Haeven (5 page)

"Oh, no, it's fine!" I assured her. She
wasn't like him; despite how beautiful she was I knew immediately
that she was a girl just like me. Everything about her put me
completely at ease.

"I hope you like pancakes."

"I do!"

"Are you hungry?"

"Very," I nodded.

"Good! Sit down," she motioned to the
island.

There was a place already set for me complete
with silverware, a glass of juice and a plate with a generous
serving of fresh fruit already arranged upon it. There was also a
huge vase of flowers that hadn't been there the previous night
resting on the edge of the island. I looked them over as I took my
seat.

"Those were outside your door this morning. I
brought them in and put them in some water for you just to be safe.
There's a card..."

I pulled it from the pick that was holding it
in the vase and opened the small envelope.

Dearest Emily,

A gift to show my regard and the happiness
you have brought me by staying with us. I look forward to seeing
you once you are ready to start your day.

Herrik

Penny stood over me while I read the brief
note. She smiled as she filled the remaining space on my plate with
pancakes and bacon. The doorbell rang just as she turned away, "Oh,
I can get that for you; enjoy your breakfast," she said and hurried
off to answer it.

I slathered my pancakes in butter and syrup
and took several big bites before she returned. My mouth was
stuffed full when she came back and she shook her head at me
disapprovingly.

I took a huge gulp of juice and shamefully
washed it all down.

"Who was at the door?" I asked as I continued
my breakfast.

"Avery," she said, "he left some packages for
you. I'll help you with them once you're done eating.

I hurriedly cleared my plate and was tempted
to ask for seconds I was so hungry but my curiosity to see what was
in the boxes helped me check my appetite. I brought my dishes to
the sink and thanked Penny for going through so much trouble, "Can
we see what Avery brought now?"

"Of course."

She followed me to the front door and helped
me open each of the packages. Much to my surprise there were quite
a few and each box was filled with clothes; dresses mostly, some
skirts and tops as well and shoes in a variety of colors and
styles. They were all quite pretty but as I looked them over I
began to feel suspicious; not only of the clothes but the flowers
and Penny and breakfast. Their generosity seemed more like an
effort to convince me to stay rather than common kindness.

"I'm not staying!" I narrowed my eyes at
Penny.

She shook her head in confusion, "Why would
you say something like that?" I didn't have a ready answer as Penny
looked at me expectantly. "Well," she said awkwardly, "we might as
well get these to the bedroom so you can get changed."

She tucked several of the boxes closed and
helped me gather them up. We carried them to the bedroom and
following Penny's lead I reluctantly began hanging everything up or
placing them on the shelves in the closet. Afterwards we rifled
through each article and Penny asked me what, if anything had
caught my eye.

I frowned, "I don't really wear dresses."

"Hmm," Penny studied me closely, "are you
sure, because you really look like a dress kind of girl?"

I shook my head, "No, not at all."

"But you're so pretty, so...so feminine."

I started to feel very uncomfortable.

"Would you like me to choose?"

"Sure." I mumbled.

Penny went into the closet and came out a
minute or so later holding a navy blue sundress with white polka
dots and a pair of sandals that she said would look nice with
it.

"What do you think?"

I shrugged.

"Maybe you'll get a better idea of how well
you like them once they're on," Penny touched my shoulder
encouragingly and left the room.

I carefully took Herrik's shirt off and hung
it in the closet. A few moments later I slid the dress over my
head. I couldn't reach the zipper and called to Penny for help.
When she came in she smiled with delight, "Oh, it's perfect. Look
at you," she deftly zipped it up and shuffled me towards the closet
so I could see my reflection.

I smiled despite the uneasiness I felt and
tilted my head wonderingly, "I guess it will do."

"Try the shoes," Penny suggested.

I slipped them on and made a few paces back
and forth in front of the mirror.

"Very nice," Penny assured me, "very, very
nice. Would you like to do anything with your hair? I could braid
it for you if you like."

"No," I said a bit too harshly. I knew she
was just being nice but my defenses suddenly went back on the
alert. I softened my tone, "No thank you, Penny."

"Well, there's a comb and a brush and some
other toiletries in the bathroom for you. I'll wait for you in the
kitchen and when you're done Herrik asked me to bring you to
him."

I spent several minutes brushing my teeth and
combing my hair. When I was done I felt a little self-conscious
pang for the way I was acting. I found Penny in the kitchen,
"Penny," my voice apologetic, "I think I've changed my mind, would
you try and do something with my hair for me?"

She just smiled and stood up. Penny brought
me to my bedroom and had me sit at the vanity. She left the room
and came back with the brush, the comb and some other odds and ends
like barrettes and hair ties then got to work. She pulled all but a
handful of my hair back and fastened it with one of the ties.
Afterwards she gathered up the loose hair and braided it pulling it
up and across my head to the opposite side where she clipped it
into place.

Then Penny began working on the ponytail she
had first gathered at the back of my head. She sectioned it off and
made a number of little mini-buns pinning them all securely just
above my neckline. When she was done she gently ran her hands all
over her work to make sure it would hold then just to be safe
spritzed it with a dash of hairspray.

"There," she handed me a small mirror and
adjusted it so I could see all that she had done.

I was beaming, "Wow!" I said. "It looks
amazing! How did you do that?" I asked as I studied the back of my
head.

Penny shrugged and batted her eyes modestly,
"I wanted to be a hairdresser when I was younger and I practiced a
lot...a lot...on my dolls, my sister, even my mother when she would
let me," I thought I saw a twinge of pain in her eyes when she
mentioned her mother and I wondered if I should ask about it.

I didn't have to though, "They're gone,"
Penny softly stated, "they're all gone." For a moment I thought she
might cry and I reached out to comfort her. Before I could touch
her, though, she abruptly stood up, "Well, let's get you to
Herrik!" and there was no trace of the sorrow or regret I thought I
saw. "He is so anxious to see you and to show you all there is to
see."

Penny and I rode the elevator back down to
the lower levels. We didn't talk much the entire time we were in
the car or as we walked down the hallway past the theater, gaming
room and offices. She seemed lost in her own thoughts even though
she glanced at me from time to time and smiled her vibrant smile.
 I tried not think about her family and what may have happened
to them and though I desperately wanted to ask I felt incapable of
bringing any of my questions up. 

When we passed the indoor garden and drew
nearer to Herrik's door I began to get a little nervous. Penny must
have noticed because she casually took my hand and gave it a light
squeeze before we reached the final turn.

Avery was standing in front of the door just
as he was the previous day and without question or hesitation
opened it when he saw us approaching. He smiled shyly at Penny and
said hello to her first then looked at me and gave me a slight bow
of welcome. We passed on through and were both immediately greeted
by Herrik as he stepped towards us expectantly.

Something lurched inside me and I felt my
breakfast fighting to come back up and the room started swimming
before my eyes. Then I fell to the floor and everything seemed to
be happening from very far away; Penny's scream, Herrik's voice,
the feel of his hands as he urged me to sitting.

"Emily," he carefully lifted me up and laid
me on the chaise. Then he took my hands in his, "Emily," he called
his fingers running back and forth across my wrist. "This is no
good," he said more to himself than anyone else. "Penny, bring me
some water."

She hurried off but quickly returned and
handed him a glass.

"Don't watch," Herrik's voice was flat and
emotionless.

Penny turned away entranced and when she did
Herrik punctured his wrist and held it over the glass to catch a
number of the droplets that wept out. He knelt down and urged my
mouth open with one hand then forced me to take a sip.

"Emily! Can you hear me?" He laid his
fingertips on my temples and whispered something to me.

I didn't hear it though, there was
something...I saw something...was picturing it in my mind. He was
there, at my house...I needed to see more.

"No," I whispered. "He knows...He knows I'm
gone...He's looking for something."

Herrik frowned then realizing what was
happening, "What? What is it, Emily? What is he looking for?"

Room to room he went and it was like I was
seeing through his eyes. Evan's room was empty and mine as well. He
searched them both but did not find whatever it was he was after.
His hand was on the knob, opening my parent's door. He stepped into
their room and noiselessly approached their bed. I saw his fingers
easing the covers back.

"No!" I cried out and sat upright my hands
covering my mouth.

Tears started streaming down my cheeks, my
heart was bursting with sorrow, my temples throbbing with pain.

"Oh, no, no!" I don't know how but I sensed
that Herrik was somehow sifting through my thoughts and saw all
that I had seen. 

 "Penny get Avery," she shook her head
as though she were just waking from a dream then hurried for the
door.  Avery almost instantly appeared as Penny ran back in
behind him. "Get Carah, go to Emily's. Something's happened – find
out what and get back here as soon as you know!" Herrik
commanded.

Avery vanished.

Penny approached us and reached out to
comfort me as I sat there sobbing into my hands. She looked up at
Herrik, "What can I do?" she asked.

Herrik just shook his head, "Get your things,
whatever you need to stay the night. When she's feeling better I'll
bring her to her rooms. Meet me there."

"Of course," she stroked my hair, turned and
made her way to the door.

Herrik took a seat beside me on the chaise.
The minutes ticked by as he whispered words of comfort and
encouragement to me. When I could finally bear to hold myself up I
looked in his eyes questioningly.

"I don't know," he said. "Nothing like this
has ever happened before," his voice apologetic. "I have to ask you
something, Emily. How much was it, Emily? Do you remember how much
you gave Daemon and how much he...?”

"Oh, God..." I wailed again and for a number
of minutes I couldn't answer. I was so consumed by the memory of
helping Daemon and tormented by the images I had just seen.

"Ssh...there, there, Emily...it's OK...I know
you are worried about your family but listen Emily," Herrik pulled
back and looked me in the eyes, his hand on my cheek, "these
things...these things that we see are not always true. It could
have been something that happened or is going to happen or even
just something that may happen but will not. You mustn't think the
worst until we know for sure," he insisted. "Carah and Avery have
gone to look; to see that they are safe and I will know...I will
know just as soon as they know."

I sniffled and nodded.

"Can you tell me Emily...Was it Daemon that
you saw? Tell me what you remember." Then with a touch of anger,
"How could he have been so reckless?! What did Daemon do to
you?!"

He was so upset and I was so scared. I wanted
to tell him everything he wanted to know. It seemed terribly
important for Herrik to understand. I took a deep breath and
gathered my thoughts while he waited patiently, quietly.

"I...I don't know if it was Daemon. I didn't
see his face. It was...it was like I was looking through someone
else's eyes.

"It's OK, Emily. I understand. Why don't you
tell me about Daemon instead? I need to know, Emily. I need to know
whatever you can tell me about what he did to you. Do you
remember?"

"We were in the crawlspace," I began. "I...I
laid my head on his shoulder then I felt him...and everything just
sort of...stopped. I couldn't hear anything or feel anything only
my heartbeat and Daemon's, too. He was so strong! I felt like I was
being turned inside out. And I remember thinking that I was dying.
I was so scared and I just...I just wanted him to stop," I
shuddered.

"I thought it was over. He let me go but then
suddenly...he was holding me and it felt so cold! His blood," I
shuddered at the realization, "his blood..." I moaned out loud
perhaps fully understanding for the first time what I had done.
"Oh, God!" I lowered my voice shamefully, "It tasted so cold at
first, like ice, and I could feel it weaving its way through my
body and the faster it went the warmer I got. I...started to like
it and I wanted it, wanted more, I wanted it to go on and on
forever. I never wanted it to end."

"Did your heart ever stop, Emily? Do you
know? Do you remember?"

I shook my head, "I'm sorry," I cried, "I'm
sorry," over and over again.

"Don't be sorry, Emily...you don't
remember...it's not your fault...none of this is your fault.
You...you were just trying to do the right thing. You were trying
to help someone you thought was in trouble and that is always the
right thing to do. Always!"