Genevieve drew a glass of sparkling punch to her lips and took a sip. It was bitter and she barely got down a mouthful without making a face, but somehow she managed to smile and fake enjoyment through the overpowering taste of cranberry.
"Great punch," she said.
"Mom's personal recipe," Peyton said with a smile. "Everyone always asks her to make it. Non-alcoholic."
Pity that.
Gen glanced around for a nearby plant she could dump the drink in discreetly, like people did in the movies, but that didn't seem like a possibility. Several poinsettias sat on various tables throughout the house, but in the room where Gen stood, most had clumps of people standing nearby. Someone would notice for sure.
Perhaps I'll have to finish drinking it after all. Gen gave a little shudder at the thought.
Only at the Christmas party a half hour so far, Gen found it felt like much, much longer. Though she'd hoped it would be a nice, relaxed gathering, instead she found Peyton lived in a large, upscale new home and a dozen BMWs were parked out front. Her father had made numerous jokes about it when he'd dropped her off, but even then she couldn't crack a smile; her stomach turned and twisted 'til she felt ill with nervousness. For what seemed the millionth time so far, she sent a glance down at the black dress pants and red shirt she'd worn, and felt horribly underdressed. Both came from a sale rack last spring, and just one of those poinsettias probably cost more than both items put together. But Peyton looked adorable in a green velvet dress with long sleeves and a short skirt. Her dark curls were swept up into a loose bun, with tendrils grazing her neck. Gen had the overwhelming urge to touch her, but she figured P.D.A. would be frowned upon by these people…most of all, Peyton's mother.
Gen's gaze slid to where Mrs. Rice stood. Striking though not really pretty, she had the same dark hair as her daughter's, however she kept hers pulled back with severity. That day she wore all black but for a string of white pearls that hung just above the modest neckline of her blouse. She had a cool air about her and a smile that never quite reached her eyes, and Gen had decided almost immediately that she had to be evil. Literally, the more she read from Michael's books, the more it seemed possible Mrs. Rice could be a demon disguised as a human. Possibly a giant shape-shifting lizard.
Mr. Rice, however, seemed quite the opposite; a friendly man who had gone out of his way to speak to Gen when she first arrived. He'd gone to the basement to play billiards with several of the men at the party, but had at least tried to make her feel welcome beforehand. She'd longed to join the guys downstairs, however she doubted that would make much of a good impression with Peyton's mother.
"Hey," Peyton said, drawing Gen's attention from their darker places. "Wanna see my room? Dinner won't be for awhile."
"Absolutely." Gen followed her from the living room, staying two steps behind so she had the opportunity to casually leave her punch on a side table without anyone noticing.
Up the massive front staircase and towards the back of the house was Peyton's room. Sure enough, the walls were dusty rose with a floral border at the top. Though the room was bigger than Gen's parents' master bedroom, Peyton had little furniture. Her twin-sized bed had an eyelet canopy and bedspread seemed more suited for an eight-year-old, but Gen suspected her parents treated her as such. Everything in the room was kept immaculately clean and tidy, and Gen felt a pang of embarrassment realizing she'd thought nothing of bring Peyton into her own mess of a room.
"There's not really a lot to do," Peyton said, sitting on the edge of her bed. Gen took a seat a few inches away and turned to face her. "I've asked for a T.V. for Christmas every year since I was a kid, but they keep saying not until my grades get up. And I can't seem to raise my average above a 'B+'."
"At least you've got a laptop," Gen said, nodding to the notebook computer on the desk in the corner of the room.
"Yeah, that they made sure didn't have internet access: it's only for homework. Paul-my brother, you didn't see him but he's downstairs with Dad-just went and reset whatever they had done to his so he stays up and talks to his friends all night, but he won't do mine. You're lucky your parents let you do what you want."
"Hey, you said your dad is getting you a car when you graduate next year-I'd give up my T.V. for a car."
"It's on the condition that I live at home while I'm in university. So I'll be driving to Toronto and back every day."
Never mind that, I'll keep my television. God, Peyton's mom
had to be a demon.
"Or I will if I can ever get my grades up. Not sure the car deal works if I have to go to community college-then I'll be lucky if they buy me a bus ticket."
"I'd help you study, but then I'd have to do more work and I'm happy as a 'C' student," Gen said. "You should ask Merri, though. She's got all 'A's' and I bet she'd help."
"You think so? I'd pay her."
"Sure. I'll mention it the next time I see her. And she told me she wanted to get a part time job anyway, so tutoring would probably work well for her too."
"Good," Peyton said with a relieved sigh. "I've been stressing about that for awhile…I feel so much better now."
Gen rested her hand on Peyton's knee gently, reassuringly. "That's what girlfriends are for, right?"
Though Peyton opened her mouth to say something, she froze as they heard heels clicking on the hardwood hallway outside the room, and she stood abruptly and smoothed her skirt.
"Peyton," Mrs. Rice called as she appeared in the doorway. Her dark gaze flickered to Genevieve, then back to her daughter again. "Mrs. Jacobs wants to hear the piece you're doing for your piano exam in case she can give you any pointers."
"We'll be right there, Mom."
As Mrs. Rice left, Peyton started to follow.
"Hey," Gen called after her in a low voice, and managed to stop her before she reached the door. Blaming her nervous stomach for keeping her from being at all observant earlier that day, realization hit her and she needed some clarification. "Your parents don't know about…like, you and me or anything, do they?"
Peyton's eyes widened and Gen had her answer. "Oh God, no. They'd flip. And you can't say anything-I just said you were one of my friends from English class." Her brows pulled together in a frown of worry. "That's okay, right? I mean, I just wouldn't know what else to say and-"
"It's okay," Gen said quickly, swallowing back the sting of her words. "Besides, it's kinda sexy, having a secret affair and all."
Peyton's grin told of her relief. "Good. I didn't want you to be mad at me. Now wait and see how I flub through Shubert-it's going to be scary."
*~*~*
Stretched out flat on her stomach on top of her bed, Sage stared at her open Math textbook and the words seemed to blur together. After Christmas break, in just two and a half weeks, she was to attend school again in time for exams, per her mother's request. The private tutor she worked with a few times a week was a pain in the ass and it almost seemed a relief that things would be going back to "normal."
Whatever normal means anymore.
Upstairs, the doorbell rang. Her mom was out and Kat was glued to the computer in her room, so Sage rose to answer it. The bell rang a second time when she reached the door and opened it.
Levi. He stood on her front step, heavy snowflakes falling and sticking to his dark hair and winter jacket.
"Hi," she managed to say once she found her voice. She hadn't seen him since that horribly awkward night after the dance a month and a half ago, and was quite content forgetting it all happened. "Do you…um…" She glanced over her shoulder, thinking she was probably supposed to let him inside, but she had no desire for him to stay that long. Thankfully, he shook his head.
"I'll just be a minute."
She slipped on her shoes by the door, then stepped outside onto the porch.
"We're going away for Christmas break, and leaving early tomorrow," he said. "So I only had time to give you this tonight." He reached into his jacket pocket and produced a small jewelry box.
Sage took an involuntary step backward, gaze fixed on the gift. "I can't. I'm sorry, but-"
"It's not from me," he said, still holding the box in her direction. "There was a message on the machine two weeks ago from a store…Hayden had put a down payment on this and they were waiting for the rest of their money."
"You paid for it?" she asked, still not accepting the gift.
Levi shrugged. "There wasn't much left to pay-he'd given them a postdated cheque for most of it. And Dad throws money at me all the time now. I already did my Christmas shopping and actually had money left after Genny's present. Can't spend all my money on hookers and cocaine, right?"
"What'd you get Gen?"
"A new easel from the art store. Don't tell her-we're not exchanging 'til I get back from holidays."
"I won't."
"Anyway, the jewelry store said he ordered this back in the summer and he obviously wanted you to have it."
At last she took the small box and stared at it resting in her hand. "Thanks," she said without looking up.
"Yeah, well, Merry Christmas and that." He quickly turned and stepped off the porch, then jogged towards his car.
Sage slipped inside once more, so focused on the jewelry box that she barely noticed her skin burn in the heat of the house after being outside. Back resting against the door, she stared at the gift for several long moments before she reached for it with trembling fingers.
After taking a deep breath, she opened the lid and stared down at the ring within. A white gold band had alternating sapphires and small diamonds along the top, making five stones total.
"Who was it?" Kat asked from partway down the stairs.
Sage wiped at her eyes unconsciously, closed the box, and stuffed it in her pocket. "I'm going out for a bit. If Mom gets back sooner, tell her I'll be home in a few hours." After slipping on her jacket, she grabbed her key and headed out into the snowy night.
Though Michael's car was in the driveway, none of the main lights were on in the house.
Please be home, she thought as she knocked on his front door. Several minutes later, to her relief Michael answered.
"Can I talk to you?" she asked immediately. He got that look he sometimes had, as if he was about to tell her to fuck off, but instead he sighed and nodded.
"Let me get my coat-we'll go for a walk." He returned a few moments later and started walking straight past her. Sage took up beside him.
"Levi dropped this off at my house a half hour ago…" She took the ring box from her pocket and handed it to him. "Hayden bought it for me. I guess for Christmas."
Michael flipped open the lid and regarded the ring in silence as they walked. "A promise ring, I suppose." He said at last.
"Hmm?"
He handed it back to her. "A little antiquated, but I suppose some people still do it. It's a promise of commitment, sometimes used as a promise to propose at some point in the future."
She squeezed the box tightly in her hand as they walked. How many people had held it since him? Jewelry store owners, Levi, and now Michael…but several months ago, Hayden had looked at it, handled it, planned to give it to her, pictured her wearing it…
"He used to say we should get engaged after college, but I always kind of thought he was joking. His mom was always worried we were getting too serious-she was paranoid I'd get pregnant, apparently. So I thought he just talked about getting married several years in the future just to bug her."
"I'd say he wasn't joking."
"What was your wedding like?"
He sighed. He grew weary of telling her things-she knew it-but he hadn't yet called the deal off, so she continued to press him now and then. "Simple. Small. Her family, a few friends, and my sister in law. Nothing terribly exciting."
"I always wanted to elope. I mean, I never thought about it a lot… Hayden would have wanted something big and traditional but I would rather just take off and not tell anyone. Did you guys go somewhere for your honeymoon?"
He shook his head. "Getting through the wedding was hard enough."
"What do you mean?"
"We had a lot of problems the few months before we married. The wedding didn't solve anything, though of course I stupidly thought it would. But I was trying to be better."
This was the first he'd ever indicated that he and Anne had anything but an idyllic life. She supposed it made sense-they were only human, after all-and Michael wouldn't have been easy to live with. Still, he had never spoken of any problems like that before.
"What did you do that was so bad?"
"Let's just say I screwed up a lot and she suffered for it, and leave it at that."
"I'm sorry things weren't that great," she offered.
"They were still better than they are now, but that goes without saying."
Sage nodded. "I understand. Even though…" She paused, realizing when she originally planned to tell Hayden about what she was, she'd sworn Gen and Merri to secrecy where Michael was concerned.
But there hardly seems a point in lying now… "I guess I should tell you that I was going to tell him the truth. Just about me-nothing to do with Gen or Merri. But I thought that since people went after him to get to me, that he should know the truth and decide what to do about it. Even if it meant breaking up with me, he should have that option… And I wish I did sooner and that he had left me-it would have been so much…easier than
this." She braced herself to see if he'd yell at her, but he didn't remark on her confession.
"In the interest of being honest, then, you should know about Finn,
if you don't already."
She glanced up at him, confused. "Gen just said he was a friend."
"Apparently I didn't give her enough credit," Michael said dryly. "Finn is a medium I've known for a lot of years. I had him come here to contact Hayden for you."
Sage stopped dead, her emotions a tangle of hope and anticipation mixed with anger for Michael not telling her sooner-Finn had been in town for over a month now.
"What are we doing out here then-we should go back to the house and-"
"We already tried; he's not here anymore."
"Finn's not here?"
"Your boyfriend isn't here anymore."
"What do you mean?"
"Finn can only contact spirits that are still lingering in this world. The fact that he couldn't contact Hayden means he's moved on."
"That doesn't make any sense. Finn must have done something wrong-he would still be here."
"He's not. We tried a séance to call him here, Finn has looked for him every time you're around, but nothing has worked. He's not here, Sage. Finn says it's fairly common for spirits to move on when they feel aren't needed…"
But I need him, she thought, biting back tears.
"You said Gen knew about this?"
"She was there for the attempt at contacting him."
She didn't tell me…God, I'm going to kill her…
"I know what you're thinking," Michael continued. "But Finn has tried everything. He's not here."
"Why didn't you tell me this sooner?" she whispered.
"I wasn't going to tell you at all and Gen had instructions to do the same."
"But why-"
"Because you've had a difficult enough time with this, and it didn't seem prudent to add something on top of it."
"He couldn't contact Anne either?"
"No."
"Why did you decide to tell me now?"
"Because," he said with a heavy sigh, "I loathe to admit it, but Genevieve was right and you deserve to know."
As she mulled over his words, her very thoughts felt heavy and weighed down upon her. Hayden had moved on simply because he thought she didn't need him, or he wasn't worried about her, or something? She squeezed the jewelry box again and reminded herself that it couldn't be because
he didn't care. She never once doubted he loved her. Logically, she could tell herself that he believed she could take care of herself, that she would make it through his death intact-that the fact that he wasn't lingering meant something positive… But in her heart it stung and she couldn't keep away the doubts.
It was probably a normal reaction-she suspected Michael felt the same way about not being able to contact Anne, and he'd probably confirm as much if she asked him. But she had no desire to talk about that anymore. He'd known about this for awhile, but hadn't told her yet…Gen was right-they couldn't really trust him.
"I need to ask you something," she said quietly.
"What?"
"You mentioned before, vaguely, that there were prophecies or something concerning us, concerning the apocalypse. What kind of details are in those?"
"If anything had made mention of your boyfriend of the fact that he was to die, I would have told you."
"Does it talk about our deaths, though? Me, Gen and Merri?" Now that she knew at least part of the truth, here seemed a good way to test him. "Is it possible one of us might die?"
"Anything's possible."
"I mean it. They're my friends now and I want to know."
Michael said nothing for at least a block. She couldn't be sure if he chose to avoid her question or if he really considered it until he spoke up at last.
"Probably," he said at last.
Sage's mouth went dry. So he did seem capable of telling at least her the truth. "One of us will die?"
"I've encountered a few sources that have said yes."
"And if one of us dies, that's it, right? It's all over? All of this is for nothing?"
"Pretty much."
"Do you know who?" she asked, tensing in anticipation of his answer. Nothing Gen and Merri had found listed any names, so she doubted he'd give her a name, but-
"I have my suspicions."
She glanced up at him sharply. "Who?"
He shrugged, not meeting her eyes. "Nothing is set in stone."
"Is it me?"
He seemed to weigh that question for a moment, when at last he spoke. "No."
"So one of the others… What are you going to do to help them? You're going to do something, right?"
"I've exhausted my resources already. If we don't hear from Natalya soon…I'm not sure what else to do."
Was there relief now that Sage knew it wasn't herself? Or even greater worry for her friends?
"I think I'm going to go home now," she said quietly.
He nodded, and said nothing as she veered off the next street they came to, which led away from his house.
She didn't, however, go home quite yet.
Though she'd only been in Gen's home the one time, she'd been in the car a few times when Michael dropped her off, and Sage found the house easily. A man she presumed was Gen's father answered the door when she knocked, let her in without reservation and called his daughter to come downstairs.
"Hey," Gen said, pausing at the bottom step. "What's up-"
"Why didn't you tell me about the séance?"
Gen's blue eyes widened and she glanced behind her to ensure her parents weren't listening. A quick jerk of her hand over her shoulder requested for Sage to follow her upstairs, and once in her room, she closed the bedroom door and spun to face Sage.
"Okay, the first rule of fight club is that you don't talk about fight club around my parents."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"If you're asking me that, then it must mean Michael told you, which means you probably have your answer-I was forbidden to open my big mouth on the matter." She sank down onto the bed and frowned. "I'm going to have to kill him, aren't I?"
"What happened that night?"
"Nothing. I'm sorry, but nothing happened. We sat around in a circle…okay, it was more like a triangle…but we sat there and Finn tried to call him and nothing happened."
Her knees weakened and Sage dropped onto the rattan chair opposite the brass bed. "It doesn't make any sense."
"You know Hayden. He was easy going. He just
wouldn't hang around and haunt people."
But I want him to…
"I can't believe you didn't tell me."
"I'm sorry, but Michael said-"
"That doesn't matter!" She bit back any more outbursts that threatened to leave her and checked her emotions. When she spoke again, she had nearly convinced herself of her own composure. "You were the one who said we couldn't trust him. You were the one that said we had to stick together."
"You're right, and I'm sorry. I meant what I said-I just wasn't sure how to tell you."
And Sage couldn't fault her for that-not when she had no idea how to tell Genevieve what Michael had said earlier. He seemed certain it was either Gen or Merri who would die, but wouldn't say specifically. That kind of thing would likely drive both girls mad.
"Really, I'm sorry," Gen said again, probably interpreting Sage's silence as a sign she was still mad. "I know it probably hurts-"
God, everyone's pity exhausted her sometimes. She could tell Gen about what Michael said another day-she just wanted to get out of there. "It's fine," Sage said as she stood to go. "I should-"
"Wait-maybe there's something we can do…" Genevieve went to her dresser and took a book from the top. She flipped through a few pages until she came to a scrap of paper being used as a bookmark, and held it up for Sage to see. "Finn gave me the name of someone…sort of. He said we could find someone in town, probably, to connect us with this person called The Serpent, and that they might be able to do more than he did."
"Connect with who, though?"
"I dunno-I didn't find out anything further, 'cause who am I going to ask, right? Like, besides Michael who is far from forthcoming."
"There must be someone-"
"Michael is connected. Me, I know someone whose parents grow a bit of weed. See the distinction?"
"What about that witch?"
Gen scrunched up her face, as she seemed to realize whom Sage referred to. "The slut?"
"Wouldn't she know?"
"Hmm…" Genevieve considered the idea for a moment, then hopped up and went to her computer desk. "I don't think I caught her last name, but we can search by address to get her number…" Gen must have found what she was looking for, as a few moments later she reached for her phone.
"Will she help?" Sage asked.
"Hell if I know."
"What are you going to say?"
"Again, hell if I know," she replied as she dialled and held the receiver to her ear. "Guess I'll wing it-hi!" She straightened her back and dropped her bright tone down a few notches, presumably so she didn't sound like a teenager. "I'm looking for someone-someone in the area-and I was told you were the person to talk to." She paused, listened, then seemed to pale a bit. Taking a deep breath before responding, however, seemed to calm her down and she didn't seem quite as nervous as Sage expected she would.
"I got your name from Michael Parris," Gen continued coolly. "He
said you were the kind of person to talk to about this, but if you don't know anything…" She paused again, and then grinned at Sage. "That would be much appreciated. We're looking for someone who can connect us with The Serpent. Yes, I'm sure… Yes, I realize that's a bad idea… Look, before you even say it, I'm sure the consequences will be dire or something too-will you tell me or not?" She snatched up a pen and paper from the desk suddenly and scribbled something down. "Yeah, thanks-say hi to Michael for me. Or something." Hanging up the phone, she turned to Sage. "Okay, she gave me an address. Just in case we're going to our doom, however, I'm going to send it to Mer so she can find our bodies. She sometimes checks her inbox at Thad's, so it's possible she get the message sometime next week."
"Just give me the address and I'll go-"
"Nu-uh. This is probably a really bad, bad,
bad idea, so we'll both go."
Sage wasn't certain about that logic, but she didn't argue.
Genevieve claimed she recognized the address as one on the outskirts of town, so she called a cab for them to take to the house. As the taxi drove away, leaving Sage and Gen standing in an empty driveway, both girls had their reservations about what they were doing.
"You've got a weapon, right?" Gen asked.
"I never carry one."
"Great-some warrior you are. You're supposed to have a sword so we don't have to rely on my lame-ass magical abilities."
"If we're going to need a sword, you should probably leave right now."
They walked up the front steps, gazing at the dark bungalow before them. Gen hung close to Sage as she knocked on the front door. Moments later, the light just inside turned on and they heard footsteps nearing. As the door opened, Gen absently grabbed Sage's arm and squeezed.
A small, elderly woman stood within, squinting her eyes in the dim light. "Can I help you girls with something?" she asked, walking up to the screen door to see them.
"It's always the little old lady you should watch out for," Gen whispered in Sage's ear.
"We're looking for someone who can connect with The Serpent," Sage said.
"Well, I-I don't believe we have many snakes around here. Did you check in the garden?"
Damn waste of time-that witch was probably playing with us.
"Oh, but you know Austin has some pet snakes. He's my grandson. Are you looking for one of them?"
"At this point, we'll try anything," Sage said dryly.
"Let me call him for you." The elderly woman went toward the back of the hall and called for her grandson. Quick footfalls hit the hardwood floors and an eight-year-old boy appeared around the corner.
"This keeps getting better and better," Gen said in a low voice.
"Let's just go," Sage began.
"C'mon, we can just see it through. At least Mer will get a laugh out of it later."
The young boy walked up to the door and gazed up at them. "Yeah?"
"We're looking for The Serpent," Sage said. "Or at least for someone who can connect with it."
He stepped away from the door. "Come inside."
This has to be some kind of practical joke.
Though she paused to see if the kid would crack a grin and show he was joking, he continued to stare at them with nothing but seriousness. With a sigh, Sage hauled open the door, and she and Gen went inside. They followed the boy deeper into the house. The place clearly belonged to the old lady-not a single piece of furniture dated more recently than the fifties. Austin led them to a sitting room, while his grandmother hung in the doorway.
"Should I get some cookies for you and your friends?" she asked.
Wow, she looks out of it.
"No Grandma," Austin said, starring right at her. "We're busy."
She left without a word and the whole exchange disturbed Sage.
The boy sat in a rocking chair and gestured for Sage and Gen to take the couch opposite him. "First, we discuss payment."
"No," Gen said before Sage could respond. "First, we discuss who you are and what the deal is with 'The Serpent.'"
"You came here to see me and you have no idea who I am?"
"We're looking for someone who can contact the…deceased," Sage said. "We were given this address."
"Then we discuss payment."
Sage figured she had
maybe five or six bucks in her pocket and she doubted Gen had anything to contribute.
Maybe he takes debit?
"What are you, like five?" Gen said. "You'll probably spend it all on candy."
"Insulting me will cost you extra," Austin said without cracking a grin.
"Is there a Children of the Apocalypse discount plan?" Gen asked hopefully.
No wonder Michael wants to kill her, Sage thought with a roll of her eyes.
Austin sat back and regarded them thoughtfully. His light blue eyes went back and forth between them, sizing them up perhaps? Studying them? Sage couldn't decipher the look he gave them.
"You're serious?" he asked.
"Okay, so it was a stupid suggestion," Gen said. "You know," she turned to Sage, "being a witch and a warrior has done nothing but almost get us killed a few times-think we can exchange our membership cards for something better?"
"Yes, I believe we can make arrangements," Austin said.
Both Sage and Gen turned his way quickly.
"You're kidding," Sage said.
Austin eyed them both. "Tell me why you're here and what you need."
Gen explained about Finn trying to contact Hayden, but Austin kept his eyes locked on Sage the entire time.
"So can you help us contact him?" Gen asked.
"Not exactly.
I can connect with the other world and pass on a message.
You can't, however."
Sage's hopes fell. A message was better than nothing at all, but she would give anything to see him again…
"So where does the snake come in?" Gen asked.
Austin's gaze snapped to her. "The Vision Serpent. Show some respect."
"Um…sorry?"
"The Serpent is the conduit to the after life," he explained. "I call it with a blood sacrifice and through it I communicate with the spirit realm."
"Blood
sacrifice? Like a cute fuzzy animal? We're not doing that. Ever. And I'll probably call PETA on you."
"
My blood."
"Oh."
"Isn't there any way…" Sage began.
I need to see him… "A way I could-"
"You want to actually have contact with him?" Austin guessed.
"I'd give anything."
"Anything?"
"Sage," Gen said worriedly, grabbing her arm. "Sage-"
"Anything."
As the ticking clock behind her ceased, the room around them darkened until she saw nothing but that which was in their general area. A glance to her left revealed Genevieve was gone-only she and Austin, their respective seats, and the coffee table between them remained. Austin stared at her with a strange intensity that seemed out of place on his young face.
"I can offer you the opportunity to see him," Austin said.
"The Serpent?"
He shook his head. "Not in the afterlife. For real. If you could change the past, would you do something to save him?"
For several long moments, she couldn't speak. Could he be for real? Did he really mean…?
"In a heartbeat," she whispered.
"I can give you the chance to take back one thing-change one decision
you have made. And that
could lead to him still being alive."
"What will this cost me?" she asked suspiciously. She'd make a deal with the devil himself if it meant having Hayden back, but she'd prefer at least a warning of the price she was to pay.
"Nothing."
"I don't believe that."
"I mean it."
"But why would you-"
"Because of who you are. Because when fortune eventually smiles on you, I hope that by doing this, you will smile on me."
She hadn't a clue what he meant, but she nodded anyway. "What will happen?"
"You change one decision you've made, and the world changes with it. When you leave this place, things will be different. No one else will know what happened."
"And he'll be alive?"
"Possibly. There are many futures."
"But what if he's not? What if-"
"I wouldn't send you without a way to restore things, though you'll need something specific to this time…" He leaned forward and pulled the small wooden box on the coffee table towards him. Opening the lid, he dumped the contents on the table and rifled through the bits of string, elastics, stones, and chains.
Her hand went to the jewelry box in her pocket. "I have something." She handed him the ring from Hayden.
Austin looked it over and nodded. "It will do." He slid the ring onto a long chain and fastened the clasp. "I can give you a twenty four hour window. If you want to go back to how things were, just put on the ring."
She slipped the chain over her head and ticked the ring beneath her shirt.
"Are you ready?"
Slowly, she nodded.
The boy pulled a knife from the pile of things he'd dumped on the table and suddenly put a thick slice in his arm. Sage's eyes fixed on the wound, horrified at how casually he watched the blood drip from his arm onto the table. Next, he ran his other hand through the crimson pool, drawing patterns and shapes she didn't recognize.
"Close your eyes," Austin said. "Think of the decision you want to take back."
She did as he instructed. What choice could she change? Maybe she could have stopped him from going into that parking lot alone. Or she could have killed the members of the Brethren at the creek when she had the chance. But there was still the man who sent them-Hayden would still be in danger.
It was then she knew what decision she had to change. Taking in a deep breath, she squeezed her eyes shut and spoke. "I'm ready."
*~*~*
Sage tightened her grip on her knapsack and knocked on the door again. Levi, from class, had told her and the other guy in their peer group to meet him at his house around four…so where the hell was he? Dammit, she'd knocked like three times already-
The door swung open then. Hayden, the co-op student from business class, stood before her.
"Hey…" He leaned on the doorframe, out of breath. "Sorry, just…heard the…bell. I was in…" He gulped down some air. "In the basement."
Sage bit back a grin. She'd been waiting outside for several minutes and her supposed host apparently wasn't home-she should be furious. The anger wasn't there, however-she couldn't even muster up a frown.
"The stairs are killer," he said, offering her a charming, lopsided smile.
"I bet."
"Levi's not home. Were you supposed to work on that project tonight?"
"Yeah. There was another guy too."
"He's not here either. And Lev didn't say anything about it to me."
Goddamn it, she was going to kill that guy. It wasn't easy cutting time out of her schedule of evening classes, and he insisted on them meeting at his house that night. A glance at her watch revealed it was quarter after four. She could still make it to Aikido if she hurried…
"Want to wait inside?" Hayden gestured behind him.
His dark brown gaze held hers for a moment and a strange, unfamiliar feeling settled deep in the pit of her stomach…
Butterflies?
"I don't know, I should probably-"
"Lev'll probably be home soon. We're kinda low on food, but I am an exceptional chef and I'm sure I could whip something up." He raised a brow in question. "C'mon, we've got like six hundred channels-there'll be something to watch while you wait. If you don't mind my company, that is. I could help you plot your revenge against my brother."
She should go-she knew it. But something seemed to push her forward; something beyond her control or comprehension.
"Oka-."
Wait, no, I can't.
She remembered who she was, why she was here. She couldn't do it.
"Sorry," she said coolly, straightening her back. "I have somewhere to be."
He frowned a little and sighed. "Alright. Maybe I'll see you again sometime-"
But Sage was already walking away.
*~*~*
Sage opened her eyes and blinked a few times. The living room was back the way it was, except Genevieve was gone.
"Did it work-"
"You need to leave now," Austin said, rising. "It's almost my bedtime."
Sage rose as well, a little dazed, and walked back towards the front door.
Had it worked?
"Austin," she began, turning to face him.
"Twenty-four hours," he reminded her. "Good luck."
Sage stepped outside into the cold December air. Everything looked the same as it did before-a fresh layer of snow on the ground, waxing moon, only a few days left before Christmas. The next day, Friday, would be the last day of school before the holidays, and Levi had said the family was going away early. Would it be the same in this…this version of things? Her pace quickened, a familiar house in mind. She had to see him-had to see if it had really worked.
Please let him be alive…
Hayden's place was well across town and a considerable hike from Austin's. She was in a full run by the time she reached the Greenes' residence, however. Cars rested in the driveway and there were lights in most of the windows. At least they were still home…
Pausing near the porch, she considered her actions. Running up and knocking on the door, demanding to see Hayden, didn't seem like the best plan if she hadn't been dating him in this version of the world.
But if it's necessary…I'll make it Plan B.
She sidestepped the garden and rounded the house. A glance up to his bedroom window revealed a dark room.
Where would he be… Around the back of the house, she saw light through the basement window. Not a breath escaped her lips and she crept forward, gaze fixed on the window. She dropped to her knees in the snow and peered inside, past the frost.
Oh God… Her hand moved to cover her mouth, to escape the sob that threatened to pass.
Hayden lived.
