Wings of Boden (11 page)

Nods, pursed lips, agreement spread. I
finally felt like part of the team.

“Well, boys, I guess we have new member,”
said Tyr. He winked a large jade eye at me.

Could eyes have muscle?

He added, “Don’t you worry, girl. When you’re
a StarWing, you’re a member of the elite. We’ll be watchin’ out for
you. Any trouble, just screech that StarWing scream you got and any
one of us’ll be right there.”

And at that, I felt a wing-to-wing smile
stretch my face.

“You girls smell like beer,” Mom said with a
sour look as Angie and I returned to sit with her.

“I know, Mom,” I replied, lowering into my
chair. “I’ll get cleaned up in a little while.”

Angie commented as she took her seat, “You
should’ve joined us, Mom.”

Mom let out a sigh that ended with a snicker.
“My table dancing days are over, girls.” She lifted a sly little
grin, which sent my imagination running. After I gave her a curious
squint, I grabbed my tea from the armrest, and with a few gulps,
tried to drown out the images of my mother dancing on a table.

HOME – 21 VISITORS – 3, the stadium
scoreboard that hung from the domed ceiling showed the digital
numbers as the players headed off the field for halftime.

The StarWing cheerleaders came onto the
center of the field, over the StarWing emblem painted on the grass.
They started their lineup dance, wing to wing while super long legs
kicked up to their heads and back. They were gorgeous. The boys had
called me a cheerleader, didn’t they? I was offended back then, but
as I looked at those graceful angels on the field, it now seemed to
be a compliment. Being one of those girls down there, no, I
wouldn’t mind that at all.

Could I be a soldier angel and a cheerleader
at the same time? At least give me that uniform. White boots
wrapping almost knee-high while the girls kicked and bounced and
flipped their long hair up and down, the crowd cheering along.
Short shorts and a blue sports top with silver wings printed over
the chest. I dropped a glance at my chest. Yeah, I could fill out
that top, well, maybe.

“Do you think I could be a cheerleader,
Mom?”

She swiveled her head so fast to me I thought
she might’ve hurt herself. Her face bright like I just switched on
a light bulb. “Yes, Ellie,” her excited words spilling out, “of
course you could. You should honey. You want me to ask Dad for you,
I could, I could help you sweetie.” She was much too excited for me
not to see right through that.

With a grin, I let her hang onto that dream
for a second … then said, “Could you get me one of those
uniforms?”

Mom clicked her tongue, threw me a look. “Is
that all you want, Ellie, just that silly uniform?” She focused
back on the field.

“Sorry, Mom, but c’mon. Just look at
them.”

Mom studied the girls as they hopped and
kicked around. She smiled at the field. “It is kinda cute, isn’t
it?” She paused, a twinkle on her face. “I think I want one of
those too. I’ll ask your father. I’m sure we can figure something
out.”

Angie directed her eyes on me, then back down
at the field, shaking her head.

Narrowing my eyes at her, I snipped,
“What?”

Angie continued to perform the spoiled-Ellie
headshake as I added, “I could wear it while hunting, it could be
my uniform.”

Angie snorted. “Hah, yeah right. I could just
see that. No, Ellie, you can’t.”

“And why not?”

“Think about it. Hunters like bright things.
It doesn’t get much brighter than that. I’m sure Dad’ll dress you
up in some green and black looking getup. He’ll probably wipe black
grease all over your face and dye your hair black too.”

Mom appeared visibly shaken, scrunching her
face. And I was right there with her.

Die my hair black? What the flap! NO, not
acceptable.

Mom angled a grin at me. “She’s right. He
might just do that.”

Eyeing the field, I tossed out a breath …
Then got to my feet, turned and squinched up my face at them. Mom
and Angie both sat there with smirking little grins. I gave them a
“
humph
,” then wheeled around and padded bare feet across the
floor over to Dad and the boys. Who were in some sort of male
bonding discussions, reminiscing the glory days and masterful
plays.

With a few taps on Dad’s shoulder, I said,
“Can I talk to you for a second?”

Chewing on a chip, Dad nodded at me. Since I
stood there waiting for him, he caught the hint, angled off his
chair and we walked across the room for some privacy.

We stood together while Dad patiently eyed
down at me … and I asked the fateful words: “You’re not going to
dye my hair black, are you?”

Dad barked out a laugh … “Of course not, why
would you even think that?” His gaze slid over to Mom and Angie. He
gave them a frowning headshake while they sent us pair of smiles,
toying with little Ellie’s mind. Not funny. They did a girly
high-five. I threw a scowl their way. Then couldn’t help but slip
out a chuckle.

Dad placed a palm on my shoulder. “Don’t pay
attention to them. They’re just messing with you. I’m sure it won’t
be the last time.”

Filled with relief, I beamed him a grin and
tucked some hair behind my ear.

Mom and Angie treating me like that, not a
very warm feeling. I just want to help the children. Why do they
have to pick on me? Was I making the wrong decision?

Dakarai screeched in my mind. He wasn’t going
to let me go, it became clear.

The skybox door opened at the far end of the
room, grabbing my attention. A uniformed waiter rolled a
cloth-covered cart into the room that held a long sandwich
stretched out on a platter. Even from all the way over here, I
could tell it was eggplant, with purple edges and melted cheese.
Ugh. As the waiter wheeled the cart to the table, I realized that
sandwich was big, but not nearly big enough for the boys. Then two
more waiters rolled in with two more identical sandwiches, but
these two carts also held giant platters of fruit. My stomach
voiced its approval.

Dad said, “Let’s go grab something to eat
before the boys get it all.”

While I stood at the table with my plate of
fruit and melon cubes, next to the seated Vyn, the boys were
devouring the sandwiches like feeding boars; snorts, groans and
schlopping mouth sounds, somewhat disgusting. I forked a cantaloupe
cube into my mouth. Offensive line, no doubt about that, the
thought reminded as the sweet melon washed over my tongue.

As their feeding slowed, Dad scrubbed a
napkin over his mouth, then said, “Listen boys, I think we should
talk to the stadium director. We could probably use the field for
training.”

Grunts and nods of agreement went around.

“Great idea, Phil,” Dag said as he lifted his
mug, sending the others to do the same. Were they all connected or
something, and did they have to cheer
every
idea? The beer
shower came to mind, and even as they tapped glasses over the
table, a cringe zapped me. I reached up and touched my
crunchy-crusted hair.

Having had enough, I said to Vyn, “I’m gonna
go get cleaned up.”

Vyn nodded, set his sandwich down. “Do you
want me to go with you?”
Wink
.

I elbow nudged him with a snicker.
Disagreement, yes, but it was nice to be a girl again.

“Be careful,” Vyn added with concern.

My mouth dropped to his. I gave his bottom
lip a little nibble and felt his grin under mine. I drew back,
smiled, scrubbed my hand over his jaw and said, “You need a shave,
I like it. It tickles.” He held a dazed look on me, blue eyes
shrouded in clouds. Knowing what he was thinking, I added on a
giggle, “You’re such a male.” My palm went to his cheek as if
consoling a little boy, before I broke away to stroll over to Mom
and Angie.

Approaching them, I couldn’t help but stop
behind and watch. They each had a fruit plate on their laps,
straight postures and wings tucked proper, little fork gestures
while they picked at their fruit and talked, eating with elegant
precision. Ladies. They looked so classy compared to the animals at
the table. Mom’s hair gleamed like silk pouring over her wings. A
little envy lifted inside me, torn in my decisions.

After a long sigh, I stepped over and tapped
Angie’s shoulder. She swiveled her head to me while I asked, “Will
you come with me? I wanna take a shower. My hair is all crunchy,
please?”

Angie finished chewing. “Yeah, I need to get
cleaned up too.” She set her plate to the floor, added as she rose,
“I need to talk to you anyway.”

Mom angled some sort of look at Angie, which
sent my eyes to narrow in suspicion. Angie compressed her lips into
a line, some kind of silent communication between the two of them.
That’s not nice, don’t they know that hurts my feelings.

While Angie and I strolled down the stadium
corridor, our heels clicking the polished floor, I couldn’t help
but notice the crush of fans everywhere in their StarWing fan
shirts, wing-flaps buttoned down tight. They stood and milled
around at snack stands and souvenir shops. Others traipsed along
with various cups and plates of beer, tea, fruit, petal chips and
sandwiches while they chatted about the game. The smell of grilling
food, mixed with the din of laughter and chatter, filled the
painted concrete corridor.

Being around all the fun was nice, until I
became aware of something else: Drekavacs. One would pass; send a
chill up my spine. Because Angie noticed this, she folded her arm
around me as we walked. An overwhelming desire came over me to just
go home, curl up in my warm featherbed and stay there.

Then I realized; I had no choice but to face
the cruel memory if I wanted to join the team. So I did my best to
ignore. It didn’t work. A tall drekavac approached, looking at me
as he passed by. They were all looking at me, at least that’s what
it felt like. The air seemed to stir in slow motion, my pulse
sounded in my ears. My legs jellied, lungs began to drag for a
breath. Angie held me close as I trembled in her arms.

Dakarai pushed a horrid, guttural sound
through my brain, the sound of a vulture,
Urrrr
, deep and
drawn out so long … while I balanced on the edge of madness.

“Shut up,” I whimpered to my mind, “leave me
alone, please, just leave me alone.”

“It’s okay, sweetie,” Angie said. “I’m here.”
She stopped us, stepped in front of me and placed her hands on my
shoulders. “Do you wanna go back?”

All I could manage was a light no-shake of my
head.

Angie glanced over my shoulder. “Let’s go
into the restroom. I have something to tell you.” She guided me
away before I could say anything.

As we stood on the tiled floor, the
overwhelming scent of flowers from some kind of cleaning solution
filled the white restroom. The lights in the ceiling were too
bright and I could feel a headache coming on. Slow, deliberate
breaths pulled into my lungs while Angie held me close and rubbed
my wings.

She drew back, stood me up straight with her
palms on my shoulders, looked into my stinging eyes and said,
“Listen, I need to tell you something. I overheard Mom and Dad
talking last night in the kitchen, they didn’t know I was
listening. Dad was telling Mom that you’d change your mind and this
was just a phase. Then, back in the skybox, Mom was trying to talk
me into changing your mind. She was being sneaky about it. ”

“What?” I huffed out, widened my eyes. “What
are you saying? Mom and Dad are playing with me, appeasing their
little angel?” I could breathe again, the numbness replaced by
sparks of fury.

When I attempted to rip away from her with
plans to storm back and straighten them out, Angie stopped me with
a squeeze to my shoulders and said, “Just calm down. Don’t tell
them I told you. If you throw a tantrum, it’ll prove their point.”
She paused. “So here’s what we do. Just go about it like nothing’s
changed. Show them with actions, not words.
Show
them you’re
serious.”

She had a point, I knew, so I gave her a
light nod.

Because my breathing slowed, Angie let go of
my shoulders and added, “Listen, I’ve been thinking something else
ever since you brought this idea up at the pool. I’m gonna help.
But I can’t tell anyone, especially not Mom.” She did a quick peek
around the room. “So here’s what we should do”—Warmth of happiness
settled my nerves. My sister was on my side, just like always. I
had felt she’d left me alone when I’d announced my plans—“Let them
teach you, and you can teach me, in private, just the two of us. I
wanna help you find Dakarai. He almost took you away from me and
that’s not right with me. I’m your big sister and I’ll always be
with you, no matter what. But we can’t tell anyone, okay?”

Hugging my sister, I said over her shoulder,
“Thank you. I love you so much, sis.”

The sound of a toilet flushing made us
release the embrace. We stood and watched as a stall door opened.
Out came a short female drekavac in tight black shorts and T-shirt,
skin like pale gray smoke. She walked to the mirror, began teasing
her spiked red wig hair. We viewed in stunned silence, gazing at
her mirrored image. Her immature wings were only about two foot
long, coarse dark feathers folded to her back. Burnt-yellow eyes
pushed from her thin face, seeming too large for her head like some
kind of otherworldly insect, it reminded me of a closeup picture
I’d once seen of spider eyes; dull, unmoving.

She focused her reflected eyes on us and
said, plain and simple, “So, you’re the one. You’re Elle.” A smirk.
A swipe of lip-gloss. A pop of her lips. “Hmm, interesting.” Her
eyes twitched as if she wanted to narrow them, but had no lids.
“Very, interesting.” She padded bare feet to the door, opened it,
stood for a second as she said over her shoulder, “Well, good luck.
Elle.” Giggle. She stepped out. The door tapped shut behind
her.