by Alicia Fabel
“Um, Vera?” Mimi pointed at Vera’s cheek. The scratches were healed, but blood had pooled beneath Vera’s eye, giving her a shiner.
Vera touched her cheek and winced. “Do it quick,” she told him.
Getting rid of the bruise would take nothing more than a second, a flash of a memory. Still, Kale took a deep breath before stepping forward. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think—”
“Like I said, whatever,” Vera cut him off again.
Kale wished he could make her see that she hadn’t been the only one affected. That there was nothing to be embarrassed over, and he definitely hadn’t cared about fanning his ego. He wished she knew how much he wanted to touch her. All the time. Just to make sure she was there and okay. He’d been craving her touch since she’d carved the glass from his back. But she was happy in her life, a life where he kept his distance, so he said nothing. Kale brushed his fingertips across the ridge of Vera’s cheekbone. The bruise faded. She drew a sharp breath, eyes scanning his face. Part of him wanted to ask what she’d seen, but he wouldn’t. She didn’t owe him any explanations. As she stepped away, Mimi put an arm around her, to help support her weight.
“If the toe gets to be too much before this weekend, just come back,” Kale told her. “Your room’s always ready for you.”
The reminder that she was expected to spend the following week back at the meadow went over marvelously. She turned and marched as well as she could, hobbling on her heel like that, into the borderland. Addamas would set a path right to their dorm. Minimal walking required.
The satyr looked back before following the girls. “You going to be okay, brother?”
Kale nodded.
“I’ll keep them safe.”
“I know you will,” Kale said. “Thank you, Dam.”
And then he was alone.
The ambulance screamed away from the library. Vera hugged her arms around herself. She hadn’t thought to grab her coat in all the chaos.
Mimi poked her and angled her head at Noah standing by the curb. “Go say hi.”
“And then say what?” Vera huddled closer to Mimi for warmth. “Good job calling 9-1-1? Hope Carrie’s going to be okay?” Mimi pinched her, but she kept going, babbling to keep from freezing in place. “Sorry you’re working tonight and have to clean up that pukey book cart now? Hey, I think you’re cute. We should grab a drink sometime? Not tonight, of course. I’m sure you’ll want to go home and shower, and maybe get drunk to forget what just happened?”
“Actually, the cleaning crew gets that unfortunate job,” said a male voice behind Vera. “Thank goodness. I hope she’ll be okay too. I don’t drink, but I will have a pile of paperwork to fill out now. So, maybe another time?”
“Girl, I tried to get you to shut up,” Mimi murmured when Vera gave her a how-could-you-let-me-keep-talking-like-that look.
Vera blew out a slow breath and slowly turned around to face Noah. “Hi,” she said lamely. What else was there to say at that point?
“Hi,” he said with an amused smile and held out a hand. “I’m Noah. It’s nice to meet you.”
“Vera.” She shook his hand.
“You look really familiar,” said Noah. “I mean, other than from the library. Have we met before?”
“No, I don’t think so,” Vera answered. She’d swear Noah seemed disappointed by that.
“Oh well. I’ve seen you two around the library a lot lately, usually digging out the oldest books you can find from the stacks.”
“Vera’s researching dragons and unicorns,” Mimi revealed.
Yeah, that’s not embarrassing at all. Vera’s cheeks heated.
“Really?” Noah asked.
Huh. He doesn’t look appalled. “It’s for a project,” Vera clarified. That sounds less pathetic, right?
“I’d love to hear about it. I’m a bit of a mythology geek too.”
“What’s your favorite?” Mimi asked him.
“Norse, Oceanic, Greek, Egyptian, Sumerian, I love it all,” Noah answered. “Since coming here, I’ve been learning about the Lakota and Inuit people too. Mostly lore. Magical creatures fascinate me.”
“You and Vera have that in common, then,” Mimi said. “You might even say she’s obsessed with magical creatures.”
Vera loved the insane morph, but Mimi needed to stop talking before Noah ran the other direction.
“Well, if you’re interested, I’m planning a hike up into the Black Hills on Saturday. A friend was telling me about a Native American mosaic that I want to see.”
“Isn’t it a little cold for hiking?” asked Mimi.
Why is she trying to talk him out of this? And why aren’t I shouting, yes, count me in?
“It’s supposed to be the warmest day of the year so far. I’d like to get out there before the tourists start coming in.”
“Sounds like fun,” Vera said finally, and it wasn’t a lie. Strange, since she basically hated forests and hiking. Kale would crap a brick if he found out she was planning to explore the woods with a random guy. She didn’t hate that thought.
“You could both come,” Noah said.
Vera gave Mimi a hopeful look. If Mimi came, Kale wouldn’t have a reason to get his protector-tighty-whiteys in a bunch.
“Or we could go another weekend if you want,” continued Noah. “I just remembered you’re probably leaving for spring break.”
Crap. They were. Vera had completely forgotten for two minutes.
“We aren’t headed out until Saturday afternoon, actually,” Mimi lied.
I love this girl.
“A hike would be fun.” Mimi adjusted her bag on her shoulder. “Can I bring my boyfriend?”
Vera threw Mimi a side-eye. Boyfriend?
“That guy who comes with you to the library sometimes?” asked Noah.
“That’s him,” Mimi replied. “Addamas would love something like this.”
Two lies. Addamas was not her boyfriend and he would not be excited about this.
“I’m good with that. I’ll meet you guys in the parking lot at seven?”
“In the morning?” Mimi’s enthusiastic smile drooped. “You weren’t kidding about morning hikes.”
Noah flinched. “Yeah, I’ve always been a morning person. Best things always happen early.” He glanced at Vera. “We can go later if you want? It’s about a thirty-minute drive to the trailhead.”
“No, seven is fine,” Vera assured.
Mimi gave a forced smile but held her tongue. She’d have plenty of things to say come Saturday morning, though. None of them fit for pleasant company.
“Good. Well, I’ll see you all then.” Noah nodded at the library. “I should probably get back in there now.”
“Oh, yeah. We’re headed out. Our group decided to call it a night and pick up fresh when we get back from break.”
“All right, you ladies have a nice night.” Noah turned to climb the steps to the library. Vera dipped her head so he wouldn’t see her grin if he looked back.
“I told you he’d like you,” Mimi whispered. “But seven am? The things I do for you.”
“Thank you.” Vera gave her a one-armed hug.
“Sure, sure.”
Something white smacked Vera in the face. Mimi grabbed the piece of paper before the wind whipped it away.
“Sorry,” called an awkward girl with blonde hair as she raced down the steps toward them, clutching a sketchbook with scraps of paper sticking out at all angles. “That one got away.” Mimi held out the sketch of a woman that she’d caught. Vera didn’t recognize the subject, but it was incredible nonetheless. The girl took it and stuffed it in her sketchbook with the others.
“No worries,” said Mimi.
“You’re a great artist,” Vera said.
“Oh. Uh, thanks.” The girl ducked her head shyly and pushed a lock of hair behind her ears. “Now if I could figure out how to walk on two feet without tripping, that would be special.” The girl gave a self-depreciating smile and then hurried away.
Over her shoulder, she threw out one last, “Thanks again.”
“What were we talking about?” Mimi asked.
“Whether you want me to tell Addamas that he’s your boyfriend for the weekend, or you want to do it yourself?”
Mimi groaned. “He’s going to ask if he gets benefits.”
Vera laughed. “And you’ll threaten to rip something off if he touches you.”
“Yep.”
“How much ice cream am I going to owe you for this?” Vera asked.
“I’ll keep a running tab and let you know in three days.”
“What’s wrong?” Kale asked Addamas at the edge of the borderlands as soon as the satyr passed into the meadow.
Addamas jumped. “I thought we were past the part of our relationship where you snuck up on me in the dark.”
“You mean that time when you used to smuggle people through the meadow for a bit of gold?”
“Dude, why are you bringing up the past?” Addamas straightened his shirt. “Mimi sent me to let you know that we’ll drop Vera off Saturday evening.”
“I thought you were headed out Friday after classes.”
“Change of plans,” Addamas said. “Mimi and I are double-dating with Vera and the new library intern Saturday morning.”
“Double dating?”
Addamas scratched his eyebrow. “Mimi says I’m supposed to pretend to be her boyfriend.”
“Stars. Try not to piss her off too badly.”
“Me?” Addamas feigned innocence. “I’ll show Mimi a fantastic time.”
“What about the boy? Have you checked him out yet?”
“He’s my age. Little shorter than me, but it’s probably the hooves that give me the extra couple inches. Sandy blond hair, icy blue eyes, kissable lips. If I swung that way, I’d go for him.”
“That’s not what I meant, and you know it,” Kale pinched the bridge of his nose.
“Yes, oh-mighty-Guardian, I checked him out.” Addamas smirked. “He’s clean. No magic on him. No convictions either, in case you’re wondering.”
“Don’t leave Vera alone with him.”
“Just so we’re clear, am I allowed to stand outside the door if things go really well for the two of them?”
“Addamas,” Kale growled.
“Geez, lighten up,” Addamas said. “It was a joke. But you do know that eventually she’s going to want alone time with one of the guys buzzing around her.”
“What guys? Have you checked them all out?”
“I didn’t mean literally.” Addamas sighed. “But she’s sexy as Persephone and she gets looks. Until Noah, she hasn’t seemed to notice, but I’m sure that will change at some point. One of these days, whether we find the siphon or not, your protection is going to have to stop at the door with a sock on it.”
Kale scrubbed his face with his hands, trying to dislodge the thought. “Not this week.”
“Vera doesn’t strike me as a first-date homerun, so yeah, I think we’re good for a few days.” Addamas looked at Kale closely. “You okay?”
“At the moment, I’m wishing that alcohol still worked on me.”
“Need me to find some eggtooth powder? From what Vera described, that seemed to work well.”
“I want to relax for a couple of hours, not hallucinate my worst nightmares for a couple of days.”
“You do need to chill. And it’s not like people are wandering in from the realms constantly like they used to. Take a few hours.”
“I still get visitors,” Kale said.
“Yeah, every couple days I’m sure someone sends their spies to make sure the world beyond their realm is still standing. But people don’t try to jump realms like they used to.”
“Just because the realms are quiet from out here doesn’t mean they’re settled. What sense do you get when you travel?”
“Everywhere seems a little more desolate than the last time I was there. None of the civilizations are thriving. Empty buildings, abandoned villages. Not just in Nibiru. Then you have Earth, where they can’t expand fast enough.”
“I’m afraid of what will happen when the world realizes Earth has flourished while their realms have withered.”
“How long will it take for people to take notice?” asked Addamas.
“How desperate are the kargadan to continue their people and their culture?”
“There isn’t much they wouldn’t try to save themselves at this point. Even Mimi’s advisors and scientists are desperate to figure out how to stop the decline in their numbers.”
“Then it won’t be long. The world won’t die quietly while humans thrive.”
“Now I need a drink too,” said Addamas. “You’re sure there’s nothing I can get for you?”
“No. I’ll keep waiting and watching.”
“A thousand years is a lot of waiting. Especially when you don’t have a way to ease the burden.”
“I’ll live.”
“If that was a joke, it was terrible,” said Addamas.
“Go watch over the girls. I’ll see you all Saturday afternoon.”
Addamas saluted and pathed away as soon as he stepped back into the borderlands.
I’m with the satyr. I need a drink after that depressing conversation, Ferrox announced.
Where are you headed?
Oh mommy, I didn’t know you cared.
Don’t be an idiot. Kale was not sure that he should proceed, but Ferrox picked up on the essence of his thoughts anyway.
Seems like an idea guaranteed to bring trouble for both of us.
You’re right, but so was Addamas—I need a break for a few hours. And a demon emotion-filter would help.
You’re sure you can paddle back up this stream after you’ve ridden down it?
I did last year, didn’t I? asked Kale.
Yeah, but you had a thousand years sober first.
Are you scared for me, Ferrox?
Not at all. I was just going to suggest a tour of Annwn. It’s the seventh year.
The changing of the Infernal host’s guard.
New torturers, bright-eyed and ready for work. I always enjoy seeing what the newbies have planned for the most wicked.
Kale recalled his royal screw up with Vera earlier, and the cold shoulder she’d given him afterward. Sounds like a plan to me.
Stop dawdling, then. Ferrox slunk out of the shadows near Kale.
The Guardian looked around the meadow. For a moment, he wondered if maybe he should stay here instead. In case he was needed.
You worry too much. Even I need a break from your anxiety.
Let’s go.
As they passed through the gate to Brasil, the ties that bound them together pulled. Their minds and bodies meshed. Together, they stomped their four hooves. Kale’s worries detached. He didn’t lose his concern for the girl, but it no longer choked him. Ferrox navigated them through the shadows toward Annwn, the underworld ruled by Arawn. Hopefully, the infernal was out on a hunt with his hounds. Kale wanted to enjoy his visit in peace.
3
“All right folks. As hinted, there’s an attendance check today. Write your name and, to make it interesting, your favorite animal on a slip of paper. Turn it in before you leave to get credit for being here. Make sure you keep showing up after spring break because there will be more of these. Despite what some of your classmates believe, the semester is not yet over.”
Crackling paper and the scratch of pencils filled the auditorium around Vera.
“Don’t do anything too stupid next week,” continued Professor Eldrid. “I know that’s a difficult concept for many of you, but for the sake of those of us who must inhabit this planet with you, please do your best.”
“Next year I get to pick the sociology course.” Mimi collected her bag and waited for Vera to write her favorite animal—a chicken, of course.
“I like Professor Eldrid’s class,” Vera said.
“How is that possible?”
“I think it’s interesting to se
e the similarities between the different major cultures of Earth and the different realms. Maybe we should take World History next year.”
“Gah.” Mimi shivered dramatically. “Heliopolis history is bad enough. I have tutors ready to shove that down my throat all summer, so I’ll save us both the trouble. World History: The world unraveled. Now it’s all screwed up, and no one wants to play nice. The end.”
“You’re awfully cynical today.”
“Ugh, you’re right,” said Mimi. “I’m being all serious and pessimistic, like you and Kale.”
“I am not like Kale.”
“Uh-huh.” Mimi patted Vera’s arm. “Keep telling yourself that.”
Vera scowled and stood up. The more she looked at Mimi, the more she worried. “Are you sure you’re okay? You look pale.”
“I look like honey. Just like always,” Mimi said.
“Today, you look like whitewashed honey.”
“I do feel kind of blah. I think the constant gray skies and snow have gotten to me. I’m meant to bask in sunlight.”
“The sun is out today.”
“I know, hurry up. I want to soak in as much as I can before it’s gone.” Mimi ushered Vera to the front of the class. They’d missed the stampede of people throwing their papers at the professor and his TA.
“Miss Vera Katz and Miss Mimi Smith,” greeted professor Eldrid with a nod.
“You know our names?” Mimi asked with surprise.
“I do,” Professor Eldrid confirmed. “I have rosters with pictures, and I looked for you two once. Miss Katz wrote the best papers in my class this semester. And you, Miss Smith, wrote the most creative ones.”
“Then why do you always give me C’s?” asked Mimi.
“I said they were creative, not good. I do give you points for keeping my job interesting, though.”
“I’ll take it.”
“You know, I’ve never seen someone named Mimi before. Is it short for something? Melinda, Miranda, Amy?”
“My given name is hard to pronounce,” Mimi hedged.
“Seriously,” agreed Vera. “On-teen-mer-eat. Or something.”
Mimi tensed.
“Ah, so we have royalty among us,” said Professor Eldrid.