Gypsy sighed and shook her head before waving both men out of her room. Go on, I think I can handle it from here. She blew a strand of dark hair out of her eyes when they stepped out of the sleeping area but stopped just inside her living room to turn around and look at her.
Frowning, she calmly approached the bomb shelter door and pointed out. No offense to either of you, but I havent seen my cousin in over a year and I think she has just as many questions as you do so out.
Nick placed a hand on Rens shoulder and gently pushed him toward the door. He quickly removed his hand when Ren shrugged it off and stormed out of the room ahead of him.
Before he followed, Nick turned his head and gave Gypsy a reassuring smile. Well be right outside if you need anything. Take your time.
Ren spun around to contradict the allowance of time but the words died on his lips when he saw that Lacey was now standing right behind Gypsy with a smug smirk on her face like shed just gotten her way about everything. The little brat was infuriating and on the verge of actually pissing him off so he decided to play her little game.
Tilting his head down so she could see the silver of his eyes, Ren returned the smirk with a darker one of his own making her expression slip just a little.
Lacey couldnt believe this guy was actually smirking at her like he knew something she didnt. Well, to hell with that. In retaliation, she reached out and slung the door to the bomb shelter closed hard enough for it to make a very loud bang about a second before she locked it.
Take that you sexy eighties reject, She mentally ranted, completely missing the fact that shed just given him a compliment and an insult in the same sentence.
Why that little, Ren thundered and reached for the wheel to unlock it but Nick quickly knocked his hand away.
Oh come on, I doubt shes dangerous, Nick offered trying to get Ren to calm down. In case you havent noticed, shes scared half out of her wits right now, not planning to take over the world. Besides, theres only one way out of that bomb shelter and were standing right here in front of it. Trust me shes just a girl and not a threat.
Screw off! Ren snapped in exasperation. If shes so damned innocent, then why is she dressed like a boy and trying to break into her grandpas shop in the middle of the night. Oh, and lets not forget the fact that she went straight for a hidden vault that until yesterday held a slew of very powerful artifacts that any demon would give their Demon Blade to get their hands on? Riddle me that Robin, he finished cockily.
Nick smirked and slowly shook his head, Oh no Im Batman.
Whatever Robin, Ren said as he laid his palm against the door and closed his eyes to concentrate.
He frowned when Nick's thoughts, which werent very nice, suddenly sounded through his mind loud and clear. Ren couldnt help it and began to silently rant at the mind reading power that had failed him just a moment ago when it would have come in handy. Where ever that mindreading demon was it needed to stand the hell still.
Gypsy sighed at Laceys stubborn streak and turned around to face her cousin. She didnt bother with telling her that both men knew how to unlock the door shed just slammed in their faces. If she kept antagonizing Ren, then shed find out soon enough Gypsy was sure of that.
What in the world Gypsy began only to snap her mouth shut when Lacey suddenly reached out and touched her lips with the tips of her fingers and made a shushing sound.
Wheres our crystal, Lacey barely whispered before she began walking around the room looking at the vast quantity of crystals Gypsy had on personal display.
Gypsy smiled realizing what Lacey was looking for and approached her computer desk, reaching for the bright ruby quartz crystal sitting there. As children, theyd often used the privacy crystal to tell each other the secrets that they didnt want anyone else hearing especially the grownups.
The crystal itself had been their secret and given to them by their grandfather to share. As they grew up, the crystal was set aside because thered been no use for it. Gypsy didnt know why the crystal continued to stay with her instead of moving on as crystals tended to do maybe now shed get her answer.
Ren kept his hand pressed to the door trying to listen through the thick steel. His eyes narrowed when Gypsy's voice was suddenly cut off mid-sentence.
Nick was standing beside him with his ear pressed to the cold steel. He was having a little bit of trouble but could still hear the same things Ren did.
Ren frowned when he heard Lacey ask Gypsy about a crystal just before the room fell into silence except for the sound of their footsteps.
Whats a crystal got to do with anything? Nick asked.
Ren shot him a look that basically told him to keep silent before closing his eyes and concentrating again.
Gypsy and Lacey sat down on the sofa facing one another with Gypsy holding the crystal out in her hand. Lacey placed her hand in Gypsy's, trapping the crystal between their palms before releasing a heavy sigh.
Tell me everything Ive missed since Ive been gone, Lacey said softly.
Ren was getting frustrated, straining to listen in while attempting to widen his succubus range. Only fragments of their conversation were filtering through now, like a bad radio reception and he suddenly realized he was being blocked by some kind of magic. The air surrounding him gained a bit of power and his frown deepened just before he sneered at the door.
Nick leaned back from the door in confusion, I cant hear a damn thing now.
It appears that Gypsy has something in there that can shield a personal conversation, Ren said and his lips thinned in agitation. Theyre using magic to keep us from hearing them.
Nick huffed at the big bad Ren being outdone so easily, You mean to tell me that you, with all of your power cant break through it?
Rens jaw flexed as he pulled on the power of the crystal and stretched the shield to where he was inside its barrier. I didnt say that. Itll take more than a little girls silly game and parlor trick to keep me out. He leaned a little closer to the door and looked over at Nick with a mischievous smirk, Wanna hear what theyre saying?
What, you think Im stupid of course I do, Nick answered with a sly grin of his own. He was in no way above eavesdropping when it suited him. As a matter of fact, he was usually a pro at it.
Ren motioned him over and placed a hand on the jaguars shoulder, squeezing a little too tightly just for fun.
Nick cringed at the hard grip but ignored it as his eyebrows shot up into his hairline when he suddenly heard the womens voices just as clearly as though he were in the same room with them.
Nice, he whispered grudgingly.
Gypsy sat cross-legged on the sofa while she told Lacey everything that had happened, starting with Grandpas death. It hadnt taken as long as she thought it would to tell the story and she actually leaned forward a bit when she began to tell Lacey about Nick, Ren, and all the mess with Samuel. She blushed when she admitted the fact that shed had a slight crush on Nick for years.
Outside the door, Nick took a deep satisfied breath hearing Gypsy's confession and glanced toward Ren to see how he was taking it. It was a little disappointing to find the other man unfazed.