Black Blood - 1. Chapter 1

1

The screenplay would be about unrequited love. This much had been agreed upon. With her elbow on the table, fist tucked under her chin, Skylar looked outside the coffee shop window as though the lively, day time Manhattan would give her the inspiration she lacked.

Across the small round table at which she sat, her best friend—an aspiring actor—cleared his throat loudly.

“How about,” he said, thin fingers fiddling with his scarf, “my character, struggling with his sexuality, dates the sister of the boy he’s into.” Micah was no writer, but his mind was an endless flow of ideas. He was a good brainstorming partner.

She tilted her head, thoughtful. In the restaurant some people talked animatedly, some fingers danced across computer keyboards or touch screens. The air conditioning was on full blast even though it wasn’t that warm outside. Pop music filled the place with its usual obnoxiousness.

“He really tries with her,” Micah added, “but subconsciously he just wants to get closer to her brother. I know it sounds weird, but if you’re going to make it in this industry, you’ve got to start with something that leaves an impression.”

Frowning slightly, he crossed his arms on the table, waiting for her reaction.

She gave a slight nod. “I like it. Let’s do this.”

“Great!” He smiled warmly.

Grabbing her purse, she searched for her small notebook and pen. She had tried writing a screenplay for her first short film several times before, but nothing was striking or appealing enough. So she just kept at it. At some point she was bound to write something that would be inspiring enough to make them want to actually start filming this thing.

They put their coffee mugs aside. Skylar tucked her long hair behind her ears. She had her blue pen in hand, ready to start scribbling ideas.

But they got interrupted.

She had no idea then, but she would spend the next few weeks wishing her screenplay—or lack thereof—was still the one thing she worried most about.

A petite blonde woman walked up to them, her heels stomping the floor with purpose, her eyes locked onto Skylar like she was the most fascinating thing in the world.

“Finally! It’s you. I’ve been looking everywhere.” The girl spoke loudly and dramatically. Several people inside the Starbucks stared.

“Do I know you?” asked Skylar, arching an eyebrow.

“No, you don’t,” she answered, almost apologetically. “But I know you, Skylar Clarence. I’ve come to ask for your help.”

The blonde girl looked around frantically and grabbed an unused chair, its legs scraping the floor with an irritating noise when she dragged it to their table. The customers of Starbucks stopped staring; they had better things to do, like listening to Rihanna’s catchy music playing, or waiting for their coffee to be poured by reluctant employees behind the counter. It was September, and some people still wanted iced coffee, whereas others had already gone back to the hot beverage they would continue drinking until next summer.

Skylar was very much confused.

“Oh,” Micah said, “maybe she wants a part in our film!” He smiled at her kindly.

That could be. They had put up an online post about their short film project after all. Skylar had written her name and email on there. But how had this girl found her?

“Are you some kind of stalker?” Skylar crossed her arms, the silver bracelets at her wrists clinking.

“No, I just—”

Micah cut her off midsentence. “We didn’t like our screenplay, so we’re actually going to start from scratch. It’ll be a while before we start filming.”

He was looking at her, slightly turned in his chair, but the girl still had her blue gray eyes locked with Skylar’s. It was starting to make her uncomfortable, actually. She had a sort of talent, or a gift – she didn’t really know what to call it sometimes – which allowed her to figure out most people right away. But this one just gave off a vibe of mystery, and something about her was off – like she wasn’t what she seemed at all.

Skylar took a sip of caramel latte to pretend like nothing was bothering her at all.

“I’m not an actress.” She was still staring across the table at Skylar, as if she was fascinated by every aspect of her appearance.

Skylar tossed at her long curly hair nervously. A strand got stuck in her sparkly earring and she tucked it behind her ear in annoyance.

“Oh, okay, but you can still help with the project if you want. You can give me your phone number.” Micah had already taken out his cell, which was of course one of the latest technologies.

Micah was being adorable in his eagerness, as always. Skylar adored him, with his skintight jeans, graffiti shirt and thin violet scarf around his neck. He looked up at the blonde girl with sincere big blue eyes, ready to type the digits in a new contact entry—cute but naive.

“I don’t think she’s here about the film.”

“Oh.” He looked dejected. It didn’t last too long; as he put his phone back in his jeans pocket one of his favorite pop songs started playing and he was smiling again, tapping his foot under the table.

“My name is Mayrin,” she finally introduced herself. “I know your parents. I know about your skills.” She emphasized the last word, and the look in her eyes said, don’t play dumb.

A shiver ran down Skylar’s spine. Familiar images, memories, danced at the edge of her thoughts, but she pushed them away. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

“What is she talking about?” Micah whispered even though Mayrin sat right next to him, therefore hearing him perfectly well. “I thought I was the only one who knew? Well except for your parents.”

When Skylar opened her eyes she returned Mayrin’s stare coldly. She sat back and smoothed her white pencil skirt, crossing her long legs; playing it cool.

“You are the only one who knows.” Her voice was steady, even though she felt very nervous inside.

Mayrin stood up suddenly, almost knocking the chair over. Micah grabbed his mug of green tea protectively, like he was afraid she would throw over the table in her haste.

“I don’t want to talk about this here,” said Mayrin.

She had an accent, but it was slight, and Skylar couldn’t make out what it was. She wore an emerald green dress with a large gold and black belt at her waist, and black heels. Her silvery blonde hair looked like it had been bleached. She was petite, and she looked young yet Skylar couldn’t guess her age if she tried to.

“It has to be just you and me. I don’t want to involve your friend.”

“I’m Micah Caldwell by the way, nice to meet you.” He waved a bit with his hand. He didn’t like being left out of a conversation.

“Meet me at midnight, at this new club called Sound and Blood, in the West Village. Look it up. And come alone.”

And with that she stormed out of the coffee shop, her heels clapping against the floor. Skylar watched her as she stepped onto Third Avenue and hailed a cab, her sleek blonde hair flowing in the wind.

“Whoa,” Micah made a whistling sound, “she’s hot.”

Skylar blinked. “She’s hot? That’s what you’re going with? She’s a crazy stalker is what she is. She said she knows about me.” She tried a sip of latte, scowled; it was getting cold now.

“I’m just saying.” Micah put his hands up in surrender.

“Stop it, you’re the gayest person I know anyway.”

“So? If I’m going to make out with a girl for our film,” he shrugged, “I’d like her to be hot.”

Skylar rolled her eyes.

“Are you going to meet her tonight?” asked Micah. He threw his arm across the back of the empty chair next to him.

She looked out the window, where Mayrin had stood on the sidewalk before getting into a cab. The afternoon sunlight irked her, as though she wished it would be night time already. She stared absently at the traffic, at all the people walking, listening to their music, talking on their phones or texting. Of course she was going to meet her. She needed to know what was going on. Besides, that Mayrin girl didn’t seem like she would give up easily. She needed Skylar’s help? What for?

Slowly, she let her gaze drift back to Micah. He was looking at her tentatively through his dark blonde bangs. He had that haircut with the sides and back trimmed short and the top part kept long.

“Sky? You okay?” His voice was soft.

She cleared her throat and sat up straight, tossing her thick hair behind her shoulders.

“Yeah. I’m fine. I’m probably going to meet with her tonight.”

“I didn’t think she looked like a bad person,” he shrugged.

Skylar tapped her nails on her ceramic coffee mug nervously. She glanced around at all the other people sitting at nearby tables, talking, doing their homework, studying, or just checking their various social networks. Surely no one had overheard their conversation.

“You’re a bad judge of character,” she told him.

“I am not!” said Micah, undignified.

Skylar stared. “You’re dating an abusive jerk. By the way, if you don’t break up with him, I swear I’m going to see him myself to kick his ass.”

She could do it. She had a black belt in tae kwon do.

“Oh, Shawn? It’s over. I met someone last night. That’s what I was going to tell you! Before that weird girl happened. I texted Shawn and told him I was breaking up.” He smiled proudly, showing his perfect white teeth.

“Finally.”

“Hey, he wasn’t that bad. He just had some anger management issues.”

“Oh my god Micah you’re so… naive. And stupid.”

“Shut up! I broke up with him didn’t I? I’m just trying to say I’m not that bad at judging people. But you’re the psychic one, so…” He let the sentence trail off. He was clearly expecting her to say something.

She tapped her nails against her mug some more.

“I don’t know. I couldn’t figure her out, couldn’t even tell if she was being honest.”

He tilted his head, letting some more dark blonde strands slip over his forehead.

“Kind of like with Blake?”

Blake was her boyfriend – well, she wasn’t entirely sure she could call him that. She wasn’t good with those things. But they were definitely dating. She had only known him for two weeks though.

“Yeah but with Blake I think my, um, attraction for him, or whatever, is messing up my psychic vibes.” Just thinking about him made her cheeks flush a bit.

“That’s too bad. Would come in handy knowing when your boyfriend’s lying to you.”

“Indeed. My powers fail me when I most need them.”

“How do you think Mayrin knows about them?”

“No bloody idea.”

“Just because you have a crush on your British photography teacher doesn’t mean you should start talking like that. You sound silly.”

She didn’t have a crush on her teacher. Micah was exaggerating. Besides, why did he keep changing the subject? She was anxious about that stalker girl right now. She played with her curls, looking away.

“Whatever,” she said.

His cell phone vibrated and he checked it. Then Micah’s expression changed suddenly, like he had just remembered something.

“Oh yeah, I invited him! He just texted me he was coming!”

She blinked. “What? Who?”

Micah was grinning. “I know you’re going to meet that girl at midnight – and I’m definitely coming with you – but we were supposed to have dinner at my place with Blake, remember? So I could meet him. I invited the guy I met last night, so I wouldn’t be a third wheel.”

Skylar’s eyes went wide. “Right. I completely forgot. Come on let’s get out of here. I need to go get the stuff to make sushi.”

That brief conversation with this strange girl Mayrin really bothered her, but at the same time she didn’t want to just go home and lie down on her bed thinking about it while gnawing at her nails until midnight. So she thought, might as well go along with their plans for the evening, for now.

Micah trotted behind her in his expensive designer sneakers as she walked out of Starbucks. He was checking his cell or texting or something. Skylar had to hold his arm as they crossed the street because he couldn’t be bothered to look up, and then they headed toward the grocery store Skylar wanted to check out.

She lived in a cheap apartment on the West Side, near Columbia University where she studied visual arts. Her three roommates were annoying and loud. As for Micah, he lived in a beautiful condo on the Upper East Side, in one of those fancy complexes with the door men and chauffeurs and everything. It was a much better choice for a dinner party.

Inside the store she shivered slightly because of the air conditioning. Walking along the aisle toward the fish stand, she brought a hand to her chest. She touched the chain around her neck absently with her thumb and index. The locket was a tiny picture of her mother. There was actually a spell in it, or so her mother had told her. Apparently, this way, she would immediately know if her daughter was in trouble. Even better than a cell phone, her mother had said.

“Skylar, you’ve been staring at this piece of salmon for like, five minutes.”

“Sorry.” She put it in their small cart. She had to move aside to let another customer look at the salmon.

“Something wrong?”

Micah was looking at her with big inquiring blue eyes.

“I was just wondering if I should call my mom, ask her if she’s ever heard of that… Mayrin. Ask her what I should do about it.”

“You should. Your parents actually care about you, unlike mine.”

She picked out some tuna.

“They care. They’re just workaholics. Be glad they pay for your school and your fancy lifestyle.”

“Can’t you be on my side for once?” he whined.

She just shrugged.

Later, on their way to Micah’s place, the conversation stalled. Skylar couldn’t stop thinking about Mayrin. It was just so odd, so out of the blue. Also it was Sunday. Would some club in the West Village be open on a Sunday night? Oh well, she supposed this really was the city that never sleeps. Not even on week nights.

***

The condo was on the seventh floor of a fancy apartment complex. Micah was sitting on the white couch in the living room, legs propped up on the light wood coffee table, glass of white wine in his hand. He was looking at his two Bengal cats playing. He had bought one of those big play grounds for cats that took up half the space in the room. When his parents were home he had to keep it in his bedroom, but when they left Micah did whatever he wanted. Understandingly he’d rather not have the cats play in his bedroom and keep him up all night.

He had named the cats Clover and Leaf.

Skylar was standing next to the arched window, admiring the view. The lilac curtains were pulled aside. Manhattan was always so full of life. The sky was getting darker, and clouded up, like it was going to rain. Some people walking on the busy street were already opening their umbrellas – wouldn’t want to mess up their hair if rain suddenly started pouring. Well, it had been somewhat wet outside today. As proof, Skylar’s hair was curlier than usual.

She also had a glass of white wine in her hand, actually. In fact she had already finished it, and it was her second one. She had been drinking while preparing the sushi. It was 6 p.m. now, so the boys were supposed to get here soon enough. Blake had never been late in the short time that she had known him, anyway.

“You know it’ll ring when they get here, right? You don’t have to wait for them by the window.”

“I’m not. I’m just admiring the view,” said Skylar flatly.

“Right.”

She stared at him over her shoulder. He had straightened his hair – the long part of it anyway – and changed into some tight, low rise black pants and an electric blue button down shirt, with the sleeves rolled up at his elbows. He even wore a black and white tie. He was so bright that he clashed with the dull, pastel living room. The walls were ivory. Even the floor was the whitest hardwood Skylar had ever seen. Micah’s parents had strange taste.

Skylar hadn’t called her mother after all. There had been no time. She had made a lot of sushi, just to be sure there would be enough.

She fiddled with the hem of the curtain nervously. She wondered if she was nervous because she was going to see Blake soon – that relationship was still new to her, after all – or because she was meeting that strange girl Mayrin in six hours. Probably both.

At last she saw Blake and another young man getting out of a cab. Together. That was strange.

“Micah,” she waved her hand, “come over here. Is that your friend?”

He rushed to her side and followed her gaze.

“Yeah that’s Viko. They got here together?”

“Do you think they know each other?” asked Skylar.

“Dunno.”

While Micah answered the intercom, letting them in, the cats ran off to hide in Micah’s bedroom, and Skylar went to the kitchen. She wasn’t too sure about the living room, but she really liked the kitchen, with the ceramic floor, stainless steel appliances, and granite countertops. At her apartment, it was small and messy so she could never cook. Or if she really wanted to, she had to clear up the heaped piles of dirty dishes her roommates always left all over the place first. But in Micah’s condo the kitchen was so wide and always sparkling clean, mostly because a cleaning lady came every week, plus Micah always ordered in or ate out.

She just stared at her huge pile of sushi, as if she wanted to make sure it hadn’t disappeared while she was in the living room. She was proud of her work. She had put a lot of effort into it. She had really nailed the sticky rice this time. There were all sorts of ingredients in there, in various combinations; the fish she had bought earlier plus cucumber, avocado, carrots, mango, cream cheese, tahini sauce, Japanese spicy mayo, wasabi and soy sauce on the side of course. Blake had better like it.

“Skylar what are you doing?” Micah called from the foyer.

After taking a deep breath she went to join him to greet their guests, the small heels of her silver ballerina shoes thudding softly on the spotless hardwood floor. She passed a family portrait, Micah with his parents and brother and sister, all with a forced smile on their faces. Micah’s smile was definitely the most half-assed. That made Skylar chuckle every time she looked at the portrait.

Micah had just closed the door. Blake shot her that smoldering look he was so good at, with his deep brown eyes. She tried to repress a smile. He was just so tall and handsome and he wore a perfectly tailored black suit. The black shirt had a few buttons open under the slim jacket, no tie. How could she stop her heart from beating a tad faster? Blake was always so overdressed, like he expected her to start wearing designer dresses to go on dates with him.

Next to him was a boy just as tall as Blake, but skinnier. His chocolate brown hair was long, reaching just below his shoulders, and ruffled like he’d just woken up. His clothes were quite eccentric. He wore cut off black jeans meeting spiked combat boots mid-calf. His leather belt had studs and chains hanging from it, as well as a metallic buckle with a dragon design. His top was an open vest. Leopard print. Save for a black necklace with a claw pendant, he had nothing underneath, revealing smooth tan skin.

“Um,” Micah started nervously, “Viko, this is my best friend Skylar,

and—”

He couldn’t finish. Viko flung himself at him, sliding his thin brown arms around Micah’s waist, gripping the blue fabric of his shirt like he wanted to rip it off. They were kissing, Viko pinning Micah to the ivory painted wall, in between a tall ornate mirror and an oriental tapestry with an elephant on it. Micah didn’t seem to have a problem with the fact that Viko was messing up his carefully straightened hair.

Skylar tilted her head, a question stuck in her throat. Micah had always had a thing for the aggressively straight-forward types, but this was a bit intense.

She stopped looking when a warm hand found its way to her back, feeling the curve of her spine. The little hairs at the back of her neck rose. She looked up and saw the amused glint in Blake’s dark eyes.

“That looks like fun,” he said in a low, velvety voice.

He played with a curl of Skylar’s caramel hair. She shook him off.

“In your dreams.”

“Every night,” said Blake in her ear.

She let out a chuckle.

Louder, she said, “Really, Micah, if you wanted to spend some time alone with your new friend you should’ve just told me…”

“Sorry,” Micah managed to say between two kisses, before finally pushing Viko away firmly.

Micah’s eyes were dazed, his lips slightly darkened and his tie loosened. Viko looked the same as before. He looked at Skylar for the first time. His eyes were a yellowish green, like a cat.

He shrugged one shoulder. “I was just happy to see him.”

“Oh really, I couldn’t tell,” she teased. She had a hand at her hip. “So I guess we should introduce each other, or…?”

Blake pointed his chin at Micah. “Just us,” he said. He went to shake his hand. “I’m Blake. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“Y-Yeah, uh, me too. I’m Micah Caldwell, nice to meet you,” he blurted out awkwardly. Blake could have that effect on people. Micah was still leaning against the wall when Blake released his hand. “Do you guys already know each other then?” he asked.

“We’re cousins,” said Blake.

Viko nodded. “I’m staying with Blake and his sister while I’m in town.”

Skylar remembered Blake telling her that he was living with his sister, but he hadn’t told her anything about a cousin. Maybe it was recent. Micah had just met Viko last night, after all.

“That’s so cool,” Micah beamed, “such a small world, eh?”

He looked at himself in the ornate mirror briefly so he could attempt at replacing his hair. Viko was eyeing him fondly.

She shook her head clear. “Anyway, I’m gonna go get some wine. Everyone wants some?”

The response was affirmative, especially Viko who told her to bring the whole bottle.

So they ended up sitting in the living room, Micah and his new friend together on the white couch, Skylar and Blake in the ivory sofa chairs around the coffee table, which held four overly wide wine glasses and an almost empty bottle. Micah’s iPod was plugged to good quality speakers on the far wall shelves, in between rows of books. The music playing now was Daft Punk’s Get Lucky. Modern pop music lyrics seemed to be about naught but sex.

Skylar looked at Viko after taking a sip of wine. “So you just got in town?”

“Yes,” he answered without looking at her.

His hand was in Micah’s, their fingers linked, touching both their thighs. Viko was drinking his wine quite fast. He soon grabbed the bottle and emptied it in his glass.

“Where from?” asked Skylar.

He didn’t answer her right away. She crossed her legs and sipped at her wine some more, waiting awkwardly. Blake seemed relaxed and amused as always. He had taken off his jacket and thrown it over the back of the sofa. He looked nice in just the slim black shirt. The few undone buttons showed flawless pale skin. Other than the music playing low, the only sound was that of the rain which had just started dripping outside, streaming down the window.

“Viko?” tried Micah almost timidly.

“Oh, sorry.” He snapped out of his reverie and finally looked at Skylar, while propping up a booted foot on the lightwood coffee table. Really, he could’ve taken those off. If Micah’s mother was anything like Skylar’s, she would’ve had a heart attack knowing this was happening.

“What was the question again?” he asked.

His yellow eyes were so intense, and his traits angular. The soft light of the crystal ceiling lamp made his skin glow a nice gold shade. He would make any tanning salon fanatic jealous. He reminded Skylar of one of those editorial models with peculiar looks – not your stereotypical beauty but all the more intriguing. That leopard vest still looked ridiculous though.

“I just asked you where you’re from.”

“I’m from all over the place, you know? I don’t believe in,” Viko’s gaze drifted across the room as if in distaste, “staying at the same place all the time. I need to always keep moving.”

Skylar repressed the urge to roll her eyes. This guy was so odd. She shot a glance at Micah, but he ignored her, drinking his wine.

She cleared her throat. Apparently she was the only one trying to make conversation here.

“Did you stay in England with Blake, for college?” she asked.

“What?” Viko seemed a bit confused.

“It’s just, you have a slight accent, like Blake, and he told me he studied there for a few years.”

“Skylar likes British accents so much,” Micah joked, “she detects it right away.”

“Oh, yeah,” Viko stood and stretched his lean body, still holding his wine glass, “I lived there for a while, with Blake, yeah. I’m gonna go get some more.”

And he was off to the kitchen.

Skylar hauled herself up and wriggled around the low table to sit next to Micah.

“Is he on drugs or something? He’s acting so weird.” She kept her voice low.

Micah frowned. “I don’t think—”

“Yes,” Blake interrupted, crossing his ankles elegantly, “he actually took something before coming here. It’s harmless though, as long as he doesn’t start using too much, yeah? I know he’s a bit weird but he grows on you.”

“I’ll look after him,” Micah decided, “make sure he doesn’t do anything stupid.”

Skylar was going to ask more questions about Viko, but Blake took the conversation somewhere else.

“Hey, so how’s school? You still enjoy photography? How’s live drawing?”

“There were some interesting models.”

“But none as interesting as me.”

“You are so full of yourself.”

And just like that, she couldn’t help but smile, lowering her gaze as she remembered. This was how they had met. Blake had been the model for her first live drawing class. He did that as a hobby sometimes, apparently. She could never forget. That day the weather was hot, and the air conditioning wasn’t working in the fine arts department, so they had a few fans spread across the classroom, wind rustling the sketch pads. Blake had stood on a block in the center, naked. The teacher had explained about lines and shadings, shapes, muscles… Skylar hadn’t really listened. How could she pay attention to the teacher when she felt way too warm, and the male model was staring at her, and only at her, even though she was sitting in the back of the classroom? When the lesson was over, Blake had gotten dressed and waited for her outside the room while she gathered her material. She hadn’t been too surprised to see him there waiting in the corridor, hand in his pocket, uncertain smile on his lips. They had gotten some iced lattes and gone for a walk during Skylar’s break, and then before she knew it they were dating.

Micah interrupted her day dreaming. “Skylar told me the story. It’s so romantic.”

“Isn’t it?” Skylar joked. “I got to see him naked before we even exchanged one word.”

“I wish I had a story like that to tell,” Micah sighed, “but I always meet my boyfriends in clubs.”

That last word reminded her of where she had to be at midnight, and who she had to meet, and just like that her good mood was swept away, replaced by an uneasiness spreading in her chest like a dark wave. Absently she stroked the chain resting against her collarbones.

“That’s all right,” said Blake. “You like dancing, don’t you? Skylar told me you were really good at it.”

“Viko’s actually much better,” Micah smiled fondly.

Skylar sprung to her feet. “Speaking of, isn’t he taking a lot of time getting that bottle of wine?”

She marched to the kitchen, and froze as she stepped on the ceramic floor. Viko certainly wasn’t growing on her right now; he hadn’t gotten more wine, instead he had eaten almost all the sushi. Actually, she realized only the vegetarian rolls were left. She had made those for Micah, because he was against eating meat or fish. She couldn’t believe it.

Viko smiled at her like an idiot, licking his fingers.

“That was so good. You guys should have some.”

She brought a hand to her hair. “What the hell? How are we supposed to have some if you eat all of it? I don’t care what drug you’re on, I—”

Leaning his hip against the granite counter, Viko pointed down at the large white platter, with the remains of the meal she had prepared. “You mean that was it? There’s no more?” He looked disappointed, like a spoiled child being told there were no more Christmas presents for him.

“That was a lot! I mean, come on, how could you eat all of that? This is ridiculous.” She breathed out loudly, irritated.

“What’s wrong love?” Blake walked across the hall and came to stand behind her.

Micah wasn’t far behind. “Yeah Sky what’s the deal? Stop PMSing.”

She pushed past both of them, returning to the living room with rapid, angry steps, frightening one of the cats that had dared to venture out of Micah’s bedroom in the process.

“You scared Clover!” said Micah sadly from the middle of the hallway.

How he could differentiate the two identical Bengal cats was outside her comprehension.

“I don’t care,” she said darkly, before grabbing her glass and draining the wine that was in it. “I hate your boyfriend. Tell him to leave.”

But no one was listening to her. They were still in the kitchen.

“Whoa, Vik, did you eat all of that?” Micah was laughing.

Okay, so maybe it wasn’t the end of the world, but she wasn’t going to laugh about it. She went to Micah’s bedroom, the cats scurrying off under the four poster bed at the sight of her, and found his slim black hooded leather jacket thrown carelessly across the back of his expensive computer chair. After putting it on she returned to the living room to collect her silver and white bag. She swung the strap over her shoulder and unzipped it as she walked up to the foyer. She realized the boys were staring at her.

“Sky?” called Micah carefully.

“I’m sorry, I just…” She fiddled with her bag’s zipper. “You guys can just order something I guess. I need to get some air.” She made for the doorknob.

Viko stepped forward. “I’m sorry,” he said, “if I upset you. I was hungry, and there was food.”

She gave a little tired laugh. “It’s fine. I’m just stressed right now. This isn’t like me.”

“It’s true,” said Micah, glancing sideways at Blake, “she’s usually really cool, about everything. A real guy’s girl.”

“You’re so silly Micah you don’t have to defend me…”

But he went on, “She just really wanted you to try her cooking! All is not lost, Skylar.” He made a grand gesture with his hand. “There’s still the veggie ones. Those are the best, anyway.”

“I beg to differ.”

“Shut up Vik not now,” Micah hushed.

“I’m just, I’m gonna go.” Skylar turned the doorknob. She glanced at Blake threw a curtain of long curly hair slipping out of the hood. “Let’s just hang out another time, kay?”

“Can I at least take you home?” asked Blake, stepping toward her hesitantly.

But she was already halfway out the door.

“I’m fine, really.”

They didn’t come after her. It was better this way. She waited until she was out of the elevator to call her parents’ home phone. As she made her way across the reception hall of the building the security staff all smiled at her. They recognized her as Micah’s friend by now, since she had practically spent the summer here. She made a small smile as the door man opened for her.

It wasn’t raining that hard, but she still felt a bit silly in her ballerina shoes. That really was the least of her problems right now, though.

Her father finally picked up the phone. She was used to it. He was in a wheelchair so sometimes it took some time. She felt a sharp pang of guilt in her chest whenever she thought about him. The accident that had paralyzed his legs had been her fault.

After exchanging the usual pleasantries, and pretending that she was doing just fine, she asked if she could talk to her mother.

“Oh, sorry Skylar, she’s out on a girl’s night with her friends from yoga class.”

“All right.” She looked up and crossed the street as the light flashed green. She was vaguely walking toward central park. “Tell her to call me when she comes home, if it’s not too late?”

“Sure, no problem.”

They hung up soon after. She received many text messages from both Micah and Blake but she ignored them all. She wasn’t particularly angry at them; she just didn’t want to deal with anything right now. It had been weird earlier, with that stupid Viko guy. And he was Blake’s cousin, to boot. She just really didn’t need any more weirdness today.

Skylar shoved her hands in her pockets. She still had a good five hours before meeting Mayrin at that stupid club; might as well walk. She needed to clear her mind anyway. There was something comforting about the big city, with its restaurants, stores, banks, beauty salons, coffee shops lining the streets, buzzing with life, floodlights shrouding the evening air, and its seas of people always walking quickly in the street, heading here or there, like they were all in this together somehow. It could be strangely lonely at times, too, but that was all right. She had always been a bit of a loner.

She did feel a bit calmer than before, the sound of the rain thudding softly against pavement lulling her to a dazed state. She walked as far as possible from the street, so she wouldn’t get splashed by the cars whizzing by.

Her father’s voice had always soothed her, ever since she was a little girl. She just wished that stupid accident had never happened. Her father didn’t know that it was her fault. Her mother had forbidden her to tell him. Only her mother knew, and Micah. She had told him the whole story. He believed her, and he felt for her. He was the best friend she could have hoped for.

I’ve come to ask for your help. What the hell did she want her help for? Her mother had always promised her that it was a well kept secret. No one was supposed to know that they were witches.