Dead Is Not an Option by Marlene Perez Page B

choice of girlfriend.
    And apparently, what the count had told us about the council being in on Circe's return was true. Neither Mr. Bone nor Chief Mendez even batted an eye when they saw her.
    "So how long have you known Circe was back?" I tried to make the question sound casual, but I was fuming. Why wasn't she in jail? Circe evidently picked up on my frustration.
    "I have reformed," Circe said, "since I met Vlad."
    It took me a second to realize she was talking about Count Dracul.
    I forgot that I'd vowed to be polite and not upset my parents. "If you're so reformed, why are Lily and Balthazar still enchanted?"
    Conversation stopped, and everyone turned to look at us.
    "I do not have to answer to this child," Circe said. "Besides, she is heavy-handed with the garlic, and her sauces are pedestrian."
    Count Dracul laid one hand gently upon Circe's arm, which seemed to calm her.
    Grandma Giordano was so mad, her face was turning red. She opened her mouth, but nothing came out.
    "Daisy is a very talented chef," Ryan objected. I grabbed his hand and squeezed it.
    Then Poppy jumped to my defense. "Could you cook like Daisy when you were in high school?"
    I shot Mom a pleading look. To be honest, I'd half expected things to deteriorate like this, but I didn't expect it to be over my cooking skills or lack thereof.
    Mom said, "It's time for the next course. Daisy, can you help me bring it out?"
    As soon as we got into the kitchen, I burst out, "Mom, I couldn't help it."
    "I know," she said, "but it looked like you needed a minute to calm down."
    When we returned with the soufflés, the conversation seemed to be about the weather.
    I avoided Circe for the rest of the dinner, but I only picked at my food.
    When everyone but me was done eating, Mom said, "Why don't we grownups take the coffee into the living room and let the kids get to know each other a little better."
    "Are you feeling okay?" Ryan said in a low voice after they'd left. "You love your dad's soufflé."
    "She makes me so mad," I said. "I'm going to find a way to free Lily with or without Circe Silvertongue."
    I glanced up and saw that both Liam and Claudia were looking at me curiously.
    "Sorry," I said. "Have you known Circe long?"
    Claudia shrugged and returned her attention to her phone, but Liam answered me. "She and Grandfather met recently," he said, "and they hit it off. He finds her charming."
    "Your grandfather had better be careful," I told him. "She turned one of her exes into a pig." I looked pointedly at Balthazar, who was curled up in the corner.
    Poppy glared at me, but I ignored her.
    Liam smiled as though my warning amused him. "My grandfather can take care of himself."
    That was probably true. If Count Dracul, the stuff of myths and legends, couldn't handle Circe, there was no hope for the rest of us.
    We joined the adults in the living room just as Mr. Bone was leaving.
    "You're going already?" I said. "But we haven't had dessert yet." I was hoping to apply a little more pressure about Lily and Balthazar.
    Chief Mendez stood up. "I've got to be going too," he said. "Thank you for a lovely evening. Ryan, I'll see you at home. Count. Circe." He gave them a brief nod, but I noticed he didn't shake hands with them.
    Dad and Mom walked Mr. Bone and the chief out.
    Rose and Nicholas were chatting with Grandma, and Liam and Poppy were making eyes at each other.
    The count produced a thin cigarette case and said, "Filthy habit, I know, but once you've been smoking for two hundred years, it's hard to quit. I'll just step outside for a moment. Please excuse me." Circe followed him from the room.
    As soon as her grandfather was out of sight, Claudia slipped out too. I wondered where she had gone, but I had bigger things to worry about. What was Circe up to?
    "I'll clean up," I volunteered. I was pretty sure she and the count were in the backyard. The kitchen had the perfect vantage point.
    Ryan cleared the dishes from the dining room while I rinsed the