The Marradith Ryder Series: The Art of Shadows, Part 55
Marradith adjusted her sunglasses.
It was a little past two in the afternoon, and traffic had slowed to a crawl.
They were waiting for an accident further up the freeway to get cleared. Marradith suppressed a sigh. She was aware of David beside her. There was plenty of space in their SUV, but she fidgeted in her seat, feeling like she couldn’t get enough air.
He’d said very little since she snapped at him on the plane. Not that she regretted putting her foot down–that had to be done. He needed to understand his place with her.
She smiled to herself. When she first met Justin, there were some things that he would instinctively know not to question her about– including the trustworthiness of her close friends and family.
David cleared his throat. “Your husband knew your family before he met you. He wouldn’t have questions to ask. It’s my job to ask. I am sorry if I offended you.”
Marradith stared at him for a moment before replying. “I thought you weren’t going to read me.”
“Easier said,” David smiled. He turned to glance at her.
“If I actually talk to you, will that keep you from roaming around my head?” she snapped. She took off her shades and shoved them into the glove compartment.
“Maybe. I can’t make promises. It’s very difficult with other Lamia. It’s new with you right now. We’ll both learn to have better barriers with each other over time. I think.”
“How is that? You’ll just get bored?”
“I doubt that,” he replied. “More like we’ll get used to being around each other.”
“Well, since you know all about my family,” Marradith said, ” Why don’t you tell me about yours? In the interest of being open and fair about things.”
“I have three sisters. My older sister is only a year apart from me. The two younger girls are twelve and nine.”
“Parents?”
“Well, our Dad died eight years ago. But we still have our Mom, and she’s an awesome woman.”
“I’m sorry,” Marradith said. As she spoke, she saw a flash of David’s memory.
The boy stood, staring out of a kitchen window. He could see two figures down in the field. One of them was his Father. As he watched, time seemed to slow down. A breeze blew through the withered, golden grass. Slowly, his father turned, and saw the man behind him. He wore a coat and a hat that shaded his eyes. But even from such a distance, the boy saw his Father’s body tense. Recognition. He knew who the man was, and he was frightened.
The boy screamed when he saw the gun.
David’s father fell as the gunshot thundered through the air.
“You saw your Father killed?” Marradith asked.
“Yes. Oh, that’s another thing. You’ll find it works both ways, reading a person’s mind. For something - traumatic- it’s hard to keep that quiet. We’re all Lamia in my family,” David continued, “both our parents were, and they raised us Sojourner. My mother and my younger sisters live in a Sojourner compound in New England, and my oldest sister moved to Australia.”
“That was a big move for her. She’s Sojourner as well?”
“Yes. Few people know about it, but there is a compound outside Sidney. They are still bringing their group of Others together.”
“Does anyone know who killed your Father?” Marradith asked. David stared at her. She saw flecks of green and gray in his hazel eyes. His pupils shrank to pinpricks.
“There are theories, but no one knows for sure. He’s never been caught.”
“I’m sorry, David. I can’t imagine…”
“It’s okay,” he interrupted.
“Did you ever think about being anything else?” she asked. “Other than being part of the Fold?”
“I was like all the other boys. I wanted to be a policeman or a fireman,” he said. “But once my Father died, I knew what I was going to do with my life.”
For revenge, Marradith thought. For his father’s honor.
“Yes,” he answered aloud. “For both.”
“That’s something I can understand,” Marradith said softly. “It’s what I’d want, too.”
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© 2011 Lori Titus
