Devoured (18 page)

Luke’s hand makes me feel warm and safe, while Nona’s cool, tight grip practically buzzes with electricity.

Nona looks up at the ceiling, which I notice for the first time is painted with the constellations. It reminds me of the ceiling of Grand Central Station in New York City, which I visited with Nicki. A tear stings my eye and I try to shake off the memory. I need to have a clear head for this. Luke gives my hand a squeeze as if he knows I need a boost, and I give him a thankful smile.

Nona taps the table in front of me impatiently, and I focus back on her.

“Thank you, universe, for giving me the gift to help this young lady,” she calls out loudly. “Thank you for allowing me to help her sister move on to your next realm, so that she may join her father and find the peace that waits for her.”

She bows her head and I do the same.

Next, she reaches into her housecoat and pulls out a pack of matches. She strikes the match and lights her candle. “The heat of the candle attracts the spirits. Yellow is for persuasion and protection.”

It’s obvious why she’s chosen that candle; she’ll need it to help persuade Remy to move on.

She gives the matches to Luke, who lights his own candle.

“Orange for attraction and encouragement—this one will help bring Remy here and encourage her to listen to us.”

Luke passes the pack to me. I strike the match and move the flame to the wick.

“White for purity, and truth,” Nona says.

“So we know why she’s still here,” I say.

“Yes,” Nona says, “there’ll be no cryptic answers today. I will open the way between our world and Remy’s, and she will speak to us without the interference of the time streams. We will get the truth from her.”

I watch my candle flicker and burn, and then Nona clears her throat again.

“Did you bring something of Remy’s?”

“Yeah.” Luke told me to bring something that Remy might like. I’d searched our room—now mostly devoid of our old things—until I had remembered the necklace.

It was just a twenty-five-cent plastic heart I’d gotten in a vending machine at the grocery store. Remy loved to wear it, and whenever I protested that it was mine, she just laughed and said that if I loved her, I’d let her wear it—and I did. Remy always got her way.

I reach into my purse for the necklace and give it to Nona. She examines it briefly, and then places it in the center of the table.

“Remy, we ask that you join us here,” Nona says with authority.

Remy appears by my side, with her arms folded across her chest. “Who are you?” she asks grumpily.

Nona scoffs. “You’ve been to my house before, little girl, you know me.”

Remy shakes her head and starts to turn away, but Nona holds her candle out.

“Feel its warmth, Remy, come to me to warm yourself. See what your sister brought for you.”

Remy faces Nona again, scowling. The temperature in the room drops dramatically and my heart starts to pound. This isn’t going as smoothly as I’d thought it would.

Nona holds up the necklace with her other hand and smiles. “Would you like this Remy? If you tell us why you’re here, I’ll let you have it.”

The necklace flies from Nona’s hand and lands in the fireplace. The logs ignite and the pink plastic heart melts from the chain.

I stare at Luke, and his wide eyes tell me he’s just as surprised as I am that Remy’s getting the upper hand so quickly. Perhaps Nona’s experience hasn’t prepared her for a seven-year-old with a temper.

Nona puts her candle down and calmly pushes up her sleeves with a look of determination on her face. “
Remy!
Tell me why you’re here. Why didn’t you go with your father?”

The room grows colder still. My body starts to shiver, and I lean closer to my candle to gather whatever feeble heat I can from it.

“Daddy was gonna help, but he left me!
He left me!
” She stamps her foot and I jump as a wave of river water splashes up over the table, extinguishing all the candles.

My teeth are chattering as the cold water seeps into my T-shirt. Shit! If Remy’s conjuring up water from the river, things are about to blow.

Nona stands up, glaring at my sister, who matches her stare with the look of a defiant little kid determined to get her way.

“It is time you went into the light. Your father is waiting for you,” Nona says. She stands and holds her hands up above her head, chanting under her breath. A bright glow the size of a fist starts to form over the table. It grows as Nona rocks back and forth muttering, “Help this tortured soul find her way to your peace, help this tortured soul find her way to your peace.”

“No! I won’t let her hurt you, Meggy!”
Remy screams.
“Daddy where are you?”
she wails. Remy disappears and reappears in different places around the room. “Daddy?”

“He’s there,”
Nona yells, pointing at the light.
“Go to him!”

Remy reappears next to Luke and stares at Nona with hate in her eyes.
“No! You’re not my mother, you can’t tell me what to do,”
she says through gritted teeth.

I didn’t think it was possible to feel any colder, but an icy wind starts to whip around the room. Droplets of water fly off Remy and form snowflakes in the air that drift to the carpet. Frost forms on the tablecloth and my eyes grow wide as the candles freeze and crack apart.

I want to help Nona, but it feels like the cold has frozen me in place, and I can only watch the scene, praying Nona can get things back in control.

Luckily, Luke jumps up and rushes to Nona’s side just in time to catch her as she collapses. “Nona!”

The room grows slightly warmer as my sister sneers and disappears.

Luke helps Nona sit back in her chair. “Are you okay?”

Nona mutters some sort of blessing and then looks across the table at me. Her face is pale, and sweat has gathered on her brow. “She’s filled with
such
rage.” She takes some tissues from her dress and mops her face. “We’ll begin again. Luka, we need new candles.”

“No!” Luke and I cry out in unison.

“You’re going to rest now!” Luke commands.

Nona sighs and nods her head wearily. “Maybe you’re right, we should try again when I feel stronger.”

Luke helps Nona up and leads her out of the room with an arm around her waist.

I realize I’m shaking uncontrollably, and it’s getting harder to breathe. I fumble through my purse with numb fingers and find my inhaler. Trembling, I raise it to my lips and take in as deep a breath as I can manage. I exhale as Luke rushes to me.

“Your lips are blue!” he says, wrapping his arms around me. “I need to get you warm. Let’s go up to my room.”

He leads me out, very much like he did with Nona, and helps me up the stairs to a small room under the eaves of the house. The walls are covered with paintings, and my heart sings when I see myself looking out from a watercolor picture on an easel by the window. He’s painted such a joyful expression on my face, and I can’t help wondering when was the last time I felt like the girl in his painting—if I’ll ever feel that way again.

He pulls aside the sheets and the down comforter, and I sit on the bed. I hesitate for a second, and then lift my wet shirt up over my head and slide my feet under the covers— too cold for any modesty. He takes his own shirt off, gets in the other side, and nestles in next to me, pulling the blankets up past our shoulders.

His skin burns against mine, and I try to take in the heat so I can stop shaking. He holds me tight, rubs my back, and kisses my hair. Soon my trembling stops, and I concentrate on the pounding of his heart. I look up at his blue eyes so full of concern, and tilt my chin to kiss him.

He kisses me back gently, but I want more. I want to forget all the pain. I want to forget Remy. I want to feel alive again. I kiss him hungrily, and he pulls back.

“Megan?”

“Shh,” I whisper, as I pepper his bare chest with kisses. I run my hands up his strong arms and then kiss him on the mouth again. I press my hips into his, and then reach around to unhook my bra and slide the straps down off my shoulders. I hug him tightly and bury my head in his neck. “Whatever happens—just don’t stop.”

SEVENTEEN

Wow,” I say as Mom pulls the car into the Land of Enchantment parking lot. “I can’t believe how many cars are here.” It’s packed and it looks like more people are arriving to take advantage of the late-day ticket price. If you arrive after five, you only have two hours until the park closes, but you can use your ticket for another full day anytime during the summer.

Of course, none of this matters to me. I’m only here because Mr. Roy called to let me know I had a paycheck waiting for me. It’s just one day’s pay, but I’ll get it, and then let them know I won’t be returning.

In a few minutes, Ryan, Samantha, and Ari will be part of my past, and I can concentrate on my future with Luke.

A smile comes to my face and my heart flutters thinking about being with Luke last night—the one good thing among the seemingly endless nightmares that have happened.

Except, with Remy haunting me, how many more nightmares am I going to have to suffer through? My good mood fades as quickly as it came. If Nona couldn’t get through to Remy, who can?

“Here we are,” Mom says, pulling up to the office building.

“Thanks, I’ll get the check and be out in a few minutes.”

I open the front door and make my way to Mr. Roy’s office, praying I don’t run into Ari. I can imagine her taking one look at my face and knowing I was with Luke.

I breathe a sigh of relief when I reach the door, and knock.

“Come in,” Mr. Roy calls out.

I open the door and Mr. Roy smiles at me sympathetically. “How’re you doing, Megan?” he asks.

“Um, okay, I guess.”

His eyes glisten and I hope he’s not going to cry. “I want you to know how very, very sorry we were to hear about your losses.”

I nod. “Thanks, and thank you for the flowers you sent.”

He dabs the corners of his eyes with his pink hankie and motions for me to sit down.

“Um, my mom is waiting for me, I really can’t stay.”

“Actually, I was hoping you could. I’m in a bit of a pickle, you see. We have a group of kids visiting from the Shining Star Camp today. Do you know it?”

“Yeah, it’s for kids who are terminally ill,” I say. “Our school does a fund raiser every year for them.”

He smiles again, his eyes misty. “We let them come to the park free of charge, and I’m sure you understand how much it would break my heart to have any one of them disappointed with their visit.”

“Uh-huh,” I say, trying to figure out where he’s going with this.

“Well, when I had lunch with the group earlier today, there was a little girl, four years old, dark hair like yours, and I asked her what would make her visit to Land of Enchantment special. And do you know what she said?”

I shake my head.

“She wanted to meet Snow White.” He looks at me expectantly.

“Oh,” is all I can think to say. He’s still giving me a puppy-dog face, and I really just want to get out of there.

He folds his hands on his desk, looking utterly pitiful. “Unfortunately, the Snow White on our schedule for today, Sarah Goldstein, came down with a stomach bug. I was really hoping I could talk you into filling in for her.”

Oh, God. The last thing I want to do is get
that
outfit on and walk around the park. And what if I run into Ryan—or Ari? “Uh, I’m sorry, but I’m not really feeling up for that, Mr. Roy. I was actually going to tell you I won’t be coming back to work here this summer.”

He looks wounded and tears up again.

“You know, with what happened and all,” I say quickly. “Can’t someone else do it?”

He shakes his head and dabs his eyes. “As soon as little Lucy told me about her wish, I got right on the phone and tried to find a replacement. We’re shorthanded today, and I can’t pull anyone off of a ride—safety rules, you see. Do you think you could find it in your heart to work for just a couple of hours until the park closes? For Lucy’s sake?”

I look into his watery eyes and don’t know what to say.

“What if I just take you to Lucy and then you can go? I’d credit you for a full day’s pay—that’s how much it means to me to make this little girl happy.”

He looks like he’s about to bawl and I nod my head. “I’ll call my mom,” I say wearily.

I walk into the costume room and my heart pounds. It’s quiet, but my eyes dart around the room, waiting for Remy to pop up. I reach out to grab a size eight Snow White costume and brace myself, afraid of getting another vision. I exhale as nothing happens, and I take the costume off the rack without incident.

Why did I let Mr. Roy talk me into this? And why does a man his age have to be such a freaking crybaby? Of course it would take someone like him to run Land of Enchantment—who else would be into all this drivel?

I walk into the changing room, take my clothes off, and slip the costume over my head. I lace up the bodice and I can’t help thinking about the girl Remy showed me—and about Nicki. I bite my lip. After Luke took me home last night, my first thought was to call Nicki.

I hear the costume shop door open and some people giggling. I take a deep breath and put on my “everything is A-OK” face.

I walk out of the dressing room and jump. Samantha and Christophe are going at it like Ye Olde Costume Shoppe is a cheap hotel room. Her shirt is pushed up, her bra is unhooked, and Christophe is helping himself to her boobs as he presses her up against the closed door, blocking my escape.

I squeeze my eyes shut and turn my back to them, adding the image of Samantha being felt up to the collection of scary images in my head. I clear my throat. “Hey, uh, sorry to be a party crasher guys, but I kinda have to get to work.”

“Oh my God!” Samantha squeals.

“Can I turn around now?” I ask after hearing them shuffling around for a few seconds.

“Oui.”

I turn and see they’re both red faced.

“Megan!”
Samantha squeals. “I’m so sorry, we thought everyone who was dressing up was already out in the park so the room would be empty for a while.”

Christophe shrugs. “It is our break time,” he says in his thick accent.

I nod like all the employees are hooking up on their breaks. “Well, I’m gonna get going, but might I suggest you finish your
break
in one of the dressing rooms? You know, in case someone else might need to come in here.”

I walk past them into the hall, and Samantha follows me out. “Hey, Megan, are you doing okay?” she asks shyly.

I nod and put on my smile.

“If you need anything, you know you can call me,” she says, straightening her shirt. “And sorry about before with Christophe—it’s just hard to find places to be alone.”

“No problem.”

She looks up at me and purses her lips. “Ryan told me that you broke up with him.”

“Yeah. He’s all yours now.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, it wasn’t a secret you liked him.”

“Oh.” She looks down at her shoes for a second and then back up at me. “Are you really over him?”

“Yeah, I’m actually seeing someone else.”

Her jaw drops. “Seriously?”

“Yeah, it was kind of unexpected.”

She smiles slyly. “Well, since you’re seeing someone else, I guess I can tell you. Ryan came over to my house after you dumped him and finally made a move—but I turned him down.” She looks giddy. “I’m having fun with Christophe, and you know what? I’m kind of glad it’s Ryan who has to suffer in silence for once.”

“And maybe
he’ll
make the soul mate confession at the next keg party.”

Her face flushes deeper. “He told you about that?”

“Yup.”

“I was really drunk, I never would’ve told him otherwise. Not that I should’ve said it in the first place, but …”

“It’s okay. Honestly, I could never shake the feeling that you were right.”

“Maybe.” She furrows her brow and twirls one of her braids. “If you ever want some company when you visit the nursing home again, I’d be happy to go.” Her eyes suddenly grow wide. “I mean, if you still were planning on going, but maybe after your dad, um, maybe you’re not.”

“No, I’m still planning on going, I just don’t know when.”

“Okay, whenever you’re ready, you can call me. I really did like going there, except for that Mr. Archulata. He kept rubbing my thigh and it kind of freaked me out.”

“Yeah, he’s a little too friendly.” Talking about Mr. Archulata reminds me of Nicki, and it’s getting to be a strain maintaining “the face.” “Um, I should get going. Mr. Roy is waiting for me.”

Samantha looks at her watch. “I have to get back to work soon too. Don’t forget to call me.”

“Sure.” Even though the senior citizens eat up her perky shtick as if it were tapioca pudding, I’m thinking I’ll let Samantha Lee Darling make her own arrangements to visit the home. It’d be too weird for us to go together with her being friends with Ryan.

She reaches out and gives me a quick hug. “You can call me if you just need to talk too.”

I nod, plaster a smile on my face, and make my way out to the park to meet Lucy.

Mr. Roy is waiting for me in a golf cart outside the office building. He clutches his hands to his chest and beams. “I just know Lucy will be thrilled to meet you, Snow White.” He winks and I will myself to keep my happy face on.

I’m really not sure I’m up for this, but I also don’t want to disappoint some little kid. What would Samantha do if she were playing Snow White?

I hold the skirt out and curtsy.

Mr. Roy smiles and pats the empty seat next to him. “The group from Shining Star is at the Fun Farm visiting the animals. I’ll bring you over.”

As we drive slowly through the park, I see that the crowd tonight is definitely mostly older kids—all the really little ones must’ve had enough hours ago. As it is, it’s obvious families are calling it a day and are making their way to the exit in droves.

A few people point at me as we drive by. Because of the extra money Mr. Roy is paying me, I smile and wave and do my best Snow White.

He pulls up near a group of kids in bright blue Shining Star Camp shirts. They’re gathered around an Asian woman dressed as Mother Goose, and I wonder how Henrietta Stupin’s broken hip is.

“Everyone,” Mr. Roy says as he parks the cart. “Look who I found roaming in the Haunted Forest.”

One little girl with dark hair runs to me. “Snow White!” she says. “Mr. Roy said you’d come.”

“Hi, Lucy,” I say.

She gapes at me. “How’d you know my name?”

I look at Lucy and take in the circles under her eyes.
Be Snow White,
I think,
channel Samantha.
“A little birdie told me.”

She smiles widely. “Do you want to see the bunnies?”

I nod and take Lucy’s hand, the back of which is sporting a yellowish brown bruise just like my Dad’s used to from where the nurses inserted IVs.

I bite my lip. Keep it together, Megan!

I walk her over to the rabbit pen and kneel down.

“That white one with the pink eyes is my favorite,” Lucy says.

“He’s a special fellow,” a familiar voice says.

I look up and see Miss Patty.

“Are you having fun, Lucy?” she asks.

Lucy nods and runs back to join her group. “Mr. Roy told me you’re leaving us,” Patty says quietly as I stand up. “Are you sure we can’t convince you to stay?” She points to Lucy, who is hopping around like a rabbit.

“I really just need some time to myself,” I say.

“I understand, and maybe it’s for the best. But if you ever do change your mind, we’ll always have a place for you.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” I say politely.

Suddenly a whistle pierces the air. “Yo! Snow White!”

A man is walking my way with four sunburned kids and a harried-looking wife in tow. “Group photo!” he barks.

It’s obvious he’s spent too much time in the Brothers Grimm Tavern, but Miss Patty waves me toward him. “Go on,” she whispers.

I put on my happy smile and bend down toward one of the kids. “I’m Snow White.”

“So?” she asks sullenly.

The father pulls me toward him, and I try to maintain my smile despite wanting to choke on his beer breath.

“Max! Get in the picture.”

Max rolls his eyes and scowls at me. “This is so
stupid
! Can’t we just go back to the hotel and swim?”