“Oh?” I raise my eyebrows. “Now you’re thanking me for dousing you with water?”
“It got my sorry ass out of bed, so damn right I’m thanking you,” she exclaims. “So, what time do I get to see you tomorrow then? We have to talk all about it, and I’m going to need some advice on business clothes.”
"Whenever my crazy family lets me escape," I reply, pulling the covers over me as it’s a bit cold. Thankfully, it’s silent in the house now, and it’s likely Daisy has either calmed down or gone home. Part of me wishes I could tell Mads about my night and everything that happened. Instead, I have to stay quiet because telling her the truth could risk our friendship. Her exposing the truth about us isn’t the problem - that’s what memory charms are for - but it would risk it on my end. I’ve known her since we were children, and as hard as keeping my nature a secret from her is, it would be even harder to willingly magick her memory away. How the hell would I be able to look her in the eyes after that kind of a breach of trust?
"Well happy twenty-first birthday for tomorrow in advance,” she continues, seemingly oblivious to my pensiveness. “Twenty-one! When did we get old?" she asks with a sigh. “I feel old, and I’m only six months older than you.”
"How am I still single at twenty-one?” I ask, raking a hand through my red curls. “I'm starting to grow back my virginity, I swear.” Mads laughs, but I just groan, turning on my side and looking out the window over the garden. I spot Michael down at the end, the gate firmly locked, and I smile. My family is all sorts of crazy, but it’s the best kind of crazy. I wouldn’t change them for the world. Who needs a boyfriend when you have a good family, an awesome bestie and a talking goat? At this point, with every interesting human guy I’ve met being a douchebag, I’m going to end up an old lady with a house full of talking goats. Yep, not cats. Goats.
"Then we need to go clubbing or something tomorrow," Mads informs me. “You know, act like we are still young and celebrate.”
"I'd love that. Maybe a birthday hook up will improve my situation," I reply, letting out a long yawn; it’s been one hell of a day. "Listen, Mads, I’m going to go to sleep. It’s been a crazy day, but congrats once again and see you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow, bestie! Have a good sleep!" Mads says, and she ends the call after I say bye one more time.
I put my phone on the side table after turning it off and curl up with my pillow, looking out of the slightly open curtains to see the moon high in the sky, millions of stars surrounding it. I've always loved the night sky. Truth be told, that might possibly be the reason why I put up with Kit's bad attitude all the time - because he looks like my favourite view.
Or maybe it’s just because I'm crazy. It’s more likely the second option.
Chapter 7
"Happy birthday, my sweet daughter!" mum shouts, bursting into my room, and I groan, covering my head with my pillow. It's too early. It's always too early when there is bright light outside. Mornings are not a nice time of the day, and I swear my bed makes itself more comfy so that I never want to leave it.
"Go away," I groan into my pillow, my voice muffled. "Come back at a reasonable hour. Like midday!"
"No, I will not. It's eleven in the morning and about time you got your pretty self out of your pit," mum tells me. “It’s your birthday for heaven’s sake.” Mads was crazy yesterday saying I'm lucky to be living at home when I have a mum that insists getting up early is the best thing in the world. I'm not a morning person, and I highly doubt I ever will be one. Or like anyone that is. I don't trust people who like crazy things like getting up early and exercising for fun. Those are signs of a bad, bad person.
"Come on, I have peanut butter on toast," she says, teasing me as she sits on the end of my bed. Dammit, peanut butter is one of my weaknesses. I can't resist the stuff, and anyone that knows me uses this weakness to get what they want. "It's even the crunchy, expensive homemade one you like from the shops. I have the jar on the tray for you." I lift my head from under my pillow and sit up, smiling at her as I push my hair out of my face. Mum hands me the little tray she has, which has the heaven-sent peanut butter toast and jar on it, a drink of orange juice, and a little present box with a card behind it.
"Thanks, mum," I say, and she looks at the present and back to me, clearing her throat as I go to reach for the toast. I know well enough to move my hand to the present box to pick it up instead. I undo the wrapping and open the green fabric ring box to see a charm inside like usual. This charm is a lightning bolt in a green metal, and I wonder what it does. I know it couldn't possibly call lightning bolts, because the higher gods made any lightning powers illegal as that is their power and they don't like competition. Much like they are the only gods that can have friendships with each other and do whatever the hell they like.
The higher gods were around before humans were created, at least that's what they tell everyone, and people go missing who try to challenge their rule. The higher gods are a group of four that pass all judgement and laws. They have complete control over the lesser gods. Us. Though no one ever sees them, as their council of four judgement gods pass the laws, and the twin gods of justice enact them. No one really knows much about any of them, only that they live on an island that humans don’t know exists in the middle of the Dead Sea. The island is private, and you have to be invited to go there. If you have a grievance with the higher gods, there is a house on the shore where you can plead to go to the island.
"I don't know what it does, but the man I bought it off said it is special to whoever owns it. So, it will be a fun surprise," she says as I take my necklace off and slide the charm onto it before putting it back on. It fits nicely with the others, and mum knows as well as I do that I love a surprise. “Your dad is making you a chocolate and peanut butter birthday cake. If you wondered where he is.”
"I love it, thank you," I reply, smiling widely. “And dad doesn’t do presents. He still asks us to help with your birthday and anniversary presents every year.”
"Yes, and I always love my gift and how your dad makes me my favourite food,” she replies, tucking some of her hair away from her face. “Your brothers have some gifts downstairs for you, all except Peyton who says his gift was saving you yesterday and all the other times this year. I’m sure he has an actual gift, or I will be having words with him."
"Fair point. I don’t need a gift," I sheepishly reply at mum’s accusing eyes, and I quickly start eating my toast, hoping she will drop it, which of course she does not.
"I don't want to know what he has had to save you from yesterday, but I had really hoped you would get the knack of your job and powers by now. You're twenty-one today, and when I was your age, I was pregnant with Peyton, and I was the best of my siblings at my job," she says, reaching out and placing her hand over mine as I finish the piece of toast. Mum is silent for a moment, as am I because mum never mentions or speaks about her sisters. She had two of them who were killed along with mum's parents. No one ever knew who did it, and by that time, mum just had me, so she couldn't investigate. Dad told us that the higher gods said it was a human issue, but mum swears no human could have stabbed her entire family to death without them using magic to save themselves. Either way, the higher gods never change their mind about a verdict, no matter the evidence, and without their help, mum had to give up getting revenge. It's a horrible part of our past and likely why mum wanted so many children to make a big family to kind of replace what she lost. "My youngest sister, Maria, was terrible at her job. Always making a big mess, but she had a big heart under her attitude. She reminds me of you, and I think you guys would have gotten along."
"I didn't know my middle name was after your youngest sister," I whisper, knowing this is a really big moment between us. There is only one photo of mum and her sisters with her parents standing behind them all, hanging in the lounge. It’s in the middle of the room on the wall, and sometimes I would come in to find her just staring up, whispering to the photo. It’s heartbreaking, and any time we asked about it, dad would keep us busy and explain it upset mum. Mum wipes a tear away and reaches over, placing her hand on the side of my face.
"I'm sorry I find it so hard to speak about them. Their memories are tainted with their ending in my mind, and one just comes with the other. I did name you after my little sister because you look like her in a way. Hugo is named after Holly because she had his black hair. They look similar too, same chin, and both like my nan who died when I was a child. It's comforting to know, even though they are gone, they aren't really," she softly says. “They are here, with us, and I will never forget them.”
"I'd love if we could talk more about my aunts one day, mum," I say, seeing how mum tenses up just a tad. I don’t want to push her, but it’s a big part of our past that I know nothing much about. The school library has photos of them all in school, but that’s all I’ve ever been able to find out. I love my mum too much to hurt her to find out about the past.
"I think that would be a lovely idea. Perhaps with a glass of wine and some chocolate next time," she says, smiling and smoothly sliding off the bed as she clears her expression into a happy one in an instant. I find myself wiping a tear as she walks to the door and pauses. "See you downstairs in a bit, darling."
"Of course, mum," I reply, and she shuts the door as she walks out. I sit back on my bed, eating my toast and drinking my orange juice before getting the spoon for the peanut butter jar. After getting a big spoonful of peanut butter, I start eating it as I slide out of bed. I jump in the air as something quickly bites my ankle, hurting like a bitch.
"You little fecker! It's my birthday, you are meant to be nice to me, Kit!" I shout at him, hopping as I sit back down and sigh. This isn't the best start to my birthday, but at least I will have a good night with Mads tonight. I glance at my hand as I put the empty spoon down and see a name in black. It’s unusual for me to have a job so soon. Neritous Cyncus. I frown as I lift my hand, looking at how odd the name is. Who has a name like that these days? It sounds Greek or something, but certainly different, and it has my interest straightaway. I can’t remember the last time I had two bad karma jobs in a week. Normally it’s one bad, one good and then a week off. Or at least that’s the usual. This guy must have done something feckin’ bad to get me on his case right now.
I pick my phone up off the side, opening up my safari app and googling his name for clues on who he is. Nothing comes up in the directories, but there is one website which I click on. It's a popular nightclub that boasts an infinity pool, and the address isn't far from where Mads lives. We could walk there from her place, which is a little weird. My karma jobs aren’t usually this close to home. I know I should just use magic to take me to him, but I have a weird feeling about this one. I always listen to my suspicions, or at least most the time. I quickly text Mads the address, and she agrees that it's a brilliant place to go for my birthday. I lie back on the bed, rubbing my bitten foot. Nothing like a little fun karma on your twenty-first birthday.
Chapter 8
"Dark red is a hundred percent your second best colour,” Mads says, nodding her approval, her arms crossed in front of her chest.
I snort, rolling my eyes. “And what’s my actual best, or do I even want to know?”
“Dark green,” of course, she says, as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world. “It compliments your hair," she explains, taking a few steps forward and gesturing with her finger for me to twirl. I do as I’m told, the skirt of the scarlet dress she bought me as a birthday present billowing out around me. Mads gives a wolf whistle, making me roll my eyes again, but I can’t help laughing and moving to stand in front of the mirror. The dress is gorgeous, a blood-red crimson colour that matches the dark red heels Hugo’s girlfriend got me on behalf of the two of them. I'm officially in love with her for the heels, and I’ve decided she can stay in the family for good now (I don’t care if that makes me seem shallow - I could never hate someone with such good taste in shoes). For his part, Damien got me red roses that I know for a fact mum made him give me. He then gave me another present as soon as mum left the room. It was a gag gift, the latest in a long line that have become something of a tradition between the two of us. I always pretend to hate his gifts, and usually they’re good for the entertainment value, at the very least… but today’s was different. I think I’ll be having words with him later on… or maybe something stronger than words.
To my surprise, Peyton bought me green emerald earrings for my birthday, little sparkling baubles that are now hanging proudly from my ears, complimenting the dress splendidly. He told me I was an annoying little shite as he was giving me the box, but that kind of sentiment is actually pretty loving for our family. I walk to the mirror, admiring the low cut dress, which stops mid-thigh and has cut outs around my ribs on the side. In spite of its flirtatiousness, it looks damn good, the kind of thing that would be great for dinner at a nice restaurant… or a night out on the town. I walk to Mads and pull her in for a hug, which is a rather rare occurrence for me, all things considered. I’m not much of a hugger, nor am I good at dealing with emotions in general, now that I think about it. My best guess is that it’s a side effect of growing up in a houseful of brothers with no sister in sight. I learned early on how to play my cards close to my chest, and even though Mads was like my school sister, even coming back to the house after school sometimes, I grew a prickly shell as a defense mechanism.
Mads just laughs at the sudden display of affection, embracing me back and giving me a squeeze. “I take this to mean you like it?” she asks.
"Thank you,” I say. “How are you so damn good at knowing what looks good on other people?”
“Because I’m damn fashionable,” Mads replies. "Of course I know what looks good; I work in a department store.” She rolls her eyes at me like that should be obvious. I suppose it kind of is.
"Come on, let's go,” I say, turning back to the mirror and giving my long red curls a fluff. “I need a long drink.”
