I carried a red shopping basket in my hand while I held my phone to my ear, waiting for my mother to answer. Not wanting to spend hours on the internet searching, once again, for any crumb about The Pagonis Society, I opted to go to a reliable source.
My mother answered on the third ring, just as I was dropping a bottle of unscented children’s bubble bath in my basket.
“Imani Nez, why is this first time you are calling me after what happened between you and that girl?” She said that girl as if it were a dirty word.
Had my entire family really not liked Janelle?
“Hi, Mom. How are you?” I made my way down the tool isle. “I need some information.” I threw a hammer, a crowbar, and a flathead screwdriver in my basket. I also added a knife, just in case. There was no telling how long the window had been nailed shut, and the thick coat of paint covering the nails would also pose a problem.
She sighed. “I’m doing okay. Your father is in a tiff about my cleaning.”
“What are you worried about?” My mother always cleaned to the point of exhaustion when something bothered her.
“My children. They never let me help.”
“We’re not children anymore. We’re adults. Remember?”
Another sigh, this one long and filled with suffering. “Wait till you have kids. Just wait. Now, what kind of information did you need?”
I gave her a rundown of what I’d found online, what I’d observed, and also sent her the pictures I took of the house while I grabbed a can of WD-40.
My mother grew silent, working through the information in her head. The sound of rustling papers told me she was also searching. Something I said must have jarred a memory.
With the window down, I went in search of some snacks for the kids. I couldn’t begrudge the food they were being fed. It was healthy. Under-seasoned, but healthy. But throwing in a little sugar wouldn’t hurt. So I grabbed a box of Twinkies and made my way to the checkout line, tossing a silly T-shirt in the basket as well to wrap my supplies in.
“House Eternal is the newest translation for an old idea involving the clock that began time itself,” my mother said just as the cashier had started to ring me up.
My jaw dropped.
“Cash or card, ma’am?” the woman asked, concern on her face.
I mutely handed her too much cash, picked up my purchase, and left the store. My mother continued to talk.
“In this context, ‘house’ is another way of referring to the soul. Every living being is said to have one. Even animals. And ‘eternal’ is self-explanatory. Immortality has always been assigned to the eternal duration of a life.”
I got in my car and finally found my voice. “Was this with the information you found on the longevity of a soul and the worship of Hera?”
Raindrops drummed on my window. I started the car and turned on the wiper blades. The information my mother was giving me was disturbing, and I couldn’t gaze out at the world through a haze of obscurity right now. It was too unsettling.
“No. That was the beginning of my search. I did find other references.” She paused. “Her beloved peacock was one of the things I found. Similar to the one on that clock. A prehistoric bird that, like most animals from ancient times, evolved into what we see today. Before its evolution, it stood over seven feet tall and had no known predators.”
“What was it called?” I said, chills breaking out along my arms.
“A phoenix.” She paused again, probably because she realized my brain had gone into overload. “But what is most significant about its origins is the belief that it created time. And when it brought this to the beings with souls, it subjected them to death.”
“Is there more?” I asked.
“No. Your father and I are still tracing the origins of this faith. But these images you sent help. Do you think The Pagonis Society would allow you to search their records?”
I didn’t want to tell her I suspected The Pagonis Society of wrongdoing. At least, not without concrete proof. And what could that wrongdoing be in regard to this new information?
After thanking my mother and promising to ask for a look at The Pagonis Society’s records, I drove off, ready to throw a wrench in Collette Kalakos’s schedule.
* * *
I arrived at Pagonis Manor at exactly 5 p.m. This time, there were no children out playing. Or simulating playing. I guessed the time for subterfuge was over. Not a problem. I grabbed my bundle and headed inside.
I had a little over an hour to work the nails out of the wood in my window. By the time I pried the window open, I was covered in sweat, and the entire inside of my mouth had teeth marks embedded in the flesh.
Like yesterday, the kids stepped out of their rooms at 6:25 p.m. Only this time, I crouched in front of them, and they made eye contact with me. “I know you are suffering, and I won’t sit here and let that happen any longer. I have a plan,” I whispered. “Do you trust me?”
They nodded slowly, a little light coming into their eyes.
“Good.” I stood, took both their hands, and we made our way to dinner.
I only wished I could’ve added some of my brother’s seasoning to our dinner. While I had stashed it away in my pocket, I doubted I’d get the chance to sprinkle some on my food without Collette noticing.
* * *
After giving the children a bath using a drop of the oil and a generous amount of the bubble bath, I gave them a Twinkie each, and we did our hour in the library.
At five minutes to ten, having already pried open the window completely, I stood in my doorway and waited.
A grinding of gears sounded, announcing it was now 10 p.m., and the children’s doors opened. I put a single finger to my lips and motioned them over. They moved swiftly, eyes still registering pain, and ran into my room and straight for the window as if they were seeking the air. I helped them both up onto the desk and held them as they stuck their heads outside and inhaled deeply.
Dark spots appeared on their skin, spreading as if a pocket deep inside them, filled with brown liquid, had been punctured and was slowly leaking out underneath their skin. They dragged in breaths, their whole bodies expanding and contracting.
Molly’s hair began to fill out, fluffing up, as if she might have worn an afro. Troy’s hair also grew.
I pulled them inside and turned them toward me. “What’s happening to you?” I asked, my eyes rounded.
“Life,” Troy uttered and then turned his head toward my bedroom door.
A second later, it banged open, and an enraged Collette stood in the doorway with Minos looming behind her.
“What have you done?” she shrieked, rushing forward. She grabbed my arm and flung me sideways. I stumbled onto my bed. Before I could stop her, she wrenched both of the children’s arms up into a bruising grip and stormed out of my room. “Lock her inside!” she yelled over her shoulder.
I surged to my feet, only to be coldcocked by Minos.
“You should have obeyed the rules,” I heard him say before the world went black.