Chapter Thirteen
Maddie dangled her legs over the side of the tree house. “We haven’t seen anything, because it’s not Owen.”
Nora leaned against the tree trunk. “Maybe it’s not.”
Agler sighed. “We’ve only been watching him for a little over a month. The portals have been happening every month or two. So, he could be planning to make another one at any time.”
“Maybe,” said Maddie, “but I’m exhausted. Are you guys not exhausted? Between taking shifts watching Owen, who never does anything, and trying to keep up with the stuff I’m doing in the dance enclave, and finding time to sleep, I have no time whatsoever. And I’ve been saying all along that Owen wasn’t even here when the first portals were created.”
“Right,” said Agler, “but you still think it was Dionysus, and he wasn’t here for any of the portals.”
“Which fits,” said Maddie. “Because it’s consistent.”
“But,” Nora, “If Dionysus is responsible, then what Owen said about the portals being made from the inside is probably true.”
“Yeah,” said Maddie, “he came into Helicon with his little viney fanfare or whatever, ripped a portal and left. It totally makes sense, and we’re wasting our time watching Owen.”
Nora chewed on her lip. “I just worry. What if Owen is doing it, and we could be stopping him?”
“We’re watching him all the time,” said Agler. “If he makes a portal, we’ll know it. If a portal opens and he had nothing to do with it, we’ll know that too. We’ve just got to stay focused.”
“If you don’t want to do it anymore, maybe the rest of us could take over your shifts,” said Nora to Maddie.
“I’m not going to do that to you guys,” said Maddie. “It would be much harder with only three of you, anyway.” She pushed herself to her feet. “Speaking of shifts, I think I have to go relieve Sawyer now.”
“Okay,” said Nora, “I’ll be there to take over for you after midnight.”
“Wait,” said Maddie, looking down into the tweens and rebels enclave. “That’s Sawyer.”
Sure enough, Sawyer was streaking across the enclave, his skirt gathered in one hand so he could run faster. They all heard him clamber up the steps of the tree house. When he emerged onto the platform they were sitting on, he was out of breath.
“What are you doing here?” asked Agler. “You’re supposed to be watching Owen.”
“He’s going into the woods,” said Sawyer, “with four other tweens that are in the muse police. I think we all have to see this.”
“You think he’s going to open a portal?” Nora said, getting to her feet.
“I don’t know,” said Sawyer, “but whatever it is, it’s a secret, and he’s hiding it, so we have to go now.”
The four of them scrambled out of the tree house and followed Sawyer into the woods. As they got deeper into the trees, Sawyer motioned for them to be quiet, so they walked more slowly and carefully.
In the distance, they heard voices, and as they approached, the voices got clearer.
“What are we doing out here, Owen?” said one. Between the trees, the owner of the voice became clear. It was a boy with a red handkerchief tied around his forehead.
The four spies crouched behind tree trunks, watching and listening.
Owen was standing with his back to Nora and her friends. Four other tweens sat on the ground in front of him. One had the red handkerchief, one had curly black hair, one had blond hair, and the final boy wore a tie-dyed t-shirt.
“I thought it would be better to talk here,” said Owen, “away from the rest of Helicon.”
“Talk about what?” said Curly Black Hair.
“Talk about the way things are here,” said Owen, “and why they should change.”
That didn’t sound good. Nora clutched the tree trunk she crouched behind for balance. Was he going to involve all of these guys in opening a portal?
“I’ve heard the things you guys say,” said Owen. “That’s why I invited you here.”
“What things?” said the blond.
“He means the other night,” said Red Handkerchief, “when we were talking about how the muses are lazy.”
“Exactly,” said Owen.
“So what?” said Tie-Dye. “All the police say stuff like that. Even Alexander gets pissed from time to time. He bitches about how no one pulls their weight. He used to lecture his kid Dirk about it before Dirk went to the tweens and rebels enclave. Probably the only reason Dirk’s in the engineering enclave, which is the least selfish bunch of the lot.”
“Alexander isn’t open to my ideas,” said Owen. “I’ve tried to talk to him about it. But I get the impression that you guys might be.”
“We were just blowing off steam,” said Black Curly Hair. “Sometimes it feels like we don’t matter around here. Everyone’s so busy singing and dancing that they don’t even notice who’s keeping them safe.”
“That’s my point,” said Owen. “The muses are vulnerable, but they act as if they aren’t. If it weren’t for us, they’d never be able to close up those portals that keep opening. And even though they created a committee to find the person who’s opening them, they aren’t any closer to knowing who the perpetrator is months later.”
Was Owen going to reveal that he was the one doing it? Had he been laughing behind everyone’s backs for all this time?
“Well, they’ve got that tracker, though,” said the blond. “We stopped that portal from doing any damage.”
“A stopgap measure,” said Owen. “When a community is in danger, the leaders of the community need to be able to save the community. And our leaders in Helicon can’t do that, because they’re focused on the wrong things. They’re so caught up in playing games and having parties that they can’t see that there are problems. I think that the muse police should be in charge, not the council. The council is weak and stupid.”
“Alexander would never go for that,” said Tie-Dye.
“That’s why I’m not talking to Alexander,” said Owen. “I’m talking to you. The five of us. We should be the leaders of Helicon.”
What? Nora let go of the tree trunk to cover her open mouth. She lost her balance and stepped backwards, breaking a branch with a loud crack.
Owen turned around. “Someone followed us. Which one of you said something?”
The four muse police tweens all shook their heads, muttering negative noises.
Owen started back into the woods.
This wasn’t good. Nora looked around at her friends, mouthing, “Sorry.” What should they do? Should they try to stay hidden? Back off? Get up and run? Maybe if she took the fall, she could distract Owen so that the others could get away. “I’m going to talk to him,” she whispered. “You guys go back to the enclave.”
Sawyer and Maddie began to back up.
“Be careful,” said Sawyer, as the two eased into the woods in the direction of the tweens and rebels enclave.
“Nora, no,” Agler whispered.
But Nora had already stood up. “Hi Owen. I followed you out here because I thought you were meeting that fairy again, and I wanted to give her a piece of my mind.” Would Owen buy that? It didn’t make any sense. She hadn’t spoken to Owen in months. He couldn’t think she was still jealous, could he?
“Nora?” Owen’s expression softened. “No, I wasn’t doing anything like that.”
He’d bought it! “Yeah, I heard what you were saying,” she said. “You can’t seriously think you could be the leader of Helicon.”
He folded his arms over his chest. “We may not be together anymore, but that doesn’t mean I want you to get hurt. And as long as those portals are still being opened, this whole place is in danger. I want to keep you and all of the muses safe. I think I’d do a better job than the council.”
“Please, Owen. You’re opening those portals yourself,” said Nora.
Owen’s jaw dropped. “You can’t think that. I would never do that. I love
Helicon. This place is my home. Of all people, I thought you would understand that.”
“There are a lot of things I thought I understood about you, Owen, but they didn’t turn out to be true,” said Nora. “And it makes sense in a twisted way, doesn’t it? You put Helicon in danger precisely so you can ‘save’ it. But no one here will ever let you lead this place. You’re an outsider. No one trusts you.”
Owen looked agonized. “You used to trust me. You were the only one.”
“And you betrayed me.” Maybe this was a bad idea. Nora was beginning to feel very emotional. She fought tears.
“I know,” said Owen. “I was weak and stupid, and I hurt you.” He looked away. “I wish there was some way you could forgive me. I don’t know who I am without you, Nora. Maybe I only started all this taking over Helicon business because I needed something. And without you, I have nothing.” He reached for her.
And Agler darted out from between the trees, pushing Owen away. “Don’t touch her.”
What was Agler still doing here? Hadn’t Nora told him to go back to the tweens and rebels enclave?
Owen went sprawling on his backside. His expression turned venomous as he got to his feet, brushing dead leaves off himself. “What’s he doing here, Nora?”
“I...” Nora didn’t know what to say.
“I told you to stay away from her a long time ago, didn’t I, Agler?” said Owen. “But you didn’t listen, because you’ve got the brain capacity of a flea.”
Agler clenched his jaw. “All you’ve ever wanted to do was hurt Nora.”
“Hurt her?” Owen laughed. “I love her. I love her in a way someone like you could never understand.”
“Well, she doesn’t love you. And she doesn’t want you to touch her.”
“She’s confused,” said Owen. “But she won’t be forever.” He glowered at Nora under dark eyebrows. “I’m the only one for you, Nora, and you’ll realize that eventually.”
Nora didn’t feel like listening to that. And they couldn’t very well spy on Owen if he knew they were there, could they? “Let’s get out of here, Agler.”
“Why were you really here?” Owen said. “What were you doing in the woods? You letting him touch you? Is that what’s going on?”
Oh. Great. “Agler and I are friends,” said Nora. “And that’s all. And we’re leaving.” She tried to catch Agler’s eye and send him a pointed look.
But Agler was glaring at Owen. “It’s none of your business anyway.”
“Just friends?” Owen spoke slowly as if he were talking to a small child. “Does Agler actually understand not to take what’s not mine now? No way. He wouldn’t be smart enough to keep his hands to himself, would he? Because he's an idiot, and a coward, and—”
Agler punched him.
Nora cringed. “Stop it.”
Owen laughed. Blood was pouring out of his nose, over his lips. He spat it at Agler. “Did I get under your skin, idiot boy? Did it feel good, letting it all out like that?” He grinned. His teeth were stained red. “Hit me again.”
Agler was cradling his fist. His face was red.
Nora grabbed him by the arm. “Come on. Let’s go.”
“Can’t you do it?” said Owen. “Too scared? Or are you trying to remember how to do it again? You’ve always been a little slow, haven’t you? Your family all took to their instruments like ducks to water, but you have to practice, don’t you? Because you’re just not very bright, Agler.”
Agler drove his fist into Owen’s face again. “Shut up.”
Nora grabbed him by the shoulders, pulling on him, but her fingertips slipped off. “Don’t. He wants you to.”
Agler slammed his other fist into Owen’s stomach.
Owen doubled over, laughing and bleeding. “You’re such a man, aren’t you? Pounding on a guy who isn’t even hitting back?”
“Agler!” Nora yelled.
He was breathing hard.
Owen straightened. “Agler Thorn. What a prince.”
Agler pressed his lips together in a thin line.
“Don’t listen to him,” said Nora. “Let’s go.” She took his arm again, tugging on him.
Agler stared at Owen for one more second. Owen was grinning. He wiped blood off his face with the back of his hand. Then Agler turned away and let Nora lead him off.
They didn’t speak. They only sound was the crunch of their feet against the leaves.
When they were in sight of the tweens and rebels enclave, Agler muttered, “I never hit anyone before.”
Nora nodded. “Yeah, I’m guessing there’s not a lot of fighting in Helicon usually.”
“Not physical fighting,” said Agler. “People argue all the time, but they don’t hit each other. I don’t know why I did it. I was so angry with him.”
“He wanted you to do it,” said Nora.
“Why would he want that?” said Agler.
She wasn’t sure.
Dancing Days Page 38
