Good Luck To Your Chickens…

CRASHED 1

APOV

The smoke curled around my head as my Marlboro Light 100 dangled out of my mouth as I sliced another crimson line on my leg. It felt good not thinking about the world around me, and besides, I had taken two Extra Strength Vicodin about forty five minutes before this so I was feeling NO PAIN. I took a second to ash my cigarette, take a long drag, and got back into the rhythm.

Taking another breather about seven or ate slices later, I ran my hand through my hair, it was pretty short, but the front was longer than the back, styled into a red choppy bob. I could feel the smoke stick to my contacts causing my dark brown eyes to go in and out of focus – that or it was the pills – as I went back to slicing. It was just the final straw, I had dealt with entirely too much in the last year that I just needed a release.

My boyfriend left me, my friends got tired of my mood swings, I hated my job, my family just didn’t get me and I turned 25. That was enough to make anyone lose their mind, and it didn’t help that I was a recovering cutter. Not anymore…

Today felt weird though. Something was really off – and it wasn’t just because I had taken a razor blade to my shin – this was almost electric… That feeling right before a thunderstorm when the clouds are building up the beautiful deadly lightening. I wasn’t sure what it was, but I was keeping an eye on it.

Suddenly, making me jump out of my skin, my phone rang. I looked at it and didn’t recognize the number, but answered it anyway. “Is this Miss London?” A strange voice smiled through the phone. I rolled my eyes trying to figure out which bill wasn’t paid this month.

“Yeah…” I replied, cigarette dangling from my lips.

“Congratulations, Miss London! I’m calling from Cruise America and I am pleased to tell you that you’ve been chosen by Lady Bic’s random drawing to go on a cruise for two for two weeks! Everything is included, airfare, lodging, everything!” This woman was entirely too excited. I raised an eyebrow as I ashed my cigarette.

“OK…and… What’s the catch?” I asked. She laughed on the other end and I rolled my eyes again.

“There is no catch! We just need your mailing address and your tickets will arrive in the next two days! Your cruise is scheduled for this Friday! Congratulations again!” She squealed as if she was the winner. I took a deep breath and figured what the hell. What was the worst that could happen at this point?

BPOV

“She was IN our BED!” I shrieked.

“It wasn’t what it looked like, Brea! I swear to GOD! I love YOU!” He begged. I started laughing maniacally as I saw the blonde bimbo cowering between the bed and the wall with his shirt clutched to her covering her body. “Brea… I…”

“It wasn’t what it LOOKED like!? She is NAKED, Josh! NAKED!” I continued to shriek.

“We were just playing cards, watching TV…” Josh was really trying his hardest to make up some crazy fiction when the reality was RIGHT IN MY FACE! I rolled my eyes and got even more upset.

“You honestly think I am that STUPID? Stupid enough to believe that you watch TV and play cards NAKED with ALL of your friends?” I burst out, flailing my arms at each outburst. He grimaced.

“You know I don’t mind being naked.” He grinned at me, blushing a bit in embarrassment. That was it – that was all I needed. I was so done.

“Really?” I asked. He just nodded – the blonde girl still looking panicked – and I grinned wide. “WELL then… You two…..EXHIBITIONISTS….can get the HELL out of MY house!” They both stared at me and the girl finally got to her feet, finding her voice.

“I am not leaving with out my clothes!” She snapped. My neck got hot and I could feel the anger building up inside of my tiny frame and I took the clothes I was holding onto – his and hers – and walked to the third story window. “DON’T YOU DARE!”

“You want your clothes?!” I asked feeling as if I was on fire. I looked at them both one more time and opened the window. “GO GET THEM!” I screamed as I launched them out to the busy New York street below. “GET.OUT!” Before I could go any more insane, they both grabbed towels and ran out of the apartment. When the door closed I slumped down under the window and started hyperventilating.

My door opened seconds later and my neighbor, who happened to be an incredibly annoying girl who thought we were best friends, burst in. “Brea! Oh… What HAPPENED?!” She asked trying to sound concerned, but she only looked nosy. I ran my hands through my long, wavy brown hair and sighed. “Nevermind…none of my business… HEY! I just won a cruise for two whole weeks and I get to take someone! From the looks of it, you could use a vacation…” She winked.

Did I say an incredibly annoying girl? I meant my BEST FRIEND FOREVER!

RPOV

I was so tired of all of the rumors and all of the drama of the past two years and since I didn’t want to have a total breakdown I decided that the two weeks I had off between films I would go on a cruise… ALONE.

I made the arrangements thinking there wouldn’t be much to worry about since the boat would be pretty empty during hurricane season. I smiled to myself thinking about my family and how my mother would consider me absolutely insane for traveling at this time of the year out on the wide open ocean, but it was better than drowning on dry land.

Kristen was pushing me to just let the rumors be true and I kept putting it off and putting it off. Truth be told, I didn’t want to date her. She wasn’t the kid of woman I found myself too enthralled in for more than a little while and I wasn’t going to go on record just to dump her soon after. She was good in bed, though…

I shook the thought right out of my head as I finished booking my very first cruise. I leaned back and rested my head against the head board of my bed with a grin. I was going to be alone…for two weeks…without the drama and the hype of Twilight. I was happy – exceedingly so – nothing could change that for me.

“Hey, sexy!” I heard her voice before I saw her walk into my hotel room. Kristen was walking toward the bed with a smirk across her face. I faked a smile as I closed my lap top and sat up. “What were you doing?” She asked me running her fingers along my jaw. I smiled. It felt good, but not special. She wasn’t special to me…at all.

“Just googling myself again, you know how my ego loves that.” I winked. She shivered and got incredibly serious.

“I know how much your ego likes this, too…” She trailed off as she paid attention to something else. At this point, as long as I was getting pleasure out of it, I didn’t care. I returned to my leisurely position with my head resting on the head board.

Only four more days and I’m gone…

SPOV

“I’m so gonna whoop your ass!” My little sister, Natalie grinned as I pulled on the motor to get it started. She and I were going out fishing today – it was halfway through my break before heading back to New York to start training for the next season.

I loved being a New York Ranger, it was a dream come true. Something I had always dreamed of being and it was finally happening for me. This trip home was especially exciting because I was more proud of myself than ever before. I was a Ranger!

When the boat got started finally, she and I were off. We fished for hours, and of course she beat me. I chalked it up to her practicing while I was gone and I ruffled her hair as we were about to head back.

“Scott, your phone’s vibrating the boat! It’s going to scare all the fish away!” Natalie complained. I quickly snatched it up and answered it. Nothing could make today less than perfect.

“Hello?” I nearly sang into the phone.

“Dude!” My friend, Brad, exclaimed in my ear. I felt a cold chill go down my spine, this exclamation wasn’t an excited one – it was a shocked and disgusted one. If there was anyone as excited for me to be on the Rangers, it was Brad.

“What’s up, man?” I asked, my voice starting to disappear. I didn’t know why I felt that way, just a feeling I suppose.

“Wait…you…you don’t know?” His voice got quieter then, like we were talking about death. I got ridged and stared at Natalie who looked terrified. “Dude… No one CALLED you yet?”

“WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?” Finally, I found my voice and hollered in frustration.

“Dude… You were traded… To Montreal.” Brad sighed. I threw my phone into the lake, yanked on the pull cord so hard I thought I was going to rip the engine off the boat, high tailed it home and stared at my family who all knew before me as my dad handed me his cell. I stood there amidst all the people I loved and listened to my manager tell me I was signed away.

That night I booked a two week cruise, I didn’t care where it was going, just as long as it was away from all of this…

CHAPTER 1

Nothing mattered today. Not today. Everything mattered yesterday. Everything. I told them I didn’t want to go to that stupid party! I told them I wasn’t interested in getting to know the whole Senior class better. I told them. I had no idea why everyone all of a sudden wanted to be friends. It was like after you graduated the world was going to come to a crashing halt and all that mattered now was to forget the past and be friends before it was too late. Well, I didn’t give a damn! They weren’t my friends before – making sure I knew that for years – and they weren’t my friends now so why try?

Because Rachel said it would be fun. Rachel, the only friend I had that was friends with everyone. She was the kind of friend you’d follow around if you wanted to go to the stupid parties because she’d be the girl you know that knew that one dude who knew the girl throwing the party. That wasn’t why Rachel and I were friends. We were friends because we were in band together. I was First Chair clarinet and she was second. We’d switch it up every once in a while, but never got angry at the other – because we were friends.

And if Rachel was game to go, her twin brother, Benjamin, would be game to go. I couldn’t say no to Benji, he was the hot brother, the guy you’d love to date but know it’s just a bad idea because you were friends with his sister first. Yeah, it sucked, but it didn’t mean we couldn’t be awesome friends.

That was until last night when he saw something he shouldn’t have and probably would never speak to me again. I missed Benji… I missed him worse than I missed Rachel.

And Rachel was dead.

Oh yeah, that party was rockin’, that’s for damn sure.

I couldn’t sit in my room anymore, I had to get out. The town I lived in was small anyway, so it wasn’t like everyone and their uncle didn’t know what had happened. I had to go to that place, the place I went to think and just re-center.

I rolled off of my bed, threw my died black hair back in a messy knot on the back of my head, threw my Nightmare Before Christmas hoody on over plain jeans and t-shirt outfit and ran down the stairs to the kitchen.

“Ari…” My mom started talking as I walked in. She did this often, she’d say my name, look to see the mood I was in, and then decide if she’d talk. Apparently today it was hopeful. “Have you talked to Benjamin yet?”

“His sister was KILLED, Ma… I’m sure he’s got lots to think about.” I rolled my eyes, grabbed my keys and headed for the front door.

“You still didn’t tell me where the bruises came from…” She raised an eyebrow. “If your father were…”

“YEAH! If my father were ALIVE… Maybe Rachel will tell him I said ‘hi’. I won’t be gone long…” I sighed and headed to my car. It was a 1988 Ford Taurus – red. It had rust along the bottom of the doors and it was bad enough that critters could live in it if they’d liked. The battery to the beast was held in by paper towel and everytime I turned her on she’d make this horrid squeaking noise. But, she was mine, so I loved her.

I looked in my rearview and my side mirrors like the teacher said, eased out onto the road and stopped at the stop sign. I dug in my Alice In Wonderland jean purse for my cigarettes. I lit one, and turned left. I made it out to Main Street quickly as the city of Mackinaw is quite small. I drove down Main looking at all the tourists that were out shopping and having a good time, having no idea that a mid-summer Junior/Senior party happened the night before at the old Flamingo Hotel right of I-75. They had no idea that my best friend was found dead this morning or that I was suffering – wondering why it wasn’t me.

I know that sounded harsh, I know because I watched my mom mourn my dad when he died in that tragic accident on the Bridge. He was a maintenance man on the Mackinaw Bridge, had been most of his life just like his dad before that and so on and so forth. The wind kicked up funny while he was in the bucket over the side painting the railing. He lost his balance, and like the moron he always was, he didn’t have his harness on right and flipped over the edge. They said they saw blood on the bottom of the scaffolding, so he was probably out or dead before he fell to the water, and if not the drop would have killed him since it is 199 feet from where he was to the water’s surface. A human would die at 100 foot drop in to water – so he was definitely dead on impact. That water would have felt like a brick wall at seventy miles an hour. He had no chance.

I sighed as I passed under the bridge on Main street and kept heading West. I refused to look down the road to my left where the hotel was. I knew I’d see a lot of cops and detectives and probably tourists with cameras.

I passed the middle school and library, past an open field fenced in to house horses by one of the scattered houses. I came to the end of the main road and turned right. I drove up and around the small hills and curves in the road until the pavement ends and unconsciously turned left like I always did and drove down the dirt road, looking out of the passenger windows when the tree line breaks here and there to see Lake Michigan. It is so vast I can’t see land from where I am – almost like I’m at the end of the World. I kept driving, watching the scenery and came to the end of the road where I could watch the lavender haze of the sunset.

I turned around and made my way back to the sandy turn off to my left which was a scenic area surround by trees, and parked. I took a deep breath and hopped out of the car, walked down the sandy embankment and watched the sunset head on. It’s always breath taking when I first see it. I looked around the beach to see if I was honestly alone. I assumed no one would be around because the only houses right there were inhabited by elderly people or the one closest to me was Rachel’s house.

I could feel the tears coming again. I was so tired of crying, so tired of missing her and it had barely been a day. Rachel helped me through the death of my dad and Benjamin helped me through my fazes. I ended up hanging onto the one I was in now – the one most of the school called ‘Emo’ – it was just like Benji’s. I felt most comfortable like this, so I wasn’t willing to let it go just yet.

I looked around one more time and that’s when I saw him standing on the wooden stairs coming down to the beach. I gasped, he was like a black shadow person in the golden haze. I couldn’t see his eyes, but the sparkle of his lip ring hit me in the eye as he bothered it with his tongue. He only did that when he was nervous.

Benjamin Riley. The six foot tall, stocky guy with the shaggy black hair that he always had to flip out of his eyes. His eyes… stunning forest green – they were hazel, just way more green – that would rip apart your soul, and more piercings and tattoos than anyone I had ever seen. I hung out with him at the parlor and watched as each one – well most of them – were inked or attached to his body. His right side (arm and leg) were covered with Tim Burton tattoos. His left side (arm and leg) were covered in horror movie icons. His bottom lip was pierced on both sides and his ears had gages in them the size of a Sharpie marker. He was awesome… Someone I aspired to be.

I only had my bottom lip pierced – in the center – where I had a Jack Skelington ball post for now. I hadn’t gotten a tattoo yet, I had to wait until I was eighteen. Benji didn’t, his parents believed in self expression.

I was pulled from my thoughts as he ran down the stairs and over to me in baggy jeans and a black hoody kept together with safety pins. I had one that matched in my closet that he made for me. I turned to go the other way, I didn’t want to talk to anyone about anything, especially not Benji. His sister was dead and I was alive and it wasn’t fair and I wouldn’t be able to handle him taking it out on me, no matter how much I deserved it.

“Ari!” He yelled after me. I flinched. God, don’t let the whole world know where I am, I thought. “Arianna!” I flinched again. He wouldn’t, I thought with a grimace. “ARIANNA ALICE!” I stopped then and turned around with a huff.

“Benj, seriously?” I whispered as he caught up to me. I couldn’t even look at him, I stared at his heaving chest from his run in the sand.

“Ari…what the hell? You can’t even call me? Text?” He asked, still sort of out of breath. I sighed and met his eyes this time and hating myself for doing so. They were blood shot and puffy – he must have been crying. I looked away to fumble through my purse. I pulled out my cigarettes and lighter. He held his hand out for one, I lit mine and handed them to him. “Thanks.”

“Wanna…sit?” I asked awkwardly. He grunted and we walked to our favorite spot in the sand and sat Indian style and watched the sky turn from blue to periwinkle, to crimson and orange to lavender and navy. I could see how the water lit on fire and the sky began to pull the blanket of stars over the water. When the sun was finally below the waves I watched as the fire dimmed out to a diamond encrusted lake. I sighed and plopped back on my back – Benji followed suit – and looked up at the sky. I found myself making a wish on a falling star and smiled at how comfortable I felt lying there next to him in the sand. I looked over at him and he was staring at me.

“Why haven’t you told the police?” He asked. My smile faded and I sat up, lighting another cigarette. “Quit avoiding me, you’ve been doing it since last night when…”

“I was DRUNK, Benjamin. All of them made sure of that! They aren’t going to believe me when I can barely remember what happened myself.” I replied, venom filling my voice. His eyes got wide and he played with the rings in his lips again.

“No matter how much you had to drink, you still said…”

“SHUT UP! Just… Shut. Up.” I freaked out and pulled my knees to my chest. “I’m so sorry about Rachel…” Changing the subject was easy.

“Yeah… I can’t believe it… But, Ari… it happened to you, too! I was in the right place at the right time for at least one of you…” He sighed, I could watch his chin quiver.

“Seriously – Benj – don’t blame yourself!” I gasped. How could he think what had happened last night was his fault? It wasn’t!

“I can’t help it… I can’t help but be angry with you right now either considering you probably have a crap load of information that could help Rachel. We have to find him, Ari, we have to.” He begged.

“Be mad at me, go a head, at least you won’t be just blaming yourself.” I snapped and got up and left. I wasn’t going there – I wasn’t forcing myself to remember – not for anyone. Not even Benjamin. Rachel was lucky, she was dead, she didn’t have to remember…

Chapter 16

 

    

     I felt something on my cheek and I was in an out of consciousness barely hanging onto a really good dream I had had of opening a hatch in the space station and watching Alpha and Beta plummet into the great abyss, so I slapped it away.  It was probably a bug or something.

     A BUG!

     I sat up and opened my eyes, if it was a bug wouldn’t it be like some kind of killer alien bug?  And then before I could really assess the situation I heard Mason cracking up.  I had never heard him laugh so hard ever.  It was a beautiful sound and I couldn’t help but smile at the way he warmed up the room with his happiness.  I turned on my bed to face him and he was waving his hand at me in apology for his fit of the giggles and I began to laugh, too.  He was contagious.  His eyes were sparkling and his smile was bright.

     “I thought…” I tried to explain through fits of giggles.

     “A bug?  On a space station?” He kept laughing until he turned to plop down on the bed next to me as he couldn’t stand up right any longer.

     “Shut up!” I giggled.  He looked at me and quieted down, but still had that grin on his face.  He was magnificent.  Beta had nothing on my Mason.

     “How was your day?” He asked me, brushing my hair out of my face as I had fallen asleep with my hair up – now it probably looked like an explosion.

     “It was pretty good.  Strange, but good.” I nodded.  I didn’t look at him then.  I was deciding if I should tell him what I heard and that I had met Beta.

     “I see that you have a new ride outside.” He said tilting my face up to him with his hand.

     “Yeah, about that…, ” I trailed off.

     “You can tell me anything, darling.” He whispered and kissed my forehead.  He had never called me something endearing like that before and the fact that he could show me such affection I couldn’t lie to him.  He was trying so hard to be ‘human’.

     “I was in the shop with Brea, Andy, Alex, Adrian, and Nate and the guys were in the green house when I went back there to tell them we were closing the shop.  Before I said anything I heard them having a really private conversation and – OK – I listened.” My nose wrinkled from mentally chastising myself for being so rude.

     “What were they talking about?” Mason asked.  He was genuinely curious.

     “Nate said that there is a quota of women here who came alone and were only brought here for the purpose of breeding.” My face flushed then, after all – how would one breed with someone else and I was about to tell him I was intended for someone else against my own knowledge.

     “He should be punished for talking about that outside of the Guard confines.” Mason shook his head.

     My brain stopped, so did my heart and my breathing.  Mason knew this tidbit of information and hadn’t filled me in on it?

     “You…knew?” I asked astonished.

     His eyes were wide with worry and he shook his head from side to side fervently.

     “I didn’t know the whole thing.  I just heard that it was a possibility they would look into doing something like that if there weren’t enough people saved from Earth.  I hadn’t heard anything more about it after the Earth Evacuation.” Mason was staring me in the eyes and his were dark blue like the ocean.  He couldn’t lie to me with those eyes.

     “Well, guess who I am destined to procreate with!” I chimed sarcastically.  His eyes began to surge again like they did when he was upset.  That made me happy.

     “Who?” He asked through gritted teeth.

     “Beta.” I said just as angry.

     “BETA?” He stood up away from the bed and his hands fell to his sides.

     OK, not the reaction I wanted.  I wanted him to punch a wall or tell me he’s nothing.  This looked like defeat.

     “Mason?” I asked slowly as I got up and moved over to him slowly.  I reached out to touch his face and he pushed my hand away.  His eyes were raining.

     “I can’t.” Mason choked out.

     My whole world stopped then.  My heart broke, my body froze, my eyes got wide, I felt cold all over.  It was just like the night when the police officer came to my house to tell me my Matthew was dead.

     “Don’t you do this to me, Mason!  Don’t you give up on me.” I begged.  I could hear my voice shake so I stopped talking, clamping my mouth shut.

     “Beta rules over me.” Mason whispered.

     “There is no law that says I can’t be with you.  And there is no law saying I am Beta’s property.  Beta is nothing!” I was frantically trying to get something through his head.  Frantically trying to get him to not leave here, because if he left here now he wouldn’t come back.  First and foremost he was out to protect himself.  He was hard wired for that.

     “You must be exceptional for Alpha to want you for her son.  I can see that – I think you are beyond exceptional.  I am on a thin rope anyway with my disability.” He was talking to himself more than he was talking to me.

     “Nate said that as long as a selected female bred with an evolved human – any guard – the process would be considered a success.  There is nothing wrong with us.” I begged now.  I always thought I was above begging, but apparently I wasn’t.

     His eyes shot up to meet mine with shocking storms in them as he cleared the distance between us in an instant.  His right hand came up to hold the back of my neck as he smashed his face down to mine.  His left wrapped around my waist holding me to him.  My hands gripped his hair.  We kissed with so much passion that the room was physically getting hotter.  He lowered me down on my bed and began to remove my clothing.  I groped for his, though I still had no idea how they worked. 

     He took a second to smile up at me and reached up to his right shoulder and lifted a part of the suit exposing a button to a flap of fabric that then covered a zipper.  I found that damn thing and almost ripped it off of the space suit.  Mentally wishing he could wear jeans.

     My clothing was off before I figured out the entire space suit and he took that off, too.  We lay there on my bed naked.  I was so nervous.  I hadn’t been with anyone since Matt and I had never – even with Matt – felt this way about a man.  He began to explore me and I began to explore him.  His body was thin, but very muscular.  As he moved I watched his muscles flex and move and I had to feel them.

     At my touch he moaned a little and brought his mouth to mine again, slowly he found what he was looking for and entered.  The explosion of electricity between us in that instant nearly killed me – but I would have died happy.  I don’t think either of us expected such a reaction, but we went with it trying to ride the ecstasy as long as we could before we reached the peak and fell into the most amazing Euphoria.  I never wanted the feeling to end.

     We laid there afterwards entwined in each other.  Mason was caressing my hair as I laid mainly on his beautiful chest.  I closed my eyes and sighed, when I opened them we were in our valley.  I giggled out loud.

     “Next time we should try and see if I can hold this while holding other things.” He whispered to me.  Since I had my head on his chest I could hear his voice rumbling inside as well as out.  I nuzzled into him.

     “That would be amazing, but I won’t hold it against you if you can’t.” I looked up at him with a smiled and a wink.

     “You need to get to sleep.” He sighed.

     “Don’t leave me.” I said gripping him tighter.  He laughed as he unwound me as if I wasn’t even trying.

     “I have to, and you need sleep.  Shall I come to you in the morning to have breakfast with you?” He asked as he began putting that stupid space suit on.

     “I’d love that.” I smiled kneeling on the bed and wrapping my arms around his neck pressing myself against his back.  I kissed the back of his neck.  He shivered.

     “Love…” He said almost to himself.

     “Do you not like that word?” I asked moving so he could put his clothes all the way on.

     “I don’t know what it means to love, but if it’s supposed to be an amazing feeling that you don’t want to end because you feel incomplete with out it – then I love you, Arianna Alice London.” Mason said turning around to look at me.

     My hand flew up to my throat and tears surprised me by pouring down my cheeks.

     Mason knelt before me and brushed the tears away.

     “Was that right?  Am I right to assume that’s love?” He honestly didn’t know what love was.  I don’t know if that was why I cried or if I was crying because he said it to me.

     “You are right – that’s what love is – and I love you too, Mason!” We hugged each other and kissed again.

     “I need a last name.” He said as he headed for the door.

     “Why?” I asked with a chuckle.  He said some of the most odd things sometimes.

     “It’s important now.” He replied cryptically and walked out.

     I laid there trying to figure out what he meant.  I was too tired and too geeked to think properly.  I drifted off to sleep not long after that.

Chapter 17

 

    

     I didn’t want to open my eyes.  If I opened my eyes my visions would surely float on and I would be back to a reality where I was not lying in bed with Mason anymore and it was cold and dreary and I had the potential of running into El Doucho Beta.  Unfortunately for my plans there was a buzz at the door.  Someone wanted to come in.

     “Open the stupid door, Ari!” I heard Brea whine on the other side.  I honestly thought about ignoring her – letting her stand there all alone outside of the door pining away – waiting for me to finally accept her into my stupid tin box of a room.

     That wouldn’t have been nice, though.  Brea was good to me, she was my best friend, and save for Mason, my favorite person to see in the morning.

     “Come in.” I said loud enough for the door to register my voice so it could swoosh open on it’s own.  That – I had to admit – was a pretty cool trick.  It kept me from having to get up when I didn’t want to.

     “You are still in bed?” Brea rolled her eyes and sat on the end of the bed as I sat up and curled the blankets around me suddenly realizing I was nude.

     I blushed.

     “Are you naked?” Brea grinned.

     Well, damn it all…, I thought and smiled.

     “You are.  Why?” She asked, her grin getting wider.

     I thought about that for a second.  I could just tell her that I learned sleeping in the nude wasn’t all that bad.  I could tell her the truth – that Mason brought me back to life like he jumped me with super powered jumper cables.  That made me giggle.

     “Did Mason come by last night?” She asked.

     “Honestly, you look like the Joker.” I smiled back at her.

     “Was it any good?” She wondered out loud.  “I mean, don’t get me wrong, the boy is fine, but he hasn’t ever been with anyone before, has he?”

     “Brea, I have never in all of my life felt so many different things at the same time.  I am surprised I survived it.” I sighed.  Why lie to her?  She was my best friend – my sister.  Eventually I was going to have to tell someone, so I might as well start now instead of dropping it all on her at one time.  But then another thought occurred to me.  “Brea, you can’t tell anyone.  Not even Scott.”

     “Why not Scott?  You expect me to hold a secret this big from my fiancé?” She wasn’t too pleased.

     “Look, I love Scott.  I trust him fully, but this really isn’t just my secret to tell.  It’s Mason’s secret, too.  It’s not my life that could be in jeopardy from this, it’s his.” I insisted.

     “OK.  Fine.  But as soon as you two can, you have to be as open about it as possible.  I’ll act surprised.  If Scott finds out I’ve known and didn’t tell him it will be as bad as lying to him.  I can’t live with that.” Brea explained.

     “That is fair.  I don’t think it will be long before we can be open about it, but I’ll let him do it on his own time.” I smiled.

     “So, what kind of condom was it?  Her pleasure, flavored, ribbed?” Brea looked like she was about to drool all over herself.

     I felt like I had just been struck by a low flying 757.       Condom?  Oh, shit!

     “Brea…  I don’t think…  Oh crap!” I buried my head in the sheets I had clutched to my chest.

     “Oh no!” Brea’s eyes were huge.

     “You’re not kidding!” I moaned.

     “He knows sex ED, right?  I mean…  He knows that if he doesn’t wear protection he could help make a baby…” Brea was begging me.

     “I sure as hell hope so!  Oh man!  What am I going to do?  I can see it now – first time, first baby.  Ugh!” I was not happy. 

     “Good morning, Ari.  Are you ready for breakfast?” I heard Mason through my door.  Brea and I stared at each other for a second and then I came to reality.

     “I have to get dressed…,” Brea cut me off.

     “I’m coming out, why don’t you come on in and wait for her to get ready.” Brea smiled as she got off the bed and walked out the door.  Mason came in past her.

     He smiled at me and walked over to the bed, leaned down and gave me a passionate kiss.

     “I’ve missed you.” He smiled.

     “I missed you, too.  Now, what should I wear?” I grinned as I let the sheets fall to my waist.

     “Well, that looks lovely.” He sighed as he climbed on the bed hovering over me and kissed me slow and deep, his hands caressing my skin.  I was not going to get over this feeling.  It was so amazing, electrifying, intense.

     “I could stay here all day.” I whispered in his ear as I nibbled it.

     “So could I.” He breathed.

     “But we can’t can we?” I asked.

     He stopped kissing me to look at my face.  His eyes were swirling.  “No, we can’t.  Hey, I have a question.” He blushed a little at the end of his statement.

     “What is it, honey?” I asked brushing his cheek with my fingertips.

     “Are you…do you take…birth control?” He whispered.

     “You thought of that this morning, too, huh?” I frowned.

     “Yeah.” He sighed.

     “Nope.” I winced.

     “Well, it’s up to fate now.  From now on, you may want to keep a stash of…” He trailed off.

     “So you’ll be back?  You plan on doing this again soon?” I couldn’t help but smile.  I was so happy!

     “For the rest of my life if you’ll let me.  Now, let’s get dressed and go to breakfast.” He smiled back.

     I crawled out of bed, Mason paying very close attention to every single move I made, and threw on a pair of blue jeans and a nice navy blue polo shirt so I could look semi professional at the shop later.  I brushed my hair out and threw it up into another of my famous messy knots on the back of my head, stepped into some black skater shoes and smiled at my beautiful boy friend.

     And then it occurred to me.  I was pretty sure we hadn’t really declared ourselves as anything.  I smiled at him as he stood sniffing my many perfumes and finally finding one he liked he spritzed it on my neck and wrists.

     “What are we?” I asked with a smiled.

     Mason looked at me for a moment and then smiled.  “What do you want us to be?”

     “Well, are you my boyfriend?” I grinned.

     “I’d love to be your boyfriend.” Mason blushed.  The warmth hit me like a warm breeze.

     “Can we go public or does this have to be a secret?” I asked, trying to hide a frown.

     “Id love to have everyone know that I am your boyfriend.  I’m honored to be in your presence.” He kissed my cheek.

     He was good, I had to give him that.  “Well, Mason – if you aren’t embarrassed to be seen with me, then lets make it official.  Mason is my boyfriend!” I chimed.

     “I really, truly need you to think of a last name for me.” He grinned as he pecked me on the lips.

     We headed out to the hallway to meet up with Brea and Scott.

     “Breakfast with the Guard again this morning?  How do you rate?” Scott winked at me.

     “Well, I think it’s the other way around.  She has accepted me into her life.  I should be the privileged one.” Mason smiled at me.  If he wasn’t leading the way I would have ran right into a wall or something.  I wasn’t paying attention to anything but Mason.

     “Wait, so are you two like…” Scott wagged his finger between the two of us with a crooked grin.

     “Together?” I asked.

     “Yeah, that.” He replied.

     “Arianna is my girlfriend, yes.” Mason smiled.  I thought Scott was going to explode.  I could tell he had a million things to say, but he knew better than to bring them up in public.  He’d have to wait until later tonight.  I knew that would just fry his ass!

     “Excuse me, Arianna?” I heard that deep and husky voice behind me and my body went ridged.  I just hoped he wouldn’t make a scene because I hadn’t had my morning coffee or bacon so it was dangerous for anyone who crossed me at this moment.

     I took a very long and deep breath and turned to look at Beta.

     “Yes?” I asked with a smile that I had to force onto my face.

     “I was wondering if you would like to join me for breakfast.” He smiled.

     Did he not see Mason’s arm around my waist?  Did he not see me with Brea and Scott?  Did he honestly think all he had to do was offer his time to me and I would drop everything for him?  What a self righteous, egotistical, smug jerk!

     “I am having breakfast with Brea and Scott and my boyfriend, Mason.” I replied with a smiled.

     Beta looked at my two best friends and then to Mason and glowered at me.  “You are dating this?”

     “Excuse me?” I asked angrily.  How dare he!

     “You are dating someone who barely made the cut as a guard?” Beta laughed.

     “I don’t care if he barely made it as a janitor.  I love Mason and that’s who I am with.  What is it to you?” I asked seething.  Mason tightened his grip on me and I knew to calm down a bit.

     “You love him?” He asked, raising an eyebrow.  I heard Scott gasp and Brea cough – though it was a poor excuse for a cough – she was trying not to giggle.

     “You can’t be serious.” Beta grimaced.

     “Arianna is going to be busy for the rest of her life, so if you don’t mind…” Mason glared at Beta, turned me and walked me to the cafeteria.

I felt like doing a touch down dance.

Chapter 18

 

    

     When I got to breakfast there was a letter carrier there at the table we usually sit at.  I hadn’t seen a postal worker before, I hadn’t realized there would be mail as there weren’t major utilities or anything like that.  Not to mention, I didn’t have anyone who would be writing to me as Brea, Scott and now Mason were all here with me.

     “Miss London?” The carrier said when we approached the table.  She was about my height, super skinny and blond.  She looked like she was modeling Postal Worker clothing rather than working for the actual company.

     “Yes.” I replied and she smiled and handed me a large, thick envelope and walked away.

     “What the hell is that?” Brea asked looking as confused as I felt.

     “I have absolutely no idea.  It’s return address is for the R.E.P.O. University.  I didn’t apply.” I replied as I sat down next to Mason and across from my best friends.  I flipped the envelop over and tore it open as carefully as I could.  Inside was a letter to me.

    Miss Arianna London:

    It has come to our attention that you have a Bachelor degree in Abnormal Psychology and we would like to offer you a full scholarship to our university to get your Masters and Doctorate in this field.  We are severely lacking individuals with your skill and your interest in the field and as we could use more Psychologists we certainly wouldn’t expect to have you pay out of pocket for what we require of you.  Please call on West Wing Office number 58 and speak with Mr. Ulmor who is the head of the department today after breakfast if you are interested.  He will fill you in on all you need to know.

    Thank you so much for your time.

    Sincerely yours,

    Janet Brown – Secretary for Mr. Alfred Ulmor Dean of REPO University.

     “What did it say?” Brea whispered.  I knew that Mason was reading the letter right along with me and I looked to see his reaction.

     He was staring quite intently at the words and then slowly his magnificent smile spread across his face.

     “I didn’t know you had a degree in Psych.  I’m so proud of you!  You should go talk to this man, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity.” Mason grinned kissing my cheek.

     “What if I do and I graduate and they need me on a new station?  I can’t leave you guys.” I shook my head.

     “WHAT.DOES.IT.SAY?” Brea demanded through gritted teeth.

     “The University here wants to give me a full scholarship to their school to finish both Graduate degrees.” I explained.

     “SCREW US!  That’s what phones are for.  You have got to do this!  You know you would be good at it!  You know you have always loved the field.  Don’t think about us!” Brea insisted.

     “I just began accepting people into my life again after Matt and now you’re telling me to not think of you guys?” I was so confused.  It was so hard for me to even think.  I looked at Mason and I ran.  I didn’t know where I was going, but I was going.  I left my friends and Mason staring at my back so confused that it might have been comical had I had any funny left in me.

     I needed quiet so I headed to the library that I had planned on going to days ago and got side tracked out of.  I hoped that I didn’t run into any Chatty Cathy’s because I really just had to think.  I walked right on through the entrance to the library, past the security guard who looked a bit perturbed at my terrible mood and I found an oversized puffy chair in a corner of the library and picked up a book – turned out to be a newer novel called Untitled by Lisa Lettieri and I acted like I was reading it.  Truth was I already had as it was a best seller about vampires.  I loved books about vampires ever since I picked up my first Anne Rice novel.

     “Miss London.” I heard my name being called and I knew who it was and it was very possible that if I acknowledged this idiot right now I’d go off on him, so I pretended I didn’t hear him.

     “Arianna?” He said it louder.  Out of my peripheral vision I saw a middle aged woman tsk at me for ignoring the young man before me.  If only she knew how rude this guy really was.

     “Ari-”

     I slammed my book down on my lap, closed my eyes, envisioned the ability to set him on fire with my stare and then raised my eyes to meet his.  It must have been a good one, because he flinched a bit when our eyes met.

     “What do you want, Beta?” I asked in a whisper through clenched teeth.

     “Why do you hate me?” He asked, looking positively distressed.

     “I don’t hate you – per say…” I trailed off.  I had to think about that.  Did I hate him?  If I did, why?  Had he honestly given me a reason to hate him other than being my intended mate.  Did he even know this information?  Maybe he had just seen me and maybe he had just found an interest in me and here I was being more cruel than his worthless mother.

     “I’m sorry, Beta.  I guess I just – you caught me at an extremely bad time this afternoon.  I’ve got a lot on my plate and I really didn’t want to talk to anyone.”

     His dark green eyes gleamed at my kindness and a small hint of a smile crossed his very nice lips.  If I wasn’t sure I loved Mason I would have jumped him right there in the center of this library and smacked and clawed away anyone who tried to stop me.

     I filled my head with Mason, I wasn’t sure why now that I had looked at Beta I was so enthralled with him.

     Magic maybe?  Was that possible?  Was he trying to stun me into being with him?  I lowered my eyes to the book I was reading – I could fake shyness with out offending him I was sure.

     “Please, would you give me a chance?” He asked, this time in a quieter voice and I could tell he had gotten closer.  Down on one knee perhaps?  I looked up at him though my head was still tilted to the floor and sure enough he was nearly a breath away from me.

     “OK – look, if you want to get to know me first things first.  I have a space bubble the size of Alaska, so please – step back.” I insisted sitting ridged in my chair.  Mason is the only one allowed that close to me at the moment, thank you very much, I thought.

     “Sorry!” He replied hastily and took the chair adjacent to me so that we could face each other and have some privacy, though he was far enough away that I didn’t feel like he was giving me a dental exam.

     “Thank you.” I breathed.  I relaxed a bit and tried to smile.  I supposed it was going to be a bit longer before I got the chance to think about school.  Nothing went easy for me.

     “Why don’t you like me?” He asked me quietly.

     “Beta, it’s not that I don’t like you, I can’t stand your mother.  Look, I know that seems incredibly nasty and rude, but it’s true.  She has been on my ass this whole time that I have been here and I haven’t done anything to her.  It’s just frustrating.” I shook my head.  I was telling him the truth in hopes that he would think that I was a mean and vicious person to say such horrible things about his mother to his face.

     I was wrong.

     “What?” He asked me, his eyes blazed and his nostrils flared.  He was more spectacular than Mason in the ability to scare the hell out of someone, that was for sure.  I wasn’t too sure I wanted to ever find out what his bad side was like.  I began to second guess how easy it would be to send this man away.

     I decided I’d just explain everything to him – leaving out what I could about Mason and Brea and Scott.  He seemed very upset that I was treated the way I was and he told me he would speak to his mother.  I shrugged and smiled as he got up to leave.

     “It is quite a shame that you are officially with 1836, I would have been the better choice.” And he walked away.

     “Maybe we can be friends?” I called after him.  He turned to look at me and I smiled.  I had to keep him as an ally as long as possible.  The more friends I had the better around here.

     “Maybe – you might find something interesting in the restricted area.  Use the code 2382 on the pad to let yourself in.  It’s our guard records.” He winked and proceeded to leave.

     I was going to find Mason, and I was going to do it now before he changed his mind.  I headed in the direction that Beta pointed me and saw a door with a sign on it that said “Restricted, Guard Personnel ONLY” and a key pad next to the door.  I plugged in the numbers Beta gave me and the green light came on and the door swooshed open.  I hurried in.  This room was dark and metal.  I was really getting tired of all the metal.  The shelves looked industrial and the files on them were still paper red welds.  I wondered when they would put them to computer only files as we were in space.  This was quite lo-tech for such a situation.  Through the fluorescent lighting I noticed hanging from the ceiling over each row were signs reading off series of numbers.  I thought it must be the guard numbers.  I looked for the aisle that I would find 1836, 37 and 38.  All the way near the back to the left was the sign indicating exactly what I was looking for.

     I took off down that row as if it were a race.  I had the right to be in here, as I had a code, but had I used his personal code?  And what if security found me.  I’d be sure that one of two things would happen.  I’d be caught – that was a given, but Beta would either deny it and get me in a load of trouble or he would tell them he gave me the code and expect something in return from me.  I wasn’t ready to be punished or black mailed.  I was going to get the info I wanted and I was going to get out of there as soon as I could.

     “1836″ was the title on the file.  I pulled it down and started sifting through the papers in the manila inserts.  One insert was titled “Personal Information”.  When I began to read it I hadn’t realized I was using the shelf behind me for support.  “1836 also known as Benjamin Aiden Belmont of Tulsa, Oklahoma was taken from Janette and Jared Belmont on June 29, 1984 – precisely his second birthday – to be trained and raised in the Government program known as Operation Guard Tower.  His twin sisters, born March 1, 1984 will be claimed at their second birthday.  Janette and Jared will be paid $4 Million for each child – respectfully.”

     I could barely breathe.  I ran my hand over the next two files and snatched out their personal information as well.  “1837 also known as Peyton Mae Belmont…”  “1838 also known as Mackenzie Ann Belmont…”  I ran to the copy machine and made copies – several – of all three sheets of paper.  I was going to show them the truth.  I put the information back in their places in the files and high tailed it out of there.

     I put the papers in my back pocket, folded up as neatly as I could and then headed for the Dean’s office.  I might as well talk to him now that I wasn’t going to have any down time today. 

     Besides, I needed something to keep my mind off of what I found out until after midnight.  This was going to be the longest day of my life!

Chapter 11

 

 

     I was leaning against the wall for what felt like forever.  I was not expecting that – at all.  Not that it was a bad thing.  The kiss was amazing and electrifying and sensual and…  I needed it to happen again.

     I closed my eyes and all I saw were his stormy eyes and the fury on his face before he smashed his mouth to mine.  And when I thought about his lips on mine my stomach did a crazy flip.  I was doomed.  There was no way for me to want only a friendship with him any longer.  I just hoped I wasn’t making a mistake.

     Finally, I picked up all of my pieces and walked out of the room and headed for the Repo Mart again.  I had originally planned first thing in the morning that I would go see what jobs were available on a space station.  I knew I would run out of money sooner or later and the sooner I got a job the better.

     I was walking in a daze again, not watching where I was walking all too well when I heard someone coming from around the corner.  As I have said before, I learn quick.  I stopped in my tracks and flattened myself against the wall just in time for Alpha to speed around the corner. 

     “At least you managed to watch where you were going…” She mumbled as she passed me.  I wanted to smack her right across the face.  How dare she continue to harass me!

     I stopped fuming over something I was never going to be able to change and kept on my way to the store.  When I got there I walked right up to the register and spotted a young blond woman who looked to be exceedingly pregnant.

     “Good morning!” I chimed.

     “Is it still morning?” She frowned.  I looked at my phone from my pocket and realized it was nearly the middle of the day.  I was surprised time flew so quickly already.

     “Well, I suppose not!  It’s nearly two!” I smiled.

     “Two?  Oh – fourteen hundred.  I get out of here at sixteen hundred and my feet are telling me it needs to be soon.” She grimaced.

     “Well, I was actually coming in to see who I need to speak to about jobs.” I said.

     “Ah, well I can give you this little packet.  It is full of the jobs that are offered here on the station.  Why don’t you take it with you and read it over.  Come back tomorrow and let me know if you’d like to apply for one of them.” She smiled as she handed me the packet.  I thanked her and headed back to my room.

     I grimaced when the swooshy door opened and I was back in my dark metallic room.  Usually on a nice day I would be outside reading something, not in a metal cage.  I longed for Mason’s gift at that moment.  Oh well, I thought.  Let it go, there’s nothing you can do about it now.

     I sat down on the chair by the table near the bed and lit a cigarette.  I opened the packet and was surprised by all the different professions they needed filled.  Teachers, therapists, doctors, engineers, clerks, anything you could think of.  I was still going to school for Psychology so it was nice to know that it wasn’t in vain. 

     I noticed that they needed people to start a flower shop.  I decided for Brea at least that we were going to be those people.  I put my cigarette out and ran out looking for Brea.  I ran into her at the Laundromat.

     “Brea!  I found us a job!” I whispered excitedly.

     “Yey…uh, I don’t want one.” She grimaced.

     “It’s to head up the flower shop.  Come on, I need this!” I whined.

     Brea looked at me and then finally smiled.

     “That’s not much of a job.  Sounds more like fun to me.  Sign me up.” She replied.

     “We have to go together – put your stuff in and lets go!” I tugged on her.

     “Arianna!  Calm down.  We don’t have to go right now.  Besides, how many other people were there applying when you went in?” Brea asked me putting her clothes in the dryer.

     “None.” I answered frowning.

     “Well, give me five minutes.” She grinned.

     “Brea, I need this job.  I don’t know why, but I need it.  I need to have something from Earth.” I whined.  She looked at me funny and quickened her pace.

     Within five minutes we were heading back to the store and applying for the job.

     “No one else has applied for this job.  Do either of you have any business experience?  Any retail experience?” The manager asked.

     “Well, I have a bachelors in Psychology and Brea has worked for her families business since she graduated.  I also have worked a lot of retail.” I smiled.

     “What kind of business did your family run?” He asked Brea.

     “Oh, a few different things…  You know…” She chuckled.

     Great, make him think you’re in the friggen Mafia, I thought rolling my eyes.

     “Uh huh.  Well, Arianna, until further notice you are the new owner and manager of the flower shop.  Name it whatever you want, Brea will be working for you.” He smiled handing me the keys to my new job.  I was all smiles.

     “The greenhouse has been in use for about a year and a half since it’s been up here.  There are a few numbers who didn’t make the cut to be Guard that have run that, so just tell them you are the owner and they will work for you just fine.  If you have any issues with them just let Alpha or myself know.” He explained.

     That struck me wrong, but I kept my mouth shut.  Brea and I headed out to find our new flower shop and green house.  And to meet the ‘numbers’ who worked there already.

     We arrived near the back, well what I would assume was the back, of the space station where there was a pretty little boutique that was now ours.  I smiled and giggled as I put the key in the door and opened it.  It was my first business, and I was so excited.

     It was a quaint little place, I could see where Brea and I could spruce it up with bright colors and earthy tones.  We were going to make it look totally different than anything else in this huge metal box. 

     We walked to the back of the shop and there was another door, this door led to our green house.  When we walked in the air was moist and the green leaves and bright petals of the plants was all overwhelming to me.  I had thought I would never see anything like this ever again.

     There were four suits in the green house working carefully and quickly when they spotted us and headed towards us, stopping a few feet away in a straight line.  Two females, two males.  The ladies both had blond hair and blue eyes and the men had black hair and brown eyes.  I found that interesting.  Like two sets of twins.

     “Good day!  You must be the new owners.” One of the two girls smiled.

     “Yes, my name is Arianna, and this is Brea.  What are your…” I trailed off.  They didn’t have names and I knew that.  But what would I ask, what are your numbers?

     “It’s alright.  I am 1837 and she is 1838.  They are 2001 and 2002.” 1837 chimed.

     “Alrighty…” Brea smiled.  I could tell she was trying not to laugh.

     “Um, have you ever thought of a name for yourselves?” I asked.  This number thing was ridiculous!

     “I like Andy.” 1837 smiled.

     “OK.  Well, from now on your name will be Andy.” I nodded.

     “I like Alex.” 1838 replied.

     “Alex and Andy.  That’s great since you two look identical.” Brea laughed.

     “They do, don’t they?” I said under my breath.  I wondered.  And then it hit me like a brick.  1836 – Mason, 1837 – Andy, 1838 – Alex…  Could they be from the same family and not even know it?

     “People tell us that all the time.  That’s why they didn’t think we would be good guards.  We are pretty much indistinguishable.” Alex frowned.

     “They cut you because you’re a twin?  That’s got to be illegal.” Brea grimaced.

     “We’re in space – maybe things are different here.” I whispered.

     “What about you guys?” Brea asked nodding their way.

     “I like Matt.” 2001 offered.

     My throat closed, my eye twitched, and my hands balled into fists.  Brea saw it out of the corner of her eye I guessed since she told him to pick a different name.

     “Uh, what about Nate?” 2001 shrugged.

     “Nate it is!” I smiled.

     “Adrian!” 2002 laughed.

     “Like as in Rocky?” I asked giggling.

     “Yes, just like that – ADRIAAAAAAAAN!” He sounded almost exactly like Sylvester Stallone!  It was hilarious.

     “OK, so Andy, Alex, Nate, and Adrian.  That works.  So, who likes to paint?” I asked smiling.

     “Uh, we don’t know how.  We just were taught how to run this.” Alex blushed a little. 

     Suddenly the room got warm like on a hot summers day.  I wondered idly if it corresponded with her blush.  Then I noticed the clouds in her eyes.

Chapter 12

 

 

 

“Is that you doing that?” I asked shocked.

“Who, me?” Alex blushed more. It was like a heat lamp.

“It is you. What happens if you are sad?” I wondered out loud.

“People say it smells and feels like rain.” Alex answered a bit embarrassed.

“That is amazing, Alex. You know, there is a guard I know who can make you experience all of that in your mind. He took me to a valley… Anyway, it’s a talent.” I reassured her.

“Alpha said it was a disease. If you know a guard who has this kind of thing tell him not to flaunt it if he values his job.” Alex rolled her eyes.

“So, do all of you have a talent like that?” I wondered out loud.

“Excuse me, but what are you doing here?” Alpha called from the doorway between the green house and the shop.

I turned around and glared at her. Finally I had the upper hand and it felt good.

“I own this place, what are you doing here?” I seethed.

“You own it? You were given the job of managing the last remnants of Earth? Who slipped up on that one?” She scoffed at me.

“Can I speak to you privately for a moment, Alpha?” I asked straightening myself up to be as tall as five foot, five could get.

“Of course.” She nodded and we headed into the shop and closed the door between parties.

“What the hell is your problem?” I asked completely and utterly finished with her crap.

“There is something wrong with you, something unnatural and I am upset that you are on my station. You should have been left back on Earth. I am not sure how you passed your health inspection, but I am almost ready to see if we can send you back and give your cabin to someone else.” She hissed as she got nearly nose to nose with me.

“Something wrong with me? What are you talking about?” I asked, my face scrunching in confusion.

“The guards are medically corrected not to be attracted to or interested in a human. That is part of their make up. It was easier just to shut that part of their brain down than it was to force them to be single and alone all of their lives. Somehow any guard you come in contact with befriends you. Why?” She cocked her head and looked at me as if she was going to find the reason on my face.

“You make no sense. You can’t medically counter that part of the brain by medications.” I put my hands on my hips. At least my psychology program said they couldn’t, I thought.

“There is a part of the brain that is different in sociopaths, yes?” She asked me.

“Well, of course.” I agreed.

“Trigger that and you’ve just home grown your own selfish, careless, emotionless being.” She grinned all proud.

I felt bile in the back of my mouth. I wanted to vomit. We were guarded by a bunch of sociopaths?

She laughed as she walked to the door.

I stood there, unable to move.

“I will find out what is different about you, and if it can’t be fixed I’m sending you back to Earth myself.” She cackled as she walked out of sight.

I can’t be sent back to Earth, there’s nothing there, everything is disappearing. I was shaking, but I still couldn’t move.

There is nothing wrong with me. There is definitely something wrong with her, though. That made me laugh a little and I regained movement in my body. I couldn’t let her scare me. I was going to have to do something to get rid of her though, before it was too late.

I called to Brea that I was closing up and heading back to my room. I told her I was getting a head ache and needed to lie down.

When I got to my room I laid down on my bed and sighed. I’d figure it out later, at the moment I needed to rest.

“Ari?” I heard a muffled voice in my head, but I didn’t open my eyes.

“Ari, can I come in?” I heard again. This time I opened my eyes and sat up in bed.

“Yes…” I trailed, I didn’t know who was asking as I was entirely too groggy to assess the voice, but I certainly didn’t want to ignore them.

As the swooshy door opened I looked at the clock and groaned in time with my stomach. It was twelve thirty in the morning.

“I didn’t see you at lunch or dinner, so I brought you some chicken noodle soup and a grilled cheese sandwich – pickle and all.” Mason came in and set the tray down on the desk next to my bed and went to my small fridge and opened a soda for me.

“Wow, thanks!” I smiled rubbing my eyes. Quickly I rubbed my mouth as well thinking horrifically that I may have drooled in my sleep.

“What’s going on?” He asked as he brought a chair close to my bed and sat on it backwards resting his chin on the back of the chair.

“Alpha is seriously after me.” I grimaced. I moved so I could start eating the dinner he brought me. It smelled amazing and I was starving.

“Why do you think that?” He asked me, his voice stormy. I imagined his eyes matched.

“She confronted me at the flower shop…” I filled him in on the whole story and he was not pleased.

“Arianna, why didn’t you come to find me?” He asked touching my shoulder. The feel of his hand there made me tingle. I looked up into his eyes and they were swirling like tiny hurricanes.

“Because I should be able to handle this…” He cut me off by placing his finger over my lips again and I felt the warmth hit my body.

“Alone?” His eyes calmed looking more like an overcast day.

“I’ve been alone – completely alone – for about a year now. I don’t know how to…” I couldn’t think of the words. My eyes were getting teary and I was upset that I was about to cry in front of him again. Why was I so weak?

“You don’t know how to care, how to open up, how to rely on someone sometimes.” Mason whispered cupping my face in his hand and rubbing my cheek softly with his thumb.

“Right.” I agreed. I looked up into his eyes again and they were calm. My eyes trailed to his whole face, the chiseled cheek bones, his strong nose, the perfect soft lips. I was taking it all in so that I wouldn’t ever take it for granted.

“I don’t know how to do any of those things either.” He admitted. I knew that, but it was less of a crime for him to not know how, that’s how he was raised. I shut myself off on purpose.

I pulled away from him and took a deep breath.

“What is it?” He asked me, looking a bit concerned.

“My parents – well my whole family – died in a flash flood on the way to make their plane to leave the country. They thought it would be safer in Europe. That was over a year ago. Matthew,” my voice caught in my throat and I took a bite of my dinner to stall the story I knew I had to share.

“Matthew was the only person I had near me. Brea and Scott lived in New York. I was picking out wedding favors into the wee hours of the morning when it happened. An officer knocked on the door at nearly three in the morning and my world stopped. Everything was meaningless. Some drunk driver… He’s dead and I know he will never come back and I know I have to move on and I know I am moving on I just… I can’t open up right. I feel like I am bound here and I don’t want to be.”

“Arianna!” Mason gasped.

“It’s fine. It’s over and now I am here and I am better. I know it doesn’t seem like it right now, but I am dressed and I got a job and I am comfortable with you. I am better.” I swore – more to myself than to him.

“We could help each other you know.” He smiled.

I looked at him again and smiled back. I knew he could help me, but I hadn’t the slightest as to how I was going to be able to help him.

“You kissed me earlier.” I decided I would start with the facts – no matter what they were.

“Yes I did.” He nodded looking a bit embarrassed.

“To prove a point?” I cocked my head to the side but kept staring in his eyes. They swirled a little. I was going to be able to read him like a wide open book. I felt a little ashamed by that.

“Of course not!” He replied shocked.

“Why?” I asked.

“Because. I am a human male and you are stunningly beautiful. Not to mention you have an amazing personality and…” He trailed off, this time breaking eye contact with me. I placed my hand on top of his that was resting on the back of the chair.

He looked back up at me and smiled meekly.

“I am a sucker for damsels in distress.” He chuckled.

“Well, you’ve found the queen of all that is distressed!” I joked.

We had a good laugh at that. Then I thought about Alex and Andy and I had to ask. Would it be too personal? I guessed I wouldn’t know until I tried.

“Mason?” I asked.

His eyes connected with mine again and I froze.

“Yes?” He replied.

“Do you know 1837 and 1838?”

“No.” His eyebrows raised in surprise.

“You are all numbered in order, aren’t you?” I asked.

“Yes.” His facial expression didn’t change.

“There are four ‘numbers’ that work the green house. Two are male, 2001 and 2002 who have named themselves Nate and Adrian. There are two girls, who in my opinion are identical twins, named Alex and Andy and they are 1837 and 1838.” I explained.

“Do you think…” He couldn’t speak. His eyes were twisting and turning, not like the hurricane before, but more like a whirlpool.

“I think they may be related to you, Mason. I say this because Alex, she blushed earlier and I swear to God I thought I was in the valley you took me to, but obviously I wasn’t. It was like sunlight radiating off of her when she blushed and her eyes did that cloudy thing yours do.” The words poured out of me. I was so excited to tell him, but worried about his reaction as well.

“I could have sisters?” He barely whispered the question.

“Do you think that is possible? I mean, wouldn’t it make sense that you and your family would have the same, or similar reactions to the things they did to you as children?” I hypothesized with him.

“Are they younger than me?” He was still whispering.

I smiled, I had no idea how old he was.

“They look like they might be between twenty and twenty five…” I guessed.

“I am twenty six.” He said, his eyes still wide.

Mine got a little wide, too. He looked young for his age, maybe they were older than him?

“Do you want to meet them? They work constantly! Out of joy I think.” I smiled.

“Yes! Can we go now?” He looked so excited and so happy. I couldn’t deny him this.

“Sure!” I exclaimed. I hopped off of my bed and headed for the door. Before I could get there he grabbed my wrist, spun me around and grabbed me up in a big hug.

“Thank you,” He sighed in my ear. I pulled away to tell him no problem when he kissed me again.

Thank God he was holding me because like before my knees gave out and my eyes rolled in the back of my head.

The kiss ended once again, way too fast and we were on our way to the green house, hand in hand.

Chapter 13

    

 

     I realized half way out the door that it probably wasn’t the wisest idea to take him to the green house at midnight and it probably would do better if I were to talk to Alex and Andy personally first before bombarding them with what I was 99.9% sure was their brother.

     “Mason, wait!” I whispered, holding my ground and making him wrench forward as we were rushing after all.

     He turned to look at me with confusion on his face and I pulled him back into my room and waited for the door to close securely.

     I explained to him how I double thought about what we were about to do and he slowly slumped into the chair near my bed.  I felt terrible.  I had gotten him all excited for something and then pulled the rug right out from under him.  I grimaced and went to stand in front of him.  He was looking down at his knees so I squatted down to be closer to eye level.  Now I was lower than him, so I could look up into his beautiful face.

     His eyes were closed so I couldn’t read him at all, accept for what his body language was telling me – he was hurt.

     “I am so sorry, Mason!  That was cruel.” I whispered, placing my hand slowly and softly on his knee.

     He looked up at me then and sighed deep and long.  He blinked a few times and then stared me right in my eyes.  I was taken aback for a second.  They were completely calm.  I expected anger, annoyance, sadness.  There was nothing registering there but calm.

     “Arianna Alice London…” He grinned at me.

     How did he, I shook my head when I realized he must have heard Brea scold me previously.

     “I am really sorry.” I reiterated.

     “There is nothing to be sorry about.  It’s possible you just saved the four of us from some real annoyance or even some trouble.  Alpha would be quite upset about this development.” Mason smiled and took my hand in his. 

     “Well, I am still feeling like crap getting you all excited like that and then changing my mind.  I wouldn’t like it.” I smiled weakly back.

     He reached around me so that he could get a good hold of me and pulled me up from the ground and sat me on his lap.  I liked it there, it was strangely comfortable even as awkward as this should be to me.

     I rested my head on his shoulder and breathed a sigh of relief.  I could smell that familiar scent again and when I closed my eyes to try to pin point it I realized it was the smell of a dewy forest.  I breathed in long and deep as I brushed my nose against his skin.

     He got ridged and I did, too.

     “Sorry…” I winced.

     “No, it’s OK.  This is just new.” Mason whispered as he kissed my hair.

     I looked up at him and smiled.  “You know, you smell like a meadow.”

     How freaking cheesy was that?  I could have smacked my head on my nearby desk for that one.  That’s like saying, wow – you have really nice…eyebrows…  What the f… 

     “Really?  No one has ever said that to me before.  You smell like rain.” He smiled.

     OK, I had to really think about that for a moment.  Rain could also smell like worms which was pretty gross, but I had a really good lotion that I couldn’t bring with me that was called Rain Water from Bath And Body Works and that smelled fantastic so I decided to ask.

     “Um…  What does rain…” I couldn’t get it out.  I just had to believe he would say something like that and mean it was the worm smell – could he?

     “You know that smell before a storm or right after when you see the rainbow?” Mason asked patiently.

     “Yes, it smells almost electrical, magical – if I were to put a scent to magic.” I replied.  And then it occurred to me, “How do you know what a thunderstorm or rainbow is?”

     “We were trained for the majority of our time on Earth.” He grinned sideways at me.

     I am an idiot, I thought.

     He rubbed my back and I shivered.  There were emotions and feelings that were coming from my mind and body that I hadn’t had even with Matthew.  This terrified me.  No longer was I the one thinking that I could help him, I was the one who was being taught now.  I wanted so badly to kiss him, to put him down on my bed and explore him, but I didn’t know if that was right or wrong.

     “Why don’t you lay down?  You look tired.” Mason whispered.  He scooped me up and pushed the chair back as he set me down on my bed.  I curled over onto my side facing him.

     He turned to go and I thought there would be physical pain if he left me at this moment.

     “Please…” I began but couldn’t say it.

     He looked into my eyes, his swirling again and I knew he wanted to stay with me whether we were right or wrong.

     “Stay…” I finished.

     He looked at me again eyes still surging and after a moment he decided.  He moved slowly and laid on my bed facing me.  We were only inches apart.  I could feel this intensity, this need to pull him closer like two opposite magnets too close together.  They would slam together sooner than later.

     “Ari…” I he whispered.

     His arms were folded across his chest, as were mine.  We were so close, almost intimately close but yet still so guarded, he and I. 

     “Mason, I don’t know what to do at this point.  I haven’t ever been here.” I revealed.

     His eyes got wide for a second and then he swallowed.

     “But, you were engaged.” He reminded.

     “Yes, and I thought he was it, but I never felt this kind of sensation with him so I don’t know what this is.  This is all so new.” I explained.

     “I don’t want to fail you.” Mason sighed, eyes closed.

     I took that opportunity to move in closer and I kissed him.  I didn’t wait for him to do it this time, I made the first move.  After the surprise of my eagerness he kissed me back.  We kissed like it was a need for air.  I was breathing heavy and he was as well, his tongue was sweet and warm and his smell enveloped me as I wrapped myself around him.  It was true, I did need him after all.

     He put his free hand on the bottom of my shirt and began to move it up slowly, putting his hand underneath and caressed my skin.

     I shivered.

     I felt around but could not for the life of me figure out how to get to his body under that stupid wet suit of a uniform.  He removed his hand from its previous occupation to open the front of his uniform and I gasped at the beauty of his skin.  I placed my hand on his chest and trailed patterns with my fingertips through his light chest hair.  It was his turn to tremble a bit.

     His hand came down and rested on my him as he brushed his thumb between me and the waist of my jeans.  If it wasn’t so sensual it probably would have tickled me.

     “I’ve never…” He began as he nibbled on my ear lobe.

     “I have.” I replied locking eyes with him again.  I wasn’t going to lie and I wasn’t going to be upset if he stopped right now.  It was farther than we had been before and I wasn’t going to push him to do something uncomfortable for him.

     “I want to, but I want it to be more romantic than this.” He blushed a bit.  The warmth that poured off of him then was like the setting sun.

     “Well then, we will wait.” I smiled.

     He stared at me for what felt like an hour trying – I assumed – to register my feelings on this subject.  Though I said it was fine he wanted to know if it really was, so I helped him along.

     I kissed him again, paying a little extra attention to his bottom lip and then I smiled looking him in the eyes again.

     “Mason, it would be amazing if we continued tonight, but I know my first time wasn’t anything special but try as I may that damn vision will never leave my head.  I have never – ever – forgotten my first time no matter how hard I try and I don’t want you to have to feel like I do where you’d rather have waited for better timing or more romance.  Take your time.  You’ll know when it’s right – and hell – it might not even be with me.” I had to force the smile back on my face.  I was right, though.  He may decide that I am not the one he wants to share that with and who was I to stop him?

     “Just because tonight isn’t the right time, it doesn’t mean that you aren’t the one I want.” He insisted in a sultry whisper that warmed me to the bone.

     “I suppose…  You can’t stay all night can you?” I couldn’t look at him then.  I was probably blushing.

     “I don’t want us to be forced apart before…  Well, I want this to last as long as it can and right now Alpha is on the war path with you so we should keep her as happy as we can.” He was frowning.

     He wanted to stay!

     I embraced him one more time and he got out of bed adjusting his uniform as he stood up.  He walked to the door and turned to look at me.

     “Good night, my Mason.” I whispered with a smile.

     “Good night, my Ari.” He smiled back and left the room.

It got noticeably cooler and darker when the door shut.  I realized right then there was no way in the universe that I was going to be able to be separated from him.  I made my decision then to find out what Alpha was up to and what I could do to keep Mason with me forever.  It might be difficult, it might even be impossible, but I wasn’t going to give up on him, not while there was air in my lungs.

Chapter 14

 

It was still pretty early when I woke up and got dressed.  I threw on a plain red t-shirt over a black long sleeved t-shirt and some old jeans and black Vans.  It was going to be a day of excitement.  First I was going to breakfast with my best friends, then Brea and I were going to get the flower shop up and running – or close to it.  After that I was going to do some snooping around to see why Alpha really had a problem with me and Mason hanging out.  There had to be something, she wouldn’t just pick on my for no reason, right?

I threw my brown hair back in a messy knot on the back of my head and almost skipped over to Brea and Scott’s room.  After last night knowing Mason and I were pretty much on the same page I had much more confidence than I did before.  Mason liked me, enough to want to be with me and that was a big ego booster, let me tell you!

I pushed the little button outside Brea and Scott’s door and waited for them to answer.  The door swooshed open and I stepped in.  Scott has his back to me but he didn’t have a shirt on.  Of course he was Brea’s fiancé and I was totally platonic with him, but when there is a man who is built and tan with an incredible strong, sexy back and bottom you’re going to stare – even for just a minute. 

“You can stop drooling.  When he turns around the dream is over anyway.” Brea whispered in my ear with a giggle.

I jumped.

She wasn’t upset or offended at the way I behaved, I was a warm blooded female after all.

“She was staring at my manly butt again, wasn’t she?” Scott asked turning around as he slipped his black t-shirt on.  He was smiling from ear to ear.

“I can actually physically see your skull getting bigger by the second…” I shook my head in mock terror.

“Funny girl.  I wasn’t the one looking at someone’s butt.” He laughed.

“So, are we going to breakfast or straight to the shop?” Brea asked stopping our little tiff.

“I am starving, breakfast first!” I beamed.

“Did you see Mason last night?” Scott asked walking towards us as we walked out of the room.  He stood between us draping an arm over both of us as we headed to breakfast.

“Yes I did.  He stopped by after his shift was over.” I let that be it.  I wasn’t about to tell them about our little evening.  It was none of their business.

“Did you make out?” Brea asked over Scott’s chest.  I stared at her wide eyed. 

Seriously?

“I don’t have to tell you that.” I fumbled – big time.  I might as well have said yep, I totally hit that last night!  I shook my head and blushed.

“YOU DID!” Brea gasped.  “How was it?  Was it different than a normal person?”

I don’t think she knew what she was asking or how it would come off to me so I tried really hard not to shoot daggers at her through my eyes

“Ewe, you kissed the mutant?” Scott wrinkled his nose and stuck his tongue out as he shook his head.

“He is not a mutant and he is better than normal!  Why are you guys so rude?” I threw Scott’s arm off of me and I turned to face them with my arms folded across my chest.  “I’m not normal either.  I haven’t been able to spend time with a human being since Matt died – you know that.  The only reason this worked for the few days we were together was because it was that or you two died on Earth.  So don’t joke about what’s right and wrong and normal and crazy.” I could have been spitting fire and I wouldn’t have noticed.

“Uh…  Arianna, why don’t you come with me before you have a full on nuclear breakdown.” I heard his voice in my ear and his hands were on my shoulders.

All the air came out of my sails then as he walked me to breakfast leaving my two best friends standing there completely dumbfounded and worried.

“What was that?” Mason asked me as he filled a tray with what he thought I would like for breakfast – which was pretty much everything at the buffet.

“They are so damn nosey about what I do on my personal time.  It’s like I can give them a little info and they just keep fishing.  I can’t have anything secret.  I don’t go up to them and say, ‘so Brea, how was the sex last night?’…  I don’t care!  I’m sure they do it, but I don’t want to know about it!  If she wants to tell me that’s something completely different.  I know they are my friends and I love them very much but Jesus!  They know how hard…,” I trailed off then.  I wasn’t sure I wanted to go into the sick sad details of my life after Matt.  Besides, it was a much better life now that Mason was in it so I was trying to forget the in between time.

“How hard it was for you to exist?” He whispered as we reached a table at the back of the cafeteria.

“Right.” I sighed sitting down across from him.

“Why don’t we invite them to this table?  Smooth things over?  I understand you better than you may realize and though you are upset with them you need them.” He smiled warmly.

He was right.  When I saw Brea looking anxiously my way I waved her over with a weak smile.  She and Scott came over and I moved to sit next to Mason while they sat on the other side of the table.

“I…” I began but Brea raised her hand to quiet me.

“We don’t think sometimes, Ari.  We shouldn’t push like we do.” Brea grimaced.

“Yeah, I know I’m a jerk.  Go ahead and say it.” Scott bowed his head.

“You’re a class a jerk.” I replied.

They both looked up at me shocked.

I began to laugh.

“There’s our girl.” Scott smiled, Brea laughed.

Mason patted my back and got back to eating a huge breakfast burrito.  It looked kind of gross, but to each their own.  I stuck to my scrambled eggs, bacon and strawberries.

“Are you on break or something?” Scott asked Mason after he swallowed his big bite of sausage.

“Yes.  I was starving!  I’ll probably use this as my lunchtime.” Mason replied with a smiled.  I looked at him and his eyes were sunny again.

Brea noticed it finally and shot a knowing look at me.

“The eyes freak people out sometimes.” Mason nodded to Brea.

“I am so sorry!  I don’t mean to be rude!” She whined.

“It’s alright.  It’s not your normal everyday run of the mill eye color.  I get it all the time.” He grinned.

“Really?” Brea asked hopefully.

“No.” He laughed.

“You’ve got a sense of humor.  That’s cool.” Scott nodded his head as if he was accepting this quality in Mason.

“Thank you.” Mason replied.

“What do you think of Arianna?” Scott asked.

I slammed my fork down on my tray and glared at him.  If looks could really kill then my profession would be staring.  “You know.  You are a top class douche bag!  Whatever flew up your ass today apparently made a nest there and is taking permanent residence!” I fumed.  If I had the ability to growl or hiss or roar I think I would have at this point.  As it were, my nostrils were flaring.

Mason was staring up at me, Scott was pissed and Brea was laughing hysterically.

“I think Arianna is the most amazing person I have ever met in my entire life.” Mason said as if I hadn’t just gone all bat crazy.

That stopped me in my tracks and all the hot air ran out of my balloon as I sank back down in my chair.  I just stared at him.

“You find this amazing?” Scott asked sweeping his hand in front of him as if he were Vana White and I was the Mystery Round.

“Yes, I do.” Mason said raising an eyebrow at Scott like he was critically offended by the suggestion.

HA!, I thought to myself.

“I have to get back to work, Ari.  I’ll see you this evening – same time?” He was only looking at me now.  His eyes were calm and warm.  He leaned in and kissed me as if we were alone somewhere.  My head was spinning and I had to clutch the seat to stay upright.  When he pulled away from me his eyes were hurricanes.  “I want to get back to what we were discussing last night,” he whispered as he got up from the table.

I was struck dumb.  All I could do was smiled and nod.

As he walked away I was sure he was laughing.

I guess he showed them, I thought in a giddy little daze.

Brea flew over to me from around the table and grabbed my wrists in her hands.  She shook me slightly, which I think I needed as I was so out of it from that kiss.

The kiss…  His tongue assaulted my tonsils, and with that I was off in a fit of uncontrollable laughter.

Brea looked scared for me.

“I’m – I’m sorry.” I breathed.

“Holy Christ man, Matt never did that to you!” Scott exclaimed but then threw his hand over his mouth so all I could see were his wide eyes.  I just laughed harder.

“I know!” I shrieked through fits of laughter.

“Are you alright?” Brea asked.

“Shit, Big Bitch is coming, stop her!” Scott begged Brea.

Brea slapped me across the face – hard.

The laughing stopped and I cleared my throat looking down at my breakfast.  I would have to thank Brea for that later – I made a mental note about that.

“You are disrupting the rest of the population Miss London.” Alpha said as she towered over me with her fists on her hips.  All she needed was a cape and she’s look like – well some crazy ugly super hero.

“Oh, I’m sorry.  I didn’t know we had to be silent at breakfast.” I rolled my eyes.  I was still on cloud nine from that very public display of affection I got from Mason.

“I saw 1836 kiss you.  That is just disgusting.  He is failing at his priorities.” Alpha shook her head in disgust.

“I think she’s jealous,” Brea dramatically whispered over to me.

I coughed trying to hide a laugh.

“Remember your place and remember his.” She stormed away and we stuck our tongues out at her.

“I should get to the shop.  You coming?” I looked at Brea and she nodded.

I headed off alone so she could finish cleaning up her place.  As I walked I wondered once again why it was such a big deal that Mason and I kissed or whatever else we wanted to do.  There had to be a reason.  And then I thought it would be a good idea to look up protocol so if Alpha wanted to punish us I would know if it were legal and fair or not.

The library would have to be later or the next morning.  Right now it was time to make this dump of a shop look like the Botanical Gardens.

Chapter 15

 

    

     I was in the process of mixing up some paint when Andy came in.  She was smiling from ear to ear and had her hands behind her back.

     “What is that look for, Andy?” I smiled back.

     “I made you something last night that I thought you could put up in the shop.  It’s nothing special, just a painting.” Andy shrugged, her hands were still behind her back.

     “A painting – you did it?  Let me see!” I squealed as I got up and hopped over to her all excited.

     She blushed causing the room to get warmer and her eyes were a little windy.  When she unveiled the painting my jaw dropped and tears came to my eyes.  It was exactly what I would have painted if I were artistic enough to recreate the valley Mason had taken me to.  The grass was bright and healthy green, dancing in the warm breeze and the willow trees swooshed back and forth dreamily as the brilliant white clouds rolled through the incandescently blue sky and reflected in the diamond blue stream.  The whole thing seemed to be glossed over in that dusky humid gold – the kind of light you see on a warm summer night glittering everything with a warm yellow hue.  It was almost as if I had painted it from my view of the valley.

     I tore my gaze away from the painting just short enough to take a look at Andy who was smiling at me.

     “How did you know…?” I could barely speak.

     “I’m a telepath.  You said something about Mason being able to take you to a valley and I saw it like I was there so I thought I’d give you something really special for accepting me and my sister – and hopefully my brother.” She smiled, blushing even further. 

     “Andy – this is the best gift anyone has ever given me and I will cherish it always.  You are an amazing artist and an amazing girl – you and Alex both.  And I really, truly care about Mason.” I gave her a big hug which she nervously accepted but soon got more comfortable with it.

     “Here, put it right here behind the counter on the wall so it’s near you always.” Andy replied crooking it up against the bare wall for now.  She knew I was about to paint so there was no point in hanging it yet.

     When everyone arrived we got to work.  Brea, Andy, Alex and I worked on the shop painting it and decorating it.  Adrian and Nate kept working in the green house making sure everything was healthy and happy back there.  We worked the majority of the day away and by dinner time the shop was painted pale yellow with that dusty gold that Andy put to my painting with white trim and the shelves along the right and left wall were filled with books and vases and tiny knick knacks.  The tables were set to have different arrangements and there was also a table where we would layout binders of pictures of all the flowers and plants we offered.  It was beginning to look like a store.

     I walked into the green house to tell the guys we were closing up when I heard their little conversation.

     “Dude, if our boss is seriously with Mason Alpha’s gonna be ripped.” Nate whispered.

     “See, that’s what I don’t get.  If Mason is working and doing a good job what is the big friggen deal?” Adrian questioned.

     Yeah, what was the big deal, I thought.

     “She’s different.  Alpha’s been saying that all along.  They allowed her up here because she had no blood relatives.  Clearly she’s one of the breeders.” Nate whispered even quieter.

     What?

     “What?” Adrian echoed my thought – or lack there of.

     “Each station was allowed so many couples and families, but there is a quota of healthy child bearing women who were put on each station.  She will be coaxed into falling for one of the guards – by standard.  Arianna should be with Alpha’s son, Beta but she’s fallen for a low grade guard.  It’s not against the law nor is it against the rules.  She would still be mating with an evolved human if she stayed with Mason, but Alpha only wants the best for Beta and Arianna is the best.” Nate explained.

     “How do you know all of this information?” Adrian asked, not too convinced.  I was shaking.

     “Because, I’m sleeping with Beta’s second in command.” Nate sounded as though he had rolled his eyes – like his information wasn’t at all secret.

     I was going to be used for my impressive breed?  I felt sick to my stomach.  I wondered if Mason knew that.

     I was about to continue to listen in when I heard the little bell above the shop door jingle.

     “Hey guys, just popped in to say we’re going to close the shop up in a few.  You have keys so you stay as long as you want – just be careful of the paint.” I decided I’d make myself known.

     “Alright, sounds good, Ari.” Nate smiled and waved, clearly not thinking I had heard a word.

     I walked back into the shop and Brea was staring at the door – waiting to stare at me as I emerged and Andy and Alex were along the right wall with their heads down.

     In the center of the shop was a man about six feet tall with black hair, brushed neatly and darker olive skin.  His face was as beautiful as it was scary and his eyes were forest green.  I almost gasped at his sheer mass.  Not only was he tall, dark, and handsome, but he was built like a brick shit house.  I was surprised I didn’t drool.

     “Miss London is it?” He spoke with a clear deep, dark voice.  I shivered.

     “Yes, please call me Arianna.” I smiled and put my hand out for him to shake it.

     He took it, but kissed my knuckles.  I pulled my hand back and cleared my throat.

     “Can I help you with anything?” I kept the smile on my face so I didn’t seem rude.  He was a guard, I noticed from that stupid space suit they had to wear.

     “My name is Beta and I heard that someone had taken over the flower shop so I thought I would come by and give the owner a small gift.” He smiled.

     Perfect teeth.  This of course, was Beta.  He was perfect.  But, he wasn’t Mason.

     “Well, Beta.  That is very nice of you!” I smiled brighter.  He handed me a small box and I opened it.  Inside was a small key.  I didn’t understand, but I figured there would be an explanation.

     “I purchased you a Segway.  That way you can get around this large station with ease.” He was smiling now, totally proud of himself.  Of course the gift was awesome and I was going to keep it regardless of what anyone else thought.  I was not above keeping gifts that meant a lot more to the gift giver.

     “That is awesome!  Thank you so much!” I almost thought of hugging him, but then thought better of it.  His eyes didn’t change at all – clearly Mason wasn’t perfect.  But, personally I liked Mason much, much better.

     “Well, I will see you around, Beautiful.” He bowed and left the shop.  I proceeded to lock the door behind him. 

     “Did he seriously just skip right over me and give you something awesome?  And did he honestly just call you Beautiful like that’s your God given name?” Brea had wrinkled her nose up and stuck her tongue out.

     “I know – he lost points with that.” I rolled my eyes.  I noticed the sisters were still along the wall, looking down at their feet.

     “Andy, Alex, are you girls alright?” I asked concerned.

     “He ordered us to stand here – he never lifted that order.” Alex whispered.

     My nostrils flared and I headed out of the shop catching sight of him down the hall.  I was from Tennessee and I had a loud voice and I was going to use it – breeding be damned.

     “HEY!  BETA!” I shouted cupping my hands around my mouth to add to the affect.  He stopped dead in his tracks and turned around looking at me like I had just sprouted wings.

     He began to walk back to me, trying to figure me out – that’s what I got for the look on his face anyway.  When he was at an appropriate speaking distance he asked me ‘what’.

     “Could you please let my girls get off the damn wall?” I asked, quite annoyed.

     “Oh, I am sorry.  I must have forgotten.” He shrugged, chuckled, poked his head in the door and lifted his order.

     “Cocky jerk.” I said under my breath.  His green eyes captured mine – they were hard and dark.  Apparently he didn’t like hearing it like it was.

     “That is what you think of me?” He asked me looking all shocked – I didn’t buy it.

     “Until you can prove to me otherwise, yes.” I stuck out my chin and looked at him as defiantly as possible.

     “Fine.” He hugged.

     “And do not order my employees around ever again.” I glared at him.

     “Is Mason an employee, too?  You only seem to give names to those that work for you.” He smirked.

     “Mason is a very dear friend of mine, he does not work for me.  Unlike egomaniacs like yourself I don’t bask in the amount of people below me.” I shot back.

     He turned and marched away.  I won that battle.  I headed back into the shop, smiled at the girls and told them I was riding my lazy butt to dinner.  I got on my new present and toured around the station until I decided I was hungry enough to grab myself some food.  I decided on pizza.  I grabbed a tray and got a piece of pizza, a few pieces of cheesy bread, a soda and segwayed my way over to the table that seemed to have become mine.  Brea wasn’t too far behind with Scott.  I was already eating like a cow when they sat at the table across from me.

     “Brea filled me in on Captain Douche Bag.  I see you kept the gift.” Scott nodded in the direction of my shiny new toy.

     “Well of course I did!” I laughed.

     When we were done eating I invited them over to my room and as I lit a cigarette I filled them in on what I heard Nate and Adrian talking about earlier.  They both stared at me like I was crazy.  Why was I getting this look oh so often now?

     “So, you are some special gene machine and they want to make evolved babies with you?” Scott’s eyebrow rose in suspicion.

     “Do you honestly think I could make this shit up?” I asked a little affronted.  He made it sound like I was making up a story.

     “True, I’ve always said – if it’s too weird it has to be true.” Scott nodded as if he were accepting this then.

     “So Mason isn’t a top breeder?” Brea looked at me.

     “I don’t see how not!  He’s beautiful, he’s smart, he’s charming, he’s got a crazy cool ability…” I shrugged.

     “But that Beta guy – you should have seen him in the store – Scott I have to be honest – I almost forgot your name.” Brea put her hand on her heart like she was having an attack.

     I rolled my eyes, sure he was beautiful, but he was an asshole as well.

     I yawned.

     “Let’s let her get a little nap in before her vampire of a boy friend comes calling at midnight.” Scott thought he was funny.

     “No, that’s more like the Phantom Of The Opera.” Brea winked at me.  I winked back – but my eyes stayed shut.

Chapter 6

        I could not believe that I had a list of things I could and couldn’t bring on this trip out.  I was allowed to bring any clothing I wanted, but no liquids.  At all.  I couldn’t bring perfumes or shampoo or hair products.  I was grateful I had begun to by Bare Minerals make up six months ago, so I had a good supply of that, but I would have to leave my favorite perfumes behind!  And then it said matches were alright, but lighters were not.  I hated freaking matches!

        “Are you reading this thing?” Brea asked barging into my bedroom.  Once again I was glad I didn’t walk around or sleep naked.

        “Yes, and I’m ticked!  How can they say we can’t even bring liquid soaps.  What about tooth paste?  Does it say anything about that?” I snatched the paper up again scanning it like a mad woman.

        “No tooth paste.” Scott said from the door way.
        “Alright, so we are just supposed to stink thoroughly?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
        “This…  I didn’t write this so you need to slow your roll.” Scott put his hands on his hips.
        “Yeah, sorry.  I just.  Who doesn’t allow people to brush their teeth?” I asked in a whiny tone.
        “There are those throw-away tooth brush things that don’t require water.  Why don’t you grab up some of those?” He asked me.

        “Yeah, and we’ll buy some of that powder shampoo people use on dogs while we’re at it.” Brea rolled her eyes.  We all laughed at that.

        We did happen to compile a list of things we would want to take.  I decided since I was leaving I mind as well purchase some new clothes.  We were starting a new life, plus everything was on sale as no one knew how long anyone was going to be here.

        Brea and I went to the mall and I purchased nearly six hundred dollars worth of new clothes.  I had been saving the money for a Playstation 3, but decided this was more important.  When she and I were done overhauling our wardrobe we went to the supermarket to get some odds and ends.  We did pick up some of those stupid waterless tooth brushes.

        In the morning we were going to be heading out to our flight.  We were all incredibly nervous but excited at the same time.  I had to take a sedative that the doctor had given me when Matt died just to fall asleep.

        “So, what is your name?” I was standing in that metal room again with that beautiful man.  He smiled at me, but when I asked him his name he frowned.  I couldn’t understand why.

        “My name?” He asked me confused.  I looked at him funny.  It wasn’t like I asked him to perform surgery I just wanted to know what to call him.

        “Yes, what do people call you?” I asked again.
        “People call me…”
        “WAKE UP!  IT IS TIME TO GO!” Brea yelled through my closed and locked door.  I learned quickly – but I was upset that she woke me.  I wanted to know who this person was.

        “I’m coming, just let me get dressed.” I moaned as I lifted myself out of bed.  I walked to my bathroom with my eyes closed and made a face when I heard her tell me I only had twenty minutes.

        When we were all set, Scott had our bags in the SUV, we headed out.  It took a few hours, but we finally made it to the location where our shuttle flight would be boarding. 

        We walked up to the gates and showed out passes.  The military guards waved us through and gave us a cart for our luggage.  It was hot as hell in this place – and I felt like I was in a desert.  I supposed I was, Death Valley wasn’t the great wilderness.  I wondered if this was better, leaving from a place that looked like absolutely nothing or leaving from a place where I could watch all the things I knew shrink away to nothing.

        I quickly decided it didn’t matter.  It wasn’t like I really had a choice in the matter.  I should just be grateful that I was getting off of this time bomb.

        “Good afternoon, there are three people to a pod.  We are waiting nine other people to show up and we will then get you all prepped.  We will take your luggage now and store it safely.” A tan, blond soldier explained to us.  I wanted to ask questions, but he didn’t seem like he wanted to answer any. 

        It was about fifteen minutes later, I knew that because I had smoked two cigarettes when nine more people showed up.  I put my cigarettes back in my purse and took a deep breath.

        “Alright, please, you twelve, follow me.” The soldier instructed.  We followed silently.
        About five minutes later we arrived at a very large metal shed looking complex.  The door opened and we entered.  There was a metal stair case and then another door, but we still couldn’t see the shuttle.  I guessed we never would.

        “We are entering the shuttle.  When you get in you will lie down in the pod with your name on it.  The door will close, oxygen will be administered along with a sedative.  You will sleep until the door opens.  While you sleep catheters will be inserted, so there is no worry about needing to use a bathroom.  Also, don’t worry about waking up.  The pod can sense the change in your breathing and sleep pattern and will administer the drugs as needed.  Have a safe and relaxing flight.  See you in space!” The soldier seemed so excited.  I couldn’t help but think if the movie Aliens again – that’s exactly how they traveled back and forth.  How creepy, I thought.

        We walked up the stairs and through the door.  There were six pods to the left and to the right once you walked in.  I took a quick glance at the names, not really reading them as I found mine.  Funny enough Brea and Scott were on either side of me.  The other people who I didn’t pay much attention to were talking a bit now, but their words weren’t registering with my mind.

        “Alright, you can talk when you get home.  Please, get into your pods.” Another soldier was standing at the far end of this pod room.  I hadn’t noticed him standing there, so I jumped when I heard him speak.

        “It’s alright, we will be just fine.  This is probably the easiest part.” Scott whispered to Brea and me.  We did as we were instructed and we got into our pods. 

        Moments later I was awake.  I felt a bit groggy and my body was the consistency of a jelly fish, but other than that I felt fine. 

        There were people bustling into the area with wheel chairs and they were helping us out of the pods and into the seats.  I was grateful for that, I was sure I wasn’t able to walk at this point.

        “Take them to their designated rooms to rest and unpack.  There will be a Station meeting at 15 hundred hours.” The soldier who I now assumed was the pilot, ordered. 

        I noticed the people pushing us in wheel chairs were wearing black leather suits, like super hero suits.  I gulped, my body was not nearly that tight where I could pull of something like that.  I just hoped I didn’t have to wear those.

        We were wheeled down a long hallway and down another, I felt so lost, but I noticed there were maps on the walls, and the walls were shiny.  When I thought I wasn’t going to even find a bathroom let alone a hall I was stopped at a door that swooshed open and the leather outfit pushing me put the locks on the chair and helped me to my feet.  Of course, I tripped.

        “Whoa.” I felt strong hands grab me around the waist and steady me, and the voice was male and strangely familiar.  He set me down on my bed and stepped back, folding his arms across his chest and smiled.

        Holy mother of all that’s pure, I thought to myself.  It’s dream boy!  I blinked.
        “Are you alright?” He asked me, his face furrowed in concern.
        “Yeah, I’m fine.  Just a bit wobbly from the flight.” I blushed.  His blue eyes looked silver in that leather outfit.  I had to try so hard not to look at his body in that suit or I was going to drool all over myself and look more in need of help than I already did.

        “Good.  Welcome to Relocation Earth Prototype Oasis.” He smiled at me.  I sat there for a moment thinking what the hell does that mean and then, because I shorten everything – like the band System of a Down turns into SOAD – REPO. 

        “I live in a place called Repo?” I asked bursting out in laughter.
        He looked at me funny and then assessed what I meant and smiled.
        “I suppose that’s a good name for it.  You were repossessed by the Government so you could be safe.” He smiled.  His face lit up so brightly when he smiled, it reminded me of sunlight.

        “Hey, what’s your name?” I asked, still smiling.
        He looked at me all confused and then it hit me like a bag of bricks.  I knew his reply – he wouldn’t know his name.

        “I don’t have a name.” He said.  OK, that was a bit different, but still, same problem.
        “You don’t have a name?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
        “I am 1836.  I have a number, that’s all.” He frowned.
        “Alrighty then.  I’ll have to give you a name.  But, I’ll wait to see what kind of person you are before I pick.  I want it to be perfect.” I smiled.

        “Why are you being so nice?” He asked me.
        “Because I left the planet I lived on all my life for some place I never knew existed and I’m lonely so I could use a friend, even if I have to call you eighteen thirty six.” I explained.

        “Well, I must get going.  I hope to see you later then…” He stopped at the door and I realized I hadn’t given him my name.

        “Arianna London.  You can call me Ari if you’d like.” I smiled.
        His face lit up again and I swore I heard birds singing.  “Well, Ari, I will see you around, I hope.” And then the door swooshed shut behind him. 

Chapter 7

        I didn’t know exactly where I was going but I needed to find Brea.  I needed to tell her that my dream boy was real and that he wanted to see me around.  I felt like that girl in school again where the popular boy asked me for my pencil and that was equal to asking me to marry him.  I had to relax.  1836 could have been lying to me.  And then I thought about it, 1836?  I mean, I had a rule – you did not make out or have sex with any guy who had a name you wouldn’t be willing to call out and 1836 was not at all sexy.  I needed to name him and I needed to name him fast!

        “Hey, what room are you in?” Brea asked coming out of another swooshy door. 
        “Um.  I don’t remember, listen.  I have something to tell you!” I was so geeked, and Brea looked at me like I grew another head.

        “You know that guy I’ve been having dreams about?” I asked, all excited.
        “Yes.  What about dream boy?” She asked me raising an eyebrow.
        “He is here – he’s the guy who wheeled me to my room.  His name – well he doesn’t have a name – his number is 1836.” I was so excited to tell her the news.  My dream guy was real – flesh and blood!

        “He’s a number?  He doesn’t have a name?” She asked me as her forehead creased in confusion.
        “I know, right?  It’s crazy.  But he’s real and he’s beautiful and he hopes to see me around.” With that I did a little happy dance and squealed. 

        “OK…  Last time I checked you were 25.  Lets go find your room before you make a complete fool out of yourself ten minutes into your new life.” Brea grabbed my wrist and dragged me back to my room.  Apparently our names were on the doors for now.

        Once we entered and the swooshy door closed Brea turned to me with her hand on her hip.
        “Look, you don’t know anything about this guy.  We are in space, Arianna Alice London!  He could be an alien, a prototype – he might not even be human at all.” Brea scolded me.  She was right, this beautiful creation was a bit too perfect for human standards.  But I didn’t care.

        “I don’t care, Brea.  I want him to be my friend.” I insisted.
        “Friend, huh?  You are drooling on yourself!” She snapped.
        “Excuse me, Ari – it’s about time to get ready for the meeting.” 1836 was in my room again. 
        I blushed.
        “Oh, OK.” I smiled.
        Brea stared and I swear her eyes glazed over a bit.
        Told you he was hot, I thought snidely.
        “Do you know how to get there?” He asked me, still smiling.
        “Actually, no.” I replied.
        “Well, I could accompany you if you’d like.  You and your friend.” He smiled at Brea and she blushed.
        “Well, my fiancé is waiting for me in our room, so if we could stop by there first that would be great.” She shook the thoughts that I knew all too well were in her mind.

        “Absolutely, I am 1836, what is your name?” He asked her putting his hand out to shake hers.  She took it and blushed again.

        “My name is Brea.” She replied.
        “Nice to meet you, Brea.  Shall we?” He asked as he stood out of the way of the door.  She walked through it first and I followed.  He stopped me short of the door and I looked up at him.

        “Yes?” I asked trying to remember to swallow the saliva so that it didn’t overflow.
        “Have you thought of a name yet?” He grinned.
        “Not yet, but you are incredibly friendly and very polite.  You speak eloquently, so I think I’ll sift through some old fashioned names.” I replied.  I was surprised I was able to get a sentence out, but I was happy I could.  I wasn’t lying to Brea when I told her I wanted him to be my friend.  He would never date me, he was too pretty.

        “I look forward to what you come up with.” He said and offered me his arm.  I took it and he led the way out of the room as we followed Brea to find Scott.

        When we reached the room, Scott came out and eyed 1836 and whispered something to Brea. 
        “He doesn’t like me.” 1836 whispered in my ear.  I jumped at his closeness but then smiled.
        “How do you know that?  Scott’s a great guy, he’s just protective of me and Brea.” I tried to smooth the situation out.

        “I have pretty good hearing.  He told her he was going to keep an eye on me.” He frowned.
        “I wouldn’t worry.  Back home, well, I didn’t have anyone so he kind of took me under his wing like I was his baby sister.  He’s just very protective, like I said.” I reassured him.

        “Would you care if he didn’t like me?” He asked me, grinning again.
        I was surprised he was so worried about it.  But I shoved it away and looked at him seriously.
        “No one influences my decisions.  I may ask for advice, but at the end of the day I talk to whomever I choose.” I told him.  And that was true.  My family couldn’t stand Matthew, but I was going to marry him anyway.  I had to stop thinking about it, a twinge of sadness was creeping up and I didn’t want to talk about it – not to 1836 – not yet.

        “Well, that’s good to know.” He sighed.
        “1836, what do you think you are doing?” We heard a stern voice from behind us.  The four of us wheeled around to see a very serious looking woman in a leather suit a bit more intricate than 1836′s frowning disapprovingly at us.

        “Alpha, I was helping them to the meeting.  They don’t know where it is.” He replied standing ramrod straight.
        “Fine, and when you are done I need you to get back to work.  Do you understand?” She frowned deeper.
        “Absolutely, Alpha.” He nodded and we turned to continue on walking.
        We arrived at our destination and he seated the three of us near the front.
        “Now, pay close attention, all of this is very important.  And…” He trailed off looking shy.
        “What is it?” I whispered.
        “I am officially off watch at midnight – would that be too late to stop in and talk?  I’m really fascinated with you.” He looked as though he could blush, but all I could see what a glow.

        “That would be very nice.  I’ll see you then.” I smiled and he left.
        “What the hell…” Scott began to demand and then a man in a nice suit walked out to the podium and cleared his throat.

        “Good evening, as you all know you have now arrived at your new, probably permanent home.  I will not give you any reason to dream of another Earth somewhere out there in the next few years.  It is going to be a while before we can make any planet survivable.  Get to know your guards and get to know your location.  If you ever have a problem, any problem at all, it is their job to help you.  You will know them by a number.  We try not to allow much personal emotions to get involved with our work, hence why you will know a number and not a name.

        Also, meals are three times a day with a general store open twenty four hours.  Breakfast is served between seven and ten.  Lunch is served between noon and fourteen hundred hours and dinner is served between seventeen hundred and nineteen hundred hours.  There is a variety of food, and may I say it is all very delicious.”

        I frowned.  I felt like I was back in school, or in prison.  Be nice to the guards, but you can’t know them personally…  Bla, bla, bla.  What fun was this? 

        “There are binders in each room letting you know of the services and the different events we have.  Job inquiries are taken care of at the general store.  If you have any questions let one of our guards know.

        Also, there are a series of rules that you must abide by.  If you smoke, you are not to smoke anywhere but in your room and the designated smoking room at the back of the cafeteria.  If anyone under the age of 21 is caught with alcohol the person who gave it to you will be jailed for a given time, depending on the offense.  We do not tolerate illegality in this station.  There were no criminals allowed on and we do not expect to make any here.

        Other than that you have free range of the station.  Make yourselves at home, and welcome to Relocation Earth Prototype Oasis!” He smiled and walked away. 

        I just sat there with what I assumed was a very confused look on my face.  Was I dreaming or was I sent to a space prison?

        “Come on Ari, looks like you might need a smoke.” Brea smiled and we headed back to my room.
        I lit my cigarette and huffed.
        “What is it now?” Brea asked, rolling her eyes.
        “Are we in prison?  I mean, what the hell is up with these rules?” I asked frustrated.
        “Do you want to cook or have someone cook for you?” She asked me. 
        “Yeah, I don’t see the problem here.  Free ride, man!” Scott smiled.
        “Job inquiries at the general store.  Nothing is free here.” I scoffed.
        “Do you think they are going to make us work?” Brea asked shivering.
        “We had to on Earth, you can’t think that this would be any different.” It was my turn to roll my eyes.
        “What kind of jobs are on a space station?” Scott asked.
        We all looked at each other wondering the same thing, and I took another drag on my cigarette.

Chapter 8

        “Now, tell me what the hell is going on with you and this number guy?” Scott was angry and I honestly couldn’t figure out why.  1836 was a good guy.

        “Like I told Brea, he was the one who wheeled me to my room, and we talked for a bit.  That’s all.  He’s really nice.” I took another hit on my cigarette.

        “He’s a number for god sakes!  What do you think he is?” He threw his hands up in the air.

        “Scott, seriously?  You are treating me like a child.” I shot back.

        “Are you going to see him again?” He asked, folding his arms over his chest.

        “As a matter of fact I am.  And besides that, he lives here!  How am I not supposed to run into him from time to time?” I was frustrated.  How could he treat me like this?  Did he think I was some kind of idiot?

        I was about to go on the attack when my stomach growled.  I put my cigarette out and stood up.

        “Where are you going?” Scott asked all huffy.

        “I’m going to the store – or at least I am going to attempt to find the store.  You can stay here if you like.  I just need to get the hell away from you!” I shouted and walked briskly to the door which – thank God – swooshed open quite fast and headed down the hallway.

        I honestly didn’t care if I ever found that stupid store.  I just had to get away from them.  Matthew was a friend of theirs before he was with me and it was almost like they were happier with me single than with anyone but Matt.  Matt was dead, gone, never to return!  I wasn’t going to wait around for them to approve of someone.

        And then I felt really bad for thinking those things of Brea, at least.  She always wanted me to be happy.  It was Scott who was so over protective!  Stupid big brother complex!

        I turned a corner pretty quickly and I wasn’t watching where I was going so it was Murphy’s law that I would run right into someone important.

        Alpha knocked me to the ground.  My butt hurt pretty bad, other than that I was fine, but I looked up at her and began blubbering something about sorry.

        “You need to watch where you are walking!” She shouted at me.  I recoiled from it.  This woman scared the ever living out of me.

        “Are you alright, Arianna?” I heard him before I saw him and I grimaced a bit.  I was sure Alpha wasn’t going to like this.

        “You know her by name?” Alpha raised an eyebrow put her fists on her hips.

        “He was the one who brought me from the shuttle.  I introduced myself.” I smiled.  Blame me, I thought, blame me!

        “Get this pathetic human off of the floor and teach her manners since you know her so well.” Alpha snarled as she turned and walked away. 

        I could feel my face getting hot and I felt tears filling my eyes.

        “It’s alright, she’s nasty to everyone.” He assured me patting me on the shoulder.  His touch sent the water works into over drive. 

        “Oh!” He gasped and hugged me, letting me cry it out.  I was so embarrassed!  He moved us into a cubby somewhere so that Alpha didn’t see us again.  I thanked him in my head because I wasn’t sure I could run into her again right now.

        “I am so sorry!” I finally coughed out.

        “What are you sorry for?” He asked me a bit shocked.

        “I probably got you into trouble.” I frowned.

        “What are they going to do?  Fire me?” He rolled his eyes.

        “Could they move you to a different station?” I asked horrified by my own theory.

        “I didn’t think of that, but besides – it would have to be something serious I would think.” He smiled.

        “Mason.” I sighed.

        “Excuse me?” He asked me looking a bit confused.

        “I am going to call you Mason.” I smiled at him.  For some reason a show I used to watch popped into my head and one of the characters always made my dreary days better, so I picked Mason.

        “Mason…” He said quietly, mulling it over a bit and then he smiled.

        “What?” I asked, self consciously wiping the tears from my face.

        “I like it.” He chuckled.

        “Oh good.  Well, Mason, I was trying to find the store.  Do you think you could help me?” I asked.

        “Absolutely.” He smiled even wider.  I had a feeling he had never had a name which bothered me more.  What if Scott and Brea were right?  What if he wasn’t human?  And then I realized I didn’t really give a damn.

        We walked for about another five minutes or so and then right in front of me was a big sign that said “OASIS MART”.  I had to laugh a bit.  How cheesy, I thought.

        “Well, here you are.  Just take this main hall, it will run you right back to your hallway.  You’ll get the hang of it soon.” He smiled and squeezed my hand.

        “Thanks for today, Mason.  See you later.” I smiled.  He looked at me when I said his name and he seemed to glow again.

        I turned and walked into the store and bought nearly every snack food I could get my hands on – and cigarettes.  Glorious soda as well.  I needed comfort food.  And maybe some alcohol.  I grabbed up some beer and a chocolate candy bar on the way out, too.  Forty five dollars later I was heading back down to my room to wallow in my sorrows, and to piddle away the time until Mason came to visit.

        I put all of the food in my closet and cracked open my chocolate bar and a soda and sat at the little table next to my bed.  The swooshy door opened, but I didn’t turn.  It wasn’t nearly midnight yet so I knew it wasn’t someone I was waiting to see.

        “Ari…” Brea whispered as the door swooshed shut behind her.

        “What?” I asked, mouth full of chocolate and nugget.

        “I’m sorry for the way I reacted, and I’m sorry for the way Scott treated you.” She replied.

        I spun around then, chocolate in my hand and glared at her.

        “Don’t apologize for Scott.  He’s a jerk and you know it.  So I’ll accept your apology and you can have some chocolate, but Scott gets nothing until he apologizes himself for being a douche!” I snapped.

        Brea smiled at me and sat down on my bed, taking my chocolate bar from me and breaking a piece off for herself.

        “He’s really cute.” She smiled.

        “I know he is, and I’ve named him.” I grinned.

        “You named…  He’s not a pet, Arianna.” She frowned.

        “No, but I think he deserves a name.  Everyone deserves a name.” I insisted taking another bite of the chocolate.  Chocolate was good.

        “What did you name him?” Brea asked, raising an eyebrow.

        “Mason.” I replied.

        “As in Dead Like Me Mason?” She asked with a crooked smiled.

        “Yes!  You know how much I just adored Mason on that show.  It’s all I would watch after my family died.  His sick sadistic humor always cheered me up.  He wasn’t normal, 1836 isn’t normal…  It just made sense to me.” I explained. 

        “Well, does he like it?  It is kind of a strange name.” Brea said popping the rest of her chocolate in her mouth.

        “He smiled – really brightly – when I told him I was going to call him Mason.” I smiled, and blushed.

        “YOU DO LIKE HIM LIKE THAT!” Brea gasped and started giggling.

        “Oh shut up, like you wouldn’t if you were single!” I blushed even more.

        “It’s so nice to see you like this after…” She stopped short.  We all knew I needed to move on, but we never said it out loud.  It was almost taboo.

        “Yeah, well, like I said I just want to be his friend.  He isn’t going to be into me like that.  He’s too pretty.” I frowned and took a sip of my soda.

        “Well, I suppose we will see.” Brea winked.

        “Besides, I think Alpha wants me dead.” I grimaced.

        “What?” She asked, her eyes got wide.

        “You know how I left out of here to go to the store?  Well, I was thinking instead of paying attention and I ran into her.  She knocked me right onto my ass, but that wasn’t the worst part…” I trailed off thinking of the look on that beast’s face.

        “Oh, honey – you know you can’t walk and chew bubble gum!  You have got to be more careful.” Brea sympathized.

        I stuck my tongue out at her.

        “What was the worst part?” She asked.

        “Mason saw it and he helped me up, but he called me by name and she lit into him for knowing me personally.  I don’t want him to get in trouble on account of me.” I could feel the tears in my eyes again. 

        “I am sure she’s just ragging or something.  She’ll get over it.” Brea smiled.  We both started laughing.

        The swooshy door opened and Mason was standing there with a single yellow rose.  My heart dropped to my feet and Brea squeezed my hand.

        “I’m sorry, am I interrupting?” He asked, looking a bit embarrassed.

        “Nope, I was just telling Arianna I was ready for bed.  Talk to you in the morning, Ari.” Brea smiled, winked at me, and left the room.

        I looked back at Mason and my legs refused to let me stand.  I was dreaming this up, wasn’t I? 

Chapter 9

        “Hi!” I chimed.  That was pretty much all I could muster at this point.
        He smiled at me and walked into the room and handed me the yellow rose.
        “I thought, well I thought you’d like this for memories sake.” He grinned.  I took the flower from him and sniffed it.  It smelled like sunshine.  Something I hadn’t seen all day.

        “Thank you so much.  That was so thoughtful.” I sighed.
        “May I?” He asked pointing to the chair next to me at the table.
        “Oh!  Yes, sure!” I blushed.  How rude of me, I thought.
        “Thank you.” He smiled as he sat down.  When he sat the air stirred around us and I could smell him.  He smelled familiar to me, but I couldn’t place it.  It was comforting, though.

        “I really don’t want you to get into trouble with Alpha.  I would never forgive myself if you were sent away from your home because of me.” I bowed my head and looked at my hands.

        “It wouldn’t be your fault.  I chose to talk to you.  I chose to call you by name when I saw you on the floor before Alpha.  You didn’t force me to do those things.” He replied.

        “Right, but you wouldn’t be doing that if I wasn’t here.” I argued.
        “Look, Ari.  You are the first human to acknowledge me.  Of course I am going to pay attention to you as well.  It’s nice having a friend.  At least, I hope we can be friends.” Mason chuckled.

        “You and Alpha refer to me the same – human.  What are you?  Are you not human?” I didn’t care really, I was just curious.

        “We are human, we are just evolved.” He replied, smiling at me.
        I took the bait - what the hell did that mean?
        “You’re evolved?” I raised an eyebrow at him.
        “Yes.  We were taken as children and put in these different facilities and given vitamins and injections to make us strong, intelligent, healthy…  Some of us reacted differently to the experiments, some of us you can’t tell a difference between them and a regular person.” He explained it like he was talking about going to a private school.

        “You…  They did experiments on you?  What the…” My hand went up to my throat and it was hard to breathe.
        “I am normal, for the most part.” He continued like I hadn’t just started down freak out lane.
        “For the most part?” I asked, barely putting sound into my words.
        Slowly, and carefully, he took his hands and placed them on my temples.  All of a sudden I could hear birds and water and a breeze through trees, but I couldn’t see any of it.  My eyes got wide and I stared into his eyes.  It was very strange, his blue eyes looked like they had clouds rolling in them.

        “What…” I began, but he shushed me and smiled.
        “Close your eyes.” He whispered.  I did as I was told.
        The sounds I heard, I saw them in my head.  I could feel his hands on either side of my head but that didn’t matter.  I was standing in a valley of rolling grass and wild flowers.  There was a tumbling brook that sparkled like blue diamonds and there were birds and willow trees, my favorite.  The breeze moved through the leaves and I could hear the whisper they made.  I looked up to the sky and it matched Mason’s eyes.  The sun turned everything a golden honey.  I couldn’t help it.  I opened my eyes and gasped.

        Though my eyes were open and I was very aware of the fact that I was on a space station, Mason was standing there with me in this valley smiling at me.

        “This is so beautiful!” I sighed.  I could feel the warmth on my skin from the sun and I closed my eyes again.  When I opened them, we were back in my room.

        “How did you do that?” I asked him, wishing we were still there.
        “It helps that I’m not totally human…  I told you we all reacted differently, I got this little talent.” He smiled at me.

        I sat up straight and took in a slow deep breathe and smiled at him. 
        “Tell me what’s on your mind.” He said as he frowned a bit.
        “I hate that you didn’t get to grow up like I did, but I’m totally jealous that you can do that.  God, I already miss Earth.  These metal walls and swooshy doors and mean old women are really going to be the death of me.” I smiled crookedly and shook my head.

        “Don’t say that.  It’s not so bad, and any time you need this just let me know.” He grinned at me.
        “Your eyes, they look like they have clouds rolling in them.” I said, moving closer to him to stare in his eyes.  His eyes got wide from my closeness. 

        He let me stay that close for a while just staring.  I loved his eyes, I wanted to memorize every little speckle held there, but then I sat back.  Friends, we were just going to be friends, I thought to myself.

        “I think I should get going, though.  You don’t want me in trouble and I want to see you again, so I shouldn’t push it.” He frowned.

        “OK.  Well, how do people get a hold of people on space stations?” I replied.  Suddenly I thought about my cell phone and how that must not work anymore.

        “If you own a cell phone your phone number will stay the same, but the tower is here at the station.  It’s billed differently.  It’s all in your binder that you should have read by now.” He cocked an eyebrow at me and chuckled as my mouth popped open leaving me speechless.

        “Well, do you have a cell phone?” I asked him, finally collecting myself.
        “Yes, I do.” He smiled.
        “Well, let me give you my number in case you want to hang out again and I don’t see you.” I blushed. 
        He took his phone out of his pocket and typed in the number I gave him and hit ‘send’.  My phone vibrated and I saved his number to my phone.

        “Well, I should go.  Talk to you tomorrow?” He asked me as he reached the door.
        I smiled at him and nodded. 
        The door opened and he headed out.
        “Mason!” I called after him.  He turned to look at me, his eyes sparkling.
        “Yes?” He asked me.
        “Good night.” I smiled.
        “Sweet dreams,” he smiled and the door closed between us.
        It took me a while to calm down and change into my pajamas.  And it took me longer then to drink a beer and smoke a cigarette because I kept dazing in and out of reality.  When the beer was gone and the cigarette was put out I rinsed the bottle out and filled it with water so I could put my flower in it.  It wasn’t anything spectacular, but it was from Mason and I wanted to keep it as long as I could.

        Cheese ball, I scolded myself.  He was just being nice.  I always had to read too much into things.  But, I couldn’t stop swooning.  It wasn’t just because he was beautiful, it was because he had a super power.  He wasn’t normal and that was exactly what I needed right now, something far from normal.

        And then, as I laid down in bed I snorted.  How in the hell was I going to be just friends with him?  I was crushing on him so badly that if any other female were to look at him even just on accident I’d have her eyes.  This was bad.  I shouldn’t have even tried to talk to him after I saw what he looked like.  And it was even worse that he was a total gentleman.  I thought men who were made up with lines written by women could be that amazing.  Of course, he was ‘evolved’.  Maybe Scott did have a shot at being something other than an ass.

        I had to laugh out loud at that one.  I also had to give Scott a break.  I decided in the morning I would act like nothing happened between us, and possibly even apologize for being so tough on him.

        And then I was lying in the valley watching the clouds roll by and the birds singing, the breeze blowing whispers through the trees.

        Knock, knock, knock.
        I jumped up in bed, eyes wide, totally incoherent.  I was having such a relaxing dream and then someone had to knock on that damn metal door.  I let out a little growl and covered myself up with the blanked and asked who it was.

        “It’s Brea.” She said through the door.
        “Come in then…” I grumbled, and with that the door swooshed open.  Huh, I thought.  Interesting development!
        “Scott will no longer be talking to you like you are a child.” Brea said plopping herself down on the end of my bed and taking a dramatic bite of a banana – as if it were marked for death and her mouth was the executioner.  I actually shied away from her for a second.

        “What the hell did you do to him?” I asked reaching for my pack of smokes.
        “I beat the hell out of him last night.” She smiled.
        I lit my cigarette and relaxed.
        “Oh, like that’s punishment, Brea.  You know he liked that.  Did you use your hands or random space objects?” I could barely contain myself and when I finished the question I burst out laughing.

        “Funny girl.  Look, it’s not like we couldn’t christen our new home on the first night.  Speaking of which…” She trailed of and grinned at me.  I took one look at her and blushed.

        “NOTHING HAPPENED!” I exclaimed.
        “You wish…” She shrugged.
        “I know…  And that’s not a good thing!” I sighed.
        “Look, you don’t know that.  He brought you a rose!” Brea squealed.
        “SHUSH!  Look, we can’t let this get out.  I don’t want to get him into trouble.  Do you understand?” I clasped her mouth shut by holding her lips together with my thumb and index finger.  She kind of looked like a platypus.

        “Fine.” She mumbled under my ninja grip.  We both started giggling like school girls.  
        “Well, as long as he’s being nice and you are happy, that is all that matters.  Can we go to breakfast now?” She begged me.

        “Alright, let me throw some close on and we’ll go.” I rolled my eyes and she left the room to wait for me to change.

        “So, did you have fun last night?” I heard Brea ask someone on the other side of the door.
        “I hope you don’t think I’m going to hurt her.” I heard Mason whisper.  I tried to get dressed even quieter.
        “No, I just don’t think she can handle much more disappointment or loss.” Brea whispered back.
        “I am sure it was rough for her to leave people behind.  But the best people were chosen to come.  She has you and Scott, and hopefully now me.” He replied.  It hit me like a ton of bricks, there was another correct assumption.  We were chosen for our genes.

        “She didn’t leave anyone, her family died a year before we were told we would be leaving.  Anyway, she’s coming out of there in a minute and we are heading to breakfast.  You should join us.” Brea said.

        “Can’t.  But I will see you around.” I heard him shuffle away.
        Good, Brea.  Thanks.  Scare him away…

Chapter 10

        I walked out of my door and just glared at Brea.  How in the…, I couldn’t even think straight I was so embarrassed.  I glared at Brea who kind of shrank a little at the sight of me.

        “What did I do now?” She whispered to me.
        “Tell him how jacked up I am!  Yeah, that’s got to be productive.” I rolled my eyes.
        “Arianna!  If he likes you he’s going to no matter what your life is like.  If he is going to freak out because you’ve been hurt a lot before he’s not strong enough or worth your affection anyway!” Brea shot back.  I opened my mouth to speak, but shut it again because she was right. 

        “Hey girls, morning.” Scott said coming out of his room.  He looked at me cautiously and I sighed and put my hand out.

        “Truce?” I smiled.
        “Truce.” He laughed, grabbed my hand and pulled me into a bear hug.  I knew I wouldn’t get away with just a hand shake from him.  The three of us chuckled on our way down to breakfast.

        “Human.” I heard from behind me and I stopped dead in my tracks.  I didn’t want to turn around because I knew who would be standing there and it made me want to scream.  Why is she targeting me, I wondered angrily.

        I took a deep breath and turned around.  Brea and Scott on either side of me.
        “Yes?” I asked all innocent like.  I didn’t want to give her any reason to hate me further.
        “What is it about you?  Why does 1836 want to know you?” She asked me, tilting her head to one side like a dog who is listening to his master speak.

        “I don’t know.  Maybe because she’s friendly.” Brea spoke for me, I grimaced.
        “Did I ask you?” Alpha snarled.
        “Um, you didn’t really ask anyone in particular.  You said ‘Human’, we are all human.” Brea folded her arms across her chest defiantly.  I smacked my hand to my forehead.

        “You will stand down, young woman.” Alpha looked as if she was about to puff out like a puffer fish.
        “He talks to me because I spoke kindly to him first.  And because I can be pretty darn friendly.  It’s hard not to want to talk to me.” I smiled.  I figured I’d try to be friendly to her, as well.  It wasn’t like I had anything to lose.

        “His job is to protect this station along with the other guards here.  Do you think he would be able to do his job properly if he was preoccupied with you?” She asked me.

        “To be honest, I feel that if he didn’t have a personal relationship of any kind at all he would not be able to perform to a high standard.  He would be uncaring.  A machine.  The fact that he is taking the time to get to know me and to befriend me makes me feel like he would do anything within his power to protect us.  All of us.” I shot back, this time puffing myself out.  I didn’t know what her angle was, but I was growing tired of her attitude very quickly.

        “If he fails at his job in any way it’s your fault.  He will never forgive you, and neither will I.  These guards were raised to be perfect, to never fail, and if they do they were taught that it would be a disgrace to the entire station.  These guards are not brought up to care, they are brought up to be perfect machines.  Period.” Alpha was only inches from my face now.

        “So you took them as toddlers and raised them as if you were raising work horses…  That is so sad!” I couldn’t help but feel sick for him.  He had probably never even had a hug, a pat on the back for a job well done, any form of affection – ever.

        “I just wanted you to know what you are dealing with.  Other than that, stay out of my sight.  You annoy me.” She hissed.

        Brea grabbed my arm and pulled me towards the cafeteria, I was in a daze.  I felt pain for him, ache, hurt, loneliness.  And then I realized, he probably was unaware of all of these feelings.  How could I feel sorry for a being who was so not human?

        And then I thought, what if he’s so much a machine that anything I feel for him would – could never be returned?  And then I scared myself because even though it was a real possibility I’d do better loving a tree, my heart burned even more for him and for the possibility that I could somehow show him what he had never known he could feel.

        “Earth to Arianna.” Scott waved his big hand in my face and I snapped out of it.
        “You mean, REPO to Arianna…  What?” I asked.
        Brea stifled a giggle.
        “Are you going to get anything or are you just going to stand there like a vegetable?” He asked crossing his eyes at me.

        I was a bit more mature, only sticking my tongue out at him as I ordered scrambled eggs and bacon, with an extra side of bacon.  I needed that after my encounter with Alpha.  Oh how I wanted to smack her in the face.

        After we got our orders we went and found a table all alone in the back corner of the cafeteria.  It reminded me so much of high school and I almost lost my appetite.

        “So, are you going to see Mason again?” Brea asked me as she took a bite of her eggs.
        “Wait, who the hell is Mason?” Scott asked dropping his piece of toast and saying something under his breath about cardboard.

        “Mason is 1836.  Arianna named him.” Brea smiled at me. 
        “You named the freak?  Like a stray dog?” He asked, cocking an eyebrow.
        “OK, I thought we were at a truce…” I sighed plopping my fork down on my tray dramatically.
        “We are, it’s just…  Arianna, did you hear what Alpha said?” He asked in a whisper and leaned across the table to get closer to me.

        “I did hear her and I don’t care!” I said defiantly.
        “Well, I think you need to be more careful than this.  The guy is a machine, period.  You don’t need to get wrapped up in anything like this.  I mean, it’s like a guy coming back from the ugliest part of war.  He’s not human anymore.” Scott explained.

        “Thank you so much for that trip down Education Lane, but I don’t give a damn.  I think – no – I know he’s a good person.  I can feel it.” I smiled and picked up a piece of bacon to munch on.

        “Fine, just don’t come to me when he hurts you because if he was raised as a machine even my guns won’t help.” He said flexing his arms.  We all laughed.

        I had to remember Scott didn’t mean harm, he just wanted me to be safe.  I had to prove to him that I knew what I was doing.

        After breakfast I decided I wanted to explore the station and Brea said she’d come with.  Scott was going to go down to the gym and work out.  He was saying something about letting his muscles shrink.  I really couldn’t honestly say, when Scott got talking about boring stuff like working out and cars I only heard bla bla bla.

        The more we walked around the station the more guards we saw.  All of them had perfect bodies, perfect hair, perfect everything.  We even did double takes on the women.

        “OK, this is just disgusting.  These people are why I refuse to wear a bathing suit.” I complained.
        “Oh shut up.  If you look at the majority of these women they don’t have boobs.  Do you know why?” Brea whispered to me.

        “No.  Why?” I asked, honestly curious.
        “Because they work out too much, they have too much muscle mass to allow the least bit of fat on their body which keeps them from having perky little boobs.” She grinned to herself and she patted her chest.

        “Who said anything about little?” I asked trying to hid my grin.
        “Well, I guess yours aren’t little, but you get the point.” She laughed.
        “Where are you from?” I heard from behind me.  It was Mason.  My breath caught in my throat and Brea had to squeeze my hand to get me to breathe again.

        I turned around and smiled.
        “Hey, Mason!” I replied.
        “Hi.” He grinned and kept pace with out walk.
        “Where you from?” He asked again.
        “Tennessee.  I was originally from Michigan, but moved down south five years ago.” I replied.
        “What about you, Brea?” He asked.  She jumped a little at the sound of her name in his voice.
        “New York – born and raised.” She smiled.
        “Where are you from?” I asked him with out thinking that he might not know.
        “They say that I am from Louisiana, but I wouldn’t remember.  They brought me to the facility when I was a toddler.” He replied.

        “I’m sorry.  I shouldn’t have…” He cut me off by taking my hand and squeezing it gently.
        “It’s alright.  I am not ashamed of anything in my past.  I’ve asked you personal questions, I would assume you would want to know equally personal things about me.” He chuckled.

        This gave me hope that he was more human than Alpha assumed.
        “I have to go find Scott.  If I don’t cut him off he’ll over work himself and he’s useless to me for like three days.” Brea rolled her eyes and took off down the hall leaving me alone with Mason. 

        Other guards looked at us, but I didn’t really care.
        “Should we be hanging out like this?  Aren’t you working?” I whispered to him.
        “I can watch the halls while walking with you I am sure.” He laughed quietly.
        “I don’t want to be a distraction.” I stopped walking and looked down at my feet.
        “Would you come with me, please?” He asked leading me down the hall to a supply room by the elbow.
        When we got into the room he flicked the light on and locked the door behind us.
        “Uh…  How many people saw you do this?” I raised an eyebrow.
        “Shush.” He said, putting his finger to my lips to quiet me.  I didn’t argue.
        “Arianna, you will never, ever be a distraction.  Nor will I ever stop talking to you.  I feel different when I see you and I am kind of addicted to that feeling now, so unless you want to stop talking to me, I’ll be around.” Mason explained to me.

        “You know, Alpha said if you screw up it will be my fault and that you would never forgive me.” I mumbled under his finger.

        He dropped his hand and glared at me.  “She said what?” He snarled.  The clouds in his blue eyes swirled a bit faster than normal.

        “Well, she told us how you were raised.  That you were more machine that human.  It upset me.” I frowned.  I couldn’t fathom that being true looking at him now, but it had to be.  Alpha was nasty but she didn’t seem to lie.

        “Would a machine do this?” He glared at me and pushed me up against the wall and smashed his lips to mine.  I felt my legs go numb and my eyes rolled in the back of my head.  I had never felt a kiss like this before, ever.  His lips tingled mine and the feeling spread through out my body.  When he pulled away, entirely too fast I just stared at him, wide eyed.

        I couldn’t speak, I tried, but I couldn’t.  My brain left for vacation.
        He put his hand to his ear where until now I hadn’t seen the little ear piece.  He looked at me longingly once more and left the room.  I fell back against the wall and shivered.

Chapter 1

 

     I was still unsure of what was really going on when the President of the United States informed me that the planet as we knew it was falling to pieces around us.  That the ice burgs were melting at a rapid rate, that the oceans were getting larger and taking up more of the land.

     I was stunned when California finally broke off from the rest of the North American continent.  We had always laughed and joked about ‘just one more earthquake’.  I wasn’t expecting it to actually happen.

     Hawaii was gone – a volcano ate it up and sank it to the bottom of the ocean floor.  Most of the people evacuated when the threat of each volcano exploding got so strong.  That was a God send at least.

     The worst part was I was only talking about America.  I couldn’t bring myself to think of the other countries that were suffering.  Japan was nearly a thin thread of what it once was and most of the people had to quickly travel to Asia, which was over populated to begin with.

     Because so many people were beginning to pack into already full places disease hit and many died.  It started with Mad Cow disease and then the Swine Flu – both illnesses most people joked about and shook off as if they were nothing.  Of course for us in the US these weren’t issues for us.  Our country was healthy and we were just so sure that we would all be cured if we contracted it.  No one really thought anything terrible would happen.

     Alaska was barren now.  Too many mega millionaires found a way to get through all of the red tape so that they could drill for oil.  It was as if a shadow was sweeping over the land and everything it touched was destroyed.  I couldn’t help but wonder if God was finally tired of us playing gods ourselves.  If he wasn’t ready to end it for us and punish us for ruining his gift he gave us so willingly.

     Most of the hardened Christians blamed these new ‘plagues’ on Gay marriage and abortion.  I blamed it on too many people being too important.

     As the disasters got larger, more frequent, I needed to know the people I loved were alright.  A friend of mine that I hadn’t seen in years as she had moved out of state – New York to be exact – was still safe, along with her fiancé, but her family and most of her friends had died or been critically injured in a F5 tornado that demolished most of down town New York City.  In my 25 years of life I had never heard of a tornado hitting New York.  No one was prepared.

I was battling my own losses.  My family, whom I loved dearly decided to leave the country, thinking it would be safer somewhere else.  Their plane never made it.  I was alone – completely and utterly alone.  I needed her voice, her words to keep moving each day.  They had decided to come stay with me in Tennessee where I moved only five years ago.  After all, where they lived there was nothing left. 

     It seemed that so many were scrambling to get there groups of familiar people together.  The latest news was that we were going to have an option of living in space stations.  It made me physically ill to think about leaving everything behind.  Living in space was something that terrified me.  I was an avid Aliens fan – I knew what went on in space.  And there would be no sun – ever.  No grass, no trees, no flowers, no true air, no bodies of water, no animals unless they were caged and held captive.  I was sure that I wouldn’t survive a week there without going completely insane.

     Of course my dear friend Brea and her loving fiancé, Scott were sure I would be just fine.

     “Arianna, seriously, it’s better than sticking around here and watching everyone die.  It’s better than watching the World crumble from under you.  It’s 2012, it’s not like we can’t make our own sunshine and plants.” Brea tried to sooth me.  It would have worked had I not already thought of that idea.  We as a species would never learn.  Still trying to play God even after our planet had been taken away.

     It would be a week before we could have our meeting with the Government officials, and even then we would have to wait in a very long line to see if we were healthy enough and good enough to take the flight to the space station we would call home.  I only had a week – one week – to finally, truly appreciate what I had taken for granted my whole life.

     Before Brea and Scott arrived I took it upon myself to take a long drive.  They would be arriving this evening, I would be back by then if I left now.  I had to head back to misery for one last look, before I departed from this Earth – fully alive.  I had to go back to that pathetic excuse for a cemetery where the graffiti stained the gates and the trees.  At least, I thought, they didn’t destroy any of the grave stones.  They had some respect.  Grove Cemetery sat atop a hill surrounded by beautiful old trees.  It was almost enchanting if it wasn’t a home to the dead.

     I pulled my Pontiac onto the dirt road that took me up to the center of the cemetery, where the newer graves were, the ones that were only a few years old at most.  When I found my destination I turned the car off and sat there, staring at the tomb stone as if it were to come alive and bite me.  It terrified me every time I looked at it – that same ‘it’s real’ feeling hit me in the pit of my stomach and I would usually dissolve into tears.  Today I wanted to say good bye for the last time.  I had said it to him a million times. 

     As I walked up to the grave marker I thought back to the time that my life stopped.

     “Miss London?” An officer was at my door step.  I stood there thinking of my family and friends, wondering why this man would be calling at three in the morning.  Matt was on his way home, leaving work at two as he was a bouncer at a near by dance club.  I shivered, it couldn’t be.

     “Yes, this is Miss London – Arianna London.” I barely spoke above a whisper.  My lungs were tight and my throat was crusty from sleep and cigarettes. 

     “Arianna, may I come in?” The officer looked apologetic.  I could feel my knees giving up under the stress of this unknown news.  I walked away and sat on the couch as he followed me into the house.

     “Your fiancé, Matthew Long, was in a terrible car accident.” The officer began.  I heard him, but it wasn’t hitting my brain.  It was almost like I had a barrier up against this.  My family had died in a flash flood back in Michigan trying to make their plane nearly six months – due to the catastrophic events I blamed on God – prior and all I had left was my Matthew.  I wasn’t going to let this be real.

     “An accident?” I barely whispered.

     “His car…  He was on his way home it seems and another driver coming from the opposite direction drifted over the lines into oncoming traffic.  There was nowhere for him to go.  It happened on Little River bridge.” The officer continued.  As I looked at him he couldn’t have been much older than me.  He looked like this was very hard for him, and I tried to sympathize, but I couldn’t.  I felt nothing. 

     “He’s dead, isn’t he?” I asked.  Finally, the emotions struck my dead brain and the tears began along with the uncontrollable hyperventilating.  The officer tried to give me relief, tried to sooth me, but nothing helped.  Suddenly I felt warmth and pressure around my body and I began to calm. 

“No, no I must suffer now.  That’s the rub, isn’t it, Officer?  Those who die leave us here to suffer in their wake.” I had no idea exactly what I was saying, but I couldn’t stop the words.

“He was the last one.  There are two people left in my life and they aren’t even near me.  I am all alone now…” I trailed off, my dark chocolate eyes searching for something, searching for anything to tell me that I was wrong.  I put my head in my hands and my long copper hair fell around me like a waterfall. 

     “If you need anything – anything at all – here is my card.  You call me for anything.” The officer plead.  The urgency in his tone made me look up at him and his face was fierce.  I almost believed him.

     I wasn’t sure when he left, but when he did the soft pressure around me lifted and I was truly alone.  In that instant I knew what that was.  Matthew was coming to say good bye. 

     Now as I stood in front of his grave marker I had to do the same thing.  I had to let him rest and be at peace.  I had to let him go.  The hardest part of this visit was that it could possibly be the last time in my whole life that I would see this place again.  It made no sense that I was so worried about his lifeless body in this dirt hole when I knew full well that Matt wasn’t really there.  He was hopefully in Heaven waiting for me to come one day.  But knowing that eventually the World would collapse on itself and he would be nothing was devastating. 

     I placed my engagement ring on his grave stone, turned and walked away.

Chapter 2

 

My drive home was a lot easier to deal with than the drive to Grove. I felt like I had finally released him from my chains, like I had finally let him be. Now, hopefully I would really start to heal. It had been a year now since my family died and it was nearly six months since Matthew died. It was time to put that away and just heal.

Besides, Brea and Scott would be at my quaint little house in a few hours and I had some last minute things to grab. I was going to get some snacks for the evening since I was ordering pizza. It made no sense for me to spend hundreds of dollars at the grocery store when I wasn’t quite sure that we were going to be here. In a week it was possible the groceries would be pointless.

I tried to be humorous about the whole situation. Not needing real food since we would be eating space food, but that was just entirely too disturbing. I wondered if life would be like the movies where you just had to add water and eat. Where we all wore silly little space suits and changed our names to Dax and Andromeda. Would we substitute moon creatures for dogs? Thinking in this way kept my mind off of the terror of it all. Of the frightening unknown and what awaited us there.

I pulled into the local super market parking lot and beeped my car as I entered the automatic doors. I wondered if that was standard on space stations. The ‘whoosh’ of the suction when the doors opened and closed made me think of Star Trek. I smiled – barely. As I scooped up a small hand basket I looked up to find the aisle I needed and noticed just how black the ceiling was. I had never noticed that before. The store seemed so lit up that I never would have assumed the ceiling would be jet black.

Was that how it would be in space, I wondered. Was that what I would live with, artificial light to hide the fact that it is always jet black?

I shook it off. I had to stop being silly. For all I knew it could be a lot of fun living in a space station. And maybe I wanted to change my name from Arianna to Andromeda. I could call Scott Dax and Brea could be Aero or something silly like that. I had to stifle a small giggle this time as I pictured all three of us in space suits screaming ‘beam me up, Scottie’.

Someone to my left gave me a dirty look.

“Do you think it’s funny, young lady? Or planet is being destroyed right before our eyes. People are dying – do you think that’s funny?” That somebody happened to be a priest. It took all of my self control not to rip his head off. His holier than thou attitude was directed at the wrong person, but his ignorant mind didn’t know that. He just assumed a young woman would be a heathen like that – laughing as the world crumbles.

“Father, my family and my fiancé died because of the disasters that are taking down this place. I only laugh to keep from crying.” I shot him a look, reminding myself not to stick my tongue out and continued on to find the chips and soda. The priest frowned and then said something about blessing and did the sign of the cross.

Whatever – everyone seemed to be so angry lately as if someone was hurting them. As if someone was causing this just to ruin their day. I wanted to scream at them and tell them they were doing this to themselves. But, of course, they wouldn’t listen to me. They were all too proud, to right to be in the wrong. I spent most of my time fantasizing about punching them all in the mouth so that I wouldn’t open mine.

Finally I reached my goal, the snack and soda aisle. I grabbed up a few different kinds of treats. Some low fat cookies and some reduced sodium chips. I got regular pop and diet – I wasn’t sure what those two were drinking these days. We all decided they would bring the alcohol. I was fully confident once we began talking seriously about what was about to happen we would all need – not want, need – a drink.

I headed up to the front lanes to pay for my spoils and I spotted a neighbor of mine, Justin. He was a pretty nice guy – light eyes and light hair – he had a wife and two beautiful children. I walked up to him and smiled.

“Hey, Justin. How are things?” I asked with a kind smile. He returned it, but it seemed hard to put there on his stressed looking face.

“The kids are sick. I think they have that H1N1 swine thing. Don’t get too close.” He put his hands between us to keep me at a distance.

“You’re kidding! Have you taken them to the doctor?” I gasped, covering my mouth, not because of the fear of contamination, but out of pure shock. Those children were so sweet, they didn’t deserve to be sick.

“Yep, they are quarantined in the hospital right now. The doctors say they won’t be one hundred percent for at least a week or two. You know… The saddest part of the whole situation is we are supposed to be given our health check by end of this week – my family won’t pass.” Justin’s eyes burned. I could see the pain there and it crippled me to the spot where I stood.

“What do you mean?” I whispered. I knew somewhere far deep in my brain there was a logical answer to my question. He couldn’t mean that his family had to stay…

“They won’t let us on those flights if we are sick! That’s one of the rules Arianna. Even if my wife and I are healthy they won’t take our children. There’s no way I would leave them and hope that they would be put on a later flight – and would there be any later flights? We don’t even know if the planet will last long enough to get the hell off of it!” He was frantic now. I wished I hadn’t brought it up, but at the same time it seemed as if he needed this moment to melt down. He was probably putting up an incredible fight to keep control in front of his family. I shuddered.

“But, how can they not allow it? They have medicine and they can quarantine them on the trip out… I don’t understand!” I said franticly.

“Come on now, Ari. You and I both know – we’ve talked about it on your porch – when my wife didn’t know I was still smoking. We both theorized there wouldn’t be nearly enough room for every single human. There would be chosen ones, the ones with no one would go. Less baggage. You and I – we have families – they won’t take us.” He frowned and grimaced at me after he registered what he said.

“No, Justin – I have no one. Not anymore. It’s just me! Well, Brea and Scott will be with me, but they are technically by themselves. I’m a one man army now.” I smiled, trying to hide my hurt.

“I am sorry – I should have thought before…” He bowed his head.

“Hey, I know you didn’t mean anything by it… Look, keep me posted on everything, OK? I have to get home.” I smiled at him and went to pay for my things.

On my way home I wondered if we were right, all those late nights hanging out on my porch smoking and laughing. The conversations always turned into something serious about the Mayans and the 2012 deadline. No one really believed it – but no one believed any of the other disasters would happen, either.

Would they leave Justin and his family behind because they were sick? Would that be the excuse? Was that what this health requirement was? A cover up? Was it just that they wanted family history – that they wouldn’t take people with too many relatives?

Suddenly, after feeling that God had ripped so much away from me, that he had been punishing me for some strange reason, I changed my view. It was night and day. Maybe, just maybe, he was taking my family, Brea’s family, Scott’s family – maybe he killed them all so that we could survive. What if he was blessing us instead of cursing us? That gave me hope that maybe we would get to leave and go to the damned station in the sky.

Chapter 3

 

     My way home all I could think about was Justin and his family.  How could wonderful people like that be forced to stay on a planet that was doomed?  How could the Government allow such an atrocity?  I was watching where I was driving, but I was also looking at the people as they passed.  People I didn’t even know – would they go or would they have to stay?

     And then something came over the radio that jarred me and I paid attention to that instead of the passing people. 

     “The Government is taking the next few days to go over the American correctional system checking to see what prisoners not given a death sentence will be allowed to leave.”  The voice on the radio, though professional, was also disgusted.

     I was, too.  How in the hell were they going to let these criminals, these – most of them – monsters come with us?  Was there a special space prison for them?  And even if that was the case, which sounded so ridiculous, why use it for the criminals when there are thousands of people, like Justin’s family, who wouldn’t be allowed to leave.  And then what would happen once the majority went off the planet?  Would they just let the criminals loose?  Would they expect the humans to fight to the death – survival of the fittest? 

     I couldn’t help but think of the man who was put in jail for killing my Matthew.  Would he be set free?  Would he be allowed to leave with us while my fiancé’s rotting corpse stayed here and disappeared with the planet?  That isn’t fair! 

     It wasn’t that long of a drive to my little house and when I arrived I was very surprised to see Brea and Scott pulling up as well.  They were an hour early!  Thank goodness I didn’t take too long at the cemetery or I would have had two homeless people on my doorstep.  I smiled to myself.  Finally, I wasn’t alone.

     Scott met me at my car and helped with the bags, which I told him was completely unnecessary since he had his own thing to carry, but he insisted.  Scott was a great guy – and attractive, too.  Brea was a lucky lady.  As he was taking the bags inside after I opened the door I looked at him.  His dark brown hair was short, but messy and he was looking a bit thin compared to the last time I had seen him, but he was still muscular and that smile he put on his face could stop anyone’s heart.  It didn’t make it to his eyes, though.  Something was bothering him.

     I quickly turned to look at Brea and she looked the same.  Her long dark brown hair was in a messy ball on the back of her head, and she was paler than usual.  She was already thin, but the dark circles under her eyes were knew.  All of their kind words, their reassurances were a front on the phone.  Now that I saw them they were suffering so much more than I would have expected.  I rushed to her side and helped her with her bags.  She looked so frail that I was afraid the bags would rip her arms from her body.

     When the bags were in the front room and we all sat down I sighed.

     “You guys look awful!  Why didn’t you tell me that things were so bad?” I couldn’t help the whine that seeped through my words.  The two of them looked at me apologetically.

     “We didn’t want you worrying about anything else, Ari.  You’ve been through so much already.” Brea smiled painfully.

     “Brea, you and Scott are all I have left to worry about.  Let me decide what I can handle, OK?” I grinned.  It was my turn to be reassuring, to be the strong one.  And I would do my best at it – they deserved it.

     “Ari…  Brea’s cousin, you know – Chris – the last survivor that the doctors all said would be fine?” Scott asked.  I nodded.

     “He’s got a Staph infection from the damn hospital.  New York was already health checked – those of us left – and he has been denied.” Scott continued.

     I just stared at him.  This was the second time I had heard about a denial.  I suddenly felt very cold and I wrapped my arms around my body. 

     “What is it?” Brea asked as she took in my expression.

     “Justin, the neighbor I tell you guys about all the time.  The one that I theorize with late at  night – well…  His kids have H1N1 – the Swine Flu and they are being told they probably won’t pass the test.  Justin was also told that he and his wife could go if they left the children behind.  He thinks that the Government is using the health thing as a cover up to only take certain people.  The more I think about it I wonder if they themselves didn’t let these sicknesses spread to see who the strong ones were and only take them.  They didn’t plan the disasters, but they did plan this pandemic…  What if?  What if it’s true?” My eyes got wide as I considered this new idea.  What if the Governments all over the world were trying to sift through the human race so that they only took strong people to recreate the mass population for a new planet?

     “What are you thinking?  You get that glossy look when you’re thinking.” Scott smiled at me.  I explained to them what I had been thinking after telling them about Justin.  They both stared at me in wonder.

     “Look, I know I am clinically insane, but bear with me here – OK?  What if?” I pressed.

     “I think we need to be paying more attention to the news and the underground sources Matthew found.  We need to be prepared.  On our way here there was a breaking news flash on the radio.  Florida was just hit by a crazy tsunami.” Brea frowned.

     “Are you freaking kidding me?  Do we know anyone in Florida?” I gasped, eyes wide.

     “No, we don’t…  But that still doesn’t change the fact that it sucks.” Scott cracked open a beer at that and started passing them around. 

     “When is our ‘health check up’?” I asked using air quotes.

     “I think…  Well it’s alphabetical I believe.” Scott looked between us.

     “OK.  I’m London, so it’s probably middle of the alphabet or end of the first half, depending on how they do this thing.” I nodded breathing to steady myself.

     “I was thinking – tomorrow morning we should get married.  We will have the same last name.” Brea was frantic.

     “No!  What if Arianna is right?  We should all go as single individuals.  It will give us more of a chance to get on that space station.” Scott’s eyes were intense.  He was staring at Brea, but it was as if he was trying to burn her into his brain.

     “That is the best and only way, Brea.” I agreed.

     “How do we know we will all be on the same station?  Huh?  How do we know?  Has anyone thought about that?  Has anyone thought about what happens after we pass?” Brea began to hyperventilate.  Scott rushed to her side and wrapped his arms around her soothing her and rocking her.

     “We will find a way.  I don’t care how – we will be on the same station.  We will not be separated.  We are all that we have left.” My voice shook as I tried to convince them – and myself – that everything would be alright.

     We were all calming down, keeping the hope alive that we wouldn’t be separated when the TV which had been turned down to back ground noise flashed another Breaking News report from CNN.  I had been living, eating, breathing CNN since the disasters began.  It was like a train wreck, I wanted to look away but I couldn’t.  We all got quiet and I turned the television up with a shaky hand.

     “A category four hurricane is headed for the United Kingdom as we are still watching the category three hurricane blazing towards Texas…” Everything else that was being said seeped through one ear and out of the other.  A hurricane heading for the UK?  Was that even possible?  Was an F5 tornado possible in New York City?  But, how many people were going to die?  It wasn’t like they had enough time to get them all out of harms way.  My stomach churned uncomfortably as I imagined the death toll that this disaster would create.  Once again, I knew no one personally from that area, but it was still heart breaking to watch.

     “A hurricane!  What the hell?” Scott was astonished.  Brea was crying.

     “This…  It has to stop!  I can’t take anymore of this death!” Brea was hysterical.  Scott went back to soothing her as I stared blindly at the television.

     Brea was right, it needed to stop – or we needed to leave.  Either way we all had had enough disaster for one lifetime.

Chapter 4

 

     After the news I scrambled to my feet and headed into the spare room that Matthew used as a command post slash office.  He was always obsessed with conspiracy theories and I would laugh him off most of the time, although some of it was interesting.  I think I laughed him off because I was afraid that if they were true it would be too terrifying to deal with.  One was the Mayan’s theory of the end of the world in 2012. 

     It was 2012 and the world was coming to an end, so I decided since that one seemed to be right that I should start sifting through other theories to see if they made any sense. 

     The office was ridiculously cluttered and I had no idea where to look.  Scott met me at the doorway and knocked softly.

     “Hey, where’s Brea?” I asked smiling at him.

     “She fell asleep.  She hasn’t really slept in days, so I am going to leave her there to get some rest.  Do you need anything?” He asked scanning the room and lifting up an old snow globe of Disney World that was used as a paper weight.  He shook it and we watched the foam show swim and swirl around the castle and Mickey Mouse.

     “He loved that stupid thing.  Said it was a good luck charm or something…” I remembered, brushing my hand through my hair.

     “What are you looking for?” He asked me.

     “Anything that could make sense.  I just wish I had an idea of what to expect, ya know?  And he was always researching this crazy shit.  I just…  I wonder if he had some answers.” I started sifting through some papers on the computer desk.  “God, he was always so organized except for this room!”

     “Don’t get frustrated.  I’ll help you look.” Scott said putting the snow globe back where he found it and started going through boxes of papers.

     “There’s really nothing specific I am looking for so it might just be pointless.” I whispered.

     “Hey, here’s one about Area 51 being a hoax!” Scott laughed.

     “Yeah, if that’s true the space station salvation is a hoax as well, so lets hope that’s just crap.” I said as I picked up a folder that said ‘Government Planned’.  I opened it and gasped.

     “What?” Scott rushed to my side and read over my shoulder.

     “He thinks the diseases – and the drugs – are all government controlled.” I told him as I flipped through all of the evidence he had. 

     “Well, let’s keep that out of the way, it could be important.” Scott suggested.  I handed him the folder and he put it on the floor outside of the office.

     We continued to scan for things.  We found nothing else of use on top of most of the piles and felt we did enough looking for the day.  We headed to my kitchen table with our beer, my cigarettes and the folder. 

     Once we sat down, I lit a cigarette and opened the folder.  The first packet inside was about drugs.  In it the theory was that all of the illegal narcotics were invented and planted by the governments all over the world.  That the only way they could have control over the people was to start with something easy – addiction.  Give them the crack and the heroin and the meth and then make it illegal.  That keeps law enforcement booming and it keeps criminals actively criminalizing.  It made sense in a very frightening way.

     “What if this is true, Scott?” I whispered.

     “It would make a lot of sense.  I mean, weed is illegal but you can’t go to prison unless you have a crap load of it and that’s not deadly, but these other drugs put you in jail long enough to clean up just enough to still crave it when you get out.  Circle of druggy life.” Scott replied.

     “That’s just…” I couldn’t think of the words.

     “Alcohol can kill people, which is why it’s punishable by jail time.  To sober you up – but it’s not illegal because something addicting can’t be – just like cigarettes.” He continued.

     “The gateway drug!” I laughed.

     “Hardly, I’m sure you don’t get the shakes if you can’t have a smoke.” He chuckled.

     “No, but people fear me…” I grinned.

     “What’s the next packet about?” He changed the subject back to the serious.

     “AIDS.” I mouthed.

     “What does it say?” He breathed.

     “Just that AIDS or the HIV virus was actually something being created and tested in military labs as a bioweapon.  Somehow it got out of hand and now it’s all over the world.  Scott, they were going to use this disease as a weapon!  They were going to infect people in enemy countries.” I gasped.  I felt really sick to my stomach.

     “Thy probably changed their minds when they realized it could take years for the disease to kill anyone.” Scott said taking a very large swig of his beer. 

     I ashed my cigarette and closed the folder.  “I can’t read anymore of this.  You go ahead and tell me what you read.  If you want of course.” I said pushing it to him across the table.

     “Why read it?  If a government is going to make a disease like HIV and AIDS and not claim it why not make Mad Cow and H1N1?  And what about Small Pox and all the other nasty sicknesses going on?  You know, I am really on a fence with this whole thing now.  How can we trust a government to send us somewhere safe when they’d just as quickly kill us all – if these things are true.” Scott whispered furiously.

     “I think we should burn his stuff from the office.  What if they don’t take us because of his theories?” I replied.

     “Do you think they’d check?” Scott asked, eyes wide.

     “Hell, they are checking our health, why wouldn’t they check our background, too?” I asked shaking.

     “Right.  Let’s get everything up and out of here.” Scott agreed as he lifted himself off of the chair.  We got garbage bags and started throwing away everything.  When every piece of paper was out of the room several hours later we were exhausted, but we still had to burn it. 

     We headed to my back yard and put them in my large fire pit and I threw my cigarette in.  The paper was so old and the plastic of the garbage bags melted so fast that the pile was flames in minutes.  We both sighed and I headed back inside to get the computer.

     “What are you doing?” Scott asked me.

     “The computer, too.” I sighed exhausted.

     “Here, let me take it.” He went to the desk and unplugged everything carrying the computer to the back yard and silently went to the garage.  When he returned he had a sledge hammer raised above his head and broke the computer into tiny little pieces.

     When the computer was busted I had to sit down before I fell down.  I was about to pass out, not from being too tired, which I was, but because that was pretty much it.  I didn’t have much else of Matt’s in my possession.  I had left my engagement ring – probably stolen by kids by now – on his tomb stone.  Other than a few pictures and some of his clothes that I just couldn’t part with I had nothing to remind me of him.

     It may have been for the best, it was time to let him go and to heal.  This just seemed entirely too fast and for the wrong reasons.  But, to be honest, Matt would have wanted me to do this if he were still alive.  He would have wanted me to protect myself and get myself off of this planet. 

     I was so tired at this point that anything could have made me cry, so I wasn’t sure what brought the tears on this time, but they flooded out of my eyes like I sprung a leak.  I tried to be silent, I didn’t want Scott to know I was so upset – he didn’t need to put up with my blubbering on top of worrying about Brea, but I failed at hiding it.

     “Are you alright?” He asked shocked as he looked at my face.  He knelt down next to me and wrapped his arm around my shoulders.

     I sighed.

     “I just…  I was taken by surprise how upsetting destroying his things would be for me.  I didn’t even think of it like that until it was all said and done.  I think…  I think I am just really tired.” I tried to smiled, I think I may have grimaced instead.

     “It’s normal to feel awful about this sort of thing.  His personal possessions were all you had left of him.  Sure, you’ve got memories and things like that, but it’s not the same as having something solid here in front of you.  He’d want you to take care of yourself, though, and that’s what you are doing.” He soothed.

     “You know, I thought that same thing.  I guess it must be the case if you thought the same thing, huh?” I laughed this time.

     “I really think you need to go to bed…  Come on, I’ll help you up.” He grinned at me as he stood.  He put his hand out and I took it as he pulled me to my feet and hugged me.

     “Thanks.” I smiled sleepily.

     “Yeah.  Let’s go crash.” He sighed. 

     We walked back into the house and I went to my room.  I don’t remember hitting the pillow.

Chapter 5

 

     I wasn’t sure quite where I was or who I was considering I was wearing the most ridiculous little jumpsuit.  At least it wasn’t red – I knew enough that if I was a part of some space situation the people in red always died.  At least on the old Star Trek show.  I was wearing all black and I looked pretty darn hot – at least from my point of view.

     Still, I wasn’t sure where I was or why I was dressed like this, but I had to assume that I was on a space station.  I also had to assume I was dreaming because we hadn’t even been told we could go yet.

     I was all alone and everything was metal and depressing just like I thought it would be.  I went to open up what looked like the door to get out of my room and it slid open before I could touch it. 

     “It senses what you are thinking.  You wanted to open the door so it opened.” There was a man about six feet tall at least with pale skin and brown hair standing in front of me staring at me with the most amazing blue eyes I had ever seen in my whole life.  And he was talking to me.

     I felt like I was back in the sixth grade where I couldn’t speak because the popular boy was looking at me and I swore he really needed to borrow my pencil.  I grimaced internally.  I was never going to be cool, not even in space.

     “Are you alright?” He asked me.  His voice was smooth, not too deep, but not pitchy either.  He was totally opposite of Matthew.

     Why was I comparing this guy to Matthew?  No one held a candle to Matthew! 

     “Where am I exactly?” I asked clearing my head.  After all, this was a dream, right? 

     He smiled at me and I almost forgot my name.  How was this possible?  The feelings that hit me now were more than I had ever felt before.

     “HEY!  Wake up!” I heard Brea far, far away.

     “Huh?” My eyes fluttered open and I was lying in my room in a knot of blankets and Brea was sitting indian style next to me.

     “You were talking about Star Trek in your sleep.  Are you OK?” She eyed me suspiciously.

     “Uh.  Um.  Well, I was dreaming that I was in space.  SO…” I shook my head.  I felt kind of mentally handicapped at the moment.  A hundred different things flooded my head as I remembered the night before – all of it.  The disasters, the theories, the flames, the computer the crying…

     “We have to get going.  We just got a knock on the door from a local officer.  Said that they are doing A-L today down at the high school.  Us L’s have to stick together.” Brea grinned.

     It was the first time I thought of that.  My last name was London, Matt’s was Long, Brea’s was Little, and Scott’s was Love.  Maybe all the L’s would be put on one space station that was shaped like a huge ‘L’.  OK, I was honestly losing my mind, wasn’t I?

     “Get up, get dressed.  We don’t want to be in line forever.” Brea whined as she ripped the covers off of me.  I suddenly was happy I never took to sleeping naked.

     I crawled out of bed, shoved Brea out of the room and threw on some jeans and a black fitting long sleeved t-shirt.  I pulled a brush through my hair and threw it up in a messy knot, slipped a pair of black flats.

     We headed out together in their SUV each with a key to the car so that when we were done if we had to wait long we could go sit in the car.  When we got to the high school there were already at least fifty people there, but it wasn’t as many as I thought there would be.  I found out each town was doing their own screening to cut down on people. 

     We walked in the front doors to the old high school and were asked to have our drivers licenses ready.  We all had our birth certificates as well, we didn’t want them to have any excuse not to pass us.  We were put in alphabetical order so Brea was separated from us by several people.  I was still in ear shot of Scott and every once in a while we would shoot each other friendly smiles to keep calm. 

     It took nearly four hours to get down to me, Brea was sitting on a bench near the door staring at Scott.  I could tell she wanted to go to him, but we had decided previously that it would be better if we were all alone. 

     “London, Arianna.” I heard my name being called and I instinctually turned my head to the sound.  A short chubby lady with curly black hair smiled at me kindly.  I tried to smile back.  It was hard.

     “Come with me, dear.” She smiled wider and I noticed that her teeth were a bit brown and out of place.  I had to hold back vomit that I had been fighting off for days.  I had a real issue with bad teeth.

     I followed her down the hallway and into a classroom where there were three people in white lab coats.  I got nervous.

     “Just sit here, darling.  Relax, it’s no big deal.” Tooth lady smiled.  I just nodded thinking of flowers and strawberries to keep my food in my stomach.

     “Good afternoon, hope the wait wasn’t too long.” The first lab coat said as he walked up to me and sat in a chair across from me.  He had green eyes and black hair, he wasn’t bad looking.

     “It was a few hours, I won’t lie, but I expected it.” I replied barely over a whisper.

     “Well, we just want to ask you a few questions.  This guy over here, his name is Tom and he’s going to be checking your vitals while we chat and Max will be taking some blood.” He smiled again. 

     Sounds like a total blast…, I thought to myself as the two other lab coats began their work.

     “How old are you?” He asked me.

     “I am 25.” I replied.

     “Any diseases or illnesses affecting you today that you know of?” He asked.

     “Nope, I am healthy as a horse – OUCH!” I shouted at Max.  He must be a real doctor, couldn’t take blood to save his life.

     “Sorry.” He mumbled as he finally got the butterfly needle in my vein.  I could feel the blood being sucked out of my veins, I tried not to think about it as I was already on the verge of passing out.

     “That is great!  Is your family here?” He asked me nonchalantly.  We were right…  This was more than just a health check.

     “My family is dead.” I answered him blankly.

     His eyes got wide and he sat back in his chair.  “I’m so sorry to hear that.  My condolences.”

     Right, like you care, I thought bitterly.

     “It’s alright, I’m used to the death by now.” I shrugged my shoulders.

     “Well, her vitals are absolutely perfect, Frank.” Tom smiled.

     “And her blood is clean as well.” Max called from a long table of what looked like my freshman year biology equipment.

     “That is wonderful.  Here is your pass.  You will have to be at the airport tomorrow evening to fly to a small airport within the confines of our launch area.  Do not be late, do not bring anything that is prohibited by that list and do not lose this pass.” He stared at me so fiercely that I shuddered. 

     I passed.  I was going on the stupid shuttle to the stupid space station.  All I could think about was which flight Scott and Brea would be on.

     I blindly walked back out to the line and smiled at Scott who had two more people ahead of him.  I hadn’t paid any attention to the people coming and going when I was waiting to see the doctors but now I was overly aware of everything.  Brea was ramrod straight so I assumed she was holding a pass and praying Scott would have one, too.  When she saw me approach her she smiled.

     “So…” She whispered.

     “I passed.” I replied with a smile.

     “So did I.  I hope Scott does – oh god…  If he doesn’t pass…” Her voice broke.

     “What flight are you on?” I asked her trying to change the subject.

     “Flight Alpha.  You?” She asked, her voice still shaking.

     “I am too.” We both looked at each other and sighed as we collapsed into each other.  I had a good feeling that if we were on the same flight we would be going to the same shuttle which would be taking us to the same station.  Things weren’t so dim.

     We waited patiently for Scott.

     It felt like hours but I was sure it was barely one when Scott walked blindly out of the office and straight for Brea.  She stood, eyes wide and he embraced her in a huge hug as tears streamed down his face.

     Oh god, no…  I couldn’t help but think he didn’t pass.

     “Tell me you passed and tell me you are on Alpha.” He begged her.

     My eyes lit up and I sighed a shaky sigh.  Brea began to cry as well – I would have had my body not gone completely numb. 

     We were still together, no one was separated.  We got what we wished and hoped for and now we could relax.  If only we weren’t terrified of what this flight actually held.  I just knew I would be happy once we got to where we needed to be so that we could finally just calm down.  I wasn’t sure how many more surprises I could handle.  If I didn’t have heart failure yet it was a sure thing at any moment. 

     The three of us had our arms around each other as we walked out of the school and back to Scott’s car.  We weren’t sure what was in store, but as long as we were together things would be OK. 

     The sun peaked out at me and the warmth hit my face, it reminded me of being touched by Matt and I sighed again, a single tear fell from my numb face.

“Nice to meet you, too, Drake.” She shifted a bit and then looked to me. “So, before we get there, do you want to fill me in on why you have become so open to friends?” I couldn’t help but laugh. She was always saying things that were so on point that they caught me by surprise. She was right. I did my best to stay away from everyone and out of the radar. All of a sudden I wanted to be the ‘It’ thing of school.

“Well, you know, Senior year and all that. It’s probably the nostalgia of it all.” I lied. Then I thought about the lie. What would it matter if I told her the truth about part of it? It couldn’t hurt. I was fully confident that she was not friends with Natalie Adams. “Actually, Dahlia. Truth is, Natalie came up to me this morning and wagered a deal.” I let the bait sit and see how long it took for her to bite. If I knew her like I thought I was getting to, she would appreciate the suspense.

“WHAT!? What did Natalie do that for?” Dahlia’s brow creased and she looked shocked, but happy. I was getting good at this.

Her animation made me more animated, so I shifted in my seat to look at her with excited eyes as I explained how I had knocked Natalie down the day before and how she had come up to me with her attitude. I explained to her the wager Natalie bet, and how I took it. I told her how Leviathan – Drake to her – had decided to help me since stupid Natalie hadn’t set any rules. By the end of the explanation we were both dissolved in laughter.

“What an idiot! I mean, really, what happened to ‘Outside at the flag pole at 3 o’clock’?” Dahlia said through fits of giggles.

“I know, right? She probably thought she’d better bet me something less dangerous.” I smiled. I imagined her meeting me outside at the flag pole at three. I imagined her pulling back her fist to let it snap in my face and I imagined gouging her eyes out. The vision was getting quite clear and not until Leviathan nudged me did I realize I was getting carried away.

“You know you’d kick her ass.” Dahlia said simply, and leaned back in her seat. Smug. Wow. I knew I could beat her at a fight, but the fact that my new friend was confident made me all warm inside. I can’t believe I’ve gone so long with out one of these, I thought, surprised.

“Alright, here we are. Girls- be nice.” Leviathan grinned. I loved his grin. I wanted to snatch him up and kiss every single inch of that grin, but I was at a party with a friend in the car. I threw the thought out of my mind and thought deeply for a second.

Please keep this on if you can. In case we get separated and I need you, I thought to myself. Hoping I could just shoot him a thought anytime, anywhere. I stifled a laugh at the way I said it – keep it on - like it was a switch or something, some kind of walkie-talkie.

You got it, I heard.

Cool! I got out of the car and helped Dahlia out. She was tense, almost walking like a robot.

“Dahlia, it’s going to be fine. If you are that uncomfortable we will leave. Right, Drake?” I soothed.

“Oh hell yeah- someone gives you trouble just let me or Lil know.” Drake puffed out his chest and smiled. We all had a small chuckle to that. The three of us walked up the drive and saw Scott Fisher in the back yard near the garage. When he spotted us he waved. The sun was already setting a bit and it threw a golden hue over everything.

“Come on in guys! Party’s just getting started!” He called, all smiles.

As we walked into the yard – Leviathan opening and shutting the gate for us – I realized that I knew most of the people there. Of course, I had just seen them, I had never really spoken to any of them. Jacob was there, from psychology. He came up to us and offered Dahlia and I a Solo cup with something in it. Liquid dirt – beer, I thought. It smelled awful. We smiled and when he wasn’t looking we threw them out. Beer wasn’t something that interested me, now a nice wine – that was different. Scott jogged over to us and put his arms around Dahlia and myself. Leviathan grinned, seeming a bit humored by the whole thing. It oddly reminded me of a cheesy high school movie.

“Girls- you have got to be more open to new experiences!” He chimed, I could smell that he had been experiencing them for a while now.

“It’s not new, silly! I prefer wine.” I smiled brightly. I didn’t want to offend him, but I certainly wasn’t going to be drinking any of that swamp water. Dahlia just blushed.

“What about you sweet heart?” He asked, basically drooling all over her. I wanted to smack him across the face.

“I don’t drink.” Dahlia whispered.

“Well, that’s a shame. There’s soda and bottled water in the garage as well.” He looked to her one more time, deliberately looking her from head to toe and back up again – I could feel the fire in my eyes as I watched him. “You’re still alright in my book, babe. Help yourself to ANYTHING I have to offer.”

“Enough, Scott.” Drake smiled. I could hear the subtle hint of a warning in his voice, though his smile never wavered. “Can’t you see you are embarrassing her?”

“Sorry, sweetie. I’ll be around if you change your mind.” And he was off to harass the rest of his party. I took Dahlia to the garage and we each got something to drink. Leviathan was hovering, which was good. I was not really liking this party much. Something just felt off.

He walked out of the garage and toward a crowd of teens, we followed his lead. I wasn’t sure who was more nervous – Dahlia or myself. At the center of the crowd was Natalie Adams. I was not sure if I wanted to turn and run or walk up to her and smack her. Both feelings were very strong. Leviathan, what are you doing?, I asked freaking out. I had just gotten here, I wasn’t ready for this yet.

You have to mingle. Even if it means with your arch enemy. You can’t show fear. His voice filled my head. Show fear? He is right, running is out. Smacking… I thought of that and it put a smile on my face, making me stronger to continue on to the group of people.

“Ah, Lilith. I heard you were coming, but to be honest I thought you would just bail.” Natalie’s condescending tone quieted the group and they seemed to shift and part like the Red Sea. I wondered to myself at that moment what was worse? Having people flock after you – scared that they wouldn’t be worthy if they didn’t do your bidding or having people flock away from you – scared that they would get in your way? I thought what I had been doing for three years was the better evil. This just seemed wrong. “And you brought the Goth with you. Cute.” She smiled dryly. Smacking was definitely on my list of things to do tonight.

“Why would I bail? And the ‘Goth’? Seriously? Her name is Dahlia Sutton and she is my friend.” I felt the need to stick up for her, to defend her. It was one thing for people to treat me badly – I deserve it. I was none too kind to these morons, but Dahlia had done nothing but exist and they seemed to hate her. That was uncalled for.

“Yeah, Dahlila- whatever.” Natalie rolled her eyes.

I saw red-literally-the color of blood. I hadn’t been this uncontrolled in years.

Lilith Arwen! Get a hold of yourself!, I heard in my head. It didn’t seem to work, the electricity was beginning to surge through me. I had to be careful or I would do something dangerous, but I couldn’t bring myself to justify stopping it.

I could hear him shouting at me, but I still wanted her dead. I quickly switched my thinking. She can’t die, that’s too drastic. But, she could be in pain. Lots of pain. I could rupture her appendix, make her fall and break something. She needed to feel what Dahlia felt every time people disrespected her like that.

LILITH, ENOUGH! His voice filled every crevice of my mind and it finally was enough to shake the red and re-evaluate. It was still early, things could change. Harming Natalie was not going to make me look like the better person. I grimaced to myself, I could feel it. I couldn’t let Leviathan down. I changed my tactics, instead of hurting her physically I was going to wound her ego.

“Why are you here, Natalie? These people flock around you because they are afraid that you will not allow them to be ‘cool’. But if they just stopped and thought for a minute, you have no power over them. They are living up to your standards, your expectations. What if they all lived up to their own? Where would that leave you?” I seethed.

The red dissolved and I was seeing clearly. Her face was a mixture of shock and resentment. Exactly what I was aiming for, and what was more – everyone had a look of contemplation on their faces.

“So, yeah – what are you guys doing? Who is she to you but the bitch who told you that your clothes were so last season or that your hair was in the first movie, not the sequel? Do what you want, screw what she thinks. I wouldn’t judge you like that. I think it’s more important to be yourself than some made up, plastic version of the latest hit movie.” That was all I had to say. I waited for reaction. I could feel Leviathan calmed on my left side and Dahlia was on my right, thoroughly concerned. I thought for half a second to make Natalie apologize, but I was already pushing it.

I turned, suddenly, unable to look at Natalie and the crowd with the same sure expression on my face. I had about ten seconds to get out of there before dissolving into uncontrollable laughter. Leviathan looked at me now like I was crazy, and Dahlia was still concerned. I took off to the garage, feigning thirst, and clasped my hand over my mouth.

“Are you OK?” Leviathan asked, putting his hand on my shoulder.

I just stared up at him, eyes watering from the internal crack up, and nodded.

“Lilith…are you sure you’re OK?” Dahlia questioned. The concern was still solid on her face.

I began to speak-or at least that was my plan-and the laughter took over. I hadn’t laughed like that in years! I was having absolute hysterics there in Scott’s garage. I didn’t even know Scott!

“Did you see them? All of them? They went from following Natalie to rebelling only to now wanting to hang on every word that I say! This is ridiculous! What kind of joke is this? Did they not hear a word I said? Did they not understand that I wasn’t recruiting people, I was telling them to stand up for themselves? This is a lost cause. I could have all of these people do everything I demand, but what would be the point if they don’t even know what they want themselves?” I was a mixture between furious, hysterical, and completely dumbfounded.

“Lilith, you can’t change these people. They are set in their ways. There are only two ways here, the popular way and the unpopular way. Have you really been so unattached that you hadn’t noticed this since kindergarten?” Leviathan asked me. When I looked up at him I saw that he was in awe. And it wasn’t a good kind of awe, it was the are-you-really-serious-right-now kind of awe. The kind where I knew right then that he thought less of me than he did fifteen minutes ago.

I tried to comfort myself in the fact that I warned him in the beginning. Or at least, I thought I had. Well, this seems like a good time to reiterate… “I am not a good person. I am the farthest thing from a good person! I’m the devil on someone’s shoulder, I’m the last straw in your bad day, I am the forbidden fruit that will destroy your very existence…” Saying these things out loud didn’t help much. He had his arms crossed over his chest glaring at me and Dahlia, well, she was no longer concerned. She was shocked.

“I can’t imagine you in that way, Lil. You can’t possibly be that bad.” Dahlia rolled her eyes. I wanted to hug her. Grab her up and hug her in one of those big bear hugs that Leviathan gave me, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I was that bad. She just hadn’t seen it yet.

“I am ashamed of you, Lilith. You have been going through this life like it was a joke! It is not a joke! There are reasons why we have these experiences. It is to learn, and you have ostracized yourself from all of it like none of it ever mattered.” Leviathan yelled at me. He didn’t raise his voice, he didn’t scold, he yelled at me. I was surprised that the rest of the party didn’t poke their heads around the corner to see what was going on-even with the loud music going on in the background.

In any other circumstance I would have been yelling back-louder. I would have been screaming and swearing, and breaking things. Especially with the seemingly callous way he was speaking the truth in his cryptic little way. Talk about me being not normal in front of my normal friend with out just coming out and saying I’m a witch! Ruin all of it, why don’t you! I would have won the argument in volume alone, not to mention most people gave up since they didn’t get a word in edgewise. Here, standing face to face with Leviathan at this dreadful Nomag party, with my new best friend, I was speechless.

I could feel the tears, as odd as that was-I hadn’t felt tears in a long time-pooling in my eyes. I could feel the huge lump in my throat, constricting my breathing and speech. I couldn’t even get a whine out let alone a full blown screaming attack. I was staring at both Leviathan and Dahlia-back and forth-for what felt like a very long time.

Then I collected myself. I would be damned if I were to cry at this disaster of a party. I turned and walked to the group of people, still a little dazed from the recent events and walked right up to Natalie.

“Natalie.” I said, surprisingly quiet.

“What the hell do you want, bitch?” Natalie spat.

“I should not have stooped to your level. I apologize.” I stared her right in the face when I lied. I wasn’t sorry, but I was upset that I went to her level of expertise in the argument. Hell, if I was losing Leviathan I mind as well go all out, not waste that on trivial speeches and dirty looks.

“How very big of you to apologize. Is this one of your tactics to try to win friends and influence people?” Natalie replied. I smiled. I had to admit the statement was funny. Something I would even say.

“No. No tactics. I don’t need to collect people to help with the pain.” I seethed.

“What the hell are you talking about?” She questioned, looking very confused. Others were listening again. I didn’t care.

“I know I’m a bitch, what’s your excuse? I know I have alienated everyone here at this party, but I don’t try to make up for it by collecting as many followers as I can so that I can sleep at night. I just realize my short comings and deal with them.” I answered. I could hear Leviathan in my head, but I ignored it, not even registering what he was saying. I didn’t care. Not at this point.

“So, you are saying that the wager is off? You forfeit?” Natalie tilted her head to the side with sarcastic concern.

“No, let the wager stand. I’m just not going to work on it. I am going to let the chips fall where they may. This whole thing is not for me. The parties, the fake people, it’s just not something I would want to associate with. But, real people, interesting people, those are the ones that I might think twice about never speaking to.” I replied.

“What the hell are you, you freak!?” Natalie yelled after me as I was turning away.

I stopped there on the spot. I’m a witch and it is taking all of my self control not to turn you into a shrew… No, of course I couldn’t say that. There were some truths that still needed to be hidden.

“To quote an amazing band… She’s the kind of human wreckage that you love…” Dahlia came up behind me, grabbed my hand and led me away from the group once more. My head was bowed, I was worn out. I barely knew where I was or where I was going while I let Dahlia lead the way. It wasn’t until we were there, behind the garage, between the fence that I realized she was hiding me.

“He went for a walk.”, was all she said. I just looked up at her and began to cry. I didn’t know why I was showing weakness in front of this normal human girl at this stupid party, but I was. I was weak and I was tired. She rocked me and rubbed my hair soothing me.

I took this time to think while I let the tears run down my face. For all of those times that I thought I was so strong, that I could do anything, and not give a damn what anyone else thought, I was playing a role. Instead of just being myself I had to think I was in some way superior to these normal humans. Just because they didn’t have the power of magic on their side didn’t mean that I was impenetrable. I was surprisingly fragile.

I tried to chalk it up to getting into a relationship, meeting a new friend, being in my senior year of high school on my way to being Princess of Avonia again. That it was stress, lots and lots of stress, that broke me down now, but that wasn’t entirely the truth.

I was crying because I finally saw me from the outside. I finally saw how horrible I had been and now how unworthy I was of any form of respect. I did not deserve Dahlia, and I certainly did not deserve Leviathan. I had two amazing gifts that should have been wrapped and tied up with bows for someone else-someone more worthy of these gifts. This made me cry harder as I let myself feel Dahlia’s soft caress on my head. She shouldn’t be here. She should be on that walk with Leviathan and they shouldn’t come back. If Karma was real, by morning I would be all alone again, miserable and broken, and I would have nothing to complain about because I deserved that more than anything else in the world.

We are by the garage, between the fence, I replied. Not that I wanted him to find me, but it was his job to keep me safe. I would not make that part of his life difficult for him. He didn’t deserve that.

I kept to crying, what was the point in stopping it? I doubted that even I had the power to quiet these tears. Dahlia kept rocking me. I could hear the ground crunching as Leviathan walked around the garage to find us, but I didn’t look for him.

“Is she OK?” Leviathan whispered to Dahlia.

“I think so. I think this was just too much for her.” She replied, like a soothing, caring parent.

“Has she spoken?” He asked her.

“No.” Dahlia kept rocking.

“Give her to me.” Leviathan coaxed. “I need you to go mingle, or at least show your face so that they don’t come looking. I don’t want them to see her like this.”

Dahlia stopped rocking and the crying got worse. I didn’t realize I was holding on to my control by the rhythm of her rocks, but I must have been. I felt him wrap his arms around me and the bear was back, in place of the delicate, petite body of hers.

“Is she going to be alright?” She asked.

“She will be fine. We won’t stay longer than we have to. Once she calms down enough we will leave.” Leviathan replied.

“OK. If you need anything, let me know.” Dahlia said and I heard her leave.

I wanted to scream at him to rock me. Dahlia knew just what to do, even I didn’t know that would work. Now I was back to hysterics and he just held me there; not moving at all.

Sorry.I couldn’t respond. I tried to think a coherent thought, but it wasn’t going to happen.

Really, I am. I should not have yelled at you like that.Yes, you should have. Finally, a voice. At least in my head.

Did you hear me when you were having round two with Natalie?No. I was blocking you out. I was being honest at least.

I…well… Why were you blocking me?Because, you were so mad at me, I couldn’t bear to hear you like that anymore. I deserved it, I’ll give you that, but it still really hurt. I shouldn’t have made you that mad…that disappointed. I think the disappointment was the worst, though. Anger, well, that’s one thing, but… I couldn’t even yell back. I usually yell back, but I couldn’t do that to you, because I knew you were right. I explained.

It’s just that this is a lesson that you should be learning from. You are going to be a Queen some day. It’s like you aren’t taking that seriously and that bothers me. I mean, my family has been guarding your family for centuries. Tonight, after what you pulled, it was like we have been all doing this in vain. He wasn’t yelling, but he was disapproving again. The tears became thick again.

I don’t deserve you or Dahlia, you know that, right? I asked. Half of me wanted him to deny that fact, but the other half wanted him to tell me I was right.

Never say that. There’s nothing about who deserves who here. I’m surprised you are so upset! It’s just little ol’ me and Dahlia. Did I scare you when I yelled? He wondered.

No. I mean, well, a little. I smiled. I guess I just really care about you and I care what you think of me, I answered, glad that my face was turned away from him since I was sure I was blushing.

Are you serious?! The big, bad Lilith Arwen has feelings for me? I am shocked! I never saw that coming! He was laughing under his breath. I began to laugh, too.

Against my better judgment, yes, I do. I was still laughing.

I could feel his grip tightening and he sighed. One day you’ll say it. I can’t wait for that day.

Say what?, I asked.

Lets go home. This party sucks!, he thought as he scooped me up and carried me back around the garage to meet up with Dahlia so that we could leave the worst party ever.

Leviathan stood me up just as we were coming around the garage and I saw Dahlia up against the fridge inside and Scott with his arms stretched out barring her from moving.

My body started walking toward the two of them, though my brain still hadn’t computed what was actually happening there. I felt Leviathan hold me back and I didn’t fight it, we waited to see what was really going on.

“Come on, baby! You’ve been eying me all night.” Scott said, almost in a whisper. His words were slurred-drunk.

“I said no. What part of that do you not understand?” Dahlia replied, her voice sounding scared. Leviathan was really holding me back now. How dare he talk to her like that! The red was coming back.

“Look-who else is going to want you like this, freak?!” Scott slurred some more. His right hand came up and cupped her chin. She squirmed away and spit in his face.

In the next second I was standing alone and Scott was at the back of the garage in a heap amongst some lawn equipment. Leviathan was standing in front of Dahlia, shielding her from her meager attacker. This was bad. It had to be. I didn’t see him move, so he clearly wasn’t acting normal. Had he shifted his location in front of a nomag? I hadn’t ever been so stupid, so thoughtless.

Scott was wide eyed and I couldn’t see Dahlia’s face. She must be just as shocked, if not more. I couldn’t move, I was glued where I stood.

“Drake…” I whispered, putting my hand over my mouth, my eyes, I was sure, just as wide as his when he looked toward my voice.

“What the…what are you, man?” Scott slurred. Scott could be dealt with, he was drunk. He could be discredited, but Dahlia? It wasn’t like she didn’t have her own suspicions earlier in the day. This must be a confirmation of those suspicions.

“What are you talking about, what am I? What are you? Attacking a defenseless girl!” Drake shouted back, trying to confuse him, no doubt. Trying to switch the subject back to him instead of the otherworldly actions that just played out.

“You didn’t even touch me and I flew over here. You weren’t anywhere around, how did you get here?” Scott shouted back. A crowd was forming. This had to be stopped, and it had to be stopped now.

“Scott, you are so drunk you wouldn’t have realized if he was standing right freaking next to you!” I accused. He looked at me now, his attention taken from Leviathan.

“I’m not that drunk!” He shot back.

“Clearly, thinking some superhero beat you up should be considered mental-but I’ll be nice and chalk it up to the beer you drank.” I replied. I was going to make sure everyone knew how drunk Scott was. Whether it was enough to imagine magic or not had to be irrelevant at this point. No one could know. It was bad enough I was sure Dahlia was too aware now.

“Dude! What happened?!” Kyle laughed as he walked-or rather stumbled-to the opening of the garage.

“Scott got too close to Dahlia, that’s all. Drake just showed him what happens when you don’t listen to the word ‘No’.” I explained. From the looks of it, the whole party was a bit tipsy. This should be easy. And it was a Friday night, the rest of the weekend was still ahead of them. They would forget by Monday.

“Nice, the two freaks can’t go anywhere with out disrupting a good time. Honestly, Drake, I don’t know why you bother. She was probably teasing him all night long.” Natalie’s annoying voice trilled over all the rest as she walked into the garage.

“I wouldn’t talk like that if I were you.” I threatened. I had been through enough for three people in this one evening. My self control was on empty, one more comment like that and Natalie would be regretting it.

“What are you going to do?” She scowled at me.

“Nothing.” I smiled back. Just blow your spleen up. That could be fun to watch!Leviathan turned to me just enough and I saw Dahlia who was still hiding behind him. Her face was white and her eyes were wide.

LILITH! Seriously!

Yep. She knows, I thought. Crap…“I’m ready to go now…” Dahlia spoke. It was like the crowd wasn’t here, like Scott hadn’t tried to attack her. She was still stuck on whatever she saw happen. Whatever I had missed.

That shook Leviathan from his shock and he nodded and lead the way out of the garage back to the car without another word.

Once we were in the car he drove us to my house, silently. Dahlia was silent, too. Someone had to speak! This couldn’t go on, the facts had to come out. Whatever she saw, or thought she saw, I needed to hear. There was no point in waiting until she was gone so that he and I could go over the story. She was my friend, or at least she was until this happened. I had to know that everything was fine.

“Are you alright, Dahlia?” I asked, quietly. I turned to her and saw the same blank, wide eyed expression. At the sound of my voice she snapped out of it and looked at me. For one second I was sure it was over, I was sure that she was terrified and that I would never speak to her again. And then, she smiled. Her eyes were on fire, her face was lit up like a Christmas tree.

“That was awesome!” She shouted, pumping her fists in the air.

I thought Leviathan was going to have a stroke. He pulled the car into the drive of my house and shut it off. He got out and I followed, bringing Dahlia with me. He took the same path he did the day he told me the truth about him. We followed behind.

The moon was high in the sky, making it very easy to see our way in the dark. Once we got to the small opening in the woods he turned and looked at us.

“What was awesome, Dahlia?” He asked quietly.

I turned to her and she was looking at me. “It’s OK, go ahead.” I prompted her.

“You were on the whole other side of the garage and then in a matter of a second Scott was parallel parked into the lawn mower and you were standing in front of me. And, no, you never touched him.” She was breathless, but not scared.

“I ran, and, yes I did touch him. I picked him up and launched him.” He replied, lying right to her face. Had I been of a different knowledge I would have believed him myself.

“Yeah, whatever. It’s not like I didn’t have suspicions before the party.” She rolled her eyes.

I shuddered.

“Excuse me?” He asked, calmly.

“I had the pleasure of meeting Lilith’s family. Her father could totally pass for normal, but her mother? I mean, come on! Her eyes were purple!” Dahlia grinned.

“Contacts.” He suggested.

“Pretty purple like Lilith’s and then a second later eggplant purple? I don’t think so.” She shook her head, offended by the way he was responding.

I winced. My eyes were lilac-barely purple! And with certain colors I could pull of periwinkle blue! She knew too much, we had to just tell her and pray she’d keep her mouth shut.

Lilith, Leviathan said, begging for help.

We have to tell her. She’s too quick. Besides, she’s Wiccan, so maybe it won’t be too bad if she knows the truth. I tried really hard to keep my face straight. I didn’t want her to be too quick to see this action, too.

If she tells… He was still begging. Yes, if she told we would have to kill her. No one wanted that.

I could do a curse linked promise with her. It may give her more incentive to keep quiet, although I don’t think we will need that. I insisted.

He nodded.

“Dahlia, I need to have you promise me anything you see or hear us talking about from here on out will not be repeated. Not in any way. I’m even talking charades and sign language.” I winced. I knew what I had to do, but it was like a lie. She couldn’t know about the sword hanging over her head until she promised.

“That’s it, just my word? Because I’ll give you my word. I would never tell anyone, I’m not like that. And, who would believe me anyway?” Dahlia replied, looking for all the world like she was going to implode with excitement.

“Promise. Say ‘I promise to never repeat in any fashion anything I experience from here on out’.” I demanded.

“I promise to never repeat in any fashion anything I experience from here on out. There. Now can you please explain yourselves?” Dahlia was impatient now.

Would she stay that way? Would she still be as eager when I told her if she broke this promise that she would die? She’d surprised me before, I hoped for the same reaction.

“Now that you have promised, if you break it the curse will be activated, so to speak. Your heart will stop beating and you will die. I don’t care if someone tells you they will shoot you in the head if you don’t tell them what we are. LIE. Tell them we are vampires or superheroes or The Addam’s Family… Just don’t tell them the truth. I can reverse this if I want to, and I really want to, but right now we have to know we can trust you. It is imperative that you keep this secret, because if you don’t it could destroy everything. Breaking this promise is forbidden.” I explained. I hated this, I hated knowing that Dahlia walked around now with a guillotine poised over her neck. I hated it more than I hated anything else. She didn’t deserve this. What if she slips up, I couldn’t help but ask myself.

We have to pray she doesn’t… Leviathan was in my head again. This shook me from my reverie and I was able to concentrate on Dahlia again.

She stared at me, wide eyed again.

“No pressure…” She finally said, sighing.

“It had to be done.” Leviathan spoke, taking the pressure off of me for a second.

“I am being punished because you had a hero complex in the garage.” She argued.

“No, you aren’t being punished. You are being protected. Not only would this knowledge be disastrous to everyone, it would be worse for you. You would be killed, and it wouldn’t be as pleasant as instant death. Trust me on this, OK?” I answered, trying to smooth things out.

“Well, you better start talking. I didn’t just promise on my life for nothing.” Dahlia folded her arms across her chest and waited, expectantly.

That’s my girl, I thought with a smile.

 

I was lying in bed when the knock came. It had to be Aiden, it was always Aiden. I looked out the window and realized it was light outside. Must be morning. I barely slept last night, I had the most amazing dreams, but when I wasn’t dreaming I was wishing I was. It was a vicious circle. Drake- Leviathan- was in my head all night, doing laps. I pinched my eyes closed. Migraine. Uh, what the hell? There was another knock. “WHAT?” I shouted. Out of character, that was for sure. I heard nothing, the door didn’t even creak open. I bit my bottom lip, I felt guilty. It wasn’t his fault that I was in love with my betrothed. That would be a normal thing, a good thing, but the problem was he didn’t know who he was to me. He thought he was in the clear, able to make his own choice. I knew better. And I also knew the kind of person I was, what would he want me for once he found out how nasty I could be. The first day of school he spent trying to get my attention. Now he would be free to sit back and watch as I blazed through that school, people basically bowing at my feet. Before today that was something I appreciated, something I loved. Now, I was looking at it from a different point of view. I was a bitch! Knock, knock. This time I controlled myself. “Yes.” I whispered, a bit kinder.

“Jesus do you have an attitude this morning. Look, we’ve got about twenty minutes before we have to leave. I’ll go in your bathroom while you dress, but you have to tell me what the heck is going on with these Avonians being here.” Aiden burst into the room, closed the door and then locked himself in my bathroom. Apparently I hadn’t a choice.

I got out of bed, stretched- that felt great- and started searching for today’s outfit. “OK, well, I met Drake in the hallway- he actually smashed into me, I almost hexed him. Anyway, he slipped up and told me he was from Avonia- some town outside of Salt Lake City. Right? Because I’m an idiot. So, I called him on it. Then we came to lunch and that’s the first I saw of the Derry kids. Do you know anything about them?” I asked, realizing he may have some information for me, too.

“Yes. Rowan is part of the Royal Guard. Said something about keeping tabs. I can’t imagine why. And I guess Dawn must be a part of it, too, since she conveniently is best friends now with Viviane.” Aiden spilled through the door. Interesting, we were all being watched separately. There had to be something other than just fear that we would ruin our cover. I would have to ask Leviathan about that later. “So, why was Drake here?”

“Because I called him on his Avonia explanation in the middle of the hallway. I know, stupid- but he was really making me mad. He told me he’d come by and explain himself. Did you know his name is Leviathan Payne?” I decided I’d tell Aiden. If nothing else I knew I could trust my little brother to keep my secrets, I had too much on him for him to spill anything.

“BULL! That’s your hubby-to-be? How hilarious is that?” Aiden was laughing, I could hear that he fell against the door, I suppose it was quite comical. That just doesn’t happen to anyone. Only me, I frowned.

“Yes. Anyway, you don’t know that.” I made sure that was understood as I found what I was going to wear. It was a simple little white eyelet laced sundress. Wide straps, v-neck and meeting just between my hips and knees, covering my thighs half way. I then started shifting through my shoes.

“Can I come out now?” Aiden asked. Apparently wanting to see my face now that he had tormented me.

“Yeah.” I grunted locating the shoes I was looking for -cork colored heels with white ribbons that would tie around my ankles. I traded places with Aiden and shut the bathroom door for some privacy. Apparently there wasn’t even going to be time for me to pee with out being taunted.

“OK, so does he know?” Aiden asked, I heard the mattress springs coil, he must have plopped on my bed.

“No. I don’t think he does. He didn’t act like he did.” I responded, flushing the toilet and brushing my teeth. I quickly applied some warm, neutral colors to my flawless face, messed with my hair and opened the door. “How do I look?”

“Pretty.” Aiden smiled. “So, are you going to tell him?”

“No. I mean, I don’t think so. Is that my job?” I asked feeling a little unconfident. Was I supposed to let him know? Probably not, I thought. No point.

“I think that’s his parents’ job. So, what do you think of him?” Aiden pried. Up until this point I never realized I wished for girl friends. Maybe it was because I never really liked anyone before where it would be odd talking to my little brother about it. I thought that today would be a good day to acquire one or two.

“He’s hot, that’s for sure. Eloquent, intelligent, funny… He’s a nice guy. I don’t know. I still can’t tell what I really think.” I trailed off. I grabbed my bag and headed out of the room after spritzing myself with Lancôme Tresor. The scent filled my mind, it smelled like wine and flowers and amber and sage and driftwood… Driftwood- the beach- Leviathan. Damn, he was in my head again. I shook my head and closed my eyes like I was shaking the cobwebs out. I continued on down the stairs and out to my car. Or at least that’s where I was headed.

“Young lady, do you want to explain to me why you were alone in the woods with a boy last night?” My mother had her arms folded across her chest and she looked angry. It had been a while since I had seen her anger flash across her face, making her eyes a shade of eggplant.

“What are you talking about, Mother?” I asked with thick agitation. Where were those girls?

“Viviane and the girls were giggling about you being in the woods with a boy, and they even said they say you kiss him! Lilith, if this is true you had better tell me now, because if you don’t I will be forced to contact Mrs. Payne.” My mother threatened. Go ahead, I thought. She’ll just complain to her son and make him take a stand and they will all realize I kissed my betrothed to begin with. I thought about that for a short second. Why not be defiant? That would be a really easy way to get Leviathan to know the truth with out it coming from me. Brilliant!“Do what you need to do, Mother. Those girls are dead, I hope you realize the danger you’ve just put them all in.” My eyes matched hers, dark purple. I could feel them. I could feel my body tingling. I had to get out of the house and away from my mother before I did something I would regret. “AIDEN! SCHOOL!” I shouted as I bustled past my mother and to my car. How dare she talk to me this way! I was supposed to be normal, normal girls weren’t betrothed. I smiled at that thought, I’d use that line the next time she brought it up.

I got to my car and Aiden was heading out the door. My mother’s glare was still in view as I got into the driver’s side. Calm down, woman! You’re going to have an aneurism, I thought to myself smiling again. Aiden hopped in and I peeled out of the drive way. I was leaving Viviane and I didn’t care, stupid little snot. Suddenly I heard a pop and I looked in my rearview mirror. Sitting in the back seat was Viviane.

“When did you learn to do that?” I shouted at her from the driver’s seat not slowing.
“Well, I’ve had time over the summer to practice some new tricks. Want me to show you how?” Viviane seethed. “You were going to leave me, weren’t you?”

“Since when did you grow an attitude? What is Dawn teaching you? I will turn this car around and take you home.” I couldn’t control my anger. She learned to jump from place to place younger than I did and now she was rude.

“I have an attitude because you won’t even let me explain. I didn’t tell on you, Dawn did. She thought it was appropriate since she knew you were betrothed. So taking it out on me is not fair!” Viviane’s green eyes were jade. Wow, I really did make her mad.“What a loving bunch of people in this car. I can just feel the joy emanating all around me.” Aiden grunted. “Whoever is wishing eye gouging better re-direct.” That was it, he always knew what to do, we laughed just like yesterday and forgot why we were all mad.

“I’m sorry, really I am.” Viviane finally said as we pulled into to parking lot at school. I knew she was, and I thought about earlier this morning when I realized I was less than kind to the Edgeworth population. I turned and smiled.

“It’s alright. I should be sorry. And I am deeply sorry.” I winced, I truly felt bad. I looked at her differently now, could she be trusted? “Can you keep a very important secret? Even from your friends?”

“Yes.” She said it with confidence. I wondered how confident she would be if I held a curse over her head? “You can make me commit if you’d like. You know, if I tell in anyway my head will explode. That kind of thing.” She thought a lot like me, I realized. I grinned.

“Drake Snowdeth is actually Leviathan Payne, my betrothed. He just has an alias for school. BUT, he doesn’t know he’s it. SO, we have to keep it a secret until I figure out how to let him know that I know that he should know that I’m his betrothed.” The words flew out in record time. I honestly had no idea if it made any sense. Of course, Viviane got it, and Aiden looked confused. Perfect.

We got out of the car and headed for the front doors. Leviathan was standing by the big oak tree on the way. He smiled broadly at my approach. My heart skipped a beat and I could feel my whole body get lighter. I had to concentrate, it was possible I was actually levitating and that was not good. He walked over to me, in his khakis and white button down shirt. His sleeves were pushed up to his elbows, showing off his muscles. We matched. Cheesy, I scoffed to myself.

“How embarrassing.” I whispered when he was close enough for me to hear.

“Would you like me to change?” He asked, frowning.

“Please don’t. That outfit is very flattering.” I smiled. He grinned. He put his arm around my waist and I put mine around his. We walked that way until we were in line waiting on the doors. I noticed students staring at us like we were on parade. I wasn’t use to this. This was a different kind of attention, this was the kind that lingered. The dangerous kind. How silly, he was protecting me and yet he was drawing attention to that which he was told to protect. This can’t be good. I realized at that moment that I thought a lot and that it would be so much easier if he could just read my thoughts.

“You are too much.” Leviathan smiled. I loved his smile. It was very easy to get lost in, that and his eyes. No, Leviathan, you are too much you hot, sexy beast of a man… I trailed off in my head. Maybe it was a good thing he couldn’t hear my thoughts, how embarrassing that would have been!

We walked into school, I watched my siblings trail off with their own friends and Leviathan and I headed to first hour. “So, Drake. How was your evening?” I asked, looking at my shoes. I was thinking while I did this that people were going to think I had hit my head. I never looked at the floor.

“My evening was restless. Too many dreams.” He said, shortly, yet he was smiling. Me too, I thought. “Same for you, huh?” Had he heard me? This was turning into a nightmare. I was so paranoid. He couldn’t have heard me, if he had he would have heard me all along, and if he had I certainly wouldn’t think he would be sticking around. I was being completely silly.

“Tossed and turned. Had a few good dreams, though.” I explained. I had to cut it out, Leviathan couldn’t hear my thoughts.

“Lilith Arwen?” There was a voice behind me that I did not recognize. Who was it? I tried to ignore her, but Leviathan turned us around to face the speaker. It was Natalie, I remembered knocking her down the day before. I grimaced, I was either going to apologize or I was going to treat her the way I always did. To keep my reputation I should certainly treat her like nothing, but what if that would offend Leviathan? “You realize you knocked me over yesterday? That was very rude, even for you.” She continued speaking. Her blond hair was bouncing around her face as she walked towards me, her blue eyes sparkling. She thought she was going to intimidate me. Leviathan or not, this was not going to happen. Not some normal little girl.

“I had somewhere to be.” I rolled my violet eyes. I noticed that Leviathan was still. Here we go, suck it all in Leviathan- see what your betrothed is really like, I thought miserably. “Besides, I don’t remember seeing you anywhere.”

“I was standing in front of the door in our last hour yesterday. How could you not see me?” Natalie spat.

“If you were in my way then you should have expected nothing less. You know not to get in my way, Natalie. Honestly, not even you should be that stupid.” I seethed. Try me. You’ll walk away with gum in your hair!

“You know, no one here likes you Lilith. You aren’t popular like you think you are.” Natalie was trying to show me my place in their little school society.

“Honey, I never wanted to be popular. I just wanted to be left alone, to not be annoyed and somehow you fail to realize that. If I wanted to be popular, I would be.” I replied with the same little demeaning smile she had. Just mine was better.

“You think so? Let us see how many friends you can get by the end of Senior year. If you out do me, then you are better than me, like you think. If not, well… You are pathetic, like I think you are.” Natalie wagered such an easy deal to win. I thought about how silly it would be to accept such a small task. It wouldn’t be much fun. But, at the same time it would pass the time along. I cocked my head to the side and glared at her, making my eyes flicker with purple flames. She seemed to shrink a little at the sight of me. I tried not to laugh.

“You, dear sweet Natalie, have a deal.” I whispered and headed to first hour. I realized that Leviathan was behind me, following me to class and I half wondered how horribly he saw me, but I didn’t care. This little snot wasn’t going to get the best of me.

“Lil, what was that?” Leviathan whispered as he caught pace.
“I can’t help it. I’ve never liked her and now she wants to be brave? I won’t have it!” I explained, still seething. She angered me more than I should have allowed.

“Lilith, this is high school. The girls here do this all the time. You need not participate.” Leviathan whispered to me as we sat down at our desks in the back of first hour. Today was a free period day and I was glad. This gave me more time to talk to him. I started to realize I really enjoyed the sound of his voice.

“I know that, but my pride is keeping me from believing it’s just trivial. I must beat her!” I vowed. My eyes must have glistened, I was feeling the tingle. “But how? I must be honest, Drake… I don’t know how to make friends. At least not with normal people.”

“Well, firstly we must make a nickname for these normal people in case they start to hear and put two and two together. Why not call them Nomags? Like nomads? Non-magics.” His eyes twinkled. He felt proud of himself. Nomags, I thought to myself, hm… “That could work, for now. Nomags. I kind of like it. OK, so how do I befriend a nomag?” I asked, trying not to laugh at how silly the word sounded out loud.

“Act normal.” Leviathan responded. Was it really that simple? After three years of treating them all like worthless pieces of trash how could I redeem myself, I thought. “It’s really quite simple. Would you like to do this as a team? She set no rules.”

“Ah, you’re right! That would be nice. Show me how to be nice, Drake. Even the word itself makes me cringe.” I was frowning. He didn’t seem pleased that I spent my time cruelly with these people.

“Excuse me…” Leviathan tapped the shoulder of the boy in front of him. He put a smile on his face and waited for the response. I felt it was taking too long, and with the way the boy tightened his body I thought he would just ignore him.

“Yeah?” The boy turned slightly to look at Leviathan. When he met his gaze he smiled back. “What’s up?” WOW! This is great! Can it really be this easy, I wondered.

“Yes, my name is Drake. I was wondering if I could get your name? I’m sorry- I’m not from around here and I’m trying to find out who the good people are here, if you know what I mean.” Drake grinned wider. What did he mean, the good people? There are none of those here, let me tell you!

“Uh, yeah, Drake. I’m Scott Fisher. You must mean the In crowd. You’d fit right in. Just stop talking to her.” He nodded his head in my direction. How dare he! How dare he treat me like that right to my face. Calm yourself, Lilith, I coaxed myself. No reason to blow up over something like this.

“Well, that will be difficult, won’t it, as she is my girlfriend. I think you all have the wrong idea about Lilith. She’s a sweet girl if you give her a chance, aren’t you, Lil?” He brought me into this conversation with ease. I wanted to say no, you are absolutely correct in thinking I’m nasty. I’d rather you feel that way – scum!, but I took a deep breath and smiled. He looked at me confused, this Fisher boy.

“I am quite nice. I suppose I give off a bad vibe because I am so shy. It seems easier than to be ridiculed by people like Natalie all the time.” I frowned, playing it off well. Blame Natalie and watch the ties sever.

“Wow. Natalie always said you were a bitch. NO OFFENSE! I’m just saying. You seem nice enough. Hey, I’m having a party after school at my place. Why don’t you two join me? Get to know some people? I’m sure they will be happy to know Lilith isn’t all doom and gloom anymore.” Scott smiled and turned around after scribbling on my notebook. His address. Could it be this easy?“See.” Was all Leviathan whispered to me.

I grabbed my phone. It was more of a small computer. I went to my log section and scanned for silent conversation. There was a way to do it, if he was smart and skilled enough. I was sure that I was. I just had to think of the person I was ‘talking’ to and speak in my mind. I passed my phone to him and he read the section I had just skimmed. He smiled and nodded, he was game.

I thought for a moment only of Leviathan. His face clear in my mind and I thought “Hello”. I figured we would start small.

“This is quite easier than trying to whisper behind backs.” Leviathan grinned. OK, this was cool! But, we would have to remember to keep our features neutral.

“Yes. Quite.” I thought. I concentrated on my face.

“Would you stop concentrating so much? You look like you have a head ache.” He grinned at me. I stopped scrunching up my face.

“So, are we going to the party?” I asked.

“I think we should. You are dressed appropriately.” He responded.

“My mother will kill me. You should have heard her this morning. Speaking of which, I still need to slaughter Dawn Derry. She, Claire and my sister were up in my room watching us. Dawn told on me that I was kissing a boy when I am intended to someone else. Now my mother wants to call his mother and tell him that I’m a Pariah.” I thought, this time I knew I was frowning. I couldn’t help it. The girl would burn!“Calm down. No harm done. So what if she calls him? What’s the worst that will happen? Nothing. You are intended to him, but you are not with him now, correct?” He calmed me. He was good at calming me. I was flustered now. I had thoughts in my head that I couldn’t help. I was thinking about the fact that he was, in fact, my betrothed. Would he hear that? I looked at him wondering. No, nothing seemed to cross that pretty face.“You know, you are right.” I nodded slightly. There was nothing to worry about. “Are you betrothed?” I asked unthinking. Would he have any idea?

“I don’t know, actually. I wonder if I am!” His eyes lit up a bit. Was he happy thinking he might have an intended. That seemed odd as he was so ready to be with me. I had too many thoughts going on in my mind to have this conversation. Something would slip. I blocked my head again and paid attention to everything but Leviathan.

A few moments later class was over. He and I headed to our second hour, which was Psychology. Mrs. Law was at her desk looking at a few different piles of paper intently. I smiled up at Leviathan and took my seat at the back of the class. Leviathan sat two rows over. I could barely see him past Andrea Smith and Kyle Greene. Andrea smith was another popular girl, though I couldn’t imagine why. She was quite homely with her brown hair and brown eyes. She looked like a tom boy. I took my notebook out and started doodling on the back cover. I couldn’t draw all that well, but it passed the time.

“Good morning, Class.” Mrs. Law chimed as she walked back from closing the door. “We will be working in pairs today. I have all of your names in a hat and I will be pairing you off this way. I’d rather you all get to know each other by end of semester.” Seriously? Did I have enough time to pull at the odds? No, I didn’t. She had called off most of the class, Leviathan was paired with Mark Hudson and I was paired with a girl named Dahlia Sutton. She sounded like a snot. I hoped she would be semi tolerable.

I did not move from my spot. She could find me. I continued to doodle flowers and stars, terribly of course. “Um, Lilith?” A small sing-song voice broke my concentration. I looked up. Ah, a Goth. She had died black hair with purple cords tied in. Her hair was long, down her back. Her eyes were brown and her skin was quite pale. She was beautiful. For a Nomag, she was stunning. I had to collect myself, how had I never seen this girl before?

“Yes.” I smiled, warmly. She stood up straight and smiled back. It seemed that she was very afraid of coming up to me first. “I assume you are Dahlia.” I kept the smile on my face.

“Yes. Do you want to sit back here, or would you rather sit somewhere else?” She asked, blushing. I wonder if I looked like that when I blushed. Her pale skin reminded me of my own.

“We can sit here. Jacob, can you take your date and move somewhere else?” I looked at Jacob, the class clown, and waved him away.

“Rude!” Jacob replied.

“It’s just that I think Dahlia wants to sit back here as I do, and would you deny a pretty girl what she wants?” I changed my tactics. Friends. I was supposed to be making friends. Dahlia blushed again and Jacob’s face warmed.

“Sorry, just a reaction to you, ya know. No offense.” His head bowed. What is all of this no offense crap? Call it like you see it, I do, I thought.

“None taken. I’m trying to open up a bit, Jacob. If you don’t mind please- call me on my behavior.” I smiled ruefully to him, hoping he would bite.

“Well. OK. Sure!” He grinned and grabbed his partner and moved to another area in the class. I noticed Leviathan grinning in my direction, but I was not in a state of mind where I could talk to him and Dahlia at the same time.

“Dahlia. That is a very pretty name. Where did your parents come up with it?” I asked shifting in my seat to talk to this pretty gothic girl.

“My mother had an obsession with the Black Dahlia. She named me after a murder victim.” She grinned. Her brown eyes sparkled. She liked that idea.

 

“Yes, well. My mother named me after

“Dahlia, I deserve what they have to say. Am I misunderstood, probably, but I brought that upon myself. Had I never been so cruel to people they may never have thought those things.” I looked at her and she frowned a little. People must have been evil to her, too- which in my assumption here, was out of line. “But, then again, if you are at all different you mind as well be condemned.”

“Why have we never spoken before, Lilith?” Dahlia groaned. “We could have really given them a run for their money! I think they don’t like us because they are afraid of us.” Her eyes were sparkling again. What would the Nomags have to be afraid of Dahlia for?

“Why are they afraid of us?” I asked, acting oblivious.

“Honestly, Lilith. You walk around here like the Queen of the Damned and people think I’m the wicked witch. Just because my family practices Wiccan, it doesn’t mean we are bad people.” Dahlia explained. I almost fell out of my desk had I not been holding on for life. They thought SHE was a witch? I could live with them thinking I was some Vampire queen, as it were- that was not true. But, the witch thing was too close to home. Was this what Leviathan was worried about? Being to careless. I want to be friends with her! There’s something about her that I need in my life, I realized.

“You practice Wiccan? How does that work out for you?” I asked, curious. I had never attempted any of the Wiccan or Pagan rituals as I had my own. I wondered to myself if I were to try them would they work for me?

“I freaked you out, I should have kept my mouth shut.” Dahlia bowed her head, embarrassed.

“No, silly Dahlia. I honestly want to know. You are fascinating me!” I couldn’t help it. She was like a breath of fresh air. I needed to know everything about her!

“Well, we just worship the seasons and the elements. We work together with the Sun, Moon, and Earth. White magic mostly.” Dahlia explained.

“I must experience this!” I was on fire- completely alive again. Maybe these nomags weren’t so bad after all.

“Well, sure! Friday night we are celebrating the Fall Solstice. Would you like to come?” She replied.

“I would love to, and you must come with Drake and I to this silly little party at Scott Fisher’s this evening. It should be fun.” I blazed on. A new girl friend. I had to make sure I was careful so that I wouldn’t screw this joy up.

“Um, I don’t know. I’m not really in with Scott Fisher and his friends.” She frowned again. I found that I did not like when she did this. It pulled at things in me that were uncomfortable. It was my nature not to care about others. This was different and scary.

“Well, I insist and you can ride with us. Call your mother and tell her about your plans. You will ride with me to my house to meet Drake. He will drive us there.” I smiled warmly. She must come!

“Well, if you insist.” She blushed.

“I do. And if you feel at all uncomfortable, we will leave. I dare say, no friend of mine will be treated with disrespect. That is, of course, if you will allow me to call you my friend.” It was my turn to blush a little. I assumed too much. Had this affected my chances at a girl friend? I was just so excited that I may have someone I can confide in. I should calm down a bit.

“Of course you can call me your friend. But, not to draw this awesome conversation to a close… We have to finish this worksheet.” Dahlia grimaced. I looked at the sheet she had in front of her. It was an interview. Mrs. Law did want us to get to know each other. I would have to be careful.

“OK, you go first.” I smiled.

“OK. Tell me about your family.” She smiled back.

“Well, my father, Kegan, is a business man. My mother Hypatia is a stay at home mom. She used to be a model. Aiden is my younger brother and Viviane would be my baby sister. Aiden is a Junior and Viviane is a Freshman.” I answered. “Your turn!”

“Well, first of all, those names are amazing! OK, my mother is an artist. Her name is Jane. My father who I don’t speak to, his name is Lukas. I have no siblings. I don’t think my parents really wanted kids to begin with.” Dahlia seethed.

“Sorry, sounds like a touchy subject.” I grimaced, what could possibly be the story behind her father? I would have to hope I would find out soon.

“It’s OK. How about any pets?” She asked me. I thought to myself. I could tell her about our extensive woodland creature collection, but since that would give us away easily I simply told her no pets. “I have a dog, named Brutus.”

“What kind of dog?” I asked.

“He’s a bloodhound. Stupid little dog.” She laughed. I liked her laugh. It sounded like bells.

“What about your house?” Dahlia asked, still smiling. A memory of her dog, I wondered.

“We live in the old Victorian down near Mountain View. I believe it came with a name. It is Victorian Falls. I guess it was some kind of estate before we purchased it. No one wanted it, not even the county. A shame, because it is beautiful. They should restore it and keep it as a historic building.” I answered. She looked shocked. “It has three stories, and a basement. I live in the top of the turret. It’s a beautiful room. I have windows all around so that I can see every piece of our land. It’s quite comforting.”

“You live in Victorian Falls?” She whispered, her eyes wide.

“Yes. What’s wrong with Victorian Falls?” I asked confused.

“We must, MUST throw a Halloween party there! Please say we can! Everyone here thinks that place is haunted. Could you imagine? We could have so much fun.” She was in awe, not in shock or fearful. She was excited. What a strange creature she was.

“I will have to ask my parents, so don’t hold your breath, but it would be quite fun!” I replied. I realized I had to get my parents to allow this. This would be perfect. I thought back to one of my favorite movies, Casper. Cute little Christina Ricci had no friends until she threw the best party ever. Could it really be this sickeningly easy?

“That is so cool. Thanks! I promise not to speak a word of it just incase it falls through.” She whispered again. Fire in her eyes. She liked gossip. She like hiding things. She was my kind of girl!

“What about your house, Dahlia?” I asked getting back on our school work.

“I live in a small ranch style house. Two bedrooms. It’s pretty small. That’s really all there is to it, two bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen…” She rolled her eyes.

“WELL! That sounds quaint. I’m sure it’s just perfect for two women.” I smiled. I wanted her to feel good about her house. Just because we had an unlimited supply of money and could live anywhere, that didn’t mean it was the normal thing to do. I realized, after spending time with Dahlia, that I was starting to dislike myself.

“Boyfriend?” She asked.

“Yes. Drake Snowdeth.” I replied, stealing a glance at the man I called mine. He was laughing with his partner. He looked so angelic when he laughed.

“WOW! You are lucky!” She crooned.

“Yes, I know.” I replied. Wow, had that really just come out of my mouth? I knew I was lucky? Usually I would say that he was the lucky one.

“How about you, Dahlia? Boyfriend?” I grinned.

“No.” She simply said and then wrapped her arms around herself as if she were trying to hold herself together. Another thing I must know, I thought.

“Hobbies?” She changed the subject with the next question.

“I read a lot. I love music and I like to hike. I love shopping and designing my own clothes. I also enjoy singing.” I replied. “Yourself?”

“I practice magic, I write and I paint. I draw as well. I actually sell my work at local fairs. I also do a lot of designing of my own clothes.” She responded. “What is your goal in life?”

This one was going to be tricky. I could lie, or I could make the truth more normal. I could find a way to say I wished to be Queen of Avonia in a way that they would not guess, but Leviathan would understand. “I want to be important. President, or Queen, or whatever. I just want to take my gifts and my knowledge to the World. I want to make a difference. I want to prove that life doesn’t have to be one way. There are choices and changes can be made. I want to be that change.” OK, so that worked. And if it were read out loud people would find my comical, but I didn’t care. In a nomag nutshell, it was the truth.

“Wow, what an aspiration! That’s amazing. I want to be an amazing artist. I want to be as good as Michelangelo.” Dahlia’s eyes were somewhere else, sparkling as they imagined something only she could see.

“Beautiful! That is such an amazing dream. I bet it will come true!” I smiled. I couldn’t help it. Something about her made me warm inside. Like a long lost friend.

“Class. I want you all, in pairs, to come up and read off your interviews that you did together. Lets all get to know each other. And no laughing or poking fun!” Mrs. Law ordered. That was going to be impossible. The amount of popular kids that were in this class were proof that laughter was going to happen.

Most of the class went and then it was Leviathan’s turn with his partner Mark. Leviathan spoke clearly and with an air that made no one laugh. Then it was Mark’s turn. “Drake Snowdeth has both parents and two older brothers. He’s very secretive, he won’t even give their names. Anyway, he has a horse named Star. She is black with a white diamond spot on her forehead. He lives in a house in town- once again- secretive. His girlfriend’s name is Lilith Arwen. She’s sitting back there.” He pointed to me at the back of the room. Hello, I thought as I waved. ‘His hobbies are riding, hiking, hunting, and working. His life’s dream would be to be a celebrity security guard.” Mark’s face went red and he sat down next to Leviathan. I smiled to myself. He had told the truth as well, just in a nomag way.

“Lilith and Dahlia, please come to the front of the class.” Mrs. Law called.

“I’ll go first, Dahlia. Don’t worry.” I stood at the small podium and put my paper down. “Good morning everyone.” I smiled. Some smiled back, some gawked, some mocked. I didn’t care. I was used to it, but I wanted Dahlia to feel good.

“Dahlia Sutton, what an amazing person! I am so glad I got to interview her. She lives with her mother, who is an artist named Jane Sutton. She is an only child. She spends time with her pet bloodhound, Brutus. She lives in a quant house with her mother here in town. She is currently single, which makes all of you guys very lucky, if she will have you. Her hobbies are practicing her faith, Wicca. She enjoys drawing, painting, writing, designing clothes, and you can find her art at the local fairs through out the year. I suggest you take the time to look into her work. It is extraordinary! Her life goal is to be an amazing artist. I plan to see her work in the Art galleries all over the world in the near future. This is my friend, Dahlia Sutton’s life.” I smiled and bowed out as Dahlia took to the podium. I thought I saw Leviathan grinning but I was looking at Dahlia, who mouthed “thank you” to me as we switched spots. When the haphazard clapping was over she cleared her throat.

“I had the chance to interview Lilith Arwen. We have all had he wrong! She’s an amazing person. I believe I have found a friend in this once cold, unfriendly person.” She took a second to smile awkwardly my way. She wasn’t wrong, and I was proud she said what she said. It was the truth. No sugarcoating. “She lives in Victorian Falls with her father, Kegan, a business man and her mother, Hypatia. She used to be a model! She has two younger siblings, Aiden a Junior and Viviane a Freshman. She has no pets and her hobbies are reading, singing, hiking, and designing clothes. Her boyfriend’s name is Drake Snowdeth. Her life goal is to be something like the President or the Queen. She has ideas and she sees great changes and she wants to be the change that we all need. I think we should all take a second look at Lilith Arwen.” Dahlia concluded and I was all smiles. Hearing my life coming out of her mouth made it sound so much better.

I looked around the class and the majority of people were staring at me like I was an alien. I didn’t really like how it felt. I went back to my seat as calmly as I could. I hadn’t realized in the short hour I spent with Dahlia I had let my guard down. I had idiotically assumed everyone was going to be easy to win over. Apparently not. Dahlia followed me back to my desk. I was trying not to hyperventilate. If I did that two things could happen. People would start talking about how my attitude was all a mask or I was going to do something completely inappropriate, like blow the classroom up. I had to get a hold of myself and quickly.

“Are you OK, Lilith?” Dahlia whispered resting her hand on my back. I suddenly felt calm. OK, Lil, get a hold of yourself. She is your friend, let her help you, I thought.

“Sorry, just stage fright.” I tried to laugh it off. I acted as if I was looking for Leviathan as I scanned the room. People were huddled together, but I felt they hadn’t noticed my latest gaffe. I was OK. “Are we still game for tonight?”

The bell rang and Dahlia smiled. “Game.” And headed out the door. I still couldn’t move. After she left I was back to hysterics again.

A second hand was on my back, this one bigger and stronger. “Lilith, let’s go. You’re going to make a fool of yourself. What is the matter with you?” He was stern with me as he lifted me out of the desk by my elbow. His voice was harsh as well. Is he mad at me, I thought. That wasn’t the best thing to think about right now as I was already freaking out. I looked at him and his face was blank. I took a deep breath and stepped away from him.

“Fine. I’m fine. Let go. I can take care of myself.” I seethed. I would have thought that since I was in some form of distress, whether it be warranted or not, he should be much more understanding. Apparently not. I shoved him a little, for good measure, grabbed my bag and headed to third hour. It was Chemistry. I barely had to pay attention. It was like potions for nomags. Of course Leviathan was my lab partner. I was like a robot through the whole class. Lunch wasn’t much better. Dahlia sat at a different table than I did. We must not be established enough as friends yet for her to sit with me. So, for the rest of the day I was Lilith 9.0. I moved around school and around people as I always had. Before Leviathan, that is. I didn’t have the time nor the want to talk to him until I was away from that school.

On my way out of our last class I turned on him. He looked shocked, taken aback, something. Probably surprised that I looked like I was going to speak. “Dahlia is coming with us. I am following her home. She is hopping in my car and then I will be home, if you’d like to wait there for us. IF you still want to go…with me.” I couldn’t keep the attitude. It was painful talking to him this way. It was painful because I knew that I couldn’t hold him, even if we were intended or not.

He reached for my chin and I could feel the power in his hand as he touched me gently. I was nearly undone. He looked into my eyes with his perfect silver ones and frowned. “Why would I not want to be anywhere that you are?”

“You were just so mean to me in Psychology.” I whispered. I could barely speak. It was hard enough keeping tabs on myself normally, but now I was trying to get friends and have a boyfriend? This was stressful.

“I was brash with you, yes I was. I am sorry for that. You were nearly drawing attention to yourself and we can’t have that Lilith!” He scolded again. Tears welled in my eyes. I was going to cry over this big oversized child? No, I wasn’t. I blinked fervently and looked at him again.

“When you can learn to speak to me like a person and not a child come talk to me.” I couldn’t let him see me cry. Even if that meant hurting his feelings. He grabbed my arm and spun me around kissing me again. That kiss was it, the tears rolled out of my eyes and down my face.

“You are so much more than a child, Lilith.” He breathed and kissed me again. “I love you.” Oh for all that is good and holy, I thought. He can’t have said that to me. I have to tell him. Now, I thought.

“Leviathan. You have no idea what you are talking about.” I whispered, wiping the tears away from my face. He looked at me, hurt.

“Have you not seen me around her the past two days? I am evil. I am not worthy of having someone love me. I am no good for you. You are so much the better person than me. I’ve been living my life here alone, keeping to myself and enjoying it. I don’t even know how to have friends- you shouldn’t love me.” The words that came out were true, but not the ones I wanted to say. I wanted to tell him that he was my betrothed, that it was great that he loved me and that I was starting to really think I loved him, too. But, I couldn’t bring myself to say that. Even though I knew that he would eventually have to suffer through the storm that is Lilith Arwen, I wasn’t going to make him do it now- while he had a choice.

“I still love you, Lilith.” He smiled and kissed me again. I had to use all of my power to break away and tell him that Aiden, Viviane and Dahlia would be waiting for a ride. He let me go and we walked out of the school hand in hand.

“I’ll see you within the hour.” He purred in my ear and kissed my cheek. I headed over to the car and got in. The three of them hadn’t arrived yet. I put my head back and sighed. A smile forced it’s way across my face. Prince, no. King Leviathan Payne. It’s got a ring to it, I thought.

I was in a dream world, I was thinking about how perfect it was that Leviathan would be here now, that he would feel for me before I was forced on him. It was quite a lucky situation for us both, really. How was it that I was in such a fowl mood, ready to leave this life behind leaving nothing but distruction in my wake, when he should show up and show me that these people deserved a look at. They deserved the time of day, if for nothing else but the life experience. I had been so used to thinking I was so much better than these normal people. In all reality, the façade I thought I was keeping up was something more evil, more disrespectful that I had ever imagined. My plan was just to walk around and be unnoticed. I was brought out of my reverie by a small tapping on the passenger side window. I looked to see who it was and smiled. It was my new friend, Dahlia Sutton. I almost told her to sit in the back so that Aiden could have his usual seat, but I really didn’t care too much about his thoughts at this moment. I had a friend. “Hop in!” I smiled as I unlocked the doors.

“You looked like you were really concentrating on something. I almost felt bad about knocking.” Dahlia grinned as she slid into the seat next to me. It was nice to see her smile. She looked like the kind of person who hadn’t smiled in a while.

“I was just thinking about some things. Excited about tonight?” I asked. I liked her, but I wasn’t ready to spill all of my information. Not yet, anyway.

“Yeah, I have moments like that, for sure. I am actually kind of nervous.” Dahlia answered with a grimace. I wanted to put my hand on her shoulder and tell her she had nothing to worry about. That I would jinx anyone who bothered her, but obviously I couldn’t.

“Oh, don’t worry. We will take good care of you! I bet I’m just as nervous though, to be honest.” I winked. It was true. I was shaking in my heels. I wasn’t scared of them, I was scared that they would anger me and I wouldn’t be able to control myself. I’ve never been in anything but common ground situations. I was going to someone’s house, someone I didn’t know with people I was positive I wouldn’t really like. I was tense.

“What the hell, man!” Aiden groaned as he swung open the back passenger side door. Viviane already sliding in behind me, quite. Why couldn’t he be as flexible as Viv?

“Hi Aiden, this is Dahlia- Dahlia, this is jerk wad Aiden.” I glowered. He didn’t need to be rude. He had better chill out, I thought.

 

“Hi.” He gruffed as he pouted in the back seat. I rolled my eyes at Dahlia. She seemed to relax with my facial expression.

“I can move. Would you like to sit shotgun?” Dahlia blushed, turning to look at Aiden. He just looked at her, eyes a bit wider than usual and sat further back in his seat. What was that expression? I’ve never seen anything like that, I wondered.

“Never mind. Don’t worry about it. Sorry.” He mumbled. I ignored him and drove home. I could see Aiden giving me confused and concerned looks as I peeked the rear view mirror a few times. I ignored him. Bite me!When we arrived home Aiden jumped out of the car and ran to the door. Viviane got out of the car a bit slower. I had just realized I didn’t introduce her to Dahlia. When we were all out of the car I stopped Viv and smiled. “Dahlia, this is my younger sister, Viviane. I am so rude! I should have introduced you earlier.”

“Very nice to meet you, Viviane! You have the prettiest eyes!” Dahlia smiled. I looked between Dahlia and Viviane. Pretty eyes? Yes, her eyes were quite pretty. Looking at them now, from a normal perspective, they were forest green. They weren’t normal after all.

“Awe, thanks! You look like a model. There’s this girl in a fashion magazine I have in my room that looks just like you! Did you know that? It’s for alternative style.” Viviane rambled. She was nervous. She always did this when she was nervous.

“What a compliment!” Dahlia replied breathlessly. Viviane was always so good. She made people feel wonderful. At that she skipped into the house, probably thinking about her pretty eyes.

“We have a little bit until Drake gets here, want the grand tour of Victorian Falls?” I grinned. I remembered how intrigued she was that I lived in this “haunted house”.

“Oh my god, really? That would be so great!” She chimed. I bet she would have done a little dance had she not just met me. I smiled back and brought her around to the porch steps. We walked up onto the winding porch and into the front door. My mother was waiting for me, probably for round two, but when she saw that I had a guest she seemed even more infuriated. I didn’t blame her, I never had friends. She was probably wondering what I was playing at.

“Mom, this is Dahlia Sutton. I’m in Psychology with her. Drake is taking the two of us to a party this evening at a classmate’s house. I thought I would show her around the house while we waited for him.” I smiled a broad smile at her. I wanted her to have to wait to yell. It would make the fight much more intense, and I was going to let her brew until just the last second and tell her who Drake actually was. Watch her eyes blow up, I thought. That would be hilarious! “Well, good evening Dahlia. Very nice to meet you. Of course you may show her around. It’s nice to see you bring friends into the house. I was always afraid you would die alone.” My mother scoffed. Low blow! And in front of a stranger? She’s lost her mind! “You should show her your room.” My mother turned to Dahlia, “She has the best room in the house, you know. Spoiled rotten!” It looked like she wanted to laugh, or shriek. She was very aware of the colors of my mother. The blood red hair, and at this moment the violently purple eyes. I thought about how I should have assessed the situation first. Would she remember those things or forget them? I was hoping they would just go over her head.

I just glared at her. Was she on drugs? What the heck? I quickly chuckled to make it seem like my mother was teasing since this came way out of left field, and hurried her along. I dashed her upstairs to my room. I’d show her around the house some other time. When we reached the safety of my room and I closed the door I turned to Dahlia and made a face of mock horror, or was it real horror? I wasn’t sure. “I don’t know what that was down there, but I promise you won’t ever have to see that again! At least, not today. The tour is on hold. My mother has gone nuts!”

Dahlia laughed. She’s laughing. Good. Maybe she won’t take this whole thing seriously. Maybe she won’t go to school tomorrow and tell the whole school my mother is insane! But what would that matter? She’d be speaking the truth. “Glad you took that the right way. My mother can be sort of psychotic every once in a while. I sort of wish it wasn’t the first time you stop by, but at least you know what is possible around here. I have an ornery brother, a crazy mother, a cute little sister and you haven’t met my father. I assume my mother has gone to tell him I have a friend over for the first time ever so he’ll be up shortly to see the rarity that is you.” I rolled my eyes. And, like on queue there was a hard knock on the door. I exhaled and did the sign of the cross. Dahlia stifled a giggle.

“Yes?” I asked, melodramatically. The door creaked open, like in a horror move – perfect. I moved from the door way so that he could come in and have a look.

“Ah, Lilith. Hypatia said you had a friend over. I thought I would extend my greetings.” My father’s deep voice, velvet and calming, was heard before he completely entered the room. You could see that Dahlia was putting puzzle pieces together. I was just hoping they were to the wrong puzzle. “Are you going to introduce me to the young lady?” He asked me shocked at my lack of manners.

, I thought. It’s the lack of response because I’m freaking out! That’s what you should be worrying about! “Sorry. Dad, this is Dahlia Sutton.” I finally picked all my parts up and put them back together enough to speak. I was wondering more and more if this is the kind of reckless behavior Leviathan was talking about. Was Dahlia a bad thing for me? She couldn’t be. She was my new friend. She opened something inside of me that had never been opened before. That couldn’t be a bad thing, I assessed.

“A pleasure to meet you, Dahlia.” My father smiled brightly extending his hand for her to shake it. She mechanically reached out and took his hand. I could still see the wheels turning in her head. “Please, call me Kegan. If you need anything, just let us know, alright?” And with that, he was out the door. I kept my eyes on her until she blinked and looked back at me.

“Tell me exactly the thoughts that just went through your head. I could see the wheels turning!” I smiled. I wanted to sound friendly, but I’m sure it was pushy.

“Your family- they just don’t look average. That’s all. My imagination playing tricks on me, that’s all.” She blushed and then looked around the room, taking in all of my possessions. I started to breath hard. Hyperventilating? I mean, what was the worst that could happen? She finds out the truth, I hold her to a pact and everything would be fine. If she broke the oath she would simply pay the consequences. I didn’t want to think about that right now. “Your room is to die for! I am so jealous!” She was back to normal now, I sighed with relief.

“Yes, it took a lot of coaxing to get all the things I wanted over the years, but so far so good.” At that my cell phone started to sing Cannonball by Damien Rice. I answered it. It was Leviathan.

“Hey, Drake!” I chirped into the phone. I was so glad to hear his voice.

“Hey, you guys ready? I’m in your drive. You might want to hurry, your mother looks like she’s puffing up like a puffer fish.” He shuddered. I ended the call, grabbed Dahlia and hustled out to Drakes car. It was a nice car, once we were in and I was able to appreciate it. It was a Maserati. Must be from the guard, I assumed. I sighed and relaxed into the racing seat. Dahlia was humming to some tune on the radio. For now, things were good. Let’s hope that stays that way, I thought, as Leviathan drove to the impending doom: Scott Fisher’s house. I wondered about what Dahlia had said earlier, how the school pictured me as the Queen of the Damned. I tried not to laugh at the idea. After a day like today, knowing that Leviathan wanted me to be good and not draw attention to myself I seemed to be doing just the opposite. My boyfriend was my intended, my friend was Wiccan, and I was going to a party to gain as many “friends” as possible, drawing as much attention to myself as possible? I always knew I would be a queen, but it felt more like they were all right, that Dahlia hit the nail on the head. I was the Queen of the Damned.

I was lounging again. That’s all I seemed to do these days. Splaying my thin, muscular, porcelain body across my Victorian lounger. It was my favorite place to relax, but not for reasons of the obvious. I had persuaded my father to part with it where it sat in his dark, dank office to the spire in my bedroom at the highest point of the old Victorian house. It was a perfect place to look out onto the trees and the moon and stars, the sun and clouds… I felt like I could just drift away out of the windows and down into the forest near by chatting with fairies and elves and fawns checking on the gossip from the Other World. I didn’t want to remember what it was I had to do today- again. I was so bored of life. I played with my short, choppy blood red hair and rolled my violet eyes in the back of my head.

My parents raised us children with the view of a different world than what mainstream society believes in. They also named us differently than society’s norm, which was really awful when I had to go to normal school. We were very far from ordinary. I suppose that’s why our house was considered the “haunted house” of Edgeworth. Oh, how I hated that stupid little town. What was the point? It would be easier if there were busy streets and thousands of different faces every day. I could possibly have fun with what I was. Throw a jinx here, a hex there. No one would be the wiser. In this little town everyone knew everyone. It would be impossible to have my kind of fun.

I don’t know if it was because I was the oldest of three or if I was just better than them all, but I couldn’t deal with minute magic. Never having to wash the dishes, cook, clean, do homework. Pointless. What about making rainbows in the winter? Making someone’s nose fall off? Those things would be fun. A smile creased my forlorn face. Something more obvious than playing with magic in my house. Waste of good magical powers if you ask me.

I sat there, thinking about my family. My father, Kegan who was somewhat royalty. He looked the part I guess I could say, with his dark jade eyes, his sleek black hair that just touched the nape of his neck. He was tall and slender with a confidence in his posture that would make anyone a little nervous or feel a little self conscience. My mother, Hypatia, the heir to the throne, gorgeous. I think that’s where I got my looks from. She had violet eyes that looked grey in the light, her blood red loose curls flowing down her back. I suppose I am more upset with my mother than my father. He married into the Royal Coven. My mother just decided it was right to raise us in the “real” world to get perspective before returning to our rightful place at the head of the Other World. I had perspective. I am supposed to be a queen! Stupid normal humans. Stupid normal life. I was not born to be normal!

Viviane, now she was the one who could pull off normal. She was so alive that she found goodness in everything. She wanted to know how everything worked, how everything came together. It could get so annoying. She looked like my father. Dark hair and green eyes, but she looked the most normal out of all of us. Her eyes were just green, her hair was just black. Nothing magnificent. She was pretty, but ordinary. She fit in best in this stupid little town. UH, and she was only a Freshman in high school. Stupid little sister. Being a Senior is the best moment of my life. Not for normal reasons, but because once I’ve finished Hell, I mean HIGH school my requirements are over. I can go back to the Other World, no questions asked. I can’t wait!

I was shaken by my thoughts with a quick knock on my bedroom door. I knew that knock. I smiled, letting him wait. It was the scapegoat. The middle child. It was my brother, Aiden. He felt the way I did. Get the Queen back in her throne so that we could all move on with our rightful lives. Aiden knocked again. “Yes.” I said faintly. I knew he could hear me, I was just being difficult. I could hear the door open a crack and I could picture his short white Mohawk, his sparkling cinnamon eyes in his tan face peeking around the door. I smiled to myself. Aiden and I got along swimmingly. I only used him as the proverbial scapegoat when I didn’t want to hear my parents lecture me. I would just blame it on him. He didn’t mind. He enjoyed the chaos.

“Hey. School?” Aiden called in to me. I shuddered. Damn, it was time for school. I wasn’t happy. “It’s our first day for the year. Think we could get there on time?”

“Why are you so excited little brother? Since when do you enjoy the mundane?” I questioned from the same spot I was in when he knocked.

“One down, that kind of thing.” Aiden said, slipping into the room and closing the door behind him.

“I suppose you are right. I wonder if we could have some fun this year. It is my last and your Junior.” I twirled around to face him, my knees on the lounger resting my elbows on the back of it and my head in my hands.

“We can certainly try. Although, Viviane is in high school now. Do you think she’ll tell?” Aiden never failed, the wicked little grin that crossed his face lit the room like a thousand candles.

I hopped off of the seat and grabbed my Luis Vuitton messenger GM Bosphore that was not only my book bag but my whole life. I had purchased that bag the first time I decided to grant myself a little extra cash. It was wonderful. I flew down the stairs on Aiden’s heels. I checked myself in the foyer full length mirror. Fitting black long sleeve, cashmere, V-neck top, dark blue skinny jeans with golden embroidery and red ballerina slipper shoes. Cute. I could live with cute. I grabbed my keys to my early graduation present, a Pontiac G8, and my sunglasses. I was out the door. Aiden now following me.

I got into my new car and smelled the interior. I could still smell that new car scent. Black outside, midnight tinted windows, black leather interior and chrome. There was chrome everywhere. It was stunning. This was one thing I had to admit I liked about normal life. No broom could ever rock this car! Aiden hopped in the passenger side and pressed the volume button on the dash turning the radio on. Flyleaf blared in the speakers. This was awesome! I could sit in this car all day. I was about to back out of the driveway when Viviane bustled out of the door looking absolutely terrified. Crap. Viviane.

“You almost let me forget Viv. How could you do that?” I frowned at Aiden.

“Get over yourself. You were hoping you’d get out of here before she came out. I know the excuse. ‘I’m so used to her going to middle school, bla bla bla.’ You really should be nicer to your little sister. One day you might need her.” Aiden grinned. If I didn’t appreciate that little grin I think I would have hexed him.

Viviane came bounding down the driveway with her hair in a ponytail, baggy jeans, a T-shirt with some band called the Jonas Brothers and her oversized backpack. I shuddered. “You know they are all going to laugh at her.”

“Like hell they will!” Aiden’s fiery eyes blazed. He was right. Only we could pick on little Viv. “They better pray we don’t find out.”

“SORRY!” Viviane breathed as she rushed into the backseat. “I couldn’t find my schedule. That’s going to be, like, my whole life for like, a week! I wouldn’t have known my locker or combination or my classes! That would have been like… Like, SO embarrassing!”

“Seriously, Viv. You say ‘like’ one more time and so help me God!” I growled looking at her in the rear view mirror. “You are so normal!”
“Witches say ‘like’.” Viviane pouted.

“Have you seen any say it around me?” I replied.

“Guess not. Sorry.” She frowned, bowing her head.

“Look- look at what you did ya big cranky jerk! This is her first day of high school. She’s already freaking out. She needs her big sister and big brother to be encouraging.” Aiden snapped. Sometimes he was right. This was one of those times. I turned around in my seat and raised her chin with my hand.

“Vivy. I love you. I’m sorry. Everything will be fine.” I smiled sheepishly. I was a jerk.

“I’m sorry, too Lil. It’s just… Sometimes it’s bad enough being average but, to be an average witch? Those people, they don’t get it. I’m just average there. But here, in our world, I’m li… I’m a total loser.” Viviane frowned deeper.

“You tell me who says those things to you, Viviane. I will burn them all at the stake!” My eyes darkened and my skin tingled. I was so mad. Who said these things about my baby sister? Sure, her looks were average, but on the better side of average. She was an amazing witch. No one had that right.

“Calm yourself Lilith. You’re going to blow up the car.” Aiden laughed. We all looked at each other and fell into a short fit of laughter before I drove to school.

When we got there I parked in my normal spot closest to the school. I wasn’t sure if people were afraid to park in my spot of if they just had enough respect. Aiden and I got out of the car and stood on either side of little Viviane. We were mean older siblings but we were meaner protectors. No one was going to make my baby sister’s first day of high school anything but pleasant. After all, she was the only one looking forward to it. As we walked up to the doors to wait for security to open them reminding me of after Thanksgiving sales I glanced around the parking lot. On my second scan around I caught a glimpse of the most amazingly beautiful man I had ever seen in my entire life. I couldn’t see the shade of his eyes, but his hair was black and wind blown, he must have had an ego because the close fitting washed out jeans were clinging to his strong legs and his pale blue cord sweater was stuck to him like Velcro. My mouth watered and I’m sure at that point I was staring. In that instant my mind started working again. He was normal, of course. I couldn’t get into that Pandora’s box even if he was so delectable. I only had one year left and I wasn’t about to date someone just for a year. I had before, but that was for fun. Not because I couldn’t stop drooling like Pavlov’s dog. In the instant I set my mind to never looking at him again we made eye contact. I quickly looked away, I couldn’t lead this poor soul on. Besides, this was Viviane’s day. I was only worried about her.

“Welcome to your first day of the year!” The pimple faced security guard chimed as he opened the doors. Yes. First day of the year. Make me vomit. I looked down at Viviane and her eyes sparkled. I couldn’t help but be a little excited for her. I hoped she did well, I hoped she proved to be more than average here. She deserved it.

“Viviane?” An awkward voice called from behind us. The three of us walked into the hallway and moved against the wall waiting for the person this voice came from. It was a short, chunky, pretty little girl. Her blond tresses falling next to her face like golden curtains. She was blushing when she spotted Aiden. Poor Aiden, I thought.

“Claire!” Viviane burst into a bright grin and hurried to this silly little girl. “I’m so glad you are here, I thought your parents were putting you in Pemberly Academy.”

“Yeah, but it was like, $10,000 a year and they decided it wasn’t worth it. I begged them not to take me away from my friends. They agreed. I’m so glad I get to see you. Freshman year won’t be so bad now that my BFF is here with me! This is like, SO exciting!” Claire gushed. My eye twitched. The left one. Always the left one. That word ‘like’ was the single most annoying word in the English language. Aiden shook with silent laughter.

“Claire, meet Aiden and Lilith. They are my older siblings. Lilith is a Senior and Aiden is a Junior.” Viviane showed us off like we were shiny new cars. Claire blushed again at the sight of us. That pleased me. I liked when other girls, no matter how young or old, felt their self esteem float away at the sight of me. Conceded? Of course I was.

“Very nice to meet you, Claire. Viviane spoke a lot about you this summer. You were away in Hawaii?” I spoke with a smile. Any friend of Viviane’s would definitely be annoying, but a good person.

“Hi. Yes. Hawaii was a blasty!” Claire chimed. A word worse than ‘like’? I was amazed. If I ever heard the word ‘blasty’ again I would projectile vomit.

“I’m Aiden.” Was all he said. He was too proud of himself as well. She just blushed at that point and pulled Viv away.

“Nice to meet you both. See you around? Come on, Viviane, we have to get to class.” Claire replied as she tugged Viviane away down the opposite hall.

“You’ve got an admirer, Aiden.” I whispered. He just glared at me. I thought it was funny, hm.

“Get your butt to class. See you at lunch or something.” Aiden grinned running off to his first class.

I stood there alone for a minute. I had memorized my schedule over the weekend. I had the locker right next to my first class. I obviously wouldn’t need to go there yet. No books. I absentmindedly walked the halls to my first hour. I had memorized that school, too. After being there three years it wasn’t too hard to know every nook and cranny. I was looking out the windows as I walked. People usually steered clear of me. It was kind of something I liked. I didn’t have to watch where I walked this way. That is why it was quite odd to barrel into a brick wall. I knew there were no walls here. I looked up, pissed. It was HIM. The God in the parking lot. I had to quickly collect my thoughts before I started drooling again.

“Did you not see me or was this on purpose?” I growled. Even if he was hot I was still going to show him my wrath. How stupid did he just make me look?“It was on purpose, actually. I saw you in the parking lot. I had been trying to get your attention for nearly thirty seconds. I figured if I was going to stop you I’d have to walk out in front of you. Are you OK?” He smiled. That was too much. The smile made him even more attractive. He had dimples, that was not fair.

“You purposely walked in front of me? Yes, I’m fine. What could possibly be that important that you had to ram into me?” I asked, the growl was gone, but I tried to hold steady to the annoyance painted on my face.

“As I said, I saw you in the parking lot and I had to know your name. You are stunning. I’ve never seen a woman like you. I apologize if I am out of line.” He bowed his head like a gentleman. He was NOT normal. Even if he wasn’t like me, he wasn’t normal. There was something about him. I looked him in the eye this time before I spoke and wished I hadn’t. Silver eyes. Exquisite.

“You are quite charming I must say.” I said it before I could remember I was going to hate him. “My name is Lilith Arwen. You are?”

Shock? Was that was crossed his face then? Why was that? Because my name to normal humans represented evil? I liked that idea. I scared him. A smile crossed my face, then he spoke. “My name is Drake Snowdeth.”

“Well, Drake. Nice to meet you, I suppose. But, I must be off to class. Maybe, for next time, you might think to not attack me in the hallway.” I smiled and shifted away from him so that I could walk on to my first hour. What a moron stepping in front of me like that. Who does that? And then I wondered why did he have to be so attractive? I thought back to his features, normal- well, not average, but normal. The thing that got me were his eyes. Silver eyes. Not silvery blue or silvery green, they were silver like a quiet river, with small diamond specks of blue. And not your average blue, but that silvery, icy blue. I chalked it up to the shirt he was wearing. Sometimes different shades in your clothes will change the shade of your eyes.

As I was thinking, more than I wanted to be, about Drake I found the class room I needed and walked in. As usual someone was sitting in the far back corner desk that I usually sat in, but this time, like it was procedure, the young man grabbed his things and scooted out of the way so that I could have my seat. I smiled lightly to him in thanks as I sat down. Surprisingly to me, Drake was right behind me. He got the person next to me to move and sat down next to me. How was that possible? He was the new kid, no matter how enticing, he was still new. No one moved for the new kid, and when I realized who it was, Benjamin McDonnell, the most popular guy in school, I was blown away. Two reasons, one, the obvious. He was the most popular. Surely he wasn’t going to give up his seat to anyone, and secondly, how did he do it?

“Hey, Lilith. Fancy meeting you here.” Drake winked at me. I was undone. This God sat in my class, next to me, and winked? How did he do it? I could “coax” people to do what I wanted with a little twitch of my mind, but he couldn’t. I was frustrated. One more small piece of fun I had found was slipping away. If he could do it with out magic then it was pointless. Had to find a new pass time.

I wasn’t sure yet, in the few seconds after he spoke to me, if I was going to respond. I decided I should. “Yes, well, this is my first hour.”

“I take it you have advanced classes through out?” Drake whispered as the teacher, Mr. Block, came into the room.

“Yes. I do.” I was done talking to him. He was mocking me. That annoyed me. I thought to myself how I could get him back, but it was simple! He had destroyed the joy in my pass time, he would be my new one. I concentrated on Drake Snowdeth. I pictured him in my mind sitting there in that desk all smug. I imagined him clicking his pen. He seemed that kind of annoying. When he clicked that pen and tried to talk to me, and he would do that again I was sure, that pen was going to explode all over his pretty little sweater. I had the hex in my head, set up like a time bomb. I smiled wryly. I was going to get him and I was going to laugh. I didn’t care if the whole class stopped what they were doing and looked at us, the more the better.

As I had suspected, he started clicking that stupid pen. I had set the hex to be set off by his voice. You speak- you get inked pal! Click, click, click, click… Was it going to go on forever? Click, click, click, cl…”So, what other classes do you have?” ick! POW! The pen blew up in his hand, ink went everywhere. It was funnier than I expected it to be and I dissolved into uncontrollable laughter. The look on his face, the looks on the student’s faces. The teacher, oblivious, as suspected. He just looked at me. If looks could kill, I thought. Well, that should do it. No more speaking to Drake Snowdeth. It was better that way, anyway.

“WOW! I’ve never seen anything like that!” Why was I speaking? Hadn’t I just concocted the best plan to get him to hate me? Why were the words falling out like word vomit? Take it back, take it back!“Hm, I haven’t either. Oh well. I was tired of this sweater anyway.” He winked again, tugged the sweater off and threw it on the floor between us. Underneath he was wearing a tighter black t-shirt. My mouth gaped open. He wasn’t mad? What the hell?!“You look upset. Are you OK? Did the pen get you?” Drake asked. He was concerned about me? Seriously? I quickly realized I wasn’t going to be able to ignore him. I would just hope that he wouldn’t be interested in me like that. That would be easier to leave behind. A friend, instead of a lover. Wait a minute. I didn’t have time to think about him like that. I was getting ready to go back and take over Avonia, the Other World. He was a distraction, I decided. But, that was all I could decide. I couldn’t figure out if I was going to ignore him or not.

“I’m just. No. It was funny, but everyone started looking so I got aggravated. I don’t really like attention.” I lied. I crave it, wanted it, needed it!

“Hey, what are you doing for lunch? I was wondering if you’d mind sitting with me. I don’t know anyone else.” This time he put his head down and was shy. Was he playing with my mind? First he was over confident, and now he looked like a sheepish little sissy! I tried not to let his mind tricks get me like that. I was better at it than him.

“Sure. But, I sit with my brother and possibly my little sister will be joining us today if she isn’t comfortable on her own yet.” WHAT?! Why was I explaining myself to him? Why did I say yes? That’s not what I was originally thinking. My first thought was full of words I couldn’t even say out loud with out scorching my own tongue and the second was a simple ‘no’. WHY did I say yes? I turned my face down to my notebook and glared. I was going to stab him with my pencil. That would shut him up.

“Thanks. Wait, your bro and sis are here?” He asked. Bro and sis? Really?“My brother Aiden and my sister Viviane. Aiden is a Junior and Viviane is a Freshman.” I was doing it again. It was none of his damn business, yet I was spilling it all.

“I’m the youngest. Surprised I had to leave my old school with only one year left. Thought the rents would let me stay and finish school at least.” He frowned. I cared. Why did I care? IGNORE HIM, my mind shouted.

“Where are you from?” I finally asked. I don’t care where you are from you annoying piece of… but then why did I ask? Think, Lil. I couldn’t, for the life of me, figure out why I was acting this way.

“Um. Well, no place you know of I’m sure.” He shifted in his seat. Did he not want to tell me? Fine. Good. I don’t care! But, I did. I wanted to know. I wanted to pry. I wanted to know every stupid little normal detail of his stupid little normal life and it infuriated me!

“Fine. Don’t tell me. If you are going to start a conversation, make sure you know the angles it’s heading in. If you can’t answer the questions you cause me to ask then just keep your mouth shut!” I was not about to let this BOY get the best of me. It wasn’t going to happen. I was cold, calculated, vindictive, I was a witch and he was not going to get the best of me!

“Avonia. It’s this stupid little town outside of Salt Lake City, Utah.” He winced. No it wasn’t. Or at least, my Avonia wasn’t some stupid little town outside of Salt Lake City, Utah. It was the Other World. The place I’d much rather be than here. When he said Avonia, those diamonds shifted and sparkled. He wasn’t talking about Utah at all! And he was playing with my mind. Making me want to talk to him, making me interested. Jack ass! Oh, he wasn’t going to get away with this.

“Avonia, you say? I’ve heard of it. But, not the one in Utah.” I winked at him, bringing my violet eyes to a blaze and left it at that. When I turned away from him I almost was sure I saw a glint of surprise. Yeah, one up me now, jerk! The bell rang shortly after that. Senior year was going to be fun, even if my joy was only in first hour! The rest of my classes went by nearly the same. Drake just so happened to be in every single one of my classes. He was acting strange, like he was on edge. Had I struck a cord? Who knows, I wasn’t going to let him get in my head again. I had blocked him as soon as he said Avonia. Ha, I win! The lunch bell rang and I flitted out of the class room with a grin on my face. SO happy!

“Hey!” I felt a big hand on my shoulder. I swung around and he was standing there, aggravated.

“Yes?” I replied.

“Lunch? You said you would go with me. I’m not sure how to get there.” He’s frown didn’t waver.

“I’m sorry, Drake. Come on.” I grabbed his hand and tugged him to lunch. I didn’t know if I was happy to think another one of Us was here or if I had a pet for a fun Senior year. Either way, my joy made school tolerable. I was going with it either way.

When we got to the cafeteria I spotted Aiden and Viviane at our usual table. But, there were others there. Some young man next to Aiden and a bubbly looking girl with Viv, besides Claire, the chunky one. That was odd- for Aiden anyway. Viviane had friends, I knew that, but Aiden never cared one way or the other. I turned to Drake. That was it! There were more, weren’t there? He was lying. He just stared at me. I composed myself and spoke.

“What would you like to eat? There’s a plethora of ‘food’ here.” I used quotations with the word ‘food’. I did enjoy the salads, those were always nice and fresh.

“Pizza sounds good.” He finally spoke. I looked at him. He still had that frown. What was wrong with him? Wait, had I let my guard down? No, this was genuine concern, all me, none of him. I cared.

“Are you OK, Drake?” I asked, softening my voice and shaking his hand. He looked at me, and the frown smoothed.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Sorry.” Drake answered. I didn’t believe him, but he and I headed to the pizza line anyway. They had a great antipasto salad there that I was drooling over and he got three slices of ultimate pizza. We paid and headed to the table.

“Aiden, Viviane, this is Drake Snowdeth.” I introduced him. Aiden lit up with a huge grin, odd. Viviane blushed, normal. I smiled at Claire, sat down next to Drake and expected an introduction to the other two. I looked to Aiden and he caught my expectation.

“Nice to meet you, Drake. This is Rowan Derry and that’s his little sister Dawn.” Aiden grinned wide again like he was the only one in on an inside joke. Then I noticed it. The three of them acted like they had just met, but they didn’t say much. They were liars! They knew each other well before today.

I leaned in as if to kiss Drake’s ear and I whispered as soft as could be, “Avonia isn’t in Utah. You better explain when we get out of here.”

He didn’t move. Not a twitch. When I moved away I saw him nod very slightly. He was going to explain. Good.We sat like that, just minimal conversation, probably for Claire and Viviane’s sake through out lunch. After lunch we moved on to our next classes going through the motions until the final bell rang. Drake headed out quickly. He was not about to get away from me. I shuffled past the rest of the class, knocking over this popular girl name Natalie on my way out.

“Where the heck do you think you’re going, Mister?” I trudged up to him grabbing his hand.

“I can’t tell you anything, just drop it. Avonia is in Utah as far as you are concerned.” Drake glared down at me. For once this whole day, well- in pretty much my whole life, I felt pain. He was being mean!

“Oh cut the crap, Drake. You and I both…” He cut me off and pulled me into a tight hug and before I knew it his lips were smashing to mine. My body went limp. The feeling in that kiss was amazing. It tingled, it shocked me, it burned me, it was through to my bones. I had never felt that alive before, ever. He put me down and set me away from him. I couldn’t speak, the words wouldn’t come. I just stared at him, my mouth wide.

“People were listening genius. I’ll be at your house in an hour.” Drake growled and was off. It was my turn to be pushed and shoved as I just stood there in the hallway, frozen. He knows where I live? I finally collected my thoughts and peeled out to my car. I knew Aiden and Viviane would meet me there. As soon as they did I was racing home. It felt like hours instead of minutes or even seconds. Finally, the two of them were walking to the car. With Claire? I was not in the mood. I started paying attention to my breathing. I had to calm down. I couldn’t frighten this little girl.

“Lilith, can we give Claire a ride home?” Viviane asked opening the door slightly.
“ONLY, if she is on the way.” I barked. Viviane nodded and they all climbed in.

I hoped I didn’t scare the poor girl, I had no idea how we got to her house, but we did and then we were off to home. When we pulled into the long drive to the house set far back from the street I saw another car in the circle drive at the house. Crap. Crap!!! Drake was already there. This wasn’t going to be good.

I parked and hopped out. Drake was already getting out of the car when I ran to it. He grabbed my hand and ran to the back yard, hopped the two foot brick wall and shot into the forest. I was right on his heels. We finally stopped about 200 feet in.

“Avonia is not in Utah.” Drake said through deep breaths after running so hard and fast. My eyes met his and I nodded.

“You’re right. It’s not.” I replied. I took that moment to look around. We were pretty deep into the forest which was good, I didn’t want anyone- not even my family, to hear what we were about to talk about. I then turned to look at him. He seemed tense. It wasn’t that big of a deal, it wasn’t like he was telling someone that didn’t already know the true story. So what if he was a part of the Other World- Avonia? So was I. “So, why are you here? And who are those other two?”

“You’re quick.” Drake breathed. Was that it? I was quick? No duh! Did I just use the word ‘duh’? Hm… “Yes, I know. Answer my question.” I glared at him. I was done with the games. It was one thing if he was just a normal human playing their idiot games, but this guy knew at least what I was if not who I was so he had better give me answers.

“I am here because the Royal Guard sent me.” He explained. Or, the lack there of. OK, so the Royal Guard had sent him here. Why?“And…” I was getting more and more frustrated with every second that he let the information stall.

“Rowan and Dawn are, in fact, brother and sister. They are from Avonia as well.” Drake continued. “The Guard thought I should get perspective.” He frowned at that. I could understand, whole heartedly.

“Your final year?” I asked, shocked. How unfair. He only had to suffer one year.

“Trust me, I don’t think it was going to be necessary, accept that you keep acting so flighty.” Drake rolled his eyes.

“Flighty?” I asked, a bit offended.

“You are the heir to the throne and you are walking around here acting out. Childishness is the least of our worries, but still a worry. What if someone caught on? Then what?” Drake glared at me. He was pretty powerful stuff. Maybe it was because I was left alone by my family and my school mates so I hadn’t realized how easy they made it for me to be intimidating. Maybe I wasn’t as good as I thought I was. Self esteem down a notch, I looked at him again.

“Childishness? I haven’t done anything that would make people suspicious of magic. If nothing else they think our house is haunted. Once, someone even said we were the Addams Family. How ridiculous? I think kids are watching too much sci-fi nowadays.” I went on. It wasn’t like me to be open with someone, especially when they were being rude. He must be in my head again, I thought. I checked my blocking and that wasn’t it- strong as ever. Maybe I really wanted to talk to him now, especially since he was like me.

“That’s just as bad. You are drawing attention to the fact that you are different.” Drake complained.

“Worse things could happen. I could be walking around that school screaming ‘Alakazaam‘ and making it rain. I’m not doing stupid things like that. I keep to myself mostly, unless something grabs my attention. But, even then I don’t walk around hexing everything and everyone within a ten mile radius!” I explained myself. Not that I ever felt the need to in all my life, but this guy was just too much.

“I realize that, and that’s what I told the Guard, but they are adamant, you need supervision.” Drake said, eyes on his shoes.

“SUPERVISION?” I asked, no, I more screamed and growled and spit. It wasn’t pretty whatever it was. “I don’t need supervision, especially not from some idiot like you!”

“Don’t be an ass.” Drake finally looked at me again, this time just as angry. “Do you think I enjoy babysitting?”

“Babysitting? Is that what you are calling this? Then go away!” I thought of his smile, his body, wink, his smell- which up until now I didn’t think much of; it reminded me of the beach.- his eyes, even that stupid kiss after school. The one that didn’t mean anything but to cause a diversion. Babysitting, indeed.

“I can’t go away, Lilith. You are my priority. If you fail, I fail- that kind of thing.” Drake said, shaking his head. “You are going to make this Hell aren’t you?”

“I wasn’t planning on it. I thought we were going to be buddies or something since we were both from the same background. BUT, you are turning it into something awful. So, yes, now I am going to make this Hell.” I glowered at him. I visualized him going up in flames, but being careful not to actually will it to happen. Suddenly he looked to be in pain. My eyes went wide, had I hurt him?

“You want to be buddies? You are a princess. I’m a guard- that is kind of impossible, isn’t it?” Drake asked, white as a ghost. No, I hadn’t hurt him- physically!

“What the hell does anything have to do with that? Yes, I am a princess, but not here! I’m some freak of nature in high school. I never thought of it before, because I’ve been so resentful, but I could use a friend.” The words that came out of my mouth shocked me. I was weaker than I ever imagined. Maybe things were getting to me in this stupid town. Maybe I did really want someone to confide in and that’s why I had been so nasty. No matter, as Drake said, I was a princess and he was just a guard.

“Well, if you don’t care I’d really like that.” Drake was kind of pink again. “But, won’t your betrothed be a little ticked if he finds out you are hanging out with me?”

“My betrothed? That idiot? I don’t know who it is, but as far as I am concerned he doesn’t exist. I don’t care what anyone thinks of us being friends.” My chin was raised, I was being defiant again. It felt good after that little slide into weakness.

“You don’t know who it is?” He asked grinning. “I’m surprised your parents haven’t forced him down your throat, especially at this age.”

“I don’t even know his name. Do you know who it is?” I asked, acting curious. I did know his name, but that was about it. I hadn’t thought about the fact that my life was already planned when I got back to Avonia. It wasn’t something I never wanted to think about, so over the years it just disappeared.

“I’ve heard a few rumors, but you know how that is. Half the time it’s bunk.” Drake answered. I realized he was a lot closer to me than he was before. “I’m sorry I kissed you earlier. That was rude.”

“Well, it was a good kiss if that makes any difference.” I was the one blushing now. The feel of his solid body, his soft lips slamming to mine, the way my body went limp with the electricity. I wanted to feel it again, to be honest.

“Really? It was so impromptu.” Drake shook his head, brow furrowed again.

“I like impromptu.” I winked. I heard a rustling in the trees and then heard swearing. “Aiden! What are you doing?”

Aiden popped through the trees, still cussing. I couldn’t understand why. “I was coming to make sure he hadn’t killed you or something. You’ve been gone for a while. And, because I came to find you I stepped in a mound of some sort of shit.” He was not happy. His cinnamon eyes were on fire.

“Relax, Aiden. Drake and I have just been talking. How did you step in crap?” I was trying so hard not to laugh. The look in his eyes made me quite aware that the forest could go up in a blaze, it had been quite dry recently. No need to start forest fires.

“Well. Fine. A waste.” He looked at me, then at Drake, and then snapped his fingers and his shoes were spotlessly clean. My eyes went wide, what was he doing? He didn’t know anything about Drake.

“AIDEN!” I shouted, forgetting for half a second that Drake could probably do the same thing.

“OOPS!” Aiden was no longer mad, he was fearful. I had never seen him pull something like that before in front of a normal person before. Not once. Why did he slip up now? Anger?“You need to be more careful with your anger. Obviously you can’t think straight. You’re lucky Drake practices as well.” I scolded him. His fear subsided into embarrassment.

“I’ve never done this before, Drake! I’m really sorry.” He was sheepish. I hadn’t seen him like that since he forgot to control himself and set the dining room table on fire.

“It’s quite alright, actually. I probably would have done the same thing.” Drake tried to comfort my little brother.

“Really?” Aiden asked hopeful.

“No. Sorry.” Drake laughed. I couldn’t help myself. I almost fell over when the laughter finally hit me. So upset over some poo! And then Drake? What was this, a gift from the Gods? No, more like a cruel joke. I was betrothed, which I conveniently forgot about, and Drake was gorgeous and funny… More like a curse.

Aiden got upset again and stomped back towards home, I kept laughing. Drake was smiling at me, the blue diamonds in his eyes were dancing, making his face light up. Once I calmed down I asked him a question, whether or not he found me insane, I didn’t care. After the information he gave me about being a guard, I was paranoid.

“Drake, is that your real name?” I asked, trying not to look as inept as I felt.

“No, it’s not.” He said between chuckles. He finally became serious and smiled, bowing his head again like a gentleman. “My name is Leviathan Payne.”

Had I not already been laughing, this fit of giggles would not have been easily overlooked. This little bit of hysterics that I now found myself having was because I knew that name. Leviathan Payne was my betrothed. I was right, it was a cruel joke. Would I say oh yeah, by the way you’re my future husband? No, probably not. I wanted to cry so I kept laughing. This was not happening to me. This couldn’t possibly be really happening to me!

“Are you OK?” He asked, looking at me funny. I assumed that ‘is she out of her mind’ look was fitting. I was quite out of it. A bit too far gone for what was natural.

“Yes. I am fine.” I choked out. This time, because the laughter stopped the tears were going to come. “You know, I have a lot to do tonight so I should probably get back.” DO NOT CRY YOU SISSY! I was shouting at myself just trying to keep the tears away.

“Well, that’s abrupt. Was it something I said?” Leviathan asked, concerned. Probably feeling self conscience. I couldn’t have that, but should I tell him why I was having a mini panic attack?

“OK, so this is going to be really awkward. Are there any other Leviathan Paynes around in Avonia that I don’t know of?” I asked, hoping and praying that he would say yes, even though I was more than one hundred percent sure that was not the case.

“You’ve heard of me? No, just me. Unless you count my grandfather who I was named after.” He responded, still keeping his ‘lets put her in a padded cell’ look on his face.

“That’s what I thought.” That’s all I could get out. I wanted to continue saying that you are my betrothed, by the by. Hope that doesn’t freak you right the hell out like it does me, but, I couldn’t seem to bring myself to do that.

“Well, you did say you had to go. I shouldn’t keep you. Will I see you tomorrow?” He asked both disappointed and hopeful.

“Thanks, yeah, you will see me tomorrow.” I smiled. I was excited about tomorrow, about school, since when? Since Leviathan. He smiled back and we walked out of the forest back to my house. When we neared his car he grabbed me up into a big hug. I didn’t want to let go.

“Hope you don’t mind. I can’t seem to keep from touching you.” He blushed again, I am sure I was doing the same thing. No, love, touch me any time you want!“It’s OK.” I winked. I turned to walk in the house before my knees gave out. Something about his touch was just electrifying. I couldn’t understand it. Suddenly, his hand was on my waist, pulling me back to him.

“You don’t mind? Well then…” Impromptu was a good thing. Once again I was smashed against him and kissing him with a passion I had never experienced before. It couldn’t be this easy. He set me back down on the ground, which I thought was shaking under me, and smiled. “Don’t forget, my name is Drake Snowdeth.”

“Uh huh…” Speechless. That had never happened before… I watched him get into his car and take off down the drive. I could feel eyes on the back of my head from my room. Aiden was a dead man.

I rushed upstairs trying to avoid my parents so that Aiden’s death could be quick and I threw my bedroom door open. “AIDEN!” I screeched, my hand was raised to smack him right across the head and then I saw her. Or them. Viviane and Claire and Dawn.

“SORRY!” They ran screaming from my room. I plopped back down on the lounge where I started. Pandora’s box indeed.