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I searched Mum’s eyes for the tell-tale vacancy that would tell me if Ava had used her powers on her. There was none. I resisted the urge to slide into Mum’s mind to check; she’d made it very clear she would never forgive such an invasion, no matter the motivation.
‘She seemed nice,’ I said lightly. ‘Rich.’
Mum swatted me. ‘And what’s that got to do with anything?’
We live in a nice semi-detached house in a good area. We’re not poor – but we’re certainly not rich. We’d never been rich. The house had been paid for largely by Dad’s life insurance but we hadn’t had anything left over. I’d had clothes with patches, days without fruit, and days I’d had to walk to get into town because the car was out of petrol and Mum didn’t have any money to put some in. Things had been tight, though I would never say we were poor. We were always clean, had clothes and never went hungry. Mum kept a roof over our heads and fed all three of us on a part-time salary, juggling kids and a job; it had been tough as a suddenly single parent.
‘Nothing. Just saying. She comes from money. Different worlds, you know? Harder to build a joint future.’
‘I know.’ She sighed. ‘But Rupert is making his way up in the world. He’s senior associate already,’ she said with obvious pride. ‘I’m sure it won’t be long before he’s a partner – he certainly puts the time in. He’ll be moving in different circles to us, if he isn’t already.’
‘And what about you, Mum? Are you okay?’
She turned on the kettle. ‘I’m fine,’ she said with her back to me. ‘Why wouldn’t I be?’ Because if Rupert was serious about Ava, it would change the status quo; that had to be hard for her to take.
Rupe had dated a series of women, but Ava Grey was the first one he’d invited to Sunday dinner. She must really have caught his attention. It was a big deal, and that was part of the reason why Julian was acting the way he was. If Rupert had finally fallen, we wanted it to be for the right person.
I suddenly found myself fighting shitty thoughts I’d never had before. I’d never given a fig what anyone was – siren, wizard or centaur. But now I was thinking about Ava and wondering if she had her hooks in my brother. The thought was ugly and judgemental, and I hated that it even strolled into my mind. But after eight years of being a police officer, I’d seen the underbelly of the Other and the Common realms and both were equally ugly. I was rarely surprised by the lows that some people stooped to. Still, that didn’t mean I had to look at my brother’s date in that way. She probably wasn’t a serial killer.
Even so, I’d check her out. Because that’s what big sisters do.
Chapter Six
My house is haunted. Ghosts aren’t supposed to be real – they’re not a recognised being in the Other realm – but my flat has always been weird as hell and the only explanation I can come up with is that it is haunted.
I put the cage down on the dining room table and switched the kettle on. The kettle immediately flicked itself off. ‘Quit it,’ I mumbled, turning it back on. This time, it stayed on.
I’d declined my mum’s offer of a cup of tea before I headed out, but now I needed a brew before I hit the hay. I gave the bird some more water and offered it a few slices of ham. ‘What’s your name?’ I asked, as I sat down with my hands wrapped around the hot mug.
‘Bird,’ it said finally in disgust.
‘Not much of a name.’
‘Not much of an owner,’ it countered. ‘Fuckhead.’
‘Are you male or female?’ I asked, not having the faintest idea how to tell the sex of a bird.
‘Male!’ he said immediately, obviously insulted.
‘Jingo owned you?’
He made a derisory sound. ‘He thought.’
‘Who killed him?’
The bird looked at me for a long moment. ‘Dryad,’ he said finally. ‘Chop chop chop.’
‘Anyone you knew? Can you give me a name?’
He tilted his head. ‘Nope. Dryad.’
‘Okay, thanks.’ It was better than nothing. ‘Do you need anything before I go to bed?’
‘Free?’ he said hopefully, and my heart melted a little. But I wasn’t stupid; most of the deadliest things in the Other realm can fly.
‘Sorry, Bird, not yet. Let me learn more about caladrius then we can work out what to do with you.’ The Connection’s database would have something on the bird, but I was absolutely exhausted and sleep was calling my name loudly and incessantly. Bird would have to wait.
He made a farting noise and pointedly turned on his perch so his back was to me. ‘Pigdog,’ he muttered.
