The Solitarian: Part 1 of The Amaranth Series (5 page)

Rhoda taps my foot that is sticking out from beneath the bed spread. Rhoda is our maid. She comes by twice a week to clean and stock the fridge.

“Are you hungry Kenna? I know that you haven’t had an American meal in months.”

I stretch and realize that Keyan is the room behind me. I look and the door is still closed.

“I ate American food Rhoda. My mom cooked.”

“But the food wasn’t from here. I made pancakes, bacon and eggs. I’ll see you Monday. I only came to make sure that the house was clean and you had your first meal made by moi.”

“Thanks. I’ll be down in a second.” She sits on the edge of my bed and folds her arm.

“How was it? Did you meet anyone? Did you make friends in town?”

“I never really left the cabin area. I hiked a lot and it was extremely invigorating.”

“Oh alright.” She sighs. “I have to get going my husband is taking me and my daughter to the beach.”

“Tell Dee that I said hello. I can’t wait to see her.”

“She misses you too. I’ll tell her.” she waves as she exits my room.

I hurry down to prepare plates for Keyan and me. I think that it would be nice for him to wake to the aroma of Rhoda’s famous homemade maple and walnut pancakes. I grab some orange juice, brew a pot of coffee, place the syrup on and lift the tray. I carefully take the food up the stairs and into my room. I set it down onto the coffee table in front of my chaise and hurry to wake him. When I tap on the door I enter and he is sitting up. I set the tray across his lap. He looks at the plate of delicious vittles over.

“Good morning Mr…” I pause to think “I just realized that I don’t know your last name.”

“I know. I just can’t use it.” He smiles. “By the way, good morning McKenna.” He says sarcastically. “My parents’ last name was McGrath.”

“Okay if you don’t choose to use that one, we will have to get one for you…let’s see…ummm how about….Wilkins? Keyan Wilkins. No…ummm…Randolph? No…ummm…McAllister? Yes! Keyan McAllister. Hello Mr. McAllister.”

“Hello Ms. Duvall. Did you sleep well?”

“Why yes…did you?”

“The best sleep I’ve had in ninety three years.”

“We have such a long day ahead. First, I want to get your haircut. Then get some new things to wear.” I rub my hands together and he begins to eat the food that I sat in front of him. He devours the pancakes without thought. I sit down on the edge of the bed and join him. We eat without speaking. After the plates are empty I grab the tray and set it onto the floor. I fold my arms and look him over. Keyan is sitting upright in the twin bed from my childhood with the sheets covering his legs. He is shirtless and his beard is hanging down covering his chest. His braid is still neatly plaited but the top of his hair is frayed from the pillow. I watch him for minutes until he breaks me from my observation. His eyes are so hard to forget.

“Is there something wrong?” He asks.

“No I was thinking about how you will look under the blankets of hair.”

“I will look much like I did when I took the photographs that you’ve seen.”

“I had a dream about you last night Keyan.” I laugh as the words leave my mouth. Then embarrassment sets in.

“Really?” he raises a brow and his shimmering blue eyes stop me cold. I’m paralyzed in his glare. Why does his eyes intrigue me so?

“Yes, it was strange. Your parents were there. We were holding hands as we entered one of the jewelry stores that you say that they owned. I was so happy. I could feel the love oozing from you. You were quite handsome.” I blush. “Your father was crafting a beautiful pendant with diamonds around the face. It was engraved especially for me. You were placing it around my neck when I woke.” He tosses the covers from his body and hurries over to rummage through his sack. He yanks out a box that jingles. It about the size of a shoe box. I watch him completely puzzled by his actions as usual. He pulls out a necklace and hurries over to me.

“Is this the pendant that you saw?” I smile and shake my head. Keyan is so strange. How in the hell would it be…

“Oh my god, yes.” I fondle the pendant in my hand and I read it. It says:
Cortina, I have loved you since the day that we met. Please be mine forever. May 10, 1902a.d.

I read the words and my heart stops beating for a second. I clutch my chest and Keyan is staring at me. “You envisaged my past. How?”

“I what?”

“You had a direct vision of the day I asked Cortina to marry me.”

“How is that possible Keyan?”

“Well…” he paces the room. “When a couple is mated they share envisages. They can see one another’s past. They can detect when they are in danger. They feel one another completely. They are drawn together by nature. It is an unbreakable supernatural bond. We were created to be with one person for eternity, but we can have others if one of us are eliminated. The conundrum is that the new mate sees the thoughts and events of the past one. We are connected even in death.”

“Ummm…but I’m not your mate and you were never connected to anyone.”

“You are correct in a sense. I never completed the act but we were very much connected. We dreamed of one another every night. We were close. I kissed her, I held her, I just never made love to her. I wanted to be sure that she knew what she was getting herself into.”

“But how. I’ve never…”

“I know. And you are not Amaranth, so I don’t understand.”

“And we don’t have anyone to ask. Do you have any more books on your kind?”

“I have read everything that I have over and over through the years and I have never heard of a woman having envisages before becoming attached. Let’s just pretend it didn’t happen and continue with our day.”

“Okay? First let me make sure that my parents are gone for the day.” I say as remove the tray from his room. I walk down to the kitchen thinking how I could ever love someone so rugged and so…so…old! We will stick with finding him a mate. I check the house after I wash the dishes that we used. The house is empty as usual. So I go back up grabbing the scissors along the way.

“Let’s get started.” I say wielding the scissors. I bring him into my room. And set him in front of the vanity. He looks at his reflection and he is disappointed. “Don’t worry I’m going to get you as close to the old you as possible. But don’t get your hopes up too high, you are very old.” I joke.

“Alright McKenna.” He sighs.

The first thing that I do is snip the braid at the neck. I hold the hair into the air. “We could donate this.” I say tossing it into the trash. I move around to the beard. That is my most loathed thing on his body. I cut it up to his chin. I step back and take a look at my work. His features are becoming evident. His hair is straight edged and he looks better. But the ruggedness is still plaguing him. I go into my linen closet and hand him a towel. I hurry into the bathroom to run him a bath. When I return, I hand him the scissors and ask for him to remove any other hair on his body that is more than an inch long. He is too happy to oblige me. He doesn’t say a word to me as he enters the bathroom and shut the door. I retrieve one of my dad’s cotton polo crew neck shirt. It is the lightest blue to bring out the boldness in his eyes. And I finish the look with dark colored cargo shorts. My dad loves sandals, something that I hate, but I have to go with it for now. After he is stunningly clean and dresses, I do the same. I stand in the bathroom adjacent to the room that he will call his own for a short time. I brush my teeth and he enters. I smile and the toothpaste drips from my lip.

“May I?”

“Yes.” I say muffled pointing to the extra brush that I keep just in case I lose mine. He grabs it and yanks it from the pack. He eyes me, then mimics. I rinse and spit then wipe my mouth with a hand towel. “Why are your teeth still so white? You have been in the wilderness forever. Your teeth should be as rotten as an old tomato.”

“We regenerate so teeth are a part of that.”

“Lucky bastards. So why do you want to brush then?”

“I want to blend. What’s next?” he asks as he begins to brush his pearly whites.

“I’m going to take you to a friend of mine to get trimmed the right way. And then…shopping!” I stomp my feet as if Keyan is a girl.

“Alright then.” He rinses and spits. I hand him my hand towel and he wipes the access liquid from his lips.

He follows me down the stairs and I scoop my keys up from the counter as we walk into the garage to get into my car. I push the power button to turn on the radio as I start the engine and Keyan eyes grows large.

“What on earth?” he says staring at the digital display on the console. The beat begins to blare and he is confused.

“Technology has taken the world by storm since your day.” I giggle. “This is called satellite radio. It broadcasts all over and has several stations. The greatest invention ever.”

“If you say so.” He says properly in his alluring accent. I lift the garage door opener and the door raises. I speed down the street and merge into traffic. When I hit the main road Keyan watches the scenery. I slow down as I past the beach. I spot my friends unloading Callie’s SUV. Rylan, Greg (Callie’s boyfriend), Laine, and her bf Adami. My heart is heavy because it is the end of summer and I should be hanging out with them. The sad part is that they are yet to discover that I’m back home. It really isn’t fair. I should be spending the remainder of my time in Myrtle Beach with the love of my life Rylan. The sadness in my eyes catches the attention of my passenger.

“Are you aright McKenna?” he asks.

“Do you see that red truck right there?” I slow down a little more to point out the SUV.

“A truck?” I sigh. He is unaware of our lingo.

“The girl in the bright red swimsuit is my friend. So are the people who are walking to the beach with her. I should be spending time with them. Especially since I’m leaving in a few weeks.” I step on the gas and the car takes off.

“I could get around myself, McKenna. You should be with your friends.”

“No I want to help you. First stop the salon.” I say speeding toward our destination.

Georgie is more than happy to service Keyan. He starts by washing Keyan’s hair. After it is blown dry he begins to style it. He shapes it like he is sculpting a masterpiece. He works diligently as I watch from across the room. I catch a glimpse, but I decide not to peek until he has finished. I look around the salon and there are tons of women and men getting the pampered treatment. I watch as one woman gets her hair colored and styled. When the stylist finishes she looks amazing. She tosses her hair back and forth enjoying the way it bounces and flows when she runs her fingers through it. When my eyes switch back to Georgie and Keyan he has completed his task. I stand and my heart starts to flutter. This is the very moment when I get to see just how much of an Amaranth Keyan is. How old does a one hundred and thirty year old man look? When he whips the seat toward me my breath is swept from me. I gasp as I see Keyan’s silky smooth skin. Georgie has shaped the beard and mustache to perfection, carefully shaved so close to his face. It shows off the youth that he has claimed all along. His eyes are even more defined with the hair on his head evenly cropped into a sexy, spikey, rocker, slash boy band type cut. I really like the shiny black color that it has naturally.

“Oh my goodness Keyan. You look absolutely gorge! Georgie you are the best at what you do. Once again you have created a masterpiece.”

“I know. But it helps that he looks like a Hollywood model, Kenna. Where did you get this one from? And is Rylan seething with jealousy?” he smirks.

“I just got back last night, so I haven’t seen him yet. Keyan is from Charleston.” I think for a moment. Georgie knows any and everything. So I decide to ask him for a little help. “Keyan is originally from Paris. So he and his parents moved here a long time ago.”

“Okay?”

“I have a point.” I reassure. “His parents died and he lost all of his identification. He is supposed to start Greenwich in a few weeks and he has nothing to identify himself. He will be kicked out of school. Do you know anyone?”

“Can’t he send for it?”

“He tried that. But there is no record of him in his hometown. Maybe he was born under a different name or something. But he will never know because his parents are dead.”

“What are you asking me McKenna?” he raises his brow.

“Do you know where we can get him a birth certificate and social security card, until we can figure something out?” I lower my voice to a whisper.

“Why do you think that I would know anyone like that?”

“I hear the rumors Georgie. You have major connections. I know that one of them could help us.” He pauses and looks around. He sighs and then speaks.

“Does he know all of his information?” he waves and I follow him into a back office.

“Yes. We just need duplicates. I will pay any price.” I state.

“Do you think that you can just throw your money around and poof?”

“Georgie?”

“I’m going to need a small finder’s fee.” He smiles and begins to write down a number. “Call this number and give him the information. He will have everything you need in about a day. He will give you a price because each case is different. You won’t meet him in person. He will tell you where to drop the money off and where to pick the items up. His work is precise. No one will know that it’s fake. He is the best at what he does. The best in this country to be exact. And he won’t ask any questions.” He rolls his eyes. “I’m a hair stylist dammit Kenna! Don’t ask me to do this old covert kind of shit again.”

“I should be asking you why you would even know how to get this type of shit.” I whisper.

“If I tell you that I may have to kill you.” he jokes. “Now pay me for my work on that boy toy you have out there. And add my finder’s fee girly.” I pull my CG wallet out of my CG bag and hand him a couple of crisp one hundred dollar bills.

“Thank you for everything Georgie.” I kiss his cheek and head out to get Keyan. “We’re all set are you ready to go?” he nods and I can’t seem to take my eyes off of him. He is unbelievably beautiful. It’s almost like I’m staring at a movie star. He is as young as I am. With the mangled hair on his body he appeared to be about forty years old. We get into my car that is parked in front of the salon. As I start the engine I take another gander at his ravishing features. I drive down the road back past the beach. I occasionally glance at him and my heart flutters. I grab at my chest to stop my heart from beating so rapidly.

“Are you alright McKenna? You have been behaving strangely since we left the parlor.”

“I’m fine.” I flash an uneasy false smirk. “You just look so youthful. It’s amazing.”

“I explained…”

“I know. But seeing it and hearing it are totally different things. You look so damn handsome.”

“Thank you.” I turn onto the highway. I drive straight toward the mall. When we arrive it isn’t as crowded as I’m used to. I enter the hippest men’s wear store that I can find. The sales woman and I select an array of things for him to try on. I sit and wait while he tries them on one by one. After a moment of dinginess I realize that the saleswoman has it bad for him. She is giggling and flirting shamelessly. I’m sitting there like a mom holding all of the things that I want him to try out. She walks toward me to grab the next item because he has tried on everything that she has given him. I offer up the funkiest grimace that I can muster. She holds her hand out for the garments and I stand and start walking, passing her.

“Here Keyan try these on.” I pass them over the top of the dressing room door. He grabs the hangers and return the things that she gave to him.

I watch as he steps out wearing the garments that I picked out. Each ensemble graces his body like a well formed mannequin. He is perfection at its best. Deliciousness is a far better description. I can’t believe that this is the same beastie fur ball that I witnessed taking a bath in a hot spring in the mountains. He is definitely not the rough mountain of mess that I discovered alone in a cave. The last things that he tries on are a winter white polo v neck and dark navy blue jeans. He just takes my breath away. Every time that I lay my eyes on him, I can’t seem to catch my breath.

“You look so nice in that.” The sales lady starts to fix his collar. I nervously smile. He graciously thanks her and turns to me.

“What do you think?”

“I think that you look like a 19 year old that is hip and cool.”

“I agree.” She adds. My smile fade. ‘
Bitch nobody asked you.’
I think to myself.

“We’ll take all of these please.” I make it as snarky as possibly. “Pick which one that you would like to wear out of the store Keyan.” He smiles and reenters the dressing room. I go to the counter to pay and I watch as the woman is posted outside of the room until he exits. She hands him a piece of paper and he looks at it. She presses his hand down to conceal it. I assume that it is not professional to hit on the customers, doesn’t stop her though. She urges him to slide it into his pocket. And when she sticks her hand into it to assist him, she cops a feel. I know because his expression turns from flattery to shock. His eyes grow large as he laughs it off. I grab the bags one by one. I call him over to get him out of the grips of octopus hands.

On the way to the parking lot I decide to ask him about his little encounter.

“So how did you like being groped by the sales girl?”

“It was quite surprising. I’ve never been touched there by anyone besides my physician. So it made me feel strange inside.”

“It’s called horny. It made you horny.” I say a little too harsh.

On the way back to my house I stare blankly at the road. I am so damn angry and I prefer Keyan not get wind of it. I drive so fast back to the house we arrive in minutes. I hurry inside to make the call for his Identification. The guy assures me that he will have everything that we need by Monday. He says it will cost about ten thousand dollars. I know that I have a trust but my parents will kill me if they notice that amount of money missing from my account and I haven’t even left for California yet. I sit down on the bed while Keyan admires himself in my full length mirror.

“Why the sad expression McKenna?” he asks.

“The man wants ten thousand for your identification and I need it by Monday.” I sigh. “I have it but it will alarm my mom and dad.”

“Why don’t we try and sell some of my parents’ jewels. They must have increased in value during my solitude.”

“Let’s see them.” He goes into the room and rummages through his things. When he returns he has a sack the size of a large brown paper grocery bag. It is weighed down with jewels. I start to search through for anything of value. When I open the bag I see a multitude of fine diamonds and other stones. His parents’ were jewelers so that means we have a gold mine of things to sell.

“We can take a few things to the pawn shop. Come on.” We head out again and go straight to the best pawn shop in Myrtle Beach. I wanted to go somewhere upscale so that we don’t get swindled. When we enter and I look around the shop. There are some delicate pieces throughout the shop. Not only does he have jewelry, he has anything that is worth something.

“Hello may I help you?” A man behind the counter asks.

“Yes sir. We were in Paris over the summer and found some rare jewelry. I believe it is from the early to late 1800’s.”

“Let’s see what you have there.” The first thing that I hand him is a ring with diamonds and rubies in it. It is large in size and is about 24 karat gold. He takes it from me and grabs a trinket to go over his eye. He starts to inspect it. Then he opens his laptop and searches for something. When he is finished he makes a call.

“Where did you say you got this piece?”

“Palasca.”

“Well, if I’m correct this ring is worth around seven thousand dollars. I just have to make sure that it’s authentic.”

“It’s definitely authentic sir. It was…” Keyan pauses. He is about to give himself away. “It was stashed away in a cave that hasn’t been entered for years. No one has been in that cave since the early 1900’s.”

“Okay I’m sending an antique jeweler the picture you’ll have to wait a few moments. While we wait give me some of the other things that you have. So I can send them as well.”

I hand him three more pieces. He is astounded by the sight of such fine, luxury items. I can hear the excitement in his voice as he talks to his colleague. Keyan stands beside me as he admires his parents’ jewels. The man on the phone is speaking loudly. After he is done the owner of the pawn shop turns to speak with us.

“My partner wants to know how much of these items you actually have. What else did you find out there?”

“I have a sack full of jewels. And I have book and some paintings, but they are not due to arrive until next week.” Keyan answers.

“Well I’m going to go on and let you know that you will be a very wealthy man. Some of the things that you have today are virtually priceless. They can be sold in an auction for a heck of a lot of money. So if you need cash today, I can give you an advance to hold the items. Once we have them authenticated you can bring the rest of the things that you would like to sell. You two are going to be quite rich if you have what we think you have. My colleague works out of Las Vegas. He is also a Jewelry historian. I will send the items out to him and when he is done appraising them I will call you. What would you like to take home today for the four pieces?”

“We only came in to raise about ten thousand. We can get whatever the difference is for the items later when we return.”

“Okay I will write up a pawn receipt for ten thousand. I’m positive that you will receive well above that for the jewels and you will be able to live very well off of what you make on the whole sack once he authenticates them.”

“Thank you sir, we appreciate this.”

“No thank you. If these items is as unique as I think they are I’m going to be very satisfied as well. He believes that they are jewels from a family jewelry store located in La Havre during the late 1800’s. It burned down, but a lot of their pieces was sold at auction a few years ago. They have a carving in each piece. The carving is McG for McGrath.” Keyan is stunned that his parents’ legacy has made it back to America. He counts out the cash and hands it over to Keyan. He looks at it for a moment mowing over the fact that our paper money is different from France and how it has changed over the years. But his game face is solid. We exit the shop and get into the car.