“Ah,” Claire nodded. “You’re confused.”
I looked at her in despair. She was right. I hated this feeling. I hated knowing I still cared for Gabriel—even if it was just a little—and yet I detested him for hurting me so deeply. I disliked the person he had become and that made it hard for my mind to understand why it was I felt such concern for him.
My mind was made up, however. I would not give him another opportunity.
After dinner and another short rage of fury, I climbed into bed and pulled the covers over my chest. I had trouble settling into a comfortable position. The thought of Gabriel roaming around in Los Fresnos was unnerving. I needed to go somewhere comforting in my mind.
I struggled to keep my mind off the poppy field and thought about what the next day would hold for me. I tried to wrestle with my weariness, afraid I might unconsciously drift to the poppy field—a place off limits to me now. I slowly fell into a deep sleep.
My dreams took me to the beach where David and I had been the day he materialized in this world.
I walked along the shore sensing the wet sand beneath my soles. The waves swayed in a steady motion against the horizon.
“This is different,” I heard a voice behind me.
I recognized his scent at once. My eyes raced to find his silhouette. I met his gaze several feet from me. His golden body stood gloriously with his soft wings gallantly extended.
“Hi.” I greeted him with a smile.
“Hello, my lovely.” He smiled also.
David took my hand and sat me beside him on the sand. I slipped my hand away from his soft grip and placed it on my lap. He expressed a disgruntled groan at my action. I pretended not to hear his note of opposition.
“I’m sorry if I’m trespassing.” I was worried I had somehow crossed over into Somnium.
“You’ve not broken any rules,” David assured me. “I have come to you tonight.”
“You can do that?”
“Of course,” his lip lifted at the corner. “I’ve come to show you something.”
“What?” I curled my knees and wrapped my arms around them.
“Look.” He pointed to the sunset.
The scarlet and lavender sky turned dark. We were sitting on nothing and surrounded by nothing. I searched for David’s arm in the emptiness.
An image of a young woman lit up the canvas.
“Hello, my precious baby… hello, my little princess,” the young girl whispered lovingly.
I recognized the voice and the face. It was a young Claire.
I gasped and held my hand over my mouth.
“Do you recognize this young lady?” David whispered in my ear.
“My mother,” I nodded. “She’s beautiful!”
David pressed his lips gently against my cheek. I was too overtaken by the images to protest his advance.
“This is what you dreamt of as a child.” He maintained a low whisper.
The images continued to play like a widescreen movie. I heard a baby’s cry, while my mother’s soothing voice sang a lullaby. My father’s image blew kisses in my direction. There were pictures of bright toys and trinkets that came and went. Again appeared my father. His green eyes were glazy and tired as he made silly faces. I saw my grandmother, Eva, holding her arms out and smiling.
Then the faces in the images slightly matured. There was an image of my first bicycle and then my father’s smiling face as his voice explained how to ride it:
“Keep your balance, angel. That’s it… you’ve got it!” his voice said, followed by a child’s unfiltered laughter—it was mine.
The scene that followed gave the impression of flying through clouds surrounded by flying monkeys. It was a scene from the
Wizard
of
Oz.
I was terrified of the flying monkeys as a child, but now the monkeys weren’t scary at all.
I cried and laughed at different intervals during the exhibit of past dreams. I was unable to control the overwhelming rollercoaster of emotions that enveloped me.
The illustrations ended in darkness with my father’s voice saying, “I love you, angel.”
The sky took on its crimson appearance once again. Streams of tears rolled from my eyes. I reached over to David and embraced him fiercely. I cried uncontrollably, clinging onto him for several minutes. David gently removed my arms from my stern embrace when I finally managed to calm my sobbing. He fearfully scrutinized my face.
“I’ve made you unhappy,” he noted in a grim expression.
“No,” I opposed his theory. “I’m very, very happy.”
I sniffled and laughed as he helped wipe the tears from my eyes.
“My dad,” I began, “I’ve wanted to see him for a long time. I never really got a chance to let out all my pain.”
“Isis, I’m so sorry. I had no idea; otherwise, I would have never…” he trailed off at a loss for words.
“Forgive my imprudence. I never meant to cause you any grief,” David’s face was agonizing.
“No, David,” I objected again. “You’ve made me very happy. You’ve given me back memories of my father. Thank you… really”.
Having observed my smile for several seconds, the tension in his body eased.
“I’m truly sorry.” He wiped the remainder of the tears from my face.
We stared at the waves dancing rhythmically to and from the shore. His eyes wondered toward me. I asked myself what could possibly be holding his interest so long as he gazed at me in that way.
A turquoise butterfly fluttered in front of us out of nowhere. David held out one hand as if calling to it. The butterfly grounded itself on his index finger. David held it out for me to study.
“Beautiful,” I softly remarked.
“It’s time to go,” David warned.
“Already?” I sounded glum.
“I’ll meet you in reality, my lovely.”
He gradually disappeared, leaving only a trace of golden glimmer in the blackness.
Chapter 7
I woke with a smile on my face. I jumped to my feet and headed for the bathroom. I curled the ends of my long hair with the flat iron and pulled my favorite black shirt over my head. Jeans and wedge heeled shoes were the day’s choice of attire for me. With my black eyeliner and mascara perfectly in place, I still had time to scribble in my journal.
Journal entry 7, 7:01 A.M.
And so it is with a deeper emotion for you that I awoke from my slumber this morning. I have seen through my very eyes the gifts that you have been born with. These are a mystery to my intelligence, a beckoning to my heart. And yet I cannot and will not interpret them as anything more than a silent infatuation.
* * *
“Have some breakfast before you leave,” Claire said, pouring herself a cup of coffee. “I’m running late today. Hope the boss doesn’t mind,” she giggled.
I hadn’t heard her mention The Judge in a while.
“How’s that coming along?” I asked, intrigued by her lightheartedness.
“Nicely,” she said, wincing as she took a sip of the hot beverage. “See ya this afternoon.”
My mother was at the door on her way out when the doorbell rang. She opened the door with her always-humble smile.
“Well, good morning!” She sounded cheerful.
She turned back to wink at me and motioned me over.
“Good morning, Mrs. Martin,” I heard David’s voice coming from the door.
My eyes popped wide and I moved quickly to my feet. I walked over to the door where David stood wearing a light blue collared shirt and dark jeans. The blue tone stressed his black hair and already brilliant blue eyes. James Dean had nothing on him.
“See you later kids. Have a good day,” my mother said, kissing my cheek as she left.
“A good day to you, as well,” David responded to her goodbye holding my gaze.
I stepped onto the porch and closed the door behind me.
“Good morning.” I smiled and bit my lip feeling a sudden queasiness.
“It truly is,” he said kissing both my cheeks in greeting.
He held out a small white box wound with a delicate gold organza ribbon. I looked at him questionably.
“You really shouldn’t be buying me gifts.”
“I didn’t buy it.” He motioned me to take the box.
I took the small white box and debated on whether to open it or not.
“Open it,” he requested.
I took an end of the fine organza ribbon and pulled lightly. The bow came undone easily. I opened the box slowly.
In the interior of the white box, lay the turquoise butterfly from my dream. It stood calmly; gently swaying its velvet wings. A small square piece of parchment paper with my name rested beneath it. The butterfly fluttered away into the morning breeze, disappearing into the shrubs. I took the paper from the box. I glanced at David as I carefully unfolded it. The note read:
My heart’s beat thy sight stole,
Taking mine unruly soul.
My pulse at rates of abrupt speed;
I proclaimed love before my creed.
Blooming flowers hold no compare
To thy blissful beauty, oh so rare.
Give me agony or give me death,
I’ll take thy heart as eternal breath.
Ceaselessly Yours,
David Chios”
My face was frozen in astonishment by his expressively written words. I raised my head to view him. He awaited my gaze to meet his.
“Ceaselessly yours,” he repeated the closing of his poem.
“Incredible,” I muttered. It was the only word that I could think of as his eyes pierced mine.
“Thank you… it’s incredible,” I tried to correct myself.
His lips curled into a pleased arc.
“May I drive you to school?”
“Yes, you may.” I sounded like a first grade schoolteacher.
I returned to the house to retrieve my book bag and placed the white box in it. I locked the door behind me and joined David on the walkway.
Today David drove his own car. I slid into the passenger side and he carefully closed the door for me. My cheeks were starting to hurt from the tremendous smile my mouth was emitting.
“Has Gabriel attempted to contact you?” David asked after turning the ignition.
My mouth went flat.
“Yeah.” I nodded. So much for the happy morning I was having. “He came by last night. I closed the door on him… twice.”
“Oh,” David sighed, discontentment on his lip. “Hmm. Galen was right about him. He is perseverant.”
“I made it clear that I didn’t want to see him anymore,” I assured him.
“I’m not convinced that will constrain him. Galen sensed a high toxicity level in him. You should try to avoid him at all cost.”
“Toxicity?” I paused. “Like drugs?” My worry for Gabriel escalated. Surely, he wasn’t stupid enough to fall into drugs.
“We’re not sure. Galen is the more empathic of the twins, but not as sensitive as my mother. All he perceived was a high dosage of some sort of toxin in his blood. Galen could not assess the nature of it. It might be medicinal as opposed to recreational drug use, for all we know.”
“Is that why your brothers were so uneasy yesterday?”
“Yes. Under the effects of such a high dose of medication or narcotics, a person is likely to behave irrationally… or belligerent. That’s why Galen approached me yesterday before we joined the group.”
“So it was a warning he was giving you,” I assessed.
David nodded.
“Isis,” David said taking my hand, “please be cautious.”
“I will.”
Our consort was present at the cafeteria table. Andy looked at me with eager eyes, cuing me that she had something to deliberate.
“Morning, David.” Andy smiled. She wasted no time in taking me by the arm and pulling me aside.
“You’re not going to believe this,” she began. “Bill and I bumped into Gabriel last night at the gasoline station. Aside from being drunk, he was paranoid and all jittery. He was rambling on about you. He tried to convince Bill to get you to talk to him. He said he had gone to your house and you had brushed him off. Is that true?”
“Yeah,” I nodded. “Go on.”
“Well, he creeps me out. He said that his friends were waiting for him in the car and that he had to go.”
“What’s so creepy about that?”
“There was
no
one
in his car.”
“What?” I creased my brow.
“Weird, right?” Her eyes widened. “But there’s more… before he left Bill told me to wait for him in the car—he got a little worried. So, I go to the car and five minutes later, Bill’s all nervous, and he wanted me to call you. So, I did, but I kept getting your voice mail. It was too late to call your house phone. I didn’t want to wake your mom or get you in trouble.”
I took my cell phone out of my book bag. “It’s dead. I forgot to charge it. Sorry.”
“Yeah, I figured. I tried calling you at your house phone this morning too. There was no answer. I guessed you’d already left.” She pressed her lips tight. “That’s not all.”
“Well, get to the point already,” I said anxiously.
Andy’s face was serious for a minute. She glanced at Bill and back at me. “He told Bill he was packing.”
“Oh, thank God! He’ll leave me alone now that he’s going back to Florida.” I was relieved. The Chios siblings would be too.
Andy looked at me with a blank expression. “No stupid.” She twisted her mouth. “He’s packing
a
gun
.”
The blood in my head sank down to my feet. What the heck was Gabriel thinking? Where did he get a gun? And most importantly, what did he want it for? My head was spinning in every which direction.
“What?!” I shuddered. “I don’t believe it. He’s not the type,” I refused the idea. “No, no, no, Andy. I think Bill misunderstood.”
“He didn’t, Isis. Gabriel showed it to him.” She paused to momentarily glance at Bill who had been observing us the whole time. “You gotta tell your guy.” Andy whispered as Eryx walked by with Marie on his arm.
“He’s not my guy.” I corrected. “But you’re right.” I sat in an empty chair next to me, waiting for the dizzy spell to end. “Do you think Gabriel will come looking for me again?”
“Girl, I don’t know, but you have to be careful. Gabriel sounds like a lunatic. I think Bill’s right about him being on drugs.”
“I just can’t digest that, Andy. He looked down on people that were into that stuff. Remember?” I sighed heavily letting my head fall back.
“Tell David and tell him now, Isis,” Andy ordered.
I placed my hand in a fist over mouth.
“Okay.” My voice was muffled.
I was nervous. I couldn’t believe what Andy had just divulged. What was wrong with Gabriel? I needed to know if he was really on drugs or suffering from some psychotic episode.
Andy pulled me up out of the chair and bent her finger back and forth at Bill, motioning to join her. I walked directly to the one person that could give me insight on what could be happening to Gabriel.
“Hey, Galen, can I speak to you?” My voice sounded a little shaky.
I could feel the surface of my eyes start to glisten. David stood from his seat immediately aware that something was wrong with me.
“This is a private matter. Go away,” Galen told Jean whom I did not notice had been talking to David. I wasn’t concerned with her at that moment.
“Whatever.” Jean shrugged and sat in David’s chair across from Galen.
“Jean, he’s serious.” David’s face was hard. “Please, leave us.”
Jean’s face turned bright red as she slowly stood from the table. She looked at me with hostility and then turned to view David with resentment.
“See you in homeroom.” David tried to ease Jean’s mood.
Jean gave us her back and walked to her group’s table.
“You have my attention.” Galen offered me a seat next to him.
“What is it exactly that you saw or scanned or whatever it is you call it, in Gabriel?” My worry made my voice unstable. I felt a knot in my throat ready to burst into a scream.
“Did you not discuss this with David?”
“We did,” David said as he placed his hand on my shoulder.
“I need more details.” I said trying to stop from trembling.
“What is it you want to know?” Galen arched one of his brows.
“Everything you sensed in him. Everything,” I reiterated.
“You’re shaking,” David noted.
“Why are you so agitated?” Galen added to David’s comment.
“There’s something wrong with Gabriel. He’s acting strangely. I’m worried he’ll get himself into trouble.”
I heard David hiss as I showed my concern for Gabriel.
Galen folded his arms. “Usually a person is less tense after they ease their mind and your pulse rate is still in an up heave. Is there something more you’d like to share with us?”
“Tell me what you sensed in him first,” I insisted.
Galen placed his hand under his chin. “Extreme levels of exposure to either a very strong prescription medication or a mixture of narcotics mixed with alcohol. I cannot tell you how long or how much was in his system, but I would assume it was recent and high inebriation. Other than that, I could not sense more than his physical tension as you and David approached, but I believe all of us felt that.”
“Oh my God.” I whispered, running my hand through my hair. “I just can’t believe it.”
“Now, what have you to tell us?” Galen reminded me of the piece that I was still hopeful wasn’t true.
“He has a…” I couldn’t even say the word without shaking. “ . . . a gun.”
Galen threw his head back and laughed as if I had made some comical statement.
“I don’t see the humor in it, Galen.” David put his arm around me, trying to ease my distress.
“Why fret over the little things? You know well that the boy is no match for us. What’s he going to do with his toy—play cowboys and Indians?” He placed the back of his hand on his forehead. “Oh, the horror.” He remarked sarcastically.
I sneered at him.
“Clearly she’s upset and you with your cynicism.” David’s tone grew scornful. “What if he tries to use the weapon and discovers we are impenetrable? What then? Eh, brother?”
“Pish posh.” Galen swayed his hand, disregarding David’s argument. “I am a warrior. He is a pubescent junkie. Enough said.”
“Exactly.” David squatted beside me. “His actions are impulsive. We have no idea what he might be scheming. What if he decides to confront me in public?”
“Play dead.” Galen rolled his eyes.
David’s lips formed a straight line. “Is there no limit to your imbecility?”