Seeing Shadows (42 page)

Sarah looked worried. "That hasn't happened before in any of your visions, has it?"

I shook my head. "No. No one's ever looked at me in a vision before, acknowledged my presence. Only in the ones I've had of Claudia recently. And this is the first time she's touched me. I could feel her. She was trying to choke me."

"Oh God!" Sarah gasped, looking horrified. "That must have been awful."

I nodded, not wanting to think of it anymore. I didn't know what it meant. I wondered if it meant the vardoger was closer to taking over Claudia's body. I had to wait until I met with my aunt to get some answers, but I knew that I couldn't just stand idly by while someone...something tried to kill an innocent girl. I felt antsy about Sunday, dreading it but wanting it to come faster. To finally have a resolution.

"It pretty much sucked. But it's over now. Let's just enjoy our day and not talk about it anymore. I don't want to risk being overheard. Anyways, we should go downstairs. I'm not sure what time we're supposed to go to lunch."

Sarah nodded, accepting the change in topic. "It's only nine o'clock so it probably won't be for awhile. I wonder if we'll get breakfast?"

I rolled my eyes. "Somehow I get the feeling that we'll be getting the full spread. I wouldn't be surprised if a butler buttered my bread for me."

Sarah giggled and the mood was lightened. We walked downstairs and I forced myself to not look back down the hallway, towards where I assumed Simon's room was.

We wandered around downstairs, getting lost in all the rooms when I heard a young girl's voice squealing with enthusiasm.

"Hi guys!" a girl exclaimed, rushing over towards us. She was beautiful with long brown hair and large brown eyes that dominated a perfectly heart shaped face. She was smiling widely at us. She skidded to a halt before us and studied me, her eyes gleaming. "You must be Caitlin!"

I nodded my head, smiling back. This must be Simon's sister and her good cheer was infectious. "You must be Kendra. Happy Birthday!"

"I'm starting to get offended. Everyone seems to know who you are but no one knows who I am." Despite her words, Sarah's voice sounded amused.

Kendra looked crestfallen at Sarah's words, not realizing she was joking. "Oh, I'm sorry! I know who you are! You're Caitlin's roommate, right?"

Sarah laughed loudly. "Well, I guess that's something. I'm Sarah. Happy Birthday!"

Kendra hugged us both enthusiastically. "I'm so excited you guys could come for my birthday. I'm super excited about my party tonight. My mom said I could go all out on makeup. Usually my dad is so annoying, only letting me wear lip gloss. But not tonight!" Kendra looked gleeful at the prospect and I studied this extension of Simon. I had seen his darker side, but Kendra was everything light and good about Simon. I instantly liked her.

"Are you guys hungry?" Kendra chattered. "I was just heading over to breakfast. Let's go!"

"Already trying to steal my guests away from me, Kendra?" I heard Simon's amused voice behind me.

"Simon!" Kendra screeched, running towards him. "You jerk! It's been forever since you've come home to visit!" Despite her words, she flung herself at Simon and he caught her in an easy hug, smiling at her indulgently. As he set her down and wished her a happy birthday, Simon glanced over at me and I smiled. I had always ached for a sibling growing up and that desire was reinforced seeing their easy affection.

"My sister can be a lot to take in the morning. She doesn't seem to have an off button."

Kendra pretended to look offended but then her face broke out in a smile. "Come on," she said, tugging on his arm. "I was just showing them to breakfast. Mom had Maxine put out a spread and I'm starving."

As we followed Kendra, Simon wrapped an arm around my waist and kissed the top of my head. "Good morning," he said, as if we hadn't seen each other earlier.

I smiled and looked up at him, returning the greeting. I caught Sarah's eyebrows lifting in surprise but I decided to ignore it for the moment. She would kill me for not telling her earlier about what had happened last night, but I just wanted to keep the moment mine a little while longer. It was a thrilling secret just between Simon and I that gave me a warm glow.

Maxine had indeed put out a spread. When we stepped into the dining room, a long sideboard against the wall held all different types of breakfast food, from bagels to french toast and every type of egg preparation you could imagine.

"This is like staying at a fancy hotel," Sarah said, eyeing the food. "You Crewes know how to live."

"It's never like this," Kendra complained. "Usually we just fend for ourselves in the morning. It's only for special guests." She glanced over at me and then gave Simon a sly grin. He rolled his eyes at her. I pretended not to notice the exchange and accepted the plate Simon handed to me and went down the buffet.

I filled my plate with scrambled eggs, bacon and a piece of toast. I watched in amazement as Simon piled his plate high with half the things on the buffet.

"How can you possibly eat all that?" I asked, aghast.

"This is just my first serving. Savory first. Sweet second." Simon's plate was filled with eggs, bacon, sausage and home fries. And a large slice of blueberry crumble bread. Simon followed my gaze. "Well, except for that," he said with a grin. "The only way I could pass that up is if there were garbage cookies here."

"Garbage cookies?" Kendra asked, overhearing our conversation. She placed her filled plate on a table setting and sat down. "What the heck are those?"

Sarah answered for Simon as she sat next to Kendra with her own full plate. "They're these amazing cookies Caitlin makes. I don't know what she puts in them but they're addictive. I love it and hate it when she makes them because I can't stop eating them until they're gone."

Kendra's eyes sparkled in excitement as she looked at me. "Can you make them for me?"

"Kendra," Simon said with amusement. "Caitlin didn't come here to bake cookies for you."

Kendra pouted as she started eating and I laughed at her expression. "I promise I'll make them for you one day."

Her face brightened at my words and then she turned to scowl at Simon. "I wasn't asking her to make them today," she said disdainfully. "And she said she'd make them for me someday, so there."

Simon just smiled at his sister and then looked up as Maxine entered the dining room.

"How's everyone's breakfast?"

"Great!" I said, and everyone chimed in agreement. Maxine seemed pleased at our enthusiasm but then she glanced over at Kendra. "Oh, you don't have your cranberry juice. I'll go get it."

Kendra shook her head, getting up from the table. "It's okay, I'll get it. You've already slaved over all this food." Despite her earlier protestations about having to fend for herself most mornings, Kendra jumped up to get her juice so that Maxine wouldn't have to. I realized she was a lot like Simon in many ways.

The breakfast conversation flowed easily as Kendra peppered everyone with questions. She wanted to know how Simon liked Maxwell University, what his new band was like, when she could come to visit, where Sarah and I were from, and a dozen other questions.

We were almost done with breakfast when Grant stumbled in, still looking sleepy.

"Glad to see you're finally joining us," Simon said dryly.

Grant yawned, scratching his stomach. "That bed is too damn comfortable." He grinned as Kendra mauled him with a hug. "Hey there, short stuff. Happy Birthday."

"Thanks! Come sit and eat and tell me about your band. Simon already told me a little about it but you know him. He never gives details." That statement surprised me since it seemed as if Simon was an open book, willing to share everything.

Simon looked over at me and Sarah. "Why don't I show you girls around. There's some game rooms and stuff. It's a little cold but I could show you the grounds outside too."

"It would be nice to get some fresh air." I glanced at Sarah. "Let's grab our coats."

Sarah nodded in agreement and started to stand when Grant looked up at her. "Don't go with them. Keep me company or else Kendra will talk me to death."

Kendra made a disgruntled sound at Grant's accusation, but then she looked thoughtfully from Grant to Sarah, smiling slowly. I could practically see the wheels turning in her head as she assessed them. Yes, she was definitely like Simon in more ways than one.

Sarah hesitated and Grant look surprised at her reluctance to stay. "Well, I actually would love to see the rest of the house and outside. It's amazing."

The corners of Grant's mouth dipped down. He studied Sarah for a beat and then smiled imploringly. "I'll show you around after I finish breakfast. I practically grew up in this house so I'll be as good of a guide as Simon."

"Well," Sarah said, drawing the word out, still not looking sure. I was as surprised as Grant at her hesitation. I was used to her jumping at any opportunity to spend time with Grant, especially at his request. I wondered what had changed. "I guess so."

Grant frowned, looking grumpy. "Don't sound so excited by the prospect."

Sarah laughed at his expression. "Relax. Fine, I'd love for you to be my tour guide. I could go for another helping of that blueberry bread anyways."

Grant's face cleared and he smiled. "Yeah, that stuff is like crack."

"Grant," Simon warned, shooting a glance at Kendra. He seemed disapproving of Grant's choice of words in front of his younger sister.

Kendra rolled her eyes. "I know what crack is, Simon." He looked alarmed at her admission and she laughed. "As in, I've seen it on TV. Don't worry, I'm not snorting it. Or shooting it. Or whatever you do with crack." Simon seemed relieved at her admission and I wondered if he was actually worried about her doing drugs. Although I had just met Kendra, she didn't seem to be the type to do drugs. I wondered if it was a temptation that came along with a life of privilege.

Simon and I left the dining room and headed upstairs to grab our coats. I walked into my room and expected him to continue on to his own but he just waited for me by the doorway.

"Why don't you grab your coat and just meet me back here?"

"I'll wait," Simon replied. "We can go to my room together."

I was secretly thrilled at the chance to see his room but I tried not to show it as I grabbed my coat and walked beside him down the hall. Simon stopped in front of a door not too far from mine, but it was far enough that I wondered how he had heard me the night before when Sarah hadn't.

He opened the door and stepped aside, letting me walk in first. I was too busy soaking up every detail of Simon's room to notice him closing the door behind us.

Simon's room looked more like a small apartment. There was an area for his bed along with all the regular bedroom furniture, like a dresser and desk, but then there was a separate area that looked like a living room, complete with a couch and TV. The bathroom door was open and I could see his toiletries scattered on the counter.

The room was decorated in dark colors and, except for its size, looked like any typical male bedroom. There were pictures tacked to a board beside his desk and I leaned closer, studying them. A younger, more youthful Simon looked back at me, laughing and smiling with his friends. I saw there were a fair number of girls in the pictures and tried not to read too much into it. At least there were no photos of him alone with a girl. They were all group photos so I comforted myself with the fact that they were probably all just friends. Not that it mattered. They looked like pictures from high school and Simon hadn't even known me then. There was no point getting jealous about girls he had known before we had met.

His room was neat but there were a few clothes scattered about. I turned around and saw Simon leaning against the closed door, his arms folded across his chest. Watching me.