22. Margo

Margo walked down the softly lit corridor with Frankie on one side and Mia riding her wheelchair on the other. Toven looked like one of those evangelical preachers on television when he showed up declaring that he was sent by the Clan Mother to give Karen a blessing, and he was glowing like a neon sign. Ive never seen him act like that.

Are you serious? Mia laughed. I had no idea that he was going to do it.

Margo had known Mia since she was five years old, and shed never been a good liar. Toven didnt tell you that he was going to bless Karen?

He said he was going to visit her and Gilbert and offer his support. He didnt say anything about a blessing.

For some reason Mia was lying, and Frankie wasnt calling her out on that, which was suspicious as hell.

Margo stopped walking and put her hands on her hips. Okay, you two. What are you hiding from me?

Nothing. Mia looked at her with fake innocence in her eyes. Toven really didnt tell me. Perhaps the Clan Mother called him while he was on his way to see Karen and Gilbert and asked him to bless Karen.

Frankie nodded. Yeah. Thats probably what happened.

Margo shook her head. Fine. Be like that. She resumed walking. Its a shame I cant tell Jasmine about it. She would have gotten a kick out of Tovens performance.

Frankie snorted. I can teach you a few workarounds, but perhaps I shouldnt right before we are going to see Jasmine. You really shouldnt tell her anything that will make her suspicious.

Margo stopped in front of Jasmines cabin door and rang the bell. Id rather not know. Dont tell me.

Knowing Frankie, she wouldnt be able to help herself and would tell her anyway.

She rang the doorbell again and waited a couple more seconds before turning away. Jasmine is never in her cabin. She spends her days in the staff lounge.

When they reached the lounge, Margo was surprised to find Jasmine sprawled on one of the comfy-looking couches and not sitting at one of the tables, playing poker with the staff.

Hi. She waved them over. Are you here to see me?

Who else? Margo sat down next to her on the couch. Are you resting after a long day of poker wins?

I wish. Jasmine pushed her thick hair behind her shoulder. Do you know a lady named Amanda?

Margo nodded. Where did you meet her?

She came to see me. My poker playing has made me famous, and she wanted to see if I had any paranormal talents. She is a professor of neuroscience who researches paranormal abilities, and she wanted to test me.

Kians gorgeous sister was a professor?

To Margo, it was almost as impressive as being a demigoddess, which actually meant a demi-alien. I met Amanda at the wedding last night, but she didnt say anything about being a professor. She turned to Frankie. Did you know that she was a researcher?

Frankie shook her head. I didnt.

I did, Mia said. She tested me too.

Margo already knew what Mias talent was, but she hadnt known that shed been tested by a neuroscientist. According to what Mia had told her, it had been Kians wife who had figured out her talent.

What kind of tests did she run on you? Margo asked Jasmine to preempt her asking Mia the same question.

Oh, the usual stuff you see in movies, Jasmine said with a playful roll of her eyes. Card guessing, identifying objects without seeing them, guessing what she was thinking about, etc. It was pretty out there, but I cooperated because I was curious to see if I had any paranormal talents.

And? Frankie prodded. Do you have any?

Jasmine shrugged. My so-called talents are more about observation and intuition than anything mystical. I guessed a few cards more or less correctly, but I got most of them wrong, so I guess it was just luck.

Margo was fascinated by the fine line between science and the supernatural, and now she knew an expert in the field. Would Amanda mind if she asked her a few questions?

Your exceptional ability to read people might be a paranormal talent, Mia pointed out. If it was normal, everyone could do it, right?

Jasmine smiled with a hint of pride flickering in her eyes. I trained myself to notice all those little details. Observing human behavior is essential for an actor. After all, I need to be able to portray emotions in a thousand different ways according to the characters Im supposed to play.

As a conversation about different acting methods ensued, Margos mind wandered to Negal and her quest for a romance novel that would put her in the right mood.

Daydreaming about your new boyfriend? Jasmine pulled her out of her reveries.

How did you know?

Easy. You had this dreamy expression on your face, with your lips lifting in a ghost of a smile. Things are going well with Negal, I assume?

Margo nodded. You could say that. She felt a blush creep up her cheeks as she remembered the kiss they had shared.

Jaz laughed. So, are you taming the rogue?

Negal is not a rogue. Hes gentle and patient and kind of sweet. But speaking of rogues, do you have any romance novels that I can borrow? I need something relaxing to read before going to sleep.

I have a couple. Jasmine rose to her feet. But I have to warn you. They are quite racy.

Perfect. Margo smiled up at her. Thats precisely the kind I need.

Jasmines lips twisted into a knowing grin. So, its that kind of relaxing.

Margo rolled her eyes. You have a dirty mind.

That I do. She laughed.

As Jasmine left to retrieve the books from her cabin, Mia leaned closer to Margo. Having paranormal talent is a possible indicator of immortal genes, she whispered conspiratorially. The other is affinity, which we all seem to feel toward Jaz. Your friend might be a Dormant. Wouldnt that be great?

Yeah, it would. Margo felt a pang of jealousy.

If Negal knew that Jasmine was also a potential Dormant, would he have courted her?

She was much better looking than Margo, had a better disposition, and seemed to have no hang-ups about sex. She was a superior catch.

Jasmine returned a few minutes later with two tattered paperbacks. Excuse the condition they are in. She smiled. Its not that I read them so frequently. I buy them secondhand.

Thank you. Margo took the books and put them in her tote without checking out the covers.

Did you have your job interview already? Jasmine asked.

Not yet. Everyone is busy with the weddings.

Right. Jasmine nodded. I became friends with two of the servers. They were invited to tonights wedding as guests, but they have nothing to wear because they didnt expect to be dancing at the weddings they were supposed to wait. She told them about Marina and Larissa.

I saw the one with the blue hair dancing with Peter, Mia said. Shes very pretty, and she had a beautiful dress on.

It was mine, Jaz said. But she returned it, and now she needs another one.

Maybe I can help her, Frankie said. I have plenty of dresses.