Steph led me through the busy bar area to a large table where many of my old friends sat and beside which Dapper stood, dishcloth slung over his shoulder, a smile on his face as he leaned against Onyx’s chair chatting with his patrons.
When Dapper saw us approach he frowned.
‘What?’ I asked, letting him pull me aside.
‘Am I hearing things right? New Orleans?’
I nodded. ‘Looks that way. We’ll start assembling a team and making a plan tomorrow.’
‘Violet, New Orleans is not a normal city. You’re going to have to watch yourself there like never before.’
‘Why is that?’ I noted that the worry in his eyes was intensifying with each word.
‘Witches.’
I grinned. I couldn’t help myself. ‘Really?’
Dapper didn’t smile. If anything he paled. ‘I don’t believe in them either, but New Orleans is … Like I said, it isn’t normal. Strange things happen there, and the power … it’s wrong.’
I swallowed, absorbing an influx of Dapper’s strong emotion. Fear tastes peppery.
Dapper wasn’t messing around. Something about New Orleans really frightened him. I wet my dry lips. ‘I’ll be careful, Dapper.’
He nodded, back to his typical gruff self again and with a hand on my shoulder turned me towards the table. ‘Well, I’m glad you’re here tonight of all nights,’ he said, but despite the new playfulness in his tone I caught the tinge of sadness in his eyes.
He knows I’m not staying.
I smiled nonetheless, keeping up appearances. ‘Why?’
‘Because tonight,’ he said, looking up at the stage where a brightly clothed band was setting up, ‘is salsa night.’
I couldn’t help myself; I laughed out loud. I’d always loved to dance, but Dapper couldn’t know that – none of them could. Except for Gray, who sat on the far side of the large table, looking rather green as he watched the band.
Morgan looked up at that moment and immediately yelped, leaping out of her seat and then jumping up and down. I shook my head, smiling. It was comforting to know that some things had remained the same. Even if, looking around the table, it also felt abundantly clear that I no longer fitted in.
‘Oh my God, oh my God. I can’t believe you’re here! I’ve been trying to get to you all day!’
‘Well, I’m here now,’ I said, accepting her hug.
Does everyone always hug this much?
‘Let her go, Morgan!’ Zoe yelled, when it became apparent Morgan wanted to continue jumping up and down. With me.
Morgan quickly dropped me. ‘Sorry!’
‘That’s fine,’ I said, taking a seat and saying hello to everyone, pausing momentarily when I noticed Rainer and Wilhelm sitting on the other side of the table.
Salvatore wrapped Steph in his arms and sat her beside him. Seeing them so in sync with one another, a sharp bolt of longing shot through me. Zoe was there with two empty glasses in front of her already. Gray had wedged himself close to her and when I threw him a wry look he simply waggled his eyebrows. Onyx was on Zoe’s other side with a bottle of bourbon, a shot glass and a wicked grin. I didn’t need to ask what it was for. I didn’t need to see him. I could have closed my eyes and still walked a straight line to where I could sense Lincoln in the far corner of the club.
I rolled my eyes at Onyx and gestured to the drinks as I asked Zoe, ‘Doesn’t Dapper have a problem with this?’
She shrugged. ‘No police come knocking on his door here; no one knows it exists. Dapper figures if we’re old enough to battle it out to the death then we’re old enough to have a few cosmos too. But he usually cuts us off after a few.’
‘Shouldn’t you be working?’ I asked Onyx.
He threw back a shot. ‘I am. Customer relations. Are you enjoying yourself?’
A waitress came over and placed a number of drinks on the table. One in front of me. I raised an eyebrow.
‘See?’ Onyx said. ‘Don’t say I’m not looking after you.’
I shook my head and took a sip. Whatever it was it tasted citrusy and delicious. ‘Thanks.’
‘It’s good to see you, Violet,’ Wilhelm said from across the table.
‘You, too,’ I replied, doing my best to return his easy smile. ‘I’m sorry I haven’t managed to stay in touch,’ I said to Rainer.
Her eyes softened. ‘We know you’ve been doing what you had to. It’s just … It’s good to see you. We all felt your loss when you left New York, but when I heard you’d left Lincoln … Well, I’ll admit I wondered if we’d ever see you again.’
‘You were always going to see me again, Rainer. You of all people.’
She raised her eyebrows. ‘Really? Now I’m intrigued.’
I glanced around the table, spotting something in the far corner of the room that made me flinch. I looked back at Rainer forcing my expression to remain neutral. ‘I have some unfinished business that I want to talk to you about. Maybe in the morning?’
She nodded, understanding that this was not the time or place but I could tell I had her full attention. ‘I’ll be at the Academy. Come and see me in my office.’
‘How about we meet in the infirmary instead?’ I suggested.