Willow jumps back, waving the hot steam away from her face. "Holy crap."
“Dude!” Duncan yelps, eyeing the ruined glass that is still standing, but leaking steaming water onto the nightstand. “That’s insane. How are you going to keep in control?”
I clench my fists, forcing the energy back down, feeling it sear the inside of my veins.
"It's the Lumina," I whisper, snatching my hand away from the radiating heat. “Amirene said wielding her essence would be difficult, but I think it’s getting stronger.”
I help Willow clean up the hot mess with a towel and try not to think about how much more out of control the essence inside me could get.
By the time we’ve finished, the sky is already darkening. Willow opens her sock drawer and brings out the rum. “It’s been quite the afternoon, Theodora Blessed-by-the-Guardian-of-Avalon Wilson. I don’t know about you, but I need a drink.”
“Dunc?” I look at my little Canadian friend. “Did I freak you out? I know it’s a lot.”
“Not freaked, but, if this doesn’t sound too rude, I’m glad I’m not you.”
That’s an understandable response. “It’s a lot, for sure. And right now, I haven’t got the foggiest what our next steps should be.”
Duncan squints and then gives a little laugh. “You know, this might sound a little daft to you, but I just started this new Metroidvania…”
“Pause,” I say, holding up one hand. “Metroidvania?”
“Non-linear progression. You can't get through the Door of Doom because you don't have the Magic Key yet. So, you stop banging your head against the door. You go do a side quest. You level up. You get the key."
He looks up, eyes serious. "Dispelling the dark energy is the Boss Fight. We aren't ready. We need to grind for XP first, so you need a side quest.”
Duncan’s laptop dings, and his attention immediately flits away. “Yes! No rum for me, Wills, I’ve got to keep my wits about me, shit’s about to get real.”
I think about Duncan’s nerd philosophy for a minute. A side quest sounds kind of peaceful right now.
Side quest. Help Willow get the girl.
I take another slug of rum. “Wills, I want to talk to you about Naomi.”
She jerks and almost spills her drink. “You what?”
OK, this can’t be immoral, after all, it’s in both Naomi’sandWillow’s best interest. “So, given that you now know about my ability, I want you to imagine that I haveconcrete evidencethat Naomi…”
“Naomi, what? Don’t toy with me, bee-itch.”
“Naomi…is into you.” Willow’s mouth drops open. “But,” I add, “She thinks you and Dunc are a thing. Willow? Are you OK?”
My friend is goldfishing frantically.
“Just breathe.”
She finally managed to get some words out. “Theo Wilson, did you read her mind?”
“Accidentally. I didn’t try to, but some of her thoughts floated my way and, well, she was thinking of you.”
“That Dunc and I are...?” she yelps.
“Uh huh.”
“And she actually likes…” Willow slaps herself on the chest, then flops back on the bed dramatically. “Me?”
“Idiot,” I laugh, picking up her potions essay and fanning it around her head. “So, WillowBloomhower’s-never-back-down-from-a-challengeBloomhower, what’s your move?”
“Me,” she squeaks. “Me?”
