Half Black Soul (21 page)

When a knock sounded on the door, about fifteen minutes later, my head snapped up and my eyes popped open. I cursed myself in my head. I hadn't intended to, but I'd almost fallen asleep here in Marty's closet. I could only imagine what her thoughts would have been if she were to open this door later, and find me curled up and passed out in her coat closet. I was wide awake now. My mind was wide awake too.

Marty made her way over to the door. Who's there? she asked.

Me, said a gruff voice. I knew it to belong to Gavin. My mind reached out and found that he wasn't alone, though. Two others were with him. Patterson, of course, was one. And, to my utter surprise, Ms. Baker, my teacher, was the other.

Marty called out, It's open, and the three made their way inside.

I pulled away from their minds, trying to focus myself on the conversation. How are you doing? Gavin asked, sounding genuinely concerned about Marty.

Marty sighed. Worried sick. Can I get you guys anything to drink before we start?

All three guests declined. Marty told them they could have a seat then, and I assumed that they all did. Gavin spoke softly, What exactly are you worried about?

I'm not even sure, Marty began. I just am. I thought you were going to help me figure that out.

I will, Gavin replied. But, Marty, I need to know that what we say here won't leave this room. If you care about yourself and your brother, you'll need to take what I say as truth. Gavin paused. Then, you will need to choose a side.

There were a few moments of silence before Marty answered. I swear, what we say here will never leave this room. I trust you, Gavin. You've always been a good friend to me and my brother. Please, tell me what you know.

Ms. Baker spoke next. You know of the Prophecy, yes?

I could imagine that Marty's eyebrows were creasing along with mine, but after a moment's thought, I remembered Alexa telling me about a prophecy that she'd read from some journal the librarian had given her. Something about how she was supposed to save the world . I'd blown her off a little at the time, telling her that it was silly to believe in something like that. I'd been a very stupid girl these past few weeks.

I do, Marty said. What does that have to do with my brother? Her voice shook a little on that last word.

Gavin spoke again, and though his voice was as gruff as always, it took on a note of pain that I had never heard from him before. Let me try to explain, he began, and I could swear I heard him clear his throat. I know what you're feeling right now. You're worried sick about Mark and you have absolutely no reason why. You feel like somehow he's slipping away from you, like maybe tomorrow you'll wake up and not even be able to remember who he is. You can't shake the feeling that & that you re, he cleared his throat once more. That you're going to lose him somehow. That right?

Marty's voice wavered again. Yes. How do you know that?

Gavin's voice was hardly a whisper. I leaned forward and turned my head to place my ear against the closet door. Because, I think I had a son once, he said.

The room fell silent. Ms. Baker spoke softly, We know he had a son.

What, what are you talking about? Marty asked.

Everyone in this room has known Gavin for a very long time, said Patterson. Do you remember him having a son? he asked.

No, said Marty. And, I'm pretty sure I would remember something like that.

He was-, Gavin started, and couldn't seem to finish the sentence.

Just a baby when they took him, Ms. Baker supplied. It was awful. When Gavin came to me, I couldn't even recall the boy at all. And, when we talked about it, Gavin could hardly remember either. If not for the blue yarn, I probably wouldn't have believed him.

I'm sorry, said Marty. You're losing me.

Gavin found his voice. It doesn't matter. I don't remember him at all anymore & but I remember what I felt like when I realized he was gone. I remember the way my heart constricted. I remember the & the misery of it all. I had a wife, you remember her? Justina?

Marty seemed to take a moment to think about this. Oh, yes, she said. I remember. She passed away after that horrible car accident & Right?

Wrong, said Gavin. That's what they made everyone believe. Hell, sometimes I don't even know what the truth is anymore. But, in my heart, I believe that she died giving birth to my son. Do you remember what my wife was?

Hmm, Marty answered. I think I remember her being a Searcher? This is awful, and I don't agree with it, but I think I remember that because people were talking about how the two of you had married outside of your races & I'm sorry, but I'm still kind of lost here.

That's right, Gavin replied. We married outside of our races. We had a son who was of mixed blood. She died giving birth to him. They took him away from me. His voice cracked, and he stopped abruptly.

Ms. Baker jumped in. Gavin came to me the day after she died, the day after his son was born. He had almost no memory of the child, and the things him and his wife had purchased in anticipation of his arrival just disappeared from his possession. He was & a wreak. All he knew was that he was upset because of the car accident, the reason he believed he'd lost his wife the day before. But, there was something more & I know it hurts, but you can really explain it better than I can.

Gavin spoke again. I had gone for a walk in the woods. I couldn't stand to be around anyone. I went to the spot where I used to take Justina, not deep into the forest, just a spot that we used to share together. There was this tree there. It was just one of the old pines, but it was a place that we would meet and hang out. Our tree. I'd carved our initials into it after our first date. I remembered that well enough. But, when I went back there, after the car accident , I found three sets of initials. The third I'd carved a week prior & for my unborn son. Who I couldn't remember really at all.

When Gavin seemed to pause indefinitely, Ms. Baker took over once more. He came to me and told me he thought he was losing his mind. I made him explain his thoughts to me, and if I'm being honest, I thought he was losing his mind too. Gavin and I have been friends since childhood, and I told him that I would definitely remember if he'd had a son. Then, I remembered the blue yarn. That morning, I'd gone into my sitting room, and there had been a ball of baby blue yarn on the end table. I'd picked it up and returned it to its rightful place, but I'd noticed that there was only a little bit of it left. I'd brushed it off as strange at the time. I couldn't remember taking it out and making anything with it. But, it was there. And, when I thought about it for a while, I seemed to have a faint impression in my mind that I'd been making a hat. A baby's hat.

Everyone fell silent for a long moment. Finally, Marty said, What happened to him?

We don't know, Patterson provided. I didn't believe Gavin when he came to me after that either. But, I trusted him enough to know that he wouldn't just make something like that up. A few of us started paying attention. People disappear around here a lot.

Marty gasped. Are they going to take Mark?

Once again, a thick silence fell over the room. Once again, Gavin cleared his throat. Maybe.

Well, we have to do something about it! Marty exclaimed. I'll be damned if I'll sit back and let them steal my only brother away from me! I'll be Goddamned!

The side of my face was pressed firmly against the wooden closet door now, absorbed in every word of this strange conversation. Ms. Baker spoke next. Calm down, Marty-,

The hell I will! Marty said, cutting Ms. Baker short. What are you guys even talking about? Do you hear yourselves? People disappearing in the night, people forgetting that loved ones even existed, what the hell is this? What kind of conspiracy are you cooking up here?

Gavin said, Now, calm down, and his tone allowed for no argument. We know you are scared. Everyone is scared. We don't even know exactly what we are up against, but we know that something has to be done. And, the Sun Warrior has finally joined us.

The Sun Warrior? Marty asked. Oh, the Prophecy. You think that some seventeen year old girl is going to save us if what you are telling me is true?

Gavin's tone was full of confidence. You don't know her. I do. She may be seventeen, but she's brave and loyal and strong and smart. She'll do what is right.

Patterson added, He's right, Marty. I have every confidence in Alexa. But, we can't go sending her into the fire alone. You've seen King William's warriors. We will need everyone we can get to join us in the rebellion.

What makes you think there has to be a rebellion? Marty asked. Why can't we just go and voice our concerns to Queen Camillia? She's a good woman, she'll listen.

I'm afraid her hands are as tied as ours, replied Gavin. I haven't spoken with her about it, because I'm pretty sure King William has eyes everywhere. He is King after all. In fact, I have some suspicions about Thomas, the Queen's third Councilman? I can't prove it, but I have reason to believe that he was the one who tried to blow up the Warrior and the Queen a few weeks ago. But, these things are beside the point for now. Just listen, we won't demand that you join us, and you've already given your word that this conversation will never leave this room, but as we said, we can use all the help we can get.

Thomas. Did he mean Tommy's father? Looks like I need to add someone to my Search list .

When this got no response from Marty, Gavin continued. You can feel it, Marty. You're just as scared as everyone else is around here. And, none of you have had the misfortune of seeing Dangeon. King William is as bad a dictator as anyone I've ever known. Do you really just want to sit around and wait until the day comes when he no longer sees you as useful, and be stolen in the night and taken God-knows-where? There is unrest here. A war is coming. I know it in my bones and so does everyone else. We just want to know if you will join us when the time comes.

Marty took a while longer to answer. Yes, she said finally. I'll fight with you & but, Gavin, doesn't the Prophecy say &

Ms. Baker spoke up. Yes. We know, Marty. We don't intend to force the Warrior to fight for us. We can only hope that she will reach that conclusion on her own. And, we will explain to her what the consequences may be if she does.

Marty blew out a heavy breath. Alright, she said. I know you are right about King William. I think he's a bastard of the worst sort, and has been & mistreating our people from the beginning. I also agree that we are all afraid, and that something must be done, if only for the future of our species. But, the part I don't get is why you all seem so sure that a seventeen year old girl will be willing to sacrifice herself for a world she never even knew existed.

My head was spinning already with all the new information I'd just learned, but when Marty said, Sacrifice herself I couldn't help a small gasp. My hand flew up to cover my mouth, and in the process, I bumped against the umbrella leaning against the wall, and it fell to the floor with a hard thud.

The room beyond the closet door grew silent once again, and the approaching footsteps pounded like war drums in my ears.

Alexa

Kayden put the car in park and shut off the engine. I guess this is it, he said, gesturing through the rain covered windshield.

I stared through the blurry glass at the establishment in front of us, and double checked the address. Guess so. I thought it would be a house.

Kayden pointed to the top floor of the two story building. I think there's probably an apartment up there, he offered.

A bar, really? I asked.

Yeah, pretty sure.

So, I won't even be able to go in, I said.

Kayden looked over at me and gave a smirk. I don't think the patrons are going to protest your presence. My cheeks flooded with heat. Besides, he added, When have you ever let rules or laws dictate you?

I nodded, not sure whether or not I should be offended. True, I replied, because it was.

Turning back to the windshield, I studied the place for a moment. I wouldn't admit it, and no, it wouldn't have stopped me, but if Kayden weren't with me, I would be even less anxious to enter this building. We were in a small, dingy town near the coast of West Virginia. The parking lot we were currently occupying was cracked and weed-riddled. The building itself was cracked and weathered as well, with only a small neon sign hanging out front that proclaimed: Pub, and a couple more in the blackened window that advertised beer. I could hear a jukebox playing from within, belting out some song that I didn't recognize. There weren't many cars parked around us, but the ones that were made Tommy's Mercedes stand out like a piece of fine caviar in the middle of a bowl of mouse droppings. The bar itself looked like the type that a girl who looks and is built like me would only go into if she had a death wish. I supposed it was a good thing my appearance was misleading. And, Kayden was with me.

Are you kidding me? You're scared to go in there without him?

For shit's sake. Do you ever shut up?

Ask yourself that.

I threw the car door open with a little too much vigor. Let's go, I said.

Kayden exited the car as well, and we both half jogged up to the entrance of the bar. It wasn't pouring rain, but it was enough to make me shiver a little and want to get out of it. I didn't pause with my hand on the door. My monster's stupid comments had insulted my pride, so I shoved the heavy door open, and held it so that it wouldn't swing back and hit Kayden in the face. The door clicked shut behind him, and even though the jukebox was still spitting out its loud notes, the bar seemed to go silent.