“No. But we attract inhuman things and those things are so terribly troublesome. Plus, you keep wandering into their path without the slightest ability in protecting yourself. So many troublesomethings,” I sighed, looking over at the troublesome thing interrupting us. Brandon stood near the door, rolling his eyes.
“It’s time to go,” he said. I relaxed. Ava was going out tonight. Shame we didn’t have time for a little fun but I’d punish her for that later. I brushed a tentacle between Ava’s thighs and she sucked in a breath. Brandon’s nose twitched and he shot me a dirty look. He knew I was teasing him with her arousal. A laugh broke from my mouth as I climbed off Ava.
“We’re done anyway.” I went to the door and Brandon backed up to give me space. I acted as if I was going to just pass him by but suddenly a tentacle slapped out around his wrist and tugged him off balance. He nearly fell over while cursing.
I laughed and let him go, moving from the room. My desire to own and dominate him hadn’t gone away.
I went down the hall and slid into Lizzy’s room, reading over what she had written since last night and making notes to her document. The story was good but could use a little more mayhem and gore. She came into the room and was startled when she saw me at the desk.
“Shit,” she sighed, stomping in. “Did you change stuff again?”
“I made it better,” I said, getting up. I left, ignoring anything else she said—which was just a slew of curses flung my way. Ava, Brandon, and Caspian were gone now, I could sense she wasn’t nearby, so it was time I talked to Ava’s mother and aunt.
Mothman was likely out on the roof. He’d been taking to outside in increasing intervals. Ava noticed the way he stared at the sky more and more, sneaking away for hours to sit on the roof every night.
Of course, he said he was fine. He didn’t deny he missed what he missed but said it was nothing at all compared to getting to be here with everyone. What a fucking simp.
“Maria and Marigold,” I said, stepping behind the twins who were clearing up in the kitchen. I looked around. “Amador out, Marigold?” They were fucking and pretending they weren’t. He’d been staying here ever since we’d got here. It was comical that they thought they were fooling anyone.
Aunt Maria turned around, eying me. Ava’s mom wasn’t really a fan but Ava’s aunt was too intrigued to hold a grudge.
“What do you want?” Marigold asked sharply.
“I wanted to discuss a business opportunity,” I said, swaggering away. I kicked a chair out from the breakfast table and flopped down. They both watched me closely. They still thought I was a ghost—a weirdly powerful one. Ava didn’t have the heart to admit that she was sharing a body with—and fucking—something much worst than that.
“Business?” Maria asked. My hair began to float around my head and they eyed it.
“I want to be part of the family business,” I said.
“You aren’t family,” Marigold snapped.
“Ava wouldn’t agree and bringing up Ava… “ I trailed off and they fell for it, turning the sink off and sighing. They both gave me their full attention. I smiled.
“What about my daughter?” Marigold asked.
“She would join me. It’s us together, always and forever.”
“Ava wants to become a medium?” Marigold asked in surprise.
“Gross, no. I want to join Maria for excursions to haunted locations.”
“Really?” Maria asked, a smile over her face. “And Ava does too?”
“She does.” Maria and Marigold looked at one another, silently speaking in their twinish ways.
“One condition,” I said, pressing my finger to the glass table. It fogged up with a chill and I wrote out a word. My eyes went back up to them, to make sure they were watching. “I get to clear out the ghosts.”
“Clear them out? You can do that?” Maria asked.
“Oh yes,” I said, my tongue darting over my lips. Truth was, I needed a meal. My powers were beginning to wear thin. “I certainly can and it will be my payment. I get to do what I want with the ghosts after you’re done.”
“What will you do with them?” Marigold asked warily. I smiled and got up from the table, gliding towards them.
“Do we have a deal?” I asked Maria.
“Yes,” she said easily. I nodded and kept walking, watching as Marigold stomped over to the table to see what I wrote.
“Ghoul,” she whispered, shooting me a confused look as I left the room with a smile.
