by M J Hutto
“You’re my best friend. You came back from the dead to try to save my life. And you did! I’m alive. I’m safe. I’m okay. We did it!!”
She’s shaking her head sadly. “I don’t think my boss is very happy. It’s hard to tell sometimes. She wouldn’t let me come back until today. Maybe that’s so I couldn’t mess up anymore.”
“Jaylin, how did you end up with a job in the afterlife?”
She shrugs. “Lucky, I guess. Or maybe it’s really hell and not the InBetween at all. Freaking Thibbs ended up with a job for eternity. How does that shit happen? Did he even have a job before that? Do animals and insects have ‘jobs’?”
I laugh; only we would be having this conversation. There’s a knock on the door and Karmine’s voice filters though.
“You okay? Toast is done. Achlys said something about you needing stool softeners so he and Father went to buy some.”
I roll my eyes and smack my forehead softly with my hand. I’d already finished and washed my hands. I open the door and step out. “Jaylin’s back, I was just updating her on what’s happened.”
Karmine smiles and waves. She waves to the wall but she’s trying. We walk slowly back to the couch, and I eat the next few pieces of toast. Karmine hands me my charm bracelet and my box of charms from the coffee table.
“I thought you might want to replace those until you can recharge them. I know you don’t go without it very often.”
“Thank you Karmine. I’ve been missing this. I feel naked when I don’t have it.”
I take the charms off and remember using each of them. I have substitutes for them and put those on the bracelet. I slip the pinky toe ring off and put it with the other used charms. Karmine helps me put another on. I give her a new protection charm and one for luck.
She turns on the TV and we sit watching until Father and Achlys get back and she goes to bring them inside. She and Achlys come into the room with a drugstore baggie and a large chocolate milkshake and fries. Reva and Maxine are with them.
“Brought you a present. Hey, Karmine, did you know she doesn’t like to be called Princess. Do you know what nickname she does like? All of mine have seemed to hit wrong.” Kent, Dorian, and Vera come in for that part and I smile up at them.
“Oh,” Karmine says wrinkling her nose, “Yeah Princess is the worst. I think we got that during school from the haters.”
Reva and Maxine give me watery hugs and go back to the shop to close up. They’re spending Christmas together with Reva’s family. We make plans for lunch in a couple of days.
Kent grins as he pokes Karmine in the side. He and Vera sit together in the recliner, “You two might not have liked being called Princess, but I didn’t mind. They all knew who ruled that school.”
Dorian laughs. “Yeah, me.”
“Sure, buddy. Even the teachers thought I hung the moon.”
“Ms. Flowers,” they both say sighing.
Karmine giggles. “Y’all never had a chance. Her tastes ran far daintier than you two.”
We all look at her open mouthed, even Achlys who is sitting on the arm of the couch beside me. Karmine and Dorian are sitting on the other end of the couch. Mother and Father are fussing around in kitchen.
She raises a supercilious brow. “What? It was after graduation, and I’d just turned eighteen. It was perfectly wonderful. She is a very talented woman. I wonder what she’s up to now?”
I swat her with my cold pack, and she laughs. It’s good to see her laughing. Kent and Dorian are arguing that she was probably bi and not lesbian. Vera is laughing with them. She’s a transplant to City 7 so she doesn’t know Flowers.
“Hell, maybe she just likes VonSables,” she says looking at me.
I raise my hands up. “She wasn’t one of my teachers. What did she even teach?”
They look at each other. “Art, anatomy, and sociology.”
“Yeah, that explains it. I took an extra lit class and took sociology with Jaylin at the camp during one of those long stays. We took sociology, English I and geometry there. Oh, and an Egyptian history class. Guess I missed out. She sounds fun.”
We all laugh, and my parents ask Dorian and Kent to go get the tree and bring it in to decorate. Achlys goes to help, and my shoulder is cold immediately. Stupid.
Vera situates herself in the chair and grabs a cookie.
“You heard anything about Sabine?” I ask.
She nods. “Yeah, she asked me to do an exclusive with her. A few of her memories are coming back and she wants to do an interview. I think she thinks this is a good time for it and the next election has one less candidate, so I think she’s looking to put herself in that spot. Sorry, Karmine.”
Karmine waves her off. “I’m fine. Don’t be sorry. I hope he rots in jail. Sabine deserves something good out of all this. Maybe the press will help her get the votes she needs.”
I’m nodding. “So maybe you could do like an exposé or something. Maybe you could interview me too and then everyone else will leave me alone.”
She reaches over to hold my hand. “Oh, Kable, are they bothering you already? How did they even get to you? We tried to keep them away.”
“It’s not too bad yet. I’m really looking to circumvent all of it. I don’t want to deal with them. You I like.”
She smiles and touches her chest with her fingers. “Why thank you. I’d be honored to interview you. But not until you’re ready. You tell me when and where and we’ll do it.”
I see her making plans and the wheels turning in her head. She’ll make the best of the situation for all of us. She’s a damn good reporter and a damn good person. She never goes for the cheap thrill; her work is solid and meaningful.
Kent kisses her after they put the tree in the corner. I tell them where the decorations are and they start putting them on. It’s a live tree, only about five feet. Mother had gotten one I could plant after, like she knows I usually do. He was a bit of a misfit with bald spots and leaning to the right. He fits right in.
I am finishing the milkshake when Achlys comes back to sit on the arm of the couch. He lets his arm come down beside me and his thumb gently rubs my own. They all finish decorating the tree and we sing a few carols while we drink some mulled wine I walked Karmine through making. I only have one glass before switching to water.
Jaylin sings along with us and dances around the living room. Thibbs flits around stealing tea when he can. Crazy little lighting bug will be singing songs in French for the rest of the night.
We eat dinner and sit around talking after my parents go home. They promise to come with gifts and food tomorrow. Mother assures us she won’t be doing the cooking. We all sigh, relieved.
Vera’s phone vibrates and she looks to see what it is. She’s frowning. “Can we turn on the TV? I think y’all will want to see this.”
We turn on the TV and find the local news channel.
Reporter: So, to recap. Congressman Victor Raymonds has been arrested and charged with kidnapping, assault, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, conspiracy to commit murder and murder. He is currently in FBI custody and is being held here in City 7. There are reports he is connected not just to our own recent murders but those in surrounding areas. He is believed to be the kidnapper of both Sabine Fairmont and Kable VonSable. He is suspected of the murders of Drex Angelo and Kaddy Kates earlier this month.
Anchor: Has the Congressman made any statements of guilt or innocence.
Reporter: No. He’s been detained and his counsel is not reaching out or answering calls. Similarly, his family is quiet and unreachable.
Anchor: Well, that is a dramatic turn of events. Keep us updated as further developments occur, please.
Reporter: Thank you Joan, we hope to have more for you later today or tomorrow.
We look around at each other silently. I don’t think any of us expected this tonight. Did he confess? Was the evidence that overwhelming? I don’t know what to make of it. I’m still processing that it was him.
�
��I honestly think it was the charm.”
We all look up at Achlys questioningly.
“I told you we found Karmine’s charm, but I didn’t tell you where. We also found one of yours.”
“What? Where?”
“Karmine’s was tucked under the mattress you were tied to. And yours was in his pocket when we picked him up. He was fine until we took it from him. Then he went apeshit.
“I called one of the chaos investigators I know in the bureau, and they were able to trace the magic back to you. For both actually. He was really impressed with your skill and ability to manipulate chaos. Said the only reason Victor was able to use Karmine’s charm was because he had her hair wrapped around it. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have worked without her.”
“They have chaos investigators in the FBI? I didn’t know that.”
He reddens and looks down. “Yeah, only two. They wanted me to be the third but I’m not ready for the FBI life. I told them I’d start a CID unit here with local law enforcement and we could work together when we needed to. They are trying even harder now to get me to join.”
“Why don’t you?”
His eyes are bright and steady. “Too many things around here to see. Don’t want to miss any chances.”
Jaylin is staring at us. “Girl you better jump on that. He is gone for you! What the hell are you waiting on?!”
He looks over at her and winks. She starts laughing and dancing again. I shake my head.
“Okay, so they’ve traced those two things back magically. Can they make people understand in court? Or is it going to get thrown out as pseudoscience? Chaos doesn’t always follow the same concrete rules of physics. For the most part, yeah, but there are some pretty weird things. Like time travel and astral projection and…”
“Chill, Hot Momma.” I raise a brow; he nods and grins. “Oh, you like that one? Alright. They’ve got the science down for explanation. Not me, but them, okay? Don’t ask me to explain it right now. But yeah.”
He shrugs. “Between that and DNA I think we’ve got him. I bet they offer him a deal if he confesses and allows them to interview him.”
“Why offer a deal if they’ve got all that?” This from Vera. I wasn’t sure what to think.
He shrugs and takes a sip of his wine, “It’ll probably just be to take the death penalty off the table. Maybe let his sentences run concurrently instead of consecutively.”
She nods, “I gotcha, what’s the difference between three life sentences and life without parole. And they can study him.”
“Exactly.” He pops a fried mushroom in his mouth.
I yawn and the room gets a little fuzzy. My foot is aching. It’s time for another pain pill. I hope I didn’t wait too long. Karmine tells everyone it’s time to go for tonight. I get hugs from everyone and she walks them out.
I hear a round of, “Bye, Hot Momma” before the door closes on them all. I roll my eyes. I may have to move. I grab my pills and take the antibiotic and pain pill. Karmine helps me into the shower and then to bed. Jaylin and Thibbs settle down with me.
“I think we’re going to be okay. What do y’all think?”
“I think you’re already okay, mon amie. And I’m right as rain. I got my witch and friends and a comfortable place to lay my head. Not much more I could want.”
I look up at the clock. Its only ten but I’m exhausted. I pull the blankets up around my chin. “How about you Jaylin? What do you think?”
“I think you’re going to be fine, and I hope this ending makes Lil happy and she lets me keep working with you. I want to know what Jon is investigating and what happened to me. If it wasn’t natural causes, we need to know who is killing Orokkians. I think we have a lot of good to do still.”
My eyes are closing. “Me too. And I know some people who I think can help us out with that.”
My eyes pop open but apparently some time has passed because the house is quiet and Thibbs and Jaylin are gone. I wanted to tell her about his aura. I’ll ask tomorrow-well today I guess-in the morning, later.
33 Bonus!
Its early, maybe five a.m. Thibbs is back, and his light is slowly fading in and out like a bulb on the tree but in time to his breathing. He’s dreaming, probably, hopefully of Melisande. I don’t see Jaylin. I walk out onto the porch to watch the stars and wait for sunrise. I bring my blanket with me and sit on the porch swing slowly rocking back and forth with my foot propped up on the swing.
It’s cool and quiet and beautiful. It’s peaceful. A good time to think about my life. I’ve had a tough time lately but I’m okay. I’m battered but not broken. God, that sounds so cliché, doesn’t it?
What have I learned, how have I grown? What changed, what stayed the same? What’s next for Kable VonSable?
I learned I’m strong. And I’m determined. And I’m relentless. And I don’t have to be saved. I’m my own hero, I save my damn self.
I am beautiful because of my flaws and uniqueness. I am loved and I am worth loving. I don’t know even half of what my magic is capable of but I’m learning. And, hey, knowing I don’t know is half the battle, right? I’ve got a long way to go but I want to learn, and I don’t need to hide it or push it away. The world will adapt.
I don’t need another person to be happy but having people is nice. I’m good if it’s just me but I’m good if it’s more than just me too. I’ve got a beautiful bunch of people I call my family; some are by blood and some by heart.
I grew up a little, maybe, I hope. Life is hard sometimes, most times if you want the truth. It isn’t about that though, right? Everyone has a sob story, why not try to make someone’s story better instead of competing to see who has it worse.
A year from now, no one will care about Kable VonSable’s story of mishaps and mayhem. My mark won’t be made because of this. My mark will be made through the people I help and the love I give. I’m not done by a long shot. Jaylin is right, we still have a lot of things to do, a lot of good to accomplish.
***
The sun is rising, and it is beautiful. This is one of those time I want to share with someone. And now Jaylin is standing beside me, smiling, and she reaches out for my hand. Without thinking we’re holding hands and watching the beauty of another day being born. Thibbs is hovering between us. Emma and Lucy are laying on their condo on the porch. Jekyll and Hyde are laying on the floor near my foot.
Karmine comes out with Achlys and Dorian in tow. Kent and Vera walk out with cups of tea as the sky blossoms into pink, red, orange, and purple. It is magnificent and I’ve got all my friends with me. I can’t think of a better way to move forward.
THE END
Acknowledgements
This is dedicated to each person who had a hand in making me the person I am today. Without you, I wouldn’t be nearly this exotic.
Thank you:
My sweet James, you’ve always believed in me more than I have, and your love gives me the ability to be more than I am. Thank you for loving me when I don’t love myself and calling me on my crap when I need that too.
Henry, Kayla, and Finn. I love you and appreciate all your support, encouragement, and help. I wouldn’t be me without you. You have brought me joy, happiness, and never-ending pride. I am honored to be your mother.
Andie, my time lapsed twin, thank you for listening to me ramble about the people in my head and loving me even when I’m channeling the villain. And, for loving all my invisible friends as much as I do. We love you too.
My parents Pam and Tony, for giving me what I needed, for loving me, and for being you.
Dana and Lucas, for being amazing and for being fans even when there was nothing to be a fan of. You don’t know how much that means.
My group of ragtag Chaotian’s, who loved Kable from the very beginning and encouraged me to continue and laissez les bon temp rouler.
Love Always,
M J
Outtakes
Jaylin walks in the room smiling and dancing around.
�
��What are you doing?” Kent asks.
“Dancing,” she says.
“You’re naked.”
“Well, you can’t see me, so!”
Karmine grins. “Nice belly ring, Jaylin. You look good.”
Vera blushes and Achlys laughs. “Put some clothes on.”
Jaylin huffs out. “None of you can see me, damnit, you aren’t doing this right!”
***
Achlys is sitting beside me on the arm of the couch. He lets his arm hang down and brushes my arm with his thumb.
I’m so surprised I jerk and push him off the couch onto the floor. He looks up at me appalled.
“Sorry.” My eyes are wide and I’m biting my lip.
***
We’re eating dinner and talking and laughing.
“So, what do you think of my boy Achlys?” Dorian asks.
I shrug. “He’s okay, charming I guess.”
“Disarming?” From Dorian.
“Would you say alarming?” from Kent.
“I don’t think I’d call him alarming. Maybe a little quiet.”
“Maybe we should put him on a diet?” Dorian says.
“What?!”
“Yeah, that would be a riot,” Kent agrees.
I roll my eyes. “Y’all are hilarious. Now quit.”
Dorian sighs. “You never enjoy my wit.”
Kent nods sagely. “I mean look, everyone else is laughing. These jokes really hit.”
Vera is giggling. “You two ain’t shit.”
“Your humor really shows your misfit,” Karmine snarks.
“Dear Lord, now you’re all doing it. How to stop this?”