“Stop.” I raised my brows trying to keep my smile contained. “I’m not telling you anything.”
Claire stuck her tongue out at me. “Well, neither am I.”
“Act your age,” I laughed. I was sure my mom was fine now. She wouldn’t be acting silly if she weren’t.
Of course, three seconds later she started telling me about her afternoon out with The Judge. They had taken in a movie and gone out for ice cream afterwards. She was my happy Claire again.
It was still early for dinner, so I hung out in my room listening to my favorite Italian artist, Tiziano Ferro. It seemed like a perfect selection for the way I was feeling. He was an awesome artist… no idea what he was singing, though.
I daydreamed about the night when David sang to me. I wished I understood Italian so I knew what it was he was saying through song.
Then I remembered the problem with Gabriel. There I went ruining my perfect day. I had to think about how to get it through Gabe’s thick skull that I didn’t want him around me anymore. Maybe I should rethink telling my mother about Gabriel and his gun. I shook the thought out of my head. I didn’t want Gabriel in prison, much less overprotection from Claire. She tended to be a bit overly dramatic with these things. I guess it was the small town girl in her that made her that way.
Journal Entry 9, 6:00 P.M.
Emotion has overthrown the reign of reason. I am now the humble servant of that which should have a more passionate name. This emotion, which you have ignited in me, holds no comparison to any I’ve felt before. I am a prisoner, a servant, and a slave of this that I call by no name, for it is a deeper state than that. Do not attempt to release me, for I will cling to you with all the threads of devotion in me.
* * *
Monday morning, Andy elbowed Bill as David and I walked to our table hand in hand. Andy started clapping when she saw that we were “together” now. Bill joined her.
They were such morons sometimes.
Galen tightened his lips. I knew he was the only one in David’s family that was uneasy about our relationship. Nyx and Eryx didn’t seem to mind at all. I think I would have reacted the same way as Galen if I were in his shoes. My brother’s safety would mean the world to me, but then again so would his happiness.
David received several warnings during first period for tilting his desk forward and putting his arms around me. He was told to keep his hands to himself for the remainder of the period.
Second period must’ve really hit the ego mark for David. He paraded me on his arm for Simon to see. He seemed to enjoy that quite a lot.
Lunch was blissful. David and I sat at a booth by ourselves since our table was overcrowded again.
“Why is your mother not against us seeing each other? It was like she was relieved when I went looking for you.” I was curious to know if he knew something that I didn’t,
“My mother believes that because you have found a way to travel to Somnium without knowledge of its existence, you were destined to find me. “You see, fate plays a critical part in life’s journey to reach your undeniable destiny.” David began.
“Wait, wait… fate and destiny?” I interrupted. “I’m not grasping the whole genius-deity theory of life,” I said.
“No, love, it’s not a theory; it’s the way things are,” he started his explanation again. “Fate is the series of events in your life that brings you to your destiny. It’s like, a mathematical equation: one plus one equals two, and will always equal two because it is a true statement, right? Well, imagine that the number ones are fate and the answer—which is always equal to two—is destiny. It doesn’t matter how many ones you add to the equation, the answer is always the undeniable truth. Does that make sense to you?”
“Now it sort of does,” I smiled.
David tilted his face to mine.
“You’re my undeniable truth—my destiny,” he murmured, reaching for my lips.
“Ehem,” Principal Miller cleared her throat. “None of that on campus kids.”
David wrinkled his nose. “Yes, ma’am,” he acknowledged the principal’s request.
“Thank you,” Ms. Miller said and strode away.
David reached for my hand and kissed it.
“I was thinking that I would like to invite your mother to dinner sometime this week,” David revealed.
“Why would you want to do that?” I creased my brow.
“I simply thought it would be a nice gesture.”
“I’ll let her know.” I could already hear the big commotion Claire would make over this.
“I would like to extend the invitation personally. It is the proper way, after all.”
“Sure,” I smiled. “That would be nice.”
Out of fear that Gabriel might have called, I refused to check my phone until after school when I was in a safe haven—at home. I ignored that worry and sent it to the back of my mind where it wasn’t immediately perturbing. I wasn’t going to ruin this day.
I had trouble convincing David to come inside the house when he dropped me off. I insisted that my mother had the utmost trust in me. He insisted it wasn’t proper for him to be in my house without Claire’s consent. He won the argument—as customary, it was.
After several attempts to say good-bye, he literally pulled me out of the car and walked me to the porch. I didn’t want him to go, but I knew he wouldn’t stay and let Claire find him there. He claimed again it wasn’t “proper”.
David promised to return later that evening to speak to Claire about the dinner invitation. I thought that was quite gentlemanly of him.
“Mom, I have to tell you something,” I told her as soon as she set her purse down.
Claire’s eyes widened, “Oh my God, you’re pregnant.” Her hand automatically covered her mouth. I thought she was playing around for a moment, but then I saw the panic in her face. I forgot how those words scared her witless.
“No!” I said in an offended tone. “We talked about that already.” I dropped myself on the sofa with a frown.
“I’m sorry, honey. I know I overreact with those words but that’s the way I told… nevermind, nevermind,” She shook her head. “What do you have to tell me?”
“David’s coming over later.” I turned the T.V. off and walked to the stairs. “I’ll be in my room.”
“Isis, don’t be angry, honey. I’m sorry.”
“You need to trust me, Mother.” I was a little hurt that she would think that when I had never given her reason to doubt me.
“Just this afternoon I was telling David how much you trusted me. Was I wrong to tell him that?” I stood at the foot of the stairs as I spoke.
“No, honey. You have to understand that I’m just a drama queen when it comes to my only baby. I can’t help it, Isis. You know this is me… this is your mother. One day you’ll understand what it’s like to want the best for your children. I’m terrified that you’re a teenager with raging hormones, because I already lived through that.”
“I know, Mom. You’ve told me this before… a
dozen
times. I’m just asking for a little credit. Have faith in me.”
Claire’s lips formed a straight line. “I don’t doubt you, Isis. You’re a good girl.”
“Thanks.” I gave her a crooked smile. “I’ll be in my room.”
Claire was making a ruckus, moving pots and pans around in the kitchen, getting dinner started. She didn’t hear the doorbell. I pranced down the stairs and opened the door.
“Hi,” I said motioning him to come in.
David smiled and walked in the house.
“I’ll go get my mother.” I walked backwards a few steps and then turned to veer toward the kitchen.
“Mom, David’s here.”
“Okay. Is he staying for dinner?” She was chopping broccoli on a wooden cutting board.
“I don’t know.” I hesitated to tell her he wanted to speak to her for fear she might overreact once again. “Can you come to the living room?”
Claire stopped her chopping and looked at me like I had said something wrong. She rinsed her hands and wiped them dry on her apron. I could tell she was this close from voicing some other tragic event she had thought up in her wild imagination.
“Good evening, Mrs. Martin,” David greeted her in the same manner he greeted me—with a kiss on each cheek.
“Evening, David. How’s your mother doing?”
“Fine, thank you. And yourself?”
“I’m well.” Claire glanced at me probably wondering what this was about. “Would you like to stay for dinner?”
“I thank you, but no. I am actually here to extend a dinner invitation to you and Isis for sometime later in the week, when it is more convenient for you.”
“Oh,” Claire was surprised. “I’d love to. How about tomorrow night?”
“Perfect.” David’s dimples creased as he smiled.
“It’s a date,” Claire smiled. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to finish up in the kitchen.”
“Are you sure you won’t stay for dinner?” I asked. “She makes the best broccoli quiche.”
“Tempting, but I do apologize. I’ve already eaten.”
“Hang out with me for a little while?”
“Yes, of course. But, only until your dinner is ready.”
Claire didn’t take very long to put the quiche in the oven. She joined us in the living room asking David about the places he had lived.
“I would love for Isis to see all those places one day.” David squeezed my hand briefly. “The cultures are so different.”
“I can imagine,” Claire nodded.
The timer on the stove beeped several times. Claire excused herself and went into the kitchen.
“Time for me to take my leave.” David noted the time on his watch. “I think I’ve overstayed my visit.”
“It’s not that late,” I set him at ease.
“Yes, I realize that, but Galen is having trouble digesting our relationship and his comments make my mother tense. I should have called to let her know I would be staying for longer than expected.”
“What comments?” I frowned.
“About Gabriel and this.” He pointed to the Star Crest hanging from my neck.
“I’m concerned also,” I admitted.
“As am I, but that won’t keep me from you.”
David stood from the couch and walked to the door. I closed the front door behind me. He lightly pecked my lips and left.
Chapter 11
Claire set the broccoli quiche and wild rice on the table. She plopped down on a chair with her oven mitt and apron still on. Carefully, she cut two triangles off the quiche and served them on our plates.
“It’s nice of your new playmate to invite us to dinner.” Her beautiful smile gleamed.
I nodded as I took a taste of the piping hot food. It was delicious. I wondered if it would be up to Chios’ standards. I wouldn’t shy away from showing off my own cooking skills for David, if given the opportunity. I had my mother to thank for that.
“Are you ever going to tell me what’s going on between you two?” Claire said taking off the mitt and placing it next to her dish.
“Nope,” I smiled. “Not until you tell me what was going on with you last week.”
Claire rolled her eyes. “That again,” she sounded bothered.
“No deal?” I asked smugly.
“No deal.” Claire pursed her lips.
I was washing the last of the dishes when the phone in my pocket started vibrating. It was Krystle, one of my best friends that had left for college earlier in the school year.
Krystle was attending the University of Texas in San Antonio along with Patrick. Word was that Patrick and her were an item now. It had been ages since we had talked. We had texted back and forth but only scarcely since she left. She had graduated high school with so many college credit hours that she was considered a sophomore in college already. That’s a smart girl for you.
“It’s so much work,” Krystle complained. “Research papers and projects and presentations… I’m so happy I’ll be coming home for spring break this weekend.”
“That’s awesome! We can hang out with Andy and the rest of the guys.” I was excited to see my friend after three months of being apart. “So what do you want to do when you get here?”
“Sheila told me the Spring Festival is going on this weekend.”
“Man, I miss her… She lives here and I never see her because she’s so busy all the time.” I leaned against the kitchen sink, staring at the floor.
“I know,” Krystle sounded glum. “I hardly talk to her anymore either and we don’t even have time to text. She’s super busy with work and school and all. I don’t know how she does it. I can barely handle my full load of classes.”
“You’re scaring me. I don’t know if I want to go to college anymore,” I kidded.
“Shut up. You know you’re going,” she giggled. “So have you given thought to where you’ll be attending?”
“Still debating.” I sighed. “The tuitions are ridiculous.”
“Tell me about it. If it weren’t for Financial Aid and student loans, I’d be illiterate right now.”
“Too dramatic,” I laughed.
“I know. It’s the stress. So, I’ll see you when I get there?”
“Absolutely.”
“Talk to ya later. Bye.” Her voice turned into two different tones on the “bye” part.
“Bye.” I hung up.
The sky was bluer, clearer and more beautiful this morning. Had there not been the humidity factor, the climate would have been perfect.
David was wearing a black polo type shirt with a white shirt underneath. He looked like a model for the designer clothes he was wearing.
“Ready, gorgeous?” He asked as we drove onto the school campus.
“Ugh,” I sighed. “How many more days till spring break?”
“Not long.” David kissed my hand. “What are we planning for spring break?”
“We?” I smiled. “That sounds nice.”
“Do you think your mother would let you travel?”
“Not unless the apocalypse was nearing.” The edge of my mouth pulled to one side.
“Then I shall find a way to keep us entertained here.”
David’s arm was wrapped around my waist as we walked into the school doors. He held me like I was a fragile glass vase. His embrace was soft, careful and firm. I was in heaven, until the smell of the breakfast pizza hit my nostrils. Yuck!
“What is that horrendous odor?” David pinched his nose.
“Let’s sit on the patio tables today,” I said, leading him out of the exit next to the theatre arts center.
“Thank goodness for clean, pure air.” He breathed deeply.
As we took our seats, the rest of our entourage came through the glass doors to join us. Eryx and Galen sat at a corner table with two other guys, while Bill and Andrea sat with David and me. There were no other students out on the patio besides us.
I let Andy and Bill know that Krystle would be in town for Spring Break and about our plans to meet up at the Spring Carnival. David was quiet while Andy and Bill exchanged ideas of what to do while Krystle and Patrick were in town. I realized David was probably quiet because he had meant it when he said he would find a way to entertain us during Spring Break.
“David, you’re really gonna like Patrick, Krystle, and Sheila.” Andy said excitedly. “They’re such good people.”
“I don’t think Sheila is going to make it to the carnival. She probably has to work,” Bill noted. “Maybe we can meet up with her on one of the days we go to the beach.”
“Well, we had kind of made plans for the week already,” I told Bill while I glanced at David.
“Nothing is set in stone.” David placed his arm around me. “I wouldn’t mind meeting your friends.”
“Woo hoo!” Andy raised her fists in the air with alternating up and down movements. “Spring Break at the beach!”
The day went fast. First period, David managed to keep his hands to himself.
I had a presentation that I had to wing in Physiology—second period—without Simon. Simon took it upon himself to change his seating arrangement. The teacher must have not minded because he didn’t ask him to return to his original lab table.
Lunch was a blast talking about how great Spring Break would be. Even Galen and Eryx took interest in the idea of a little recreation and relaxation at The Island.
After school, the excitement of the week to come was still alive in Andy and Bill. I could tell they too were looking forward to hanging with the old group. We all said goodbye and boarded our respective vehicles.
“Come,” David moved his index finger back and forth.
I shifted my weight to the driver’s side of the car. David pressed his pale soft lips over mine in a tender, swaying motion. My mind fogged momentarily.
“Four hours I’ve been waiting to finish that,” David sighed, “but well worth the wait,” he grinned giving me one final quick peck.
“Touché,” I corresponded.
I asked David to drive us to my house so that we could talk. My mother had a meeting and wouldn’t be home until past six o’clock, so our dinner plans would be later than expected.
David was reluctant to enter the house claiming Claire would disapprove of his visit without her presence. I explained that she trusted me and reiterated it time and again as he gave me the same excuse. Finally, I swayed him.
I threw my book bag on the recliner and sat on the sofa.
He was uneasy even about sitting down.
“I must not stay long. Though my brothers and mother say they do not wish to meddle in my affairs, they still hold concern for me.” David sat at the edge of the sofa.
“Because of Gabriel, isn’t it?” I lowered my head knowing I was to blame.
David nodded.
“They are afraid Gabriel will confront me any given day. The only reason they matriculated in school was to maintain a watchful eye on me. My family is wary of my judgments at the present. They believe that I’m liable to act impulsively and unintentionally reveal myself.”
“What? Why would they think that?”
“Because I have recently given them reason to doubt me.” He frowned, irritated by his own words.
“What did you do?” I refused to believe David could do any harm.
David grimaced and turned away from me for an instant.
“Isis, love is irrational. You know that, don’t you?”
“Yes, more so than anyone, I would say.”
David took my hand and placed it on his face.
“This is difficult to say. In my desperation, I asked someone to break a rule that may have cost him and me a great deal of problems.” He examined my face and continued. “I asked a deity to… distort your emotions so that you would love me.” David stopped to analyze me again.
I felt rage erupt from within my core. My eyes flooded with the torment of betrayal that his statement had produced. As he tried to speak again, I sprung to my feet and fiercely struck his face with the palm of my hand. Though, I doubt I physically hurt him, his face reflected pain.
“How could you do that to me?!” I screamed over streaming tears. “You made me believe that I loved you?!”
David draped his arms over me constricting my movement. I tried to force myself from his restraint, but his strength was much greater than mine. He didn’t even look like he was making an effort to keep me confined.
“No, Isis, that’s not true,” he tried to quiet me.
“You’re a liar… a hypocrite… a charlatan!” I accused him through my gritted teeth. “Let me go! Get out of my house!”
“Isis, I didn’t follow through; I didn’t do it. Listen to me, please. Your emotions are of self-will. You love me on your own.” His words pleaded for my comprehension.
I stopped struggling and listened to him.
“I swear on my life, I did not go through with it. I’ll swear on anything you want, I’ll do your bidding, but believe me, please… please,” David’s face was consumed by terror as he pled with me.
I considered his plea in silence. My anger was still evident. David released me from his grasp. He dropped before me on one knee and took my waist between his hands.
“I implore you,” he stressed each syllable.
I never imagined I would see the day a god would kneel before me, begging me to have faith in his words; it was just so wrong. I couldn’t bear to see him this way: kneeling and in torture over my verdict. I questioned my emotions—did I really care for him? Did I trust him enough to accept his claim and forgive him? I relied on instinct rather than reason. My decision was made.
“I believe you,” I said to him.
A heavy gust of air fled David’s lungs. He sprang forward, hugging me. I extended my hands and placed them on either side of his face.
A tingling sensation swept over the tips of my right hand. I raised it from David’s face to view it.
“My fingers…” I uttered as I brought my hand closer to my eyes.
My nails and fingertips were a purplish black hue. The color and tingling sensation were steadily traveling up in the direction of my knuckles.
“No!” David gasped with his eyelids wide open in panic.
Vigorously, he lifted me and ran out the door. He soared into the air at an astonishing rate. I had no time to react. The tremendous pressure of the wind made my body ache and burned against my skin. Abruptly, David’s body jerked as he landed. I heard his feet pounding on the ground below. My head swirled uncontrollably. Everything around me was a smear. I was going to be sick.
“I have to throw up,” I moaned.
“Try to hold it, love, please!” David insisted, as he ran with me in his arms.
I shut my eyes to block out the spinning, but the nausea persisted.
“I can’t feel my hand,” I managed to mumble.
My hand was cold and limp. The pins and needles sensation had now reached my wrist.
I heard David’s steps echoing. We were indoors somewhere, but I didn’t want to open my eyes. My stomach was still in knots.
“Mother! Gemini!” David’s eager cries bounced off the walls.
He lay me down on something soft. I heard footsteps approaching hastily in our direction. Someone took my right arm as if examining it.
“I have to throw up,” I warned again.
“Calm her,” I recognized Nyx’s voice.
I felt a light pleasurable breeze on my face as I inhaled. My head was light, but the dizziness was gone. My stomach began to settle. My body relaxed, and I slowly opened my eyes.
David was kneeling by my head. Nyx sat next to me, while the twins stood behind her. I examined my hand. It looked like it was beginning to decompose from the fingers. The dark purple color was a third of the way up my lower arm. The tip of my pinky fell off. I should have been frantic, but I was completely unruffled. My train of thought was obscured. I didn’t realize what I was witnessing.
“You must forgive her,” Nyx said to David.
“I do, I forgive her,” David assured her.
“No, David. You must truly feel it,” she advised him.
“Mother, I should be the one asking her for forgiveness,” David’s voice was disturbed.
“She struck you. Forgive her… NOW,” Nyx commanded in aggravation.
“I forgive you, Isis,” David said stroking my head.
I studied my arm. The blackness was at the base of my elbow. The tingling did not subside. It looked like something was boiling under my skin, slowly moving upward. The muscle tissue was exposed in my hand. I could see bone and veins all turning black. The rancid smell of putrid meat made me gag.