Wraithsong (5 page)

Anthony smiles, his pearly
teeth are extra white against his skin. “I just moved here about a
month ago and needed to earn some extra credit so I could graduate
on time,” he says. “I worked out a deal with Principal
Jenkins.”

That’s why I haven’t seen
him before. Most of the other girls in school must know about him,
but since Ashley and I are somewhat outsiders, I’ve never been
introduced to Anthony. “So where did you move from?” I’m pleased
that we’re having a conversation that sounds like an
actual...well…conversation.

“
From Norway. My mother
worked there for a year, but then got transferred to
Sarasota.”

I think back to a
discussion I had with my mom, and how she said she used to live in
Norway when she was younger. “My mom lived in Norway before I was
born.” I kick a root in the ground, trying to loosen it.

“
Really, where?” He strains
as he pulls at another root.

“
Somewhere on the west
coast,” I say, not remembering the name of the city.

“
We stayed in Asker. It’s
about a thirty minute drive south of their Capitol, Oslo.” Anthony
pushes me gently aside and lifts the root up as if it’s
nothing.

Really? I huff, figuring I
probably loosened it for him. “Did you like it there?”

“
Sure. The people there are
down to earth, and their heritage is amazing. I became fascinated
by the Vikings and did a lot of research on their mythology and
folklore.”

“
I love Viking mythology.”
I pull on the next weed. “My mom studied Norse mythology and most
recently, she told me there is something called a Huldra. It’s
interesting how all people think a Huldra is nothing but a woman
who is obsessed with seducing men.” I think I see Anthony’s jaw
drop from the corner of my eye. Maybe I shouldn’t have brought the
Huldra up; it is a rather intense subject, but I like his reaction
more than I want to admit.

“
Most people have no clue
when it comes to Norse mythology,” he says angrily and stands up.
“We’re done for today.”

“
But we just started,” I
protest. Was what I said that offensive? For a moment I want to use
my flair on him so I can control him, but it would be wrong. And
would I want him to follow me around…forever? Uh…no. He’s too
moody.

“
I forgot that I have
somewhere I have to be. Have a good weekend.” Then he jogs all the
way back to the greenhouse, leaving me to the rest of the
work.

Forget this! I’m not going
to waste my time here, weeding on a Friday night—alone. Anthony
gets upset about everything I say and annoyed by everything I do.
I’m done weeding. I’ve put in my ten hours, and I’m finished. I
want to be around people who understand me and who make sense. I
text Ashley:

Want to go see a
movie?

Ashley’s quick to
reply:

Sure! How about the new
zombie movie that just came out?

I loathe anything to do
with zombies, but the action might help me take my mind off moody
Anthony.

What time and
theatre?

I type back. After about
three minutes Ashley’s reply comes.

7:30 p. m., Sarasota
Square Mall.

Back home, I shower and
finish some of my homework before heading out. “I’ll be back around
10:30, Mom!” I holler on my way out the door, shutting it before I
hear her reply. Hopping into the car, I catch a whiff of a
familiar, heavenly scent. I love how my dad’s cologne still lingers
in the seats of the vehicle and how it makes me feel safe, like
he’s still part of my life. He used to drive me everywhere, and it
was our time to talk about everything and nothing. I especially
miss him on weekends when we used to go to the beach together or go
hiking or camping. He loved nature and wildlife in general, and I
could tell that being outside enlivened his soul.

I turn on the engine and
I’m surprised by the sudden sound of my mom knocking on the car
window.

“
Don’t forget your phone,”
she says, handing it to me. “You left it in the
kitchen.”

“
Thanks.” I grab it and put
it in my yellow bag. I really need to clean it out. I carry
make-up, my wallet, a mirror, three adhesive bandages and
antibiotic ointment—just in case I need them—a toothbrush and
toothpaste, a travel-size hairbrush and gum. I never throw away any
receipts, and they are starting to take over the entire purse.
Tomorrow I’ll get it done, I promise myself.

“
Have fun, and say ‘hi’ to
Ashley for me.” My mom looks thinner than usual, or maybe it’s just
the way the rays from the setting sun hit her face, making her
cheeks look hollow and the circles under her eyes
darker.

“
Sure.” I roll up the
window, pause, and then roll it back down again. “You should go
out…have some fun too, Mom.”

She smiles. “Don’t worry
about me, Sonia. When I’m ready to, I will.”

Maybe I haven’t been
sensitive enough to her needs since my dad passed away. We never
really speak about his death and the pain it has caused, we have
only talked about the good memories we shared when he was alive. I
really want to speak to her about the pain and how to get over it
before it turns into a wound that can never be healed.

“
Go, or you’ll be late,”
she says, waving her hand.

I smile, wave back, and
pull out of the driveway.

* * *

“
Well that was a complete
waste of money,” Ashley says, as we stroll out of the theatre with
the others. The auditorium was only about ten percent filled, and
that should have been a clear sign that this movie would be a
dud.

“
Agreed,” I say, turning my
phone back on. A text message pops up on my screen:

Sorry about leaving so
abruptly today, but I needed to take care of something important.
Hope you’ll still weed with me on Monday. Anthony.

My heart pauses for half a
heartbeat, but though I appreciate the apology, I’m still angry
with him. Can one feel angry and intrigued at the same
time?

“
What?” Ashley asks,
peeking over to read the text. “Who’s Anthony?”

“
He’s the guy I weed with,”
I say. “I mean, you know last week when I told you I was sent to
Principal Jenkins’s office and was sentenced to ten hours of school
service?”

“
Yes…?”

“
Well, the guy who works in
the greenhouse is Anthony.”

“
Is he kind?” It’s always
Ashley’s first question when I bring up a guy she hasn’t met, and
the second question is, “Is he hot?” I laugh nervously, hoping she
won’t pick up on it and we head into the ladies room.

“
He’s…nice—maybe, I don’t
know him too well yet,” I say. Should I tell her what I really
think? Yes. “And he’s not bad to look at.” But that’s not why I
like him. There’s something special about him that I just can’t put
my finger on.

Ashley grins, her thick
lips broadening with a smile. “Is he a senior?”

“
Yes, he just recently
moved here.” We stop by the mirror and I pull my lip-gloss out and
apply some. I watch Ashley brush her thick, long hair. She has a
broad forehead and is slightly curvy in a very feminine
way.

“
You’ll have to introduce
me.” She gathers her hair into a ponytail and makes a sexy face
into the mirror.

I laugh. “He’s kind of
moody, but if you want him, he’s all yours.” I regret saying it
right away. The thought of Ashley and Anthony dating doesn’t sit
well with me for some reason.

“
That’s not what I meant. I
want to meet the boy who hasn’t even asked you out yet after having
known you for more than half a minute. Most guys would have tried
to marry you by now if you gave them any attention.”

“
Don’t be ridiculous,” I
scoff.

“
Okay, but it’s almost
true,” she says, as though there could be no argument.

“
Well, this guy has been
ignoring me completely, at least until this last text.” I pull my
phone out again and at that moment another text pops up.

Want to get some lunch
tomorrow? –A

I think about forgiving him
and then decide it’s worth it, at least for now, until I get to
know him better. I show the text to Ashley.

“
I’m telling you, I want to
meet him. Does he have a date to the prom yet?” she
asks.

I groan. “Yes, doesn’t
everybody?” It’s only about a week until the prom.

“
He probably asked her
before he met you, though.”

“
No, he asked her on
Thursday, but I can’t go to the prom anyway, so it doesn’t matter,”
I mope.

Ashley pulls out some
pressed powder and applies it to her face. “I don’t get your mom.
She’s so strict. I mean, who doesn’t let their daughter go to the
prom?” She has that look on her face when she’s extremely upset
about something, which is about fifty percent of the
time.

“
It’s more complicated than
that,” I say, wishing I could reveal more of my oddities to her,
and wishing I could tell her everything about me, but I just don’t
feel it’s the right thing to do, at least not until I know what it
is that makes me so different.

“
Really?
How complicated could it be? I mean, I want to respect your mom’s
decision and all, but you’ve got to be able to have
some
fun in life. She
doesn’t let you go swimming at the beach, or have sleep-overs,
or…”

I interrupt her. “I know,
it sucks, but it’s just how it is.” I’m not going to try to explain
it away, for no sane reason would be good enough. “My parents have
always been overprotective of me.”

“
I’d understand it if it
was a religious decision or something, but just because they want
to protect you? Like from what? It doesn’t make sense.”

“
Can we just drop it
please? There’s nothing I can do about it and now you’re actually
making me want to go to the stupid prom.”

Ashley gives me a
really?
look.

“
Please…” I say.

“
Fine, but I’ll miss you.”
She pouts, then suddenly her eyes widen. “Hey, I have an idea!
Can’t you just go without a date?” She has this sneaky way of
bringing up the subjects I don’t want to talk about again. I fall
for it every time.

“
What? So I can be
everyone’s third wheel?” I really don’t want to be the third
wheel.

“
There are a bunch of guys
and girls going stag. I hear it’s the new in-thing.”

“
Seriously?” I haven’t
considered going stag, but my mom just might let me go if I go
alone, and promise to not get involved with anyone in any way, and
come home at a decent hour.

“
Sue is also thinking about
going solo. I’ll let her know that you’re going and you can join
our group,” Ashley says.

“
That makes it seem like
I’m her date.” I shake my head.

“
There are a few others who
also want to go stag. I’ll talk to them and see if we can’t plan
something.”

That sounds a little
better, I think. “I’ll need a dress.”

“
The
dress is the easiest thing to get. I’ll go with you tomorrow—after
your lunch date with
hot
Anthony.” She smiles playfully.

I laugh. “It’s not a
date—just lunch.”

“
Yeah, sure it is,” Ashley
says.

I text Anthony
back.

Sure
,
just let me know the time and
place - Sonia

Ashley and I go out and get
a bite to eat, and before I know it, it’s 11:00 p.m. I say good-bye
to her and head home.

Chapter 4

When I get home, the only
light turned on in the entire house is the light above my mom’s
head in the kitchen. She’s sitting at the table with a letter in
her hand, looking unusually pale, the muscles in her
face—limp.

“
Are you okay?” I
say.

She doesn’t respond, she
just sits as still as a statue and gazes out into the air, staring
at nothing.

“
Mom?” I say a little
louder this time, placing my hand on her shoulder.

She moves her head toward
me, but doesn’t look at me. Her cheeks glisten with
tears.

“
What’s wrong?” I crouch
down beside her.

Finally, she notices me and
sniffles. “Three of the young Huldras have been
murdered.”

“
Huldras?”

“
That’s what our kind is
called, sweetie,” she says. “That’s why we’re
different.”

“
Our
kind
?” I’m totally confused. These beings aren’t supposed to
exist—they’re just creatures of mankind’s imagination—mythological
creatures. “What happened?”