The Haven....chapter 5

I followed Miranda down the derelict hallway, trying not to notice the water-stained ceilings and dusty floors. It was easier than it had been the first time, though it was still alien to me and my usual atmosphere. Now I had something to occupy me, an incredible concept revolving around the inside of my head.1

Could magic actually exist? And if it was, could I be more than human?2

I was happier than I should have been at the prospect, but I couldn't help it. The slightest possibility that I was sane was uplifting.3

And now that I refused to collapse every time I saw something impossible, I seemed to be finding proof in Miranda's claims; the scales scattered over her legs and shoulders, just visible from under the sleeves of her t-shirt and above her boots. And the glimmers I caught sight of from the corners of my eyes that disappeared when I turned to look at them, as if they were shy.4

Not that I was convinced. I still could be crazy, delusional. So I just watched silently, weighing the situation in my mind.5

Miranda paused before a stairwell that led down into a room filled with the clanging of cookware and several strange voices. I closed in my eyes and breathed in a delicious aroma; the smell of French toast and bacon. My stomach grumbled. What did I care that the steps were rickety and the ceiling over them sagged with age? I hadn't eaten since Grandfather's party, whenever that had been.6

She turned to look at me, and told me seriously, “Okay, Zoe, you're doing great so far. But you've got to promise me something.”7

I nodded. 8

“We're going into the main kitchen. All of the permanent residents eat here. They're all too obviously different to live in the human world, like me. So you can't freak out and make that face again, okay? Like I said earlier, Malachi guessed you might not know, but some of them just aren't as cool as me.”9

“What face?” I asked, half-teasingly.10

Miranda widened her eyes and let her jaw drop. She covered her eyes with trembling fingers, peeking out from between them. “This face.” she whispered, and grinned.11

I blushed.“I promise.”12

Her grin grew wider and she flew down down the stairs, taking them two at a time, her pink hair as bright as a flame behind her. I followed with enough caution for both of us.13

My first thought was that the kitchen was very warm, and very big. There were only a few windows, but the light falling through them illuminated the room, which seemed flawless compared to the rest of The Haven. The stove, oven, the refrigerator, all were obviously secondhand, but were well-maintained. And it was well-stocked; I could see a pantry that seemed to go on for miles, filled with food.14

“Is she alright?” a disdainful female voice asked, as if she were hoping I wasn't. As if I couldn't hear.15

I turned to see a small group sitting at a large wooden table, covered with a morning's flotsam and jetsam. Once again, the gorgeous girl with purple eyes glared at me, her long silvery hair plaited down her back like a moonbeam. Her perfect face was twisted into a look that echoed the emotions I felt and knew to be hers-contempt, curiosity, and....jealousy?16

But for what reason could this girl be jealous of me? I was surely imagining things.17

“Well?” The beautiful girl asked, raising a pale eyebrow. In response, Miranda spoke up angrily from behind me.18

“She's fantastic, Heather. Zoe, meet my roommate.”19

“Hello.” I said, trying to be polite. Heather smiled, her sarcasm evident in her strange, purple eyes.20

Strange? Or possibly magical?21

The boy lounging across from Heather suddenly broke into unamused laughter. It was the kind of thing I usually heard at one of my mother's parties, light and airy, an attempt to cover up the last few minutes that never fully worked. “ Why don't you pretend to be nice for once, Heather? This one's new.” He chuckled as he stood, stretching his rail-thin body and walking toward me.22

If I had thought Miranda's look was rebellious, than the boy was from a different world altogether: his hair was long and stringy, its original color disguised by an entire rainbow of colored streaks. His face was covered in acne scars, lacking Miranda's wild comeliness and eons away from Heather's perfection, but seemed friendly enough. Though his eyes, a frightening shade of , were too penetrating and curious to trust.23

And I didn't trust him, no matter how hard I tried to be neutral. The aura he gave off was like a dead fish, cold and disgusting. Slimy.24

“I'm not a 'that one'”, I told him coolly, remembering to keep my face normal. “Or simply a 'she'. I'm Zoe. It's not a hard name, why don't you use it?”25

The rainbow-haired boy smiled, his eyebrows peaking in surprise. “Hungry, then, Zoe?” He asked, waving a hand lazily at the stove. The burner clicked off, and a griddle dumped its heap of contents onto a plate, which zoomed to the table along with a pitcher of orange juice and a bottle of maple syrup with no physical help whatsoever.26

“This is Nero.” Miranda said, appearing suddenly at my shoulder, beaming. “He's a demi, like me.”27

The platter, pitcher, and bottle clattered angrily onto the table. “Halfer.” Nero retorted. “Half human, half witch, and scum to both. Now eat before I change my mind.”28

Miranda only shrugged. “There's someone I want you to meet.” She declared, turning us both toward a dark doorway. “Get over here, Ace!”29

My heart began to feel full as a fourth hand made itself known while its owner stirred hesitantly in the shadow. Sighing impatiently, Miranda skipped over and grabbed the figure by the front of his shirt.30

And the new boy was dragged into the light.31

Ace's arms were wrapped in white bandages that traveled from his fingertips to inside the sleeves of his inconspicuous t-shirt. His neck was also encircled by bandages, which strained under the tension caused as he cringed away from Miranda's grip.32

“This is Acacias. He's been at The Haven since it was created. Ace, this is Zoe.” I smiled timidly, wondering if she knew she was blushing.33

I could understand now why Ace was excluded from the almost-family Miranda had found at The Haven. He looked slightly older than she and I, probably 18 or so, and broodingly handsome. But he seemed sickly too; his visible skin was as pale as his bandages, and although he was taller than everyone in the room, he had the presence of a ghost. There were dark circles under his ancient brown eyes. His hair was light brown and military short, emphasizing his stoic expression.34

There was something under that disguise though, which only he and now I could feel: Disgust, loneliness, love, and desire. And something else, something I couldn't quite recognize....35

“Hello.” I said again, more from interest than politeness this time. Ace stared down at his feet, also bandaged. 36

“'Lo” He mumbled. His voice was soft, with a touch of an unnameable accent. Quickly, he turned and walked to the table, sitting carefully, making sure he wouldn't accidentally rub against his future seat mate. Not once did he look back at us.37

Miranda winced at me reassuringly, before following Ace, arguing with Heather and Nero over slices of bacon and the syrup. Cautiously, I followed, sitting at the end of the table. Someone slid a plate down to me. I stared at it blankly for a minute before I remembered.38

“Oh! Where is the room I slept in? I should go get that girl-my roommate.”39

“Cassandra?” Miranda asked, surprised. 40

Heather sighed as she picked at her food. “Ugh, don't worry about her. She never eats with us. She literally lives in that garden, won't eat anything she doesn't grow herself.”41

Apparently I'm not the only one at The Haven who annoys Heather, I thought as I pulled my plate closer, evaluating its contents. The smell was mouthwatering, and I was certainly hungry. Why waste it?42

Tentatively, I stabbed a piece of bacon with my fork. As I lifted it to my mouth, I saw Miranda watching me. She grinned, caught in the act. Do it she mouthed, before turning to tease Nero, her earlier transgression seemingly forgotten by both. Or at least for now.43

But why should I care? It wasn't my argument, no matter how much I felt otherwise. I looked back at my raised fork, my full plate, and it suddenly held no appeal. There were simply too many things warring inside my head, combining with the painfully full feeling in my heart.44

I set my fork down on my plate quietly, and stared out the window behind me. It was the perfect summer day far below in New York City; clear and bright, the skyscrapers in the distance seeming to kiss the cloudless blue sky crowning the world. A smile fought back a small part of my confusion and strangeness at the sight, proof that somethings would always be constant. The changes in the sky, for one, and the life in New York. As long as I had those, as long as I could see them, I could survive anything. I could deal with this.45

Abruptly, someone clambered noisily down the steps into the kitchen. I whipped around to see a tall boy leaning against the wall, shaking the thick dust that coated him out of his black hair. 46

“The ceiling in the elevator shaft collapsed. I've been trying for the last hour to fix it.” The newcomer explained. I stiffened at the soft sound of his voice. “I braced it pretty well, but it's no permanent fix. Nero, could you go-” He straightened up and saw me.47

And as suddenly as he had appeared, he grew silent.48

“Finally he notices!”Miranda exclaimed delightedly, leaping up and pulling me out of my chair towards the boy who watched mutely, his strange black eyes and glorious face shocked and puzzled.49

“Malachi, this is Zoe. She's basically proof that you're a genius or something, because she's the QUEEN of denial!” Miranda said quickly as we nearly crashed into him. “Zoe, this is Malachi. He's like my brother or something.”50

I opened my mouth to speak and found that I couldn't. There was something different about Malachi, something that had become more and more evident the closer I was to him. And now that he, Miranda, and I were standing together, I couldn't doubt even myself. 51

The four hands on my heart and all the emotions they brought with them, from Nero's slipperiness to Miranda's independence, had suddenly disappeared, forced out by many indescribable feelings intertwined. All of which could belong to no one if not Malachi.52

The odd thing was, it was somehow liberating and bonding at the same time. 53

Miranda chattered on, oblivious.“Yeah, I know we don't look alike or anything, but I swear, I think one of us got sent to the wrong parents or something. Probably him, no offense Malachi. But we're both classic rock freaks, and seriously, how common is that nowadays? And my Dad likes him too! The only thing stopping us from actually adopting him is that we'd probably have say somewhere 'hey, just so you know, the kid has win-'”54

Malachi suddenly reached over and clamped a large, tanned hand over Miranda's mouth. She pried it off, only to continue. “See how brotherly that was? God, we must be related!”55

“I don't really care how brotherly you think I am, you should be careful about what you say!”Malachi growled in his soft voice. 56

And that was my cue. “I already know.” I stated. “Miranda tried to explain it all earlier, and I'm finally starting to understand.”57

His hands fell to his sides, but his beautiful face was guarded. “How much do you know, Zoe?”58

“That magic apparently exists outside of fairy tales. And that I'm not crazy.” I grinned. “Oh, and Miranda's a demi-mermaid, Nero can make things levitate...... and you're an angel.”59

The last part had slipped out, but I couldn't doubt that it was true. Even if I had forgotten the wings, it would have made the most sense. It would seem impossible to me that anyone could be so beautiful and interesting and still be human. 60

And I hadn't forgotten those gray-feathered wings.61

Heather suddenly snorted, and I could hear the possessive jealously I couldn't hear. But Malachi laughed, a full, wonderful sound that drowned her out. “I wish!” he chuckled, brushing back hair. “I really wish.”62

Still laughing, he walked over to the table and sat down next to Heather. I turned to Miranda, who looked relieved for some reason. 63

“What does he mean? Was I wrong?”64

“Not really, but you weren't right either. Are you going to eat anything? Because one of The Haven's redeeming points is definitely the food.”65

I looked at the clock on the microwave and gasped. “I can't! Dammit, how long did I sleep? God, my parents have probably mobilized the National Guard by now! Where's all my stuff? Where's the nearest subway station?”66

Malachi's laughter ended abruptly. “I thought she said you had explained everything, Miranda.”67

“Not everything obviously,” she sighed, motioning me to sit down at the table with her. Mystified, I followed. 68

“Zoe, how much do you remember from two nights ago? The night those freaks attacked you?”69

I stiffened. “That was a nightmare, or something. It couldn't be real.”70

“This is our world, Zoe.” Malachi said seriously. “Anyone else's dream is our reality. Your reality.”71

I shook my head, as a stream of images flowed through my mind; of the darkness, of cold hands forcing me against an alley wall, of Kate's screams as a corpse-like woman decided to “take care of her first”.....72

“What happened?”I whispered. “I don't understand.”73

Malachi leaned towards me, leaning his elbows on the table. “You were attacked by vampires. Don't worry, you're fine.” he added, as my fingers anxiously began tracing my neck. “For the past 100 years or so, vampires have acted as mercenaries for more powerful beings in our world. Unfortunately, the only group in the city powerful enough right now to hire vampires is the Belial.”74

“The Belial?”75

“One of the highest legions of demons, named for their founder. They rarely leave Hell, but when they do, they have a purpose. Which means that the mercenaries were after you for a reason.”76

I stared at him curiously.“But you saved me.”77

“It's kind of his thing.” Miranda said teasingly. “Falling from the sky, saving the distressed, showing off his wings. All in a day's work.”78

Malachi grinned, embarrassed, and glanced down at his hands on the tabletop. “I got there in time, right? For awhile you really had me scared....I thought you were going into shock or something.”79

“No, no, you were great.” I said hurriedly. “But what happened to Kate?”80

“Kate?”He looked up, confused.81

“She's my best friend....she followed me into the alley and they heard her....Anastasia said she was going to take care of her before she called the client....God, I heard her scream!It's all my fault, I should have taken that whole God damn bottle of vodka and smashed it against the wall!” I pressed my cheek against the table's polished wood. The kitchen fell absolutely silent, the sounds of breakfast stifled as witnesses became eavesdroppers.82

“I didn't see anyone else besides you and the one holding you against the wall. The other one was farther away, I could feel her.” Malachi told me. I watched numbly, face still pressed against the tabletop as he slid a hand over towards mine, stopping just before our fingers touched. “But I'm sure she's fine. If either of them had fed, I would have known.”83

Fed. I shuddered and slowly sat up. “Can I use your phone?” I asked. “I need to make sure she's okay. I should call my parents off too, so I don't have to answer to the police when I get home.”84

Malachi shot a look at Miranda, who turned away. “I'm sorry, Zoe.”she said to the wall.85

I stared at her, bewildered. “ Members of the Belial have surrounded The Haven.” Malachi explained in the background, as I felt his anger sweep through me as well. “Which means they know where you are, and they know where you've been. They're watching your parents, waiting for you to make a move.”86

“You should feel honored.” Nero suddenly chuckled. “They don't usually waste so much effort on one being. So not only are you powerful, you're also important, whatever you are.”87

“I don't understand!” I cried, looking from face to face, some pitiful, some cold, and one unreadable. Malachi's. “What does this all mean?”88

A perfect, cold face answered me, with a voice to match. “It means you're stuck here.” Heather told me, the sunlight that filled the kitchen crowning her silvery hair. “Welcome to your prison.”89