X: Valet

(9) Seth decided to take a risk (if earlier - 7)

We all reacted calmly to this. Everyone except Magic. She rolled her eyes – I swear, I think I even heard her eyeballs moving.

A second later, her silhouette disappeared into the hallway. We exchanged glances. And Seth sighed wearily.

"What are we waiting for?"

He said with displeasure.

"Get ready."

Letha and Hunter headed towards the second living room, and I slowed down a bit to sneak behind Seth, who followed Magic into the chamber. I think you're already used to me constantly watching them... surreptitiously. Now it seems that this is even being prosecuted.

Hunter finally gave me that look... you know, like I was an idiot. Well, to hell with it! I thought.

And I hid around the corner – I was lucky that it was there that Seth stopped Magic. She was annoyed. At this time, it was as if their roles had been reversed.

"Everything will be fine."

He wrapped his arms around her shoulders.

"Your plans are getting more and more reckless every time. We'll have to break into the Dubois estate anyway, but you must have decided to kill us before that."

"Us" sounded somehow different. As if the message was completely different. Maybe it was my imagination. Or, after all these years, I began to find a second meaning in each of their phrases. I just like to think that it was it.

"I'm doing this just so that going to Dubois would not be suicide."

"Yes, a couple of pieces of paper and artifacts will definitely fix the situation."

It's amazing that these words came out of Magic's mouth and not someone else's. She knew better than anyone how magic could help out in a difficult moment.

Seth's face, I have no doubt, was full of sympathy back then. Some kind of unbearable pain and care – everything was mixed up like the multicolored sprinkles that were on those damn cupcakes.

"Tell me honestly..."

He said softly.

"...what exactly are you worried about?"

"That we get caught."

Magic answered without hesitation.

"And I'm afraid to imagine what awaits you then."

It was as frank as it could be. She poured out her soul without unnecessary tragedy and snot. A firm voice and an equally firm look.

And I could tell by her reaction that Seth was smiling. Barely. His eyes were probably downcast.

"It's okay."

He touched Magic's chin for just a moment.

"Fool..."

She clutched her forehead tiredly, moving from side to side as she did so.

"What a fool you are. Why do you always have to do something stupid?"

Quiet laughter.

God, what was she doing with Seth? Why was he laughing? Why was he like that. Actually, that wasn't the question that bothered me at all. Why couldn't he always be like this? Even Magic couldn't pull him out of the trap he'd gotten himself into.

Seth wrapped his arms around her and lowered them, still holding her.

"We can handle it."

He began to rock their palms.