We Faced a Goddess

It had been a month since I moved in with Aunt Paige and it was almost time that I started school. It was going to be my senior year and I was actually excited. It didn’t hit me how unhappy I actually was with Michael at my old school until I went back to school shopping. He didn’t really let me be with my friends and I drifted away from them. He brought my grades down a lot because he insisted on being my only focus. Man, he was a jerk…

Aunt Paige took me to get school supplies and then to the mall for some clothes. I felt bad for spending Aunt Paige’s money but she told me not to worry about it. Apparently, she was a one hit wonder years ago and she still gets royalties for her song. Still, spending too much money wasn’t my thing so I stuck to sales racks.

Anyways, while walking through the crowded mall, someone caught my eye. I turned my head to see Keres walking through the crowd alone. I told my aunt I’d be right back and I headed in the same direction as Keres. I weaved through the masses but somehow lost sight of her.

I made my way to a somewhat empty book store just to get away from all the people. Then I saw her again. She was radiant in all honesty. I don’t understand how I could have lost her in the crowd. I calmly made my way over to Keres and stopped a few feet away. I hesitated for what felt like minutes before managing to speak.

“Keres?” My voice managed to tremble out.

“Bonnibelle!” She exclaimed before wrapping her arms around me. I barely knew this girl and she was hugging me. Needless to say, it was awkward. “Wait!” Keres said pulling away, “how are you here?” She paused then gasped and continued, “you’re one too! That’s the only explanation…”

“What are you talking about?” I asked.

“Oh nothing. Don’t worry about it.” Keres just brushed it off and continued looking at books.

“Alright then I’ll just…”

“It’s probably best if you do go. My dad owns this store. He’ll be back in three minutes and twenty-seven seconds.”

“Okay then…” I said. Geez this girl was strange. “He doesn’t like me much does he?”

“My dad doesn’t really like anyone. He’s weird.” She said that as if she wasn’t weird. “Oh, I need to get going as well! I’ll see you later Bonnibelle.” With that Keres left.

I turned the corner outside of the shop and I bumped into Mr. Nicolau. He seemed shocked to see me rather than irritated.

“Miss Bonnibelle,” he said surprised, “how nice to see you again.”

“Hello Mr. Nicolau. I…”

“Call me Ambrus please,” he cut me off.

“Okay, Ambrus,” I continued, “I was just checking out the books and stuff…”

“You talked to Keres.” He stated.

“Uh, yeah.” There was no use lying to him. I mean what could he do? Get a restraining order? He opened his mouth to speak when Aunt Paige walked up to us.

“Hey kiddo!” She exclaimed while placing her hands on my shoulders.

“Hey, Aunt Paige,” I said calmly, “this is Mr. Nic… I mean Ambrus, our neighbor.”

“Oh, of course,” Aunt Paige laughed nervously, “well we have to get going, kiddo. We have, um, stuff to do…” She was obviously lying. She just didn’t want me hanging around with the man who supposedly killed his wife and made her into his daughter. To be honest, if that was true, I wouldn’t want my niece hanging around much either.

Aunt Paige pulled me away and we walked out to the car. It wasn’t a long trip to the mall but I managed to get a few things before seeing Keres. The whole drive home was basically Aunt Paige telling me to stay away from Ambrus and Keres. Was I going to stay away? Of course not. I was a curious teenager who was told not to do something.

That afternoon, Aunt Paige and I were picking up the house some when there was a knock at the door. Aunt Paige rushed to get it. As soon as it was open I heard it slam shut.

“Hell no,” she said walking away, “Bonnibelle, you go handle that.” I walked to the door and found Ambrus on the other side.

“Oh hey, Ambrus, sorry about Aunt Paige. She’s just a little stressed. After all her brother died and she got sole custody of her seventeen-year-old niece.” I tried to make up more excuses for Aunt Paige being so rude but nothing else came to mind.

“It’s fine, Miss Bonnibelle,” he didn’t seem to care about how Aunt Paige acted, “people act like that towards me all the time. Anyways, I stopped by to see if you and your aunt would like to come over tonight for dinner. I figured knowing at least one of my neighbors would be good in case something were to happen and Keres seems to like you.”

“Um, yeah. Sounds good. I’ll be there for sure. I’ll have to check with Aunt Paige, but I’m sure she’d love to come.” I was lying of course. Aunt Paige wouldn’t go to Ambrus’ house even if her life depended on it.

“Good, let’s say six.”

“Sound great, sir. See you then.”

I closed the door and ran up to Aunt Paige’s room I explained that Ambrus invited us over and I accepted. She had some pretty colorful words to say about it, but she did agree to go with me. Despite being terrified of Ambrus’ past, Aunt Paige wanted to make sure I was safe. She said she didn’t need her brother coming back to haunt her because I ended up a shrunken head or anything.

I walked to my room so I could get ready for that evening. When I turned on my light I heard a knock at my window. I figured it was a squirrel... until it knocked again. I turned my light off and walked to the window. I peeked around the curtain and saw Keres standing outside on my roof. Relieved I opened the window to talk to her.

“Can I help you?” I asked.

“Just figured I’d come over and help you pick out an outfit for tonight.” Keres smiled. “I hope I’m not intruding.”

“No, it’s cool. How did you…?”

“Oh, I got a ladder. Yeah, I was going to just put a plank of wood between the houses but I didn’t want to fall. That would have been nasty.” Keres didn’t seem focused. She kept looking around the room.

“So, outfits?” I asked.

“Yeah, I’m not really here for that. I don’t even know why I said that.” She confessed. “I just didn’t want you to be scared or anything to go over to my house. I already know your aunt is terrified of us, but there is no reason to be. I know the rumors. My dad has tried to keep them from me but I know.”

“I knew they were just rumors!” I said proudly. “I mean who would believe that kind of stuff?”

“Heh, yeah...” Keres trailed off, “just… you don’t have to be afraid of us. No matter what, you don’t have to be afraid of us…”

“Okay?” From how Keres was explaining all of this I became worried. What would I have to be afraid of? Were any of the rumors real? Maybe I made a mistake in accepting the dinner invitation that night.

Keres left my room and I changed for the dinner. I couldn’t cancel on them. Something inside of me said don’t go but something else was screaming “YOU NEED TO GO.” Aunt Paige was hesitant to leave the house but I managed to drag her outside. The evening was still warm despite the fact it would soon be fall. I took a few deep breaths as I walked to Ambrus and Keres’ house. As I knocked on the door I held my breath.