Being Grey (Beings Trilogy) (7 page)

“Sure, if that’s ok with you.”

“Definitely.” I beam. Sometimes I feel that I don't spend enough one on one time with Robbie - well, this'll be one on one and a half with Luke along too.

We wander over to
Mudchute
Park
. This is Luke’s favourite place and he knows every animal, every breed in the place. I think he has also named every goat, pig and cow. He runs ahead of us to say hi to Betty the cow but every few moments he glances back to make sure he hasn’t lost us.

“He doesn’t like being apart from you for any length of time, does he? How long has it been now?”

“Coming up to three years.” Robbie answers. “I still find it hard to believe that we’ll never speak to our parents again. Luke will do or say something and for a brief second my first thought is mum will laugh about that. Or dad will be so proud. Then I remember they’ll never know. I doubt that feeling ever goes away.” Their parents died in a car accident. A drunk collided with them on the motorway.

“I’m sorry.” It always sounds so lame but I’m almost choking at the thought of not having my parents around. “It must hurt so much.”

He looks at me with tears in his eyes and just nods.

What a way to spoil a beautiful day. Way to go
Alice
.

“I know you and the others think I’m a little bloodthirsty sometimes, but I’m doing it to protect Luke. Poppy and Stefan will find the pure people in this world. Well, maybe the pure people will find Poppy,” he smiles “so it’s left to me take out the damned.”

He looks almost apologetic and I suddenly realize that this sixteen year old young man, my friend, has the weight of the world on his shoulders. I’ve known Robbie for almost 2 years now and yet it feels like I’m only just meeting the real him.

Something inside me bubbles up and I burst into tears.

Why lately when I’m having an emotional outbreak does everyone laugh at me?

“Oh come on
Alice
, it’s not that bad. And I know you’ve got my back.” He’s chuckling. “I just like to stay focused. And if you’re worried I don’t have any fun, well let’s just go find those donkey’s and see who’s more of an ass.”

Rabbits, horses, guinea pigs, donkeys, chickens and who knows how many hundreds of other animals later, we’re ordering sausage sandwiches for lunch.

“We haven’t seen the geese.” Luke states so matter of fact. I think he’s going to drown in his ketchup.

We really could be here all day at this rate but it is fantastic weather and Luke is so happy (yes, we let him skip school but he’s not your average 9 year old). Luke doesn’t have the ability we do but Robbie told him shortly after their parents died as he wanted to share everything with him. As I know from experience, at 6 years old, it’s all fairies and goblins and he hasn’t questioned it any differently in the last few years.

“When I’m older, I think I’ll be a vet so I can work here every day.” Oops, no more skipping school then.

“I think that’s an excellent idea.” I say, being optimistic. But I’m wondering why is it that no one tells us at that age that unfortunately you can’t save them all? That part of a vet’s job is to put some animals down. Doesn’t sound that different from my job.

“Ok, let’s finish up here, chase some geese and then we can go tell
Adrian
how Betty the cow is doing today.”

“Geese chasing, geese chasing, cheese grating.” Or something like that comes out of Luke’s mouth as he runs off, leaving half of a really good sausage sandwich behind.

We’re walking back to
Adrian
’s. Luke is covered in ketchup and smells like a cow (we caught him trying to kiss Betty goodbye).

“Thanks for suggesting this today. Sometimes it’s nice to turn the ability off and just have a fun day with friends.” Robbie smiles.

As he’s puffing his hair out of his eyes I realize that he really is a handsome young man and then I have a horrible flash back to what Annabel said about him with his shirt off. I look away embarrassed.

“I really enjoyed it too.” I’m blushing. Robbie is going to think I have a crush on him. I do love him but it’s a brother love. Oh please think of something else and not his abs.

“Ooh!” Brain pop “How was Glen after? Does he think we’re all completely insane?”

“It dawned on him that we were all a little young to be assassins but he figured we live in a world where anything is possible. I think he thought if we were going to kill him we would have done it already. Probably not wise to bring it up again any time soon.”

“Agreed.”

Luke holds the door open and we go upstairs.

“You smell like you had a good day.”
Adrian
was chopping vegetables for dinner but has to steer Luke out of the kitchen. “Hi
Alice
, looks like you had fun.”

“We had a great day.” I smile at the boys. “Sorry about the smell.”

Robbie smiles, “I’ll take care of him, you guys chat. Come on stinker, let’s get you showered and then I think we have time to play a game before dinner. What’s your choice?” He and Luke argue back and fore over which game to play as they walk towards their rooms.

Adrian
was chopping an onion. I hate that he can do that without suffering. I always look like I’ve been dragged through a hedge backwards after chopping onions.

“
Adrian
, the ‘Takers’, do we kill them the same as
Beings
?”

“Yes.” The chopping has continued. He looks like he’s preparing to feed five thousand. “We are all mortals Alice. But they will have heightened senses as you all do. Robbie’s pain, Stefan’s temperature changes, Annabel’s taste and Poppy’s smell.”

And my?

“And your ability too
Alice
. The ability to see into the very
Being
of people. Just know that we are doing the right thing, don’t ever doubt yourself or your friends. Righteousness will always conquer evil.”

I’m going to be a superhero after all. OK, not really but you know what I mean.
 

Chapter Twelve

Slobbing on couch with Poppy is something we both do very well.

“I still can’t believe you didn’t wake me today. I love going to see the horses.”

“Poppy, how many horses do you have back at the manor?”

“What kind of silly question is that? So if you have a dog you don’t say ‘ooohh’ when a cute one is being walked down the street?”

She has a point. I think.

“You’re right, sorry. There’s always going to be a next time with Luke. Have you been out?”

“No, was too depressed when I saw your note.”

The making me feel bad thing can go on from seconds to about an hour. After that we both get over it as we can’t stop talking to each other for too long. I think we’d get lockjaw or something.

“You did nothing at all, all day? Pretty boring.”

“You asked did I go out. I didn’t say I didn’t do anything.” The making me feel bad is forgotten as she starts smiling. “Slappy came over to keep me company.”

“Really? Did you plan your wedding?” If Stefan ever did notice how madly in love Poppy was with him they could be married tomorrow. She’s had it all planned out for quite some time.

“Be rude if it makes you happy. We were actually trying to think of a way we could all check out the people Jason hangs out with. Find the ‘Taker’, if there is one, before we kill Adam. None of us wants you on your own as we’re all still fairly new to this. It just makes sense for us all to stick together.”

I’m touched. “If we just hang out together all the time he’ll think you’re stalking me, or him. Or that I’ve got an escape planned.”

“We realized that. So we get them to come to us.”

Oh dear, they really have planned something.

“Go on then. Spit it out. What did you two come up with?”

“I’m excited. The plan is brilliant!" Her habit of drawing out the suspense doesn't work on me anymore - I've known her too long. One look at my expression and she's smiling, "So we have a ‘do’ at mummy and daddy’s.” This is the brilliant idea? “And Jason can be your date.” Stop winking Poppy. “And he can invite his friends.”

“Brilliant Poppy. But I don’t see the likes of bully Adam donning a tux to attend a ‘do’ in the country, do you?”

I’ve offended her. Upset her? Confused her? Why do I feel like I missed something here?

“
Alice
. Remember? Little Adam cherub face. Even though we all knew he was a bully and a thief what was the one thing he did every year around June 4
^th
?”

I’ve got my tongue between my teeth. My thinking face is on. It’s not
Wimbledon
then. I look at Poppy whose mouth is starting to form an O in horror. Oh crap.

“It’s your birthday. I knew that.” Phew. “But what I don’t get is…….” Yes I do. I get it. One week of the year, prior to Poppy’s birthday, Adam would be nice to every kid in school. His one wish was to go to the birthday party that all the kids talked about for the rest of the year. Not once was he ever invited. “You’re going to finally invite Adam and his damned
Being
to a Poppy birthday bash? Are you crazy?”

“You know even now he won’t be able to resist. So we don’t have clowns, magicians,” I shiver “we never did have those fabulous cheese and pineapple things your mum always had. Maybe we could get some.” She muses. “But, it will be my eighteenth so I’m sure it’ll be fun.”

I’m shocked. I’d not only forgotten my best friends birthday was approaching, I’d forgotten it was her eighteenth. How could I forget? What am I going to buy her? Maybe I could just take her shopping. No, that’s not special to her at all. Lord and Lady Howard will probably buy her a fantastic new car or something extravagant. Maybe I could get her one of those tree air fresheners. Or a furry steering wheel cover. Great ideas, not.

Thankfully the phone rings to interrupt my horrible gift ideas. Poppy is in full slob mode so I run into the kitchen to answer it.

“Hello
Alice
, how are you my dear?”

“Oh excellent and I’m so glad it’s you.” How is that for timing? It’s Poppy’s mum. Even as a thought that sounds wrong. It’s Lady Howard. I close the kitchen door so I can talk to her without Poppy hearing, “I was thinking of calling you to see if you had any ideas what I could get Poppy for her birthday?” I’ve lowered my voice to a whisper. “Something that may compliment what you’re getting her?” Translated - Give me some ideas.

“What a wonderful coincidence. That’s why I called.” She wants ideas from me? Now we’re in trouble. “I wondered if you wanted to go shopping this week together. I have so many ideas George said I needed someone to rein me in. I’m not a bloody horse I told him. Men! Don’t ever get one dear.”

OK.

“I’d love to, how about….”

“Wednesday at 10. I’ll send the car to pick you up and we’ll go to
Guildford
. So much cleaner than the city. We’ll have brunch in that darling little café and then grab some goodies. We’ll have so much fun. A girl day. No bloody men. Excellent. See you Wednesday. Toodles.” Click.

Sounds great, looking forward to it. Toodles right back at you. No that doesn’t fit into my schedule. It’s not that she meant to be rude. Just what could be more important than shopping for Poppy? I love Lady Howard but a whole day just me and her?

I wander back into the lounge.

“Who was that? You look confused.”

“Wrong number.”

“Long call for a wrong number.”

“Hmm? Oh. Yes. They were ordering pizza so I let them.”

“You are so funny sometimes
Alice
. So what are we going to watch?” Earlier discussion is swept under carpet by a night of great TV.

Chapter Thirteen