Here Be Sexist Vampires(44)

“Mixed up? You’re all over the place. You’re like a broth of conflicting emotions.” He held his head as if the impact of it all hurt. “Ooh I can feel a migraine coming on.”

“Then I’ll leave you be, luv.”

“Ah bless ya. Bless ya.”

Once settled at my desk I retrieved my notepad, intent on doing flow charts on the recruits for me to document what their ability is now and what goal I have for each of them. That was, of course, if they bothered turning up later at the arena. I got a feeling that some of them might. Max, David and Denny would. Maybe Chico and Butch. I wouldn’t go chasing after the others; that would cut into the training time I had for those that did show, which wasn’t fair to them. As for afterwards, I might make cook up a mini tornado and stick the lazy absent gits inside it. That would be satisfying to watch.

On completing the flow charts I stuck each one in the relevant recruits’ file. I still had an hour to kill before it was time to meet the recruits at the arena when Evan strolled in the office wearing a cheery grin.

“You’re here. I knew you would be,” he added. He looked edible in those tank-green pants and t-shirt, but I wouldn’t have thought they’d suit him if I hadn’t seen the evidence for myself.

Confused, I said, “Where else would I be?”

“Well some people thought you might want more time alone. I said you’d have bounced back by now. Right, come on.”

“Say again?”

“Antonio wants to see you. In the mansion.” With that, he turned and waltzed cockily out the office, confident that I’d follow. Which I did.

Fletcher’s face was a question mark as Evan and I started down the corridor together. Wanting to be careful not to start rumours that I was shagging both brothers, I told my assistant, “Fletch, I’m just going to see Antonio and after that I’ll be at the arena if you need me.”#p#分页标题#e#

“Right, luv.” He looked less suspicious now but still curious.

“What does he want to see me about?” I asked Evan as we left the Command Centre, heading toward the mansion. God I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the recruits had gone whining to him that I’d thrown bits of their past at them.

“Don’t look so worried,” chuckled Evan.

“I’m not worried. It’s just that I feel like I’m been sent for by the School Head Master and escorted to the Head Master’s office to get a rollicking for something.”

“Oh, no, I don’t think it’s anything like that.” He held the door open for me and we stepped into the grand hallway of the mansion. “He probably just wants to make sure you’re okay after what happened yesterday.” After a moment of walking in silence along the hallway he said, “So, are you okay?”

“No offence, but I’d rather not keep going with this conversation considering that I know exactly what course it’ll take.”

“It’ll take a course?” he asked, amused.

“I’ll say I’m fine, then you’ll say I can’t really be fine, then I’ll try to convince you I am, then you’ll say how it must have been really hard for me kill him.”

“Well it must have been.”

“Jared, Max and Fletcher said the same thing and all three times it made me feel like shit.”

“Why?”

“Because it wasn’t hard. I did it without thinking.”

“You did it to protect Antonio, that’s nothing to feel bad about.” Gently Evan squeezed my shoulder, giving me the sort of smile that begs you to smile yourself. So I did. And that’s the moment – while Evan had his hand on my shoulder and we were smiling at each other widely – that fate decided it would be fun for Jared to walk down the same hallway, heading in our direction. His face was a picture of fury. Oh bugger.

Where’re you taking her? I heard in my head. Did Jared realise he’d sent that thought to me instead of Evan?

Antonio wants to see her. Why are we talking about this telepathically? Evan’s confusion didn’t show on his face.

Then I understood what was happening. Absorbing a little of Jared’s power must have made it possible for me to listen to telepathic conversations around me. I didn’t let it show that I could hear.

Jared, nearly at us: Why are you taking her to him?

Evan: I was asked to go get her, what’s the problem?

Jared: No problem. You can both do what you want, it’s none of my business.

Evan, amused: Oh, I get it, she won’t let you screw her, will she?

“Hi,” said Jared to both Evan and me as he stopped before us. If I hadn’t been able to hear the frustration in his telepathic voice, I might have bought his aloof expression.