Snow Heart (17 page)

Nieves leaned forward and looked at Alric’s expression. “You’re serious?”

His eyes moved to look at her from the corners in a solemn glare.

“Oh.” Nieves pulled her legs onto the porch, folding them Indian style. “It’s a holiday that dates way back in history. All Hallows Eve. All Saints Day. They all have different names and stuff but I know they are a holiday to honor the dead and the spirits of those who’ve past on.

“Now and days, Halloween is usually just fun and games. People dress up in costumes and go out trick-or-treating. There are parties and celebrations with tons of food and—” Nieves stopped at the remembering that Alric would never get to see a Halloween Party or participate in any of the events. He only had a short while to live—and it wouldn’t be to see the next October.

“Nope.” Nieves smiled. “It sounds disgusting… well, actually it sounds really good. Maybe it sounds gross to you but once you have a bite you’ll like it.”

Alric huffed, turning his head away to roll his eyes. Peanut butter and chocolate sounded like the worst idea in history. What idiot would come up with that? Or even think of considering it?

“Just try it,” Nieves nudged him on.

“Alric.”

Both Alric and Nieves turned around to Sailles rounding the corner of the house along the porch—the porch led to every bedroom and to every room. It was only natural to see Sailles on the porch but to actually confront Alric seemed something different all on its own.

Nieves turned around to Alric with a smile. “I’m going to go get us some drinks,” she said, knowing in fact she wasn’t going to return until Sailles and Alric had had their talk. She got to her feet just as Alric was snatching hold of her wrist. He gave her that look of “don’t leave me alone” but Nieves simply gave him a smile of “you’re not alone”.

“Please,” his eyes seemed to say.

Nieves bit back her laughter. “Just say you forgive her,” Nieves mouthed.

Alric dropped her wrist and watched as she walked away. He subconsciously bit down on the candy bar simply out of nervous anxiety. The taste of chocolate and peanut butter swam through his senses.

“It’s good,” he said, spinning around to Nieves.

“Really? That’s great!” She smiled before sliding the shoji door shut.

†

Nieves left the shoji door at a crack and looked out at Alric. Sailles slowly took the seat Nieves had been sitting in and looked out into the fields with her little brother. Alric silently ate away at the candy bar, grumpy as usual.

Sailles fiddled with her hands in her lap, eyes watching intently to what they were doing. She could have been a scientist analyzing cancer the way she was watching her hands. “I should have written to you. I should have called to see how you were doing.”

Alric tightened his fists. “Do you not think I know that? I have lived here my entire life. I know better than you what pain and agony and suffering are.”

He spun around finally daring to look at her. Was he really not so alone? Had their mother and father hated her as well? “I do not believe you,” Alric stated. “I do not believe that.”

Sailles felt her eyes sting. “I have scars, too.”

Alric had had enough. He refused to listen to anything else she might have wanted to say. He was about to get to his feet when she leapt to hug him. Her arms were warm around his icy body. He hadn’t noticed how cold the winter air was until she had showed him what warmth felt like.

“I’m sorry,” she blurted. “I am so sorry.”

Her tears felt like acid against his neck.

Sailles said, “I tried to come see you. Every time I saw those gates I couldn’t breathe. I ran as fast as I could in the other direction. My psychologist explained to me that those were panic attacks.”

Psychologist, Alric thought. Why would she need that?

“I have night terrors, too.” She slid her eyes closed, her wet lashes brushing his skin. “Every time I try to sleep I feel the fear of them coming back to get me.”

She wiped clean her left eye again. “I had to come see you. Even if this place brings back painful memories. Only grandma’s house feels tranquil.”

Alric shook his head. “Only because you do not know.”

“Know? Know what?” Sailles’s voice shook in her throat.

Alric shook his head and got to his feet—thankful his sister didn’t try and stop him. “It is better left forgotten. Dinner will be ready in a short time—I’ll see you then.” He turned to the shoji doors but Sailles called out his name.

“Who is she?”

Alric stared into the wood for a moment. “She is my friend.” He opened the doors and slid them closed not wanting to think of his sister any longer. He wanted to forget about what happened to his grandmother but the memory wouldn’t fade. Nor would the features of his parent’s face.

“Well?” asked Nieves who stood there naively and vulnerable.

Alric wondered how weak she was. He wondered how his parents would have treated her if she had lived in the house with him. He considered what his own actions would have been if Nieves had been there to support him. What kind of person would he have been if Nieves were there in his childhood?

“Nieves,” Alric said lifelessly. The immense pain and agony was coiling around his heart like a snake. “Might I hold you?”

She silently nodded her head in consent, taking the step to end the space between them. He slid his arms around her absorbing the touch of warmth again. Alric held as tightly as he could, fingers clinching around her clothes for dear life. He buried his head into her neck while fighting back the tears that traitorously threatened to escape. Alric bit down on the sob, tightening his arms around her until there were only clothes to separate the two of them.

Nieves hadn’t felt a hug like that since her mother was alive. Had it really been that long, she questioned. Her eyes slid closed. In a strange way Alric made her feel safe again even if he was falling into depression just as quickly as she was.

“I feel so much pain,” he whispered into her ear. “It hurts so much.”

CHAPTER 23

“He what?” asked Bartolemé who was chocking on cigarette smoke.

Zeit sneered wonderfully from the doorway. He kept his back pressed against the frame liking the feel of something against his back. Bartolemé’s house was much smaller than Alric’s since he lived on the outskirts of the Macter housing area. The main house was the place people only went to for some form of approval to do something. Alric would sometimes say yes but most of the time—times when he was sick—he’d say no.

“I don’t like repeating myself,” Zeit said with his usual low demonic voice.

Bartolemé shook his head, smoking down the last of his cig. “It sounds like your bull shitting me. Alric would never summon the Demon’s of the forest in order to save some… GIRL.” He spat ‘girl’ as if it tasted bad on his tongue.

Zeit narrowed his eyes. “Are you calling me a liar, Bartolemé?”

He looked over at the man and decided to think wisely about his words. “Nah. Of course not.” If Alric had a messenger then the messenger had to be strong willed and just as heartless.

The older man looked over to Zeit not sure what to think. Zeit’s eyes held too much death in them to belong to any normal human. Now that Bartolemé recalled, Zeit hadn’t arrived in a car. He must have walked but that would have been a very long walk from the main house.

Zeit only showed up on certain occasions. Alric didn’t feel like moving around so he’d send Zeit to do the work. Bartolemé wasn’t sure who Zeit was or anything along those lines. He’d tried doing a background check on the fellow but nothing ever showed up. Zeit was a mystery to him.

“The only reason I’m here,” Zeit said coldly, “Is to inform you that Alric is in need of your presence. But in actuality he just wanted to have Nieves to himself.”

Bartolemé pushed his lips to the side of his aging face. “What makes you think that’s the case?”

Zeit pushed himself off the doorframe and took slow steps into the room. “It doesn’t take a detective to know that.” A string of fear was plucked inside of Bartolemé’s flesh. It sent shivers of delight across Zeit’s body. “I know a lot more than you think. I know your wife died from cancer. I know you tried to kill yourself but failed. I know you murdered your daughter and buried her in the forest hoping no one would find her body.”

Bartolemé jumped to his feet with full fury. “Shut the hell up! You get your ass out of my house, right now, boy or I’ll…”

“What?” Zeit smiled, teeth as white as ivory. “What will you do to me?” He was in the mood to be tortured since his plans for Alric to beat him fell through the floor. Alric had suddenly turned soft hearted since Nieves showed up—but that didn’t bother him. He’d find another source for delight.

“Get out,” Bartolemé hissed. “Get out of my home.”

Zeit shrugged his shoulder putting his hands up in surrender. “No worries. I’ll be back when the cancer in your lungs takes its toll.” He sneered delightfully. “It’s why they call them coffin nails, right Bartolemé?”

Bartolemé felt a shudder run along his body.

Zeit walked out the door of the house, slamming it shut. Bartolemé wasn’t one for the oriental doors, tables and floors. He wanted an old fashion house like everybody else had on television—a television Alric didn’t know he had.

He shoved the cig down onto the table and released a heavy sigh. Yes, Zeit had been correct. After his wife died their little daughter of three had been too much for him. He lost his sanity. Especially with Alric being on his plate. Alric made his life hell—beating the Cursed-Ones at every chance he got. He murdered his parents at such a young age. Bartolemé didn’t know what to do with the Head Macter.

Bartolemé buried his face into his hands. It felt like everyone in the Macter family was cursed to murder someone they loved. Cursed to experience an unforgettable tragedy. There was enough pain in the family to cover the universe.

†

Dinner was with a table full of people.

Angel and Dan had forced Rusuto to take them with him to the dinner. Angel wanted to see Nieves and Dan just wanted to make sure Angel was safe.

Wilhelm had been up in his office when Rusuto dragged him to eat with the rest of the family. Eliza snuck into the room over, holding onto Jacob’s hand so they could get a glimpse of their princess. It was when Alric noticed her spying that he forced the two children to eat with them. Eliza asked if Mia could come, which Aunty had admitted to already inviting Mia and Monsun.

To tell the truth, Aunty invited everyone she could think of who had been kind to her. The elders were cooped up in their houses—fearful of the wild and untamed Aunty who dared to travel through Europe on her own. They found it an omen that she wasn’t plagued with disaster.

Mia came into the room with Monsun at her side. She sat down next to Angel who was sitting next to Nieves. Dan sat across the table with Rusuto at his side who sat next to Wilhelm. At Wilhelm’s side was Aunty who sat across from Nieves. The whole family chatted amongst themselves—each one being sure to include those who were quiet. It seemed like a normal family gathering to Nieves but then again the only family she had left were her grandparents and… perhaps Erika.

More family arrived that Nieves couldn’t name. The table to endlessly long and had enough spaces for everyone.

Alric, who sat at the head of the table, leaned his elbows down onto its shiny surface and propped his head onto his hands. He was bored beyond belief but hungrier than anything.

Mia gasped darting a glance to the Head Macter who was starring off into space.

Angel nodded her head, bursting with gossip.

Both girls giggled at the thought of something so romantic happening within their own family—whatever it was, thought Nieves. She wasn’t sure what they were talking about but she didn’t want to know either. She’d prefer sliding into a warm bed and sleeping.