Running with the Pact - Chapter 3
Introducing the Jack of Hearts
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Chapter 3 - Introducing the Jack of Hearts
Adira Elm
Friday, November 1, 1996
“This place is disrespectful. And you dishonor Clan Diiv by seating us next to them,” the Diiv perv closest proclaims with a disgusted sneer, nodding at me while ignoring that it was Hottie McNachtulf that just dissed him in front of everyone.
And oh yeah, I disgust him so much he just had to leer below my neck. I’m sure the color of my sweater, a cute Victorian-pink, just made him stare.
Ari grabs me by the shoulder when I try to get up, ready to him disrespect by throwing a chair like we’re on Jerry Springer.
“Easy little sister,” he whispers, pissing me off. Little Sister my big butt, he’s a whopping four minutes older than me. “He’s got a point that it doesn’t quite feel right having this important conference here around all these humans,” Ari nags before whispering real close, “and he’s trying to get us to start a fight. It’s not the time to bluff.”
Right, bluff.
“Remember, the cost of peace is pride,” Ms. Irit told me on the drive from the airport. Why she told me, and not, like, all three of us here, is beyond me.
“I admit,” chimes Ms. Shirtless Clan Peri from the center of her table, “this location is less than ideal. We did plan the conference for the Georgian Terrace originally, but there were some issues that forced us to relocate. Please do accept my apologies, which includes the complimentary fruit baskets found in your accommodations.”
“You mean this place serves those? Because we need about thirty more,” says Hottie McNachtulf. I could not have gotten luckier with this seat.
“Well… unfortunately you will have to wait until tomorrow, but I will happily order them from the caterer I’ve hired,” Clan Peri girl interrupts my staring.
Oh, is that a hole in her icey facade? I raise my hand, but Ari puts his hand over mine and pushes it back down.
“Don’t,” Ari whispers. I must have a look on my face.
“Let her speak Ari,” Ms. Irit puts a hand on Ari’s shoulder, her chestnut brown eyes peering over him and into mine. The message couldn’t be clearer—watch my mouth. I’m seated on the left, Ari’s in the center because he’s a dude and some clans have macho issues, and Ms. Irit sits on the right.
Not that we’re fooling anyone. Anyone who looks at us can figure out Ms. Irit, who looks fortyish, is in charge. And the other clans have likely, and correctly, guessed that Ms. Irit is a member of our clan’s Elite Eighteen. And if I’m going join her on the Eighteen one day, bravery is a must.
So I put my back hand up.
“This isn’t school, you may ask your question,” squeaks Ms. Clan Peri.
Well, screw you too, you miniature hoe! If that’s how you want to play it, let’s go.
“Not to agree with those nightcrawler Diiv over there,” I sneer, “But why did you move us from Downtown to out here in Timbuktu? Run out hotel rewards points to pay for the nicer place?”
The Clan Peri squeaky-toy blushes from her face to bulging cleavage, Ari’s eyebrows almost launch off his face, and Hottie McNachtulf snorts before pretending to cough into his fist.
Take that you half-pint hoochie mama! I got a laugh out of the hottest guy in the room!
Still, Ms. Irit said we need to renew the FOUR Pact or there won’t be a team if one of the codes are called. All I know is they’re named after jewels: Sapphire, Onyx, Ruby and Jade.
Apparently they’re, like, super emergencies that requires each clan’s powers. But they can’t be that big of a deal, otherwise why are most of the delegates teenagers? Clan Diiv only has one really adult-looking delegate, and Clan Nachtulf’s giant looks like he’s in his forties like Ms. Irit. Clan Peri is the odd one out, the little terror sitting in the center of their table looks younger than me, and the two surrounding her are maybe college Freshmen.
Where is the Jack of Hearts already?
Oh, who cares? My eyes focus on what’s important.
“Stop staring Addi. You know you have to marry someone from inside the clan,” Ari whispers in my ear.
My face and ears burn red. “Talk to the hand, Ariel. Better yet, swim home Little Mermaid,” I hush-yell at him. Why does he have to say exactly what’s on his mind the moment he thinks it?
Apparently blushing is our twin trait, because Ari’s entire face turns so red it’s almost purple. “Don’t call me that,” Ari scolds under his breath. “You know it’s pronounced Ari-El.”
We are, like, the worst twins ever. He’s so embarrassing though. And nobody gets it, from Mom to Ms. Irit. Even Danny gets on me for it.
Danny. He thinks he’s in charge because he’s three years older than Ari and I, like he’s so beyond both of us. Well, he’s not, and I know it’s him stealing my CDs!
“If you two are quite finished,” the Clan Peri hoe-bag pipes up. Oooh I hate her! Ari and I prop our faces in our hands, elbows on the table. Now we’re both studying blank notepads.
“Now that we’ve settled ourselves, every delegate will introduce themselves, except for those of us with titles. Fiona, you go first,” the teeny blonde turns, signaling the pretty girl next to her to stand.
Wait… did she just say she has a title? My stomach drops. No… no—no, no, no!
The one named Fiona, oval face, bright blue eyes, long brown loose curls, stands in a far less showy navy blue pantsuit, shirt included, smiles, and says, “Aye then, I’m Fiona Clark, pleased to meet yeh all.”
Is that a Scottish accent?
“May I introduce the host of this Four Clan Pact Conference, Her Highness, the Jack of Hearts,” she says, holding her hand open towards…
The tiny blonde.
NO!
My heart leaps into my throat—I just sniped the Jack of Hearts in front of everyone! She’s going to kill me!
Please the let floor open up and swallow me whole. I look at Ms. Irit, my eyes begging forgiveness—I didn’t know! Why didn’t you tell me?! Even if I was initiated my clan has a hard time fighting Clan Peri, and Ms. Irit warned me she’s the biggest threat they have.
I tune out, my short and tragically-lame life flashing before my eyes as the introductions continue.
Until Hottie McNachtulf stands up to introduce himself. Deep breath Addi, chillax, he can protect you. What am I freaking out about? Clan Nachtulf are our staunch allies, and Clan Peri is practically useless against them in a fight.
“Good evening, my name is Heinrich Vulfhorst,” he says all cute and adorable and perfect before turning with his left hand open to the giant in the center of his table. “And the man leading us is Lord Franz, Apex Alpha of Clan Nachtulf.”
Sure, Lord Franny Something-Something, my eyes are busy. Not only am I going to live, but Heinrich’s jeans are staring right at my eyes, teasing me as he turns… Hellooo Heine!
Ari elbows me before Heine turns back. For once I’m grateful, I’ve been through enough for the night.
I’m trying not to die of a heart attack between Heine and the Jack of Hearts as the Diiv make their introductions, which I rightfully ignore.
Ari elbows me again.
“What?” I whisper-growl at him.
“It’s your turn. Stand up and introduce yourself, doofus. I’ll handle Ms. Irit’s introduction,” Ari whispers back.
I’m turn red again as I turn my head forward and make eye contact with Heine. He’s smiling at me. Ari takes hold of my hand, which I grasp back. This is so embarrassing, but we are twins, and this calms us both down.
I’m such a big baby.
As much as I hate to admit it, Ari and I are a good team. I made sure to whisper flattering things about him in school bathrooms and the locker room when no one knew it was me.
And he kept me from kicking the crap out of girls who called me lard ass.
I swear, one day there will be better words to describe a girl’s figure that don’t include the words “skinny” or “fat.” And no, I don’t care if it’s spelled “phat,” it’s not a compliment to me.
I squeeze Ari’s hand before we both let go. I close my eyes and take a deep breath. I’ve got this. “Hello, my name is Adira Elm, happy to be here,” I nod to Clan Nachtulf, ignore Clan Diiv, and nod extra forward to the Jack of Hearts at the Clan Peri table in apology.
She doesn’t return my nod.
Crap on a candlestick, please don’t kill me.
Defeated, I plop my butt down and stare at the tablecloth as Ari stands up to introduce himself.
But Heinrich Vulfhorst’s bright sunflower eyes bore holes into my psyche. I look up and meet his glowing smile head on, learning the real-life meaning of “a wolfish grin.” My embarrassment gives way to something hot in my lower belly, and that’s so much worse.
I’ve read enough books to know what’s happening, but it can’t be. He’s from the wrong clan. This isn’t The Notebook. So why is he smiling at me like that?
He needs to stop, I need to stop blushing before Ms. Irit notices.
But knowing that makes it worse, I can’t stop turning red. My first time representing my clan, and I’m just a tomato-faced loser disaster! I had one chance to make a good first impression. Now the dangerous event host hates me, another clan brought, like, the cutest boy ever as a distraction, and he’s smiling and laughing at me because I’m the biggest idiot ever!
And it’s only day one of the conference.
There’s two days to go, starting tomorrow at sundown.
I’m ordering, like, twenty-dollars worth of Taco Bell and scarfing it down as soon as they let us out of here!
Between Heine and the Jack of Hearts, it just might be my last meal.
“Addi,” Ari whispers.
“What?
“When the meeting breaks, get out of here as fast as you can and get next to Danny in the hallway, but don’t run,” Ari says, his tone, like, way too creepy.
“Why?”
Before he can answer, the Jack of Hearts stands, and she glares right at me. I look to the Diiv, they’re eyeing me like meat.
“That’s why, you have to get to—”
“Ladies and Gentlemen!” the Jack of Hearts cuts him off.