The two combatants had one thing in common. That was their near identical smiles.
Under no circumstances would Eva ever describe their smiles as ‘friendly’ or ‘fun.’
Eva shook her head and patted Shalise on the back. “It’s okay. We’re all a little crazy.”
Shalise stuck out her tongue.
“What are we going to do about Ylva’s place?”
Eva turned to give Juliana a shrug. “I asked Ylva to seal off some of the more problematic rooms. The torture chamber and that eye stalk room, for instance. The sealing didn’t leave a door, just a flat wall. Everything else will be explained away as space expansion, I guess.”
“My mother will never buy that.”
“Well, we could just stay here. Or one of the other buildings, though none of them are very habitable.”
“We already told her that we’re not staying here. She’d think it was suspicious. I’m actually surprised that she hasn’t insisted on a full inspection of the place.”
“Arachne is good for something I guess.”
“But what are we going to tell her when she does go inside? There’s a pit that doesn’t have a bottom and
“Vertical space expansion,” Eva answered with a shrug. “There isn’t much we can do about it at this point.”
“Not going to help.”
“Might as well get it over with now. We need to stop the earthquakes to get some sleep soon anyway. I’ve got to be up early to meet with Martina Turner. We all have to be up early because Arachne is giving us a ride.”
“That’s kind of weird,” Shalise said. “Once or twice I could see, but every day?” She looked up to Devon. “Can’t we get a ride in the truck?”
He sneered at Shalise. “Steal your own ride, kid.”
“You stole it?”
“Do I look like I’m made out of money?”
“
“Don’t ask me,” Devon said. “I’d have left hours ago if I thought it was safe.”
Juliana and Shalise looked at each other with a shrug.
Eva let out a short sigh. “I’ll be right back.”
“You’re not doing that pain thing again, are you?”
“No. Just getting something.”
Eva left the three and headed towards the potion room. Luck had kept most of the vials from breaking during the earlier assault and the constant earthquakes. Most being the key word. It probably wasn’t safe to stay inside.
The jug that Eva needed was right next to the door. She hefted it up without stepping foot into the room.
“What is that?”
“Blood.”
“Really? It’s black.”
“It’s mine.”
“Yours? How much is in that thing.”
“Two, maybe three gallons? Somewhere around there.” Eva dropped the jug in front of the door. She pulled open the door just a crack.
“T-three gallons?”
“It is all worthless. Several mixtures from different states of myself, stored for several months in a container that is not properly enchanted. It isn’t good for attacks, it isn’t good for defenses. I’m lucky it is still usable at all.”
“But, why?”
“Going to make a big sign that says ‘STOP’ in between them.”
Juliana and Shalise glanced at one another. Devon let out a laugh.
“That’s it?” he said. “I thought you were going to blow it all up or something exciting.”
“That’s plan B.”
—
“Arachne, you’re filthy. Shower now. I’ll not have you track dirt around my home.”
The spider-demon gave a happy nod of her head.
“Genoa, I can’t order you around, but you’re disgusting too. Arachne can show you how to work the showers.”
“Awfully cocky, aren’t you.”
Eva shrugged. “Like I said, my home. You’re not allowed to touch any of my furniture. Or walls. Or floors. Or anything, really.”
Genoa let out a loud laugh. She clapped her sweaty hand onto Eva’s shoulder and gave a firm squeeze. “Alright, I get it.”
She turned and walked off to follow after Arachne.
Her smile was exactly as wide as Arachne’s smile. It was somewhat disconcerting. Eva half expected Genoa to suddenly have sharp teeth as well.
The fight had both of them in a much different mood than they had been in earlier. Shalise might have been on to something with her comment.
No. There was no way.
And with that thought, Eva called out after them. “I swear, if my showers turn into a warzone, I’ll remove both of you from the wards and you’ll wish I was letting your heads explode just to end the pain.”
That earned a bout of laughter. From both of them. It cut off quick enough, but not so quick as to avoid a raised eyebrow from Eva.
“Something weird is going on here,” Eva mumbled to herself.
“You wouldn’t actually do that, right?” Juliana said as she walked up next to Eva.
“No,” Eva said. “Maybe. You don’t think Shalise was right, do you?”
Juliana just laughed.
“I’m right here, you know.” Shalise crossed her arms and huffed. “Didn’t you send them off together because you wanted them to get closer?”
“I figured they’d hate each other and take less time in the interest of getting away from one another.”
