“After you went back upstairs the other night, I stayed a little longer.”
“I noticed that. I was thinkin’ that was a good sign. It meant you were feelin’ okay outside your comfort zone—especially seein’ as how his place is always so damn dark.”
Morgaine smiled. “Yeah, we talked about how we enjoyed spending time together, even though there’s only a window of a few hours in the evening when we’re both awake.”
“And that’s when he kissed ya?”
“No. Yes. I mean, after that.”
“So, what kind of kiss was it? Was it a peck, like kissin’ Uncle Clarence?”
Morgaine shook her head.
Her eyes widened. “A passionate tongue kiss?”
“Uh...” Morgaine shrugged. “It was nice. Soft. Sweet. Kind. Loving…”
Gwyneth stood again. “Then hedidlead y’all on. I have a mind to go down there and—”
“No!” Morgaine put her hand on Gwyneth’s arm. “Please, sit down. There’s more I want to say.”
Gwyneth lowered herself slowly and perched on the edge of the couch as if she could jump up again at any second, if she didn’t like the way the conversation was going.
“We promised to help Sly, and I want to. Very much. I think if we keep getting to know each other better, maybe it will grow into something, and then you won’t always be stuck with me. You have all kinds of opportunities to find nice guys. You can go out and socialize. You’resobeautiful—”
Gwyneth raised her hand. “You can stop now. I know what you’re sayin’.”
Morgaine studied her hopefully. It was hard to read what she meant by that from her expression. “And?”
“And, I’ll help. If you want Sly, I can teach you about flirtin’ so he gets the message without feelin’ like he’s been hit over the head with a brick.”
Morgaine laughed. “I wasn’t asking you to help me flirt. I have the feeling he likes that I don’t do that. I want your help finding a way to bring Sly back to the land of the living. If that means finding that cure for vampirism, I’ll need your help. If that means defeating his maker, I’ll need your help. Basically, whatever we do to help him will be dangerous, but if we do it together, we have a chance.”
“And if there’s a chance for more, you would like to be with him?”
“Yes.”
“And you aren’t scared?”
“I’m terrified.”
Gwyneth smiled. “Good.”
“Good that I’m terrified?”
“Good that you’re terrified and willin’ to try anyway.” She nodded once, firmly. “I’m in. Now what do we do first?”
“Let’s see if we can find his maker now that it’s daylight. Bring your camera.”
“Y’all are goin’ with me? I thought I was goin’ alone and y’all would astral project.”
“No. If I want to be Sly’s girlfriend, I have to stick my neck out for him. And if you’re kind enough to help me, I need to be there to protect you.”
Gwyneth put her arms around Morgaine and hugged her. “I always knew this day would come. I’m prouder of you than I’d be of a prize pig at the fair—oh, sorry. I didn’t mean that to sound like I was comparing you to a pig. You know what I mean.”
Morgaine grinned. “Yes, I know.”
The witches located the basement apartment in the block where their compass had pointed. Morgaine set down her heavy canvas bag on the sidewalk.
