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We stare each other down and I’m vaguely aware of Rita’s amused laughter.
“Oh for God’s sake,” says Delilah, pushing Ethan away from me and down into a seat. “I thought we agreed that you, Finn and my brother would avoid being all in the same place at the same time from now on.”
“Finn’s upstairs,” I say flippantly. “And you lot are the ones who came over here.”
“Yes well, we came to see if Rita would like to join us again in our hunt tonight.”
“You bet I would!” Rita puts in enthusiastically.
The fact that they’re going out of their way to include Rita irritates me, mostly because I’d bet my last snickers it was Ethan’s idea. Now that the lust spell is almost worn off, I’m remembering how much he gets on my nerves.
Delilah smiles at Rita, but the smile vanishes when she turns back to me. “There’s the three of you in it, yes, but that also needs to apply to you and my brother. You two should go back to not talking to one another at all. I’m sick of this squabbling.”
“Okay, Mother,” I reply snappily. Jesus, Ethan’s right, I am petulant.
Delilah scowls at me.
“Speaking of mothers,” says Rita, “mine just called. She, Alvie and Gabe will be home in about a half an hour, so would you three mind if we wait until they get here? They said they have news.”
“Of course,” Ethan answers her, with a well-practised smile of charm. More and more these days I’m becoming irritated by his too-polished way of interacting with people. Maybe that’s why I like to push his buttons. I enjoy seeing his genteel mask slip.
“Good news or bad news?” I ask.
She pulls a stray thread from the sleeve of her top. “Um, I’m not sure. She didn’t specify.”
“Well you told them you figured out how to kill the mists, right?”
“Yeah. It’s not about that. Apparently this warlock dude they visited has crazy psychic skills. He can cast spells that allow him to project his mind into another person’s and see their intentions.”
“Can he see anybody’s intentions, or just those who are in the room with him?” Ethan questions.
“Anybody’s, I think,” Rita answers with a shrug.
“Ah, this news should be interesting then.”
He clasps his palms together and sits back in his chair, a contemplative look on his perfect face.
Chapter Seven
You’re Lovable, But You’re Just Trouble
We spend the next half hour in awkward conversation, and it gets even more awkward when Finn comes down. He and Ethan don’t breathe a word to one another, however there are quite a few cutting looks being thrown back and forth. I make myself some tea and sit up on the kitchen counter, since there are no seats left. I look up at one point to see Ethan watching me closely.
“Has Marcel’s potion worn off yet?” he asks over the conversation of the others. Finn’s describing Pamphrock’s idea for modifying the fire extinguishers.
“Yes,” I answer, a half lie. I’m not sure whether the tingles I get when he looks at me now are from the potion, or just the usual “Ethan effect”. I see a small glimpse of the warmth on his face that he used to show me and I feel a pang of loss. It makes me remember the affection I once held for him. Who could have predicted it would be a vampire who’d be so troubling to my much abused heart?
“Good,” he replies, emotionless now. Delilah gives him a stern look, warning him to stop talking to me in case it escalates into another argument.
The front door opens and Noreen, Gabriel and Alvie spill into the kitchen, after which there are hugs and warm welcomes exchanged. I make tea for everyone, although Ethan and Lucas decline a cup. I’m half tempted to make a joke about adding a drop of blood so that it’ll be more their style, but I rein it in. I think I’ve made enough snooty comments to Ethan tonight as it is.
The atmosphere in the room gets hushed when Gabriel begins to tell us the news Noreen had alluded to over the phone. I take the razor Finn gave me out of my pocket and begin flicking it open and shut. The movement comes strangely easily to me. I’m antsy right now, and when I’m antsy I like to fidget.
Gabriel puts his hands around his mug, but he seems a little hesitant to start talking.
“Out with it,” says Rita impatiently when he still doesn’t speak.
“I take it you all know about the spells Neil can do,” he says finally, glancing around the room.
