Chapter 19
I suppose I should have tried out for track after all.
At first I ran without direction, just going as fast as my feet would carry me down the road. After a minute it became clear that Thorn, despite her advisory position to runners, was not much of a runner herself. At least, she couldn’t keep up with me. I heard her yell to the man puffing behind her to go back and bring their car around. She continued after me, but the moment the road turned and I was out of sight I veered off into the woods, clutching the small squirrel in one arm like a football.
My mind raced.
What. The. Hell?! I leaped over a series of downed trees and felt myself getting really, really pissed.
Why would a high school coach bust in my door and attack my mother and I? Nerves started to take over. What should I do? Where should I go? I thought of Rose, but I hadn’t been to her house yet and without my phone I wasn’t sure how to find it. I knew I couldn’t go to Rowan’s house, either. Not after Coach Thorn rambling about Sullivan.
I felt frustrated, bewildered and betrayed. I took out some of my angst on a boulder, leaping up and pushing off of it with a flying kick as I continued running. Who were those guys? Our skills had been practically useless against them.
My mind returned to Rowan. I trusted him. He’d been nothing but a friend to me since I got here. Hoping I was making the right decision, I ran through the woods for over an hour, crossing several roads when no cars were near and sneaking through backyards until I came to the outskirts of Bennington. I grabbed a huge worn navy blue hoodie off of someone’s clothesline and threw it on, stuffing the squirrel inside. I pulled the hood down over my eyes and hunched my shoulders, trying to shrink into myself as I tried to keep to the midday shadows of buildings. Every time I saw an SUV I’d duck into a store and wait for it to pass. Finally, after what felt like another hour, I made it to the back entrance of Gio’s.
The kitchen was hopping with Saturday lunch orders, the fragrant sweetness of fresh marinara sauce wafting out the screen door. I hadn’t realized how hungry I was, but running eight miles through the woods could do that to a girl.
I took a deep breath. Now or never, I thought. I opened the door to the kitchen.
“Hey, you can’t be in here!” The cook yelled at me and gestured at the front window with his knife. “Use the front door like everybody else.”
“Sorry, I’m here to see Rowan. Can you tell him, please? I’ll wait out back. Thanks.”
I ducked out back and stood behind the dumpster so no one walking by the alley would be able to see me. Inside, I heard the guy with the knife yell “Rowan, get your teen-aged Romeo butt back here.”
“Romeo butt, really, Franco? Come on. What’s up?”
“There’s a girl out back says she needs to speak to you. Go on, Sal will cover for you, but this counts as your break.”
“A girl? Who?”
“Didn’t say.”
The screen door opened and Rowan peered out.
“Rowan!” I emerged from my hiding spot and propelled myself into his arms. The full horror of what had just happened crashed down on me, and I sobbed as his arms came around me. The squirrel squeaked in protest between us and I leaned back.
“Siri! What’s wrong?” His eyes roamed over me, looking to see if I was hurt. They widened when he saw the squirrel peeking its head out of the sweatshirt. “What happened?”
Swiping a hand across my eyes to clear away the stray tears, I wasn’t sure where to start.
“Coach Thorn. She came to my house with these three guys. They broke down the door and attacked us. I got away, but they have my mom and I don’t know why.”
Rowan chewed on his lip. “How did you get here?”
“I ran. My mom told me to run and I did and I left her. I just left her there, Rowan.”
“Hey, I know you’re a ninja and everything, but if your mom couldn’t take them, what chance would you have? I mean, three guys? Come on, you had to run.”
“Well, what now? I don’t know what to do.”
A black car rolled by slowly, and Rowan pushed me into the shadows behind the dumpster again.
“Listen to me. I have an idea of where we can go for help. But you can’t stay here. It’s not safe. And we can’t go there until tomorrow. I’ll have to take you to my house to get some things, and put you somewhere safe for the night. Do you trust me?”
“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t. But Rowan, Coach Thorn said something about your dad. Do you know what is going on?”
“Maybe. I’m not sure. We shouldn’t talk here.” He looked around the alley like people were about to materialize out of the walls. “I’m going to get my truck and pull up to the alley. When you see me, come out and get in as fast as you can, and stay out of sight. Okay?”
He leaned down and brushed his lips against mine softly. Filled with nerves, I nodded back at him.
“Okay.”
He went back into the kitchen and I could hear him arguing with Franco about how something had come up and he’d work a double shift next week to make up for it. I assumed he’d left when I heard some pots clattering in the sink and a string of Italian curses lit the air.
I shrank down further next to the wall. The squirrel scolded me, pawing at my chin to get my attention. I looked down and he launched into a whole tirade of squirrel speak.
“I know. It’s a risk. But I’m all out of ideas, little guy. Now pipe down.” I gently pushed him back down inside the hoodie. A moment later I heard the familiar rumble of Rowan’s truck and sprinted down the pavement to hop in.
I ducked down right away, laying my head on Rowan’s leg. The smell of pizza filled the air, and I could see a couple small takeout boxes on the ground. Thank god, I was starving. Rowan reached over me and put a protective hand on my side. I sighed and closed my eyes. Even if it was just for a moment, I felt safe.
Ten minutes later, he switched the engine off.
“We’re here.”
I started to get up but he pushed me back down.
“We’re at my house, we just need to get some things. No one else seems to be here, but let me just check first.”
He grabbed the pizza, got out and slammed the truck door. I winced as the sound rattled my ears. A moment later I felt a breeze on my bare legs as he opened my door.
“All clear, come on.” He held out a hand and helped me out of the truck.
The house was cold and dark inside.
“Go upstairs to the first door on the right. That’s my room. Close the door and wait for me, have some of these if you want.” He handed me the pizza boxes. “I’m just going to grab some supplies from the kitchen. You want a soda?”
I nodded. He waited until I started heading up the stairs before he jogged off down the hall. At the top of the stairs I pushed open the door to his room and looked around. I could feel Rowan’s energy in here, but nothing really screamed ‘this is Rowan’s room.’ There were his favorite sneakers next to the closet, and his book bag on the floor next to a small dark walnut desk with a gleaming black laptop taking up most of the surface. The walls were a cool navy blue with white trim, and all the furniture was dark, heavy wood. The comforter set on the bed was blue and white pinstripes with navy pillows with thick white edging. It looked more like a guest room than the room of a fun-loving teenage boy.
I quietly closed the door behind me and moved to sit on the bed. The fabric was as cool as it looked, chilling my legs below my shorts. I put the boxes down on the bed and dove in, eating like I hadn’t seen food for days. Mmm. Pizza was so good for the soul. The little squirrel crawled out from my shirt and scampered down my sleeve to curl up next to me.
“Hey there, little fellow.” I smiled down at him.
Rowan silently stole back into the room and handed me a can of soda. Next he went to his closet, pulling out a large pack. He threw in some food and cans of soda. He went back in his closet and grabbed a fleece blanket, stuffing that in there, too.
A door
creaked downstairs and we heard footsteps echo through the quiet house.
“I don’t know how it happened. Yes, yes, I told them they were trained. Thorn was supposed to bring our best men.” Rowan’s father snorted. A pause.
“Yes, I know…Look, don’t worry about it. I’m sure we’ll find her, we’ve got everyone out looking for her.”
I locked eyes with Rowan, cocking my head in silent question. Did you know about this? I tried to put the question in my eyes.
He shook his head frantically and shrugged. Okay, so he was clueless, too. I couldn’t decide if that would end up being a good or a bad thing. Obviously, it was good because it meant he wasn’t an evil jerk. Bad, because it meant we knew less about what was going on.
“No, I already sent her mother to Mikael, they should begin processing tomorrow…Yes, alright. I’ll check in when I have more news… Yes, sir, I promise, sir. We won’t lose her again.”
Footsteps started up the hall steps, and Rowan gestured for me to hide in the closet. I quickly scooped up the squirrel and slid into the closet. He shut the door most of the way behind me, along with the backpack. Through the crack he’d left open, I saw him sit on the bed and start eating the slice of pizza I’d left behind.
There were two quick raps on the door. Sullivan didn’t wait for Rowan to answer, he just barged right in.
“Have you seen that girl today?”
“What girl?” Rowan asked cluelessly and stuffed more pizza in his mouth.
“That girl from last night, Siri, I think her name was? Your mother says she left her scarf in the library. Why don’t you call her and see if she can come get it?”
“I can give it to her Monday, I’ll see her at school.”
I couldn’t see Sullivan, but I could just imagine how he tensed up at Rowan’s lackadaisical attitude. “Your mother,” he ground out, “would like you to call her now. She is worried about Siri catching a cold.”
“Okay, sure. Um, right now?” A short pause. Sullivan was probably burning laser holes in him now with his eyes. “Okay, okay. Geez.”
He picked up the phone and dialed. Another pause. “No answer. Just a busy signal, weird. I’ll send her a text, okay?”
“Fine. Thank you, Rowan. Let me know when you hear from her.” Footsteps retreated to the hall and down the stairs. “Oh, and Rowan, next time eat that pizza downstairs. You know the rules,” he called back up the stairs.
The front door slammed. Minutes later a car revved and peeled out the driveway.
I peeked out of the closet. Rowan was sitting on the bed with his head in his hands. I exhaled. Safe, again. Padding over to him, I laid a hand on his shoulder.
“Thank you, Rowan.”
“Oh, Siri, I wouldn’t thank me yet.” He laughed and raised his head out of his hands. My stomach knotted up, fearful of what that could mean. Was he going to turn me in after all?
“What do you mean?”
“This is all my fault!” He stood up and kicked his book bag. “I told my mom who you are.”
“But…what does that even mean?” My mind raced. He didn’t know I was fae. So what could he be talking about?
“Come on, Siri, I know you are fae.” He turned to face me. “Did you really think I wouldn’t know? I told my mom the day we went to the falls, I told her how every time I touched you I felt a tug. All fae feel it when they are around another fae that could be a possible mate. The stronger the pull, the more compatible you are. I was so excited to meet another faeling. I mean, I’ve met other fae girls, but none that affected me like you. Didn’t you feel it?”
I just stared at him, dumbfounded. Another fae? Rowan was fae and I hadn’t known. Had my mom known?
“Look, my mother must have told my dad, even though I asked her not to. Coach Thorn, she works for the same group as my dad. You heard him, they’re in on this together. This is all my fault. My dad is a jerk, I always knew it, but I never thought he would involve a girl in his work.”
“Rowan, what are you talking about? What work?”
“Look, we’ve wasted too much time already. I have to get you out of here before he comes back. Get the backpack, and let’s go. I have somewhere safer for us to talk.”
He closed up the pizza boxes, scooped them up and made his way down a narrow staircase that led out to the back of the house.
I followed him, fuming. I wanted to know what was going on. Now. I was seriously starting to doubt the wisdom of trusting Rowan with anything, especially my safety. I resolved to hear him out and give him a fighting chance before I kicked the life out of him.
The backyard was perfectly manicured with beautiful gardens and rock walls. Clearly his mother had a green thumb. Which, I supposed, was no surprise if she was fae. I followed him into the woods, treading a small deer path through between the bushes and trees.
They’re dark fae, a small voice whispered in my head. I stumbled at the thought.
No. They couldn’t be. That would mean…no. There was no way Rowan could be dark fae. He was good. He was sweet. He just couldn’t be.
Rowan stopped and I crashed into the solid wall of his back. Even in my annoyed state, I noticed he smelled divine.
I peered around him to see why we’d stopped. A huge tree stood before us, wide 2 x 4s nailed into its trunk to create a ladder. About twenty feet above us the treads disappeared into the canopy of leaves, obscuring whatever was up there.
“What is this place?”
“This,” Rowan beamed, “is my top secret hide out. Well, mine and Coop’s. Normally it’s no girls allowed, but I think tonight we can make an exception.”
He took the backpack from me and started climbing up the tree. I grinned and followed.
“Did you guys build this yourselves?”
“Yeah, about five years ago. Our mom’s helped us get all the wood and supplies, and we put it together.”
“Are you sure it’s safe?”
“My parents never come out here, I’m not sure they even remember it’s here.”
“That’s not quite what I meant,” I laughed. I thought of a twelve year old Cooper handling a hammer, and was not reassured.
“Don’t worry.” He sounded offended. “It’s sound. I still come up here all the time, and I shore it up every spring. It’s one of my favorite places to come and think. Cooper doesn’t come here anymore, either.”
Rowan disappeared through the leaves. Following him, it felt like I was creeping into a huge green cocoon of happiness. The light filtered softly through the canopy, tinting everything jade. Pollen sparkled in little streams of sunshine cutting between the leaves.
I heard a hollow thud above, and saw Rowan crawling through a large hole in the floor of the hideout. I peered closely at the weathered planks, noting that there didn’t appear to be any water damage. Well, that was a plus.
Not expecting much, I pulled myself up into the space and gazed around in wonder. This was everything that Rowan’s room at home was not. Four stacked milk crates in the corner were stuffed haphazardly with old paperbacks and comic books. An antique glass kerosene lamp and several candles in jars sat on a small table by the window. The space was bigger than I would have expected, the size of a small bedroom with a low peaked ceiling. The wooden walls were decorated with faded drawings signed in young boy’s hands, and more recent pen and ink sketches of superheroes and monsters. A camping bedroll was laid out along one side, with colorful pillows lined up along the wall.
Glass windows covered with blue, green, yellow and red cellophane cast a mellow rainbow aura of light over the room, the dimmed light making it seem later than it really was. Rowan’s back was to me as he lit a couple of candles and the lamp.
“This is amazing.” He turned around and smiled shyly at me when I spoke. “I always wanted a tree house.” I trailed my fingers over a crude drawing of a gnome eating a flower, signed Rowan, age 12.
“Yeah, this is kind of my home away from home. Sometimes I tell my parents I’m working, but real
ly I’m up here.”
I sat on the bedroll and he moved to settle next to me, threading his fingers through mine. I leaned back against the wall and rested my head on his shoulder.
“So,” I dragged out the word. “Now what. Are you going to keep me here forever, your princess in a castle?”
I felt him shake his head in denial. “It’s tempting. Honestly, I’m not sure what is going on, but I know someone we can go see who we can trust. She’ll know what we need to do.”
“Another fae?”
“No, she’s human. Vala’s house is on neutral ground, it’s located on old holy ground, no one can fight there. She’s a Druid priestess and seer. I think she’ll be able to help you.”
“Rowan, who does your dad work for? What do they want with me and my mom?”
Rowan leaned forward, drawing his legs up and clasping his arms around his knees. He swallowed.
“You know, you’re the first fae I’ve ever met who wasn’t introduced to me through family.”
He paused and I waited, sensing he was having a hard time knowing where to start.
“My father works directly with the council of Shades. To the rest of the world, he’s just a businessman, but for the Shades, he’s one of the main forces behind financing all their operations. He has businesses all over the world. We live out here in the sticks so that we can be near Vala, she helps my dad sometimes, giving him insight for investments.”
“Wow, talk about insider trading. Look, I just learned about all this fae stuff recently. You probably knew I was fae before I did. You’re going to have to explain everything to me from the beginning. What’s a Shade Council?”
He just stared at me.
“What?”
“Siri, it’s not A Shade Council. It’s THE Shade Council. My mom and dad are Shades.”
“So?”
“Shades, Siri. It’s what the Dark fae call themselves. Because there is no true dark, only shades of gray. Didn’t your mom tell you any of this?”
My stomach plummeted. I swear, it dropped clear through the treehouse to the forest floor below. I realized he was still looking at me, waiting for an answer.
“A little. She told me the Dark use humans to gain more power and fight the Light in Valhalla. But, then…does that mean you are Dark?”
“No.” He gripped my upper arms, his fingers digging in a little too hard. “Not officially. I haven’t Chosen yet. My father, of course, he wants me to work with him. But I have until I am eighteen to decide. Just like you, just like all faelings.”
“Rowan,” I peeled his hands off my arms gently and took his hands in mine. “You know I am a Light fae, right?”
“No, you’re not. Not yet. Not until you are eighteen, remember. All fae choose when they turn eighteen, in the binding ceremony. There is good on both sides, I swear. I mean, look at me. Look at Holly. We’re not bad people, Siri. But yeah. I sort of figured your mom must be Light after the whole ‘let’s attack Siri’s family’ thing going on. Honestly, I thought it was weird when my dad wasn’t friendlier to you last night, but I figured it was just because he has his mind set on me marrying Emelie eventually. He’s convinced it would get him a position with the Council.”
“Wait, Emelie is fae, too?” Blech. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind that she was Dark, too.
“Yeah, her mother attends the Morrigan, the leader of the council, and Coop’s dad works with mine, too. We are all Shades. Still, it shouldn’t have mattered if your parents are Light or Dark, faelings are supposed to be granted safe passage at all times by both sides, since we are considered neutral until our binding ceremony.”
I couldn’t wrap my head around it all. My boyfriend was on the wrong side. But I knew him. I think I maybe loved him. He didn’t have an evil bone in his body.
I stared at him, trying to see into him, through him, to see if I could really trust him.
“Look, we’ll go to Vala’s tomorrow,” Rowan continued. “I’ll text her tonight and let her know we are coming. She is bound by oath not to take sides, and she will keep everything confidential when we are there. We’ll be safe, and I am sure she’ll be able to help us. Okay? I swear, I will protect you from whatever is going on. I am not like my father. You’re the first light fae I have ever met. I never really thought Shades were bad, most of them are pretty nice, actually, just regular people from what I can tell, but now that I know you…Siri, you make me feel so different, so free. Your mother, too. I was taught that the Light are all zealots who want to hide away underground and leave the Earth to rot in the hands of the humans, but I can see that’s not true. If all the Light are like you and your mother, then I’m going to choose Light.”
He beamed down at me like a small boy, filled with hope. I hated to burst his bubble.
“What if they aren’t?” I demanded. “Or what if your father won’t let you?”
Rowan’s smile faltered. “I don’t know.” Then he straightened with determination. “I graduate this year. I’ll go to Trinity in Ireland and while I’m there I can travel to see the other fae communities. Come with me. We can find out the truth. We can make our own decisions.”
“Ireland?”
“Ireland.” He grinned at me.
“Ok, assuming we can find my mom, and I survive the next few days, Ireland. It’s a plan. If this Vala person can’t help me, I’ll have to find my Grandmother who lives over there, anyway.”
“Yes!” He fist pumped the air, and we both cracked up. Then he swept me over onto his lap and we sealed the deal with a kiss. Or a few hundred of them. Give or take.
Eventually, he had to go. The plan was he’d check in at my apartment, pretending he was sent by his dad, and grab some more clothes for me, plus my wallet and passport. The last was just a precaution in case I actually had to go see my grandmother, which I was really hoping it wouldn’t come to.
He left me with a promise to return in the morning after his parents had left for church. Did they go to a fae church? I wondered. Maybe ‘church’ was code for some nefarious Dark community hall? I shuddered and huddled up with the ancient worn comforter on the bedroll. The squirrel was sleeping by the window, having eased out of my sweatshirt when Rowan was kissing me. Feeling totally wrecked, I decided to do the same.