Meridian. Part 5

"Speaking of family photos, why the cloak-and-dagger journey to the middle of nowhere?

Where are my parents?" I glanced between Auntie and Tens, their faces a study of secrets and stubbornness.

The silence stretched.

I repeated my question. "Where is my family? Who is after us?"

"They're not after your parents," Tens replied. "Just you. The Aternocti hunt Fenestras 33a before they've reached their full power. Did you move a lot as a kid?"

ni *"Yeah. Dad kept changing jobs."

Tens shook his head. "Maybe, but it was mainly so they'd keep you alive until you turned sixteen."

"Are you kidding me?"

"No, sorry. They moved again right after you left the house. That car crash wasn't an accident. Meridian. The best way to kill a Fenestra is to make a human soul try to pa.s.s through her before she's ready."

Did the teenagers in the crash die because of me? "What happens?" Did I want to know?

Auntie jumped in. "There are things you must know. Methods of coping that you can only learn from another Fenestra. When you turned sixteen, the window opened fully -at that moment human souls needing to pa.s.s over began to sense you. Before then, your window was only a crack that insects and small animals squeezed through."

"What if I don't want to be one?" I asked.

"You are one."

"But what if I close the window or put a sign out that says 'Go somewhere else'?"

"You'll die."

"Excuse me?"

"You'll die. It's really quite simple. Either you learn to do what you were born for or you'll be sucked through when the right soul pa.s.ses through you. There's a third option. ..."

I stopped breathing for a stuttering second. I couldn't possibly have heard correctly. "Die?"

"Auntie." Tens's voice was sharp and commanding.

"What's the third option?" I asked.

Auntie let Tens answer. "You figure out how to be a Fenestra or you'll be towed through."

He stared me down.

"Yes, dear, it's rather simple." Auntie patted my hand like she'd just told me I couldn't have more candy. "I'm quite sleepy all of a sudden."

Tens jumped up, rushing to cover Auntie with one of her quilts and raise her feet to an ottoman. The concern on his face seemed disproportionate to an old lady's feeling tired.

"Shoo." She batted his hands away. "Take Meridian and give her a tour. Go for a walk. I'll be fine. Tens. It's not time yet."

34a "Time?" I asked, but no one answered me. I couldn't quite get past "you'll die."

n i *

Chapter 8.

Tens was about as talkative as dirt as we walked around the drafty rooms. I peeked at him from beneath my eyelashes, trying to figure out his deal. "So ...," I said, trying to fill the awkward s.p.a.ce. "Are you -"

"Nope."

I nodded. "A cousin?"

"Nope."

"And she's not insane?"

"Nope."

"Do you have something against me?"

"No -"

" -ope," I finished for him, grabbing his forearm to stop him. I gazed at Tens, trying to decipher whether he was friend or foe. Then a thought wiggled behind my eyes. "How did you know about the car crash that happened right before I came here? Did my parents call?"

He sighed. "I could tell you that your parents called to say you were on your way."

"But?" My instincts screamed I might not like the answer, but I needed to know it.

"How strong are you, Supergirl?"

Not very. "Enough." I answered.

"I know things. Before they happen. Even when they happen somewhere far away. I just know them."

"How?"

He licked his lips and crossed his arms. I could tell he was trying to decide how much to say.

"Do you read minds? Do you know what I'm thinking?" Heat stole across my face.

He smiled at me. "It'd be fun to tell you I could, but no. It's not like that."

I let a huge wave of relief sweep over me. "Oh. So then, what?"

"Dreams. Feelings." He opened French doors and pointed down a long hallway. "This wing 35a is unused. We usually keep these doors closed because of the heating. There are probably ni critters living in it I'd stay out."

*"Okay. What about your -" I had to jog to keep up with his long-legged sprint. Clearly, he wanted to get this over with as quickly as possible.

"Up this staircase is another bunch of rooms. Again, don't go up there -"

"You're not going to fully answer me, are you?"

"In here is the gallery; that's the library/study Back here is the kitchen." He went upstairs and downstairs and through hallways so quickly, I spent more time watching my feet than thinking about his evasion. "Up that staircase and down the hallway is your bedroom.

Auntie's is almost directly below yours on the second floor. Mine is back there." He pointed in a general direction as if he didn't want me to know where to find him.

"So then, what -"

Abruptly, we were back in the kitchen. Sweat beaded my forehead and my legs ached.

Tens turned away from me. "There's a ton of stuff I have to do, okay?"

"I'll help." I wanted to drag an explanation out of him.

"You wash dishes?"

"Sure." I thought maybe I'd wash and he'd dry and we'd have time to talk things through.

But less than ten minutes later I found myself alone, wearing yellow rubber gloves, staring at a pile of food-caked pots and pans.

Custos whined at my elbow.

"I don't think he wants to talk, do you?" I asked her as she sat and leaned into me. By the time the kitchen was clean, my back ached and my head throbbed. I got a bowl of cookies and a gla.s.s of milk to carry up to my room. I tossed a cookie to Custos, and she caught it in midair with a smile. Despite the tour, I got lost trying to find the bedroom I'd slept in. When I finally found it. I picked at the piles of clothes, feeling homesick, missing my family. I held a sweater to my nose and inhaled, but I couldn't even smell home anymore.

What the h.e.l.l was happening to me?

How would I ever find them again?

Was I allowed to?

I slept without dreaming for the first time in ages. "Merry Christmas. Where's Auntie?" I yawned, wandering back into the kitchen. I finally felt human. Although, was I human?

"Sleep okay. Supergirl? You're chipper for a Christmas without Santa." Tens used tongs to flip over the bacon sizzling on the stove. He looked domestic. I expected him to think 36 cooking was beneath him, but he seemed very much at home.

ani *"So, where is Auntie?" I asked.

"Out."

I sat at the table and studied him. He paid no attention to me. I could have been invisible.

"Do you like it here?"

"It's fine." he muttered.

I let silence expand between us until I couldn't tolerate it anymore. "Why don't you look at me?"

"Ego much?" he asked, not turning.

"I don't mean I'm gorgeous, but you avoid me. It's not contagious." I stopped, temporarily flummoxed by the idea. "Oh my G.o.d, is it contagious?" The shock in my voice most have distressed Tens, because he came and sat next to me.

He hesitated, as if he didn't know how to comfort me. In the end, he didn't touch me.

"You're born, not infected," he said. "I have my reasons. None of which are because you're a Fenestra. Drink some OJ, it's fresh-squeezed." He scrambled away from me to pour a gla.s.s.

I snorted. "Fresh? What man squeezes fresh OJ?"

"Don't tell me you buy that c.r.a.p stereotype that guys eat cold beans out of a can?"

"Only the straight ones." I grinned, but it came off more like teeth-baring. He didn't respond. "Fresh-squeezed, huh?" I sipped. "Good."

Tens dished up scrambled eggs, an English m.u.f.fin, a couple of sausage links, and bacon.

"Eat up. Auntie left you lesson number one."

The smell of food made my stomach turn. "I don't want breakfast."

"You need to eat."

"I never eat breakfast. Seriously, never. If I eat it I'll probably just puke all over you." Even if I was hungry, his I-know-what's-best-for-you tone made me want to be ornery.

I saw a flash of hurt cross his face. He ran water in the sink and started scrubbing the frying pan.

I closed my eyes, wondering when I'd morphed into a total harpy. "Look. I'm sorry."

"I get it," he grunted.

"You do? Because I don't. I'm not a mean person, but you make me mad."

37ani *He kept scrubbing the pan. It had to be clean by now. "You're cornered. I haven't exactly cut you a lot of slack either."

I swallowed more juice, enjoying its sweetness and its bite. "No, you haven't. Why don't you like me?"

He paused, but continued to stare out the window instead of at me. "I don't dislike you."

"Riiiight."

"Listen, I -" He broke off and gulped a deep breath. "I-if you can't... If you don't..."

I waited. I barely inhaled, afraid I'd scare him into keeping his mouth shut.

Tens shook his head as if losing an argument with himself. "I won't force you to eat. When you're finished with the juice, I have something Auntie asked me to give you. It's not a present or anything."