The Seventh Sister by Z.L. Arkadie

Author:Z.L. Arkadie
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780984988419
Publisher: Z.L. Arkadie

5

The Selell

When I get home and walk through the front door, I half expect to discover Deanna here. But nope, she’s still away. I go into the kitchen to see if there’s a message on the machine. There are two.

“I have to stop off in Manhattan. I’ll see you soon.” It’s Deanna.

I shake my head. At what point should I dig deep within myself and confess that I miss my mother? My eyes start to water, and since no one’s around, I allow the tears to fall.

After swiping the tears from my cheeks, I check the next message. There’s nothing but static. I delete the second message and save the first.

The machine tells me that’s the twentieth saved message and warns me that it’s reaching the limit. Three years of saved messages from my mother, and I’m still reluctant to delete them. I guess I’m waiting to reach the limit.

The next thing I have to do is strip out of this outfit. After kicking off the ankle boots, I peel off the jeans and sweater. I throw on the first pair of pajama bottoms I dig out of the drawer and an old, faded gray T-shirt. Gosh, that’s freeing.

I prance back into the kitchen to mix up a salad. After pouring myself a glass of water, I take my dinner into the living room and curl up against the arm of the sofa to eat and read The Great Gatsby. The hours tick away, and by the time I reach page two hundred, it’s midnight. Unfortunately, tomorrow means more school. I don’t know how much longer I can keep showing up there.

When I lay in bed, as usual, I stare at the ceiling and abhor the next morning even before it starts. At some point, maybe an hour later, I close my eyes. Then my entire body turns warm, and though I’m unconscious, I’m sure something or someone is near me. My eyes pop open and blink to focus. I know I saw a white face looking over me, but now it, or he, is gone. I leap out of bed. Whoever it was moves fast, but I can too.

Our house surrounds an outside patio with a sliding, heat-activated glass roof that melts snow during the winter. I’ve learned to keep it closed all season long.

“Hey,” I shout while racing down one hallway.

I hit the curve and zoom down the next hall. I see him standing in the patio, between the cushiony outdoor furniture circling the fire pit. His head hangs in surrender, arms limp at his sides. I stay cautious as I walk through the opened sliding glass door. I look up. The ceiling is open.

“Hey,” I say much quieter. I’m looking at his back. It’s extra dark tonight because the stars and moon are covered by snow clouds.

“Hey,” he says back.

“Who are you?”

“My name is Vayle.”

What a strange name. But so is Zillael. “I’m Zillael. Or do you know that already?”

“I know that.” He turns to face me.

He’s the guy from the other night, the Selell.

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