39. Unhinged But Disappointing

O ctavius eyed the knives. “Mmm, we…should leave.”

“What?!” Turney shrieked over the phantom’s screams. “I mean, YOU THINK?!”

“Run!” he yelled, as the knives shot out towards them.

Everyone took off. Him and Turney went right, while Scarlett, Min-ji, and Theo went left. The knives were randomly stabbing out as they ran between the tables and chairs. One would think the clutter would make it tricky to dodge them, yet…

“He really isn’t good at this,” Scarlett stated, sounding bored when they found themselves running into each other at the center again. They all took off in the same direction this time, as the knives collided behind them.

“I was scared at first and now…” Turney sighed as he jumped over a chair that one of them must have knocked over at some point—or maybe it was one of the knives.

Not out of breath in the least, they continued to run around in circles.

Sighing again, his zombie bun hesitantly admitted, “I have to say, this is a bit of a letdown… Not that I want to get stabbed, but…compared to other things we’ve faced…”

“Turney, my recommendation is to not call other paranormals ‘things’,” Theo corrected gently. “Even if they are assholes.”

“Right!” Octavius laughed. “Min-ji, would you happen…to have anything that would… You know?”

“I have something,” the witch confirmed. She was the only one who was breathing faster, though it was still pretty even. Then again…she obviously worked out.

“OH good! Let’s get out of here then! To the door!” He pointed, taking off in that direction.

Pushing it open, he rushed out, with the others not far behind him. Min-ji came out last. The witch was slicing into her palm with her nail even before the door fully closed behind her. The language Min-ji was chanting was one he wasn’t familiar with in the least, but likely it was older than she was.

Creating multiple symbols out of her own blood on the door, the witch slammed her palm down on it as her words crescendoed. The symbols lit up bright and white in the darkness, before turning pitch black, then disappearing completely once she pulled her hand away. At that moment, there was a loud thud from the other side, but the door didn’t move or bulge.

“Well, that was interesting,” Octavius mused.

Turney wrinkled his nose. Interesting wasn’t the word for it. More…unhinged, yet…disappointing.

It was odd…Turney really felt disappointed by the whole reveal. Like, he didn’t want to be in actual danger, but…hm.

He looked at Min-ji. “What did you do?”

“A relatively simple yet strong rune seal that works against all spirits and undead creatures. Phantoms being one of them,” Min-ji stated, sounding bored. “Someone of Octavius and Scarlett’s age would be able to break it…but the backlash wouldn’t be fun for either of them.”

“I would be surprised that worked so easily, but…” Scarlett trailed off.

Octavius snorted. “The man is incompetent…”

Turney chuckled at just the ridiculousness of it all. “And…he thinks you are leading me on.”

Theo laughed. “I think he was confused why you weren’t offended. Though I am curious as to why you got to live, but not Min-ji and I, who, while not dating Octavius, have not harmed him whatsoever.”

“I don’t know, but he kept giving me some very seeking looks that made me slightly uncomfortable, and I think I would have preferred him wanting me dead as well, over whatever that was…” He sighed. “Now what?”

“Now…we plan!” Octavius chimed.

Turney smiled at that. “I like planning.”

“I know you do.” The vampire giggled, before huffing. “And you said I wouldn’t need my glitter!”

The word brought more fear to him than…the whole encounter with Aurelius. “Octavius, you don’t need your glitter!”

Octavius let out an indignant cry. “How are we going to plan without my glitter?!”

“I’m just surprised he didn’t bring it up before now,” Theo drawled.

Turney opened his mouth to say something, and the words didn’t come out as he realized Theo was right. “It is odd that you didn’t bring it up before now.” His gaze narrowed on the vampire. “Why is that, Octavius?”

Octavius stared at him, his eyes going a bit wider, and way too innocent. “No reason…but I do need to go to the store to get more, since I’m out.”

“Octavius, answer me this… What happened to the two other bottles I found in your bag? You know, after you dumped one on me?”

His boyfriend smiled cutely, his head tilting. “Bottles? What bottles? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Octavius!”

“I mean…they clearly wouldn’t be enough to plan with anyway, so what’s the point in questioning it?!” the vampire cried.

“What did you do with them, you crazy ass bat?!” he growled.

“Nothing! Nothing at all! You need to be more trusting, Turney!”

“Bullshit.”

“It’s the truth!” Octavius huffed, deliberately avoiding his eyes.

Oh…hell, what did the vampire do now…

Scarlett snorted. “Back to the topic at hand. It’s been a long day for everyone, and it’s nearing sunrise, we can plan later today. The seal will hold him for now, right, Min-ji?”

The witch nodded. “Even if someone entered, he wouldn’t be able to leave.”

His sire nodded. “Perfect. Either way, I doubt anyone will come here, since this place isn’t set to re-open until next month. Let’s just head back to the hotel and get some well-deserved rest.”

“Sounds like a plan to me!” Octavius beamed happily, eyes still avoiding his.

Ugh…the man had definitely used the glitter for something… The question was…what…?

Mathew closed his eyes with a tired yawn. Leaning against the tiles of the shower, out of the way of the spray, he started the water and waited to feel the steam rise. On feeling the heat, he stepped under it, groaning as it hit him.

Mathew reached up, his hands freezing in his hair with a frown as the texture of the water suddenly changed, turning oddly grainy.

Slowly lowering his hands, his eyes opened as he glanced down. A scream of horror slipped past Mathew’s lips as he stared wide eyed at the blue and pink sparkly nightmarish coating of glitter on his hands.