The Changeling (4 page)

AFTERSHOCKS

Sara and Billy took turns guarding Drevek for the next two weeks. I avoided him and, to his credit, he did the same with me. Almost immediately, Mom and Dad noticed a difference in
Mitch’s
behavior and appearance. The changeling not only had a horrendous attitude, constantly whining and far more demanding than Mitch ever was, it was also growing ill. The only time I was tempted to intervene was when he refused to eat. On a few occasions I considered forcing him in the hopes that Mitch’s captors would do the same.

Our search wasn’t going well. Billy began looking in a grid and quickly determined that Mitch wasn’t stashed in any of the caves on the Weald, not that any of us expected to find him that close by. Billy expanded his search to nearby farms. He thought it likely that Mitch was held captive by humans, because it would be far too easy to track Fae. That was a problem, as there were twenty-six thousand people in Carroll County and to the west, nearly half a million in Benton and Washington counties. Mitch could be with any of them. We needed more time.

Just before I left the Weald on the first day of the spring semester, Ozara informed me that the Seelie hadn’t had any better luck than Billy, but she promised they’d keep trying. Mom and Dad left in the morning to take Drevek to the hospital. He’d thrown a temper tantrum when they mentioned it, but Sara was there to silently coerce him.

With Billy out searching the Ozarks, and Sara keeping an eye trained on Drevek, I’d had more time to myself in the last two weeks than since I arrived a year ago. Worried about Mitch, heartsick over Gavin, who I hadn’t seen in six months, I was ready to see my friends and let them distract me for a while.

Candace met me at the front doors of Eureka Springs High. We had talked by phone and texted continuously over the break, but I hadn’t seen her or anyone else since the party. She was nearly back to normal, with one big exception: a new disdain for unnecessary attention. She’d quit the cheerleading squad, dropped out of every club and departed from every committee, save one. Irritatingly, she was still chair of the prom committee. It was irritating because it meant that I had to be on the committee myself, and that would require me to attend meetings with the rest of the committee—meetings
ad nauseam
I was sure.

Casting it in a positive light, I told myself all day the prom committee would be a needed and healthy diversion. I repeated that to myself until school was over and we met for the first time in the semester. Candace, Rachel, Becky, Rhonda, and Ronnie, the only guy on the committee, debated themes, colors, and every other speck of minutiae associated with the event. They managed only to agree on where to have the next meeting: the Crescent Hotel, the proposed location of this year’s prom. I still hadn’t been to the Crescent, but I did remember all Aunt May’s ghost stories and other tidbits of its checkered past she had told me from time to time.

The impending prom created another issue I didn’t want to deal with: the dilemma of who I would go with. Using the techniques Gavin had unintentionally taught me, I’d already sidestepped two invitations from seniors, but I knew it was only a matter of time before Doug asked.

His advances were becoming bolder and more aggressive. Clearly, the situation was building to a head and I didn’t know how to handle it. Not only was I completely obsessed with finding my brother—a personal quest no one else could know about—but I was still inexorably committed to Gavin, wherever he was. Each time I closed my eyes, I saw his face. I spent hours in my bedroom clutching the gold necklace he’d given me last Christmas.

Between Mitch and Gavin, I was a complete mess. At the first practice of the year, I found myself unable to concentrate on swimming. Coach Rawlins gave me a little space, but I knew that wasn’t going to last long. State championships were just a few weeks away and he also mentioned that, provided my times were good enough, he wanted me to compete in a national event this year.

After practice was over, I met Doug at the car. My parents hadn’t come today. They were home with the imitation Mitch, who was getting worse by the day.

The fluorescent streetlights hummed in the frigid night air, illuminating the darkness and masking the majority of the stars in the cloudless night sky. Doug crossed his legs and leaned back against his black Jeep as I walked past several of my teammates. He had a devious look on his face and never took his eyes off me.

“Havana, I’ve been thinking,” he began.

“Oh lord, am I in trouble?”

“Well, I hope you don’t see it as trouble. I’m thinking that I’d take you to prom…well…two proms actually. Eureka and Fayetteville.” His eyes were more intense than ever, and he smiled—a smile I’m sure he practiced in the mirror a thousand times. It was freezing and the lighting was terrible, but he was excruciatingly adorable at the moment. Under the damp blond hair, his warm blue eyes looked twice as large as normal, his smile, twice as big.

I considered saying no for a moment, just to play with him, but I couldn’t bring myself to do anything that might change his captivating expression. Besides, I wasn’t about to go to Eureka’s prom by myself, and I knew Candace expected me to be there.

Urged on by my silence, he amped his begging up a notch. “You know you have to go—you’re a junior. I’m pretty sure, deep down, you really want to go with me. Besides, it’d be totally lame to show up by yourself.”

“That would be lame. But two proms? Really?”

“Yes, really. Come on, Havana, don’t make me get down on a knee.” He pulled a semi-pouty look from his arsenal of rehearsed, adorable expressions.

I laughed at the thought, and that spurred him on. He took a knee and grabbed my hand, pulling it gently toward his pleading face.

“Okay, I’m begging you. Besides, if you refuse me, then I’ll be forced to ask Rhonda.” He pooched out his lower lip and acted like he was temporarily nauseated.

“Don’t beg, Douglas. It’s a little pathetic.”

“That’s not a yes,” he said with big puppy-dog eyes.

“You know, I’ve already been asked by two guys, and they only want to humiliate me at
one
prom.”

“Who?”

“Trey and Macky.”

“Well, Trey isn’t much of a dancer, and Macky is a nice enough guy, but the acne? Do you really want to spend the rest of your life looking back over prom pictures with him at your side, when you could…”

I rolled my eyes. “When I could have you standing next to me? How completely narcissistic.”

“Narcissistic, and
true
. Come on, are you going to keep humiliating me? Are you that determined to strip me of every ounce of self-esteem?”

“You’re doing that on your own.” I laughed again and glanced around the parking lot. Many of our teammates were watching. Despite the cold, nobody seemed to be in a hurry to leave.

“Get up, Doug. People are staring.”

He grinned and raised his voice, apparently sensing an opportunity. “Oh my dearest flower, you rare jewel of an angel incarnate, I cannot fathom the depths of my despair should you refuse my hand in prom-dom. I shall be forced to shave my head and emblazon a big red “R” in the middle of my heaving chest as a sign of your painful and debilitating rejection. Agony! Self-loathing! Oh, bronze goddess, have pity!”

Now several people were laughing, including Coach Rawlins and his wife, who also appeared to be going nowhere.

“Enough, enough!” I said laughing at him.

He closed his eyes and shook his head. “I didn’t hear a yes.”

“Just how long did you practice that speech?”

He forced the smile off his face and tried to look innocent.

“I’ll go with you if you stop making a scene.”

“Everyone, did you hear that? She said yes!” He shouted, holding my hand against his chest. There was a round of applause in the parking lot as Doug stood up and bent slightly to kiss me.

I put my hand over his mouth, and laughed. “Um, did you miss the memo about creating scenes?”

With a huge smile spread across his face, he pulled my hand away and kissed me. I let him. For a moment I felt a familiar tingle in my stomach, but it quickly disappeared as I gingerly pulled away.

“Okay, can we drive home now?” I smiled and tugged a tuft of the blond hair behind his ear.

“Anything you want,” he said, lowering his voice so no one else could overhear us, “but before we go, can you tell me what it’ll take to get you to go out with me before then? You know, on a real date?” His blue eyes flickered under the glowing lights.

A pang of dread spread through my stomach. I was afraid he would ask me that, and I wasn’t about to lead him on. Going to the prom was one thing, but dating was another entirely. I chose my words carefully, trying to sound as neutral as possible. “Oh, not much, Doug, just more time.”

He grew visibly frustrated, exhaling loudly. His breath turned to steam in the cold air, and circled his head. I tugged at my coat, tightening the collar around my neck, while I thought of what I’d say next.

“Doug, you’re my friend, but I’m not ready for that. We’ve talked about it over and over again.”

“I know, I know…”

“I need more time, that’s all. Unless prom isn’t enough.”

“Oh no, you’re not going to back out on me that fast. Prom is great. I’ll wait on the other, like I promised, but what I can’t figure out is what you’re waiting on.”

My face flushed and I felt exposed.

“Maggie, Gavin moved away and he might not come back. I’m here and my feelings haven’t changed since last March.” His eyes were intense and he seemed a little on edge.

He was right about Gavin—more than he even realized—but I wasn’t going to be goaded into that conversation while we stood in the middle of a parking lot surrounded by a dozen spectators.

“Doug, don’t push,” I snapped.

“Okay, okay, sorry.” He threw both palms up and backed away a half step. “We still good?”

I was peeved, more at myself than him, but I managed to forge a smile and nod.

On the drive home he acted like nothing had happened, but I knew he was upset by my reticence. I struck up a conversation to focus his attention on Mitch, which allowed me to do the same. At the moment, Mitch was my paramount concern. When the Jeep pulled down to the cottage garden, I sensed several Fae gathered about.
Great!

Drevek was sitting on a bench with Sara next to him in human form. She acted as though she was trying to keep a ten-year-old entertained, but I knew better. Mom and Dad were at the garden wall talking to a Fae in human form just on the other side, and two more Fae lingered a few feet away, concealed by the darkness. Billy was behind the Jeep. He’d followed me to practice and stayed close the entire time I was gone.

The muscles in my chest tightened as Doug turned off the ignition. I stared at the Fae standing across from my parents, but I couldn’t see her face. Only a Fae, I thought, would not look to see who was approaching it from behind.

“Who’s the brunette?” Doug asked.

“I’m not sure.”

“She’s beautiful.”

She was. In fact, she was nearly radiant, even dressed in a heavy overcoat and thick shoes. Her long black hair was more lustrous than mine, and her pale skin had a bluish glow under the moonlight and gas lamps.

There was no wind, but the air was even colder than it had been in Bentonville. I wasn’t sure if that was the reason I suddenly felt a chill or not, but I moved closer to introduce myself. As I came to within a few feet of her, she turned to face me, and I nearly gasped.

She was the beautiful brunette from the island—the one who’d called me “insolent” and said she didn’t make bargains with mortals. My shield flared up immediately and I heard a little voice in my head.

“Cool it,” Sara said so that only I could hear her. I shot her a quick glance, and the next word she popped into my mind was, “Caretaker.”

My inner dialog flared up.
You have to be kidding. Why doesn’t Ozara just douse me in gasoline and hand Chalen a book of matches?

I hadn’t considered it, but of course the Unseelie had to have a representative on the Weald. But why her? Hadn’t she been punished for her role on the island? Was she really the best the Unseelie had?
Is Ozara on crack?

Her voice was silky. “I’m Cassandra, and you must be Maggie?” With fluid grace, a warm smile formed on her perfect face as she extended her pale hand for me to shake.

“Yes, I’m Maggie,” I said without taking her hand.

She smiled more broadly, knowingly, and let her hand drop. She knew I recognized her.

“So, you’re the new caretaker?” I shot an accusatory glare at my parents and Sara.

“Yes, Chalen asked me to take over for him while he’s travelling.”

Doug extended his hand and introduced himself. He was enamored with her, entranced, really. I cringed when she shook his hand, worried that she’d rip his arm out of its socket.

“Oh, the boyfriend?” She raised an eyebrow and grinned at him.

“I wish,” he said, rolling his eyes. If my parents hadn’t been standing right there, I’d have blown him into the side of the barn.

“Honey,” Mom started, “Cassandra just came down to introduce herself. She’s already done wonders with the caretaker’s cottage. It doesn’t even look like the same place.”