“Your bro… forgive me, Sir, I did not know,” he says, dipping his head slightly, “It's an honour. Whatever I can provide is of no cost today.”
Rosie looks between us, and I give her a nod to continue.
“Um, this is for Bart Wobbleton. He lives in Horizon City.”
“Yes, I have him here,” the shopkeeper says. Dragging his finger down a list of names in some sort of registry book.
“Can I choose theNon-contact Special?”
“Duration?”
“Lifetime,” Rosie whispers. My princess is not as gentle as she lets on. This is a new development. “You don't think that's too mean, do you?” She says, doubting her punishment. “It's just the way he was talking that night, like he owned me, and not in a good way. I hated it. I hated the thought of him touching me. So now, no one will touch him.”
I step into her, pressing my front against her back as she relaxes against me.
“We will take theNon-contact Specialfor Bart,” I say to the shopkeeper.
“His father will have theSporadic Toe Stubfor ten years plus a fortnightlyHypochondria Specialfor one year, no, make it five years,” she says, nodding to herself, as she reviews the list. “My father, Richard Carrington, will have theGastro Gutfor a lifetime, and theBelittling Serviceswith extra sass. That onesounds fun. He will think all service people are talking down to him, and if he challenges it, anyone around him, even strangers, will correct him. It guarantees no one will lose their job if he throws a big enough tantrum.” She giggles. “I hated the way he used to snap his fingers at wait staff, so this serves him right.”
“Three down, what about the men on the night you came through the Gate?” I question.
“I don't know their names?”
“Can you check the names of people earthside of the Gate when it opened yesterday, please?” The shopkeeper flicks to another part of the large book, dragging his finger across the pages until he finds what he's looking for.
“There was a Carter Hadlow, Aaron Sonson, and a Lloyd Bryan. They are between twenty-seven and twenty-nine. There were no other humans in the area.”
“That has to be them,” she breathes, bouncing on the balls of her feet. “I would like for each of them to have theLoss of Mind Package, lifetime.”
I smile down at her, happy in her vengeance for the men who chased her.
“What?” she says, shrugging her shoulders at me. “It's like you said, all about perspective.”
“I'm happy you are happy, princess,” I say, leaning forward, pressing my mouth to her exposed shoulder. The sudden intake of breath from her has my handwrapping around her waist and pulling her closer into me.
“Steve,” she whispers, her voice so gentle she could have moaned it.
“Avus, are you finished yet. I want my yucky cabbage, but Mamma says we have to wait for you before we can start?—”
“Hush, you child of God, I've told you I'll be there shortly,” the shopkeep scolds, the impi stomping back through the curtain, huffing loudly. Looking at Rosie and me, exacerbated by the youngling's lack of patience. “Everything has been arranged. Thank you for your visit today. It has been an honour to serve the brother of… thank you,” he says, bowing his head.
“Thankyoufor your assistance.” Taking a fistful of coins from my purse. The shopkeeper gasps at the amount of coins piled on the counter. Nodding my goodbyes as I usher Rosie toward the exit, seeing a single tear roll down the shopkeeper's face as I close the door behind us.
“Do you feel better?” I say to Rosie, taking her hand as we head back toward our lodgings.
“That was amazing. I keep thinking it serves them all right by treating me the way they did. I won't feel bad for them. It's not like they considered my feelings, ever. Also, why did the imp call the child a child of God? I don’t know why, but I just assumed we didn't say his name.”
Laughing, I love the innocence she brings toeverything. “You can say God, princess. He will not come down and smite you for it. He meant it as the youngling is testing his patience,” I try to explain.
“So, likeDevil child, we would sayDevil childon earth.”
“And what a blessed child that would be, to be of the Devil.”
Chapter 9
Rosalind
Oh God, this bed is to die for. I’m in this blissful state of being half awake. My eyes are closed, but I can hear the stillness of the room. The way the curtains shift ever so slightly in the breeze. The creak of a door closing somewhere down the hallway, the murmur of life in the streets below. All of that, combined with Steve breathing next to me.
