Disclaimer: We own only Laruëalas, Jupiter, Jiana, and the twisted effigy of a plotline.
Chapter 32 – Laurëalas Heero
I almost smiled. If Ji was still mad at me, she was at least distracted from it for the moment. I quietly made my way back inside to help Chi-Chi organize sandwiches for the younger characters – and Hobbits, who were always hungry. Jiana and a sullen Trunks followed shortly afterwards, a pointed (and rather self-satisfied) glare from Ji sending the purple-haired boy to work along side us.
"Oh and Laur, there's pretty vampires upstairs." I could practically feel myself going pale.
"Which ones?"
"Spike and Angel."
"Oh. Okay. Is Spike chipped or souled?"
"I dunno. I didn't ask."
"Um, okay." I wiped my hands and dazedly left the kitchen. I'd been thinking about vampires earlier. Just before Ji's phone call from Nichi I'd wished for something to distract her. Was this mess my fault? But I hadn't been here for the first two groups! I'd been asleep, in fact. The group in the living room was a bit smaller, and the hyper characters were beginning to calm down slightly. The sandwiches being prepared would help with that.
The stairs were dimly lit as usual, but seemed somehow ominous today. I poked my head into the windowless room, observing the people there.
"Jupe, don't be stupid. Trying to antagonize vampires isn't a healthy pastime. Go help with sandwiches."
"Awwwww." He stuck his lower lip out far enough that it could probably be pulled over his nose.
"Go now. No pouting." He trudged down the stairs, still pouting comically. Angel and Snape both looked vaguely relieved. "No smoking in the house, Spike." When he didn't put it out I strode forward and snatched the cigarette away and dropped it into a nearby glass of water one of my sibs had probably left there. "My family's against smoking in general and I'm very allergic to it. You want to smoke you'll have to wait until dark and go outside."
"An' what's to keep me from just lightin' another?"
"This," I answered, snatching away his lighter as he took it out to make good on his idea. "You can have it back at dusk. I'm not in a mood to play games, or to be made ill by your habit. Don't break the rules. You can ask the purple haired teen in the kitchen how well that worked." Spike growled irritably.
"Listen, luv. I'm a vampire. I'm evil. I eat little chits like you for breakfast."
"Right. I'm a pyro with a lighter and a short temper. I might almost believe you if I didn't already know that you're really a big softy. That and you're probably still chipped. And if I can't solve trouble you try to cause, there are plenty of other people here who can. Don't push me. I push back." That said, I stormed back down, lighter in hand. Above me I could hear Spike cursing and Xander making jokes at his expense. Fine by me. I flicked the lighter open. Nice one – Zippo, and really pretty. I flicked it open and closed a few more times, just for fun, and stuck it in my pocket.
I took a deep breath, mentally poking myself. Calm down. But even so, I found myself sitting on the stairs, halfway up, halfway down, not wanting to face either crowd. This was so not fair. Things were insane. And it might, just might, maybe be my fault.