The idea of us being together made no sense. This was the thought that plagued me as I dressed for what was going to be the worst event of my life. Not only was utter humiliation a sure thing, I now had an audience to witness my spectacular failure… A really gorgeous audience. I had to stop at home since nothing at Camilla’s place was suitable, so I arranged to meet Adrius at the hall. Who would have guessed I’d need something to wear on a date. I’d packed for boring, which was usually what life offered.
The house seemed quiet… more so than usual, despite being accustomed to an empty house with mom gone as often as she was. But this was the first time she’d been gone on my birthday. I peeked in her room and then quickly shut the door. This was silly; why was I suddenly missing her so much? It’s not like I was three. She’d be home in a few weeks, and I would no doubt get a happy-birthday-call tonight, after she’d given me the third degree about — ugh — the performance.
Fresh waves of nausea washed over me as I rummaged through my closet for something date-worthy. What exactly is the appropriate attire for falling on your face in front of the most gorgeous guy in school and half the town? Wonder if Teen Magazine has an advice column for that one.
Giving up, I slipped into a black sundress Mom had sent from Milan last summer, a sheer crochet scarf, denim jacket, and high-heeled boots. Keeping it simple, right? My hair had seen better days, but since the waves were more or less in control I left it loose. Jewelry wasn’t really my thing, so I added plain, silver hoops earrings and Gran’s charm bracelet. And after a quick call to Camilla to let her know where I’d be, I swallowed my nerves and headed to the auditorium.
Damp night air crept over my skin, as I huddled under the shelter of the canopy erected specifically for this event. Vehicles jammed the parking lot, a sight that did nothing to soothe my anxiety. When he drove up at exactly 6:00 p.m. sharp, I couldn’t help exhaling a sigh of relief that he actually showed. In the back of my mind, I pictured the whole thing as some cruel joke… that maybe someone had put him up to asking me out… payback for dropping hot foam and cherry sauce on the cheerleader.
But the smile that greeted me when he opened the door melted all of my fears.
“Right on time.” I smiled as he crossed the parking lot in long strides. The amber lights made the sparkles dance in his eyes. He met my gaze, creating a déjà vu moment of the strength draining from my limbs, the way it had the other night at Lemon Balm. Technically, it was entirely his fault Brianne wanted to publicly humiliate me.
I stepped aside as his lean frame brushed against me to hold open the door. He looked and smelled amazing.
“You look beautiful,” he said, reaching out to tuck a curl behind my ear, before motioning for me to enter first.
“Thanks,” I murmured. It was impossible to ignore the spark that sizzled when his fingers made contact with my skin.
The foyer was shadowed in dim lights, and people milled about not ready to take their seats. I inhaled a sharp breath, feeling a new layer of anxiety gnaw at my insides. It was a strange sensation wishing for the night to be over and not wanting it to end at the same time. We checked our coats and Adrius handed the girl a huge tip. She gawked with a star-struck stare, but I don’t think it had anything to do with the small wad of bills he’d handed her. The way her face flushed bright pink when he smiled… the nervous little giggle when he took the tickets from her hand; she was as dazzled by him as I was… as every girl who caught sight of him was.
“Lorelei!”
I pivoted toward a voice as pleasant as nails grating across a chalkboard. She strode toward me like the hall was her personal catwalk, decked in a clingy, low-cut black and red designer number.
“Brianne.” I greeted her, self-consciously adjusting my dress. Somehow I always felt totally eclipsed when she was around. Given the circumstances, mustering even a fake smile for Davin’s sake was impossible.
“You came.”
She couldn’t have laid it on any thicker.
“I didn’t really have much choice,” I mumbled. If ready-to-wear-Barbie had been even marginally clued in, she’d have picked up on the thinly veiled loathing in my voice, but as was typical, she was oblivious. “Hi, Davin.” I turned my attention to him, avoiding eye contact with Brianne.
“Hey,” he replied, but he looked right past me, his gaze fixed squarely on Adrius. “Have we met?”
“Davin, this is Adrius.” I gestured, taking any excuse not to talk to Brianne.
“Nice to meet you, man.” Adrius extended his hand, which Davin shook stiffly, without a word.
“And this is Brianne,” I added when she’d cleared her throat for the third time. When he shook her hand she wrapped her perfectly manicured fingers around his and refused to let go.
“Art class… You’re the new guy, right?” she oozed.
Adrius nodded.
Brianne tossed her hair, the ends sweeping across my face. “Well, if you ever need extra help, with anything… I’m always available.” She was batting her lashes so fast it looked like she was swatting flies.
“Really…” Adrius stared back at her.
“Really,” she gushed in a throaty purr.
He narrowed his eyes and stepped closer to me, circling his arm around my waist. “I don’t know. Lorelei, do you think after all of your extra help, I still need more?” His cheek brushed against my hair.
I shook my head, biting back a laugh as Brianne switched from flirty to ticked-off in two seconds flat.
Davin wouldn’t have been impressed, if he’d noticed any of it. But he was still staring hard at Adrius. The glare lingered a second longer, then he gave me a confused frown. “So, are you two… together?” He pointed two fingers at us.
Tongue-tied, I glanced up at Adrius, feeling my face grow warm. “Um…”
“Yes. We are,” he answered, without hesitation. “And we should probably get inside to register. You ready, Lorelei?”
“Ready as I’ll ever be,” I said quietly, offering a Davin a thin smile. “See you later.”
I reached for Davin’s hand. Before I could touch him, Brianne wrapped her arms possessively around his neck. With a frustrated grimace he untangled them, pushing her arm away, but his finger caught on her wire bracelet, tearing his skin.
“Ouch. Why do you always wear that thing? It’s forever making me bleed.”
I grabbed hold of his hand before I noticed the gash. His index finger pulsed beads of crimson liquid from an inch-long tear. Suddenly, my head grew fuzzy. The room blurred, and I swayed, knowing what would come next. Even with Adrius’s arm around me, I dropped to my knees, which was always preferable to falling from a standing position… less chance of breaking something, again. Of course my cracked rib had healed overnight that time. But still, it hurt like crazy.
“Put your head between your knees.” A firm hand was pushing the back of my head. I knew that voice, but it was distorted… too difficult to make out, and I didn’t dare look up. If Davin’s finger came any closer, that would be it. Too late. The smell washed over me, like sea salt and rusted boats. Everything faded as I felt what little strength I had give way, completely.
****
I opened my eyes. It was too bright. I was lying on my back somewhere. A kitchen, an office? A face hovered over me, and I strained to focus. Then it all came rushing back… Davin, the blood, and… I gasped. Adrius. He had witnessed the whole thing. And it was his beautifully concerned face now inches above mine. He smiled, and I smiled… an automatic reaction.
“You okay?”
“I’m good.” My hoarse, scratchy voice sounded anything but.
Pushing myself upright, I took in the computer and files littering the desk.
His hand supported my elbow. “Are you sure you’re ready to get up?”
“She said she was fine,” came a deep growl from the far corner of the room.
I recognized that voice too and the tone. “How’s your finger, Davin?” I asked, still a little bleary-eyed.
Something was up. I can always tell when he’s upset. It only took another second to figure out why.
“Healed,” he said, with a tight smile. “Don’t worry — not everyone noticed.” Davin’s scowl swung from Adrius back to me repeatedly. Finally he shot up. “I’ve gotta find Bri,” he muttered, marching past us and slamming the door behind him.
I frowned, shaking my head slightly, which only made the dizziness return.
“So… how long have you been able to do that?” Adrius asked, handing me a paper bag and a glass of juice… lemonade. I made a face but drank it anyway as worry seeped through me.
I was right. He had witnessed not only my embarrassing habit of passing out at the sight of blood, but also my freakish ability to heal. Most normal people would run screaming for their crucifix and holy water. But he seemed strangely unfazed by the whole thing. As if it were normal for me to do what I could do, but didn’t because of the incredible nausea still rocking my stomach.
“I don’t know,” I said rubbing my forehead. “Since I was a kid. The first time, was when Davin broke his arm. That’s why he knows.” My eyes fell and I waited for the reaction I felt should be coming. When he didn’t say anything I continued. “He fell out of the tree house in Gran’s yard, and well, the bone was sticking out of the skin and everything. There was no doubt it was broken. I took him into the house. Gran called an ambulance and mixed an herbal concoction to help while we waited. But when she came back, he was fine… the bone back in place, bleeding and pain gone.” I lifted my gaze searching his face, but his expression was unreadable. “The doctors said there was a hairline fracture, and a week later, they decided they’d misdiagnosed him because there was no trace of anything. Not even a scar.”
I paused, waiting for him to say something, or bolt, or worse. But he didn’t. He just looked at me. Part of me was relieved, but at the same time I didn’t know what to make of his non-reaction.
“Okay, so I tell you I can heal people, and you have nothing to say to that?”
“What do you want me to say?” He shrugged lightly, taking my lemonade cup and setting it on the desk next to me. I still had the paper bag I was breathing into clutched in my other hand. “You’re not the first empathic healer on this planet. Doubt you’ll be the last.”
“Alright… then while I’m confessing my strange habits, I might as well tell you I will probably throw up before I go on stage. And as for the passing out, I do that a lot.”
“So you’re a healer… who faints at the sight of blood,” he said slowly. “Very Gone With the Wind.”
“Ha ha.”
“Seriously, I can see you playing Scarlet in a musical one day. You’ve already got the whole procrastination thing down.”
“I’m sorry, when did mocking the dizzy and nauseated become acceptable?”
He chuckled. “It’s interesting someone with such versatile gifts should be worried about something as immaterial as performing on stage.”
“Ironic, I know.” I inhaled into the bag warding off another wave of dizziness.
“You can control your voice if you choose to, Lorelei. No one else has power over your gifts.”
“Okay, now you sound like your dad. And it’s not just the performance. It’s… well, it’s complicated.” My eyes shot up, as I slowly lowered the paper bag. “How did you know that — about not being in control of my voice?”
He smiled uncomfortably, as though he’d said more than he wanted to say.
“You could say I sort of see things.”
I waited for further explanation but he didn’t offer any.
“If I’m spilling all of my secrets you could at least share one or two of yours,” I urged.
Adrius laughed. “Somehow, I get the feeling you haven’t come close to revealing all your secrets,” he said, his mouth quirking at the corners.
I stared at him then looked down at my hands. “When you first meet someone, do you tell them all of your secrets?” I fiddled with the bag then set it aside. I wanted to tell him more. Tell him everything. But how could I? Even someone as open-minded as he was would have his limits. And I’m pretty sure that limit might be a confession my gifts came from a dark Faerie. At first sight it might appear I got the better end of that deal. I didn’t. And I’ve spent my entire life trying to erase the night completely. My father’s been gone for as long as I can remember, and I still can’t fully control my voice. There’s one thing I can tell you about faeries, if they actually exist… they can’t be trusted.
But tonight was going to be different. It had to be. I couldn’t risk losing it on stage in front of Adrius, not to mention the talent scout from Juilliard. This was my chance to prove the voices in my head wrong. There was something I could do and do well. The last note of Defying Gravity from the musical Wicked rang out and I fought off another wave of nausea. He had such nice shoes. It would be a shame to throw up all over them.
There was a creaking that caught our attention and then a camera flashed from behind the door. I couldn’t see who it was, but I was pretty sure what happened. Brianne had sent someone to take a picture of my finest moment — green-faced, sprawled on a desk, hyperventilating. The perfect shot to show the entire school what a loser I was. What was her plan? Put it in the yearbook, post it online, slip it into the end of year slide show at graduation? It would take about a day for the news to circulate school, the average for after-hour gossip to make the rounds. I sighed. Truthfully, I was still too queasy to care.
Adrius scanned the hallway but returned almost instantly. He frowned in concern.
“I… I’ll be fine.” I nodded before he could ask. “Just need to focus on something else for a while. Talk to me.”
“If you think that will help…” He hopped onto the desk beside me and his thigh brushed mine, sending a ripple of heat down my leg. “You didn’t tell me what you’re singing tonight.”
“I was planning on ‘Think of Me’, from the Phantom of the Opera.” I waited for a comment.
He stared at me with lowered brows.
“What?”
“Nothing, it’s just… is that your favorite piece from the score?”
“Most of the songs are duets. I’m doing a solo.” I shrugged.
“That wasn’t my question.”
“Okay, no. It’s not my favorite piece. I guess that would be Point of No Return.”
“Why?”
“Why?” I repeated incredulously. “I don’t know. It’s so passionate, intense. And I love that scene… where Christine succumbs to her undeniable desire for her angel of music. I sing it all the time in the shower.” My face flushed. I’m such a moron. Why, do I talk?
“Then sing that.” A light sparked in his eyes. Or maybe I just imagined it.
“But I told you, I’m —”
“—Singing a solo, I heard you. I think part of your problem is you’re afraid to let your emotions show.”
“Are you psychoanalyzing me now? Because I get enough of that from your father.” It still bugged me he knew so much about me when I knew so little about him.
Adrius paused looking unsure, then ran his hand through his hair. “If you had the option, would you sing a duet?”
I stared blankly. “What are you saying?”
“If you asked me, I could sing it with you.”
“You… can sing?”
He laughed.
“I don’t mean anything by it. It’s just… I didn’t know.”
His mouth twisted wryly. “There’s a lot you don’t know about me, Lorelei.”
“Obviously. So, okay. A duet… Sure. But…” Was a duet a good idea considering I had an angry vengeful cheerleader plotting against me? I’d feel awful if something happened to him on stage because of me.
As if reading my mind, he added, “I wouldn’t worry too much about Brianne if I were you. I have a feeling her evening might not go as planned.”
I looked up at him with a doubtful smile, feeling almost calm for the first time in days.
Brianne was slated to perform right before me. But by the time we made it backstage, Davin was rushing her out the door.
“What’s going on?”
“Bri had an allergic reaction to something.”
“Allergic reaction? To what?”
Davin shrugged, holding a puffy, moon-faced blonde in his arms. “They gave her a shot, but I’m taking her to the ER to be safe.”
“Wow. I hope she’s okay.” I reached out, trying to touch her arm. I always tried to use my gifts discretely when I could and physical contact was a must for me to help someone, even if only to lessen their pain.
“Stop talking to her!” Brianne wheezed through swollen lips, pushing my hand away. “And you… don’t touch me.”
“I’m really sorry, Brianne.”
“Yeah, I so don’t care. Davin, I need to get out of here… Now!”
As they left Davin nodded in my direction and mouthed a silent, “Thanks anyway.”
I turned to Adrius, who had a strange look on his face. Not quite a smirk, but definitely something mischievous. I squinted at him, but before I could question him, the announcer was calling my name.
“We’re up,” he said, grabbing my hand, adding electric sparks to my butterflies. His rush to get us on stage left zero time to make up my mind about the duet… now it was no longer a choice. It was a done deal.
Standing on stage waiting for the lights to come up, I wondered for one horrifying instant what would happen if I opened my mouth to sing and nothing came out. The curtain rose and the dim red glow surrounded me, amplifying my fears. My hands trembled. For a split second, I froze. Terror mixed with panic paralyzed me, and I was certain I’d be hurling on the stage before the curtain finished rising. We had never even sung together. I hadn’t practiced this song for ages, and I had no idea if I would even have a voice to sing with. What was I doing up here? Exactly what about this seemed like a good idea at the time? I was going to fall flat on my face, disappoint everyone, again, and show them all what I already knew, that I didn’t belong here.
But Adrius stood across the stage from me, staring into my eyes in that special way he did. And suddenly we were alone in the darkness. There was no audience, no judges, no talent scouts… no faces in the crowd ready and waiting to watch me fall… only the two of us. He sang his verse, taking measured steps toward me, and a flame ignited in my chest.
When I opened my mouth a voice I couldn’t believe was mine poured out. Swelling and hitting notes with ease and emotion that made even my heart race. Our performance was more like fantasy than reality. By the time we reached the end, we were in each other’s arms, as if we’d rehearsed our performance dozens of times before. “We’ve past the point of no return.”
There was a moment of silence, then a roar of applause that shook the rafters. Everyone was on their feet, leaping, clapping, cheering, and whistling. Between the incredible thunder of the crowd and my own heavy breathing, I found it hard to hear our first place award announced over the loud speakers.
Adrius twirled me around and finished by bending me in a deep backward dip, with his face just inches from mine, sending the audience into a real frenzy.
“Do you know how incredible you were?” he asked, once the curtain closed.
“Ditto.” I lifted my face to look up at him, and our eyes locked for what seemed like an eternity.
His mouth inched closer to mine, then stopped. “So, birthday girl…” he said, dropping his arms and putting distance between us. “What did you think?”
“We were amazing. You were amazing,” I said, letting the smile I couldn’t hold back cover my face. I’d never experienced such a powerful performance before.
“Back at you.” We headed to the reception hall, where music, tinsel, and strobe lights awaited. I was floating. Could this night be any more perfect?
Wandering the hall, I felt like a fairy princess among the glimmering lights and streamers, complete with my very own Prince Charming. My head bobbed to the beat, and for a change I didn’t care what anyone thought, I was thoroughly immersed in the moment.
“Seriously, that was pretty incredible.” I had to shout over the loud music pumping from the band. “I’m still not sure how we pulled it off. It was like we’d practiced for months. You even knew where to move… where I would move.” I gazed up at him, slightly perplexed by the crazy perfection of it all.
His dark lashes lowered with his voice, as he leaned in next to my ear.
“I need something to drink. How about you?”
“That’d be great.” I nodded, looking around.
Buffet tables lined the length of two walls, one filled with finger foods and the other laden with desserts. Neil had dropped off a few of his apple caramel cakes earlier. He made me promise to have a slice. But I couldn’t imagine keeping food down. Not while I was still hovering two feet off the ground with my head in the clouds. I surveyed the room from the edge of the dance floor, carefully avoiding the thrashing and gyrating bodies.
A traveling squeal was all the warning I had before Abby threw herself into me, shaking my shoulders. “Okay… truth! Do you have any idea what kind of chemistry you two have? It’s seriously intense. How you could keep from jumping him backstage is beyond me. Or did you…?” She planted her hands on her hips, sending the ruffles of her fuchsia dress fluttering.
“Take it easy, Abby. It. was one song.” My phony playing it cool routine wouldn’t fool her.
“One super sexy hot song,” she countered. “When did you plan that? You’ve been holding out on me.”
“We didn’t actually. It just kind of fell together. When I met him the other night, he wasn’t even sure he was going. And even when he asked me to go with him, the duet wasn’t part of the plan, believe me.”
Abby frowned and held both hands up in front of her. “Whoa, wait a minute. You met him once before? Like on a date?”
“Actually it was twice, but it wasn’t a date.”
“And you’re just telling me, your best friend, now?”
I rolled my eyes. “Sorry, Abby, don’t be mad.” I didn’t need a guilt trip ruining my perfect evening.
She crossed her arms. “Explain. Everything. And I want details.”
“Now?”
“Yes… Now.”
“There’s not much to explain. I met him at Lemon Balm one night, and then he drove me home from my appointment two days later. End of story. This is our only date, if you can call it that… since he was only trying to save me from Brianne and too nice to back out of it.” I shrugged. What more could I say? It’s not like he was into me or anything.
Abby stared at me, then over at Adrius and sighed. “He is unbelievably good-looking.”
“Yep. Not bad,” I said, shifting my weight from one high heel to the other.
“Not bad? Pop in the other contact, grandma — he’s ridiculously hot!” she hollered as the music pumped louder. “How did you meet at the café?”
I scanned the hall for Adrius. If he’d get back here already, I could put off Abby’s Spanish Inquisition until tomorrow… or at least until after the party. Either way, my cell would be buzzing five seconds after curfew so she could get the details of our ride home.
I spotted him by the refreshments table, cornered by three cheerleaders. One was leaning toward him in a top so low cut I was afraid for her that something that might spill out.
Abby picked up on it too. “Okay, now that’s just wrong. Not enough they’ve had every guy on the football team? They have to be all over your guy too.”
I tensed. “He’s hardly my guy, Abby.” But inside, my stomach twisted a little as I watched them. Adrius didn’t seem to notice the way they were throwing themselves all over him, pawing at him like cats in heat. I exhaled a long sigh and was immediately annoyed at myself for being so frustrated. How could I possibly be jealous when we barely knew each other? There were so many prettier girls here tonight… at our school, in our town. I couldn’t help but wonder why he decided to ask me. If it hadn’t been for Brianne hassling me, it probably would never have come up.
“Well…” The impatient snap of Abby’s French manicured fingers snapped my focus back to the present, but my eyes stayed glued to Adrius, who seemed to be politely but unmistakably trying to get away from them.
A distant ringing caught my attention. “Is that your cell or mine?” I asked fishing around in my clutch for the phone.
“Yours,” she said. “Mine plays Lady Gaga.”
“Who could be calling me now?” Neon lights lit as I flipped it open. Probably my mom, calling with late birthday wishes and death threats ready if I’d screwed up the performance.
“Just so you know — we’re not done here!” Abby shouted, as I held up my hand and wandered away from the noise.
Under a ten digit number I didn’t recognize was the name St. Vincent’s Hospital. My heart skipped a beat.
“Hello?” It was impossible to hear anything over the deafening music. "Hold on." I called, rushing down the hall to the empty auditorium. Heavy doors clanged shut behind me, leaving me alone in utter silence. I took a deep breath, "I'm here."
“Lor-lei Alundra?"
The reception in here was the worst. "Yes? Hello? Are you there?" My heart twisted against my ribs.
"This is Dr. Collins — department of neurology — Dublin.”
“Dublin?” I echoed numbly as a wave of dread gripped me.
“I’m afraid I have bad news… It’s about your mother.”