Colorless (Section Thirty-Nine)
Once we got to Andy’s house, Andy pointed out his room, and Nick disappeared inside with Elly. The rest of us went into the room they’d used for Carla’s birthday party. The long table was gone; now there were beanbag and folding chairs, as well a couch. Andy and I took the couch, and Tulio the folding chair. Carolyn leaned against the wall. She looked at me; I flinched, even though I knew the anger wasn’t for me. “So. Ben. Would you please explain what happened?” I opened my mouth. “Yes, you. I think I know what’s going on here, and I want someone I trust to tell me I’m wrong.” She fixed me with a laser glare; I knew there was no point resisting.
I looked at my hands, very aware how intently Andy was watching me. “Well, um… yesterday, Elly told me about the rogue, so I figured we should come here and find out if-” I paused, looking at Andy from the corner of my eyes, “-if Andy really was a werewolf.” I sighed. “And then this demon attacked us on the way here, and Tulio showed up and helped us… but then I realized he was the rogue. So… yeah.”
“I’m not a rogue!” said Tulio. “It’s my job!” He pointed at his necklace.
Carolyn quirked a brow. “The Academy must’ve gone downhill since I went there. I never heard we were supposed to kill the smart ones. As I remember it, they specifically told us to leave that sort alone since they could keep the weaker ones in line for us.” She put her hands on her hips. “Not to mention they’re the only ones who can cause real trouble.”
Tulio glared at her for a moment; Carolyn stared back. After a moment, he hung his head. “… I know. I’m sorry. I fucked up. But…” He pressed his palm against his forehead and muttered something in Spanish. “It’s hard, okay? I haven’t… I haven’t really learned to control it yet.”
“He’d have been kicked out of the family if he did it on purpose,” said Andy suddenly. Carolyn glanced at him. “Really! All the adults got together and had a big argument about it. But… but his birthday was only a couple weeks ago, so he just had his first fur.” He paused. “That’s just for the record. I know it won’t mean much to the demons.”
Carolyn sighed. “No, it really won’t. Just be glad you killed a lower-ranking one, or we’d all be in for it.” She walked toward Tulio. “Why don’t you come outside with me?” It wasn’t a request. “We can discuss how to set things right.” Tulio got up and followed her outside; I didn’t envy him.
Andy and I didn’t say anything for a moment. Then, in a very small voice, Andy asked, “Why didn’t you tell me you knew?”
I wanted to touch him. Before, I would have just awkwardly stared at my feet and ignored it. Even though we were dating and I could presumably touch him anytime I wanted, I usually let him initiate it-not because I was afraid of rejection, not anymore, but because I was just so fucking used to other people running my life. I scooted over until our hips touched and rested my hand on his knee. “You and your family were just our best guess. If I brought it up, and I was wrong…” I trailed off, letting him fill in the blanks. Everyone who knows anything about telepaths knows how messy erasing memories can be.
“Anyway…” I frowned at my feet. “Look, Andy, before the whole ‘demon war’ thing, I just wanted… I wanted things to saty normal. I mean, I knew we’d have to talk about it eventually, but-” I sighed and let my head fall back against the couch for a moment. “It’s just too much sometimes, you know? Elly’s a witch, Nick’s an empath, Carolyn and Rain are Hunters. I wanted… I wanted something normal, something-something uncomplicated, for once in my life.” I searched his face, trying to guess what he was thinking.
He kept looking at his lap for a moment, and then he let his head fall onto my shoulder. “Yeah, I know what you mean,” he murmured, pressing his face into the side of my neck. He let out a deep breath. “God, this is fucked up.”
I took his hand. “You can say that again.”
We just sat there for a while… it was actually really nice, to feel him next to me and know that he knew my secrets and I knew his, even though that was something I took for granted with everyone else. “You know, I’d never think you were a telepath,” Andy commented, lifting his head. “You’re so… awkward.” He paused; his eyes flicked to my face and away. “Are you planning to be a Tracker?”
I avoided his eyes. That was the last thing I wanted to talk about now, even after my feelings from earlier. “It’s-it’s kind of a long story.”
Before I had to say any more, a tall, imposing-looking woman walked in. A butterfly clip kept her gray hair out of her eyes. Andy immediately sat up straighter and scooted the requisite boys-who-are-friends-but-not-boyfriends distance away. “Sanddancer,” said the woman, “why is there a Cazador outside on the porch with Nighthowler?”
I looked at Andy, wondering who she was talking to and who the crap “Nighthowler” was. “Tulio,” he mouthed, before looking at the woman. “Um… Tulio messed up?” Andy crossed his legs, looking like he wanted to disappear. The woman shot a pointed glance at me. “Oh! Aunt Maripoza-um, I mean, Windrunner-this is Ben.”
She nodded at me and looked at Andy. “I assume Nighthowler will explain to me what he did?” Andy nodded. “Good.” She swept out of the room without another word. Andy let out a sigh of relief and relaxed against the couch.