Page 85 of Hallows End
“Iabsolutelylovethese shells,” I say as I drag my fingertips over a massive shell sitting on Lorelei’s coffee table. “Where did you find them? I’ve never seen anything like this on our shoreline.”
Lorelei grins and passes me a plate of crab cakes that she just pulled out of the oven. “You just don’t know where to look.”
“No,” Breena disagrees and bites into a cake. “They just magically show up for you, Lorelei.”
“It’s the whole sea witch thing,” I say and share a bite with Nera. “Thanks for dinner, by the way.”
“No problem. I have chocolate cake for dessert. It has sprinkles and everything.”
“Are you sick?” Breena demands. “Because you’re not usually one to cook much. Or, you know, at all.”
“I took a cooking class in LA,” she informs us and pulls her legs up under her on the sofa. “I got bored a lot because I didn’t know anyone and I’m not great at making new friends. So, I found ways to occupy my time. The cooking class was my favorite. I hardly ever burn toast anymore.”
“What’s your favorite thing to cook?” I ask her.
“I didn’t say Iliketo cook,” she clarifies, waving her fork in the air. “I just said it was my favorite class. However, I don’t mind baking. I actually likethata lot. I think this cake turned out good.”
“I think the crab cakes are delicious,” I say and take the last bite. “But I always have room for chocolate cake. Also, how are things between you and Xander?”
Lorelei scowls at me over her fork. “Why do we have to talk about him? We were having such a lovely time.”
“Because when you two are in the same vicinity, the air is electric, and we’re nosy,” Breena says and takes a delicate bite of her crab cake.
“Aside from seeing him when we all get together, I don’t see him at all.” She sighs and then looks up. “Wait. That’s not true. Sometimes, I see him flying overhead as a raven, and I’ve seen him on the beach as a black cat.”
“Isn’t that sweet?” I ask. “He’s looking out for you.”
“I thinkhe’sthe nosy one,” Lorelei says, her tone as dry as the Sahara.
“You could just come right out and tell him to leave you alone,” I suggest, but Lorelei just sighs.
“No, I can’t. Becausethenhe’ll know that he gets to me, and I won’t give him the satisfaction.”
“So adult of you.” I laugh behind my glass of water as Lorelei’s glare shoots daggers at me from across the room. “What? You know it’s true. Just have an adult conversation with him.”
“I don’t think so,” she says. “Anyway, how is married life?”
“Great, but we’re already spending the night apart, what with this new weird illness making its way through Hallows End.”
“How are they doing?” Breena asks.
“Jonas reached out just before we came over here for dinner and said the fever is starting to subside, thanks to the Tylenol.”
“I guess it’s good they’ll all forget soon. Otherwise, they’d be confused as hell,” Lorelei says. “Unless we manage to lift the curse, in which case, we’ll just have to explain things to them.”
“I wonder what’s triggering the illness,” Breena questions. “And all the weird changes—changes that aren’t exactlygoodones.”
“Who knows? What withallof the weird stuff happening lately...” I take our empty plates to the kitchen and load them into the dishwasher. “It could be anything, and my brain is just too tired to try to figure it out.”
“It’s all just creepy,” Lorelei decides as she and Breena join me in the kitchen. Lorelei pulls a long knife out of her drawer and cuts into the cake. “I’m ready for Salem to get back to itsnormalcreepy. We don’t need all the extra stuff.”
“Agreed,” I say and accept a piece of cake, taking a bite. “Mm, this is really good.”
“Sogood,” Breena agrees.
“Thanks.” Lorelei takes a bite herself, and the power goes out. I hear Nera whimper in the living room.
It’s okay, I assure him, but he hurries over to my side and leans against my leg.