Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things (Dead Things Series Book 1) (9 page)

Ember shivered. “They can’t be the only people with information. Isn’t there anybody who would know? There has to be more than three adults in this town. Somebody willing to talk.” Then a thought occurred to her, “This isn’t like that movie where the kids kill all the adults and pray to that creepy little demon kid in the corn field is it?”

Kai smiled, nodding in admiration, “Children of the Corn. Stephen King.” Quinn nodded in agreement and the two knuckle bumped over her without looking, “But no, we didn’t kill any adults.”

Quinn cleared his throat. Kai rolled his eyes but said, “Okay, well, not any good adults.”

“And never any humans.” Quinn supplied.

Ember felt like screaming in frustration. They talked in riddles. She needed answers. She needed to know that she wasn’t going to keep vomiting black goop and feeling like people were trying to tear her brain apart with meat hooks. She needed to know she wasn’t going to keep passing out like some paranormal overheating engine.

Quinn must have sensed her frustration, “Listen, anybody who knows anything won’t talk about it for fear of having to deal with the witches’ council or worse, the tree huggers. I’d love to say we saved your life and brought you to a magical place where everything is going to be okay but it’s not true. In many ways, this town is like an entirely different world. The only law that matters is the Grove and they have a lot of laws. More than we could explain to you in a hundred years.”

She felt sick, her chest tight. There was no guarantee they’d find out what she was. Tristin had been living here her entire life and still knew nothing about being a banshee. What were the odds they’d figure out what she was before it was too late?

“If you are feeling better, you should get downstairs and talk to Isa. She’s in the kitchen stress baking.”

Quinn’s eyes lit up, “What is she making this time?”

“Pumpkin muffins, I think.”

Ember frowned. What did one say to an alpha werewolf after they puked on their carpet?

14

EMBER

S
he padded barefoot down the stairs. It had to be well after midnight but everybody was still awake. After a few wrong turns, she found herself in the kitchen which was bigger than the apartment she’d shared with her father. Isa had changed into a pair of leggings and a slouchy looking t-shirt and was sliding around the kitchen in…leg warmers? It was freezing in there. She didn’t know what the temperature was like outside but the air conditioning hummed along at full blast causing condensation on the many windows. Ember shivered, freezing after her ice bath.

Isa stirred a bowl of something orange as music played softly in the background. Ember hovered in the doorway, waiting for the other girl to acknowledge her. Isa bobbed her head, hips swaying, lost in the music or her thoughts.

Ember took a step back, feeling like she was intruding and turned to go.

“Get your butt back here,” Isa told her, not looking up.

Ember moved slowly, taking in the granite counters, the double ovens and the breakfast nook that looked like it could seat an army. To her left was another set of stairs. How had she missed those? How could they afford a house like this?

She slid onto a stool at the center island and Isa handed her the bowl. “Stir.”

She did as instructed without question watching the older woman carefully. She moved with grace and efficiency, the kitchen clearly her domain. The hazy windows and soft music created a cozy pocket of calm putting Ember at ease.

She pulled a tray of muffins from the oven and replaced it with one waiting to go in. Ember watched, mesmerized, as the alpha burned herself transferring twelve still hot muffins from the tin. She clutched them by their little decorative papers, each relocation punctuated with a whispered, “Ouch.”

Isa placed new cups in the tins and slid them over to Ember with a small ladle. “One scoop each. Don’t overfill.”

Ember did as she was told, dropping the batter into the paper cups, content to take instruction if it meant she could stay there, hidden in the kitchen with Isa. Isa in the kitchen was its own kind of magic. There was something about the tiny wolf Ember found comforting.

Even in their bubble, Ember was aware there were literal wolves outside the kitchen door. Sounds traveled throughout the house, muted but ever present. Wren and Donovan watched something in the living room, the low murmur of the television was dotted by their occasional laughter. Neoma was singing from somewhere at the top of the stairs but never revealed herself.

It was just the sounds of people existing together but it made her edgy. Most of her nights were spent at the funeral home or alone on the couch waiting for the phone to ring and tell her she needed to pick up her dad from the bar or find a way to pay whoever he owed money to that week. She didn’t know how to be a person somebody liked. Her default setting was sarcasm. Isa said she could stay but what happened when they realized she was awkward and socially inept? How long before she wore out her welcome?

“Ember.”

Her name startled her out of her thoughts.

Isa smiled apologetically, “I know this must be weird for you. I can’t imagine what all of…” she gestured vaguely around the room. “This must seem like to you. I don’t want you to worry. Nobody is going to kick you out. You are now part of our weird little family. Our parents were friends. They would never let you live on the street and neither would I.”

“Even if I keep passing out and redecorating all of your rugs with Satan’s vomit?” she asked, trying for a joke, but flushing with embarrassment.

“Listen,” she dropped her voice down to a whisper, “Rhys turned for the first time when he was seven and shredded my great-grandmother’s hundred year old sofa, three hand sewn pillows and he peed on the carpet under the dining room table. His fangs would drop so often without his permission he talked with a lisp for two years. He was so embarrassed he stopped talking for weeks at a time. It’s why he barely talks today.”

Ember winced. She didn’t want to feel sorry for the wolf, not when he was so hostile towards Kai. Isa went on, “When I first turned, I forgot to bring clothes with me and had to walk home completely naked. Kai botched his first soul collection and the poor dead guy almost got a front row seat to his own autopsy. The stuff that happens to us…it’s no different than puberty for humans, embarrassing and inevitable. You’re just a late bloomer.”

Isa was sweet, trying to make her feel comfortable but she didn’t know how to share space with so many people. She didn’t know how to be part of a family.

“I know we are overpowering. If you think this is too much…if you think
we
are too much…I can talk to Allister about maybe contacting your father’s family. You were born here, Ember. You have people in this town. Your dad didn’t really get along with them but I can’t imagine they’d turn you away, even if you aren’t a witch.”

She was starting to think the alpha could read minds. She wasn’t entirely sure what that meant but from what she gathered, the witches weren’t real fond of non-witches which put her squarely in the middle of a fight she couldn’t even remotely begin to understand. She didn’t think she could handle that kind of anxiety. Not now.

“Ember, I’m not going to lie. We are a huge family. On a slow day, there are six people living here. Donovan has his own place and, technically, Quinn lives with his dad and sister across town but they sleep here more than there. We are loud. Rhys, Kai and Quinn are always bickering. Neoma sings like she’s in a musical. Tristin is often super aggressive and snotty for no discernable reason. Wren wants to fix everybody’s problems and, I’ve been told, when I’m stressed out I’m no Swiss picnic either. We fight a lot. We butt heads a lot. I’m in charge. I’m the alpha and ultimately what I say goes and sometimes people have a problem with that. You don’t have to like what I say but you do have to do what I say. Some people can’t handle that.”

Ember struggled to see what she was getting at. Before she could ask, the timer beeped and the girl spun around, repeating her earlier process. With two trays cooling, the smell of pumpkin was overwhelming. Ember’s stomach growled loudly. Color bloomed on her cheeks but Isa just laughed. She hadn’t eaten all day.

Isa placed a muffin on a paper plate and poured her a glass of milk.

“What I’m trying to say is we want you here and you are welcome to stay but you are free to go if you want. We just want you to stay close by until we figure out what is happening to you. You could hurt yourself.”

“Okay.”

Isa’s face split into a toothy grin, “Okay? You’ll stay with us?”

She took a deep breath letting it out slowly, trying to temper the anxiety building in her chest. “Yeah, sure.”

“Oh and this is now your house too. The kitchen, the living room, the library and porches are all community space. We are used to a crowd. We are lucky enough to have a large house. There are five bedrooms. Two beds per room in all but the master. Quinn usually beds with Kai when he’s here. Neoma prefers to sleep on the couch in the solarium, something about sleeping under the stars. You can have the last room at the top of the stairs. It’s the most private. We will get you your own sheets and any clothes you need tomorrow.”

Ember nodded, overwhelmed by all of this. She broke off a piece of muffin and blew on it before stuffing it in her mouth. “Oh muh gaw.” Swallowing, she said, “These are amazing.”

Isa smiled, “Thank you.” She placed her hand over Ember’s. Ember snatched it back without thinking. Isa’s eyes went wide. Ember felt her face flush, “Sorry,” she said, “I’m just not used to all the touching.”

Isa’s eyes softened, “
I’m
sorry,” she shrugged, “I grew up surrounded by shifters. We scent everything. We want everything to smell like us. We are worse than actual wolves.”

That explained all the touchy feely stuff. Ember felt like she had a lot to learn. Her knowledge of wolves consisted of information gleaned from Animal Planet documentaries and her knowledge of werewolves came from old black and white movies.

“It takes a little getting used to.” Ember admitted.

Isa looked at her, eyes going serious. “Nobody here has the right to touch you without your permission. Our…habits aren’t your problem. If Donovan or anybody else is touching you-”

“I don’t think-” Ember started.

“No, Ember,” she told her, “This isn’t up for debate. You are new to the pack so they are going to do anything they can to make you smell like them; to make you smell like home. If you are uncomfortable, you tell them no. Even me.”

Ember nodded earnestly. “Okay.”

“Your acceptance isn’t conditional. I agreed to take you in. Allister agreed that you should be here.”

They ate in silence for a while before Ember asked, “Isa, can I ask you a question?”

“Of course.”

“Why do I have the same last name as Kai and Tristin? Our moms were sisters. Weren’t my parents married?”

“In our world, you take the last name of the person whose family is more prominent.” She shrugged, “Not sure if it’s a matter of safety or bragging rights but it’s always been that way. Your father came from a powerful witch family and the twin’s father was a human born to a large leopard pack out of Thailand; but in the case of the Lonergans, few names carried more weight. At least before the witches took over.”

People respected her family. She thought of her life in New Orleans. Her dad had been a joke. A punchline his students used to amuse each other in the dining hall. She’d had no friends and barely showed up for school. Her heart squeezed. Her mother would’ve found her a huge disappointment.

Isa frowned, sensing Ember’s shift in mood. She moved closer, hand hovering over Ember’s before she caught herself. She looked bewildered on how to comfort her. Ember took a deep breath and grasped the other girls hand; she needed to embrace her new life. If the pack were touchy-feely, she would do her best to try.

“Allister is going to look into what’s happening to you. He thinks it would be best if you try to get back to a normal routine. Tomorrow, I’ll take you shopping for some supplies. You can take the weekend to get settled and we will get you registered for school on Monday.”

Ember tried to take in all this information, her hand spasming around Isa’s as the door between the kitchen and the dining room banged open; Kai and Rhys barreling through. Kai rushed towards the muffins but Rhys’ swept a massive arm around his shoulders jerking him backwards, swinging him away. He held him hostage with one arm, snagging a muffin with his free hand.

“Rhys,” Kai whined making grabby hands towards the muffins just out of reach. Rhys snickered, taking a bite of the muffin, paper and all, making exaggerated moaning noises. “So good,” he told Kai around a mouthful. Kai’s eyes bulged, staring at Rhys’s lips, watching his tongue flick the crumbs from his lower lip.

Ember looked away, feeling like she was intruding on…something. Quinn came in and saw his captive friend. He whooped a war cry and hurled himself at Rhys’ back but slipped on his shoelace, toppling forward. A pained look flashed across Rhys’ face as he tried to decide; let Quinn fall or sacrifice the muffin he’d pilfered. He dropped the muffin and spun to catch Quinn’s arm, saving him before he hit the ground.

“I’m going to put you in bubble wrap,” he grumbled.

Ember noted that he’d dropped the muffin but not her cousin. Kai was not letting that stop him now that the muffins were within reach. He stuffed one in his mouth and another in his pocket. He didn’t take the paper off either. She pulled a face; she didn’t get boys at all.

Kai tossed a muffin towards Quinn but Rhys intercepted it, flashing green eyes at Quinn, daring him to challenge him. Quinn made a sad noise.

Isa smiled at Ember, her back to the boys and growled low. Rhys stiffened, huffing and giving the muffin to Quinn. Ember couldn’t help but smile. Rhys couldn’t even see his sister’s face and he’d obeyed. She wondered what it would be like, to have that kind of quiet control. Quinn groaned as he took a bite. Rhys consoled himself with another muffin still in the tin, eating it one handed out of the wrapper.

Isa smiled fondly at the chaos, “Welcome to the circus, Ember.”

“They must be the clowns.”

Three males glowered at her around their muffins.

“Uh, we on a date here, dude?” Kai asked, eyeing the arm that kept him snug across Rhys’ chest.

The wolf snorted and shoved him away.