Six pies later, pecan—and, as usual, Amma—had been declared the winners. My dad was falling into his customary post-turkey nap on the couch, wedged in between the Sisters. Dinner was cut short when we were all too full to sit upright in our hard wooden chairs.
I didn’t eat as much as usual. I felt too guilty. All I could think about was Liv, sitting alone in the Tunnels on Thanksgiving. Whether it was a holiday to her or not.
I know.
Lena was standing in the kitchen doorway, staring at me.
L. It’s not what you think.
Lena walked over to the counter, where the leftovers were piled up. “What I think is that you should pack up some of Amma’s pie and take it down to the Tunnels.”
“Why would you want me to do that?”
Lena looked embarrassed. “I didn’t understand how she felt until the night Ridley Cast the Furor. I know what it’s like not to have friends. It must be worse to have them and lose them.”
“Are you saying you want me to be friends with Liv?” I didn’t buy it.
She shook her head. I could see how hard this was for her. “No. What I’m saying is I trust you.”
“Is this one of those tests guys don’t understand and always fail?”
She smiled, covering the leftover pecan pie with tinfoil. “Not today.”
Lena and I hadn’t even opened the front door when Amma caught us. “Where do you think you’re goin’?”
“We’re going to Ravenwood. I’m going to take Liv some of your pecan pie.”
Amma tried to give me the Look, but somehow it was just a look to me. “What you mean is you’re goin’ down into those Tunnels.”
“Only to see Liv, I promise.”
Amma rubbed her gold charm. “Straight there and back. I don’t want to hear about any Casts or fires, Vexes or any other Demons. Not a one. You hear me?”
I always heard her, even when she wasn’t talking.
Lena lifted the Outer Door cut into the floorboards in Ridley’s room. I still couldn’t believe she was letting me go down alone. But, then again, if you could sense it when your boyfriend was thinking about kissing another girl, it wasn’t that big a leap.
Lena handed me the pie. “I’ll be in here when you’re finished. I’ve been meaning to look around.” I wondered if she had been in here since the night we found John. I knew Lena was worried about Ridley, especially now that she was powerless.
“I won’t be long.” I kissed her and stepped down onto the stairs I couldn’t see.
I heard their voices before I saw their faces.
“I’m not sure this is a proper Southern Thanksgiving, since I’ve never had Thanksgiving dinner anywhere. But it’s quite posh, what with the frozen dinner and all.” Liv. She sounded suspiciously happy.
I didn’t have to hear the next voice to know who it was.
“You’re in luck. I’ve never had one either. Abraham and Silas weren’t big on holidays. Then there’s the whole not-needing-to-eat thing. So I have nothing to compare it to.”
John.
“What, no Halloween? No Christmas? No Boxing Day?” Liv was laughing, but I could tell it was a real question.
“None of the above.”
“That’s a bit grim. I’m sorry.”
“It’s no big deal.”
“So this is our first Thanksgiving, then.” I heard her laugh.
“Together,” he added. The way he said it made me feel sick, like I had eaten too many pieces of pie and then gone back for a turkey and stuffing sandwich.
I stuck my head around the corner. Sure enough, John and Liv were leaning over the table in the study Macon had set up for her. It was set with two candles and one TV dinner in a lopsided aluminum tray. Turkey. I felt terrible, especially after the dinner Amma made.
Liv was holding what had to be John’s lighter, trying to light the candles on the table between them.
“Your hand is shaking.”
“No, it’s not.” She looked down at her hand. “Well. It is a bit drafty down here.”
“Do I make you nervous?” John smiled. “It’s okay. I won’t hold it against you.”
“Nervous? Please.” Liv’s cheeks turned a familiar shade of pink. “I’m not afraid of you, if that’s what you think.” They stared at each other for a second.
“Ouch!” Liv dropped the lighter, shaking her hand. She must have burned her finger.
“Are you okay? Let me see.” John grabbed her hand, opening it so he could see her fingers. He put his hand on top of Liv’s, his huge palm covering her small one.
Liv bit her lip. “I think I need to run it under cold water.”
“Hold on.”
“What—” Liv stared down at their hands. John moved his, and Liv lifted hers, wiggling her fingers. “It doesn’t hurt anymore. It’s not even red. How did you do that?”
John looked embarrassed. “Like I said, if I touch a Caster, I get some of their power. I don’t steal it or anything. It just happens.”