LITMIR.BIZ

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and soap in the bathroom.

      Work at the supermarket had now come to an end, giving them the last few weeks of summer to rest and enjoy themselves before their new academic years; Daniel and Moonglow at university, Kalix and Vex at college.

      “We really did that shopping!” declared Vex. “I got everything on the list. Except a few boring things. But everything else is right here!”

      She gestured proudly toward the plastic carrier bags. “And I got new hair dye because we’ve saved so much money on the budget.”

      New hair dye hadn’t been on the shopping list, but Moonglow let it pass. Vex’s aunt, Queen Malveria, made a vital contribution to their household, providing Vex with money for food and accommodation every week. Less generous, but still important, was the contribution from Verasa MacRinnalch, Kalix’s mother. Verasa transferred money for Kalix’s upkeep every month into Moonglow’s bank account. Life as students in London seemed to be becoming harder and harder: without the money from Malveria and Verasa, they couldn’t have kept themselves afloat.

      Kalix sat down on the couch. Though the late summer had not turned cold, she wore a long overcoat that stretched down past her knees, hiding the extreme skinniness of her frame. Over the shoulders of the coat her dark hair hung down in a huge wave, abnormally long for either a human or a werewolf. The MacRinnalch women, Moonglow had observed, took good care of their hair. Both Thrix’s golden curls and Dominil’s icy white mane were always beautifully conditioned. Butix and Delix, or Beauty and Delicious, as they had renamed themselves, sported extremely impressive hairstyles, pink and blue respectively.

      “Would you like a party for your eighteenth birthday?” asked Moonglow.

      Kalix looked unsure. “Uh . . .”

      “Birthday? Is it Kalix’s birthday?” Vex leaped from her chair. “We have to have a party. I want a party!” Vex’s dark features lit up with happiness at the prospect. “We’re going to have a party!” cried Vex. “I’ve never had a party before!”

      “It’s a birthday party,” explained Moonglow. “For Kalix.”

      Vex looked disappointed. “Isn’t it my birthday too? I’m sure it must be. Aren’t I turning eighteen as well?”

      “I’m not sure. When is your birthday?”

      “The same day as Kalix!” exclaimed Vex.

      “I’m sure it’s not,” said Moonglow, smiling at Vex’s enthusiasm.

      “But I’m the same age as Kalix! Kalix, we can have a party together!”

      “I don’t think I want a party,” said Kalix quietly. “It makes me nervous.”

      Moonglow nodded. She’d been expecting this. Kalix was very prone to anxiety. The prospect of anything unfamiliar always upset her.

      “Well, there’s plenty of time to think about it,” said Moonglow. “We won’t have it if you don’t want it. But if you do, we could ask a few people—Dominil maybe, and the twins. It wouldn’t be a big affair. Just a little celebration for you turning eighteen.”

      “I don’t think I’d like it,” said Kalix, already defensive.

      “We could go to the cinema!” yelled Vex, loudly enough to make Daniel wince.

      “What?”

      “In the afternoon. Kalix will be a werewolf on her birthday, after the moon comes up, right? So we should go out in the day, do some shopping, then go to the movies in the afternoon. Then we can come back here and have birthday stuff. Like cakes. You have cakes on a birthday, right? I read about it in class.”

      Vex looked pleased with herself for remembering about cakes. Her life in her own dimension as a Fire Elemental had been very different, and she was always pleased when she learned and remembered something new about life on Earth.

      “Kalix can have a big joint of raw beef; you’ll like that, won’t you?” Vex looked eagerly toward Kalix, expecting the prospect of a large joint of raw beef to entice her. It didn’t. Though Kalix had a very hearty appetite as a werewolf, at other times she wasn’t keen on eating. Kalix had a difficult relationship with food. It upset her to think about how much she ate as a werewolf. Not long ago, the distress would cause her to be violently sick the next day when she changed back to human. This didn’t happen so often, but if her eating problems were less severe, they were never far away.

      Vex carried on enthusiastically. “We should go and see the Runaways movie!”

      Kalix looked up sharply. “What’s that?”

      “There’s a movie about the Runaways! You love the Runaways, right? On your birthday we should go see the film about them, then come back here and eat cakes. And drink beer. Is there beer at parties? Yes? This is going to be great. I’m so looking forward to turning eighteen!”

      Vex already seemed to have convinced herself that she was turning eighteen too. Moonglow wasn’t certain whether to discourage the notion or not. She didn’t want Kalix’s birthday to be drowned out by Vex’s enthusiasm for her own. On the other hand, it was possible that Vex’s enthusiasm might encourage Kalix to participate. She did seem a little keener on the idea after Vex mentioned the Runaways. They were Kalix’s favorite band, and had been since the days when she’d wandered the streets of London, homeless and alone, with only an old tape of the all-female band for company.

      “I would like to see the film,” conceded Kalix.

      A pleasant aroma of jasmine filled the air. There was a muted orange flash as Queen Malveria appeared. The sudden arrival of the Fire Queen, materializing out of nowhere, had at one time been a startling occurrence for Daniel and Moonglow; over time, they’d grown used to it. She was beautifully attired as always, in a smart gray dress with matching heels and handbag. Since procuring the services of Thrix MacRinnalch as her designer and fashion adviser, Queen Malveria had secured the position of best-dressed woman in the whole Elemental dimension, a position which she guarded jealously.

      “Me and Kalix are having an eighteenth birthday party!” cried Vex.

      The Fire Queen raised an eyebrow and looked questioningly at Moonglow.

      “Kalix’s birthday is soon,” explained the young student. “We were thinking of having a party. Vex wants to join in.”

      Malveria paused to say a polite hello to Daniel, whom she had always liked, before turning her attention to Kalix and Vex.

      “I see. Well, I suppose it could be said that Vex is approaching her eighteenth birthday, in your terms.”

      Vex squealed with delight and leaped around, her boots making thumping noises on the threadbare carpet. Vex had a liking for the heaviest of boots, as if they might anchor her skinny frame to the earth. The Fire Queen regarded her niece with distaste. “Unless my idiotic niece will ruin everything. In that case it could also not be her birthday.”

      “No, I think it’s good,” said Daniel. “Vex and Kalix can have a party together.”

      “Would you like some tea?” Moonglow asked the Fire Queen. Malveria smiled. She always appreciated Moonglow’s hospitality and good manners.

      “Not at this moment. I am on my way to visit Thrix MacRinnalch for an important shoe meeting, and must not tarry. I merely called in to check on my niece.”

      “Hey,” protested Vex. “I don’t need to be checked up on.”

      “You need to be constantly checked, dismal niece. One is relieved to find the house in one piece. Which does remind me, I must cast my eye over the sorcery that encircles this dwelling.”

      Though the flat above the empty shop seemed unremarkable, it had the secret distinction of being protected by the magic of both the Fire Queen and the Werewolf Enchantress. Malveria had altered the dimensions of the attic, making it habitable by her niece, and placed defensive spells around the house to keep Vex and Kalix safe from prying

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