by Alicia Fabel
The girl froze. Kale half expected her to attempt another flying leap out the window. Her eyes rolled like Ferrox’s when he was scared.
I do not get scared, Ferrox piped in, offended.
Of course not. Go Away.
“How do you know about that?” she asked.
“I saw his tracks in the woods,” Kale answered. “He’s an unnatural.”
“Of course it was unnatural,” she replied trembling. “It was a frigging centaur.”
“No, not a centaur. Centaurs are born what they are. An unnatural, what you saw, is created by merging a man with a horse. They are as vile as the magic used to create them.”
“Magic,” she said doubtfully.
“You have to know it exists, you saw a magical creature. You also broke your neck falling out of that tree and went from paralyzed to climbing out a window in three days because of magic. We don’t even speak the same language, but in this place, there are no language barriers because of magic.”
“You’re saying some Sorcerer Frankenstein is out there building monsters? And that’s what was chasing me?”
“Something like that,” Kale said as the girl began to shake in earnest. He was a little surprised she wasn’t calling him a lunatic, but then again, she had seen the unnatural for herself. He’d have to warn her later not to talk about magic with humans unless she wanted to become her town’s crazy person. “What’s your name?”
The girl didn’t answer right away. She was wary and smart. Which made Kale think she might be able to survive hide and seek with the unnatural on Earth for a while, if it came to that.
“Vera,” she said finally.
“Vera, I will find the unnatural and I will kill it so you can go home. Just give me two days.”
Vera’s head snapped up. She flipped from distressed to calculating like a hummingbird flitting between blossoms. “I have to get back to Gu-my dad,” Vera claimed. “I’ll steer clear of the forest. We won’t even leave the apartment for a month, but I can’t leave him there alone. He won’t be safe by himself.”
“You would not be safe there either.”
“If I’m not safe there, I am not safe anywhere,” Vera argued.
“You are safe here,” Kale insisted. “The unnatural cannot come here. That’s why you will stay for now.”
“Can I at least call my dad and let him know I’m okay? I don’t know, warn him or something?”
“Oh, uh, I don’t have a telephone.” Kale squirmed under Vera’s gaze.
“You’re kidding.”
“I’m not. It would be difficult to get phone service out here.” Kale considered his next words carefully. “Maybe I can send him a message.”
“You don’t get phone service but the mailman comes by?” she asked. “Do you use pony express or carrier pigeons or something?”
“Not exactly.”
A new network of deception stains slipped through Vera’s fingers. Kale should not have promised Mimi two more days.
Vera snuck to the kitchen window and peered through the darkness for any sign of Scotchie or his mountain lion. They’d both disappeared, leaving Vera alone in the cabin all day. Vera’s fluttering heart dropped when she realized woods surrounded the cabin on every side. There wasn’t a single driveway or path anywhere. Seriously? I officially hate meadows. She spotted a creek. She could follow it back to civilization. That decided, Vera turned to ransack the kitchen for food to take for the trek.
Despite Vera’s earlier claims, no one was looking for her. Suzie was dead. Suzie’s husband, Gus, rarely came out of his room anymore. Vera was just glad Gus hadn’t kicked her out when she’d aged out of the system a month after Suzie’s accident. She knew Gus only took her in because it’s what his wife wanted. He’d have gotten Suzie Jupiter if that woman had asked for it. Vera would’ve too.
Between serving coffee and cleaning toilets, Vera was able to slip Gus a little money each month for her part of the living expenses. She hoped it would encourage Gus to keep a roof over her head for a while longer. Every other penny Vera made went to pay for online college courses. Next year, she planned to transfer to a university and really start her life. But that would only happen if she could get away from the man, Kale, who lied about her being safe and about her going home soon.
Wearing her own clothes and a stolen pack full of trail mix—Scotchie had a whole cupboard of the stuff—Vera slunk to the door, leaning on a walking stick she’d pilfered from a closet. She paused with a hand on the screen door to steady her nerves. The man owned a for reals sword, which was propped against the wall beside the door. Vera wished she could take it along in case she ran across the unnatural, but it was too heavy to lift, let alone heft through the woods. Whatever.
Most of what came out of Scotchie’s mouth was lies, but he had been honest about finding no trace of the unnatural. Which meant that monster was long gone, probably hunting some poor person in Canada by now. Vera took a breath and eased the screen door open. It swung as soundlessly as every other door in the place. She closed it behind herself so it would not slam.
The creek was a hiss of water off to her left. Vera made it down the four porch steps when there was movement off to her left. She whipped her head around as a large shadow detached from the cabin. It was Kale’s horse, head hung low to graze. Sucking in a relieved breath, Vera pressed a fist over her racing heart. The horse stopped at what must be a particularly delicious clump of grass, directly between her and the creek. Vera angled to go around the animal, leaving him a wide berth. The horse shifted too, cutting off her path to freedom once again. As Vera transferred her weight, planning to go the other way, the animal mirrored her. Vera hesitated. That was a strange coincidence. The horse pulled up another tuft of grass, never looking at her.
“Hey there, big guy,” Vera said with a tremor in her voice. “Don’t mind me. I’m just going to be on my way and leave you alone.”
Vera shuffled forward slowly so she would not alarm the horse. When she was close enough to feel the warmth radiating from his body, the horse lifted its nose to look at her. Vera staggered back under the gaze of two glowing red eyes. He advanced toward her. Vera hopped back until she tripped over the porch steps and fell on her butt. The walking stick smacked against the steps beside her. The horse’s head loomed inches from hers. After a moment, Vera forced herself to lift a shaking hand to pat his nose. It was just a horse, after all. He was probably curious about her and just wanted to say hello.
“Good boy,” Vera said soothingly.
The horse’s face shot forward, teeth snapping at her fingers. Vera barely pulled them away in time. Then the beast snatched the stick from beside Vera with his teeth and tossed it away. Vera scrambled backward up the stairs. Horse teeth clacked after her. She dragged herself through the screen door and kicked it closed, wondering if the animal would charge it. It didn’t. When she stood and peeked out the window, the horse was staring back at her, an impassible obstacle.
Back in her holding-cell-of-a-room, Vera closed the window and jammed the rocking chair under the doorknob before collapsing on the bed. She’d been worried about getting past Scotchie and his mountain lion but had no idea the man owned some kind of possessed horse too. How in the world do I get past that thing and out of this magical freak show? Yep, magic. Might as well get used to that word, Vera. Not like you can pretend none of this is real, can you? At least the horse hadn’t trampled her. Or gnawed on her. That was reassuring. Now she had to figure out a new way out of this mess.
3
Without realizing it, Kale had picked his thumbnail ragged. Vera was haunting him. She was snatches of movement lurking around corners and a whisper of breaths grating on his nerves. If he looked in her direction, Vera scurried away. She’d be back soon enough, though, watching him. She’d refused to let him check her injuries first thing that morning, although it seemed her leg was improved based on how well she was getting around. That was unfortunate. When Vera flat-out ignored his knock and of
fering of lunch, Kale left the plate outside her door and fled outside.
You ran away. From a teensy human girl. Ferrox cracked up while Kale raked the comb over the horse’s mahogany coat, which rippled with delight. There was no way to block out the horse when he was so close.
A girl with knives. There’re at least two missing from the kitchen, Kale replied defensively.
You are becoming such a namby-pamby. It’s not like she could kill you. I’d love to see her face when you pulled a knife out of your back. Ferrox bumped Kale in the shoulder. Go back in there, and let’s have a little fun since executing her is off the table for now.
Kale brushed harder, but Ferrox only leaned into it, thoroughly enjoying the attention. You’re so sensitive, griped Ferrox.
There’s an unnatural in the human realm and a human in the meadow. I think I have a right to be a little tense.
An entire flight of wyvern found a forgotten passage to the human realm just last century. They took out half a countryside before you wiped ‘em all out. You didn’t bat an eye at all those human bodies. Ate whenever you got hungry and slept every night, calm as a swaddled babe. You most certainly didn’t hide. The muscles in Kale’s jaw jumped while listening to Ferrox’s tirade. Now this girl shows up, and you are as pissy as a protective mama bird. Only you’re protecting the cuckoo and not your own chicks. Ferrox turned to scrutinize his companion, pulling away from the brush that remained suspended in Kale’s hand. Is it a pride thing? I’d understand that. It’s not every day you meet a girl who wouldn’t give her left tit to spend some one-on-one time with you.
What? Kale sputtered. Don’t be a fool.
You’re the fool. There isn’t a female out there who doesn’t lust after you, Ferrox said with a snort. Even the ones who think you’re the bogeyman or who hate you on principle. They still want you. But not this girl. You should conquer the human so you can get your head back on straight and send her home.
You are not serious. Kale gaped at the animal.
Completely.
I am not interested in the human. At all, Kale added firmly, cutting off Ferrox’s retort. She’s only here for Mimi’s sake.
You keep saying that.
Because it’s true. Kale felt like his brain might explode. After tomorrow, she goes back home one way or another. The twinge of anxiety that accompanied that acknowledgment made him cringe. Ferrox was going to pick up on that and take it the wrong way.
Goddess help us, muttered Ferrox
I don’t—
No, not that, you fool man. Heads up.
Kale followed Ferrox’s gaze and caught a familiar flash of green from the girl’s ratty sweatshirt through the barn slats. He barely had time to drop into a crouch behind a pile of hay before the girl eased inside the barn.
Oh my goddess, said Ferrox. I just lost the last of my respect for you. Get out here you yellow-bellied elf.
She runs away from me like I’m a jinn spawned from Jahannam, Kale argued. Maybe she’ll warm up to you, if she doesn’t know I’m here.
Ferrox’s displeasure seeped into their connection as the horse faced off with Vera. Understandably, Ferrox was unwilling to turn his back on the girl even long enough to force Kale out. The human was likely armed with blades after all. The musty-sweet smell of dried grasses swirled around Kale as he maneuvered to spy on the two. Vera maintained a wary distance from Ferrox, despite her calm mask.
“Hey there, handsome boy,” said Vera. “I brought you a little treat.”
Vera held out a trembling palm, displaying a pile of sugar cubes. Kale didn’t keep sugar cubes in the kitchen, which meant the girl had used the cupboard. Again. Stars help us all.
You hear that? She wants to give me a treat, Ferrox crowed.
Ferrox, Kale warned. Watch yourself.
Vera sidled forward. Kale was grudgingly impressed. Not a lot of people would approach the demon horse after an encounter like she’d had last night. Kale had gone out to meet Addamas as soon as his friend pathed into the borderlands. Another day of hunting had not gotten Kale any closer to finding the abomination, so setting the renowned tracker on the trail of the unnatural had been Kale’s priority. Ferrox had reveled in his role as terrifying watchdog, going overboard as only Ferrox could. And yet, there Vera was, trying to buy the bully’s friendship with a fist of sugar.
She’s desperate, Ferrox said. Didn’t you tell her she’s going home in a day?
Yes, but she doesn’t seem to believe a word I say. She’s the most distrusting creature I’ve ever met.
Can’t be worse than you, Ferrox said.
Vera lifted her offering higher. Ferrox leaned in curiously.
She smells delicious. Ferrox breathed deeply. I won’t take much.
Before Kale could blink, the horse nipped Vera’s fingers, leaving the sugar untouched. Ferrox deliberately licked a trace of blood from his teeth while the girl watched. Vera yelped and raced from the barn. Sugar littered the straw at Ferrox’s hooves.
Hades take you. You were supposed to help calm her down. Kale prepared to chase after the girl.
Relax. The girl went back to the cabin. She’ll probably steal another knife, though.
Not funny, said Kale.
It totally is. But you were right, she has trust issues.
You bit her.
She offered, Ferrox pointed out.
Sugar. She offered you sugar, Kale said. Had she known you have a thing for girl-flesh, she would not have, I am sure.
Girl, boy, undecided. Ferrox shrugged in his mind. I don’t discriminate. She should be careful what she offers to strangers.
Curse you to Helheim, you blasted beast.
Cool your tool. I won’t do it again. She’s nasty, Ferrox said with regret, not for his behavior but rather because the girl was not tastier.
I hope her innocence gives you indigestion.
Nah, I just got a few drops. But I do want that taste out of my mouth. It’s ten times worse than I remember it being. Ferrox spat. That’s why I stick to the stuff steeped in evil.
Serves you right, you big brute, Kale said with some amusement.
Careful. You’re the only one around right now with my favorite tidbit dangling from your person. Ferrox flooded their connection with memories of savoring his favorite “delicacy.” Would cleanse my palate in no time.
Disgusting. Kale’s stomach turned uncomfortably. Cut it out.
Don’t knock it till you try it.
That will never happen. Kale attempted to push the thoughts out of his head. Ferrox reined them in slowly to prolong Kale’s discomfort. Just then, something occurred to Kale. Grinning, he pointed out, You do realize you technically accepted her offer of friendship, right? You better hope that bargain doesn’t come back to bite you.
I did not. Ferrox’s eyes widened with dawning horror. The ancient ways are forgotten and gone.
Forgotten by you, obviously. Kale chuckled. Be nice, or I might let slip that you owe her a debt of friendship.
Not if she’s dead first. Ferrox oozed satisfaction. She just took off, by the way.
Kale felt the ripple a moment later as Vera breached the barrier between the meadow and the boundary forest.
“For fiends’ sake.”
Kale sprinted from the barn with Ferrox getting the last laugh in his head.
One minute, Vera was running for her life, and the next, Kale tackled her to the ground. Vera yelled in surprise, and then with rising fury at the man above her. She stabbed frantically with the knife clutched in her hand. He dodged it easily then captured her wrist in mid-air. Vera flailed with her remaining limbs and bit Kale’s arm when she could not buck him off. He pulled back with a howl. Straddling her chest, Kale pinned both Vera’s arms above her head with one hand while the other went around her throat to fend off her teeth.
“Enough,” said Kale, his face uncomfortably close to hers.
Vera responded by lifting a leg and kneeing Kale in his back. She did it again harder after he fli
nched. Kale responded by shifting to trap her lower half with his legs. That meant the man was practically lying on top of her. Vera flew into a flurry of growls and curses.
“Stop attacking me, and I’ll let you go,” Kale hollered.
The truth in Kale’s words sank in slowly. Vera’s instinct was to keep fighting, but she stilled, chest rising and falling heavily.
“Thank the stars,” Kale mumbled. “I’m going to get up. Before you take off running, look behind me, okay?”
He rose and backed quickly out of stabbing range. Vera scrabbled to her feet. Kale stepped farther back, tipping his head to indicate what he wanted her to see.
“No.” Vera’s heart fell. She was back in the meadow. The cabin and barn were right where they’d always been.
Vera stood exactly at the edge of the forest. She’d sprinted past that spot just a couple minutes before. The burbling creek she’d followed drew her attention. Before, it had been on the other side of her. Somehow, Vera had gotten turned around and run right back without even realizing it. Kale started laughing, a deep rolling laugh with an edge that made Vera bristle.
“I wasn’t attacking you.” Kale plopped onto the ground, looking up at Vera with a grim smile. “I was coming to make sure you didn’t get yourself killed out there, sure, but before I even left the meadow, you came crashing into me. And then you tried to kill me.”
What the—Vera looked at the forest behind her again. How had she screwed up that badly? However she’d managed it, she wouldn’t make the same mistake twice.
“I know you are not comprehending what’s is happening here,” Kale said, as Vera prepared to run again. Forget that she wouldn’t make it far before he caught her, she had to at least try. “There’s no way you could. So, I want to make sure something is very clear—this is not my fault.”
That made her bristle. This was all his fault. He was holding her captive, for freak’s sake. Kale waved a hand at the forest and said, “Go ahead, go.”
Vera froze, dumbfounded, wondering what his game was.