by Ellie Margot
Ella laughed. She looked at Billy next to her. He shared a grin with her, and it worked to piss Riette off even more.
She turned back toward Riette. “It’s fine. You’re just making it harder on yourself.”
“I wouldn’t have minded breaking her in,” said Frank. He leaned back in his seat and kept his eyes on Riette. He looked over her form, pausing in places he shouldn’t. A toothpick he must have taken from his pocket stuck out of the side of his lips.
Cassian turned quickly at his words while keeping one hand on Riette.
“Watch your fucking mouth,” said Mekhi, sitting up on the opposite side of the table. Corin tried to push on his shoulders to get him to sit back and still, and he heeded it, but it didn’t change the expression on his face.
Frank, however, didn’t back down.
“That’s what she needs, you know?” he asked. “It’s like horses. They’re all fire, instinct, and anger until the right person comes along and puts them in their place.”
“I’ll put you in the fucking ground,” said Riette. She put Cassian’s hands down, not shoving but moving it out of the way.
“Now, now,” Ella said. “Despite how entertaining I find this exchange, we have business to discuss, and that trumps whatever you all have brewing.” She turned in her seat back to Riette.
Ella tapped her fingers on the table for a beat before continuing. “You want the book? You’ll work for it. Manual labor like anyone else around here that doesn’t want to use their talent.”
“It’s not a talent. It’s a fucking gift. It’s who we are—”
“Quaint,” said Ella, cutting off Riette’s words. “It’s what we contribute to the world, that’s true. And people want to pay for that gift.”
“It’s not right,” said Riette.
“If you want the book, you’ll work for it. I’m not above making a deal, but I’m not running a charity. And it’s not something I’m forcing you to do. I don’t force anyone. People come to me. They need me. I help people.”
“How could my grandmother have been friends with you?”
Ella took a breath. She smiled to herself and shook her head. “Lacking changes people,” said Ella. Each word was slow, deliberate. “Life changes people.” She stopped and pursed her lips. “Your grandmother was a wonderful woman. But it’s not the world she was in anymore.”
Before Riette could respond, Ella continued. “I think that’s about as much dinner as I can stomach. Trinity will see that you all get fed. As you can see by looking at her, eating is a favorite pastime. She’s good at little else.”
Trinity looked at her hands as a rose color burned at her cheeks.
Guy put his fist on the table. “Excuse me, but—” he started.
“I’ll leave you all to it,” said Ella, rising to stand. Billy got up with her, as did Frank. They headed out of a different door than Riette and the others had entered through, but Billy looked at each of them in turn before leaving with her.
Frank turned back just to wink at Riette. Cassian had to hold her back against the chair to restrain her.
“We’ll have our time,” said Frank. His hand was on the doorframe as he was leaving.
“You’ll have your time in fucking Demura.”
“Odd choice, but we can fuck anywhere you’d like, sweetheart.”
“You need to go now,” said Cassian as he held Riette back.
Frank considered both of them. That time, his eyes lingered on Cassian as he struggled to hold Riette at bay. “I don’t know who needs a leash more, but I’m happy to find out.”
He walked out with the door shutting behind him.
Chapter 11
Riette didn’t know just how mad she was until the flowers sitting at the center of the table caught fire.
“Shit,” said Cassian under his breath.
“How did you—” Trinity started.
“We’re going to need a minute,” said Guy. He rushed around from his side of the table to her side and touched her arm. “Get Sparky upstairs, and I’ll meet you there?”
“You don’t call me Sparky. That other ass—”
“Now preferably,” said Guy. He led Trinity out of the room, but Trinity had her attention squarely on the table behind her.
Cassian was busy putting out the fire. He grabbed the water from his table setting and splashed it on there.
“I could have done that,” said Mekhi.
“Any minute, you could add to it,” said Cassian.
“Back into boss mode,” said Mekhi to Corin. She shoved him in his side to shut him up, but Cassian spoke up anyway.
“If you all didn’t need babysitting, I wouldn’t have to be.” His words were charged but quiet.
There was a mark on the table, one about the size of a black cat from the shape it made, left when things had settled down.
“Think she’ll put it on our tab?” asked Mekhi.
“I think she plans on trying to keep us here forever,” said Riette. “Emphasis on the try.”
“Maybe if it would keep us in one place for once—” Cassian started.
“Maybe if you—” said Riette before she was cut off.
“We don’t need to air our dirty laundry here,” Corin said. “I think there’s a Frank around every corner, okay? Let’s go upstairs.”
“For all we know, she has this whole place charmed six ways from Sunday,” said Riette. “We don’t even know what power she is.”
“Or if she even has a power,” said Corin.
“She has something,” said Riette. “They both do.”
“You mean Trinity?” asked Mekhi.
“Leave her out of this,” said Cassian.
“Who exactly are you loyal to?” asked Riette.
Cassian moved close to where she stood. “People who are loyal to me.” The hiccup on the last line stopped it from hitting home for Riette. Fully, at least.
“I’m going upstairs.”
“Fine.”
“Great.”
“‘No, I want that one.’ ‘No my dick is bigger,’” said Mekhi using high-pitched voices.
Riette made a noise in the back of her throat and headed upstairs before anyone stopped her or before Mekhi felt his hair catch on fire.
She could sense Cassian behind her as she took her first steps on the stairs. A quick glance showed all three of them behind her, but she didn’t slow down because she feared what she would unleash if she did.
When she got to the door, Corin opened it with her key after a brief pause. Cassian lagged the most behind, even though he was second behind her.
By the time they got in the door, Guy was only a second behind them, and the flames fully showed on Riette’s hands when she turned around and faced them.
They only thing that had slowed her down and made the flames go away was the need to put the bag on the bed before she combusted.
“You need to calm down,” said Cassian, but he slumped a little as he stood, putting him roughly at her height.
“And you need to sober up.”
“Who says I’m not sober?”
“You’re falling over and showing your ass.”
“Maybe we’d get a discount off of our time if he did,” said Mekhi. “I’m sure they both would like him in the family.” He got a look from Corin. “What? He’s a pretty man. We need to use it to our advantage.”
“That’s the thing around here,” said Riette. “It might just work. Then he’d be useful at least.”
“Useful?” Cassian asked. “I saved you downstairs more times than I can count.”
“Did I ask you?”
“Do you ever?”
“Exactly!
“No, I get to say exactly.”
“Are you two really arguing about who has the right to say exactly?” Guy asked.
“Yes,” they both yelled.
“Ugh, I need a drink now,” said Guy.
“Me too,” said Cassian.
“No, you don’t.”
“Yes, I do.”
“No one needs a drink.”
“Until they’ve been around you,” said Cassian.
Riette reeled back like she had been hit.
“I didn’t mean it.”
“I think you said enough.”
“Maybe you wouldn’t be so angry if you weren’t jealous,” he said, and it came out like a hiss.
“Jealous? Of who?”
“I mean Trinity is kind of hot in a way,” said Mekhi. “If I wasn’t seeing someone. If I was desperate. And single. Very single.” The words kept pouring out of his mouth as Corin seemed to grow taller beside him.
Cassian said nothing, but there was a slanted smirk on his face that Riette was tempted to burn off.
“No, we’re not doing this. Every time there are two girls who aren’t bad looking—”
“Ego much?”
“Shut up, Mekhi,” Riette said. “Every single time there are two woman who happen to not be drooling idiots, people assume we have to be at odds. That’s bullshit.” Her hands flailed in front of her face before she held them at fists by her side.
“Then why are you—” Cassian started.
“The term is hating,” Guy added.
The others looked at Guy. “What?” He shrugged. He sat farther back on the bed and broke off a piece of Vitan. He threw it up into the air and caught it in his lips. “It’s like a movie, sans the popcorn.”
“Don’t get me started on you,” said Riette.
“Then why are you hating on her then?” asked Cassian.
“You don’t even know what ‘hating on’ someone means,” she countered.
“Neither do you.”
“Well, at least I’m not pretending that I do.”
“And they weren’t always like this?” asked Guy to Corin and Mekhi. He looked back at Riette. “I can just picture a little Riette, setting fires, dealing out bullshit.”
“You’re not helping,” said Corin.
“Oh, wasn’t intending to.”
“I need a minute,” said Cassian. He started to walk toward the door.
“Not until we work something out,” said Riette.
“You mean not until you give me further orders?”
“If you need them.”
“You think I do.”
“No, I don’t,” said Riette. “The old you, anyway.”
“There is no ‘old me’,” said Cassian. He shifted his weight to the back of his heels.
“Whatever you are now, you weren’t stupid before. I want the old Cassian back.”
Cassian looked at her. His fists clenched tighter. He didn’t say anything for a beat. No one did, and then he shook his head, a small laugh escaping before he turned toward the door.
“I’m leaving,” he said.
Corin stepped forward. “Cassian, don’t.”
He looked at his sister and took a breath. “I’m not going to do anything stupid.”
Corin looked into his eyes and paused. She nodded after a moment had passed.
Riette watched the exchange and took a breath. The cloud that was fogging her head dissipated a little watching them.
“Cassian,” said Riette.
He moved to look at her, his hand almost at the door.
“I’m not trying to fight. I don’t want to. We can’t afford to.”
He nodded.
“Just don’t say anything to Trinity,” said Riette.
She watched his face grow hard again.
“I’m not saying that I’m against her,” Riette said. “I don’t know her enough to be against her. But I also don’t know her enough to trust her, and until we know we can, we can’t risk it.”
“I wouldn’t put you in danger or anyone else. You know that.”
“But I don’t know what a drunk you does.”
He nodded. “I got out of hand. It’s not going to happen again.”
“I’m not saying—”
“I am saying it. You don’t need to tell me to.”
“Well, this has been fun, but I really do need to head downstairs,” said Guy.
“For what?” asked Riette.
“Now mommy turns on me? No, thanks.”
Riette glared at him. “I’m just giving you shit. I need to stretch my legs. You’ve seen more of this place than I have.”
“Well, I’m getting some air downstairs, but I will be back,” said Cassian, using the moment to leave.
He opened the door and slipped out, shutting it quietly behind him.
Guy looked at her and then back at the door. “He was supposed to distract you so I could leave. Dick.”
“What, like I’m some booby trap?”
“Kind of.”
“You all are—”
“Victim mentality number one, darling.”
“I am not a victim,” said Riette. Her voice went high at the tip of her statement.
“Exactly. Don’t beat me for using your word.”
“I might kill you,” said Riette.
“Can I help?” asked Mekhi. Corin hit his arm again. “What?”
“There’s a long line for that, darling, and you’re at the end of it,” said Guy. He walked to the door and opened it up. “Besides, you say there are women of a pleasurable nature, and you have me stuck in here with you all. No offense.”
“Guy, you’re not—”
“I’m not. Give me some credit. The day I pay for—”
“Just go,” said Riette.
“I was just going to say—”
“Ugh, I can’t wash my ears enough to unhear that shit.”
“I’ll make sure to let Cassian know he was going about it all wrong,” said Guy. “All he has to do is upset your delicate sensibilities.”
“Aw, you finally have delicate sensibilities, Ri,” said Mekhi. “You waited all this time. My little girl—”
“I’m two months older than you,” said Riette.
“All the more to celebrate,” said Mekhi. He did a wraparound hug to Corin. “They grow up so fast.”
“You’re leaving me alone with them?” Riette asked Guy.
“They’ll give you a similar show to the ones I’m looking for,” said Guy.
“Guy—”
“Kidding. I’m not looking, but if I see it—”
“I can’t think about them without—”
“Nope,” Guy said. “The world is bad, but you’re about to talk about it, and I can’t deal with anymore today. Nuh uh. Can’t do it.” He stuck one hand to his ear and started to hum. “Lalalala. I am not hearing. I am Mr. Good Time.”
And then he walked out and shut the door behind him.
Riette looked at the others.
“Did you want us to stay?” Corin asked.
“Corin,” said Mekhi, and he gave her a look that contorted his face.
“I can see you, you know,” said Riette.
Mekhi didn’t look at her, but he answered. “Oh, I want you to see it.”
“No one should have to see it. Most of all Corin.”
“I think it’s cute,” said Corin.
“You’re biased,” said Riette. “My cousin is actually known for being the most awkward—”
“Okay, that’s enough,” said Mekhi as he turned Corin around by her shoulders. “She wants to be alone. Written all over her face.”
“We’ll be right next door,” said Corin, waving a hand over her shoulder.
“And are to be interrupted for fires, not caused by you because you need to handle your own shit like a big girl, and imminent danger, which in this place could happen any minute,” said Mekhi.
“I’m aware,” said Riette. She sat back deeper on her bed and moved her bag closer. “I’m okay. Go have fun. Quietly if at all possible.”
“You can put in the request, but it may not be honored,” said Mekhi.
“I’m fully aware,” said Riette.
They smiled at her, and she struggled not to return it and lost.
Chapter 12
&n
bsp; Riette sat still in the quiet for a few minutes after they left.
She wanted to relish in it, the space between her hearing what Mekhi and Corin were up to and the spare minute she gave herself before her thoughts tried to eat what parts of her brain she had left.
Her bag thumped against her upper thigh.
“I know, I know,” she said. She knew it was Bark inside of the bag.
She also gave him some credit for keeping it quiet while they others were around. He wasn’t above hitting her in the back when they were walking until he found a good angle, but around the others, it almost got to the point where she could forget about them.
As if that were possible.
Riette undid the ties at the top and saw one of his wooden hands reach out. She leaned in, and his digits grabbed her nose.
“Fuck, Bark, ow.”
He released her and climbed out of the bag, dragging Barry behind him.
He mumbled. Each grunt tumbled out faster than the last, and at the end, he kicked the monkey figurine until the shimmer started and Barry flared back to life.
Barry flopped on his back and rolled around, leaving tufts of hair behind him.
“Not on the pillowcase.”
Barry made a noise that sounded like a series of clicks before rolling more and scratching the back of his ear, dropping a huge tuft of hair on the very piece of pillow that Riette had been eyeing.
She looked at Bark.
He looked back and raised part of his lip. “You don’t get to give me attitude too. I need at least one person in this universe who doesn’t think I’m shit right now.”
Bark rolled his eyes.
“I’m allowed to be a little dramatic.”
He made a noise.
“Okay. A lot dramatic if I want to. You know the amount of shit I deal with?”
Bark stood up taller, stretching his little wooden torso as he pointed at his chest and made noises pointing to Barry and back to himself.
“I know it must be hard to share a bag.” Bark grunted. “Okay, a small bag with a monkey, but I’m working on it.”
Bark gave him a look while Barry moved to Riette’s hand to sniff it.
“Don’t I make sure that you have enough to eat, drink, stretch?”
Bark grunted louder.
“I do try. Don’t say that.”