Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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Chapter One: BLUE SAID RED

I sketched a nice 8 on the ice and skated to a halt by his side of the booth.

“Don’t start that again Gary.” I panted. “I’m already in college and I’d really like to stick to that. Skating is just something I like doing, y’know.”

“I know. Anyway, I’d better be going home now.” He suddenly became a little hesitant. “Aoife – Nancy called. A while ago. I think you should head back home too.”

“I will.” I tried to sound casual. But Gary had known me long enough to get the meanings behind my various I wills. This particular one meant that our conversation was over.

“Alright. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He sighed. Then with a light peck on my cheek, he left the ice rink, his big burly bear physique making him stand out among slender teen skaters. I watched him leave. He was more than a trainer to me. He was one of the few people Daddy had left behind whom I could trust.

It was seven in the evening and closing time for the ice rink enclosure. The scanty crowd of skaters began to pour outward until it was just me and my large vacant disc of ice. I didn’t step on it though it beckoned. Instead I went over to my duffle bag and dug out my lonely cell. I rarely used it to call and it was reduced to mostly a device that received missed calls – from friends I hardly spent time with anymore, from social contacts who forever wanted fresh gossip. And from Nancy.

I frowned at my dark mobile and then flicked it on. The screen lit up. We’d talked at dinner briefly the previous night and after that I hadn’t seen or heard from her though I had turned my cell off only couple of hours earlier. But I didn’t want to aggravate her further. There were reasons I had to make sure I didn’t drive Nancy to the point where she’d make life more hellish for me.

I’d just placed the phone on the bench when it vibrated and fell off. I picked it up and made a face at the name on the screen. Nancy! I took the call.

“Hel –”

“Hello Nancy,” I said. “How was your day?”

“I want you home in five minutes, Eva! How long would we have to wait to for you to sail in so we can serve dinner?”

“Nancy, please.” I almost pleaded, swallowing the sting of my name – that Daddy had given me – being distorted every time we talked. “This is the third banquet this week. Can’t I skip this one?”

“No,” she said flatly. “This is the most important one I’m holding and it's triply important since I lost that contract with Hannity Steels. All thanks to you, of course!”

“He tried to feel me up, Nancy!” I raised my voice a little, still hoping to not lose my calm.

“Oh, you’re always overreacting!” She spat. “It was just harmless flirtation.”

“Yeah?” The venom in my thoughts finally oozed out through my speech. “One more harmless incident like that and you know what’ll happen next.”

“I don’t want to waste time arguing with you. I can’t believe a girl like you, born and bred in such exquisite culture could be so narrow-minded.” She snorted. “You better be home in five minutes or else!”

My blood boiled. “Or else what? I hate your parties and I’m not coming home!”

“Throwing a tantrum won’t gain you anything.” Her icy tone sent chills down my spine. “It’s bad enough I have to worry about you driving alone at odd hours. I’ve decided to put an end to that. From tomorrow, Henry will drive you wherever you wish to go.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” My heart skipped a beat. “I don’t want Henry driving my car. I do it just fine.”

“Not anymore,” she said. “I’ve told Henry to get the Merck ready for you tomorrow morning. He’ll drive you to wherever you want. I can’t have you cruising about recklessly in that unsafe vehicle of yours.”

“It’s a Corvette, not a piece of unsafe junk!” I screamed. “And Daddy bought it for me! Besides, I’d rather ride the bus than have that old goon of yours tagging along. You just want to keep tabs on me is all!”

“Well, the bus is your choice, sweetheart,” she replied calmly. A hint of laughter in the tone, was it? “Please hurry back. We’re all waiting for you.”

“To do what?” I fumed. “May I suggest you buy a mannequin and pass it off as me?

I’m sure the lack of life and brains in that would suit you and your guests perfectly!”

“That’s not fair, Eva,” she crooned. “These are all your father’s friends. They love you.”

“No Nancy,” I said curtly. “It’s you who loves to have me as a trinket to keep reminding those nitwits that nothing has changed with Alistair Edward's death!” Nancy didn’t reply. The disconnected line did.

I flung the cell back in the bag but it bounced off something and fell to the floor. I didn’t pick it up.

Vicious images swirled in my head as I recounted the extent of evil Nancy was capable of. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. When I opened my eyes again, my gaze met my only friend – the rink.

I returned to the ice. A new song was picking up and I swayed to its various beats.

The ice worked with me as my skates traced a complex path across its glassy surface.

The ice was my friend. The moment the sharp steels touched it, I soared and it would twirl and swirl with me. I flew. I could reach the stars while still firmly rooted to the ground and as almost everyone who had ever seen me skate had told me, when I skated I looked beautiful.

I felt beautiful too. I’m ready to go

Release my wings

And I will shine

I’m gon-na FLAAAAAAA-A-A-AYE!!

So HAAAAA-A-A-AYE!!

With my toes on the floor but my head in the sky I’m gonna FLY!

The song broke into a crescendo.

I jumped. Went for a double axel and nailed it. Then again and nailed that one, too. I was starting to get breathless but I wasn’t done yet. The night was quite young and Nancy's guests would still be arriving at the house. I couldn’t go home just yet. So I spun. Starting with a sit spin, blossoming into a layback and then a camel with my leg and arms stretched out as I spun like a top. Spinning so fast my mind seemed to be sitting outside of my body and telling me I’d melt with all the heat I generated in that ice beneath my feet.

I slowed down and finished off with a clean two foot spin. I had run out of breath and I scrambled back to the edge of the rink for a few quick gulps of oxygen. I’d be back out in a few minutes. I wasn’t going home. Not tonight.

“That was awesome!” An echoing voice startled me. “The ice seems to cradle you wherever you spin!”

That was odd. I thought I was alone after Gary had left. I looked around for the speaker and found him sitting in the spectator stand not far away from me. Awkward looking fellow truth to tell. I couldn’t see his face. All that was visible was his tall frame covered in a big black coat with a sunhat. A sunhat in December? And at night? Wonder when he came in? I wasn’t easily scared so I didn't worry too much. Although his choice of compliments wasn’t very formal, I noticed his lilt wasn’t unpleasant.

“Thanks.” I smiled, still trying hard to catch my breath. All that jumping and spinning usually didn’t bother me but sometimes I pushed myself too hard.

“That’s a beautiful tattoo you got there on your thigh.” His comment was frank but again – not unpleasant.

“It’s not a tattoo,” I said.

“A birthmark then?” Something in his voice invited me to tell him more.

“Unusual sort isn’t it?” I laughed. “My Dad told me everyone at the hospital raved about the baby with a red crescent on her thigh!”

“I wouldn’t blame them.” He chuckled, got up and sauntered to the edge of the rink to join me. “Hi. I’m Azure.”

“You’re blue!” I heard myself say. And he was. He had a perfectly toned, smooth and glowing face the color of a blue tang – you know – Dori from Nemo? Without the yellow tail and fins.

“No, it’s Azure, and yeah that means blue so in a way I am blue!” He chuckled again. “And it’s not face paint by the way.”

“You mean you’re actually blue? How cool is that!” Oh, sure. But I wasn’t in the mood to argue so I let it go.

“Shouldn’t you be home? It’s late.” He tilted his head. “Your mom might be worried.”

His sudden concern threw me off. Warning bells left a sour taste in my mouth and before he could decipher my frown, I’d already decided how I felt about him. He wasn’t to be trusted. Face paint or not, he was one of Nancy's goons sent to drag me back to the house to the despicable gathering there. Drag me back so that she could charm the world with her awful display of fake affection for me.

I frowned deeper and turned away from him. But now I didn't want to skate either. I wasn’t in the mood anymore. Perhaps it was time to pack up and – sigh – go home.

“You win.” I shot him a cold look. “Tell her I’m coming. And don't even think about driving me there. I have a car and I know my way home.”

“Her who? Tell who you’re coming?” He did a good puzzled expression.

“Your mistress, the lady of the house, of course!”

“Oh no, there’s no Mistress.” He spoke quickly. “Only the Master – and we don't want him to know you’re coming because – uhm – you know he may not understand.” “Huh?” I stared at him.

“Oh – here.” He reached into his pocket and dug out a small piece of something.

“This will get you to him.” He thrust it into my hand. “You certainly can’t drive to Volttus!”

“What are you talking about? What is this?” I looked at the object I now held in my palm. It was a necklace with a rectangular pendant the size of a mini Kitkat. It was white, pearly.

“This is the Red Pearl," he said. “It can take you anywhere you wish, in a flash! But that will only last for one night – tonight. I’m not a master of spells you see.” He smiled sheepishly.

“The red…pearl…?” I stared at the white bar.

Obviously the man was delusional. Delusional! I figured he must be one of those eccentric junkies living under the bridge not far away from the rink. Maybe looking for a shelter in the cold night. But what about the trinket? It looked expensive. Was he paying me to let him stay indoors? I should tell him there was no need –

“And tonight,” he continued, ignoring my silence. “You need to go to Demon’s room and when you do you need to – he’ll – he may not be so nice so – uhm – pluck a strand of his hair.”

“Strand of a demon’s hair?” Yeah okay he was high, with great storytelling skills too.

It wouldn’t be awful to play along and listen for a bit.

“Yes, it’s very important. It’ll make you immune to his charm.” He blinked.

“Of course,” I said. “Go to the demon’s room and pluck a strand of his hair – anything else?”

“No, that’s it.” His azure face lit up with his smile.

“Oh and I can’t take this.” I tried to give him back his odd trinket. “There’s no need to pay me for anything. You can stay here for free, this is my rink. I let the public use it.” Kind of a memorial to Daddy, but I wasn’t going to tell him that.

“But this is for you.” He knotted his brows, stressing each word. “You must get to

Demon tonight! You need this to get to Volttus!”

No sense in arguing with him. Maybe I’ll talk to him in the morning. If he was still there.

“Okay then I better get going.” I pocketed the – uh – pearl. “And – listen, you can stay here for as long as you wish. Umm – there’s a kitchenette upstairs. The refrigerator is stacked, okay? Take anything you want. It’s on me.”

He smiled but didn't say anything. Then, he did the oddest, most amazing trick I’d ever seen anyone do in my entire life! He jumped onto the rink and somersaulted all the way over to the exit on the other side. But he didn't exit through that door. Instead he climbed up the wall and squeezed out through the half open window – like Spiderman – or an actual spider because I could’ve sworn there were more than four limbs involved! ****