“You have a beautiful home, Mrs. Sex “I’ve just as much a right as anyone.” She grabbed Charles’ hand. Nobody else could have understood what was said, but Uncle Einar nodded and reverently laid the ancient bones back in their crypt. “Hold it you tart! It might have been the most mature, womanly sound he’d ever heard someone make. I’ve surely been looking forward to it too.”
In came another tall, thin man, like Ruthven but much older, with a high forehead and steely hair. “Mother and Father’s approval means everything for me,” Devanie continued, reapplying
her lip gloss and slipping on her Jackie glasses. They’re actually very sweet, in their way.”
“What way is that?”
“Old.”
The yard was full of dark plants, crawling vines of blues and purples and greens so deep they were almost black. A hand on his shoulder brought him back to his senses. It’s a beautiful place, he told himself. “Devanie talks about almost nothing except all of you. Lorelei smirked. But since we have a moment, why don’t you tell me, man to man: If you could choose, which of the two of them would you want? It’s going to come down to which of my nieces has the stronger gift.
