Wisteria (Wisteria Series) (32 page)

One of the newcomers, a teenage boy with curly blond hair, stopped and smiled at Wisteria. “Hi,”

“Welcome to the happiest place on earth,” Garfield said dryly.

“Let’s go, Vic. It’s dangerous to be outside.” A woman, another new arrival, took him by the arm.

“I’m just talking, Mum, and they’re not flesh eaters,” Vic defended.

“I… I still don’t think it’s safe,” she insisted.

“Bloody hell, Mum, they’ve got fifty foot walls all around here and a million soldiers,” Vic gasped.

“Just get inside,” she called back as she went into the house.

“Your Mum, huh?” Garfield asked.

Sensing a twinge of sadness in Garfield’s voice, she remembered he had no family. She was so self-absorbed with her pain that it didn’t occur to her that Garfield was worse off. At least she had her mother and brother. Once she got home, she decided to talk to her mother about letting him stay with them.

“Tell me about this town?” Vic asked as his mother left. “Nice place?”

“We don’t have cannibals,” Wisteria pointed out.

“Huh?” Vic replied, as he looked baffled.

“Long story.” Garfield snorted. “So, your whole family made it?”

“Yeah, we were lucky. My mum, Brenda and my dad, Rupert, and brother, Neil,” Vic replied. “We all got out.”

“It’s unusual for a whole family to get here,” Wisteria mentioned. “Although, mine did, but that was a while ago.”

“Then we’re both lucky,” Vic admitted.

“Thank you for taking us in.” Vic’s mother hugged Blair as she sobbed. “I didn’t know if we’d survive there another day.”

As Vic’s mother wept, one of the men approached the three children. He was bald-headed with one sleepy eye. He looked familiar. “Vic, I think we should go inside.” The man had to be Rupert, Vic’s father. “You all know what it’s like out there. It’ll take some time for us to feel safe enough to leave the house.”

Wisteria looked up at Rupert. It was then she realized that he was one of the men who broke into the Hunter Tower, one of the Red Phoenix people.

“We don’t have time for this, Mr. Fletcher. I’ve another appointment. Can we go inside now?” Then Blair turned to Wisteria and Garfield. “You better be gone when I get out.”

“Must you be so hard on the children?” Brenda called out. “They’re just happy to have a new friend.”

Blair shook his head, equally disgusted at Brenda. He left the two kids standing there and herded the family into the house.

* * * * *

“Wisteria Oluwamodupe, I don’t want to hear this.” Wisteria’s mother waved her hands in exasperation. “We’ve been talking about this for an hour now and I am done. Rupert Fletcher, or whoever, isn’t a secret agent, hired killer, or whatever you say he is. He’s a refugee from Nottingham who is lucky to have made it to the Isle of Smythe.”

Wisteria told her mother about Rupert that evening while the family was having dinner.

“This group, Pink Sparrow, sounds like a rock band,” David mocked as he swallowed a spoonful of a thick gray substance that was supposed to be stew.

“Red Phoenix.” Wisteria scowled at her brother. “That’s what Felip and Bach called them.”

“Those boys who lied about not being sick and would’ve probably killed us all? Why would you trust anything he said?” her mother asked. “I’m sure he said that to get into your panties. How did they even come up with the name Red Phoenix?”

David laughed.

“It doesn’t matter what they’re called. I saw him, Rupert, break into the penthouse and shoot at us,” Wisteria elaborated passionately. “The fact they’re here, Mum, isn’t a good sign.”

“Or?” Her brother smirked. “You should talk to the awesome Major Coles. It would be interesting to hear what the old man thinks.”

“Wisteria, I’m serious. Just stop. You see what you have started?” Her mother pointed to David.

“At least talk to Major Coles,” Wisteria implored.

“No, I’m not going to bother Elliot with this or any other such nonsense,” her mother mumbled while eating her stew. “Just finish your food.”

Wisteria sat down, picked up her spoon, and stirred her gray stew. “Then I’ll tell Coles,” she stated frankly. “I’m sure he’d want to know about possible killers in Smythe.”

“Everyone on the Isle of Smythe has killed someone,” her brother added.

Her mother rolled her eyes as she twirled her fork in her right hand.

“I mean the biters,” he said.

“Okay, go ahead and try to tell Coles what you want.” Her mother acquiesced.

Wisteria was surprised and glad her mother gave in.

“But he’ll still ask me,” her mother noted.

“Oh, we are aware the Major talks to you,” he commented coldly. “Everyone on the island is aware that he talks to
you
.”

Their mother slammed her palm hard on the table. She slowly turned to face David, who stared back at her, speechless. “This ends now. Wisteria, David? There’ll be no more conversations about Rupert or killers in Smythe. And I don’t want to hear anything about Major Coles from you, David, or you will be sleeping outside. And by outside, David, I don’t mean at Amanda’s hovel. You’ll be on the street!” her mother decreed. “Wisteria, this is just about you missing your friend and maybe about also trying to prove you’re strong, because of what David’s friends did to you.”

“I’m not,” Wisteria responded defensively. “It’s the truth.”

“Wisteria let me talk now!” she shrieked.

Being cut off by her mother stung.

“You’re strong, Wisteria.” Her mother’s tone became gentler. “You’ve nothing to prove to me or anybody. This investigation won’t help you get over Bach. You’ll do that by mourning him.” Her mother’s words made a lot of sense, but they weren’t sinking in.

“Okay,” Wisteria agreed, to end the conversation.

“But I’ll discuss this with Coles, as long as you’re one hundred percent sure Rupert is the man you saw,” her mother said firmly.

But Wisteria wasn’t completely sure. Rupert looked a lot like the man, but in all honesty what Wisteria remembered was the man was bald and had a drooping eye. She guessed it could be possible that Rupert wasn’t the same person.

“Are you entirely certain?” her mother probed.

Wisteria wasn’t that sure, so she shook her head. She needed to remove all doubt. After dinner was cleared away, she retreated to her room where she considered her options about how to be sure.

* * * * *

“Er, let me think? Um…no,” Garfield stated bluntly the next day as he walked to school with Wisteria.

She told him who she suspected Rupert was and recounted the events of dinner yesterday. Then she tried to convince Garfield to break into their house, or at least follow them.

Her friend was sympathetic, but not keen to take any part. “The people on this island can do worse to me than make me catch rats if the soldiers suspect I’m stalking this family,” he continued. “I’m begging you, just let this go. If your mother thinks it’s nothing, then it’s nothing.”

“Please, you’re my only friend in this place. There’s no one else I can ask to do this with me.”

“Sorry. Let’s go to school. Once Mr. Cheung screams and threatens our dead loved ones a little, you’ll feel better and forget about Bach…” Garfield trailed off.

“This isn’t about him.” She wanted Garfield to be right, but Cheung wasn’t going to help her come to terms with her life. “Listen, if I’m right, you’ll be a hero. It might even improve your chances with Amanda.” She attempted to play on his weakness. “You’ll stand out. Think about how much more popular Steven is now, after sounding the alarm and saving everyone from the biters?”

“That’s low Wisteria, and I know you were the one who sounded the alarm. Steven just took the credit.”

“And if I find anything, you’ll get all the credit. If I’m wrong, I’ll take all the blame.”

“Wait, are you comparing me to Steven?” He looked insulted.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Bach awoke to find himself in a soft bed, covered in a silky blanket. The room smelled fresh, like the wild roses that grew in his garden at home. For a moment, he thought he was back there. As his vision cleared, he found himself lying on a large bed covered in black silk. Sitting up, he examined the silver and black room, about the same size as the entire Hunter Tower penthouse. Then he remembered he’d arrived in Jarthan days ago.

Throwing off his blanket, he saw he was now dressed in red pajamas. The moment his foot touched the marble floor, one of the doors opened.

Lluc entered, accompanied by two brown-eyed brunettes and Nular. The only reason Lluc would dream of bringing Thayns into Bach’s bedchamber was because these were Lluc’s other Favorites. “I hope I am not intruding? How are you feeling?”

“How long was I asleep?” Bach rubbed his face, relieved that his headache was gone.

“Almost a day, but nothing to be concerned about.” Lluc placed his hand on Bach’s shoulder. “That is to be expected after what Alba did. When she pulses you again, you could be out for days.”

“Welcome Eminent Bach, we have missed you so much.” One of the girls walked up to Bach and knelt before him. “Your brother was so worried and to see a great man like Lluc so concerned makes us all so sad.”

This aggravated Bach. With the exception of Wisteria, his views of humans hadn’t changed.

“Nia, get up.” Lluc perceived Bach’s discomfort. “You are embarrassing me.”

She pouted. Instead of obeying Lluc, the Thayn wrapped her arms around him affectionately.

“Nia!” Lluc snapped. “We agreed you and your sisters could come if you promised to be silent.”

“I was very quiet,” the girl whispered to him innocently. “I’m like a mouse.”

“Nizzar and Nular, they are being quiet.” Lluc pointed to the other girls.

Nizzar stood eagerly, watching him like she wanted to devour and worship Lluc at the same time. Nular looked betrayed.

“I’m so sorry, Eminent.” Nia’s brown eyes filled with tears. “What should my punishment be? I don’t want to ever hurt you again.”

“Nia, she is the new one?” Bach ran his hands through his hair with frustration.

“Yes, she has not learned how to desire
and
obey. Right now, all she wants is me. She needs to learn obedience. You remember how annoying new Favorites can be sometimes.” Lluc chuckled as he avoided Nia’s grasp.

“I do not remember because I have never used them,” he replied.

“Really? Enric and Felip told me you had something on Terra.” Lluc pushed Nia away. “Nia, enough!”

“I’m sorry. I’m really confused about this. I know you have to punish me, but I’m sorry.” She staggered away from Lluc and started to weep.

“And for that you are going to punish her?” Bach bent down to help Nia who now lay sobbing at Lluc’s feet.

The girl moved away from him.

“What? No!” Lluc laughed and took her away from Bach. “I do not punish my Favorites. She will eventually learn to obey me when she accepts that obeying makes me happiest.”

Nia clung tightly to Lluc as he helped her to her feet. “I’m here to serve you, sir. Do with me as you wish,” Nia muttered through her sobs.

Bach watched his brother whisper something to Nia that clearly cheered her up. Looking at Lluc’s two other Favorites, they seemed envious of the attention Nia was receiving. Although they were upset, they didn’t move from where they were standing.

“Nia, Nizzar, and Nular, go out now. I will be out in three hours,” Lluc said.

The Thayns left the room as Enric appeared at the door.

Bach gestured for him to come in.

“How many Favorites do you have?” Enric asked as the three Thayns left.

“No one needs more than one,” Bach added.

“Each serves me in a particular way,” Lluc explained. “Nizzar is a martial arts expert and she keeps my technique sharp. Nular organizes my life and sings beautifully. And you know how much I love music. Nia, well?” He grinned. “She is good for other things.

“But I hear your Favorite is musical too—allegedly,” Enric remarked.

“So how many do you have now?” Bach asked Lluc.

“At last count, you had forty-six,” Enric piped in.

“Sixty Thayns and three Favorites at the moment,” Lluc replied. “With this virus, there is a shortage of interesting Favorites, but every now and then I still find one. He looked over at Bach. “But you have not told me about your Thayn. Why did you not bring her with you?”

“I do not see how this is relevant to anything,” Bach replied with a testy tone. “I have been gone over seven hundred and one days. I want to concentrate on regenerating and return home, brother.”

“Indeed.” Lluc folded his arms.

“I am done talking about the island,” Bach maintained. “We went to get the obsidian coral and we got it.”

“I suppose that makes sense. Besides, with the attention you have gotten from the Terrans and Red Phoenix, your little friend must be quite popular now,” Enric said.