"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 SEVENTEEN ~ a pinch of salt ~ vivienne salvatore
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The train ride back to London felt reasonably short. I stared out the window the entire time, watching the landscape pass and the sky grow darker as it turned to night. I caught a night cab home from the station, and was home only about an hour after curfew.
As I approach the front door, I see that most of the lights inside the house are off. I can't hear any bickering from within, so I suppose that they all must've gone to bed already.
Or maybe wraith-hunting without me again, which I'm still a little bitter about.
I reach the door, pull out my key, and quietly step inside to avoid waking anyone. Pumpkin must hear me, though, because he makes a dash from the library to rub himself against my ankles.
I leave my bag on the floor and pick him up, holding him to my chest and petting his spotted orange, black, and white head.
"You hungry?" I ask quietly.
Pumpkin gives a meow.
"Ugh, they're so mean to you," I say. "Let's go get you some dinner."
I snuggle the feline in my arms, walking into the kitchen, leaving my bag by the door. There, in the kitchen, I see Lockwood at the stove...cooking?
Unbelievable.
"I think this is the first time I've ever seen you in the kitchen making something other than toast or tea," I tease.
Lockwood turns at the sound of my voice, smiling at me from across the kitchen.
"I think this is the first time I've used the kitchen to make something other than toast or tea," he quips.
Pumpkin gives a hiss at the sight of Lockwood, so I let him go, and he scurries back off to the library.
"How was your visit?" Lockwood asks.
"Cold," I joke, avoiding the subject.
Lockwood chuckles. I walk over to the kitchen table, the thinking cloth covered in stray pages of notes and articles from the archives, along with a copy of this morning's newspaper.
"You hungry?" Lockwood asks. "George's got a cold, so I had to take over cooking duty. So far, Lucy's spent every mealtime out at a cafe or something."
I laugh.
"I'm good, thanks," I say. "I ate a little while ago."
I look down at the newspaper before me, picking it up. Once again, Fittes has made the front page.
"Come over here for a sec," Lockwood says.
I lift my head to see that he's already looking over at me, smiling down at me. I drop the paper and walk over to his side.
