The Moon Rises (16 page)

Gigi was stuck on the question of why anyone
would murder a baby, but she decided Sara was irritated enough without being
asked stupid questions. Keeping her mouth shut, she received her shot and wondered
who would get her to spread her legs first.

Still thinking about who would take her virginity
when they arrived at the mall, Gigi noticed what a happy mood Sara was in now.
Without Mamma Celeste, Gigi had no one to love, but she thought she would love
Sara. Her friend took good care of her and thought about her when they weren’t
together and was gentle like Mamma Celeste.

Walking through the mall, Gigi noticed all the
specialty shops. Witch Clique, Were’s Wears, and Pamp Your Vamp. Gigi wasn’t
even sure what the stores sold because Sara ignored them and kept walking.
Instead Sara paused at a large window displaying expensive clothes. Gigi didn’t
know why anyone would want to spend so much money for clothes, but then she
realized Sara was looking at Nolan and a beautiful woman.

“Justine seems like such a fool when she slobbers
over Nolan. She must know he will never be with her, but she embarrasses
herself anyway. Yet when I see him, I feel her pain. He is a hunk.”

Gigi gazed at Nolan who was speaking with the
woman as she looked through gowns. He was so handsome it made Gigi’s skin
flush.

“Is that Elise?”

Sara nodded. “Estelle Armand’s youngest daughter.
She and Nolan will marry soon and the two witch clans will be bound. It’s a big
deal apparently, but Justine hears none of it. She just sees Nolan and loses
her mind.”

Gigi studied the female witch who had long glossy
blonde hair and perfect skin. “Elise is beautiful.”

Gigi’s eyes were on Elise and she didn’t realize
Sara was gesturing hello to someone inside the store. Shifting her gaze, Gigi
saw Nolan watching them. He smiled softly at Gigi then fidgeted as Elise spoke
to him.

“Stay away from him,” Sara said as she turned
from the window and walked away. “The witches will kill you before they’ll let
you interfere with their marriage plans for Nolan.”

“I don’t go around him except at work,” Gigi said,
trying to keep up with Sara who was walking too quickly. “What did I do wrong?”

“Nolan screws with Justine and I thought the
flirting probably started off as a joke and he just couldn’t cut her loose. He
isn’t interested in Justine and I never thought he seemed interested in Elise either.
I actually thought he might be gay because of how little interest he shows in
Elise who is beautiful. Now I know he’s not gay.”

Gigi frowned at Sara who finally stopped near a
bench and sat down.

“Promise me you’ll stay away from Nolan,” Sara
said as she took Gigi’s hand.

Realizing her friend was shaking, Gigi tightened
her grip on Sara’s hand. “I promise.”

“Damn, I thought it was just the Weres. Or maybe
Simon. I figured the best case scenario is you ended up fucked by a few dogs
and the worst case was Simon turned you into a Vamp so he could fuck you exclusively.
Please, Gigi, I know the witches seem nice and Nolan is gorgeous and sweet as
pie, but they’ll kill you. Just stay away from him.”

“I don’t understand why you’re upset.”

Sara sighed and leaned back against the bench,
still holding Gigi’s hand.

“The first time I worked the witch floor, I
thought Nolan was beautiful of course. I met Elise the same night and she just
glows. All her witchy magic makes her look prettier than she probably is, but glamour
or not, she’s stunning. I thought they would be a perfect couple and it was
kind of romantic, you know? The beautiful offspring of two powerful families
marrying and making beautiful babies except that Nolan shows more sexual
tension with his damn sister than he shows with Elise. While Elise does fawn
over Nolan, her eyes are always bored when she’s around him. It’s all a show,
so I figured he was gay and she wasn’t thrilled about having a loveless
marriage. Then I saw him look at you just now. It was like I wasn’t there and
he just saw you.” Sara paused to take a deep breath. “He ain’t gay.”

“I’ll stay away from him.”

Sara’s bright blue eyes studied her before she
pulled Gigi into a hug. “I want you to be safe, lil sis. I want you to have everything
because you’re special and deserve a chance at happiness, but these freaks
around here are just going to chew you up and spit you out. What happened to
Katia is bullshit, but she was a smart bitch and she made a choice to live
here. You got dropped here by some asshole who put a bunch of rules in your
head so you’re chained to this place like a dog. It’s not fair and I want to protect
you, but I can’t save you from witches. Maybe I can give you a heads up with
Simon or the Weres, but the witches are bad news. Mira and Estelle are evil and
they wouldn’t lose a single minute of sleep over killing you. Nolan wanting you
is going to make you an annoyance and they’ve killed people over less.”

Sara finally let Gigi go and kissed her cheek.

“I’m freaking you out, aren’t I?”

Gigi nodded, ready to cry.

“Don’t be scared. Just be careful and never
forget that as a human, you have no worth in the Circle. The only thing we’re
good for is being able to work different floors at the club without pissing
anyone off. If someone messes with Ella or Dahlia, they have powerful forces to
protect them. I used to think we had Silas, but after Katia disappeared and now
Monica, I realize we have no one.”

Gigi moved closer to Sara, feeling safer with her
big sis around. “I wish we could leave the Circle.”

“Maybe we can. I don’t know what the rules in
your head mean, but maybe we move anyway? I have one more semester of school
then I can student teach somewhere and you can get a job cooking. We could
leave and deal with the consequences of those rules in your head.”

“You would go with me?”

Sara smiled softly. “You’re special, lil sis. Not
dumb or weird, but special. You need someone to watch out for you. You were
there when I needed someone and you didn’t even know me. I‘m going to be there
for you.”

Gigi hugged Sara, loving her big sis’s hugs. Even
when she saw Nolan and Elise walking nearby, she felt safer just having Sara
with her. While her big sis didn’t see Nolan, he saw them. Elise was talking to
him, but her eyes were on the store windows. If she noticed how Nolan was
watching Gigi, she didn’t show it. Gigi smiled at him then looked away so she
wouldn’t upset Sara who finally sensed eyes on them.

Standing up, Sara frowned at Nolan who flinched
as if scolded. Pulling Gigi away, Sara glanced back one more time and gave
Nolan one of the looks she usually saved for bad drivers or Weres who got
grabby. Gigi noticed Nolan lower his gaze, all while Elise kept talking about
something he clearly didn’t care about.

“Let’s see if Nolan really is sweet as pie,” Sara
said as she pulled Gigi towards the food court. “He knows now to stay away from
you. If he doesn’t keep his distance, it means he doesn’t care whether his
family murders you or not.”

“It’ll be okay, Sara.”

Stopping abruptly, Sara sighed and glanced back
to make sure Nolan and Elise were out of view. Turning back to Gigi, she smiled
tightly.

“I let Katia die. I won’t let the same thing
happen to you.”

“I’ve been doing better at understanding things.”

“I know, but someone just ditched you here. How
can no one be looking for you? It makes me crazy to think you disappeared from
your life, got your head messed with, and then were dumped here and no one
cares. How is that possible?”

Gigi thought to Mamma Celeste and wondered if the
woman from her memories was alive. If she was, did she miss the girl she
raised?

“I still think it’ll be okay. I’ll watch out for
the witches and maybe because the Weres and Simon and even the ghouls seem to
like me, the witches won’t mess with me. At least not for a while and we can
leave before those other males lose interest and I won’t be protected.”

Sara smiled a lovely grin which Gigi shared.
“You’re like sunshine and I’m a cloudy day, lil sis. You brighten me up every
time.”

Gigi stared at Michael who stared at her in
return. His blue eyes remained locked on her brown ones for almost five
minutes, but he finally flinched.

“Does that mean you’ll look for Monica?”

“I already checked out her apartment and didn’t find
anything.”

“Maybe you’re just lazy?”

A staring match again ensued and Gigi triumphed.

“Tomorrow, you nag.”

“Thank you.”

Gigi turned to leave when Michael stopped her.
“Hey, nag, do you know how to play poker?”

“No.”

“Good. Wanna play poker with me and Finn tonight?”

“Finn?”

“You know the long haired hippy fellow you
thought was going to eat you because his sexy moves are just that good.”

Gigi didn’t smile even though she knew Michael
was making a joke.

“Is he mad at me?”

“Finn rarely gets mad. It would go against his
hippy code.”

“I guess it would be fun.”

“You have any money on you?”

“Yes.”

“How much?”

“Forty dollars.”

Michael nodded and yanked a shirt on. “Okay, come
with me.”

Michael led Gigi down the block to an arcade
where she exchanged her bills for quarters. Once she had a grocery bag full of
change, they returned to the office where Finn was exiting his truck. He
stopped and frowned when he saw Gigi, but Michael pushed past him and headed inside.

“She’s playing poker with us. Don’t ruin it by
licking her.”

Gigi stood outside, looking at Finn who was
blinking a lot like he was nervous or thinking hard about something.

“I’m sorry I got scared,” Gigi said quietly.

“It’s my fault. I don’t usually act like that on
a first date and I scared you.”

“I shouldn’t have thought you were going to eat
me. That was stupid.”

Finn smiled tightly.  “You’re still learning
about the Circle. It’s not your fault.”

“You’re not mad?”

Finn shook his head, making his golden locks fall
into his eyes. He shoved them behind his ears and shifted to another foot.

“Is it okay if I play poker with you?”

“Sure.”

Gigi stepped a bit closer to Finn as she
remembered how soft and sweet his kisses had been on their date.

“If you’re not mad and I’m not as stupid anymore,
then can we go on another date? I had a lot of fun before I had my brain fart.”

Finn swallowed hard and his expression darkened.
“I can’t. I’m sorry.”

“Because of my brain fart?” Gigi asked, trying to
be lighthearted.

She had assumed he would want a second date
because he seemed happy until she freaked out.

“I really like you and you did nothing wrong. I
just can’t date you.”

“Because of Declan?”

Finn shook his head. “There are people who have
made threats and I couldn’t take the chance of you getting hurt.”

“What people?”

“I can’t say. It’s just safer if we don’t go out
again.”

“But we’re going to play poker.”

“With Mike. It’s different.”

Gigi felt her eyes burning and Finn stepped
closer, looking troubled.

“I really like you. I couldn’t bear if something
bad happened to you because of me. This place is hard enough and I don’t want
to add to your problems. I’m sorry.”

“Me too.”  Gigi wiped a tear and sucked at her
bottom lip. “I really like you.”

Looking terribly unhappy, Finn forced a smile.
“You thought I was going to eat you. That’s pretty funny when you think about
it. I’d just eaten a big dinner.”

Laughing, Gigi wiped the last tears from her
eyes. “Yeah, I should have thought of that.”

“We can be friends. In fact I’ll make sure Mike
doesn’t trick you into losing all your money tonight.”

“I’m not afraid of him. He really doesn’t like
when I stare at him. Oh, and my nagging bugs him too.”

Finn smiled as he gestured for her to enter the
building where Michael was waiting for them. 

“My goal tonight is for me to win all your
money,” Michael said to Gigi. “Your goal is to not cry when I win all your
money. I really hate when chicks cry. Tell her Finn.”

“Yeah, he really hates it.”

“I personally hate it when anyone cries, but I rarely
have to deal with males weeping in my presence. Begging for their lives, yeah,
but crying, not so much. Anyway I’ll accept blubbering from old ladies and very
small children, but grown chicks like you need to keep it zipped.”

Gigi stared at Michael until he frowned. Once she
saw his irritation, she gave him a big smile.