“Know what?” Raiden asks.
“First, Ransom dear, how strong have you made those wards? We felt them go up, but I need to check that you guarded against the dead as well as the living,” Ethel asks Ransom.
“I did. We decided that it would be a good idea since you were attacked by ghosts,” he replies. “Actually, it was Neith’s idea to add in some caveats so the dead who don’t mean you or us any harm are still welcome.”
“Good,” Ethel replies. “As soon as I open the door, the spirits are going to stir. It will save time if we don’t have to defend House again.”
I raise my eyebrow, “How long has this been going on?”
“For as long as House and I have existed,” Ethel replies.
“And how long is that?” I ask, knowing that she’s not going to answer me because she never has. When she predictably stays silent, I add, “What door? What is going to make the spirits stir?”
“It’s probably easier to show you,” she replies as she floats up off the counter.
“That’s another thing, have you always been able to do that?” I ask, as we all get up and start to follow her.
“Yes,” she replies simply.
River smirks at her short reply and my obvious annoyance with it, and I stick my tongue out at him.
“Then why didn’t you do it before when I was around?” I ask.
“I didn’t feel the need to. Now, hurry up. There are going to be a few things that you’re going to need explaining to you. I can’t show you one thing without showing you the other,” Ethel says rather mysteriously.
It looks like we’re about to have another huge revelation thrown at us, whether we’re ready for it or not.
To be honest, it can’t be much bigger than finding out that the Blue Fucker who is creating the hybrids, or at least trying to, has been controlling Dimitri and is responsible for the way that Dimitri treated me.
“Whoa, I don’t know what you’re thinking about right now, Love, but I would suggest reeling it in a little bit before you set House on fire,” Coen says urgently, bringing me out of my thoughts and making me realize that my hands have lit up with flames. I’m fairly certain my hair is on fire too. Although I can't smell it, so it’s not actually burning in a way that I’m going to end up bald.
Thank fuck, some women look absolutely stunning bald, however, I can say with certainty that I wouldn’t, my head is far too lumpy. It’s kind of oddly shaped, too.
All I can say is it's in everyone's best interest if I keep my hair.
Just as I start to reel my magic in, I suddenly get doused with water, and I’m so shocked that the flames go out immediately. The water wouldn’t actually have had any effect on my magical flames. But I don’t think it was supposed to, it was just supposed to shock me enough to put the flames out.
“House!” I yell because I know full well that it was him.
The guys all stare at me for a moment, dripping wet and scowling indignantly, and then they all burst out laughing. Even Ethel has ditched the seriousness of the situation and is laughing at me.
“Sorry, Neith, it’s just your expression and everything,” Ransom chuckles, setting off the others again, and I narrow my eyes. He holds up his hands, “Sorry, sorry. Here.”
I suddenly find myself completely dry again, and I can’t help the smile that slips through at the sound of their laughter. It’s a nice sound.
“Thank you,” I reply primly, and then grin. Looking at a floating Ethel, I add, “Shall we go wherever you were taking us before I lit up like a Christmas tree, well, one that’s on fire anyway, and House soaked me with water.”
“Yes, dear, of course, let's continue,” Ethel replies, although the amusement in her voice is unmistakable.
Thankfully, everyone refocuses again, and we follow Ethel through the kitchen and down a hallway that I know leads to a dead end.
When we reach the end of it though, instead of a blank wall like I am used to seeing, there is a door. A very big and very heavy-looking door.
“There are some extremely powerful spells layered over that door,” Ransom says as he studies it closely.
“Really old ones as well, judging from the inscriptions on the door,” Raiden adds.
“Well, I’m not exactly a spring chicken,” Ethel retorts. She adds, “House, if you wouldn’t mind.”
