Brothers 3

Chapter 10

"Witches are very powerful people, maybe you should be upfront with her from the start." Bonnie had the address of a witch in her hand and was holding it out of James's reach. She had a serious look on her face and James rolled his eyes.

"I am always upfront."

"Tell that to my mom."

"What does that mean?"

"The caramel cubes."

"Hey you had as many as I did."

"Yea maybe over my whole life but that day you ate mine and Roberts."

"Robert gave me his."

Mrs Greene who had been cleaning the floor around them stopped and knocked the end of the mop against the coffee table. As it always had the action silenced the two of them and they looked at her.

"Stop it both of you. If you want sweets so badly I will go and get some." Mrs Greene chuckled when they both looked at the ground with embarrassment. "Otherwise stop arguing and Bonnie give him the address."

"I was just giving him some advice." Bonnie dropped her hand and James grabbed the end of the paper. She had only given him a small corner to grip, and it was slippery. That made it even harder for him to try and pull it from her when she wouldn't let go.

"I didn't ask for advice."

She let go when James gave it one big tug and he stumbled back a step. Bonnie stuck her tongue out at him and giggled. He let a small laugh escape then glared at her.

"Very funny."

"I do try."

James unfurled the paper and read the address. "This isn't far. There are witches living this close to us?"

Bonnie shrugged. "Before they know they are witches they think they are human. Its only later, when they know that wolves and vampires will bother them for spells that they move further away to avoid as many of us as possible."

"Right. I am off then." James spun on his heel.

"Don't forget Ella." Mrs Greene didn't raise her voice, but James knew it was a command.

He groaned.

"Don't start. She needs you. Besides, you don't know how far this mission will take you so its better she is as close as possible." Mrs Greene rinsed the mob in the bucket, a squelching sound coming out of it along with the bubbles.

"Fine." James walked to the bottom of the stairs and took a breath.

"Do not yell up to her. Go and get her." Mrs Greene gave James a familiar stern look.

Bonnie giggled.

James muttered a curse under his breath then went to get her. He remembered Mrs. Greene being easier on him, but he supposed she had become more uptight after he and his brothers had moved out. Yet even when they were kids, when Bonnie came to visit, she had insisted that they get along.

***

James remembered being around nine and Bonnie staying for the summer. She had gotten a wooden dollhouse with two floors and four rooms. The back of it had been removed so that you could sit there and play with the dolls on the inside. James had stood peeking out from behind the hallway door and watched as Mrs. Greene had carried it in for her. It was so huge that when James was on his knees he could have hidden behind it. He leaned around the door a bit more and sniffed the air. It smelt like varnish and dust. He sneezed.