The Glass Wall (Return of the Ancients Book 1)

by Madison Adler

  I had to admit I hadn’t. Apparently, Rafael wasn’t going to have to pull any alien-or-whatever-they-were tricks to rescue Tigger. Despite the freezing and turbulent water, he was already halfway to shore.

  “Let’s go get them!” Al shouted, snagging the keys from me and heading toward Marquis’ car.

  It took me several seconds to get into the passenger side because the cars on the bridge zipped around us at top speed, but I finally managed it. I tossed my backpack in the back and clicked the seatbelt as Al zipped across the bridge and down a small road that led to the shore.

  The trip was short, but Al raved the entire time about Rafael’s swimming abilities. “That kid should be in the Olympics. I’ve never seen anything like it. And that water is freezing! Have you ever seen anything like that?”

  I hadn’t, but even if I had, he was so excited he didn’t give me a chance to speak.

  We arrived at a small park with a collection of picnic tables clustered around a few trees hanging over the lake. We parked the car just in time to see Rafael pulling Tigger out of the water.

  Tigger shook his fur and wagged his tail as Al bounded out of the car, running toward them. Al’s first action was to clasp Rafael in a bear hug, and then he went to Tigger and did the same.

  Nodding at me in greeting, Rafael bent over to hold onto his knees and catch his breath.

  Suddenly, I felt shy. I don’t know why I chose that moment to recall Grace’s comments about Rafael liking me, but I did. I could feel my cheeks start to redden. But then Rafael straightened, shaking his wet hair and began to wring his shirt, and I kicked myself into action.

  As Al began talking with him again, I glanced around the car for something to offer as a towel. There wasn’t anything in the front or back, so I opened the trunk and spied a blanket. I yanked it out and took a step toward Rafael when I noticed something red and glowing in the back of the trunk.

  It was Marquis’ red tube.

  I didn’t even hesitate. Without a second thought, I grabbed the tube, and as I passed my open car door, I smoothly tossed it into my backpack before heading toward Rafael.

  He was leaning casually against a picnic table and laughing easily with Al, seeming to have already recovered from his chilling swim. His wet shirt had molded around his stomach to reveal washboard abs, the material clinging to his body like plastic wrap. His muscles distracted me a good moment or two before I shook my head clear. This was an excellent opportunity. Sidling up to him, I tossed the blanket over his shoulders and leaned back a little to take a quick peek.

  Nope. He didn’t have wings. The shirt was just as clingy on the back. There was simply no place for wings to hide.

  Rafael watched me with brows drawn in a faintly puzzled line, but nodded his thanks for the blanket. It was a bit funny, his blue eye shadow and eyeliner dripped down the side of his face a little, but still I had never seen a guy look so masculine.

  “I don’t know how to thank you, young man,” Al was saying again, succumbing to another wave of emotion as he enveloped Rafael in yet another bear hug.

  Rafael laughed, patting Al on the back but stepped quickly out of his reach the moment Al let him go. “I’m most pleased to find that Tigger hasn’t suffered any adverse effects.” He bowed politely.

  Al bowed in return, obviously attempting to copy Rafael’s in an overt sign of respect.

  Rafael’s lips curved into a smile at Al’s gesture before he turned to address the dog. “I believe you’ll look before you jump next time, Tigger.”

  All at once, I recalled I was responsible for this incident. Wincing a little, I mumbled, “I’m sorry. I didn’t know he’d jump after the burger. I was just trying to feed the seagulls.”

  “Well, I didn’t know he’d do that, either, kiddo.” Al reached over and tousled my hair affectionately. “Now that we have a happy ending, we have quite a story to tell—quite a story!”

  Rafael shook the blanket out, began to fold it and asked, “May I offer you a ride home?”

  “That’s downright gentlemanly of you, young man.” Al looked at Tigger’s wet fur and then at the sports car. “But that car is a bit too fancy for a dog.”

  Rafael appeared genuinely surprised. “Nonsense! Ajax rides with me all of the time,” he insisted. Whistling for Tigger, he strode to the car.

  To my astonishment, Tigger fell into step by his side almost prancing. I’d never seen Tigger move like that before. He didn’t look nearly as elegant as Ajax did. Ajax was lean, a mass of muscle. Tigger was a bundle of wrinkled fat that jiggled in ripples, but he was proudly trotting as if he were a champion in a dog show.

  Apparently, Rafael found him amusing as well, because his eyes were laughing as he opened the back door, and Tigger jumped in.

  As the dog landed on my backpack, I found myself flying to the car. I didn’t want to explain what Marquis’ red tube was doing in my belongings. Pushing past Rafael and zipping quickly into the backseat, I volunteered quickly, “I’ll sit back here with Tigger!”

  “Alright, then,” I heard Al say as he got into the car. “I’ll help you clean the seats when we get home.”

  “That won’t be necessary, I assure you.” Rafael sent me an enchanting smile and then turned the ignition on and began backing the car onto the dirt road, adding, “After all, Tigger is quite clean now. He just had a bath.”

  Al chuckled heartily. He was practically beaming at Rafael. “You really have a thing for animals, don’t you? And swimming! Why aren’t you on the Olympics team, young man? You could definitely pick up a gold medal or two for your country! I’ll even go so far as to say it’s your patriotic duty!”

  “Perhaps.” Rafael shrugged, obviously amused. “But, I’m studying medicine. Of late, I find I have little time for such things as swimming.”

  “Ah! Are you studying to be a vet?” Al asked.

  Rafael shook his head. “I’m focusing on cellular research. I’m interested in eradicating disease in humanity.”

  “A noble goal!” Al nodded in overt approval. “A noble goal, indeed!”

  I smiled to myself. I guessed after this, I wouldn’t be hearing Al saying anything suspicious about Rafael. I glanced up to see him watching me in the rearview mirror. I experienced a wave of guilt, but he just sent me a warm smile. It made me feel even guiltier. I almost took the red tube out of my backpack, but then Al started speaking again and Rafael quit looking at me.

  “How can I repay you, young man?” Al was asking.

  “Please, don’t trouble yourself, I was happy to help.”

  “Well, I can’t just let something this big go unrewarded!”

  They went back and forth the entire trip home.

  Finally, Rafael pulled into our driveway.

  Al got out of the car, taking Tigger with him, but not before he ordered Rafael, “You just stay here a minute, young man! I’ve got to brief Betty. She’ll want to thank you herself.”

  As Al disappeared into the house, Rafael got out of the car and stretched.

  Slipping my backpack onto my back, I walked around the car to join him, but when I got there, Rafael was staring at the grass with a deep frown.

  He knelt and lifted a handful of rocks, letting them run through his fingers. I peered over his shoulder and saw that the fairy runes in the yard had turned black and gray, splintering as the ones in my pocket had.

  He was strangely quiet for a few moments and then rose to his feet. Peering down at me with troubled eyes, he said softly, “I can’t protect you if you can’t trust me.”

  “I trust you…” I began, but stopped. It wasn’t exactly true. I didn’t want to lie to him.

  Rafael expelled a short breath and stooped to pick up a black stone. “From the looks of this, I lost your trust over a week ago.” He was obviously upset.

  I felt guilty. In fact, at the rate the day was going, I was pretty sure I was going to drown in guilt soon, but I hadn’t intentionally wronged anyone. Defensively, I countered. “I’d really like
to trust you, but how can you expect blind trust when you hide so many secrets? Trust goes both ways, you know.”

  His jaw tensed, and I could see him swallow as he stared over my head. Finally, he looked into my eyes again. “I understand, but if you can’t trust me, then trust neither of us. Stay away from us both!”

  I knew he was speaking of Jareth. “Well, isn’t it all a moot point now?” I asked, strangely a little emotional myself. “I mean, you are leaving. Your father said you were off to Sweden soon, with your fiancée.”

  Rafael blinked, and his elegant brow arched a little. “He said … what? When did you speak to my father?” He was clearly surprised.

  “Last night.” I shrugged. “Aren’t you leaving?”

  “No.” Rafael shook his head. “I can’t leave. He should know that.”

  An irrational leap of joy flooded me and I smiled. I couldn’t stop myself.

  Rafael caught my expression. His eyes responded warmly, but his lips tightened in a firm line.

  Then, the front door slammed and we looked over to see Al, Betty, and Grace hurrying toward us with Tigger at their heels.

  “Al just told us what happened!” Betty said a little breathlessly. “We can’t thank you enough! Tigger is one of the family!”

  As we watched, Tigger wandered over to Betty’s truck and lay down behind the rear wheel with a loud sigh of contentment.

  We all laughed.

  Betty turned back to Rafael. “Well, you’re just going to have to come over for dinner!”

  “That is very kind.” Rafael bowed politely.

  Betty’s eyes lit with a sudden idea. “What are you doing for Thanksgiving? Why don’t you come over? Bring the entire family! We insist!”

  “We couldn’t possibly presume.” Marquis’ voice inserted itself into the conversation. Surprised, we all turned to see him walking up the driveway.

  I still found it hard to believe that he was Rafael’s father. He just couldn’t be. It had to be a cover. They looked nothing alike, and Marquis always made my flesh crawl. I shivered, wondering if he could sense his red tube in my backpack, but his attention was focused solely on his son.

  “Come, Rafael.” He held out his hand.

  Rafael eyed him a moment, and then turning back to Betty, he said, “Actually, we would be delighted to join your festivities.”

  Before Betty could respond, Marquis cleared his throat. “Rafael, we have business to attend to!” It was an obvious warning.

  “Then, feel free to attend to it,” Rafael replied calmly enough, but his eyes were angry. Turning back to Betty, he added with another bow, “I will be at your Thanksgiving dinner, I swear it.”

  I eyed Rafael, again wondering why his words sometimes sounded like he was stuck in the seventeenth century when the rest of his relatives didn’t.

  Marquis face darkened.

  “Well, then!” Betty smiled nervously. She looked a little strained. I knew she hated conflict. “We are very happy to have you!”

  Glaring at Rafael, Marquis bowed stiffly and slid into the passenger’s seat of his car. He leaned over the driver’s seat and snapped, “We must be going!”

  Al stepped forward to grab Rafael’s hand and shake it vigorously. “I can’t thank you enough!”

  “Please rest assured that you have,” Rafael replied. He watched me for a moment and then said, “Perhaps I can give you a ride to work this weekend, Sydney.”

  “Sure,” I mumbled.

  “Time to go!” Marquis said loudly.

  At that, Rafael clenched his jaw again. Leaning into the car, he tossed the keys at Marquis and said, “If you are in such a rush, please feel free to drive yourself.”

  Marquis stared at him, shocked.

  Then, with a final bow, Rafael walked across the street and into his house, slamming the door.

  Cursing under his breath and without glancing in our direction even once, Marquis got into the driver’s seat and zoomed away.

  Betty and Al looked at each other.

  “What a swimmer!” Al shook his head, sliding his arm about Betty’s waist as they returned to the house. “That kid should be in the Olympics!”

  The front door clicked shut, leaving Grace and me still standing in the yard.

  She pulled her phone out of her pocket and flipped it open with a grin. “I bet this is going to be the best Thanksgiving ever! I’m going to invite Ellison right now. It would be a crime if he missed this!”

  Once inside my room, I shook Marquis’ red tube out onto my bed. Recalling the tendrils coming out of the top, I couldn’t believe that I had been so foolish as to actually pick it up with my bare hands, or to steal it for that matter, but it was too late now.

  I poked it with a pencil.

  Nothing happened.

  I pushed it around on the bed and stared at it closely. It just looked like a red fluorescent bulb of some kind. Maybe Betty had been right and the tendrils had just been light reflections. I wondered what it had to do with Marquis.

  I stared at the tube for a while, wondering if I should tell Al I had it. I was torn. I wasn’t exactly sure he’d be all that understanding of me stealing it. He followed the law to the letter. And now that Rafael was a hero in his eyes, I definitely didn’t think Al would approve.

  Deciding I should wait, I rolled the tube into a towel and stuffed it under my bed. I didn’t really like it there. Something about it made my flesh crawl, much in the same manner as Marquis, but I thought it was the best hiding place.

  I was yawning in English class the next afternoon when I came up with the brilliant idea of dangling the tube in front of the alien detection kit, and the opportunity arrived soon after I got home.

  Betty had sold a large shipment of her baskets and enlisted both Grace and me to load her truck. Since Grace had a few errands to run, they drove off together to the UPS store. They invited me to go with them, of course, but I was anxious to test the red tube. Finally satisfied that I was alone, I carried it into the kitchen and set the alien detection kit down in front of it.

  Nothing happened.

  Carefully, I rolled the tube out of the towel, grabbed a wooden spoon, and used it to push the tube against the device.

  Nothing happened. The little green lights blinked steadily.

  “Of course!” I sighed. What else could I expect from a senior janitor at an Arizona Air Force base?

  I pushed the glowing tube back into the towel and put it back under my bed.

  The next few days passed quickly, wrapping up school projects in preparation for the Thanksgiving holiday and working for Samantha. Thanks to Jareth, her business had perked up and was growing by the day.

  I worried off and on about the red tube, wondering if Marquis was going to find out that I’d taken it. I made up my mind to give it back to Rafael, only he never showed up to drive me to my job as he had suggested. In fact, I hadn’t seen him or his car for days. It seemed very unlike him to suggest something and then to simply disappear.

  Every night, I continued my research on Avalon. I learned it was the legendary isle where King Arthur’s sword had been forged. There was some dispute as to where the isle was actually located, depending on who told the story, but pretty much all accounts claimed that it was the homeland of an immortal named Morgan le Fay. It was all very interesting in a historical or legendary sort of way, but I didn’t see what it had to do with iron or Ireland. I figured it was just like Jareth to send me on a wild goose chase. He probably found it terribly amusing.

  The day before Thanksgiving, Neelu showed up for a visit. She offered to take me out somewhere for a chat, but I felt more comfortable in the kitchen with Betty around.

  “Looks like your grades are improving.” Neelu smiled pleasantly. “Everything seems to be humming along just fine?”

  “Yep.” I replied, smiling a little as she glanced at her watch for the fifth time.

  “And you seem to be fitting in well here?”

  “Yep.” I nodded.


  “Everything is ok, then?” She looked at her watch again. “I hear you have a job now?”

  “I’m really doing fine, Neelu.” I laughed at her. “You can go, you know. I’m fine. There is nothing to worry about.”

  She looked a little embarrassed and said, “I’m just so busy, Sydney. I’ve got a court case to get ready for, oh—” she interrupted herself and slapped her hand on her forehead. The rows of bracelets on her arm jingled. “I forgot! Your mother has the evening out for Thanksgiving. She mentioned that you two are going to Denny’s?”

  I had completely forgotten about that. I found myself frowning, surprised that I had only been thinking of Rafael on Thanksgiving.

  “You can always invite your mother here,” Betty suggested and patted me on the arm. “The more the merrier! And if I do say so myself, my dinner will be much better than Denny’s!”

  “I can invite her?” I brightened, sitting up a little. Nodding to Neelu, I said, “Fine, I’ll do that.”

  “Ok, I’ll give her a ride here around 6:00 p.m.” Neelu glanced at her watch again and stood up to leave.

  “You can stay too!” Betty invited, walking her to the door. They chatted a bit and then Betty returned to start rearranging and decorating the house.

  The first order of business was to move the kitchen table into the family room. Al brought in the extra leaves, and pretty soon we had a huge table covered with an orange tablecloth. It looked very festive. We scrounged all of the chairs in the house, even a couple from the garage, and finally had enough for everyone. And then Betty sent me out to the greenbelt to find some leaves to use as decorations.

  Sticking Jerry in my pocket, I trudged out into the late afternoon. It was chilly and everything smelled wet. I loved it. I found the smell of damp leaves comforting. I was discovering I liked the Seattle area more than the rest of the places Maya had moved us to over the years. The rainy days matched me.

  I’d just finished picking up a nice selection of leaves and pine boughs, when I heard a growl behind me. Nervously, I whirled.