Page 10 of Crossing Between
"You two alright there?" Kenji laughed. "You look like you've seen the dead." He bumped Elias' shoulder with his own.
Elias coughed as he reached up to rub the back of his neck. "Just static shock."
Okay. So we were going to just ignore what happened. Worked for me. I ignored them as they began speaking with Varon again about something regarding the case while I started packing up my bookbag. Quilith's hand took the incense from its holder, blowing the remaining smoke out.
"My dear, I mustinsistthat you come to tea and biscuits with me tomorrow for lunch. I'm sure Varon or one of the detectives can give you a ride." They handed me the book of spelled pages.
Gulping, I nodded. They hadn't been asking. I would need to meet with them to see exactly what they were able to tell about me anyway, might as well get food out of it.
"Sure, doc, we can do that." Kenji offered with a wink aimed at me. "I need to come here tomorrow about another case. I can get Riley's help while you take lunch."
"Perfection." Quilith gave me a glittering smile that showed off sharp teeth. "I look forward to it, my sweet child. Now, I must get back to work. You know the way out, cuties." They stepped to the side into a portal that popped up out of nowhere and was gone.
I was suddenly feeling exhausted and the day wasn't even half over.
Chapter 7: Zoey
The drive back to the station was mostly quiet. Elias and Kenji had gone on their way, I assumed to start looking into Lincoln's past now that they knew who he was. Varon had helped me into his car without me realizing it as I had been distracted with thoughts about Quilith and the blossoming fear that the secret I had hidden for years was going to be the end of me soon.
"I see that you're at least a bit tired." Varon broke the silence. I looked over at him. He was right, but it wasn't because I had drained my magic, I just couldn't tell him that.
"I guess I am." I pulled on the edges of the bottom of my dress in a nervous habit. "What am I expected to do at the office when I'm not helping summon a soul?"
"Mostly paperwork. Filing or research if any of the detectives ask for your help. You'll report to me in the mornings and I'll let you know what you're going to be doing that day. Kenji and Elias will be relying on you for help as well with this case." Varon pulled into the parking garage, smoothly turning into his parking spot after a few minutes. "I promise you'll hardly ever be bored."
His joke made me giggle which helped bring me out of my head of worried thoughts about Quilith and the response my body had to Elias' touch. "Being around you, sir, will definitely not be boring." My teasing reply felt like flirting and I liked that he chuckled.
Varon turned off the car before he turned to look at me. "Since it's your first day and you jumped right in, I'm giving you the rest of the day off. Go home, relax, and be prepared to dive in." He reached forward to pick a piece of lint off my shoulder that I hadn't noticed. "You did a good job, Zoey."
I could feel my face flush with his compliment. He didn't know it, but I'd never been told that before by someone I had started to respect and like. "Thank you."
I didn't need help getting out of the vehicle this time since I was more comfortable with it. It still felt like I was climbing out of it. Varon offered to walk me out of the garage but I declined, waving goodbye to him before heading to the bus stop.
Ruth wasn't outside when I got home. It was early for her, though. She was perpetually a night owl. The house was unlocked, signaling that Ryan was home and forgot, yet again, to lock it after he got in.
"Little brother!" I locked the door behind me as I looked around the room, spotted Ryan with his feet up on the coffee table and a frozen bag of peas against his face. "Again, Ryan? What happened?" My bag fell to the floor as I hurried over to him, pulled the bag away and winced at the huge cut across his cheek. "That's going to need stitches."
Ryan winced as he kept his eyes closed and turned his face toward my voice. "Hey. How's it going, Z?" He was the spitting image of my father with a strong face, baby blue eyes, and a smile that had broken several hearts already. When he stood next to one of Dad's pictures, it was hard to tell that it wasn't him in the photo. Ryan was also fit, he had to be with how much running around he did. Most didn't believe we were siblings when we were side by side. "This isn't as bad as it looks. Promise."
"I see you grabbed the first aid kit." I resisted the urge to smack him on top of the head as I sat next to him and opened the kit. "These butterfly bandages may not be enough for this cut, Ryan. It looks really bad." I began the tedious task of cleaning the wound. "What happened? Don't think you're going to get away without telling me this time."
"Cascade called in my loan. He wasn't forgiving when I told him I didn't have it but he made me a deal. He'd forgive my debt if I did a job for him with a few of his boys. After he did this to my face." Ryan cursed when I pressed too hard on purpose in rising anger but bit my tongue. "It didn't go as planned. Some cops showed up and blew our cover. It took some time to evade them and get home."
"Ryan," my voice was as hard as I could make it. "My new job is going to allow us to get out of your debts, but after I've paid them off, you HAVE to promise me that you are going to stay away from that crowd."
"Z, I know I've made mistakes, but you know most of the guys aren't that bad." Ryan opened his eyes to look at me, probably to try to use his baby whine on me but he froze when he saw my face. "Your face! Who did that? Are you alright?" His hands came up to cup my cheeks in concern.
I swatted his hands away with a huff. "It's nothing. I fell down some stairs, just being a klutz." I turned his head to the side so I could finish up with his cut. "I don't care if they aren't that bad. The people that they run with are. Please. Ryan, I can't keep worrying about you. I'm so afraid that I'll come home one day and you'll be on the porch dead because you were running with them again. There have to be other friends you can hang out with. Hell. You're over eighteen. Get a fucking job and help pay some bills for once!" I shoved him as I stood, avoiding his cut, I wasn't that heartless, but all my anger at his idiocy just raised to the surface. My feet stomped loudly as I went into the kitchen to make a cup of tea to try to calm down.
"Z, what the hell?" Ryan grunted after me as he stood to follow. "You've never cared that I didn't have a normal job." He leaned against the doorway with a frown.
The tea box had one tea bag left and I sighed in frustration as the anger went with it. "I've always just wanted you happy, Ry, but I am exhausted. This new job is wonderful, but it's going to take up a lot of my time now. I can't be looking out for you so much and I can't be worrying about you all the time if I'm at work." I poured the hot water into my favorite mug and didn't look up as the steam from it fogged up my glasses. "I'm going to pay off your debts within the next two months, but I've decided I can't do it again." I had been thinking about this conversation for such a long time, I just never thought I'd have the courage to actually voice my concerns to him. "You have to grow up."
I could feel my brother staring at me. I always coddled him. I had to take care of him as we grew up. He was spoiled and that was my fault.
"Think about what I said. I really need you to think about what I've said." I took my tea to my room. It only took twenty minutes before I heard the door slam downstairs.
I sighed. He was an adult. I needed to start treating him as one.
