– What did Cedric say? – He asked, out of the blue.
Unexpected, because I was expecting a different question: "So you sleep with mortals?"
That deceived expectation, which I admit was only a relief, made me smile widely.
– You know your brother. He said he wanted to be alone," I said, sitting down in the car next to Markus, who was driving. – I wasn't surprised, though, and everyone should stop being surprised.
– I stopped doing that a long time ago. Cedric can't be changed, that's just the way he is. – Markus started the car engine and we drove slowly out of the garage into the dim light of day.
– And yet I'm surprised at how different you two are," I grinned. – Born into the same family, with only a tiny age difference.
– Yeah, just like you and Mariszka.
The phrase, which Markus said in a rather joking tone, made me fix my eyes on his face. It was like foreplay leading up to an inquisition.
But I wouldn't be myself if I let anyone throw it in my face like a dirty towel washing away my protective mask.
– You mean the fact that I sleep with mortals? – I asked bluntly, but with irony in my voice.
– No, I merely noticed that you and my wife quietly hate each other. – Markus smiled. – And don't worry about your sex life. I'm not interested.
– Cedric knows," I said quietly. – You told him.
– Yes. But only to him.
– Why?
– What?
– Why didn't you tell Mariszka? – That question really surprised me.
– I don't think she'd take it as well as Cedric.
– But why did you tell him? – I asked. I was irritated. – It's none of your business!
– Don't be nervous. Cedric wasn't even surprised. I was surprised to see you with that bartender in Toronto. – Markus's tone was so calm that I was suddenly ashamed of my temper. But I wasn't going to apologise: Markus really had no right to reveal what he'd seen. Not even to his brother. He didn't!
– I'm not nervous. It's just my own business, don't you think? – I responded to Markus's retort with the same calmness.
– I do. But you have to admit, it wasn't a pleasant discovery.
– I don't care.
– Neither do I.
– Well, that's perfect.
– You're being ironic. – Markus looked at me. – 'But I don't want Mariszka or my and your parents to find out about this. Please be more discreet.
– I wonder if you are lecturing your friend Brandon on this. – The irony never left my voice.
– He doesn't need them. He doesn't care what anyone else thinks.
– That's where we're alike.
– No. You love your family too much to do it out in the open like Brandon does. Frankly, I don't know why he's suddenly gone off the rails.
– Yeah, he used to be nothing but annihilating to mortals. – I shrugged. – But now his life seems to revolve around the skirts of mortals.
– I don't think so. Brandon… It's hard to understand his nature.
– Have you tried asking him the reasons for this sudden change?
Markus suddenly laughed briefly.
– Of course I have! – He answered my question and stopped talking.
– Do I have to get every word out of you? – I said jokingly and tapped him lightly on the shoulder. – What did he say?
– The same as you did.
– That it's none of your business?
– Yes.
There was silence. We drove in silence on the wide, flat road.
It's weird. Brandon and Markus were best friends. For years. Decades. Centuries. And suddenly this Englishman declares to Markus that taking an interest in his best friend's life is "none of his business"? What's happened to him? No-one can change so suddenly. 180 degrees.
