Chapter 15: Chapter 15

“You okay?” Cutter asked as they walked back to their rooms to get their suitcases. Rider had rented an SUV large enough for all of them to ride together, and they were going to meet him downstairs in about fifteen minutes.

“I’m fine,” Ru said, forcing a smile. She could tell by his eyes that he could see right through her, but she didn’t feel like she could explain everything she was feeling.

“Ru, this is going to be great, I promise,” he said, nothing but sincerity in his face. “Everyone is going to love you.”

A few steps away from her door, she stopped. “Yeah, about that.” She turned to face him. “Am I going to be some sort of… oddity everyone stops and stares at, like the bearded woman?”

Cutter took a step forward and began to scrutinize her chin. “Hmmm, I don’t see any whiskers.”

“Ha, ha, very funny. Cutter, I’m serious. I feel like everyone is either going to think I’m the messiah, here to save them, or a farce to laugh at, someone who can’t possibly accomplish what is prophesied about me.” She didn’t know if those were the right words exactly, but she thought he’d get the point.

“Ru, no one expects anything of you. I mean, it would be great if you can help find your mother, of course. She has friends, family members, who would like to know where she’s at, but as far as single-handedly closing the portals, I don’t think anyone assumes you’d be trying to do that. It’ll be fine, I promise you.”

Peering into his eyes, a rush of calmness overcame her, and for the first time in days, she felt like she could breathe deeply. Her lungs expanded, and she felt her heart rate slow. Then, she realized what was happening. “Hey, are you doing that thing where you make me relax just through the power of suggestion?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” His voice was even and serene, but he had a twinkle in his eye.

“Stop that,” she said, but not in a tone as scolding as she would’ve if she’d actually meant it. At least she was aware that she was being manipulated.

“Do you need any help getting Piper?” he asked, trying to change the subject but not lessening his invasion of her feelings.

“No, thanks,” she replied. She’d managed to get everything to her room by herself, so surely she could get it back downstairs. “Seriously, though. When are you going to teach me how to do that?”

“Patience, Padawan!” he called over his shoulder as he headed down the hallway, and as much as Ru wanted to correct the quote, she was just impressed that Cutter had gotten close. Perhaps she and Rider were beginning to rub off on him with their pop culture references.

The ride to Los Angeles from Jackson would take about four hours and would take her through scenic views Ru had only imagined or seen in textbooks. The landscape around her was so different than Upstate New York. They wound through peaks and valleys, plateaus and mountains, climbing in elevation, making their way further and further from civilization. The trees here even looked different, although Ru realized the twisted trunks of the forest etched in her mind were not reality compared to the typical varieties that grew in most areas of New England. Still, the wide-open spaces, the clear blue sky, and the fresh, crisp air captured her attention for most of the drive, calming her spirit at least as well as Cutter’s mind tricks.

She sat in the middle row next to Ivy. Lyric was in the back next to the luggage, and the men were in the front, Rider insisting on driving. For the most part, the rest of them were quiet as well, and she assumed they were letting her set the tone. If she’d wanted to chat, she would’ve surely found a taker, but losing her thoughts in the landscape seemed like a better way to relax than listening to them discuss people and places she didn’t know, so even when one of them would start a conversation, Ru would keep her face pointed out the window, Piper curled in a ball on her lap, contemplating what it would’ve been like to grow up here with all of these wide open spaces and nothing but freedom on the horizon.

It was a little past noon when Rider’s voice caught her attention. “We’re just about there,” he said, his deep voice soothing. Ru took a deep breath and tried to steady herself.

“We’ll drop the girls off first then Rider will take us to my parents’ house,” Cutter explained, turning to look at her. They’d already determined his parents’ place would be the best place for her to stay because they had the most room. Apparently, there were no hotels in Los Angeles. Since the entire population of the town was less than a hundred, Ru wondered what, exactly, there was in Los Angeles. She would be finding out shortly.

A smattering of houses lined the sides of the road as Rider turned off the main highway and wound through the countryside. Eventually, the houses grew closer together, and Ru realized they were there. No sign marked the beginnings of the town, no welcome, no population, and she assumed that was because Los Angeles wasn’t really a place as far as the US government was concerned. It wouldn’t show up on a map or a census. Only Keepers and their human companions lived here, after all, and while there were official records of those people, like birth certificates, the last thing the community needed was to be infiltrated by outsiders. So far, they’d successfully kept everyone out who didn’t have a reason for being there. Ru hoped her reason was good enough to keep them from running her out of town.

Rider turned again and drove a few blocks until coming to a stop in front of a small, white house with a picket fence. “This is me,” Ivy said, smiling. She looked excited, and Ru realized she had no idea how long it had been since any of them had seen their parents. “Take care, Ru,” she said. “I’ll see you later.”

“Bye,” Ru said, just managing to find her voice, and Ivy opened the door, letting in a blast of cold air making Ru glad she had on her heavy coat.

Rider helped her get her luggage out, and Ru watched as a middle-aged couple came out to greet Ivy, who she assumed were the girl’s parents. They looked so happy; Ru was glad, but at the same time, a little melancholy she wouldn’t ever know what that was like, having a set of parents welcome her home.

As they headed back out, Ru realized most of the houses here were small and either white or gray in color. Even the two-story houses looked on the modest side. She wondered why that might be.

Lyric lived in a house about the same size as Ivy’s, painted a pale blue. Her mother came out to greet her, and Ru waved hello, though she was glad the woman didn’t make a big fuss over her. Once Lyric had disappeared into the little house, Ru’s heart caught in her throat. She’d be next, and she’d have to meet Cutter’s parents, which was a bit terrifying. Obviously, they weren’t dating or anything like that, but she wanted to make a good impression on them. He’d become more than a friend; he was more like a mentor, and if they didn’t like her, she wasn’t sure how she’d handle it. Perhaps they’d think she was a waste of their son’s valuable time.

Cutter only lived a few blocks away from Lyric, not that there was much more to the town that would’ve been further away. As Rider pulled into the driveway, Ru took a few deep breaths, wondering if Cutter was too distracted to calm her right now or if she was just too far gone. “Well, kid, here we are,” Rider said, turning to look over his shoulder and smiling. He actually had his own place, which was an anomaly here, it seemed, for someone who wasn’t married, and part of her wanted to stay with him instead, but she knew that was one way to make the town elders upset. Single people did not sleep over in Los Angeles.

“Thanks for driving,” Ru said as Cutter opened her door.

“Sure. I’m gonna go say hello to my folks, and then I’ll come back. I need to spend some time with Aunt Windy anyway.”

Ru gathered up her things and hopped out of the car, Piper tucked under her arm. “See you in a bit then.” By the time she’d managed to get out, Cutter had her suitcase and Piper’s cage. She slipped her cat inside, thinking at least one of them should be able to hide, and grabbed the handle as Cutter got his luggage and closed the back.

“See ya, Rider,” he called, and Ru turned to see a woman standing in the doorway of the house, smiling at them.

She had hair the same color as Cutter’s, the same color as Ru’s, and it was pulled up on top of her head in a bun. She was tall, and even though she was probably in her early fifties, she was quite beautiful, though as Ru approached, she noticed her eyes looked a bit weary, as if she’d had a tumultuous life. It was hard for Ru to imagine anyone in Los Angeles having too many exciting times in their lives, but then, she had to remember, many of the residents were Keepers who had spent years hunting Reapers before returning here to settle down and start families. Who knows exactly what she’d gone through, what she’d seen, how many Reapers she’d sent to their demise?

“Hello, honey,” she said, smiling at Cutter. “How are you?”

“Hi, Mom,” he replied. “Good. Tired.”

“I can imagine. Well, come on in.” Her blue eyes fell on Ru, and her smile somehow broadened. “You must be Ru.”

“Hello, Mrs….” Ru realized she didn’t know her last name. Her maiden name would’ve been Michaels since she was a Keeper related to Archangel Michael, but she didn’t know Cutter’s human father’s last name.

“Please, call me Windy,” she said. “Come on in, dear. It’s so lovely to meet you.” She stepped out of the way, holding the door so Ru could squeeze through.

“I thought I heard something,” a male voice said, entering the living room through what appeared to be an adjoining dining room. Cutter’s father looked nothing like him. His hair was a dark brown and he was probably a few inches short of six feet. But he had a friendly smile. “How are you, Son?” he asked as Cutter dropped his bags and hugged him.

“I’m good, Dad,” he said, releasing his dad and embracing his mother, who was waiting patiently. Then, he turned back to his father. “Dad, this is Ru. Ru, my dad, Walt Dawson.”

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Dawson,” Ru said, taking his outstretched hand.

“You, too,” he said, shaking her hand. “But, please, it’s Walt.”

“Right,” Ru nodded, though she couldn’t imagine calling either of his parents by their given names.

Windy stepped over and rested her hand on Ru’s shoulder. “We’ve made up the guest room for you, dear. It’s upstairs. I bet you’re tired. We’ll help you get situated, and if you’d like to take a little rest, you can. Or are you hungry? Have you had lunch?”

There were so many questions, Ru wasn’t sure which one to answer first. Luckily, Cutter said, “I’ll take her up, Mom. We’ll let you know about lunch in a bit.”

“Okay.” Windy smiled. “We have chicken salad. Or I could make a pasta salad.”

Cutter grabbed Ru’s luggage, leaving his own behind. “Thanks, Mom. Ru?”

Bringing Piper’s cage and her purse, she said, “Thank you,” to both of his parents and then followed him up the narrow staircase.

The upstairs was much smaller than Angel Grove. It looked like there were only three bedrooms and a bathroom up here, and Cutter headed straight for the first room on the left. She followed. When he pushed the door open, she was surprised at what she saw. The room was painted blue, and there was a twin bed and worn oak furniture, which seemed to have been well-used. Cutter set her suitcase and overnight bag down and then took a deep breath, resting his hands on his hips. He surveyed the room quietly for a moment before slowly turning to face her. It was evident there was sadness behind his eyes, but Ru didn’t know if she should ask why. She set Piper’s cage down on the ground, hoping he’d say something.

“You can set up her food and litter box in here or the bathroom,” he said, quietly. “My parents don’t mind.”

“Thanks.”

Cutter nodded. “My room is across the hall. I know the bed’s not very big. Do you think it’ll work?”

Ru looked around, as if she were actually considering his question. She had no problem with the accommodations. “It’s great.”

He nodded again, still looking solemn. “My sister won’t get back to town for a few more days.”

Relieved that she wouldn’t have to meet the whole family all at once, Ru only nodded.

Cutter continued. “Rider said he’d be over in a bit, but you can do whatever you like. Are you hungry?”

“No, I’m fine.” The big breakfast she’d eaten at the hotel was still sitting in her stomach like a rock.

“Well, you can help yourself to anything in the kitchen. My parents are very laid back.”

“That’s cool. They seem really nice.”

“Yeah, they’re great.” He looked around the room again, and that haunted look in his eyes drew her forward; she wanted to touch him, to comfort him somehow, even though she wasn’t sure exactly what was wrong. “Do you need anything else?”

Piper stirred in her carrying case, and Ru thought she had everything she needed. “I’m fine. Thanks.”

“All right. Just holler if you need anything.”

“Okay.”

He managed a smile, a forced one, and then headed toward the door, closing it behind him. Ru watched him go, wondering what had changed his disposition so drastically, and then dropped onto the bed, taking a few deep breaths. The mattress was definitely softer than the one in the hotel, and it felt like it might be new. The light blue bedspread also looked unused.

A meow reminded her that Piper wanted out, and she dropped to her knees to open the cage, thinking she’d set her kitty’s area up over by the closet, but that could wait. Once Piper was free, she scooped her up and leaned back against the headrest, her shoes hanging over the side so that she didn’t dirty the bedding. Piper began to purr, and Ru tried not to ask herself exactly what she’d gotten herself into. Here she was, half a country away from New York, on a school night, no longer employed, staying with a person she hardly knew, in a room that clearly held secrets, trying to hunt down a ghost of a mother, and lock away creatures from Hell. “Sounds pretty normal to me,” Ru muttered. She kicked her shoes off and spread out on the bed, realizing she was more tired than she had thought. Maybe everything would seem less ridiculous when she opened her eyes again.