Ultraviolet

Chapter Two: Breath

United States Botanic Garden

Washington, D.C.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

The temperate weather continued for the next two days. On the Triskelion tour on Tuesday, Tucker's presence didn't chafe at the dynamic too much—Marta spoke only to the other girls, and Emma was as confrontational as expected, but Saffron was polite, and for the most part, they were too busy following Agent Leigh as he showed them some of the common areas to get into too much drama.

The next day they were also thrown together after a few hours' free time in the morning, when they were shipped off to the Botanic Garden before they'd be free again for lunch. Tucker and Emma had stuck together this time—they seemed to have found something in the other that intrigued them. Isi was pleased to stroll the gardens (dry and mostly brown now, in November) with Saffron and Marta.

Once they met up with Mrs. Grayson, who was in a little circle with the other chaperones, they were released to get lunch on their own. Tucker tagged along, still chatting with Emma, as the other three led the way down the street, following the navigation on Isi's phone to a pizza place.

"Do you still hate him?" Isi asked Marta in a low voice, unable to keep the teasing tone out.

"Jury's out," Marta said dryly. "I don't have to like everyone, you know."

"Course not," Saffron said. She pointed across the street. "Is that it?"

"I think so," Isi reported. She shut her phone off. "Good. I'm starving. And I need some time to struggle through Trig."

"I could help you," Marta said. "I did it last year."

"Thank God," Isi said. "You're a lifesaver, Marta."

They entered the pizza place, a rush of warm air bringing the scents of spices, tomatoes, and fresh dough to them. "Is it like home?" Saffron asked cheerfully, glancing between Isi and Emma, both of whom were from New York City—Emma from Queens, Isi from Brooklyn.

"Sort of," Emma said. She linked an arm with Isi as they joined the line to put their orders in. "I bet this'll be worse. No one can beat New York pizza."

"Except maybe Italian pizza," Isi pointed out.

"Yes, but you're a bread-loving heathen." Emma placed herself squarely in the front of the line, cutting off the conversation.

Isi rolled her eyes, turning instead to engage with Saffron and Tucker.

They got their food and found a small table in the corner of the room. Isi and Marta sat on one end across from Saffron and Emma. Tucker was sent to the head of the table between Isi and Saffron.

She wolfed down a few slices and then sat back with her phone to compose an e-mail to her dad, partially to ask when the package with her protection would come. She hadn't seen any more of the strange demon man around, and at any rate was trying to memorize the exorcism, but better safe than sorry.

She set her phone down, trying to think of something else to say to fill up her e-mail so it wouldn't seem whiny. In the space when she paused, she noticed something. Something not quite right.

When they'd arrived, the place had smelled like any other Italian-like place. It was familiar. Comforting. But now... it was blanketed with an odor that was thick and heavy and just as familiar—but not in a good way. Sulfur. In olden times, it had been called brimstone.