Marker of Hope (2 page)

“You’re lying,” she said. “But… Whatever. So
can we go out somewhere—and have a little fun? We could have
breakfast at the new coffee shop over by—”

“Can’t we just hang out here? I don’t feel
great.” That wasn’t a lie. My head throbbed and the nausea
worsening. I didn’t know when the mutation sickness—that’s what Dr.
Gunn called it—would go away. “We could watch a movie.”

“On second thought, maybe I should just go.”
Andy rose from the bed.

“You’re abandoning me because I don’t want to
go out?”

“No. I’m leaving because you look like you’re
about to throw up.” Andy wrinkled her nose. “Maybe you should see a
doctor.”

“Yeah,” I said. “Maybe I should.” I couldn’t
recall how long it’d been since I’d been in contact with Dr. Gunn
and his doctor wife, Eileen.

“Besides, if you’re contagious, I don’t want
to catch it.”

“I wish it was just a virus.” I snorted, and
she gave me a weird look. Before she could question me, I asked,
“Are you packed and ready to go be a college kid?”

“I think so.” She stopped to think for a
moment. “No, yeah, I am. But I still have some things to do before
I leave, including saying good-bye to Bill. He doesn’t leave for
Austin until next week.”

“That’s great,” I said. “I’m happy for both
of you.”

All my friends were leaving to become
doctors, engineers, teachers… I was becoming something too—a
monster.
Quite the accomplishment, Isis.
I mentally punched
myself on the arm.
Way to go, me.

“Hey, if you feel better later, call me. I’ll
come over. Otherwise, I’ll see you in three months?”

“Okay. I’m gonna miss you.”

“I’ll miss you, too.” Andy reached over and
hugged me. “Love you, bestie.”

“Love you, too.” I pulled away from her
embrace when I felt the intense starvation scrambling, trying to
find freedom—trying to make me take a taste of my best friend.

“Hurry up and get better.” She paused. “I
know you don’t want to hear this, but it’s time to get over him,
Isis.” She squeezed my hand. “Look at what you’re doing to your
mom. To yourself. I’m not trying to be mean, but girl, you look
awful. I hate seeing you like this. But more than that, I hate
leaving you like this. Promise me you’ll get better.”

“I’m trying,” I said.

“Good. It’s a start.” She hugged me one more
time. “Don’t bother getting up. I’ll let myself out.”

Andy paused at the door and gave me a sad
smile. She turned the knob and walked out.

“I thought she’d never leave.” Galilea
appeared out of thin air. She closed the bedroom door. “Do you know
how hard it is for me to cry without hiccupping? That was, like,
brutal bestie emotions all over the place.” She plopped down on the
bed next to me. “Oh, I got your…
thing
.” She dropped a paper
bag on my lap. “And you know what? I’m really bummed. I can’t
believe Andy doesn’t like me. I mean, what’s not to like? I’m
irresistible. Name one person who doesn’t like me.”

“I can name six.”

“
Rude
.”

“You need to stop listening in on my
conversations.”

Galilea took the paper bag and pushed it
against my chest. “That’ll happen when you stop keeping secrets
from me.”

“You’re worse than my mom.” I slid off the
bed, paper sack and cell phone in hand, and headed to the
bathroom.

My knees were weak. My stomach churned. I
dumped the contents of the sack on the vanity. I studied it, afraid
to even touch it. After a few minutes, I picked it up and followed
the instructions printed on the package. I waited, leaning against
the wall. Breathing in slow, deep breaths, I looked at the time on
my phone. I took a step toward the vanity. Hesitated. Took another
two steps. I forced myself to look down at the counter. There was a
tiny pink cross where I didn’t want it to be. I sucked in a ragged
breath.

No. No. No! This can’t be happening!
I
slid down to the floor, my back against the wall.
This wasn’t
supposed to happen!

I hugged my knees close to my chest, the
nausea and headache forgotten from the mortification, dread, fear,
and shock that were suffocating me. I pressed my hand over my
mouth, attempting to hold in my cries.

After a while, Galilea knocked on the door.
“You alive in there?”

“Yeah.”

“Are you crying?” she asked. My voice must’ve
given it away. I didn’t answer her. “Isis, let me in.”

I stood up and wiped my tears with my
T-shirt. I unlocked the door, and the doorknob twisted open.
Galilea studied me for a moment. She turned her attention to the
vanity and walked into the bathroom. She gaped down at the pink
cross on the stick.

“Shit.” She tapped the vanity counter with
her fingers. “I can’t believe you kept this to yourself for so
long. Haven’t you ever heard of condoms?”

“I was on the pill. Do you think I would be
so irresponsible?”

I sat on the toilet, holding my head between
my hands. I felt like I was about to burst.

“Actually, yes. And if you suspected this
much, you should’ve said something.” Galilea rubbed her forehead.
“What are you going to do?”

I wiped a tear away and shrugged.

“David has a right to know,” she told me. “I
can call—”

“
No
. Don’t you dare call him.” I
frowned at her.

“That’s his child growing inside you. You
can’t keep it from him.”

“Yes I can, and I intend to. He’ll feel
obligated to take me back because of this. I don’t want that.”

“But, Isis, he’s your husband.”

I scoffed. “By your deity laws, not by
mine.”

“Well, your human laws are messed up.” She
paced the bathroom. “So when exactly did you,” she shook her hand,
motioning to my stomach, “make that?”

“The night before I left with Eros.”

“Your transformation wasn’t complete. I don’t
even think it’s complete now.” She widened her eyes. “Are you aware
you and David broke the law?”

“Do you really think I give a shit about any
of your laws right now?” I snapped.

Galilea flinched, and I heard her mumble
something about hormones under her breath. “Well,” she cleared her
throat, “in any case, I think the only law you need to be worried
about is Claire. She’s going to be mega pissed.”

“More than that. Disappointed.”

“Do you think,” Galilea narrowed her eyes,
“the baby will be half like you?”

“Half Creatura?” I asked, and she nodded. “I
hope not.”

CHAPTER 2

The kitchen counters gleamed, scrubbed to an
inch of their life. Galilea slipped off a pair of yellow latex
gloves, the small of her back against the counter. I sat down at
the table.

“It smells like Mr. Clean detonated in here,”
I said. “Why do you keep cleaning my house?”

“I have nothing else to do. Besides, your mom
likes me for it.” Galilea took off Claire’s red, flowery apron. “I
called Dr. Gunn to tell him about that little critter.” She pointed
to my stomach. “He said he wants to do a routine check-up.”

“How? He has no equipment.”

“He does now. A lot’s happened since you
decided to shut down and wallow in self-pity. You’ve been
impossible to talk to, and I’ve been bored out of my mind. I
thought we came here because we were going to figure things out.
What happened to ‘I’m going to save the people I love’? Did you
just feed me that bull so I’d agree to come with you?”

“You know that’s not true. I meant it.”

“Then what’s the hold up?” Galilea’s
irritated face turned a subtle shade of pink. Her pulse quickened
just the slightest bit.

I was surprised at how much my senses had
developed. Heighted. Months ago, I wouldn’t have noticed any of
this, but now, I could even smell the natural notes of musk on her
skin. I felt my mouth water. Sometimes, I liked that my new
superhuman senses gave me insight to peoples’ moods and emotions.
Most of the time, they were waiting for me to let my guard down so
the beast could take over.

“Galilea.” I closed my eyes. “I’m
hungry.”

“You can’t just change the subject. You do it
all
the time. I’m tired of it.”

“I’m not changing the subject. I’m trying to
tell you I don’t know how much longer I’ll be able to control
myself. How am I supposed to save anyone when I want to rip out
their guts?”

“Oh.” She blinked. “How long have you been
feeling this way?”

“Um…” I looked at the polished tabletop and
made invisible circles with my finger on it. “A couple of weeks.” I
looked up at her. “Or maybe more? I don’t know.”

“And you didn’t bother to tell me?” She
raised her voice. “Do you realize how serious this is? Do you even
know what kind of a threat you pose…?” She held up a finger. “We
need to leave.”

“Hey, if you want to go, go ahead. I’m
staying right here where I belong.”

Galilea walked over to the table and sat
down. “Look, I know you want to be with your mother. I know this is
where you feel the safest. But Claire…” She huffed. “Claire can’t
protect you because she’s nowhere near safe from you. The truth
is,” she took a long breath, “you don’t belong here anymore.”

“I can’t just leave her,” I said. “What kind
of a daughter would I be, abandoning her without giving her a real
explanation? I don’t want to keep lying to her, Galilea. Do you
know how hard that is for me?”

She ran her fingers through her short, dark
hair and sighed. “Do you love her?” she asked.

“Of course I do. She’s my mom.”

“Then love her enough to let her live.” She
stood up. “That’s the right thing to do, even if it hurts to do
it.” She looked at me for a moment, and then glanced around the
kitchen. “I’m done here. I told Dr. G I’d get a hold of some
medical equipment for him. He wants to see you this evening, so
I’ll be by later to pick you up.” She sized me up. “And for
goodness sake, take a shower. Just because you’re
Creatura
doesn’t mean you have to smell like one.”

As soon as Galilea walked out the door, I
raised my arm and took a whiff.
Ewe!
Ripe
. I headed
straight to the bathroom.

After I showered, I had long, miserable hours
to think about everything Galilea had said—about how David had a
right to know about the pregnancy, about Claire being better off
alone than with a daughter who might turn cannibalistic at any
given moment. As much as I hated to admit it, she was right on both
counts.

***

The oven timer beeped just as the front door
screeched open. Claire was home, and I knew I had to tell her…that
I was pregnant. The fact David and I were no longer together would
make this situation a lot more complicated for her. For
us
.
I was sure I would lose her trust, and it unsettled me, because
although she’d always be my mother, I didn’t want to lose her as a
friend. I was lucky to have such a close bond with her. I could
confide in her, and she in me. I dreaded the mere thought of losing
our bond.

“You’re cooking,” Claire said, eyebrows high
on her forehead as I pulled the chicken out of the oven.

“Yup,” I said.

“Well, this is a nice surprise.” She sat at
the table. “Do you plan on leaving your room more often?”

“Maybe.” I shrugged as I walked across the
kitchen with a plate in each hand. “No promises.”

“Baby steps, huh?”

Her words made me freeze in the middle of the
room, a mix of paranoia and guilt drilling deep into me.

“You okay?” she asked.

“Y-Yes. Fine.”

I set the plates on the table and sat down.
Claire told me about her day at the office while I picked at my
food, her words muted by the voice of my own thoughts urging me to
get it over with and tell her.

“Mom,” I said, when she finally paused to
take a drink of her diet soda, “I’m…I’m p—”

“Did you hear that?” Claire looked over her
shoulder in the direction of the living room. “I think someone’s at
the door.”

I sighed, frustrated as well as relieved.
“It’s probably Galilea. I’ll get it.”

Galilea’s arms were folded over her chest
when I opened the door, her brows creased tight. I could hear her
pulse drumming at a higher rate than was normal for her.

“Something wrong?” I asked.

Galilea lowered one hand to her hip and used
the other to motion to the left. I stepped onto the porch and
turned to see what the cause of her aggravation was; only, it
wasn’t a
what
, but a
who
, and he was sitting as
collected as ever in perfectly pressed khakis on one of our rocking
chairs.

“
Bonsoir
.” Eros smirked. “Are you as
happy to see me as I am to see you, my sweet?”

I turned to Galilea. “
Why
would you
bring him to my house?”

“I didn’t bring him. You think I’m stupid? He
followed me here.”

“Followed you?” I frowned. “But you said you
were always invisible out there.”

“Well
excuse me
for not having enough
energy to keep my block up when I’m using it all on my house, the
lab, the doctors, you, your mother,
and
your house.”

“Get him out of here.” I glanced at Eros, and
his pearl-white teeth beamed as he smiled at me. “Galilea, do
something!”

“Have you not been listening to a word I’ve
been saying? I don’t have the energy to do anything right
now.
”

“Well, find a way,” I said through gritted
teeth.

“Um… I hate to interrupt this farm-chicken
squabble, but it’s getting uncomfortably hot out here,” Eros said,
rising from the chair. He stepped toward me. “Aren’t you going to
invite me in to meet your mother?”

“Are you cra—”

“Her mother is right here,” Claire’s voice
came from behind me. “And who might
you
be?”

CHAPTER 3