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No, that’s okay, I finally replied.
Let me know if you change your mind.
I looked up at him then and gave a faint nod. He held my gaze, an intensity in his eyes. I was the one to look away first, my attention going to Nic and Sophia, who were still engrossed in their game of chess. Belinda and Anna giggled at some video they were watching while munching on a bag of popcorn they found in the kitchen. Mrs Kanumba and Rebecca worked on their laptops, chatting quietly every once in a while.
I wasn’t sure how many hours passed after that, but there must’ve been a timer that turned off the central heating because it started to get cold. As a dhampir, I wasn’t quite as susceptible to cold as humans were, but I could still feel a chill. Maybe it was because the building was so empty right now.
Either way, I must’ve noticeably shivered because Peter’s voice entered my mind.
Cold?
Just a little.
Come over here. I have a blanket.
I glanced at him and spotted the woollen blanket draped over the back of the couch he sat on. I wanted to go over there more than anything.
I can’t. Belinda will start talking crap about us again.
Do you care what Belinda says? Because I certainly don’t.
Peter was right. I’d never cared what Belinda Williams thought of me in the past, so why should I start now?
Fine. Challenge accepted. I’m coming over.
I stood and traversed the few steps before joining Peter on his couch, leaving a few inches between us. He unfolded the blanket and spread it out over us. A companionable silence fell. One of the nice things about Peter was that once you got to know him, you didn’t feel the need to fill empty silences. You could just happily let them exist. I thought back to not long ago when I’d been so anxious to ask him to help me with the spell. It had taken me forever to pluck up the courage. Now I wouldn’t hesitate for a second before asking for his help.
Peter returned his attention to his book, and I put my earphones back in. We were still doing the same activities; just now, we were sitting together under a blanket. I willed my silly heart to quit racing.
I just realised something, I said, hitting pause on my music and breaking the quiet between us. Well, the mental quiet, at least.
What’s that? Peter replied with a note of curiosity in his voice.
You could’ve teleported us all out of here hours ago.
There was a long beat of silence before he replied, That would mean revealing my ability to people I don’t wish to reveal it to. It would also mean teleporting everyone out one at a time, and I don’t ever want to be that close to Belinda.
No, I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy.
I’ll do it for you. I mean, if you want to go home, I can take you there.
How would you explain my sudden disappearance?
I’d think of something.
I considered it a moment, then shook my head. My dad will be here to drive me home as soon as the road is cleared, so I better stay put.
The wind picked up outside, whistling through cracks in the windows. Rolling thunder followed. Sophia whimpered, and I spotted Nic reach across the chessboard to give her hand a reassuring squeeze.
The lights flickered. Peter and I shared a worried look. Someone swore under their breath. I was pretty sure it was Mrs Kanumba. A second later, all of the electrics cut out, and we were enshrouded in complete and total darkness.
11.
For a moment, I was hyperaware of Peter’s presence beside me. There was something about the dark that made the atmosphere intensify. I heard the strike of a match, and then a candle flickered to life over by Mrs Kanumba’s desk, softly lighting the room.
“Looks like we’ve lost our electricity,” she said, “I’ll check the generator.”
“I’ll go with you,” my sister added, standing from her seat and grabbing a tiny torch from her handbag. You could never say she didn’t come prepared.
“All of you sit tight until we get back,” Mrs Kanumba said before she and Rebecca left.
“This is bullshit,” Belinda huffed. “I only have ten percent battery left on my tablet.” She glanced at Anna. “What about you?”
“Eight percent,” Anna answered, glancing dolefully at the screen of her phone.
Nearby, Sophia lit another candle. “That’s the great thing about chess. No electricity is required.”
“Go ahead and be smug about it,” Belinda griped.
Peter nudged me, and I glanced his way. Watch this.
In his palm was a small piece of paper that he’d somehow folded to create a cube. He set it down on the coffee table in front of us, and I stared at his hands as they moved in a circular motion. A tiny light flickered inside the cube. Peter whispered a soft, “Illuminate,” and the cube lit up, giving off as much light as a small lamp.
