Fiendish Play (24 page)

“Finally?” I asked. Was I lost? I don’t know. It was the first time I had seriously asked myself that question. Being lost could mean so many different things and I suddenly felt like all those things and more.

“Yeah, well first there’s this.” Marcus pulled out his cell phone and held it up to the window. A long list of missed calls from someone called Tess appeared on his screen.

Tess?

“Who’s Tess?” I said confused, rubbing my eyes making sure I saw the name correctly. And why was Marcus showing me his phone?

“Tess is my Mom.”

His Mom?
A conversation about Tess and Samuel Voltaggio suddenly appeared in my head. When I was packing back in France, my Mom had shown me a picture of his whole family. She said they were nice people. That their son wanted to be a doctor one day. My mother sounded like she missed them in the way she spoke about his family. Especially Tess and Samuel. I wonder why I never realized that until right now. How did I miss her affection for them? And why was Marcus now showing me the list of calls from his mother?

“You call your Mom by her first name?” Was my next question.

“She likes it...” He said shrugging at his cell. “Wait, that’s not the point right now. Dude, she keeps calling me. Like a lot. I can only handle my Mom in small doses. She’s driving me crazy.”

Was I missing something again?

“How is this my problem?”

“Because your Mom has been unable to get hold of you, so she’s been calling my Mom to find out if I’d seen you. And my Mom’s been calling me non-stop asking me for updates. Man — for the sake of my sanity, please call your Mom. She really needs to talk to you. And I really need
not
to talk to mine. You know what a buzz kill it is to get calls from your Mom when you’re in the middle of...ummm...when I’m busy doing
stuff
.”

This time I saw desperation in Marcus’ face. His expression pleading for me to come to his rescue.

“Sure. Of course. Sorry. I’ll call her right away.”

“Thanks.” Marcus blew out a breath. “I know how you feel. Believe me. I dodge calls from my Mom all the time too. But yours seems relentless.”

I nodded. “My Mom’s very persistent.”

“I can tell.”

The leather interior squeaked underneath me as I moved towards to the car door. “Sorry for crashing in your car. I can’t even remember getting in here.”

“It’s fine. Don’t worry about it. How much did you drink anyway?”

I rubbed my forehead still trying to remember something...anything from the missing hours between now and last night. “That’s the weird part...I didn’t have anything to drink.”

“Ohhh-kay.” Marcus looked unsure as to what to say next. “Are you sure you’re alright?” he finally got out, his voice laced with concern. It was a different Marcus than I was used to. “You need to talk about something? I could maybe help...” he trailed off.

I pushed his car door open. “Nope. I’m fine. Nothing to worry about. I’m just spending too much time up late working on my sculpture. This is probably the effects of sleep deprivation. That’s all.” I know I had just crossed the line I said I wouldn’t cross with Marcus. I was telling him lies. But what were my options here? Should I really tell him I took some unknown, untested drug that lead me to have the biggest black out I’ve ever experienced, leaving my brain scrambled and fried because I was doing the Lappell secret society initiation test? Or...should I keep him at a safe distance where he couldn’t be sucked into the Lappell’s vortex of mind-numbing madness? I chose to keep Marcus at a safe distance. A lie can’t be that bad if you’re protecting someone you care for; is it?

I climbed out of his car and tried to walk, shuffling my feet slowly as I moved. Marcus only stood staring at me. Even with my shoulders turned, I felt his eyes bore into my back.

I spun on my heels. “Are you heading out?” I asked, diverting the conversation away from myself and my inability to walk properly. I must have looked like some sort of crippled mental patient as I dragged my body across the floor of the garage.

“I’m heading to classes. It’s nearly nine,” he said, still staring at me like I was about to collapse. His smile had fallen from his face now. He was watching me move, probably wondering if I’d hit the floor at any second.

I lifted up the garage door so I could head up to the apartment, purposely showing strength that I wasn’t about to pass out. I turned quickly to Marcus, trying to be friendly. I also wanted to try and diffuse his look of doubt he had in me and my ability to take care of myself.

“Thanks for your concern Marcus. But everything is cool.”

“Yeah...cool,” he mumbled and started his car. Before I turned around he yelled out to me, “We’re friends James. You know that right? Which means I’ve always got your back. No matter what. Okay?” Serious Marcus was back in his voice, again taking me by surprise. Marcus had more emotional dimensions than I had given him credit for.

I grinned in appreciation, hoping it was enough. He waited another minute before he backed out and drove off. Marcus was a childish guy, but he certainly wasn’t dumb. He could smell as lie as easy as the rest of us. He also had eyes too, meaning he could clearly see something was wrong. There was no way I could’ve hidden what Marcus just saw. I was obviously someone who was in lots of trouble.

As I stared off after the Mustang, I saw my motorbike parked on the street out front. I tried again to remember my night, but came up with dead air in my head. Fuck that flashback for messing with my wires. Everything was crossed.

I took off up the stairs back to my apartment. I needed to call my mother — priority number one. I couldn’t have Marcus’ Mom harassing him anymore. I owed him that much. Then after I called my mother, I would go see Anais. I needed to speak to her next. Get some more clarity about what exactly I said and did last night while I was blacked out in that tent. I had a dream that I ran away from Anais and didn’t look back.
How much of that dream was true?

When I got to the door, it was already open. Did Marcus forget to close the door? Or did I forget to close the door? Or did I open it already? Fuuuuck this! I couldn’t think straight. I didn’t know what was real and what wasn’t. I needed a shower. Perhaps that would help clear this confusion.

I heard a sound coming from my workroom. Someone was here. I walked slowly in, and to my surprise saw Byron standing and looking at my sculpture, with his back to me. He turned suddenly, hearing me enter the room. I could see he was holding my lucky coin box which was open in his hands. He shut it loudly, smiling wide. I had to admit, it was very unusual that he was here and looking at me like I was a million dollar prize. I had already learned that a happy Byron is worse than a manic Byron. His happiness was only reserved for the Lappell and getting ahead. There was nothing comforting in seeing a smile on his face.

“You look great,” Byron said sarcastically looking me up and down. “Long night?”

“How did you get in here?” I said dryly as I shuffled closer.

“Your roommate let me in.”

Marcus let Byron in and didn’t tell me he was here? That’s strange. Or did Marcus tell me he was up here and I just didn’t remember? I shook my head. “
C’mon James. Get your shit together
,” I mentally screamed to myself. My head starting to pound harder. One of my hands went to the back of my neck to hold my head up straight. It was all I could do to maintain my balance.

“What do you want?” I asked with a kind of bitterness coming off my tongue. “I’ve done what you’ve asked me to do. I came to your event. I took your stupid pill. I’ve submitted haven’t I?”

Byron didn’t stop smiling. Instead he leaned back on my work desk and turned his attention back to my sculpture.

“He was right you know. You are good at this sculpting thing. And in the beginning I thought that was why you were untouchable...why you weren’t to be considered an investment.”

Untouchable?

Not to be considered?

“But the way you took down those guys...and your performance on race night...I knew there was something different about you. Something he was keeping from all of us. You were special.”

I don’t even thinking Byron was speaking properly. Everything he was saying was repeating itself twice over. Like we were standing next to the Grand Canyon and he was yelling into my ears. Everything was loud and repetitive and nothing was making sense. His statements were always so cryptic, and I knew he was being that way on purpose. Always fucking with me.
Always fucking with everyone.

“What are you talking about Byron? Can’t you just give me straight answers?”

“I mean, why couldn’t we go near you...or recruit you?” He cleared his throat. “Or hurt you? And it’s no secret I’ve had my doubts about our chapter president’s reign. He’s soft. Too lenient. Bends rules he shouldn’t bend. Doesn’t feel as committed as the rest of us. And yes, curiosity did indeed get the better of me. In the beginning you were a little challenge against his authority. And as much as he says you are out, I’m putting you in. I’m in charge of recruitment after all, and you passed initiation with flying colors. You belong with us James. You see, I think you’re going to make a spectacular addition. A gem that will give us lots of attention. You’re going to bring us everything that we’ve been searching for.”

There was only one piece of his weirdo speech that I actually heard properly. “You said your president wants me out?”

“President is a loose term for what he is. And our chapter needs new leadership.” Byron moved closer to me and put his arm around my shoulder. I cringed at his obvious attempt at camaraderie, but yet it felt real...even sincere. “You see James; I think together we’ll bring the Lappell to where it needs to be. So tonight we celebrate and we’ll finish your official initiation tomorrow. I’m going to take you out and show you a good time.” He let go of me and started to walk towards the door. Then he looked at his hands which were still holding my coin box. “I’ll swing past here at seven.” He threw me my coin box and I caught it with one hand. At least my reflexes were working.

“Good catch,” he noted. “You don’t want to lose...” He pointed to the box. “What is that exactly?”

“It’s my lucky coin.”

Byron smiled again. “Indeed it is,” he said and walked out of the room. “See you tonight,” he yelled once more before I heard the front door close.

I placed the box back on my work desk and took off to my bedroom. I couldn’t waste anymore time thinking about Byron and what he just said. I couldn’t piece it together or analyze it even if I tried. I just had to move forward with my day and hope everything would start to make sense.

I had left my cell home last night before I went to the initiation test. The next thing on my to-do list was to call my mother. When I picked up my cell, I could see why Marcus’ cell had been inundated with calls. I had fifty-two missed calls from my Mom, and seventy-three text messages.
What the fuck Mom? Stress much!

I dialed her cell right away. She picked up on the first ring.

“James!”

“Yes Mom.”

“Are you okay?”

“Yes of course. I’m here. I’m safe. I’m alive. Did you really need to call Marcus’ Mom trying to find me? Were you that worried I’d been abducted by aliens or something?”

“James, we’re coming over.”

“Wait, what? What do you mean,
we’re coming over.
Coming where?”

“Me and your father. We’re getting on a plane as we speak.”

“Mom — this is crazy. You’re being crazy. You need to calm down. There’s no reason for the two of you to get on a plane and come over.”

“Isn’t there James?”

She suddenly went very quiet. My mother never just went quiet. She was a storm. Not a cool breeze. Although the silence suggested she had gone past the point of being mad. She was now taking matters into her own hands.

What exactly did she know?

“Look Mom...you and Dad just need to stay where you are. There’s nothing to worry about, alright? There’s absolutely no reason you need to get on a plane and fly halfway round the world to see...”

Click.

“Mom? Mom!”

I threw my cell to the floor, realizing she had hung up on me.

She fucking hung up on me!

“FUCK!” I yelled out. Not the outcome I wanted. Not. At. All.

I needed to pull myself together. What was going on? It was like my life was suddenly on fast forward and there was no pause or rewind button. One minute I was saving a girl tied to a tree; the next I was less than a day away from joining a very powerful secret society. In the span of six weeks, I had flipped my entire reason for living upside down and inside out, all for love. My mother and father were flying over to check on me and probably to stop me from joining. I had some weird date night with Byron and his droogs. And on top of that, I could hardly remember anything in the last twenty-four hours.

There was only one thing I needed to do next. I needed to be with my compass. My soul’s companion. My heart. My destiny.

I needed to find Anais.

{21}

I must have passed out on my bedroom floor, because it was late in the afternoon when my eyes opened. I didn’t even remember lying down. The last thought in my head was running into Anais’ arms. I had told myself to pick up my keys and walk out the door, but clearly my body had different ideas. I had dropped in the last place I remember standing.

When I woke, I had a sudden burst of energy. I threw some jeans and a fresh T-shirt onto my body and hurried downstairs. I knew I should have probably gone to see a doctor. Having blackouts and forgetting time. These were not good signs, especially after taking some weird drug. But it wasn’t myself that I cared about most, it was Anais. I needed to find her. Be with her. I needed to find out what I said last night in that tent before I completed the initiation ceremony tomorrow.

I drove fast to her mansion. It was getting late and I was running out of time. The security guards at her gates had informed me she was at her uncle’s. At least I knew how to get there. I wondered why she was at her uncle’s house. She went to him every time she had a problem. Perhaps he was the only one she could trust, especially since her parents were members of the Lappell.