Shadows of New York (9 page)

“What’s the Imagine Nation?”

“Huh? Oh, that’s not important right now.”

“But what is it?”

Aiden let out a sigh. He stared up at the sky and said, “Here I am telling the good stuff and he wants to know about the boring stuff.” Aiden’s gaze returned to Josh. “Okay, so we don’t have our own entire government or anything. I vote on the same folks as your parents; I pay taxes to the same IRS. But we
do
have a group in charge of coordinating the Imaginary World, the Imagine Nation. Get the little word play there?”

“Uh, yeah.”

“Okay. So it meets right here in New York in some catacombs somewhere. But the representatives aren’t by country, they’re by type. So there’s a werewolf representative, a vampire representative, and so on.”

“And they’re the ones that asked for volunteers.”

“Right,” said Aiden. “They needed volunteers since we don’t really have our own police, just our own little precinct that sort of operates within the NYPD. So I’ll be going out at night sometimes and patrolling.”

Josh opened his mouth to speak, but Aiden answered before he could even ask his question. “No, you can’t come with me.”

“That’s not what I was going to say.”

“Okay,” said Aiden, a note of skepticism clear in his voice.

“I was just going to ask if we could get some ice cream while we’re out.”

“Oh, sure.”

Together, they stood and walked for home, stopping for their treat along the way.

Fascinatoring

“Oh, goody!” Rosemary exclaimed as Aiden and Josh walked through the door. “You’re just in time!”

“Just in time for what?” Aiden asked, wondering why she was wearing a pint-sized prom dress. The purple gown had a sequined bodice, poufy sleeves, and a very full skirt. To top it off, Rosemary wore some kind of feathery, flowery thing in her hair.

“The tea party, duh!”

“Rosemary, that’s not polite,” her mother said as she breezed into the foyer and handed Jackson off to Aiden.

“Sor-ry,” Rosemary said in a singsong voice.

“Time for smoochies,” Jennifer prompted the kids. Once the goodbye routine was complete, Jennifer grabbed her purse and flew out the door.

“Wow, she was in a hurry today,” Josh said.

“Seedy called,” Rosemary explained. “She was having some kind of ‘wardrobe crisis.’ I can totally relate.”

“Huh,” Aiden said as he mulled over what a wardrobe crisis was.

“Everything is all set up on the terrace,” Rosemary informed them. “Mrs. Effigy said we can have a tea party out there instead of regular lunch inside. Isn’t that great?”

“Uh, yeah,” Aiden said. “Awesome.”

“Let’s go!” Rosemary grabbed Aiden’s hand, pulling him toward the great room.

“Well, I have to get Jack here his lunch,” Aiden reminded her.

“He’s invited to the tea party too! And Josh.”

“Uh, no thanks,” Josh said. “I’ll just eat in the kitchen.”

“Josh, you have to come!” Rosemary pouted. “It’s all set up for the four of us. Jackson’s high chair is out there and everything!”

“Yeah, Josh,” Aiden spoke up. The event would be more bearable with another guy there, even a junior one. “You should definitely join us.”

“Uh, I don’t think so,” Josh said. “A tea party? If any of my friends found out…” He trailed off, looking a little freaked out.

Aiden leaned down to whisper in Josh’s ear. “After what you pulled back at the agency, I think you owe me.”

Josh sighed. “Fine.” He trailed after Aiden, who carried Jackson in one arm. Rosemary still held his other hand, leading Aiden toward the terrace.

When they got out there, Aiden was impressed at the sight. A pink tablecloth covered one round patio table. A small arrangement of tiny pink and white roses served as a centerpiece. Each place had been set with china plates and teacups patterned with pink flowers, as well as linen napkins and real silver silverware (with the exception of Jackson’s high chair tray, which was set with a melamine
Cars
plate and sippy cup).

Aiden settled Jackson in his high chair and took his place at the table. Josh and Rosemary were already in their chairs, bickering about the amount of pink on the table.

“Well, Joshua my dear, you weren’t here to help us with the color scheme,” Mrs. F-G said as she came through the door carrying a silver tray. She set the tray down on the table, announcing, “First course, savory finger sandwiches.” Aiden saw that the big pile of tiny sandwiches consisted of everything from cucumber-and-watercress to peanut butter and jelly. He gave Jackson a pb-and-j and took a fresh mozzarella, tomato, and basil one for himself. It was pure deliciousness.

“Aiden,” Rosemary said in her fake British accent, “would you be a dear and pour the tea?”

“Sure,” Aiden agreed, wondering what type of tea Mrs. F-G had brewed up for this occasion. It turned out to be bright red fruit punch. He filled each of their teacups.

“Don’t forget to put your pinkies up!” Rosemary reminded them, demonstrating the proper way to hold a teacup.

“Oh God,” Josh moaned. “I am so not doing that.”

“Brbrbrbrbr!” Jackson agreed, spraying pb-and-j everywhere.

“Gross!” Rosemary squealed, to which Jackson responded with a giggle.

Several minutes later, Mrs. F-G reappeared, another tray in hand. “Second course, mini scones and clotted cream.”

“That sounds disgusting! I'm not eating anything that clots,” Josh objected.

“You may just want to try this,” Mrs. F-G urged him.

Josh relented, smearing a dab of cream on a chocolate chip mini scone before taking a hesitant bite. As he chewed, a smile spread across his face. “This is awesome!”

“Indeed,” Mrs. F-G said as she cleared the sandwich tray and headed back inside.

“So,” Rosemary said to Aiden, “what was your meeting about?”

“Wraith training,” Josh said before Aiden could answer.

“Uh—” Aiden started, trying to think of a way to cover for the slip-up while shooting Josh a warning glance.

“Weight training?” Rosemary asked. “That’s cool. Do you meet with, like, a personal trainer?”

“Something like that,” Aiden answered.

“Hey, Aiden,” Josh said. “Didn’t you say you were gonna invite Larry over for dinner?”

“Larry Fancypants?” Rosemary asked. “I love Larry Fancypants!”

“Yeah, we’ll ask him over sometime soon,” Aiden said.

“How about tonight?” Josh asked.

“Yay, tonight!” Rosemary cheered.

“I’ll call him later,” Aiden promised, though he knew the chances were slim that Larry would be available last minute.

Before long, Mrs. F-G was back. “Third course, dessert!” She placed a tray of fancy miniature cupcakes in front of them, complete with pink sugar flowers and something sparkly.

“Oo, edible glitter!” Rosemary exclaimed. “My favorite!”

* * * *

As it turned out, Larry wasn’t available for dinner that night. He was available the next night, which was how Josh found himself sitting around the dining room table with his siblings, a werewolf, and a vampire. It was quite a way to spend a Friday evening.

Larry was at one end of the table, enjoying his extremely rare filet mignon, and Aiden sat at the other end. Josh guessed this was so he could get as far away from the bloody steak as possible. Between them were Josh and Jackson on one side, and Rosemary and an empty chair on the other. A moment later, Mrs. F-G sat down in the empty chair.

“I’m so glad you agreed to dine with us, Ann,” Larry said. “Everything is simply divine!”

“Thank you, Larry,” Mrs. F-G answered, smiling, as she cut a piece of her own filet.

“And Rosemary,”—Larry shifted his attention down a chair—“you are looking absolutely stunning tonight. Love the fascinator!”

Rosemary beamed, touching the fluffy, flowery, feathery thing in her hair that she’d worn to the tea party. When she heard Larry was coming to dinner, she’d added this last touch to her outfit. “Thank you, Mr. Fancypants.”

“Call me Larry.”

“Okay, Larry!” Rosemary beamed even brighter.

“So, Josh,” Larry drawled after savoring another bite of steak, “how goes it with the ladies?”

“Uh, I don’t know,” Josh muttered, embarrassed by the question.

“Larry, he’s a little young for that,” Aiden reproached his friend.

“What? Oh, yeah, I guess you’re right. So, what are you into, Josh? Sports? Music?”

“Mostly video games.”

Larry finished chewing and swallowed with a look of pure ecstasy before saying, “Really? I find video games quite fascinating. What kind do you like?”

“Mostly fighting off zombie hordes.”

“Oh, that reminds me!” Larry smacked his forehead. “Aiden, I’ve been trying to call Cleo all day, but she hasn’t been answering. Any idea why? Is she out of town or something?”

“I just saw her yesterday. She didn’t mention anything about going away.”

“She seemed like she wanted you to call,” Josh spoke up.

“You saw Cleo too?” Larry asked, looking surprised.

“Yeah, I sorta…tagged along to that staffing place.”

The dinner conversation paused as Mrs. F-G let out something that was a cross between a sigh and a cough, giving Aiden a disapproving look. He stared down at his broccoli.

“Who’s Cleo?” Rosemary asked.

“She’s—” Aiden began, but his ringing cell phone interrupted him. Glancing down at it, he muttered something about Siegfried and hurried into the great room.

“So who’s Cleo?” Rosemary asked again.

“She’s a lady who works at Staffing Solutions, the place that sent Aiden to us,” said Josh.

“I have a friend named Cleo,” said Rosemary. “She likes horses. Her real name is Cleona, but we all call her Cleo.”

Aiden came back into the dining room, but only long enough to say, “Sorry, but I have to go out. It’s an emergency. Could you cover me for a little while, Ann?”

“Of course, dear,” Mrs. F-G answered, concern written all over her face.

“Thanks,” Aiden said. “Larry, come on. Josh, you stay.”

Larry looked down at his half-finished steak. “Can I finish this first?”

“No. We have to go. Now.”

“Oh, come on, surely we can—”

“Ms. Chickaboom just had a visit from…” he trailed off and looked at everyone in the room, ending with Josh. “She met up with our shadowy friend. It doesn’t sound good.”

Mrs. F-G sprang into action first, taking Larry’s plate and saying, “I’ll wrap it to go,” as she disappeared into the kitchen.

Larry stood and walked to Rosemary. He shook her hand and said, “I’m sorry we have to cut our dinner short. Maybe we can do it again soon. This weekend, perhaps.”

“That would be smashing.”

He gave a little bow to the room and followed Aiden out. From the hallway, Josh heard Larry say, “Hey, any chance Carlie Diane will be around this weekend?”

* * * *

Larry’s limousine pulled up in front of Staffing Solutions. Aiden jumped out before the wheels came to a complete stop. Larry had used the trip to finish his dinner, the odor of meat causing Aiden to ride the entire way with his head next to an open window.

Before he could reach the front entrance, two black-cloaked men appeared from out of nowhere, blocking the shattered glass door. They each held up a hand, their palms glowing red and pointing at Aiden.

“Aiden Lynch,” he introduced himself. “Siegfried called me. No need for fireballs, guys.”

Larry sauntered up beside Aiden, still licking his fingers. “Wow. Wizard security. And jumpy ones at that. Do we really look like wraiths?”

Siegfried’s voice came bellowing from inside. “Lynch, get in here.”

The two wizards stepped aside and vanished again. “Man,” said Larry in an envious tone, “I gotta learn to do that someday.”

Inside was chaos. Tables were upside down, chairs on their sides, and the walls (where there had been framed prints) were now bare, the floor in front of them covered with shattered glass. Only one of the overhead lights was working. It flickered off and on, giving Aiden the fleeting thought that this would make a good post-apocalyptic-themed dance club.

He only noticed this for a moment. Once he saw Cleo, he forgot the trashed room. She sat in her usual place, except that her desk was several feet from where it normally sat. The front of her blouse was splattered with what Aiden hoped wasn’t blood, and a large bandage covered her left shoulder. She smiled weakly when she saw him and warmly when she saw Larry just behind him.

Behind her, Siegfried stood on one of the desks from the cubicles, whose walls had all been knocked down. Aiden couldn’t see his head or shoulders since they were stuck up through the gap left by a missing ceiling tile. A light shone suddenly in Aiden’s eyes as Siegfried emerged from the ceiling, pointing a flashlight at him. “Gauntlets!” he yelled. “Put your gauntlets on, you stupid boy.”

Aiden mentally kicked himself as he reached into his pockets and pulled out the golden gloves, which would be on him at all times for the foreseeable future. But, as Siegfried would no doubt be telling him over and over soon enough, they did him no good in his pockets.

“Whatcha doin’, Siggy?” Larry drawled. Aiden couldn’t believe that he was taunting the trainer at a time like this. Then again, this was Larry. Almost nothing was beyond the realm of possibility with him.

Siegfried glared at him and then directed his attention back to Aiden. “Keep an eye on Cleo for a minute. I want to finish checking up here before we talk.”

“Sure,” Aiden agreed. Larry’s question replayed itself in his mind. “But, uh, what are you checking for?”

“I’m making sure the area is clear.”

“Of wraiths?” Aiden asked in disbelief. “He never hangs around after an attack, does he?”

“There’s a first time for everything,” Siegfried said. His words caused Cleo to shiver.

“You okay?” Aiden asked, turning to her.

“Hmmm…that’s an interesting question.” Cleo’s voice was quiet, like a muted version of its usual brightness. Her eyes were dazed-looking. She was silent for a few moments before answering. “I’m hungry. I’m tired. I’m in a considerable amount of pain. I haven’t experienced these things in over two thousand years. But am I okay? Yes, I suppose in the grand scheme of things, I'm okay.”