* * *
“Think of this evening as an early birthday present,” Anthony says, handing me a single red rose before I get into his car. He looks very handsome in his crisp white dress shirt and pinstriped navy slacks. I told him to come pick me up at Ashley’s house where I had dressed for the date. I couldn’t get ready at home since Mom would have been suspicious as to why I was dressing so nicely just to go to the mall.
“You look beautiful.” He gazes into my eyes, immediately sending me into a state of weakness.
“Thanks,” I manage to say coolly. I picked up my dress from home right after school while my mom was out on an errand. I haven’t worn this dress in ages because I rarely go to events that require semi-formal dresses. The sleeveless piece is just large enough to cover up the silver markings on my back, it accentuates my tiny waist and shows off my long, slender ballerina legs. Midnight blue looks great against my pale skin; I chose to wear the dress because I think it might be Anthony’s favorite color.
“Are you excited?” Anthony says as he opens the car door for me. A huge bouquet of red roses rests on the seat.
“Wow!” I smile at him. “Yes, I’m very excited.” He moves the bouquet to the back. Sitting down in the front leather seat, I pull my legs in.
Anthony closes my car door and curves around to the driver’s side. Getting in, he says, “We’re early, so do you want to grab a bite to eat first?”
“Sure.” I place my purse on the floor.
“How does Christopher’s on East sound?” He briefly adjusts his rear-view mirror.
I’ve only been to Christopher’s on East a couple of times and have been impressed enough to want to go back. “Sounds great.” I’m starving.
Anthony hand grazes my knee as he shifts gears, and my whole body tingles from his touch. Our eyes connect for a moment and then we smile at each other.
He revs up the engine and speeds out of Ashley’s subdivision. He’s treating me so well now, but in the back of my mind, I wonder if he’s being genuine or if he just wants something from me like Ashley thinks. Are there any other surprises? I hope not, but something tells me that I haven’t seen anything yet.
When we’re well on our way, he says, “I feel kind of bad that I’m part of the rebellion.”
“Rebellion?”
“I’m co-conspiring with you to go against your mother’s wishes.” Anthony smiles crookedly.
“I think you’re more than the co-conspirator; I’d say you were the mastermind.” I laugh. “She’ll be mad no matter what happens from this point on. I think the only way she’d be content is if I stayed in my room all day and studied.” Sad, but true. “Don’t worry, she’ll be upset with me, but she loves me. I’m more concerned about you since she has promised to torture any illicit date of mine until he vows to never come back.”
“That makes me feel a whole lot better,” he says sarcastically, “having the wrath of Hedda after me.”
I don’t remember ever telling Anthony my mom’s name, but I might be wrong, so I decide not to ask him about it. Now that things are so good between us, I’d rather not ruin the evening by interrogating him.
After we finish eating our pan-roasted Atlantic salmon, we head for the Sarasota Performing Arts Center. Small groups of formally dressed patrons scurry toward the seashell-designed yellow and gold building. As the sun sets, the sky turns red and gold.
Watching the ballet, I remember how much I love dancing and promise myself that I’ll take it up again as soon as I can. The red velvet curtain drops, and the lights go up for the first of two intermissions. We head into the foyer, and the first thing I do is check my phone. I have nine missed calls, six text messages and three voicemails. A sinking feeling floods my gut.
“I’m just going to use the ladies room,” I say to Anthony, my eyes still on my phone. Before I’m even able to take a step, he grabs my arm. “Ouch.” I give him a mean look because his grip is a little too strong for my liking.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt you.” He lets go right away. “Is everything all right? You look flushed.”
“I do?” I pretend not to notice. “It’s a little hot in here, that’s all.”
“You sure?” His voice sounds tense. “Because I want tonight to be perfect for us.”
“Yes,” I say and walk off. He’s acting a little strange again. In the bathroom stall, I check Ashley’s text messages first.
Text 1: Your mom called. She says she needed to get a hold of you.
Text 2: Your mom called again. She sounds nervous. Please call her.
Text 3: Ok, so she’s freaking me out now. She says if she can’t get a hold of you she’ll call the cops. Are you ok?
Text 4: Ok, now I’m freaking out too. Please, please respond!
I hardly dare to read the texts from my mom.
Text 1: I tried to call you, but no answer, so I called Ashley instead. She says you are shopping in a different store than her. You have to call me right now. It’s an emergency.
I don’t recall my mother ever using the word ‘emergency.’ Something must be very wrong, and I don’t think it has anything to do with her finding out that I’m out on a date with Anthony. If that were the case, she would have texted something like, ‘you are in big trouble, young lady.’ Maybe something else has happened to her family in Kensington.
Text 2: I’m calling the police if you don’t reply by 8:30.
I look at the time. 8:31. I don’t bother to check the three voice messages she left, but instead, call my mom right away. No answer. I call her again. No answer. I call a third time and leave a brief message, saying I am okay and for her to call back ASAP. Then I call Ashley.
“Sonia, thank heavens—I’ve been worrying like mad!” Ashley says, her voice bordering on hysteria.
“Yes, I’m fine. I’m at the ballet, like I told you,” I say.
“Your mom is a basket case, and she’s been calling me nonstop. She mentioned something about a guy named Olaf. I’m so glad to hear your voice. Do you know what’s going on? Please tell me you’ve already called your mom. I…”
“Please just let me speak!” I’m glad I’m in the stall, or I would have a few angry old ladies glaring at me for raising my voice and disturbing their pleasant evening. “I tried to call my mom three times, but she didn’t pick up. Can you drive over to my house and check on her? I’m worried that something might have happened to her.”
Ashley huffs. “Sure. I’ll call you in like five minutes or whenever I get there, but I’m not going in, or she’ll know that I’m part of this deception.” She hangs up.
I know I’ve stretched Ashley’s limits by asking this of her. She’ll be upset at me for a day or two, but she doesn’t hold grudges any longer than that. I head out of the bathroom to talk to Anthony while I wait for Ashley’s return call. “Hey,” I say, trying to act as calm and normal as possible, but I can barely steady my trembling hands.
“Are you sure everything is fine? You seem preoccupied,” Anthony says.
I try to smile, but I know it won’t be possible for me to maintain this façade for the rest of the evening. “My mom has been calling and texting me all night.” I hear the anxiety in my voice.
“Well, she probably found out that you’re with me,” Anthony says and grins so all his teeth show.
“No, I’m serious. She left a message saying she’ll call the police if she doesn’t hear from me, but when I call her back, she doesn’t pick up.” This reminds me that I haven’t listened to her voicemails yet. “Wait here.” I step out through the glass doors. Going outside feels like taking a bath, it’s so humid and hot. I call my voicemail.
Sonia, it’s Mom, please call me as soon as you get this. This is an emergency, all right, sweetie?
I save the first message from my mom and move onto the next one.
Sonia, it’s me again. I really, really need you to call me. I don’t want to alarm you too much,
but this is a matter of utmost importance. Call me right away.
I save that one, too, and move onto the last one.
Sonia, now I’m really worried about you. This is a matter of life and death, and if you don’t respond I’ll be calling the police. This is about the Huldra governesses. Three of them have gone missing. I can only hope that you are well. I love you.
I try to call my mom again, no answer. I try again, and still no answer. “Come on, Mom, pick up, pick up, pick up,” I say.
Anthony comes over and rests his hand over my phone, preventing me from calling yet again. “Let’s go home. It seems like you’re worried about your mom.”
“I need to get home right away,” I say. “My mom says it’s important.” I don’t know where the tears come from, but I can’t stop them.
“Okay, let’s go.” Anthony hands his ticket stub to the valet and tells him he’ll give him a huge tip if he is back with the car in less than two minutes. The valet returns quickly, zooming Anthony’s car into the overhang and screeching the tires when he stops. Anthony flips him a fifty-dollar bill, and we’re on our way.
“This isn’t the way home!” I say when he turns to head north on the trail.
“It’s a shortcut.” Anthony’s eyes are glued to the road.
“No, it’s not, you’re going the wrong way!” I’m suddenly angry, having clearly explained to him that I need to get home right away.
“Just let me drive!” Anthony’s voice betrays his own anger.
“Slow down! What’s your problem exactly? I told you I need to get home to my mom—she said it was an emergency.”
“No, I need to get you away from here, or Olaf will…”
I interrupt him. “What?” Alarms ring in my head. “How do you know about Olaf?”
“I’ve known about him for a few years. He’s after you and your mother,” Anthony says, like it’s nothing.
“How do you know that, and why is he after us, and who is he anyway and…?” The questions come faster than I can speak them.
“I haven’t been telling you the whole truth about me.” Anthony swerves around a black convertible so fast that the palm trees that line the trail pass by in a blur.
“Well, that’s obvious. Are you finally going to tell me who you are?” I grab onto the dashboard to steady myself.
“I know who you are, Sonia. You’re a Huldra, soon to be accepted into the Dynasty,” Anthony says.
I can’t speak for a moment; I’m so surprised that he finally admits knowing. “And you’re a Huldu, admit it!” I scream so loud that my voice feels like it will crack.
“Yes, Sonia, I am. I’m a Huldu, but that’s only a tiny amount of the truth you need to know. You’re so hung up on this Huldra, Huldu thing that nothing else matters to you at all.”
“That’s not true!” I yell.
“You don’t have any idea about anything, do you? You think you can break the Huldra codes without any consequences; it’s all a game to you, but right now there’s a lot more at stake than your freedom.”
“My freedom?” I say. “What do you mean?”
“I know what you’re thinking because I went through the same thing. You probably don’t want to commit to the Dynasty, do you? You think that it will limit you in some way and that you’ll have to conform to all their ancient ways and that’s why you’re rebelling—so you can keep your freedom. It happens to all of the new Huldras and Huldus at your age.”
Of course he’s right about me rebelling, but I won’t admit that to him. “Are there more Huldras and Huldus?”
“Only your clan. All the others have been murdered by Olaf and…the Almighty Huldra.”
“Is Olaf responsible for kidnapping my aunts?” I ask.
“Yes, and now he probably has your mother too.”
The blood drains from my face and then a wail escapes my lips.