Maybe if I give him an outlet, it’ll help.
“So listen, buddy, we need your advice,” I begin.
Hemhmm’sbut doesn’t tear his eyes away from where the group slowly makes their way toward the door, piles of gifts in hand. Caspian turns on the radio to give them some semblance of privacy, and even that sets Eamon off. He snaps his head toward Caspian, but Cas just shrugs, telling him that their conversation is none of our business.
“Fine. What do you want?” Eamon finally asks me.
I sigh and explain, “So Bel wants to go set some people free. She told me the shit she saw in there and she wouldn’t take no for an answer, so I-”
“So you agreed to let her get herself killed,” he deadpans, not bothering to look at me when the object of his desires is standing in the room, still evidently upset.
“No, I agreed to planverycarefully,” I assure him, “with help from you and your Arcana Militum to take down just that one location.”
Now he chooses to glare down at me, “I already told you that I won’t help you.”
“Right, right, right,” I agree, “but-”
“There is nobut, Fritz. I won’t help you get everyone you know killed. Period,” he starts walking away before turning back and pointing a finger directly at my chest, “And let me just say this once, if you eventhinkabout involving Isla in your group suicide, I’ll make you wish the Sanctum got to you before I did. Do I make myself clear?”
“I uhh,” I lick my lips nervously, shying away from the massive finger pushing against my sternum.
“Do I make myself clear?” he repeats, raising his voice.
“Crystal. Leave Isla out of it. Got it,” I nod emphatically, stepping back.
“Good,” he nods, then hands me a small box from theAether. “This is for Isla, but I didn’t want to give it to her in front of everyone. Leave it in her room or something.” Then he steps into nothing and vanishes, leaving a gift and a threat, both revolving around the girl who wants nothing to do with him.
Countdown
Caspian
“Let’s go, go, go!!” Isla shouts, jumping toward the door on one foot while fastening the shoe on the other, “The car is here!”
“Are you absolutely certain this is what you want to do tonight?” I ask her.
“Yes! Why wouldn’t I?” she shouts, standing upright, though slightly off-kilter.
“Because we did the same thing last night, and the night before, and the night before. Don’t you need a break?” Bel laughs, walking around the corner in an outfit similar to the one she wore our first night together here so long ago. A short dress and ungodly heels that make me concerned for her ankles’ safety.
“We’re in Las Vegas and it’s New Years Eve! What else would we do?” she scoffs.
Walking just behind Bel with a grin on his face, Fritz agrees, “NYE here in the city is unlikeanythingyou’ve ever seen before. The energy is wild.” He wraps both arms around our girl, resting them against her collarbones and planting a kiss on the top of her head.
“And it’s my last night in town.” Isla whines, grabbing her purse from the dining room table. “We have to go out with a bang!”
Bel pouts, pulling herself from Fritz’s embrace, “Don’t remind me. I’m not ready for you to leave.”
“No tears,” Isla holds up one finger to stop the crying before it can begin. “I’m not leaving yet. We’ve got one more night to fucking rage, so let’s go!”
She swings the door open before anyone can make more protests, a woman possessed with the need to hit every club within reach before her trip is over.
Bel and I both know the only reason she’s even still conscious is because of Fritz’s meddling, but none of us will tell her that. He’s not hurting anything, just helping them get the most out of their time together. The three-day hangover they’d be suffering from would undoubtedly put a damper on this little vacation.
We all file out the door and down to the car that Fritz let Isla order and pile inside. The lights inside the vehicle flash all around us, nearly overwhelming my senses. The driver apparently already knows our destination and begins our journey with no other warning.
Isla wastes no time, pulling a bottle of some dark liquor out and pouring it into the little cups on one of the tables inside the car. She hands one to each of us before clinking her glass against each of ours in turn and taking her drink down, immediately pouring herself another and doing the same.
Throughout our drive to whichever nightclub the girls chose for the night, the two of them speak amongst themselves, already reminiscing about the events of the week so far. I notice that the topic of Christmas dinner is specifically off-limits. However, I’m unsure if it’s because of Eamon or because of Mike and Charlie’s announcement.
