Blood of the Pure (Gaea) (10 page)

I’m such an idiot!

Why was I the only one who had to deal with that uncontrollable feeling of fear when he was around? How could everyone else accept his presence so naturally? How did they not feel the ice cold waves emanating from him, even while he smiled gently as he heard Steph’s tainted opinion about Mr. Frederich?

“But really, no one would ever guess you guys are related,” Joe pointed out and I slightly choked.

“Right? You two are so different!” Joanne unusually agreed.

“That’s because my mother is Mariane’s father’s cousin.” I put down my fork and knife to hide how my hands were shaking. “It’s not like we’re first cousins. Besides, as it turns out, I take after my father’s side,” he added casually and I feared I wouldn’t be able to keep down what little I’d been able to eat.

“Right. It had to be,” Joe agreed laughing. “Mari’s family must be all shorties!”

“Joe!” Steph’s reprehensive tone was lost amongst everyone else’s laughter. Only she knew how much that subject hit a nerve.

“Um, not really,” Gabriel disagreed and everyone was suddenly quite once again, as if it were forbidden to utter a single sound while he spoke. “Aunt Rachel is quite tall, for a woman.” I don’t know what shocked me the most, him knowing my mother by name and appearance or if the feeling that he had somehow defended me.

“Oh, then Mari is the only one with a problem,” Joe replied with a smile and Steph kicked him under the table. His loud ‘Ouch!’ made everyone else laugh and I stood up, knowing I’d never be able to finish my lunch.

“Going already?” Joanne asked and I noticed that, unlike my usual self, I hadn’t even bothered to make sure I’d leave as unnoticed as possible.

“Hey, Mari, you sure that teacher isn’t kind of exploiting you?” Joe asked, sounding worried. I stood there trying to make sense of his question. “Making you categorize all those books, every single day!” It came out more like a protest and I forced a smile as I understood that had been Steph’s excuse for my daily absences and early departures from lunch.

“I don’t mind,” I answered, praying my voice wouldn’t falter. “It’s only for an hour...”

“Just go already!” Steph encouraged me with an accomplice’s smile. “And good luck!”

I grabbed my tray with shaky hands and noticed that he was staring at me. The glass jingled against the plate and I rushed out of there.

I went through the corridors at a rapid pace, grumbling and protesting under my breath, but unable to stop all that trembling. I was especially annoyed with myself, for not being able to act normally whenever he was there, even though I knew there was nothing to fear for the time being.

I stopped by the stairs that led to the first floor and leaned against the wall, feeling some measure of comfort in its cold hardness. He’d invaded my world and it had been me who had invited him.

“You fear me that much?” His voice, in that casual tone, paralyzed me from head to toe and I clenched my fists furiously. “Not that you shouldn’t. But you seem to be the only one to feel that way,” he noted, apparently devoid of any emotion and, once more, I had to make use of all my willpower just to face him. He stood right in front of me, his back against the opposite wall. Two girls passed between us, talking cheerfully, and it was as if in that short fraction of time they and I were in completely different dimensions.

“What are you doing here?” I managed to ask, my voice scraping my throat, and he looked surprised by my question.

“What do you mean what am I doing here? Fulfilling our Contract, of course.”

“Steph and the others ...”

“You have nothing to worry about. Contracts must be followed to the letter. Besides, once it has been fulfilled, when I disappear, they will all forget me. It will be as if I had never existed.” I couldn’t help noticing that it was the second time he told me those exact words. “Aren’t you going to see him? Isn’t that what you normally do?” He smiled mockingly and I noticed that nothing had remained from the nice and friendly expression he’d had on his face while answering my friends’ questions.

He was right, I thought. That was what I would normally do. However, just thinking that my presence near Michael would mean he’d be there, too, made my fear even more palpable and real.

“I see,” he said. “That’s fine, too, you know? Because it won’t be necessary for any of us to take a single step ... Mariane.” I held on to the wall so I wouldn’t collapse and his words stopped making sense at the sound of my name.

“Stop. Just stop calling my name,” I whispered, my chest burning due to the lack of air, and he looked genuinely amused, tilting his head forward as if to see me better.

“And why is that?” he asked innocently, although it was written on his face he new perfectly well why. “You may call me Gabriel, since it seems you don’t remember my name. Did you know that Gabriel is the name of an angel? Don’t you think it fits me perfectly?”

I regained my balance and faced him. That creature ... was pure evil.

The sound of footsteps left us silent and I couldn’t help feel restless before the gleam in his eyes. I waited to see who approached us and my heart jumped a beat when Michael turned the corner.

He had his hands tucked inside the pockets of a dark-blue and white jacket; his face lightly flushed, probably from being outside. The same boy from before accompanied him, and I wished I could simply run away. I would have done it too, if not for the short distance between us that would make running even worse.

To my surprise he saw me and seemed to recognize me. For an instant I’d thought he would just simply walk by me. He didn’t. Michael stopped a few steps from where I stood and his smile inflamed my cheeks, which I tried to hide behind strands of hair by lowering my head.

“You ... you’re the girl from yesterday,” he noted and I simply nodded, but, to my horror, the shadow standing on the other side of the corridor came to life.

“Her name is Mariane,” he stated with a commanding tone and I froze, unable to breathe.

I watched as he walked towards Michael, standing at least one head taller than him, and wanted with all my heart to stop him, but just stood there, unable to move. He raised an arm, his long white finger pointing at Michael, who was staring at him completely perplexed, and I recalled with a shudder the pain his touch could inflict.

“See that you’ll never forget it again,” he added, sticking his finger in Michael’s chest, and then walked away, disappearing around the corner.

I looked at Michael in fear. For a moment I thought he would fall unconscious, or something worse. But Michael smiled, looking embarrassed, and rubbed the place where Gabriel had touched him.

“He’s right. I have the worst memory for names,” he confessed, scratching behind his neck. “Mariane!” I jumped at the sound of my name and couldn’t help blush.

“Yes!” I answered reflexively and immediately felt like a fool.

“I never even thanked you properly for saving me,” he told me, his warm voice erasing in an instant all the dark and terrifying things that had happened in the last few days.

“It was nothing,” I replied in a shy voice. “Besides, you were the one who saved me first.”

“Ah, yes, in the stairway,” he recalled and I lost myself. When he smiled his whole face seemed to smile as well. “I’m really sorry for not remembering you the other day. Steven was the one who told me who you were. The day you fell on the stairs we had an exam next, and we were already late. All that stress.” He spoke in an apologetic tone and I shook my head vehemently.

“It’s OK.” And in truth, right then, everything was OK. His words had completely erased the pain his indifference had caused me before; that same pain that caused me to open that damn book in the first place.

“That guy.” He looked towards the direction Gabriel had taken. “Is he in your class? I don’t recall seeing him around.” I wished I could deny it; tell him that I didn’t know him, but immediately changed my mind. Gabriel stood out too much and Michael was bound to end up hearing rumors about him, which meant learning the truth, including that we were supposedly related.

“He just transferred,” I explained. “His name is ... Gabriel ... and he’s my cousin.” I had to force out the words.

“Strange. Never heard of student transfers in the middle of the year,” Steven opined and Michael nodded. I wished I’d been able to make up a better story like Steph would certainly have done.

“True,” Michael said. “But now I see why he sounded so defensive.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, he clearly didn’t like that I forgot your name,” he told me condescendingly and I was stunned for a moment. However, I instantly recalled the ease with which Gabriel deceived everyone else, and my surprise quickly turned into anger. Even Michael had bought his little act. “I guess he’s right, though,” he conceded. “It was unforgivable of me and I swear it won’t happen again.”

Ah! I could die right there and then. Nothing else mattered; nothing but the softness of that green gaze, the sweetness of that smile, the warmth of that voice. That it was all for me, even if only during that small period of time, was beyond everything I had ever dreamed possible. Michael looked, smiled and talked to me, and nothing else mattered.

Steven reminded Michael they still had to prep the Chemistry laboratory for the next class and it was with a heavy disappointment that I answered his farewell. I stood there, watching him as he climbed the stairs and long after he was gone. His image was printed on my retinas. Right then Michael was all I could see.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

During English class there was always a constant murmur in the background, but this time around Steph’s talking partner was Joanne, who asked for details about her date with Mark. I, on the other hand, didn’t really mind being left out. Not being included in their talk spared me from the effort of having to constantly look for answers to their questions. My thoughts went back to the images burnt with fire on my memory. I still couldn’t believe I’d been able to have what seemed like a normal talk with Michael.

We were halfway through class when Steph turned to me.

“Mari? Where’s your cousin?” I looked at her unable to understand. My mind was so far away that it was hard to come back to reality. But, as soon as I did, everything else came tumbling back as well, leaving a heavy acid pain on my stomach.

“I don’t know,” I replied, thinking I didn’t want to know, and Steph turned to Joanne.

“Strange. He told us that he also had this class, right?” Joanne nodded. “He said he chose the same classes as you, Mari,” Steph added and I couldn’t feel surprised at that. “He told us that since he really doesn’t have any specific interests that he’d rather go to the same classes as you. At least he’s together with someone he knows.”

I sighed. She really believed all that crap.

“Your cousin is super nice,” Joanne stated with enthusiasm. “Not to mention he’s kind of a hunk!” I couldn’t help looking at her appalled.

“Well, he’s definitely something worth feasting your eyes upon,” Steph agreed with a malicious smile. “Did you see all the girls staring at him at lunch?”

“Yeah! First Joe didn’t even like it all that much. But now I think he’s decided to make good use of the new chick magnet,” Joanne said jokingly and I started to see a new problem arising.

“You guys ...” I started and they both looked at me, making me unsure. “You shouldn’t get too close to him. He is not what he seems.”

They were both silent for a moment, looking surprised at hearing me say something like that, and Steph ended up smiling, ruining the seriousness of the moment.

“Come on, Mari. We’re just saying he’s kind of cute. Besides, I’m sure he can’t be all that bad. You sound like me when I talk about my brother,” Steph added with a light laughter. I was left without an argument that wouldn’t make me sound half paranoid.

The murmur that filled the classroom suddenly grew louder and heads began turning towards the windows. Someone even stood up to see what was going on, but when I looked outside, all I could see was that it had started to rain. Our teacher, on the other hand, went on with her explanation about the irregularities of the English grammar, ignoring the commotion all around her.

“It’s him, isn’t it?” I heard someone whisper.

“It’s the new guy,” another one said. Steph, Joanne and I stood up and ran towards a window, standing between two other girls already glued against the glass

“What’s he doing down there?”

“Who cares! He’s gorgeous!” answered another girl and I trembled in anger.

“Isn’t he your cousin, Mari?” asked the girl sitting by the window where we all now perched, and I clenched my teeth grumbling as I returned to my seat to grab my umbrella.

“Teacher, I’m going to the bathroom. Be right back,” I announced and left without even waiting for an answer, certain that it would never come.

That idiot! What was he thinking?

I ran through the corridor and down the stairs, furious with the attention he was getting, which would inevitably fall over me as well. Once on the ground floor, I pushed the heavy glass door open and opened my umbrella, hiding from the cold rain under it. I took a deep breath and went down the stairs where I’d fallen a few days ago, my boots splashing on the sopping wet grass.