“Ms. Rollins, you are the personification of trouble,” said Zervos. “I thought you were difficult last semester, but it didn’t hold a candle to this one.”
I waited for the scolding to continue, but instead Zervos held out a book. “This is something you should have. I have the only copy, because it was entrusted to me by a dear friend, but I think he would want you to have it. I know you are searching for more information about your family. This might contain something useful, although I cannot tell you exactly what.”
Zervos handed me the book, the cover of which had one red strip, one blue, one green, and one brown. “It’s a hand-written history of elementals,” he said, “complete with spells. I think you will find the first-person account useful.”
My throat constricted as I took the book from Zervos. “So,” I asked in a shaking voice. “You aren’t here to yell at me?”
Zervos gave what could only be described as a chuckle. “No,” he said. “I’m not here to yell at you. I’ve given up, former Probationer. You are impervious to reason. Luckily, since that stupidity sends you headlong into battles that you cannot possibly win - except that you do - it also means you must have a very hard head.”
After nodding to Keller and with one last sly smile, he moved slowly towards the door. “Good thing Professor Erikson is gone,” he called over his shoulder. I was so shocked that Zervos was teasing me that I was momentarily at a loss for words.
When I had my composure back and I was sure we were alone I set the book reverently by my bedside and eyed Keller. He combed his fingers through his dark hair, and if I hadn’t known better I would have thought he was nervous. He started to say something, but I ignored him. Instead, before I lost all nerve or he ruined the moment with words, I took action, placing my hands on his shoulders and pulling his face towards mine.
Epilogue
“Yay for family dinners,” said Ricky, grinning. “This oughta be fun.”
I couldn’t help it. I giggled and settled in for another dinner at home. I wouldn’t be there long, but I had needed to see Ricky. I was more than delighted to know that he had needed to see me, too.
“I’m home. To celebrate, I’m going to cook dinner for everyone,” I announced.
I bustled around the kitchen, where everything felt odd and unfamiliar. At the best of times I wasn’t a good cook - even if Ricky tactfully never actually came out and said it - and now, having been at college for a year, I was not only still bad, but rusty to boot.
Ricky’s dusty blond eyebrows disappeared under his bangs. “If we’re celebrating, why are you cooking? Shouldn’t Dad and I get a chance to be happy? Let’s order pizza. I’ll let you dial.”
“Ricky,” I groaned, but it was too late. I was already laughing as Ricky walked over to me.
Sliding his small, pale hand over the handle of the frying pan I was holding and easing it out of my grip, he said, “Put the kitchenware down. I know you hate Dad, but I wouldn’t wish your cooking on your worst enemy.”
Unbidden, an image of the President flashed through my mind. Ricky might think differently if he knew who my worst enemy really was. He might think very differently indeed.
At dinner Ricky said, “I love these family meals. All this togetherness. All this lack of bonding. It’s wonderful to be reminded of everything there is to appreciate about family. For example, that Charlotte basically lives on a separate continent. These family dinners really make me appreciate that. How far away she is. Wonderful.”
Ricky wasn’t smiling, but I knew, as I knew that the demons would come again and that the vampires were safe, that Ricky accepted that his father and his sister would never get along and couldn’t even stand to be in the same room together. He still loved both of us.
“Good point, Ricky,” I said, nodding. “You are definitely right.”
“For once we agree on something,” said my stepdad wonderingly.
“It only took almost eighteen years,” said Ricky, lacing his fingers together on the table. He leaned forward on his elbows. “Credit goes to me, of course.”
For the first and only time, all three of us smiled at each other, and I found myself wondering not what the summer would bring, because I knew I would be holed up in the Museum for the summer except for the visits I would have to friends.
No, I wasn’t thinking about summer. I was thinking about the next year at Public, trying to imagine what it would be like, what would happen. I tried to imagine who else I would lose, who else I would fight.
I straightened my shoulders.
I wasn’t going to lose anyone else that I cared about. Not if I could help it.
And I was going to fight.
I was only staying one night at home, so after we had finished cleaning up Ricky followed me up to my room to chat while my stepdad stayed downstairs to zone out to the TV.
“If you’re dating a guy, what have the two of you done?” Ricky demanded, sitting on the edge of my bed. I choked. My own gray eyes bulged. I had told Ricky about Keller, because I felt like it wasn’t official until the most important person in my life knew about it. Now that he did I was sort of regretting it.
Ricky caught my meaning instantly and threw up his hands. “Mind in the gutter, I swear.” He shook his head sadly. “Ew. I meant for FUN. Have you gone to the movies? Taken romantic strolls along the water? Do you live near water?” His forehead creased in a frown.
A blush warmed my cheeks. As usual, I felt awkward talking to my little brother about my sort of boyfriend, while he looked completely fine with it. Nothing fazed him.
“Um, we study together . . . we . . . jog together.” It seemed as though that’s what I was going to call fighting off demons and playing Dash: “Jogging.”
“We’ve watched a movie or two. . . .” Now I just sounded pathetic.
Ricky looked skeptical.
“Look, Ricky, I know you don’t approve of me dating, even though I’m eighteen and that’s plenty old enough and it’s technically none of your business anyhow.” I said the last bit fast, to stop him from cutting me off. “But you will always be the number one man in my life.”
I meant that. I cared about Keller. In the deepest reaches of my heart I thought that I might even love him. But I knew I loved Ricky. He was my family. He was it, and I would always choose him first.
Ricky rolled his eyes. “Duh. That’s not what I’m worried about. Although I do hear that convents are nice, and they’re still around. You could always join one . . . ?”
At my sour expression he continued. “I’m worried that guys and girls clearly do not understand each other, and let’s face it, girls make everything WAY more complicated than it needs to be, and you definitely do that, and I’m worried you’ll get hurt.”
At my outraged gasp he hastened to add, “I mean that in the nicest possible way.”
“Thanks, Ricky, I said. “Talking to you always makes me feel better. Like beating a mallet on my toes. You’d get along great with my friend Lisabelle.”
“I probably would,” said Ricky, sitting up straighter. “I’d like to meet your college friends. I’m sure Lisabelle’s wonderful.” His grey eyes were thoughtful.
“Only people who don’t know her describe her that way,” I muttered.
“So,” asked Ricky carefully, his eyes to the view out the window, “you haven’t cooked for this guy yet?”
“No, why? How’d you know I hadn’t?” I asked, panicked for a second that I had told Ricky more than I meant to or that “cooked” was some sort of slang for something else. I was very careful never to mention magic around him, but I was always worried I had slipped up. I felt super old all of a sudden.
“Because if you’d cooked for him he’d have been gone like a shot. You’d only see dust on the road where he ran away as fast as he could.”
“Ricky!” I groaned.
“All I’m saying is that you should cook for him sooner rather than later. That’s all I’m saying.” And with that, my brother g
ave me a brilliant smile.
“You might like him,” I said.
Actually, I was sure that Ricky and Keller would get along very well, which was why I had every intention of keeping them as far away from each other as possible. Ricky would probably start telling Keller about all of the embarrassing things I had done when I was younger, and Keller would LISTEN!
Ricky sat back on the bed, his expression serious. Slowly, he shook his head back and forth. “There is literally no chance of that.” Then he grinned.
The next morning I headed back to Public for the summer. Dacer had no patience. He wanted my internship to start instantly. I would be learning all about the Museum of Masks. It would be okay, though. I had saved his life. He couldn’t make my summer too miserable, could he?
I had survived my freshman year of college. My friends from around home thought that surviving their freshman year was impressive. They had no idea.
As I hugged Ricky goodbye for now, I had a big grin on my face.
Museum of Masks (Paranormal Public Series) Page 25
