Nevermore, the Complete Series (65 page)

“Ah, I see.” It was somewhat confusing. I had never been that incredible of a student and my weakest subjects by far had been math and economics. “Isn’t that kind of dangerous though?”

“It can be, but I don’t put all my eggs in one basket. Besides, Mel is pretty well off on her own…so if everything did fall through we would still be okay.”

Desmond unexpectedly stepped over to me and gave me another tight hug. “We should all get some sleep. We both have big long days tomorrow.”

“Right.”

Melissa and Desmond prepared for their trip to China before going to bed. I found it nearly impossible to sleep. There were so many questions on my mind. Was this new career opportunity the right decision? If I fully accepted it would I ever return to Colorado? Would I ever see Jason or my home again? There was also the constant fear of Malik. Between the memories my mother had shared and the unsuspected eavesdropping at the castle earlier—I knew he was still in Romania. I kept myself awake contemplating everything as Salem seemed to slumber without a care in the world beside me. I jumped when the hotel room’s phone rang. It was Cassius.

“I am sorry to call so early my dear, but I am most excited. I did not wake you I hope?”

“No, I was up.”

“Ah, good!
If it is not too sudden I would like to start off today by meeting at a little antique and tourist shop just across the street from your hotel.”

I walked across the room, the cord to the phone stretching tightly behind me and looked out the window. I had not noticed it before but there it stood—a small old building. I couldn’t tell what the wooden sign said in the dark, but directly below it was a small orange neon sign that said “OPEN”. I looked over at the clock at it was only four-thirty in the morning.

“Ah, I see you have found it.”

I scanned the parking lot looking or his figure standing there but saw no one. Then I realized there was a black limo parked
beside the building, nearly masked by a large pine.

“I did.”

“Are you able to meet me here in say…thirty minutes? Don’t worry about breakfast, I will get you something.”

“I’m not so sure I can do that.”

“Why? Please do not say you have changed your mind!” I detected sadness in his voice, but also a slight hint of anger that startled me.

“No…nothing
like that. My dad is heading off for a trip to China in like an hour. I wanted to at least see him off.”

“Ah! Well, no problem at all, my dear. See to your father and I will be here waiting when you are able.”

“Thanks. Bye.” I hung up the phone and noticed I had woken the whole room.

“Who was that?” Desmond’s
groggy voice floated through the dark room.

“Cassius.
He wants me to meet him as soon as I am done seeing you two off.”

It took them well over an hour to finish getting ready to leave—mostly thanks to Melissa needing to look perfect. Despite my dad’s nagging about them being late, and how it was still a long trip to even make it to the airport, she continued to brush out every lock of hair to perfection.

Once she was finally finished, Salem and I walked with them down to the front curb.

“You’ll call me, right?” I asked as I hugged my foster father tightly, holding back the tears.

“You know I will, Alex.”

I smiled and enveloped Mel in a hug, growing used to her presence and becoming more fond of her than I ever thought would have been possible. It was something I would have to do, knowing she would someday be like a mother to me. My eyes betrayed me when the two of them stepped inside a cab and Desmond turned to look back at me one last time before he shut the door.

“It won’t be long before we see them again,” Salem said reassuringly.

“I hope you’re right…I guess we should head over there.” I pointed across the street with my left hand as my right wiped away fresh tears.

The store was small with wide windows that gave you instant access to some of the unique and dingy items kept inside. There were oil lamps, an armoire, paintings, porcelain dolls, and collectible bears sitting closest to the windows--probably with the hopes of pulling interested buyers in. Personally, it all looked dull to me…not to mention creepy, as far as the dolls go. When Salem pulled the door open, a bell rang and announced our arrival.

We stepped around a large jade lion with a price tag of over a thousand dollars and came across a section of fine China that caught my attention. I leaned over to examine a white plate with pale pink roses along the outside, only to be distracted by the sound of footsteps approaching.

“Fancy meeting you here,” I heard Cassius say from behind.

I stood and looked toward him. He was once again clad in the now familiar trench coat which partially concealed a white button-down shirt.

“Hey,” I replied casually. “Come here often?”

Cassius laughed richly. “I thought it might be easier for you to meet me over here than inside the crowded lobby of a hotel.”

“That makes sense. Where do we go from here?”

“You have a couple of options. I can get you a room at my boss’s house, or you can stay in an apartment of your choice.”

“Wait just a minute,” Salem spoke up. “She has not yet accepted your offer. I think talking about housing is a little further down the road.”

“I see. Well, do you plan to stay in the motel until you decide?”

I gave Salem an angry look but he was at least partially right. It was presumptuous for Cassius to assume I would accept his offer no matter what. Then I remembered that it was probably our only option unless I wanted to call Desmond. We had little to no money left. Definitely not enough to stay in the hotel more than a day or two more.

“No,” I said shyly.

“Well then, by all means take advantage of my housing while you decide, I insist upon it.”

I knew this was most likely a salesman type trick. I had seen it in movies. Make your potential customer, or in this case employee, as comfortable and pampered as possible so they would accept whatever you were telling them. What choice did I have, though?

“What if I decide not to take you up on your offer?”

“Well, then I would be most sad, but we both know that will not happen.” He smiled knowingly. “Regardless, you will need to stay somewhere while you decide—be it a week or a year.”

“An apartment is fine,” Salem unexpectedly replied before I could even open my mouth. “We wouldn’t want to impose on your boss.”

“He wouldn’t mind, but again, it is your decision,” he said and looked toward the door as a couple walked through. “Shall we take our leave and find you a new home?”

My stomach lurched when he said ‘new home’. I didn’t want a new home…but somehow I didn’t think this could be a temporary position despite what he said. How could I give up this opportunity and go back to dull, little Willowshire? I let a slow sigh escape through my lips before I played a false smile.

“Let’s do this.”

Victor drove the limousine up to a small two-story apartment complex—with at least twenty apartments altogether. There weren’t any people in the wide, open field of bright green grass. The sidewalks were all clean and clear of residents. It appeared very vacant, but I noticed there were lights illuminating each building.

We all climbed out of the vehicle, aside from Victor, and went to see the apartment Cassius had chosen for us. I didn’t have very high hopes, but considering his form of transportation, maybe he could afford us something more than decent. The vicinity was well-kept after all. Large trees rose all around and neatly trimmed hedges guided our path around the side of one of the buildings. The back was more than a little less tidy. The hedges stopped almost immediately and made way to a large outdoor complex. A huge swimming pool stretched out between a couple of basketball courts and an area for tennis. The patio surrounding the empty pool was surrounded with dead, un-pruned flowers. Even the nets for the tennis courts were drooping and withered.

“You’ll be in apartment fourteen, assuming you approve of my choice,” Cassius said as he led us to the building on the right side—where four apartments were stacked together. I was relieved to find that fourteen was on the bottom floor.

A dark green door lay before us with a copper ‘14’ beside it and a doorbell. I grew increasingly anxious as I stared at the wood blocking me from whatever lay inside. When I pushed open the door I was shocked by what I saw. Despite my expectations of something lavish and luxurious I was met with a very plain, cramped studio apartment which perfectly complimented the dilapidated area outside. Perhaps Cassius wasn’t as wealthy as I imagined, maybe the limo had been just for show. It was nothing compared to my beloved home back in Willowshire, but I had to keep telling myself it wasn’t that bad. It did have a comfortable feel to it, at least. It felt somewhat cozy, despite its condition.

“I know it’s not perfect, but it’s only temporary until there is an opening someplace else.”

Relief washed over me at his words—this wasn’t permanent. Hopefully something nicer awaited us in the future.

“You have cable service, internet, and phone—all paid for by yours truly.”

“And what of electricity, water, sewage…?” Salem asked.

“That’s all taken care of, as well,” he smiled and offered me a simple black box. “These belong to your new car waiting in the parking lot.”

“New car?” I gasped and pried open the box, revealing a set of shiny keys.

“I hope a Sion IQ is okay with you.”

“Okay with me?! I-I’m speechless!”

Ever since I had seen one in the parking lot at Howard’s I wanted one of my own. I had assumed I would never be able to afford one, and now I was getting one absolutely free. It was almost too good to be true.

“Are you serious?!”

“I am always serious.” He smiled.

I missed my PT Cruiser back home, but this car would easily make me forget it. Leaving the two men inside the apartment, I ran out to the parking lot, scanning the vicinity for my precious new car—there it sat, between a busted up Sedan and a motorbike. With its spotless white exterior, I was already in love. I ran my hand against the smooth siding on the door and my heart leapt with joy. Sliding the key into the door, I listened for the indicator that it was unlocked and pulled it open.

For a moment I was in awe. The inside was pristine and perfect. I was almost afraid to get in and dirty any of it but that feeling quickly passed as I hopped in and shut the door.

The seat felt soft and comfortable beneath me. I reclined it backward and relaxed with my arms behind my head. My life was heading in the right direction—I was beginning to live my dreams instead of my nightmares.

With one last look, one last touch of the steering wheel, I rushed back into the hotel room and blushed as the men stared at me awkwardly.

“I’m sorry…I was just so excited.”

“That is completely understandable, we were more amused than anything,” Cassius chuckled. “I am glad that you approve of my choice. Let yourselves become
acquainted with your new surroundings and I will call you in the morning with directions to your new place of work.”

“This is all so unbelievable! Thank you so much, Cassius.”

“It is my pleasure, dear Alex,” he said with a smile and gently kissed the back of my hand. “And one more thing.”

“Yes?”

“Be safe.” He winked, turned, and walked off.

Sitting on the beige sofa-fold-out-bed, I relaxed and smiled to myself until I heard Salem sighing in the kitchen. I scrambled to my feet and went to find him.

“What’s wrong?”

“I still don’t trust that man,” he confessed as he stared out the window over the sink, which gave us a view of an old playground.

“I wish I understood why.”

Salem shrugged, watching a toddler boy go down the vivid orange slide. “There is something overly suspicious about all of this. It doesn’t feel right to me, in any way.”

“Maybe you’re just afraid of change.”

“I have experienced plenty of change throughout my life, Alex…it has nothing to do with that. There is something going on, and you for some reason don’t seem to see it!”

“Nothing is going on, Salem! Why can’t you just be proud of me? Can’t we just enjoy the fact that life is finally going our way, instead of us running from one thing or another?”

He stared at me fiercely for a moment before resuming looking out the window. “Forget I said anything. Continue letting things play out as they are, and hope that I am mistaken.”

Before I let myself say something I might regret, I turned on my heel and retreated back into the living room. The more I examined the room, the more I grew used to it. I knew I could easily have Salem produce some magnificent furniture, but I not only wanted to avoid Cassius being suspicious, but also reflected on the idea that this was only temporary.

I quickly began to miss Desmond and Melissa’s presence, having grown used to them being around. Part of me regretted how resentful I had felt about my foster father hanging around so much. There was no telling when I might see him again—or anyone else that I knew and loved. With a sigh, I curled up on the couch and drifted off to sleep.