The Deathless by Keith R. A. DeCandido

Author:Keith R. A. DeCandido
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon Pulse

Chapter Nine

Lesley Anton choked down her Cheerios while her mother babbled on.

It was the same thing every morning, and it drove Lesley nuts. Mother wouldn’t let her eat anything other than Cheerios, and she only bought one-percent milk. Lesley would as soon eat cardboard as eat Cheerios willingly, and one-percent milk tasted like rancid water to her. But skipping breakfast would just mean a lecture about the most important meal of the day, which Mother had lifted right from television.

The lecture would, of course, mean a break from the talk about work. Mother worked as a receptionist for a doctor, and every morning Lesley got to hear about all the crazy patients Dr. Price had that day. Mother worked from one to nine, so Lesley didn’t have these conversations over dinner—Lesley’s dinners were generally from the frozen-foods section of the supermarket—because Mother got home too late. So instead Lesley got it first thing in the morning.

At least the stories were occasionally entertaining, like that guy who had his cell phone antenna stuck up his nose and refused to go to the emergency room because it was too embarrassing, or the lady who insisted that aliens were talking to her through the staples they used for her surgery.

Today was pretty boring, though, and Lesley just wanted it over. So she ate her cereal faster, trying not to gag the whole time, in the hopes that she could get out of there.

As soon as she scooped the last three Cheerios into her mouth, she got up and put the bowl in the sink.

“All done?” Mother asked.

“Just about,” Lesley said, gulping down the last of her orange juice—the only part of breakfast she liked, especially since Mother always got the pulpy kind. “Hey, I’m gonna walk to school today, okay?”

Why did I say that?

Mother looked as surprised as Lesley felt. “Okay, baby, if that’s what you want.”

“Yeah, it’s a nice day, and I feel like stretching my legs.”

No it isn’t a nice day! I hate stretching my legs! What’s wrong with me? But Lesley couldn’t stop herself from saying the words.

Shrugging, Mother said, “Sure.” She walked up to Lesley and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “You be good and you be careful, okay? Good and careful.”

“Yes, Mother.” That she had no trouble saying—it was what she always said when Mother gave her good-and-careful litany.

Lesley hauled her backpack up from its place next to the front door and walked out. “Bye!”

Her legs seemed to be moving of their own volition. Lesley couldn’t stop herself, even though she wanted—desperately wanted—to turn around and go back to the house and make Mother drive her to school. What’s happening to me?

To make matters worse, when she left the house, she turned left. Sunnydale High was twelve blocks to the right. Why was she walking toward the warehouse district?

As she walked, her newly acquired school ring shot a small burst of static electricity into her right ring finger. . . .

* * *

Cordelia Chase took her morning latte from Lupe.

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