Mengliad (The Mengliad Series Book 1) Page 5

  After several intense minutes, she finally turned to him. “What did that woman on the subway say?”

  “Roughly translated, it means, may those of purity prosper.”

  She scowled. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “It’s just what they say,” he explained. “The Purists, I mean. They believe those born of pure blood are better than those who aren’t. It’s a way of identifying themselves to other Purists.”

  “What did you say back to her?”

  “I said: prosperity for all. Which, basically, is a way of telling a Purist: I respect you, but I don’t necessarily agree with you. It’s the easiest way to deal with them. If I had said: sperentite rup lae prute, then that would mean I’m a Purist as well, and that might seem like a good way to get rid of them, but in actuality, it’s not.

  “If you try to pass yourself off as one of them,” he explained further, “they will ask for your charter information. If you tell them you’re not a Purist, then they will try to recruit you. Or harass you. Either way, it’s just easier to say: prosperity for all, and then try to get away from them as quickly as possible.”

  “Why are they so feared? What do they do to people who don’t agree with them?”

  “Well, most don’t do anything, except maybe argue with you their point of view and annoy you, but recently, within the last decade or so, groups have started to surface that take a more violent approach. One group claimed responsibility for murdering a BTR Cleric, because he was performing the ritual on people over the age of seven days old. They also murdered an adult Human who was going through the steps to become Mengliad, pre-ritual.” He looked away when she gasped.

  “So, what’s going to happen to me, if they find out I’m a late convert?”

  “There’s no way of knowing. They have no set rules on what to do. They come up with stuff on a person by person basis.”

  “So, for the rest of my life, I could be in danger?” Her voice grew louder, her concern causing her tone to turn shrill.

  He didn’t want to add to her fear, but he didn’t want to lie to her, either. “Possibly, yeah.”

  “Oh my God.” As the unsettling news sank in, she started to cry. “What the hell am I supposed to do now?”

  Immediately, he took her into his arms. “We’re not sure yet, but I promise you, Jessica, I won’t let anything happen to you. I will help you through this. We’re all going to help you.”

  Chapter Six

  Jessica could hear the sounds of quiet conversation, the sounds of cupboards opening and closing with a squeak, and she guessed as she sat upright and stretched that she was the last one to wake.

  Spotting the tinted glasses she was given to wear on the nightstand table, it suddenly occurred to her how dark the room was, and how even without the glasses she could see comfortably, and with zero pain. The windows were tinted, she realized, sliding her glasses on and in place.

  Bare feet hitting the cold floor, her obsessive need to clean demanded she take a moment to make the bed, perfecting the corner folds and the placement of the pillows before leaving.

  All discussion stopped dead as soon as she entered the living room, leading to the inevitable conclusion that they were talking about her and her situation, yet again.

  “Am I interrupting something?” The question was asked of the group as a whole, but Craddock was the only one to respond, and he only did so after glancing at Josiah and Bibi, lending further to Jessica’s assumption that she did in fact intrude upon some private debate.

  “No, no,” he said, forcing a cheerful tone as he faced her. “Just having breakfast. Hungry?”

  “I’m not sure.” She shrugged, cautiously stepping closer.

  “You’ll be able to tell as time goes on.” Reaching out to her, he extended two fingers and a thumb, indicating that he would take her pulse to determine if she was in need of food, even though he was sure she was.

  Moments later, he released her wrist. “Yeah, you should eat.”

  “Okay,” she agreed with his diagnosis, “and what are we eating?”

  “Maddies!” Josiah was obviously pleased with the menu.

  As Jessica approached the counter, what Maddies were came into view, and at the sight of them, she backed away, gasping in horror. “I can’t eat those!” Cringing, her hands flew up to cover her mouth.

  With an expression Craddock recognized as annoyed, Bibi looked over at him pointedly before turning away from the scene and placing her bowl in the sink, seemingly very interested in cleaning it.

  “You don’t have to,” Craddock said calmly. “We’ll find something you’re more comfortable with.”

  “Are those—? Are those—?” Stuttering, her question was never fully asked, but he knew what it was, anyway.

  “Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches.” He stood in front of her, obscuring her view of them. “They’re actually very good. Not unlike shrimp.”

  Shaking her head, she continued to back away from the kitchen, her progress impeded when she reached the bedroom door. Tears trickled down her cheeks as she reached for the knob, then she disappeared into the room without saying another word.

  Craddock turned, facing Bibi and Josiah. He knew what they were thinking without them having to say a word. “I should go talk to her.”

  “If she can’t handle this,” Bibi warned him, quietly, “then we’re going to have some problems.”

  “It’s been a day, Bibi, okay?” The sharpness of Craddock’s tone showed he was on the defensive. “Let’s give her some time, at least, before we go condemning her.”

  Arguing with him would solve nothing. She conceded the point by nodding and turning away, glancing in his direction only after she heard the bedroom door open and close.

  ****

  Leaning heavily against the closed door, Craddock sighed. Jessica, seated on the edge of the bed, had her face buried in her hands, crying.

  “Talk to me,” he asked of her. “Let me help you.”

  “I don’t know if you can,” she whispered. “It’s—it’s too much.”

  “What is? The food?”

  She shook her head. “The situation. You grew up with this.” She swiped at her wet cheeks. “I’ve had a day to adjust. Other people—late converts—they plan for this! It’s on purpose! I didn’t ask for this, Doc.”

  Nodding, he looked down at his shoes, sympathetic and rueful. “I know you didn’t.”

  “And I know you’re trying to help, I know Bibi and Josiah are trying to help, but it’s just—I just don’t know how to be this. I don’t know how to be Mengliad. And I can’t make myself be excited about eating bugs! Something I was always taught to exterminate!”

  He took a seat next to her on the bed. “We’re not asking you to be excited about it. You don’t have to eat the Maddies. We do because we actually like them, but you don’t have to like them. We’ll find something else for you to eat.”

  She sighed, disheartened. “It’s not just the food, it’s everything. It’s leaving my home. It’s not being able to tell my brother or my best friend where I am, or what I’m doing. It’s not being able to go to work, or even outside, ‘cause I may be killed! It’s—”

  “Okay, Jessica,” he interrupted, cutting off her rant. “I understand. I do. I understand all of that, but dwelling on all of that and stressing. . . it won’t solve anything, or change any of this.”

  “I know that,” she muttered, conceding.

  “I know this is going to be a huge adjustment, but let’s just take it day by day, okay? One hurdle at a time.”

  She dropped her head, her eyes then fixing on the shag of the carpet. “I’m trying. I really am.”

  Putting his arm around her, he pulled her closer. “I know.”

  She relaxed into his side, whispering a few moments later, “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome,” he whispered back.

  ****

  “He’s trustworthy, he won’t ask questions, and he won’t report anything h
e suspects.”

  Bibi’s words from earlier rattled around in Craddock’s head as the taxi came to a stop in front of the building, causing him to rethink the intelligence of trusting a man he didn’t know.

  “That’ll be $13.90,” the cabbie said.

  Craddock immediately produced his wallet as Jessica climbed out of the vehicle. Xavier, the Cabbage Patch doll, was wrapped in a blanket, securely in her arms.

  After leaving the cab, Craddock stood in front of Jessica, offering a slight smile as the vehicle sped away.

  “I know why I’m tense,” she said, sensing he was at least as anxious as she was, “but why are you?”

  “Same reason you are, I suppose.” Shrugging, he then gave a nod towards the building.

  She sighed as she looked in the same direction he was, quickly noticing and dismissing the older structure’s architecture. “Okay, well, let’s get this over with.” She started for the door, but stopped when a hand fell upon her shoulder.

  “Wait. One more thing.” When she scowled curiously, but said nothing, he continued. “If anyone asks, we’re engaged.”

  “What?” Her scowl deepened. “Why?”

  “I’ll explain it later.” Touching the small of her back, he encouraged her to drop the inquiry and enter the office building.

  ****

  The waiting area was full, Mengliads in every hard plastic chair in the room, further setting the two on edge. All eyes were on them as they entered and stepped towards the receptionist’s desk, and in response, Craddock pulled Jessica closer, digging his fingers into her hip.

  “Appointment for Kristy Patella,” Craddock told the woman dressed in white. When Jessica startled slightly, because the name was foreign to her, he tightened his grip. “Bibi Paige sent us,” he added.

  The receptionist made eye contact briefly before lowering her head. “The doctor wanted her to come straight back.” Grabbing paperwork attached to a clipboard out of a nearby cubby, she said, “Follow me, please,” and then led the way towards the back of the hall lined with exam rooms.

  “Wait in here,” she instructed, handing Jessica the clipboard with ‘new patient’ papers clipped on. “Just give us what you need to on these.” She smiled before turning to leave.

  “They know?” Jessica asked, the thought intensifying her unease.

  He nodded only once, looking around the somewhat dark room before his eyes fell upon the clipboard she held.

  “They must.” Taking the paperwork from her, he set them on the counter close by. “Ignore these for now.”

  “I’m so nervous.” Her voice, and the way she was wringing her hands, revealed just how much. “The doctor will be able to tell that I’m—?”

  “Yes.” His short reply showed himself to be racked with nerves as well. They both jumped when the door swung open.

  “Good morning, I’m Dr. Brady,” the man entering introduced himself, shaking hands with Craddock, then Jessica.

  Though older, as was clear from the graying at his temples, he was incredibly attractive, which instantly put Craddock on edge. More so than he already was.

  After glancing at the untouched paperwork, the doctor pushed them aside and leaned against the counter. “First off, let me help ease the tension here a little bit. I’m aware of the situation, and you will have no problems here, okay?”

  Dr. Brady’s smile was meant to reassure them, Craddock was sure, but it didn’t him. If anything, it made him more cautious, less trusting.

  “Okay, Kristy,” he gestured towards the exam chair, “why don’t you take a seat and we’ll get started.”

  ****

  “Your eyesight is actually very good, so the glasses will be non-prescription.” Dr. Brady pushed the equipment on the swing arm aside. “Now, I need to test your light sensitivity.” He produced a vial and an instrument of some sort from his pocket. “This will hurt, but the drops will ease the pain immediately.”

  Nodding, she braced herself as he approached with the device in one hand, the vial of drops in the other and at the ready. Knuckles turned white as she dug into the chair’s armrest, since she had a vague inkling of what was to come.

  A blinding light flashed, only seconds long, and her eyes instantly reacted, her head pounding with the sensation that it would split open. The pain was so intense, she screamed out, but then she startled and the sound dropped when the doctor placed the drops in her eyes a second later.

  “I’m sorry.” He handed her a tissue. “I know what an unpleasant experience that is.”

  “That’s an understatement,” she mumbled as she dabbed the tears from her cheeks.

  “Can I ask,” the doctor broached finally, “how long have you been Mengliad?”

  Jessica’s eyes grew wide and Craddock took a step forward, inconspicuously shaking his head at her, telling her by doing so not to answer the question.

  “It’s okay.” Dr. Brady turned to jot notes in her file. “I know the dangers associated with this.” He smiled at Craddock. “You’re a good friend.”

  Craddock remained cautious but smiled in return, in acknowledgement of the compliment.

  “The glasses you’re using currently are a little weak for your needs,” he explained to Jessica. “I’m going to give you a pair to use for now, until your permanent pairs come in.”

  “When will that be?” she asked.

  “Two days.” He turned, facing her. “I’m putting a rush on it.” Taking her hand in his, he patted it gently. “You’re in for some rough days ahead, but believe me when I say, there are people—Mengliads—behind you, in support of you.”

  “Thank you,” she whispered, relieved in the knowledge that there were others who were as compassionate as Craddock, Josiah, and Bibi.

  “If you ever need anything,” he offered, “I would be happy to help in any way that I can.”

  Feeling a mixture of jealousy and concern, Craddock took Jessica’s other hand, the one the doctor wasn’t caressing, and indicated with a nod towards the door that they needed to leave. The reason why wasn’t completely clear to him, but he wanted to get Jessica as far from Dr. Brady as possible.

  ****

  “Was he coming on to me?” she asked once they were outside the building, “or do Mengliads flirt differently than Humans?”

  Craddock sighed deeply before responding. “No, flirting is basically the same for both species, and yes, he was.” He picked up the pace out of irritation.

  “I thought so.” Her smile was subconscious, fading as she attempted to keep up with him. “Slow down, huh? Where’s the fire?”

  Curtly, he apologized, but only slowed a little.

  “Are you upset with me?” she asked, picking up on his sudden sour mood. “Did I do something wrong in there?”

  “No and no,” he answered. His pace was still faster than she was comfortable with.

  “Then, what’s wrong?” She panted as she jogged to catch up, only to fall behind again when she would revert back to walking.

  “I just wanted to get you away from there as fast as possible, okay?” he snapped at her, his exasperation obvious to her then.

  “Why? Do you think Dr. Brady is—?”

  Cutting her off, he exclaimed, “I don’t know! Maybe! I don’t know! But I didn’t like how friendly he was getting with you!”

  She stopped him by grabbing his arm, and he spun around, his face flushed. He couldn’t say what he was thinking. He couldn’t answer the silent question she asked with her concerned expression. They’d only known each other for two days. If he said it now, it would freak her out. It was freaking him out as it was.

  “Oh my God,” she muttered suddenly, causing Craddock to wonder if she had somehow deduced where his thoughts had been.

  “What?” he asked hesitantly.

  She nodded in the direction of behind him. “Is that Bibi, or Lilith?”

  Slowly, he turned to see, but within a split second he spun back around, grabbed Jessica’s arm, and pulled her away from the str
eet corner. “It’s Lilith!” he confirmed, whispering sharply.

  Panic began to rise. “Did she see us? Is she following us?”

  “I don’t think so,” he said, forcing himself to sound and remain calm. “Just keep walking.”

  Chapter Seven

  Still feeling the effects of the conversion, Jessica went into Craddock’s room to take a nap shortly after they returned to his apartment. Craddock, however, could do little more than pace nervously, his overactive imagination concocting a million problems out of the day’s events.

  Unaware of any new potential issues, Bibi entered casually, but then she saw how tense he was. It looked as if he was set to crawl out of his own skin.

  “Something’s wrong.” The statement, as if it were known fact, was heavy with concern. First dropping her purse and coat on the dining table, she then gave Craddock her undivided attention. “What happened?”

  His pacing ceased, but the fidgety stance he had adopted in the hours since the doctor’s appointment remained. “We saw Lilly.” He was almost willing her with his expression to begin freaking as he was.

  Still holding onto a thread of calm, she asked, “Did she see you?”

  “I don’t know.” He shoved his hands in his pockets, his shoulders tense up around his neck as he began pacing once again. “As soon as we saw her, we hightailed it out of there!”

  “Okay, okay,” she offered evenly, hoping her tone would help ease him down, “don’t get all tripped out here, okay? Walk me through it. Where were you? Where was she?”

  “We were about a block away from the doctor’s office.” His edge was only slightly duller. “She was across the street.”

  “So, not close enough to really detect anything?” The lilt she used indicated that there was, most likely, no reason to be alarmed.

  “I don’t know.” His purposeless walk around the living room came to a stop as he leaned on the back of the couch.

  Watching him for a few moments, she eventually deduced, then asked, “This isn’t about Lilly, is it?”

  “What isn’t?” His back was still to her. With her level of intuitiveness, she would easily see right through him if he were to face her.