Page 47 of Killer of the Bells
I didn’t dignify that with a response. I tossed my hair over one shoulder, making sure to hit him in the face as I went, but I stopped when I saw Vix standing in front of me holding out Oda Nobunaga and a wet towel.
“Wash the soldier goo off your hands and then take this with you. It’ll keep you safe.”
“You’re both idiots, and you’re welcome to each other,” I announced before scrubbing my hands cleanish (it’s blood, people. A wet towel can only do so much, and my…thecat can clean himself if he doesn’t like it.), tucking Oda Nobunaga into the crook of one arm, and walking away.
As I left, I heard Gareth say, “Nice job, you two. Your sentence of cleaning up batshit from the property by hand is reduced by two days.”
“Are you kidding me? Thanks, Gareth! Hey Paris, did you know that being nice to people makes good things happen?” Vix’s voice was squeaky with excitement.
Parishmmedin response.
“Just stop fucking in the foyer or next time it’ll be two weeks with no parole,” Gareth said gruffly.
“Can I turn off the Christmas music in Vale’s wing?” Vix asked Gareth. “I think he’s been through enough.”
Gareth grunted in agreement, thank the gods.
Call this exhibit A of why I refused to spill my guts to Echo in the common space. This is why we each have our own wing. We’re all a bunch of gossipy busybodies.
Except me, of course.
I went directly to my lab for my laptop. I found it on the floor next to the disaster I’d left behind after fucking Echo on my desk.
I’d never done that before. Never allowed my research to be wrecked and scattered without immediately sorting it out and repairing anything torn or damaged, and I generally made my mood everyone else’s problem for days afterward.
In fact, I hadn’t touched my research on removing my blasted curse since meeting Echo. That was also something Ididn’t do. A day didn’t pass without my at least glancing over my notes to see if I’d missed something.
I’d been so busy with Echo, the bells, and the cultists that I hadn’t had time to think about it.
Speaking of the bells, I couldn’t hear the tolling, but a swift and sudden synesthesia swept through me, and I gripped the edge of my desk, panting as I did my best to relax into it while Oda Nobunaga purred and nuzzled into my neck.
The bells had caught me completely off guard, and it was the third time that day. What was happening to me?
It wasn’t like me to drop my hyper-fixations for any reason, let alone because of a person. Echo had burst into my life and changed everything.
I could only hope to return the favor.
I went to my knees as I recovered from the bells, hand resting on my laptop, Oda Nobunaga making biscuits on my coat. I’d been planning to do a deep search on Echo’s life, but for the most part, I already knew more about Echo’s past after drinking his blood than any internet search would give me.
Unless I had Gareth step in and invade Echo’s privacy… scratch that. I knew without a doubt that Gareth had already done so without asking. Out of all of us—Echo included—Garth definitely knew the most about him.
Fuck him. He couldn’t know Echo’s thoughts and feelings. He didn’t know what was in Echo’s heart. I already knew some, and I would find a way to have Echo tell me the rest. I just needed to get on his good side, and I already had an idea forming that would get me there.
Chapter
Thirteen
ECHO
I’d fucked up. I’d fucked up so majorly, epically bad.
If I hadn’t been so far up my own ass, I would have realized that my not-vampire had been trying to work with me before I’d stormed out.
Once I’d gotten home, ripped off all my clothes (but carefully putting my new sweater on the bed, obviously.), and taken an epic anger shower, I settled into a calm-down bath and stewed.
As I stewed and soaked away the lingering soreness in my back from that kick, I kept asking myself the same question:
How dare he? How dare Vale kill his way into my life, fuck me silly, send me home, then murder his way back into my heart, ahem, back onto the scene once more?
