Orna Puella

- XI -

THERE

Next morning we sat in Vicky’s car, waiting for the bus.

“Tell me about your guy,” she said and lit a cigarette.

I was dying to have one as well but I had no idea if Vicky would flip at that. I knew that Elsie would. Come to think of it, so would my dad. I sighed.

“He is not my guy,” I said with dignity and Vicky snorted. “He is just… He is pretty cool, you know…”
“Right,” she muttered. “By the way, I do know that you smoke, and I do know that you need one right now like no other…”

I groaned. Oh Talath, that’s right. Sometimes she was worse than a mind reader.

“Help yourself,” she laughed and threw a pack of cigarettes in my lap. “I bet these are much better than the crap you have…”

Yeah, she was right. I almost pulled a cigarette out of the pack, but then I glanced at the clock and realized that bus will be here any minute. I looked out of the window. Yup, I was right. I could see the bus on the horizon. I could hear it too. It sounded like it was about to fall apart any minute now. I remembered that it sounded exactly the same yesterday morning and figured it was the way it supposed to be. I put the cigarettes on the dashboard of the car and climbed out.

Vicky stepped outside as well. She leaned on her car, ignoring the wind, her face indifferent. The bus stopped jerkily, just like yesterday. This time I stood far enough from the dirty puddle. I do learn my lesson sometimes. The door squeaked open and the driver’s face was beyond curious today. He stared at Vicky as if she was reincarnation of Talath himself.

I climbed into the bus, cursing the high steps silently and the driver looked like he was about to close the door and take off. I almost panicked, when I saw the dumbfounded expression on his face. I looked behind my shoulder and grinned when I saw Vicky lazily blowing smoke out of her nostrils and playing with the smoke rings absent-mindedly. She is keeping the driver from moving, that’s cool. I turned my head away from her and looked for Raven. There he was, in the same seat as yesterday, his expression unreadable, eyes tense. I beckoned to him and he frowned, but got up and followed me out of the bus without any useless questions.

When we got out, Vicky flicked her cigarette away, and suddenly the bus’ doors slammed shut. I looked at the driver. He looked almost terrified and I laughed. The bus took off almost instantly and I looked at Raven.

“Hey,” I said.
“Hey,” he replied carefully, probably trying to figure out what the hell is going on.
“This is Vicky, my Aunt,” I felt so uncomfortable right now, I could feel my ears burn.
“You are Raven, I take it,” Vicky said solemnly and he shrugged. “Get in. I am driving both of you today.”

Raven’s gaze shifted to her car and he blinked. He looked at Vicky again and this time there was some weird mix of admiration, curiosity, and mistrust in his eyes.

“Yeah,” I sighed. “She is very cool. Get in.”

He got inside without asking anything else, and I was trying to figure out if I should get in the front seat next to Vicky or in the back next to Raven. I wanted to get in the back but wasn’t sure if Vicky would get offended or something. She solved my problem for me by throwing her bag into the front seat.

“Get in, Selena,” she commanded without a shadow of a smile. “I need coffee.”

I hemmed and got in the back seat.

Vicky stopped in front of a little fancy coffee shop and glanced at us.

“Coffee, coffee?” she asked indifferently and I grinned at her. “All right. Be right back.”

She got out and I looked at Raven who hasn’t said a single word ever since he got into the car. He looked at me and I was relieved to see his eyes twinkling.

“You have a really cool Aunt,” he said. “Your mom’s sister?”
“Yeah,” I nodded. “How did you know?”

He shrugged.

“I guessed.”
“Right… Umm… You looked all weird on the bus. Why?” I hated beating around the bush. Diplomacy was never one of my talents.

Raven shrugged.

“I wasn’t sure if you’ll be pissed at me today or not. After last night.”
“Well,” I said with a smirk. “I am pissed at you, just so you know…”

He blinked.

“For leaving last night,” I said poisonously and he laughed.
“Right. I am glad you survived Elsie by the way.”
“Are you kidding?” I snorted. “With Vicky around she won’t even breathe at me in the wrong way… She is scared of Vicky, believe me.”
“How long is your Aunt staying?”
“No idea,” I sighed. “She said it depends on the Tramp.”
“The who?” he sounded as confused as I did last night, and I laughed.
“I don’t know who he is. According to Vicky, he is someone tough enough to give Elsie a stroke by his mere appearance.”

Raven grinned.

“Interesting… I bet I could do the same, by the way.”

I looked at him.

“Yeah,” I nodded. “I am going to ask Vicky if both of you could come to the house at the same time.”
“Oooh,” he winced. “That would cause something of epidemic proportions probably.”

I started laughing and then suddenly his mouth was on mine again. I knew that Vicky will come back any minute, but I couldn’t help myself. I kissed him back and buried my fingers in his hair. His hand slowly caressed my face and I loved the feeling of it.

“Coffee’s here,” Vicky said lightly and we jumped.

I looked at her with fright. She seemed to be thoroughly entertained. Wow, I thought with amusement. Even my dad would be pale with horror if he saw Raven kissing me. I took a coffee cup from her hand, my face burning so hot right now that I would probably glow in the dark or something. Even Raven looked somewhat embarrassed. He took a second cup out of her hand and muttered something that resembled “Thanks.” She simply nodded, slid into her seat, and started the car. She hasn’t even glanced at us in her rearview mirror until she got to school. It seemed she could care less that the half-demon was holding my hand in the back seat of her car and that I looked more than content about the fact.

Vicky parked the car next to the steps of the school building and finally looked at us.

“What time are you done?” she asked lightly.
“Three,” I breathed and Vicky nodded.
“All right. See you then.”

She turned away and waited for us to get out. She was about to take off, when suddenly she turned the car off and got out. I looked at her with surprise. She was frowning slightly, looking at something - or someone - intently. I followed her gaze and blinked when I saw Ealarauc. The elf was walking towards the building, her face wearing the same slightly disgusted expression as yesterday morning. I winced when I realized that we are going to have EM again today. Crap.

Ealarauc’s eyes stopped on Raven and me and I could immediately see anger and almost hate in her look. Ugh, great… Then she saw Vicky and froze in her tracks. Huh? I looked at Vicky. She was smiling with a dark smile that said, “Well, what do you know…”

“Ealarauc,” she said loudly and the elf winced.

She slowly walked towards us, her entire posture beyond tense.

“Vickedelansh…” she said tightly.

I grimaced. To be honest, I hated Vicky’s full name. I have no idea what my grandparents - who were both dead now - were thinking when they gave her that name.

“What are you doing here?” the elf asked with hidden alarm.
“Giving a ride to my niece and her friend,” Vicky answered politely. “You teach here?”
“Your niece?” Ealarauc repeated and her eyes immediately darted towards me.
“Yes, Selena is my niece,” Vicky nodded. Her eyes were almost laughing now.
“Yes, I teach here,” the elf finally looked away from me. “How is Devona?”

I frowned. Devona? Who the hell is that? The name didn’t sound familiar at all and it definitely wasn’t elfish. I wondered if Devona was some woman they both used to know when Vicky said:
“He is fine.”

“He”?! You kidding me! Devona is a guy? All right, Vicky is beyond surprising…

“That’s good,” Ealarauc said carefully. “How are you lately? I haven’t seen you in a while.”
“I am good,” Vicky nodded absent-mindedly. “Well, I need to go now… It was interesting to see you again, Ealarauc.”

I hemmed when she said “interesting” instead of “nice.” I looked at Ealarauc. The elf looked relieved.

“Yes,” she nodded. “Was nice… Interesting to see you as well, Vickedelansh.”

Vicky looked at Raven and me.

“See you guys after school,” she said and opened the door of her car. “Try not to get into troubles, okay?”

I grinned at her and she slid into her seat and took off. Ealarauc looked at me thoughtfully for several minutes.

“I didn’t know that Vickedelansh Monbrah is your Aunt”, she said finally and I was surprised to see the disgusted expression on her face being replaced with something that almost looked like fear.
“She is my mom’s younger sister,” I nodded.
“I see,” the elf said evenly.

She looked at Raven and blinked.

“You passed by the way,” she said shortly and walked away.
“What was that?” Raven asked quietly and I shrugged.
“No clue. Vicky knows a crapload of different folks. And I guess she is somewhat famous.”
“I’d say,” Raven muttered and we walked into the building.