Awakening (Book One of The Geis) (20 page)

Josh stiffened next to me. I stared at Taminy, trying to comprehend her meaning. What were people saying about me?

“I didn’t mean anything by it.” Lucas took a step toward me. “Honest, I didn’t.”

“You just keep your distance from McKayla.” Josh lowered his voice.

“Josh!” I was grateful that he would try to protect my feelings, but I wished that he and Lucas would chill out.

Taminy kept pulling Lucas toward a booth, but he didn’t seem to be following her lead.

“We’ll pick this conversation up another time.” As he sat next to Taminy, Lucas winked at me and his smile widened, deepening his scar into a dimple.

Josh tried to steer me toward the door, but I stood rooted in one spot as an unfamiliar emotion swept over me like a chill. Indifference seeped into my mind, mingling with my own range of emotions. Lucas was flirting with me, but he wasn’t doing it to get my attention, he was using me to try and hurt Josh. Lucas didn’t care about me—he never had.

I waited for the heartbreak to come, but I felt only a mixture of surprise and relief. Any attraction that I had felt for Lucas fled when I caught a glimpse into what was really inside of him. It hit me then. I never really was in love with Lucas—how could I have been? The person I imagined him to be didn’t exist. I stepped back and bumped into Josh. He put a hand on my back and we walked to the door.

“Hey Josh?” Taminy called out. She was sitting in the booth with her thigh-length leather boots stretched across Lucas’s lap.

Josh stopped long enough to hear her out.

“I think it’s cool that you Irish dance.”

Josh dipped his head in her direction, but his eyes were on mine as we walked out the door.

“Lizard!” Zoey lunged for the lizard, but Dad scooped her up and plunked her back in her chair. The lizard curled up, unnoticed, beneath Zoey’s chair, and she put her feet on him like a footrest. Aunt Avril had insisted that we invite Rourke over so she could meet “the man who could walk through fire.” Our entire family was crowded around Aunt Avril’s apartment table with what could have passed as a Thanksgiving dinner sitting on top.

“Rourke, this is my sister, Avril,” Mom introduced as we sat down.

Rourke shook Aunt Avril’s hand.
Always a pleasure to meet another of McKayla’s relatives,
I translated for him.

Aunt Avril took Rourke’s outstretched hand, and he kissed it. Her eyes got round. “How nice to meet a young man who is also a gentleman. Such a rarity these days.”

Zoey smiled at me behind her dinner roll.

Mom passed the potatoes to Rourke. “We never got a chance to thank you properly for saving our Zoey. We are in your debt.”

“You have no idea what it means to us,” Dad said. “If there is anything we can do for you, please let us know.”

Rourke accepted the bowl and lowered his head in a bow.

“McKayla tells me that you are putting on a production,” Dad said.

Rourke nodded.
It’s an original choreography that I’ve been working on for a long time.

“Do you both plan to continue the school now that you have more dancers?” Dad asked.

Rourke studied his plate, and for a moment I thought he didn’t hear Dad. When Rourke put down his silverware, he looked at me before answering.
I don’t know how long I will be in the area, but Leah is one of the best teachers out there.

“Where did you learn to dance, Rourke?” Mom asked as she gave Benji a spoonful of potatoes. Benji was reaching for Aunt Avril’s cat, which had retreated to the back of the couch as soon as the lizard had come in.

I don’t remember not knowing how to dance. Where I am from, dancing is as natural as breathing.
Rourke smiled to himself. Was he remembering what it was like to dance without the geis, to dance with magic?
What have you heard about your house?

“As soon as the insurance kicks in, we will be able to start on the reconstruction.” Mom replied. “In the meantime, the Red Cross offered to put us up in an apartment.”

“I wouldn’t hear of such a thing, not as long as I’m in town,” Aunt Avril interrupted. “Theron always told me, ‘When life gets tough, you should count on family to be there, whether you like it or not.’ “

Rourke looked confused. I tried to warn him by shaking my head, but he asked anyway,
Who is Theron?
I reluctantly translated.

Aunt Avril pointed her fork at Rourke. A piece of turkey bounced up and down on it as she spoke. “Theron is my dear husband.”

Zoey giggled.

Her dead husband
, I signed, and shook my head when Rourke’s eyebrows went up into his hairline.

He sounds like a wise man,
Rourke signed. Aunt Avril nodded to herself.
What kind of work do you do?

“Aunt Avril is a psychic,” Zoey blurted. “She can read your palm if you want.”

Mom plunked the basket of rolls down hard in front of her, making me jump.

“Can I be done?” Zoey asked. “I want to go outside and play.”

Mom looked to Aunt Avril. “Is it safe for her to play outside?”

Aunt Avril wiped her fingers on her napkin. “There is a swing set in the apartment courtyard. Go ahead if you want.”

“Put your shoes on and stay in the yard. I want you close, so don’t wander.”

“Ok, Mom.” Zoey pushed back from the table and left the room. The lizard plodded after her like a watchdog.

Dad cleared his throat. “Avril is a consultant for various law enforcement agencies around the world. She helps them solve cases that have gone cold.”

Rourke leaned back and appraised Aunt Avril.
Are you working on a case here in Star Valley?
Mom shifted in her chair and reached for the salad.

“As a matter of fact, I am. I’ve been working this case on and off for over a decade. But luck favors the persistent, and Theron knows I’ve tracked this killer halfway around the world and back.”

I know something about the murders,
Rourke signed to Aunt Avril. When I translated for Aunt Avril, she put down her fork.
The banshee has followed me my entire life. She kills those whose death will help her and hurt others, and she has no remorse. She is responsible for murdering the man from Thayne.
I sat still, with my hands in my lap, afraid to interpret what Rourke said.

“What’s he saying, McKayla? What do you know about the murders?” Dad turned in his chair to face Rourke.

“He says . . .” I hesitated. Would they believe the truth? I wasn’t sure that I believed it and I had seen Rourke’s memory of the Arbitor, even if it had only been in a memory.

Rourke raised an eyebrow at me. This was fast getting out of control, and in a direction that I did not want the conversation to go. “You wouldn’t believe me,” I said.

“I have an idea,” Aunt Avril broke the silence. She shifted her chair closer to the table and reached her hands out to Rourke. “If you are willing, I could take a reading.”

Rourke looked around the table before placing his hands palm up on top of Aunt Avril’s. I expected her to trace his palm like she had when she read Zoey’s fortune, but instead she gripped his hands, bringing them close together. The gem in Aunt Avril’s snake ring reflected the evening sunlight that streamed in through the window, casting a yellowish-green glow on the table next to them. I looked out the window to where Zoey played in the courtyard, throwing leaves up into the air and catching them again.

Aunt Avril closed her eyes.

Rourke and Avril sat still, hands clasped. Rourke’s eyes were open, focused on Aunt Avril. The occasional jabber from Benji was the only sound in the room.

Aunt Avril’s eyes flew open and she stared at Rourke, her chest heaving. She pulled her hands away and fanned herself. I leaned forward, anxious to know what she had “seen.” Aunt Avril cocked her head, as if contemplating what she had learned, and then picked up her fork and resumed eating.

“Well?” I asked.

She swallowed a bite of turkey before pointing a shaking finger at Rourke. “I have never met anyone like you before. I do believe we are going to get along just fine.”

I breathed a sigh of relief. Dad didn’t look satisfied. He started to speak but Aunt Avril cut him off. “Rourke is like me, William. He is able to use his abilities to help others, and he has been hunting the same creature that I have.” She took a shaky breath. “For much longer than me.”

“Abilities?” Mom asked. “You mean—”

“Maggie,” Aunt Avril stopped her. “Rourke can help me solve this case.”

Mom folded her arms. “It seems like too much of a coincidence. I don’t want my girls involved in this. At all.”

Rourke’s hands flew.
I understand your concern, but I can assure you, the danger would have come to this valley, and to your family, whether or not I did.

“Avril’s word on the matter is good enough for me.” Dad shook Rourke’s hand. “You saved my little girl’s life. I’ll love you ‘till the day I die.”

Leaves were strewn across the sidewalk. I stepped from leaf to leaf, getting a small satisfaction at the way they crunched beneath my feet. It felt good to get out in the cool evening air, away from the tension in Aunt Avril’s apartment. The discussion about Aunt Avril’s case had continued, and as soon as Rourke had gotten up to leave, I had volunteered to check on Zoey.

The lizard walked sluggishly to Zoey’s side. I tried to reconcile it with the dragon in Rourke’s memory. It wasn’t working. I stooped to grab an armful of ammunition and ran for Zoey, throwing the leaves into the air above her.

Zoey rose up on one elbow, holding her bandaged arm out to her side above the leaf pile she was buried in. “Hey, what’s that for?”

“For being a weirdo.”

“I am not a weirdo.” She jumped up and kicked some leaves my way. Her attempt backfired, and the whole pile blew back on top of her. I laughed, and she tried again, this time crouching as close to me as she dared, especially when she saw that I was reloading my arms.

“Help!” Zoey shrieked. I dropped the leaves and ran after her, tickling her until we both lay panting, leaves tangled in our hair. Zoey cradled her arm.

I turned onto my side, facing Zoey. She had always been tiny for her age, but at that moment, with leaves sticking out of her hair and her large brown eyes trained on mine, she looked especially vulnerable.

“Why does Mrs. Saddlebury hate me?” Zoey asked.

I propped myself up on one elbow. “No one hates you, Zoey.”

“Mrs. Saddlebury does.” Zoey’s eyebrows pinched together. “When she saw me under the bed, she looked like she hated me.”

I lifted her chin. “It’s not because of anything that you’ve done. Do you hear me?”

“Then why did she come in our house and start it on fire?” Zoey clenched her eyes shut.

“It has nothing to do with you.” I rubbed her good arm. “You need to be careful, Squit. Mom and Dad aren’t going to listen to everything you tell them about the fire, and that’s ok. But if you ever see Mrs. Saddlebury, I want you to run away. And then come and tell me.” I didn’t want to scare Zoey, but I wanted her as far away from Mrs. Saddlebury as I could get her.

“If she finds me again, will you come for me?” Zoey asked.

“Didn’t you hear what Aunt Avril said?” I tapped Zoey’s nose with a finger. “Family is there for you, even when you don’t want them to be.”

Zoey snuggled against me. I put my chin on her head, trying to block out how close the banshee had come to taking Zoey away from me. The lizard stood on the sidewalk near us, its face turned toward the setting sun. He didn’t appear to be paying attention to two sisters playing in the autumn leaves, but his presence was a reminder that neither of us was safe.

I vowed to make good on my promise to Zoey.

I expected the rock church to be much bigger. When Josh pulled into the parking lot of the Auburn church, I took in the one-room, river-rocked building, which sat in the middle of a community park, with skepticism.

Next to the tiny church, a bowery overflowed with people of all ages. Orange and black balloons were tied to every corner of the building.

“You should have worn a costume.” Josh crossed in front of his car to meet me.

“What?” I looked down at the 1920’s style flapper’s dress I wore, complete with fringe. “This is my costume.” I stopped talking when I saw the grin on Josh’s face. I pulled the feather in my headdress through my fingers and batted my eyes. “Do you think I should wear this to school?”

Josh eyed my costume. “Definitely.”

I took in Josh’s jeans and white t-shirt. “What are you supposed to be?”

“Hang on,” he said, and ran back to the car. He pulled his black leather jacket on over his white t-shirt and jeans. “Who am I?” He struck a pose, one arm bent in front of his chest and the other flung to the side. I got it instantly.

“Elvis?” I joked.

Josh’s face fell. “Are you kidding me?”

“I get it. Michael Flatley from
Lord of the Dance
!” I couldn’t stop laughing. “All you need are some crystal-studded, tight leather pants.”

“I thought you, of all people, would appreciate the imitation,” Josh scolded me, but he couldn’t hide his smile.

We crossed over the lawn, past an open area where booths were set up for games between the bowery and the church. I could see a blanket hung for “go fish” and a tin filled with apples for bobbing. Beyond that, a group of kids gathered where donuts hung from strings, waiting to be munched out of the air. The full moon cast an eerie orange glow over the entire scene. Here, with Josh, I could forget about what would happen when that moon waned. I resolved not to think about Rourke’s journey home for one evening, at least.

“Hi Josh, who is this?” A man came out from under the bowery to greet us.

“McKayla, this is Dan, a family friend.”

Dan shook my hand. “Nice to meet you, McKayla.” He wiggled his eyebrows at Josh. “Have a fun time.”

Josh’s ears turned red. I laughed at his reaction and he relaxed. “Let’s get something to eat.”

I followed him through the crowd, stopping at a table filled with baked goods. Caramel-frosted cupcakes, colored popcorn balls, and chocolate-covered marshmallows paraded across the orange tablecloths. Josh pulled out his wallet and handed a few dollars to the woman behind the table. “Two caramel apples, please.”

He handed me an apple that had been dipped in caramel, then chocolate, and rolled in pecans. I took a bite. It was almost as good as Mom’s. I remembered when Lucas had bought the caramel apple for Taminy at the bonfire. That seemed like such a long time ago.

“You didn’t have to get one for me,” I said.

“My pleasure.” Josh grinned. I felt spoiled and feminine, and for the first time in weeks, carefree. “Let’s go get in line for the haunted house.”

Kids in costumes crowded around the double doors of the church, and I could see someone standing in front, allowing entrance to a few at a time. Despite the chilly air, a tangible excitement hummed like electricity through the park.

The line was longer than when we first arrived, and we stood behind a little Rapunzel, a Hello Kitty, and a Superman. They were discussing whether or not the spook alley would be too scary.

“I heard there is a stuffed hand from a real, live, dead person in there,” Superman was saying. The little girls shrieked. One of them looked genuinely scared.

Josh crouched down and whispered in her ear, “I helped make the haunted house, and it’s not too scary for a princess.”

Rapunzel looked reassured but still clung to her trick-or-treat bucket with both hands.

When we got to the double doors, I looked up at the rock church. A plaque hung above the door under the eaves. “Auburn Ward 1889,” I read aloud. “This church is over 100 years old.”

“Pretty cool huh? They say that Butch Cassidy hid from the law underneath the floorboards of the church.” Josh pulled a black balloon from where a bunch had been tied to the doorframe. He undid the string and the knot holding the helium in the balloon.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

Josh winked at me. “You’ll see.”

The inside was pitch black. I saw a flash of light out of the corner of my vision. Screams of nervous delight echoed in the small space. Josh grabbed my hand and I flinched, reacting without thinking. He reached down again, and held on tight. His hand felt warm and rough, and safe.

We had to climb over an obstacle course made of an old mattress, and when we got to the end, Josh let go of my hand for a minute. I reached out blindly and found his arm. A strobe flashed, revealing a guy dressed in a grotesque mask.

Josh screamed and I looked at him in surprise. The scream sounded like a cartoon chipmunk. Josh put the balloon to his mouth and sucked in. “What?” he squeaked, “I’m so scared.” The voice sounded so ridiculous coming from a tough wrestler. I couldn’t stop laughing.

“Can I try?”

Josh handed me the balloon and took my hand again, steering me down the dark path. We went around a corner where Zombies were picking up body parts and coming toward us. I took a breath of the helium and held it in my lungs.

“Ahhh!” I screamed, my voice sounding high and tinny. “Scary, scary, scary!”

One of the zombies laughed. Josh gave me a high five. We wound through the maze of the haunted house and out the back door. Bales of hay had been stacked right up to the walls behind the church in an effort to extend the haunted house outside.

The cold air hit us like a wall. I shivered and scooted closer to Josh. We walked around a few corners and there was nothing, not even a planted scarecrow. When we got halfway down a pathway to what looked like a dead end, a grating sound roared to life. I turned and saw a guy in hockey mask coming toward us with a chain saw. His breath escaped through the mask, turning to steam in the night air.

Even though I knew he was in a costume, the guy freaked me out. My heart pounded and I looked around for the best way to avoid him. He came closer, too close for my comfort. I pulled Josh in the opposite direction.

“Hey man, that’s close enough,” Josh warned.

The chain saw grew louder as the guy grew closer. He was a few feet away from me when Josh got in the guy’s face. “Can’t you see she doesn’t like it?”

The guy turned around and walked the other direction. I breathed a sigh of relief.

“Sorry about that,” Josh said.

“It’s ok.” I felt light-headed. I didn’t know if it was the helium, or if it was the adrenaline pumping through my veins. “Are we at the end?”

“I think so.” Josh held my hand behind his back and went ahead of me through the maze.

“McKayla,” a voice whispered. I whipped my head around, but no one was there. I must have overheard some conversation from the group of kids coming in behind us. I stopped Josh and took off my sweater, desperately warm all of a sudden, despite the cool air.

Forms came toward us, hooded in black, tattered capes. I turned my back to them. I’d really had enough haunted house for one night, and I was starting to feel nauseated. A smell of decaying fruit filled my nostrils and reminded me of something that I couldn’t quite identify.

The hooded figures surrounded us, and soon I couldn’t even see Josh. One of the wraiths came closer and leaned down to whisper in my ear. I couldn’t move. Its breath was hot on my cheek, the smell overpowering.

A ringing sounded in my ears. Despair reached out with tendrils of temptation, promising me release from pain, from life. I sank to my knees, and the hooded figure followed me down. A continuous wail sounded in my head. It lowered in pitch as I fell.

I struggled against the ribbons of blackness that threatened to envelop me, trying to reach the silver knife in my satchel. My arms wouldn’t move.

A hiss came from the wall of hay above us. Eyes glowed orange in the moonlight where Rourke’s lizard perched on top of the hay.

Images tumbled over each other in my mind: Mrs. Saddlebury pulling Zoey out the door at the feis, Rourke dancing in the high school gym, Zoey clutching a pink stuffed dog, Aunt Avril telling me to believe in the unknown.

I knew where I had smelled that sweet, rotting odor. I smelled it every time Mrs. Saddlebury came near.

“Will you people never give up?” I heard Josh say.

I opened my eyes and saw Josh dive for the banshee’s legs. The wailing stopped, and I cried out, “Josh no!”

The fog clouded my ability to concentrate on what I was seeing. I brushed at the air in front of me as if that could clear my vision.

Josh’s arms closed on empty air where the banshee’s legs should have been. She bent down to Josh’s ear. His eyes grew wide. I struggled to get up, but I couldn’t move from where I lay in the dirt. A crowd of people gathered behind us. Someone screamed for help.

The banshee turned her hooded face toward me, her voice chilling in my ear and threatening my ability to remain conscious. Even in the cover of darkness, I could see that Mrs. Saddlebury’s arms and hands were transformed from her usually white skin to a pale blue.

A spark ignited inside my chest. I grabbed onto that spark like a lifeline. The banshee’s wail faltered as I nursed the feeling that grew inside of me. She struggled against it, and I felt myself slipping into the black. I concentrated on the spark and mentally pushed against the banshee with everything I had. It grew into a flame that I nurtured until the tone of her voice faded.

The banshee screamed, a grating, piercing sound that penetrated my ears. Shadows concealed her eyes, but I could feel her gaze on me, hot and penetrating. Before I lost consciousness, I saw a movement out of the corner of my eye. Then everything went black.