Connections

[Oriena]

Oriena was perfectly capable of playing a good hostess, but as the awkward moment trickled on, belligerence reared itself instead. She folded her arms and leaned against the counter. Trapped inside with her mother sounded like hell, but the weird weather was exactly why she was here. Nothing unusual was forecast, and mostly Dezhda was delusional with her fears, but until it passed by Ori would stay. Alone would have been preferable, but Nox’s company wasn’t the worst thing if it took Dezhda’s attention off her fears. But then he opened his fucking mouth.

Dezhda wound the rosary beads around her fingers as she listened. Ori sensed the tension of her mood shift, and she glared over her head at its cause, knowing Nox had no reason to know how fragile a woman he was dealing with. Still, she’d imagined Nox might just play the part, placate in the way he was always placating her, but apparently his life was so far removed from ordinary he didn’t know the difference. Harpies? Fucking really? That was the opening gambit of his conversation?

Ori’s hand slammed the knife drawer shut just as Dezhda reached over and snatched desperately to yank it open. Talk of monsters had stiffened her into an alert fear, but it was the revelation of Nox’s own powers by his offer to warm the fucking tea that opened the floodgates. Dezhda launched herself, the rosary flying with her pummelling fists. “Demon!”