, but it went right to voicemail.
Dante was by my side in an instant.
“What happened?”
I didn’t answer. I was already dialing another number.
“Simon’s in trouble,” I said to my uncle when he picked up, and I relayed what had just occurred. “No, I didn’t hear any noises in the background. I don’t think. Mayb^$^s.^s.^s. ^$ don’t know, maybe a car?”
I was pacing as I talked, not caring that anyone was staring or that Ian had finally arrived.
“I think it was Balthazar. I’m on my way.”
“Hey,” Ian said, as Dante grabbed our jackets. “Where are you going?”
“Family emergency,” I said.
Dante and I raced out of the food court, heading back to the parking lot. Behind us, Ian rushed to keep up.
“What happened?” he asked.
“Balthazar McKnight has Simon,” Dante answered.
“Can I do anything?” Ian asked.
“No,” I said.
He held up a notebook. “Do you still want . . . ?”
“Yes! Thanks, Ian, I’ll get it back to you.”
I grabbed it and ran through the door, praying that the notebook I now held would help me save Simon and Skyler.
Once we got to the sheriff’s office, Uncle Mark immediately took me into a private room and started to pepper me with questions about the phone call I received. What had I heard? Was I sure it was Balthazar McKnight? Were there any specific noises in the background? Had I heard either Skyler or Simon, to know that they were both alive? Did Balthazar sound drunk? Or out of control?
Then he asked the question I’d been waiting to hear.
“Is there anything else you’ve seen?” Uncle Mark asked. “Any dream, any feeling, anything that can give a clue as to where to start looking? Anything at all?”
I shook my head.
“No,” I answered. “If I do, I’ll tell you right away.”
Uncle Mark simply nodded and kissed my forehead. He then walked into the main office. I followed him and watched as he started barking out orders to his squad. On the outside, he seemed in control: strong and authoritative. On the inside, I could feel his terror even as he addressed all the cops in the squad room. Every cop stopped what he or she was doing in order to give my uncle their undivided attention.
“Balthazar will take them somewhere private,” Uncle Mark said first. “Let’s start checking out every place that’s owned by a McKnight—any place he may have a connection with. Go to his home. It’s been empty since he first assaulted Bristol. He probably won’t go there, but check. Look around and see if there’s any clue to his location, or any indication that he’s been back.”
Let’s also look into warehouses that the McKnights own, and that he’d have immediate access to. We’ll also want to check out his friends, see if he’s got any drinking buddies that might let him hole up somewhere.”
“Sheriff,” Pinky put his hand in the air. “We can check Balthazar’s place without a problem. We have written consent from the homeowner, Varick McKnight. But aren’t we going to need a warrant for the warehouses, unless we see something that gives us probable cause?”
Uncle Mark looked like he was ready to tell Pinky that he didn’t care about the law when another voice boomed out across the squad room.
“Sheriff Blackburn,” Varick McKnight said, as he strode inside. “I hereby give you and your men permission to access any building owned by myself or McKnight industries in your pursuit of Simon and Skyler. Full access. I have already informed everyone that needs to know. This includes, but is not limited to, any McKnight business, residence or vehicle. I have spread the word and everyone in the McKnight family will cooperate. If you have any problems, I will address it personally.”
Varick stopped near Uncle Mark and looked him in the eye.
“Sheriff, I am here to offer whatever assistance I can,” Varick continued. “If there is anything I can do to help, you have only to ask.”
Like Uncle Mark, Varick projected authority and power, but I could tell that he was afraid for Simon and Skyler, too.
Uncle Mark gave him a nod of approval, and then turned back to his squad. “You heard him: let’s get out there. Keep me updated. You hear or see anything that seems off, call me.”
Varick approached me. Uncle Mark and Dante both moved to my side, unsure of what Varick was about to say.
“Bristol,” Varick said, and for the first time ever I heard his voice crack. “I have to tell you how sorry I am. I acted like a fool, and I cannot explain it, or excuse it. I can only beg your forgiveness. I know that you are incapable of the things of which I accused you. And despite how I treated you, you saved my grandson. I can never repay you.”
I felt guilt rolling off of him like a tidal wave.
“It’s okay,” I told him and meant it. He reached forward and took my hand. I got a flash.
Varick was with the black snake, but this time, the snake was retreating, slithering away from him . . .
By the time the vision faded, I was being pulled back into the private room with Uncle Mark, Varick and Dante.
“You saw something,” Uncle Mark said as he pushed me into a chair. “Was it something to do with Sim
on?”
I shook my head.
“No,” I said. “Not directly.”
I explained what I saw and elaborated on the visions I’d been having of the snake.
“Mr. McKnight,” I said. “Can I ask you something? When you showed up at Aunt Breanne’s, what were you thinking?”
Varick looked taken aback.
“I don’t know if I was thinking at all. I was enraged. I swear to you, I am sorry—”
“No,” I said. “I get that. We’re okay. It was just so unlike you. You’ve always been very nice to me. When you were there, I could feel the rage, but when Aunt Breanne yelled at you, you were confused. It was like you didn’t understand why she was mad at you.”
Varick thought about what I was saying.
“I don’t know,” he said. “I just remember being so angry with you. That’s all. Later I had wondered if I had gotten carried away, but whenever I saw you or even pictured you in my mind, I just felt the rage again.”
“When did that change?” I asked.
Varick found a chair and sat down.
“When you helped Archer,” Varick said. “I was eternally grateful, but I found myself still mad at you. Finally I came to understand what madness it was. I needed to forgive you. Once I did, the anger just went away. I then realized what a fool I’d been.”
I nodded.
“What is it, Bristol?” Uncle Mark asked.
“Mr. McKnight couldn’t control those feelings of fury and hatred towards me,” I said. I saw Varick cringe at the word hatred, but it fit. “And I think the reason is that someone else put them there.”
Everyone looked at each other as they tried to understand what I’d just said.
“S’cuse me,” Dante said. “Did you just say that someone just planted a feeling in Mr. McKnight? How exactly does that work?”
Vision of Serpents Page 20
