We all shook our heads.
“Not that we’ve noticed,” I said. “But it’s only a matter of time.”
“Actually, there’s one more thing.” Christian crossed one arm over his middle and stroked his beard with the other hand. “I can’t hear Gem.”
Gem’s eyes widened. “What do you mean you can’t hear me?” She bounced to the front of the bed and flailed her arms. “Can you see me? Hello?”
“Jaysus wept. I can see and hear you, lass. I meant when you walk about. When you’re not talking. I can’t hear you the way I normally would.”
Gem flew off the bed, gripped Christian’s arms, and moved him dead center in the short hall with his back to the door. “Don’t turn around. Stay just like that.”
Like a bolt of lightning, she hurried out the door, leaving it open.
“Can you hear me?” she called out from down the hall.
Christian put his hands on his hips. “I think she’s gone mental. Did I not say I could hear her talking? Gem was always the tender one. Between all the spooks and turning invisible, I wager she’s not up for whatever you have planned, Viktor. She might be unstable.”
“Who are you calling unstable?” she fired back from directly behind him.
Christian jumped with surprise and spun around. Not only was he deaf to her footfalls, but he also hadn’t noticed her racing heartbeat.
Her eyes lit up. “That’s amazing!”
“Speak for yourself,” he muttered.
“That’s it. We’re doomed.” Wyatt got up and returned to his spot on the floor by the window where I’d found him earlier. He folded a pizza flyer into the shape of an airplane. “This is my worst nightmare. Well, besides someone locking me in a mausoleum. We can’t eat or drink, we can’t have sex, we’re turning invisible, Vampires can’t hear us, and I’m stuck in this ridiculous costume. All we need to do is paintMystery Machineon the side of our van and we’ll have a new job.” When he noticed half the group giving him blank stares, he said, “Scooby-Doo? Don’t you guys watch any television?”
Christian walked to the window. “Put a cork in it, you morose bastard. Maybe it’s not a bad thing I won’t be hearing all your dry hooves tromping around like cattle.”
“I’m glad someone’s getting perks out of all this.” Wyatt tossed the airplane, and it sailed across the room. “I guess I can still do computer work, but if I can’t take shrooms or smoke a doobie, what’s the point of living?”
Shepherd lit up a cigarette and stood near the hall. “If things really go to shit, you can always get a job at the North Pole.”
Everyone chuckled.
Gem leaned against the wall. “Why am I the first one who goes invisible?”
I yawned. “Maybe it has to do with the order we jumped through Sparrow’s wall or how much time we spent moving through it.”
Shepherd puffed on his cigarette. “If that were the case, Christian wouldn’t be able to hear me. I was the first to run through, remember? And I went through it three times. Maybe it’s based on weight.”
Niko got up from the bed and stood before the dresser. “Perhaps it has to do with whose immortal light is the strongest, which may have nothing to do with age or power. Like a human immune system. If Gem is any barometer, then we can look to her to see what’s next. Gem, we’re counting on you to keep testing your limitations.”
Viktor crossed one leg over his knee, his brow still furrowed. “Christian, do you not see another advantage?”
“Aye. But how long can we wait?”
I flicked my gaze between them. “What are you guys talking about?”
Viktor steepled his fingers. “If Christian cannot hear Gem, then neither can Sparrow’s men.”
Then it hit me. Our perceived weakness was actually an advantage. Ahugeadvantage. I let the idea roll around in my head. “Maybe we should go in the daytime.”
Wyatt snorted. “Why not just wave a flag while you’re at it?”
“Vamps hate the sun. Remember?”
“I’ll thank you kindly not to use that word,” Christian muttered, giving me a cross look. “Raven’s right. While they won’t hear you coming at night, they’ll see you, to be sure. Especially if we get snow. And if they’re shadow walking, you won’t see them until they’ve ripped your heart from your chest.”
