“But that’s good,” she said. “If we can find out who cast the curse, then it’ll be easier to cure. Different supernaturals have different abilities, and it will narrow down our search if we know what the culprit was capable of.”
“We’re going to be fine,” Mac said. “You’re the best there is.”
“But I haven’t found an antidote yet,” Eve said. “Hell, we don’t even know what’s going to happen to you.”
“But you whipped up something to hold off the effects, so we’re good.” Mac squeezed her hand. “We’ve got this, don’t worry.”
I looked between Mac and Eve, worry streaking through me. Mac was putting on a brave face, but this was bad.
Seraphia met my gaze. “How did it go with the Devil? What did you learn besides the fact that he’ll seek another copy of A Most Elucidating History of Guild City?”
I explained about his memory and our hopes to unlock it.
“I like that plan,” Mac said.
“He said he’ll meet you tomorrow morning?” Seraphia asked.
“Yes. His friend will hopefully have a copy of the book by then.”
“Good,” Eve said, “because these two need to rest. I don’t want them getting too tired or weak. It could give the curse a better foothold on them.”
I nodded. “Let’s head up to my place. We’ll get some food, rest, and come up with a game plan. There’s probably something we’re missing.”
Mac grinned. “Like a girls’ night!”
“A girls’ night with a goal,” I said. “And an early bedtime.”
“Of course. But I like this plan.” She looked at Seraphia. “Will you come?”
“Me?”
“Yeah, you, silly. We need to go over all the facts again. But more importantly, you’re cool, and you should come hang out with us.”
Seraphia smiled. “Okay.”
“Let’s do my flat,” I suggested.
“I’m going to leave everything like it is and lock up,” Eve said. “I can clean this mess tomorrow.”
“Good plan,” I said, and shepherded the others toward the front.
It took her less than half a minute to finish her stuff and grab her keys. I got the history book, and we headed out of her shop, Eve and Seraphia in the lead.
I hung back with Mac. “Are you really okay?”
“Yeah.” She nudged me with her shoulder. “Don’t worry so much.”
“And Seraphia?”
“She’s fine, too.”
“She seems a bit lonely.” I thought back to her eyes. “Not sure why. Just something about her.”
“She keeps to herself, mostly. In our world, you tend not to poke when someone does that. You never know what they’re hiding.”
“But you trust her?”
“Yeah. I think she’s got a bad past, but I trust her. And no one should be lonely.”
“You like to collect strays.”
“Strays?”
“Yeah.” I grinned and pointed to myself. “Like me. Now Seraphia.”
Mac shrugged. “What can I say? There aren’t really any stray cats in town, and you’re the next best thing.”
I laughed, and the four of us headed up to my place, taking the stairs two at a time.
When we passed Mac’s door, she paused. “Do you have wine?”
I scoffed. “Do I have wine? Only the finest adult juice boxes in all the land.”
Mac laughed. “Those little single-serving boxes?”
“The very same. If you’re lucky, I’ll give you a straw.”
She grimaced. “Pass. But I will get some crisps.”
“If Cordelia hasn’t eaten them all.”
“Fingers crossed.” She darted into her place.
“Thanks.”
Eve and Seraphia reached my door first. “Let yourself in,” I said, gesturing. “It’s unlocked.”
“You should lock it,” Seraphia said. “This place isn’t as safe as it seems.”
I frowned at her. She wasn’t wrong, but the way she said it…
She shifted and looked away, then followed Eve into the flat.
Yeah, Seraphia had a tricky past, all right. But it was none of my business unless she wanted to share, so I put it aside.
“Make yourself at home.” I gestured to the couches. “How do you feel about kebabs?”
“Fantastic,” Eve said.
Seraphia nodded. “Love them.”
I went to the window and set the history book on the little table. I grabbed the paper menu from the restaurant below us, then picked up a pen and pad of paper. I handed the goods off to Eve and Seraphia. “Jot down what you want.”
I already knew my order by heart…and Cordelia’s. I no sooner placed an order with the restaurant than Cordelia appeared, no matter where she was in the city. I swore she could hear the scratching of the pen.
Mac appeared at the door. “Ooh, good idea,” she said, spotting the menu and pad of paper. “Get me a Donner Kebab, please.”
“No problem.”
Orders completed, I placed the paper in the bucket by the window and lowered it by the attached rope. Leaning out, I watched Berat, the restaurant owner, grab the bucket.
“Mission complete,” I said, pulling my head from the window.
“That’s a handy system,” Seraphia said.
I grinned. “All Mac’s idea. She came up with it.”
Mac tore open the bag of crisps. “I’m a genius, what can I say?”
“There are bowls in the kitchen,” I said. “Freshly washed, even.”
Mac disappeared into the kitchen as Cordelia appeared on the windowsill, her little nose twitching. Kebabs?
“Yes, Cordelia.”
Excellent. She trundled over to the couch and climbed up to sit between Eve and Seraphia. They must have met earlier, when Cordelia had delivered the book to Eve, because Seraphia took it in stride.
“I can’t find them,” Mac called.
I joined her in the kitchen and fished the bowls out of the tiny cupboard, pointing with my elbow at the little fridge. “There’s some wine in there, if you want to grab it.”
“Do I? It would be pure barbarism to have a girls’ night without wine, even one that’s aimed at solving an ancient deadly mystery and will involve—unfortunately—no drunken antics.”
I grinned and filled the bowls with crisps, then took them out to the living room and handed them around. Mac joined me and passed out the mini boxes of wine, pouring Cordelia a smaller serving in a cup. Cordelia glared at her.
Mac couldn’t understand Cordelia when she talked, but the look was easy to read.
“Hey, don’t blame me.” Mac raised her hands. “You have the lowest body weight, and I’m just doing the maths. We don’t need an unconscious raccoon on our hands.”
Cordelia scoffed and drank her wine.
I sipped my wine and contemplated everything we’d learned. Everything I’d learned since my arrival. “You know what’s weird?”
“What?” Mac asked.
“There are no misfits in Guild City. Everyone ascribes to a guild, or they get booted. No weirdos allowed.”