Chapter 6

Every year, the Leigh family organizes a hunting party. I've been there for the past two years, and Artemis tells me I'm invited again. I know this hunt is important to Mina. It's her 18th birthday. When one of their family members comes of age, the hunt is always a little more special. Or so I've been told.

"I know it's a long time away, but Artemis said we should start getting ready. Let's do some shopping and the guest list. Do you want to invite anyone? You can invite anyone you know. That boy you keep texting..."

I think her cousin will already be there anyway. But I don't tell her that. I lean my elbows on the desk and rest my chin in my hands. I'm bored.

"No. I don't want to call anyone."

"Your parents?"

I think my parents are talking about divorce. I don't tell him that.

"I'll ask them," I promise. "Are you inviting anyone from school?"

"Alissa. That's it."

Alissa is her girlfriend most of the time. But they break up a lot. They're together now. Who knows if they'll be together then? But I don't tell her that. I think it's in bad taste.

"Delilah said she was inviting her brother. He wants to see you. I thought I'd warn you."

I knew her brother. I also know that I was not interested in him.

"You can't tell him I'm not interested."

"And what reason should I give him? I can tell him not to insist too much, to take it easy on you, not to introduce him to you. What reason should I give him?"

"I have problems at home."

hE laugh.

“Who would believe that? Your parents get along perfectly."

I heard them arguing last night. Dad told her it was better to sign the divorce papers and be done with it. I think it's really sad when two people who love each other realize they can't be together anymore. It's not working anymore. They both deserve to spread their wings. Mom could take that job offer at a university and he could focus more on his work. And I know she wants to leave. She can teach about what she loves to do, creative writing.

"I don't know. I say that, too; I shrug. It sounds like a good excuse."

"I don't know. I'll think about it. I could tell him about your mysterious boyfriend."

"He's not my boyfriend."

He's someone else's boyfriend who calls me at night and kisses me when we're alone. Yesterday I was talking to him. When my parents started arguing. And today, when I see him, I can't look him in the eyes. I look at Mina.

"Who is not your boyfriend?"

He comes next to me, like then. I stand up and lean on my elbows while he moves his hand around my waist.

"She's been texting someone for two weeks," I think. "She doesn't want to tell me who it is. Maybe you can convince her."

It's been two weeks since I went to the movie. She still hasn't made the connection yet. At least that much. His finger is running up my back. I'm used to it now. I don't have any reaction anymore. It warms me up and I can feel my blood burning under my skin wherever it turns me off, but I can mask it better than before. So with the emotions.

"She'll tell you when the time is right. Come," he looked at me. "I want you to help me with something in my office."

Can't Mina help him? No. Mina has already picked up the phone and is starting to type something on the computer. Okay. I follow him and feel like a child after he sits me down on the couch and locks the door. He sits in front of me, on a low wooden table.

"Is everything okay at home? You know you can talk to me about anything, right?"

"Yes," I assure him. "All is well."

"I was talking to you yesterday, Kassie. I heard them too."

"I know as much as you know," I assure him. "I'll try to talk to my mother today if she wants to talk to me. But I don't know more than that."

"Ah! Did you talk to Mina about this?"

I shake my head. No.

"It's no big deal, I'm getting up. Was that all?"

"No. No, wait. I want you to go with me somewhere for a couple of days. To the hunting lodge," he explained. "For some extra lessons. Maybe you'll catch something this year too."

He's teasing me. Again.

"Two days? Does Delilah know?"

"Relatively. She knows I want to take you and Mina, she's leaving town at the end of the week. Mina made up with Alissa. She wouldn't miss two whole days when she has the day off from work. We're staying. We've already talked. Just let me know if you want to go."

I should turn him down. Then I think I don't want to stay home. I don't want to hear them argue. I don't want to see them break up. They destroy each other.

"Sure. We'll go," I promise. "Saturday?"

"In the first hour," he assures me.

Things have been slow with Hades. I've waited 4 years for him to give me even the slightest bit of attention and I already know we're going to burn out fast. In one month with him I've done more than in almost 18 years. In the next few days I've realized that we'll probably have sex once or twice and then we'll go back to being who we were before. Or, if it turns out I'm good enough or pretty enough, maybe we'll continue in secret. I like that thought. I'm a terrible girlfriend but I imagine myself being the bridesmaid at his wedding to Delilah. Maybe having sex before the ceremony.

I watch him as he drives. He's quiet today. He came to pick me up from home this morning. I heard him talking to my dad before I got out. It's still warm, so we're both wearing tight black t-shirts that are against our bodies. Baggy jogger pants and boots. The waterproof jacket. He holds my hand. He squeezes it rhythmically and I don't know whether to ask him why he's so agitated or not. He stops in front of the cabin. I've been inside but I've never slept there. Inside, they keep the food, the drink, and the grandmother. Athena and Harold, they don't hunt.

"There'll be a lot of tents here in the fall," he begins. "You'll stay with me."

"Yes?"

I don't tell him what I think. I don't tell him his girlfriend wouldn't appreciate it. It's not his cup of tea.

"Yes. Wouldn't you like that? Just the two of us, open the trunk. One sleeping bag."

"It would be narrow and I move a lot in my sleep."

"You're ruining my fantasy," he warns me with a smile.

I come to him. He takes the drink. He puts some casseroles of food in my arms and we go to the cabin. He unlocks it and we go in. I leave everything on the table. We turn around.

"Are we going to the forest today?"

"Yes. After we leave these, we get ready and go out for a bit, give me the rest of the food and take out the weapons. Or should I leave them here? Give me those and take the clothes and the beds."

Several pairs of socks, two pairs of pants and some T-shirts. Blankets. About four, I think. I take them all and carry them inside. He stops me as I pass him. He runs his hand through my hair and kisses me then takes a cap and places it on my head.

"Come on, ask and grab two bottles of water. Are you hungry?"

No. So he doesn't take anything. He goes to the trunk. He puts my jacket on my back and a rifle in his arms. Bioclu. Hunting knife. Ammo. He also equips himself and puts both bottles in his pockets. He locks the car. The door. I'm hot but I don't tell him. He puts his hand behind my shoulders and we head south. I can recognize some tracks by species. The bear tracks are big. The deer walk in a herd but the stag sometimes goes it alone. For squirrels or rabbits, you have to prick up your ears.

He knows where a family of rabbits lives and we lie down in the grass. We wait for one to come out of the hole. He prepares his rifle and comes to help me. He shows me how to try it. To track the prey with the barrel. He's halfway on top of me because he puts his hands over mine and shoots with my hands, my body. I startle. Some birds leave the trees and we stand up. I'm not moving. The rabbit is brown and was shot in the eye. It's only been an hour and a half. I look at his watch. It's almost 12. I left at a quarter past 10. I pick him up.

"Huh?" He was looking at me. "What do you think?"

"I don't talk to him."

That's it. Laugh and approve.

"We're taking him to Grandma's. Honestly, the whole hunting charade was just an excuse to spend a few days together. Do you want to continue?"

"Shall we spend time together?"

"Kassie! She's scolding me."

"We're going but coming back in the morning?"

"Sure. We're coming. Cover your hair when you're hunting," he instructs me. "It's too obvious. Or at least change the color. You'll wear what I buy you, okay? Nothing else. It's better this way. Trust me,” he stares at me. "Just stay next to me. We're avoiding accidents," he explains.

"What kind of accidents?"

"Will there be a lot of people? Many of them beginners or without a hunting license, here just for fun. Do you want to stay with an experienced hunter," he tells me.

I think he knows it's weird too. Like everything he says barely makes sense. But I nod politely.

"I'm going to stick to you," I announce to him.

"You promise?"

I expect him to laugh, but he's serious. Almost worried about the lack of seriousness I'm giving the situation.

"Yes," I'm trying to copy his decision. "I promise. There are more fun things to do than worry about what we'll do in two months Hades. Why don't you kiss me?"

I want to lighten the atmosphere and I think I'm succeeding because he's smiling crookedly.

"Why don't you kiss me?"