The Demon's Grave (7 page)

The walls were filled with graceful oil paintings beside masks from Africa and Asia. The house held a dim atmosphere, making it almost eerie. At my feet there was a brown, shag carpet and the far end of the living room there was a one wall that was entirely made of red bricks. Shelves were overflowing with foreign treasures. The furniture was (not surprisingly) dark as well. A sofa sat adjacent from a fifty inch television screen while a leather Lay-Z-Boy snuggled against the far wall beside a mahogany side table. I could almost hear my mother decorating their house.

Noticing my pause he said. “My parents are archeologists. They’re off in Mexico at the moment.”

“Working?” I asked.

“No, vacation, but knowing them they’ll probably find another sponsor or project while they’re there.” Aidan motioned me to follow, leading me past the television and into the red and white kitchen filled with shiny appliances.

The kitchen almost looked like a show-home, especially compared to the living room. The contrast between the two rooms was almost like I stepped into an entirely new house.

I set my duffel bag of clothes on the floor and plopped my grocery bag full of chips, chocolate and jujubes on the kitchen table.

Aidan tracked my movements, leaving ample room between us. He’d dressed in his usual t-shirt and jeans but there was something different in his look. One thing I noticed right away was that he bothered to shave the stubble and his hair had been combed for once. I’d been so used to the disheveled, sleepy look that I realized I was staring and he was staring right back.

Rigid, I lowered myself into white chair at the table. The looming silence rang more shrilly than the brakes on the bus. It made the creaking chair beneath me sound damn near explosive.

To alleviate the tension, I attempted a nervous smile. When he didn’t smile back I asked, trying to keep my voice soft so not to disturb the quiet, “We’re not supposed to go, are we.” It wasn’t a question and I’m not sure what made me blurt it out like that, except that the silence was making every second feel like minutes.

“What?” Aidan’s straight eyebrows pinched before he pressed his fingers to his temples and looked away.

Sighing, I took a deep breath, preparing myself to say something that I wasn’t entirely prepared to say. I had no intention of telling him about the messages but maybe I could say what I was feeling? A smidgen of what I was thinking? Ooooh, that could be awkward afterward.

Luckily, Aidan’s raised his hand to hold me off and cleared his throat before he brought probing pale eyes back up to meet me. “Nora,” he said as if saying my name might make his teeth stop gritting. “Everyone is pumped to go. If you don’t want to go, then don’t. I’m not forcing anyone…‌”

He had a point. Though I wasn’t sure I liked it.

“…‌Especially you.”

Ouch.

“But I think they’d miss you.” His shoulders wouldn’t relax and he stared blank-faced at the fridge instead.

“Why not have something at your apartment or we could find a place near a lake?” I asked, wishing his fists would uncurl. I shifted in the creaky chair again and winced.

“For starters, this doesn’t have noise constrictions and it’s free,” Aidan opened the fridge. “Want anything to drink?”

The question was simple enough, though it somehow seemed inappropriate. My heart was beating a thousand times a second, my throat was closing up and my hands were sweating. Of course I didn’t want something to drink! “There’s been nightmares…‌”

“You want me to tell everyone to go home because of nightmares.” His eyes flickered over the refrigerator door and found me.

There it was.

“You too?” This time my throat did close and the words came out a whisper.

Shutting the door with a jerk, Aidan leaned back against the cupboard and crossed his arms. “Everyone has nightmares, Nora.”

Why was it each time he said my name it sounded condescending?

“Mine was about spiders,” I tried to coax. “Phoebe’s had some too.”

Aidan’s gaze turned icy and he shook his head at me. “Listen, I know you don’t like me.”

I opened my mouth to politely protest, but nothing came out.

“And I don’t know what reason I gave you,” he continued, “but I would really like to go this year. I know it’s selfish of me because they were your friends first, but I’m willing to keep out of your way and I’m sure we can both have a good time.”

I couldn’t think of anything to say. To avoid his eyes, I focused on his boyish nose and clasped clammy hands together on my lap. He’d caught on to my discomfort after all, and why wouldn’t he? I didn’t hide it as well as I should have. He’d probably be happier if I didn’t go. It explained why he’d sometimes bail if I showed up unexpectedly to certain parties throughout the year. If I were him, I wouldn’t want me there either.

What was I thinking? Asking him to change the venue because of nightmares? Of course, he’d scoff at some silly girl with a head full of nonsense.

Not looking up, I croaked. “I’m sorry.”

At the edge of my vision I could see Aidan go rigid, as if he expected a trick.

I peeked at him, my chin tilted down to try and hide my scarlet face. “I didn’t mean to make you feel that way.”

Yes, I did and I knew that, but I wasn’t about to tell him. I was already feeling rather disgusted with myself.

“No?” He didn’t sound convinced. “I like you and your friends. You’re some of the only people I don’t feel like an outsider with. Have you ever been alone before, Nora? Like really alone?”

I didn’t answer, couldn’t. It would mean thinking about it.

Taking my muteness for a negative, he continued. “My family moved around so much I hardly had time to make a friend before we were moving again.”

Not wanting to feel the weight of guilt any longer I blurted. “I’ll come. But only if you still want me to. If you don’t, which I don’t blame you, I’ll tell everyone I’m sick.”

Aidan hesitated before finally shaking his head. “I would really like it if you came.”

“You’re sure?”

He attempted a polite smile which failed before he could look away.

The doorbell rang and we both jumped at the same time.

“I’ll be right back. Ok, Nora?”

He didn’t look or wait for an answer before heading through the archway.

Alone, I mulled over our conversation.
What a nice awkward beginning to a sleepover
, I thought, leaning my head back against the wall and rolling my eyes heavenward.

Phoebe’s barking laughter from the entry made me feel instant relief. She and Aidan weren’t alone when they walked into the kitchen.

Read was following close behind. “Hi Nora,” he greeted, sitting next to me. His dark hair was gelled to perfection. Why he wasn’t a model or actor, I’d never know.

Phoebe plopped down opposite me and put her bare feet on my knees. Curling her toes she stretched back like a cat, arms above her head. “Cody’s picking Robin up. They won’t be long.”

Aidan offered them something to drink, but like me, they refused. I think we were all eager to begin. Phoebe and Aidan made polite conversation while Read wandered off to study some of the artifacts in the living room. Robin didn’t bother knocking. She rushed inside announcing their arrival with a booming, “hello!”

Striding into the kitchen, she wore a clinging, green, sundress and high-heeled boots that were laced to her knees to make her seem a little taller. I don’t know why she bothered. Next to Cody, she’d always be short‌—‌even in heels.

Cody stood in the living room, not bothering to join us in the kitchen. He looked tired even in the dim light. His baggy cargo pants, made his butt look as droopy as the bags under his eyes. Even his t-shirt was rumpled, like he’d slept in it.

Aidan craned his neck to see Cody and Cody nodded his greeting. Ever the tall mute.

Standing at six-foot-eleven, Cody could intimidate any tough-guy. Though he was primarily skinny, he was all lean muscle.

I’d seen him play basketball‌—‌the sport that was paying his way through college‌—‌and the moment he hit the court, he was the badass his physique threatened he was. Once in Robin’s presence, he was quiet and reserved. Phoebe once called him the modern day Jekyll and Hyde.

“Where’s my schnapps?” Phoebe demanded with a grin.

“It’s in Cody’s car,” Robin sang. “And we got beer and…‌” she walked briskly across the kitchen floor, heels clicking loud and in charge, “…‌vodka and whiskey.” She opened the cupboard doors as if she owned the place. Though she seemed to know what she was looking for and despite the heels she had to go on tippy-toes to pluck a glass from the cupboard.

“You been here before?” I asked Robin.

Filling her glass from the cooler, Robin’s chin-length chestnut hair swayed in her nod. “Yeah, the party two months ago. Weren’t you?”

Double ouch.

Phoebe changed the subject and jutted her chin toward Aidan. “So, where are we headed?”

“You’ll see. Now that we’re all here, I’m glad you could all make it,” his eyes paused on me.

I realized I was blushing again and looked over to Cody. His light brown eyes were glazed behind golden, long lashes and I was certain he had no idea someone was talking.

Phoebe pulled her feet off my legs, leaving pink impressions above my knees. “No problem,” she said to Aidan. “Shall we head out then?”

“Alright!” Robin finished her glass of water and put it in the dishwasher.

Phoebe was the first to head for the front door, while the rest of us gathered our things before following.

Venturing outside and down the narrow walk, Aidan locked up the house while Robin talked of shopping adventures and bowling with a few of Cody’s teammates and their girlfriends.

I helped Cody and Read with the large quantity of alcohol that should never be consumed in one night. Read’s bottled beer, which he bragged to Cody about, looked expensive and possibly German. There wasn’t a lick of English on the case.

Aidan opened his station-wagon and helped pack it with duffel-bags and Robin’s suitcase. I grabbed the last case of beer and shoved it beside Robin’s suitcase on top of a blue plastic tarp. There was something underneath it, but I couldn’t tell what. Shutting the back, I realized I got last pick for seats. The usual third seat in the back had been removed so we could stuff the car full of our junk, leaving the two bench seats.

Cody, Read and Robin crammed into the back while Phoebe waited for me to hop into the front seat. “I called shotgun,” she announced. I glowered at her and she returned it with a playful tilt of her golden head.

With everyone waiting, I caved first. Starting an argument with Phoebe was often futile. Ducking into the car I scooted next to Aidan, careful not to touch.

We exchanged an uncomfortable glance before facing ahead.

Phoebe slammed her door shut, the hinges shrieking their protest.

Robin’s high-pitched giggles bounced around the car as she initiated some type of poking contest that had Cody grumbling his irritation.

Aidan backed out of the driveway, somehow able to see around Robin’s bobbing head. The girl might only be five-foot-one, but she was a bouncy one.

“So, where are you taking us?” Phoebe pried, twisting in her seat to stare at Aidan’s profile.

He didn’t remove his eyes from the road. “Learn some patience,” he chuckled when he popped the old car into
drive
. The whole vehicle
thunked
before lurching forward.

“Aw, come on Aidan, you can tell us now.”

Aidan fell silent and serious, staring straight ahead.

“Give me a hint,” Phoebe said, not phased. She butted out her bottom lip in a pout.

Aidan took one look at her and laughed, actually laughed. I could hear something genuine behind it this time. It wasn’t something to be polite or a social requirement. It surprised me what a nice sound it was.

“Okay,” he said with a quirked smile that showed some teeth, “it’s on my family’s property, outside of town.”

I had to look, he had very nice teeth. The real smile made him look kind of cute.

“Is it an old barn?” Phoebe asked casually, her attention partially focused on wrapping her fingers around the loose stitching along the back of her seat.

“Nuh uh!” Robin squealed in the back, “I’m not sleeping in a barn!”

My head was turned enough to see Read’s hand dart out and swatted Robin’s knee and she broke out into hysterical giggles that flashed smiles all through the car. Robin had a high-pitched, vibrating laugh. It reminded me a lot of Mona’s, which had me a little homesick already.

Robin hit both boys’ thighs before they could block her. Cody’s lips stretched in what may have been a smile, but he didn’t participate.

Twisting her body, Phoebe dropped her elbow on the other side of the seat. “So, is it a barn?”

Aidan chuckled. “It’s not a barn.”

“Another hint,” Phoebe urged. Her hand snaked, out slapping Robin’s bare thigh; the sound cracked like a whip. Aidan and I winced just before Robin’s shriek filled the car.

I twisted, to see Robin flop forward gripping her legs, laughing. “No fair, I can’t get you.”

Cody, despite Robin being his girlfriend, looked relieved that the game was over. He leaned his spiky bleached hair on the window and closed his eyes.

Read reached behind him, opened his German beer and cracked the top with a bottle opener.

“It was re-built in 1906,” Aidan offered, his tone was low compared to Robin’s boisterous voice but it still snagged Phoebe’s attention. “Hey, Read,” he said, eyes on the rearview, “keep the beer
below
the window, will you?”

“A farmhouse?” Phoebe asked.

Aidan offered a noncommittal shrug.

“An Indian burial ground?” Robin offered, still babying her legs. The slapping game had ceased without retaliation, for now.

Phoebe snorted. “Are you kidding me?” She asked Robin.

Emerging from the small city we were on the open highway. It wasn’t long before we took an exit onto a narrow, paved road. It had been repaired several times; each bump evident under the car’s poor shocks.

Sometimes, I wanted to be as carefree as Robin. Not having to worry about anything bad and just enjoying the moment. Robin was a pro when it came to keeping things entertaining, for herself and others. I could join the bustling conversation but I didn’t want to, not just yet. There was a nagging at the back of my mind, an apprehension that kept me frozen in my seat.