The Geneva Project - Truth (25 page)

Well, we had a plan.  At least it was something.  It seemed we were spiraling out of control since our last plan to get sent to the locker was hatched.  I swallowed hard, hoping this one worked out better.  It was scary, but I reminded myself that we accomplished our goal. 

Remi and Sparrow headed off to practice their solos and Journey and Nova were deep in conversation about something.  I walked over to them and almost wished I hadn’t when I heard the subject matter.

“
It really looks great.  You can’t even tell your face used to be shredded,” Journey marveled.

“
Yeah, Tippy did an incredible job,” Nova said, sending a wink my way.

“
How’d you do it?” Journey asked, focusing on me now.

“
I don’t know, I just did it,” I said roughly, immediately regretting my harsh tone.

“
Sorry,” I said, “It actually wasn’t easy and it’s not a great memory for me.”

“
Okay, I get it.  I’m just really glad you were able to save him,” Journey said with more sincerity than I knew he possessed. 

“
I think you may have done
too
good of a job though.  I swear I look even better than before,” Nova joked, ribbing me a bit to try to lighten my mood.

“
Yeah, we are getting some strange looks in our direction,” I said still concerned.

“
Oh, well I think those are on account of how beautiful you look,” Nova replied, giving my shoulders an affectionate squeeze, which instantly weakened my knees and made my cheeks burn scarlet red. 

“
Yeah, you do look really, uh… pretty…tonight,” Journey said almost sheepishly.

“
Alright, I’m convinced you’ve both gone mental tonight.  I’m going to go see if Sparrow and Remi need any help rehearsing.”

I left the boys to themselves and set off to find Sparrow and Remi.  I had some things I needed to discuss with Remi, too.  Like, where the heck he was going when he was supposedly checking on Nova and I every night?  Maybe tonight wasn’t the best time to confront him, but I was figuring out that I wasn’t very good at leaving things unsaid and we promised each other no more secrets.  I was rehearsing how to best approach the subject with Remi when I was startled by a passing reflection.  I paused and took a few steps backwards towards the old mirror I just past. It was very old, covered in dust and utterly unremarkable in every way.  It was dull and almost hidden by bolts of old fabric that were slung over it, but it was the strange face in its reflection that peaked my interest.  My heart pounded as I walked towards the eerie reflection.  I knew from the angle I should be looking at myself, but there was no way that the face looking back at me was mine.  I didn’t know her, yet she was somehow familiar.  Her snow-blonde hair, intricately plaited, lit up the mirror, giving it an ethereal glow.  I crept even closer, drawn helplessly to the light and the beauty.  The closer I got the more the feeling of familiarity grew inside of me.  It tugged at my heart, begging my brain to make the connection.  The reflection looked like me, yet not.  The hair color was right, but it was so smooth, and shiny, and beautifully done.  The eyes were similar but they seemed bluer, deeper, wiser, and more dynamic.  The skin was the same tone, but flawless, and the lips were fuller and painted a beautiful shade of red.  If I didn’t know any better I would think I was meeting a relative, someone with the potential and opportunities that I never had.  Someone confident and beautiful.  I pressed my palm to the smooth glass and felt a jolt of iciness stab me in the heart, while in the same moment my veins seemed to burn hot.  It took my breath away.  Gasping for air, I pulled back from the mirror and sat down still facing it.

“
Oh my god,” I whispered to myself.  “I know who you are.  You’re Nesia.”

I sat there reeling in my discovery.  How was it possible that this mirror was turning my reflection into that of Nesia, the famous goddess of our island?  I knew it had to be her.  I had seen and read so much about her, but they were only drawings or paintings.  The reflection of flesh and blood was new and harder to place at first, but now that I had, it was impossible to shake. But why was she here, in my reflection.  I was leaning forward for a closer look when Remi called my name, startling me. 

“
65!  65!  I need you to talk some sense into Sparrow!  Come on,” he said pulling me to my feet and dragging me away from the mirror.  I tried to interrupt him but he was babbling on and I was only catching bits and pieces as he dragged me through the crowed backstage. 

“
Remi!  Stop!  Tell me what’s going on.”

“
That’s the problem!  I don’t know what’s going on.  One minute we’re rehearsing and then Sparrow tells me she’s not going to do the solo!” 

“
What?!” 

“
That’s what I’m trying to tell you!  I went to go get some warm honey water for us and when I came back she was in tears and said she wasn’t doing the solo anymore.  Then she ran off.  You need to go talk to her.”
“Where is she?”

“
She stormed off in that direction,” he said, pointing to a dark corner of the stage.

I sighed and headed off in that direction myself.  Sure enough I found her, kneeling in the corner with her back to me, fidgeting with something on the floor. 

“
Sparrow?” I asked softly.  “What’s wrong?”

She turned her tear-stained face to look up at me and then handed me a shoulder bag.  At first I was confused but then it hit me that it was my shoulder bag and the moving bundle inside was Niv.

“
He’s okay!” Sparrow added quickly when she saw the panic in my eyes.

“
How did he get here?!” I gasped while stepping further into the shadows so I could see for myself that Niv was safe.  His tiny black eyes peered back at me as he curiously sniffed the new smells of Lux.  I nuzzled him and scratched briefly under his chin before securing him back inside the bag before anyone else had the chance to spot him.

“
Jemma had him,” Sparrow whispered.

“
What?!  How!?”

“
I don’t know, Tippy.  She just came over to me a few minutes ago and said that I had something that belonged to her.  I had no idea what she was talking about and I was about to say so, but then she said it was okay, because now she had something that belonged to me; so we were even and that’s when she handed me the bag.  She said, ‘Even trade, don’t you think?’  And then she walked away.”

I was speechless, seething mad, but unable to process how this happened.  When I didn’t respond Sparrow fell into her quiet sobs again. 

“
I’m so sorry, Tippy, I didn’t know what else to do.  I was afraid she’d tell Greeley on me if I didn’t give in.  She practically said so, with that smug look on her face.”

“
It’s okay, Sparrow, none of this is your fault.  I’m just sorry you won’t get to do the solo now.”

“
I don’t care about the stupid solo anymore,” she sniffed, wiping her eyes with the back of her hands.  “I’m just glad Niv is safe.”

“
And I think he’ll stay that way now that Jemma got what she wanted, but we’re going to need somewhere safe to hide him during the performance, let’s get back to the others,” I said, taking the opportunity to return Sparrow’s earlier favor by placing my hands on her head to restore her hair and make up to its pre-Jemma encounter.

I led Sparrow back over to the others and we filled them in on what happened.  They were just as upset as we were.  We were hastily discussing what options we may have to get Sparrow her solo back when Miss Sprigg rushed backstage, clearing her throat to try to get our attention.

“
Gather ‘round please!  I said, gather ‘round!” she squeaked, stomping her foot to gain our focus.

“
Everyone please line up with your year, we’re getting ready to begin any moment now.”

Nova rolled his eyes at Miss Sprigg’s dramatics, trying to lighten our tense mood; but the way he squeezed my hand as he departed our little circle told me he was just as concerned as I was. I sighed and relented to follow the others to line up with our year.  I saw Jemma trot over to our year, smiling from ear to vicious ear as she took Sparrow’s spot along side Remi.  My face burned and I gritted my teeth so hard with hatred for her that I was sure they would break.  I was so angry with myself that despite all these special powers that I had, there was nothing I could do to her.  There was no way to get Sparrow her part back and give Jemma what she deserved.  Not if I wanted to protect Niv.  The only thing I had going for me was that it seemed that Jemma thought Niv belonged to Sparrow.  At least she didn’t know he was mine.  I couldn’t even fathom how she would plot to use him against me.  Yet she still had me cornered, even if she didn’t know it.  At this very moment, I was beginning to understand the dangers of tethering my soul to Niv.  Still, I knew I didn’t really have a choice.  Now I just had to do what was necessary to keep him protected.  Well, both of us protected.

“
Curtains!” came Miss Sprigg’s high, nasally voice, and a foreboding hush fell over us. Leaving me shivering with a rush of goose bumps.  She gave a little nod and then quietly said the same thing she said every year, but this time it held a different meaning for me.

“
Let it begin!”

I stood quietly next to the other Johns and Janes in my year, feeling isolated and alone since I was separated from my friends.  It almost felt like just another Gala, standing alone in the dark, terrified of what was ahead.  But this time it wasn’t the singing or stage fright that had me in a cold sweat.  I was so busy concentrating on keeping Niv and my shoulder bag invisible that I didn’t have any time to be nervous about those trivial things.  It was Journey’s idea to use the vanishing trick to keep Niv hidden.  It seemed like the safest route because we all felt a bit uncomfortable leaving Niv unattended in my bag backstage.  There were so many people around and we still didn’t know how Jemma found him in the first place. Keeping him with us was the only way to know for sure that he was safe.  The only problem was that I had to do it.  Remi was the best at it, but he had a solo to do, so I was the only other option.  Normally I shouldn’t have so much trouble with it, but for some reason it was taking much more concentration than usual.  Maybe it was because I was distracted by Jemma’s giggling.  Each time she laughed it sounded like she was ringing little bells of victory in my ears.  I took deep breaths to calm myself and was thankful that it was almost our turn. 

Before I knew it, Miss Sprigg was scurrying around us, straightening our sashes, reminding us to stand up straight and smile.  Then she ushered us forward.  Normally I dreaded this moment, but it signaled that this awful event was almost over, so I welcomed the bright lights and loud applause as we marched onto the stage.  The air was much cooler out here, and the sweat I had worked up felt like tiny beads of ice sliding cruelly down my spine.  I shivered in the soft breeze that still carried the faint aromas that enchanted me upon our arrival.  Below me was a sea of white and gold.  From the height of the stage I couldn’t make out the faces of the citizens, only their glowing linens and jewels, brightly illuminated by the warm glow of thousands of candles and paper lanterns bobbing and flickering lazily in the soft wind. 

Moments after we took the stage the drumbeats started, then the strings and horns joined in and the sound swelled, drowning out any other thoughts I had.  As soon as the music reached its peak, it was our queue to begin.  I somehow managed to find my notes and muddle through the song. I can’t say I even knew what I was singing, but I assumed I was doing alright since the Janes to my left and right weren’t giving me any telling glares.  I was thankful for all the practice sessions Sparrow put me through because my voice was able to operate on autopilot, while my mind concentrated on Niv.  I was glad to be bunched up in the middle of the pack.  It made me hard to see and eased my anxiety about anyone seeing Niv even if my focus slipped up.  I felt his warm little body resting contently on my hip.  It was comforting to have him so close.  He always had a way of soothing me.  I meditated on the steady thumping of his heartbeat and although it sounded more distant than it should, I found a way to relax a little more by melting into its beating rhythm. 

I was pulled back to where we were when I saw movement ahead of me.  Jemma and Remi were emerging to the front of the stage to begin their solos.  Jemma’s perfect black mane swayed effortlessly as she sauntered forward with the regal quality of royalty.  I tried to avert my eyes and anger from her to only watch Remi.  I focused on how proud I was that my best friend was getting his moment to shine.  The smooth tone of his voice was beautiful.  I never truly appreciated it until this very moment.  His rich, warm tenor of melody hit my heart and seemed to make everything brighter.  I felt lighter, like I could float along with his notes to anywhere they would take me.  I leaned forward on the tips of my toes, straining for a glimpse of his face, but I could only see his profile.  I wanted to share in this joyous moment with him, run to his side and hug him and tell him how wonderful he sounded.  But my blissful moment was quickly shattered by the clear, sharp soprano that Jemma expertly delivered.  I watched her take a step forward, trying to edge Remi out of view, but he surprisingly held his ground by taking a step of his own.  Not to be outdone, Jemma took another step, but I watched in horror as Remi anticipated it and swiftly tucked his now invisible foot in her path, which sent her pitching forward.  Her note flew high and off key as she fought to gain her balance—arms flapping—before her voice was finally silenced with a thud as she hit the hard floor of the stage, leaving only Remi’s voice to ring in the New Year as the Gala fireworks erupted and paper lanterns took flight, waking the sleepy night sky.