Reborn: Daughter of Darkness Prequel Page 5

  "Of course. Mrs. G, these gifts, are there others who also have it?"

  "Yes. But we don't all have the same gift. I wouldn't be your friend if I didn't offer you one word of caution. The outside world isn't ready to accept us for who we are. But there's also a danger to revealing yourself to others like us. The gift of Sacrifice is a rare gift. Probably the rarest. It hasn't been seen in several hundred generations, and to my knowledge, the last person to have it was one of the founders of Blackwood. That makes you very interesting and puts a mark on your back if you reveal yourself to the wrong person. There may come a day when it's necessary. Just like the koi and risking your house, make sure it's a risk worth taking."

  "I feel like there's so much I don't know."

  "You'll come to understand things more clearly. The first step is accepting you have such a gift."

  I was so lost in every word she was saying, I jumped when my phone rang. It was Spratlin asking if we were still on for that night. Shit. The party. I told him I'd meet him there. "I'm so sorry, Mrs. G. I promised I'd go to this gaming party tonight with Spratlin."

  She smiled so warmly, I could tell she liked him, and I wondered just how well she knew him and his family.

  "You asked me earlier if you're just that see-through. No, you're not. I'm just that good at reading people. I have it, too. A gift, I mean. Mine is intuition," she said. "I'm also really adept at seeing people for whom they really are. And you are a wonderful, pure person. I see great things in your future."

  9

  Turning onto Jeremy's street, I crept along keeping an eye out for Spratlin's truck. I was running late, but I didn't mind. Talking with Mrs. G was always worth it. I saw that there were already a lot of people as I revved the engine and rode up onto Jeremy's front lawn. I shook my hair as I removed my helmet and threw on some red lipstick. There were a few people hanging around the front porch smoking as I approached.

  Spratlin was leaning against one of the columns. "Bout time you show up. Thought I was gonna have to send out the Calvary," Spratlin said as I joined him on the porch. "Wow, you look amazing."

  I was thinking the same thing about him in his tight jeans and shirt that conformed to his muscles. I felt a tad uncomfortable with him checking me out, but I wasn't about to stop him. "Sorry, lost track of time chatting with Mrs. G. She said hi, by the way." I waved my hand in front of my face to clear the smoke. What a disgusting habit. If I wanted smoke in my face, I sure as shit didn't want it second hand.

  He smiled at me and took my hand. "Come on. Introduce me to your friends."

  A biker chick with ripped jeans and a leather jacket on the arm of the studliest guy on the block. We certainly did not look like gamers, but I didn't give a shit what anyone else thought.

  The noise of loud music mixed with several games going on multiple TVs could be heard as I opened the door. Jeremy knew how to throw a gaming party. He had little gaming areas scattered all over his living room and kitchen. Everything from old school to modern first-person shooters, but the centerpiece of the party was the big screen TV in front of the couch with four player kart racing going at all times. There was just something about getting drunk with your friends and tossing red turtle shells at them at the last second to take the win. Many bad words and flung controllers ensued, but it was all in good fun.

  "This is pretty cool," Spratlin said as he took it all in.

  "Zee! You made it!" Jeremy greeted us enthusiastically. He snapped his fingers to one of our other friends. "Creep, get the lady a margarita."

  Creep jumped up and pointed at me. "And a shot of tequila?"

  "You know it." I liked to start with a shot, then chase it with the smoother taste of a well-mixed margarita.

  "Alright," he said as we high-fived.

  "Jeremy, Creep, this is Spratlin."

  Creep asked, "Nice to meet ya. What's your poison?"

  To which, Spratlin replied with his usual--scotch on the rocks.

  Jeremy stuck out his hand, "Welcome to our little shindig. Mi Casa, your Casa."

  "Thanks, man. Nice to be here."

  I said hi to Ivy as she walked by following Creep to the kitchen.

  "That's Ivy. Creep's girlfriend." Ivy was a stunningly beautiful African American lady with long light-brown hair. Looks-wise, she was way out of Creep's league.

  "How'd he score her?"

  "That's a mystery we'd all like to solve."

  "Zee, when you gonna open that game store and hire me away from those boring, corporate America zombies?"

  I glanced at Spratlin. "Maybe sooner than you think, my friend. I was just canned. Seems neither of us are cut out to be corporate zombies."

  His eyes lit up. "That's awesome! I mean, not awesome about you losing your job, but screw them. We don't need 'em. Whatever you need. I'm there. You got this."

  "Thanks."

  Creep returned with our drinks.

  Jeremy raised his glass and said, "A toast. To new beginnings. And lots of late night gaming marathons."

  "Here, here!" We all said.

  Jeremy took a swig of his drink and then said, "I finally played that game you recommended."

  "Baten Kaitos? What'd you think?"

  "You were so right. That card battle system was so fun. Simple to learn yet tough to master."

  "Awesome, glad to finally know someone else who liked it."

  Jeremy asked Spratlin, "What about you? What do you like to play?"

  "Pretty much anything. I love first-person shooters, but I also still love my 16-bit RPGs."

  "Nice. Zee, if you get tired of him, we'll keep him." He winked. "Well, I'll see you two later. Gotta make my rounds."

  Spratlin and I moved over to a more intimate gaming session between Scorpion and Sub-Zero, two long standing enemies. The two gamers who were controlling their onscreen avatars were good. I loved that game, but I wasn't ready to get my ass handed to me as soon as I walked through the door, so we just stood in awe and watched combo after combo.

  "He seems like a good guy."

  "Jeremy? He is." I could tell by the way Spratlin's posture stiffened that he wondered just how well I knew him. "Relax. He's not into chicks. Oh, and he's a helluva mechanic."

  "The guy who could fix my bike?"

  "Yup."

  "Why doesn't he open his own shop?"

  "Games are his passion. He codes in his spare time. I keep telling him he needs to start charging, but he says it just makes him happy to see people playing his games. He'd be a huge asset and would be my first hire for sure." I watched as someone walked by with a plate of nachos. "I'm starved. Let's grab some food."

  From the corner of my eye, I saw Gaylin. "There she is! You've gotta meet my best friend."

  Gaylin was staring at an intense match of Bomberman as we approached. "Wanna play when they're done?" I asked her.

  "Zee!" She turned and bear hugged me like she hadn't seen me in two years. I hated that shit. She's the only one I let get away with it. Once I finally had use of my lungs again, I introduced Spratlin.

  "So, you're why I haven't seen my best friend all week."

  His cheeks turned pink as he just stood there and smiled.

  "Spratlin, this is Gaylin, and her boyfriend, Jason. Don't let her niceness fool you. She will flat out lay the smack down on you in Bomberman."

  He shook her hand. "I'll be sure to steer clear."

  "Hey, man, nice to meet you," Jason said as he also shook Spratlin's hand.

  "How's the job hunting going?" she asked.

  "Well, I took both of your advice and started looking into opening my own store."

  "That's awesome!" she said as she jumped up and down. "Just think of all the fun things you can do for the gaming community. You'll put that other store to shame."

  I didn't have the heart to tell her I was denied. Three times. "We'll see. They'll be tough competition."

  "Yeah, but you have all your friends, and your friends' friends to support you."

  I hoped s
he was right. "We're gonna grab a bite. I'll catch up with you later."

  We filled a paper plate full of chips and dip, a few slices of pizza, and I got a refill on the margarita. Spratlin did the same except he opted for beer. I've never had a taste for it. I've tried, but can usually only stomach about three or four sips before I'm sick of it. We stepped out onto the back porch where it was quiet and dark. Everyone else was either inside playing or on the front porch smoking. It would have been a nice place for people to hang out except for the fact that it was tiny. There was only one cushioned bench, so we shared.

  "When we're done, we're gonna have to play something. Can't come to a gaming party and not pick up a controller."

  Spratlin nodded as he stuffed half a slice in his mouth.

  I laughed. "So, what do you think so far?"

  "It's a nice place he's got here."

  "No, I mean my friends."

  "Oh. Yeah." He was cute when he was embarrassed. "Everyone seems nice. You must be very popular in the gaming crowd."

  I knew what he meant. Most people don't associate pretty girls as being nerdy gamers. "I hold my own." If he was implying that I've had a lot of boyfriends, he would be wrong. While I suppose I could have any of them I wanted just because I have long hair and a pulse, those people inside were my friends. I would never let anything change that.

  "There's something different about you tonight."

  I looked down at my shirt and ripped jeans. "I am wearing something other than a raggedy tee shirt with a faded game character on it."

  He continued to look at me. "That's not it. Although you look good in whatever you wear. You just seem... I dunno... more confident tonight."

  I didn't feel very confident. A lot had changed in the short time since we'd met. I had lost my job, been turned down for a loan, and died twice. Confident was the last thing I was feeling.

  He smiled. "Whatever it is, it looks good on you."

  I smiled at him. I could get used to his compliments.

  "Since you've mentioned it a couple of times already, I'm dying to know how the new store's coming along."

  "Not so good. Hit a few road blocks."

  "What happened?"

  "The banks all turned me down. Except for one. They said I could get the loan if I put up my house as collateral."

  "That's great!"

  "Eh, I'm not so sure. If it fails... if I fail..."

  He put his hand on my knee. "You won't fail. I can tell you're stubborn and strong-willed. As Jeremy said, you got this."

  I think that was a compliment. "Wish I had whatever Kool-Aid you guys are drinking."

  "How are you other than that? Still sore?"

  "No, I feel good." I could tell by the look on his face that he wanted to ask if I had died anymore. Thought I'd save him the uncomfortable question. "If you're wondering, no, I haven't had any more... episodes."

  "Good to hear."

  I took my last bite and I noticed he was finished eating, too. "What'dya say? A little four-man kart racing or a few rounds in the acid pit?"

  He gave me a seductive look, "One on one action sounds good."

  "Ha! You may change your mind when Raiden and I wipe the floor with you."

  "The goofy guy with the electricity?"

  I shrugged, "I can do it even faster with Scorpion."

  "Oh, it's on now."

  We both laughed. It felt good to have someone with me again who liked the same things I did.

  The two guys who were playing had walked away, so Spratlin and I both grabbed a controller. Mortal Kombat II was loaded, so I pressed start. I chose Raiden and, as he sat down to my right, Spratlin picked Liu Kang.

  He looked at me with the straightest face ever and said, "I have a deadly bicycle kick."

  Despite my best attempt at holding it in, I busted out laughing. He kept watching me, and then I noticed that he was looking at my ring.

  "Where'd you get that?"

  "It was in the wooden box you unlocked for me. It was my mother's."

  He must have known I was wondering why he was staring at it. He shrugged. "It's pretty."

  There was something odd about how he asked. If I didn't know better, I would have sworn he recognized it. But how was that possible? The counter had begun and we were ordered to FIGHT! Spratlin was good, very quick to bust out a combo, but in the end, he didn't stand a chance against my deadly lightning-teleport-electric grab combo.

  "Damnit, woman."

  I gave him a smirk. "I was gonna go easy on you till you made fun of my character choice."

  "I'd hate to know you could do this with every version of the game."

  I didn't say anything, just looked at him with raised eyebrows. Didn't have the heart to tell him he was right in that assumption. Behind us was a commotion. I turned around and saw what it was. Or rather, who it was, although what was more appropriate.

  Alexa and her two lap dogs had just arrived. "Damn. Somebody forgot to lock the dog cage."

  She pranced in, hand on hip, and the whole room went silent. How she managed to silence not only all the people but the music and games, too, was beyond me. Everyone stared. That was the second time in a week that I had run into her. Before that it had been years. I knew her too well; she was up to something.

  Alexa was dressed in all black. Leather, of course. Her bleached blonde hair a stark contrast to the black. The other two girls, Liz and Alise were dressed in similar 'I'm too good for loser gaming parties' attire.

  Alexa took a few more steps inside. "So this is where the riff raff come to play."

  Jeremy said, "How'd she get in here?"

  Creep opened his mouth to say something but then noticed me standing next to them. He then looked back at Jeremy. "I dunno."

  What did he really want to say? Did my being there make him hold back?

  Before I could wonder much more, the room began spinning, and everything went black.

  10

  I felt a cool, damp towel on my head as my eyes fluttered opened. The soft couch felt good. Spratlin sat next to me fanning my face. As I tried to sit up, he gently pushed me back down.

  "Whoa, take it slow. Don't sit up too fast."

  I followed his orders and slowly pulled myself up and leaned against the couch. I had one eye on the commotion behind us and one on him. "I didn't..., you know?"

  He whispered, "No. You just passed out in my arms."

  Thank God. That's the one thing I didn't like about my new, so-called ability. The lose of consciousness part and not knowing what actually transpired, or who witnessed it, was scary.

  Jeremy approached Alexa. "As host, it's my duty to make sure all guests are taken care of. Unfortunately for you, you weren't invited." He took the drink someone had given her right out of her hand.

  By that time I had eased off the couch and was making my way towards them.

  "Oh, can the formalities, Jerm. Have you seen your cohorts? They wouldn't know proper etiquette if it rose up and bit them on their asses."

  The tension in the room grew thick. I got the feeling no one in the room liked Alexa, and I sure wasn't about to let her talk to my friends that way. Not surprisingly, I wasn't the only one who was willing to step forward as Jeremy and I bumped shoulders trying to get up to her. Creep and several others were inches behind us. Even Spratlin joined me at my side.

  "What do you want, Alexa?" I spat.

  "Isn't that cute? Always so quick to defend her friends."

  Jeremy knew the two of us had a history and probably didn't want to see it played out while using his living room as a battlefield. "My patience is thin, Alexa. State your business here before I toss you out."

  She rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. I'm not here to cause trouble. I heard this was the happening place tonight." Then she pushed through us and sashayed into the kitchen. She literally sashayed. Her hips could have assisted airplanes in their landing.

  Jeremy turned to me. "Don't worry. I'll keep an eye on her."

  I watche
d as he walked off toward the kitchen. I turned to Spratlin. "You didn't tell her about the party, did you?"

  "No way. I haven't seen her since the arcade."

  "I'd better find Gaylin. You just think she makes my skin crawl."

  "Wait. Are you okay?"

  "Oh, I'm fine. Probably too much to drink." He held onto my arm as I tried to walk away.

  "Bullshit. You could out drink a sailor."

  "I'm fine, I said." I jerked my arm away and stormed out of the kitchen. And I really was fine. Blackouts aren't a thing with me, but I was willing to chalk it up to Alexa's devilish presence. Hell, most of us would do anything to avoid her.

  Gaylin wasn't anywhere to be found outside or in the living room, so I raced upstairs. She and Jason, her boyfriend, were checking out Jeremy's new gaming rig when I tapped on the door.

  "Hey, guys, sorry to interrupt. Thought you might like to know the queen bitch and her lap dogs are downstairs."

  Looking up from Jeremy's computer, she asked, "What's she doing here?"

  "Looking to cause trouble, I'm sure. Jeremy's keeping an eye on her. Didn't want you to flip out when you came downstairs."

  "Me, flip out? Never." She charged toward the door.

  I held up my hands to stop her as Jason held her back. "Everything's cool. Jeremy went to a lot of trouble tonight. Let's just try to stay calm."

  "She's right, Gaylin. Whad'ya say we call it a night?"

  I knew Jason would agree with me. "I think that's a great idea. I imagine Spratlin and I won't be far behind."

  I could tell Gaylin did not want to leave yet, especially knowing that it would mean giving Alexa the upper hand if she knew how easily she could drive her away. "I just want to finish checking out his new rig."

  Jason kissed her on the head. "I'm gonna say bye. Meet you downstairs."

  I nodded at Jason and then turned back to Gaylin. "We'll talk later, k?"

  As I made my way from the stairs to the main gaming area in the living room, I watched Spratlin playing a game with Creep and Ivy. It felt good knowing he felt at home around my friends. I thought I'd get us refills and join him.

  The kitchen was empty. I poured myself a margarita from the pitcher. As I was searching the cabinet for more scotch, I noticed through the open window that Alexa was outside on the back porch. I snatched the bottle and stepped away from the window. Curious as to what she was up to, I stood still and listened.