“All magic or just yours?” she asks softly.
I grit my teeth. “Just mine.”
“Is that why you didn’t leave when I told you to go back to Hell?”
“Probably. Either way, doesn’t matter.”
A prickle of sensation trickles from my shadows, and I breathe a sigh of relief. Before, I didn't care about their absence. At least not enough to actively worry about it. They were gone and there was nothing I could do about it. I assumed it was my punishment for being with Clara, even if for a short time. I accepted it willingly. In the back of my mind, though, I agonized over whether they'd pop up again or if I'd lost them forever.
“Is that because of me?” she whispers.
“No. It's because of me.”
Iwant to ask him what happened, but the words stick in my throat. Despite his declaration, I know his magic issues are my fault. If I would’ve stayed away from the book, none of this would be happening. Omen’s paying for my decisions. I need to tell him, but from the look on his face, the revelation wouldn’t go down well. He’s already pissed and I’m not about to make it worse.
I don't know how to act around him anymore. Lashing out and arguing with him is justified. Him showing up without a warning after a month isn't something I had on my to-do list today. Plunging the toilet wasn't either.
When he sent me back here, I thought I'd never see him again. I'd love to say I've been perfectly fine when, in fact, I've been wallowing. When Omen's cat showed up, I raged. I ended up throwing a strawberry at him, then a carrot when he didn't move. I missed him both times, then broke down crying. It wasn't my finest moment.
It took me a while to pull my shit together, but once I did, Handsome went wild. He got into the cupboards and knocked a couple glasses out. As I was cleaning up the shards of glass, he proceeded to shred my throw pillow. The stuffing ended up everywhere. I swear I'm going to be finding fluff for weeks. I didn't even notice the cat got into the bathroom. Little shithead.
And now I'm here, with a demon in my bathroom, and he's plunging my toilet. And I don't know how to act or feel. And I'm desperately trying not to jump him or cry. He looks good—better than good. As pissed as I am for him bouncing me back here without a conversation, I'm still captivated by him, which is highly inconvenient. I want to stay mad for a while.
“Are you…” I cross my arms, and a shiver rolls through me as his shadows loop around my throat. It's a light caress, enough to let me know he's there. “Why are you here?”
Water sloshes over the rim of the toilet, yet he doesn't stop plunging. “Providence.”
“Um, we talking fate or fortune?”
He pauses and glances at me. “Neither. Providence.”
“Um, what?”
He huffs and goes back to plunging. “Providence is my sister.”
“You have a sister?” It hits me how much I don't know about him.
He shrugs, making everything worse. “It's not like humans. We don't really have parents or siblings. She just happens to be a mirror of me. It's more…our jobs than anything else. She seems to think she can interfere with my decisions when she thinks I'm fucking up.”
I press my lips together. “What'd you fuck up?”
He shakes his head. When he tugs the plunger from the hole, I wince. Water splashes onto his jeans. I want to take thequestion back. I almost feel like I'm pulling information from him with a crowbar. He leans back and glares at the toilet.
I step from the shower, making sure to not touch him. I grab the handle and push down once. The water bubbles, then gurgles, and begins to drain.
“Well, that's that, I suppose. Thanks,” I whisper.
“Are you happy?” he blurts out.
I shrug as I flush the toilet again and breathe a sigh of relief. Now I'll have to clean up the mess in here.
“Can you get the cat to leave my stuff alone? I don't know what's gotten into him.” I slip around him to gather towels from the linen closet.
“How exactly would I get your cat to do anything?”
I swing around, brandishing the plunger between us. “Mycat? Oh no. You're not foisting that menace off on me.”
“It's not foisting if he belongs to you, Clara.”
