The Marradith Ryder Series, Part 55
“I need to speak with you,” Fiona whispered.
“Okay,” Will said.
He followed her out of the chaos of the party goers and back past the kitchen.
When no one was looking she pulled him into the pantry.
“ Fi. What are you doing?”
“Look. I’m going to say this just once. Stay away from Daria.”
“What?” he grinned.
“You heard me. She’s a vampire.”
“I know.”
Fiona had seen Daria as the night went on, the way she looked at Will. And it wasn’t going to end well.
“Why do you care is what I’d like to know.”
“You’re not thinking with your brain.”
“You did not answer my question.”
She would not meet his eyes. “It’s never just about sex with them,” she said. “She’ll drain you.”
“Are you jealous?”
“I am trying to help you out here.”
“Fiona….” he paused, taking in a breath. The space was small and he was feeling claustrophobic. “I am not going to run behind a married woman who can’t be bothered until somebody else looks my way.”
“I don’t expect to be chased,” she spat. “But certainly you can find someone else other than her? Anyone?”
“You don’t have rights where I am concerned.”
“Like I want them,” she said in a mocking tone.
He took one step forward. “Are you sure you don’t?”
In the small space, they were almost touching. His breath felt hot on her face. “Come on, Fi. Tell me you don’t.”
She pushed past him and slammed the door behind her.
The lock snapped into place.
*****
“Excuse me,” Marradith said.
She eased herself into the door of Rafael’s office. Justin turned and smiled at her with relief.
“I’m sorry Rafael, but I need to steal Justin for a little bit, if you don’t mind. I’m told we’re supposed to have a dance, and I haven’t seen him all night.”
“Of course,” he grinned.
Justin felt his stomach turn. You fake son of a ….
“I think Fiona is asking for you,” Marradith added quickly.
Rafael got up then and headed for the dining room.
“Your timing is impeccable,” Justin whispered. “You had the feeling something was up?”
“Uh huh,” she said. “Just how close were you to strangling him?”
He grinned. “Pretty close.”
**********************
Fiona passed Daria in the hallway.
“Have you seen Will?” Daria asked.
Fiona blinked, pulling at her dress. “No, I haven’t,” she said, and walked away with her chin in the air.
*********************
Danny sat at the top of the stairs, watching as Marradith and Justin had their first dance.
Even from his perch, he could see she was a little nervous. Justin whispered something in her ear, and she smiled.
Danny wasn’t supposed to be up, but he’d been watching the partygoers all night. Soon everyone else was back on the floor, and his sister was just one in all of the bodies circling below.
“I used to like dancing,” a voice said behind him.
He looked up. Caroline was sitting on the step above him. “Hello, Daniel,” she said.
“How come nobody ever sees you but me?”
“I’ll let you in on a little secret. You’re not the only one. A few people have seen me.”
“Who?”
“Fiona saw me, twice. Once on the night your great grandpa died. And once again in the house, when you were in the room with all the pictures on the wall. I moved very fast and she wasn’t sure of what she saw. Justin saw me one night. It was late and he was up working. For a moment he thought I was Marradith.”
“Okay, so they saw you. But I’m pretty sure you’re only talking to me. Why is that?”
“I haven’t decided when I will show myself to them. Or to which one. I don’t know exactly….why I’m still here.”
“What do you mean?”
“I thought I was here for Leighton. But he’s gone, and I’m still here.”
“Well, how do you find something like that out? Is it something you just know?”
“I have been trying to figure that out.”
Danny looked down at the crowd. “I wish I could help you, Gran,” he said.
When he looked up again, she was gone.
*************************
As it got later, and the crowd of partygoers began to thin, Marradith went outside. She caught Justin’s eye and he followed her.
There was an old swing set just past the garden. She took her heels off and sat down.
“I wonder who these belonged to,” Justin said.
“Leighton had these made for his sons. When they were small he played with them out here.”
“Sons?”
“My grandpa, and my great uncle. I saw it in his memories.”
The memories that she took before she killed Leighton. Marradith hadn’t spoken his name since that night. Justin didn’t comment, waiting to see if she was in the mood to talk about it more.
Apparently, she wasn’t. She dipped her bare feet into the sand and leaned back.
“Are you ready to go home?” he asked. “I mean, I know we’re home, but to our house.”
They had chosen the largest of the guest houses on the far edge of the property.
“Yes, I’m ready.”
“Let me say just a couple more goodbyes,” he replied, “and then we can go.”
“Okay.”
He kissed her and went back into the main house.
Marradith sighed and leaned forward, deciding to try the swing out for good measure after all. Just as her body arced backwards, she felt something stop her.
She saw his brown hands on either side of the chains.
She jumped off the swing and turned around.
“Hey, Dee Dee,” Scott said.
©2009 Lori Titus
Green Water Lullaby, Lori’s collection of short stories, is available for pre-order: http://www.sonar4publications.com/green.html
Tune in to my radio interview on December 18th here:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theadirondackbookhouse
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December 17th, 2009 at 9:30 am
Hey, Lori. You write some awesome dialogue.
I was thinking…now that you’ve reached part 55 of your masterpiece, it may be a good thing to offer a storyline recap of past events for new readers and/or readers who need a refresher on the multitude of wonderfully complex characters you’ve created. Maybe one week include a sort of Marradith Ryder Series bestiary.
Just a thought I had. Either way, your flash always rocks.
December 18th, 2009 at 1:18 am
Thanks Angel! And that’s an excellent idea.
June 16th, 2010 at 5:38 pm
Well that is a mood kill, crazy brother is back what does he want.