The Strangely Beautiful Tale Of Miss Percy Parker (24 page)

Alexi shook his head. “A trap. I…I don’t trust her.”

“Tell me, Alexi.” Elijah leaned in. “Has your dear little Miss Parker
opened a door
for you?”

He ignored any double entendre his rakish compatriot might intend. “She sees them in visions, she draws them. And that painting, Josephine—it was like a door that she went through, as if she were from that very age and time.”

Jane made a face. “Her visions and mythical past won’t help us when we’re being attacked, as we were tonight. I don’t suppose Miss Parker had a vision of saving our lives, did she? Alexi, what’re we supposed to make of this? Ye may
think this girl of yours is Prophecy all ye like—we’ve yet to get a glimpse of her.”

“I’ve seen her,” chorused Elijah, Josephine and Rebecca.

Jane and Michael exchanged surprised glances. “And?” Michael pressed.

The three shrugged.

Josephine said, noncommittally, “I met her briefly. She’s deathly pale and clearly enamoured of Alexi. There’s something about her, certainly—but nothing like what we’ve experienced in the presence of Miss Linden.”

Elijah nodded in agreement.

“But Elijah,” Alexi protested. “You came to my house having just met her, having seen a burning image when you touched her—an image that matched how the goddess spoke of the phoenix! And Josie, that
painting.
She was your inspiration! And that painting sent her into a vision—”

“Alexi, none of those details connect to what we do or what we fight,” Elijah interrupted. “I touch and see many terrible sights. Josephine is inspired by many things, not just our work. Tonight, our work included Miss Linden, and the one particular of our prophecy revealed itself just as we were running out of time! Can that really mean nothing?”

Alexi shook his head, unwilling to be convinced. “But Persephone Parker is the one. A phoenix charm burning her flesh just as we demand a sign? How could that be, if she’s not linked to us? How could she know our invocation?” He brandished the diary he’d reclaimed from his sister. “And…I have an entry on the day she was born. I awoke knowing there was a great alteration in the Balance—and it was two years to the day from when our lives changed to this fate! We never saw my goddess again because she was born as Miss Parker!”

“Alexi, calm yourself, you’re raving,” Josephine said.

“And her pallor!” Alexi continued. “She appears as if she could be a spirit—and she can communicate with them!
Does this not make her useful to us? She is not possessed as we are; she is truly reborn.” He whirled to face his friend. “Josie, we’ve never dared ask…but please tell me when those white streaks first appeared in your hair.”

Josephine faltered. “Since the moment of my possession,” she replied quietly.

“As I thought. And I believe that something has been with Percy all her life—within her, from the womb—to make her whole body white. It is the shock of an outside power—a divine possession itself!”

Everyone stared at him sadly, as if he were to be pitied. This riled him further. “I will bring her to you,” he vowed. “You will know. By spending time with her, you will know. But damn it all, there’s no reason why you should fight—you should simply trust me!”

“Alexi, facing death without you revoked your privilege of unconditional trust,” Elijah snapped. “Oh, and did we mention there was a goddamned
door?
”

Alexi’s fists rose, and sparkles of blue fire trickled out.

Rebecca flew forward. “Haven’t you considered that there may be more than one kind of trap, Alexi? You must consider them all. How many times have I prepared you for this moment? We were warned of betrayals and false prophets, of
‘the mistakes of mortal hearts.’
Prophecy warned of this very fight! Just because you”—she choked—“care for Miss Parker does not make her our seventh. However innocent and guileless she may appear, she may in fact be sent from the ungodly realm, possessed by something harmful who looks to betray us. Appearing as no ordinary mortal, as you mention, with the ability to communicate with spirits—these very facts you present might be used to damn as easily as elevate.”

Alexi shook his head. “Nonsense!”

“Alexi, she may not even be human.”

“She’s human, I assure you.”

“Why, what sort of experiments did you conduct upon her to reach that confident conclusion?” Elijah asked, giving an unnecessary, lecherous smirk.

Alexi’s expression was fearsome. He pounded his fist violently upon a nearby table. The gas lamps on the walls roared suddenly out of control, threatened to burn the place down.

“Alexi, please!” Josephine squealed. “Do you mean to kill us all?”

He raised one finger and the lamps dimmed; then he pointed it at Elijah, who turned pale.

“Never impugn her honour, Withersby,” he warned, his voice deceptively calmed. “And who are you to criticize me—you, who nearly caused a riot ten years ago by running off on a whim?”

“I was wrong, Alexi. I was very wrong,” Elijah murmured, truly contrite. “And I’ve spent years repaying that debt. Don’t you make my same mistake.”

Alexi held Elijah in a vicious stare for another unbearable moment, the lamp flames again burning high, the walls beginning to smolder. Finally, he tossed a hand aside in a casual gesture and the danger vanished—though the group coughed from the resulting smoke, waving their hands before their eyes. Elijah loosened his collar, sweat beading on his forehead.

“Alexi,” Rebecca said. She moved slowly toward him. “Alexi, look what this is doing to you. Don’t become a stranger to us, as you seem to have done since you met Miss Parker. You must consider the danger. And, Alexi, however innocent the girl may seem…something may be working within her she does not even understand. Working to undo you. To undo all of us. Prophecy told us to listen to our instincts and stay together!”

Alexi’s hands clenched and unclenched. “It is my life! Am I to disobey my heart, my instincts—?”

“Mortal hearts make mistakes, Alexi.” Rebecca was shaking her head. “For the thousandth time, love has nothing to
do with Prophecy; it’s only confused and endangered us. You’d risk the whole of our work for this wisp of a girl, this timid curiosity—”

“Don’t you dare speak of her so,” he hissed.

Josephine and Elijah looked at each other in surprise, then at Alexi. “Love? Love isn’t a factor here, is it?”

“Alexi, listen to yourself,” Rebecca continued, ignoring all else. “We were warned of this. She is a trick, a pawn meant to test you. Clear your mind, stop and think of duty! You’ve never been so swayed by passion. What on earth is this mad light in your eyes? You have always been our anchor of reason.”

Alexi smoldered. “How dare you. Reason and duty? I’ve sacrificed everything. I denied myself every possible scrap of companionship, pleasure and comfort in my life, and now that Prophecy has come, my duty is to protect her. And you five, turned against me by Miss Linden—”

“We’re not turning against you, Alexi,” Rebecca insisted, tears in her eyes. “You’re biased. Evidently, you must see the door yourself to be convinced. You can’t find it in your heart to trust us. I’m sorry it’s come to this.”

Alexi approached, stood nose to nose with her. She remained strong beneath his withering stare and added, “This isn’t easy for any of us, Alexi. Hearts may be broken. I know all about that.”

“You want Prophecy to be Miss Linden because it’s obvious that I don’t care about her, beautiful as she may be. Your jealousy is such that you’d rather push me toward someone I care nothing for, hoping that once the
number
is out of the way I might at last choose you—”

Rebecca slapped him across the face, rage in her eyes. “How dare you say such a thing, Alexi Rychman? You’ve fabricated Prophecy to be your lover when that was never so! How dare you blame me for trying to save you from yourself?”

Alexi’s hand rose to his cheek. Tears spilled down Re
becca’s flushed, defiant face. Everyone else stared on in horror, waiting for the walls to ignite.

“Has it come to this?” he growled. “You, of all people, Headmistress? Years of friendship and trust turned to petty violence?”

“Alexi,” Jane interrupted, moving to place an arm around her friend. “Don’t blame Rebecca. We were all in agreement before you waltzed in.”

His knuckles, in tight fists, were white. The word “waltz” was a great and painful irony. “All my years of leading you fools, and in the end they mean nothing. Fate has turned you against me. Well, I damn this fate!” Alexi fumed, turning to exit. “I shall make my own.”

Michael jumped up suddenly and blocked him. In their years together, no one had ever seen the vicar angry. Until now. “You dare to alter Prophecy to suit your whim? You ignore the signs we are all given? Let the Balance fall to pieces, and all the goblins of hell can have a holiday on your lawn with this talk of yours!”

“No.” Alexi shook his head, trying to press past, but Michael would not budge.

“Alexi, don’t think this isn’t hard for us as well,” the vicar stated.

“No, I see. Kiss me on both cheeks, my friends, and send me to the cross.”

Elijah scoffed. “Oh, don’t be dramatic—”

“Don’t be cruel, Elijah,” Alexi countered.

Rebecca stood weeping across the room. “Don’t be utterly stupid and blind. Listen to us, for once. You’re not omnipotent.”

Alexi stared at each of his friends, searching for any ally, any hint of understanding, but there was none. Lucille Linden crept down the stairs and stood silently in the corner. Weariness broke through Alexi’s anger. If there truly was a door, could he deny it? Could he walk away from the group he led? He would fail everyone and everything if he did.

“I hate this,” he stated sadly, and felt something begin to die inside him.

He turned to gaze upon the beautiful woman in the corner of the room who was looking at him with sympathy and care, and a bitter taste rose to his lips. Could they possibly be right? Somehow, could it be possible that the innocent Miss Parker had blinded him? Could his dear, sweet Percy indeed be the trap of which he was warned so many years previous? He had indeed made a mistake before—one that had cost his sister her legs and his family their love. Could he afford to stand alone again?

“May I speak?” Lucille asked. Her voice was like warm music, soothing the chill throughout the friends.

“Yes,” Elijah replied. Alexi set his jaw.

“Please, my friends, I don’t presume to know anything about how your esteemed faction operates. I can’t say exactly how the doors operate. I’ve only seen them in times of stress, and I cannot guarantee them. But…let me spend a bit of time with you and let us see,” she suggested gently.

The Guard turned to Alexi, staring expectantly. They were still his to command, if he would do so.

His shoulders fell. “I curse the day I received the burden that is this life,” he stated, taking in his comrades. “Looking now, I don’t recognize any of you. It’s as if you’ve turned to stone.”

He turned blankly to Miss Linden. “Very well, we’ll have a meeting. Perhaps our chapel might return all of you to your senses,” he muttered; but he was defeated, his voice hollow. Drawing his cloak about him, he turned slowly and moved to the door.

“I’ll make arrangements for Miss Parker to be returned to her convent. The safest thing would be to keep her out of the way,” Rebecca suggested quietly.

Alexi whirled with dead eyes, pointed a warning finger at her. “Don’t say one word to Percy. I will handle it,” he said, and stormed out the door.

The Guard stood silent, staring helplessly.

Lucille glowed with soft warmth. She said softly, her eyes watering, “I feel for the first time in ages that I—and all of us—may at last be safe.”

Isabel roused her with a sharp rap on the door before scurrying down the hall, and Percy rose and dressed alone, assuming, as she always did, that she was too frightening to receive help. When she finally made her way downstairs, Alexandra was awaiting her with scones and tea. Percy did not have the heart to admit she didn’t have an appetite.

“I’m sure you’re anxious to get back to your campus and to Alexi,” the woman said, “so I won’t hold you with pleasantries, but you simply must eat something; you’ll waste away.”

“Thank you, Miss Rychman, for your generosity and kindness,” Percy replied, biting into a scone.

“Now, Alexi hasn’t come for you this morning, dear girl, but don’t worry. He sent a driver for you and the man’s waiting outside.” Percy was certain she appeared as crestfallen as she felt, for Alexandra was quick to add, “He must simply be busy, don’t you worry. I’m sure you and I both worry too much when so much of his mystery we would never understand.”

“But, are you sure he’s all right?”

“He must be; he sent the driver. I’m sure he’ll be at the school when you get there. Lord knows he spends hardly any time at our old estate.”

The two females ate in silence for some time before Alex
andra reached out to take Percy’s soft white hands in hers. “Take care of him, dear girl. You’ve such a gentle heart—I see it in every part of you. He needs that,” Alexandra confided. “He so desperately needs that.”

Percy smiled nervously. “But Miss Rychman—”

“Break past his cold walls, Miss Parker! You must. You’re the only one who can; he’s never let anyone else near. He’s so frozen without, but there’s a fire within.”

Percy nodded, thinking of his grandmother’s words during the night, words about the firebird. She considered mentioning it and then thought better; she didn’t want to add more madness to the mixture.

Her hands fluttering nervously in Alexandra’s, she rose. “Thank you, Miss Rychman, for everything.”

“Anyone that Alexi has taken the time to care about, which is hardly anyone, is always welcome here.”

Percy stared out the carriage windows all the way back to London, wringing her hands and wondering why her professor hadn’t come for her in person. Her mind raced through countless scenarios, and she willed the conveyance to speed her back. Of course, in the full light of day, the thought of his brazen kisses, the thought that he’d glimpsed her naked body, the thought that, had they not been interrupted,
anything
might have happened—all brought blushes that covered her head to toe.

Surely it was in regard to school policy that they couldn’t take the risk of being seen creeping back onto the grounds together—this was the only thing she could think might be his reasoning, and she understood. Still, she found it odd he had not sent a note or any other communication indicating her course of action when she returned. She’d simply have to seek him out under the guise of academic pursuit.

City bells tolled nine. Percy thought guiltily about missing religious services when her arms had been so recently locked around a man not her husband. For that reason, she
attempted to assuage her sin through fervent prayer. And yet, the strange events bringing her and Alexi together had to be the work of God’s hand. Or, so she hoped.

When the driver pulled up to Athens’s portico, Percy flew from the cab and scurried across the courtyard. She dared to glance up at the sky, thinking perhaps she’d dreamed the cracks along that surface, but clouds remained thick, keeping the heavenly canopy hidden.

She darted immediately to Alexi’s office and almost forgot to seek permission to enter. Recovering herself, she took a deep breath and knocked.

“Who is it?” barked a voice from within. Percy shrank back from the tone.

“Perc—It’s Miss Parker, Professor Rychman,” she called.

No answer. Percy’s fear pushed her onward. His door was unlocked, and she dared to open it, peeking her head inside. Alexi stood there, staring blankly out the stained-glass window, its colours cast across his expressionless face. Percy crept into the room, closing the door behind her.

“Alexi, what is the matter?” she asked as he shifted to not face her. He didn’t reply, so she added sweetly, “I was worried about you when you did not come, but I’m sure that was for the best, considering our situation. Are you all right? Are your friends all right?” She approached slowly and reached out a hand to touch his shoulder.

He gave her one brief, stony glance that caused her heart to freeze, then turned away and evaded her touch. “You came in unannounced and uninvited, Miss Parker,” he began coldly, “and so I ask you now to leave.”

Her heart stumbled. “My apologies, Alexi. I was presumptuous. Do forgive me; I didn’t mean to intrude. May I visit you later this evening, then? We’ve much to discuss,” she added gently, hoping he’d turn with a weary smile, take her hand and unburden himself.

“No. You may not,” he declared.

Percy trembled. “Alexi, a-are you cross with me? In the time since we were last together, what on earth—?”

“I have realized your web of witchcraft, and I must distance myself from you.”

Percy blinked several times, suddenly nauseated. “What do you mean?” When she stepped forward and brushed her fingers against his sleeve, he flung his arm aside as if scalded. “Alexi, what on earth…How sudden is this pique? Why, just hours ago you held me in your arms—”

“I broke from your spell.”

“Spell? What do you mean?” Percy asked after a short silence, her breath failing. “I grant you, I do not look ordinary—nor has anything in my life ever been so—but I’m no witch! I speak no incantations. I wield no charms. Your protection and concern were a gift you gave me of your free and dominant will—the greatest gift I’ve ever been given. And, if I’m not mistaken, you care—”

“I cannot explain to you any more than I could before. I simply cannot see you.”

“Alexi, please, I don’t understand.”

“No more. I can see you no more. That’s all you need understand,” he declared.

“But, all we have—”

“I should never have so blindly indulged in your company, Miss Parker.”

Percy wandered numbly toward his desk. “Alexi, do you understand how frightened I am? Not even a day has passed since you shielded me from that horrid beast,” she reminded him. “What about my safety? Even if you do not wish to…follow through on the promise of your embrace, you pledged to keep me safe! Why this change of heart?” She was trembling quite badly.

“I…I cannot care for you; it is ruining me.”

Tears falling, Percy staggered backward as if slapped. “Ruining you? Alexi.
Professor?
Tell me what could have
been ruined but my own honour, useless as it is with my freakish face?”

Alexi remained silent. Percy prayed for something, anything to counteract the horror of this unwarranted change of sentiment more terrifying than the fangs of that incorporeal dog. Her hand flew to her mouth. “Have I been made such a fool that you’ll not even look at me? Of course. You are ashamed of me. I’m not Beauty, not Snow White, but the Beast after all.”

His formidable figure did not move; he made no sound. Finally he cut the silence with a dismissive declaration. “Miss Parker, you’re a very intelligent girl. Don’t indulge this senseless romanticism. You’ve also no need for further education. And since there are established rules of conduct in this place that have been thoroughly and egregiously broken, I’ve arranged for a carriage to return you to the convent tomorrow. It is for the best.”

Percy choked, falling against his desk. “What?” she was barely able to whisper as her fingers fumbled at her throat to clutch the phoenix pendant. “You send me away; you punish me with no explanation, after all you did to me? What am I to do? What about your little ‘club’—all these strange portents, talk of spirits, the number seven and a prophecy? You owe me something, not this cold, sudden banishment to whence I came!” She approached him. “Look at me, Alexi. Will you not see my pain? Don’t you know how terrified I am of the dogs, the horses, the blinking visions of fire? If you abandon me…might it not mean my death?”

Despite her proximity, his expression remained impenetrable. Perhaps he cringed; she could not be sure. “Don’t be foolish. You’ll live,” he stated.

“Live with what—fond touches turned suddenly to lies while unnatural events and creatures drive me to madness?”

“I told you no lies. I promised you nothing,” he growled.

“You promised me information! Something! Safety! Knowledge! Foolish me, I thought you might need me as
much as I need you! For some greater purpose, it seemed! But moreover…why did you tease? Why play with my heart if you were only going to break it? I begged you not to toy with me, and now you’ve ruined my life. My chances and opportunities here—”

“It is not your place to fight me, Miss Parker. Stand down,” he scoffed, still unwilling to look in her direction. “Silly girl, you shouldn’t have been foolish enough to give me your heart. I am not responsible for the ‘breaking’ of any such thing. You overstep your bounds—”

“I’m not the one who did so, Professor!” Percy insisted, finding a surprising, righteous fury within her. “You broke the rules when you pressed your lips to mine. You kissed me.” She had to gasp so as not to sob, tasting that delightful yet devastating memory one final time. “There’s a purpose for me. Don’t leave me so ignorant. Is this merely because I am your student, and so now I, the one who has no power here, shall be punished? Does the headmistress demand that?”

Alexi clenched his fists. “She does, actually. You must be removed from my life, Miss Parker, no matter what we have shared. I can say no more.”

Percy nearly swooned. “You can say no more…” A crazed laugh tickled the back of her throat. “That’s all you’ve ever said. How convenient! And now you leave your pupil to the wolves. The very sky is breaking open, Alexi. I’d like to hear what the headmistress has to say about that—about Prophecy, about your little club, about how you touched me…”

The words crawled from her lips like spiders. Suddenly, she remembered the night prior. “Oh, I should tell you that your grandmother came to visit me at your sister’s house. She warned me of snakes and told me to tell you to light the darkness with your fire, firebird. But perhaps that’s useless information to you now, as I am useless to you now.”

It was then that he whirled upon her. His dark eyes were colder than she could have imagined, and his face showed no
glimmer of pity. Percy buckled beneath the blow of that stare. She sank to her knees on the office floor, tears spilling helplessly from her eyes.

“You are not what I thought you were,” he said simply. “I truly wish it were otherwise, but you are not Prophecy. You are a trap. And so you must go. I cannot have you here.”

Percy was too stunned to move. Above her was a captivating yet suddenly foreign demon dressed in black robes and quivering with unfounded contempt. She knelt, crumpled like a helpless, broken doll. The pain in her breast was sharp as a rapier point, and she thought she might lose consciousness. She wished she would. Behind Alexi, visible in the window, the shadows of the horsemen in the sky seemed somehow larger. Her fear intensified.

Alexi pointed to the door. It was not a request.

Despite his ill will and her fall from favor, Percy could not help but stare up at him, intoxicated. Defiant, she refused to withhold her passion; if he didn’t wish to hear the words, all the better. “Sending me away won’t change how much I love you, Alexi.” She spoke the weighty words like proclamations from heaven. She loved him dearly; there was no shame in that. What had begun as fascination had grown into a true love born from his unfaltering acceptance of her and everything about her, perhaps even delight in her. She could not credit it had vanished entirely.

Alexi’s eyes closed. His conflict was betrayed by a shaking hand raked through his wild black locks. Percy rallied for a moment at this crack in his facade. Perhaps he would break down, confess his undying passion…But such a victory was not to be.

“Get out!” he cried, and lunged forward, meaning to drive her away.

She could bear no more. Percy crawled to the threshold, clambered out like a wounded animal. The door boomed shut behind her, its echo accompanied by the unearthly gasp of grief that tore from her throat.

On the other side of the door, Alexi Rychman dropped to his knees and put his head in his hands. He bit back an angry, pitiful wail.

Percy watched the sunset track across her wall.

Marianna knocked upon her door. There was a long silence. Marianna knocked again.

“Percy, it is I, are you there?”

“Yes, Marianna,” Percy replied weakly.

“May I come in?”

“I…am not feeling well, Marianna. I think it best not to see me this evening. I fear I’d make you ill in turn.” Percy found it difficult to think or speak in complete sentences.

“You are not well? May I get you anything?”

“No, Marianna. There is no medicine to cure this ailment.”

“Oh.”

“I will see you soon, my friend,” Percy added, attempting to sound valiant.

“All right. Tomorrow then. Good night!” Marianna called, and Percy heard her slow, hesitant footsteps wander away.

Percy sat perfectly still, knowing the truth. There would be no tomorrow. She would never see Marianna again. She would be whisked back to the convent in shame, where she would live out an unfortunate life in silence. Or, she would cut that mercifully short with a sharp blade and hope God would understand. Or that canine abomination would find her and she desperately hoped its fangs were quick.

When she blinked, she saw fire beneath her eyelids. The sound of barking increased. Percy stared at the wall and waited for something to destroy her.

In the drawing room of Lord Elijah Withersby’s grand estate, the chatter of The Guard and Miss Linden fell silent as Josephine ushered a swirl of black fabric and brooding shadow into the room.

“By all means, don’t let me interrupt,” Alexi said, his expression cold as he gestured for them to return to their conversations. He drifted to sit in a Queen Anne chair and stared into space, detached and silent. Rebecca stood across the room, an arm upon the mantel supporting her; but no matter how distraught his old friend appeared, Alexi did not acknowledge her. This was not the same group of comrades that wrought wonders.