Page 56 of Echoes of the Banshee

“You know,” she continues, her tone dipping low, as if we’re in on some secret she’s about to reveal. “Thea’s an interesting one, don’t you think? Always caught between light and dark, never quite fitting in. She’s drawn to the impossible. The unreachable. You must see that too, Zair, don’t you? The way she looks at you like you’re her lifeline. It’s sweet, really.”

I want to snap back, to tell her she’s wrong, but I know that would add fuel to the fire. The way she speaks, so effortlessly manipulative, like she’s testing the waters to see just how much she can push.

“Then again, Thea always liked pretty things,” she continues. “But I’m sure that’s not why she’s drawn to you.”

I can feel the tension building, a tight knot in my chest. My silence seems to amuse her, though, because she turns to Mavrik with that same cruel smile.

“And you,” she says, voice laced with mock sweetness. “I can’t quite figure you out. What does she see? A mystery to solve? Or just another shadow to hide in when the light gets too bright? What do you think, Mavis?”

Mavis, Mavrik. I look between them and it becomes apparent that they’re siblings.

“Shadows have a way of swallowing people whole.” There’s something so cold in Mavis’s voice. “Probably better to keep them away from anyone you care about.”

Mavrik’s jaw tightens. Anita leans in slightly, her eyes locking onto his with a vulturine focus. “Be careful, I’d hate to see Thea disappear into yours.”

The air around us grows frigid as a chill creeps down my spine. Neither of us says anything in response. There’s nothing for us to say. She’s landed a perfect shot aimed at our fears. She straightens, smoothing out her blouse with practiced ease, as though wiping away all the anxiety she’s created.

“Just some friendly advice,” she says, a glint of satisfaction dancing in her eyes. “After all, we all want what’s best for Thea, don’t we?”

Without waiting for a response, they both leave. The faint scent of perfume lingers in the air. I roll up my sleeves and do a quick mark check even though she didn’t touch me. I look up and see Mavrik watching me.

“Paranoid?” he asks, then takes off his jacket and checks his arms.

“Do I even want to know what she said to you?” Thea asks, sitting down next to Mavrik.

“That you only like Zair because you’re power-hungry,” Mavrik tells her, and I snap my attention to him, disbelief flooding my system.

“Mavrik doesn’t have a filter,” Thea says with a smile, as if it’s no big deal. “Never ask him a question unless you want the answer with a hundred percent honesty.”

“Well, then yes, that’s pretty much what Anita said,” I agree, forcing myself to sound nonchalant. “And that Mavrik’s shadows are going to consume you.”

“Well, don’t worry, neither of you are my type,” she says with a casual shrug. The words hit harder than I expect.

“What is your type?” Mavrik asks, clearly intrigued. I focus on my coffee, taking a big swig before it gets cold.

“Banshees,” Thea replies. “Nothing says ‘I love you’ like a scream that can shatter glass.”

The words hit me mid-swallow. A sharp, startled breath catches in my throat, half disbelief, half choke, and the next thing I know, the coffee shoots up the back of my throat and out my nose, spraying across the table in a mess of heat and humiliation. I freeze, stunned by the burning sting in my sinuses and the warmth blooming across my face. My eyes water, but the pain is nothing compared to the sucker punch of her words.

I’m left sitting there, red-faced and spluttering, wondering why she had to joke about that of all things.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen that actually happen,” Mavrik says, his voice dry, but there’s an amused glint in his eyes. He raises an eyebrow before adding, “If Anita’s right and Thea only likes you for your looks… well, you just destroyed your one advantage. That was ugly.”

Thea laughs, her shoulders shaking with it, and I groan, trying to wipe up the coffee mess as I recover.

“I think it’s worse that I know you’re completely serious,” I say, staring at them in disbelief.

“Probably,” Thea quips. “But you did look utterly ridiculous. Nice change.”

I wipe the table with a napkin, my hands shaking a little from the surprise and the strange jolt of something else. Thea’s gaze is steady, unaffected by the awkwardness she’s just caused. Does she know what she’s just joked about? Or is she just being… Thea? Of all the creatures to pick for a joke, why that one?

“I hate you,” I say with a smile, forcing myself to breathe through the moment. “Shall we go to class, or do you plan to continue tormenting me?”

“Definitely tormenting you.” Thea smiles back. “But yes, let’s get to class.”

Mavrik and I grab our trash, and we all file out.

“So sister?” I ask.