Page 76 of Aberrant Monsters
“Good.”
We stepped onto a street lined with red brick houses that looked way too normal in the daylight to belong to such a dangerous place. People lived here. Chose to remain in this dangerous part of the city. Some were involved in the crime lords’ businesses; others were here because it was one of the cheapest places to live, and if you kept your head down and your nose out of other people’s business, you’d be fine.
“You looked upset when Telarion said he didn’t care about your mother,” Quentin said.
“Well, that’s a little random. Did the thought just pop into your head?”
“I meant to ask earlier but got sidetracked.”
“By my boobies?” I grinned up at him, noting how his cheeks grew pink. “Oh my God, are you blushing?”
“No, it’s chilly. Will you answer my question now?”
I guess deflection wasn’t going to work. “Telarion was being callous.”
But then he scooped me out of the bath and tucked me into bed. No, do not think about that part.
“You looked hurt that he didn’t care,” Quentin said.
Where was he going with this? “So?”
He pressed his lips together and tucked in his chin. “I’m here whenever you want to talk.”
“Er…Noted.”
“You said Telarion made a deal with you? He asked your permission before binding with you.”
“Yeah.”
“None of the aberrants we’ve dealt with did that.” He slowed. “This is the location.” He squinted at the air. “Can you see it?”
The change in topic momentarily threw me. Focus, August. I scanned the area, the spot between two dumpsters set on the pavement between two houses. The air here shimmered pink and purple. Active.
“I see it.” I walked toward it.
“Wait,” Quentin said. “I’m coming with you.”
Of course, anyone could get through a rift, but they had to be able to see it, which was a rift walker’s job. Wait, witches should be able to see it too. “Quentin, can you not see the rift?”
“Not too well.” He held up his wrist. “Side effect of the neutralizer.”
“Don’t worry, I’ve got you.” I held my hand out to him and he wrapped his fingers around mine.
I took a deep breath and stepped into the rift, taking him with me.
* * *
I’d beenthrough a rift three times in my life. The first was a blur, an accident that I’d rectified by jumping straight back out.
That day was vivid in my mind. Nandi had been off sick from school, tucked up home in bed with a cold. I’d had to go in alone, face the bitches of Eastwick High solo.
God, they’d picked on me something chronic for months by then, and my smart-ass answers hadn’t made it any easier on me.
People say to stand up to bullies, that it makes them stop. Problem is, no one’s given the bullies that memo.
These bitches had no off switch, so on that day, without Nandi as backup, I’d been fair game. Lunchtime was when they normally struck, making nasty comments, standing over us at our table. With Nandi there it wasn’t so bad.
I couldn’t face it without her.
