In the Shadows (3 page)

“She needs to be kept safe and Álfheimr is the safest place for her,” Isobel suggests. Anxiety rises from the pit of my stomach, because as much as I love Isobel and know that she has my best interests at heart, there’s no way I can stay hidden here forever—

“We can’t expect her to hide out forever,” Jacoby interjects on my behalf as though reading my mind, which he probably did. I’ve gotten better at blocking him so he doesn’t hear every fleeting thought, which is good because that could get pretty embarrassing, but every once in a while when I get upset I forget to put up my mental wall and he hears everything.

He’s pacing frantically like he does when he’s extremely anxious about something.   “Why can’t we just get rid of him?”

“We can’t just ‘get rid of him’. We don’t work like that. We cannot just kill someone. It goes against our nature. But I forget, you are lacking in that particular area of morality,” Grey retorts.

Against our nature? Is he trying to say that Jacoby can entertain thoughts of killing bad people because he was raised by the Dark Elves who don’t think twice about committing such crimes or is he saying that it’s the human part of him that is the reason? What does that say about me? Is my human side more prominent than my elf side? That would make sense I guess since I lived as a human for seventeen-years before discovering my elfish heritage. 

Alberico takes a seat on a nearby plush chair, patiently watching the exchange between Grey and Jacoby. Duke Finnegan seems anxious standing off to the side with his wife Isobel. They’re quite the handsome couple with their matching dark hair. But while Isobel’s kind eyes are a sea green, Finnegan’s are a blue so pale they are almost white and not nearly as friendly as his wife’s.

Freya, a flaxen-haired castle servant, enters and waits docilely by the door as though guarding it. The idea is almost laughable as she is so petite that she could easily be overpowered. 

I stand in the center of the room watching Jacoby and Grey like a tennis match. Nobody has been able to get a word in yet between them.

I was hoping the two of them were past all of this—they rarely speak, but it’s still a vast improvement over the constant ‘my penis is bigger than yours’ crap they’ve pulled before. With this latest development though it seems they are reverting back to their old argumentative habits.

I guess Jacoby thought a more direct approach would be better than running away.  He probably would’ve attacked Ethan on the spot. He’s known to be a little reckless whereas Grey tends to overthink every tiny little thing.

I think they both are equally exasperating. 

“Did he say anything to you, my dear?” Alberico asks me, with only concern evident in his twinkling sky-blue eyes. He may look just slightly older than me, but his regal nature makes it obvious he’s every bit of his 330 years.               

“No. He didn’t get a chance. As soon as we saw him Grey pulled me out and we transported here.”

Alberico appears to be contemplating something as he rests his hand upon his chin again before saying, “While I think that Grey was right to bring you directly to the castle, I feel Jacoby is also right in saying that we cannot expect you to stay hidden forever. Not because it would be impossible, but rather because I suspect you wouldn’t tolerate it. “

He’s exactly right of course.  I made it perfectly clear over Christmas break that I was not just going to disappear. At that time I was more worried about what it would do to my Mom. Now, I’m just tired of being scared. 

“Are you planning on allowing her to return to school?” Finnegan asked Alberico.

“Oh, I suspect it would prove nearly impossible to keep her away, don’t you?”

“She has been known to be a little on the stubborn side. And I mean that in the most affectionate way as possible.” Finnegan bows his head slightly in my direction. “But if you wish to allow the princess to return to school, I think we should increase the protection around her.”

Alberico’s eyes light up and his mouth twitches upward slightly. He is obviously surprised at Finnegan’s suggestion and pleased that he’s actually acting like he cares what happens to me.

I, too, appreciate the sentiment, but I don’t want another babysitter.

“Grey and Jacoby aren’t enough?”  The frustration in my tone is obvious. Two babysitters are more than I can handle already. I can’t imagine how annoying another one will be.

“I do not doubt their capability, my dear. I just feel it is important that you are surrounded with as much protection as we can possibly provide you until you graduate and can be here full-time.”

“Can’t I carry around pepper spray or something?”

“What is that?” Alberico asks, curiously.

“Never mind,” I mutter.

“Why don’t we ask Adele to enroll in school with Mia? She could offer extra protection,” Finnegan suggests.

Alberico stops me before I can speak. “I know you don’t like the idea of having so many ‘babysitters’, as you call them, but Finnegan has a point. Adele would be able to be around when Grey and Jacoby were unable to and the added protection would make me feel much better.”

I’ve always liked Adele so I suppose if Alberico is going to insist on infiltrating my school with more elves, I’d rather it be her than anybody else. 

Isobel wraps her arm around me in a comforting sort of way. Her green eyes are paler than Jacoby’s and her pretty chocolate brown hair is pulled up into an elaborate braided bun today. She nods her head at me as though encouraging me to just suck it up and accept the fact that Alberico has my best interests at heart whether I agree with his decision or not. And because she always reminds me of my mom, I give in.

“Fine.”             

“Freya,” Alberico addressed the meek servant. “Would you please bring Adele to me?”

“Of course Your Majesty.” Freya curtsies before making her swift exit.

We all stand around silently waiting for Freya to return with Adele. A moment later she does. The two petite, fair-skinned blondes look like they could be related standing side by side. Freya’s long hair is braided down her back but Adele’s is cut short in a pixie cut that flatters her delicate features and long neck. She looks striking in a pale green dress with lace overlay that makes her violet eyes even more vivid than usual.

“You called for me, Your Highness?” Adele curtsies first to Alberico and then to me. “It’s nice to see you, Princess.”

“Adele, I’ve told you, please call me Mia.” I sigh. I really hate this whole ‘princess’ thing. It just doesn’t feel right. She smiles in acknowledgement before turning her attention back to Alberico.

“Yes, a situation has arisen and I was wondering how you felt about attending high school?” 

“I can’t say the thought has ever crossed my mind. Why do you ask?”

Alberico explains the current situation and Adele listens with intent interest.              

  “What can I do?” She asks when he finishes.

“I’d very much like it if you will enroll in school with Mia.”

“Of course,” she responds brightly.

“Wonderful. I am immensely grateful,” he tells her before looking over to Grey.  “Let’s get her schedule fixed so Mia has at least one of you in all of her classes so she is never alone.”

From Alberico’s tone, I know he means business.  I’m sure I won’t even be allowed to use the restroom alone any more, which isn’t exactly an exaggeration now that I have a female guard as well.

              Oh boy.

Chapter Four

T
oday has been awful. The nightmare, finding out one of my classmates is missing, then Ethan showing up again which resulted in Alberico assigning me another babysitter….all I want to do is take a nice, hot bubble bath and relax. It’s 4 o’clock when I’m finally able to get away from Álfheimr. Paul’s still at work as expected but I’m not sure where Mom and Maddie are.

I start my bubble bath and grab the new book that Jacoby gave me for Valentine’s Day. I haven’t had a chance to read it yet and since today seems like a good day to get lost in a different world, it’s the perfect time to start it.

The bath fills slowly and I kick myself for not just taking advantage of the personal spa in my bedroom at Álfheimr. My jetted tub there fills up within a few seconds even though it’s twice the size of our ordinary bathtub here.

I’m just about to get in when my phone rings. With a sigh, I wrap myself up in a thin blue towel and once again regret not taking my relaxing bubble bath in Álfheimr with the fluffy white towels that feel as soft as a cloud.

By the time I dig it out, I’ve missed the call but my phone chimes again indicating a voicemail. I sit on my bed and listen.

“Mia! Where the heck are you? Cheer clinics were supposed to start 30 minutes ago!  I didn’t see you at all today and Kinsley said you just disappeared right before first hour? What’s going on with you?” Hannah yelled at me in her message before growling and hanging up the phone.

I can’t believe I forgot about cheer clinics! I get dressed immediately and instead of wasting time driving to school I make a last minute decision to transport to a secluded bathroom and just hope that I don’t transport on top of anyone using the restroom. I’m not really sure how I’d explain that, not to mention it’d be just plain unsanitary.

A moment later I’m alone in one of the stalls in the school’s smelliest bathroom. I stand quietly for a moment, plugging my nose, and wait to see if anybody’s in here.

When I don’t hear or see anybody and I’m sure the coast is clear, I open the stall and run to the gym where cheerleading clinics were taking place.  I enter the gym and see Mrs. Dawson, the head cheerleading coach, sitting at the top of the bleachers focused on her phone. This isn’t a big surprise since she technically just has to be here supervising--the clinics are always run by the graduating seniors. I wave letting her know that I’m here but she doesn’t look up from her phone and I bet she doesn’t even realize I wasn’t here to begin with anyway.

I scan the rest of the gym until my eyes find Hannah. Her wild and curly, strawberry blonde hair is easily spotted—that and the fact that she is pacing around the north side of the gym frantically with both hands on her hips and an angry scowl on her face.

I rush over to her ready to apologize. Grovel even.

“Where have you been?” She hisses from behind clenched teeth.

“Sorry! Something came up,” I try to explain knowing that nothing I can say will make her understand. It’s hard when I can’t tell her everything. Sometimes I really regret the decision to wipe her memory clean of the Light Elves after that disastrous night so many weeks ago when Hannah and I were ambushed by a group of  Dugan’s followers at the movie theater. “But Hannah, we need to talk. What happened to--”

She holds her hand up to stop me.

“Whatever, we don’t have time for this. Let’s just get started,” she says before turning her attention to the forty-five underclassmen stretching and practicing their jumps. “Okay ya’ll, Mia is finally here so we can begin.”

  “Hi!” I try to sound enthusiastic but I know it sounds forced. “Well, um, I’ll be teaching you guys a simple chant and a cheer today. Then Hannah and Kinsley will lead you through a short dance routine,” I announce to the anxious group of girls.

I wish I could sound more reassuring.  I know how they all must be feeling right now. I remember feeling so nervous on my first day of clinics so I try to smile soothingly at them the way Isobel always smiles at me but I don’t think I’m quite as successful.

“Then on Wednesday we will work on tumbling, followed by a review session of the material you’ll learn today. On Friday, we’ll do a simple stunt followed by more reviewing. Try-outs will be Saturday morning. You’ll need to be here by 6 a.m. sharp in order to get a number. We’ll split up into groups of three. You will be scored on how well you perform the material, as well as your tumbling and stunting capabilities. Does anybody have any questions?”

A small freshman with blonde hair pulled into a high pony tail complete with three different ribbons and way too much make-up on raised her hand.  “What should we wear to try-outs?”

“You should wear comfortable shorts and a t-shirt and tennis shoes. Any other questions?”

A junior named Aniston, who I recognize from my Girls P.E. class, raises her hand. “When will we know if we made the squad?”

“We will have the results about an hour after try-outs are over. Anybody else?”

Nobody else raises their hands so I continue, “Okay, let’s begin. Please stand up.”

I proceed to walk them through the chant first, then the cheer. After my part’s finished Hannah and Kinsley teach them the dance routine. It’s pretty easy to tell which of the girls have experience and which ones are fresh meat. Some of them catch on quickly but others need more one-on-one assistance.

Finally 6:30 rolls around and the first day of cheer clinics is over. I wait until everyone leaves before trying to talk to Hannah again. When she sees me coming, I can tell that her anger hasn’t completely subsided.

“Are you going to tell me what’s up now?” she asks, concern plainly written all over her face. She knows that I wouldn't normally forget something as important as this, but that doesn't mean she's going to let me off the hook easily .

“I just got sidetracked, that’s all.” I hate that I can’t explain everything to her.

“Sidetracked?” she questions me disbelievingly. “Why did you leave school with Grey? I thought you were with Jacoby now?”

Geez, Kinsley has a big mouth. She’s probably telling everyone that I’m a complete floozy cutting class with a boy that’s not my boyfriend. Kinsley’s a little resentful towards me so I’m sure she is enjoying letting everyone know what a slut I am. She has had a crush on Grey since the beginning of the school year and never could believe he was interested in me.

Well, he wasn’t.

I mean, he kind of was but not anymore.

At least I don’t think so.

It’s complicated.

“Grey and I are just friends. That’s all we’ve ever been. You know that. He, um, needed my help. For personal reasons. So I was helping him.” I try to shrug casually in hopes she would realize it wasn’t a big deal. Then for good measure I add, “Jacoby knows all about it so it’s not like I was doing anything behind his back.”