Among You (14 page)

“
I’d say you’ve read this book.”

Middleton’s piercing gaze shot through my eyes and into my heart. The woman meant some serious kind of business. “Suzanne and Steffan Gaultier, both shot in cold blood in the fall of 1890. I know my history, Scott. I know most of the words in that book are true and that’s why this community has gone a long way to ensuring it never find its way into the public eye.”

“
So they are trying to suppress the truth. Wow,” I stood and slapped my forehead. “This just keeps getting better and better. Now it’s a conspiracy on the part of the town politicians to keep its citizens ignorant of the tragedy…”

Middleton interrupted me, just as I was getting revved up to race off into the stars.

“
The tragedy that befell the Gaultier’s and that house, happened in another country, Scott. Even so, the city council of Tyler’s End doesn’t need that kind of publicity on their hands. The second word gets out of a
murder house
, who knows what kind of people will flock to the town. The press, the media…anyone and everything with an agenda will be banging down their doors and ours. We don’t need that.”

I didn’t buy her story. People had become desensitized to such things. Murder isn’t nearly as sexy a crime as it once was. Spreading the word of a “murder house” would do Tyler’s End no harm or good.

“
Scott, please forget about the Gaultier House. Besides, Halloween is over; that entire town is irrelevant for another year.”

My hand was already reaching for the doorknob. “Maybe for you. There’s truth out there, Mrs. Middleton –”

“
Ms.,” she corrected me as she handed over the requisite note that promised I did, in fact, visit the counselor.

“
Ms. Middleton. I plan on finding out what was going on over there at Tyler’s End. You can’t stop me.”

I opened the door, walked out
,
and eased it shut behind me. I peeked through the glass in the window, to find Middleton, her hands clasped together in front of her face. My conscience begged me to slip away from school. My feet, on the other hand, insisted me back to class.

As I walked back to class, I couldn’t get Ms. Middleton’s eyes and lips out of my mind. Even more so, her words ‘There are some things you aren’t meant to know,’ stuck hard and fast to my memory.

twelve | the grand ball

Streamers, music, and smiles festooned the inside of the Gaultier house
.
The string quartet was delivering a delightful rendition of Chamond L’State’s
Allegro Con Diablo
. The piece played like angels and devils fighting a lover’s
war in paradise. Nearly the entire population of Tyler’s End was in attendance. A banner above the quartet gave praise to the occasion in glorious script:

Babbette Gaultier: Coming of the Ages

As a new attendee entered, an elder gentleman, attired in clothing worn by ‘Kind at the turn of the century, would announce the name. Those not enjoying the dance floor applauded with each announcement.

A fly on the wall would seem to spy a moment ripped from a previous era and coalesced in perfect harmony with the people of Tyler’s End.

The
Coming of the Ages
was a major event – especially for the daughter of one as prominent and powerful as Gorman Gaultier. The celebration marked the one hundred and fiftieth birthday of Babbette. As tradition demanded, all attendees arrived without their human masks – there was no place for false facades at the ‘Ages ceremony. Since Gorman Gaultier made the demand, no one would
dare arrive masked.

“
Babs,” Timely sneaked up behind her friend, wrapped her arms around the girl’s shoulders, and squealed. “This is the most glorious party I have ever attended.”

“
Isn’t it?” Babbette responded. “Father has gone out of his way to make this a night I will never forget.”

Again Timely squealed. “Your dress! It is magnificent. Who made this for you?”

Babbette blushed and gave a nod. “It was mother’s dress. She wore it at her ‘Ages celebration.”

Another hug from Timely. “I’m going to cry now,” she said and pulled a handkerchief from her sleeve. “You did
not
see me do that. If the wrong person saw me pull such a move, I’d be labeled a
Marm
for the rest of my days.”

“
Oh, Timely, you’re so silly,” Babbette giggled.

“
Am I, though? You know how mean girls our age can be. Well, not
your
age.”

“
What are you saying?” Babbette playfully smacked Timely’s shoulder. “Do I look old?”

Timely merely shook her head.

“
What?” Babbett questioned.

“
We’re not playing that game. You are the perfect age and you are timeless. You know this. Babbett Gaultier is the most beautiful young woman in all of ‘Kind history.”

Babbette opened her mouth to complain; Timely continued on.

“
…because you get your beauty from the very Queen of ‘Kind herself.”

Both Timely and Babbette made a subtle, elegant gesture of crossing their hearts and tipping their heads to the right and then to the left.

“
Mother was incomparable,” said Babbette.

“
And you are her very lovely likeness,” added Timely.

A swell of music and a cheer interrupted the moment. Timely released yet another squeal. “It’s the Father-Daughter dance.”

The crowd parted to allow Babbette a clear path to the dance floor. She picked up the hem of her dress and gracefully made her way to the center of the room. Gorman Gaultier stood with his arm extended toward his daughter; his regal appearance commanded every bit as much attention as Babbette’s beauty.

“
My darling daughter, I would be so very honored if you would grace me with a turn around the dance floor.”

“
My gallant father, I would be delighted to express my undying love and loyalty to you with a turn around the dance floor.”

Their hands met and the quartet brought the room to life with the traditional piece for the Father-Daughter dance.
Som Nu Del Voise Pulance
. From the ancient ‘Kindian language –
One, from two we dance
.

As Gorman and Babbette waltzed to the three four time, the audience stood in nearly breathless awe of
the grace and beauty they embodied and inspired.

While Babbette’s waltz enchanted the captive audience, only Timely noticed the intruder threading his way through the crowd. The human face was unmistakable.

Without a seconds hesitation, Timely picked up the hem of her dress, revealing her Chuck Taylors, and gave chase. As she made her way down the grand staircase, she was able to keep her sight glued on the human boy.

Until he disappeared into the main library.

Timely picked up her pace, afraid she would lose the chance to find out what the young man was scheming. The crowd was thick – each attempting to steal a glimpse of Babbette and Gorman Gaultier.

“
Move,” Timely shouted as she shoved her way through the throng. “I’ve got business to attend to.”

When she finally reached the library, the door was locked.

“
Oh, this human boy,” mumbled Timely. She glanced about to make sure no one was watching and then placed her hand on the doorknob.

She could feel the electricity build at the base of her skull and then shoot down toward her hand. A brilliant blue glow lit up the space between her flesh and the metal of the knob. Had the surrounding space been silent, a high-pitched whine would have been heard, just before the lock on the door was unhinged by Timely’s magic.

The door effortlessly swung open to reveal the human boy scanning the rows of shelved books.

“
Well, well, well…Scott, isn’t it?” Timely grinned as she spoke. “And what brings you back to Tyler’s End? Looking for answers to questions you shouldn’t be asking?”

thirteen | a meeting, a threat

I turned to see Timely standing in the door, a look of recognition in her eyes. Even under her mask, I was able to immediately recognize her energy…and her Chuck Taylors.

“
I…” I stumbled. I knew what I wanted to say, I just wasn’t sure I had the capacity to actually follow that train of thought. “
I wanted to see Babbette.”

Timely grinned wide enough to shame my uncle ‘Don, The Donkey, Maskey’. There was a reason for the nickname – his enormous grin.

“
You fancy her, don’t you?”

“
Ummm….” I wasn’t sure how to respond.

“
You shouldn’t be here, Scott. Not tonight.”

“
Why?”

Timely closed the door to the library and turned back to me. She bit her lip and then spoke. “This is a very special occasion for Babbette. If her father caught you here, there’s no way of knowing what he might do.”

“
I’m not doing any harm. I just want to see her.”

Timely moved to me in a blur. I shook my head, unsure if what I saw had any relationship with reality. “
Your very presence here is a danger to Babbette. This ceremony is sacred to us. You have to understand how strongly we stand on tradition. It’s astonishing that you made it into the mansion
tonight; your safe passage out would be a miracle.”

“
I can get out. But I didn’t come all the way here to turn tail and run. I
will
see Babbette and I
will
talk with her.”

Timely stomped her foot and pursed her lips as if she was about ready to toss herself to the floor and throw an epic fit.

She didn’t.

Small miracles.

I turned. Timely attempted to stop me, but I yanked my arm from her grasp and left the library. The crowd outside the door was so thick I could no longer see the dance floor. Desperation grasped my heart and threatened to squeeze it into silence. After a few deep, relaxing breaths, I was able to force my way through the crowd until I could finally bear witness to the Father-Daughter
dance.

She was beautiful beyond any possible description. The beauty and grace she personified on the dance floor was breathtaking. As she turned, her dress rose enough to give me a glimpse of her stocking-covered calf. My body was immediately electrified with need. I wanted to shout out to the world that Babbette Gaultier was mine. Of course, I couldn’t…and she wasn’t.

Before I could continue toward the dance floor, cold fingers wrapped around my arm and turned me.

“
Timely,” I started, but was stopped when an over-large male, with a razor-sharp grin and golden yellow eyes stared down at me.

“
Take off your mask,” the male spoke in a voice that could shame every horror icon ever.

I opened my mouth to reply, but my words were intercepted by Timely.

“
Brusque, he’s with me. Come, now, Skully, why must you always be the rebel?”

Without another word, Timely pulled me away from the rack of muscle and bass…away from the dancing Babbette. I stopped.

“
Why are you taking me away, Timely? Is it because I’m not in costume? Had I known…”

Timely’s eyes darted around the room from behind her green-gray mask, before she pulled me in tight, forced me to the dance floor, and led me around in a strange dance.

I was never a good dancer.

“
You are a lousy dancer, Scott Maskey,” Timely whispered into my ear.

“
Yeah, I was just…”

“
What do you want?” Timely interrupted.

“
I think you know the answer to that,” I said as I spun Timely around so her line of sight met up with Babbette.

“
There is much you do not know, much you shouldn’t know.”

Timely’s words were too familiar.

An idea struck me. Though my skills were severely lacking, I did everything in my power to lead my dance partner toward Babbette and her father.

“
I know what you’re doing, Scott.”

“
Yet you’re not stopping me.”

Timely went silent and slack as I continued the dance until we were next to Babbette. In almost perfect timing, the music came to a graceful stop and the audience offered a subtle, respectful applause. Just as I was about to turn to Babbette, Timely stepped in front of me, pulled a black mask from her pocket, and placed it on my head. It was nowhere near the level of costume the rest of the party-goers sported, but I assumed it would keep me from being tossed out.