Chapter 4 #3
“Wait, I know that theater,” I say to Penny.
The Fens is a neighborhood between Lethe and Babylon, and I pass the same rundown Cineplex whenever I’m headed South of the Chasm to look for a good deviant kill.
I’ve never seen any workers going in or out.
Just a big Do Not Enter sign and enough caution tape to wrap a mummy.
“That theater has been ‘under construction’ for as long as I can remember.”
Penny nods, that small smile growing bigger. I can see how much it means to her to have helped.
“What are we waiting for, then?” Sophia’s already standing. When she pulls off her booty shorts—exposing her long, tanned, athletic legs—and throws on her jeans, Peter turns a shade of red reserved for berries and Penny’s eyes go as big as quarters.
“What?” Sophia asks them as Elliot chuckles. “This is our room.”
Peter tears his eyes away from Sophia’s immaculate body and clears his throat as he studies the computer over Penny’s shoulder. “All those separate theaters…It’s a good spot to hide contraband. Maybe even prisoners.”
“Then let’s go,” Sophia says. “Best case we find Reid. Worst case we encounter some squatting serial killer or vamp and work off some of this stress.”
“Just an average Sunday night,” Elliot says with a contented sigh.
Penny gapes at the four of us until something appears to dawn on her. “Oh, crap! It’s Sunday night—I have family dinner tomorrow.”
“Uh, not anymore you don’t,” Sophia reminds her. “Make something up.”
“In fact,” I add, cringing, “you’re going to be gone for a while…We need to come up with a long-term solution.”
After some discussion, Penny decides to tell her family and her work that she’s going on an extended trip with her French art dealer ex-boyfriend, Claude, to recover from the traumatic experience of being kidnapped.
Penny never revealed the breakup to anyone in her family so naturally they are supportive.
Most everyone responds with some version of Yeah, that tracks, especially because Claude’s fancy enough to have his own security detail, which gives Laura and Stan Pine peace of mind after recent events.
“Jeez,” she sighs, putting down the phone and collapsing on my bed. “Is that what you have to do?” she asks me. “All the time? To everyone?” Something like recognition crosses her face as she thinks about it. An understanding I’d never been able to share with her before.
“Kind of, yeah.”
“Sucks,” she mumbles.
“You can’t even imagine.” And yet, when our eyes meet again, we both smile. This thing I’d thought for so long would destroy our friendship—Penny learning what I am—is turning out to be kind of a huge relief.
“Ready to go save a demon?” Elliot asks us, sliding his sword into its concealed holster.
“I thought Viv can’t go anywhere?” Penny says, brows furrowed. “Wasn’t that what Fiona—I mean Professor Lisette—said? That Viv is only protected from that Deacon guy and Finn, the son of the High whatever, here on campus?”
Sophia and I exchange a look, unable to find the right words. “Risks are kind of…part of the job, Pen. Especially when Reid’s life is on the line. I can’t just sit by and hope he finds his way back to me.”
Peter and Elliot nod as if this wasn’t even a question. Of course I’m going. I may be more bone-tired than I’ve ever been in my life, and about as safe outside these walls as a lamb in a lion’s den, but nothing is going to stop me from finding Reid.
“Oh.” Penny’s mouth twists, as if her suggestion that I not throw myself into grave danger was foolish. “Please be safe.”
“Of course.”
Peter studies her downturned gaze and says, “I’ll hang back. Get Penny some dinner from the dining hall and then head to the library to see what can be done about the syrabraxa.”
I’d expect nothing else from Peter. “I don’t deserve your brain.”
“Sure you do,” he says with that snaggletoothed grin.
“You ready?” Sophia asks.
“Yep.” I turn to Penny. “Stay here with Hound. And call Fiona if you need anything.”
But Penny stands, chewing at her lip. “Actually…I think I should come with you.”
I blanch. “Pen—”
Sophia frowns, blowing her copper bangs from her face. “I feel like we were really clear about the dangers of the monster mob that is after you guys.”
I narrow my eyes at Sophia. She was the one who insisted Penny come to Fever Dream with us a week ago.
It isn’t until I study the anxious glint in her chocolate eyes that I realize where this switch-up is coming from.
Guilt. When she forced me to bring Penny to Fever Dream, it led to them getting kicked out of the club by a werewolf bartender and Penny’s realization that I’d been lying to her.
Elliot crosses his arms. “You have a death wish or something?”
“No.” Penny blushes. “Of course not. But I’ve been inside this Cineplex with my dad. I know where the cameras are, the safes, I have the codes to get in, I really think I can be helpful and—”
“No chance,” I say, grabbing my phone and sliding my daggers into their holsters.
But when her eyes drop to her hands, I can’t help but soften.
“Pen. I love you. You’ve been through so much in the past two days.
You need to rest and recover and stay here with Peter where you’ll be safe. We won’t be gone long. Okay?”
“Okay,” Penny says, dejectedly, sitting back on my bed. Peter pats her shoulder. “Good luck, you guys,” she calls out. But we’re already moving down the hall.