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  “This is lovely,” I proclaimed with happiness at being warm. She gave me a daring look that sent shivers down my spine. Chester placed one finger over his lips. I nodded in agreement.

  “I know we have a lot of explaining to do, and I’m sure you have a lot of questions. But is there any way we can postpone them until tomorrow? We’re very tired.”

  She nodded and didn’t say a word.

  I tried not to stare at her, but she was really beautiful even with the scar. Her fiery hair reached her waist in waves. She had fair, unfreckled skin and cool blue eyes. She was slender but not too skinny. She stood about Chester’s height, so a little taller than me, and looked to be around our age.

  “You can sleep in the back room,” she told Chester. “She’ll have to sleep on the sofa.” She never even looked at me. In fact, she tried to avoid me. I started feeling uncomfortable, and I realized that’s why Chester told me he wouldn’t have brought me here unless he had no other choice. She placed a blanket and pillow on the couch and disappeared down the hall, in what I assumed was her bedroom. Chester gave me a quick anxious glance then followed after her. Something’s up with them. What happened?

  I blew out all of the candles in the living room, and nestled into my new bed. I could hear the whipping of the wind outside. It took every bit of energy I had to warm back up. I watched the fire dance in its place. I couldn’t help listening intently trying to decipher what this girl and Chester were saying. What sort of relationship did they have? I tried to swallow the bit of jealousy that was welling up.

  “I’m sorry, but I couldn’t live like that anymore. Please try to move past it.” I heard Chester say. A door slammed. Silence. Something must have been romantic between them, which explains his being nervous and her hostility towards me. This realization only made me more uncomfortable.

  A wolf howl sent me jolting up on the couch. It sounded like it was right outside the window. Too afraid to look, I snuggled tighter into my covers and mentally glued my eyes shut.

  The night passed ferociously as I dreamt about the wolf in the woods and the love triangle I now found myself in.

  The clang of pots awoke me.

  I sat up and gazed into the adjoining kitchen. She stood there with two pots, one in each hand, and a grin on her face. She went to the fireplace and warmed something in a small saucer pan. Chester walked in, caught me rolling my eyes at her, and frowned.

  “I prepared a bath for you. It should be warm,” he whispered to me. I nodded and found my way to the steaming bathing room. It was so nice to be taking a warm bath again that I probably spent a lot more time in there than I should have. I brushed my hair with her brush, which felt strange and vengeful all at the same time. I left my hair loose, like hers. Each damp curl dangled sloppily down the middle of my back. I still cringed when I looked in the mirror at my naked, freckled face. Mascara could have done wonders. I finally gave up on looking beautiful and walked into the living room.

  Chester looked up at me but showed no emotion, which was a letdown for my spirits since I had tried to look pretty today. He got up and retrieved me some tea and sat back down. We both waited silently.

  “Rose, can I offer you any help?” he called out.

  “I don’t need your bloody help,” was her reply. My nose crinkled in frustration, which Chester noticed and frowned again.

  I wanted to ask him what her problem was, but I didn’t feel right about it. Besides, what if she heard me? The next time I might wake up to being beaten with a frying pan.

  “Breakfast is ready!” she hollered.

  We sat down and ate something that reminded me of my Mal-Mal’s whole cake. It was filling but had little taste. But better than I could make, all the same.

  “That was good. It reminded me of my grandma’s cooking,” I said, trying to make peace between us. She didn’t acknowledge I’d spoke.

  “This is not going to work!” Chester said and slammed his napkin in his plate and walked out of the room.

  Her eyes filled with tears. So this is what it feels like to watch a heart break. She gathered his plate and hers and piled them on the counter. I could see that she was fighting back the tears, and my heart hurt for her, even though she’d been a raving witch to me. I didn’t say anything. I didn’t know what to say. I finished my breakfast and stacked my plate with the others on the counter while she stood at the edge of the room sniffling.

  “What happened?” I asked quietly as I approached Chester in a wingback chair in the living room.

  “Come on. Let’s go for a walk.”

  We walked outside into the bright, crisp morning. The nightmares of the night before seemed distant and almost silly in the daylight. We were a little ways from the house on a barely used pathway.

  “Tell me what’s going on.”

  “Rose and I were a couple once. Not too long ago. I met her in the woods. She was fighting off a wolf, and I saved her. After that, we fell in love. Well, I fell in love with companionship, and she for me. It wasn’t long before I realized I didn’t actually love her, only the idea of being with someone else. I left her and built a house — the one you stayed in. I explained in a note that I couldn’t be with her anymore because I didn’t love her like she loved me. I never told her where I moved because I knew she’d come looking for me. I haven’t spoken to her again until now.”

  I sat there trying to understand why someone would be with someone else just because they were lonely.

  “Is that why you rescued me? Because you just wanted companionship?” The thought of this broke my heart. I wanted so badly to start a new life here in Mezzanine and had hoped it would somehow involve Chester.

  “No! It’s not the same at all, Rowena. You have to believe me,” his voice pleaded. He took my hands into his, brought them to his lips, and kissed them. “I couldn’t stop thinking about you when you left. I have been hesitant to tell you this before because I thought it presumptuous. I’m not usually like this, I swear. I have never met anyone who could occupy my thoughts as completely as you.” His eyes became wild and energized. My heart raced with anxiety and longing. He pulled me closer until our lips finally collided with passion. I wrapped my arms around him until we were as close as nature would allow us. I felt faint and elated so much that I reluctantly had to take a break.

  We looked at one another, both flushed. His eyes focused back on my lips, and we embraced again.

  Kissing him was wonderful and different. I’d known every part of Dashielle, every fiber of who he was. I barely knew Chester, and though I felt like this should deter me from feeling so strongly for him, I couldn’t help but be intrigued by who he was. He had saved me and something drew me to him. Our hearts were magnetized.

  “We need to head back,” he whispered, trying to catch his breath. I wiped my lips with my fingertips and stared at him. I was crippled by my actions. I wanted those kisses so badly, but now I felt even more like I betrayed Dashielle, whom once held my entire heart. Now my emotions were compartmentalized like my life. It felt strange yet inevitable.

  “We shouldn’t act overly-friendly in front of Rose. She’s hurting, and the last thing I want to do is cause her more pain. You understand, right?” he questioned. I nodded in agreement.

  We headed back to the cottage. When we walked in, I heard Rose’s quiet sniffles from the back of the house. I found my way to the couch. Chester gave me a quick glance, went back to her room, and knocked.

  “What do you want?” she cried.

  “May we go for a walk?”

  There was no answer, but I heard movement in her room. She opened the door quietly and followed him to the front of the house. The redness on her face matched the flush in mine, only from different sources. I slightly pressed both my hands on my cheeks, which was my feeble attempt to hide my sin against her. They both walked out of the house in silence.

  Quickly my insecurities surfaced jealousy and ill thoughts. How was I to really know that they weren’t out there doing the sam
e thing he and I were five minutes ago? Nevertheless, I suppressed it. If Chester wanted to be with her, then he would have been all these years. Instead of dwelling on useless thoughts, I warmed myself in front of the fire then went to the bathing room to primp my now dry ringlets. I pulled the comb out of my pocket, pulled the hair back from my face, and secured it. My pink cheeks still gleamed with passion. I rubbed my lips together, pulling the color out of them. I closed my eyes and replayed our kisses. The memories of Dashielle and I’s first kiss intermingled with my new first kiss, and it crippled my senses. I opened my eyes and faced myself in the mirror. I am now in Mezzanine. Even though I kept telling myself that, there was always a sense of someone else dwelling in my body — my old self. Her memories jumbled with mine.

  I went back in the living room and tried to wait patiently. I even caught myself twiddling my thumbs, a habit that I no doubt inherited in rebellion to what my grandma always said, “If you sit around twiddling your thumbs, the only thing you’ll ever get accomplished is reworking yesterday. Well, yesterday is gone and tomorrow isn’t promised, so do whatcha gotta do today.” She was right, of course, but there was something so nice about introspection and thinking about what was and what could be.

  I heard a woman’s laughter as they both came inside.

  “You know, I think we’re going to do just fine,” Rose said to Chester with a smile on her face. She looked much more pleasant with a smile than the callus demeanor she’d been wearing. Hearing their congenial exchange sent another jolt of jealousy throughout me.

  “I think so too.” He grinned. He gave me a quick wink, when she wasn’t looking, and proceeded to sit in the adjoining chair.

  “So what’s for lunch blokes? Anything in particular piquing your interests?” She was… bubbly. I silently wondered if Chester was a royal himself, being able to produce that kind of magic.

  “I’d like some carrot cake, I think,” he said. “You’ve always made the best carrot cake, and perhaps you’d like some help from Rowena.”

  “I’m not much of a cook.”

  “Not to worry. I’m the best cook around, and I have a few tricks up my sleeve that I might not mind sharing,” Rose said with a laugh.

  I, reluctantly, agreed. Within minutes I was mixing Mezzanine’s version of cream cheese frosting and feeling completely awkward at being in the same room as Rose. Her hands worked fiercely to prepare the cake of Chester’s choice. She attempted small talk.

  “So where ya’ from?” she attempted small talk.

  I hesitated. I didn’t know if I should tell her the truth, being as it was so dangerous to be from another world.

  “I just escaped the Tresels’ castle. I was a servant there. I took care of their daughters.” I decided that would be an adequate answer.

  “Oh, so that’s why the two of you needed a hideout, eh? Well, I’m sure you’re glad to be gone from there.”

  “Yes. It was detestable.”

  “What did you do before the lock down? Were you married?” she asked curiously.

  “I’ve never been married.”

  “Most folks our age were married. Mezz, even I was.” She snickered.

  “You were? Where is he now?” My curiosity got the best of me, but instantly I regretted the intrusion.

  “He was an old bastard, stuck in the ways of the old world. He decided shortly after the time-out that he’d side with the dark royals and try to find a way to open up the portals and restore magic to its rightful place in Terra. I, on the other hand, wanted to just live here in the quiet. I didn’t want any part of magic. There’s no good use in it; I’m telling you.”

  She stirred the batter furiously with her pale hands. The beams of sunlight that broke through the kitchen windowpanes highlighted her beautiful hair.

  “So he left?” I asked.

  “Yeah, he left. He would sometimes trail in looking for a good time, but it’s been ages since he’s done that. There’s no telling what he’s up to. He’s probably been turned into the jackass he really was by now.” She laughed.

  The thought of this young (seemingly young) girl being married to a much older man that came home for “a good time” made me realize how much I really did not fit into this world. I am inexperienced, really. Dashielle and I had kissed and maybe approached second base, but that was it. Even the time my mom freaked about us being in the room together, we were only “lightly” making out by most teenagers’ terms. We wanted to, but how can anyone really feel comfortable taking such risks at our age? With the rising number of diseases and knowing several girls in school who had been knocked up, there was no way I felt ready to take that leap. Not to mention that there was something romantic and charming about two people who waited to proclaim their love ceremonially before physically. Besides, we both knew that the fun is really in the waiting, not the conquering. What if Chester and she had… you know…Question noted.

  After completing the cake, she began preparing sandwiches for lunch. We sat and talked around the fire after eating. Chester and Rose were in unusually high spirits. He sat next to me. The mere proximity of his lips was torture. I followed them with my eyes every time he spoke. I mentally outlined them. Finally, Rose excused herself. He put his warm hand on my knee and gave it a light squeeze. We both smiled at one another but thought it best if that was all we did. There’s no telling how badly the situation could turn if Rose walked in on us kissing. He hurriedly removed his hand when she started to return.

  “So, Rowena, do you have parents here?” she asked.

  “Umm… no. I don’t have anyone here.”

  “Well, we do have something in common, eh?” She smiled. I shrugged and smiled in reply. “How did the two of you meet?” I saw Rose’s happiness fading at the realization that Chester wasn’t into her anymore.

  “We met in the woods one night. I was lost, and Chester offered me a place to stay until I could find my way back,” I said. She sent Chester a sharp look but broke it with a false smile.

  “It was the next day Hans and Greta kidnapped her and took her to Tresels’ castle to become yet another of their slaves,” Chester said.

  “You never did tell me where you were from?” Rose questioned. It was obvious that something aroused her suspicions.

  “Cassel,” I blurted without thinking. It was the only place I could think of, the place that Madeline had told me she was from.

  She was silent for a moment. “I’m not familiar much with Cassel.”

  “Not many people are,” I forced a laugh and shrugged it off like it wasn’t important.

  “Oh, but I do know Jenny Babble. Do you know her? I’m sure you do. She’s the town’s gossip. Everyone knows Jenny.”

  “Oh, yes, of course,” I mumbled.

  A moment passed, and she pursed her lips.

  “There’s no such person! I knew you were lying! What aren’t you telling me?” she screamed. I pushed myself back in my seat, frightened by her outburst.

  “That’s enough!” Chester yelled and stood between her and me. “No more questions for tonight!”

  She sank back into her chair and glared at the fire. “I’m sorry,” she finally said. “I just want to know what I’m getting into harboring the two of you.”

  “I’ve escaped from the Tresels’ castle,” I reminded her.

  “And that’s all?”

  “And that’s all,” Chester added.

  Later, we had a quiet supper and ate cake, but the day’s sweetness had most certainly passed.

  Chapter 10

  Dashielle

  The phone rang. It was the most dreaded sound in my universe since Halloween, especially when the caller ID said “Rowena’s mom.”

  “Hello?” I answered with hesitance.

  “Hi, Dashielle. How have you been?”

  “Fine, I guess.”

  “How’s the job going? Are you still loving it?” she asked supportively.

  “I’d love it more if Rowena were here.”

  “I know�
��” her voice trailed, “Listen, are you free tonight for supper? We’d like to have you over. I know it would do you good to get a home cooked meal.”

  “Sure. I’ll be there.”

  I wanted nothing more than to decline her offer, but I didn’t feel right about it. They’d lost their daughter, and even though I couldn’t understand how it could be more painful than losing your girlfriend, I’ve been told numerous times that it was. All I really wanted was go to work and go home. School was getting difficult too. I couldn’t focus like I used to. Life was without meaning without someone to share it with.

  Even work was hard at times. All I thought about when I first got the job was how much Rowena would be happy for me, how she had suffered through my rants about my dreams as a radio personality. Ironically, her loss helped create the radio personality/real personality of the new me — Grim. On the show, I interviewed people who have had experiences with the afterlife, with ghosts, with exorcisms, and so on. If it’s something spooky, I covered it. Life took on this whole new fearful aspect. The realization of how easily things could change made me want to avoid loss by also avoiding gain. I hadn’t dated since she disappeared. Every beautiful woman made me think of her. Her features, her personality, her laugh, and her body were what I really wanted.

  She consumed me. I constantly replayed what happened that night and the following days. She simply disappeared, without a trace. There hadn’t been any witnesses, suspects, or solid theories. Everyone assumed she ran away, except me. I knew she wouldn’t do that.

  As I left work and got in my car to drive home, something bizarre happened. My lips burned a little, just for a moment. Then they burned again. I flipped the never-before-used visor mirror down to look at them. They weren’t red, chapped, or anything. Bizarre. I couldn’t help but think about Rowena and fantasize kissing her again. Her lips were full of warmth, and nothing turned me on more. I pushed the thoughts out of my mind, and proceeded to park my car in the parking lot of my cheap apartment. I threw my keys down on a small desk, which served as the dining, computer, and bill area. I sat on the slouchy leather couch in the middle of the room. The trash reeked from the kitchen, but I didn’t care. All I could think about was getting tonight over with and lounging on the couch before ten.