Children of Poseidon: Rann by Annalisa Carr Page B

were painted the sort of pink that clashed violently with Maya’s hair, and the sofas were turquoise velvet. The curtains and the rug on the wooden floor were dark blue, and the light fitting appeared to be constructed from cast iron and bicycle wheels. Jewel closed her eyes.
    “Glass of wine?” Maya strode back into the sitting room. She’d kicked off her shoes and pulled her hair out of its ponytail. Still as vibrant and colourful as her home, she showed no sign that the journey had tired her at all.
    Jewel forced herself to get to her feet and follow Maya into the kitchen, another room decorated in a splash of clashing colours. The walls were painted dark aubergine, and the floor and wall tiles were turquoise, probably to match the giant fridge. The room would have been dark if it hadn’t been for the streetlight shining through the huge bay window at one end and the subdued light cast by another chandelier. This one consisted of a mass of brightly coloured glass fruit. Maya pressed a button, and the whole thing sparkled with tiny lights.
    Jewel stared up at it for a second. “Has Lila been here recently?”
    “About a couple of months ago.” Maya rummaged in the fridge until she found what she wanted. She stood, brandishing a bottle of champagne with an air of triumph. “Why?”
    “What does she think of the decor?” The last time Jewel had seen the flat, pale wood and neutral colours dominated.
    Maya grinned. “She shuddered and said it wasn’t her flat any more, thank goodness.”
    “Mmm.”
    “Don’t you like it?”
    “It’s very bright.” Jewel looked round again. “Very you.”
    “I had to live with subtle for Lila.” Maya opened a cupboard and took two ornate champagne flutes out. She closed the door then opened it again and took another one. “Might as well see if champagne stirs any memories in her.” She poured sparkling liquid into the glasses and held out one to Jewel.
    “Cheers.” Jewel lifted her glass.
    “To a successful visit for you.” Maya raised hers and took a sip. “Nice.” She picked up the third glass and led the way back to the sitting room.
    The seawitch ignored the proffered glass and stared blankly towards the window. She didn’t appear to have moved since she’d been placed on the sofa. Maya held the glass to her lips until she took a tiny sip then gave up and moved to join Jewel on the other sofa. “This is a complete pain. She’s hard work.”
    “Where are we all going to sleep?” Jewel asked.
    Maya jumped up again. “You can have the spare bedroom, and seawitch over there can sleep on the sofa. I don’t think she’ll notice where she is. Pity to waste a bed on her.” She crouched down in front of the seawitch.
    The witch didn’t seem to be affected by her presence, so Jewel joined her. Dark green-blue eyes were flat and expressionless. Jewel squinted, trying to catch the spark of awareness that Rann claimed he’d seen. Nothing moved behind the eyes, so she straightened and smoothed the cotton fabric of seawitch’s jellaba down her arm.
    Poor thing. The coven will have to help her.
    She moved back to the sofa where Maya joined her, relaxing and stretching her long legs out to rest on the coffee table.
    Jewel curled into the corner of the sofa and yawned. “I’m wasted.” She blocked a further yawn with the back of her hand. “I’m not going to do anything for at least two days. And by that I mean anything to do with my mother.”
    “I’ll talk to some of the coven tomorrow.” Maya sipped her champagne thoughtfully. “We need to sort her out as soon as possible.” She inclined her head towards the seawitch. “I’m getting depressed from watching her.”
    “I need to buy some clothes.” Jewel changed the subject. “Something suited to this awful climate. Rann was absolutely right. It’s cold, it’s raining, and I suppose it will still be raining tomorrow. And the day after that.”
    Maya shrugged. “It rained on Rann’s