Son of Eden, a Paranormal Romance (3 page)

“Just give him some time, it’s only the first day of February, and prom isn’t until April. He’ll ask.” Emily gave Candice a reassuring rub on the back.

“I hope you’re right, I don’t have any back-ups and this is senior prom. You can’t miss senior prom.”

Emily didn’t know about that. She had every intention of missing it, though she hadn’t broken the news to Candice yet.

“So why are you so quiet today, Em? I feel like I’m just yakking and you aren’t saying anything. Is everything alright?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. I just have a bunch of things on my mind, but nothing important.” Emily took a bite of her apple so she didn’t have to say more.

She actually didn’t have a bunch of things on her mind; she really just had one. Emily was still contemplating what to do with the violin. Then she was struck with a brilliant idea. She would take it to a restoration shop. It seemed like it would be a waste to leave it locked up in its case even though she still had no intentions of learning to play it. The violin deserved better than that. She didn’t know its story but she couldn’t deny the odd connection she felt.

Now her mind was occupied with where to take it. There was a big music store that specialized in sheet music just two blocks from her apartment. She had often gone there to look for her favorite classical artist Beethoven, because the store always had the best selection of his work. She knew the shop didn’t offer the service she was seeking, but maybe someone there could refer her to a place that did. Her decision was made. After school she would pick up the violin at home and then walk down to the music store. Suddenly she was pulled away from her planning.

“Emily, Hellooo? I asked if you are going to go with Ben to prom.”

“Uummm.”

“Well?” Candice pressed. “It’s been two weeks since he asked you. I don’t understand why you still haven’t given him an answer.”

“I’m not sure.” Emily was wondering if now was a good time to say she wasn’t planning on going at all.

“This is because of Rob isn’t it?” Candice gave a sigh of longing. “I guess if I got to be around him as much as you then I would have a hard time swooning for high school boys too. He is sooo handsome and you just have to melt when he smiles at you.”

Emily gave a little laugh. “
Wow, is Candice boy crazy or what?”

“No it isn’t because of Rob, although he did ask me out for lunch this Saturday.”

Candice squealed with delight. “No way! Where’s he taking you?”

“I don’t know, I didn’t exactly say yes.” Emily waited for the scolding, but surprisingly her friend kept her cool.

“So what did you say?”

“I said I would check my schedule.”

Candice knew Emily never had enough on her calendar that would require her consulting it. This was an excuse and it was obvious.

“Emily, you know I love you, but coming from a friend, you are turning into a hermit. Maybe it would be good for you to go out and remember what it’s like to socialize,” her friend explained in the sweetest voice possible.

Candice was right.

Emily hadn’t always been this way; she used to be such a social butterfly. She had never been afraid to start a conversation with someone she didn’t know and was up for trips to the ice cream parlor or the movies or shopping whenever the opportunity arose. All of that had changed drastically when Emily’s mother died her sophomore year in high school. After that awful experience she had retreated inside herself and she didn’t have a clue now how to escape. Emily began entertaining the idea of actually going on a date. Maybe if she just took that initial step she would find herself enjoying a social life again. Rob was a nice guy, and perhaps if she actually made an attempt to take pleasure in his company, she would be surprised.

“Yeah. You’re right Candice. Maybe I’ll give him a call.”

“That’s the spirit! You never know what might come from a simple lunch with a really hot guy!” Candice expressed her excitement in every syllable.

The first bell rang, signaling that lunch was over. They only had five minutes to get to class. The girls cleaned up their lunch trays and dumped them on the way out the door.

“So, I’ll see you in math!” Candice shouted as she headed down the hall.

“Yeah, see ya,” Emily called out.

As soon as school was out, Emily found herself growing more and more excited as she neared her apartment. It was nice to finally have a project to occupy her time.

After she picked up the violin, she walked the two blocks to the old music store. The bell on the door rang as Emily walked in. The older woman behind the counter had a warm smile as she pulled her glasses down off her nose.

“What can I help you with?” the lady asked.

“Well, I’m not sure if you can help me or not, but this was the only place I could think of to start.” Emily walked over and put the old violin case up on the counter with a soft thump.

“I know you only sell new instruments here, but I was hoping maybe you knew of someone who restores old ones, specifically violins.” She opened the case to reveal the instrument.

“Well look at that, isn’t it beautiful. Is this a family heirloom or something?” The clerk questioned as she carefully examined the worn violin.

“No, I got it at a charity auction.”

“Are you aware that this is a 19
^th
Century Casslyn?”

“Yes that’s what the auctioneer said.” Emily responded.

“Well did he also tell you that this is the gold series? You can tell by the thin gold stripe that runs down the length of the neck. There were only a thousand of these ever made,” the woman said in awe as she ran her finger along the neck of the violin.

Emily hadn’t noticed it before but now it did seem very distinct.

“Wow, the auctioneer didn’t have any information like that. I’m sure if he did, it would have been out of my price range.”

“This is definitely worth a little TLC and restoration, and I know just the place.” The clerk turned around and went through the arch that led to the back room.

Emily stood silently staring at her violin. She knew something had seemed special about this violin. Though, even with her new knowledge of how rare it was, she still didn’t feel like that was what drew her to it at the auction. There was something else, something that still captivated her about it, something that ran deeper.

“Here we go,” the woman handed her a business card. “This is a man who owns a little instrument shop down on 85
^th
and North Royalton. His shop isn’t anything spectacular to look at, but you won’t find anyone in New York with a better hand for restoring instruments. His work is phenomenal. Your precious violin will be in good hands.”

“Thank you so much, I really appreciate it.” Emily closed up the case, took the card from the lady and turned to walk away.

“Enjoy that treasure of yours,” the clerk called out.

That was the second person that had referred to the violin as a treasure. Emily was definitely beginning to feel that way about it as well. She immediately hailed a cab, hopped in and gave the driver the address. Emily then realized that she was headed toward her father’s dry cleaner and decided to pick up his tux for him. He had failed to get it and had ended up wearing a suit to the charity banquet. He had another event this coming Saturday and Emily knew he would once again forget to get the tux in time.

“Excuse me. I actually have another stop to make. Would you mind taking me to Tom’s Dry Cleaning? I think it’s just two blocks south of the previous address.”

“Sure thing.” The cab driver made a slight course correction. “Did you want me to wait at the cleaning place and then take you to the next address?”

“No, that’s okay. It’ll only be two blocks. I can walk.”

The cab driver shot Emily a concerned look through the rear view mirror to show his disapproval. She remembered her father had mentioned his concerns about this part of town. But she brushed it aside; her father had no shortage of worry when it came to Emily and her whereabouts.

At that moment Emily had a thought come into her mind, almost like a voice. “Don’t walk, take the cab.” She shrugged it off. “
How silly to take a cab two blocks. Besides, it was still daylight, what could happen?”

When the cab came to a stop in front of the dry cleaners, Emily handed the driver the fare and climbed out. She entered the building, noticing how empty it was. In fact she was the only costumer. “
This must be why dad uses this guy,”
she thought.

Her father always made it a point to support the small business owner. It was a soft spot for him. She noticed a short chubby man hidden in a corner behind the front desk.

“Ummm…Excuse me,” Emily stammered.

The man looked up from the book he was reading. “Yes, how can I help you young lady?” he replied with a warm, sweet smile.

“I need to pick up some items for James Wallace.”

“James Wallace, huh, you must be the daughter he always talks about.”

“I am.” Emily was a bit shocked that the man would know who she was.

“I tease him about some of the dresses he sends through some times. I tell him they aren’t his color or size. He says they’re for his daughter, but I hadn’t ever seen you so I just keep on teasing him.” The little round man gave a chuckle.

Emily smiled. “Are his items ready? I know he’s had them here a while. He’s really bad about picking them up.”

“I know, he never comes when his stuff is ready.” The man threw his arms up. “I always tell him that I’ll have to send it all through again because it collects dust waiting for him. But actually he came by this morning.”

The surprise showed on her face. “Wow, what a shocker.”

“Sorry you came all this way,” he apologized.

“No, it’s fine. I just stopped by on my way to another shop around here. Actually if you could help me, am I correct in thinking this address is just down the street?” Emily showed the man the business card.

“Yep, that’s just north two blocks, and then hang a left on 85
^th
. It’s about another block.”

Emily was a little off on her estimation, but it wasn’t a big difference. What was another block? Besides she enjoyed walking, riding everywhere made her feel lazy.

“Thank you,” Emily replied.

“It was nice to finally meet you; I guess I’ll have to stop giving your dad a hard time about the dresses now.”

“No, he needs someone teasing him, it keeps him humble. Thanks again!” Emily called out over her shoulder as she exited the store.

She headed north, wrapping her scarf around her neck and closing her knee-length pea coat tighter around her body. It was still winter, but the weather was tolerable. After walking a block the same thought came to her head. “
Don’t walk, take a cab
.” Emily shrugged it off again. This place was deserted. There were barely any cabs around and no one else on the streets.

Or so she thought.

She was approaching the corner when a large man walking the opposite direction came into her view. He was slightly hunched, his black leather jacket curled tightly around him as if he were hiding his face. His posture alarmed her at first but it was cold out. Emily reasoned with herself that he was probably just trying to stay warm.

The two soon crossed paths. Emily kept her eyes down, gripping the violin case tighter. She felt her body relax after he had passed, but her relief was premature. Within seconds of passing the man, she heard his steps change from their rhythmic pattern. It sounded as though his shoes pivoted on the pavement. Emily didn’t dare glance back. Instead she instinctively began walking faster. She was only about fifteen feet from turning the corner.

“Just get to the corner and run. Just get to the corner and run,” s
he chanted to herself.

Then she felt it. A cold, strong hand grabbed the collar of her coat, jerking her sharply backward. Her back slammed into the man’s hard chest as he quickly used his other hand to cover her mouth. Dragging her backward, he maneuvered her into the alley about ten feet behind them.

Emily was panicking. With an alarmed reaction she shot her hands toward her mouth, trying to free the man’s grip. She had dropped the violin case and was now wishing she had it. She could have used it to hit him.

Emily knew the best thing for her to do was to fight back. She had told herself that if she were ever attacked she would fight as hard as she could. She always heard that the people who survived assaults were the ones who fought back. But Emily was no match; her attacker outweighed her by a hundred pounds. Even though she was squirming and kicking there would be no eluding the man. He had an iron grip. The criminal was experienced at this and held Emily in a position with her back to him which made it hard to gouge at his eyes or knee him in the groin.

Emily wanted to scream but she couldn’t, she could only taste the salt and oil from the hand that was smothering her.

Once in the alley, he slammed her face first into a cold brick wall. Emily heard her head make a sick thudding noise as it hit, and then felt the painful shock wave rip through her head all the way down her neck. The blow caused her to feel dizzy, but she knew she still had to fight back.

Releasing her hands, she placed each palm flat against the wall. Emily tried to push backward. Her effort was met with another violent slam into the wall. This time her entire body felt the impact. She lifted her right leg and with as much force as she could muster, she kicked blindly behind her. She was hoping to catch a knee, but the flat of her shoe struck his shin. She didn’t hear any groans or shrieks of pain escape him. Instead, the man leaned in close to her ear. She could feel his hot breath on her neck. His breathing wasn’t nearly as fast as hers. It was obvious he wasn’t exerting much effort to keep her in this position.

“Don’t make this hard on yourself.” His voice was deep and scratchy; sounding more like it belonged to that of an animal.

Feeling him move, like he was about to shift his weight, Emily attempted to kick at him again. This time he forced his whole body against hers crushing her to the wall. Her rib cage collapsed under the man’s weight, squeezing the oxygen from her lungs. She couldn’t move. One of his hands was still tight around her mouth; it was getting increasingly more difficult for her to suck air in through her nose.