Page 4 of How To Summon A Memory
I cock a brow. “Do I look like the partying type?”
Gabe pushes some of his shoulder length black hair behind his ear as he shrugs. “Not really, but I know your brother would love it if you were more social.”
“Is that what he tells you?”
The telltale energy that is my brother Van shimmers beside me before he materializes in the seat to my right. He slugs his arm over my shoulder and pulls me closer. “I worry about you, you know that.” His hand scrubs over the top of my head, missing my horns, and I wriggle to get free from his grip, using my tail like another hand I push against him. “Besides…” Van frowns at the shot glass in front of me. He doesn’t say anything about it, though. “You still have a few weeks left of freedom from your crossroads duties. You might as well make the most of them.”
I snort as I spin on the stool and take in the sparse patrons this early in the day. “Iammaking the most out of them. I’m learning how to cook and bake.” Which I adore.
Van side-eyes me, his head tips as he examines me again. “When did you start that up? And why haven’t you shared?” He pouts.
“I didn’t say I was any good.” I spin back around and give Gabe a grin. He’s been on the receiving end of a few cookies that ended up not being quite right.
“You’re not heinous,” Gabe says as he matches my grin.
Van gasps. “Gabe, my love, you betray me.” He presses the back of his hand to his forehead dramatically and sucks in a breath.
Gabe leans across the bar and crooks a finger. “Awe, come here and I’ll give you something sweet.”
“Ugh,” I groan out. “I thought Pike and Lark were bad, but you two might be worse.” I stick out my tongue and shiver when the pair kiss. “Ew. Cooties.”
Gabe snorts as they part. “Would you say that to Ethan?”
“Ethan’s theonlyone I want to kiss.Ever.” I don’t know that I want to go beyond that, but I want to know what his lips taste like.
Van squeezes my shoulder. “I’m sorry he’s still?—”
“Don’t.I’ll save him.” I’ll save him and Florence. That’s what Ethan wanted.
“I wish I could help,” Gabe says as he wipes down the counter. “It’s like she’s blocked everyone associated with you from looking for him.” Not too long ago, he was nice enough to try a scrying spell. We figured of all people, Gabe would be able to get through. He’s an unassuming nephilim and nicer than anyone I’ve ever met. Being my go-to bartender, he puts up with my emotions, and I don’t think he judges me for them.
I nod and scrub a hand through my hair. “I know. But I can’t tell how close someone has to be to me before they’re blocked. Is it a look? A conversation? I don’t know. And how the hell is her magic so damn strong? I’m a demon, for crying out loud! How the hell is a witch stronger than me?”
Van’s pocket pings, and he pulls out his cellphone. “Well, shit. Pumpkin’s getting into something she shouldn’t again. Silly puppy.” He grabs Gabe by the apron tie and pulls him close again. “I’ll be back.”
“I’ll be waiting.” Gabe leans in and kisses him. Then my brother’s gone.
Pumpkin is their Hellhound puppy. Van earned one after he got his head out of his ass and started acting right. He used to be so arrogant and selfish, not to mention violent. I chew on theinside of my cheek. I love my brother, I really, really fucking do, but somehow he gets away with so much and getsrewardedin the end. Poe, the king of the crossroads demons, punishedmeseveral times over because of Van with no rewards in sight.
Actually, that’s not true. I’ve been given a year reprieve from crossroads duties when Van came back home after his last little spat of childishness. I don’t blame Van for how he acts. Neither of us really had a childhood. Mother gave me to him to raise when he was only seven.Seven. Who does that? Not that it was just the two of us. We lived in the creche, which is the equivalent of an orphanage for crossroads demons to drop off the kids they don’t want to raise. We helped raise each other and the other crossroads demon kids around us. Pike, the owner of Flutter and Fangs and free of his crossroads curse, is still Van’s best friend even after all the shit Van pulls. But there’s something about Van everyone gets drawn into. Admittedly, he’s a lot of fun.
Gabe gives me a shy little smile. I still don’t understand how the nicest person in Hex and my brother work, but they do. And I want my one and only back. Watching my friends and family fall in love makes me want to show them up. Show them how what Ethan and I had—have—is stronger than… than… everything.
The door of Flutter and Fangs opens, and normally I’d ignore it, but I swear I can feel Ethan’s energy. My heart pounds, but when he doesn’t emerge through the door, my shoulders slump. “Another.” I wiggle my shot glass.
“Last one,” Gabe says as flaming HellFire pours into my glass.
A group of four sidle up to the bar, all with that faint hint of Ethan. I grind my teeth and Gabe slides a bowl of gummy bears my way. One of Lark’s improvements. The Fae loves sweets and instead of peanuts, the bar has gummy bears or gummy worms at intervals along the bar top. I grab a handful and toss them back, hoping they help take the bitter annoyance away.
The person next to me trembles before they slide into the seat. Their hands shake and they drop them to their side. There’s the pungent and delightful scent of fear in the surrounding air.
Someone rubs circles in the small of my neighbor’s back. “It’s not your fault, Tanner. Those bitches rigged your jar. It could have been any of us.”
“What can I get you?” Gabe asks with a cheery smile that usually has patrons melting, but the kid doesn’t budge.
“Something strong,” my neighbor squeaks out with a broken voice.
“Did something happen in class, Tanner?” Gabe grabs a bottle from the top shelf behind him. “Never seen you so shaken up before.”
