Reflection (The Cassandra Project)
Cassie sat in the courtyard, shivering on the stone bench in the dark. She looked up, smiling at the full moon above her and listening to the wind whisper through the shrubs that were nearly as tall as the slendar tree, all of them standing guard against the wall behind her. Across from her were a series of stained glass windows that seemed to run from the roof to the almost shoulder height. To her left bursts of laughter came from the window spilling light on the uneven slate that covered the ground. On her far right, the glass door was dark and not so much sinister as sleeping.
She took one last drag on her cigerette, preparing to stub it out in the empty soda can she had brought with her, when the door by the lit window opened. A young man tripped over the stoop on his way into the courtyard before catching his balance. He saw Cassie and smiled. “Hi. I'm Marty.”
He stood near her bench and lit a smoke. “They're off topic again,” he said, exhaling like a dragon.
She grinned. “That happens. One has a captive audience, one tends to ramble. I'm Cassie.”
They shook hands. “Forgive me for saying so but you don't look pagan,” he mumbled around his cigerette.
“And how are they supposed to look?” she bristled.
He sighed. “Can I try again? Hi, I'm Marty.” He held out his hand.
Cassie laughed. “I'm Cassie.” She shook his hand. “I'm sorry, I just get annoyed with people who jump to conclusions. I'm actually here because my friend dragged me here.”
“You too?” He winked. “Halley begged me to come with her. She hates going places alone.”
“I'm here with Joshua.” She dropped her butt in the can. “He seems to think the social aspect will help me. Are you pagan?”
He shrugged. “I'm a Unitarian. Halley's pagan. She gets more out of these group discussions than I do. Are you?”
“You could say so,” Cassie answered cryptically. She smiled at his puzzled look. “That's a yes, dear. So I take it the actual discussion is over?”
“Yeah.” He finished his smoke and smiled as she offered her can. “Thanks. Ritual construction is over and now they're talking about some camping trip to Georgia in the spring.”
“Wicked, I suppose.” She shivered as the wind blew through again.
“If that's your thing.” Marty took off his battered jacket and handed it to her. “I hate seeing a lady uncomfortable.”
She accepted it, snuggling deep and inhaling the warm male scent. “You may not get it back.”
He knelt in front of her, taking her hands in his. “Listen to me, please,” he whispered. “I haven't much time and they're listening.”
She looked into his eyes. “Who are you?”
“Shh...” he pressed her hands against his lips. “Please, just listen! I can't take full control or they'll see me. I've a message.”
“Go on.”
“The Conclave will be gathering soon. Avoid being seen by Them. I can help you hide yourself but you must be certain not to show your true self.”
“Fortune cookie, anyone?” She grumbled. “Where's the Conclave meeting?”
“In your path. You can no more avoid being there as you could breathing.”
The door opened and Marty kissed her hand again. She grabbed him as he pulled away. “How can I hide?” she hissed.
“Huh?” He gave her a lopsided smile. “Hide what?”
The group met at a coffee shop down the street after the meeting broke up. Cassie pleaded a headache and walked home alone. Joshua stayed, his eyes on the pretty girl Marty called Halley.
The moon and the streetlights made her way as bright as if it were day. She drew Marty's pullover closer to her, the fading scent comforting. A few teenagers jostled each other as they walked toward her, laughing as one of them fell into a well-manicured bush.
Cassie stiffened as they came closer, voices loud enough for her to catch bits of conversation. None of them looked her way. They walked past as if she was invisible.
She looked into a car's side mirror, puzzled and nearly fell over backwards.
The dragon print on the hoodie had been replaced with the letters NOPD. A badge hung by a chain around her neck.