That wipes the smile right off Finn’s face, and we all burst out laughing a second later.
After breakfast I join Finn and Gabriel on a trip to the nearest supermarket, we need to stock up on food since there’s so many of us in the house now. We end up spending a phenomenal amount, but Gabriel insists on paying for everything. I wonder where he gets his money from these days, since he doesn’t work at Indigo any more. Then again, he probably has a lot of savings if he’s as old as Finn told me he is.
I lounge around for a while when we get back, watching as various men and women come and go from the house. Rita shuts the living room door each time they come though, so I can’t eavesdrop at what’s going on. For some reason I’m fascinated by the fact that humans who live very normal, ordinary lives can accept magic as a feasible method by which to rid themselves of their ailments. It takes all sorts I suppose.
I’m munching on a bowl of tortilla chips when Finn gets back from some slayer business he had to attend to. Alvie and Gabriel are upstairs checking to see how Noreen is doing, since she still hasn’t emerged from the bedroom all day. I have a feeling her illness is emotional rather than physical. Rita discovering the true identity of her father must surely have taken a toll on the woman.
Every second chip I pick up goes on the floor for Wolf to eat, he seems to like them too.
“Having fun?” Finn asks, shrugging out of his leather jacket.
“Lots,” I reply, grinning down at Wolf, my new found canine companion.
“Good, because you’re not going to like what I have to say next.”
I put down the bowl and turn to face him. “What?”
“I spoke to Pamphrock today, he’s getting impatient. He says you have three more days to get to Rebecca before he gathers his men and breaks into Whitfield’s mansion himself.”
“Great,” I answer, deadpan. “Does he actually think brute force will work? I mean, he could always try attacking during the day while the vampires are at their most vulnerable, but I have a feeling Whitfield has lots of protection set up for the hours when he’s asleep. I can’t see a man like that leaving himself open to attack at any time of the day or night.”
“You’re right,” Finn agrees. “But give Pamphrock a break, he’s worried about his daughter. He’s not thinking straight.”
I dust the salt and crumbs from my hands and stand up. “So three days?” I say to Finn.
“Three days,” he tells me.
“It looks like I’ve got some vampire grovelling to do then, doesn’t it.”
Chapter Eleven
Girl With One Eye
I shower, put on some make-up and dress myself in a calf length black dress and boots before heading to Crimson. I despise lowering myself to this level, but I need to get back into Ethan’s good books if I want to gain access to Whitfield’s private home.
It’s ten at night by the time I get there and the revellers are in full swing. I spot Dru and Lucas standing at the door, so I take a deep breath for courage and skip the queue, walking towards them. I’m not normally self-assured enough to do this kind of thing, but I don’t have the time to wait in line for an hour. I only have three days left to get to Rebecca. Lucas smiles when he spots me.
“Tegan, looking delectable as always,” he leers.
“I have to see Ethan,” I tell him, making my way to walk past him and into the club. He grabs onto my arm.
“What makes you think he wants to see you?” he breathes down my neck. “The last I heard you pissed him off pretty bad.”
I pull my arm out of his grip. “I can handle him,” I reply, but my words come out shaky.
Lucas is t
horoughly amused. “If that’s what you think then you don’t know Ethan half as well as I thought you did.”
Dru watches our exchange with interest. “Quit messing with her Lucas,” she says.
Lucas shoots me a look as if to tell me it’s my own funeral, then he shakes his head. “Well, you were warned.”
I purse my lips and continue inside. So Ethan was angry with how I walked off on him last night. Shit. The club is packed and there’s barely enough room to breathe, let alone move. I struggle past the masses and manage to slip through to the bar where I promptly order a vodka and orange juice. I swallow the whole thing back in two very long gulps. I’m suddenly terribly thirsty, it must be my nerves.
I turn around and lean against the bar to scan the crowds, but I don’t see Ethan anywhere. Then my eyes focus in on a girl who’s headed in my direction, her gaze is fixed determinedly on mine. She’s got short brown hair and is wearing tight denim jeans and a black tank top. But the most noticeable thing about her is that she’s got an eye patch, like a pirate.
She seems out of breath and panicked. When she steps before me and puts her hands on each of my shoulders, I look down to find that they are visibly shaking. She pulls me into a hug, her mouth is right over my ear and she talks rapidly.