Siphon Magic

by Alicia Fabel

  The net above dropped as the Monroe witches joined in the fight, using fiery ropes to sever unnaturals. Mimi fought side by side with Addamas, who wore black armor. Together, they destroyed the last of them. Except for Errock. In the last minutes, when Kale had turned on the horde, so had Errock. Now Kale and Errock stood face to face, sides heaving. Errock nodded with a grin and slipped through a gap in the flames. Kale roared and charged after the unnatural. Before Errock made it a dozen steps, he cried out and stumbled. When the unnatural fell, his eyes remained open and vacant. A small yellow snake slithered into the undergrowth. Probably on its way back to Marianne.

  “Well, that was lucky,” said Maiden.

  The dragons turned their attention to the last of the unnatural bodies, charring them to ash.

  “Mother?” Kale asked Maiden while Vera averted her eyes, unnerved to see him in that form.

  “Mother is defeated,” announced Maiden. “Her spirit will remain locked away with me until the next solstice when I can send her on from this life.”

  “What of the world-threads?” asked Mimi. She had returned to her two-legged form and wore an over-large shirt draped over her shoulders. Beside her, Addamas stood bare-chested.

  “For now, the sure-threads are all intact. Only two threadbearers survived, however.” Maiden pulled Margory beside her. “This witch will take the place of Maiden. I am to become Mother. Over time, the threads will be reborn. Changes will need to be made so nothing like this can ever happen again. Although, I’m not sure what that will be. I do know if the Monroes had not kept their secret, the world would be very different right now. Witches would be the monsters.”

  “I have to take my people home,” Mimi said and wrapped Vera in a hug to say goodbye. “If I could stay right now, I would,” she said quietly to Vera.

  “It’s okay. I’m so grateful your people came forward to help save mine,” said Vera.

  “They’ve had practice recently with accepting differences. There’s still work to be done, but we’re getting there.” Two warriors, who had shadowed Mimi, shifted when Addamas tried to get closer. “Guys, let him through,” Mimi said.

  “Yes, your Highness,” one said and let Addamas pass. Although, if looks could kill.

  Holy hell. “Highness?” Vera squeaked.

  “It’s no big deal.” Mimi rolled her eyes. “My brothers here are just uptight.”

  “You’re a princess?” Vera persisted

  One of the warriors snorted. “She’s our Queen.”

  Vera gaped. “Very big deal, Mimi. You have as many secrets as Kale.”

  Mimi’s head drooped a little. “Will you still be friends with me?”

  “As long as you don’t push me out of any more trees.”

  “I want a girl’s night when I get back,” said Mimi.

  “’Kay.” Vera refused to cry any more. She was sure she’d used up her saltwater quota.

  Mimi hugged her one last time. “He’s still the same guy,” she whispered.

  “I’m not so sure.” Dang it, there are more tears in me after all. “He’s one of them.”

  “I know,” Mimi said sadly. “If you need time to figure things out, I get it. We won’t talk about any guys at girl’s night.”

  “That sounds perfect.”

  Mimi released Vera and stepped back. Mimi’s brothers tried to block Addamas.

  “You guys want to walk the whole way, or let the satyr make us a path straight home?” Mimi asked the brutes.

  Vera could tell they were undecided, but one more look at Mimi’s limp, and they let the Addamas pass. Mimi’s band of warriors and morphs slipped out as quietly as they’d come.

  “I have to go take care of my people too,” said Maiden. “There are a lot of answers and reassurances that they need from me right now.”

  “What about the dragons?” Vera looked dubiously at the golden lizard the size of a house and the red one that was only slightly smaller.

  “I think they’re planning to stay for a while,” Maiden said nonchalantly.

  “I can see that tears you up,” Vera teased.

  Maiden winked at Vera, took one more look at the dragons, and left to check in with her people.

  “How hangs the onions, boss?” asked the little red man, poofing in to stand beside Vera.

  “You did well, Seamus.” Kale replied.

  “Now that I’ve saved ye all, I must go check on my Felicity girl.” The man bent at the waist in Kale’s direction.

  “I’ll knock your head off if you do that again, Seamus,” said Kale.

  Vera frowned at the threat, but Seamus beamed before poofing away. Kale and Vera were the only ones left inside the charred line of grass. Vera couldn’t bring herself to look at the man shaped like an unnatural, with glowing demon eyes.

  “Are you ready to go home?” Kale asked quietly.

  Home. I can go home. Her heart lifted, and then she remembered that there was nothing at home. Suzie was not there. Now Gus was not there either. Home was an empty apartment, alone. But at least there were no more unnaturals there.

  “You’ll have to ride, though. Ferrox and I cannot be separated when we are in the same realm.”

  “That’s why you don’t travel together,” Vera said feeling betrayed. Kale had purposely not explained that part to her. He’d lied again, without saying a word.

  21

  Kale considered suggesting that Vera spend the night at the meadow and go home the next day, but he knew she wanted to be far away from him. Ferrox sank into a corner of their mind to rest, not caring to be part of Kale’s turbulent thoughts. Vera held around his waist as loosely as possible. If she hadn’t been too tired to stand, he suspected she’d have refused to ride.

  “Are you sure Ferrox doesn’t mind my riding him,” Vera asked.

  “He’s not paying attention right now,” Kale replied.

  “Oh, well tell him thanks for me?”

  “I will.”

  Fiends take me. Vera ran a hand over the hide on his equine side. Her fingers made the skin quiver. Kale stumbled.

  “Vera,” he said as calmly as possible. “Ferrox is sleeping. That’s me right now.”

  Vera’s hand froze against his hide, then she jerked it away.

  “How many times have you healed me?” Vera asked suddenly.

  “Three. At the lake, at the gate to Summartir, and in the forest after Samhira.”

  “You weren’t just passing through that village when the horde came,” she concluded accurately.

  “I led the horde there. I was their commander. The very first unnatural.”

  “But you didn’t want to join in their destruction.”

  “I retained more of my mind than I should have. As corrupt and bloodthirsty as my mind was to begin with. That’s why they chose me. I was a siphon the world feared and respected. A golden ticket to world destruction.”

  “You’re a siphon?”

  “All unnaturals begin as siphons. Being tied to the meadow’s magic makes me something different now.”

  “Why didn’t you lose your mind?”

  “Ferrox. They didn’t realize he was demon-spawned when they captured him. He was drunk off his tail at the time. Being merged with him instead of a normal horse changed the dynamics. I wasn’t alone in that fog of anger and thirst. I had a demon in my head with me.”

  “Who’s the redheaded woman I saw when you healed me at the Summartir gate?”

  “The honey-trap. They sent Talia to gain my trust and affection. When I was fully under her spell, she shoved a blade into my heart. The only way to live was to go willingly into the army of creatures they’d decided to create.”

  “Do you remember the little girl you—” Vera stopped when her voice cracked, remembering how she’d been the little girl that Kale had held down. In the memory she’d experienced while on the forest floor beside Sahira’s body. A memory Vera had locked away, believing it was a simple nightmare.

  “I wish there were things in my pas
t that I could take back. But I cannot. I am sorry you had to experience them.”

  “I just want to be home,” Vera said, pain lacing her words.

  Kale’s hearts wrenched for bringing her that pain. In this form, he had more than one heart to break. It nearly brought him to his knees. “Hold tighter, and I will run.”

  Kale ran as fast as he could toward the moment he would walk away from Vera for good. Which was the plan all along. Somewhere along the way, though, he’d gotten used to her by his side. He didn’t want her out of his life. But it didn’t matter, because he’d already lost her. Best to get her home quickly and get it over with. Like a Band-Aid, the humans said.

  Vera was home. It had been three months since Kale had dropped her off and run as quickly as possible out of her life. She’d wanted nothing more than for him to be gone. But everywhere she turned, he was still there. The glowing eyes of Ferrox out her window at night, watching over her. Baskets of food, including her once-favorite scotcheroos. Not to mention, the full-ride scholarship to the local college that had come in the mail the month after she’d gotten home. Issued by the Meadow Institute. Vera hadn’t planned on going to the small college in town. She’d planned to get as far away as possible. She even debated tearing the scholarship up, but who was she kidding? She was working at a fast food restaurant. That scholarship would give her a way out of South Dakota, to some career far away from the world-gate. Someday, she’d pay Kale back. With interest.

  There was a knock at the front door. Vera hesitated. She didn’t get visitors. Especially not after dark. Careful not to make a sound, Vera moved to the door and peeked through the peephole. Mimi waved. Vera pulled the locks back and opened the door. Mimi charged her as Mimi always did. Vera hugged the morph girl back this time.

  “What are you doing here?” Vera closed and relocked the doors.

  “Girls’ night.” Mimi held up a bag. “I brought snacks.”

  The girls spread out their goodies, laughing as Mimi described what it had taken to sneak away from her bodyguard brothers. Battling an army of unnaturals had made her people more concerned about their queen’s comings and goings than usual. Mimi popped a lid off a sour cream container before snatching a nacho-cheese chip from an open bag. The chip left a trail of orange as she slid it through the cream. Mimi popped it into her mouth.

  “Nasty,” Vera made a face.

  “Don’t knock it till you try it.” Mimi ate another. “What’s your favorite snack?”

  “I don’t have a favorite,” Vera said.

  “Everyone has a favorite.”

  “It used to be scotcheroos, but I think I lost my taste for them.”

  “What’s a scotch-uh-roo?” Mimi tripped over the word.

  “It’s a peanut butter cereal bar with chocolate on top.”

  “Sounds like those things you used to summon at Kale’s.”

  “I did not,” Vera argued.

  “Uh, you so did. None of us had any idea what those things even were. They kept popping up in the cupboard. It was way weird, cause the cupboard only summons what you’re thinking about or wanting. But then, you’d never eat them.”

  Vera blushed. Mimi zeroed on it. “Spill.”

  “No.” Vera leaned back on the couch and put her hands over her face. “It’s so embarrassing.”

  “Now I’m thinking all sorts of naughty things.”

  “It’s nothing like that.” Vera threw a pillow at Mimi, but the girl caught it mid-flight.

  “Then tell me.”

  “Fine. When I met Kale, I thought he looked like a scotcheroo.”

  “Huh. I can kinda see it. So, they were popping up because you were thinking about Kale?” Mimi’s voice rose as she talked.

  “Only about how much I hated him. The cupboard apparently couldn’t tell the difference.”

  “Do you still hate him?”

  “The things he did. . .” Vera shook her head.

  “I get that. It’s hard to forget the man he was when you’ve lived through his eyes. He told me you’d had a rough time. He doesn’t hold it against you. Can I ask what you’re having a hard time getting past?”

  “I was a girl in one of them. His victim.”

  “Whoa. Stop. When you’re in his memories, you’re always Kale.”

  “No, I was a little girl.”

  “Did you see yourself in a mirror or something?”

  “No. I just felt—”

  “Like you were a girl,” Mimi finished. “That’s because, although you were in Kale’s memories, you were you. Obviously, you think of yourself as a girl. But the part you played, that was Kale’s part in real life.”

  “When he was a boy.” Vera sucked in her lips and squeezed her eyes closed while her understanding rewrote itself. “He was sold after his parents died.”

  “He was sold to a brothel. Oh goddess,” Mimi dropped her chips and encased Vera into her arms. “I’m so sorry.”

  “I didn’t know it was a memory after it happened. I thought it was a nightmare from being chased by the unnatural. Then when I found out, I just assumed…” Vera’s stomach churned.

  “Let me assure you that even when Kale was out of his mind, that was the one crime his entire being rebelled against. After spending his whole life getting revenge and escaping the fear that comes from being a victim, he could never act on that particular urge of an unnatural. Although there are plenty of other crimes he had no objection to.”

  Vera brushed away the tears with her fingers and gave a self-loathing smile. “What a great friend I turned out to be, huh?”

  “Eh, we all have our demons that we’re trying to run from. That means we don’t share some of the darker regrets and fears we have. Kale has more than most. Believing in someone who only reveals themselves by pieces is no easy thing.” Mimi studied Vera. “Why don’t you come for dinner this Sunday? This week Dam gets to pick what we eat, so we’ll be having something fried or covered in barbeque. Or both.”

  “Thanks, but I don’t think that’s a good idea. Pretty sure I’m supposed to keep my siphon butt away from magical meadows. Also, I’m sure Kale would prefer I don’t rain my crazy on his parade again.”

  “I think Kale misses your crazy.”

  “Sure, like a drunk girl misses her panties.”

  Mimi choked and took a sip of soda. “Goddess, don’t do that to me.” Mimi laughed. “Don’t you have the cloaking charm? Wear that. Siphon problem solved.”

  “It’s not just that. After what I thought about Kale and how I treated him, I think it’s best if I stay out of his life.”

  “He’d understand.”

  “I thought there was a rule about no boy talk allowed at girls’ night.”

  “You started it,” Mimi replied.

  “Well, I’m ending it. Unless you wanna talk about how fast Addamas ripped his shirt off to throw over you after the horde was dead.”

  “That boy just likes to take his shirt off. He doesn’t need a reason.” Mimi bit her fingernail. “But you’ve made your point. No more boy talk.”

  Kale sighed when Mimi winged a chicken leg at Addamas’s head. A few days ago, Addamas had suggested they start a new tradition of weekly family dinners. Kale seriously doubted his sanity for agreeing.

  I cannot believe you told her, Ferrox barged in Kale’s head all of a sudden.

  Why are you back? You’re supposed to be keeping an eye on Vera. Is everything okay?

  Everything is not okay, Ferrox stated emphatically.

  Damn the Infernals. I shouldn’t have let her go home with that siphon still out there. He stood up from the table and headed for the door, just as Ferrox marched across the boundary. Kale felt her then. Moments before he saw her riding Ferrox. Ferrox glared at Kale across the yard while Vera slid from his back. The girl rubbed Ferrox’s forehead head shyly. The demon horse’s eyes cooled to black.

  “You came,” Mimi squealed and raced to greet Vera.

  Addamas stepped onto the porch beside Kale and propped
his shoulder against a beam.

  “Mimi made you talk me into family dinners, didn’t she?” Kale asked the satyr.

  “Yup.” Addamas held out his tattooed arms “Now that you know, all that’s left is ink.”

  “Why didn’t you both just tell me you’d invited Vera? You didn’t need to create a whole event.”

  “Honestly? Mimi didn’t think Vera would actually come. She didn’t want you to be upset. And she’s been talking about doing family dinner forever, anyway.”

  “That’s ridiculous.” Kale rolled his eyes. “Why would I care if Vera came or not?”

  “Why indeed.” Addamas winked then skipped down the steps to join the girls.

  Fiends. Kale had no idea what to do right them. He felt like a stars-blasted fool. If Vera had come to see Mimi and Addamas, he didn’t want to make her uncomfortable. So he’d keep his distance. However, he didn’t want her to feel unwelcome either.

  Goddess, if your junk is finally going to fall off, I get first dibs on it, Ferrox interceded.

  Don’t be an ass, Kale replied, knowing how much Ferrox loved being compared to one those creatures.

  How about you get over here and say hi to the girl who just threatened to stab my face while I sleep if I ever bite her again.

  What? Kale choked on a laugh and swiped a hand over his face to wipe away his grin.

  While she stood there petting me in front of you like an angel. Right after she thanked me for the ride. Which she coerced me into giving her, thanks to you telling her about friendship contracts.

  The girl still had her fire. Kale looked over at Vera and caught her watching him. He ran a hand through his hair and nodded a greeting.

  Hurry up, munch tote. Before I link her in and let her see how pathetic you really are.

  I will castrate you and feed you your own male bits if you do, Kale warned, but he stepped toward the rest of the group anyway.

  Ferrox laughed with glee. He’d finally found a threat that worked on Kale. And he’d use it to drive Kale mad. Kale didn’t get to say hello before yet another visitor made their appearance. He smelled gingerbread and farmland just moments before the weaver strolled into the meadow carrying a covered dome in one hand.