Becoming (4 page)

“Is everything all right?” she asked. She
paused halfway down to her seat, her hands braced on the gleaming
wood table.

“I am fine,” he responded, waving her down.
“There is much weighing on my mind, as you know.”

She nodded. She certainly knew better than
anyone. Her lips parted on a response, but the sound of the others
approaching interrupted her.

First through the door was Jabari, followed
closely by Ini-herit. They nodded at Knorbis and exchanged nods
with Malukali as they each took their seats. Jabari sat at the head
of the table, as was customary. Zayna and Sebastian followed,
issuing their own greetings. The last to arrive was Uriel, the
large male seeming to fill the room as he closed the door behind
him and simply leaned against it.

Finding himself unable to fathom sitting
still, Knorbis remained standing by the window and addressed the
room. “Thank you all for coming. I know you are all very busy.”

“Of course, Knorbis,” Jabari said, his voice
deep and calm. “We understand your reasons for wishing to meet this
way. It is safest for everyone, after all. Please tell us why you
have called us together.”

Nodding, Knorbis said, “I have been having
visions for over a week now. They nearly all center around
Saraqael’s eldest.”

The gazes of the others remained unblinking
and intent on him. Not a gasp of shock or word of concern was
issued. There had been a time when his intuition had been
questioned, but after the events of nearly two decades ago, such
was not the case any longer.

“And what have you foreseen?” Jabari
asked.

“Soon—very soon—there will be an exhibition
of power unlike any of the others we have witnessed. The outcome…”
He trailed off, the pain in his head spiking as he tried to apply
his powers of perception to his own visions and failed. “I cannot
foresee it,” he said finally, his shoulders bowing a bit under the
weight of this admission.

“Do you fear for their safety?” Ini-herit
asked.

“I do,” Knorbis replied. “If for no other
reason than I know not what they face.”

There was a pause as they considered this.
Then Malukali said, “We all know that Kanika perceived a small
surge yesterday, during the interaction between Gabriel and
Michelle. Do you suppose that was a prelude to this larger-scale
display?”

“I do,” Knorbis repeated. “And there is more.
Although my visions have primarily centered around Saraqael’s
eldest, I have also seen the others. And there were displays of
power there, as well.”

Another pause ensued. Glances were exchanged
around the table. Normally, Knorbis would have opened his senses to
attempt to analyze those glances. Now, though, he was simply too
exhausted to bother. Out of the corner of his eye, he noted
Malukali studying him consideringly. She had spent most of her time
with Saraqael’s youngest these past many years. He wondered if she
doubted him, since she obviously had not sensed anything untoward
herself.

“Perhaps it is time,” she said then,
surprising him. He lifted his gaze to hers and saw nothing but
respect and belief.

And there it was again. The mysterious twist
in his chest.

Jabari looked at Ini-herit. “Raphael is
standing in for you since you came to this meeting, is he not?”

Ini-herit nodded.

“Please be sure he is aware of this grave
possibility.”

Again, Ini-herit nodded. When his silver gaze
flashed briefly, they all knew he was sending out the requested
message.

“I believe we cannot ignore Knorbis’
visions,” Jabari said, looking at each of them in turn. “There is
far too much at stake. It seems clear to me that we must begin
making plans for the transitions.”

“All of them?” Zayna asked, her brows drawing
together.

Jabari nodded. He caught Knorbis’ gaze.
“Indeed. We must follow Knorbis’ intuition.”

“But it has not been determined if Gabriel’s
feelings are reciprocated,” Malukali pointed out. “We all believe
this is very important toward the success of the transitions.” She
looked at Ini-herit.

“It is true that there must be some element
of faith for a transition to be successful,” Ini-herit agreed. “And
thus far, she does not seem to have any. Without that, it will
likely impact the transition for both of them in one way or
another.”

“I understand that,” Jabari responded, “and
it is a concern. We do not know for certain whether it will
ultimately matter, however. And if these displays of power are
imminent, as Knorbis, suggests, we must take action. You must all
consider the potential cost if we do not.”

After another moment of silence, they all
nodded in agreement.

Sebastian said, “It will take some time to
prepare everything. But we shall begin making the arrangements
immediately.”

Uriel shifted away from the door, drawing
everyone’s attention. “I will alert Harold, Alexius and Balera.
They will ensure that Simon, James and Caleb are notified.”

“And I will do what I can to warn everyone on
my end,” Ini-herit added.

“Very well,” Jabari said. “Let us get on with
the preparations. I expect I will see you all again within two to
three weeks. Until then, we will hope that we have acted in time to
prevent any further tragedy.”

Amber stood in her room on the day of the
pool party wondering when, exactly, she had lost her mind. Because
surely it had to have been some time before Gabriel convinced her
to wear a swimsuit in front of all of the kids she had gone to
school with these past few years.

Frowning, she studied her reflection in the
mirror over her dresser. The bathing suit was new. In truth, she
had never owned one before...at least, not that she could remember.
When she had used that as an argument to try and get out of going
to the party, Gabriel had nipped that right in the bud by buying
her one at BJ’s Warehouse, their joint place of employment. He said
it was a combination graduation and birthday present. She couldn’t
say that made her think any more fondly of the garment.

She supposed it wasn’t too bad as far as
embarrassing, clinging, skin-baring pieces of clothing went. It
wasn’t as though she was in a skimpy string bikini. Still, the
black, one-piece suit with gold detailing woven through the bodice
was comprised of far less fabric than she was used to wearing.

Her pasty skin was a stark contrast to the
dark suit, to her thinking. She knew most of the other pool party
attendees would be nicely tanned at this point in the year. Unlike
her former classmates, she had never seen the appeal of lying
around in the sun just for the purpose of darkening her skin.
Besides, she’d just burn and peel, a painful and unattractive
prospect.

Due to her track and karate training, her
muscles were respectably toned, she supposed. But she had what
could only be termed an “athletic” build. When considering
Michelle’s comparatively swollen and curvy figure, Amber felt like
an ironing board’s first cousin.

There was a knock on her door. After a moment
in which she seriously debated yanking her blanket off her bed and
wrapping it around herself, she sighed and opened the door. She was
going to have to get used to being seen in this getup if she was
truly going through with attending this party. And she had given
Gabriel her promise. She wasn’t about to back out now.

Speaking of Gabriel, he stood on the other
side of the door. He opened his mouth in greeting, then stood there
without speaking when he saw what she was wearing.

Flushing, she turned and walked back into the
room to stand again in front of the mirror. She fiddled with the
halter-style strap around her neck in hopes it might help. “I know,
I know. It’s ridiculous. Just say it.”

“Uh,” he said.

“But I’ll just point out that you chose this
thing. I might have gone with a full-body wetsuit if it was me,
but…”

When she trailed off and he still didn’t
comment, she glanced at him in the mirror. He looked a little
glassy-eyed.

“There you are,” Mrs. B said from the
hallway. She appeared behind Gabriel. Normally, he would have moved
the moment he realized she was behind him. Now, however, he simply
stood in the doorway, his eyes on Amber. “Gabriel, may I get
through?”

Finally, he seemed to shake off his weird
trance. “Sorry,” he muttered as he moved to the side and allowed
Mrs. B to walk by. She carried a Walmart bag.

“Well, don’t you look lovely, Little Star?”
Mrs. B said with a wide smile. “What a nice bathing suit.”

“Thanks,” Amber said with another flush of
embarrassment. Gabriel watched them from the doorway and she
wondered a bit anxiously what he had come to talk to her about.

“I didn’t get the chance yesterday to give
you the things I bought you at the store for today’s party,” Mrs. B
said. She pulled some black, stretchy fabric out of the bag she
carried. “This is a bathing suit cover-up, since I know you well
enough to realize you won’t be comfortable at the party without
one. The skirt ties over one hip.” She demonstrated briefly as both
Amber and Gabriel watched, wearing twin expressions of bafflement,
and then set it aside. “I also bought you some sunscreen and some
new sandals to show off your pretty toenails. You can’t go to a
pool party wearing socks and sneakers.”

Although she wanted to argue, Amber realized
her guardian was right. She would only call more attention to
herself if she was inappropriately dressed. “Thanks, Mrs. B.”

“Oh, child, you’re most welcome. You’ve asked
little enough from me over the years. I’m happy to do for you
now.”

Amber smiled at the warmth in Mrs. B’s words
and expression. “I know I’ll get a lot of use out of these gifts,”
she said, though she wasn’t sure whether she meant it. “And I
wouldn’t have thought to get any of this, so I really appreciate
it.”

“It’s my pleasure.” Mrs. B glanced back at
Gabriel, who still stood in the doorway. “I’m sorry if I
interrupted your conversation,” she said.

“Oh…no. It’s all good.”

“Well, I’ve got a load of laundry waiting to
be moved to the dryer,” she said. “I’ll see you two off before you
leave.”

“Of course,” they said at the same time.

She smiled, looking between them. “Good.”

When Mrs. B walked out, Amber pulled the new
sandals out from the Walmart bag on her dresser. They were simple
black sandals with straps around the ankles and toes. They had
wedge-shaped heels made of something that looked like cork.

“So, what’s up?” she asked Gabriel as she
turned the sandals upside-down and confirmed that the size was
right. It was. She dropped them to the multi-colored rug on her
floor and slid them onto her feet, bending to fasten the
straps.

“I was just checking on you since it’s about
time to go.” His voice was a little raspy.

“Making sure I’m not bailing?” she asked,
glancing up at him.

He looked a little feverish, she realized.
His cheeks were flushed and his blue-gray eyes shone a bit too
brightly. A feeling of dread tickled the back of her mind. Was he
freaking out over the surge? They hadn’t talked about it after
Michelle left. What if he couldn’t deal with it this time?

What would she do if he finally turned from
her?

“Yeah. Something like that,” he replied, his
eyes moving from one object in her room to another but not meeting
hers. “I just wanted to give you the ten-minute warning.”

“Oh.” She hoped he wasn’t lying to her. Why
wouldn’t he meet her gaze? “Um, no prob. I’m pretty much ready. But
since you’re here, can you help me put on this sunscreen?”

He finally caught her gaze, but couldn’t seem
to focus. “What?”

Wishing he wasn’t acting so strangely, she
raised the bottle in her hand and repeated, “Sunscreen. It’s
apparently a must for us pale-oids. And I can’t reach my back.”

“Um. Right.”

When he didn’t move into her room, she
lowered the bottle as a sense of loss sliced through her. Then she
said in a quiet voice, “That’s okay. I can get Mrs. B to do
it.”

“No, no,” he said, finally moving forward.
“Sorry. Just got a lot on my mind.”

Battling her flailing emotions, she handed
him the bottle and presented him with her back, shifting her hair
over her shoulder and out of his way. “What kinds of things?” she
asked, fully expecting him to mention the surge and her utter
freakishness. Her heart pounded relentlessly as she awaited his
response.

He didn’t reply at first, dragging out her
worry. She heard the sound of the sunscreen opening and then the
sound of him squirting some of the lotion onto his hand. The scent
of coconuts filled the room. Then he said, “I’m concerned about
Michelle.”

Relief flooded her. She felt the tension in
her shoulders ease even as sympathy for him circled through her
mind. That made perfect sense. She knew how uncomfortable Michelle
made him, and she was bound to be at the party.

Before she could reply, she heard the sound
of a heavy breath and turned to look at him curiously over her
shoulder. He had cupped the handful of sunscreen close to his
mouth.

“Don’t want it to be too cold,” he explained,
still not quite meeting her eyes. Then he rubbed his hands together
before lifting them both to her back.

The sunscreen was cool despite his efforts,
and she sucked in a sharp breath. “Yikes.”

“Sorry.”

She was about to tell him not to worry and
thanks for helping her out when she realized how absolutely
incredible his touch felt. It occurred to her that she had never
been touched like this by anyone before. Actually, she usually did
whatever she could to prevent it.

Now, Gabriel slowly rubbed his hands along
the column of her neck, then along each of her shoulder blades and
the expanse between them, the movements purposeful, but tender. The
sensation made her want to groan with unexpected pleasure. Then he
progressed lower, to the skin exposed below the single bow tie in
the back. When he reached the base of her spine, she realized her
heartbeat had accelerated to a ridiculous rate.