Watch Me Burn: The December People, Book Two (14 page)

Amanda gnawed on her lip. “I’ve thought about that. I don’t know, maybe if we weren’t dark wizards. I can’t think of an appropriate curse that wouldn’t be borderline abusive. Even if I could think of something humane, we could make a mistake.”

“You’re right. Nevermind.”

Amanda pressed the laptop closed again. “At least you’re sparing some thought worrying about Emmy. You’re spending way too much time and energy worrying about other people’s kids.”

“Are you implying that I’m not worried about my own?”

Amanda chewed her lip again. “Have you been paying attention to Xavier?”

“Yes.”

“You don’t think there is anything strange about him?”

David chuckled dryly. “I don’t know how to answer that question, Amanda. He drank raw eggs for breakfast the other morning. He wore the same shirt for three days and didn’t even notice until I said something. He’s almost sixteen and doesn’t care about learning to drive. Yes, he’s strange. But considering what he’s been through, I’m impressed that he’s as normal as he is.”

“I’m just…I’m worried that he might be dead.”

“What?” David might have laughed if it hadn’t been so sick. “That’s a ghoulish thing to say about my son.”

“I’m serious.”

“Oh, you’re serious,” he said sarcastically. “Well, since hopefully we can both agree that he’s walking around and talking like a living person, what type of undead creature do you think he is? Is this more of a zombie or a vampire situation?”

“I mean that his soul could be dead, not his body.”

“Oh, that’s better.”

“Honey, I’m only saying this because I’m worried about him. I care about him. I don’t want it to get worse. Souls can die. We know this. That’s one of the most important dangers of dark magic. Especially magic that kills.”

“He has never killed anyone. What happened to his mother was an accident.”

“Still, causing death is dangerous for the soul. But that may not be the cause. He’s good at hiding from pain. He may have gotten lost behind the veil. Or perhaps his stepfather destroyed him, with dark magic, or otherwise.”

“I’m done with this conversation.”

“You know I’m right. If you didn’t, you wouldn’t be so defensive. I’m just trying to help your son.
My
stepson. Ignoring it won’t make it go away.”

“I don’t understand what you want me to do,” he said. “Who do I call about this? The pediatrician? Or is missing soul more of a problem for the psychiatrist?”

“I don’t know.”

“Well, then leave it alone.”

“I’m not saying I think it’s too late for him. But I’m worried. The psychiatrist calls it dissociation. But he’s a wizard, so it could be more than that. If he wanted to stop existing, maybe he could—if he wanted it badly enough. If anything else were to happen to him—”

“Why would he get worse? I may not have given him the perfect life, but I think everyone would agree that things are looking up.”

“Of course, babe. But that’s not how trauma works. It doesn’t go away just because the abuse has stopped.”

“What do you know about it?”

“I know how abuse affected you,” she said quietly.

“That makes one of us.”

Amanda sighed and stared at her coffee cup with glazed eyes.

“You want to know the truth?” David asked. “I’m more worried about Evangeline.”

“Why?”

“When a child has suffered that level of abuse, you expect them to have issues like Xavier does. Evangeline is so…well-adjusted. I find it unsettling. Something’s not right.”

“That’s a strange concern. If it makes you feel better, I think Evangeline is very unusual. And I’m happy that she’s doing well. Perhaps she’s just a strong person. Resilient.”

“Did you eat breakfast?” David asked.

“I’m not hungry.”

“You’ve lost weight,” he said gravely.

“Thank you.”

He hadn’t meant it as an insult, but not a compliment either. She didn’t need to lose weight. He could see her collarbones more sharply than usual.

“You would tell me if something was wrong, right?”

“Nothing is wrong.” She smiled and squeezed his hand. “In fact, I feel better than I have in a while. Hopeful.”

As promised, David brought Emmy to the grocery store after Amanda left for work. Emmy seemed quieter, and more vigilant, constantly waiting for her punishment. David let her wander around the store while he shopped for groceries. Amanda would have kept a closer eye on her. But he knew she had a serious case of cabin fever. He doubted wandering the aisles of the HEB would help much, but he would at least give her that moment of freedom.

“David Vandergraff. As I live and breathe.” David’s hand froze over a loaf of bread. He turned around to see a woman he recognized from church. He couldn’t remember her name…Janet…Janice…something with a “J”. She was in her sixties, and had a pleasant face.

“Hello,” he said.

“We haven’t seen y’all at church recently. I hope everything is okay.”

“Yeah, everything is fine. We moved,” he said, as if somehow that explained everything. He wouldn’t mind if they went to church. He thought it would make Amanda happier, in any case. No one in the congregation of Mundanes would have any idea what they were, but he figured she still felt as if she didn’t belong anymore.

“I see. Well, we’d love to see you back,” Janice or Janet said with a bright smile.

“Yeah, definitely.”

“Oh, I saw your boy up at the outlet malls last weekend. He’s looking good.”

“What boy?”

“Jude, of course. Saw him shopping at The Gap with his girlfriend. They are an adorable couple. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen him so happy. And I can see why. She is a cutie, looks like a real sweetheart. You know, we have a Sunday School class for young couples, to help them strengthen their relationship and prepare for marriage. Oh, but listen to me, sticking my nose in. They’re young. Probably not thinking about that kind of thing.”

“What?”

“I’m so happy to see him doing well. I know Amanda was worried about him and praying for him. Looks like the good Lord has answered her prayers.”

“What?”

“So, where is he going to school in the fall?”

David stared at her. He had wandered in to an alternate timeline. A timeline where Jude had never turned to darkness and had continued to live the life David had expected him to. A place where Jude was happy and successful. An impossible place.

She gave him a concerned look as he continued to stare, so he played along.

“UT,” he said finally, happy to pretend for a moment. “He’s going to the University of Texas.”

As they got closer to home, the truck’s engine made a knocking noise, making Dad’s lie from before, true.
That’s what he gets for lying.
Emmy would have laughed, but the car breaking down had gotten old.

Emmy went in first, while Dad stayed outside glaring at the engine. She thought if he kept giving the engine that evil glare, he would end up breaking it more.

Emmy found Xavier and Evangeline staring at something on the kitchen counter as if it was an alien head they dug up in the backyard.

“What are you weirdos doing?”

“Look at this,” Evangeline said. “It’s like flowers, but it’s made of fruit. Isn’t that amazing?” She pointed towards an Edible Arrangement on the counter.

“Yeah…weird things impress you,” Emmy said.

“Look at this little daisy made out of a pineapple,” Evangeline said.

“Yeah, it’s a bouquet made of fruit,” Emmy said. “A normal thing. Where did it come from?”

“Someone brought it to the door,” Evangeline said. “It’s for Amanda.”

“What for?”

“I don’t know.”

Emmy snatched the note. It’s like they grew up on Mars.

“Can we eat it?” Xavier poked at a chocolate covered strawberry.

“No. It’s for Amanda,” Evangeline said.

Emmy read the card aloud. “Get well soon. Your friends at Vector Petrochemicals.”

“Is she sick?” Xavier asked.

“No, she’s fine,” Emmy said, although the card implied otherwise. She scanned the signed card full of co-worker’s platitude.
We miss you…I hope your surgery goes well…Relax and enjoy your leave.

“Okay, that’s weird,” Emmy said.

“Why do they think she’s sick?” Evangeline asked.

“I don’t know,” Emmy said. “But she’s either lying to us…or to her co-workers.”

Emmy thought about Dad glaring outside and thought Mom had probably lied to him too. Of course, Mom owed Dad a good lie.

“Maybe we
should
eat it,” Emmy suggested.

However, they would have to do it
really
quickly for that to work. Dad burst through the front door, a smudge of grease on his face. “I can’t believe it actually started making a noise. God hates me. And He thinks He is
real
funny, too.” Dad looked around the living area. “Where is Patrick?”

“Sleeping,” Evangeline said.

Dad looked at his watch and then huffed. Emmy clutched the card, and the three of them stood there waiting for him to notice. They didn’t have a chance to hide it.

“We can’t afford to get any more repairs done. Period. We’ll have to walk everywhere. But it’s not like the tollway has a sidewalk. Why are you guys looking at me like that?”

Emmy handed Dad the card, and he saw the arrangement. “Who would send us a gift?” he asked, and then looked at the card. His eyebrows narrowed further.

“I don’t understand,” he said, waving the card in her direction, as if this was her fault too, just like everything else.

“We don’t know any more than you, Dad,” Emmy said. He must have believed her because he didn’t say anything else. He took the card into his bedroom and slammed the door.

manda heard her son’s voice. And that was all there was in the universe. Everything else was darkness. She didn’t remember how she had gotten to this dark place, but she instinctively moved towards her son.