Once a Thief

By: E.R.M. Griffin


CHAPTER 2

It would be a full four days later before Rictus made his second appearance. In that span of time, Rachel began to believe she'd imagined the strange man with the pointed ears and the shark grin. Slowly, she retreated back to her usual routine. School began and found her wandering hallways and sitting through boring classes.

Most of the time she found herself alone, but for a small circle of friends. Rachel was with one such friend on that particular fourth day, sitting outside for lunch. The girl with her was a year younger than Rachel, with short copper-colored hair and gray eyes. In that moment, those eyes were fixated on Rachel, who shifted uncomfortably under their scrutiny.

"Marril...," she snapped, tired of her friend's critical gaze.

"What?"

"Would you stop!"

"What?" Marril laughed. "Come on, you've been moody for days. You won't tell me what's wrong-"

"I'm fine!" Rachel insisted.

"-so I'm just going to keep annoying you until you do!"

The sun shone brightly in the mid-day sky while the two girls sat alone. Most of the other students were scattered around, eating their lunches or smoking behind trees. Marril was perceptive, Rachel admitted. But she couldn't very well tell her why she felt the way she did. Why she kept her eyes on the sky. Even as her thoughts turned to that strange night four days prior, her eyes drifted to the clouds.

A familiar shape hovered.

Rachel felt a sudden thrill of exhilaration rush through her body. She couldn't see him clearly, but there was no doubt in her mind. She'd not dreamt him after all.

She stood suddenly, then paused to casually wipe the dust from jeans. All the while, she had to fight to prevent herself from staring up. Marril was watching her with that keen eye and Rachel had promised to keep Rictus' visit a secret. She turned to walk back inside the school.

"Where are you going?" Marril asked, looking back at her.

Rachel shrugged. "I forgot something in my locker. I'll be right back!" Before she could give Marril the chance to come with her, Rachel turned and jogged back inside the building. Once out of her friend's sight, she immediately dashed down a hall and to a side door. The exit came out around the side of the school, a shady corner away from the crowd.

There she waited until the floating shape began to descend toward her.

"Rictus!" Rachel exclaimed once he was close enough to be recognized.

"Ah, sweetling, did you miss me?" He grinned mischievously.

Rachel was surprised to realize she had.

"Of course, the ladies always do," he winked.

Rachel crossed her arms. "I was starting to think you'd never be back."

"Oh? Thought Rictus would just dash off without so much as a phone call or a letter did you?" He laughed. "Shows what you know. I've come back, haven't I? Bearing good news to boot!"

"Good news?"

"Indeed!" He nodded enthusiastically. "My boss has decided there's room for you. I had to put in a good word you understand, but we can leave right now!"

"Now, right now?"

"Well why not?"

"Well...I'm at school."

"So?" He shot her a dry look.

"Right," She shook her head and laughed. "So what now?"

He extended his arm in showy gallantry. "Shall we then?"

She grinned back at him, took his offered arm, was soon en-route to the wonderland he had promised.

The journey there, if she had expected something mystical or grand, was somewhat of a disappointment. They walked the streets together, strangely enough coming across no other people as they walked. It was as though Rictus knew which streets, which alleyways would be clear, and which to take.

They arrived at their destination. It was a solid brick wall. Rachel stood before it, trying to wrap her mind around what Rictus wanted her to do.

"You want me to...walk through the wall..."

"Right."

"The solid stone wall?"

"Right again, sweetling."

"I've told you not to call me that." She muttered, only half-annoyed.

"So you have, so you have."

More so to prove him wrong than right, she took a step forward, and walked toward the wall. Yet instead of her face meeting solid rock as she expected, Rachel found the path before her unobstructed. Instead of walking into the wall, she walked clear through it. There appeared around her a momentary gray haze. One that would have caused her to become lost in its immensity had it not been for Rictus' hand on her arm, pulling her slowly forward.

"Watch your step, this next one can get you!" He laughed. Together, they walked forward.

Moments later they were there, and there was somewhere she had never been before. Rachel stood very still, gaping at the landscape before her. It was green and blue and perfect, with trees so tall and a sweet fresh smell in the air.

Rising high up above everything else, towering with windows and chimneys and balconies and things, was a house. A grand, bright house sitting alone on a green hilltop.

"What..." she trailed off, still mesmerized.

Rictus laughed. "Welcome to Holiday House!" He grinned, twirling her in circle before giving her a gentle shove for the intended way. "Go on then, they're waiting for you!"

"Who?"

"You'll see!" His eyes sparkled mysteriously.

Rachel took off in a brisk jog towards the house.

Just as she reached the front door, a girl ran past her, missing her by scant inches. Seeing Rachel standing there, the girl stopped in her tracks, and turned to grin at her. She looked to be a few years younger than Rachel, and was wearing a plain blue dress.

"Hey, I guess you must be Rachel."

"Yes, that's me. How did you know?" Rachel asked, looking at the girl curiously.

"Oh Rictus always talks! He doesn't know how to stop!" She grinned. "Name's Abigail, by the way!" She curtsied, her long almond-colored hair falling into her eyes in messy strands.

"I'm...right, you already know my name, never mind."

Rictus walked up behind them, heading into the house. "Ah, I see you two are through with introductions," he nodded approvingly. "Good good," he passed Abigail, shooting her a smirk as he did. "And don't think I didn't hear you just now girl, I got sharper hearing then a bat!"

"And a bigger mouth than a bass!" Abigail stuck out her tongue at him.

"Abigail, really now!"

Another voice broke into the throe, and Rachel turned to see a new face. An old woman had appeared on the porch. Her snow-white hair was tied back in a loose bun and her face was covered in more creases then anyone could count. But it was with good humor that she spoke, addressing the new arrival.

"Rachel, how wonderful that you made it!" She smiled, motioning for Rachel to come onto the porch. As she climbed the steps towards the old woman, a darting shape flitted past, coming to a halt around the woman's legs.

"Clue-Cat, you snoop. Come to see a new face have you?" The old woman laughed, shaking her head. "Too curious, that one. I'm Mrs. Griffin by the way, so nice to see you decided to come. Not too often we get older visitors here. Abigail's been the eldest guest so far, and she's fifteen."

Rachel nodded. "Yeah, Rictus said I was cutting it close."

"He was right, though I dare say youth of the heart is considered more important here."

"I hope so."

After a bit more idle chit chat, Mrs. Griffin ushered everyone inside, glancing quickly at Rictus, who vanished off to the side of the house. Once inside, she made short work of seating Rachel down to a scrumptious meal, which the younger woman complimented more then once.

After she had finished eating, Abigail came up to her and offered to show her around.

"Come on! I'll show you your room, Mrs. Griffin already showed me where it is. Then we can take a look around the house, maybe get you some different clothes," Abigail wrinkled her nose at the long-sleeved shirt Rachel wore. "It's too hot out for that, why don't you get something with short sleeves?"

The other girl stiffened visibly, at a loss for explanation that wouldn't require the truth. Bad enough Rictus had already knew.

No wearing a skirt either, I guess. She bit her lip.

"Um...are there clothes for me in my room?" Rachel tried to change the subject.

"Oh yeah, closet full! Wanna go up and pick something out before we go out and explore? It'll be dark soon, and I wanna give you the tour before that."

Rachel hesitated, then shot her a weak smile. "Tell you what, I'll find something nice to wear and meet you down here in a bit okay? It won't take long. I'd like some time to just...digest everything, you know."

"Oh, course!" Abigail rose from the table, heading towards the front door. "Just hurry up okay, and meet me outside when you're ready!"

"Right, okay."

With a last word to Mrs. Griffin and a pet on the head to Clue-Cat, Rachel headed up the stairs. When she reached the landing, she was met by a hall of doors.

"Third from the left..." she muttered under her breath as she walked.

"Right here, sweetling!"

Letting out an impatient sigh, Rachel turned to see Rictus standing by a closed door. She assumed it was hers. Rictus opened the door for her, following her inside without waiting for an invitation.

She turned only when she heard him close the door.

"Thanks...for bringing me here, I mean," she leaned against a pretty oak dresser, regarding him with weary eyes.

"No need to thank me." He shrugged, shooting another one of his dazzling smiles. "By the way, did you want to change before you meet Abigail?"

"Not really..."

"No need to wear short sleeves...or shorts, for that matter." He said knowingly. "I figured, since you have them all over your arms. Legs too?"

She nodded, her gaze still fixed on him.

"Don't worry, I won't tell," he winked, "...on one condition!"

"What?" She asked skeptically, raising an eyebrow.

When next he spoke, his tone was different. Serious. "You don't do it again while you're here!"

"Okay."

"I mean it, sweetling. None of that while you are here," he repeated, his tone devoid of any mirth. "No cutting, so slitting, no biting...unless I'm the one doing that," he grinned suddenly.

"Hey!" She blushed furiously, "I don't bite."

"I think properly persuaded..."

"Rictus!"

"Right, off I go to leave you to dress then." He paused. "Might I suggest the charming little number on your bed!" He motioned behind her, and Rachel turned to see an old-fashioned checkered white and red dress lying neatly on her bed. It had long sleeves, and the hem was low enough to fall around her ankles.

"Yeah, that's perfect!" She grinned. "That will-" She turned to find herself alone in the room. Rictus had vanished.


To Be Continued...