Divine Punishment - 6. Chapter 6

Chapter 6

 

 

 

“But…they…definitely…exist?” I asked, panting, crumpled on the floor. Getting slammed around by magic, the Force or whatever the hell it was definitely was taking its toll on me.

 

“Yes, of course they do. Most everything you find in folklore has a basis in truth. In this instance, most of the lore is wrong, but the essence of it is based in fact.”

 

“But they don’t sparkle, do they?”

 

“No.” Christian answered exasperated, rolling his eyes. “Vampires don’t sparkle. They can survive under the sun just like any normal human. They’re not a disease and as such, vampirism isn’t transmitted as a virus. You don’t become one by being bitten or through a ritual, drinking a vampire’s blood.” He extended a hand to pull me up, which I gracefully accepted. I wasn’t too proud to admit that I was getting my ass kicked by an old fart.

 

“Then how does it work?” I asked, as I turned to walk towards the small table, the only piece of furniture in the entire garage, intending to take a drink of water.

 

“Look out.” Terry said. But it was too late. I was slammed face-first into the wall. Thank God for padding. Its purpose might have been sound proofing, but it definitely helped keep injuries down as well. And the way things were going, even that might not prove sufficient to keep me from requiring a trip to the ER once we were done.

 

“How many times must I tell you? Your link with Terry isn’t strong enough. You’re not in sync yet and until you can coordinate properly, the least you can do is NOT TURN YOUR BACK ON YOUR OPPONENT!”

 

“Christ, it’s my first time, okay? Give me a break.”

 

“Fine.” Christopher spat. “5 minutes. Get a drink and a breather, then we go again.”

 

I stumbled to the table, grabbed a bottle of water and took a long, refreshing drink from it. I then sat, cross-legged, on the cold cement floor, closed my eyes and tried to compose myself.

 

“It’s a curse.” Christopher said softly, cutting into my meditation.

 

“What is?”

 

“Being a vampire. It’s a curse. Placed on one bloodline. One only.”

 

“Who?”

 

“Judas.”

 

“You’re kidding me, right?”

 

“Angels, demons, Heaven and Hell. They all exist, as well as a lot of other ugly little things that like nothing better than to hide in the dark corners of the world. Why does the notion of Judas surprise you?”

 

“I don’t know. I guess I just never took the Bible literally, you know?”

 

“Nor should you. It’s the word of God as told by men and, as such, subject to interpretation. Sometimes it’s not even that. But, as always, an inkling of truth is what gives birth to the greatest of legends.”

 

“Right. But…Judas hanged himself, right?” Christopher nodded. “So, he came back to life or something?”

 

“No, he died then. But he had a son. Dan Brown got it wrong. It wasn’t Jesus that had kids. And angels cursed him.”

 

“But…it’s not fair. I mean, the kid wasn’t at fault. And, besides, if Judas hadn’t betrayed Jesus, then the whole ‘die for the sins of man’ thing wouldn’t have come to pass, right?”

 

Again, Christopher just nodded and seemed to think of the best way to continue. “Yes, which is why I said angels cursed him. Not God. God…well, let’s just say that he took a backseat role once he sent the Son down. Angels were never really down with that plan, you know? They didn’t think humanity deserved the Savior’s sacrifice. So, when a man betrayed Jesus, even if it was part of the plan, they felt death wasn’t punishment enough. His heir would walk the Earth, forever hungry, never sated. An empty stomach and an empty heart.”

 

“But if vampirism isn’t transmitted…”

 

“Ah, I only said it wasn’t transmitted as a virus. It’s a bloodline curse, in the male line. A single person wouldn’t make for much of a bloodline. That…hunger. You must understand, it’s present in everything. He’s never satisfied. That goes for companionship as well. He can mate, but he can’t fall in love. Yet he is compelled to try. Again and again and again. For 2000 years. He has sired many offspring. Vampires are born. But like I said, it’s only in the male line. Fortunately. For whatever reason, most of the children have been girls. But even so, there have been more than enough males to threaten humanity several times over the years. The Church, as well as private individuals, some gifted…like us, have, at such times, stepped up and intervened.” Christopher laughed. But it was a bitter sound. “Intervention…Every single time, it was a massacre. Bloodbaths, on both sides. But it was for the greater good. And sooner or later, it shall be necessary once again, because we have never been able to find him.”

 

“Judas’ son?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“What’s his name?”

 

“We don’t know. Every record of him was destroyed or forgotten. You can thank our angel friends for that. One thing about them you must know – they really lack foresight. They’ve caused many a mess over the years due to their impulsiveness. Anyway, for all intents and purposes, he is Nameless.”

 

I shivered and Christopher frinned. “Come, the floor is cold.” I smiled, both of us knowing full well that wasn’t the reason for my reaction. “And don’t worry. I very much doubt you of all people will meet him.” If that’s not foreshadowing, I don’t know what is. “En garde.” And then he slammed me into the wall again, making me think of exactly how I got to that point.

 

Friday had gone well enough. I mean, there was that whole incident in the morning, but I was getting used to weird shit happening, so I quickly put it to the back of my mind, as I concentrated on school. After all, I still needed to keep up my good grades, otherwise I might lose my geek reputation. Again, with Terry on my side, tests were a breeze. By the way, what the hell is it with teachers and tests on Fridays? Screw them, for trying to ruin our weekends.

 

I was enjoying lunch with Sharon when Jordan joined us. Of course, that only served to remind me of my ‘meet the parents’ moment later that evening. Needless to say, I immediately lost my appetite. Which was good news for Sharon, since she could inhale food like a black hole, so she finished my burger and fries, all the while chatting with Jordan. I was pleased that the two of them were getting along so well.

 

“You’re not nervous, are you?” Terry asked me. I sighed and nodded. “Aw, come on, you’ll love my dad. He’s a great guy.”

 

“But what if he doesn’t like me?”

 

“Who?” Jordan asked.

 

“Umm…your uncle.”

 

“Dude. Relax already. He’ll love you. Just make sure to wear your tux. We’re eating in the fancy dining room.”

 

“What?!” I sputtered.

 

Jordan laughed for a good two minutes. “You should’ve seen the look on your face. Man, it’s casual wear around the house. Just…wear what makes you comfortable. You’re already nervous as hell. You don’t need the added stress of thinking about your wardrobe.”

 

“Right. Whatever makes me comfortable…”

 

“I’m telling you, you took him a bit too literally.” Terry told me that evening, as the taxi dropped me off in front of the Williamson residence. I looked up at the huge iron-wrought gate as I nervously ran my hands over my sweats.

 

“He said comfortable.”

 

“Yeah, like, I dunno, cargo pants and t-shirt, not sweat pants. Though, at least they’re clean, so I’ll give you that.”

 

“That’s it. I’m leaving.” I turned around, trying to signal back the cab, before it got too far away. But Terry pushed the buzzer with those ghostly powers of his and a voice came over the intercom.

 

“May I help you?”

 

I stopped dead, not knowing what to do. I was scared shitless, I looked like I was going to a football game and not dinner in a multi-million mansion, in gray sweat pants and a Giants shirt. I had no doubt that I didn’t belong there and I just knew everyone would hate me and I’d make a fool of myself, but I had promised Jordan and it seemed so important to him. Stupid love, making you do all kinds of stupid things.

 

“Hello?” the voice came again.

 

“Uh, yeah. Hi. I’m Xander. Xander Pryce.”

 

“Oh, you’re early. Never mind. Jordan’s been expecting you. Restlessly, I might add.” The man chuckled.

 

“Umm…thanks?”

 

“Okay, so just walk up the path to the house.” Nothing more was said as the gate rolled to one side and I looked all around me, sure that someone would jump out of the bushes and scream ‘AHA! Busted! Don’t move, thief, I’m calling the cops!’. That didn’t happen, but I wasn’t willing to push my luck, so I ran inside and up the path, eventually slowing down to a fast walk as I saw the house. It was a modern building. It lacked any real shape or distinguishing architectural traits. It was a huge white…block. Then again, maybe that was what made it unique and artistically pleasant. What the hell do I know? I’m not an architect. The thing was big, white, two-stories high and had big windows. Not really my thing, but when you have millions to burn, you can build your own Buckingham Palace if you want. If a slab of marble suits you better, who am I to argue?

 

I noticed that attached to the house was a large garage. I deduced that it was a garage due to the big garage doors and the cars in front. Jordan’s SUV and a Mercedes. And speaking of Jordan, he immediately opened one of the garage doors and came running up to me.

 

“Christ, Xander, when I saw you from my window, I thought you were a hobo.”

 

“You said comfortable!”

 

“But not THIS comfortable.” He grabbed my wrist and pulled me into the garage, past a vintage-looking Ferrari and two motorcycles. “Come on, we’ll go through here, so we can avoid everyone. I’ll take you to my room. Maybe I can find something that could fit you.”

 

“Yeah, Xander, you could wear a pair of his shorts as trousers.” Terry said, amused. I stayed silent, knowing full well that if I said anything, it wouldn’t be pleasant.

 

Jordan dragged me behind him, up a flight of stairs and down a long corridor lined with doors on both sides. At the end of the hallway, we entered a room on the right-hand side. It was as white as the rest of the house. Sterile, I suppose, would be a good way to describe it. Modern, low, all-white furniture, high-tech audio-video equipment, one of those computers you only see on Star Trek, a king size bed complete with snow-white sheets and duvet and huge windows that overlooked the driveway. But aside from one small framed photo – Jordan and Terry sitting by the edge of a pool, smiling broadly and making bunny ears behind each another’s backs – on the desk, next to the computer, there were no personal touches. I knew this was Jordan’s room, but there was nothing of him in it.

 

I’d come to see Jordan as warm and loving, caring and fun and sensitive and this room…just wasn’t any of those things. It was functional, but it definitely wasn’t homey. I guess I understood why Jordan usually spent his time at my place, but I decided then and there to liven the place up. Maybe he still didn’t feel completely at ease in his uncle’s home, but if the man didn’t want him there, then he would have kicked him out before. A little redecorating wouldn’t be the end of the world. Would it? I guess dinner would give me a better impression of Terrence Williamson Jr.

 

“Hey, you with me?” Jordan asked.

 

“Huh? Yeah. I was just…admiring your room.”

 

“Yeah. It’s not exactly as inviting as your place.” He said, scratching his head.

 

“Well, we’ll have to do a makeover one of these days. And speaking of which…” I trailed, gesturing towards the closet door.

 

“Oh, yeah.” He opened the door and stepped inside. After a couple of minutes of rummaging around, he stepped back out with a pair of black, skinny jeans. “I think these are mine from when I was like 12.” I shot him a venomous look. “What? You know I love your diminutive stature. Anyway, I guess it’s a good thing I’m a pack rat.” I looked all around the neat room again. “Well, when it comes to clothes, I never throw things out.”

 

“And I suppose I should be grateful. What about a shirt or something? I mean, I don’t suppose your uncle’s a Giants fan, is he? Because if he is, we’d have something in common.”

 

“You like football?” Judging by the tone of his voice and facial expression, I reasoned his skepticism level was at a 9 out of 10.

 

“What? Just because I’m tiny and gay, I can’t like football?”

 

“Of course you can. But do you?”

 

“Well, I guess. But I don’t understand all of it. Like, I can’t wrap my head around the idea of four quarters totaling up to 3 hours…”

 

“Hmm…Why have you never mentioned this before? I never knew you were a Giants fan. Hell, I never knew you even owned a football shirt.”

 

“Yeah, well, I got this when the Giants beat the Patriots in the Super Bowl. I guess the idea of the underdogs beating the undefeated super team appealed to me for whatever reason.”

 

Jordan giggled, then pulled out a checkered red and white shirt. “I think this is the only thing that’ll fit you.”

 

“Friggin wonderful. Alright, let’s get this over with, then.”

 

“Umm, you should know something. Remember I told you about Janice?”

 

“What? She’s here? Great. Just great.”

 

“Yeah, but she was already drunk this afternoon, so I doubt she’ll join us for dinner, but I just thought I should warn you, just in case…”

 

“Any other surprises?”

 

“Well, I don’t know if you ever heard about it in school or anything. I mean, Terry was pretty secretive when it came to his private life. See, his father had one sister, my mom, and a brother, Colin. Well, uncle Colin also, kinda…you know, lives here.”

 

“So, I get to meet two of your uncles, one of whom you’ve never spoken about?”

 

“Yup.”

 

“And why haven’t I heard about this Colin before?” I addressed this question more so towards Terry than Jordan.

 

“I’ll tell you after dinner, remember?”

 

Terry just shook his head. “If he doesn’t tell you, I will. Be patient.” I nodded and followed Jordan out of his room and down the stairs, passing through a massive living room, again decked out with futuristic-looking furniture and gizmos. But the best part of it was the entire back wall, which was floor-to-ceiling windows, a large section of which could slide open and provide access to what looked like an Olympic size swimming pool. Ah, to be rich…

 

As we entered the dining room through an open archway, I immediately noticed, once again, how sparsely furnished the room was. Sure, it was all modern-looking, but I suppose my idea of rich was an overabundance of furs and thick rugs and giant chandeliers, not a white tile floor, a couple of French doors leading to the back patio, a low cabinet and 3 small abstract paintings hanging on the white walls or the rectangular glass table in the middle of the room, with eight black leather and chrome chairs around it, two on each side. Not even the flowers on the cabinet could bring life into this room. Maybe I just don’t have any style, but as expensive as everything I’d just seen surely was, I’d still stick with cheap and cozy.

 

“Well, hello there.” Came the voice I’d heard over the intercom, this time from behind me. I whirled around and leaned back, gazing up into the face of Terry’s father. A deeply-lined face, which made him look closer to 70 than 50, but there was no mistaking those pale blue eyes. Especially not when Terry himself was standing next to his old man. His blond hair was thinning, his skin was pasty and there was something about his overall appearance that made him seem exhausted. He wore blue jeans and a simple button-down shirt. His posture was still that of a disciplined man, but he seemed to be struggling to maintain it, and the untucked shirt gave him more of a disheveled appearance than a comfortable one. There was something off about him and Terry noticed it as well, judging by the way he was staring at his father, studying him intently.

 

“I’m Terrence. Jordan’s uncle. And you must be Xander. Heard all about you, of course. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.” He managed a small, tired smile.

 

“You too, sir. Can’t say I heard too much about you, but I respect one’s privacy.”

 

Terrence chuckled and gestured towards the table. “Sit wherever you please. It’s not exactly a round table, but a square one will do as well. No real head of the table, you know?”

 

I decided to sit with my back to the doors leading outside. In case I had to make a run for it or something. Terry moved next to me, on my left-hand side, as I sat down with Jordan to my right. Terrence excused himself and promised to return quickly with Colin. “He’s sick.” Terry said. Again, I found myself nodding.

 

“What?” Jordan asked me.

 

“Your uncle. Don’t take this the wrong way, but he doesn’t look too hot.”

 

“I know. I’m worried about him. I guess Terry’s death just hit him so damn hard. He barely eats nowadays. Watch, during dinner. You’ll see.”

 

Terry seemed on the verge of tears. “Why the fuck did I have to get messed up and drive into a fucking lake?” he asked of no one in particular. Then he stormed out of the room, straight through a wall. Ghost temper tantrums. Gotta love ‘em.

 

True to his word, Terrence rejoined us just a couple of minutes later, with a man whom I assumed to be Colin in tow. He was dressed almost identically as his brother, except that his shirt was blue, not cream. He had none of what I now came to consider the Williamson traits. Brown eyes instead of the pale blue, dark hair instead of blond. I guess he took after one side of the family, while Terrence took after the other. I just knew Colin was his mother’s son in that moment. Just like his sister. Terrence was the first born, the true heir. And I could see a resemblance between Jordan and Colin. Jordan always said that the only thing he inherited from his father’s side was his skin tone, while everything else was his mom. And Colin, apparently.

 

“I’m Colin.” The man said, shaking my hand. He sat down across from me, leaving Terrence to my left. I didn’t exactly feel uncomfortable, because there was an empty chair right next to me, so I felt like there was some kind of barrier between us, protecting me from any potentially embarrassing moments. It turned out I didn’t need the protection. Dinner was an okay, if quiet affair and, just like Jordan had predicted, Terrence barely ate anything at all. We exchanged pleasantries and general information, likes, dislikes, talked about my family, the way Jordan and I met – I thought Terrence would be a bit freaked out about me “picking up” his nephew at his son’s funeral, but he just smiled warmly. As the gray-haired cook brought in dish after dish, I found myself more at ease and quite liking Terrence. He spoke of the charity work he does, about how he first started in business with a small bicycle shop, because his dad wanted him to learn how to properly manage a business before inheriting the family car dealerships and how he now had his fingers in numerous pies, including IT and telecommunications.

 

By the end of the meal, I found myself getting annoyed with Terry for his stupid rebellion thing. Why on Earth didn’t he want to be like his father? He seemed like a wonderful man to me. I guess it was one of those stupid, unexplainable things teenagers do. Another thing I noticed was how damn quiet and subdued Colin was. He never once entered our conversation, except to nod in approval several times. I found it strange and a bit unsettling, but there was also something about him that let me know he was good-natured.

 

Once desert was over, the adults retreated and I patted my stomach, satisfied by yet another fine meal.

 

“Swimming?” Jordan suggested.

 

“What, now? We just ate.”

 

“Oh, please, that’s bullshit. Besides, if you get a cramp, I doubt you’ll drown in my pool. We’ll stick to the shallow end.”

 

“But I have no bathing suit.”

 

“So? It’s dark outside. I’ll turn off the lights and we’ll have privacy.”

 

“But your uncles…”

 

“…never come out to the pool after dark. Relax and let’s go skinny dipping.”

 

“Fine. You talked me into it, you pervert.”

 

So we raced towards the pool, where we quickly disrobed and jumped into the water. Thankfully, Terry decided to give us our privacy as well, so he was nowhere in sight. After horsing around for a few minutes, we made our way to the edge of the pool. Jordan gestured towards the stairs and at first I thought he wanted to get out, but he simply sat down on one of the underwater steps and pulled me to him and turned me around, so that I had my back to his chest. I laid my head on his shoulder and sighed contentedly.

 

“Ready for some history?” Jordan asked, breaking me out of my reverie.

 

“Huh?”

 

“I told you I’d share everything with you tonight.”

 

“Okay…”

 

“I guess you’re curious how I came to live with my uncle.”

 

“Yeah. And why you were in boarding school before that…”

 

“I’ve never mentioned boarding school…”

 

Ooops. Think fast. “Nuh-uh. You definitely did.” Yeah, smooth!

 

“Anyway…My mom. Well, she was 19 when she married my father and I was born a year later. My grandfather, mom’s dad…Well, he wasn’t particularly happy with my mom’s choice of a husband, but getting pregnant before finishing school really pissed him off. He cut my mom off. He died a couple of years later, apparently never even having seen me once. Anyway, now that he was gone, uncle Terrence got back in touch with my mom and Terry and I basically grew up together during our summer and winter breaks, as well as every other weekend. Janice is 10 years older than Terry and me, so she didn’t really bug us.

 

“Then mom died, when I was 10.” He was quiet for a long moment and I thought I should say something.

 

“I’m sorry.” Yeah, I couldn’t come up with anything better. I suck, I know.

 

Jordan shrugged. “Cancer. It had spread by the time they discovered it. She decided against treatment. She went pretty quickly. After that, I spent hours upon hours on the phone with Terry, every single day. He was basically the only person I talked to on a daily basis. I alienated myself from my friends at school and my dad had taken mom’s death badly, so it was just me and Terry. But things eventually went back to normal. Then…the epiphany.”

 

“What, you realized you were gay?”

 

“Yep. I was 13. I don’t know what made me do it, but I told my dad. I still don’t know why I didn’t just talk to Terry about it. I mean, we talked about everything else. Regardless, I went to my dad. Things…didn’t go well. There was no violence, so don’t worry about it.” Jordan assured me, tightening his hold on me, as he felt me shift nervously. “Just some harsh words exchanged and he left, said he needed to talk. He didn’t come back that night. The next morning, cops were at my door, saying he had died in an accident.”

 

“Damn. I mean..sorry. I mean…crap. Fuck. It’s just…I’m such a dumbass.” I slumped down in the water, but Jordan pulled me back up.

 

“It’s okay.” He said, nuzzling my neck. “I was able to get over the death aspect of it fairly easily. I had practice with my mom, after all, and I was never as close to my dad as I was to my mom. What bothered me was that he died hating me. Or, at the very least, upset with me. I guess I blamed myself for a while there, because he wouldn’t have driven being mad, drunk, if I hadn’t told him. But, in the end, I even managed to get over that. The only thing that still bothers me is that we weren’t on good terms when it happened.”

 

“I’m sorry, Jordan. I just don’t know what to say.”

 

“Don’t say anything. I promised I’d do the talking. You just listen, okay?”

 

“Yeah. So…what happened next? That was like 3 years ago. Why didn’t you move here back then?”

 

“Well, uncle Terrence became my legal guardian, but he decided I’d be better off in boarding school At the time, I thought he just didn’t want me around because of the gay thing, you know? Which is another reason why I tried so hard to gain Terry’s approval. I knew uncle Terrence wouldn’t tell him right away, so I wanted to be as normal as possible, as similar to him as I could for when he eventually did tell him.”

 

“And when did he?”

 

“He had me do it, on my 15th birthday. I was scared, but as you know, things went great. And uncle Terrence eventually explained that he wanted me in boarding school because he was afraid I’d try to emulate Terry in his rebellious phase should I be around him 24/7.” I felt the reverberations in Jordan’s chest as he laughed lightly. “He was trying to protect my sweet, innocent side, apparently.”

 

“Well thank God for that. If it were both you and Terry, I’d never have made it through freshman year.”

 

Jordan became serious again. “I’m sorry, Xander. About Terry. I wish you would have gotten the opportunity to meet the real Terry, not the asshole. I think you would have liked him.”

 

I smiled as I saw Terry move in the shadows at the opposite end of the pool. So much for privacy. “Yeah, I’m sure I would have. Anyway, what about now? How come you’re here now? Not that I’m complaining. Why did you leave boarding school?”

 

“Uncle Terrence wanted me here. He didn’t say more, but I suspect he misses Terry too much. In a way, with all the time we spent together, I guess I’m the closest thing he has left of Terry. And, officially, I am his son. I reckon it makes sense that he’d want me close by.” Jordan shrugged, closing the topic.

 

After a few more minutes of just sitting there in the warm water, quiet, with only ourselves and our thoughts to keep us company, I decided to ask about something that was bugging me. “What about Colin? You never talked about him before and he seemed so…distant. What’s his story?”

 

Jordan was quiet for a few seconds. Maybe he was deciding whether or not to tell me the truth. “He’s gay too, you know.”

 

“He is?”

 

“Yeah. I didn’t know that until just after I came out to Terry. That’s when uncle Terrence had me sit down for a talk with Colin.”

 

“What, you don’t call him ‘Uncle Colin’?”

 

“He’s 29. He’s not as old as uncle Terrence, so it feels okay to call him just Colin. Besides, I have a special connection with him.”

 

“He’s 29? Damn, he looks older.”

 

“Yeah, unfortunately. Side effects of a wasted youth.”

 

“How do you mean?”

 

“Remember the first GSA meeting we attended? I was talking to Ryan when you came in.”

 

“Yeah…”

 

“We were discussing monogamy. I was saying that I’m definitely the monogamous type, while Ryan was on about how it’s basically a gay man’s duty to live wild and all that crap. Well, uncle Colin is the reason I hang on to my beliefs so strongly. He was one of those guys who rejected the notions of normal relationships as expected from a heterosexual couple. He had sex with countless guys. Unprotected sex. I still can’t believe he managed to avoid getting infected with HIV. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. He fell in with a lot of abusive guys. And he did drugs. Hard drugs. Cocaine, meth, heroin. He even dealed drugs when he needed money, because he was too ashamed to face uncle Terrence. He was busted for using and not dealing, thank God. And uncle Terrence managed to get him off easy, but he went through hell in detox and rehab and he relapsed a couple times, but he eventually got clean. That was all before the age of 25.

 

“He’s okay now, but he’s a far more reserved guy. He’s afraid of the world sometimes, I think. But he’s a sweet guy. It just takes him a while to warm up to people.”

 

As I sat there, digesting all this information, Jordan went on. “So, you see, maybe I’m overreacting. After all, not everyone’s as weak as Colin was. Plenty of people can live on the wild side without self-destructing. But my question is why do it in the first place? Because it’s somehow expected of us not to act as heterosexuals would? That’s just stupid. I mean, there are plenty of straight kids who end up like Colin, so that alone shows that we’re not being special by doing it. But if you can be in a loving relationship, why give it up for cheap thrills?”

 

“Jordan…”

 

“Yeah?”

 

“I know it’s probably too early and you’ll think I’m an idiot for saying it, but…I love you. I really do.”

 

He spun me around to face him and we stared into each other’s eyes. “I love you too” he responded, before he moved in to kiss me.

 

“Stop daydreaming!” Christopher yelled at me as I hit the floor for the umpteenth time since I walked up to that stupid garage that cold Saturday morning. “Focus, damn you! We have a long way to go, and you’re as useless as a shit-covered rag right now.”

 

“Sorry. I was just thinking about Jordan.”

 

“Ah, young love…You know, you’re gonna have to tell him about all this. Sooner rather than later.”

 

“What? Why? I don’t want him thinking I’m insane. Not now that we’ve admitted our love for each other and…other things.” I said, blushing.

 

“Because, like it or not, this isn’t going to be a safe life for you. Things can happen, as you saw yesterday. He needs to know, for his own well-being.” He paused. “What other things?”

 

“He spent the night with Jordan.” Terry replied, smirking.

 

“Some guardian ghost you are, tattle-tale!”

 

“You must show the sensei respect, grasshopper. Tell him the truth.” Terry shot back, in the biggest caricature of an Asian accent since Mickey Rooney in Breakfast at Tiffany’s”

 

“Oh, that’s just great. No wonder you’re so out of harmony with Terry. Enough for today. Go home, meet Jordan, do whatever it is you need to do, if you catch my drift. But do it until you’re exhausted, because I don’t want you even thinking for one second about sex when we meet again on Monday afternoon, at 4. Got it?”

 

“Wait. You’re ordering a teenager to go and have sex?” Terry asked.

 

“Yes. I’ll explain more about how sex, among other things, affects the link between you…On Monday. Now go.”

 

I didn’t need to be told again. I got the hell out of there. As I was walking towards the bus stop, I took out my cell phone and texted Jordan. “Sleepover 2nite?” Well, if sensei orders you to do something, you have to honor him and obey, right?