I know nothing much about. The school library has photos of them all in school, but that’s all I’ve ever been able to find out. I love my mum too much to hurt her to find out about the past.
"I think that would be a lovely idea. Perhaps with a glass of wine and some chocolate next time," she says, smiling and smoothly sliding off the bed as she clears her expression into a happy one in an instant. I find myself wiping a tear as she walks to the door and pauses. "See you downstairs in a bit, darling."
"Of course, mum," I reply, and she shuts the door as she walks out. I sit back on my bed, eating my toast and drinking my orange juice before getting the spoon for the peanut butter jar. After getting a big spoonful of peanut butter, I start eating it as I slide out of bed. I jump in the air as something quickly bites my ankle, hurting like a bitch.
"You little fecker! It's my birthday, you are meant to be nice to me, Kit!" I shout at him, hopping as I sit back down and sigh. This isn't the best start to my birthday, but at least I will have a good night with Mads tonight. I glance at my hand as I put the empty spoon down and see a name in black. It’s unusual for me to have a job so soon. Neritous Cyncus. I frown as I lift my hand, looking at how odd the name is. Who has a name like that these days? It sounds Greek or something, but certainly different, and it has my interest straightaway. I can’t remember the last time I had two bad karma jobs in a week. Normally it’s one bad, one good and then a week off. Or at least that’s the usual. This guy must have done something feckin’ bad to get me on his case right now.
I pick my phone up off the side, opening up my safari app and googling his name for clues on who he is. Nothing comes up in the directories, but there is one website which I click on. It's a popular nightclub that boasts an infinity pool, and the address isn't far from where Mads lives. We could walk there from her place, which is a little weird. My karma jobs aren’t usually this close to home. I know I should just use magic to take me to him, but I have a weird feeling about this one. I always listen to my suspicions, or at least most the time. I quickly text Mads the address, and she agrees that it's a brilliant place to go for my birthday. I lie back on the bed, rubbing my bitten foot. Nothing like a little fun karma on your twenty-first birthday.
8
"Dark red is a hundred percent your second best colour,” Mads says, nodding her approval, her arms crossed in front of her chest.
I snort, rolling my eyes. “And what’s my actual best, or do I even want to know?”
“Dark green,” of course, she says, as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world. “It compliments your hair," she explains, taking a few steps forward and gesturing with her finger for me to twirl. I do as I’m told, the skirt of the scarlet dress she bought me as a birthday present billowing out around me. Mads gives a wolf whistle, making me roll my eyes again, but I can’t help laughing and moving to stand in front of the mirror. The dress is gorgeous, a blood-red crimson colour that matches the dark red heels Hugo’s girlfriend got me on behalf of the two of them. I'm officially in love with her for the heels, and I’ve decided she can stay in the family for good now (I don’t care if that makes me seem shallow - I could never hate someone with such good taste in shoes). For his part, Damien got me red roses that I know for a fact mum made him give me. He then gave me another present as soon as mum left the room. It was a gag gift, the latest in a long line that have become something of a tradition between the two of us. I always pretend to hate his gifts, and usually they’re good for the entertainment value, at the very least… but today’s was different. I think I’ll be having words with him