“I knew you’d call me,” he yelled over the noise. “Can I come over?”
“Are you kidding me? No!” I scoffed.
“Can I come over tomorrow?”
“NO! I don’t want to see you. The only reason I returned your call is to tell you that I want you to stop calling and texting me. It’s over. I don’t know how to make that any clearer. I’ve practically spelt it out for you.”
“Isis…” The music sounded softer now, like he had moved away from the party. “I’m not happy. I feel like everyone’s abandoned me, including you. Sometimes, I just want to…”
There was a long pause.
“You want to what?” My chest felt congested and heavy. I started feeling compassion for him. For three years he had been my best friend. I couldn’t leave him alone at his lowest. It just didn’t feel right to me.
“Never mind. I’ll talk to you later. I can’t hear you. They’re yelling your name,” he raised his voice.
I separated the phone from my ear and looked at it. I couldn’t hear anyone besides him screaming on the line. “Who’s yelling?” I asked confused.
“Bye, Isis.”
“Wait! Who’s…” I stopped talking when I heard the dial tone.
I felt bad for Gabriel. I knew what it was like to feel alone and have no one understand you. I went through that when my dad died. I couldn’t talk to Claire because she was devastated and none of my friends understood what it was like to lose a parent. My dad took a large part of my heart with him. These were different circumstances, however, and I sincerely hoped Gabriel sought out the help he needed as far as the drug abuse was concerned.
Journal Entry 11, 10:17 P.M.
There I lay, deteriorating by the fault of my own hand. My ill will to listen with virtue placed me in that tomb.
The irony of life is to realize that you live only to die. Life is a gift that only the ones that have come to face the direst of situations may understand. Whether you live with honor, glory, or disgrace, Death will come without warning. She arrives at the hour that best suits her—wearing no cloak, carrying no weapon. She steals the breath and interrupts the beating of the pulse without prejudice.
Today, I am alive, by the grace of God and the gods themselves, for they had within their reach the power to negate her.
* * *
The rest of the week was utterly amazing. Gabriel stopped calling, and David and I couldn’t be happier.
“Tomorrow is Saturday,” David smiled. “You must be eager to see your friends.”
“Yes, I’m really excited,” I smiled as we walked through the hallway on our way to the cafeteria. “I hope you like them.”
“I am positive that I will,” he grinned. “I have something to ask of you. It concerns next week.”
“What is it?” I stopped in the middle of the hallway to listen.
“My father will be visiting and I’d like you to meet him. He will be in town only for a pair of days. Do you think you can spare Monday afternoon to make his acquaintance?”
“Of course,” I smiled.
I felt like our relationship was reaching another level of seriousness. It didn’t feel wrong or rushed. I felt like everything was happening at the right time. My worry about the dilemma with the Doctrinal Laws was still alive, however. I was afraid that his father would have a problem accepting our relationship.
“Does your father approve of us?” I bit my lip hoping to hear a positive response.
“That’s something I wanted to mention.” David folded his arms over my shoulders from behind me and started walking. “He’s not aware that we are involved.”
“What?” I gasped and turned to view him. “He’s going to kill you.”
“He shall do no such thing. I have my family’s support. He will listen to reason,” He promised.
“Okay,” I said with a note of distress.
School let out early for the Spring Festival Parade where the Miss Spring contenders would be parading before the actual pageant and carnival took place. None of us would be attending the parade.
Andy, Bill, David, and I decided to go to the movies, while the twins bailed on Bill and went home. They weren’t moviegoers, I supposed.
I noticed David more relieved when his brothers weren’t around. I believe it was because Galen—though he had lowered his guard—was still a bit uneasy over the fact that David and I were dating. I didn’t like being babysat either.
We watched a corny teen romance movie with which I fell so much in love. Andy thought it was great too. Bill fell asleep during the film. David said it lacked poetic intelligence and passion, but that overall it was okay.
After the movie we ate a light snack at the food court. While we were seated, Bill called Patrick to make plans for the next day. Andy stole the phone away from Bill to speak to Krystle. Andy wanted the “4-1-1” on Krystle and Patrick.
“It’s official then? You’re together?” Andy spoke into the phone. “I knew you liked him! Poor guy you tortured him for almost three years!” Andy laughed.
Bill sighed and gave Andy an impatient look.
“I gotta go, Krystle. Bill is giving me ‘the look’. See you tomorrow.” She handed Bill his phone.
“Geez, woman!” Bill said putting his phone in his pocket. “You’re eating up my minutes with your gossip.”
“Whatever, stingy,” Andy rolled her eyes.
The Toyota was parked in the driveway when David and I reached my house. I invited him in but he said he had some things to do before he was free for the weekend. It was always related to Somnium, so I didn’t bother to ask.
I had asked once how he accomplished to do that and be here at the same time. He compared it to multitasking. He said it was like running several programs at the same time. I would probably never understand that.
Claire was seated in the living room staring blankly at the television.
“Hi, Mom,” I said hugging her and kissing her cheek. “How’d your day go?”
“Fine.” Her face was deep in thought.
“You okay?” I tensed up. I hoped she didn’t go into autopilot again. I hated seeing her depressed.
She reached over, taking the T.V. remote and turning the television off. “Sit down.” She patted the sofa.
“I went to visit my doctor today.”
“Are you sick?” I had a sudden rush of panic.
“No, I’m in tip top shape, but we did have a talk.” She pressed her lips.
“About what?”
“You.”
“But I’m not sick,” I said puzzled.
My mom reached for her purse and pulled out a case that looked like a cosmetic compact. She opened it. Inside was a circle of pink little balls with numbers on them.
“Mother, are those what I think they are?” I maintained my calm.
Claire nodded. “I asked her for some pills for you to consider taking, Isis.”
“What?” I mumbled between my teeth. “I can’t believe you did that! We’ve talked about this, Mom. Why do you insist on this topic?” I stood from the couch and kicked the recliner. “For the love of Pete!”
“I said consider it. I’m not obligating you to take them. I just want you to be ready when that time comes, honey. Please don’t think I don’t trust you. I’m trying to protect you. I know how personal a topic this is to be discussing with your mother. I had to live through it with mine. I’m every bit as uncomfortable as you are.”
She walked over to me and handed me the compact.
“Keep it. Use it if and when you’re ready and I will never ask you if you do or don’t take them.”
She searched through her purse and pulled out a business card.
“You can make an appointment if you need some more. I won’t bother you with this subject anymore. I’ve done all a mother can do and I’ve been as nosey as I can, and I’m sorry about that.”
Claire walked up the stairs and left me holding the birth control pills in one hand and a doctor’s business card in the other. I didn’t know if I should be angry or embarrassed. Maybe both.
I slowly climbed the stairs and entered my room. I shut the door and opened the compact to view the round pastel colored pills. I snapped them shut and shoved the case to the back of my underwear drawer along with the business card.
I wondered why Claire never tried to convince me to take those kinds of pills before, when I was with Gabriel. Maybe she thought I was too young then. Maybe she saw the way I looked at David as opposed to Gabriel. I had noticed it in myself. I was completely head over heels in love with David. I felt like my existence depended on him.
The night had a bit of a chill to it. I was so excited to see Krystle and Patrick at the Spring Festival carnival tonight. Andy, Krystle, Sheila and I shrieked when we saw each other at the gate. Sheila had been able to come along after all.
I introduced David to Sheila, Krystle and Patrick. Patrick was shocked that I had a boyfriend already. I could see it in his face.
“Where can
I
get one of those?” Sheila asked nudging me.
Krystle acted cool about it and asked me quietly if David had any brothers then giggled.
“As a matter of fact…” I said loud enough for Patrick to hear.
Krystle slapped my arm and laughed. “Shush!” She commanded.
“I call shot gun on that,” Sheila raised her hand. “Sorry, Krystle.”
We had the best time on the rides. The Ferris wheel was my favorite. I got to ride with David—alone.
“We’re supposed to make-out on this ride,” I said in a serious tone.
David chuckled loudly. “We are?”
“Yes, all the cool kids are doing it.” I maintained my seriousness.
“Peer pressuring me, are you?”
I nodded. “Is it working?”
“Yes,” He said holding me against him tightly. He gently took my lips in his. His breath was warm and steady. His sandalwood scent radiated from within him. His sweet lips made me forget where I was.
“You’re a bad influence.” He pecked my lips twice more.
We were almost toward the end of the ride when David gave me the Hope Diamond gaze.
“Will you be mine forever?” The words escaped my lips.
“And evermore.” He replied kissing my forehead.
I spent Sunday helping my mother with the housework, then took a long shower. David picked me up in the afternoon to accompany Nyx and him on a shopping excursion to an outlet mall in a nearby city.
That woman could shop. I thought I liked retail therapy, but she took the cake. I was so tired of walking in the heat, that I finally sat on a bench and asked David if he thought Nyx would be much longer.
“We’ll have to drag her out by the hair,” he replied.
“Oh my gosh,” I said letting my head fall back. “I can’t take this anymore. I need air conditioning, a shower, and a diet soda.”
“I’ll let her know we’re leaving with or without her.” David wrinkled his nose briefly. I loved when he did that.
We ate dinner at a chain restaurant right outside the outlet mall. I must have drunk a half a gallon of water. I was parched.
As soon as I got home I hit the shower. I wondered if David ever smelled bad. He always smelled so good to me.
I had a headache from being out in the sun all afternoon, and my feet were killing me. I massaged my feet and took a couple of pain pills to lessen the pain. I kicked the covers to the floor, popped in my earphones and scrolled through my IPod playlists. Classical genre was the proper choice for the evening.
I recalled that tomorrow would be the day I met David’s father. I had a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach—maybe just nerves.
I listened intently to each piano note played in Beethoven’s
Moonlight
Sonata
. Slowly, my eyes started closing in sync with the melody. The music carried me into a deep sleep.
Chapter 12
My yellow spring dress was completely wrinkled, and the other two dresses I contemplated wearing were at the cleaners. David, being punctual as he was, would arrive in approximately five minutes and I still hadn’t chosen an outfit to meet his father. Not that I needed to look extraordinary, but making a lasting good first impression wouldn’t hurt, considering the news he was about to receive. To recap, his son was in a relationship with a human and Alezzander was deeply involved with dealings of their council. The council would not be happy if they found out.
I was starting to sweat just thinking about how David’s father would react. What if he didn’t accept our relationship? I’d be devastated if he asked David to remove himself from my life.
Glancing at the time on my phone, there were only three minutes left till David would ring the doorbell. I looked over the outfits I thought were half decent and threw them on my bed. David was going to have to wait.
I decided to play the simple girl and threw on a pair of jeans and a blouse. I accessorized with the first pair of earrings I found and slipped on a pair of my most fashionable wedge heels. I was ready to meet Mr. Chios, the shoe salesman slash deity. I wondered if he’d check out my shoes.
When I glanced at the time, it was exactly four o’clock; the doorbell rang. I was faster than I imagined.
David looked distressed when I answered the door. We both were.
“Do we have to tell him?” I said, looking out the window as we drove past the last of the houses in town.
“It is the responsible thing to do. He is my father and I respect him. I have gained his respect by being honest with him through the years.” He brushed my arm with his hand. “Besides, it’s no secret that I love you.”
The house door swung open as David reached for the knob revealing Eryx on the other side. His expression was as uneasy as I was feeling. David seemed to be determined to get this over with. His face was hard and serious.
“Has he arrived?” David asked Eryx.
“Indeed, he has, and in good humor, might I add. Let us see how long that lasts.”
David’s mouth tightened. “And, Mother?”
“She is with him. He has inquired about you, but we have not surfaced the subject as you have requested.” Eryx led the way out of the anteroom and into the formal living room. “I will let them know you have arrived.”
I sighed.
“Are you nervous?” David’s hand squeezed mine.
“Very,” I admitted. “He’s going to kill the both of us.”
David half grinned, nervously. “I doubt that he will.”
We sat quietly in the living room, where only a few days ago I had almost lost my life. My stomach started to churn as the images flashed through my head. I breathed deeply settling myself.
I felt restless waiting for the head of the Chios family to join us in the room. The silence made the time seem eternal.
Several sets of footsteps descended the staircase. David and I glanced at each other. I noticed David’s hand lightly tremble as he held mine.
Alezzander was a tall blonde man. He was handsome and of athletic stature. He was a strong presence as he walked into the room—authoritarian and intimidating. I now understood he was not a man to be reckoned with; hence, the reason why David and Eryx seemed unsettled.
“Father…” David walked to greet him. They shook hands and patted each other on the back.
“Dahveed, you have brought a guest?” Alezzander’s voice was deep with a strong accent. Latin, I presumed.
David took me by the hand and presented me to his father. “Father, this is Isis Martin.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir.” I extended my hand.
Alezzander extended his hand, but instead of reaching for my hand he took the Star Crest that hung over my chest and ripped the cord from my neck with one quick tug. His nostrils flared and his brow creased. He was infuriated.
“What is the meaning of this?” Alezzander’s voice was deeper than his normal tone.
“I have gifted her, Father,” David said calmly.
“It is not as it seems, my husband.” Nyx took Alezzander by the arm noting his fury. “She’s not as she appears. Look deeper, much deeper.”
Alezzander’s stare penetrated me. I felt chills as his eyes met mine. He threw the star at David’s feet. David gave him an angry look as he bent to lift the Star Crest from the ground.
Without warning, Alezzander lifted one arm and grabbed my throat. I gasped and fought to release his hands. “Of whom were you born?” He asked in a thunderous voice.
“Release her!” David tried to pry his father’s grip from my neck. “She’ll suffocate at your hand!”
My eyes were wide and mouth agape. My hand pulled on his arm, trying to remove his hold from my neck the slightest bit so that I could inhale.
“Father release her! She is fragile.” Galen’s voice held concern for me.
“Alezzander!” Nyx cried out. “Stop!”
Alezzander released his clutch. I fell on the floor gasping and wheezing, my eyes watering. I didn’t understand Alezzander’s reaction or the significance of the charm. I wanted to run out of there, but I couldn’t catch my breath.
“Tell me who this thing belongs to,” Alezzander pointed to me.
“I know only her mother, but she is human. Her father is a mystery,” Nyx spoke, pulling Alezzander away from me by the arms.
David and Eryx helped me up, off the floor, and then sat me on the couch.
“Apologize, Father. You have no right to treat her this way.” David’s brow was creased and his breath was heavy.
Alezzander took a step toward David. “You should be apologizing to me. Do you not know there is no remedy to the consequences you have brought onto yourself or your family? I held you on a pedestal and you repay my efforts to educate you, to raise you, to lead you in the right direction with this?”
“The rest of our family holds no opposition,” David replied, holding me to his chest.
Alezzander pushed David away from me and grabbed me by the face. “Who are your parents?” He demanded an answer.
I squirmed. His grip was too tight on my face.
“Leave her!” David slapped his father’s hand away.
Alezzander’s chest emitted a low growl.
Nyx sat next to me and hugged me in a protective manner. “Answer him, dear.”
“My mother is Claire Martin and my father was Hector Martin,” I wept. “Why are you doing this to me?”
“You know full well, you half breed. Did you think you would go unnoticed? I spare you now only because this fool,” he pointed to David, “has given you his life. But we can easily change that. Can’t we Dahveed?” Alezzander raised his brow, giving David a burning glare.
Nyx stood between Alezzander and me. “They don’t know. She is not aware of anything. She shows no sign of it.”
Alezzander brushed Nyx’s face with the back of his hand. “Why have you kept this to yourself, my wife. Do you not know the penalty for conspiring?”
“I do, my husband… but it is our son we are speaking of.” Nyx winced away from Alezzander’s hand. She was upset.
“What do you speak of?” David’s face was filled with anger and indignity. He held me closer to him as his father approached me for a third time.
“Keep your hands off her,” David warned him with a sneer.
“Have you taken her as your pet… this bastard mutt?” Alezzander derisively spoke.
“I will not allow you to speak of her this way!” David stood from the couch and raised his voice to his father. His hands were at his sides formed into fists.
Alezzander peered into David’s eyes. “Your Creatura has no father. She is a bastard little beast that I shall put to sleep like a dog, after you have retaken what is yours.”
“What?” David gasped. “She is not Creatura. You are mistaken.”
“She
is
Creatura, David.” Nyx asserted. “But she will not be harmed or I shall go down with her.”
“Are you compromising yourself on this… this filthy animal’s behalf?” Alezzander posed.
David looked at me with astonishment and disbelief.
I was a what? I was agape as I stared back at David.
“I am.” Nyx crossed her arms. “She is different. She is not like the others. She is as normal as any human on this planet.”
“Isis?” David questioned me.
I shook my head. “I don’t know what they’re talking about.”
“That explains the dimensional travel.” Galen placed his hand on David’s shoulder as they both peered at me.
Alezzander firmly took hold of David’s arm. “Take back what is yours, Dahveed. I will not sit and watch as you transform into whatever this excrement of hell is.”
David looked at his father’s arm on his arm. His lip quivered in fury.
“I will not take it from her, and I would appreciate it if you stopped addressing her in such an offensive manner. I do not want to disrespect you, Father.”
“I’m not asking. I am commanding you to do so. Then, I shall deal with her, myself.” Alezzander’s eyes met mine.
“No, Father.” David said firmly.
“I’m ordering you!” Alezzander’s voice was deep and aggressive.
“No!” David inclined himself slightly toward his father’s face.
Alezzander raised his hand, ready to strike David.
“Alezzander!” Nyx called for his attention before he could strike David.
I stood from the sofa and hugged David, trying to move him out of the way. The twins stood between Alezzander and us.
“She’s given me her love.” David tried to reason with him.
“The mange is what she’s given you,” Alezzander sneered.
“There is no need for that, Father.” Eryx spoke in a calm tone. “He is intransigent. You forget we are not children anymore. We are able to make our own decisions… or mistakes without your permission.”
“This is a case of Doctrinal matter, not personal affection. I will not stand for this. And this
girl
has no business being alive. When I find her father I will make sure he feels the wrath of the laws.”
Alezzander pointed to David, “and as for you… you have no place in this family anymore.”
Nyx shook her head. Her brow line creased deeply. “Your actions have spoken for you today, Alezzander. You are no longer the man I married. You have become nothing less than a brute, unable to reason and unconcerned for your own. You are the one that has no place in this family. The door is open—leave.”
“You don’t mean that.” Alezzander’s eyes widened.
“Leave, I said.” Nyx’s tone was stern. “I shall not have any of my children deprived of their happiness. You have been cruel and a savage to this poor child.” She motioned to me. “That is not our way, Alezzander.”
Alezzander turned his back on all of us. He placed his hand over his mouth in thought and breathed heavily. He walked out of the room and ascended the stairs. We heard a door slam shut.
Everyone was silent.
“Why does he want me to give you back the Star Crest? Tell me the truth.” I looked at David intently. “The truth,” I reiterated, staring intently at him.
All eyes were on David and me as David touched my face. I pushed his hand away. “Tell me,” I demanded.
“Do you remember the story I told you of Deus and Starr?” David asked.
“What does that have to do with…” My jaw dropped in mid-sentence as I remembered the story, then his question to me about growing old together. “What did you do?!”
“I will become as you are. The Star Crest is no longer within me. We will both be Creatura.”
“I… why did you do that?!” I cried. “I don’t even know what I am.”
“I don’t care.” David cupped my face. “I only care to be with you for as long as this life will allow.”
“You aren’t immortal anymore?” I whimpered. “You gave your life for me?”
David was silent. I looked to the others for an answer, but no one was willing to speak.
“Answer me,” I urged.
“I don’t know what I will become because I don’t know how your genetics will be affected. I have renounced the life I had. My transformation will be slow.”
“How am I Creatura if both my parents were human?” I questioned him.
“No, dear,” Nyx shook her head. “I’m afraid the man you knew as your father was not your biological father.”
“That can’t be!” I widened my eyes.
“Your mother is human.” Nyx rubbed her hands nervously. “It’s the only possible explanation, Isis. There is no other way that you can be Creatura.”
Galen began to pace behind his mother. Eryx was cross-armed, sitting on the arm of the sofa.
“Your mother has never mentioned any of this to you?” David asked.
“Never.” I felt betrayed.
How could Claire keep something like this from me? I felt like I had lost my identity. I didn’t know my real father, and I didn’t even know what species I was.
We heard heavy footsteps descending from the stairwell. I cringed. I was terrified of that man—Alezzander. He was unsympathetic and a savage as Nyx had called him. I held rage for him and his words toward me.