by SL Perrine
“Over there with Brian,” she pointed in the direction behind me, “Wow Renee, you look great.”
“Thanks, so do you.” I managed to get out over sips of beer.
Every girl in my family had dark auburn hair, which basically matched anything they wore. Of course I had to be the one born with bright red hair, almost as bright as the flames of a fire, which I always kept long. Between my hair and my bright green eyes my wardrobe color choices were limited. I managed to find a green spaghetti strapped shirt, and a pair of blue jean capris, and matched them with thin black strapped sandals. I was always grateful that I did not inherit my mother’s short stature. I always guessed I got my height from my father, but now I have to rethink all of that.
“Are you drinking?” Callie’s question caught me off guard.
“Yes, aren’t you?”
“No, Robin forbade any cheerleaders from drinking tonight. Homecoming game is tomorrow.”
“Since when? She’s usually the first one with a drink in her hand if she can manage it.” I laughed.
“Come on Renee, you know Robin doesn’t drink.” Callie looked dumbfounded and stormed off, and I was left there stunned and confused.
“Hey, notice anything different?”
I turned around and was face to face with Ty, who looked a bit confused, himself. He had not changed for the party. Either nobody told him it was a normal teenage thing to do, or he just did not care. He still wore his faded jeans and baby blue polo shirt. His hair was wind-blown like he’d rode in a convertible with the top down.
“Yes, I’m noticing a few things that are different. Do you know what’s going on around here?”
“I don’t know, but it seems like someone is going through a lot of trouble to make the whole town different.”
“Why would you think that?” I asked.
As I look around, I really pay attention to the crowd. Not many people are drinking, the music is loud, but not unbearable and then I see them. Mike’s parents are sitting on the rear balcony that hangs over the pool. His mom looks like she’s reading a book and his father a copy of the Cherry Valley Times Union.
“This is weird.” Without thinking I place my cup in the garbage can and head around the house to the front yard. I did not hear him, but felt his presence as he followed behind me.
“What else has changed?” He looked different in the moon light. His skin looked like it was glowing, and his expressionless face looked more at ease than it had before.
“Well, for one, my father and brother believe my mother just up and left us.”
“Wait… Really?”
“Yes, and when I tried explaining about the passage and Pylira, my father told me to stop living in a fairy tale. All the magic books are gone out of my house. There isn’t even a speck of dust that used to be there.”
“Someone is using some big magic to do this. I wonder how far this goes.”
“Yeah, and when were you going to tell me you’ve been living in that house for the last 10 years.”
“That’s funny.”
“Apparently that’s what everyone in the fairytale believes right now, because that’s what my father told me after I tried to jog his memory of the day you “moved” to Cherry Valley.”
“Ok, this is officially magic related.”
“Renee!!” I heard Robin yelling from behind us.
“Hi Robin, did you get a dance with Mike yet?”
“Why would I dance with Mike? You know I have a boyfriend.” She looked back at Brian who looked like he was lost without her. “Anyway, Callie told me you were drinking.” She said as a firm statement.
“You know what Robin, I had one sip and she reminded me about homecoming tomorrow,” I gave her a fake pout and puppy eyes, “I tossed it right away. I promise,” then finished it off with my best innocent girl look.
“Ok, but no more, or you can’t participate tomorrow. I don’t need hung over cheer-leaders, thank you!” She finished in a high pitched tone and spun around, eyes set on Brian. “It’s not a healthy habit Renee.” She yelled back over her shoulder.
“Wow, you’re a bad girl.” Ty said with a laugh, which made me laugh at myself.
“Something clearly is going on. I mean, who would really in their right mind, buy that performance.” I could not stop laughing.
It took us a few minutes to realize Ty’s brothers; Nolan and Chase were running in our direction.
Nolan looked grumpier than usual, and was not who I would expect to see at a school function. Chase on the other hand was a straight “C” student. He felt that in order to fit in at school, he needed to do the bare minimum. It helped with the group of friends he chose. However, all three of them were exceptionally smart. I guess anyone alive for hundreds of years would be.
“What you two up to?” Nolan asked as they got closer.
“We were having a good time at a party.” Ty told him. “It seems that there have been some alterations made today.”
“What do you mean?” Chase sat in the grass with his red cup and a bag of nachos. He seemed to always have food in his hands whenever I saw him.
“Well, everyone seems to have been given a new personality.” I answered.
“And anyone knowing about us, or magic, is delusional.” Ty added.
“It’s like a bad episode of Pleasantville.”
“You got that right, but it is not affecting us. I wonder why not.” I pointed out.
“Maybe it’s because we are maga.” Chase chimed in as he tossed another chip in his mouth.
“I thought something was off today. I was hanging out after school. Shootin hoops with Mike, then for no reason he just said he had to go, middle of the game too. Then before I knew it, everyone was walking off campus.” Chase managed while shoveling chips in his mouth.
“You didn’t think to say anything earlier?” Ty asked.
“This is the first time I’m seeing you, besides I didn’t really think much about it. I mean look around, things don’t look much different than usual.”
“Until you get closer to them.” I added.
“Well, if you ask me, the elders probably had something to do with it.” Nolan chimed in while studying a group of girls across the yard.
“Elders?” I ask.
“Our uncles are a part of a group back home, known as the elders. The group consists of the oldest living maga of our clan.” Ty answered my question.
“Ok, that sounds plausible, but why now? That doesn’t make any sense.” I add.
We all turn in the direction of the back yard. Even from out front we could hear the commotion and Robin’s high pitched voice screaming.
Ty and I run to the noise, Chase follows after us, after downing the rest of his drink. I stopped for a moment to look back and Nolan was obviously not bothered enough to stop what he was doing to follow. By the time I caught up with Ty I could hear clearly what was going on.
“You don’t go to our school, which means you weren’t invited. You need to leave now.” Robin is all but yelling at some unwelcomed new comers. I looked over to the balcony; Mike’s parents are still sitting there doing their perspective tasks. It was as if they were inside of a sound proof bubble.
“Well, we heard there was a party in town tonight, and figured it was a welcome party.” One of them said. I counted then, there were six new people that I had never seen. I looked at Ty and at Chase who was standing at Ty’s side now, and noticed the looks on both their faces.
“Friends of yours?” I asked them.
“Not really.” Ty answered hesitantly.
“Are they Mietitore?”
Chase looked at me now, “They are, but they wouldn’t be anyone we would have hung out with. Let’s just say, Nolan is nicer than they are.”
“Thanks.” None of us had noticed Nolan had joined us.
“Then this is bad?” I ask.
“Yes, this is bad.” Ty looked at me and grabbed my hand. He started to pull me back into the shadow of the
house when one of them spotted him.
“I said you need to leave.” Robin whaled again.
The group stood there now, eyes fixed on Ty, Chase, Nolan and me. They paid no attention to Robin, nor did they respond. One motioned to the rest and they turned around and left the yard.
“About time,” Robin said to the group, “Someone turn the music back on.” And just like that, they went back to their party.
Ty squeezed my hand, “I think it’s time to go.”
“You thinking what I’m thinking?” Chase asked him.
“I’m thinking it’s time to speak with the elders.” Nolan piped up.
As we turned the corner to the front yard, we noticed the new players in town were lying in wait.
“Hello Tyson… what a pleasant surprise to see you here. Then again, we should have figured you’d get to her as soon as you could.” The one who had spoken to Robin stood in front of the small group.
“Hello Zechariah,” still holding my hand he pulled me back, as if to shield me with his body, “what are you doing here?”
Chase and Nolan, both were quickly at our side. It was suddenly very clear how much they did not trust this new group of people in our town.
“Oh now, you knew we’d all show eventually.” The youngest one of the group now spoke. He looked like he was about eight years old, but I knew by now that time was different were they were concerned. He looked a lot like Chase, dark hair, brown eyes, and the same playful grin.
“What do you mean all?” Ty’s hand began to tremble.
“What’s going on? What’s wrong?” I whispered so only Ty could hear, his only response was a slight squeeze to the hand he still held. The electricity I felt from him was not as sharp as it had been before. It was as if I was able to tolerate it more with each encounter.
“That’s right;” Zechariah began again, “all of us are meeting in this cute little town of yours.” He gestured around with his arms held out. “I did not realize why until I saw you here. They must think she is the key to unlocking the passage.” He pointed at me, and Nolan moved in front of us.
“Well then,” he said to the new comers, “why don’t you go find the rest of your cohorts then. Let them know you’ve figured the whole thing out.”
“Nolan, stop.” Ty let go of me and grabbed Nolan by the shoulders. “Not now.”
“Better watch yourself Ty,” the little one spoke again, “your master of none here.”
The group turned to leave while hooting and howling. Some ran and some skipped down the street. By the time they reached the lamplight they were gone.
Ty turned back to me then, “I’m sorry for that, are you ok?”
“Of course, but why would I be in danger from them?”
“The curse put on our clan has made some of them, well for lack of a better word, angry.”
“The curse affects all three of you too, and in over a year here, none of you have wanted to hurt me for it.”
“Don’t speak so quickly.” Nolan runs a hand through his hair. “Crap!” Looking thoroughly frustrated he turns on his heal and walks away from us.
“What’s his problem?”
“He has always wanted revenge for the curse, but more than that he wants to find a way to break it. It took some convincing, but he knows about the prophecy, and he knows we need you in order to lift the curse.”
“Oh, right… my impending marriage, which by the way is completely ridiculous.”
“Yeah, well we can discuss the ridiculousness of that later. Right now we have to get you out of the open.”
“Why? Their gone.”
“Not everyone wants the curse lifted,” Chase adds in, and I quickly remember his attempting to save me too.
“Thanks, but I think I should just go home.”
Chase turns to face me now. He looks worried and scared like a small frightened child. “I don’t know that anyone else knows of the prophecy, which can only mean they are here to use you in some way to break the curse themselves, or get rid of you to keep the curse from being broken. There will always be those loyal to Ourobus who would kill you rather than have the curse broken, and Ourobus defeated. None of them are eager for you to marry anyone. So can we for the sake of argument agree to disagree right now and just get out of here?”
“He’s right Renee; we should go see the elders. If more are coming it’s the only place in this whole town where you’ll be safe.” Ty reaches out and grabs my hand again. I can’t help myself, and the feeling of being drawn to him, but I also can’t help to wonder if this is just him using a spell on me to get his way.
“Fine, let’s just go.”
-10-
The house looks unnerving in the evening. I’ve just realized I have never seen it at this time of night. The tall Victorian is painted grey with a maroon trim. The windows cracked, and coated with a grey film so you cannot even see inside. The roof and rafters are well beyond repair, and yet when I was inside earlier I was impressed by the restoration of the molding and the furnishings. The outside was not its defining glory. I guessed it was to keep those away who may have had a curiosity about it or its occupants. I glanced around the yard, which not to my surprise had looked as though it had not been cared for in several years.
I stop at the bottom of the stairs.
“Ty, I have to tell you something.”
“What?”
To my surprise Nolan, Chase and Ty all stopped to listen to me.
“I have met your uncles, or um… the elders.” Of course Nolan knew, as he was the one who was sent to give me the invitation. Ty would find out about that soon enough. Nolan, disregarding us, turned and finished up the stairs.
“What? I thought I asked you not to come here.” He did not raise his voice, but instead looked hurt. His voice all but whispered to me.
“I know, but when I was sought out and invited, I did not think I had a choice.” I stood stock still, clutching one hand with the other.
“Nolan… of course he would.” He turned around as Nolan disappeared inside.
“I told him not to listen to them.”
“What are you talking about?”
Chase stepped forward to intercede, “Can we just get her inside, and then we can discuss this.”
“Yes.” Ty said as he turned and continued up the stairs. I followed close behind and soon was standing in the large foyer once more.
Before the door can close Hogarth and Gareth are there. The look of worry bothers me. When I was with them today they seemed to radiate with contempt and callousness. They did not strike me as the type that worried easily.
“I think we need some tea Gareth.” Hogarth says and I’m reminded that he is the superior among them. His tone as callous as it was this afternoon, and just like that I become more at ease.
“That would be lovely, thank you.” I am ushered inside further, but not to the overwhelming study we sat in earlier. We walk through the same hallway, but through another doorway which led to an oversized kitchen. Again I am at awe with the interior of the house compared to its exterior.
The appliances are all new, stainless and sparkling. It doesn’t even look like this room is ever used. Chase moves to the other side of a large island in the middle of the room, while Gareth sets to his task. Hogarth stands near the rear door and looks outside. Ty and I stand just in the doorway, and Nolan has disappeared once more.
The kitchen is nothing like the rest of the house. As the rest of the house is magnificent with its original wood beams and crown molding, the kitchen is all ceramic tiles, in white and pale blue. The enormous gas range sits off to the right and is nestled in-between a baker’s oven and a very long counter. The cabinets run parallel above the counter everywhere except behind the stainless sink, which has a huge window as its backdrop. The refrigerator is also stainless and also snug between more counters and cabinets. The island stretches from one end to the other with chairs on either side. I wonder for a moment why they would ever need so many seat
s in here. Ty places a hand on my shoulder as he moves in the kitchen past me and takes a seat beside Chase.
I take a minute to recall all that has happened today. I woke this morning feeling the weight of only that of a junior in high school, now I’m feeling overwhelmed by the fact there may be a large number of people who wish me harm. Only I have no idea how large that group of people may be. After all, I have only known the five whom share this house. They are the only ones that have been trapped here, and managed to be in this town at the time. How many could there be across the country? And do they all believe I am the key to getting rid of their curse? Or are they like Zechariah who wishes to get rid of me to keep the curse, and save their king.
I sit and stare venomously at my hands, as Gareth places a cup of tea before me. “Thank you.” I manage to say without looking up.
