Mephitic (Anathema #2) - Yolanda Olson Page 0,2

look at the last unwanted guest on the couch.

The redhead isn't paying attention to the irritating whispers beside her. Nope, she's got her eyes on me and I can tell she likes what she sees. But, who doesn't? I turn on my charming smile and lean forward, bracing my elbows on my knees, and the way she smiles back tells me that I might still have one potential member of the Cult of Lakyn.

I just don't know if she's worth the time or not.

"Hey, Red," I say, and she sits up a little straighter. So happy to be called on. "Since we're doing this whole family reunion thing… you wanna be part of the family?"

"What?" the blonde snaps, turning to scoff at the redhead, and I see the same flicker of rage on Red’s face that I saw outside. "This is ridi—"

"Yes," Red answers, eyes on me, exactly like they should be.

"Good. There's just one problem." Leaning back in the chair, I take another drag on my cigarette before I point it at the two young girls on the couch. "There's not enough room for everyone in the car," I continue, keeping my voice nonchalant as I meet Red's gaze. "Show me how bad you want it."

The redhead's smile spreads, and I'm not sure what I expected from her, but when she turns, unzips her backpack, and pulls out a knife, I let out a laugh.

"Shit!" the blonde shouts, jumping up from the couch. She almost falls over the coffee table but manages to move around it as Red rises much more calmly.

"What the fuck!" Aftyn shouts, but Ichabod grabs hold of the kid, yanking him back onto the couch before he looks at me. If Ichabod thinks I'm kidding, he might want to turn that sad puppy stare on the redhead currently facing off with the blonde in the middle of the living room. This chick is full of surprises, and I have to admit she reminds me a little bit of Trixie as she adjusts her hold on the knife, looking damn happy about it.

"Lakyn…" Ichabod says my name quietly, and I grin at him for a second, not wanting to miss a thing.

"Just enjoy the show. You don't want me bored, right?" I ask, and he snaps his mouth shut, holding tight to Aftyn as I turn back at the girls. “You two need to get all oiled up first?”

"You call this fair?" the blonde screeches, ignoring my very good suggestion as red just shrugs.

"I told you, I don't give a shit about fair," Red answers with that weird, stiff smile on her face. "I just want to see what you're like when you drop the mask."

I’m about to tell them to stop fucking around when the blonde screams and lunges for Red, grabbing onto her knife hand, but Red cracks her in the face with her elbow. The second the blonde stumbles back to grab her nose, Red buries the knife deep in her stomach and then yanks it upward. The blonde’s eyes go wide, and I stand up just to get a better angle. There's so much shock on her face, and I'm glad that at least one piece of entertainment worked out for the evening.

"NO!" the kid shouts, and Ichabod slaps his hand over the boy’s mouth, practically climbing in his lap to keep him on the couch. I'd be more interested in what the hell Ichabod thinks he's doing if there wasn't something beautiful happening center stage.

"Death is death, Willa," Red says, and I grin when I realize she's twisting the knife back and forth like she's trying to dig a hole straight through the bitch. The blonde one coughs, spraying blood on Red's chest and shirt, and then she drops to one knee and the knife slides free. Red looks at me as she grabs a handful of the blonde's hair, moving behind her to place the knife at her throat, but I hold up a hand and she freezes.

Chuckling, I crouch down in front of the blonde, listening to the jagged breaths that tell me the fun is almost over since her lungs are quickly filling with blood. Pity. She could have been fun in my playroom. Still, crazy Red definitely makes me think of the more fun parts of Trixie, and that brings back a fond memory. "Hey!" I snap my fingers in front of the blonde's face, waiting until she seems vaguely aware of me before I flash a