Anna was actually away from the Academy altogether. She had sought Kitty out and told her that she would be gone for the day, waving away her best friend’s apology for not telling her about their newest student and her escort before their arrival. Noting the lack of engagement ring on Anna’s hand, Kitty tried to talk about their visitors, one in particular, but Anna insisted their conversation would need to wait, promising that she would be up to talking about it another time.
Taking off in her Maserati GranTurismo, Anna went into town to pick up a few things and it wasn’t until well past 9pm when she returned, pulling the sleek black sports car back into the garage. It took her a couple of trips into the manor before she emptied the convertible of all its bags, her first stop the staff kitchen, and her last stop, Laura’s room.
She found the young mutant sitting in the dark again, but this time she was sitting in the desk chair by the window overlooking the empty courtyard below. Acting as though it was perfectly normal to find her like that, Anna left the light off and began emptying the bags, separating the items according to their use; underwear in one drawer, socks in another, the remaining drawers soon filling with several pairs of pajamas, leggings, shorts and shirts. Within a half-hour, the closet and wardrobes were filled with clothes and various types of shoes, the once bare vanity table now covered with brushes, combs and hair accessories. All the while Laura looked outside, refusing to acknowledge Anna. She let out a gasp when Anna pulled her up off the chair, and she was pushed gently but firmly out into the hallway, towards the dormitory bathroom at its end. Anna turned on the shower and stripped the young girl down, holding out the soap and shampoo pointedly. Sullenly, Laura took the items and entered the small cubicle, locking the door behind her with a slam. She purposefully took a long time, and when she finally stepped out of the stall, Anna was there, patiently handing her a large warmed towel, along with new underwear and a plain grey cotton pajama set. Once dressed, Laura followed Anna back into the bedroom.
Closing the door behind her, Anna reached for the hairbrush on the vanity table but Laura grabbed it from her quickly. “I can do it,” she mumbled, turning away, confused, clearly not used to being cared for.
Anna busied herself with gathering the torn wrappers and plastic wrap she had thrown to the floor, stuffing them into the emptied shopping bags. Laura began to work out her many tangles and Anna sat on her bed, one last bag still to be emptied. Sarah Kinney must have been a very beautiful woman, Anna thought, looking back at her, and Laura’s head tilted in that familiar angle that clearly indicated Logan’s genes were at play, watching her.
Anna reached into the bag and pulled out books; some crossword puzzles, some word searches, and others classics, none geared towards a twelve year old girl. There were jigsaw puzzles and various model kits for cars, planes and boats, all ranging from moderate to advanced, in terms of difficulty. Anna placed them in a pile by the small night table, and once done, got up to leave. She resisted the impulse to hug the young girl, knowing it was too soon, very aware that Laura could leave whenever she wanted. Anna learned that trust was a precious thing. It wasn’t just earned; it needed to be proven, over and over, constantly, before it could ever be believed in. This was just the beginning.
Anna turned back to the bed and pulled down the covers before leaving the room as silently as she entered it, closing the door behind her.
It was past 11pm and the dormitories were dark. The staff quarter’s had a few lights on here and there but mostly, everyone had turned in for the night. She felt a pang of guilt, thinking she should seek Scott out, knowing he felt bad for his words earlier that morning, but she just wasn’t up to it. She was tired, mentally, physically and emotionally and just wanted to crawl into her safe, comfortable bed.
After dumping the bags into the recycling bin, she walked over to her cottage at the back of the garden. She caught wind of him halfway there and would have turned around except she knew that he must have caught her scent already. She’d be damned if she was going to hide away from him in her own home.
He was barefoot and bare-chested; his blue jeans still as tight as ever, his hair defying the weather and remaining stick straight, impossible points and all. He was holding a Molson’s beer bottle in his hand, one arm supporting his weight against the white picket fence that surrounded her porch, watching her approach. Seeing him, Anna wistfully recalled how she would find him like this at the Westchester Academy so long ago, in the kitchen late at night when his nightmares would wake him up, or worse, when they woke her up. They would share buckets of ice cream, debating over silly topics like pecans versus macadamias, Canadian football over American, hockey over baseball, and she’d feel safe. Protected.
“Here I was thinkin’ you forgot how to smile.”
His words snapped her out of her reverie, and the unconscious smile disappeared from her face. “Is there something you need?” she asked him politely, stopping just shy of the porch steps, holding on to the rail.
He pushed off the white wooded rail. “Nope. Just thought I’d thank you for this,” he raised the bottle to her, “and for the cigars. I won’t ask how you got your hands on Cuban.” He was standing about three feet away from her and she remained where she was, apprehensive, watching him.
“How’s Laura?” His eyes were soft, looking at her, bathed in moonlight.
“Clean. Hopefully sleeping.” She stepped onto the porch. “Do you intend on provoking Scott the entire time you’re here?”
He laughed, and took another swig of beer, leaning back against the rail again.
Face serious, she told him, “I would prefer that you stopped.”
He arched an eyebrow. “You do, do ya?”
She crossed her arms. “Yes, I do.”
He finished the beer, his Adam’s apple bobbing as the golden liquid made its way down his throat. He made a loud smacking sound of appreciation before returning his attention to her. “He treat you good?” His voice was quiet but his hazel eyes were piercing.
She kept her eyes on his, steady. “Very good.”
Moments passed. His jealousy was palpable, but he fought it, willed it away. His eyes slowly travelled along the length of her. “You look good, Marie.”
Anna didn’t trust herself to say much other than, “Thank you.” Please don’t come any closer, Logan. Please don’t.
Golden eyes searched verdant ones and for a brief moment, Anna thought she saw regret flash through his, but as quick as it appeared, it disappeared, making her doubt what she saw.
“You happy?” His eyes took on a peculiar gleam, watching her intently.
“Yes.”
He cocked an eyebrow at the too quick answer. “That’s quite an accomplishment.”
She kept her eyes on his, cold and hard. “What about you? Put all your ghosts to rest yet?”
Logan rolled the empty bottle between his palms, looking away. He looked off to the distance, and then answered, his voice quiet. “Just the dead ones.”
His eyes caught hers and the air between them became charged. Anna stepped back, unprepared for the look of torment in those gorgeous hazel eyes.
“Marie…”
Panicked, she cleared her throat, interrupting him. “It’s been a long day and I’m exhausted. I really should get some rest.”
He stared hard at her, like he was looking for something, expected something from her, and she stepped further away from him, unwilling to find out what it could possibly be, wanting to show him that it didn’t matter. It didn’t matter at all. But Logan didn’t hold anything back, and his want for her, his need for her, poured out of him, encircling them.
No, no, no. Don’t do this Logan. Not now. Anna forced a smile on her face, swallowing hard before telling him in a bright voice, “Good night.” She made her way into her little home, making sure to lock the door behind her, not waiting for him to reply. Leaning against the door, she squeezed her eyes shut and she could hear his breathing, his heart pounding, on the other side.
Go away, Logan. Go away, because I can’t do this if you don’t play along. She released the breath she hadn’t been aware she was holding when he finally walked away, hearing the shuffling sound of his feet making their way down the porch steps and down the cobblestone pathway, and she was relieved, no, not disappointed, relieved, when she heard the gate swing closed behind him.
She sprinted to her bathroom, her clothes dropping to the floor, her skin on fire. It was so wrong, so wrong, because god help her, every piece of her, every inch of her traitorous body, screamed for him. Stepping into the shower, cool water poured down over her feverish body, her hands followed and she choked on sobs of frustration, hating this, hating him.
Logan needed to leave. There was no room for him in her life now. None at all.
Biloxi, Mississippi 2:07am.
“You little bitch! What did I say, Erin? Didn’t I tell you to get rid of it? Didn’t I?”
She nodded, terrified, backed up against the wall of the small apartment, pain stealing away her ability to speak. Not that she would have. Jonny was past being furious and she knew. She was going to die.
He grabbed the hair at the back of her head and dragged her, blood smearing the floorboards beneath her as he threw open the front door. Doors along the musty carpeted hallway slammed shut, fearing that he might see them, a cowardice shared, an apathy learned.
“You. BITCH!” He kicked her abdomen again, harder this time and she made a gurgling sound, blood pushing up her esophagus, spraying outward onto the plaster wall across from her. She curled into a ball as she coughed, her eyes swelling shut, left cheekbone shattered, lips split, jaw broken. She was dying.
She felt it before she saw it, the warm glow that filled the hallway, bright, brilliant, and all encompassing. She heard Jonny swear, fear causing his voice to raise a few octaves, demanding that something let him go. But she felt the cold creep shard like into her limbs, replacing the ripping pain that shot over her swollen belly, and she was losing consciousness, unaware that his false bravado gave way to blubbering pleas for mercy. From behind her eyelids, she could feel the light becoming brighter and warmth began to combat against the ice inside her, spreading through her as she felt herself pulled into a gentle embrace, her head resting against a strong, warm shoulder.
Don’t be afraid, Erin Drepaul.
The voice was melodic, exquisite, ethereal. She felt loved. She felt cherished. Erin tried to open her eyes, tried to speak, but blood dribbled over the side of her smashed mouth, her lungs filled with it, choking. Her entire body became warmer, almost hot, and she felt an energy course through her, a powerful but soothing wave, that took away all her pain, until there was nothing left but the strong compulsion to sleep.
The doors to the other apartments opened, its owners curious, having heard Jonny’s cries for help suddenly stop. An old woman was the first to step out, seeing his crumpled form against the wall, eyes wide and unseeing, and she cried out, dropping to her knees at the vision just outside her door.
The golden creature looked to her, tears streaming down its stricken face, and its massive six wings pulled back, revealing the motionless body of the girl. Titian colored feathers retreated into themselves, revealing its feminine form, and it bade her forward.
Come, Agnes Wilson. Come help this poor child. I could not save her baby and she has need of you.
A strong sense of peace came over Agnes, and she ignored her neighbors who tried to keep her back, fearing for her, afraid of the celestial-like being. Agnes took Erin into her arms, amazed to see not a mark on the young teenager’s face, beautiful in its innocence, her body completely healed. She looked up to the golden face of her savior and was humbled by the sight of deep sorrow on its face.
Please take care of her. I have failed.
It began to glow brighter, its golden skin becoming luminous, until everything became engulfed in pure white light. Agnes shielded her eyes, overwhelmed, and then, it was gone.