Page 28 of Out of Sight

Achilles asked, “Can I take a photo of you?”

“You have to get behind her, but yes.”

Ted saw Win and her camera going nuts.

Lucia gracefully bowed to the camera, and then she turned to Ted. “C’mere, Ted.”

Ted grinned and ran into her arms, hugging her and feeling flesh under her cheek.

Lucia’s arms were careful as they hugged her. “Glad to see you again, Ted.”

“Right back at you, Lucia.”

“What do you think Nanna is going to say?” Lucia smiled as she looked down at Ted.

“She’s going to squeak and cry, and then she’s going to try to use the sight on both of us.”

Lucia laughed. “That sounds right.”

Ted paused. “What about your parents and your brothers?”

“I have no idea. They were a solid unit while I was gone. I think I have some niblings now. I didn’t hang close to them that often. It hurt.”

Ted nodded. “I get that. My mom passed while I was stuck in the curse.”

“I know. It was a lovely funeral. I visit your dad every week. He can usually feel me, but if I am too close, it freaks him out. He called me by your name, and I let him tell me all about little Ted.”

Ted smiled. “I wish I knew you were there.”

“I only figured out how to do the phone thing two years ago. When you were there with him, I didn’t want to distract you.”

Ted hugged her. “Damn it, Lucia, I am going to cry.”

“Go ahead. Water just beads up and rolls away.” Lucia winked.

Ted started laughing as she looked at her cousin’s bright face and skin with a soft glow. “You are two seventy?”

“Apparently.”

“You are going to have to have some custom heels made. Nanna loves you in heels.”

“Just because I can see when the buffet is open.”

Ted snorted and looked at his cousin, seeing her truly for the first time. “You have a lot of power.”

“Yup. That is what made me so tempting. I am sorry, but it’s also why they came to our family shopping for someone else. They found you.”

Ted froze. “Oh, damn. That is how he started auditing the course. I knew he was too creepy for a course on morality.”

“You don’t blame me?”

“No. Hrinian was a dick. I am glad he’s dead.”

“Oh, we can do that? Cool. I am calling my power back.” Lucia grinned. There was a hum, and she twirled slowly, pulling on the power that had her signature.

Ted paused. “You know how to do that?”

“I am made of stone now. Stone keeps what belongs to it. I am pulling it back and leaving them for dead.”