Cassius’ dark green Bentley is parked just around the corner. He opens the door for me and I get in. We don’t talk during the rather long drive and I assume he’s angry with me. My remark obviously didn’t go down too well. Now it probably isn’t just Ruth who doesn’t like me. Halfway home I wonder if he knows where I live, but apparently he does as he takes me home by the direct route. Natalie must have told him. When we drive into my street I suddenly remember that my car is still parked in town.
“See you on Saturday,” Cassius says casually as if nothing awkward had happened. Suddenly he covers my hand with his and his thumb strokes over my ring. His hand is dry and warm, and I shiver, feeling his touch right deep down into my belly. “That’s a gorgeous ring you’re wearing. But be very careful that you don’t damage any of the cameos,” he murmurs. I look at him and my breath hitches when I see his green eyes blazing with blue flames. I blink, but the next moment he releases my hand, gets out of the car and opens my door. Night has fallen and the moon is already shining brightly, casting my shadow on the pavement. I stare down at the ground. My heartbeat is going through the roof, something’s just not right here. I shake my head, trying to clear it. Maybe it’s the wine or the strange mood Cassius is in.
“Bye and thanks for taking me home,” I stutter and practically run to the entrance. Hastily I unlock the door and let myself in. Why does Cassius affect me so much? When he put his hand over mine it was like wow! I’ve never experienced anything like it before. And yet I don’t like him, he’s so annoying. And so out of my league, I’ve never met anybody like him before. But if you have money and a godfather with a castle maybe you automatically become so self-assured and arrogant.
As soon as I enter my flat the phone starts ringing. I grab it, regretting it a second later. “Livia, thank God I’ve reached you at last.” My stepmother’s voice rings in my ear. “I thought something had happened to you because you’re never home and your mobile was turned off too!” Really? The battery must be dead. So what?
“I went shopping after uni and then out for a drink,” I mutter, suppressing a hiccup, the hot olives and the wine doing somersaults in my stomach.
“Are you drunk?” she instantly inquires. “Aunt Alma told me she saw you last week in a bar too.” I roll my eyes. Aunt Alma is ancient, what was she doing in a bar anyway?
“I go out with a friend and her brother occasionally and I’m definitely not drunk,” I explain, knowing sarcasm won’t get me anywhere with her.
“No reason to get stroppy,” she scolds me all the same, obviously my voice has not been neutral after all. “As you never call us anymore I wanted to remind you of the birthday weekend.” I close my eyes. Oh shit, the birthday weekend! As Sophie’s and my birthdays are close together we have a traditional birthday weekend. I’ve always hated it because I don’t see why I should have to share my birthday with someone else. This year I’d completely forgotten about it.
“Do we really have to do it again?” I complain and then a terrible thought crosses my mind. Will’s dinner party! “Or could we maybe just celebrate on Sunday?” I beg, trying to divert and shorten the inevitable. My stepmother sighs.
“It’s a bit late for that, isn’t it? I’ve already prepared everything and Sophie is so looking forward to it. Don’t be selfish!” I know when I’m beaten.
“I’ll be there at Saturday, noon, right?” She chatters on about the preparations, the planned food and the guests but I can only think about my beautiful new suit and Will’s party. When she finally ends the call I slump on my bed, full of resentment against my family. Of course they have to ruin this party which is so important to me. I was so looking forward to seeing Will again and on top of that I’d have finally met the mysterious Ruth. Besides, Rupert would be there. But no, I had to be at my parents’ the whole weekend! Had it only been my birthday I’m sure they’d have made no fuss at all. I look down at my left hand. Cassius would be at Will’s too. What did he mean with his remark about not damaging any of the cameos? Of course I’m careful, it’s my most valuable possession. Deep in thought I contemplate the finely carved faces. Maybe he was right, the ring could easily chip, and I should only wear it on special occasions. But when I slip it off a strange feeling instantly grabs me, a kind of panic, a premonition that descends on me like a black cloud. My life’s changed since I found this ring. I know this is stupid and it’s pure coincidence that I met Natalie soon afterwards, but still. I simply have to wear it so that nothing changes. And yes, I am superstitious, I always look for a second magpie.
Suddenly I feel guilty because although the ring is so important to me I’ve not yet done anything about the island of the orchids. My mum’s letter clearly indicates that she wanted me to go there. I sigh and wish I could, if only I had enough money. But here comes the guilt again, I’d never save enough if I kept buying clothes like the velvet suit. I have to pull myself together and not lose sight of my limitations. Well, maybe my parents will give me some money for my birthday, they don’t know what presents to buy for me anyway.
To calm my churning stomach I defrost a pizza while making impossible plans. What would I do when I reached Lanyu? Could Natalie maybe join me? That would be so much more fun, but it isn’t supposed to be fun, is it? It’s not a holiday but a journey into the past, into the unknown. My mum’s words still make no sense to me. What could happen on Lanyu? I’m dozing off in front of the TV but suddenly I sit up, wide awake. All at once I know what has been bothering me subconsciously all this time and I relive the scene once again: me and Cassius beside the car on the pavement, in the bright moonlight. Staring down I saw my shadow but only mine. There wasn’t a second one.
Chapter 14
Cassius doesn’t in fact have an appointment this evening. After he drops Livia off he returns straight to his flat in Chelsea. “Hey, what do you want?” he grumbles when he finds Rupert waiting outside his front door.
“I’m waiting for you,” the boy replies laconically.
“You could have done that inside, you know!” Cassius frowns, opening the door. Of course Rupert could have ubilocated into the flat but Randolph has taught them to respect each other’s privacy. They conduct a life very similar to a human one, again at Randolph’s request that they should adhere to certain rules. It would be unwise if all Arash just did whatever they wanted. Humans would instantly realise that something wasn’t right. Cassius, Rupert, Will, Natalie and Ruth appreciate Randolph’s point of view, being inclined to all good things human life can offer; it’s only Augustus, the ascetic, who can’t really see the point of it. None of them suffer from money problems because Randolph got very rich a long time ago with his numerous inventions and the others have also made money at some point or other during their long lives. Natalie takes advantage of the family money as well.