Jim Armstrong and the Goblet's Curse

Chapter 19: More Stories To Start The Day

      "So we're going to ask for help from the daughter of the lady that died because James stole the Silver Sand?" Noah asked, after James had stepped into Shea's house.

"I guess we are," I said.

"James is suicidal, isn't he?" Cecily asked.

"Absolutely."

Noah, Cecily and I walked into the house.

It was one of those houses that was bigger on the inside than it looked on the outside. There were a number of rooms leading into the house. There were tables cluttered with different objects and some weapons randomly lying around, which I guess was normal for the residence of a Guardian.

We entered a small living room. There were a couple couches, also cluttered with random things and a coffee table littered with newspapers. The TV was turned on to what I assumed to be a Guardian news channel, because the headline read JAMES DELAMIR SIGHTED IN DOWNTOWN TORONTO.

It's not very reassuring to see the wanted signs of the person you're hanging out with.

I looked around. The newspapers on the coffee table were piling up, close to spilling over. I neared the table and the headline on the newspaper on the top of the stack caught my eye.

RUMORS ABOUT SIGHTINGS OF AMOUR-

"Jim, don't look at her things," Cecily scolded, tilting her head towards the couch. Her silver hair was shining with melting snow. "Come sit." I reluctantly stepped away from the table, unzipping my coat. Unlike outside, the inside of Shea's house was warm and toasty, and I was already starting to sweat. I took a seat next to Cecily on the couch. Shea returned with mugs and handed them out. When I say handing them out, I mean thrusting them so violently that the hot chocolate inside came dangerously close to spilling over. Even though it was evident Shea wasn't very pleased to see us, she still had made us warm drinks. I guess it was the Canadian in her.

Shea sat in a chair across from us, giving us all death stares. I swear, if a monster ever attacked her, all she'd have to do was look at it, and it would run away screaming.

Shea's eyes fell on Cecily, as if noticing her for the first time. She stared at her, a look that I couldn't read on her face. Cecily, as unwavering as ever, stared right back. Shea broke her gaze first, her eyes flicking quickly to James. I wasn't exactly sure what happened, but I thought I saw James shake his head the slightest bit.

Shea's jaw tightened even further, before she spoke. "Well? I believe that you owe me an explanation."

James set his cup of hot chocolate down on the coffee table, rubbing his hands together. "Shea-

"You killed my mother," Shea said before James could even start his explanation. "You killed her."

"Shea, please, I didn't kill her-

"Maybe not directly, but you played a role in her death, a huge one," Shea continued.

"I didn't mean to, really I-

"But you did! You knew that that Sand was meant for her, that without it, she'd likely die, and yet you still took it for yourself, you bastard-

"Shea! I didn't take it all, I left some," James said. "The majority of it, actually."

"Don't lie to me, James," Shea said savagely.

"When have I ever lied to you?" James asked.

Shea was silent, breathing hard.

"I have never lied to you, and I never will," James said softly. I could see Shea calm, and I knew James wasn't using TourD'esprit.