Page 11 of Scars of the Sun
We left the bedroom as I grumbled, “It’s not really a concert.”
I heard more than saw Sylvie roll her eyes. “A show, whatever. I’m the one who actually likes heavy metal, you know.”
After retrieving my things from the guest room, I followed Sylvie and Dahlia up the hall and into the living room. The light of the few lamps turned on in the large space was low enough to be cozy, and the record player that ran at nearly all hours of the night played my brother’s preferred mellow Motown rhythm.
Orion was sitting with Ollie before the unlit fireplace. They were both on a little play mat with toys strewn about, and Ollie was in his pajama onesie. Even though it was almost his bedtime, my nephew looked cheerful as he lifted and rattled a brightly colored ring before tossing it to the floor.
Dahlia pattered over to her brother, but Orion stilled at the sight of Sylvie beside me. He rose to his feet, and it was like they were the only two in the room. My brother was in some sort of weird trance.
When his tongue swiped at his bottom lip, I’d had more than enough and made my way to the little bench near the front door.
While I laced up my boots, aside from the music and the soft noise of Dahlia directing Ollie on how to play with his toys, I heard Orion and Sylvie’s heated whispers.
“Iswear, baby, if you ruin this dress when I get back, so help me.”
“Why would I when you look like this in it?”
Sylvie scoffed, “Because I know you won’t want to bother with the tiny zipper, and you’ve ripped to shreds plenty of my clothes at this point. I’m on to you, Dr. Gealach.”
“Well, what if I just lift it up, then?”Aannddthat was my cue. Though I’d never admit it to him, I was extremely happy that my brother had found a mate like Sylvie. But, my god, they were disgusting to be around sometimes.
“You ready, Sylvie?” I hollered over to them and stood. Luckily, I’d packed my old, worn-in boots during the frantic dash out of my apartment back in New York. With my arms still wrapped in bandages and my head foggy, I’d frustratedly ripped through my clothes, stuffing my go-to’s in my bags and only snagging the shoes that were sitting by the front door. Faced with piles of expensive fabric I’d hardly worn, I couldn’t see the point of… any of it.
The shifter not even asking me for my name at the skate spot was one thing. But the accurate nickname made me feel all kinds of annoyed and frustrated.
Sylvie and my brother made their way over while my niece and nephew stayed bickering and giggling in the living room. Orion and Sylvie both had evident blushes on their cheeks, and I didn’t even want to fucking know. I’d been living alone long enough to kind of forget what it was like living with married people. And though the soundproofing they’d done a few years ago was good, it obviously couldn’t be absolute, what with having kids.
“Okay, baby, I love you.” Sylvie smacked a kiss on my brother’s cheek, and we switched places on the bench. Her boots looked about as old as mine, and when I took in both of our outfits, I realized for the first time that we were matching.
She stood, and I patted my pockets before my brother opened the door for us. “Pssh, never opened the door for me before,” I muttered on my way past.
“I open it for Sylvie,” he said with no other explanation or pleasantry.
“Bye Mommy! Bye Auntie Mona!” Dahlia yelled from inside, and Sylvie and I called our goodbyes back.
“Be safe, you two. Call me if you need me to come get you.”
Sylvie walked to the driver’s side of her shiny red car, and the door unlocked at her touch. After reaching inside, she unlocked it the rest of the way, and I slipped into the newer SUV. The leather was still warm against my bare legs, and as soon as she pushed the start button, the air conditioning and music blasted in our faces.
We both flinched, and Sylvie turned some knobs until the volume was comfortable and rolled down the windows. With a few glances in the rearview, she turned us around to proceed up the drive and toward town. The sun still hadn’t fully set, and the burnt orange color in the sky chased us through the dark cast by the lush canopy of trees. I sucked in the air that raced past us and tasted the aroma of my brother’s homeland. What was it like to belong so deeply somewhere that the land sang to the same melody as your soul?
Even Sylvie, who, as far as I knew, wasn’t tied to the land in the way Orion’s family through his father was, had some sort of pull to it. It was almost like the trees, the brush, and theessenceof the forest bended toward her, ready to listen. A small but bright smile was pulling at her lips, and though she’d slicked herhair up as tightly as possible, a few strands bobbed and swayed as if answering back.
She skipped to the next song on her playlist and a harsh guitar solo filled the speakers. I tucked my hair behind my ears. “Going to a metal show in a mom car is kinda weird,” I deadpanned.
Sylvie released a tinkling little laugh. “My idea of a Wednesday night, if you ask me.”
She shoved me lightly on my shoulder as she turned onto the road leading to town. A few cars sped past us, and I could practically feel my hair growing in volume as it air-dried. “Are you sure you’ll be able to peel yourself away from the crotch-goblins for a few hours?”
She shrugged, but instead of saying something smart back, she answered earnestly, “I’ve been out and about without them, but I’ll miss tucking them in tonight.” I remained silent, feeling bad for teasing her about something I had no idea about, and the heavy music filled the space between us.
We started to hit more and more traffic, and soon we were surrounded by buildings and shopfronts instead of clusters of trees and the odd house or private drive or two. My stomach began to flutter as we continued through the narrow downtown streets that were a grid of one-lane roads which was annoying and stupid. I drummed my fingers on my knee while we drove around, eyes scanning for a parking spot.
“There,” I pointed at a lucky opening someone was pulling out of. After crossing a lane to get there, Sylvie pulled us in and shut the car off.
Before she could protest, I shot out of the car, pulling my slim wallet from my back pocket. With a quick swipe, I put as much money on the meter as I could, and after the confirming beep that the charge went through, I let Sylvie lead me down the sidewalk toward the dive bar.
I ran my hands over my front and back, making sure my outfit wasn’t riding up or pulling in a weird way. After a minute or two, Sylvie made a turn and pushed open an old, beaten wooden door that led into darkness. Cool air settled over my skin, and the universal smell of alcohol and cigarettes made me feel nostalgic.