We were all together now, standing in a circle, surveying one another.
“Scared ya, didn’t we?” Blake said, lifting an eyebrow that I just noticed was pierced. He wore a tight hemp necklace with a shell in the middle, and his badge was the poisonous green of envy.
“What are you guys doing here?” I asked, keeping my voice steady and strong.
“We heard a rumor of a Nephilim sister in these parts,” said Kopano. His light eyes were striking against his dark skin.
“Rumor from who?” I asked.
Blake shrugged. “Word gets around.”
“But how did you find me?”
“Marna showed her boobs to one of the spirits and he led the way—”
“Blake! Shut up.” She gave him a shove. “That’s not true. We got your name from Kai, and then we did a little research, because he wouldn’t tell us anything else about you.”
“Almost like he was hiding something,” the other sister said, crossing her arms and eyeing me. The dirty look I sent her in return was ineffective. I couldn’t remember the sisters’ names from Kaidan’s descriptions, but this girl was the snarky one.
We looked toward the entrance of the school as a car drove in. Probably a staff worker or janitor. We couldn’t just stand there loitering. I made a quick decision to trust them and hoped it wouldn’t turn out to be one of my naive moments.
“We can talk at my house, if you want,” I offered. They looked around at one another before agreeing.
I climbed in the back with the girls while Blake took the passenger seat. Kopano drove, so I assumed it was his car. Besides my giving the occasional direction, nobody talked.
I still had the house key in my pocket, and I was surprised it hadn’t fallen out during the wrestling match with Kopano. I flushed at the memory as we parked and got out.
Kopano seemed relaxed, but the other three looked uncomfortable in the small living space of my home. The girls flipped their hair, peering around at the old furniture. I crossed my arms over my chest and tried to appear as tough as my supposedly twelve-year-old demeanor would allow.
“I need to make a call,” I told them.
“To whom?” the snarky twin asked.
“The woman I was with. Patti.”
I didn’t feel like explaining. I ignored their stares, walked to the counter, and dialed Patti’s cell. She answered on the first ring.
“It’s me.” I talked fast, eager to put her out of her misery of worry. “I’m fine. They’re just Kaidan’s friends. We’re at the apartment now.”
She breathed a sigh of relief.
“You can come home whenever you want,” I told her.
“All right. I’ll be there in about fifteen minutes. You’re sure you’re okay?”
“I’m sure. I’ll see you soon.”
I hung up.
“Doesn’t your father have any money?” the mean twin asked, noting our tiny television.
“This isn’t his place. I live here with my adopted mother.”
“Is he still in jail?” asked the nice sister.
“Yes.”
“That’s what we figured. We don’t like showin’ up places where a Duke might be.” She said the word Duke with a shudder. We all stood there in a semicircle, sharing the awkward lull.
“What’s up with your badge?” asked Blake, sounding like a valley boy.
“I’m not sure, to tell you the truth,” I told him.
I looked at the girls, wishing I could tell them apart.
“So you’re Ginger and Marna?”
“How do you know our names?” they asked simultaneously.
“Same way you know mine.”
The mean sister narrowed her eyes at me again. What was with her?
“Word is you and Kai are work partners.” Blake winked at me. I felt my face warm, and shrugged noncommittally. I didn’t think any of them were buying my tough act.
“I haven’t seen him or talked to him in a few weeks,” I said.
Mean Sister pulled out her cell and scrolled through her contacts.
She dialed. “Aw, cripe, voice mail... Oi! Arse-face! We’re at your little girl Anna’s house. Ring me back straightaway.” She slid it shut and glared at me. “Surprised he still has the same number,” she said. “That bloke gets his number changed more than anyone I know.”
I was very uncomfortable. I still didn’t know what they wanted with me. Not a single one of them emitted any emotional colors, and they acted so tense.
“Why don’t you all sit down and I’ll get us something to drink.” I’d definitely been raised by Patti Whitt.
Kopano sat at the end of the couch. Blake shrugged and sat at the other end.