I’ll be right here. Promise…
***
When I step back out in the new clothes, Rye is waiting for me. That feels way better than it should. I feel like his breath catches, but I’m not even sure if gods breathe. It was probably just my imagination. He tilts his head and silently turns, crossing the recreation room to another long hallway. I follow him, noting how the house seems to shift and change, like it’s alive. Or maybe it’s magic, like Hogwarts. I laugh, making Rye turn his head to look at me questioningly.
“Sorry, I just feel like I either stepped into a new dimension or have been accepted to Hogwarts.”
His brows crease and I think Rye might be the only person who would have no idea what I am talking about. I just shake my head and he shrugs and keeps walking.
We stop before an open doorway. Inside is another recreational room. It’s bigger than the first. There’s a full bar and two TVs instead of one. There’s also a big beautiful fireplace where three other people have gathered.
“She’s too skinny. Demons will use her as a toothpick,” the girl closest to the fire says.
I’m guessing she’s Middle Eastern. She has long thick black hair down her back. She’s about five nine with deep dark eyes and a heart-shaped mouth. She’s beautiful. And judging by her leather jacket and stern expression, she’s a real badass.
“That’s Aziza. As you can tell, she recently graduated from charm school,” the guy next to her says.
He’s tall and handsome with dark brown hair, green eyes, and a dimple that I’m sure keeps his social calendar full.
“You’re wondering who I am and how I could be so damn sexy, aren’t you?” he asks.
Aziza rolls her eyes. He comes closer.
“I’m Jinx.” And like some cheesy movie, he takes my hand and kisses it. “And it’s a real pleasure to meet you.”
“Yes, and as a general rule, expect everything Jinx says to be about him,” someone says from the top of the stairs.
I look up and there’s an Asian girl with pretty almond eyes, glowing skin, and long ash-blonde hair. Everyone looks to be about my age but she looks slightly younger. She’s in a big coat, with thick gloves and boots. I look at her strangely.
“Oh, sorry. It’s super cold in Paris right now. I slipped this on before I went. I’m Grace.”
Oh great, that’s Grace. Rye didn’t mention she was flawless, gorgeous, with glowing skin.
“Hi,” I reply, not sure what else to say as she comes down the steps.
“It’s so good to finally meet you,” she says.
I don’t have time to wonder how she knew she would be meeting me before two more people enter the house, a guy and a girl. He’s tall with dark hair and intensely sexy blue eyes. Right behind him is a girl who could make any model on the runway jealous. She’s tall with radiant dark skin, perfectly sculpted eyebrows, high cheekbones, and long, loose curly braids. They both look to be about my age, if not a year or two older.
Why is everyone so damn perfect here? Honestly, I feel even more awkward than when I was standing outside dripping wet in the jersey and Rye was coaxing me back in.
“Okay, this is the last time I am cleaning up after a demon attack. Do you have any idea how hard it is to get demon blood out of silk?” the new girl says as she joins the others.
“We have more important issues, Ya-Ya,” Grace reminds her.
“Oh Grace, you silly, silly little goddess. There’s nothing more important than keeping me in the forefront of fashion, where I belong,” Ya-Ya scolds.
“Where you belong is a mental institution,” the new guy says, laughing.
Jinx says, “Sailor, meet Ya-Ya and court jester, Sunday.”
Ya-Ya is too busy looking over her outfit to pay attention to Sunday, or maybe she just doesn’t care what he thinks.
“Nice to meet you, Sailor,” Sunday says.
“Okay, great. Now that we know who is who, let’s get this over with,” Ya-Ya says, looking at me for the first time since she came in.
“Um…get what over with?” I ask.
“There’s no point in explaining everything unless we get confirmation that you are in fact the chosen one,” Ya-Ya replies.
Oh my god. It’s happening. I might be the chosen one? This has to be a dream, yet somehow, I know it isn’t. A phrase comes to mind: be careful what you wish for or you just might get it.
“Shhh, hang on,” Ya-Ya says even though I haven’t said a word.
“Mel, we need you,” she shouts to the thin air.
And out of nowhere, a girl appears. We’re around the same age. Or so I think. She has the same eyes as Sunday and the same hair color. She too is pretty. That’s it. I will never eat another slice of pizza if I can just get out of this place in one piece and to my father. Dad probably already called the police and is combing the photo albums telling them all our embarrassing stories while trying to stay calm.
“Mel is my sister. She’s the one that healed you. It’s her power. That and teleporting,” Sunday says.
“Thanks?” I reply uncertainly, trying to file all of this information away somewhere in my mind.
I don’t know if I’m scared anymore or just pissed that everyone in here looks like they just walked off a runway in Paris.
“Can somebody please explain to me what exactly is going on?” I say.
Yup. I’m pissed.
“We will. First, we need you to let me blow this seed at you. If it attaches itself to you then you are the one we’ve been looking for,” Mel says.
Blow a seed at me? It could be worse. They could want to cut me open and test my blood or drop me of the rooftop and see if I can fly or something. I look over at Rye and he nods slightly, signaling it’s
