“That is the lovely Wihelmina ‘Wila’ Fifth, House Blue, Water,” Abraham continued.
“Well, it’s about time we had ourselves a new member of the family,” she said. Wila rested on the couch. She was a curvaceous, dusky-skinned woman with powder blue stitches that crossed above her right eyebrow and followed the round of her jaw to scoop at the base of her neck like a necklace. She had massively curly hair, smoothed tight against her skull and left to fall in a tumble of dark curls. “Welcome, Matilda.”
“Thank you,” I said.
A waif of a woman next to her tucked her honey-brown hair behind her ears and gave me a smile. In her soft blue summer dress, she didn’t look like she could be a day over sixteen. Her stitches were blue as the sky, curving in parallel lines across the right side of her pale neck and face.
“I’m Obedience, but you can call me Bede,” she said, tucking her hair back again in what was obviously a nervous habit. “Oh, Tenth, I suppose I should say. House Blue, Water.”
“Last but not least,” Abraham said, “this is Loy Ninth, House Red, Power.”
Loy lounged on the other couch, a beer in one hand and a ready smile on his lips. He was square faced, with short black hair and a strong, clean-shaven jaw. His eyes were deeply set. Red stitching licked like fire against his coal skin, down the center of his face and neck to where it split to ride the edges of his collarbone. He wore a button-down red shirt and loose pants.
“Enchanté,”he said with a friendly grin. “Beer?”
“No, thanks,” I said. What I needed was a minute alone with Abraham so I could find out if he knew anything about my brother’s message.
“But I could use a drink of water. Abraham, could you show me where to find that?” I said pointing at the door and hoping he’d catch the hint.
“Don’t trouble yourself,” Dotty said. “We’ll have some brought in.” She stepped forward and patted my arm. And just as quickly pulled her hand away.
“Oh,” she said, startled. “That’s right. Bram mentioned you had that effect on a person.” She rubbed her fingertips together. “Aren’t you just something?”
“I’m really not. Something,” I added. “I mean, I’m sorry that it’s uncomfortable.”
“Now, don’t go on and apologize,” Dotty said. “There’s nothing wrong with you. I’d just forgotten what full sensation felt like. After all these years, it’s a little overwhelming. Here, I’ll call you in some water.” She patted my arm again on her way past me.
“You two going to stand there all day?” Wila asked. “Come sit and relax.”
“Sure.” I adjusted my duffel and overswung the bag, getting both it and me in Abraham’s way.
“Careful,” he said.
“I need to talk to you. Now,” I whispered through a clenched smile. Then, louder: “Sorry about that.” I pulled my duffel closer to my side. “Um . . . where is the ladies’ room?”
“Right out that door,” Wila pointed. “It’s private, so you won’t be bothered.”
“Why would anyone bother me?”
“Hon, you’re galvanized. That’s all anyone is here to bother.”
“About that,” I said. “I’m supposed to remain unannounced.”
Vance chuckled while accepting a beer from Loy. “Oscar always had a flair for the dramatic. Is he announcing you at the gathering?”
“I think so.”
And that was when I realized maybe I shouldn’t have said anything in front of Loy. He was House Red’s galvanized, and House Red wanted to kick Oscar out of his position.
Loy caught my panicked look and took a drink to cover his grin. “You don’t have to worry about whatever is going through your head,” he said. “We’re friends here, not Houses, no matter the color of the ties that bind us. I don’t give a damn about Aranda Red and her lust for power. Frankly, I wish she’d leave poor Oscar alone. He has enough trouble on his hands dealing with Bram.”
Vance snorted.
“What he has,” Abraham said, “is a friend.”
“I know, I know,” Loy said. “Practically raised him from a boy, the poor guy.”
Bram shook his head. “This way, Matilda.”
