Sword Play Read online

  Too scared, I thought.

  “You did the right thing, Sabine. I really admire that. Most kids think only of themselves and blow off their parents. But you listen and do what they want.”

  “It’s not what I want.”

  “Me, either.” He took my hand, his gentle touch making me feel warm inside. “But I can’t blame your parents for wanting you back.”

  He looked so hot, and standing in the hall by my locker reminded me of the day we met. I’d been lusting after him secretly for weeks without the courage to even say “hi.” But after a psychic warning of danger, I was able to save him from a freak auto-shop accident. Gratitude blossomed into something more, and a week later we were officially a couple. Lucky me! Being Josh’s girl was sweet and safe. He didn’t believe in anything unusual, which was a good balance for my own weirdness.

  “It’ll be okay, Sabine.” Josh leaned close and brushed a kiss on my forehead. “Leaving isn’t a tragedy.”

  “But I’ll be over a hundred miles away.”

  “That’s not very far at all, just two hours of driving.”

  “I don’t have a car.”

  “I do, and I’ll come down every weekend.”

  “Don’t you have a magician’s meeting this Saturday?”

  “Yeah, but that’s not till evening. I’ll drive down in the morning.”

  “And miss sleeping in?” I teased. Josh was not a morning person.

  “Hey, it’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make for you. So stop looking so worried. Distance is not going to change anything.”

  I was relieved Josh wasn’t upset … yet disappointed, too. Why did he have to be so calm and understanding? Couldn’t he complain just a little?

  By lunchtime, word of my leaving had spread all over school (most likely via Penny-Love) and while I was sitting at my usual table with the cheerleaders, kids I knew and some I didn’t know came over. Most acted upbeat and said things like, “You’ll have more fun in a big city,” “Moving will be an exciting change,” or “You’ll make new friends.”

  Instead of being reassured, fear mounted. I didn’t want new friends, and I didn’t want to even think about my old friends. The ones I left behind when I fled six months ago. How could I go back to that life? And where would I go to school? Arcadia High was out of the question. My mother couldn’t expect me to return there—not after I’d been kicked out. More likely, Mom would enroll me in a private school. Somewhere with boring rules and tacky uniforms.

  Just kill me now, please!

  Walls closed in and I felt like I could hardly breathe. Making a lame excuse about getting something in my locker, I jumped up from the table and fled to the computer lab where Manny DeVries could always be found working on the latest issue of the school newspaper, Sheridan Shout-Out.

  Instead of his usual grin, Manny scowled at me and demanded, “Is it true?”

  “So you’ve heard already.” Wearily, I sank into a chair beside his computer console. “Bad news travels fast.”

  “I won’t act like I’m okay with this, because I’m not. How can someone as smart as you do something so dumb?”

  With a heavy sigh, I explained about my mother’s verdict.

  When I finished, Manny narrowed his dark eyes, resembling a punk pirate with dreads snagged in a ponytail and a gold eyebrow ring. “Drastic measures are required. Don’t make me kidnap you.”

  “One kidnapping is all you’re allowed. And you used your quota up last week when you and Thorn put me under house arrest.”

  “Classic moment,” he said proudly. “Speaking of Thorn, have you told her yet?”

  I bit my lip and shook my head. Thorn and I had a prickly enough friendship. She was a chain-wearing, black-garbed Goth with an anti-social attitude, while I hung out with cheerleaders. When Manny introduced us, it was dislike at first sight. But when I found out Thorn had a psychic ability, too—psychometry—I was intrigued. We got to know each other better on a road trip, learning mutual respect. Still, Thorn was quick-tempered with unpredictable moods and I had no idea how she’d react to my leaving. Maybe I’d send her an email or write a letter.

  Manny gave me a stern look, as if reading my mind. “Seriously, Beany,” he added, “leaving is a lose-lose situation. The newspaper needs you.”

  “You’ll find another proofreader.”

  “But no one with your special talents.”

  I smiled sadly. He may have a reputation of being a player, but he’d been a real friend to me. He kept my secrets and in return I helped with his Mystic Manny column by giving him authentic predictions. I foretold hook-ups, heartbreaks, and what students would be doing in ten years. Manny’s readers were amazed with his uncanny accuracy.

  “You have special talents, too,” I pointed out. “You’ve helped Dominic and I track down info on my ancestors and the missing charms. You’re an amazing researcher.”

  “Go on, say more. I thrive on compliments.”

  “Watch out, your head is swelling.”

  “Is that all?” He glanced down with a wicked grin.

  “You are so bad.”

  “Stick around and I’ll show you how bad I can be.”

  “Save it for your girlfriends.”

  “So many girls, only one Manny,” he joked.

  “Egotist!” I swatted his arm.

  “Just telling it like it is. Some guys have it, and some guys have more of it.”

  “More than I need to know.” I gave a bittersweet smile, thinking how much I’d miss teasing with him. “Anyway, don’t worry about predictions for your column. I’ll email them from San Jose.”

  “Thanks, but it won’t be the same.” His expression sobered. “Will you be going back to your old school?”

  “No!” I said a bit too sharply. “I could never return there after all the lies and accusations. I’d rather die.”

  As I said the word “die,” a chill shivered through me. I grabbed tight to my chair as dizziness struck. Lights flickered around the classroom, bright colors spinning into confusing images. Posters fluttered like birds in flight and white walls shimmered into a silver sandstorm.

  I stood swaying, afraid of passing out. To clear my head, I focused on the floor. Only the tile whirled, changing from dull-gray squares to golden polished wood. The computer lab was gone, replaced with a silvery cave. And Manny had vanished.

  But I wasn’t alone. Ghostly white-clothed figures glided around me on the golden floor, shifting in quick moves like living chess pieces. They had no faces, only blurry gray masks. With deft spins, they paired and began battling among themselves, slashing with blade-shaped arms and razor claw fingers. They ignored me, except for one. A lone figure glided toward me, slowly, with chilling purpose, gleaming silver claws outstretched. I was paralyzed, unable to move, watching in terror as knife claws loomed closer, closer …

  “Sabine … Beany!” Manny snapped his fingers in front of my face.

  “Huh?” I jumped back to reality; the hum of computers, the bright lights overhead and posters on faded white walls.

  “You’re so pale,” Manny said, leaning closer and studying me. “Did something just happen? Was it a vision?”

  “Yeah … I think so.” I clasped my hands in my lap to keep from shaking.

  “Tell me,” he insisted.

  So I did. And when I finished, he stared at me with both concern and curiosity. “Knives, figures in white, a chess board? Any idea what it means?” he asked.

  “No.” I shook my head numbly. “But it could be a warning.”

  “A warning for whom?”

  “I don’t know, but I have a bad feeling.” I shuddered. “If I don’t find out, something terrible will happen.”

  My suitcase bulged, a red shirt hanging out like a distress signal. Tucking the shirt back in, I shoved down hard on the lid, then grabbed the metal zipper tag. Ziiip! A sound so final my heart nearly broke.

  Soon my mother would arrive to take me away.

  My gaze drifted to my wi
ndow, a view I loved dearly, and I thought how very far away the treetops seemed. I hadn’t even left, yet I was already homesick. It felt like I was being split apart; my body moving to San Jose while my heart stayed in Sheridan Valley.

  The floor shook when I heaved my bulky suitcase off my bed. A card that had been propped on my dresser fluttered to the carpet. Picking it up, I smiled sadly at Penny-Love’s computer graphics of a redheaded cheerleader waving poms and doing the split in midair with a caption that read, “Gimme a G—O—O—D—B—Y—E!”

  “Nothing good about goodbye,” I grumbled.

  Never overlook a silver lining, a woman’s voice snapped in my head.

  “Opal?” I shut my eyes to connect more clearly with my spirit guide, and had a vague sense of her upswept hair, ageless tawny skin, and critical dark eyes.

  Your behavior brings me considerable disappointment. Are you finished wallowing in your pity party?

  “I’d rather wallow at Nona’s All Hallows party. I’ll miss out on all the fun tonight. I have a right to be unhappy.”

  Frankly my girl, you’ve extended your self-indulgence quota by a marathon mile. Abandon negative energy and focus on the positive.

  “My life is very un-positive,” I retorted, colors crystallizing into shapes until I could clearly see Opal, looking regal in a flowing, jeweled, ivory caftan.

  Your melancholy view is quite unbecoming and unnecessary. What may seem like a dark night is not without a guiding light.

  “How can you say that? Everything is messed up. I’m being forced to leave my sick grandmother, the most perfect boyfriend I’ll ever have, and great friends. They’re all annoyingly understanding, except for Thorn. She’s taking it personally and won’t even talk to me.”

  Emotions are deliciously complicated, aren’t they? Rather than focus on the negative, I suggest you evaluate the positive aspects of your life.

  “There aren’t any.”

  On the contrary, you possess abundant blessings that blindly go unnoticed. I challenge you to find three things good about this pending move.

  “Three? You might as well ask for a million.”

  Sa … bine! Her voice crackled with disapproval and warning.

  “Oh, all right, I’ll try.” I sank on my bed and thought hard. “I suppose it’s good that I’ll be able to see more of my sisters. Amy keeps emailing me about all the things she wants to do together. Even Ashley sounded excited in her last phone call. I’m glad I’ll be able to celebrate Halloween with them. It was always our favorite holiday and we have special traditions, like making caramel popcorn and watching old black-and-white horror films. The twins are growing up so fast and I think we need each other.”

  Excellent observation, and more true than you realize. They are not the only ones who will benefit by your move. And what else?

  “The weather is more comfortable in San Jose.”

  I’m sure you can do better than that. Have you no feelings for your parents?

  “I suppose it’ll be nice to see more of Dad. But Amy tells me he’s working so much, he’s hardly ever home.”

  What about your mother?

  “Oh, her. She’s ruining my life.”

  Your life is far from ruined. On the contrary, you are a sun in your universe, and radiate a strong influence to those around you. So listen with your heart. To move forward, you must circle back and heal old wounds.

  “Huh?” I groaned. “English please.”

  Moments that seem lost to the past are actually turns of destiny waiting to be revealed. There is a wrong you have the opportunity to set right and much will be discovered along this journey.

  I shook my head, sinking deeper in confusion. “Does this have something to do with my vision of figures in white with knife-fingers?”

  Glimpses of the future are protective armor preparing you for a battle.

  “But I don’t want to battle anyone. Can’t you just tell me what’s going on so I can deal with it now?”

  Answers can be found in your dreams.

  “Dreams?” I repeated, completely frustrated. “I hate my dreams! Even since the accident, I’ve slept badly and can’t even remember my dreams.”

  The result of an unwillingness to face the messenger.

  “What messenger?”

  The spirit who visits in the night. Be assured, you have nothing to fear from him, as he only seeks your help.

  “A visitor in the night? Seeking help?”

  In a shock of memory, it all rushed back. The dream that wasn’t a dream at all, but a visitation from a spirit in a #17 football jersey. Kip Hurst! “Help her,” that’s what he asked. But I couldn’t remember anything else.

  Why had Kip come to me anyway? I should be the last person he’d contact. I hadn’t been able to help him and he’d died. How could he expect me to help someone else? Especially when he didn’t tell me who needed help.

  Was this unknown girl a stranger?

  Or someone I already knew?

  My mother was late.

  I kept checking through the living room window, pacing a path on the carpet, and growing more anxious as seconds passed. I even walked outside and peered down our long driveway, but no sign of any cars.

  As I started back into the house, I heard someone call out, “Sabine! Wait!”

  Turning on the porch steps, I saw Dominic rushing toward me. His sandy brown hair flew back from his tanned face and I found myself thinking how good he looked in his faded jeans. My traitorous heart sped up.

  “Hey,” I said, a bit shyly.

  “Good. You’re still here.” He shoved his hands in his pockets, facing me with a closed expression. A guy of few words, it was impossible to know what he was thinking, although I couldn’t help but wonder.

  “Mom is late, and that’s not like her so I should probably call her cell and find out when she’ll be here or if something is wrong.” I had this dumb habit of rambling when I got nervous. And with Dominic, I was always nervous.

  “Stuck in traffic,” he guessed.

  “That must be it. I’m sure she’ll show up soon. Not that I’m in a hurry. Maybe she’ll cancel and I can postpone leaving for a day. Then I’ll be here to celebrate Halloween at Nona’s party.”

  “Nona wanted to have it early for you.”

  “I know, but I wouldn’t let her. A lot of her clients and friends already RVSPed. Everyone will have a wonderful party,” I added sadly.

  “Not everyone.”

  I wondered if he was talking about himself. He was gazing at me so strangely, I was afraid to say anything; there were words better left unsaid between us. So I babbled on, “I tried convincing Mom to delay my move home, but she insisted this morning was the only free time in her schedule to pick me up.”

  “I could have taken you if I still had my truck.”

  “Your poor truck. I’m so sorry.” I winced. Dominic wouldn’t have been driving that night if not for me. And now his truck was ruined.

  “Not your fault. I shouldn’t have swerved.”

  “And smacked into that cow? I don’t think so! Swerving probably saved us both—and the cow.”

  He grinned ruefully. “Maybe.”

  We just stood there, the way he was staring at me made me self-conscious. I hadn’t slept well and knew I looked a mess. I should have used some makeup or parted my hair to the side so it covered the nasty bruise on my cheek.

  “I—I should go inside and call Mom … ”

  I started to turn, but he reached out for my hand. When his fingers touched my skin, electricity surged through me. I felt weak and warm and scared all at once.

  “Wait,” he spoke quietly. “I have to tell you something.”

  “What?” Our eyes met and I could barely think. I wanted to ask him so many things. Like why he was looking at me that way and if those kisses we shared were accidental or meant anything.

  He started to reply, but a bird shrieked overhead, making us both jump. Whatever spell we’d been under broke. He glanc
ed skyward and I followed his gaze to where a shadowy falcon circled.

  “Is that Dagger?” I stepped away from Dominic.

  “Yep.” He nodded. “He’s hunting for his breakfast.”

  “Mice and snakes.” I made a sour face. “Yuck.”

  “Not to Dagger. He loves fresh meat.”

  “Did he tell you that?”

  “He tells me many things,” Dominic said mysteriously. He had this uncanny ability to understand animals; they trusted him and he trusted them. He didn’t seem to need people, yet I sensed he was interested in me. And I wondered what he’d been about to tell me earlier. That he didn’t want me to leave? Or did he even care? Not that I cared if he cared … or did I?

  Why did he make me so crazy? Putting distance between us was a good idea. Something else to add to Opal’s “positive things about the move” list.

  “I should go inside,” I told him.

  “Not yet.” He withdrew an envelope from his pocket. His callused fingers brushed against my skin as he placed the bag in my hand. “For you.”

  “Me?” My voice came out breathless. Had he written something personal? Like a love letter. “You didn’t have to … ”

  “Open it.”

  I slit open the tab with my thumbnail, my hand quivering a bit as I lifted out a small sheet of paper. I didn’t recognize the name or Nevada address written down, but I recognized the possibilities. “Is this what I think it is?” I exclaimed.

  “Depends what you think.”

  “The location of the fourth missing charm?”

  The corners of his mouth tipped in a smile. “Not missing for long.”

  “Ohmygod! This is like a miracle!”

  “You like it?”

  “More than like. This is so incredible! When Manny hears, he’s going to want to go right to Nevada.”

  “I need to check out details first.”

  “Sure. I can’t believe we’re so close to having all four charms! How did you find it? Tell me everything!”

  “Not much to tell. I checked records of the jeweler who found the third charm and traced information back to one of your ancestors.”

  My fingers shook as I held the paper. Not a love letter (which I really couldn’t handle anyway) but information that touched my heart. “How did you finally get this address?”