Chapter Thirteen: By A Thread
Dusk Malveya's POV
18th of December
"Dad?" I whispered into the phone meekly.
"Dusk, honey, are you there?" A deep, mellow voice replied.
"Yes, I'm here," I raised my voice a little, clearing it in the process. "How are you, Dad? How's the family?"
"Well, your mother has been frantic ever since you called her up the other day and the phone suddenly went dead. What happened, sweetie?" My father asked in concern.
I bit my lip nervously. "Oh...well, in the blizzard, lightning struck a tree...and it fell on the house...causing a black-out."
"What?" My father exclaimed.
"No one was hurt," I assured my panicking father. Though, my thoughts fell on poor Kally being stuck in that freezing, pitch-black bathroom with the window smashed. "Well, not severely anyway."
"Severely? Dusk wh-" My father began but I cut him off.
"Dad, everyone's fine now," I interrupted, not wanting to rehash the emotions I had felt on the fifteenth.
"Your grandmother wanted me to call you," My father started another subject, noticing my reluctance on the others.
"Oh, really?" A smile swept through my expression. "I was just thinking about her today. How is she?"
"She's fine," My father's voice was strained and I knew he wasn't telling the truth. "I think she's gone a bit..." Dad trailed off quietly.
"What?" I asked curiously.
"She's been a bit...oh, I don't know," It seemed Dad couldn't bring himself to confessing the true emotions of my grandmother. "I think the pressure of your sick grandfather has really stressed her out."
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that," I mumbled, feeling the yearning for my family returning with a pang of sadness. "Is Grandpa still taking his treatment for the cancer?"
"Didn't you mother tell you?" My father sounded astonished.
"No, what are you talking about?" I mentally recalled my mother wanting to tell me something before the black-out on the fifteenth.
"Oh...um, Dusk...your grandfather has stopped taking and responding to treatment."
"What?" I breathed, fresh tears springing to my wide-eyes. "Tell me you're lying!" I cried.
"I wish I could...but, we can't hide the truth, Dusk. Your grandfather has given up hope as well as his treatment. It seems nothing is working for him," Dad seemed as sad as I was, trying to hold together what he had.
I shuddered and whispered, "How long? How long do you think he has?"
"The doctors say three months...tops and two weeks...minimum."
My heartbeat skipped as pain laced into my tears as well as desperation. "Two weeks?" I breathed, letting out a feeble sob.
"Dusk, please don't cry, sweetheart," My father pleaded sorrowfully.
I wiped away the tears instantly, proving I was weaker than my family expected. "I'm n-not," I lied abruptly. "I mean, I'm devastated...but, I-I'm staying strong."
"I wish I could be with you, sweetheart. I wish I could tell you that it's all going to be okay and give you a big kiss and a cuddle. But...I can't. So, I guess, I can only leave you with these words before I pass you over to Aria, who wants to talk to you now. We love you, Dusk. So does your grandfather...and now I'm positive that your grandfather's finally giving up because he knows that he'll be leaving a healthy and stable family."
"What?"
"Your mother has continuously refused to take money from her parents, Dusk. When your grandfather's gone, he'll be leaving his only daughter everything he owns...including his shares in businesses, his car, his house and all of his money. He also knows that we'll take care of your grandmother when he's gone. Everything he's always tried to fix will be mended when he peacefully leaves this Earth, Dusk. I think that, somewhat, comforts him."
I tried to even out my heartbeats, feeling my heart shatter then slowly and painfully resemble itself. "It's understandable, I guess. Ugh, fine. Then, before I let you go...can you tell me why grandma wanted you to call me?" I asked.
"Oh, you know how she is," My father replied casually. "She was concerned about you, as always. She thought you needed her greatly and she suddenly got extremely worried about your safety."
"Why? I'm stuck in a massive mansion, which I haven't left in a whole month."
"That's what worries her. But, like I said, she thought you needed her."
"I do," I replied, puzzled.
"You do?" My father sounded as astonished as I was. "Oh...well, um, okay. Do...do you want me to pass you onto her. She's at home helping your mother with the cooking."
"Yes, of course," I smiled. "But, I think I'll talk to Aria first."
"Sure, one minute, honey," I heard a long silence and a few footsteps on the other side of the phone. The silence ended with a muffled noise and my name being spoken: "Dusk?"
"Aria?" I asked.
"Oh, hey, big sis," I heard the pleased smile in her mellow voice; she had our mother's melodic voice, I had always envied that about her.
"What's up?"
"Nothing really," My sister replied casually. "You?"
I let out a calm sigh. "Well, I could complain...but, I'll choose not to."
I heard the chuckle in my sister's voice, "You can complain to me," Aria replied. "I know I have a lot to tell you."
"Oh? What's the new gossip, little sis? Are there any boys I should be interviewing as a future brother-in-law?"
I swear I heard the blush in Aria's shy tone, "Shut-up, Dusk."
"So, there's no new guy in the picture?" I raised my eyebrow.
"Well-"
"Huh, I knew it!" I laughed. "Jeez, you're getting predictable, little sister."
"No, we're not going out, Dusk. We're just really good friends," Aria sighed.
"A friend?" I asked sarcastically.
"Aren't I allowed to be friends with a boy?" My sister asked rhetorically.
"Yes..." I trailed with a deep frown. "But I would consider a boy, who you would call a friend, a lot more important that one of your immature, jockey boyfriends."
"Oh?" Aria's voice seemed lightened by my words.
"Of course," I shrugged. "A friend is someone who helps you through things when your boyfriend freaks out and break-ups with you as soon as he realises that you're a human being with feelings. Your heart gets shattered and who's left to pick up their pieces? A friend, of course. If this guy can be your friend, then I respect that in you, Aria."
"Thanks Dusk," I heard the warm smile in my sister's voice. "I think I'm starting to realise why everyone misses you so much back here."
"You didn't miss me?" Hurt stung me slightly, though I ignored it, not exposing my soft side to my little sister.
"Of course I did," Aria laughed light-heartedly. "But, in another sense. When I became friends with Zach, I felt like that yearning had been replaced. You know your secretly my best friend, Dusk, as pathetic as it sounds."
"You consider Zach your best friend?" I raised my eyebrows.
"No, I just consider him to be a person I can trust, like you. But, now I realise that I miss you more than just someone I trust. You always know what to say to make people feel better. It annoys me; you just weave your words perfectly."
"You should be glad I'm not a liar," I chuckled.
"Yeah," Aria's musical laugh played into my ears again. "You'd be able to weasel your way out of a speeding ticket any day."
I laughed along with my sister in agreement.
Aria had a point; I did have a strange way with words, an old-fashioned clarity in my manner. My siblings and I always grew up as well-spoken children. Though, our accents seemed to blend in with our parents' and not the typical American's. My mother, Saffron, had an accent which sounded English occasionally. But you could clearly hear the, seemingly, spicy zing of African in her bell-like tone.
My father, Maurice, had a deep sensuous voice and you could undoubtedly hear the Spanish in his accent. My father could fluently speak Spanish with his parents, Agraciana & Fernando Malveya, who lived in Cadiz in Spain.
"So, what's he like?" I asked after our gentle laughter had died down.
"Who, Zach?"
"Yes, of course, Zach," I rolled my eyes.
"Oh...um, well, he's very sweet," Aria voice softened as she spoke. "And gentle. He never puts himself first and he's always concentrating on other people's well-being. We're in the same GAT (gifted and talented) music class together – he can play the drums really well. He's half Quileute, though he lives in Forks with his parents Sue and Charlie Swan. His sister, Leah Clearwater-Mahora, is married to a Maori New Zealander, Tane. And his brother, Seth Clearwater, lives in Alaska with his girlfriend and her family."
"I see," I nodded in understanding. "And how did you meet him?"
"Well, you know Bret Simmons?"
"That pathetic boyfriend of yours?"
"Ex-boyfriend, Dusk," She corrected sternly.
"And about time," I grumbled with a scowl.
I heard the groan from the other side of the phone. "Anyway," She ushered along my angry expression. "We just broke up and I was very upset, so I snuck into the music room at lunch, simply wanting to be alone and play my guitar in silence."
I felt horrible; I wasn't there to fade into the background with her, a thing she often did when she got her feelings hurt. This was the first time I hadn't been there to listen to Aria playing her guitar absentmindedly, leaning my head against her shoulder and wiping they tears away as the helplessly cascaded down her concentrating expression. "And?"
"Well, when I went in, I saw Zach in there as well. I wasn't friends with him then and he hadn't spoken a word in class, so I didn't really say hello or anything. He didn't notice me at first...but he did eventually. He was actually quite surprised when he saw me sitting on the other side of the class, writing down pieces music, like he was."
"Why? Didn't he hear you come in?"
"No, Dusk," was my sister's soft reply, "because he can't hear, period."
"Dusk?" Grandma Aisha's mellow voice whisked into my ears and soothed me immediately.
"Hey, Gran," I smiled.
"Oh, hello, sweetheart," My grandmother's calm voice replied happily. I heard her thick Jamaican accent, which I sometimes found hard to understand, though enjoyed hearing. "It's so nice to hear from you again. We've missed you so much, Dusk. When are you coming home?"
"At Christmas," I replied automatically.
"Good," Grandma Aisha replied sweetly.
"So...Dad said that you wanted to speak with me."
"No," My grandmother answered simply.
"You didn't?"
"Nope. I just wanted to see whether you were alright, sweetheart. I didn't necessarily need to speak with you. But, it is nice to hear your voice again. You sound so well, Dusk, you sound healthy and different."
"Different?" I raised my eyebrow.
"Yes, very," My grandmother's words had a suspicious double-meaning.
"How?"
"I sense it within you."
"You can't even see me, Gran," I laughed.
"Just because I can't see you, Dusk, that doesn't mean I'm not with you in other ways."
"Grandma, you're scaring me," I replied with a roll of my eyes.
I knew I shouldn't have sounded so wary, I heard my grandmother speak like this all the time. She always thought very spiritually and sometimes she and Saffron, my mother, joked about the chance that Aria and I may have some Ancient African gift within us.
My mother was totally against black witchery and my grandmother was, too.
Though, sometimes her uses of different herbs and seeds left us thinking as to whether she had been exposed to some kind of magic when she was raised in Jamaica. Grandma Aisha was very attached to her roots and Ancient Africa is very heavily based around spiritual magic.
"Oh, I didn't mean to. I'm sorry," My grandmother answered worriedly.
"It's okay," I mumbled.
"Tell me what's wrong, Dusk," My grandmother whispered in a low, knowing tone. "I can sense the difference within you...and the troubled thoughts that are hanging above you."
I smiled, I loved how my grandmother didn't feel the need to see me so strong all the time. "Grandma, I've been meaning to ask. Can you do me a favour?"
"Of course, sweetheart," She replied expectantly.
Chapter Fourteen: Crossing Enemy Lines
Dusk Malveya's POV
19th of December
Yesterday, Grandma Aisha had gladly agreed to analyse the green stuff in my cereal bowl. She said to just bring a sample of it with me while I'm home for Christmas and she'll easily answer the suspicious substance, which I was wary of. She told me it was probably just some type of strange fungi, though she said she'd do it to put my mind to rest and I was grateful.
I had also talked to Aria yesterday before I talked to Grandma.
She told me about her new friend, Zachery Swan – a deaf student in her music class. She told me that it was his sixteenth birthday tomorrow and she had to go because she was leaving to buy his present. He was about four days older than Aria, she being sixteen on the twenty-forth of December. She had told me a lot about his family and his personality – he sounded like I very sweet young man, who cherished Aria's friendship.
I just hoped Aria wouldn't go off and break the young boy's, seemingly, fragile heart.
Lying on my bed, I stared up at the ceiling absentmindedly, blocking out all of the thoughts which usually roamed over my mind and also that nagging discomfort which returned from always sleeping on this bed. Sarah was watching TV with Ben and Kally, while Joanne cooked lunch. I hadn't seen Mr Black or Imogene in the house since yesterday and I was slightly relieved from that.
All I wanted to do was distance myself from Mr Black, yet I always found myself tangled up in this web of curiosity and arguments with him. I also wanted to erase the acquaintance I had with Imogene Brooklyn. I had realised that she was the person Sarah had portrayed her as all along. I didn't want to get involved with anymore of her act – I had been fooled enough!
As I thought, a hurried knock on my door made me jerk up from my bed and pull me out of my pondering thoughts. I was startled by the continuous knock and frowned, staring at the door. "Come in."
The door burst open and in scuttled a frantic Joanne with wide-eyes. "Dusk!" She blurted out breathlessly. "I think you need to come downstairs quickly."
"What? Why?" My frown deepened in concern.
"Mr Black came home a few minutes ago, while I was making lunch, he's talking to Imogene now. I was in the kitchen and I accidently heard a bit of their conversation. Imogene's trying to convince Mr Black to fire you!"
My eyes immediately widened and a sharp spark of fury ripped through my body. "What?" I demanded, scrambling to my feet.
"Hurry!" She squeaked, running out of my room in panic. I darted out of my room, bounding downstairs, pushing strands of my hair away from my frantic face. I followed Joanne down the hall, entering another part of the house, which I couldn't recognise. We quietly hurried along the squeaky, polished floorboards.
We neared two large, wooden, sliding doors and I heard two voices talking rather loudly. Joanne stopped a few feet away from the, slightly open, doors and pointed to them, looking back at me with worried eyes. I nodded, nearing the door where I heard the distant voices. Joanne seemed uncomfortable as she left my side, walking back down the hall, leaving me where I was.
I leaned in, concentrating on the two heated voices.
"You're starting to cross lines that I can't let go of, Imogene," Mr Black sighed angrily, though his voice hinted mental exhaustion. "You need to realise that you're not a part of this family...not enough to offend my heritage and expect me to let it go."
"Jacob," Imogene began worriedly. "You know how sorry I am. Those words just slipped out unintentionally. Honestly, if I knew what I was saying, I would've bit my tongue immediately."
"So, you would've bit your tongue, though thought those things anyway?" Mr Black mumbled gruffly.
"Of course not!" Imogene cried incredulously. "That's ridiculous. You know how much I respect and value the Native culture."
My hands balled into furious fists. Liar, my thoughts roared.
"Fine," Mr Black groaned in defeat. "So, what does Miss Malveya have to do with any of this?"
"Jacob, look at me," Imogene's tone suddenly changed, it became commanding and less frantic, as well as calm and levelled. "You know I only want the best for your family. And, at this present time, I think Dusk Malveya isn't the best person to be communicating with. I think she's just a bit too inexperienced to be handling a twelve-year-old. You heard what she said to Sarah – she convinced her that we were getting married, for crying out loud!"
Mr Black's voice became emotionless and off-guard, "What are you suggesting, Imogene?"
"I'm suggesting..." Imogene's voce became hopeful and persuasive. "That we, as a family, let her go for a while. Now, I'm not saying that we totally banish her from our lives; I know how much this family...cherishes her. Though, I think Dusk should remain mistrusted until we find some real background knowledge on her, you know?"
"You want me to fire her?"
Imogene manipulated her words perfectly, weaving them into webs of hidden deceit. "Of course not," Imogene laughed half-heartedly. "Dusk is a lovely young woman, with lots of intelligence...and spirit. I expect her to go far in life and I think we're probably holding her back from what she really whishes to do. Besides, I consider Sarah a part of me as much as Bridget is. I feel slack, not being there for her when someone else is. All I want to do is protect her and I feel, as a concerned friend of yours, that she's not getting the best guidance from Dusk."
Anger pulsed through my bloodstream like venom. I felt my eyes becoming as dark as ash and my hands fisting so tightly that my knuckles faded into white. Fury burned within me and I saw red. Sparks of reality tried to grab my attention but my anger was too strong. I glared at the ground furiously, feeling my heart race, desperately trying to keep my thoughts silent.
My rage had reached its limit and I had no idea where these new fiery emotions had arisen from.
"Maybe she is..." Mr Black begun absentmindedly, seeming so gullible and persuaded. Though, something in him changed and he gained control of his absentminded dimwittedness. "No, no, you're wrong. Dus-I mean, Miss Malveya has become a vital influence of Sarah's life and I can't suddenly rip her away from my daughter. Can you imagine how unstable that would be for her?"
"Jacob, I know, I know," Imogene sighed calmly. "But, can you imagine how unstable it will leave Sarah when she finds out the truth about Dusk?"
Mr Black tsked incredulously. "Imogene, be realistic."
"Jacob, look at me," Imogene commanded rather harshly. "I know what is best for Sarah and I know what reality Dusk Malveya is living in. She's headed onto a dangerous path."
It's not good to talk in third-person, Imogene, I thought bitterly.
"Really?" was the response I did not expect from Mr Black's mouth. I expected him to dismiss the whole ridiculous subject and continue on his case of keeping me in my position as nanny. I didn't know this man very much, though I knew him enough to guess that he was very stubborn and believed in plain black-and-white justice.
"Trust me, Jacob," Imogene whispered. "People like Dusk always start out with good intentions – we all do. But, I'm afraid, Dusk isn't as good an influence as you assume. And we don't want that effecting Sarah's future, do we?"
What is she talking about? My thoughts exclaimed.
"No, you're right," Mr Black announced in agreement.
"But, Jacob, don't fire her," Imogene warned quickly. "Just...lengthen her Christmas break a little, cut corners here and there, you know? We can't just swipe her completely from our lives, can we?"
"No, no, we can't," He agreed in a daze.
"That'll hurt Sarah too much, won't it?" She continued with a smooth and soothing voice.
"Yes, yes, it will," He agreed in the same light-headed tone.
"You're emotions have nothing to do with it, do they?" Imogene asked.
"No, no, they don't," Mr Black mumbled dreamily.
My emotions froze and my mouth fell open instantly. Every piece of rage or confusion or frustration had\vanished and I was only left with shock penetrating me.
"Oh, good, everything's back on track then," I heard her trill cheerfully. "Come, Jacob, let's give you a rest. You look rather exhausted," I head the soft rattle of a teacup as it was placed down on the table in his study. I heard him yawn right on cue. "Come on, honey, let's get you some rest."
I backed away quietly, making sure to tiptoe very silently. Though, my emotions were racing so fast, I was surprised I didn't sprint all the way down the hall and out the front door, where I could get away from this place. What was happening? Who was Imogene? What was she doing to Mr Black? How could he just obey everything she requested?
As I reached the end of the hall, I dropped my quiet tiptoeing and raced down the corridor to the left, which led into the kitchen, where I heard Joanne cooking busily. I ran as fast as my feet could carry me, not only needing to speak to Joanne, but needing to make sure that I wasn't alone with that crazy loon – Imogene.
I needed someone else's presence and I hadn't been happier when I saw Joanne casually humming to herself as she stirred some of her famous tomato stew. I burst into the kitchen, causing Jo to jump with wide-eyes and an agape expression. She placed her hand over her chest, closing her eyes, trying to steady her heartbeat. "Gosh, Dusk, you gave me a terrible fright," She breathed.
"She is insane!" I barely choked out, pointing out of kitchen and down the corridor.
Joanne's eyes flew open and she stared at me anxiously. Dropping the ladle into the huge stew pot, she approached me with an expectant expression. "Shhh," She hushed immediately. "We can't let her hear us," She grabbed my hand, ushering me out of the kitchen. We began to walk down the hall and up the stairs to my bedroom. "We'll talk about it upstairs, in your room."
Though, knowing Imogene was on the same floor as Sarah and Kally terrified me and I pulled away from Joanne's grip, hurrying into the living room. Joanne frowned as I walked into the living room, finding three pairs of confused eyes staring up at me. "Dusk, what's wrong?" Sarah asked first.
"Will you come upstairs with me?" I asked, gesturing for Kallista and Sarah to follow Joanne and me.
"Why?" Kally whined, looking back at the TV screen as she snuggled up next to Ben, who had his arm causally swung around her shoulders protectively. "We're watching SpongeBob."
"You can watch it in my room," I shook my head and pleaded, "Please, just come up with us; I don't like you being here alone."
"Why?" Sarah questioned. "We're at home and Ben's with us, if that makes any difference."
I looked at Ben who was staring at me with raised eyebrows.
I sighed. "I know...but-" I began frantically.
Though, a voice cut me off from the back of the room: "Oh, hey everyone." I spun around, meeting Imogene's gentle emerald eyed gaze. She had a bright smile plastered on her face and her figure stood perfectly straight and confident. Imogene held a white china teacup in her hand, one that I presumed had the leftovers of the soothing remedy.
"Hello, Miss Brooklyn," Joanne replied immediately, giving her a soft and respectful smile.
Imogene looked at me pointedly and her stare became cold and reserved. "Your employer told me to inform you that your Christmas holiday break will be lengthened, Miss Malveya," She announced superiorly. "You will be sent home on the twentieth of December-"
"Tomorrow?" I demanded incredulously, interrupting her in the process.
"You will return on the twenty-seventh," Imogene finished with agitated eyes, glaring at me harshly.
"What?" Sarah exclaimed, standing up from the couch and approaching me immediately. She put her arms around my waist, clinging to me stubbornly. "No, she was supposed to leave on the twenty-fourth!"
I put my arm around her shoulders, holding onto her protectively. I knew Sarah was only trying to make a point by hugging me. Though, for me, her safety was now my main priority and I wanted her by my side at all times in the presence of Imogene – I had lost all trust in this woman, if there were any in the first place.
"Miss Brooklyn, you can't let Mr Black send me home early. If I go home early, I would not have finished my full first term as nanny, which means I will be deprived of my pay-check. I must stay so I can receive it. The twenty-fourth is when my pay-check is due. If I don't stay, I won't be able to claim it."
"I'm sure we can deduct four days," She shrugged with a careless roll of her eyes.
"That's an infringement of the contract I signed with Mr Black," I continued with nervous emotions. "My money must come in full blocks. Otherwise, it won't be enough to pay..." I trailed off; I couldn't bring myself to say that it wouldn't be enough to cover my family's next lot of bills.
"You are leaving tomorrow, Miss Malveya," Imogene snapped, narrowing her eyes. "I'm sure you will be able to do without a couple hundred dollars for your beauty day at the spar and a pedicure at the hair salon."
The sting of her words hit harder than I expected and Sarah noticed the hurt which flew through my eyes. "If it's any of your business, Imogene, Dusk sends the money she earns to her family so they can pay for medical and educational bills. Medical bills such as cancer treatment for her dying grandfather! Dusk will be losing nearly two thousand dollars from not working those four nights!" Sarah defended and she was correct in her math.
"That's ridiculous!" Imogene laughed half-heartedly. "It's only about four hundred dollars."
"Dusk earns twenty dollars per hour and she's here twenty-four hours a day. Twenty times twenty-four is four-hundred-and-eighty. Four-hundred-and-eight times four is one-thousand-nine-hundred-and-twenty," She answered matter-of-factly. "$1920 is equivalent to $400 in your book, is it, Imogene?"
Imogene let out a frustrated sigh. "You shouldn't be having this conversation with me, Sarah. Your father made this decision, talk to him about it. Besides, he's the one who thinks this the best choice...for all of us."
"Why?" I growled.
Imogene wasn't thrown by my ripening temper. "That's also something you should be discussing with your employer," I glared into her bright green eyes, seeing nothing but the mask of innocence, which she wore so perfectly.
Joanne tried to ease the tension. "Well...thank-you, Miss Brooklyn. Miss Malveya will make sure to discuss all of these matters with Mr Black."
"Fine, I'll go," She announced and held up the teacup. "Joanne, take this please," Joanne took the cup from her hands immediately, fearfully grabbing Kally's hand and dragging her into the kitchen quickly. Ben frowned, following the two hurrying women. This left Sarah, Imogene and I alone in the room. "Goodbye," She farewelled, though she did not receive an answer, we only glared at each other. Imogene turned around swiftly, vanishing from the house.
As soon as Imogene left, Sarah groaned and said, "I'm talking to Dad about this," She declared with a scowl.
My mind was on a completely different path. "Where's the teacup she gave Joanne?"
"It's probably with Joanne," Sarah shrugged.
"Ok. Sarah?" I nodded and turned to Sarah, looking into her eyes, placing my hands on her shoulders. "Before you go on a huge raging, ranting spree...just make sure you let me do one thing, okay?" I asked with a tight smile.
Review if you hate Imogene and like the story. I hope its okay!