Among You (18 page)

I couldn’t believe what I’d heard. Sally’s natural habitat was comfort and safety. She was never one to venture too far outside of the realm of the normal. I was the craziest thing she usually allowed herself. That meant one thing to me – we
did
have to go back.

We agreed to discuss the details of our next outing after we managed to get enough sleep to satisfy our teenage needs.

As I lay my head on my pillow, I tried to think pleasant thoughts. I knew there was no way to control my dreams; but I’d do anything to prevent from dropping back into that bleak world again.

sixteen | secrets and crushes

“
We shouldn’t be doing this, Timely.” Babbette’s voice was laced with uncertainty.

Timely rolled her eyes and replied with her usual over-confidence. “Babs, you worry too much. I told your father we were going to see a movie…a rom com. He’ll not get within a mile of that cinema. We’re safe.”

Babbette giggled. “Can you imagine? My father sitting through a romantic comedy? Timely, you are brilliant when it comes to being sneaky and underhanded.”

“
I’m not sure how I should take that, Babbette.”

“
Take it as the compliment I intended it to be. A lady never knows when she will need to sneak her way out of a situation.”

Both girls unleashed a raucous laugh before Babbette returned the conversation back to the moment.

“
So, Timely, what’s the plan?”

“
What do mean? This is all about you and Scott.”

Babbette huffed. “I know, but I’m horrible at such doings. All I could think of was finding him and watching him from a distance.”

Timely grinned. “And the purpose of this creeping?”

“
To see what he’s like. The last time ‘Kind took an interest in a human, lives were lost. I have to make sure Scott is someone to be trusted before I decide to continue this adventure.”

“
Then I packed correctly.”

“
Do you think I’m foolish for doing this?” Babbette asked.

Timely grabbed Babbette’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “Are you kidding me? What we are doing is in the name of love. What greater justification do you need?”

“
But it’s not for the greater good of the ‘Kind,” Babbette replied softly.

“
Pish posh on the greater good. Sometimes you have to do what’s right for you, Babbette. You’re the daughter of the greatest ‘Kind to ever live…you have every right to live a little for yourself.”

“
You’re right…I guess.”

“
I know I’m right.”

Timely’s car finally crossed into the busiest part of town.

“
Where to now, Babs?”

“
It’s a weekend, so Scott wouldn’t be in school. My first guess is his home.”

The car came to a stop at a light. Both girls looked to one another and simultaneously rolled their eyes.

“
I guess our planning wasn’t as thorough as it should have been,” sighed Timely
.

Babbette placed a cautious hand on Timely’s arm. “There’s one thing we can do; but you mustn’t ever mention this, especially to father. I have vowed to never let slip this secret to anyone, not even you.”

“
How long have you had this secret? And how did you manage to keep it from me?”

Babbette wrinkled her brow and bit her lip. “Trust me, it’s not been easy. We’ve shared everything with one another. Holding this secret from you always made me feel, I don’t know, dirty.”

“
Should I be nervous, Babbette? Will you be breaking some sacred oath or something? I don’t want to…”

“
Oh shush,” Babbette interrupted. “You know you want to know this secret as badly as I want to tell it.”

The slightest smile threaded its way through Babbette’s lips.

“
Now if I can remember how it is done.”

“
How, what is done?” asked Timely.

“
Pull the car into that lot.”

The light turned green. Timely gave the gas a gentle nudge and spun the wheel enough to turn the car into the parking lot. As soon as the vehicle came to a stop, Babbette opened the passenger door and stepped out.

The girls stood side by side behind the car. Timely took in a deep breath and whispered, “I can smell them.”

“
Who?”

“
The humans.”

Babbette inhaled and shook her head. “I don’t smell anything different.”

Timely breathed in gently. “It’s only the slightest hint of human flesh. Soaps and shampoos that have too long ago stripped the skin of its natural scent.”

Babbette took another breath – this time with her eyes closed. Her heightened sense of smell caused recognition to dance on her cheeks and lips. “I smell it. It’s not unpleasant, just unnatural; a bit sweet. I think I like it.”

“
Okay, Babs, enough stalling. What is this wicked magic you have to show me, even though you’ve only begun to go through the change? And why have I not known about all these special gifts of yours?”

Babbette smacked Timely, lightly across the shoulder. “I never said it was wicked, and I never said it was magic.” Babbette looked to Timely, her eyes dark and bristling with mystery. “There are some things you simply cannot know.”

“
So it is said.” Timely spoke the words she’d been taught as a child. The phrase was used when wisdom had been handed down from an elder or one superior in intellect or experience. In Babbette’s case, it was out of respect for Gorman and the power of the Gaultier house. Timely grinned and gestured for Babbette to continue.

“
Father taught me this a long time ago. I was to only use it in case of emergencies – like should Steffen disappear.” Babbette’s mood darkened slightly. Timely grabbed her hand and squeezed.

Not a word was spoken. Both girls understood the pain of such profound loss.

Babbette nodded once and then raised her hands. “This is a tracer we can use to locate something or someone we care about. It’s very difficult to master, but once you know it, it’s very easy to use.”

Babbette quickly scanned the area and then, with her hands held before her, sub-vocalized the incantation for the spell. She finally released a gentle puff of air and, from the palms of her hands, a faint, bluish-white light rose and sped off to its destination. In the light’s wake, a glowing thread remained aloft.

“
Babbette,” Timely panicked. “What if someone sees that?”

“
No need to freak out. It is only visible to ‘Kind, dear Timely.”

Timely stepped out in front of the car and placed her hand in the tracers contrail. An almost imperceptible symphony of glass bells sang out from the glow. Timely laughed.

“
It’s beautiful. I’ve never seen anything like it. Dearest Babbette, there is much to be learned from you.”

“
And much to keep silent,” Babbette added.

The girls slipped back into the car and Timely drove off, chasing the glowing trail of soft light.

*

The car arrived. The tracer ended in the driveway of a modest, two-story home in the middle of a fairly nondescript neighborhood. The car ticked and popped as the engine cooled in the November morning air. Both girls stared at the house in silence. After a moment, Timely squealed.

“
Babs, is this it? Are we at the house of the infamous Scott?”

Babbette whispered, her voice brimming with a nervous energy. “I think so.”

“
Do we just wait out here? Or do we knock on the door pretending to sell cookies or something?”

Babbette turned to Timely and tilted her head. “Cookies, really?”

“
Do you have any better ideas?”

“
We sit here and wait for Scott to come out,” said Babbette with finality.

“
Seriously? That’s your plan? We’re two teenage ‘Kind girls beyond the boundaries of Tyler’s End and you want us to just sit wait? Who are you and what have you done with my bestie?”

Babbette turned to Timely, the look on her face dark, almost grave. “There’s something I want to show you.”

Timely stared, eyes wide, mouth agape. “Okay, Babs, you’re freaking me out a little. Is this where you tell me the ‘Kind are actually some inbred, cannibalistic, caveman holdovers?”

Babbette laughed. “No, silly. I was looking through some of father’s books the other day and came across this.” She pulled a small book from her bag and opened it to a page marked by a scrap of burgundy velvet. “Take a look at this picture.”

Timely’s jaw drapped. “It’s Scott…or…it looks like him. Exactly like him. Who is this?”

“
According to my father, this was the first leader of the ‘Kind. He was the man responsible for tracking down the witch who saved our race from the plague. It was because of him that we survived.”

Timely ran her fingers over the image. “So you feel it’s your duty to connect with this doppelganger, in order to fulfill some prophecy or circle of life for our people?”

Babbette laughed. “Not at all. I just think he’s cute. Well, okay, sure…I feel some sense of duty to at least find out if Scott could be the descendant of this man. Apparently, after he brought the savior to our people, he disappeared. It was rumored he’d sold his soul to save us.”

Timely laughed. “Wow, this is getting deep. I don’t know if I should believe it all or assume you’re playing me the fool.”

“
No one is playing anyone for anything, Timely. You and I are just creeping on a cutie for the afternoon.”

“
Now that I can believe.”

Just as Babbette opened her mouth to continue her explanation, the front door of the house opened and Scott appeared. Behind him, a young female followed. Babbette stiffened at the sight of the other human.

“
Who’s that, Babs?”

“
I don’t know.”

As Scott and the stranger stepped together toward the driveway, they shared a laugh that spoke of familiarity.

“
You want I should rough her up?” Timely dropped into a tough, New York accent. Normally, Timely’s antics never failed to elicit a laugh. This time, she was met with silence.

Scott and the girl slipped into a very generic, green car. Moments later, they pulled out of the driveway.

Timely slipped a pair of sunglasses over her masked face.

“
It’s time to roll, my friend.”

The vehicle carrying the marks glided off. Timely gave a moment’s pause and then pulled out to follow. After a few blocks, she had their speeds matched and was holding at a constant distance.

“
Don’t lose them, Timely.”

“
Are you kidding? And kill the most excitement I’ve had in a very long time? Girl, it’s on.”

The tail was uneventful and led them into a part of town neither Timely or Babbette had ever laid eyes on. The buildings were graffitied in an almost orderly way – as if intentional – like the local authorities approved this ‘artsier’ facade to attract a ‘hipper’ crowd.

“
All in the name of consumerism,” Timely mumbled.

“
What was that?” Babbette asked.

“
All of this art. It’s been too strategically placed to be organic.” She pointed toward a local pizza joint. “Above that dive; see the sign advertising nearby bars and chain restaurants? All to draw the crowd away from the local diner.”

“
Look,” Babbette excitedly pointed across the street. “They’re going into a tattoo parlor, stop the car.”

Timely pulled the car over, shifted into park, and killed the engine.

“
What do we do now?” asked Timely. “Do we follow them in?”

Babbette’s eyes went wide. “Yes.”

“
Seriously? Who are you and what have you done with my Babbette?”

“
Don’t worry. I came prepared.” Babbette reached back into her bag and pulled out two human masks.

Timely sucked in a quick, deep breath. “Babs, whose masks did you steal? That’s…”

“
Against the law? Not these. I had father make these for me a long time ago, in case I needed to go out into the public without being seen.”

“
What else do I not know about you? Babbette, I thought…”

Babbette touched her hand to her best friend’s face. “Timely, my love, as I’ve said before, there are things you cannot know. But I promise you this, everything will become clear soon enough. You are as much a part of the Gaultier family as am I. Father cannot keep our darker secrets from you forever.”

“
Darker secrets? I don’t like where this is going, Babbette.”