Page 69 of Hallows End

“You don’t keep wine here,” Lorelei says. “Why don’t you give me the agate to hold onto for you?”

“Absolutelynot.” I hug it closer to my chest. “Mine. All mine. Do you like moss agate? I thought you were a jasper girl. Or something else oceany.”

“I like all the crystals. Do you have your black tourmaline on you, Lucy?”

I narrow my eyes at her. Why does everyone want to keep me from having fun? Why can’t I just be a little carefree sometimes?

“It’s around here somewhere. Okay, so I don’t have wine, but I do have vodka. That’ll do. I even have mint.”

Using only one hand, I manage to fill three glasses with ice and pour the vodka over it.

“Hell, who really needs mint?” I ask with a wink and take a long drink from the glass.

“Uh, Lucy, that’s straight vodka,” Breena says.

“Right? So good. Here, I poured some for you guys. I’m not greedy.”

But they don’t take the glasses from me, and that makes me mad.

“So, are my refreshments notgood enoughfor you two? What the hell?”

“Where is he?” Lorelei asks Breena.

“Where’s who?” I demand. “I didn’t invite anyone here.”

The room is starting to spin, and I drop the stone as I fall into a chair.

I hear it crack.

“Oh, no,” I cry. “I broke it.”

“Good,” I hear Lorelei say, but I can’t see her. I can’t see either of them now. Why is it so dark? Why is the room spinning?

“Put your head between your knees,” Breena says and urges me forward. She rubs circles on my back, and it feels so good.

Suddenly, I just start to cry. I can’t help it, and I don’t know why the tears want to come, but I’m a sobbing heap.

Then, I have to run for the bathroom. I’m hugging the toilet, retching, when I hear voices in the hallway.

One of them is deep.

Jonas?

I can’t stop throwing up. Sweat runs down my spine and pools at the small of my back. My head is pounding.

I feel sick and lost.

And so alone, even though I can hear them talking.

“Okay.” I hear Jonas as he kneels beside me and brushes my hair off my face. “You’re going to be okay, darling. Breena’s bringing you an ice pack.”

“What’s happening?”

“We’re going to figure that out. Thanks, Breena.”

He presses something cold to the back of my neck, and I start to shake, but my stomach begins to settle.

“So tired.”