The Marked Ones (18 page)

Ardhi smiled at her. ‘See?
That’s how you can help. By being head over heels for the scumbag.’ He leaned closer to his sister, his eyes imploring her. ‘I know you want him. I think you’re nuts, but that aside...if you want to help me Pintang, you can-by pursuing him.’

Pintang rolled her beautiful blue eyes again. ‘Tried it. I got a vague promise to consider me in the future if Ivyanne rejects him for my effort.’

Ardhi grinned. ‘Then try again. In something skimpy. You’re a beautiful girl, Pintang, and Ivyanne’s got him in a holding pattern. Given his libido-he must be going nuts! Offer him what she’s not willing to give, and his nature will prevail. I know it.’

Pintang’s mouth fell open. ‘You can’t be serious?! You want to pimp me out to a Marked Son behind the princess’s back? Do you have any idea how much
heat I’d cop over that?!’

Ardhi shrugged. ‘So? If he slips-he’ll
have to marry you. You get what you want-and I’ll get what I deserve.’

Pintang got up and walked away, shaking her head. ‘You need to swim Ardhi, because the mainland is making you crazy! Ivyanne is my friend-I can’t hurt her like that! And our family’s reputation is sketchy enough as it is!’ She whirled around to face him, face flushed. ‘And what if he turns me down? I could end up
really embarrassed as a result!’

‘
Or, you could end up happily married to your heart’s desire.’ Ardhi said, wiggling the bait in front of the flustered fish. ‘This Marked system is a rip-off, and it’s keeping most of us from getting what we want.’ He stepped closer to her. ‘Aren’t you sick of being such a goody-two shoes and getting a slap in the face for our efforts? Because I am.’

Pintang glared at him. ‘You have no idea what you’re asking of me little brother.’

But Ardhi did know. ‘Tristan’s insatiable Pintang. He may be depriving himself of his base needs now-but do you think that’s gonna last? What if it takes Ivyanne six months to decide? He’ll slip, I know he will.’ He said. ‘You’ll be doing the kingdom a favor, by tripping him up before Ivyanne is married to him. She’ll thank you in the long run too.’

His sister scowled at him. ‘So he’s not worthy of her, but you’re quite happy for
me to marry him?’

Ardhi shrugged. ‘Hey,
you’re the one who likes him. I’m just pointing you in the direction of opportunity.’

Pintang looked away, saying nothing. And that was all Ardhi needed to hear. He got to his feet.

‘I’m going to go for a swim to fortify myself, and then I’m off to find Ivyanne, and apologize.’ He said, reaching for his leather tote bag. ‘You can stay here, alone, wishing for what you think you can’t have...or you could go to Tristan, and make your wish come true.’ Leaving her to ponder that, Ardhi exited the bungalow, and set out into the rain.

18.

When the skies finally opened up and dumped their contents on the Seaview, the deluge was so intense that it seemed like it would be unable to sustain itself for longer than a few minutes.

But the rain only increased as the hands on the clock sluggishly turned, drenching everything and everyone unlucky enough to be caught in it. The inside of the Barefoot Bar was loud and full of puddles which the staff were forever mopping up, the noise of seventy dinner guests creating a din which battled the downpour for supremacy.

Lincoln was in a foul mood from the exchange he’d suffered with Tristan Loveridge earlier, so the weather suited him just fine. And Ivyanne had been sort of twitchy and distracted all afternoon, like she was keeping herself, and her thoughts-way out of his reach. Was she stressed about her feelings for him and avoiding him for her self-control? Was something else bothering her? Or was it just how busy they were, affecting her mood? He was at the register, checking the change-the only pause he’d had all evening.

Lincoln glanced across the room to where his dad was sliding a bucket under a leak in the roof, looking flustered. A hand-drawn ‘Wet Floor’ sign was sticky-taped to the back of a chair. They’d run out of the bright yellow hazard signs two hours before. Clearly-it as time to repair the roof.

His father’s grey streaked hair was in disarray and his glasses fogging from the trapped humidity. He’d been unnerved by the lightning strike and rushing about in crazy circles since. Lincoln really didn’t want to go near him. He’d learned long ago that when his father was worked up, it was best to avoid him.

Lincoln leaned over the till and sighed, glumly following Ivyanne’s movements across the floor. He hadn’t meant to lose it at Tristan that day-but seeing the tattoo behind Tristan’s ear had made something inside Lincoln snap-as though the mysterious marking was a passport into a world Lincoln wasn’t allowed to enter. And sub-consciously, he’d gone down there
expecting to find it. So what were his instincts telling him that his mind was missing?

Consciously or not though, he was in too deep now to extricate himself from the situation unscathed. He’d propositioned Ivyanne, and it was possible that she was freezing him out as a result. And if Adele picked up on his feelings for Ivyanne, they’d be through. He could lose
everything, for nothing.

Lincoln knew Ivyanne was attracted to him-she’d even admitted it. But if she was anything like her sister-then ‘
no future’ meant exactly that. So why was he doing this to himself again?

Because you think her secret is the only thing keeping her from your arms.
His sub-conscience whispered. And you think if you work out the mystery, then you’ll be welcomed into her world.

Lincoln scratched his head with frustration. He’d known that Ivyanne and Tristan had some history, so sharing a tattoo could be plausible. But for those two to have a variation of the
same design which Pintang had explained to be a family tradition didn’t make sense-unless part two of that tradition was inbreeding. And as disturbing as that was, he had to consider the fact that Ivyanne’s world might be a very dark place. She had mentioned that they’d picked up some quirky, culture-related customs over time, to keep old money in the family. If he was going to glean the truth, he had two look down every six-fingered avenue.

And though he judged himself severely for it, possibility of inbreeding was the
least troubling part. Lincoln recalled what Pintang had said about her markings-that she was one of three children, so she had three dots.

Tristan, who had mentioned that he’d lost an older brother in the Iraq war at the BBQ the night before, and had a sister in Hawaii, had
three dots.

So why did Ivyanne’s design bear only
one? Where was Ivanna’s representation?

God….Ivanna.
Link rubbed his temples, feeling a tension-migraine coming on. He hadn’t suffered from one since Adele had broken up with him the year before. Why did you leave me?And how could you send your likeness here, to mess with my head a second time? Didn’t you hurt me enough?

‘Lincoln-we need more towels!’ His father exclaimed as he hurried past, lugging a bucket.

‘When you go and get towels, can you grab another carton of coke? We’re running out of cold ones.’ Remi said, jostling him with her hip as she cruised by him holding a seafood platter. She had to shout-a trio of identical babies at table three were wailing their heads off.

Lincoln grit his teeth and pushed off the register. His two minute reprieve was over. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt so irritable.
In fact, he was probably looking as strung-out as his father. He needed a run. Or a rum.

‘Link, can we talk for a second? I was just fishing a mud crab out of the tank when I noticed that you have two jenny’s in there and it’s against the law-not to mention bad for their breeding.’

Ivyanne’s sweet voice jolted him out of his reverie. He turned down to regard her, too annoyed by the mystery to be as accommodating as usual.

‘Oh I’m sorry Ivyanne-I’m trying to hold this bar together right now. But you’re right- I
should drop everything to deal with two measly little mud crabs! I know Captain Planet Tristan would!’ He looked around. ‘Don’t you have tables to bus or something similarly useful?’

Ivyanne’s eyes bugged. She shoved her order pad into her apron pocket. ‘Where did
that come from?!’ She glanced around and then lowered her voice. ‘Have I done something to piss you off since we last, uh, spoke?’

Lincoln shrugged, enjoying her distress. Let her try and figure
him out for once. ‘No. But your smart-ass boyfriend came dangerously close to getting knocked out this afternoon, and it got me thinking about how sick I am of being walked over.’ He narrowed his eyes, remembering Tristan’s frank innuendo that afternoon, and the way it had rattled Lincoln like a cyclone. ‘And lead on. And lied to.’

‘
Lied to?’ Ivyanne frowned. ‘Look Lincoln I don’t know what’s gotten into you, and I don’t know what Tristan said-but this is hardly the place to discuss it.’ She looked around nervously. ‘Can you just chill please? It’s been a hard day on us all.’

He stepped out of her way, pasted a fake smile on his face and motioned for her to pass. ‘By all means, get on with your work. The sooner the day is done, the sooner you can get back to your blooming love-life, right?’

Ivyanne stared at him for a full ten seconds, as though completely clueless to what was going on. ‘Whatever,’ she eventually snapped, pushing past him, being careful not to touch him at all. As she walked off, she muttered something under her breath. He only caught the words: ‘Bad Mood,’ and ‘Contagious.’

‘Lincoln?’ Adele appeared from behind him, looking pale, and reproachful. She was dressed down in jeans and a sweatshirt, and there was a deep crease between her eyebrows. She was clutching her purse in her hands. ‘Did I just hear you and Ivyanne
fighting?’

Shit!
Lincoln thought, hearing Tristan’s threat reverberate in his brain. She’s supposed to be in her room! Lincoln felt guilty, and knew he should apologize-but his bad mood was getting worse and he was sick of feeling like the women in his life had him by the balls. So Lincoln glared at her. ‘She’s my worker, Adele. She’s going to get reprimanded every now and then.’

‘A
reprimand?’ Adele hissed, leaning closer, eyes narrowed. ‘I heard you say lead on and lied to Lincoln. What the fuck is that all about, huh? Ivyanne can’t lead you anywhere unless you’re….’ Her hand came to her mouth, cupping it as her eyes widened with horror. ‘Oh Link….!’ Tears sprung to her blue eyes. ‘Do you want her?’

Lincoln stared at his girlfriend, who looked like she was about to collapse, feeling like a monster. He had no response. No denial. Nothing to comfort her, or save face. Because Adele
was right. He wanted Ivyanne more than he’d ever wanted anything. Maybe even Ivanna.

Tears spilled down Adele’s cheeks. ‘You’ve wanted her from the start, haven’t you? That’s why you were working out, and why you went to the spa...why you’re mad at Tristan. You’re not jealous over
me-you’re jealous over her.’

The mention of Tristan’s name turned Lincoln’s guilt, to fury. ‘I’m sorry Adele. Have I offended you? Maybe you should write down the name of every guy
you messed around with during the year so I can get appropriately jealous over every one of them, huh?’

She shrank back. ‘That’s not fair! We weren’t together!’

‘At your insistence! And you handled it just fine.’ He drew back from her, feeling something inside him go cold. ‘So I’m sure you’ll cope as well this time too.’

Adele’s shrank back. ‘What are you saying?’

Lincoln narrowed his eyes and caught sight of Ivyanne, who was kneeling on the floor next to babies and stroking the hair of one, while smiling angelically at the other two. She was so beautiful and so vibrant...being around her made him feel alive. And being around Adele made him feel numb.

Ivyanne must have felt his gaze, because she looked over and froze, swallowing hard, her beautiful green eyes awash with a million emotions he couldn’t label. But he wanted those eyes to look at him lovingly, the way Ivanna once had. And they never would as long as he had a girlfriend.

Lincoln swallowed. Tristan had thrown down the challenge-and he was accepting it. He’d end up with all, or nothing. But he wasn’t going to live a lie anymore.

‘I’m saying that you should go to my room, and get your things.’ He said softly. ‘I have a job to do and I life to live...and I don’t think I want you being a part of either anymore.’ Adele had been spared his expression of heartbreak when she’d ended things, because she’d done so over the phone. Now, Lincoln returned the favor by stalking off to clear table seven without a backwards glance.

⁓

‘Rain, rain, go away, come again another day…’ Ivyanne sang softly to the babies, breaking eye contact only long enough to see Adele turn on her heel and bolt from the room. Her stomach rolled, but she had to keep an even, calm mind if she was going to successfully siren the infants. ‘...The little babies want to play, rain, rain, go away…’

The closest baby blinked slowly, heavily. The second followed suit. The third yawned. Their teeth-grinding wails had ceased, and their complexions were evening out from mottled red, to translucent.

‘How did you
do that?’ The mother whispered, leaning over. Her pupils were equally dilated. ‘Are you a witch or what?’

‘Only on my days off.’ Ivyanne rose to her feet and winked at the parents, stifling a giggle when she saw the father yawn. She’s only sung lightly, not wanting to put the triplets into a coma, but it seemed like she’d bewitched the adults too.

‘Well, feel free to come to our bungalow and-’ the mother yawned. ‘Oh, excuse me-spell cast, at any time.’

‘You know where to find me.’ Ivyanne took the father’s empty desert bowl and hurried off, glancing back to see Lincoln stacking the empty plates on table seven, his face revealing nothing. She pushed through the saloon doors and walked the plate down to the kitchen, anxiety coursing through her. What had he said to Adele, to make her run from the room, crying? Given the way he’d snapped at Ivyanne just minutes before, all bets were off. The restaurant was mayhem, and the humans were definitely feeling the strain. Table twelve had been the worst. All night they’d done nothing but drunkenly complain about the slow service and the bad weather. Ivyanne had been forced to hum under her breath when she’d gone over to mop up a spilled beer, and that had settled them for half an hour, but not before they’d made Livi burst into tears.

‘...I can’t cook for one hundred and thirty people!’ Chef Lee’s indignant tirade was audible the moment Ivyanne entered the corridor. ‘Not on a Tuesday night without a sous chef!’

‘I’m sorry we aren’t prepared for this Lee, but we have to feed them!’ Chase sounded like he was struggling to hold his temper. ‘The yacht club is booked out. Just do the best you can! They have nowhere else to go!’

‘Not true-if they can’t be patient, they can go to hell!’ Lee snapped. ‘I don’t slop food onto plates. I am an artist!’

Ivyanne slowed her steps. Ardhi’s tantrum earlier that day had literally forced her to put out a fire, and it felt like she’d done nothing but putting out fires since. She closed her eyes, reminding herself that singing was keeping her calm too, and drew in a deep breath before proceeding forward singing:
‘What A Wonderful World’

She entered the kitchen as she sang softly, keeping her head down as she approached the dishwasher.

‘I’m not paying you paint, Lee. I’m paying you to cook!’

Ivyanne scraped the melon rinds off the plate and into the trash. The resonance of her voice echoed perfectly off the walls, filling her ears. She knew the song well and kept her voice low and soothing. Almost instantly, the men glanced over at her. Within twenty five seconds, the kitchen had fallen silent. Ivyanne glanced up as she stacked the bowl with the other dirty ones, and glanced over at her superiors. They were watching her, with dazed expressions. Pupils dilated, breathing deep. Ivyanne smiled.

‘You guys are doing a great job by the way.’ She said, keeping her voice low. ‘The customers are happy, the food is delicious-and you’re both feeling calm, and happy.’