I was visiting the ghouls — originally, actually, with the aim of playing the dove of peace and getting them to get the hell out of this area, because the poor Quileutes really didn't want everyone, including the tiniest brats, to be turned into these "spirit warriors". And since they'd found out about my reincarnation, and Tomiko hadn't shied away from spilling some information — I think out of some kind of solidarity with the underage idiots, nothing else. Well, I just can't imagine any other motivation for that cunning vixen, that's for sure.
But at first, they fed me heartily — that was Mommy Esme; then they crushed my ears with a ton of information about everything at once — that was Alice; and then they tried to enlist my future help in protecting my ex, who was also there and was looking at me rather wistfully every five minutes or so. Ed-diot tried to handle that, but the sight of his insolent mug made me want to throw up my entire lunch — which I held back, of course, but I still pulled a displeased face.
The food was exquisitely prepared — I'll definitely tip my hat for that — but I won't sell my freedom for such trifles, especially not the chance to just live a normal life in this world without all the supernatural crap, once I sort out this situation. I had a sneaking suspicion someone might bump me off in a week or two, most likely — but hopes keep youth alive, and all that.
"Lilian, just say I don't owe you anything," I said wearily and looked at my beautiful but also somehow overly tired‑looking ex.
"Izzy…"
"And you — yes, all of you — please get the hell out of here, just for the peace of mind of the local Quileutes. Your presence will force them to transform. Just deal with Victoria and that ball‑less idiot, since it's come to that. They'll be back."
"Or we could simply leave, taking Lilian with us," the red‑haired scumbag began in a provocatively smooth tone. "And leave the feud you've created for you and your new friends."
"Well, let's just say some of the Quileutes are very old friends of mine — I come here every summer. And I only did this to protect my contractor, you dense iceblock. If you all decide to do that, I'll manage somehow, don't worry. I'm not going to ask for help — especially not from a shit‑headed imbecile like you."
But my speech was interrupted by the very swift arrival of the blonde gang. Literally.
Carlisle was looking reproachfully at everyone, surprisingly absent until now, although the matter I was here for actually required his approval.
Tanya, with her piercing eyes and predatory nature, wasn't far behind him — in fact, she even surpassed him. Her posture exuded authority and the desire to rip someone's heart out of their ribs — just not mine, hopefully, because the quick glance she shot my way was anxiously intense. I certainly didn't melt like an ice cream in mid‑July, but I did feel like lighting a cigarette from the nerves that glance gave me.
Rosalie, not shy at all — which surprised me greatly — was looking only at me, as if feverishly searching for the slightest injury or a wrinkled piece of clothing. She scrunched her nose at the stench of the wolves — I could smell it on myself too when I switched into that half‑kitsune mode. But she didn't hesitate to move closer to me than anyone else and didn't look away for a second, even when their local daddy — the head of this family — noticed her state and decided to clear his throat loudly and very awkwardly, in a very human way.
Behind Tanya were her sisters, also blondes, who were almost indifferently rolling their eyes at the whole situation — but there was still something sharp and tense about them. To them, I was the prized toy of their head vampire, and not one of them ever tried to do anything bad to me — unlike the constantly provoking Eddie.
And so we would have frozen in this strange standoff until the climax and possible fistfights among the ghouls, since I'd already realized they'd definitely heard the last part of my conversation with Eddie. But Lilian prevented this continuation of the banquet.
"You… You don't owe me anything, Izzy. Please, forgive me."
And she reached for her omamori.
"No, don't…" I inhaled sharply and realized in that same second that if she removed this protection, everything would become much more complicated and quite possibly worse.
Alice, who had been sitting silently across from me for about five minutes with her quiet and creepy husband, seemed to be struck by lightning. This happened the moment Lilian pulled off the gift from Tomiko — the Inari Omamori she'd made, a protective amulet from the goddess herself, according to the fox's assurances.
Edward's face also changed, and I think if it could, it would have turned grey.
The only one who didn't understand that something extraordinary had happened was the one who was the unwitting victim of this whole situation.
A deceived and blinded victim.
I took a deep breath and reached out to her open palm with the amulet hanging from it. I placed it back in her hand so it touched her skin and closed her fingers over it.
"Keep it, dearest, you need it more. And… thank you. I'm finally free from this nonsense."
I got up from the dinner table, brushed the crumbs of Esme's pie — which I'd devoured all by myself — onto the floor, and headed for the exit without waiting for a reaction.
Out of foolishness, I hadn't brought the ultimate weapon of mass destruction — i.e., the vixen — with me; she'd stayed behind to discuss some business with the wolves. So I didn't have the option of simply wagging my tail and dashing away from this infuriating company. With my speed, they'd catch me.
So, of course, they didn't just let me leave this cesspool of boiled crap so easily.