Page 361 of The Spider Queen

“Dreamy.”

“I have no idea—listen can you just come to my apartment. And bring food.”

“Why can’t you go out?”

“I don’t feel like myself.”

She paused. “Should I be worried?”

“Um, maybe?”

“Siren.”

“What?”

“Your voice sounds like I’d expect a siren’s voice to sound like. Musical and dreamy, almost ethereal.”

“Oooookay…”

“What am I bringing you?”

I told her.

“You’re kidding?”

“No. I’m not. And Herron. Hurry.”

While I waited for Herron, I attempted to shower. I could only get half my body under the sprayer at a time because of my outstretched wings. Puddles of water wound up all over the floor and I used an old towel to soak them up.

But I had another problem: clothing. Pants fit fine, but what was I supposed to do about a shirt?

I went to my underwear drawer and riffled through it for an old tank top. It was a stretchy spaghetti strap, and it dipped low in the back. I stuck my legs through it and worked it up my body and slid my arms through the straps.

It cut into my wings and wasn’t super comfortable, but at least I was covered. I put on my sweats and slippers. I looked like any other beast that was hanging out at home after a rough night.

I snorted, feeling a little delirious.

As I hung my towel up in the bathroom, I heard the front door open. “Herron? I’ll be right there!”

“No, it’s me!” my father called back.

“Crap,” I muttered to myself. To him, I yelled, “What are you doing here? Is it Mom? Is she okay?”

“Your mother? She’s fine. Morning sickness from Hell.”

“Don’t you mean morning sickness from Purgatory?”

I heard him laugh.

“So why the impromptu visit?”

“Just wanted to check out where you lived. And you’re not going to believe this, but after you talked about a pastrami on rye sandwich, I wanted to experience it for myself. Where are you? Come out here, I picked up some sandwiches from the deli you mentioned.”

“My favorite deli isn’t open in the middle of the night. You want to tell me how you got a sandwich?”

“I’m Guardian of the Bridge. I have ways.”

“All right then.”