"It really takes a lot -especially in our line of work- for me to feel alive, but you do that for me, Vivienne."
When psychically gifted Vivienne Salvatore is forced to flee to London from her home up north, she stumbles upon a "prestigious" agency...
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN ~ circle of life ~ vivienne salvatore
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"Hear anything, Viv?" Lockwood asks.
"Still the same," I reply. "Wind in the leaves, crows cawing, and that horrid squeaking. It's giving me goosebumps."
"Rope, you think?"
"My guess."
"George? Luce?" Lockwood says. "See anything?"
"Nope," Lucy says.
"Nothing yet," George says. "What about you? That death-glow still off-ground?"
"Well, it wouldn't have moved, would it?" Lockwood replies, a slight sassiness to his tone. "Yeah, still up there among the branches."
Lockwood was still irritated about Combe Carey, and he was hiding it poorly. Their run-in with Kipps' and his crew —two days ago now— hadn't helped.
Despite Lockwood's high hopes for the agency following such a challenging, high-profile case, we'd gotten no recognition at all. All we received were four NDAs to sign and a firm warning to keep our mouths shut.
Tonight was our last night on the books.
I'd never admit it to him —or either of the others, for that matter— but I liked the idea of heading into the holiday season work-free.
It was bad for business, of course, and even worse for Lockwood's poor ego, but spending so much time with the team, hanging around the house like normal teenagers, was fun.
It was nice to forget about my talent for a while.
Winter was closing in, meaning it was getting rather chilly out, so most of our free time was being spent huddled around the fireplace, playing board games, and sipping hot cocoa.
It really was fun. More often than I should, I found myself thinking how nice it would've been for us in an alternate world:
No ghosts, no talent. We'd meet at school, in class or something (whatever normal teenagers do). We'd hang out every evening, before walking home safely in the dark, and getting into bed long before the sun rose.
My dad would still be alive, and my mother wouldn't despise me. We'd have family movie nights, at which all of my sisters would be present. We'd spend our summers swimming together in the lake by my old house.
I wouldn't wear gloves everywhere I go. I wouldn't be afraid of fire. Del would still be alive. So would all of the others: Luke, Liam, Mya, Julia, William, and all those whose names I'll never get to know. We'd all be friends too.
We'd be so different, but I know we'd still find each other. We'd have that unspoken understanding, and we'd just know. It'd be wonderful.
