Written in the Sky* Rise of the Wadjet Witch (12 page)
Read Written in the Sky* Rise of the Wadjet Witch Online
Authors: Juliet C. Obodo
BOOK: Written in the Sky* Rise of the Wadjet Witch
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“
Em! Congratulations on your first week. We’re taking you out for drinks after work.”
Em! Congratulations on your first week. We’re taking you out for drinks after work.”
“
Oh, thanks Jill, but I—”
Oh, thanks Jill, but I—”
“
No buts. You are coming out with us.”
No buts. You are coming out with us.”
“
Us?”
Us?”
“
Yes, most of the staff is going.”
Yes, most of the staff is going.”
Lawrence popped his head over the divide. “Welcome to your first work-sponsored Happy Hour.”
She looked down, avoiding his eyes. “All right, what time?” she mumbled.
“
We’ll leave around six,” Jill said as she walked away.
We’ll leave around six,” Jill said as she walked away.
That was in half an hour; she definitely couldn’t step out to meet with Virgil. She sent Virgil a short reply to suggest that they meet early the next day. He promptly replied with a time and place close to her office. She probably wouldn’t get any sleep that night in anticipation of what caused Virgil’s heightened interest in her chart.
Chapter 11
A mass exodus took place at exactly six, with all of the newspaper employees making their way to a sake bar located around the corner from their office.
“
This is a really nice place,” Memphis remarked as she sat on a barstool. She selected one by the wall, hoping that she would blend in and Lawrence wouldn’t notice her. It wasn’t that she didn’t like him—he was charming and would probably win an award for being so congenial—but he made her feel unbalanced and she liked to remain in control, especially with everything that’s been going on in her life. And he also had girlfriend. He was likely to push her over the edge; luckily she was against the wall, because he appeared by her side.
This is a really nice place,” Memphis remarked as she sat on a barstool. She selected one by the wall, hoping that she would blend in and Lawrence wouldn’t notice her. It wasn’t that she didn’t like him—he was charming and would probably win an award for being so congenial—but he made her feel unbalanced and she liked to remain in control, especially with everything that’s been going on in her life. And he also had girlfriend. He was likely to push her over the edge; luckily she was against the wall, because he appeared by her side.
“
Thanks. It was my turn to pick a place this week; I thought you might like it. Jill mentioned that you enjoyed sake.” He grabbed the stool next to her and sat on it cowboy style. Anyone else would have looked like a cheesy frat boy, but he looked appealing.
Thanks. It was my turn to pick a place this week; I thought you might like it. Jill mentioned that you enjoyed sake.” He grabbed the stool next to her and sat on it cowboy style. Anyone else would have looked like a cheesy frat boy, but he looked appealing.
He selected the bar with her in mind? This man was not making things any easier for her.
“
Oh, I didn’t know there was a weekly happy hour. Jill never mentioned it to me,” she responded, changing the subject.
Oh, I didn’t know there was a weekly happy hour. Jill never mentioned it to me,” she responded, changing the subject.
“
Well, boss lady usually doesn’t grace us with her presence, but I guess your attendance was an exception.”
Well, boss lady usually doesn’t grace us with her presence, but I guess your attendance was an exception.”
“
I see.” She didn’t feel comfortable with a spotlight on her relationship with Jill. She hoped that none of her other coworkers thought she was hired because she was Jill’s friend.
I see.” She didn’t feel comfortable with a spotlight on her relationship with Jill. She hoped that none of her other coworkers thought she was hired because she was Jill’s friend.
“
We know that you’re close friends, but we also know that you’re very talented.” It seemed Lawrence had read her mind. “Your horoscope predictions are well researched, but they’re also very intuitive. You have quite a sixth sense there.” He cocked his head as if to examine her.
We know that you’re close friends, but we also know that you’re very talented.” It seemed Lawrence had read her mind. “Your horoscope predictions are well researched, but they’re also very intuitive. You have quite a sixth sense there.” He cocked his head as if to examine her.
“
What do you mean?” She signaled the bartender. She needed a drink. His comments and the fact that his leg repeatedly brushed against her thigh made her jumpy.
What do you mean?” She signaled the bartender. She needed a drink. His comments and the fact that his leg repeatedly brushed against her thigh made her jumpy.
He gazed at her in admiration, and she felt warm under his scrutiny. His eyes were so blue, but it wasn’t their allure that unnerved her. It was as if he saw right through her. She was known to have a poker face, but he managed to read her so easily.
Just the other day she was thirsty but refused to get up from her desk before she finished writing her assignment. Lawrence suddenly appeared with a cup of water and a cup of ice. She was anemic and liked to chew on ice, but she usually only did this when she was alone because it annoyed anyone in earshot. He could probably tell she was thirsty by reading her body language, but she could not figure out how he knew about her ice chewing habit. Maybe Jill mentioned it.
Another thing that she was unable to explain was her own heightened sensitivity to him. Though he used the same language when he was on the phone with a good source or a bad one, she could always tell when he was agitated when one did not pan out. She knew when he entered a room; it was as if his presence electrified the air surrounding him. It made her jittery, and she would find an excuse to leave the room. She would feel his eyes on her as she left.
That was another issue—his staring. She would look up and meet his gaze, and would be startled by the intensity in his eyes. No one had ever looked at her in awe. She would practically run out of the office at five thirty on the dot to avoid any after-work invitations that she knew were on the tip of his tongue.
Now she was lodged between him and the wall. There was no way she could escape without making a scene. She looked over his shoulder at Jill and their coworkers. She envied them sipping sake and laughing so easily. They were oblivious to the tension and sparks that crackled in the air surrounding her and Lawrence. Jill didn’t even notice that the guest of honor wasn’t interacting with anyone else.
“
They’re having fun, and so should we.” Lawrence diverted her attention from the crowd by sliding two shots of sake in her direction. She didn’t notice when he placed the order.
They’re having fun, and so should we.” Lawrence diverted her attention from the crowd by sliding two shots of sake in her direction. She didn’t notice when he placed the order.
“
This one is watermelon and this is strawberry.”
This one is watermelon and this is strawberry.”
“
Pardon?”
Pardon?”
“
The sake is infused with different flavors,” he explained.
The sake is infused with different flavors,” he explained.
“
Oh.” She felt a bit silly. To hide it she picked up a shot and sniffed. It smelled just like watermelon.
Oh.” She felt a bit silly. To hide it she picked up a shot and sniffed. It smelled just like watermelon.
“
Bottoms up.” He tilted his head and threw back the flavored alcohol. She was mesmerized by his Adam’s apple. He caught her staring when his head came down.
Bottoms up.” He tilted his head and threw back the flavored alcohol. She was mesmerized by his Adam’s apple. He caught her staring when his head came down.
Memphis hastily brought the glass to her lips and took a nervous sip.
He raised an eyebrow as if in a challenge. Memphis narrowed her eyes in acceptance and threw back the drink. It felt warm but nice going down her throat. It wasn’t too sweet, and the watermelon flavor was delicious.
“
Yum,” she murmured and licked her lips.
Yum,” she murmured and licked her lips.
She could feel his reaction before she saw that his eyes changed to a light shade of gray. He looked at her longingly, but he quickly changed his expression. They sat in silence. Memphis grabbed the second shot and threw it back, and Lawrence followed suit.
“
Two more please!” they both called out to the bartender.
Two more please!” they both called out to the bartender.
They received another round of drinks, which they quickly downed. Memphis was surprised that she was holding up so well; the alcohol barely affected her. Usually she was such a lightweight. She looked at Lawrence, or Lawrences—there were two of him. Maybe she was more intoxicated than she thought.
She felt dizzy and attempted to shift her weight on the stool. She nearly fell off, but Lawrence caught her before she fell. His arm was around her waist, and his face was close to hers. She smelled the fruit on his breath but knew that wasn’t the only reason he smelled so good.
His lips were parted and she wondered if they kissed would he taste more like strawberry or more like watermelon. He leaned forward and it looked as if she would find out.
The moment ended with Jill’s sudden appearance. “Looks like someone had a bit too much to drink,” she laughed. “Em is such a lightweight. Poor kid; you should really call it a night.”
Memphis opened her mouth to protest, but Lawrence smoothly interjected and offered to escort her home. He was headed uptown to Queens and could make sure she got home safely.
She felt Jill’s warm hug and then the cold chill of the night air as they stepped outside. It sobered her up enough that she realized she was getting in a cab with Lawrence. She tensed up.
“
Relax,” he whispered, and brought her down to rest her head in his lap. She listened to him as he continued to speak soothingly and ended up falling asleep.
Relax,” he whispered, and brought her down to rest her head in his lap. She listened to him as he continued to speak soothingly and ended up falling asleep.
They arrived at her apartment, and Lawrence paid the fare and carried her up to her apartment like she was just a light bag of groceries.
How did he know where she lived?
“
Jill gave me your address,” he answered her unspoken question. He gently placed her down on the sofa.
Jill gave me your address,” he answered her unspoken question. He gently placed her down on the sofa.
“
How do you do that?” she demanded, filled with liquid courage.
How do you do that?” she demanded, filled with liquid courage.
He didn’t try to pretend that he didn’t know what she meant. “You’re very easy to read.”
“
That isn’t true.” She learned to hide her emotions—her weaknesses—at a young age. She was an expert.
That isn’t true.” She learned to hide her emotions—her weaknesses—at a young age. She was an expert.
“
Yes, it is. You may control what shows on your face and even your body language, but your eyes give you away.” He kneeled down and leaned in close. “They’re beautiful by the way. Very unique; I’ve never seen brown and blue swirls.”
Yes, it is. You may control what shows on your face and even your body language, but your eyes give you away.” He kneeled down and leaned in close. “They’re beautiful by the way. Very unique; I’ve never seen brown and blue swirls.”
He traced the outline of her eyebrows. The apartment felt extremely small.
“
I want to show you something.” She sat up and took his hand, ignoring the sparks she felt by touching him. She took her keys and led him out of her apartment. They climbed four flights of stairs to the roof; he followed her quietly and didn’t even complain about the number of stairs. He waited until they were on the roof to speak.
I want to show you something.” She sat up and took his hand, ignoring the sparks she felt by touching him. She took her keys and led him out of her apartment. They climbed four flights of stairs to the roof; he followed her quietly and didn’t even complain about the number of stairs. He waited until they were on the roof to speak.
“
What are we doing up here?” While he looked around, she placed a brick in the doorway to keep it from closing.
What are we doing up here?” While he looked around, she placed a brick in the doorway to keep it from closing.
Instead of answering his question, she went over to the corner of the roof and brought out the blanket that she kept there. She spread it out, sat down, and invited him to join her. He took a seat beside her. He moved gracefully—almost catlike. She could imagine him practicing martial arts. He smirked and accepted her scrutiny.
“
Where are you from?” she asked him, attempting to cover up her appraisal.
Where are you from?” she asked him, attempting to cover up her appraisal.
“
Well, I was raised in Queens,” he supplied.
Well, I was raised in Queens,” he supplied.
“
Interesting.”
Interesting.”
“
Why is that?”
Why is that?”
“
You just seem foreign and a bit exotic. You’re unlike any man I’ve ever met.”
You just seem foreign and a bit exotic. You’re unlike any man I’ve ever met.”
“
I’ll take that as a compliment.”
I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“
It is.”
It is.”
He smiled at her. “My parents died when I was young but we moved around a bit before that—all over the world, so maybe that’s what you’re sensing. I was a well-travelled six-year-old.”
Memphis laughed. She could picture him with a head full of curls and a mini set of luggage.
“
Lie back,” she commanded. “Tonight is a very special night.”
Lie back,” she commanded. “Tonight is a very special night.”
“
Gee thanks, I’m having a good time, too,” he quipped.
Gee thanks, I’m having a good time, too,” he quipped.
She lightly punched him in the arm. “No, tonight you’ll get a chance to see a shooting star.”
“
Really? But we’re not even that high up. Are you sure we don’t need a telescope? And what makes you think that I haven’t seen one?”
Really? But we’re not even that high up. Are you sure we don’t need a telescope? And what makes you think that I haven’t seen one?”
“
Oh, you have?” Her voice was filled with disappointment.
Oh, you have?” Her voice was filled with disappointment.
“
No,” he quickly answered.
No,” he quickly answered.
“
Great.” She brightened up. “You’ll get to see one tonight because it’s a meteor. A type of Perseids, except it’s not a meteor shower but a single one—well, part of one. I used a meteor calculator to determine when it would fall. I’m not sure if my calculations were accurate—I was just playing around with the estimator—but I have a feeling that I may be right.” She looked up. “See? There it is!” She pointed up in the air behind him. He followed her finger and his face immediately lit up. Memphis couldn’t decide what was more amazing between him or the meteor. She couldn’t bear to tear her eyes away from him.
Great.” She brightened up. “You’ll get to see one tonight because it’s a meteor. A type of Perseids, except it’s not a meteor shower but a single one—well, part of one. I used a meteor calculator to determine when it would fall. I’m not sure if my calculations were accurate—I was just playing around with the estimator—but I have a feeling that I may be right.” She looked up. “See? There it is!” She pointed up in the air behind him. He followed her finger and his face immediately lit up. Memphis couldn’t decide what was more amazing between him or the meteor. She couldn’t bear to tear her eyes away from him.
“
Memphis, this is amazing,” he breathed. He met her eyes. The star disappeared.
Memphis, this is amazing,” he breathed. He met her eyes. The star disappeared.
“
What about you? What’s your story?”
What about you? What’s your story?”
She had the sudden urge to open up to him. “I was a foster child, and I don’t remember my parents.”
“
Are you Indian?”
Are you Indian?”
“
No,” she answered. Was he trying to guess her ethnicity?
No,” she answered. Was he trying to guess her ethnicity?
“
Italian. No, wait—Persian.”
Italian. No, wait—Persian.”
Memphis laughed and shook her head. “I’m black.” She waited for his reaction.
He cocked his head. “Yeah, that makes sense. Ethiopian,” he mused, continuing his guessing game.
“
Actually, I’m not so sure. I only discovered that I was black while I was in college.”
Actually, I’m not so sure. I only discovered that I was black while I was in college.”
“
That’s insane. How did you find out?”
That’s insane. How did you find out?”
She could see his frown under the light of the moon. She told him about the professor who took a sample of her DNA.
“
I didn’t think that was possible. Don’t all humans have the same DNA?”
I didn’t think that was possible. Don’t all humans have the same DNA?”
“
Yes, at a certain level; 99.9 percent of our DNA is identical, but it’s the .1 percent that makes us different, and about 1 percent of that .1 percent is different as a function of our differing history. He used a set of 176 genetic markers selected primarily because they show the most information about physical characteristics. Most of mine were found in people of African heritage. I’ve always wondered why I was able to tan so easily,” she joked.
Yes, at a certain level; 99.9 percent of our DNA is identical, but it’s the .1 percent that makes us different, and about 1 percent of that .1 percent is different as a function of our differing history. He used a set of 176 genetic markers selected primarily because they show the most information about physical characteristics. Most of mine were found in people of African heritage. I’ve always wondered why I was able to tan so easily,” she joked.
“
He sounds like quite a talented scientist.”
He sounds like quite a talented scientist.”
“
He was. He died in a car accident that year.”
He was. He died in a car accident that year.”
“
Oh, I’m sorry.” He sat up to caress her cheek and looked deeply into her eyes.
Oh, I’m sorry.” He sat up to caress her cheek and looked deeply into her eyes.
“
It was actually a little after he completed my test results. He said he found something else of interest, but he died before we could meet.”
It was actually a little after he completed my test results. He said he found something else of interest, but he died before we could meet.”
Lawrence looked away. For some reason he didn’t ask what she thought the doctor might have found. Was the conversation about her race making him uncomfortable? Was he just like her old college boyfriend? He’d seemed receptive to her up until now.
“
When I found out that I was of African descent, it made a lot of sense. Too bad my boyfriend at the time didn’t agree.”
When I found out that I was of African descent, it made a lot of sense. Too bad my boyfriend at the time didn’t agree.”
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