sitting. I can see her eyes glowing behind her lids. She looks creepy. I exit quickly and race down the stairs, not sure what it was that freaked me so much, only knowing that I’m glad to be putting some space between us.
Eating in a 1950s style hamburger restaurant before the movie. Everyone excited and buzzing, except me. I keep thinking about Juni’s eyes, trying to pinpoint what it was about them that unnerved me.
Bill-E’s excited to be with us, though he finds it hard to join in all the talk. He’ll start to say something, then stop and think about the best way to phrase it. By the time he has the words straight inside his head, the topic’s changed. If he’d just be himself he’d be fine. But he thinks he has to be extra witty and cool around us, and by worrying and hesitating, he comes across as dumb and stumbling. I think about saying something to him, but then I fall to thinking about Juni’s eyes again.
Reni sits beside me for the film. After a while she takes my hand. I half-turn to smile at her and she smiles back. I thought Loch’s death might drive a wedge between us, but it hasn’t. She still wants to be my girlfriend. Maybe it’s even more important to her now than it was before—the more she focuses on me, the less she’ll brood about Loch.
I start to lean over, mouth dry, spinal cord tingling.
But then I think of Juni’s eyes again and it finally clicks. The glow reminded me of the fiery, eyeless sockets of one of Lord Loss’s familiars—the charmless hell-baby known as Artery.
I draw away from Reni. She stares at me, surprised and slightly hurt. I force a bitter smile. “Later,” I whisper. “I’m nervous, you know?” Letting her think I’ve gone shy. Unable to tell her that thoughts of demons have set my teeth trembling, that I’m afraid I might accidentally bite her tongue if we kiss.
Reni smiles back and gives my hand a squeeze. “I know,” she says, finding it sweet. She leans her head on my shoulder and sighs. “When you’re ready, give me a shout. I can wait.”
I lay my head on hers and close my eyes, drowning out the sounds of the film, trying to listen to her heartbeat, feeling her hair soft against my cheek—but not able to stop thinking about Juni’s eyes and demons.
As we come out of the cinema I spot a tramp sitting by the side of one of the mall’s fountains. We’re a long way off but he looks like the same one I ran into on the path home last week. As the others file to the restaurant again, for milkshakes, I halt and fix my gaze on the tramp. I’m certain it’s him—same shaggy beard, long hair, old clothes, posy of flowers in a buttonhole. And maybe it’s my imagination, but he seems to be looking back at me, returning my stare.
I start towards him, not entirely sure why, but bothered by his being here, wanting to make sure it’s the same man. Then Reni notices I’m not with the group. She calls my name. When I don’t respond, she calls again, sharply.
“Sorry,” I mutter, taking my eyes off the tramp. “Thought I saw someone I knew.”
“Who?” Reni asks.
“Nobody.” I smile when she frowns at me. “A teacher. But it wasn’t. Come on, let’s go tuck into our shakes.”
“You’re in a strange mood tonight,” Reni comments, towing me along to catch up with the others.
Just before we turn the corner, I look back at the fountain. But nobody’s there now. The tramp has gone.
Home. Troubled. Thinking about the tramp. Probably nothing, just coincidence that I’ve seen him a couple of times. But it might be something more. We’re protected here from demons, Dervish has said it dozens of times. But some demons have human assistants. What if the tramp is working for Lord Loss, waiting for the chance to knock me out and cart me away to a spot where the demon master can set his evil hands on me?
I decide to tell Dervish. I might wind up looking like a frightened fool, jumping at shadows, but it’s best not to take chances with stuff like this. I go searching for Dervish in his study, then his bedroom, but I only find Juni, sitting on the edge of Dervish’s bed, staring out the window, pensive.
“Hi,” I say. “Is Dervish about?”
“He’s gone for Chinese.”
“Oh.” The local Chinese takeaway does home deliveries but Dervish doesn’t trust them to send the correct food. He always fetches it himself. “No worries. I’ll catch him when he’s back.” I start to leave.
“Grubbs,” Juni stops me. She pats the space on the bed next to her. There’s a long silence as I settle beside her. She continues to stare out the window. She’s so slender, I feel even bigger than normal sitting next to her.
“I saw you earlier, in the study,” Juni says.
“How?” I frown. “Your eyes were closed.”
“I could see through the lids—part of the spell. You looked scared. You ran away as if I frightened you.” I fidget uncomfortably. “Are you afraid that Dervish is falling in love with me? That I’m going to steal his love for you?”
“No,” I laugh. “That wasn’t it at all.”
“Then why did you look so spooked?”
“Your eyes.” I clear my throat. “They were like a demon’s that I fought.”
Juni tenses when I mention the D word. Then relaxes. “We haven’t talked much about that, have we?” she notes softly.
“No.”
“I’m still haunted by what happened,” she whispers. “I’m dealing with it, but it’s hard. Knowing there are demons in the world… or tearing at the edges of it… wanting to grab us and destroy…”
“I know exactly how you feel. I hate them too. They terrify me.” I blush at the confession. “That’s why I ran. I didn’t realise it till later, but your eyes reminded me of a demon’s. I panicked. It was silly, but…” I shrug.
“You think I have a demon’s eyes?” Juni asks, bemused.
“No,” I chuckle. “It was just magic. Dervish told me magic comes from demons, that the energy we tap into has seeped through from the Demonata’s universe. Every time we cast a spell, we use a bit of demonic energy. I guess it makes us look like them sometimes. This was just the first time I noticed it.”
Juni nods, understanding. Then, out of nowhere, she says, “Dervish is going to ask me to move in.”
“Oh?” I blink.
“I don’t know if I should.” She looks worried. “This has taken me by complete surprise. Maybe I need to slow things down. Stay away for a while. Give us all some space and time.”
I stare at her clumsily. I can’t think of anything to say. I know nothing about stuff like this. After a few seconds, Juni laughs and lays a hand on my knee. “Sorry. I don’t expect you to decide for me. I just needed to say it out loud.”
“I… I think… I mean… Dervish likes you.
“You wouldn’t mind?” she asks softly.
“No.”
“You’re sure?” Her fingers tighten on my knee. “Since I got involved with Dervish, I’ve noticed a change in your response to me. I wasn’t sure you approved of our relationship. I thought you didn’t like me, that you didn’t want me to—”
“No,” I interrupt. “That’s crazy. I… No.” Smiling now. “It’s been strange, having you here, but I’m not against it. Honest. I’d like it if you moved in.”
Juni smiles blazingly. “You don’t know how glad I am to hear that.” She leans over and kisses my cheek. My blush darkens and spreads. She tweaks my nose, then gets up. “Come on,” she says, heading for the door. “Dervish will be back soon. We ordered extra in case you wanted any. You can help me prepare some plates.”
Following her down the stairs, grinning to myself, delighted to find that I truly don’t mind if she comes to live with us. Figuring crowded might not be such a bad thing for this hollow old house.
Late Sunday. Juni was right. Dervish asked her last night if she’d come live with us. She agreed, but said it would have to be for a trial period. They’ll see how they get on and if things don’t work, she’ll move out again.
She made the big switch today. Didn’t have much to bring. She’s moved around a lot this year, living out of a suitcase. She had a house once, but sold it when she accepted the movie job with Davida Haym. She’s been
