Contingency (7 page)

The hardest class for me was Elaine’s etiquette class. After eighteen years in a different era, it was a challenge to learn the “proper” way to sit, stand, walk and eat. It was even harder not to fidget, snort or curse under my breath. When we began learning dances, I felt relieved. Finally, there was something I was halfway decent at.

Part of me loved unlocking a bit more of my feminine side, dressing up, and being treated like a lady. But, mostly I was dying to rock out to my iPod and dance around my apartment in boy shorts and a tank top while no one was watching. I pushed away my wild side though, I had a job to do, and I was going to see it through.

Needless to say, by the time I got to my afternoon classes with Dr. Blake, I had so many pent up frustrations I’d take them out on him. For several days we worked on controlling my warping abilities. They would be a huge advantage in tough situations. We found out one day with Travis’ help that I had been freezing my entire surroundings. With a lot of practice and concentration I learned to focus my energy into freezing only my opponent and not everyone in the room, and that helped me to conserve a lot of energy. I still became weak after using my powers, but not nearly as bad as I had before.

We also figured out was that my reflexes were becoming quicker since my warping ability had been activated. Perk number three of having awesome warper abilities was that I could expend some of my energy into my punches and kicks, making myself stronger. I became more of a threat and more of an asset. In all honesty, I was starting to enjoy the extra strength my powers gave to me.

Dr. Blake and I sparred daily and I learned how to take an opponent down using just my hands and legs. My body hurt for a solid week after the initial daily drilling, but eventually it got used to the abuse I put it through.

We never discussed what had happened in my room the night Elaine and I had a little too much fun; we both were trying too hard to pretend it never happened. If only it were that easy. Being in close contact with Dr. Blake was a sort of sweet torture; he’d made it clear that he wasn’t interested in me like that, even though I was pretty sure he found me attractive. I’d noticed the way he looked at me when he thought I wasn’t looking, but I could only assume he just didn’t want to get involved with his student, or maybe he just wasn’t interested in a relationship at all. I could deal with that.

As long as I got to punch things.

Chapter Ten

In the past three weeks I hadn’t stepped foot outside of Howell Home or its stone-walled courtyard. I was used to jogging, shopping, and going out on a whim. True, I never had many friends, I was too much of a loner, but sometimes adult interaction was needed. I’m not usually reckless or quite so stupid, so I have no excuse for my next actions.

Walking around in the courtyard, making my rounds close to the stone wall late in the afternoon, I came across an iron gate hidden by overgrown vines. I cleared away as much of the overgrowth as possible to get a better look. There was an old rusty handle, and I gave it a jerk to see if would open. It swung open with a loud metallic screech. I glanced around quickly, thinking the whole city must have heard the racket I was making. When no sirens blared and no one came running to jerk me back within the perimeter, I hesitated only a second before squeezing through the opening and making my way to the main street in front of Howell Home. I glanced around nervously. I had never been out and about in the 1904 version of Charleston. I felt a little conspicuous. I wasn’t a prisoner and I wasn’t a weakling, so I squared my shoulders and continued on.

A few moments later I stopped dead in my tracks. Carriages went by on the street, and several men and women walked leisurely down the sidewalk. I felt the strangest sensation of disconnectedness, of being there in 1904, but not belonging, like I was walking in a dream, like at any moment I would morph back into my modern self. I gave a start at that thought and glanced down at myself in alarm. My long cream colored walking dress was covered by a calf length cream colored coat trimmed with intricate black embroidery down the front edges and around the neckline. A single button at my waist closed the coat. On top of my dark auburn tresses, sitting a little off-kilter was a straw hat trimmed in black roses, ribbon, and tulle. A huge, stupid grin split my face. I looked like any other lady taking an afternoon stroll, so I continued on with a spring in my step and a whole lot more confidence.

Charleston looked the same and yet completely different. Some of the buildings were almost the same as the buildings in my time. I walked several blocks taking in the familiar sites and hoping that I’d be able to see the city as I remembered it again some day. Eventually I came upon a little street market and immediately wished I had a few coins in my pocket--my stomach rumbled, agreeing with me. I meandered through the tables and stalls enthralled with all the people bartering and selling such fresh food and other handmade items.

I was admiring a handmade silk scarf, when I felt someone’s eyes on me. I began scanning the crowd around when I felt a small tug on my sleeve. I looked down into the face of a dirty little boy with adorable dimples. “Excuse me, miss. The gentleman asked me to give this to you.” I looked at the folded piece of paper like it was a viper. Who would be sending me a note? I didn’t know anyone outside of Howell Home. “He said he wouldn’t pay me if you didn’t take it, miss.” the little boy’s lip began to quiver, obviously concerned that I wasn’t going to let him finish his job. I smiled at the wretched child and took the note.

He didn’t waste any time once his mission was accomplished. He ran expertly through the throng of people at the market and even though I walked quickly after him, I couldn’t catch a glimpse of him again or his employer. Without lifting my skirts and causing a scene by flat out running after the child, I had no chance to track him with this many people milling about. I cursed under my breath, and then cursed some more at my immediate relapse into “unladylike” behavior.

It was getting late and I wasn’t sure how long I could be gone without being missed, so I shoved the note into my skirt pocket and headed back to my temporary home.

I made it back to Howell Home in pretty good time. I darted into the alley and squeezed through my hidden gate. I ran quickly to the back door and let myself in, and when I found no one waiting for me, I let out a shaky breath and headed to my room. I was puzzling over the note in my pocket when I ran smack into Travis Connely. Dang it, running into people was starting to get old. I laughed nervously.

“Sorry, I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going--again.” He fidgeted a bit, running his fingers through his hair, and didn’t quite look me in the eye.

“No harm done, Sage. I hope you had a pleasant day?” I cocked my head, searching his face for any accusations there. He seemed to be genuine, maybe a little more nervous and twitchy than normal, but I couldn’t find any sign that he knew of my impromptu day out.

“Yes it was lovely outside today. I’ll see you at dinner, Travis, I’m on my way to freshen up--if you’ll excuse me?”

“Of course.” he said on a relieved breath as he made a tiny bow. I didn’t have time to think about his sketchy behavior; my hand curled around the note in my pocket and I quickened my pace, ready to get to the privacy of my room to read it. My stomach churned. Whatever was written in the note--well, it couldn’t be good.

When I got to my room, I bolted the door. My heart was pounding in my ears. I tossed my hat and jacket on a chair and sat on the edge of my bed. I pulled the note out of my pocket, unclenching the fist I had made around it, and smoothed the note on the bed. With trembling fingers, I unfolded the note to read its contents.

Dear Madame,

You cannot stop what has already been set into motion. I will kill you if I have to.

I was still puzzling over the note at dinner that night, barely noticing what I ate. Who could the sender have been? Only a handful of people knew of my existence, and that was what concerned me the most. It would mean that someone I had come to know, someone I trusted, was as fake as Tammy Faye Bakker’s eye lashes. I wondered if it was possible for some kind of preternatural creature or maybe a witch to have sensed or foreseen my time travel. I made a mental note to ask Travis the next day.

If I hadn’t been so preoccupied with my own troubling thoughts, I might have noticed the tension in the dining room-- the unusual silence might have tipped me off. Miss Howell’s voice cut through my thoughts, startling me. “How was your day, Sage? Uneventful?” Her eyes pierced me to my seat, and her tone sent up a red warning flag. I glanced around the table, finally noticing the tension rolling off everyone. No one’s gaze would quite meet mine.

I sat my fork down and slowly returned my eyes to her accusing gaze. “It was a pretty good day.” I said carefully.

“Was it now?” she asked a little too sweetly. “Anything you wish to discuss with us?” I narrowed my eyes at her. Did she refer to my escape today, or was she alluding to the note I received? Could she possibly know about that? I kept my face impassive, not wanting to give anything away. “Would you like to tell us what you were doing traipsing about the city by yourself today, putting our entire mission in jeopardy? Or would you prefer to pretend it never happened?”

Crap! My first instinct was to act like I had no idea what she was talking about, but it was clear that she was fully aware of my trip to the market and I didn’t feel like playing games.

“It seems to me that you have already been informed about my trip to the market. There is nothing else to tell. I took a walk because I was feeling cooped up and I made a mistake in judgment.”

Elaine slammed both palms down on the table so hard that a glass of wine tipped over. I flinched, and Travis and Dr. Blake both seemed just as surprised. She stood up and leaned forward with both hands still on the table in front of her. Her eyes blazed in fury. “You were cooped up? You made a mistake?” She shouted. “A mistake could get one of us killed. Don’t you care, Sage?” Travis and Dr. Blake jumped out of their seats when I stood up. I can imagine what my face looked like with thoughts of throttling someone dancing in my head.

“I said I made a mistake, ELAINE. So you can back. Off. NOW,” I nearly growled.

“You need to grow up, Sage, at this rate you won’t make it out of this alive.” With that parting shot, she exited the room, floating on a cloud of righteous fury.

My shoulders slumped in defeat. “She didn’t mean that, Sage.” Travis said softly.

“Actually, I’m pretty sure she did.” I muttered.

Chapter Eleven

I had just about had enough. Everyone was being polite, oh no, THAT wasn’t the problem at all. I’d rather deal with people screaming at me and throwing things to show their anger. But no, everyone was polite, in a detached sort of way. They were still talking to me, but only what was strictly necessary. Classes were tolerable, but beyond frustrating. My jaw was sore from having clenched it for days, trying to just get through another day of shunning.

What was worse is that I knew I deserved it, and probably even worse, and they still didn’t even know about the letter.

I sat at the dinner table three torturous days after my infamous day out and listened to the conversation flowing around me, without me. I wanted to hurl my wine glass against the opposite wall and watch it shatter into a thousand pieces just to see everyone’s reaction. I’m pretty sure that wouldn’t have earned me any brownie points though. I dropped my fork onto my plate with a loud clang and stood up slowly from the table.

Everyone’s attention was riveted on me. I leaned forward and rested my palms onto the table on either side of my plate. I lowered my head and took a deep breath. My voice came out wobbly when I spoke. “I’m sorry, okay? I know I’ve disappointed everyone. I know I screwed up, and I know you are all pretty pissed at me right now, and I deserve that. I have no excuse except that I was feeling restless and caged in. I never meant to put everything we have worked so hard for in jeopardy.”

Unfortunately a few tears had already escaped down my cheeks and I could feel my emotions on the brink of a total break down. I swiped at my face quickly and made a beeline for the dining room doors. After I made it out, I gathered up my skirt and ran up the stairs two at a time, passing a scandalized maid in the process. By the time I made it to my room, Dr. Blake had caught up with me and tears were flowing freely down my face.

“Go away.” I ran into my room to slam the door, but he wedged his foot in the doorway. I looked up through my tears into a face filled with tenderness and concern. A sob escaped from somewhere deep inside me and I began to cry in earnest. Dr. Blake pushed the door open and I went to sit on the edge of my bed in defeat. I heard the click of the door shutting and then felt a dip in the bed behind me. I hated to be seen at such a weak moment and to feel so vulnerable.

Dr. Blake’s steady fingers pull the pins out of my hair, allowing it fall in waves past my shoulders. He pressed a tender kiss to my temple and he gently pulled me back onto the bed and into his arms. I turned into his embrace with my face pressed into his white linen shirt, and his arms around me felt strong and sure.