*We file in to the offices of the Fangtastic Book Blog and take seats on the posh sofas surrounding the interior walls. Ice sits near Turner, holding his hands. Grey tugs Ari onto his lap. Osiris stalks in and takes a chair while Sadie storms to the nearest window. I sit behind Roxanne’s desk and pull out a pen and paper.*
I glance around the room and notice Ice watching Osiris who is watching Sadie. “Okay, what’s going on?”
Osiris frowns. “Nothing.”
I’m not buying it. “You sure?”
Ice slaps her thighs. “Oh, for the gods sake, just tell her.”
Sadie straightens from her faux relaxed position. I can feel the heat sizzling from her barely contained fire. “Sadie? Are you okay?”
Grey tugs Ari closer to him and presses her face into his chest. She struggles against him. “Grey, what are you doing?”
“I don’t want you getting singed when hothead over there goes ape-shit on his ass.”
Things were fine on the ride over here. What did I miss? “Hey, I’m not sure what’s going on here. But, can we get down to business? I’m supposed to be interviewing you all.”
Turner raises a light brown brow at me. “You all? I thought you were a native Texan.”
I roll my eyes at him. “Ya’ll. Is that better?”
He snickers and plays with a piece of Ice’s hair. She leans back into him. “Be nice to her or she’ll kill you. I do believe that was in one of her cuts once. Remember?” She shudders and draws Turner’s arms around her.
“Okay, listen. If you all aren’t going to tell me what’s going on, then we need to get this going. I’m going to ask a question and you are going to give me one word answers. We’ll go around the room.”
Favorite Color:
Osiris: “Red.”
Grey: “Amber.”
“Is that a color?”
Grey: *shrugs* “It’s the color of Ari’s eyes.”
I shake my head. Boy does he have it bad.
Ari: “Green.” She grins at Grey.
Ice: “Green.”
Turner: “Blue.”
Sadie: *silence*
I clear my throat. “Sadie?”
She flicks her hair over her shoulder. “What?”
“Favorite color?”
“What the hell kind of stupid question is that? I have a question for you. How is it that you could write that drivel?”
I blanch. “I beg your pardon?”
“You know what I mean. Why?”
She’s referring to something that is discovered at the end of The Last Rising. She still hasn’t come to terms with it. Now I understand the hostility. “Sadie, if you’ll just give it some time, I promise things will work out.”
Osiris scowls and sinks lower in the chair. I’ve never seen him this insecure. Sadie shifts her gaze from me to him. Her anger softens, but only for a minute. “Fine. I’ll wait. But, you’re lucky I like you, Rachel.”
“I know. Can you sit and answer my questions?”
“I’ll stand.”
“Fine. What’s your favorite color?”
Sadie: “Gold.”
Osiris inhales quickly and stands. “I’m sorry, Rachel. I know how much you were looking forward to this, but I just cant.” He strides from the office and Sadie wilts.
The mood in the room sags. Great, there went my expose. “Well, does this mean we’re done?”
Ice drops her head and clasps Turner’s hand before standing. “I need to go check on him. He’s been so alone.”
Turner stands, but tugs on her arm. “You don’t owe him.”
“I know that, but I can’t let him hurt like that. Not after what he did for us.” She places a palm against Turner’s face and tugs until he follows.
Grey stands and places Ari on her feet. “Sorry to bail on you.”
I wave him away and Ari follows. Dang, my interview was supposed to be great. This is not how I saw today ending. Sadie stops and perches her hip on Roxanne’s desk. “I didn’t mean to jack up your interview.”
“I know, Sadie Marie. It’s going to work out. I promise.”
She drops her chin to her chest and picks at the frays on her jeans. “I don’t see how.”
“You have to trust me. I created magic for everyone else. Do you honestly think I’d leave you out?”
She raises her gaze. “I think you stole my best friend from me.”
“Did I?”
We stare each other down. She grins and shakes her head. “You are a head case, Mrs. Firasek. I’ll catch you later.” She stops at the door. “Hey, do you think you can turn him into a toad in our book?”
“Only if you think you’re going to kiss him back into a prince.”
She shudders and storms out the door.
I’m alone again and have totally failed to control my characters…again. Someday I’ll get a handle on them, but for now…I’ll let them have their way.
*All of the characters have promised to stop back in, so please leave your questions for them. They’ll either text, tweet, or email the replies. :-) *
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