Chapter Two
Brax kicked the wall of Penny’s apartment after a fruitless journey upstairs. One of the witch’s accidental familiars had been in the hall, scurrying for freedom, a skinny and irritated-looking mouse who squeaked something about the wannabe witchette wanting a white Christmas while wanting to get herself a tan over winter break.
Penny was of no help. She’d kept pointing at the mouse and singing that song from the movie with the mice who made the dress for that princess. Then she’d realize she was talking to a mouse, scream, and try to climb him like a cat up a Christmas tree.
“Fleeing the scene of her crimes. Real noble. Bitch. Elemental magic, or anything that messes with the weather, is advanced. Idiot amateur.”
Penny didn’t seem to be listening. Back in the safety of her own apartment, she kept jabbing herself in the throat and looking in the ornamental mirror next to her front door. “Are my glands swollen?”
“I don’t think so. You just need to rest. I’ll sort this out. Call someone, one of the magical types in town—if they’re not all off celebrating at Christmas Eve parties.”
She turned back to him, startled that he wasn’t reflecting, peering into the mirror, and then back at her unwelcome houseguest several times before saying, “Well... you make mefeel better. Cooler. You can bring my fever down, and I could rest if I wasn’t going to burst into flames. If I lie down, can you lie down on me?”
They stared at each other. “Uhhh...”
Penny shook her head. “I didn’t mean—”
“I know!”
“But you’re so cold. So, so nice and perfectly bendy andcold.”
Perfectly bendy? That’s new.“Vamps take time to warm back up. It hurts like hell, but it won’t kill us.”
“But—I’m hot, and you’re cold. See, lying down, or sitting, whatever, together will be perfect. Because if you have hot water and cold water, you get warm water. Black and white make gray.”
“What?”
“I don’t know. It was something I thought. I’m saying whatever I think. I bet it was symbolic. Or because you’re dressed in black and I have a white shirt.”
“I see. I think your mental filter is offline.”
“At least I have one.” She downed an entire half-gallon of apple juice in front of his amazed eyes. Then shook her head and rubbed her throat. “I’m sick,” she snuffled. “Still hot. Still thirsty. And I didn’t even offer you any. I’m sorry.”
“You’re definitely not well. You’d never apologize to me.”
“You never apologize to me, either!” Penny accused petulantly.
“I’ve never done anything to you to apologize for!” Brax shouted.
“You exist!”
“Yeah, well, I was here first. Literally, born in 1905!”
“Whooaaa.” Penny looked at him with wide, stunned eyes. “You’re ancient.”
“Gee, thank you.”
“You look good for your age. Really good!”
“Thank you. See, look, I have manners. I can say thank you, I can say sorry—if I have something to apologize for!”
“You do! What are you sorry for?” Penny crossed her arms and glared at him pointedly.
This woman might literally be the death of him. “I...I’m sorry for scaring you and arguing with you when you’re sick. You don’t have to be afraid of me.”
