Spectral (3 page)
A small gasp escaped my lips and I backed up onto the stairs. A chair skidded briskly across the floor with a screech and I dashed back to my room, heart thundering. I lay back on the bed pretending to sleep.
“Mom? What’s for dinner?” Jayden called from the upstairs landing.
My mother’s voice rose up the stairs. “Shake ‘n Bake chicken, corn on the cob, and mashed potatoes. Wake your sister, will you?”
Somehow, Shake ‘n Bake, Spectral, and the mark didn’t fit into my brain right. I mean, I knew all along my life was unusual, but this just added a new dimension of strange. I fiddled with my blanket.
What in God’s name is a Spectral?
“Jewel?” Jayden’s voice rose as he shook me gently. “Dinner time. It’s Shake ‘n Bake,” he said excitedly. I pretended to be sleeping. I tried to ease my heart rate by taking slow even breaths. I kept my eyes closed, afraid Jayden would see the fear in them.
My bed jiggled as Jayden stood on it and began jumping. I bounced so much that I couldn’t feign sleep any longer.
“Okay, Jay. I’ll be right down,” I mumbled.
Jayden jumped off the bed and stuck his face in mine until our noses touched. I opened my eyes. “There you are,” he said with a laugh. “Did you turn into a zombie or something?” He laughed.
“I’m fine,” I lied. “See you in a minute, Bud.” I pecked his nose.
After Jayden went downstairs, I gazed out my window into the backyard in a haze. Willow jumped on the window ledge, purring as I mindlessly petted her. I knew I couldn’t let them know I had overheard their conversation. They obviously didn’t want me to know, and if they found out I’d overheard them, I’d be in the car and outta there so fast you couldn’t say Spectral twice.
I didn’t know what was real anymore. I didn’t know if it was because of Dad that we kept moving all these years or because of me. No, I’d keep it to myself. I could keep secrets just like they had all these years.
Suddenly I felt angry—angry at my parents, my aunt and uncle, and my grandmother, if that was even possible. I mean if I was some freak Spectral or whatever, I had a right to know.
I pulled my hair out of my ponytail, shaking my long dark hair free to camouflage my face. I padded barefoot downstairs, thankful for Jayden’s chattiness in that moment and plunked myself in a chair.
“So, Jewel,” Mom began when I finished eating. “Our visitors will be staying awhile—until your birthday.”
My mouth gaped as I looked up from my plate. “A month?” I asked and then realizing my tone sounded rude, I forced a smile. I was happy we weren’t moving—yet, but still, having my uncle and aunt around would be as painful as getting poked with quills from a porcupine. Scratch that. It’d be worse. If it were just Grandma Raine, I’d be cool with it, but no such luck.
Aunt Eva glowered at me. “Is that a problem?”
Apparently, she didn’t catch the smile.
“Not at all,” I said in my sweetest voice possible.
I’d rather have my eyes plucked from my skull
. “But where is everyone going to sleep?”
“Grandma will sleep with Jayden and we’ve made up a temporary bedroom in the basement for Aunt Eva and Uncle Boris,” Dad answered.
I was relieved that at least my aunt would be as far away from me in the house as possible. “I’ve got homework,” I muttered.
“
Studious
girl, isn’t she,” Aunt Eva said, dripping sarcasm.
Uncle Boris lit a cigar on cue as I bolted.
***
Taylor greeted me at school the next day with the same bubbly smile she’d had the day before as we walked to Spanish class. I smiled back, happy for the diversion from my grandmother’s words that spun in my head like a merry-go-round.
Jewel’s the Spectral.
“No offense, but you could use a makeover,” Taylor took my arm and twirled me around.
“Please don’t,” I begged, not wanting any attention drawn to myself.
“Seriously though,” she said. “You’re so pretty. I’d die for those liquid grays of yours. Are they contacts?”
“Nope. The real deal.”
“Just think what I could do to you with a bit of makeup, a hair brush, and new threads.”
I winced and let out an exasperated groan. “What are you, the fashion police now?”
“Just saying,” Taylor twisted her finger through a blond ringlet as Jack came up to us and hoisted her into the air.
“Hey, babe,” he said as he kissed her cheek and placed her back on her feet. I was happy for the diversion from my fashion sense—or lack thereof.
When we entered the classroom, my heart skipped a beat. The dark haired boy from the day before was sitting at a desk near the window. Taylor and Jack found three empty seats together, and we sat down—directly beside the new guy. I kept my eyes on my desk in front of me. Somebody had carved
Jessica n Mason
with a heart around it into the wood. I let my eyes linger there. I had bigger things on my mind than a boy, I reminded myself.
Señor Sullivan entered the room and leaned against his desk facing us. “
Hola, estudiantes
,” he said, and then flashed a bright set of teeth.
“
Hola, Señor Sullivan
,” the class answered in unison—except, of course, for me and mysterious boy, from what I could tell. My eyes flicked from my desk to Señor Sullivan. My palms prickled in sweat, nervous about our seating arrangement.
“
Hoy vamos a aprender sobre el amor
,” the teacher said with a smile.
I understood that to mean, “Today we will learn about love.” The class laughed. I couldn’t help but glance at the dark haired boy. His gaze stayed glued to some papers on his desk and his dark brown hair covered most of his left eye. But it was his lips that drew me in. They looked so soft and as if on cue he moistened them with his tongue and then turned and busted me looking. He cast a devilish grin.
You’re lame, Jewel.
I averted my eyes back at my desk, and ran my finger over the carved engraving.
The teacher kept speaking in Spanish until it became a blur of words and sweat prickled the back of my neck. Images floated in my mind like a carousel spinning. The dark haired boy crouched in front of me, his hand on the nape of my neck, pulling me forward with a teasing look until our lips were a hairsbreadth away.
“Kiss me,” he begged as he traced my lips with the tip of his finger. He leaned down and placed his lips on mine, searching, the taste of peppermint tickling my tongue. I tried to pull away and he nibbled my lip gently.
“True?” I heard Mr. Sullivan say. The roar of the class laughing filled my ears. I lifted my head from my desk where I’d fallen asleep and shook my head, bringing me back to reality. My cheeks flushed and I pressed my fingertips to my lower lip. I looked at the dark haired boy and his lips twisted into a grin.
“Um…sorry, Mr. Sullivan. I—ah had a rough night. Is it okay if I go get a drink of water?”
More laughter from the class. “That’s enough, kids,” he said raising the palm of his hand out. “Sure, True, but hurry back.”
I kept my head down as I headed toward the door of the classroom and Olivia, who sat close to the door, coughed into her hand and said, “Loser.” Again, laughter filled the classroom, followed by a scolding from Mr. Sullivan. I glanced up to see Chase sitting a couple seats behind Olivia shaking his head. I began to think moving wouldn’t be such a bad idea after all.
I walked down the hallway to the water fountain and took a long drink, splashing water on my face, hoping it would give me a jolt. I straightened up and wiped my hands on my jeans, willing myself to go back to class and face whatever humiliation lay ahead.
As I turned, I bumped into the dark haired boy.
“Hey there,” he said.
“Are you following me?” I asked, startled.
“Sorta. If you count being thirsty as following you,” he said with humor showing in his eyes. His voice sounded almost lyrical, a slight accent lilting his words, but I couldn’t make out where he could be from.
I stepped out of the way and he bent over to take a drink.
“Are you the new guy my friend mentioned?”
He turned and extended his hand to me. “Roman Matteo.”
I shook it. “I’m True.”
“So I heard,” he said with a grin.
“Yeah,
that,
” my cheeks grew hot and I placed my hand at the back of my neck.
He gave his head a shake, shifting his hair and revealing both chocolate colored eyes. Along with his ultra-long mink lashes, the effect was hypnotic.
“Are you all right?” he asked softly. “You look flushed.” He reached out as if to touch my cheek but pulled his hand back at the last moment, which actually made me hotter. I hated that I always blushed so easily.
Get it together, Jewel.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Just a little sleep deprived,” I said. “I’m new too,” I muttered a feeble excuse.
“Something in common then. Sucks, huh?”
“Yeah, you could say that. We better get back to class.” I started to head back down the hallway.
“Hey, I’m playing at my cousin’s bar this Saturday afternoon if you wanna come check it out,” he said as he walked alongside me. “It’s down at the Phoenix on the corner of Front and Brewster—I mean since we have so much in common and all,” he said with a laugh. “I play guitar and my cousin sings.”
“Thought you were new here? How do you know where everything is already?” I cocked my head to one side.
“I’m new, but my cousin isn’t. He’s lived here awhile.”
“Okay, that sounds cool,” I said, thinking how awesome it would be but how equally impossible it was to make happen. There was no way my parents would let me go out—let alone to a bar. And now with Aunt Eva on patrol it would be even worse…
Still,
I was beginning to think that since they had kept secrets from me my entire life, I could possibly return the favor.
I sat quietly on the drive home. I thought about the events of the past week and let Jayden talk about his day, how he was learning multiplication and something about some kid named Max who had brought in his pet frog.
When we got home, I nonchalantly went to the computer desk in the family room and turned it on, thankful my father had gotten around to setting it up. I lay my books on the desk and casually looked up at my mom who was watching me from the front foyer.
“Homework,” I pointed to my History book.
“Well…”
“Please, Mom. Just boring History,” I said, waving my book in the air.
“All right. But don’t be long. The others are out for a bit and I’m gonna make dinner. I was hoping for a little help.”
“Sure.”
Jayden ran out to the backyard to play and Mom headed to the kitchen. My heart rate soared. This was my chance. I pulled up Google and found a nice boring page on Marie Antoinette, minimized it, and opened a new window. If someone came in, I could quickly pull Ms. Antoinette up on the screen. Back to Google, I keyed in the word “Spectral” and found the meaning under Mnemonic Dictionary. What I read disturbed me.
- Spectral - of or relating to a spectrum; spectral colors, Spectral analysis.
- Spectral - resembling or characteristic of a phantom; a ghostly face at the window; a phantasmal presence in the room; spectral emanation; spiritual tapping at a séance.
Below it read, Supernatural - Not existing in nature or subject to explanation according to natural laws; not physical or material; supernatural forces and occurrences and beings.
I think my eyes bugged out of their sockets.
Resembling or characteristic of a phantom—séance? Ghost?
I pondered as I looked at my hands.
I’m no ghost.
I knew everybody saw me, even when sometimes I wish they didn’t.
“Spiritual tappings at a séance,” I mumbled under my breath. I didn’t know what to make of it. The words sounded fictional, like out of an ancient book.
I groaned as I heard the car pull up out front. I clicked off the web page and quickly erased the computer’s web page history. All except for the Marie Antoinette page. It would look strange if Mom decided to check and I’d spent all that time on the computer with no registered history.
I ran past the front door to the kitchen and grabbed a carrot from a pile Mom had laid out, and began peeling it, trying to steady my trembling hands. The last thing I needed was Mom to notice, or to peel the skin off my fingers.
“Just a few things for you and Jayden that I picked up,” Grandma Raine said as she came inside followed closely by Aunt Eva. Grandma pulled out a pair of blue jeans from the bag and held them up for me to see. I smiled. I wasn’t sure if they’d fit but the gesture was kind, and Grandma looked so happy to show me. Even if I hated them, I’d never admit it.
“Thanks, Grandma. You didn’t have to.”
Jayden came running in and rifled through the bag that was his. It included some new clothes and a video game. He shoved the clothes aside.
“Ah, thanks, Grandma!” He turned the game from front to back before rushing off to his room with it.
Uncle Boris wandered to the family room and I tensed as I imagined him going on the computer and discovering what I’d been looking up. I noticed I was holding my breath and reminded myself I cleared the history. Dad peeked in and gave me a wink before following him.
Aunt Eva sat at the table and Mom poured her a cup of tea. Grandma shooed Mom away, and got the milk and sugar.
“We met some nice people at the mall, Jewel.” Aunt Eva said, spooning a teaspoon of sugar in her tea.
I took the bait. “Oh yeah? Who?”
“A girl you befriended at school and her mom. Taylor Snow?” She added another heaping teaspoon.
“Mm hmm,” I mumbled. “She was assigned to me.” I kept peeling the carrots but glanced over my shoulder, looking for a hint of what she was getting at, but got nothing.
“Yes, well,” Aunt Eva paused to take a sip of tea, and screwed up her face before adding another teaspoon of sugar as if it wasn’t sweet enough. “Grandma and I agree that she will be a fine friend for you.”
Yeah, that’s right, ‘cause I need you to pick my friends for me now too
.
“Yeah, she seems nice,” I said.
“But you aren’t to socialize with anyone else without permission, got it?” She twirled her spoon in her tea slowly and raised one eyebrow at me. “That’s nobody, Jewel.
Got it
?”
“Got it,” I said as an idea came to me. “Does that mean I can go to the library tomorrow with her? We have a History assignment due next week.” I tried to keep my voice steady.
Aunt Eva looked at Grandma Raine. Grandma nodded once. I looked back at Aunt Eva and her gaze pierced mine, as if making sure I took her seriously and dared not mess with her. Aunt Eva pursed her lips, her face smug.
“As long as you take your cell so we can contact you,” Mom added, ringing her hands together.
Finally
. I really wasn’t sure why Aunt Eva seemed to be calling the shots all of a sudden. And I definitely wasn’t sure why Mom seemed so nervous. I so wanted to get to the bottom of it.
After dinner I retreated to my room and found the phone number Taylor wrote on my agenda. Not wanting anyone to overhear my conversation, I decided to text her instead.
Library 2morrow @ 2? History assignment, remember? ;) True.
I hoped she’d catch on when she saw my wink at the end that I wasn’t crazy and I knew we didn’t
really
have a History assignment. A long five minutes passed when finally my cell phone chimed.
Sure. Mom says I can borrow the car 2! Pick you up @ 2 ;) Taylor.
Victory! I felt like a prisoner that was just notified of an early release. I thought about everything I read on the computer about the meaning of Spectral and planned to investigate further at the library. I needed to find out who I was,
what
I was.
I had trouble sleeping that night. Hell, I’d had trouble sleeping every night since I’d overheard them talking about my birthmark. But that night was even worse. I couldn’t stop thinking about what I’d read. I tossed and turned until I saw it was two in the morning. Yawning, I reached into my nightstand to put on my headset and played an old Carlos Santana greatest hits CD that Dad gave me. I hoped Santana’s awesome guitar playing might help drown out my intruding thoughts. I turned it up and lay back down, putting my pillow over my head.
Finally I fell asleep and into a deep dream. It was like I was reliving the night when I heard my grandmother saying I was the Spectral. I glided down over the stairs but it was as though there was no roof on the house and the foggy night enveloped me, misting my skin. When I peeked into the kitchen as before, Uncle Boris pounded on the ominous card on the table, his face full of rage. My grandmother reached over, touched his hand, and he became silent. He lifted his hand away from the card. I strained my neck to see the image on the card, obscured by the fog. My feet dangled into the air, and I started to float across the room, moving closer to the table.
I floated above the table, face down, my hair dangling around me. The whole table shook as everyone around it held hands, murmuring under their breath as though in a séance. The card rose into the air until I could plainly see an image of a girl with long dark hair painted on it. She wore a knee length, sleeveless, black dress and she held a golden dagger in her hands pointing upward. Then I saw it—a Red Crescent moon-shaped mark on her leg.
Aunt Eva’s head shot up at me, eyes narrowed. “She bears the mark,” she hissed.
“No!” I screamed, bolting upright in bed.
I yanked out my ear buds and snatched up the clock on the nightstand. It was eight o’clock and the sun poured in my room from the window. Swinging my feet over the side of the bed, I pulled off my shirt and reached to my right shoulder, my gaze following my fingers.
The Red Crescent moon-shaped birthmark I’d been told to keep covered all my life, blazed back.