***
I spend the rest of the night organizing my school supplies. I pick out a plain outfit in an attempt to fit in, as if they won’t realize we are the new kids. Small towns like this have lifers. Most of the kids we will go to school with will have known one another since birth. My biggest concern is Danika. We have been easing her out around town all week, and she has done well. I just have a bad feeling about her—a worrisome feeling the others don’t seem to sense. Maybe it is the pessimistic side of me emerging yet again. Either way, I hope we do not draw too much attention. I don’t like getting close to people because of what happened to Caspian. I guess I should just relax and see what the day brings. In the sitting area of my room, that is exactly what I do. I pick up a book on Wenham history. Page after page, I learn more about the town history. This was the first town to break off from Salem in 1643. The first settlers of the area were Agawam Indians, and they later sold the land, though a few Agawam decedents still hold a presence in a nearby tribe. It is rumored that they are indebted to the land and still protect the area and the inhabitants. The next section discusses Wenham citizen Sara Good. During the Salem witch trials of 1692, Sara was hanged for being a witch. I think Constance will be intrigued by this story because of her brush with similar witch trials back in the day. I dog-ear the page; I will share it with her later. There was also a deadly outbreak of small pox in 1776, causing all the town children to be homeschooled. I always love learning about the towns we move to. The last time I was here, I learned very little, so I am glad to have this book. I rest it on my table to read more later. My brain is in historical overload, but I hope to have time to learn more before we are forced to move again... Oh how I hope we get to stay longer this time.
Chapter Three
Caspian
Writing in my journal, I start reflecting on the past thirty years without my family.
Flipping through the leather-bound pages, I see notes–remembrances and reminders of every encounter I have had trying to protect them. I believe they are unaware of my presence or the presence of danger that surrounds them, hunting them. I miss having meaningful relationships, but I must atone for my mistakes, and this is the best way I know how. My heart still breaks for what I did to Ashley and for what her loss must have done to my family. Regret fills me for leaving them to deal with the aftermath of my actions.
I begin scribing my newest journal entry.
August 26th
They are moving again, back to where it all began. They are not aware of the dangers that lie ahead. I will be busy, and only being able to go out at night makes my job more difficult. In times like this, I wish I had not returned my ring. After coming to terms with Ashley’s death, I found them, and now I continue to follow the family I once called my own.
Sophia is extremely observant, and I have had many narrow escapes when it comes to her seeing me. The pain she has suffered on my account hurts me to no end. I hope she will one day learn to let go and find love. Her distrust of the new girl (I believe they call her Danika) is well founded though. This one will cause trouble for the family, just as Sophia suspects. Her new scent is drawing the evil closer, and now that they have returned to Wenham, it is closer than ever before.
Today I watched them move in to the place up the hill. This house is a good choice; they have chosen well. It is a secluded place, slightly out of sight and surrounded by a thick forest. But as much as this is good for them, it can also be a detriment. If others cannot see them, they cannot see others, including this evil thing I am hunting. Sitting in the tall trees today, I was lucky enough to catch a glimpse of Sophia and Matilda in the garden, thanks to the extreme coverage in the forest, and the overcast. I also saw Danika watching them from her room. Her need for acceptance and belonging is what worries me. It makes her an easy target. I will need to keep a close eye on her for a while...and whatever may come for her.
Tonight I will scout the area and re-familiarize myself with the town. And I simply must find something to eat.
I close my journal and tuck it away in a safe place, and I prepare for the night ahead.
Chapter Four
New Beginnings
Today is our first day of school at Wenham High, complete with new books and school supplies and the same old façade. I step out the front door of our home, reluctant to embark on this new adventure. I take in the beauty of the land we have purchased, the deep green hues of the grass and many trees; it is so beautiful I can taste it, like a fresh, ripe melon. The sun is beginning to rise, turning the sky beautiful shades of pink and lavender. Watching as Alexander pulls out of the garage in his pearl-white Cadillac Escalade, I grab my bag that’s resting on the porch swing. Matilda and Danika are already in the vehicle, and he stops at the front steps to let me in.
As we drive through town, I see a sign: WELCOME TO WENHAM, MASSACHUSETTS
POPULATION 4615. The streets are busy with parents bringing their children to the first day of school and older students stopping to pick up friends on their way. I enjoy the chance to make these observations, for over the years, people’s mannerisms have changed drastically. What better way is there to blend in than copying the traits of those I watch?
I turn my attention to my new ‘little sister’ to get a feel for her state of mind. She appears excited; with an ear to ear grin she twirls the straps of her knapsack around her fingers. She looks about ready to pop right out of her seat. “Are you sure you are ready for this?” I ask.
“Seriously, Sophia, it has been a year already. Aren’t you ever going to trust me?”
Her snarky tone drives me batty. “I am ready to start the day, to be a high school student. Please do not ruin this experience for me.”
“Fair enough. You should enjoy high school, and I will give you the benefit of the doubt. Just don’t screw this up for all of us.” At least I will have Alexander and Matilda to help keep her in line.
Stepping out of the car I instantly feel hundreds of eyes on us, and I try to ignore the whispers in case of any judgmental remarks about the new family in town. On the contrary, my siblings appear to be enjoying the attention. I am happy being slightly more obscure. I follow my siblings through the school grounds. I will not let all the prying eyes bother me, for I am only here to support Danika and ensure the safety of those around her. People are too trusting these days and should be more aware for their own protection.
We take our time walking to the main office. The school building is picturesque. It looks to be about a century old, made of rustic brick, with a large staircase leads to the front doors. There is well-developed greenery, some kind of ivy, climbing the walls and framing the windows. So much detail, I think to myself. They don’t make buildings like this anymore.
A charming smile beams across my brother’s face, and his brown eyes sparkle in the morning light. “Well, kids. Are we ready for this?”
Matilda gives a slight wink of her ocean blue eyes. “Back to the land of the living.”
“Let's just get this over with. I hate not knowing what will happen. I hope people will just stay away from me. Why do we even bother?” I grumble.
“You know why, Sophia. It’s because of me, though frankly, I don’t give a—”
“Danika! I will not tolerate you speaking like that. You will act like civilized human being. As for you, Sophia, if you are not careful with your negative talk, you will be the one that causes Danika to fail. We must keep her calm.” Matilda’s ocean blue eyes grow darker with her anger.
She is right; it is time for me to lighten up a little bit.
“Come on, Sophia. Try to enjoy yourself, maybe even make a friend or two.”
Matilda encourages in a calmer voice than a moment ago.
“Who in their right mind would...?” I stop myself without finishing my sentence.
Alexander is mad this time. “Try to be a little more positive and support Danika.”
“I’m sorry. I will try not to be so skeptical and miserable.”
>
***
Walking into the building I notice the walls are a pale yellow and lined with blue lockers. To my left is the library, framed with glass walls, as if to invite people in. Inside it are many cubicles and rows of student iMac computers. I am sure I have read most of the books on those shelves, but I look forward to finding the ones I have yet to read. To my right is the main office. It is very bright, with white walls and large windows so they can observe the happenings outside. Everyone’s going about their business. A middle-aged man heading over to the wall covered by small mail slots, one for each staff member or school group; he retrieves his memos for the day. A chest-high counter separates the room on one side from chairs on the other to create a waiting room, of sorts. In the work area, there are several cubicles and four larger offices, I assume for the higher officials of the school. The engraved nameplate on the front counter says Ms.
Jennifer Hunt.
A nice-looking woman with a warm, welcoming smile greets us. Her strait blonde hair and blue eyes put Matilda to shame. “You must be the Pierce family. Welcome to Wenham High!”
At that exact moment, everyone in the office stops what they are doing to catch a glimpse.
“It is not very often that a new family moves to town. Most families have been here for generations,” she adds.
Alexander smiles back. “Thank you. My name is Alexander, and these are my sisters, Mati, Sophia, and Danika.”
As she hands us our class schedules, locker assignments, and school maps, Ms. Hunt smiles again and says, “I trust you will enjoy our little town.”
“Thank you,” we say as we exit the office.
We stand in the hallway outside the office as the students begin to file in for their first class.
Alexander passes our schedules and information out while announcing everyone’s first class. “Mati, you have chemistry. I only ask that you do not blow up the school on our first day. Sophia, you get to enjoy history. That should be easy enough for you.”
“Ha ha. Very funny,” I say with a hint of sarcasm, still slightly bitter that I have to be here at all.
“Well, Danika and I have English in our respective grades. We can meet at lunch in the cafeteria. Enjoy your day, girls,” he snickers.
We part ways and began to look for our locker assignments and classrooms.
Alexander helps Danika find her way. This allows him a chance to check up on her without the tension between Danika and me.
I have my head buried in the school map, trying to keep a low profile and avoid the curious whispers around me as I search for my classroom. I really just wish they would pay no attention to me. I must keep my cool and avoid bringing attention to myself.
Suddenly, I managed to embarrass myself. When I bump into him, my books fly out of my hands. Although I could catch them, I allow them to hit the ground. I need to remember that not everyone has super reflexes, and I want to appear normal. That is when I hear it for the first time: the most beautiful, friendly voice I have ever heard. I don’t understand how or why, but his voice changes my mood from the very first syllable he speaks.
“I am so sorry! Are you alright?” the enchanting voice asks, already beginning to retrieve my books off the floor like a true gentleman.
Never have I been so distracted before. As he kneels beside me, I catch a whiff of him. He has the most incredible scent, so perfect I can taste it. He is like a perfectly aged wine, sweet and robust. He is like nothing I have ever smelled before – simply intoxicating. Maybe Danika is not my biggest concern. I want him more than anything I have ever desired before. I should worry about myself for a while. Will I be able to resist this incredible man? It is almost as though he is perfect for me. It has been years since I have been so tempted, and now with hundreds of eyes burning into me, I am tempted once again. I want to run, to scream, but I can’t. What can I possibly do? A long time ago, I made a vow–a pledge to never again follow through with such a temptation. I must remain true and strong, but...but I am so unsure of my ability to do so. He is like a bright candy apple at the state fair. I know I shouldn’t, but it is so hard to resist. How long can I resist a temptation such as this? I take a slow, deep breath–as my heart beats a little faster, but I want to, just so I can intake his amazing scent and enjoy the mouth-watering moment a little longer.
Then I look up. “I am. Thank you, although it was my fault for not paying attention.
Please accept my apology. Are you okay?”
“Don’t worry about me. Name’s Nathanial McCord, but everyone calls me Nate.”
As I look up at him holding my books that he’s gathered, I realize he is magnificent.
This young man is the most amazing creature I have ever come across. He offers his hand to help me off my knees and brushes his finger through his creamy chocolate-brown hair. Each strand falls back in place and reminds me of an expensive French truffle. His eyes are the most beautiful sapphire eyes I have ever seen. I am completely enamored by him, rendered speechless. This tall, athletic, perfectly muscled wonder with beautiful broad shoulders stands in front of me with a puzzled look upon his face.
“Are you sure you are alright? You look slightly out of it. Did you hit your head?”
This is not good. I attempt to talk myself down, but there is so much adrenaline running though me. Okay, Sophia, just get this over with and move on to class. Forget about him, this could be real trouble. You have worked too hard to throw it all away now. “Yeah, sorry. Just a lot on my mind. I guess I better get to class.” Mind your manners and don’t be rude, I scold myself. “You said your name is Nate? I’m Sophia Pierce. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“And you as well, Sophia. I can see by your schedule we have first-period history together. May I show you the way? You know...for the protection of the other students?” he jokes while already leading the way with my books still in hand.
His joke relaxes me just enough to smile and follow him to class. “Thanks...and very funny, by the way.”
Chapter Five
The Struggle
“This is our class.” He hands me my books and introduces me to the teacher before taking his seat.
“Welcome to Wenham, Ms. Pierce,” Mr. Wilson, a short, proud, middle-aged man says. “Okay, everyone. Take your seats.”
“Thank you,” I mumble as I proceed to the only open seat left, beside Nathanial, and politely smile at him. I notice him shooing away anyone else who tried to take the seat next to him.
I can’t believe I will have to sit next to him for the entire year. My feelings toward the boy are so conflicting. I want to be near him, but for all the wrong reasons, which makes me want to stay as far away from him as possible. I guess the choice is out of my hands now. He smells so good–deliciously appealing. I will have to figure this out before the inevitable happens and I can no longer resist the temptation.
He smiles back. “This is great, and now we can get to know each other better.”
“Yeah, great. You are the first person I have met, aside from Ms. Hunt.” I try hard to sound entirely sarcastic, but fate is working against me. I am just going to have to remain calm and remove these thoughts from my head. I will have to ignore his incredible scent, how he appeals to my every desire. I am so confused, wanting to know him and wanting him to know me, the real me. How is he making me feel this way? I have always been so good at keeping my distance. I have worked very hard to maintain the life I live, and I cannot throw it away over one silly boy! I think to myself. I need to stay away from him and keep my distance before I go down faster than the Titanic and take my family with me.
Mr. Wilson stands in front of the class to address us. “Welcome back, everyone. It is nice to see all of you again, along with a new face who’s moved to our town. Sophia, can you tell us a little something about yourself? We have all known one another for years now, and it is a pleasure to have someone new in our midst.”
I feel twenty-five pairs of eyes staring at me, awaiting my response.
“Um, okay. My name is Sophia Pierce, and my family and I just moved here from British Columbia, Canada. I live with my parents, three siblings, and my aunt and uncle. I enjoy leaning about the history of the towns we move to, and...um, well, I guess that’s about it.” In the background I hear some of the girls whispering about Nathanial’s attentive demeanor toward me. From the information I can collect, Nathanial is well liked, popular, and the object of many girls’ affections, though he never seems to return the affection. He is more concerned about getting good grades, football, and the scholarship he is hoping to land to help pay for college. From the whispers I caught they can’t help but wonder, what makes the new girl so special?
“Thank you, Sophia. Now, class, let’s watch a short film on Stalin, a prominent figure in Soviet history. He ranks as one of the world’s worst dictators.”
Mr. Wilson starts the movie, grabs his coffee mug, and exits the room. Most of the class visits quietly, talking about their summers, but my thoughts were elsewhere.
I have never met anyone so kind before. He so helpful and polite. Nathanial McCord is a true gentleman and a pleasure to be around. I glace over at his notebook as the movie is playing. He is taking detailed notes, thorough and neat. I can tell he is a good student and eager to help me, the fragile new girl in town. (That’s funny. “Fragile” is possibly the worst adjective to describe anyone in my family.) Nathanial notices me reading his notes. “So how long has your family been in town?”
I can’t distance myself from him when I get lost in those amazing sapphire eyes. The best I can do is to try to keep my answers basic, while I contemplate the best way to resist him. “We got here last week.”
“Have you been able to check out the town? We have some great history here.”