“Soothe yourself.” Takako might be the only person alive who could turn a cup of coffee into an order. And a very. . . interesting order at that. Jo had to swallow back laughter at the seriousness in Takako’sexpression.
“That was my favorite mug,” Nico lamented as he took the fresh cup, staring longingly at the dustpan Jo still held. “It was just the perfect size and shape, everything about it wasideal.”
“Can the house just. . . give you a newone?”
Nico shook his head. “The mansion only gives us things in the recreation rooms and our bedrooms. But we can’t take things out of the former, and can’t just ask for things from the latter. It’s a mixed bag of what we get in our rooms. Usually, it’s what we need and are familiar with, but notalways.”
Of course, anything else would make sense, Jo thought bitterly. Whoever came up with the rules of the mansion had a sick sense of humor. Wasn’t magic supposed to make your life easier, notharder?
“So, how do we get things if we need something specific?” Jo asked no one inparticular.
“Samson.” Eslar stood and joined the conversation. He moved over to them in that lithe, willowy manner that could only barely pass for human. There was a surreal feeling about him, as if he didn’t move, but the world moved around him. “I’ll take it tohim.”
“You don’t mind?” Nico put his coffee mug down to clasp his hands over Eslar’s as the elf grabbed for thedustbin.
“It will be easier if you unhand me,” Eslar said, notunkindly.
“Thank you!” Nico called after the elf, who was already practically to the hall due to his long strides. A soft sound flowed from mythical man, a language sung in a tongue that Jo couldn’t recognize even with her belief in magic. Jo had a fresh batch of questions, but before she could ask any, the Italian turned his attention back to her. “You must think I’m insane, getting so worked up over a coffeemug.”
“I don’t,” she said honestly, much to his and Takako’s obvious surprise. “I had a mug, one my mother got me when we went to Disney. . .” The one family trip they’d gone on before grandma died and her parents split. “I would have cried messy tears if something had happened tothat.”
Jo paused and stared at the countertop where the dustpan had been. It was another trip she hadn’t taken. Another token from her mother she’d never received. Jo wondered if it was still in the house, even. If, now, her mother would buy it for Lydia’scocoa.
Not existing could really mess with your head if you thought too much onit.
“I’m glad I caught you, actually.” Intentionally or not, Nico stopped her from slipping into that rabbit-hole of sorrow. “There’s something I’d like to showyou.”
“What?”
“You’ll need to follow me.” Nico beamed at her. Excitement radiated off of him like sunshine and Jo was helpless to sayno.
“Sure, not like I’m doing much else.” And it gave her a convenient escape from Takako. It wasn’t that Jo hadn’t enjoyed her time with the woman—quite the contrary, in fact. But there was a new mission in Jo’s head and she needed a clean breakaway that wouldn’t rouse suspicion. She’d see whatever Nico needed, and then figure out her next steps. “If you don’t mind?” she askedTakako.
“You do what pleases you.” She leaned against the counter, hands in pockets, small smile. A polite person was ten times more attractive forit.
“Thankyou.”
“Anytime.”
Jo hoped that when Takako said “anytime” she meant it, because she had every intention of seeking her out again. Nico led her away and Jo gave one more appreciative look back at the stoic woman still leaning against the kitchen counter, doing nothing other than giving her that small, unassuming smile the whole time Jo had her in hersights.
Chapter 12
Contentment. Not Happiness.
NICO LED HERback the way she’d come, smiling at her over his shoulder as they passed through the Four-Way. She gave him a quick smile back, shuffling to catchup.
“So where are we going?” she asked, matching his pace. All he gave her in response was a rather giddy-looking gesture towards the door they were approaching on their right. Jo instantly recognized it as Nico’s room, the little bird painted on his nameplate oddlywelcoming.
As Nico reached for the doorknob, Jo realized she’d yet to see inside of anyone else’s room but her own. She knew his would certainly not look like her messy apartment, but she couldn’t begin to imagine what shape Nico’s sanctuary would take. Or anyone else’s, for that matter. What did Wayne or Eslar find soothing in their personal quarters? Or even more curiously,Snow?
Before she could get too consumed by her newest slew of questions, Nico was opening the door and ushering herinside.
It was unlike anything she could have imagined and yet so very fitting for the warm, friendly, Italianartist.
The ceiling was vaulted high, making the room feel open and airy; the large span of space was cluttered without being the slightest bit cramped. In fact, the room felt like a breath of fresh air, as if she were standing on the rooftop of a skyscraper overlooking a giant city, contained within four corners but in no wayconfined.
“Give me a second, I want to make sure it’s ready.” Nico grinned, an excited bounce to his step as he rushed over to the far side of theroom.
