Inhibition

Chapter 14

Despite the latest epiphany, nothing had changed in their lives. Cat still had to study for her biology test, and Finley went back to silent communication, only speaking to her when it was necessary. Because of the distinct lack of . . . anything between Finley and Cat, she had debated whether to share the new found information with Aidan or not.

The deciding factor ended up being that she knew Aidan would listen. Not only was he still talking to her, but this kind of mystery was just his style. He was a guy who liked figuring things out, and who liked to know what was going on around him. Aidan also liked a good fight. And with the way things had been going for Cat that might actually be necessary.

“So, let me see if I’ve got this. Natural disasters are occurring. Not only are they occurring in the first place, but they are stronger each time.”

“And happening more and more.”

“Yes, that too. Now, you’ve decided that these disasters are more than just coincidence, obviously, because you’ve decided to share. And you’re not usually the most sharing person.”

“Hey! I resent that!”

“I think you mean “resemble that”.”

Cat tried to stare him down. Aidan just ignored her.

“Seriously though, what is going on?” Cat questioned.

Aidan’s expression turned serious, and he shifted in his chair. They were sitting on one of the chairs in Literature class, after the teacher had gotten distracted. Literally, he was talking, he turned towards the window, and then he was gone. Poof! went his method of transportation, and he wasn’t in the room anymore. The class had waited a bit, before dissolving into their separate groups and acting like the teenagers they were.

“Well, I’m not exactly an expert in these things.” Cat gave him a look that easily was read to mean really? Nefarious plots? You don’t know anything about them? Aidan nodded. “Okay, I might be a bit of an expert, but that’s all politics; this is reality.”

“I think it has to do with what happened.”

“With what?”

“You know, what happened last break. With Sari.”

A look of understanding came across his face.

“You think this has to do with that ritual, don’t you? You said you felt something then, do you feel the same thing now?”

“No, but my magic isn’t exactly . . . I have no idea what the word for it is. It doesn’t work when I want it to. Only when it needs to.”

“So for all we know, that evil presence could be breathing down our necks, and nobody would know?”

“Totally possible.”

“That’s reassuring.”

“Tell me about it.” Cat sighed. “I do think something is going on here though. And I thought you should know too. Just in case some ass needs to be kicked.” She grinned at him, and he smirked back.

At least someone was on speaking terms with her.

Speaking of Finley, Cat was kind of concerned. Their apartment was now silent, and she seemed even more depressed than usual. Sometimes, when Finley didn’t think Cat was paying attention, Cat noticed Finley looking at her oddly. Not with anger, or sadness.

More . . . like she was intrigued. Finley looked at her part like she was a bug that had started dancing and singing randomly and needed to be studied, and part like Cat was a rabid animal that she wasn’t sure if it needed to be put down or not.

Both options disconcerted the hell out of Cat. The last thing she needed right now was for her roommate to go all mad scientist on her.

Cat understood that Finley was hurting over Sari’s death, and she had wondered at first if Finley blamed her for not doing something more. Heck, she blamed herself for not trying harder, or finding some miracle. But after days of waiting for Finley to yell and scream and accuse, Cat had figured she wasn’t mad at her. Maybe Finley just needed extra time to grieve. Besides, she did know Sari for way longer than Cat did. Cat barely knew her for a couple of months.

So Cat had stopped worrying about Finley, or at least about what Finley thought of her. But whenever she caught those looks out of the corner of her eye, or felt a shiver go down her spine, she rethought that decision.

Cat wasn’t going to do anything about it thought. She would wait for Finley to confront her about it, if she ever did, before broaching the topic.