“Oh, God,” she moans and I can tell she’s almost there.
I suck on her clit hard and then she’s coming, shaking against me and looking absolutely amazing. Moments later I come too, and it’s kind of humiliating to be so turned on that I came so easily without her even touching me.
I crawl up her body and take her into my arms, kissing and nuzzling the hollow of her neck.
“Wow,” she whispers, her arms slipping around my torso and cuddling me tight.
“Yeah, wow,” I agree, making a plan in my head to do that again as soon as possible.
A second later there’s a knock at the door, which is swiftly followed by Tegan’s voice calling, “Finn, are you awake yet?”
Perfect way to ruin the moment.
Tegan
“Why didn’t you inform me that Roman had found you?” Ethan demands as he paces back and forth over the lush, expensive carpet in his bedroom.
I perch myself on the edge of the bed and rub at my arms, suddenly feeling a chill. “Well, I wasn’t sure that he had actually found me. He visited me in a dream and I couldn’t tell if it was real or not. Tonight is the first time he came to me in the flesh.”
Ethan stops abruptly and narrows his gaze at me. “He visited you in a dream?”
I swallow. “Yes.”
“And what happened in this dream?”
I don’t get why he’s being so icy all of a sudden, and I decide that honesty is the best policy. I’m sick of lying all the time. “He asked why I was searching for him and I told him I was his granddaughter. Then he tried to kiss me in a very non-paternal way. I told him I wasn’t down with that and he said that incest is the norm for magical folk. It creeped me out, to be honest.”
I pause and meet Ethan’s gaze. He looks like he wants to punch a hole in the wall or something. “He kissed you?”
I swallow again. I seem to be doing a lot of that tonight. “Yep. I put a stop to it though and he knows I don’t swing that way now. Anyway, he’s agreed to help us, but he wants something in return.”
“But of course. And that would be?”
I hesitate to speak, knowing I had planned on keeping this to myself for a while longer. But there really is no avoiding telling Ethan now. “He wants me to let him train me to become a sorceress.”
“Absolutely out of the question,” Ethan spits out sharply, raking a hand over his stubble.
I furrow my brow. “Um, it’s not exactly your decision to make.”
“He’s only requesting this so that he can spend more time with you…and seduce you most likely. Sorcerers are selfish beings, they aren’t interested in passing on their knowledge because they know they are never going to die. If anything, he wants to bed you out of curiosity and then he will probably leech your power and keep it for himself. He is not to be trusted.”
Ethan’s words give me food for thought. I hadn’t even considered that Roman might only be out for what he can get just like Theodore is. He just seems so different from Theodore, like he’s a light sorcerer and Theodore is a dark one; the same way Noreen used to say there is light and dark magic.
“He said he wanted to help me. Apparently, becoming a sorceress would allow me to be with you for longer. Because I’m not sure if you’ve considered this, Ethan, but I’m going to age and die and you’re going to stay the same.” Saying this out loud makes me feel incredibly anxious and fearful of the future. “You’re not going to want to be with an old woman when you’re still young and virile.”
Ethan shakes his head and walks toward me, giving me a look as though I’m being ridiculous. “That’s not true. Your mortality is one of the most attractive things about you. You are beautiful on the outside, but physical attraction is a shallow thing. It’s attraction of the soul that links two people together.” He pauses and grins. “Besides, I’m not exactly a young pup myself. I will age a little over the next few years.”
I snort and quip, “Yeah, you’ll look thirty instead of twenty-nine. How awful for you.”
He kneels in front of me and clasps each of my thighs in his hands. “Do not be so sour, fata frumoasa, I much prefer it when you’re sweet.”
His hand moves up my thigh and along my stomach and chest to my heart. “Our bodies are merely shells, and you will always be beautiful where it matters.” His hand pats lightly against my chest and I breathe deeply.
“You are far too charming, Mr Cristescu, but I’m still not convinced.”
“And you are far too edible,” he replies pushing me back so that I’m lying on the bed and my feet are still on the floor. He pulls my jeans quickly off me and situates himself between my legs, pressing his face to my sex and nuzzling gently. Seconds later my underwear has disappeared and his tongue is on me, his hands roaming under my shirt to squeeze at my breasts.
What was it we were arguing about again?
When I wake up the next morning Ethan is already showered and standing by the window yanking a T-shirt on over his head. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to the thrill of seeing him standing in direct sunlight, how it brings out the striking gold colour of his hair.
“Where are you off to so early?” I ask stretching out in the bed like a happy cat.
“Nicu Arcos is throwing me a party at Crimson tonight. He’s been taking care of the club in my absence and wants to celebrate my new position of power. I’m going to visit the place while it’s empty to see how things have been going.”
“To see how much profit you’ve made, in other words,” I tease him and roll over onto my stomach. Ethan only gives me a half grin and continues to dress.
“Is a party wise though? Things seem a little strained among your people at the moment.”
“And that is exactly why a party is such a great idea. They’ll be able to let off some steam.”
“Are any humans invited?”
“Of course. Who else will be providing the drinks?” he jokes.
“Ethan, be serious. Are Finn and the others allowed to come?”
“They may come if they wish. I’ll see to it that they are kept safe.”
“Great. I’ll mention it to them. Now that I think of it, perhaps we all need something to take our minds off Theodore.”
“Exactly,” Ethan smiles and comes to kiss me on the cheek. “Now, I have much to see to today. Will you be okay here at the house?”
“Sure. Um, there’s something else I need to tell you that we didn’t get to discuss last night.”
Ethan stares at me silently and waits for me to speak.
“It’s about the barrier, you see. Roman told me that it only keeps humans and vampires trapped in. Those of us with magic can move through it freely. So, I was planning on going through it today so that I can call my dad. I need to check on how he’s doing over in London and the phone lines in the city won’t call anywhere outside of Tribane.”
“You’re not going alone. Get Gabriel to go with you…and maybe the slayer, too.”
I suppress a grin. “He does have a name, you know.”
“Fine. Bring Finn with you,” he replies begrudgingly, not admitting to the fact that he knows Finn will keep me safe.
With that he gives me one more kiss and then leaves. I can’t stop smiling. Perhaps Ethan is finally coming around to accepting Finn as a friend.
A little while later I dress and go to find Gabriel and Finn. Gabriel is in the dining room eating breakfast with Alvie, Amanda and Rebecca. I take a seat beside him and pour myself a bowl of cereal.
“Can I commandeer you to bring me to the barrier today?” I ask.
“Of course,” Gabriel replies. “But why do you want to go there?”
“I’ve been informed on good authority that witches and warlocks can move through it, just not humans or vamps. I want to see if I can get through to call my dad. Hey, maybe you’ll be able to get through, too.”
He shakes his head. “I won’t be able to. All the magic I know is self-taught, I don’t have magical blood.”
“The same goes for me,” says Alvie. “You’re one of the lucky ones, Tegan.”
I consider that and continue to eat my breakfast. Most of the time I feel like a walking ‘Kill Me’ sign, but I guess I’m lucky in certain ways. Once I’m done eating I go to Finn’s room to check if he’s awake yet. I knock on his door and call for him, hearing some shuffling but no answer.
When I knock a second time he opens the door a smidge and sticks his head out.
“What’s up?” he asks, his hair all mussed.
“Hmm, it’s not like you to sleep so late,” I joke. “Got a girl in there or something?”
I only mean to tease him, but when I see the look he gives me I realise I’ve inadvertently hit the nail on the head.
A little rush of curiosity goes through me as a grin splits wide across my mouth. “Is it the elf?” I whisper as quietly as I can.
Finn coughs and straightens but doesn’t answer. “I’ll be down shortly.”
Then he closes the door and I’m giddy as anything. It makes me feel good to know Finn’s getting some and I don’t know why. I guess I might still feel like a bit of a bitch for leaving him high and dry by choosing Ethan.
A half an hour later he makes an appearance and grabs a quick bite to eat. I tell him about wanting to go to the barrier and he says he’ll drive. Gabriel, Alvie and I sit in the back while Finn slips into the driver’s seat and I notice that Allora’s not with him.
I slide up the bench and lean over the back of Finn’s chair. “Sooo, spill the beans, lover boy. Who were you with last night?”
“You’re very nosy this morning, Petal,” he replies still evading giving me any details.
“Oh, come on, don’t be like that,” I say folding my arms in annoyance.
“Yeah,” Alvie joins in. “Who were you with last night?”
“God, you’re like a pair of gossipy old ladies. Give it a rest.”
“Oh, oh, oh. Let me guess, have you and Lucas finally decided to declare your undying love for one another?” Alvie asks jokingly.
Finn laughs. “Yeah, that’s it. Not only have I turned into a vamp lover, I’ve also turned gay. Well done, Sherlock.”
“Come on you two, leave Finn alone,” says Gabriel, the voice of reason. There’s a moment of silence before he continues with a big smile and a wink. “Besides it’s quite obvious he was with Allora.”
“Ha! I knew it!” I exclaim clapping my hands together in glee.
“You lot are incredibly irritating sometimes,” Finn mutters but he’s smiling and something squeezes in my stomach to see him happy.
When we reach the barrier it’s in a less inhabited spot. Finn says we need to avoid the crowds of nutters camped out awaiting the arrival of aliens, and I wholeheartedly agree.
There are some woods along the barrier that the humans haven’t yet decided to inhabit. We leave the van nearby and trek through the trees until we get to the shimmering purple wall that blocks out the rest of the world. Being that it’s purple and all, it seems only logical that Theodore was the one to put it there. Emilia must have constructed it in this way to make it look like it was the sorcerer, and in turn direct attention away from her.
I know I didn’t inherit the best genetic material when it comes to mental health, but I never anticipated my grandmother would turn out to be such a lunatic.
I run my hand along the barrier and it fizzles at my touch. I get that hum of recognition that tells me this magic was done by someone related to me. Hesitantly, I take a step forward so that I’m only a centimetre away and then experiment by waving my hand through it. It slips past the barrier as though it were thin air and I gasp. Despite what Roman told me, there was still a small part of my brain that thought it wasn’t possible.
With a deep breath for courage, I walk all the way through it and come out the other side. I look back at my friends and see them calling to me but I can’t hear a sound. Wind whistles by my ears and I suddenly feel terribly alone in the world. Finn, Alvie and Gabriel are all tinted purple and the longer I stay on this side the more blurry and indeterminate they become.
Right, on to the task at hand. I pull my phone from my pocket and dial in the number E.J. Edwards gave me to contact him. It rings out but I get no answer, so I hit ‘call’ a second time. After three rings his pleasant British accent comes through, “Hello, is that you, Tegan dear? I am sorry. I was putting a pie in the oven a moment ago.”
I smile, imagining him doing such a thing in a little goblin house, even though he probably lives somewhere completely normal. “That’s alright. How’s my dad doing?”
Edwards sucks in a breath and lets it out. “He’s making progress, but it’s slow. It will probably be several more weeks before he’s back to his old self.”
I hold the phone tighter to my ear and try to keep the disappointment from my voice. “Well, at least he’s progressing, even if it is slow.”
“Very true,” Edwards agrees and a silence falls between us.
“Do you…do you think I might be able to talk to him?” I ask, unsure.
“That might not be the best idea just yet. But do call back in a fortnight and he could be up to speaking to you then.”
Sadness makes my gut sink but I keep my brave face intact. “Alright. I’ll call back in a couple of weeks.”
“Right you are. How is everything back in Tribane?” he asks making polite chit-chat. If only he knew that the answer to that question would take a really long time to answer.
So I lie and say, “Everything’s fine. I better go.”
My voice is shaky now and I think I hear pity in Edwards tone when he replies. “Okay, you take care of yourself.”
“I will,” I tell him and then hang up, slipping my phone back in my pocket and sinking to my knees. Being on the other side of the barrier, away from everyone else, I feel safe in allowing my emotions to overtake me. Tears fill my eyes and I remain completely still for a long time, just weeping and feeling relieved that I don’t have to put on a tough front in this moment. I’m too far away from the others and the blur of the barrier is keeping them from seeing me properly.
As I wipe my eyes and stare at the open space ahead of me, I have a brief desire to flee. I could run away from Tribane right now and no one would be able to stop me. The temptation is one that I almost give in to.
But then I remember all of the people who are back there and I know that I can’t leave them. Somehow, each and every one of them has wriggled their way into my heart and I couldn’t abandon them even if I wanted to.
Pulling a tissue from my pocket and blowing my nose, I steel myself and turn back around, walking through the barrier and returning to the other side.
Chapter Eleven
Pick a Number
Finn
Okay, so even though I can’t really see Tegan through all that purple shit, I can still tell that she’s upset. It’s something about the way she’s kneeling on the ground, her back turned to us. I can feel her hopelessness as though it’s a tangible thing.
The poor girl has been through a lot these past few years, and what happened to her dad was fairly high on the fucked up scale, especially since he’s the only true family she has left. I’m thinking that Emilia doesn’t exactly count.
For a moment I think she’s not actually going to return, but then she stands up, brushes herself off and walks straight back through the barrier.
“Dad’s still not better yet. Edwards said it’ll be another couple of weeks before he’s up to talking to me,” she tells us, not meeting any of our eyes – and hers are looking distinctly red.
Her words are laced with disappointment and I realise she must have really gotten her hopes up that maybe he would be cured already. I throw my arm around her shoulders and give her a tender squeeze.
“Cheer up, Charlie. It could always be worse.”
She nods quietly and we walk back to the van. When we reach it I decide to go for a drive instead of heading straight back to Cristescu’s.
I drive to a spot I like to go to sometimes, which is a deserted old farmer’s field on the outskirts of the city.
“By the way, everyone’s invited to a party at Crimson tonight. The vampires are throwing it for Ethan, sort of like a welcome home thing,” says Tegan.
“Yeah, I’m so not going to that,” I tell her.
“You can count me out, too,” Gabriel adds.
“Oh come on, it might be fun for us to blow off some steam.”
“I’m not in the habit of blowing off steam around vamps I’ve tried to kill and who’ve tried to kill me. It’s just not clever. And anyway, I know a better way of blowing off steam.”
Tegan raises an eyebrow, instantly thinking I’m making an innuendo. “Finn…”
“Ah, now, look where your filthy mind wanders,” I say shushing her. “I meant something else. You’ll see.”
I stop once we reach the stretch of road beside the empty field and go around to the back of the van. Taking out a hand gun, I give it to Tegan.
“You know how to use this?” I ask her.
“I have a fair idea.”
“Good, let’s go.”
I walk to the middle of the field and begin shooting into the distance with my Benelli M4. There’s absolutely nothing to hit and it’s sort of liberating. I like the sensation of letting the bullets loose, kind of the same way some people love bursting the bubbles in bubble wrap. When I’m done I turn to look at Tegan and she’s staring at me cynically.
“Sometimes, Finn Roe, I think you might truly believe you live in a Martin Scorsese film.”
I shrug. “Try it.”
Gabriel and Alvie are sitting on the hood of the van, their arms linked as they watch us. Tegan turns back to the open space ahead of us and glances down at the gun in her hand. A moment passes, but when she finally decides to shoot she’s so incredibly bad at it that I have to stop her and give her a quick lesson. Once I’m confident she’s got the hang of it I let her go again and this time she’s much better.
After a couple of rounds a look of cool calm comes over her features and I know she’s getting it now. Sometimes with Tegan, it feels like in another life we could have been brothers. I know it’s weird because she’s a girl and all, but there are moments when I feel like we’re thinking the exact same thoughts.