Eliza's Shadow (40 page)

“Eliza, wake up. We’re landing.” He said.

“How did that happen again?” I asked irritably
rubbing my eyes.

Ren laughed. “Well, if it’s any consolation, you
didn’t miss anything.” He said with a bored grimace, gesturing to the airline
magazine in his lap.

The plane bumped onto the runway and taxied to the
gate. I blinked pulling myself from the dredges of sleep. Dirty gray snow piled
up along the edges of the runway like a miniature mountain range. I shivered,
bracing myself against the cold we’d find on the other side of the plane door.

As we sat, patiently waiting for the fasten
seatbelt sign to fade, the shiver in my bones morphed to a tingle dashing
across my shoulders and down to my fingers causing the hair on my arms to shoot
up. I’d felt the signal before. A bell rang in my ears like an alarm. My breath
caught in my throat as my eyes darted frantically around the cabin for the face
I was afraid I’d see.

The girl met my gaze with amusement. Her blood red
slash of a mouth lifted on one side. I stared at her challengingly and without
breaking eye contact subtly laid my hand over Ren’s arm alerting him to the
situation.

By now, the other passengers were standing and
gathering their belongings, shuffling out into the aisle. Ren and I sat
motionless, waiting.

The girl rose, and slid into the aisle carrying
nothing but a thick ivory envelope in her hand. Her mused hair glittered as she
moved and the smirk on her face deepened as she neared my seat.

As she approached, I moved to stand but before I
reached my feet she was next to me thrusting the envelope into my hands.

“Your orders.” She quipped in a voice that
surprised me by its lack of aggression. I had been certain she meant me harm
but now I realized I’d misjudged her.

My name was scrawled across the front of the
envelope in elaborate script. I hesitantly accepted it from her pale thin
fingers. Without another word, she turned and marched down the aisle and off
the plane.

“What in the world was that?” I muttered staring
after her as she disappeared out the hatch.

“Better open it.” Ren said.

I slipped a shaking finger under the flap and
hastily tore the top.

Dear Eliza Gowan,

You have been
summoned by the Commissioner of the Scandinavian Region to join the Special Forces
of the North for a mission of utmost secrecy. Report to the Reykjavik office no
later than 25 June. You will be briefed on your mission upon arrival.

Sincerely,

Thor Leifsson

Commissioner of
the Scandinavian Region

“Can they really do that?” I stammered in shock.

Ren didn’t answer. He was too busy furiously
digging through his backpack. When he sat up, a broad smile stretched across
his face. He thrust a tattered piece of paper into my hand.

“Read it.” He said excitedly.

As I scanned the contents of the letter my mouth
dropped open. Apart from the greeting, it was identical.

  “Why didn’t you tell me earlier?” I asked
surprised and hurt, wondering why he’d kept such a significant secret from me.

Ren cast his eyes to the letter and looked
uncomfortable.

“Uncle Harold gave it to me before I left London.
I was going to tell you yesterday… I just didn’t want it to change anything.”
He said shyly.

“But it looks like we both impressed someone.” He
said, his eyebrows bobbing in accordance with his mood.

“You think this is a good thing?” I asked, again
surprised. It hadn’t occurred to me to take the order as a compliment.

Ren’s eyes trailed after the last passenger
lumbering down the aisle leaving us alone in the cabin before turning his
attention back to me.

“Of course! Remember the old Viking mentioned in
the sithygrif’s message?” He asked in a hushed tone.

“Yes.” I responded, eyeing Ren warily.

“Well, you can probably guess where he’s headed
this summer.” He said with a mischievous grin.

At that, I nearly fell out of my seat.

* * *

It was dark by the time we reached my apartment
building. The streets were deserted, the frigid January wind having driven all
residents of Port Rune indoors. The cab driver glanced impatiently into the rearview
mirror and tapped the running meter on his dashboard.

I wrapped my scarf a little tighter bracing myself
for the cold. Ren squeezed my hand that he’d held all the way from the airport,
a small but significant change between us that felt all the more pronounced now
that we were back in Port Rune. I smiled at him shyly, conscious of the cab
driver’s attention.

“Well, I guess I better take the plunge.” I
groaned.

Ren leaned close to me and let his lips grace my
cheek before respectfully scooting back to his side of the bench, then rolled
his eyes playfully in the direction of the cab driver.

“Good luck.” He said with a wry smile, glancing up
toward the lit windows of the apartment I shared with Aunt Jane.

I popped the door open and slipped out onto the
curb.

“Thanks.” I shouted before slamming the cab door.

The cab driver hastily unloaded my luggage and
dashed back into the car. I trudged over the mound of snow piled on the curb
and looked back offering a quick wave to Ren as the cab sped off in a cloud of
frozen exhaust.

As hesitant as I was to face Jane and recount the
cover story I’d concocted on my way home to excuse my early arrival, the
bitterly cold conditions on the street were more than I could bear for even a
minute. I crept toward the door, my feet crunching on the salt sprinkled over
the ice and slipped my key into the lock.

Bits of tinsel lay scattered in the stairwell,
likely remnants from one of our neighbor’s discarded Christmas trees. I plodded
up the stairs, the exertion of the climb warming my chilled skin. When I
finally reached the door and heard the hum of music and pots clanging on the
other side, my anxiety began to melt. I was home. I knocked quickly on the door
so as not to startle Jane before opening it.

What I found inside startled me! Jane and Adam
were waltzing around the kitchen bumping into chairs and laughing. They didn’t
even notice me until I dropped my suitcase with a thump just inside the door.
Hearing the noise, they stopped dancing and turned toward the door with surprise.
Upon seeing me, both of their faces cracked into smiles.

“Eliza! What are you doing home so early?” Jane
shouted over the music as she disentangled herself from Adam’s arms and
scurried over to the stereo to turn the music down.

I shouldn’t have been surprised to see Adam, he
was around all the time but there was a strange feeling in the air.

“I… well…” I muttered distracted by the odd
sensation that there was something different about Jane and Adam.

I shook my head, recalling my cover story and struggled
to focus.

“Oh, uh, Ren’s parents were called back to Africa
unexpectedly so, we changed our tickets to come home. Sorry for interrupting.”
I mumbled, suddenly overcome with a wave of embarrassment. Why hadn’t I called
from the airport? I should have warned Jane I would be showing up.

The story I’d just given Jane seemed to roll right
over her as she listened, beaming brightly at me. Noticing my embarrassment she
shot a quick glance back at Adam then bounced toward me to gather me in her
arms.

“No problem, babe. I’m so glad your home. I missed
you!” She said, squeezing me tightly again before helping me pull off my coat.

There was definitely something going on. I studied
her glowing face and squinted at Adam from across the room.

“Here, Eliza, come sit down. Adam and I have some
news.” She said, tugging me toward the couch.

I stumbled after her and plopped down on the
couch, my gaze alternating between her and Adam’s equally blooming expressions.

“What’s going on?” I asked cautiously.

They both settled onto the couch opposite me and
glanced knowingly at each other for a moment before speaking.

“Well, there are really two things we need to tell
you.” Jane began, now a bit tentatively as if she was choosing her words
carefully.

Adam nodded eagerly, his eyes shining with
happiness.

“First of all, we’re getting married.” She said
evenly.

My heart dropped in my chest. All at once I was
shocked and happy and resentful that Jane had made such a huge life changing decision
without me. And then, I couldn’t help but be confused. Jane and Adam had been
discussing marriage for years. Why now?

“But… I thought…” I began, then buttoned up
realizing that the engagement wasn’t the source of their excitement. “Ok…
what’s number two?” I asked.

Jane took a deep breath and laid her hand over her
stomach.

“And… we’re having a baby.” She said softly.

The news slammed into me like a tidal wave. I felt
dizzy and light headed. Married and a baby?

Jane’s excitement turned into an expression of
panic.

“Eliza? Are you ok? I know this is probably a
shock but it’s going to be great. You’re going to be a big sister!” She said as
she stood and moved to my side.

I had tunnel vision. Jane’s arms wrapped around me
and pulled me to her chest. I listened to her heartbeat imagining a second tiny
beat somewhere inside of her. Followed by a little chest and belly, arms, and
legs, chubby cheeks and a tiny nose. I peeled myself out of Jane’s arms and
stared at her stomach for a long time.

“A baby, really?” I asked in disbelief trying to
wrap my mind around the news.

“Believe me, it was a surprise to us too.” She
said wagging her eyebrows.

She looked tired, but happier than I’d ever seen
her. I didn’t know what else to say. Of course, I loved Adam and Jane would be
an incredible mother, she’d certainly been one for me. But everything was going
to change and from the looks on both of their faces, it already had.

“That’s… fantastic. I’m so excited.” I uttered
softly.

“That’s what I was hoping you’d say.” She said.

“Of course, I guess this means we’ll be moving?” I
asked. The idea didn’t thrill me but living in a two-bedroom loft with a baby
and Adam was a concern.

“We’re workin’ on that.” Adam interjected
reassuringly.

“Nothing’s confirmed yet but I think I found the
house for us.” He said, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

“You’re going to be an awesome big sister, Eliza.”
He said.

“Geez, it’s getting late and you had a long trip.”
Jane said leaning back to study my face. “Bet you’re exhausted. I know I am.”
She said.

“Yeah, I think I’ll go get unpacked and ready for
bed. But tomorrow I want to hear the whole story.” I said, with a stretch and
yawn, emphasizing my point.

As I stood to leave the room, Jane followed me to
the kitchen.

“Eliza?” She asked, her voice catching in the back
of her throat.

“Yeah?” I said instantly turning back to her.

She took my hands and looked serious.

“I know this is a lot of change. I’m sorry we
didn’t have a chance to talk about it before, well, now.” She said rolling her
eyes apologetically. “I can’t do this without you.” She said worry flashing in
her eyes.

I stared at her, overwhelmed with emotion. I was
happy for her and Adam and a for me too but… it was just all so much to think
about.

“It’s ok, Jane. Don’t worry, we’re going to the
best family a baby ever had.” I said.

Jane’s face broke into a smile and she hugged me
again.

“Thanks, babe. Just keep telling me that, ok?” She
said softly in my ear.

“No problem.” I whispered back trying to absorb the
promise I just made and turned to leave.

As I shuffled down the hall with my suitcase, I
heard Jane and Adam speaking in hushed tones and laughing. It occurred to me
that all this time as my life had been changing and I had to conceal things
from Jane to protect her, she’d done the same thing. Now, everything was
different. She removed the veil, revealing a whole new world for us.

But some things were a secret for a reason. Jane
had more than just me to protect and now, so did I. I realized more than ever
the chasm between ordinary and magical, good and evil, powerful and weak.

And I was not ordinary, I was not evil, and most
importantly, I was not weak.

I threw the door open to my bedroom and dropped my
suitcase on the floor. My gaze flitted across the room, taking inventory of my
sanctuary. Only one thing lay out of place. The primer sat poised and waiting
on my pillow.

My hand slipped into the pocket of my jeans and
found the small folded letter containing my next official assignment.

“Hmmm. So, what do you have for me now?” I mumbled
curiously, with more confidence than I’d approached my last lesson.

I carefully closed the door of my bedroom behind
me and flicked the lock. I crossed the room and flopped onto the bed, scooping
up the primer in the process. The smooth leather cover hummed against my
fingertips. I stared at the cover feeling the book grow warm to the touch and
throb like a heartbeat waiting patiently to share its secret with me. I hopped
up off the bed, carried it to the dresser and placed it inside the top drawer
leaving a promise behind.

“I know that I have a lot to learn. Don’t worry,
I’ll study.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Catherine
Wittmack was raised in Charlotte, NC, where she now lives with her husband,
Charlie Wittmack, and their two sons, James and Jack.

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