Blood Past

to be a psychic to work that one out.” Eden laughed at that, cutting off Alison’s reprimand. At the sound of Eden’s laughter the tension seemed to melt from October and her shoulders relaxed. She eyed Eden with a wary half smile.

“What Tobe meant was that I sensed the sincerity of your situation and I sense you are indeed one of the Ankh,” Christopher explained. “I’ve confirmed this with Councilman McLeish. However, my abilities are not something we broadcast. The Councilman knows of it and so do Cyrus and Valeria and now you. But my abilities could make my family and I targets so I appreciate if you keep this to yourself.”

Eden knew all about being a target. “Of course. Your secret is safe with me.” Christopher nodded gratefully. “And as I say, I’ve advised Councilman McLeish. You should find your next meeting with him a bit pleasanter, I imagine.”

Eden wasn’t so sure about that. There was something about McLeish. He had that look in his eye the Neith that had attacked her in Salton and Detroit had. They were horrified by her existence.

McLeish was horrified by her existence. Pushing the unsettling thought to the back of her mind, Eden took a sip of coffee as she tried to project an aura of calm. “OK. So you’re psychic. So what else?

Are there Neith who can read minds and set fire to stuff?” She had been joking but when they all glanced at one another silently, her lips parted in surprise. “You’re kidding right?” Cyrus shrugged. “I told you there are Neith out there with particular abilities. However, they are extremely rare.”

Holy moly. She slumped back against her chair thinking about it. What if Neith with those kinds of abilities came after her? Would she be able to handle them? As she worried about it, her gaze got caught in Noah’s again and she glowered at him. “Did you know about this?” He covered his surprise at her attack by shrugging carelessly. It was as if he was deliberately trying to annoy her! “Chris? No. Neith. Yes.”

“And you didn’t tell me?”

He rolled his eyes. “When could I have told you? The day you weren’t speaking to me, or the day after when you still weren’t speaking to me?”

Ugh he was such a pain in the—

Just a complete and utter ass with—

Infuriating, irritating, treacherous-

“OK.” October watched her wide-eyed. “I was wrong. That eye colour is working for you… if you could drown and suffocate him with that look I think you would.”

“Eden.” Cyrus sighed. “This is not Noah’s fault. I told you we would discuss everything you needed to know after your transition.”

As always his voice relaxed her and she turned to look up at him. “Well, when can we start? I want to know everything. I want to train. I want to start being an Ankh.” He smiled at her enthusiasm but shook his head. “You’ve just come through a traumatic experience. We will take a few days. Relax and enjoy the city.” Her mouth twisted in a moue at the announcement that her training was postponed.

“I could take you to the castle, Eden,” October offered with feigned indifference. “It’s pretty cool.”

I do want to see the castle… “OK.” Eden nodded and she felt everyone at the table breathe a sigh of relief. Jeez, they acted like she was a monster tantrum child from hell. She rolled her eyes and October caught the look and smiled. Eden smiled back, wondering if she and this girl were going to become friends. She’d never had a female friend before. Well… there was Val but Val didn’t count because she acted more like a mother or a big sister than anything else. “Sorry I dissed Rob,” she apologised with a teasing smile.

October grunted. “Like you’re the first.”

“Don’t worry about it, Eden,” Alison interjected. “She keeps those posters up out of a perverse need to irritate her friends.”

Eden grinned. Yup. She was definitely going to like this girl. “Gotcha. I like your style, October.”

“Call me Tobe.”

“Tobe it is.”

“So since you’ve decided I’m not a complete idiot, will you trust me to take you shopping? You really do need some colour injection.”

Eden shrugged and looked at Cyrus. “We already bought clothes.” Valeria smiled. “You can buy more.”

Cyrus raised an eyebrow at that but seemed to decide not to argue.

“OK then,” Eden conceded. “But no pink.”

“Cool. No pink.” Tobe nodded. “Maybe we can go to the hairdressers when we’re out. When you’re training and fighting, long hair can be a pain in the arse. Plus you’d look good with it short.”

“No!” Noah bit out and everyone, including Eden, stared at Noah for the vehement outburst. He glared back at them all. “What? She’s not cutting her hair.” Eden scowled at his propriety tone. “I’ll cut my hair if I want.”

“So you’re going to cut your hair?”

“If I want.”

“You’re going to cut your hair? Your hair? You threatened to castrate Justin Snider when he shut the homeroom door on it.”

“It’s my hair; you have no say in what I do with it.”

He sighed, throwing her a look that said ‘you’re such a child’. He got up from the table and slapped his napkin down on his plate. “Thanks for breakfast, Alison, appreciate it.”

“You’re welcome.”

Noah nodded and then pinned Eden down with one last look. “You’re not cutting your damn hair.” She glared at him as he strode out of the dining room. The front door banged shut behind him as Eden wondered where on earth he was going.

“So?” Tobe drew her attention back to her, her eyes glittering with excitement. “Are we cutting your hair?”

Eden fingered the ends of her long dark hair and sighed glumly. “No.” Cyrus made a choking sound beside her and she glanced up to see him covering a smile.

“Traitor,” she mumbled, which only made him laugh.

At the warm sound Eden found herself melting as the room suddenly grew extremely peaceful.

Cyrus’ laughter was rare and comforting. Val scrutinised him, her eyes slightly wide with what Eden could only assume was surprise and amazement. She turned those dark eyes of hers to Eden, a small smile drawing her lips apart.

Val looked grateful.

Eden flushed, observing Cyrus from the corner of her eye. So many unbelievable things had happened to her lately. But being the person that could bring a little laughter and happiness back into Cyrus’ life was definitely the most astonishing.

Right then and there Eden promised herself she would try to live up to his expectations.

Chapter Eight. Obsession… for Evil

The Eau de Toilette from Hell

Licking the girl’s blood from his fingers Teagan looked down at the stillness of her body with a sense of satisfaction, the copper bitterness of her life force just a cherry on top to the pure soul that settled through his body like heroin in the bloodstream. It was a surreal feeling, like good food and sex wrapped up in a neat package that tempered the beast within. His body hummed with the euphoria of it all, and he smiled as he reached out to place two fingers against her neck. No pulse. She was still warm though. He ran his hands down her body one last time, a ringmaster memorising the latest addition to his dead menagerie.