Page 3 of Castings & Curses

“Does this happen more often to her?” Lucille asked the second girl.

Like her friend, she was blonde, with her hair cut fashionably short. In contrast, her skin was well-tanned from the summer. “Occasionally.” There was a faint accent in her voice that Lucille couldn’t place. She caressed her friend’s hair, then gently placed the hat back onto her head. “It’s… I… Hanne, I’ll be back soon.” The short-haired girl got to her feet. “She needs her…”

And off she went as well, leaving Lucille alone with her friend. Fortunately, Hanne was coming to. She opened her eyes, which were as blue as the sky, and took in Lucille. A gasp escaped her, and she swallowed, looking worried.

Lucille smiled. “Don’t worry. Your friend will be back soon. And there’s Fabian.”

Fabian returned with a bottle of water. “There you go.” He handed the bottle to Hanne and smiled at her encouragingly. “You need to make sure you drink enough in this heat. A heat stroke is no joking matter. It’s best if you keep to the shade for a bit.”

“Look at you, Mr Boy Scout,” Lucille teased.

Across from her, Fabian blushed.

“Thank you,” Hanne said, her voice faint as a wisp.

The other girl returned and handed Hanne an opaque bottle. “Your tomato juice.”

Hanne reached for it faster than she had for the water. When she opened it, a metallic smell hit Lucille’s nose.

“Tomato juice?” Fabian asked, wrinkling his nose. “Water would be better in this heat.”

Contrary to her friend, Hanne’s speech was free of any accents. “I don’t like drinking water, but thank you.” Her voice had gained some strength.

Lucille frowned at the drop of red liquid that had caught on the corner of Hanne’s mouth. Self-consciously, Hanne wiped it with her thumb. “I’d like to go back to our blanket, Mika.”

The other girl seemed surprised but nodded readily. “Of course.”

“You should really rest,” Fabian insisted, but Lucille caught his elbow.

“I’m sure it’s fine. Her cheeks got colour again.”

Hanne nodded, smiling faintly. “Yes, I feel much better. Thank you so much for your help.”

Her friend helped her up, and together they walked away, almost as if in a hurry.

Fabian got up to his feet and watched them with a dark look. Lucille leaned against him, dread pooling in her stomach.

“Well, if that was tomato juice, you’re a fire mage.”

FABIAN

For the last half hour,Fabian and Lucille had watched the two girls from a blanket under a tree. During their observation, they had learned that the two of them were most definitely a couple. Hanne and Mika sat under an umbrella, talking and laughing, and occasionally kissing, oblivious to Fabian and Lucille shadowing them.

“They’re too sweet,” Lucille complained.

“Too sweet to be bloodthirsty monsters?” A bitter taste filled Fabian’s mouth. Summer had gone so well, not a single monster in sight. He wasn’t ready for them to come back.

Lucille sighed, leaning into him. “She definitely drank blood, but what kind of bloodthirsty monsters go for a fun day at the pool?”

“The kind of monster I officially like.”

With a chuckle, Lucille bumped into his shoulder. It was the second time she’d done so today, and every time heat rushed through his stomach, as if it meant anything other than a friendly tease.

“I’ve missed your cowardice.”

Fabian snorted. “Did you? I wasn’t aware of that being one of my better traits.”

“You should have a think about that,” Lucille teased.

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