Would you mind telling me where I can find Dreyna?” I anticipate Matthew’s answer to be no.

Matthew is a bust, but I still need her. One person, more than anyone, could benefit from some scissor action, courtesy of my clip-o-cure. A simple snip could get my mother back.

With Derry, the fire fuel lines were easy to navigate. They were bright and flashing like that beacon of hope I refuse to admit I am. Mom’s towlines are less vibrant, a soft glow, if even that. I have to find the right threads to cut for this to work. Dreyna’s water filtration technique could improve visibility. If she can explain how she uses her filter, maybe I can adapt it to disengage my mother’s dependency on me. Hopefully, she isn’t as ill-mannered as Matthew. Better set my hopes low. Super low.

“She doesn’t wish to see you,” he informs me.

“More like you don’t wish her to see me.”

He lifts a brow. “I control no one.”

“I’ll talk to her,” Derry offers. “I need to get Barry and Kiley, anyway. Can you pack up?”

I shrug and head back toward our room. Matthew trails along behind me. Dubious. Is he curiously creeping, or am I a security risk? Does he think I’ll start smashing mirrors? Maybe light something on fire for fun? When we reach the door, his intentions become clear. I don’t have a key. Hadn’t thought of that. He places his hand on the black panel next to the handle. After The keypad lights up, the door opens.

“Fancy,” I mutter.

“Your boyfriend’s handiwork,” he explains.

Derry’s much more than an Ex-Fire-Sumair. He has gifts beyond the ones I took. Getting to know him will take me a while. Do I still want to?

Matthew and I stand there awkwardly for a moment. If he expects me to invite him in, he’s got another thing coming. Besides, it’s his hotel. He’s invitation exempt. I draw in a deep breath of relief as he turns on his heels and heads in the direction Derry went. His Pineapple and Coconut scent lingers. It’s actually quite lovely. Unlike him. He is not lovely.

Since we don’t have much in the room, readying the backpacks takes barely any time. As I wait for retrieval, someone knocks on the door. I assume it’s my travel companions, so I dutifully go to let them in. Nope, not my companions. “Can I help you?”

A half-clad woman pushes her way into the room, followed by two others. The last entrant commandeers my attention. She’s exuding a gut-wrenching mixture of hope and longing, iced with despair and regret. Garbage cake. Her physical presence mirrors her emotions, dark circles overshadowing her eyes. Her height, while far elevated to mine, is diminished by her slouched, defeated posture. Her limp hair hangs in knots lumped from improper care.

“I almost see what caught his attention,” claims the half-clad woman. A thick, black substance encases her lids, complementing the dark coloring of her eyes. Her clothing fits snuggly and matches her makeup.

“Play nice.” A second voice overpowers the first, demanding compliance. “Don’t mind her. She’s jealous of anyone who can keep Derry’s attention for more than two seconds. She only managed half a second for the record. I’m Cathain, and this is Alexandria. We’re Matthew’s sisters.”

I hadn’t put much thought into Derry’s previous relationships and don’t plan to start, but looking at her, I can’t help feeling desperately inept and, yes, jealous. Cathain is a wall of muscle, while Alexandria is all curves. I tip my chin to the straggler in the back. “And your friend?”

The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

“How cute!” Alexandria squeals. “She wants to meet the family pet.”

The woman lowers her head even further. They aren’t impressed when I push between them. “I’m Sheyla, and you are?”

“Dreyna,” the woman whispers. Immediately regretting her response, she backs up two sizable steps.

Can she provide the insight I need? “I was looking for you. I want to discuss filtering my energy.”

“She’s aware,” Alexandria crows, irritated by the lack of attention she’s receiving from me.

“Well, that’s why I’m here. Why are you here, Alexandria?”

I’m enjoying the company of Matthew’s sisters as much as I enjoyed his. Not at all. While the room is large, and the ceilings are high, the quarters are cramped. Their personalities pretty much fill it right up.

Alexandria sweeps her long, raven hair to her back. This exposes even more flesh, and I’m mildly curious how she can show so much cleavage without the rest of it spilling over the top of her bodice. Defying physics, this girl.

Her tongue runs along her teeth. “I’m Lexy.”

“And, sometimes Alexis, Andrea, Andi, Dria, and always Alexandria.” Cathain sighs. “Could you put Lexy away? Andrea is more appropriate for the time being.”

Oh great. As if one of her wasn’t already too much. There are more?

“Business before pleasure,” Alexandria commands stiffly.

When Cathain gestures to the couch, I sit down uncomfortably. Alexandria and Cathain sit across from me in matching chairs. Dreyna stands a few steps behind. Her lack of confidence makes my tinder heart hurt for her. She’s obviously demoralized. No doubt, Matthew’s sisters gleefully gave her a hand with her depreciated view.

While they want me to feel like gum stuck to their shoe, I lift my chin, refusing to cower. If I’m gum, it’s the kind under cafeteria tables. I’ve been there since the eighties. Good luck getting rid of me now. “I came to talk to Dreyna, not either of you.”

“Why would you want that dried up thing?” Alexandria crosses her long legs, bringing attention to the high-heeled boots stopping at her knees. Every voluntary shift of her body is meant to be provocative, even her air intake. It’s difficult to ignore, demanding my response. Derry will be getting the third degree once I see him.

“What exactly can she do for you?” Cathain seems annoyed, though not over her sister’s antics. She’s used to those.

“She’s predisposed.” Alexandria’s tone changes dramatically. She sounds like a wholly different person. “You’ll have to come back later.”

I seriously don’t want to play Pick the Personality.

“They must not think too highly of you, bringing you here without telling you about us,” Caitlin reasons.

“Who?”

“Your supposed friends.”

The snark in my reply is all Tally, “Sounds like they must not think too highly of you, or else they’d have told me about you.”

“What is all the fuss about?” Cathain remarks.

“I fail to see it myself,” Alexandria adds. “A tiny taste couldn’t hurt, right?”

“Where’s Matthew?” I try to keep my tone even, but fear sneaks past. Despite his wretched perspective, Matthew won’t appreciate his sisters making a snack of me. He’s shown no signs of wanting to eat me. Can they be that different?

Cathain sneers. “He has a big hotel to run. Very busy and all that.”

Alexandria smiles wickedly.

“What do you want?”

“We’re grocery shopping.” Alexandria smirks while Cathain rolls her eyes. “Don’t worry. Dreyna likes playing store.”

Dreyna closes her eyes. A ripple of emotion flickers under the surface. To me, that’s a hopeful sign. She needs to acknowledge her power over them. Not the other way around. If she can get angry or even slightly agitated, they haven’t beaten the fight out of her. Will she stop a taste test?

“Alright, Alexandria. You seem like you want to talk. Explain how Matthew has sisters.” My hope is playing along will buy me time. The hotel is big, but not that big. Someone is coming to this room soon. Derry might already be on his way.

“You’re trying to distract her.” Cathain narrows her eyes. “We’ll be the ones asking questions here.”

There’s a strange flutter in my head, followed by a tingle resembling a limb waking up after falling asleep. It’s like Derry intruding on my thoughts, only far more powerful than an ant army. It’s a bee brigade.

“My sister has a special gift,” Alexandria spits. “We’re going to play Truth or Dare.”

“You’re interrogating me?”

I don’t aim to lie. If Cathain has a truth-demanding power, it doesn’t concern me. There’s nothing to hide. Dare, on the other hand, may go any number of ways. None of them good.

While they’re successfully intimidating me, they aren’t a real threat. If it comes down to it, I’ll invoke my flame. Bright side: Derry trained me on that. Worst case scenario will be minor arson, which Dreyna should be able to extinguish given her water affinity. I tap my fingers rhythmically on my thighs, prepping them.

“I’m bored,” chirps a new personality, juvenile in its entirety. “I choose Dare.”

Finger fireworks, don’t fail me now.