“Livia, don’t think I haven’t tried to persuade Randolph, but I’m not really in his good books since I attacked Ruth. He explicitly forbade it, he threatened to veto you if I did. He explained that you would always be on the run before you can be changed into an Arash, so we have to wait.” I slump in his arms, cursing Randolph. Why the fuck is he such a stickler for the stupid law? Cassius strokes my hair but I am desolate. “Livia, you have to be in the garden on 15th June, the day of your change. We’ll all be there and the vote will be unanimous this time. As soon as you’re an Arash you’ll be safe.” Right, what are these few weeks in comparison to eternity? I try to convince myself.
“As long as you visit me every night,” I whisper, pulling him down on the bed.
Chapter 47
June 15th, 2011
The nurse lets go of my arm and points to a chair. “You can sit here in the sun, Livia. I’ll be back for you in an hour, so don’t you exhaust yourself.” She pats my shoulder, adjusting a blanket over my knees as if I were a hundred years old. How I hate her.
“Thank you very much,” I reply all the same, smiling, because I have to ask her a favour. “Could I possibly stay out a bit longer today?” I have to play for time, as much as possible, as I don’t know exactly when Cassius and the others will arrive. It’s the big day today. I glance at the nurse nervously but being the exemplary patient over the last few weeks pays off.
“Half an hour or so then,” she concedes, turning back to the house. My heart starts beating faster. How long have I been waiting for this day! It has been two months now that I’ve been allowed into the garden occasionally, and I know every tree and every bush. Behind the trees a high wall runs around the garden, rendering escape impossible.
My worst fear has been the weather. What if it rained today? But when I got up this morning I realised first thing that the sun was shining and I couldn’t believe my luck, although I surely deserve it. “We’ll be waiting for you,” Cassius promised the day before yesterday, but I was frantic when he didn’t come by yesterday.
What the hell is keeping them? My eyes are scanning the bushes but they’re not here yet. My heart is pounding, it’ll surely burst soon. I’m going to die if they don’t come. I refuse to think of all the secrets that could spoil everything: my days with Ralph. Mum. The fact that Randolph is my father. And I’m sure that Ruth has more secrets than any one of us knows about. Cassius cannot be the only reason why she hates me so much.
The minutes tick by and I’m getting more dejected by the second.
“It’s your fault that we’re late!” I suddenly hear a voice behind the trees. It’s Will. I want to weep with relief.
“Oh, stop nagging! We’ve been waiting so long for this day, a few minutes won’t matter now, and I just had to get her that dress,” Natalie chirps. I have to smile, even now they’re squabbling like they always did. I sit up in my chair and in this instant something white hurtles across the lawn.
“Daisy!” I whisper, afraid to speak louder. She’s not a puppy anymore, she’s a fully grown dog, but she recognises me immediately, hurling herself into my arms and licking my face. I kiss her black muzzle and am going to get up when I realise that she’s dropped something into my lap. It’s my ring, but when I put it on, it’s way too big. I must have lost even more weight than I thought. But then I see it: between the faces of Cassius and Natalie there’s a new one, cut from cream-coloured lava, a girl with long hair. Tears well up in my eyes and I put it on my middle finger. Obviously it’s time to go, they’re waiting for me.
I shove Daisy to the ground and get up. After a few wobbly steps I break into a run towards the trees. Suddenly my body feels weightless, ready to fly, but then a sharp pain runs through me. My breath hitches, is Ruth trying it on again? I stagger but then it’s already over and some invisible energy floods through me. I laugh out loud, knowing what has just happened. Cassius told me what to expect but for one panicky second I’d forgotten. Evidently the eclipse of the moon has begun, at some place on earth. The stars have empowered my soul and I’m changed, I’m an Arash now. I look at the ground where the sun is painting dark shadows on the grass, but mine is not among them anymore.
“Livia, over here!” I hear Natalie shouting. Behind the tall trees I can already recognise their faces: Natalie jumping up and down in excitement, Will and Rupert grinning, Augustus and Randolph looking solemn, and behind them Ruth. Our eyes meet and she raises her eyebrows. Right, she’s obviously not overjoyed that I’m one of them now but at least she didn’t dare to cross me again. I know in my heart that the war is not over but I’ve won this very important battle. My attention is diverted when Cassius runs towards me, pulling me into his arms.
“Livia!” I suddenly hear the alarmed voice of the nurse who has noticed my absence. I flinch, turning to her and watching her running towards my empty chair. She glances around, searching, worried, but she knows I can’t get very far. Quickly I break away from Cassius, trying to run away, but there is the wall! I’m trapped again! “Livia!” Cassius, having caught up with me, holds me close again. “What on earth are you doing? She can’t see you anymore, remember?” His green eyes are laughing down into mine and my heartbeat slowly returns to normal. Right, I’d forgotten for a moment that I’m an Arash now and no human is able to see me. Obviously I’ll need some time to get used to it. The nurses and doctors will certainly look for me but there will be no sign of me. At last I’m free.
“Let’s go home! Natalie has insisted on a welcome home party,” Cassius grins and takes my hand, leading me to Natalie. Oh god!
“Are you saying I should ubilocate?” I stammer, the blood draining from my face. Isn’t there a manual or something on how to do it? Natalie giggles, taking my other hand in hers.
“Of course, or do you think I’d climb this wall in these shoes?” I look down at her black Louboutins with the silver spikes. No, I don’t really think so. But couldn’t they just take me with them? But they are obviously determined that I should do it on my own.
“Now concentrate on the Blue Room,” Cassius commands and I close my eyes. I visualise the blue curtains and carpets, the large fireplace. Suddenly a shiver runs through my body and I feel a ginormous power exploding within me. I cry out, letting go of Cassius’ and Natalie’s hands, and the next moment I fall hard on my knees. I just knew I couldn’t do it! Terrified I open my eyes and nearly faint when I realise that I’m in the middle of the Blue Room, my new family surrounding me.
“We’ll have to work on the landing,” Natalie grins, pulling me to my feet.
“Not bad for the first attempt though,” Randolph nods approvingly. Cassius hands me a glass of pink champagne, his eyes blazing with pride and love.
“Welcome home, Livia!” he whispers. My eyes fill with tears, but Natalie interrupts us.
“And now get out of those horrible clothes, I bought you the nicest McQueen dress for this party.” Life couldn’t get any better, could it?