The Last Changeling (11 page)

“Afraid so.”

He shook his head. “Brad did this.”

“Not just Brad. A bunch of his cronies backed him up. Apparently I've groped a few.”

Keegan leaned against a locker. “And so far from football season.”

I glared.

“Sorry,” he said. “It's just … if I hadn't learned to laugh at everything I probably would've quit society a long time ago.” He pushed off from the lockers. “We have to do something about this.”

“It's already done.” I saw the girls emerge from the bathroom, but the action barely registered to me. I was trapped in the memory of Coach's discomfort at just being
near
me.

“They're not going to make it to State,” Keegan said. “You're their best offensive player.”

I smiled a half-smile. Lora sidled up to me, but for the first time I didn't melt in her presence. Too many emotions battled inside me, tearing me this way and that.

“Can you give us a sec?” I asked her, barely keeping my voice steady.

Kylie raised her eyebrows as she pulled Lora toward the elevator, shooting glances back as she went.

“If we can pull off this prom thing, I won't even care,” I said when the elevator doors closed. “If we can pull this off, it'll be better than anything.” I chuckled to myself.

“What's funny?” Keegan asked.

“I don't even care about sports.”

“Could've fooled me.”

“No, I love playing. But I don't want to go pro or center my life around it. I just love being out there, running across the field—”

“Grabbing guys' asses, apparently.”

I ignored him. “When I'm out there and nobody can touch me, it's the one time I actually feel free. Like I'm flying.”

Kylie's voice filtered down from the top of the stairwell. “What are you guys
doing
down there? We have to make, like, two hundred invitations!”

“We'll get there when we get there,” Keegan yelled.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah.”

“Patient, ain't she?” He ambled up the steps. When we reached the middle of the staircase he held up his phone, speaking so only I could hear. “Next time she sneaks out, I'm calling you to see if Lora's gone too. So be ready.”

–––––

I was dreaming of glitter and paint, and the most elaborately decorated invitations Unity had ever seen. They started out simple enough, just like they had in real life: Slogans like
Reclaim the Prom
or
Take Back the School
(along with Keegan's one addition:
Destroy the Norms!
) sat in bold letters against the blood-red paper. Beneath these slogans, invitees were advised to go to Unity High at midnight this Saturday, and to dress all in black. (“If you do not own black, black will be provided for you.”) But as the dream progressed, the slogans morphed into something dark and dangerous. The glittered letters took on a life of their own, growing claws and wings, threatening the lives of anyone who didn't RSVP. In the background, I could hear the sound of clattering chains and the faint buzzing of an electrotherapy machine.

My eyes popped open. My cell was vibrating. Lurching forward, I toppled to the floor, searching with my hands. My fingers made contact with the phone. I pushed the silencer repeatedly, still drowning in the swamps of my subconscious. The number flashing on the screen was unfamiliar. I dropped the phone on the floor, wondering vaguely why there seemed to be footsteps in the garage below. Then I sat up.

Lora was gone.

I jumped to my feet.

Lora was
gone
. She was gone, someone was leaving the garage, and the number on my phone had to be Keegan's.

I darted across the room, searching the empty bed for clues. From the floor, I heard a single beep as I received a text. I dove for it. My elbows screamed as I slid over the rug, reading the sentence Keegan had sent: “
Was I right?”

I cursed and pulled on my clothes. I was out of the room in two minutes.

Racing through the garage, I didn't bother to turn on the light. The sky was black as I stepped onto the lawn. I pulled my phone from my pocket, checking the screen to see if I'd received any calls, and rounded the garage to the driveway. Keegan hadn't called again.

Now I was faced with a dilemma. Should I walk or should I drive? I glanced at the phone, irrationally hoping for some guidance while my mind fought to wake up completely. Walk, drive? Walk, drive? And
to where
?

Then I saw her. She wore a nightgown, the long black number I'd stolen from my mom's Goodwill box, with buttons going up the back. She was walking down the sidewalk in bare feet. I started after her, keeping to the hedges that lined the neighbor's yard.

Lora neared the end of the shadowed street, looked left and right, and literally
disappeared
into the night.

I shook with fear, along with a healthy dose of denial. My phone dropped to the sidewalk and I tripped over a very visible skateboard. By the time I'd retrieved my phone and reached the end of the street, hitting the callback button with my thumb, I had a cut on my knee the size of a silver dollar.

“I lost her,” I hissed into the phone when Keegan answered. “She disappeared into thin air. I lost her.” I gasped for breath, for reprieve from this horrible suffocating feeling, as I waited for Keegan to speak.

“Relax.”

“What?” I wheezed, scanning the block. The word made no sense, was utterly incomprehensible. I had
lost
a person in the middle of the night
.

“Relax,” he said again, his voice muffled. I had a vision of him walking down the street covered in a blanket. “You know the park on Langley and Evanstead?”

“With that weird play structure shaped like a face?” I searched for signs of life in the darkness. “Yeah.”

“I followed my sister there. She's heading across the grass toward the merry-go-round. Can you get here fast?”

I glanced in the direction of my car. One block felt like a galaxy away. But walking to the park would take too long. “Yeah. I'll be there in a minute.”

I took my time as I walked toward the car, allowing myself to catch my breath. Even if I was forced to drive a little out of the way, to avoid being spotted, I knew I could get to the park before Lora did. Still, I didn't waste time or call Keegan for further instructions. I started the car, minus the lights, and drove down the street.

The park was dark, unlit by moon or lamplight, as I strode across the grass toward the merry-go-round. Tall spruces dotted the grounds, spaced almost mathematically, and I darted between them like a cartoon cat. I was nearing the play structure, the giant yellow face with a wavy-tongue slide, when I spotted a hooded figure up ahead.

Kylie.

Her back was turned to me. I sprinted toward the closest tree. With my hands placed on the bark, my body hidden behind the trunk, I inched my face to the right until I could see what was happening.

For the moment, nothing was happening. Kylie continued to stare into the distance, fidgeting occasionally with the sleeves of her sweatshirt. I started to wonder if anyone was going to show up. Maybe Keegan was wrong after all and Lora was just going for a walk. She was used to life outside the city, after all. Walking around at night was probably normal for her.

Then I saw it. The figure was tall, almost as tall as I was, and walking with purpose across the grounds. I held my breath. I couldn't make out the figure's clothing. Darkness was doing its best to confuse my eyes, and no matter how I squinted, the shadows moved and twisted to keep me guessing. In spite of this, I could tell that the figure was female and would reach Kylie within seconds, and then, anything could happen …

The figure reached the merry-go-round, knelt down in front of Kylie, and kissed her on the lips.

15

E
l
o
r
A

“No way,” said a voice below me.

I turned,
peering down through the branches of my hiding spot. “Taylor?”

He looked up, into my tree. “Lora?” His hair was sticking up in every direction, the way it had the first night I'd slept in his room. I couldn't tell for certain, but I thought his shirt was on b
ackward.

Kylie rounded on us then. “Taylor?” she said, as her companion turned to face us.

“Alexia?” Taylor gasped.

“Keegan!” Keegan shot out of the smiling play structure and tumbled down the slide. He picked himself up
by
his collar. “Sorry. I just wanted to be a part of things.”

Alexia looked from Keegan to Kylie to the tree where I was hiding. She took a step back. “What the hell is going on?”

Kylie appeared to be shrinking in on herself.

“Did
you
do this?” Alexia stared at Kylie. “Why would you do this?”

“I didn't invite
them
,” Kylie said as Taylor and Keegan approached. Her voice sounded pinched. “I only invited Lora.”

“Why?” Alexia scrunched up her face. I got the impression she was not used to showing such vulnerability.

“I've got a better question,” Keegan said, wagging his finger between Kylie and Alexia. “How long has this been going on?”

Kylie lowered her head, and Alexia glared at her before speaking. “Almost two years.”

“What?” Taylor crowed.

Keegan patted his shoulder as if sympathetic to his shock. “And you've kept it a secret because … ”

Alexia scoffed, startling us. It had taken her a moment to gather her wits, but now she appeared to be back in control. “You really need to ask that question? Look at
your
life, Keegan.”

“Oh.” He stepped forward. “You're a coward.”

“I'm ambitious.”

“So? I'm ambitious too.”

Alexia curled her lip. “Oh yeah. I heard you applied to Harvard. I got a full scholarship.”

“Screw you,” Keegan spat. “It's always the rich kids who get everything paid for.”

“How ironic,” Alexia replied. “But why did I get a full scholarship?”

“Gee, I don't know. I guess you're better than me.”

Alexia laughed. “I'm Student Body President. Soon I'll be elected Queen of the Prom—”

“Wait.” I slid out of my arboreal seat, approaching slowly. “How does one get
elected
queen?”

“You're kidding, right? She's kidding?” Alexia snapped.

“She's home-schooled,” Taylor explained.

“That really isn't an excuse.”

Kylie turned, frowning at her girlfriend. To me, she said, “Next week, the senior class will nominate five girls and five boys to the Prom Court. Then, on prom night, we'll choose one king and queen.”

“One king,” I murmured, fighting back a smile. “And these victors are the most respected in the school?”

“That's one way of looking at it,” Keegan scoffed. “Really, it's a popularity contest—”

“Exactly,” Alexia said, to Keegan's surprise. His eyes widened and he stepped back. “Every election in this school is based on popularity. And I win them—”

“By sleeping with the faculty?”

“By being a rich, beautiful, heterosexual bitch.”

I stared at her. “But you aren't.”

“No.” Alexia shook her head. “I'm not even a bitch, really. I just play one on TV.” She flipped her hair with a wink. “Face it, Keeg. I'd never win these pointless little contests if everyone labeled me a big old bull dyke.”

Keegan covered his mouth.

“You laugh, but you know it's true,” she said. “They don't see complexity in the gay community. They don't see personality. They see Dyke or Fag tattooed across your forehead and they act accordingly. But I'm going to be something amazing. I'm going to graduate at the top of my class, and I'm going to Harvard, yes, on a free ride, and you know why? Do you know the difference between you and me?”

“I'm open about who I am and you're a closet freak?”

“I'm a leader,” Alexia replied. “You're not. They look at your transcript and see that no one in this school even knows your name, so they pass you by. They look at my transcript and see that I command the respect, or at least the fear, of over half the school. That's leader material. I was born to lead and I'm going to lead, and I'm sure as hell not going to let some small-minded stereotype keep me from achieving my goals.”

“Whatever you have to tell yourself.”

“Judge me,” she challenged, closing in on him. “Prove me right.” She turned to Kylie, who had taken to pushing the merry-go-round in circles. “Going somewhere?”

“No,” Kylie said, removing her hand. “I'm not running, and I'm not hiding.”

“That's why you did this?” Alexia was beside her in an instant. “Is this because I'm not taking you to the prom? Honey, I told you it's a formality. We'll sneak out early and go to my mother's beach house—”

“That's not why I did this.” Kylie frowned. “I said I didn't invite
those two
, and I meant it.”

“Then it's just a coincidence they're in this park in the middle of the night? Out for a lovers' stroll, boys?” Alexia raised her eyebrows.

Taylor looked at me before meeting Alexia's stare. “We followed them.”

“Why?” I heard Kylie's voice, but my eyes were trained on Taylor. Cold liquid was spreading through my guts.

“Duh, you were sneaking around in the middle of the night.” Keegan smirked at his sister.

“You followed me?” I said quietly to Taylor.

“I tried to,” he confessed. “Sorry.”

“What do you mean, you tried to?” I couldn't keep the nervousness from my voice. What had he seen?

“I saw you, down the street from my house, but then you turned the corner and I couldn't catch up to you.” He narrowed his eyes, like he hadn't quite gotten that right. And he hadn't, because I'd let the darkness swallow me. I'd
summoned
it.

“You shouldn't have done that,” I murmured.

“I just wanted you to be safe.”

“That's not your responsibility.”

Alexia was watching us with interest, as if our discord was a small consolation for Kylie's betrayal. But as silence fell over the grounds, she trained her gaze on her girlfriend. “Well?”

Kylie hugged herself. “I needed Lora's support.”

“For what?”

“Something happened,” I said when Kylie didn't answer. “Brad did something.”

“What did he do?” Alexia snarled, unaware that Taylor and Keegan were nearing the merry-go-round. “Tell me.” Her face wore the oddest look, as if all the contents of her world had been dropped on the ground.

“He didn't. He just tried to … ” Kylie looked to me for help. “It's not what it sounds like.”

Alexia knelt, sliding an arm around Kylie's shoulders. The movement appeared instinctual, as if she was barely aware of her own actions. Her gaze settled on me. “Somebody better tell me what the hell is going on.”

I inhaled, glancing at Kylie. She nodded, and I stepped up to her side. Quickly and quietly, I recounted her experience with Brad.

When I was finished, Alexia just stared. Fury flashed in her eyes. “That worthless piece of—”

Keegan stormed past her, back toward the street.

“Keeg!” Kylie called after him. “Keegan!”

“I'm fine,” he replied, not stopping.

Taylor jogged over to him and touched his arm. “Where are you go
ing?”

“I'm going to take care of it,” Keegan said, his voice flat and emotionless.

“Just wait a minute,” Taylor said.

“I think enough time has been wasted,” came Keegan's reply. Again, he began to walk toward the street.

“Oh, please be a hero,” drawled Alexia.

Keegan stopped and rounded on her, showing the first hint of anger in his eyes.

“Please do something stupid and end up in prison,” Alexia said. “Please cause your sister more pain.”

Keegan's face crumpled at her words. “This is your fault.”

“Excuse me?”

“Why was she there?” he yelled. “What's the one reason she would go to that asshole's house?”

“Oh, God.” Alexia turned to Kylie.

Kylie looked up. “I just thought, if he liked me, maybe things would be different for us. You wouldn't have to hide—”

“Oh, sweetie.” For a moment, I thought Alexia might cry. “You're right,” she said to Keegan, blinking her eyes. “I should have stopped him when I had the chance.”

“How would you have stopped him?” I asked. When we'd made our plans to meet here tonight, Kylie had hinted that Alexia had her own personal vendetta against Brad, but she wouldn't give me details.

Alexia sighed. “The truth is, I've been watching Brad for a while. He has quite the little business selling sedatives to the underclassmen.”

“So you knew he did things like this?” Keegan asked.

“I knew he sold drugs to immature children who'd take anything to get high. Calm down, baby,” she said, steadying Kylie's shaking hands. “Some freshman almost died last year from an overdose, and no one said a word. They're afraid of him. Well, the students are. See, when I said I commanded the respect of half the school, I wasn't just talking about the students. I'm friends with the principal. I'm also friends with security. In fact, you could say security and I have gotten pretty close, as much as friends can.”

“You've been flirting with Janky Jim?” said Taylor.

Alexia smirked at the security guard's nickname. “I've been talking to him, which is more than any other woman will do, so I suppose he might consider it flirting.”

“But why would you do that?” Taylor asked. “Wouldn't that di
stract him from Brad's dealings?”

“Exactly.” Alexia kissed Kylie's forehead, brushing the hair from her face. “I wanted Brad to believe that security was severely lacking. I wanted him to think he could deal whatever he wanted, anywhere, any time.”

Taylor wrinkled his brow. “What am I missing?”

“I wanted him to get sloppy. That way, when I suddenly blew Mr. Jenkins off—an act that would undoubtedly make him feel abandoned and angry—he would devote all of his time to busting wayward students. And when he did, his disappointment at my sudden lack of interest would cause him to come down on Brad twice as hard. He's usually pretty lenient, you know?”

“Last year he caught me skipping,” Taylor said, nodding in agreement. “I talked him out of telling Ms. Bates.”

Alexia nodded. “He's a big believer in giving second chances. I couldn't risk him going soft on Brad. I needed him to come down with the full hammer of justice.”

“Holy shit,” Keegan breathed. “You're trying to get Brad expelled.”

“My plan was to get him kicked out right before the prom.”

“You think he'll care about the
prom
?”

Alexia rolled her eyes. “I think Brad's the type of boy who slacks off the entire year and then preys on his teachers' sympathies to get extra credit at the end. If he got kicked out a month before graduation, he'd have no chance to catch up at anot
her school.”

Keegan's eyes widened. “You mean … ”

“He'd flunk senior year. It seemed a decent plan at the time. But now I see I let myself get greedy. I'll set this plan in motion right away.”

“No. You can't!” Everyone turned to look at Kylie.

Alexia narrowed her eyes. “You
don't
want him kicked out of school?”

“We do,” I said, stepping into a pool of moonlight. “But we want to send him off in style.”

–––––

The excitement should have ended there, but it didn't. My phone started buzzing just as I was falling asleep. There was a short moment of panicking, when I thought I was in danger, and then I felt foolish for forgetting the obvious.

I'm always in danger
.

I glanced across the room. Taylor was mumbling, so I knew he was asleep. I should have taken the call elsewhere. But I didn't, because in spite of everything, being close to him made me feel safe.

I pushed the green button.

“Danger hovers on the horizon,” hissed the voice on the other end.

“What happened?” I whispered.

“The Queen has organized a search party.”

“Headed up by the Traveling Trolls, or the Brigade of Backless Ladies?”

“You know who she appointed to lead it. You must know.”

“I have a pretty good idea. But has Naeve risen to the occasion?”

“All too well. He's interrogating each of us before he leaves.”

“Interrogating,” I repeated, allowing the euphemism. Closing my eyes, I watched a scene unfold behind my lids: Naeve stood by in his regal armor while his favored courtier, Olorian, broke mountain trolls piece by piece. Beside them hovered the Lady Claremondes, my mother's lady-in-perpetual-waiting, who was hanging pixies from her noose.

“Has he come for you yet?” I asked.

“He'll have to catch me first.” Illya laughed, a sound born of fear rather than amusement. “He suspects I know something. And he will stop at nothing to bring you back to Court safely.”

“Safer dead than alive, I imagine.”

“The Queen would not allow it.”

“She may not be able to stop it this time.” I paused, pushing away my bitterness. My fear. “I am sorry to make you endure this treachery.”

“It is not all suffering. The servants continue to bond. Even the centaurs and the naiads have put away their feud.”