Chapter 34: Uncle Frank
I waved at Alison as she walked away before turning back to Uncle Frank. He held out his arm, formally. I shifted the candy haul enough so I could link up with him for the walk home.
That act alone eased some of my concern. If he was really mad at me, and he was never mad at me, he wouldn't be so casual about it. I relaxed and sighed away some of my tension.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"Yeah," I said. "I'm glad you are, too. Did Mom tell you Sassy's missing?"
Frank's eyes scanned the street as we walked. I wondered if it was a vampire thing or if he was being cautious after everything that happened.
"I'm sorry, kiddo. But don't count him out," he said. "He's been around a long time. You never know with Sassafras."
"Yeah," I said, feeling a little better. "For all we know, he could be shielding himself to stay safe, right?"
"Anything is possible," Frank said. "Even the weirdest things. Like, say, a whole houseful of kids getting food poisoning all at the same time. That's weird. Don't you think that's weird, Syd?"
I tried to swallow, my throat dry. "It could happen," I said.
"Yup, you're right," he said. "It could."
Uncle Frank started to snicker. His merriment grew, laughter getting louder and harder until we had to stop because he was clutching his sides and wiping tears from his face, barely able to breathe. I smiled a little at first, tentative. I started to laugh too as the tension of what I did ran out of me, leaving behind the absurd mental image of all those kids puking their guts out all over Suzanne's beautiful house.
Uncle Frank and I laughed together. Finally, eyes sparkling from unshed tears and good humor, he grabbed me and hugged me hard enough I felt his power but wasn't in any danger of being hurt.
"Oh, Syd," he said, mirth still in his voice. "What are we going to do with you?"
I shrugged in his arms, face pressed into his chest. "I'm sorry, Uncle Frank," I said.
He pulled back. "I know you didn't do it on purpose. Did you?"
"No," I said, shaking my head. "I just..."
"Just?" He turned me and we started walking again.
Now knowing I could safely confess everything, eternally grateful to whoever gave me my Uncle Frank as a confidant, I poured it all out to him, from the bullying, to the confrontation with Alison, right up to everything that happened at Suzanne's. By the time I finished, Uncle Frank was angry, but I knew it wasn't at me.
"Syd," he said, "if you tell your mother I said this, I'll deny it, but good for you."
What? First rule, biggest rule, was never use your powers against normals unless your life was in danger. Was Uncle Frank really congratulating me?
"Don't get me wrong," he went on, "I don't agree with what you did. But, damn it, Syd, I wouldn't have been able put up with it. And I'm glad you stood up for your friend. Despite everything, she seems nice. I think you're a good influence on her."
"Perish the thought," I grinned. "Me, a good influence on anybody."
Uncle Frank laughed again. "Seriously, kiddo. But, you realize what happened was wrong, not because of what you did, but because you did it unconsciously."
"I know," I whispered. "It's been getting stronger, lately. Stuff's been leaking out all over the place."
"You're sixteen," he said. "And only now coming into your power. They've let you off the hook before now because you haven't really manifested anything. But, Syd, they're not going to let you get away with it for much longer."
"I get it, Uncle Frank," I said. "I already told Mom I'd start taking lessons."
"I think it's past that. You need to start studying seriously. Right away. Before someone gets hurt. Including you."
Concern creased his face.
"Grow up and be a big girl," I said. "Suck it up and stop whining about it, right?"
"Yes," he agreed. "As much as I love you and want you to have whatever life you want to live, I think we both know being normal is no longer an option for you."
I wanted to cry. Why me? Just as quickly, though, I shook myself. This was the way things were going to be. Complaining and sulking about it all the time was only going to make things harder for me and everyone around me.
Get over yourself, Hayle.
My demon roared happily back.
We reached my driveway. Uncle Frank paused.
"We could keep this from your mother," he said, not meeting my eyes. "I only found out by accident because I went looking for you. She would never have to know."
I admired him standing there, so handsome and boyish, his black hair gleaming, face peaceful and still. I loved him so much at that moment I could have burst from it.
"Thanks, Uncle Frank," I said, "but we both know what I have to do."
A sweet smile broke over his face. "Good for you, kiddo," he said.
He opened the kitchen door for me. I took a deep breath. He winked. I knew no matter what happened in the next few minutes, Uncle Frank had my back.
I entered the dragon's den.
My mom stood at the table waiting for me. She saw Uncle Frank behind me. Whatever was in his face must have warned her because her expression passed from happiness to concern.
I bit the bullet and told her everything.
Mom took it better than I expected. In fact, after she paled and sank into a chair, she was quiet from beginning to end. I'm not sure from her expression if she was more worried there was alcohol at the party, how Alison was treated by the other girls or the fact I used my magic to punish them all for it. I finished by telling her about trick or treating. I held out the candy to show her where I was the last few hours.
She sat there in silence after I finished. I glanced at Uncle Frank who took a seat at the table across from her. His expression remained warm and steady. I took a lot of comfort from the fact Mom didn't burst into a tirade and turned me into something unpleasant.
The silence stretched, heavy and oppressive, between us. Tears rose in her eyes. I reached out, feeling crappy. I made her cry despite my decision to not do that to her anymore. I noticed she didn't seem sad, exactly. Her body shook, mouth opened, lips curling upward.
My mom was laughing so hard she couldn't make a sound. She rocked, the tears spilling over to run down her face. She gasped in a breath and started howling out loud. Uncle Frank grinned at her.
"Yeah," he said. "I know. That was my reaction, too."
She turned to him, unable to speak. He started laughing with her. They went on like that for a bit while I tried to figure out what to do.
Mom managed to get a hold of herself. She wiped her tears away with the sleeve of her shirt.
"Mom," I said, feeling a little indignant and embarrassed by what I did. "It's not funny."
"No, honey," she giggled, "it isn't."
"I lost control," I said. "I'm sorry, I really am."
She continued to clean herself up as the occasional snort escaped her.
"I know, Syd," she said around snickers. "I know. And we need to do something about it. You..." She broke off as laughter took her over again, "you can't go around... leaking power." One glance at Uncle Frank and she was off.
I rolled my eyes at the two of them. How could they make so light of what I did? I should be punished for breaking the rules. She should be yelling at me right now. I did the right thing and confessed and she had the nerve to think it was funny?
"I'm going to my room," I grumbled. "Let me know when you're ready to talk."
She waved me off, still in a fit. I stomped out of the kitchen, knowing I should have been relieved to dodge that particular bullet but feeling cheated at the same time.
I made it upstairs and to my room.
"Syd," I heard Meira call. I went to her door and peeked in. She lay tucked in her frilly pink bed, but her eyes were wide open. I could tell she was upset.
I went in and dumped the candy on her bed, spreading it around so she could see the haul.
"Happy Halloween," I said.
She started to cry. I made a hole in the pile of treats and hugged my little sister.
"What's wrong, Meems?" I said, stroking her hair. "Didn't you have fun tonight? Did someone pick on you?"
She shook her head, sniffling. I leaned back enough to see her.
"Then what's up?" I pushed away some of her tears and offered her a small chocolate bar. "Look, your favorite."
She cried harder and clung to me.
"Sassy's favorite!" She wailed.
And then I understood. I was still working on the assumption, because I insisted on it, somehow Sassafras was okay and we would figure out what happened to him. Meira, on the other hand, was not. To her, Sass was gone which meant he was never coming back. And while I had to admit to myself there was a chance it was true, I wasn't going to let my sister suffer if I had anything to do about it.
"We'll save it for him," I said.
"He's gone," she cried, face crumpling.
"We'll find him," I told her.
"But, I can't feel him," she said, so much sorrow in her little face I wanted to cry, too. "I've been trying and trying all night but he's nowhere, Syd."
"I know," I said. "I can't either. But there has to be a reason. Like, maybe he's hiding."
She stopped crying. I wiped her face with the corner of her pretty pink comforter.
"Why would he hide from me?" She asked, losing the desperate grief clinging to her.
"I don't know, Meems," I said. "But if Sassy is hiding, he has a good reason."
"What if he isn't?" She was very frail and fragile laying there, her little body nestled in all that pink frill and froth, so much she was almost lost in it. "What if he's... he's..."
I hugged her again, but the tension had left her. I knew I did my big sister job.
"If, and I stress if he is gone for real," I said, "we'll find out who hurt him and do something about it."
"Yeah," she said. "We will, won't we?"
Anger replaced her sadness. "We will find them, won't we, Syd?"
"You bet," I answered. "But, I still think he's okay. We have to figure out where he is, that's all."
Meira snuggled into her fluffy pillows and managed a smile.
"Thanks," she said. I knew she'd be okay.
"You're welcome," I said. I tucked her in and kissed her forehead before getting up and heading for the door.
"Syd," she whispered.
"Yeah?" I said.
"Thanks for the treats," she said.
I grinned at her and closed her door.
In my own room I collapsed on my bed and cried for my missing friend until my pillow was soaked with tears.
***
