Chapter 5

Can I tell you a story

As we dance while the sun starts to bleed

Song of songs love is calling

Daughter wake up from your sleep

~Treasure by Flyleaf~

~*/*\*~

Dani sat on the stone bench, playing with a rubber band in her hands. Her lips were pressed into a thin line and her eyes focused intently on stretching and twisting the object she held. Glancing up only for a moment at the clock tower that was just visible over the trees, she sighed loudly.

She would have to return to the house in a few more minutes. Standing and shooting the rubber band at a stone pillar that was a short distance away from her, Dani growled in frustration.

"He didn't come - again." The girl bent at the waist to retrieve her shoulder bag and made her way toward the bridge. She visited the park for five weeks after meeting the stranger who had taken her copy of Macbeth. Dani knew it would have been a long-shot that he would be sitting there waiting, or that he would stumble across her waiting for him.

Dani ignored her surroundings as she made her way back to her relatives' house. She didn't stop at the dark bookshop to press a hand print against the clean surface of the large window. Her pace never slowed as she walked the gravel road that wound its way through the neighborhood. She kicked at the pebbles with her black and white sneaker covered feet.

Lifting her head once she reached the blue-painted door of the old house, she reached out a hand to turn the knob. Stepping into the comfortable warmth, she called out, "I'm back!"

When the sounds that matched up with Jessica and her friends didn't greet her, but those that were related to her younger cousins - Dani realized that Veronica and the boys were home. Early.

I'm dead. She thought miserably as she shrugged out of her jean jacket.

Eddie came walking out of the living room, the sound of Peter's video games blaring loudly from within. "Where were you?" he asked.

"I always swing by the park when it's just me and Jessica." Dani answered. "I like the fresh air."

"You could have waited until I got back and then we both could have gone." Eddie folded his arms over his chest and frowned. His navy blue T-shirt with a brown bear was wrinkled from rough housing - no doubt trying to get his brother to play with him and failing in the attempt.

"Didn't know you would be back so early." Dani offered in way of apology, her eyes darting toward the doorway that led to the kitchen. Veronica wasn't stalking toward her yet. "Why - are you guys back early?"

The boy shrugged. "Dunno. Mom picked me up from practice - and we weren't over yet!"

"Sorry to hear that." Dani wrapped an arm around his shoulder and made for the kitchen. She knew that Veronica was going to be mad. Might as well get the ordeal of a scolding or punishment over with now rather than wait until her aunt sought her out.

"When's your game? I was planning on coming to it." The pair walked into the kitchen, and, to Dani's surprise, discovered that it was empty. No Veronica sitting at the kitchen table with a glare reserved just for her 'delinquent' niece.

"Next Friday!" Eddie announced as he plopped into one of the chairs. "We're playing the school just down the street. My friend Jeremy goes there and he says their team isn't nearly as good as ours. So we might win!"

"I bet you will." Dani set her backpack on the table and her jacket on the back of one of the chairs before heading to the fridge. She pulled out a carton of milk then went to one of the cupboards to retrieve two neon-orange plastic cups.

Veronica swept into the kitchen just as Dani set a filled cup to Eddie. A scowl marred her features when she saw the pair. "You didn't ask if you could have milk."

"I'm sorry. Were you planning on using it for dinner?" Dani asked politely. She knew that if she gave Veronica a reason to get even madder, then the consequences would be much worse. "I'll go down to the store and pick up another carton if you were."

Waving a hand in dismissal, Veronica brushed past Dani. "Get out of my way. Don't take those cups into the living room."

Stunned that she was not in trouble, Dani returned the milk to the fridge and sat down slowly. Eyeing her aunt as if she were an animal that would lash out at any given second, the teenage girl cautiously sipped her milk. Eddie glanced warily from one person to the other, sensing the tension between them.

Veronica banged around the kitchen, pulling pots and pans out in order to make dinner. She mumbled under her breath and ignored the pair as much as possible. Eventually she turned to look at them with a frown. Crossing her arms over her chest she demanded, "Well? Haven't you finished your milk yet? Hurry up and get out of the kitchen!"

Eddie tilted his head back as far as he could and thumped the empty cup down on the table. Wiping his arm over his milk mustache, he hopped up and set the cup in the sink. Dani watched as he darted back out of the kitchen without another word. She continued sipping at her milk.

Veronica huffed in irritation. "You too, Dani. Hurry up and get out. Don't you have homework?"

"I finished it." Dani answered truthfully. The pair stared at each other, trying to assess the thoughts of the other. Dani finally stood and settled her empty cup in the sink beside Eddie's. She walked out and headed for the stairs. Eddie was no doubt cowering in his room. Climbing the stairs two at a time, Dani went in search of her cousin.

~*/*\*~

Jason came home the same time he always came home and Veronica shouted for everyone to come to the kitchen table for dinner at exactly 6:00. Everyone shuffled into the kitchen silently. For whatever reason, the tension from before was continuing, and no one dared to say anything to Veronica - or Jessica for that matter.

Jessica cast angry glances at Dani then glanced worriedly at her mother. Dani tried to ignore her cousin and tried to enjoy her dinner as best as she could. She hoped that whatever was going through Jessica's mind wasn't going to interrupt dinner.

The blonde teenager turned to her dad and in a cautious voice asked, "Dad?"

"Hmm?" he responded.

"Would it be all right to - um - go to a friend's party next week?"

"Jessica!" Veronica's back stiffened and she frowned angrily at her daughter. "I already told you that you couldn't go!"

"But, Mom!" Jessica whined in a pleading voice. "If I don't go to Jackie's party then I'll be the outcast of the century! Everyone who's anyone is going to be there!"

"And there will be other parties, Jessica." Veronica scowled as she stabbed at a piece of broccoli.

Jason looked between the two women with a look of pained discomfort. "Now, Veronica, maybe she could go to this party for a little while -"

"Jason Pruit!" Veronica nearly shrieked, "Do you even know what your daughter did this afternoon? Do you know why she is not allowed to go to any parties? Or why she can't use her cell phone for a month? Or why she can't have friends over for two months? Or why I am seriously thinking of demanding she break up with that boyfriend of hers?"

"Mom, please." Jessica pleaded, casting desperate eyes at her father for help.

"I'm sure you'll tell me." he mumbled, casting his gaze back to his plate of food.

Slamming her fork down on the table, Veronica did not heed the other members of the table wince. Eddie clutched at Dani's hand beneath the table. She squeezed his hand to comfort him.

Her aunt continued, pointing an accusatory finger at Jessica. "I come home to find your daughter had invited a friend over."

"What's the harm in having one friend over?" Jason shrugged, pushing his food around on his plate.

"Her boyfriend? While no one else is in the house? Really, Jason." Veronica's pitch rose with each sentence. "And can you guess what they were doing? Just guess!"

Jason glanced at his tomato-red-faced daughter. His eyebrows dipped in concern and he opened his mouth to speak.

"That's right!" Veronica confirmed before he could get a sound out. "I found them in her room. It's a good thing I came home early and found her before her brothers did! And before it went too far."

"Nothing happened." Jessica mumbled, trying to look as small and insignificant as possible.

"Because someone walked in, right?" Veronica snapped. "And this is the second time I've come home to find that boy in your room! Two times too many, Jessica!"

Jason sighed miserably. "Why is it your daughter is taking after you in so many ways?"

"What was that?" Veronica demanded shrilly.

Dani's eyes widened and she tried not to cut off the circulation to Eddie's hand. This conversation would not and should not be taking place. She had to move the conversation away from that topic - even if that meant getting herself in trouble.

"It's my fault they were left here alone," Dani blurted.

All eyes were on her in an instant. Eddie looked shocked and horrified that she had spoken. Jason and Peter looked confused. Jessica looked dumbfounded. Veronica looked like she was ready to kill anyone who spoke.

"What?" her aunt ground out between clenched teeth.

Swallowing around the lump that had risen in her throat, Dani repeated, "It's my fault Jessica and Drew were here alone. I - left the house when he got here."

Jumping on the chance to get off the hook, Jessica threw in, "Yeah! Dani's always leaving the house when it's just the two of us!" Smiling cruelly at the dark-haired girl, she said, "Dani comes back just before Mom and the boys get home so she won't get caught. She threatened me if I told. Said she'd tell Mom that I invited my friends over while no one was home." Glancing at both her parents in turn, Jessica quickly added, "Which I didn't! Mason being over here was - the only time I've done that."

Veronica growled, "Dani -"

"Now hold on, Veronica!" Jason intervened quickly. "Maybe Dani has a reason for why she leaves after school." Turning to look at his niece he asked, "Right, Dani? Did you know Drew was at the house?"

"Y-yes." Dani admitted, releasing Eddie's hand so she could twist the fabric of her black shirt. Looking down at her hands, she trained her eyes on the pink, blue, yellow, green, and purple balloons that were printed on her shirt. "I knew he was at the house before I left. I left because - well - because Jessica wanted the room -"

"That's not true!" the blonde exclaimed.

"Let your cousin finish." Jason ordered.

Dani did not look up. "I didn't want to listen to her conversation and I needed to get some homework done." She tried to hide the smirk that wanted to emerge on her face. Eddie would know she was lying. He knew she did all her homework at school. She never had homework to bring home.

"The room isn't big enough for the two of us. With anyone else - it's just too small," Dani explained. "So whenever Jessica does have company, I go to the park."

"I thought you said you hadn't had anyone over at the house without our permission, Jessica." Jason quirked an eyebrow as he turned to look at his daughter.

"I - I don't! I haven't!" The blonde stuttered. "She's lying!"

Veronica rolled her eyes as she said, "Jason, are you really going to believe -"

"Yes," Jason stated bluntly. His usually laid-back attitude was replaced by a steely and unkind glint as he glared across the table at his wife. "If your daughter is anything like you, Veronica, I'd think she'd say just about anything to cover her tracks."

"I thought those other times she had permission," Dani interjected, drawing everyone's attention back on her. "I didn't know they weren't supposed to be here."

"How many young men have you had over at our house, Jessica?" Jason groaned, covering his face with his hand and resting his elbow on the table.

Dani and Jessica both hurried to say, "No, she had her friends over." "It was only Amy, LeAnn, and Becky!"

Peering at his daughter between his fingers, Jason spoke in an even voice, "Well, I suppose that admission proves that she was lying, Veronica."

Jessica went pale, realizing she had admitted to having friends over and lying about it to her parents. Leveling a glare at her cousin, Jessica said, "But Dani has been sneaking out! At least I've been staying home!"

"She has a point, Jason," Veronica agreed irritably.

Leaning back in his chair, he glared back at his wife. "Well, as far as I can see, Dani has just been trying to find some room in a house that has no room and has made no room for her."

"You promised that any dealings where Dani is concerned -"

Jason lifted his hands to show he relented. "I'm just saying, Veronica."

"Why not put her in the attic?" Jessica grumbled.

Dani perked up at the suggestion. She remembered climbing through the attic during one of her family's customary visits to her aunt's house. One of those days when she couldn't get Jessica to play with her and Peter was too young. Eddie hadn't been born yet.

The attic was actually the turret of the old Victorian style house. Stuffed with boxes of junk and old furniture. Christmas decorations littered the corners and the beams. Baby clothes and toys that belonged to Dani's mom and aunt were up there because Grandma and Grandpa had been placed in a nursing home back then and had no place to store things.

If the stuff up there could be moved out - or even to just one side of the attic - then Dani could have a space all to herself.

"Why not?" She asked.

Jason and Veronica, who had been discussing Jessica's punishment, looked at her with confusion or irritation. "Why not, what?" Veronica droned.

"Why not let me stay in the attic?"

Jason shook his head. "Jessica didn't mean it. Maybe we could figure something else out."

Dani smiled sympathetically. "I think the easiest and cheapest thing would to just put me in the attic."

"But what about all of our things we store up there?" Veronica inquired, appalled that Jason was even entertaining the idea.

"You could just push it all to one side," Dani suggested, "Heck, I'd do all the work for you!"

Veronica glared at her niece. "Dani, no swearing at the table."

"Sorry."

Jason sat back in his chair and thought it over. "Well - maybe we could move it out of the attic."

"Jason!" Veronica protested.

"Well think about it, Veronica!" Jason retorted, "We have that space above the garage that we could store things in. Not to mention the shed in the backyard. Half of that stuff in the attic we probably don't need any more. Besides, your parents said we could sell whatever we don't want or need. I bet having all that stuff is a fire hazard.

"Why not let Dani sort through the stuff, have a garage sale, and some of the proceeds go to new furniture and clothes or whatever else she needs." Jason shrugged. "Lord knows she needs some new clothes."

"And I could even use some of the furniture that's up there to save money," Dani offered. "Please? This way I'm not running off to the park when I need space or peace and quiet. Jessica and I won't be fighting as much 'cause we'd have our own room."

Jason chuckled. "She has a good point, Veronica."

Sighing loudly, the woman waved her hand in dismissal. "Fine! But she has to check with me about what goes in the sale pile. You two can move things. I don't want any part in this."

"Thank you!" Dani grinned.

"But," Veronica interjected, "consider that your punishment for sneaking out. Cleaning out the attic, dusting it, etc. You may not go to the park and no TV for a month!"

Jessica smirked at her cousin. "Ha, ha."

"Don't think you're off the hook, young lady," Jason warned. "Like your mother said. No cell phone, no friends, and definitely no boyfriend."

"But, Dad!"

Dani drowned out the rest of the arguing and whining. She ate the rest of her meal happily. She didn't care about the lack of television. She rarely watched it with her relatives anyway. Dani sighed in contentment. She was going to have her own room. Her own space!

~*/*\*~

Dani spread cherry jam over her toast, stuck the knife back into the jar, and took a large bite out of the slice of bread. She looked down at Eddie as he giggled. Certain that she had crumbs dusting her upper lip, she smirked at him and swallowed her meager breakfast. Dani ignored the crumbs and took another bite out of her toast.

Eddie reached for the jam and knife. Scooping out some of the gooey preserves, he dropped a glop of jam onto his toast. Dani tried not to laugh at his attempts to spread the mass across his bread.

Finally rubbing the crumbs free of her mouth, she asked, "Ready to help me brave the unknown?"

"Yup!" The boy declared, spraying crumbs out of his mouth.

"Eddie, eat with your mouth closed." Veronica scolded as she swept into the kitchen. The blue-eyed boy swallowed and picked up his cup of milk to wash down the remnants.

Dani watched her aunt in curiosity. Veronica's hair was straight and sleek, as if she had borrowed Jessica's hair straightener again. Makeup was applied almost a bit too heavily. Nails painted. Veronica wore tight fitting jeans and a sleeveless shirt that dipped far too low than a mother should wear - in Dani's opinion. Perfume sat heavily on the air as Veronica moved about the room. Dani wanted to gag.

"Going somewhere?" Dani inquired cautiously.

"Not that it's any of your business," Veronica snapped, "yes. I'm going out with some friends that are visiting this weekend. Jason is out golfing. Peter is at a friend's house."

"Is Jessica in charge?" Eddie looked up at Dani with a look of worry.

"Isn't your sister always in charge when I'm gone?" his mother mumbled as she dug through her purse. "Do your chores. Behave. Listen to your sister. Frozen pizzas are in the freezer. I'll be back at seven." She waved before rushing out of the kitchen.

The listened to her four inch heels click-clack against the wooden floors. Dani rolled her eyes as she heard Veronica shout up the stairs at Jessica. "No friends, cell phone, or boyfriend! If I hear one word about people being at our house -"

"All right, Mom! Jeez!"

"Bye, everyone!" Veronica called before the front door slammed shut.

Dani and Eddie looked at each other and sighed in unison. Eddie giggled and Dani smiled at his amusement. "Some Saturday this is going to be, huh?" she asked.

"You bet!" Eddie agreed, talking with his mouth full again.

"Well! Once we finish breakfast, let the expedition begin," Dani announced as she took another bite of her toast.

~*/*\*~

Dani and Eddie stood at the door to the attic. That was all they did. Stand and stare at the white door. The teenager shifted from one foot to the other and tightened her grip on the bucket of cleaning supplies she held.

Eddie peered up at her then looked at the door. "We going up?"

Focusing her mismatched eyes on the boy, she took a deep breath and let it out. "Yeah." Dani reached for the brass doorknob and turned it slowly. The hinges squealed in protest as the door was pulled open.

A gust of hot air met them as they stared at the dirty steps that led up into the dark attic. Dani set down her supplies and stepped forward. The unsanded wood felt rough and harsh beneath her bare feet. She listed off the need for a welcome mat or small rug. Stretching out her hand, Dani located the light switch and flicked it up.

One, uncovered light bulb flickered on from its position on the wall halfway up the stairs. Dani pursed her lips in thought. Maybe a light fixture could be placed around the bulb. Maybe a clean light bulb. The stairs looked worse in the light. Carpeting them would have been nice but most likely out of her budget. Possibly stair treads would be the best option.

Looking over her shoulder at the boy behind her, she smiled. "Maybe some shoes wouldn't hurt." Eddie nodded and set down the broom he had carried up to the second floor. He hurried down the hall to his bedroom while Dani did the same.

Jessica lay on her stomach, painting her nails. When Dani came in, the blonde groaned and rolled her eyes. "When are you moving to the attic, Cinderella?"

"As soon as I get some shoes on, Ugly Stepsister," Dani replied as she sat on her mattress on the floor.

"I can't wait 'til you're out of my room," the blonde teenager grumbled.

"The feeling is mutual." Dani stood and walked out of the room.

Eddie was standing and waiting for her at the base of the attic stairs. He saluted smartly, a grin on his face. "Ready to brave the abyss, captain!"

Grabbing up her bucket, Dani pointed up the stairs. "This is one small step for man, one giant leap for the sanity of all involved!"

The pair laughed as they raced each other up the narrow staircase. Dani slowed, letting Eddie pass her on the stairs. He threw open the door at the top and disappeared into the dark attic. Following behind him, she stepped off the top stair and onto the floorboard of the attic. Dani looked around in awed silence.

There was clutter reaching to the slanted ceilings and walls couldn't be seen behind boxes and furniture. A small one-man path had been left between some boxes - Christmas decorations no doubt - for easy access. Windows couldn't be seen either, although Dani was sure there were some.

Eddie spotted a dangling light switch. Standing on his toes, he reached for the metal chord and tugged. A dim glow bathed that section in light, revealing cobwebs and dust.

"Well," Dani sighed as she set down her bucket, "looks like we'll need to clear some stuff out first." She rolled up the sleeves of her lavender button-up shirt that was too small and didn't cover a thin strip of skin between the shirt and pant's hem.

"Where are we going to put the boxes?" Eddie asked as he propped the broom against the wall of the stairwell.

Dani scratched her head in thought, looking at the overwhelming task before her. Her uncle had cleared some space out of the shed already for any new items. The space above the garage needed to be sorted through too. Jason had said he would do that Sunday sometime. Nothing could be left in the hallway as per Veronica's orders.

Shrugging, Dani said, "Until your dad can move stuff into the garage, we'll put as much as possible in the shed." She stepped around Eddie and slid the box off of the pile that was closest to her. Eddie tested a couple boxes until he found one that wouldn't be too heavy for him. The pair trekked down the stairs of the attic.

~*/*\*~

Movie boxes from the attic to the shed and garage took up several of Dani's weekends. For the most part, she and Eddie worked together on carrying boxes and furniture out of the attic. Jason helped with the heavier or more awkward pieces and he also cleared out space in the shed or garage space for them.

Veronica disappeared on the afternoons that Dani worked. No one ever mentioned it to her. Jessica holed up in her room and complained about the noise, dust, and sweaty smelling clothes and people. Peter stayed out of the way by watching TV or playing a video game.

The boxes of stuff that the family didn't want any more ended up in a pile on the garage floor. Furniture rested beside it. The only thing now that these objects needed was to be sorted through. Dani would decide what she would sell, keep, or toss - after her aunt's approval of course.

Dani had finished sweeping, scrubbing, dusting, and doing some general cleaning in the attic. The nice thing about the attic was that there wasn't any insulation that she would need to clear out or cover up. Jason had warned her that she might need a fan for the hot summers and a heater for the winter. Luckily for Dani, both items had been stashed away beneath the junk.

Now was the time for her to go through those boxes that had been set aside. Having dragged a couple of old blankets out to the garage, Dani laid them out and sat down cross-legged beside the first box. Written on the box in black marker was the title 'Grandma's Fabric'. Pulling a pair of scissors out of her jean pants pocket, Dani cut through the old tape that held the box shut and began rifling through the contents.

Eddie exited the house in a hurry. His sneaker-covered feet thumped loudly on the porch as he descended the stairs and ran toward the garage. He skidded on the concrete floor before plopping down on the opposite side of the box that Dani was looking through.

"I managed to give Jessica the slip!" Eddie beamed proudly. "She thought she could make me do all the cleaning in the kitchen. Boy! I sure tricked her!"

Dani smirked. Every day she was at her relatives' house, Eddie seemed to be a bit more like Dani than his own immediate family members. "Yeah?" she queried, "How'd you do that?"

"Well, she said that since I was a big kid now - why'd she have to say that? It's not like I haven't been a 'big kid' since like - I was four! Duh!"

Dani chuckled at the commentary.

"Anyway," Eddie continued in an excited manner, "she said I could clean the kitchen all by myself! Can you believe her?"

"Nope." Dani frowned as she thought about this. Jessica had always been a domineering bitch when Veronica was out, but, ever since Jason and Veronica had forbidden Jessica from seeing Drew Mason, Jessica had been vicious to everyone. Dani knew that, although Jason and Veronica ordered their daughter to break up with Drew, Jessica still hung out with him at school. Why hadn't she tattled? Simple. Dani didn't want to rock the boat. Let Jessica's stupidity catch up with her again.

Tuning back into Eddie's story, Dani glanced at him with a smile. He waved his hands energetically as he spoke. "So I told her that Mom had said that she was supposed to do the kitchen while I put away the dry dishes in the shelves that I could reach. 'Cause of - well on the account that I dropped a couple of dishes the last time I tried to help you."

"Yeah." Dani winced. She remembered that night. Veronica had blamed Dani for breaking the cups, but, when Eddie had tried correcting his mom, Veronica berated Dani for allowing Eddie to do something he couldn't do in the first place.

"But Jessica said she didn't care!" Eddie's blue eyes widened to amazing proportions. "But she stayed in the kitchen to make sure I did everything. So guess what I did." A sly grin spread across his face and Dani couldn't help but laugh.

"What did you do?"

Cupping his hands over his mouth and leaning forward to whisper into his cousin's ear, he said, "I pretended like I was going to drop Mom's favorite plate!"

Dani leaned back and tossed her head back as she laughed aloud. She could just picture the horrified expression on Jessica's face!

"So she told me to go and she'd finish up. It was awesome!" Eddie leaned back on his hands, satisfaction easing the tension that Dani knew he held.

"That is awesome, Eddie," Dani agreed. She blew her bangs out of her eyes and reached for the marker that had rolled away. Writing in big black letters, she marked the box as 'For Sale'.

Leaning forward again, Eddie asked, "What are you doing?"

"Looking for stuff to sell," she replied before pushing the fabric box aside. Dani slid another box over to her side. She wondered how much she should charge for the fabric. Her eyes scanned this box for a label.

"Are ya gonna keep anything?" Eddie flipped a box's flap up so he could look into it.

Dani nodded and motioned toward a pile that had a few items already waiting to be moved back to the attic. "Yeah, you can look at the stuff if you'd like." She focused on her task as the boy stood and shuffled over to the stuff. She already knew what was over there.

Dani had found an old vanity desk with drawers that belonged to her Great-grandma Julie. The mirror was a bit tarnished, but you could still see a reflection. A dresser with wooden knobs stood beside the vanity. The colors clashed. Dani loved that though. The vanity was a light wood while the dresser was a light green that had paled from sitting in the sunlight that came in from one of the attic windows. A folding screen was leaning against the dresser. Large pink roses on a dark, green background had some holes and tears, but Dani couldn't pass up the vintage looking piece. On top of the dresser rested a lava lamp, its blue liquid catching the sunlight as it came through the open garage door. Standing beside the lava lamp was a white birdcage. There was also an armchair. The upholstery was a light brown with faded red flowers stitched into the cushions. A box of faded record sleeves sat in the chair. Some records were classical, others a bit more from her parents' generation. Several small rugs were rolled up and scattered among the pile. An old cuckoo clock was nestled in a box of yellowing newspapers.

"Wow!" Eddie peered into the lava lamp. "Does it still work?"

"Haven't tested it yet," she admitted. Dani pulled out some stuff from the box she was looking at and tossed them on the blanket designated as the trash pile. Finished with separating items, she wrote on the box 'For Sale' before moving it out of her way.

Eddie moved to another box that was resting among the 'Keep' pile. Curious, he searched over the box for a label since the tape had been unbroken. "'Sarah's Stuff'. Dani, who's Sarah?"

The teenager looked up from the ancient looking vacuum cleaner she held. With a shrug she bowed her head back over the machinery. "I dunno. Uncle Jason said it might have belonged to the previous owners of the house."

"Why'd they leave it?" Eddie asked as he tried to figure out was in the heavy box.

"I don't know."

"Have you opened it yet?"

Dani shook her head before trying to stuff the vacuum back into the box that had been holding it. "Nope."

Eddie drummed his hands on the box as he thought. "Then how do you know you want to keep anything in it?"

"I figured it wasn't right to sell something that doesn't belong to us," Dani grunted as she tried kicking the metal vacuum into the cardboard box. "I'll figure out what to do with it later." Lifting her hands in defeat, she said, "I'll just leave it like that. Maybe whoever buys this piece of crap will have better luck in getting it back into the box!"

Eddie giggled. "You said 'crap'."

"Just don't repeat that in front of your mom." Dani smiled wryly. "Here, give me that box. It's got a bunch of glass bottles in them."

~*/*\*~

Dani trudged wearily up the stairs to the attic. Once the attic had been cleared of all boxes and cleaned enough that someone could eat off the floor, Jessica had insisted that Dani's mattress be moved up to the attic. Dani hadn't complained in the least.

The only downside was that she had to live out of a suitcase again.

Reaching the top of the stairs, the teenager huffed and shifted the box in her arms so she had a better hold on it. Dani stumbled over to her mattress and set the box down on the floor before collapsing onto her bed. Glancing over at the bed frame that was awaiting assembly, she smiled. It was white and would be low to the ground, but it was a bed! Dani didn't think she'd ever be so happy for a real bed.

Dani returned her attention to the mysterious box that Eddie had reminded her of earlier. She stared at it now, trying to remember why she had felt like she needed to keep it. "I bet it was my owl that convinced me." Glancing out the triangular window on the opposite end of the attic, she smirked. "Hmmm. Still light out. He probably wouldn't even be there right now."

She bit her lip as she looked at the box again. All over the box was written 'Sarah's Stuff' or 'Sarah's Treasures' or 'Sarah's Keep Out!' Dani reached for the scissors that were sticking out of her back pocket. Tapping the blade against the box, she asked, "To open or not to open? That is the question." Opening the scissors and running the sharp edge across the tape she said, "I'll risk it."

The cardboard flaps popped up in an inviting way. Dani set the scissors aside and pushed the flaps out of her way and looked into the box. Slowly, she reached in and pulled out a teddy bear. A smile graced her lips. "I don't know why - but for some reason I want to call you Lancelot."

Dani set the bear down on the mattress and reached for another plush toy. A cat with green eyes. "Gawain," she declared, setting it with Lancelot. A bird, "Geraint," Dani nodded to him as she spoke the name. Another cat, "Gareth." A panda, "Gaheris." A ceramic deer missing a leg, "Bedivere." A white bear, "Galahad." A giraffe, "Kay." A white puppy that had a red ring around his left eye, "Bors." A horse, "Lamorak." A duck, "Tristan." A red bear holding a heart, "Percivale." The last stuffed animal was a green dragon, which Dani named, "King Arthur."

Looking at the pile of animals she laughed quietly. "Well. Looks like the round table is all assembled."

Dani returned to the box. A squirrel - or dog thing - that looked like a pirate was squished between some books. "Hmm. And who are you, noble sir?" She smiled at the one-eyed toy before putting him aside too. Looking at the books with interest, Dani gasped at the vintage looking copies of Wizard of Oz and Snow White. Next, she pulled out two rolled up posters. Unrolling them one at a time, she found that one was a poster for the musical Cats while the other was a copy of M.C. Escher's drawing of a room of stairs.

She set those aside too and continued looking in the box. A wooden box that had walls like a maze rested in the bottom. A doll standing in a pink pavilion lay in the space between the maze and the cardboard box's wall. When Dani picked it up, music chimed sweetly from the base. "Nifty," she said as she turned it upside down to find the key.

After a few turns, a tune began playing. Dani set the musical toy aside and hummed along absentmindedly. She lifted the maze out of the box and turned it so she could look at it from different angles. White knobs on either end of the box allowed the player to tilt the maze to make a metal ball roll along and avoid the holes.

Dani was about to place the maze back into the box but spotted one last book at the very bottom. "What's this?" she reached for the small red book and flipped it around so she could see the title. The front cover had black roses etched around a pin-stripe thin border. At the cover's top, in gold letters, was the title The Labyrinth. Flipping the book open, Dani started reading the playbook.

Without even realizing it, all sounds other than the music box began drowning out. Dani's eyebrows dipped down in concentration as she read the narrator's words telling of two kingdoms. One ruled by mortals and the other ruled by Faes. Unconsciously, Dani began reading the words aloud.

". . . and the king of the mortal realm died, leaving his daughter and infant son as the sole heirs to the throne. The prince's mother took control of the throne for the time before her son was eligible to take the throne. But the princess, kind hearted and wise beyond her years, resented her stepmother's control and designs for the throne. She sought the aid of the creatures of the Fae kingdom, but she did not realize that her dealings would cost a terrible price.

"Please," Dani's voice changed as she slipped into the princess' character. The change wasn't great. It was still her voice but it was kinder, not as harsh as the tone she used when dealing with her relatives. This was the voice she used when telling stories to Eddie. A voice that resembled her mother's. "Please," she pleaded some unseen person, "the queen has taken the throne. My people and kingdom grow weak. An alliance is all I ask. I must take the throne to save my kingdom.

"Of course." Her voice changed again to a deeper, British lilt. "I and my people will do what you ask. All that we can do to help you, my lady."

Returning to the narrator's voice, Dani said, "What the princess did not know was that she had made a deal with the Goblin King, a Fae that ruled a section of the Fae kingdom. He was cunning and conniving. He could twist any plan to his advantage. And he did not like mortals. He sought to control them. With permission from the princess to enter the mortal kingdom, which any Fae needs to enter the dwelling of a mortal, the Goblin King and his henchmen stole quietly into the castle."

An evil smirk played across Dani's features. The Goblin King's voice caressed her lips as she spoke, "Quietly. Softly. We must not wake the child. Foolish princess. Wise and beautiful she may be, but not clever enough to outsmart me." Laughing, Dani turned the page.

"What is this? What has happened?" A panicked voice that sounded almost like Veronica's merged with Dani's voice. "My son! My son is gone!" A gasp and Dani began choking. "Goblin - King!

"The queen was dead. The prince, kidnapped," the narrator stated solemnly. "The kingdom mourned the loss and all looked to the princess for comfort and guidance."

Dani blinked rapidly, her eyes moist with tears. "I - I never wanted this to happen. My - my stepmother - dead! My brother - gone." Gritting her teeth angrily, she snapped loudly, "Goblin King! Show yourself! I will have the child back!

"Who are you, mortal, to command anything of me?" Dani's version of the Goblin King's voice hissed darkly. "You asked for my aid. I gave it. The obstacles between you and the throne are gone. You are the queen as you wished.

"I did not want the throne like this!" Dani as the princess protested, "I did not want it through bloodshed! I am not the rightful heir. My brother - the child - return him to me!"

She opened her mouth to speak again but a shout interrupted her. "Dani! What is all that noise?"

Jerking, Dani gasped for air. Looking around in bewilderment, she tried to remember what had just happened. Her mismatched gaze fell on the white-ball-gown-dressed doll in the pavilion. The music had stopped. Dani could hear the birds sitting on the tall oak tree outside the triangle-shaped window. The sounds of someone's lawn mower revving to life drifted, muffled, through the glass.

"Dani!" Veronica's shouted up the stairs.

"Just reading!" Dani shouted in reply.

"Well keep it down!" her aunt snapped.

Dani sighed irritably, closing the book in her hands with a snap. Startled by the sound, she looked down at the little red book. Running her hands down the smooth cover. A smile tugged at her lips. "That was - intense." She set the book aside and began piling the other objects back into the box one at a time save the musical doll and the red book.

Propping her pillow up against the wall, Dani scooted back until she was leaning against them. Flipping the play open to the right page, she said, "I don't see why this Sarah would have left this behind." Eyes scanning over the words, she found her place. Reading in silence for a few lines, Dani lost herself in the story once more. Once more, she unconsciously spoke the words spoken by the Goblin King.

"If you want the child so badly, you must pass my tests, dear princess. Enter if you think you are wise enough, brave enough, and powerful enough. I doubt you can make it. None have bested me. None have bested my Labyrinth.

Squaring her shoulders, Dani spoke as confidently as the princess must have felt, "It is a challenge I must accept. Goblin King, I accept."

In her mind, Dani heard the familiar chuckle that she associated with both the owl and man from the park. Be careful what you say, lonely girl. What's said is said. Even only spoken without thought.

Looking up from the book she held, Dani whispered, "Is that a challenge?"

And if it is?

Closing the book and setting it down, Dani stood and walked to the staircase. Pausing, she smirked and said, "Then I accept."