Remember Me?

Chapter 5

by

Rebecca Lickiss

Steam from his shower had blurred the mirror to the point that Zarrad could only make out his reflection by the fact that it contrasted with the white bathroom tiles. He scrubbed his head with the towel one last time before wiping the mirror. He stared at his reflection.

"Human. I’m human and proud of it!" Zarrad squared his shoulders and flexed his biceps. Water dripped from his hair and ran in glistening rivulets down his chest. Zarrad was proud of the way he looked, spare and muscular but not overly muscled, tall enough to be tall without risking idiot remarks about the weather up there, large eyes, full mouth, dimpled chin. Perfect.

Turning slightly, he glared at the reflection of his bare, smooth, slick back, trying to convince himself that it didn’t matter that he didn’t have wings. He wasn’t a fairy; he wasn’t supposed to have wings.

So, why was he still checking like a little kid, hoping wings had sprouted overnight?

Tossing the towel on the floor, Zarrad stalked from the bathroom into his bedroom, leaving soap-and-cologne-scented cloying steam behind.

Laid out neatly on the down coverlet of his bed were his clothes for the evening. And his hated fake wings. He could have sworn the gauze, aluminum, and plastic things were mocking him. Sighing, he strapped them on, wishing to one day defy his father and toss the damn things away.

But that wouldn’t be happening tonight. Papa would continue to rule and run his life. Zarrad sighed and started dressing.

He was on his second attempt to get his black bowtie correct, when someone knocked at his door. "Enter."

Forrest sauntered in, with his hands in the back pockets of his expensive, crisp trousers, his usual demeanor after a hard day’s slouching. "Looking good, Boss. You’re going break some hearts tonight."

"Well?" Zarrad asked impatiently. He didn’t have time for Forrest’s dawdling slowness tonight. He had a fairy woman to romance and win over. He needed the necklace.

"Was there something you wanted me to do tonight?" Forrest looked genuinely perplexed.

"Don’t tell me you forgot the necklace!" Abandoning his lopsided tie, Zarrad snatched up the nearest piece of easily moveable furniture, a carved-mahogany, antique side table.

Running behind the large, overstuffed armchair, Forrest held up his hand to shield himself. "I thought you were going to get it. To make certain it was done right."

"Idiot!" Zarrad threw the table. It bounced off the armchair’s cushions and toppled sideways to land upside-down on the floor. "I can’t pick it up. If I pick it up, everyone will know I bought an enspelled necklace. Fairies don’t need to buy things already enspelled. They can do it themselves. You were supposed to get it and bring it to me, so I could give it to Nona tonight!"

Peeking out from behind the armchair, Forrest asked, "How am I supposed to know if they’ve done the spell right?"

"I’m just as human as you, remember? I wouldn’t be able to tell either. Just go get it." Zarrad grabbed his tie and completely undid it, nearly ripping it from his neck. "They’re a reputable firm. It should be enspelled; if not, I’m sure I can get Papa to take care of it. No one but us will know the spell is in the necklace; everyone will think I cast a spell on her. As I would have, if I were a fairy." He sighed. "I wanted to give it to her before dinner tonight, but I can see that’s not going to happen."

"Are you so sure this is a good idea, Boss?" Forrest stood up straight, but kept the chair between him and Zarrad. "Giving an enspelled necklace to a fairy to get her to fall in love with you . . . I don’t know."

"I didn’t ask your opinion. Just get me the necklace. I’ll deal with Nona." Zarrad turned to face the mirror for another try at the bowtie. "I always get what I want, and I want her."

"But—"

"No buts, just get it."

"Where’re you going to be?" Forrest’s reflection appeared in the mirror beside Zarrad’s.

"I don’t know; she hasn’t decided yet. Check the usual places. If you can’t find us, page me." Zarrad angrily finished tying his bowtie, which didn’t dare finish off crooked this time.

"Sure, Boss." Forrest slunk toward the door. "No problem."

"Don’t screw up this time!" Zarrad shouted as the door shut. He sighed at his reflection in the mirror. If his reflection could be trusted, he looked perfect, almost fairy-like, but he doubted the rest of the evening would be so easy.

Why couldn’t things go right just this once? Would some great cosmic plan be disrupted, if just this once things went smoothly?

: )

Jared tried to soothe Mona. Patting her hand wasn’t working, and she’d moved out of his embrace a while ago. He tried putting his arm across the back of the cushiony leather seat, to ease it around her. She squirmed away, and he only managed to get a twinge from his strapped-down wings. He sighed and said, "Everything will be fine."

"I could have done without the extended tour," Mona said through gritted teeth.

"I think we took the most direct route," Jared said. "That’s what I told him earlier."

"I heard you," Mona growled. "But I don’t think he was listening."

The centaur pulled the carriage to a stop in front of the hotel, leaving Jared no more time to calm Mona. Jared so wanted this weekend to go well. The weather was cooperating, warm and clear in the twilight, a sweet breeze cooling the city, but all the plans he’d made seemed to be coming apart.

Perhaps this hotel had been a bad choice. Mona had wanted something cheap, but he intended this weekend to be nice, very nice. So, he’d booked them into a nice hotel. Not the most expensive one in town, but a nice one. It was definitely more expensive than one Mona would have picked.

He withered under her glare as the centaur pulled their suitcases from the carriage and set them on the well-swept cement curb in front of the hotel. Jared hadn’t meant for her to be so upset. Then again, he hadn’t planned for everyone to know his name and run roughshod over his plans either. How did everyone know his name?

Pulling out his worn wallet, Jared motioned to the centaur that he was ready to pay. At least it would delay his next argument with Mona. Though she was right; he could see from the meter on the centaur’s hitch that this had been one expensive, yet ruined, romantic impulse.

"Oh, no, Sir!" The centaur moved to block Mona from seeing the exchange. "I wouldn’t dream of it. It’s on the house." He winked at Jared and extended his hand, palming the money Jared offered. Jared knew the tip was cheap and hoped the centaur might say something to him about it. That way Mona would know he wasn’t just tossing money on the street.

However, the centaur and carriage pulled away without saying a word, and Jared could see Mona standing over their suitcases like a snarling tiger, daring the bellhops to try to take them. He could make out the bellhops’ tentative expressions in the twilight.

"I’ll get the bags." Jared waved to the bellhops.

One nodded back at him. "Yes, Sir, Mr. Silvan."

"Mr. Silvan?" Mona mouthed as she glared at Jared.

What was going on here? How did these people know his name?

"Boss!" someone shouted behind Jared.

Jared glanced back, and almost didn’t recognize Boris running across the street in the gathering nightfall. His surprise at seeing his partner quickly gave way to shock and concern for his business. "What are you doing here? Has something happened?"

"Good thinking, being right across from the jewelry store. Even I could find you," Boris whispered to Jared. Then, smiling at Mona, he held out a box with a flourish, and said loudly, "I’m sorry I forgot to get this to you earlier."

"I thought you said he was minding the store," Mona growled. "Why is he here?"

It was so unlike Boris to interfere that for a moment Jared was speechless. Usually Boris was very businesslike, efficient, and effective, if rather casual and rumpled. Everything about Boris was unusual tonight, from his crisp, expensive-looking clothes to an unaccustomed slouch. And what was he doing in Miami?

Boris spotted the suitcases in Jared’s hand and seemed confused. "Did you want some help with those?"

"No!" Jared found his voice again. "What are you doing here? Has something happened with the business?"

Waving the box, Boris looked even more confused.

Mona snatched the box. "What have we here?" She opened it, and examined the expensive gold-and-silver plaited necklace. She glared at Jared. "You can’t afford this."

"I don’t know anything about it!" Jared turned on Boris. "What are you doing here? Who put you up to this? Where did you get that necklace?"

"Ah. Ah." Boris started backing away from them, down the sidewalk, his shoes scraping across the cement as he tried to feel the walk beneath them without looking away from Jared and Mona. He just kept moving away without turning his back to them.

"Just get back to the business. And stop interfering," Jared shouted.

"This goes back. Now." Mona slapped the closed box down hard on Jared’s suitcase, causing him to lose his grip and drop the suitcase and the jewelry box.

"Shop’s closed," Boris said, just before he turned down a dark, side alley and took off running.

"Jared?" Mona said warningly.

"I’ll take care of it." Jared handed the jewelry box back to Mona. "Tomorrow. Right now, let’s get checked in."

They walked toward the hotel doors in stony silence, and one of the bellhops opened the door. "Evening Mr. Silvan. Miss."

A stray breeze blew Mona’s hair into her face, so Jared could pretend her angry gaze wasn’t burning holes into him as he ushered her into the hotel.

"Who are these people?" Mona whispered fiercely.

"People who work at the hotel? I don’t know."

"They know you," she accused.

"No they don’t." Jared ground his teeth.

"Then how come they call you by name?"

"I don’t know. Maybe it’s a slow day, and we’re the only people checking in tonight." Though that very question was burning through his mind also, and he’d dearly love to have the answer. Assuming it wasn’t his mother. Jared dropped the bags on the floor with a thump and smiled at the woman behind the gleaming walnut check-in counter.

"Good evening, Mr. Silvan."

Jared glared at her and demanded the room he’d reserved. The desk clerk kept trying to upgrade their room, but Jared growled and grumbled every time she tried. She finally shrugged, as if giving in to his whimsical ways.

One glance at Mona convinced Jared he was in for it tonight. He signaled for a bellhop to get their bags. Another extravagance, but he’d take any help to delay the moment Mona started reaming him for things he had no control over.

Mona didn’t say a word until they were alone in their room. Then she just folded her arms, and sighed. "Is there anything you want to tell me?"

"I wish I could." Jared flopped onto his stomach on the hard bed, the thin pillow muffling his voice. "I wish I had an explanation for this. I wish I knew what was going on."

She leaned against the wall next to the bed. "Amelia?"

He sighed and rolled to face her. "Mother knows I’m here. I neglected to tell her I was bringing you. So I doubt she called ahead to make arrangements for us." Jared looked at Mona pleadingly. "You have to believe me. I don’t know these people. I don’t know how they know me. I’m sorry I don’t have a better explanation."

"When I saw Ploof, I guessed it wasn’t Amelia. I can’t see Boris having anything to do with one of her schemes. But maybe he’s changed. This is much too strange," Mona said. Her lips thinned. Even mad and windblown, she was the most beautiful woman he knew. He had to find some way to make this weekend perfect, to make her see how much he loved her, how wonderful their life together could be.

Reaching for her hand, Jared said, "How about we go out to eat? I thought I saw a steak place down the street. Would you like steak?" When she didn’t move, didn’t even twitch a flawless eyebrow, he added, "If you’d prefer seafood, I’ll check with the concierge, and find a nice spot."

"Steak is fine. We’ll walk." Mona headed for the bathroom. "And in the morning the necklace goes back. Right?"

"Promise." Jared looked at the unassuming black jewelry box. Unfortunately it didn’t say where it was from. Boris had said he’d picked it up across the street. There were a lot of shops across the street. He’d have to contact Boris. What was Boris doing in Miami?

At least Mona was still talking to him. That was the most important thing this weekend. Keeping Mona happy and talking to him. Convincing her to come back to him.

He unpacked their bags, a quick chore since they’d only packed for the weekend. Mona had always been a light traveler.

Having finished that, Jared had nothing more to do. The room was a standard hotel room, clean and neat, everything in its place. He adjusted the phone slightly to a more aesthetically pleasing angle, then headed for the window, to check out what part of the city they’d have as a view. From their window he could see buildings, streets, cars, all the usual suspects in a city. For a moment, he wished he’d gone ahead and gotten them a room on the beach, but he doubted the view would be worth the aggravation to Mona. As he closed the curtains, there was a soft knock at the door.

Opening the door, he found someone in the navy and gold uniform of the hotel, waiting with an iced bottle of champagne and two glasses on a room service tray. "Your usual, Mr. Silvan."

"What?" Mona shouted from the bathroom doorway. Jared winced; he hadn’t noticed her opening the door to the bathroom. The mingled scents of her makeup and perfume wafted out of the bathroom with her.

Jared glared at the waiter. "What is going on? I didn’t order anything."

The waiter blinked. "I thought . . . I mean the ticket . . . I was sure this was yours."

"He said, ‘Your usual,’" Mona growled as she grabbed Jared’s arm and turned him to face her. "You want to explain that. You’ve been here often enough to have a usual? At least that explains how they all know your name."

"Oh, no, Ma’am." The glasses on the tray tinkled as the waiter shifted it. "I said, ‘Your order.’" He made a great show of picking up a piece of paper from the tray. "I see. I’m very sorry, Mr. Silvan. I have the wrong room. Sorry to have disturbed you."

"Mr. Silvan?" Mona screeched. "And how does he know you? Hmmm? Explain that." Her grip on Jared’s arm was becoming uncomfortable.

"I don’t know. I’ve never seen him before in my life." Jared slammed the door in the waiter’s face. "Why won’t you believe me?"

"Every time I start to believe you, something like this happens." Mona stalked over to the bed and sat. "And you have no explanation. You could at least try to come up with something that explains all this."

Jared sat beside her. "I don’t have an explanation, because I don’t know what is going on here. I’m sorry. I really am, but there’s nothing I can do about it."

The situation had Amelia written all over it, but Jared had vowed not to even speak his mother’s name or refer to her at all after the disastrous carriage ride. He wasn’t going to let her interfere with his reconciliation with Mona. He wasn’t about to let Amelia mess this up, as she had so many other things. Why couldn’t she just once stay out of his life?

Then again, if it was Amelia, what was Boris doing in this? He wouldn’t have cooperated with Amelia for any reason.

"No." Mona stood up and stepped away from him. "No. I let it slide with the baggage handler, and the centaur with the carriage. I didn’t demand an explanation about the expensive jewelry. But enough is enough. What is going on?"

"I don’t know." Jared jumped up from the bed. "Why won’t you believe me?"

"Would you believe you?" Mona shouted back.

"Yes!" Jared screamed, but in his heart he knew he wouldn’t. He grabbed his jacket, and stormed out the door. "I’ll be in the bar, if you change your mind."

As he waited in the elevator lobby, Jared’s temper cooled. How was he ever going to convince Mona to stay with him now?

; )

Zarrad watched Nona pick at the tray of shrimp, lobster, and calamari hors-d’oeuvres. He’d made his reservations for this very exclusive restaurant, this very table overlooking the city and ocean, months ago. He’d planned every second, every aspect of this crucial moment, and it was all falling apart.

The hushed clinking of crystal, silver, and porcelain could barely be heard above the soft strains of Mozart coming from the string quartet in the corner. Strategically placed pots of lush green plants gave diners a semblance of privacy. Elegant waiters quietly fawned over every patron’s little gastronomic whim. The crisp, white linens contrasted nicely with Nona’s skimpy, glittery, little black dress.

Everything was perfection. Everything but . . .

"You’re cute, Zarrad." Nona looked up at him momentarily. An expression flickered across her face that gave him hope; then she looked back at her plate. "Very cute. But I think—"

He grabbed her hand. "My love, you don’t have to say a word. I’ve been thinking about us, too." Where was that idiot Forrest with the necklace? Maybe he should just go ahead and propose. Maybe she’d surprise him and say yes. Maybe Auveron would give up and go move to Hawaii.

"Yes, ah . . ."

"I’ve been thinking that maybe it’s time we . . ." Zarrad searched for the right phrase. "Get serious" was definitely the wrong thing to say. "Better express our feelings, our passion, for each other."

"Oh, Zarrad." Nona shook her head sadly.

This wasn’t working.

"One moment." Zarrad reached for his pager, tapping the buttons to page Forrest with his location.

"Is something wrong?" Nona asked, looking relieved to change the subject.

"I had a surprise for you. It’s late getting here."

"Oh."

The expression on her face told Zarrad everything he needed to know. She’d planned on breaking up with him, but now wondered if she should stick around for the surprise. He hoped Forrest would get there soon. Otherwise this would be his most complete disaster since . . . well, since he’d survived the separation and his fairy brother hadn’t.

Forrest arrived with the first course. His crisp suit was almost as exclusive as the elegant waiter’s. Though, of course, the waiter wore only black and white. "You need something, Boss?"

"The surprise," Zarrad said. "For Nona."

"Surprise?" Forrest looked confused.

"The necklace I sent you to get." Zarrad could feel his face heating up and turning red with anger.

"I already gave you the necklace, Boss." Forrest slumped, almost cringing, managing to get one awkward step away.

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To see cover photo and other art by Alan L. Lickiss go to:

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