He nods and takes a swig from the never-ending bottle.
“Juliana. Yes: Ju-li-aaaa-NA,” he says, his mouth so close to the mic we can hear every breath between each syllable.
I remove my hands from my face and look out at the audience, where mostly empty seats stare straight back at me. This thing is taking twice as long as it should and all the corrections mean the normal tension and excitement of a quiz has evaporated.
Vivian finishes conferring with her team, then leans into the little mic on her table.
“Twice,” she says, confidently.
“Twice is right, gorgeous,” he says, the third pet name he’s given her.
Vivian folds her arms, glaring as he looks her up and down. Felix goes to his side (again) and tries to pull the question cards from his hand (again) then whispers something when Dax doesn’t let go (again).
“Next question, for the frizz queen.” That’s me, if you hadn’t guessed. He stares at the card, closing one eye before he looks up again. “What is Lila’s address? Where does she live?”
I lean into the mic, looking right at Vivian.
“It’s 1406 Elmwood Drive.”
“Correct, Team Frizz,” he slurs.
Vivian looks back at me, gently clapping her hands and smiling but I turn away, resistant to her psychological manipulation.
“OK, Farm Boy next. How many humans does Viggo have to drain each week? Remember, it’s one male and two female.”
Rashawn groans and gently bangs his head against the table. I don’t blame him; this is painful. Felix is at Dax’s side again, and I can hear words likecontractandembarrassment, but Dax just shoves Felix away and carries on.
“Sorry, my bad, dudes. Let’s try another. The actor what . . .who played Viggo’s father also appeared . . . played Eidolon.” He looks up and shakes his head. “I did not know that.”
Someone shoutsfinish the question,and he looks back at the card.
“So, what was the name of the episode. With Eidolon.”
One of Rashawn’s teammates leans over, pushing up her sleeve to reveal a House of Huntress tattoo. Told you. Rashawn nods and leans into the mic, frowning at Dax.
“The episode was ‘Lies and Fruit Flies’.”
“Correct-amundo,” Dax says, nodding.
Felix is at his side as fast as a newly sired vampire. The audience goes into overdrive, people standing and shaking their heads as, quite obviously, the answer is incorrect-amundo.
“I’m sorry but that is the wrong answer,” says Felix. “The correct answer is ‘Age of Killing’.”
Rashawn glares at Tattoo Girl who looks like she wants to climb up one of the curtains. That’s their third wrong answer. Sucks for Rashawn.
Felix and Dax are now in a sort of tussle over the cards. Felix looks up at the audience, trying to pretend Dax isn’t draping himself over his shoulders.
“That brings us to the end of the quiz, and we have a tie.” He looks at me and Vivian. I glance at her and she’s staring back at me, an eyebrow arched above a green cat-like eye. “Eliza, Vivian, would you mind joining us up here please.”
“You can do this, babe,” whispers Roxy, nodding at me. “Just keep calm. There isn’t a question you can’t answer,I swear.”
I give her a little smile and walk to the middle of the stage with Vivian. I crane my neck to look into her eyes, otherwise I’m just staring at her chest. I look down; she’s not even wearing heels.
“This is a quick-fire decider, so whoever correctly answers first wins, and will be awarded ten points towards the overall score. Rashawn has six points so whoever gets this wrong wins eight points. OK?”
“No,” says Dax, rocking back and forth. He drops the now empty bottle and wipes his forehead. “I am very much not OK, dudes.”
Understatement of the century, I think as I look at him. His skin looks grey, maybe even green, and he is incredibly sweaty.
