chapter Sixteen
“Zerieve, we’re back, you selfish dictator!” Zanika slammed the door behind her, kicking her shoes off again. It had started to rain on their way back, so the dust they’d both been coated in had turned to mud.
Zerieve rolled into the chair she was sitting on into the main hall, and gave them a snobby look. “Clean up before you make a mess. Darcia and Mathieu are staying the night.”
“I already knew they were spending the night, bimbella.” Zanika grumbled, trying to ease out of her muddy shirt without getting it on her hair. She put it back down after she realized that she couldn’t get it off without a huge mess.
“Oh yes. Your insults are so original.”
Mathieu cut between their banter, “If I can get a shower, I’ll cook dinner.”
“That sounds delightful. Darcia says that cooking for the family has become your forte.” Zerieve called as she wheeled back into her office.
Zanika pulled a face aimed down the hall, then turned to him, “You can use my shower to clean up. We’ve got sweats somewhere around here that should fit you. I’ll find them for you.” Mathieu smiled and followed her to the designated shower. While he stripped down and got into the shower, Zanika put out a towel and dug around until she found a pair of sweat pants for him, along with a loose white shirt.
Once he was cleaned up and dressed again, his damp hair tied back, and he made his way back down the main hall to the kitchen. He hasn’t realized how plush the carpet was until he was sinking his toes into it as he walked, springing lightly as he went.
Poking around in an investigative manner, he found a cooler in a pantry full of fresh cuts of meats. Mathieu picked four large cuts, then started to season them with whatever spices he found while the grate in the center of the stove heated up. There were vegetables in the fridge that had been harvested recently, which he sliced and sautéed, along with some potatoes that he put into the over and baked. To complete the main dish, he wiped up a gravy sauce in a pan as his steaks sizzled away.
“Now for the appetizer…” He drummed his fingers on his chin thoughtfully, nodding absently absently when he decided to make homemade onion rings. There was a garden-fresh onion in the crisper that he pealed the first layer of and sliced the rest into this rings. “Oil…oil…” Mathieu dug in the pantry for the lard.
After scooping some of the lard into the pan, he put it to melt. Coating the rings of onion in a homemade batter he whipped up, he waited until the oil was nice and hot to start frying them. Between each of the rings being fried, Mathieu worked at mixing a crepe batter for dessert. He would make them fresh after the main portion of the meal and planned to fill them with fresh fruit. Cooking always helped to occupy his mind, and he was still trying not to think about the supposed relationship between the very sweet Zanika, and the a*shole Solomon. Mathieu began to whisk the batter more vigorously.
It didn’t take long for the vultures to descend upon the kitchen, mouths water. “That smells heavenly. When do we eat?” Darcia peaked over his shoulder, snagging a fresh onion ring as it came out of the hot oil. “Eck!” Dropping it onto the plate covered by a paper towel, he blew on his fingertips.
“Hot? Idiot…” Mathieu smiled rather devilishly as he fried up the last few before turning the stove off and sending Darcia to the already set table with the plate of appetizers, Zanika and Zerieve trailing him.
~*~
Finishing doing the dishes, Mathieu came to rest at the sitting room. Darcia had his pipe lit up while Zanika mulled over a flower that the raven has brought. “I tell you, that was heavenly. I wish I could cook like that.”
“Oh,” he blushed, “it’s not too hard. While you’re home with us, you can help me cook and you’ll get the basics down.”
Smiling sweetly, she batted her lashes at him. “How very sweet of you. So when do you boys want to leave tomorrow?” Zanika inquired.
Before he could respond, Darcia stole the question, taking a long pull on his pipe before speaking. “The earlier you two hens are ready to depart the better. It we can get back before the high point of the day, we won’t have to stop and cool the carriage.”
Zerieve waved a hand before her face to waft away the smoke Darcia blew her way. “We can be ready right after breakfast, if that’d be easier for you two. There is a thing or two I must attend to before we leave, but I can handle them before bed. And you, Zanika?”
“Well,” she puffed up importantly, “my work is finished and the rest of the farmers can pick the extra slack. We’ll just have to tell someone as we leave that we’ll be back and not to worry.”
“Only you worry about the farmers and making sure that they won’t be worried while we’re gone. You coddle them.”
Zanika’s eyes narrowed, “Excuse me, Zerieve, but I happen to care about the people that live in this vicinity. You may be about the facts and figures, but the people are more important than the paperwork.”
Darcia waved a hand in a nonchalant manner, drawing the attention of all three people on the room. “Don’t fight, beauties. It’s unbecoming. Now, I’m going to tell you two very amazing girls goodnight, pat The Duchess’s head, and retired to my room. Follow suit if you wish.” And he did as he said he would, kissing the forehead of each girl and telling them goodnight, then patted Mathieu head in a fatherly way before disappearing into the bedroom he was staying in for the night. Mathieu smiled politely at both girls as they took Darcia’s advice and headed for his own borrowed room, which happened to be the living room. He took the afghan off the back of the sofa and curled up under it, falling asleep quickly.
~*~
Sometimes, Mathieu was sure that morning came too early. He was in the middle of a very pleasant dream involving a river and a mostly naked blond man when the sun danced in through the window, casting its rays across his face. Groaning, he blinked into consciousness out of his pleasurable dream and sat up. The house was silent beyond, so he decided to make some breakfast for his hosts. Something told him that the two girls weren’t the best cooks.
It wasn’t long after he put the pancakes down to cook that he heard the creak of the first door open. A bleary-eyed Darcia came into the kitchen, his hair in disarray. “Coffee.” He practically growled, sharp teeth glinting in the early morning light.
Mathieu pointed over his shoulder at the coffee maker and the mug already set out. “I put cinnamon in it. I know that’s how you drink it at the house.”
“Thanks, kid. Are those blueberry?”
“Blackberry, but I could make some blueberry ones if you want.” Mathieu flipped the first round of pancakes and smiled as the females joined them in the kitchen, both in various states of undressed. “Well aren’t you two sexy.”
“Says the gay guy.” Zanika kissed his cheek and went to get a cup of her own coffee.
Darcia sat at the breakfast bar with a yawn, “Nah, blackberry is fine.”
“That’s my cup, Zanika.”
“Too bad. Use a different one.”
“Why can’t you just use your own stuff once in a while?” Zerieve asked in a heated tone, “Just once, could you buy your own shampoo? How about conditioner? Or maybe your own bed? I don’t need you stealing my blankets every night.”
Zanika laughed and took a sip of her drink, “You wouldn’t know how to sleep alone. It’s not like you ever bring a man home.”
“I do, you just don’t see them!”
“Oh yes, I forgot about that boyfriend you had. What was him name again? Joe Imaginary, wasn’t it?” Zanika skittered out of the reach of her sister, and hid behind Darcia before stealing a pancake as it came off the griddle. “Eck! Hot!” She dropped it onto the counter, blowing on her fingers. “Darc, it huuuuurts.”
The raven rolled his eyes and reached back, patting her head. “Don’t do stupid things then.”
Zerieve did the civilized thing and got a plate for her breakfast. “I think that we should leave in an hour or so. Mathieu, I took the liberty of washing your clothes while you showered, so they are clean, and Darcia, some of your clothing is still here if you need it.”
Zanika made a rude face and mimed talking, imitating her twin. “I think we’ll leave whenever they are ready. It’s like we get visitors here often, so let them enjoy it.” She wrapped her arms around Darcia’s shoulders. “And Darcia never visits anymore because you’re so mean.”
“We have a schedule that needs to be kept, Zanika. You’ve never understood the finer points of actually being responsible. Your bag is already packed, because I knew you wouldn’t do it, so there isn’t a reason to delay our leave.” Zerieve said, cutting neatly through her pancakes.
“Excuse me,” Zanika snapped her fingers in her sister’s face, “Madam Dictator, was it? Since when are you in charge of what I, or anyone else for that matter, do?”
Giving her sister a flat look, Zerieve slapped her hand onto the counter, “Well, I’m just so sorry for having a plan. I won’t plan anything anymore! We’ll just let everything fall to chance, as you’d have it!”
“I never-”
Mathieu cleared his throat, interrupting them, “Um, does anyone want more, or should I shut the griddle off?” He asked. It seemed that those two were always at each other’s throats and now he understood what Darcia had meant about being the referee between them.
Darcia gave him an amused smile before standing and stretching. “Ladies, I’m going to shower and then I’ll be ready to go. Try not to kill each other while I’m gone.”
“She is an ignorant, pigheaded-”
“I really don’t care, Zerieve. Sort it out amongst yourselves.” Nodding to them, Darcia just walked away, leaving Zerieve glaring after him, Zanika stealing her last pancake, and Mathieu giving him a pleading look.
“Strong sense of duty, my ass.” Mathieu mumbled, getting his own breakfast.
Zanika looked at him, head tilted. “What was that?”
He shook his head, replying, “Nothing.”
“Were you checking out Darcia?” Zanika said with an eyebrow wiggle.
“I think not. Little old for my taste. How old is he anyway?”
Zanika’s brow furrowed as she counted. “He’d be…forty-one?”
“Oh, wow…”
“Still kind of sexy for his age though, right? I think it’s those hard muscles…”
Zerieve rolled her eyes. “Let’s not talk about this. Zanika, you need to go get ready to leave.”
She glowered at her sister, “Don’t tell me what to do.” Then she turned to Mathieu. “And I think you mean he’s too young. Solomon is much older than Darcia.”
~*~
Mathieu was ready to club the clones to death as his head gave another painful throb. Since they had left a few hours ago, the females in the back had done nothing but argue, with Darcia occasionally refereeing the pair. They were almost to the Tri-District Manor, driving back along the coastal road. Niveus was curled up in his lap, seeking protection from the constant pestering from Zanika.
Finally, he snapped as their bickering got louder. “Enough! Okay, let’s lay down some ground rules, right now. Over the next few days, there will be no fights about coffee cups, no mention of the shortcomings of each other’s wardrobe, no bickering about the importance of your roles in running your district, nor any commentary about any of the other’s body parts or their functions. Do we understand each other?”
Both girls’ mouths were gaping at him, but he ignored them, instead focusing on releasing his death grip on the steering wheel. He could see Nathan’s home from here. Without a second thought, he put his foot a bit heavier on the gas, wanting to be there and out of the car as soon as possible.
The carriage sped along until they were pulling around back of the house, bypassing the high wall that enclosed the courtyard. Mathieu was out of the carriage before it came to a complete stop, taking a deep breath of the fresh air. But his headache only intensified when he looked towards the house and saw through the glass wall a room full of yelling people. “Why? What did I ever do to deserve this?”
Steeling his nerves, he opened the door for Zanika, who hoped out with unusual excitement, and ran for the house, pulling the door wide so that the cacophony from within filled the air outside. Darcia came to stand beside him, laying a heavy hand on his shoulder.
“You’ll be fine, kid, but we should get in there before someone gets beheaded.” He laughed and helped Zerieve, holding his arm out to her. “Shall we?”
Mathieu waved them off in annoyance, picking up Niveus. He entered the house, and stepped into the battle zone commonly referred to as a kitchen. Voices, and insults, volleyed around the room, reverberating around in his head.
“Say that again, you stupid, pink-haired hag!” Josette growled at Elise, standing protectively in front of Adele.
At almost the same moment, Mina gave off a piercing sound before her eyes narrowed on the firestarter, “Watch your mouth, sweet cheeks, if you want to keep your face so pretty.”
Elric put a hand on her shoulder, trying to calm her, “It really isn’t Josette’s fault. Elise isn’t exactly being fair about this.”
“Of course he’s going to take her side. He can’t resist the innocent, easy type.” Kiev snorted.
To which Avanon laid a hot hand on the blonde, burning her. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. Elric is defending her because she didn’t do anything wrong!”
“Or because he loves her.”
Zanika giggled at the din and Zerieve, who had entered with just behind him, shot her a dirty look. Darcia rolled his eyes and disappeared into the rest of house, carrying the girls’ luggage.
Practically yelling over the pandemonium, Zerieve aimed her statement at her sister, “Don’t get involved, Zanika. You always stitch your nose into everyone else’s business.”
“I only do because you’re boring!” Zanika shouted back.
Mathieu was going to burst. He’d slowly started to notice it since Nathan’s death, but it was evident now. Without the redhead around, the group had slowly fallen into a state of disarray, arguing amongst themselves until they’d reached a breaking point.
Bringing a hand to his mouth, he gave off a piercing whistle that demanded silence. Everyone stopped dead in their tracks and turned to look at him, even Solomon who he could see in a sitting room across the house. “Outside. Now.” His tone and the sweep of his eyes left no room for disagreement, and he held open the door as the rest filled out of the room. He didn’t move until Solomon, Jo and Darcia were outside, too. Pinching his nose, his mind began to race. He didn’t know what he was going to do with this group, but whatever it was, he needed to do it fast.
He followed them out onto the lawn and stood facing the group, hands on his hips. “I must say, I’m genuinely disappointed with you. All of you.” Mathieu folded his arms over his chest, looking into each of their faces. Looks of guilt and annoyance were what he saw. This group needed a leader, and he knew it; until they got that, though, they needed to clear the air. “Make a circle.” Mathieu waited for his command to be followed, actually rather surprised when they did even if there was a lot of grumbling involved. Sighing, he allowed himself to sit on the ground; he buried his face in his hands for a moment. Through he couldn’t see it, he heard the others sit too. Josette was on one side of him, Zanika on the other.
“So…It seemed we’ve all got some issues with each other, but we have to get passed that.” Mathieu looked up at them, hands folded in his lap. “The fastest way for us to do that would be to just put it out there. Josette, you can go start. Whatever the thing that bothers you the most, tell us.” Mathieu looked at her out of the corner of his eye.
Her eyes were glued on the ground as she spoke, her hand clutching Adele’s, “Sorry, Mathieu, but you’re my biggest problem. You’re a fake to me, and I don’t think you’re part of our family.”
A pained expression crossed his face, but he nodded numbly. He was pretty sure that she wasn’t the only one who felt that way. “I see. Whoever wants to go next can…” His hands pressed tighter together, and he sighed through his nose.
Zanika turned to her sister, who was sitting right beside her. “I’m going. Zerieve, I don’t like that you treat me like I’m a child. I’ve been around just as long as you, but I choose to do things my way, not yours. It doesn’t make me wrong, so stop micromanaging me.”
Zerieve rolled her eyes. “Try making a plan now and then.” The clones stared hard at each other for a moment before both looked away.
“I’d like to go next.” Elise said.
“Okay.”
She looked at Adele, sadness radiating from her, “…Perhaps this feeling will someday go away, but right now, all I can see is red when I see you. If you were a better healer, Nathan would still be alive.”
“Elise, don’t blame her.” Elric said quietly. “How could she have known what caused it? She is a perfectly proficient healer.”
Kiev nodded in agreement. “Yes, she is a good healer. I haven’t yet broken something that she couldn’t fix.”
“What is your biggest problem, Mathieu?” Solomon said suddenly, looking at him.
“Uh,” He hadn’t wanted to answer this question, but it seemed he didn’t have any choice. He could say Solomon being a jerk, or the thought that Zanika and he had been an item, but neither of those were exactly true. No, it was something different. Clearing his through, he scratched the back of his head. “Well, myself.” He said honestly. “Myself, and the fact that I can’t really tell people how I feel.” His eyes flicked to Solomon, then away.
“Never truer words spoken,” a high voice he recognized said from beside him. “Budge over, won’t you?” Enak said to Zanika. Mathieu had felt them a few minutes ago, but since no one else had said anything about them, he’d kept his mouth shut.
Turning to look at the boy, who was still in his tailcoat, he caught sight of the man just behind him. The man was older, probably around the same age as Darcia, but his hair was a deep red, so dark it was almost black. His eyes were the same color, only they had a haunting quality to them that he couldn’t explain. It was like he was piercing right through Mathieu’s soul.
“Oh, this is Erik.” Enak said in an off-hand way as he sat down. Erik sat beside Enak on the side closest to Zanika, his eyes flicking around the circle as he did. “Hello again, Mathieu. So I’m sure you’re wondering why we’re here. Well, I heard through the grapevine that poor Nathan had died and that his house was being rather…well, rowdy. We were a little curious about who was going to take over?” There was a long silence that filled the little circle.
Avanon cleared her throat and was the one to break the silence. Tucking her multi-colored hair behind her ear, she said, “I think Solomon should be in charge.”
Mathieu plucked a piece of grass from the earth before speaking, “I think Elise would do better.”
“Well, I think that Mathieu would be good at it, too.” Enak said, his face filled with childish happiness. “He got you lot to calm down, yes?” Tapping his chin, he acted like he was thinking. “Three different people who could be in charge. How shall we ever decide?”
Erik took the pause in his counterpart’s speech to say his first words. His voice was like a liquid fire that spread over the group, drawing their attention. “A vote, no secrets from each other. If we reach a tie for the leader, we’ll deal with it when we get there.”
The boy next to him nodded excitedly. “Oh yes, I like this plan. I shall go first. I vote for Mathieu.”
Erik nodded in agreement. “As do I.”
Mathieu looked away from the two of them, “Elise…”
Then went Zanika and Zerieve, who both also chose Mathieu; Elise was the first to vote for Solomon, followed by Mina; Solomon shrugged and voted for himself; Avanon bumped her best friend playfully, saying: “You’re always my choice”; Darcia gave the newcomers a long look, as if searching for his vote on their faces. Eventually, he nodded, proclaiming Mathieu’s name.
Kiev gave Mathieu an apologetic look as she cast her poll as Solomon’s name. Jo smiled at Mathieu, telling him that it wasn’t even a contest, that Mathieu was the one he would follow; Elric decided on Solomon, then Adele selected Elise.
Josette fidgeted nervously as all eyes fell to her. She knew that it was all down to her. Solomon and Mathieu were tied now. If she chose Elise, they would have a tie; if she chose one of the other two, she was deciding who would replace Nathan. Enak’s voice cut through the tension as they all waited for her decision. “For those of you not keeping count, that six for Solomon and Mathieu, two for Elise. Josette?
Slight shock crossed her face, realizing that he knew her name, but she shook her head. “I can’t…I mean I don’t…”
Adele smiled at her, “Just do what you think is best. No one will think less of you.”
Taking a shaky breath, Josette looked between the three candidates. Mathieu wondered what the hold-up was; it was clear that she would never choose Mathieu. It took a long moment for her to come to a conclusion. “I think that…the best person to lead us…is going to be…Mathieu.” There was a stunned silence. “All personal feelings aside…he is who I choose.”
Mathieu was in a state of actual shock and wondered if his heart was going to start beating again any time soon. Why Josette would have chosen him, why he was now in charge, he didn’t understand. When Enak had picked him, he had taken it as something of a joke. But really, Josette hadn’t been the only one to pick him. His heart finally thudded back to life.
“There you have it,” Enak stated slyly. “Here before you all, you’ve seen Mathieu be fairly elected as the next leader of the resistance. So, Mr. Leader, Erik and I shall stay around for a bit, if that is okay.”
He nodded numbly before giving Josette a disbelieving look. Mathieu would not have bet his life on her choosing him, but she had. She thinks I’ll be a good leader… He kept repeating in his mind.
Niveus’s warm mind pressed into his frozen one and spurred him to his feet. Mathieu needed space, air, room to think. “Please excuse me.” That was the last thing he said before rushing into the house, getting away from the expectant stares of those around him.