Page 31 of The Whispering Night
“Which I said I would handle. What if someone sees us together?”
“Don’t worry.” Winnie shoves them through swinging doors. A steel counter laden with plates of greasy joy winks up at her. “We have a lot of catching up to do.” She reaches for a plate of fries.
“Winnie!” Mom leaps up behind them like a Whack-A-Mole. “Nostealing food! I still need this job, you remember.”
Yes, Mother. It’s why I’m wearing this pantsuit.“Fine, then. Can we get an order of fries to go?” Winnie spins and claps a hand on Erica’s shoulder. “Also, I need more clothes, so we’re going shopping. And yes, Mom, Erica and I are friends again so you can stop staring.”
“It’s notEricathat’s making me stare,” Mom mutters. “It’s that god-awful blazer—and by the way, Winnie, you sat in mustard.”
CHAPTER
15
“What the hell is going on?” Erica asks this while power-walking next to Winnie on the downtown sidewalk. Fries rattle in a takeout box, a perfect soundtrack to Winnie’sgloriousspite that has now fractured into all-out panic.
“The siren is thought to be an evolutionary ancestor of the melusine,” Winnie answers as they weave around visitors and locals alike. Dogwoods and redbuds are just unfurling their spring attire. The Masquerade lights twinkle in assorted clan colors, even in the afternoon. “Since DNA tests show phylogenetic matching.” She shakes her head.This is not what I want to say! Why can’t I talk about the Crow?!“Much like apes eventually evolved into humans, sirens were likely a precursor to the melusine.”
“Winnie, stop.” Erica grabs Winnie’s shoulder, reining her to a halt. They are just outside Joe Squared. The scent of coffee drapes across them with no-good, lying promises of comfort. “I know you don’t want to talk to me about melusine. I mean… you don’t, do you?”
Winnie shakes her head. Or rather, shewantsto shake her head, but she can’t seem to move it at all. She also wants to pull out her locket, since she and Erica have previously discussed the lockets and their differences. Surely Erica could look at the locket and do the math.2 + 2 = Winnie is bewitched.
Because that’s what is happening now, right? That final wave and whisper from the Crow—it must have caused this. A spell to keep Winnie from talking about what happened in the maze. But of course, Winnie can’t withdraw the locket any more than she can move her head. She is completelycemented in place while Erica stares at her, first in bewilderment. Then in curiosity.
But bless Erica with her brilliant Thursday mind because it only takes her the distance of one block before she cracks the puzzle. “You’re under a spell, aren’t you? Is that what you’re trying to say?”
Winnie can’t nod, of course, and the harder she tries, the louder a buzzing grows in her ears, like a wasps’ nest loosed into her skull. “Contrary to popular belief,” she squeezes out, “in the non world, vampira do not require an invitation to enter a home.”
“Right.” Erica gnaws her lip. Then she grabs the takeout box, tears it open, and gnaws a fry instead. All while staring at Winnie as they stride ever closer toward Falls’ Finest.Chew, chew, chew.“Definitely a spell. Obviously cast by a Diana who is somewhere in the city. Seeing as you were just at that Saturday Welcome Breakfast, then it’s got to be someone who was there. Unless… it happened before? In the night maybe?”
“I didn’t see anyone last night.” Winnie’s breath hitches. Those words came out no problem—and now that she considers it, everything she said to Isaac was easy too.
Another fry vanishes in Erica’s mouth. “Okay. You were able to speak just now. But what happens if you try to talk about what’s happening?Isit a spell, Winnie?”
“The origin of this myth,” Winnie answers, “is attributed to the bellwether, since a vampira horde will not enter any space until the bellwether does.”
“Got it.” Erica stuffs in three more fries. “Definitely a spell, then.” She glances around to make sure no one is listening. They are now outside the glass doors into Falls’ Finest, where the fancy lettering on the windows has a sign boasting:20% off all Evening Wear, This Week Only!The few people trickling in and out are too wrapped up in being tourists to spare them a glance.
“I’ll be honest,” Erica continues through a mouthful of starch, “that I have no idea what kind of spell this is, and Idefinitelydon’t know how to neutralize it.”
“And I’ll be honest.” Winnie scowls. “I’d really rather you weren’t so calm about this because I am freaking out.”Okay, I could also say that.
Erica sniffs. “I’m a Thursday. We’re always prepared.”
“Does that mean you have a plan for how to never run from a banshee—grrrr.”
More fries get vacuumed into Erica’s mouth.Chew, chew, thoughtful chew.“I mean, it seems to me we still need to find Jenna’s source. Yes?”
Winnie nods. Then iswaytoo relieved she can make that movement. “And we also need to find any clues my dad left behind.” Success! “That way, hellions often hunt in packs—YARGH.” She snags a handful of fries and starts chomping too.
“It theems,” Erica mumbles through a fry that isn’t fully chewed, “that you can talk about anything”—swallow—“related to Jenna or your dad. So… let’s stick to those topics for now.”
“If that’s the extent of your plan—”
“Give me a second.” Erica glares. Then grimaces. “Okay, give me a few hours. I need to think.”
“Fine. AndIneed to go shopping. So can you help me?”
Erica’s eyes narrow. “I guess this means that whoever did this to you already knows we’re in cahoots. Am I right?”
