Читать книгу Unravelled - Cheryl S. Ntumy - Страница 12
ОглавлениеI stand in front of my mirror, scowling at my reflection. I hate clothes. I hate parties. At this moment I even hate Lebz, who looks like a million bucks in her black leather pants, ankle boots and silk top. She has a red sash around her braids and a cute handbag shaped like a fan.
I’m wearing black jeans with a ridiculous sequinned dragon clawing its way up the thigh, and a miniscule white shirt that Lebz insisted on bringing. It looks like it shrunk in the washing machine. “No.”
“But it’s so cute!”
“How can it be cute? It’s invisible!” I struggle with the top for a few minutes before finally getting it off, then rummage in my wardrobe and pull out a red The Doors T-shirt with the collar and sleeves cut off. I love this T-shirt – it falls over one shoulder and hangs just below my hips. I have no idea who The Doors are – the T-shirt used to belong to my father before I hijacked it – but I like it anyway.
I pull off the jeans and replace them with a pair of faded black jeans I’ve been wearing forever. I push my feet into hi-top All-Stars, tie a black band around my hair and I’m set.
“You know, that look isn’t as bad as I expected,” Lebz remarks, giving me the once-over.
I roll my eyes at her and grab a jacket. “Where is Wiki? Rakwena will be here in a few minutes and I don’t want to make him drive all the way to Phase 2.”
Lebz gets up and goes to the mirror to check her hair. She’s done some interesting twisty thing with her braids that must have taken ages. “Relax. He’ll be here.”
As if on cue, I hear a car pull up outside. “Finally!” I hurry to the door and pull it open just as Wiki is coming up the driveway. I wave at his father before he drives off.
“I’m sorry I’m late – my dad was in the middle of something.” True to his word, Wiki has his laptop bag on his shoulder.
Rakwena arrives a few minutes later. I lock up the house and pocket my key, send Dad a quick text to let him know when to expect me back, and then we’re off.
“I wish you were coming,” I tell Rakwena, as the car moves through the streets.
“I don’t. Besides, you have two experienced bodyguards,” he points out, looking at Lebz and Wiki in the rear-view mirror.
Somehow this doesn’t exactly reassure me. Wiki, despite his best intentions, is going to be absorbed in his laptop, and once Lebz is swallowed by the crowd I won’t see her for the rest of the night. Hopefully this Spencer guy and his buddies will keep me entertained, otherwise I’m going to be stuck watching anime with Wiki.
Kelly lives in a sprawling estate in Broadhurst. Her stepfather does something to do with medicine – medical supplies, or pharmaceuticals or something – and he’s the only father she’s ever known. Her real father left when she was a baby. She got an upgrade if you ask me – her stepdad treats her like a princess.
Rakwena pulls up outside the house, and Lebz’s door is open before the car has even come to a complete stop.
“Thanks, Lizard!” she chirps, hopping out of the car.
“Yes, thank you.” Wiki heaves a sigh of resignation and glances miserably at the house. “Not to be a bother, but is there any chance of a ride home?”
“Sure,” says Rakwena with a sympathetic grin. “I’ll be coming to get Connie around eleven. I can drop you off, no problem.”
“You’re a lifesaver.” Wiki gets out of the car and trails behind Lebz, who has already started dancing her way up the driveway to the beat of some ghastly ragga tune.
“Better get going before I lose my bodyguards.” I turn towards the door.
“Hey.” Rakwena takes my hand. “Be careful.”
“I will.” It occurs to me that he no longer seems as worried as he was the last time we spoke. From trying to convince me not to go to the party at all, he’s switched to being almost nonchalant. My sixth sense is tingling, but the car is idling and Wiki’s waiting for me near the door.
I give Rakwena a quick kiss and climb out of the car. Lebz, of course, is nowhere to be seen. Wiki and I step into Wonderland. It’s loud, and very different from Thuli’s party. There’s no wine, no carefully laid table, and no red carpet. It’s just a huge house crammed to bursting with rowdy kids.
Amantle is standing in the foyer, welcoming the guests. She’s dressed in a slinky minidress and looks about eighteen instead of fourteen. I’ve noticed that after getting rid of the bewitched necklace that the Puppetmaster used to control her, she no longer wears any kind of jewellery. I suppose you can’t be too careful.
Seeing her dressed up like this triggers a flashback of the sort of outfits she and her friends wore when they were under the Puppetmaster’s power, and that reminds me of Emily. I bite my lip. I never told Amantle that Emily was still working for him; once Emily left there seemed no point in freaking the others out. As far as they’re concerned, all five of them are safe and well. I think it’s best they keep thinking that.
Amantle waves us over. “I’m glad you came,” she yells over the music. “You didn’t bring Rakwena?”
“He didn’t get an invite,” I remind her.
“Ja, but I assumed…never mind.” She glances over her shoulder and leans closer to whisper in my ear. “Could you do me a favour? I know it’s a party and you’re here to have fun, but…”
My eyes narrow. Trouble already? I haven’t even been here five minutes! “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, yet. Just keep your eyes open.” She flashes me a bright, slightly plastic smile. “There are a lot of people here, and I don’t know all of them, and I…I don’t want anyone getting in any trouble, if you know what I mean.”
I know exactly what she means. After what happened to Amantle and her friends last year, she’s become a lot more wary of the people she mixes with. I nod and give her manicured hand a quick squeeze. “I’ll be on the lookout.”
“Thanks.” Her tone is casual, but I can sense her relief. “Have a good time! Just let me know if you need anything.” And she’s off to make nice with some other guests.
Wiki raises his eyebrows at me. “You think there’s something to worry about?”
“I’ll soon find out.” We make our way towards the main room, where all the action is. I’m scanning the faces in the crowd and I’m on high alert, just in case. I don’t expect trouble – at least not the supernatural kind – but you never know.
Wiki and I find ourselves a corner next to a power outlet and he whips out his laptop while I go to find us some drinks. I don’t see any booze on the table, but there are plenty of suspicious-looking liquids in people’s cups. I pour us some lemonade and load a paper plate with chips and biscuits, then head back to our corner.
Wiki already has an episode of the anime Naruto loaded and ready to go. He looks up and takes one paper cup. “Thanks. Picking up any unusual vibrations yet?”
“Besides the bass pumping in my chest? Nope.” I slouch in my chair, sipping my drink and watching the well-dressed (in some cases half-dressed) crowd.
“This is a great episode,” says Wiki, offering me one of his earphones.
I shake my head. “I have to stay focused – I’m here to check out the Cresta Crew, remember?”
He shrugs, puts in the earphones and is officially in his own world. I nibble my chips. I haven’t spotted Kelly yet. Maybe she and her new beau are already holed up in her room. I catch a brief glimpse of Lebz getting down on the dance floor with a few of Kelly’s cronies, then my gaze keeps moving. Some kids from my class, a couple of Form Three boys, Refilwe, one of Amantle’s friends…and then I see him.
Thuli. The fear is so overwhelming that for a second I’m convinced I’m going to suffocate and die, right there in that chair in a dark corner of the living room, and no one will notice. But the feeling is gone as quickly as it came, and I wonder what came over me. I see him occasionally at school, but this feels different. Maybe because it’s a party, like the one at his house. Maybe my body remembers a lot more clearly than I thought.
His long dreadlocks are loose and he’s leaning against the wall, deep in conversation with a guy I don’t recognise. The guy gives a distracted nod and looks up, scanning the crowd. My heart jumps and I sit up straight. He’s one of the Cresta Crew. He must be – he looks like he climbed out of a magazine. He’s tall and broad-shouldered, with muscular arms. He has dreadlocks, too, but his make Thuli’s look like tatty bits of rope. They’re thick and beautiful, and even tied up they fall all the way down his back. He looks about twenty, with a neat goatee. Now I know what Lebz was talking about – this guy is seriously good-looking.
Thuli forgotten, I get to my feet to take a closer look. The guy is no longer paying attention to Thuli. He’s caught sight of something far more interesting, and he’s watching it with a slight smile. I follow his gaze. It’s a girl, scantily clad and gyrating against the back of a chair. I find her repulsive, but Mr Rapunzel seems to think she’s the catch of the day.
Then something distracts him and he turns his head. He murmurs something to Thuli, who looks very unimpressed, and then walks away. I push my way through the crowd, keeping Rapunzel in sight. He stops beside another genetically gifted specimen. This one has a neat brush-cut and is the size of the Incredible Hulk, but apart from that they could be brothers. There’s an air of authority about the big one, and something else – an undercurrent of danger. He’s like a tiger in captivity – beautiful, calm, but still lethal behind the thin sheet of glass. They talk in hushed tones and Hulk nods towards a small group of dancers.
I follow his gaze. In the little knot of people I see a few girls and four guys. Two of them are significantly more attractive than the others. They’re both light-skinned, one with a mop of curly hair and the other with cornrows, and they look like twins. I glance from them to the other pair, and once again I notice a resemblance. Two sets of brothers who are related to each other – cousins, maybe? Lebz said there were six of them, so that leaves two. Spencer must be with Kelly, and the other one…I search the room, but there’s no sign of him.
Suddenly a head pops up, blocking my line of sight. “Hi! Wanna dance?”
I zone in on the chubby face and I’m rewarded with a smile. “No, thanks. I’m in the middle of something.”
“Really?” He looks me up and down. “Seems like you’re just wandering around. I’m Tshiamo. You’re in my Business Studies class.”
“Right. Connie.” I hold out my hand, leaning slightly to the right to see past his head.
He ignores my hand. “So, are you friends with Kelly?”
What is it with this boy? Doesn’t he know I’m the girl you’re supposed to avoid? I don’t remember ever speaking to him before, and right now the last thing I need is a distraction.
“Um, no. She’s friends with my friends. Listen, not to be rude, but – ”
“So, you’re dating that Black Lizard guy, right?” He leans towards me, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “What’s he like?”
I stare at him. I haven’t heard anyone call Rakwena by that nickname in a while. He earned it thanks to the lizard tattoo on his arm. It’s funny – I used to call him that, too, before I got to know him. It seems like a lifetime ago. I sigh. Tshiamo seems a little nervous – maybe he’s as socially awkward as I am and doesn’t want to sit in a corner by himself.
“His name is Rakwena,” I tell him. “And he’s cool.”
“But scary, right?”
I have to smile. “No, not really.”
“Huh.” He gives me a funny look, and I’m tempted to take a little sojourn into his thoughts. I can sense his concern. “But he’s…” He licks his lips and lowers his gaze for a second. “He’s nice to you, and everything?”
I look into his eyes. I’m the one he’s worried about! He thinks big, bad Black Lizard is some kind of bully. I bite my lip to keep from laughing. Wait till I tell Rakwena about this. “He’s very nice to me,” I assure him.
“Huh,” he says again, and somehow manages to inject a wealth of scepticism into that solitary syllable.
“Connie!”
I jump at the sound of Lebz’s voice. “Oh, it’s you.” I lean over to sniff the cup in her hand and she bats me away.
“What are you, my mother?” She glances at Tshiamo. “What’s up, Tshiamo?”
“Nah, just hanging,” he replies. Of course they know each other. I’m the only wallflower in school.
“Lebz, please don’t go picking up random cups.” I study her for signs of inebriation, but she seems fine.
“I poured it myself,” she assures me. “It’s only cider, and I promise I’m only having two. OK? But listen, any progress?” She shoots a wary glance at Tshiamo.
I nod. “But nothing conclusive.”
“Keep trying.” She takes another gulp of cider. “Yoh, I love this song. See you later!” She totters away on her high heels.
“So, Connie, blah blah blah.”
That’s not really what Tshiamo is saying, but it might as well be for all the attention I’m paying him. I’ve just spotted another too-pretty-to-be-normal boy.
He looks younger than me, and he’s standing by himself in a corner, apparently oblivious of all the come-hither looks he’s getting from the girls nearby. He’s something of a cross between the other four – warm brown skin, long dreadlocks, but not as long as Rapunzel’s. He’s looking down as if deep in thought. He has a sweet, innocent face, and I feel an odd rush of maternal affection. He looks up, right into my eyes, and smiles as if he knew I was watching him all along.
For a second I’m too shocked to react. His smile isn’t suggestive or accusatory, it’s shy and friendly. Without thinking, I smile back, and he immediately starts moving towards me. I look away and my gaze falls on his two buddies, Rapunzel and Hulk. Both are watching me, and neither looks happy.
I turn back to the little one, wondering how this is going to play out. He seems harmless – what’s he going to do? Charm me to death? When I glance back at the glowering faces of Rapunzel and Hulk I feel the unmistakeable sting of possible mortal peril. The energy coming off them is so strong and sudden that it takes me by surprise. Oh, yes, they’re gifted. No doubt about it now. They’re gifted and angry, and that’s a dangerous combination.
Suddenly Tshiamo’s hand closes over my wrist and he starts pulling me in the opposite direction from my gifted quarry.
“What are you doing?” I yank my arm from his grip and glare at him.
“I just thought you might want to dance,” he sputters.
“I already said no.”
“Yes, but…” His gaze keeps flitting away from my face, and his anxiety is mounting. I see sweat breaking out on his forehead, and it’s not from the fancy lighting. “I’m supposed to keep you away from other guys. Especially those guys.”
I gape at him, perplexed. “What are you talking about?” I let my gift slide slowly towards his mind. This is no time to be ethical – something’s got this guy worked up and I want to know what it is.
“Forget it,” he blurts out, backing away. “I made a mistake.” He hurries off before I can lock onto his thoughts, muttering, “Crazy jealous types.”
I’m about to go after him when someone behind me says, “Hi.”
I turn to look into the adorable face of the baby of the Cresta Crew. His eyes are like molten chocolate, sweet, warm and inviting. He’s so irresistibly cute I have to clench my hands into fists to keep myself from pinching his cheeks. It’s ridiculous – he’s baby booties, puppies and kittens all rolled into one. He oozes wholesome innocence. It’s too overwhelming to be natural, so I can only assume it’s supernatural. So far I’m certain that three out of the six members of this group are gifted, and that’s already a rarity. Lebz’s theory might hold water, after all.
The boy turns on a sunshine smile that smashes my innate wariness to bits. “You must be Conyza.”
Fragments of suspicion stir from the wreckage. Sure, he’s sweet, but how does he know my name? “Do I know you?” I venture.
“Not yet. I’m Duma.” He holds out his hand.
Before I can shake it I sense someone behind me. The light-skinned one with the curls has materialised at my side. I jump, startled. “Where did you come from?”
He doesn’t even glance my way. “Duma, didn’t I ask you to get me a drink?”
“In a second,” says the kid, grinning at me. “I was just saying hi to – ”
“Now,” the other boy insists.
I look at him. “Let me guess. You’re the big brother.”
“Cousin, but he acts like he owns me,” Duma grumbles. “He’s Elias, by the way.”
“Nice to meet you, Elias.”
“Ja, hi.” He hasn’t taken his eyes off Duma. “Drink. Now.”
Duma mutters something incoherent and turns away. “See you later, Conyza.”
“Call me Connie,” I call out.
He turns around and beams, then vanishes into the crowd.
“And what exactly is your – ” But Elias is gone, leaving me baffled and a little annoyed. Why did he have to be so rude? Does he think I was making moves on his cousin, or is he just worried that I’ll figure out he’s gifted? Too late. And how did Duma know my name? Did he ask around because he sensed that I’m gifted, too?
I glance around for Rapunzel and Hulk, but they’ve disappeared as well so I head back to my corner. Wiki pulls out his earphones and gives me an enquiring look.
“This party is turning out to be interesting,” I report, taking my place beside him.
His eyes widen when I tell him what happened. “You think all of them are gifted?”
“I don’t know. At least four. That Elias moved like a cat. Definitely gifted.”
Wiki frowns. “That’s odd. A group of gifted relatives, hanging around together like some kind of…”
“Gang? Pop group? Coven?”
“You tell me.”
I shrug. “Being gifted doesn’t mean they’re trouble. You know what bugs me?” I lean close to him. “I’ve never heard of an entire family of freaks.”
“Doesn’t the power get passed on, like you and your grandfather?”
“Yes, but not always. Rakwena got his gift from his dad, but Ntatemogolo and I have different gifts, and we’re the only gifted in our family. It’s just…weird.”
Wiki frowns at his laptop, radiating concern. “So what happens now?”
“I need to know more about them, and since Duma seems to be more sociable than the rest, I’ll have to try to get him alone.”
“Maybe I should come…”
I pat his knee gently. “He might not talk in front of an ungifted. And you’re in the middle of an episode.” I pick up a biscuit, finish the rest of my drink and get to my feet.
“Good luck. And be careful!”
I wink at him and head back into the thick of the party. I spot Tshiamo near the door, but the minute he sees me he bolts. And I’m supposed to be the weird one. The loud music and densely packed bodies are starting to give me a headache. Number six finally makes an appearance at the far end of the room. Spencer. Lebz didn’t exaggerate – the boy’s a walking dream. In jeans that fit like magic and a T-shirt that shows off a ripped torso, he has a face so pretty it makes me want to cry. Poor Kelly didn’t stand a chance.
Unfortunately, the effect is hampered by the fact that Spencer is drunk, and if the cup in his hand is anything to go by, he’s not done yet. He leans against the wall, looking self-satisfied and ignoring the gaggle of girls giggling nearby. A moment later he’s joined by Kelly, and I’m struck by how good they look together. If they procreate, the world is in big trouble.
It seems they’re eager to get cracking on that; Kelly plasters herself against him and kisses him with abandon. He drops the cup, unconcerned about the amber puddle at his feet, and wraps his arms around her so tight I feel suffocated. They’re not kissing, they’re trying to swallow each other whole.
For a moment all I can do is stare. I’ve seen Kelly play the game of seduction countless times, but I’ve never seen her like this. She’s clinging to Spencer with a desperation that borders on terror, as if they’ll die if they let go. When it comes to boys, Kelly always has the upper hand.
When she and Spencer finally pull apart, I can tell by the dazed expression on her face that the tables have been turned. She’s fallen, hard, and the realisation sends wild tendrils of panic shooting through my head. That look on her face doesn’t make me feel warm and fuzzy, and it’s not because of the antagonism between us. Even I wouldn’t begrudge Kelly the thrill of true love – but this isn’t it. This is something else. Something dangerous. Something wrong.
Spencer keeps his arm possessively around Kelly, and they vanish into the crowd. I try to follow, but I have no idea where they went. Her room, maybe. The thought fills me with dread. I search the room for them, and instead catch a glimpse of Elias’s twin dancing with a girl. They’re pressed so close to each other it’s a miracle they can breathe. Elias isn’t far away; I spot him chatting up a girl near the window. These boys are taking full advantage of their effect on girls. If they were regular boys I’d just be disgusted, but they’re gifted, and that changes everything.
I keep moving, heading towards the door, and stop abruptly when I see Thuli, Hulk and Rapunzel. Thuli is chattering away, but neither Hulk nor Rapunzel seem interested in his monologue. Spencer appears again, emerging from the crowd to stand at Hulk’s side. Kelly’s not with him.
He leans in to whisper in Hulk’s ear, barely able to keep himself from swaying. Beneath the haze of alcohol, he looks upset. Hulk pulls Spencer aside. They have a brief, terse discussion, and then Hulk beckons to Rapunzel and the three of them head for the door. Thuli starts to follow, then seems to change his mind. I, on the other hand, have no qualms about sticking my nose in the Cresta Crew’s business. I’m almost at the door when Lebz appears with Amantle right behind her.
“Connie! There you are – have you seen Kelly?”
As soon as Lebz’s hand touches my arm, my body stiffens. My eyes burn, my pulse races and panic fills my throat, almost choking me. The feeling fades instantly and there are no images to accompany it, but I don’t need a diagram.
Lebz inhales sharply, recognising the symptoms. “What did you see?”
I don’t answer. I push my way back through the crowd, following the thin, disintegrating thread of my premonition. Across the room, through the corridor, past the toilet where a queue has formed, past the staircase, past the kitchen and into another corridor. A door is ajar; I push it open and find myself in what must be the garage. It’s pitch dark.
“Kelly?” I look around, adjusting to the darkness. I can make out the shape of a car, the backdoor wide open, but a quick glance inside reveals nothing but an abandoned pair of high heels. “Kelly!”
Lebz and Amantle take up the call as the three of us comb the garage, but there’s no sign of her. Then I see another door, leading to what looks like a small storeroom. I run towards it.
“Here!” I yell to the others, stopping short of falling over the inert figure on the floor.
Kelly’s legs are in the doorway, her body slumped on the floor. She’s unconscious, but apparently uninjured. Her clothes are rumpled but intact. I kneel down beside her, tapping her cheeks with my palms. “Kelly. Kelly!”
“Oh, God!” gasps Lebz. “What happened?”
“Was it Spencer?” demands Amantle. “Did he…”
“I don’t know. Maybe she just had too much to drink.”
“But how could he leave her like this?” cries Lebz in horror. “All alone in the dark – he could have at least taken her to her room!”
Kelly starts to moan and her eyelids flutter open. “Spencer?”
“Gone,” I tell her, helping her sit up. “Are you OK?”
She rubs her temple and frowns. “I feel…sick.” Her eyes roll back in her head and she sags against the wall.
“OK, we have to get her inside.” I turn to Amantle. “Is there a way we can get to her room without passing the living room?”
Amantle nods and the three of us help Kelly to her feet. She seems completely unable to carry her own weight, and despite what I said I’m sure her condition has nothing to do with alcohol. Amantle leads the way, and Lebz and I carry Kelly between us through the dimly lit corridor and up another flight of steps. Amantle opens the second door on the left and we drag Kelly into the room and deposit her on the bed. She’s passed out again.
“Should we call a doctor?” asks Amantle, chewing on her thumbnail.
I sit on the edge of the bed and feel Kelly’s forehead. She’s not running a temperature and doesn’t appear to have any bruises or wounds, but that doesn’t mean she’s fine. Something supernatural happened to her, but I have no idea what it was or how it’s going to affect her. “I think that’s a good idea, just to be safe.”
Amantle reaches into her handbag for her phone. While she makes the call, Lebz comes to sit beside me.
“You don’t think someone drugged her, do you? I mean, it’s possible – there are a lot of people at this party and no one was really paying attention…”
“Maybe. But you said she was with Spencer all the time.”
Her eyes widen. “You think he…”
I glance at Amantle and lower my voice. “I saw him leaving and he looked upset. It’s not exactly evidence, but I got the feeling something was off. And the premonition…”
Amantle hangs up. “My cousin’s coming; she’s a nurse. Maybe I should get my brother – he’s supposed to be the chaperone, but I think he’s outside.”
“Good idea. I’m going downstairs to see if I can find any of the Cresta Crew.” I glance at Kelly. “Will you guys be OK?”
Lebz nods. I leave the room and scan every face downstairs, but none of the boys are in sight. I enlist Wiki’s help in the search, to no avail. All six of them have vanished. We head outside. I see Tshiamo talking to another boy, and I remember that I never found out what his story was. His back is to me.
“One second,” I tell Wiki, and walk over to Tshiamo. I tap his shoulder.
He turns around and swears colourfully. “Look, I’m sorry, OK? What was I supposed to do? Two hundred bucks just to keep an eye on you is a sweet deal, so I took it.” He fishes in his pocket, pulls out a folded bill and hands it to me. “Tsa. I don’t want any hassles.”
I stare at the money, utterly confused. “Wait – you were paid to keep an eye on me?”
“Hey!” He forces the money into my hand. “I was just trying to help. Take it up with your crazy jealous boyfriend. Or maybe not – he looks like the passion-killing type.” He gives me a significant nod. “My advice? Dump him and get a bodyguard.” He backs away, shaking his head. His friend follows, glancing at me over his shoulder.
I blink. “What the hell was that?”
Wiki clears his throat. “My conclusion is that Rakwena paid Tshiamo two hundred pula to keep you out of trouble.”
“We’ve reached the same conclusion,” I reply through gritted teeth. No wonder Rakwena seemed calmer when he dropped us off – he had a plan. I’m angry and exasperated. I hate it when he goes behind my back!
“I’m sure he was just worried about Thuli,” says Wiki gently.
I shake my head. “When Duma came towards me, Tshiamo tried to take me away. He said he was supposed to keep me away from other guys – especially those guys, meaning the Cresta Crew.”
Wiki falls silent. I storm past him, back into the house. I intend to have a word or two with that boyfriend of mine. By the time we get to Kelly’s room the nurse has arrived and it’s almost eleven. Amantle’s brother looks like he’s about to have a heart attack. I imagine Kelly’s parents won’t be too happy with him.
The nurse emerges from Kelly’s room. “She’s fine,” she declares, and we all heave sighs of relief. “I think she might have had one drink too many, and she just needs to sleep it off. She’s a bit weak, but otherwise all right.”
I pull Lebz aside and leave Amantle and her brother to talk to the nurse alone. “Rakwena will be here soon,” I remind her.
“I’ll get a lift with Botho,” she says.
“OK. Don’t worry – you heard the nurse. She just drank too much.”
Lebz nods, but she’s not convinced, and neither am I. I give her a quick hug, say my goodbyes and head back downstairs. Wiki’s already outside with Rakwena, and I can tell from the look of concern on Rakwena’s face that he’s been filled in.
“How is she?”
“She’ll live to torment me,” I assure him, keeping my annoyance in check. I don’t want to fight in front of Wiki. “The nurse thinks she partied too hard.”
His eyes narrow. “And what do you think?”
“I’m not sure.” I turn to Wiki. “Ready to go?”
“I’ve been ready since I got here,” he quips, and the three of us make our way to Rakwena’s car.
Rakwena doesn’t say much until he’s taken Wiki home and it’s just the two of us. He parks outside my gate and peers into my face. “You’re upset. Is it Thuli? Did he – ”
I pull the crumpled P200 note from my pocket and slap it onto the dashboard. “Money-back guarantee from Tshiamo. By the way, he doesn’t like doing business with crazy, jealous boyfriends.”
Rakwena stares at the money and says nothing.
“Are you going to explain why you felt the need to hire me a bodyguard without my permission?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” He takes the money, unfolds it carefully and puts it in the glove compartment. “I was worried Thuli might – ”
“No, you were worried I’d talk to the Cresta Crew. Tshiamo told me.”
I see his jaw tense in the dim light. “Yes. I’m worried about them, too. You said you’d stay out of trouble. You promised, and then you went to a party where you’d be exposed to one freak hunter and six undefined threats, so I took protective measures.”
“You’re not my father!” I sigh. “Honestly, you can’t do stuff like that. And if you were so worried, why didn’t you gate-crash the way you did at Thuli’s party?”
“I’m sorry,” he says, and he sounds sincere. “I overreacted. It won’t happen again.” He’s got his cool, calm mask up, and I can’t tell what he’s really feeling.
“You don’t need to worry about me,” I assure him. “I’m fine. I’m much more concerned about Kelly. There’s something about that boyfriend of hers. His friends, too.”
“Wiki says you think they’re gifted.”
“Oh, I know they are.” I release the buckle of my seatbelt so I can turn to face him properly. “Spencer’s relationship with Kelly bothers me. It’s so intense. It’s not like her at all. Duma seems like the friendliest of the group. I need to talk to him again.”
“Again?” Rakwena blurts out, eyes wide. “You spoke to one of them?”
I recoil. “Relax, we barely said two sentences to each other. His cousin Elias interrupted. What’s your problem, anyway?”
He has that look on his face, the one he gets when he doesn’t approve of my tactics. “I just don’t want you getting hurt. After the Puppetmaster and Thuli…” He sighs. “Look, maybe Kelly did just drink too much, and Spencer had nothing to do with it.”
“And maybe I’m not really a telepath – I just have an overactive imagination,” I retort, with a tinge of annoyance. “I know what I saw. Those guys are dangerous!”
The mask slides back on and his expression is as inscrutable as ever. “Fine.” He hesitates. “Just don’t go looking for trouble, OK?”
I poke him hard in the ribs and he winces. “Aren’t you the one who wanted me to take an active interest in these things?”
“Yes, but – ”
“Then stop complaining.” I glance towards the house. “I should go make sure Dad hasn’t fallen asleep on the sofa again.”
He leans forward to kiss me. “Can I come by tomorrow?”
“I’ll think about it,” I tease, before jumping out of the car.
I wish he’d relax; I’m not the one in trouble. I chain the gate and put on a padlock before hurrying up the driveway. I’m concerned about Kelly. Instead of graduating from bad boys with trust funds to bad boys with powers, she should find someone trustworthy and loyal. But I guess not everyone can be as lucky as me.
***
“Kelly’s fine,” says Lebz with a sigh. She’s sprawled across my bed, while I’m in the chair at my desk. “I went over this morning to check on her.”
I turn away from my game of Spider Solitaire. “What did she say?”
Lebz makes a face. “She said she drank too much.”
“Hmm. Nothing about her boyfriend leaving her passed out in a storeroom?”
She shakes her head, making her ridiculous dangly earrings jingle. “Maybe she asked him to leave because she was embarrassed about being so drunk.”
I snort – Kelly doesn’t get embarrassed, not even when she should.
“Anyway, Spencer was really drunk, too,” adds Lebz.
He did look rather wasted. Maybe that was why his buddies were so unimpressed, and why they got him out of there in such a hurry. I have to admit, it does look like a simple case of overindulgence. Except for one thing. I turn my chair to face Lebz. “If Kelly wasn’t in danger, why did I have that premonition?”
Lebz props herself up on her elbows and looks at me. “Maybe it was because Amantle and I were worried. You know sometimes your premonitions are triggered by other people’s emotions.”
I shake my head. “I sensed that she was in danger. Something’s not adding up.”
“Well, if something happened, Kelly’s not telling.” She sits up. “As long as she’s OK, I’m happy.”
“Get me Spencer’s number.”
Lebz blinks. I raise an eyebrow at her.
“No,” she says firmly. “I don’t want to piss Kelly off.”
I roll my eyes. Sometimes my best friend can be supremely naïve. “She doesn’t have to know. Just make some excuse to see her phone, go through her contacts, and get the number. Easy.”
She swallows hard, unease coming off her in waves. As much as she wants to find out whether her beloved Kelly is in danger, she’s not eager to get involved in another supernatural battle. Lebz likes to keep her feet on the ground, in expensive shoes, and far away from things that might give her nightmares.
“It was your idea for me to investigate,” I remind her mercilessly.
“I know,” she mutters. “I’ll see what I can do.”
***
During the week, Rakwena and I go to Game City to watch an afternoon movie. We don’t do a lot of normal date stuff like other couples, but I like that about us. I wouldn’t have said that a year ago, when I was doing everything I could to pretend I was normal. That was before I became a telepath, before Rakwena. Now normal is a sad little dream I’ve finally woken up from.
I want to watch a thriller, Rakwena wants to watch a political drama, so we settle on a comedy. It’s not bad – the parts we actually watch, that is. Rakwena tries not to laugh out loud while I sift through the thoughts of the guy sitting two rows in front of us. I know I shouldn’t, but the poor man seems to have a mini heart attack every time the pretty female lead makes an appearance.
When the film is over, Rakwena wraps his arm around my shoulder as we leave the cinema. I push him away self-consciously. I’m not one for public displays of affection. Instead of being offended, he laughs and ruffles my hair. The heel of his palm brushes the top of my ear, and I feel the tingle all the way to my toes.
“Coward,” he whispers.
“And proud of it.”
The retort I expected never comes. Rakwena stiffens beside me. I turn to see the cause of his discomfort. The Cresta Crew are sitting at a table at KFC, all six pairs of eyes trained on us. Honestly, didn’t anyone teach them that staring is bad manners? I wave to ease the tension, but not one of them responds – not even sweet little Duma. That’s when I realise that they can’t even see me. All their attention is on Rakwena. I look up at him. His jaw twitches as he wrenches his gaze away from them.
“Let’s get out of here,” he suggests, through gritted teeth.
“Wait. This might be my best chance to talk to them.” I start towards the fast food outlet and Rakwena’s hand closes fiercely over my arm like a Venus flytrap over its prey. I wince. “Hey, that hurts.”
“You’re not talking to them,” he hisses, pulling me away. “We’re leaving. Now.”
“Hey! Let go!” I try to pull my arm away, but Rakwena is the strongest boy I know. “Rakwena! You’re hurting me!”
He drops my arm instantly. “Sorry. But you’re being so… Please, let’s just go. I’m starving.” His voice turns coaxing. “I’ll make us dinner.”
I stare at him, rubbing my sore forearm. “You know, this Jekyll and Hyde thing you’ve got going on is really starting to get to me. What’s going on with you?”
“Nothing, I just want to go home.” He keeps his eyes on my face, almost as though he’s afraid to look in the Cresta Crew’s direction.
“It’s not nothing,” I persist. “You paid someone to keep me away from them at the party, and now you’re acting crazy. Why are you so worried about these guys?”
“Because they’re obviously dangerous,” he blurts out.
“Obviously?”
“Yes. And they’re taking too much interest in you. They’re suspicious.” He lets out an exasperated groan. “You promised to stay out of trouble!”
“Ja, well, I’m un-promising. If you’re so concerned, you can wait here.” I start towards the boys again, and again Rakwena grabs me, this time almost pulling my arm out of its socket. “Ow!”
“Connie, please.” His eyes are bright and pleading. “What if they try something?”
“In the middle of a mall full of people?” I snap. “We’re going to talk about this, but right now I’m going over there, and I swear, if you try to stop me, I will scream this whole place down. Got it?”
I stalk off, furious with him. My whole arm is aching. What on earth is the matter with that boy? I glance over my shoulder, expecting to see him standing there glowering at me, but the space where he stood is empty. I catch sight of him walking – no, practically running – away, fists clenched. He’s angry, too. From this distance I can’t tell if he’s giving off blue light, but it’s a good thing he’s getting out of sight before he sparks up.
I take a deep breath and turn back to the Cresta Crew. They’re frozen in their seats, glaring at me, almost daring me to take another step. They’ll soon learn that I don’t scare that easily.
By the time I reach their table their expressions have changed. The twins look incredulous. Spencer looks surly. Duma looks nervous, Rapunzel impressed and Hulk…well, like he wants to smash something. All of them are giving off high energy levels and blocking me as though they were born doing it. I finally have my confirmation – they’re all gifted, and I’m not talking about a little sliver of sixth sense. Whatever their gifts, they’re powerful.
I offer them a bright smile. “Hello, gentlemen. I’m Connie. But you already know that. Want to tell me why you’re staring at my boyfriend?”
No one says a word. A few of the others glance at Hulk. I see – there’s a hierarchy at work. Hulk takes a long, languid sip of his Coke.
“Should I pull up a chair, make myself comfortable? We have a lot to discuss.”
He looks at me. His eyes are clear and intelligent…and dangerous. Suddenly I’m all too aware of his size and proximity. Big and close enough to knock my brains out, to be precise. “Afternoon, Conyza.” His voice is like black crushed velvet, soft and thick. Not at all the voice of someone who intends to squash me flat. “It’s good to finally meet you. Duma hasn’t stopped talking about you since the party.”
“Really?” I glance at the kid, and he flashes his adorable grin. “Where did I get the idea that you guys weren’t exactly thrilled to see him talking to me?”
Hulk shrugs. “We keep to ourselves. You understand.”
“Yes, I do.” Curiosity is mounting, but Hulk gives me the impression that his patience has limits, and I’d rather not be there when it runs out. “You know my name. It’s only fair to tell me yours.”
His gaze is steady and unblinking. “You can call me Temper.”
Somehow that doesn’t put me at ease. “Right. Nice to meet you, Temper.” I wait for the others to tell me their names, but they remain silent. No one’s eating, either – it seems I’ve put them off their food.
“There’s something on your mind,” Temper muses.
I look at Spencer. His handsome face is marred by a sullen, brutish scowl, as though he’s had his toys confiscated. I drop my voice to a whisper. “Look, let’s not mince words, OK? I know you’re gifted, and that’s not a problem for me. My problems are your interest in Rakwena, and your boy’s relationship with Kelly.”
Spencer lets out a choked laugh of incredulity. “And who the hell do you think you are to tell me what to do?” The outburst makes the others flinch.
“Man, chill,” whispers Rapunzel, who is sitting on Spencer’s left.
“No, she has no right to come over here and start throwing her weight around!” His gaze is so venomous I take a step back and hold up my hands to ward him off.
“Hey, I’m just worried about Kelly.”
“You don’t even like Kelly,” he spits out. How the hell does he know that?
“That’s enough.” Temper glares at Spencer.
But it’s too late. I’ve seen enough to make me certain that Spencer is a ticking bomb, and if he stays with Kelly he’s going to decimate her. I turn to Temper. “I don’t know what your story is yet, but I’ll find out. In the meantime, I suggest you keep this guy away from ungifted girls before somebody gets hurt. Is that clear?” I turn back to Spencer, who’s snarling at me. “Stay away from Kelly. I’ve gone up against bigger fish than you, so don’t think your little temper tantrums scare me.”
He leaps to his feet. Suddenly he doesn’t look so handsome anymore. “Back off, bitch!”
Whoa! My jaw drops. I don’t think anyone’s ever called me that before. What follows happens so smoothly it almost seems rehearsed. Rapunzel and Elias get to their feet in one fluid motion, and march Spencer out of the restaurant. Simultaneously Duma and the remaining twin pack up what’s left of the food, sweeping it into bags so fast their hands seem to blur, then follow the others.
In seconds the table is clear, the curious onlookers from other tables have returned to their conversations and Temper is the only Cresta Crew member left.
“What the hell was that?” I demand. “Spencer clearly has issues and has no business dating anyone, let alone an ungifted!”
“You’ve made your point,” Temper growls. Ah. His patience has reached its limit. He gets to his feet and walks away.
Because I have absolutely no instinct for self-preservation, I follow. “Hey! What happened just now? And you still haven’t told me why you were staring at my boyfriend. You owe me an explanation!”
“I owe you nothing.” He whirls around to face me. He’s so big I have to crane my neck to look into his eyes.
I gulp, and my words vanish. “I…uh…just…Kelly…” I take a deep breath. “Spencer’s dangerous.”
“Not as dangerous as me,” he whispers, and turns away, leaving me standing on wobbly legs.
I wait till he’s out of sight before walking to Rakwena’s car. My head is swimming. I don’t know why Spencer erupted the way he did, but there is nothing more dangerous than a gifted without self-control. What happens if he loses his temper with Kelly and hurts her? Hell, even without gifts that boy is scary, and I get the feeling Temper knows this. Why is he allowing Spencer to keep seeing Kelly? He’s clearly the leader of the group – he should stop it.
When I reach the car, I quickly realise I have another problem on my hands. Rakwena is sitting in the driver’s seat, hands gripping the steering wheel. His head is bowed and blue sparks are crackling on his knuckles. He looks like he’s in pain.
“Rakwena?” I climb into the passenger seat and put my hands over his. “Ow! You’re burning up!”
He raises his head and grimaces. “It’s just a headache. It happens sometimes, when my girlfriend won’t listen to reason.” He shakes off my hands and starts the engine.
I roll my eyes, annoyed. “Are we still having this argument? I’m fine, as you can see. They didn’t kill me. Not for lack of trying,” I add wryly.
“What?” He stares at me in horror.
I reach over to buckle my seatbelt. “I told Spencer to leave Kelly alone and he lost it. Called me a bitch. Can you believe that? Then they all got up and left. Didn’t want to make a scene, I guess. But now I know for sure they’re gifted, and that Spencer is trouble. I have to find out more.”
The car jerks forward. “Damn it, Connie!”
“Sorry, but I’m not dropping this.”
He doesn’t say another word, but his jaw is still twitching and his knuckles still give off the occasional spark. I glance out of the window, and my heart stops. The Cresta Crew are standing in front of a white family minivan, watching us. Even when we’re out of sight, I get the feeling they’re still watching through a different set of eyes. Eyes that see things that I can’t. Eyes that see around corners, through walls…across borders. Eyes that led them here, to us.
It’s a crazy thought, and I don’t know where it came from. Those boys didn’t come here for me or Rakwena – why would they? I try to focus on the road, on keeping an eye on Rakwena’s fading sparks, but thoughts are resilient. Once the seed is planted, it just sits there quietly in the dark and grows.
