SAVANTS

The Chapture 50

I got into Wrickenridge High School at eight-thirty, flanked by Yves and Zed. It feels weird, I've only been gone for a few weeks, but it's been like months. 

As I expected, I drew a curious look full of guilt. I don't need to read their minds to know what they're thinking. I can kind of hear them say like "Here's the girl who took a nap. Cracks, we heard. It's crazy."

''That's not true, Sky, '' murmured Zed.  "Nobody thinks you're crazy. They understand that."

We walked to the office to report my return. Mr. Joe with a reflection jumped over the table to hug me.

"Little sky! You're back! We're all very worried!" He wiped the tears from his eyes and sniffed, partly sincere, partly enjoying the drama. "Are you sure you're ready for school?"

"Yes, Mr. Joe."

He looked at Zed with a judging look. "You're gonna make sure she's okay?" He said to Zed.

"Yes, sir," promised Zed.

"You have to do it." Mr. Joe gave me a card to take to my form room. "Now hang out with your friend's friend. You don't want to be late on the first day you get back."

And that's what's proven, everyone's bending backwards to help me adjust again. Even Sheena and her group of Vampires were kind to me as if I were like a piece of glass jewelry, I might be crushed if they said something cruel.

Surprisingly it makes me miss their stupid rabbit comments. I was left behind in all subjects, but instead of presenting this as a problem, the teachers arranged a 'pursuit' package for me and my classmates offered me to use their notes.

Tina's been photocopying hers. I realized that somewhere in my life I had been accepted as part of this school and they looked at me as one of them.

At lunch, I went with Zed to music practice. I didn't expect to do more than watch but Mr. Keneally didn't. He put me back on the piano.

"But the concert is next week!" My protest.

"You're right. Plenty of time to learn the part I chose for you."

"Sir Keneally expects me to perform alone?"

I looked around the room hoping for support from my friends, but no one would mind even Nelson grinning at Mr. Keneally's tactics.

"You expect not to come? Why learn a musical instrument if you don't want to be heard?" ask Mr. Keneally.

I didn't think he'd understand the pleasure I'd get in playing for myself, so I kept quiet about it. "I'm not sure I can do it."

"Omong empty. The best response to a hard blow like you're going through is to fight it."

I think I share that philosophy. "OKAY. I'll see the music first."

Mr. Keneally moved to the violin and said from behind his shoulder. "You'd better do more than just look. Your name is already on the program. I told Nelson to put your name back in after I heard you were coming to school this morning."

I surrendered.

°°°

Victor was relaxing in his car at the end of the school, waiting for us to get out. He has bad news but not entirely and unexpectedly for me.

"Maria Toscana—better known as Maria Toscana Kelly." He put a picture of Daniel Kelly's daughter on his laptop as we sat in the back seat of his car. "She was married to an Italian Prince but she dumped him two years ago and joined his father's kingdom. Lucky escape for him, I think." Continue her.

So my instincts are right. "They're trying to get me back through my parents."

"And through you to destroy us. The Kelly family's fight with the Benedict family grew longer since we took out two of their men in the barn. This may be the lead we're looking for."

Zed's arms encircle my waist. He was now sitting upright, wary of the dangerous situation that was about to take place.

"You can't use Sky and his parents in this sort of thing, Vick." Said Zed knowing his brother's plan.

Victor shut down the laptop. "We're banging our heads against a brick wall right now, only to search for the culprits we already know through Sky. The entire Kelly family should be behind bars, but we can't even hold them back because there's not enough hard evidence and Sky is our key to catching all of the Kelly Family."

"What do you think I can do?" I asked.

"I thought you could use a tracking device or a recorder when you met Maria Toscana Kelly."

"But Sky will fall into their trap!" zed protest. "Vick, Sky can't do this."

"Not if we know it in advance—then we can reverse it, catch them instead. Those people won't stop chasing us until we put them in jail. I think of Sky and also we—Sky one of us and remember her my sister too."

I played my school bag strap. I can help Benedict's family if I do this. If nothing could be done, they would never be able to breathe freely. 

At least that's what I can do because I'm getting more panicked about savant-smelling things and came to the conclusion that the best thing I can do — the safest — is to run. 

I had to tell Zed that I had no intention of being anything but his temporary girlfriend. Soon I will return to England and leave this savant world.

"But I can help."

He looks firm. "I'd rather know that you're safe and well even if it means the danger isn't gone for my family."

"What's the point of that? We'll all be in the Kelly— family threat one run by Daniel Kelly" I said.

"Oh my God, Sky, don't do this to me." Zed pressed his forehead against my forehead, his sadness reaching me in a black wave that pierced with a flash of silver lightning.

She cared so much and protected me so much, it was about time she allowed me to return the favor. I'm not the weak girl in distress as she thinks.

I have my own power, my own agenda. If I can't be the brave couple she needs, at least I want to make sure she and her family will never be hurt by people like the Kelly family again.

"No, I won't do it for you but I'll do it for all of us—and because it's the right thing. I don't want in my conscience that I don't do anything when I have a chance to make a difference. Who else would have caught Daniel Kelly's attention if I hadn't helped stop him?" I said convince Zed.

"The vick!" pinta Zed's. "You won't let anything happen to her."

Viktor nodded solemnly. "I promise. He's one of us, right? I won't let the bad guys catch him or us, so I won't let them touch Sky. And he won't enter without protection."

Zed is still unsure. In some ways he was like my parents, seeing me as too soft to face the threats in the world. I want to prove him wrong. I can handle this.

"What kind of protection?" I asked Viktor.

Zed doesn't have it. "Sky, quiet. You're not gonna do this. I've seen what people like them can doI'll never let you be fucked by it."

I hit his ribs hard. "You have no right to tell me to shut up, Zed Benedict. You act like I should be kept in a soft cotton pad. I've seen bad things too—you know I've seen them." My word.

"Not like that, it's different. I don't want them to hurt you." The answer.

"So it's okay for you to fill your head with thoughts like that, but not me?"

"Well that's how it is."

"Zed, we need it to catch the Kelly family" Victor added.

"But... "

"Make her shut up Victor," I snapped.

"Yes Mom." Answer Victor.

I looked at them both. "I've been wanting to tell you this for a long time. You need help, Zed, help with the problems your family is facing. I know it makes you angry and frustrated and you take it out on other people, like the teachers, because you can't reach people who do bad things …''

Zed tried to cut my word. "Wait a minute, Sky"

"No, wait a minute, I'm not done yet. I happen to know more about what they're going to do. And I know you're responsible and working more to catch the bad guys out there. You also need time to calm yourself down without the threat of Kelly haunting you. So to give you that, I'm going to Las Vegas to .. kick Daniel Kelly's ass."

"Good words, Sky," Victor clapped as Zed glared at me for what I said.

"Now, get back to business" I said quickly. ''What kind of protection do you have in mind?"

"We haven't finished talking to Sky" Zed growled.

"Yes, we're done. Victor, protection?"

Victor smiled at his sister. "Your soul mate has made up his mind, Zed. I'd give up if I were you. Sky, I will help you strengthen your shield. Last time, your shield was pretty weak. Bedroom walls, right?"

I'm nodding.

"This time will be Windsor Castle's thick, protective ring, okay?"

I smiled. "OK."

"And I have some ideas about what you can do with that shit, Sean, if he sniffs your emotions."

"Even better."

Victor patted my hand. "I like you, Sky. You're a fighter."

"Me, right? Hear that, Zed? No more comparisons of Bambi. I'm a grumpy Rottweiler."

"A very small Rottweiler!" zed said, still not convinced by my decision.