Laurence
Do you need me to call?
This is Ambrose BTW. But Laurence is right here.
I don’t think so? I left. I’m chilling with a friend until they’re done.
And how do you feel?
Surprisingly okay? But then being okay is actually what’s freaking me out…
My phone buzzes in my hand, just as Kroy places the blood on the table in front of me. I give him a quick apologetic smile before answering. But then he pulls his phone out too, tapping away quickly before putting it down again.
“Hey Laurence, hey Ambrose.” I greet them both knowing the chance I’m on speaker phone is high.
I’m right because Laurence’s bellowed hello echoes from across the room to the microphone.
“Hi Nikolo, thought it would be best to just call.” Ambrose is at a much more appropriate distance from the phone. “So, tell us what’s up.”
“I… I don’t even know.” I chuckle, glancing over at Kroy in the other seat who’s happily munching on the biscuits he’s found. “I thought I’d be more…. I don’t know. Worked up or something that he’s here. Especially after I freaked out over knowing Willan was in town. I know I talked a big game to Kroy about being all chill about it, but now that it’s happening and I’mactuallychill, I’m freaking out aboutthat. I mean. I freaked out a little about him being here, but then I realised… it doesn’t matter. He doesn’t matter. Andthatfreaked me out.”
Closer to the phone now, Laurence clucks his tongue. “It’s entirely normal, darling boy. You’ve learnt, you’ve grown, you’ve changed. It’s unfamiliar territory—even if it’sgoodterritory.” Hearing Laurence settle in for a lecture is more soothing than it ought to be. I settle in, too, getting comfortable on my chair. “And thingsaroundyou are different now, too. Willan may have been the cause of your angst in the beginning, but from how often he’s the shining feature of your stories now, it appears his role has very much changed. With all of those changes, I’m not surprised you feel stronger and more secure in facing the ghosts of your past.”
“Not that all of this is because of Willan.” Ambrose cuts in quickly, before Laurence can really get on a roll. “You’re strong because ofyou, Nikolo. Not because of a boy.”
Even though they can’t see me, I roll my eyes. And even though we’re separated by continents and oceans, I swear they can still see me do it.
“Yeah, yeah. I know. I’m strong and independent.”
“Exactly!” Laurence exclaims. “You’re absolutely perfect, all on your own.”
“That’s not what you said the other day!” I crow. “You called me an ungrateful, spoiled child who’s never appreciated a single thing you’ve done for me. You said that I was going to get written out of your will and you were going to leave your silks to Milson.”
Milson is another one of Laurence’s collection of lost beings. He’s an ogre who insists on living completely off grid. The only compromise the pair has reached is that he does so in the jungles close to Laurence’s villa. And that he comes back once every three months to bathe.
“Posh. I said no such thing. And if I did, it was only because you called the new wallpaper I wanted for the living room ‘a bit much’.”
“Laurence, it had gold tigers, embossed over hot pink, emerald and black stripes. Itwasa bit much.”
“He has a point, Laurence. That wallpaper is hideous.” Ambrose chuckles, causing Laurence to squawk so loud even Lusce can hear it. “Right, well, he’s stalked off in a huff, so I better deal with that. Are yousureyou’re okay?”
“Yeah. I’m actually feeling better now. Shockingly, this has helped.”
“I’m glad. Talk soon?”
“Yeah, definitely.”
After a quick goodbye, I tuck my phone away and take a long sip of the blood.
“Hey Kroy.” I come to my decision real quick. “Tell Egbert to hurry up with whatever he’s doing. I think I’m going to go back.”
His smile is just as indulgent as ever, but I can’t mistake the pride there, too. “Atta boy. I’ll just see if he’s out of the shower.”
Gross.
WILLAN
You cannotfireball your brother in his face. You cannot fireball your brother in his face. You cannot fireball your brother in his face.
