by D. R. Perry
Chapter Three
Josh
I thought I’d gotten the wrong number when a huge yawn answered. I checked the screen to find I hadn’t.
“Whoozat?” Nox’s slurred voice came in crystal clear. I tried to imagine her just after a nap, fluffing sleep-tousled hair and stretching limber arms over her head. What would she wear to sleep? I cleared my throat, ending that line of thought as fast as I could.
“Just Josh. Calling about homework.” I held my tongue. Couldn’t say much of anything else. “I can read you a list whenever you’re ready.”
“Go ahead.” I heard the clack of a keyboard and a muffled conversation over the clink of silverware.
“Wait a minute, Nox.” I felt my brow ridging like a Ruffles potato chip. “Were you sleeping in the dining hall?”
“No.” I heard her hand cover the phone as she told someone she didn’t want any more coffee. “Why would I do a thing like that?”
“Dunno. Are you in a cafe or something? You know what, never mind.” I sighed. I’d have to call Bobby or Lynn and ask them to check on her. Or maybe Maddie once she got back from Vermont. I’d even call Jeannie if I had to. I rattled off the list of classes, Professors, and office hours I’d prepared earlier.
“Okay. I’ll talk to Tony. He can bring your homework for everything besides Shifter Mastery.” I heard her take a sip of something. “For that, we should meet. I don’t think Tony will give you much of a challenge sparring.”
“But where?” I ran a hand over my head, spiking up my hair. “I’m not supposed to go to campus, remember?” There was a long pause like Nox was thinking or struggling with some idea.
“I’ll think of something.”
“Fine.” I wondered why she didn’t just ask Bobby for help with that and then remembered. He’d be taking the freshman version of Shifter Mastery. If he practiced with me, he’d get too worn out to handle his coursework. “I gotta go.”
“Bye.” She hung up.
I wished I could talk to Beth. I’d tried, but her phone went straight to voicemail, and there was no response to my texts. I shook my head, still unable to think of a reason they’d take her. Beth’s losses meant she wasn’t even in the running for Beta of either pack in the future. I missed her, even more than when she’d been down the hall. At least I knew she could hear my knocking on the door and requests to come out and do something. If any of them hurt my sister, they’d be outcasts the minute I took over. She’d been through enough. I got up and headed toward the door of the Redfords’ attic guest room. I nearly bumped into Fred’s younger brother in the doorway.
“Sorry, kid.” I felt like a jerk because I’d forgotten his name.
“You need to say more of what you mean and mean more of what you say.” The kid’s eyes were round as saucers. I could barely see his irises, they were so dilated. Did the Redford family Psychic ability come with fortune cookie one-liners and involve mainlining eyedrops?
“Um, okay.” I shrugged, still looking down at him. Had I ever been that tiny? “Anything else?”
“Oh! Sorry.” The kid blinked and shook his head. His eyes went back to normal. “Mom says there’re sandwiches downstairs if you’re hungry.” He stepped out of the doorway.
“Thanks, kid.” I stepped into the hall and headed toward the stairs.
“My name’s Ed.” He smirked up at me, looking like he knew I couldn’t remember his name.
“Awesome.” So, the Redfords were the type of people who made their kids’ names rhyme. Who’d have thought?
Downstairs was cozy but well-crafted like the rest of the house. Fred’s dad didn’t own the most successful Extrahuman contracting business for nothing. Redford Renovations did everything from building entire houses with magical accouterments to outfitting old homes with magical devices to accommodate disabilities. He’d sent a crew over to re-do half our estate after Beth lost her leg. That had been harrowing because she’d also lost her fiancé, Ren Ichiro. He’d been from a Tanuki family, though not a shifter. Tanuki and their kin were supposed to be the luckiest people on the planet. I wondered whether he’d given up all his Luck so she could live through the wreck on the Newport Bridge.
In the kitchen, the dining table, sideboard, island, and every counter was covered with plates of sandwiches. I spotted just about every combination of bread and filling you could think of. I almost told Mrs. Redford she didn’t have to go to that kind of trouble for little old me when Fred walked in. He sat at the table, pulling six plates close to him and glancing up with a territorial spark in his eye.
“Mangia!” Mrs. Redford’s accent was deep Cranston, with long, nasal vowel sounds. Unexpected, considering her hair was much smaller than most ladies from that part of Rhode Island. “Sit. Eat. You’re skinny, even for a wolf shifter. At least you’ve got more meat on you than that scrawny Gitano boy my Fred works with.”
“Yes, ma’am.” I picked up a ham and swiss on rye and sat across from Fred, noticing he’d already polished off five plates. He pulled the sixth toward him. I wasn’t going to bother asking where he put it all. Redcaps ate even more than their untithed Changeling offspring. Mrs. Redford was probably used to making more than twice this much lunch.
“You call Nox yet?” Fred enunciated surprisingly well around the mouthful of sandwich.
“He did.” Ed sat on a stool by the island, a bologna sandwich on Wonderbread clutched in one pint-sized hand.
“Well, that’s good.” Fred swallowed a mouthful of the meatball sub. “Except for the part where you listened in on a guest.”
“Sorry, but Rob wanted me to.” Ed glanced up toward the lazily spinning ceiling fan.
“Rob, schmob.” Mrs. Redford was there, looming over Ed. “How many times have I told you to be careful of that one? Loves to get you into trouble.”
“I know Mom, but he said it was important.” Ed sighed, looking at something or someone near the ceiling. “Rob says Josh has a big problem. He needs to do everything right, or he’s going to be in serious danger.”
“Is this true, Rob?” Mrs. Redford looked right where Ed did. She waited, reminding me for all the world of someone using a Bluetooth earbud. Her eyes dilated just like Ed’s had. After a moment, she sighed and turned to pat the kid on the head. “You’re right this time, bambino. But next time, don’t just go taking Rob’s word for anything without asking me first, okay?”
“All right, Mama.” Ed crammed the last of his sandwich in his mouth. “Can I go play now?”
“Sure.” She glared at the spot I assumed Rob occupied instead of her younger son’s retreating form. “You stay here with me. Let the boy be a boy, not a conduit.” She glanced at me. “You, too.” How had she known I’d been about to escape with a second sandwich?
“What’s up, Mrs. Redford?” I took a bite of this new confection of bread and filling, waiting for her to talk. Velvet Elvis. My tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth.
“Rob’s connected to the ghost of a Precognitive. He doesn’t usually see things happening to the living, but he did this time. You want to know why?”
“Sure. Go ahead.” That’s right, the mom and the kid were Mediums. I hadn’t paid much attention to Psychic wooj before making one of the vampiric variety my Beta.
“You or someone you care about will die if you don’t correct your course.” She picked what looked like prosciutto and provolone on ciabatta off the top of one of the plates. “Maybe both.”
“I’ll take that into account.” My voice came out all mushy because the peanut butter still stuck to the roof of my mouth. What a canine predicament. I glanced around for a drink. I moved toward a glass and the water pitcher. “Thanks.”
“Whatever Ed said to you upstairs was important.” Mrs. Redford got between me and the water, her gaze intense over the top of her bread, cheese, and meat. “Do whatever he told you, and you might come through this in better shape than your sister did the last time Rob declared a dire prediction.”
“Wait, what?” I a
lmost dropped my sandwich. “What’s Beth got to do with this?”
“She didn’t listen, even though I warned her myself.” Mrs. Redford shook her head. “Thought a bad foretelling would go away because the Ichiros are what they are. But you know how that turned out. Don’t let it happen to you, too. Coincidence only makes it more likely that prediction will come true.”
“Ugh.” Fred reached for a BLT on multigrain. “Coincidence is a bitch, and then you die.”
“Language, Frederick Raymond Redford, or you eat outside.” Mrs. Redford reached one hand toward a rack of wooden spoons.
“Sorry, Mama.” Fred put the sandwich down and folded his hands on the crumb-strewn table in front of him.
“First strike today. Just be good.” She dropped her hand, then poured three glasses of water.
“I will, Mama.” Fred picked his half-eaten sandwich up and ate it in one bite. Then, he gulped his water down in one go. “And thanks for lunch.”
“Don’t forget who else you should thank.” Mrs. Redford glanced at the stack of plates floating toward the sink. They seemed to rinse and place themselves gently in the dishwasher.
“Thanks, crew.” He nodded at the empty air around the floating china and flatware. Mrs. Redford grinned, then headed out the door to the parlor.
“Yeah, thanks.” I finally understood why it wasn’t such a big deal for Mrs. Redford to handle a Redcap diet. She had unseen help.
“So, Nox is getting your homework?” Fred reached and grabbed more plates of sandwiches from a counter. He held a bacon, egg, and cheese in one hand and a Reuben in the other.
“Yeah. Well, she’s giving most of it to Tony. He’s bringing it over here later.” I propped one elbow on the table and leaned on my hand.
“Not her?” Fred’s eyebrows lifted as he chewed. “Huh.”
“Yeah, I know.” I swallowed the last of the Velvet Elvis sandwich. “Does anyone know if she’s been off campus except for the night she ran into me on Camp Street?”
“Off-campus? It’s rare to see her on campus unless there’s a class.” He polished off both sandwiches, then snagged a roast beef and horseradish. “At least, that’s the way she was last semester. Only went to the Nocturnal Lounge for orientation. She’s been there practically every night since it got fixed up.”
“I wonder why?” I eyed a plate with mostly tuna, egg, and chicken salad sandwiches. Fred grabbed some when he saw I’d passed them up for a turkey with cranberry on wheat.
“Maybe she’s taking a lot of classes this Spring.” Fred made quick work of the smooshy sandwiches.
“Maybe.” I had a feeling that wasn’t all. “But she might be hiding.” I told Fred about the apparent napping in the cafeteria. “One thing I can’t figure, if she’s hiding, why would she be out on Camp Street instead of on campus?”
“Depends on who she’s hiding from, don’t you think?” Invisible hands shuttled empty plates off the table, replacing them with the rest from the counters. Fred inhaled through his nose, smiling when he caught the aroma of steak bomb grinders.
“Oh. You think it’s the Sprite thing?” I passed over the grinders, opting for a veal parm panini instead.
“Yeah. I know for sure they're in hiding.” Fred polished off the grinders. “Why wouldn’t Nox be, too?”
“I hadn’t thought of that. But really, what could either Court do to her?” I chewed thoughtfully, relishing the tender texture of the sandwich. “She’s not a Changeling who has to pick a side and tithe.”
“The magic that lets her shift comes from the Unseelie Court. The King could conscript her and slap her with a punishment.” The rest of the pressed sandwiches vanished before Fred continued. “But he probably won’t. Dad says he’s been in an amazingly good mood since that enchantment got undone. Thinks it’s good press for his side, makes Unseelies look like the rule-benders they are instead of creepy evildoers.”
“But that’s just him, not, um, her.” I raised an eyebrow. If the King was cool with letting Nox’s transgression slide, the Queen would definitely think the opposite.
“Right.” Fred glanced at the half-full plate on the kitchen island. “And good call not saying that name in here. Dad has alarms. Anyway, she’ll claim Nox owes her. Probably something big, too.”
“That’s lame.” I tried to hide my shock at the near extinction of edible items. “The Sprite was serving a Summoner. It’s not like she could have used them herself until he kicked the bucket or their contract ran out.”
“You’d have to talk to Blaine in order to understand that.” Fred shrugged. “He’s got a much better idea of how virtually immortal people feel about losing things they expect to keep forever.”
“Good point.” I set my unfinished half panini down on the empty plate in front of me.
“What did Ed say to you upstairs, anyway?” Fred set his elbows on the table, leaning forward.
“He wants me to be more honest.” Ironic how my answer halfway ignored the kid’s advice.
“Well that’s a good idea for anyone, you think?” Fred smirked. I couldn’t remember whether Redcaps were any good at detecting lies. Even if they weren’t, with a Psychic mom, Fred might have a leg-up on hunches and woojy feelings.
“For most.” I nodded. “Not always for an Alpha, or someone hiding from people with excellent senses of smell.”
“And that’s why it’s really for the best that you stayed here.” Fred stood, reaching across the table to clap me on one shoulder. “Whole house has glamour on it. They won’t smell you here. Unseelies don’t dare piss my dad off, and the other Court would get fried if they got within fifty feet of the door.”
“Yeah. But I’ll have to leave at least once to practice with Nox.” I sighed, hoping I didn’t sound as Emo as I felt. “Not sure where we’ll be able to go that’s not on campus and safe for her.”
“Someone will think of something.” Fred stuffed the last ten sandwiches into a lunchbox in his rucksack. “That’s the advantage of having a pack, right? When I get to campus, I’ll check with one of your crew.”
“Is it that late already?” I also stood, instinctively reaching for my bag before remembering I couldn’t go to class all week.
“What do you mean, late?” Fred chuckled. “It’s early. This was breakfast.”
“Don’t tell me you have Second Breakfast and Elevensies, too?” I laughed.
“Hey, no Hobbit meals jokes. Those just go places I don’t even want to contemplate.” Fred slung the rucksack over one shoulder. “I’ll be back later tonight. This is where our Fellowship parts ways.”
We laughed, and he left me alone with the remains of my tuna melt on pumpernickel.
Chapter Four
Nox
I shook off my desire to sleep even though I’d need energy for class later. I couldn’t let anyone know I had no place to go. Seelies and Changelings likely to tithe that way went to PPC, but the entire campus was neutral ground. That wouldn’t prevent them from following me if I left, however. My apartment didn’t have an underground tunnel like Henry’s. It wasn’t warded because I didn’t have enough skill to protect more than a broom closet. Most of my studies had been focused on shifting instead of magic. It’s one reason I’d taken Magic Theory 101 as a Junior.
In the ladies' room, the mirrors above the sink gave me bad news. I splashed cold water on my face, hoping to reduce the puffiness under my eyes. At least I wasn’t high-maintenance with makeup or hair or anything. That had turned out to be a blessing in disguise while hiding out. This limited wardrobe and bare minimum toiletries thing would have been intolerable for someone like Jeannie the Resident Assistant, or even hair-iron addicted Lynn Frampton. People on campus were used to me looking unkempt, but my weariness was unmistakable now.
I had to find a place to get actual sleep if I wanted to keep my secret and help Josh. I’d checked the Alternative Therapies lab, hoping to find a hospital bed. There was one, but I couldn’t risk breaking in. They locked that entire building b
etween classes, and I’d get caught. The dorm basement lounge might still have the air mattress from Henry’s stay. I’d just have to find a way to check it out while keeping my homelessness on the down-low.
I headed to the library, remembering how Blaine had mentioned meeting Olivia about an errand. They’d be in there right now. If they had to stop at the dorm before their next class, I could just follow them. A little ice in the lock would hold the main door long enough for me to sneak in later. I walked up the library steps and went inside.
The musty smell of old books and the static crackle of new computers surrounded me. I heard Blaine blathering on about a boat circling the harbor since Christmas, punctuated by Olivia’s artificially perky vocalizations of agreement. The owl shifter might be the only person on campus more sleep-deprived than me, but that was her own damn fault. She’d taken meds to go against her natural nocturnal patterns. I wondered why. Extrahuman Law offered courses at all hours. I dismissed the question for the umpteenth time. It was her life and no business of mine unless she decided to share.
Thinking of life got me thinking about Maddie. She was the closest thing to a female friend I had. Lynn was so cerebral, it was hard to talk to her about much besides academics. If she’d been around over the weekend, maybe I could have gotten her help. Umbral magic could hide anyone from most Seelie things unless they watched Maddie casting her spell. But I couldn’t expect her to hang around for hours while I slept or chaperon me all over town. I had to keep my big girl pants on and do things for myself. At least, that’s what Grandpa kept twisting my internal arm about, anyway.
My nose wrinkled when I stepped up to the table. Instead of just taking the closest seat, the power of Grandpa compelled me to go all the way around the long table to avoid sitting next to Blaine. He had a beef against the dragon shifter for some reason, maybe even a whole entire cow. I slouched in probably the most uncomfortable chair ever made, nodding at Blaine and Olivia. The corners of my mouth twitched. More battle picking. I let Grandpa stop me from smiling.