by Al K. Line
I knew I shouldn't have asked, but I did. "Tell me, Queen, did you know she had me? That Blue locked me up and I couldn't get free?"
"I know everything. I'm your Queen."
"You're also my mother. Oh, why do I even bother? Another lesson, I suppose? No, don't answer that. What about Robin? You know all about that and about the anger bubbling away, ready to split the city into irreparable fragments? What're you doing about that?"
"What I am doing is talking to my daughter, who I am sure will deal with what she started. This is your mess, Swift, you finish it. If you and your sister cannot cope with such a thing then I have been wasting my time with you all these years."
Deep breaths, Swift, deep breaths. I held my tongue until I was composed, then said, "Yes, my Queen. But I can tell you one thing, it's not you who's been wasting their time, it's Robin and I. I don't know why I even came. Maybe hoping Robin had asked me to visit you for a reason, but there never is a good one, or not one good enough. Goodbye."
I made to leave, unable to stand it for a moment longer. Not in the mood I was in, never mind the state of me.
"Wait!" The Queen took her time walking to me, elegant as always, stride like a supermodel.
"What? I'm tired, and I don't want to argue. Can't keep going through this year after year, century after century. It's exhausting."
"Yes, yes, I know, but that's what families do, my dear. I only take a step back because you're both strong and always get the job done. You know me, I can be somewhat heavy-handed and this calls for subtlety. The last thing I want is other Justices storming about and the violence spreading. It's contagious, you know?"
"I know. I can feel it. I guess you can, too?"
"You have no idea, my dear. Tread carefully, but get Robin safe. Get all of us safe."
I was rather shocked, but she does this, shows a caring side—there's always an ulterior motive, though. But rather than think bad of her I merely said, "I will. I'll get Robin, and I'll get Blue."
"Good, because while you've been playing with the corpses she's been causing terrible damage."
I knew I didn't want to hear it but also knew I had to. With a sigh, I asked, "What's she been doing, and why?"
"As to the why, it's obvious. She's making a play for the city, to take it from us. From me. Stupid woman thinks bashing a few heads is how you get results, but it isn't. It's true strength and your people following you. And she has been on a killing rampage. Took out more of our own. She's hard to catch, that one, is constantly on the move so we can't track her down. But I know you will, I know you'll find her. Bring her to Levick, he's waiting to have a few words."
"I bet."
The Queen had already dismissed me in her mind, turning away and busying herself with papers in a neat pile on a large desk she kept as immaculate as herself.
I didn't bother saying goodbye, there was no point.
Ticking off the List
So, guess it was all down to me, then. Honestly, I was past feeling a burden of responsibility. All I knew was I had to get my sister and avoid as many people as possible until the anger disappeared along with the forest. I could feel it changing as Mack carried me through the jungle, my mind sorting through emotions, data, ideas, and all the while sending feelers out into the city to get a connection with the hive mind that lets me know how the population is doing.
This isn't magic so much as a deep connection to a place that is home. A psychic bond with the energies emanating from individuals that allows me to read Strangetown like a book. Things were improving; we would be done with this issue soon enough. All that mattered was that we weren't left with untold dead, that we could get through it and still be able to face our neighbors. We'd be fine. Anger was leaving the minds of the people, then it would be us, and endless people from outside congregating to gawp or interfere yet again.
We took about an hour to get to Pumi's home, me wishing I'd picked up a phone so I could call him, but that would have to wait. Would he be home? Where else could he be? Anywhere, was the answer, but this was the best place to start. Then it would be Robin, then Blue. Then sleep. Maybe for a few years.
Mack forged on through the slimy mess of the streets, never slowing, intent on his goal. A determination in his stride and manner that seemed new, as if he could focus properly, avoid distractions. What would become of this creature from another realm when things settled down? What would become of all the truly Strange that remained? Only time would tell, but for now I was glad to have him with me, and it certainly cut down on journey time.
Blue played on my mind. I couldn't shake off what she'd done. The sheer brutality of the deaths she'd caused, the fact she'd buried me alive, and was now out there somewhere, doing untold damage. No way could she ever rule. She had no respect, nobody trusted or even liked her. But then I thought about our Queen, how the same could be said for her, and it didn't stop her ruling with an iron hand.
That was different, though. She had something else. She inspired awe, if not respect, for how she kept the city running, kept Strange safe for the most part. Ran the whole thing, dealing with the haters and the abusers, keeping us together under terrible stress. Especially when we first revealed ourselves and the world was in chaos. She emerged as a true leader even though she had been our Queen long before.
I turned my attention to the noise as Mack cleared the trees that gave the first glimpse of Pumi's. It was different now, the garden more traditional. A terrible mess, but the jungle gone, leaving behind piles of semi-rot I guessed would be good compost. One thing was for sure, nobody would run out of fertilizer any time soon.
And there he was, stripped down to a pair of shorts almost as skimpy as my own. He was covered in sweat and dirt, loading up a wheelbarrow then dumping the contents in a huge pile in the corner of the garden. Slowly working his way through the lot to clear any sign of the damage. Looked like he'd been at it for some time, and he'd still be at it for days more.
How many others would be doing something similar? Slowly clearing away the carnage until soon it would be nothing but a distant memory? Hopefully, nearly every inhabitant in the city, and judging by the amount of work going on as we made our way here then that wasn't far off the mark. It had been great to witness, what hadn't been great was the sheer scale of what lay ahead.
For now I just sat on Mack's shoulders and admired the view, and what a view it was. If my body wasn't so wrecked I would have dragged him inside right there and then, memories of our first intimate encounter meaning it was very appealing and a repeat was definitely on the cards.
Did I blame him for working here rather than rampaging about the city looking for me? No. Okay, it crossed my mind to question him about it, but the urgency and the nervousness he emanated told me all I needed to know. He was worried, had been frantic, which Mack had confirmed earlier, and now didn't know what to do so was cleaning up to occupy himself.
"Hey. Aren't you going to help a lady down off her demon?"
Pumi turned and smiled that goofy smile of his, wiping his forehead with a bandanna, showing off his large biceps and taut waist as he did so. And the scars, mustn't forget the scars.
"Swift, it's you. I've been so worried. Are you okay? What happened? I've been hunting for days, we all have. Me, Gravel, Mack here, even Yuki Ye helped until he had trouble at the bar. And loads of other people." Pumi reached out his arms as Mack bent low and I jumped into them, the warmth and strength feeling better than I can tell you.
I hugged him tight, ignoring the smell and grime, just wanting to feel the connection, and said, "I'm fine. Had a little problem but I'm back now."
"Come on, tell me all about it." Pumi led me toward the house, nodding at Mack to join us.
"Don't think I'll fit, grasshopper," said Mack.
Pumi scratched his head. "Ah, yeah. Sorry, Mack. Wait here, I'll bring drinks out."
"Don't sweat it, big guy, I'm cool. You two go inside. I'll be out here just soaking up the good vibes."
&n
bsp; "You sure, Mack?" asked Pumi, uncomfortable about leaving a guest outside. He went up even higher in my estimation then.
"Yup." Mack waved us away with a flick of a hand so we stepped into the cooler interior of Pumi's posh house.
No Rest
"I missed you so much. Where have you been?" Pumi mumbled into my sweet smelling hair, the shampoo still overpowering the ripe jungle. The same could not be said of him. He was dirty and stinky and I didn't care. I could have stayed like that forever, being held tight, him snuggling into my neck, but I knew it would have to wait.
"It's a long story. I'll tell you on the way. You know about Robin?"
He released his strong hold and took a step back, eyes serious. "I went there, but the vibe of violence was so strong, even for me, that I knew it would be stupid to push things. Robin's okay, for now. They can't touch her because she's using magic to protect herself, but it won't last. I was, ugh, working off some frustration out there in the garden. Was gonna go try to get her again."
"So you can feel the change? That everything's returning to how it was?"
Pumi nodded. "I feel it. It'll be a while yet, I think, but I don't connect to the Pool like you guys. Just channel magic when I'm fighting." He looked uncomfortable even talking about it, and I understood why.
Pumi doesn't so much take magic as absorb it from other users if attacked when in his rather wild shifter form, and it's one terrifying and sad-as-anything sight to behold. But he's magic all right, connected whether he knows it or not.
"Right, you need a shower, then let's go get Robin."
"Where were you? I was so worried."
"Later, okay?" I looked into the eyes of this ancient man, saw something that made my heart leap. True concern, deep emotion. And trust me, it's rare to find that more than once or twice in your life no matter how long you live.
"I'm okay, and thanks for looking, but where I've been you'd never have found me."
"Don't leave again. We're together, right?" I nodded. "Good. We can have a future, Swift, you and me. You understand?"
"I understand. And I want it. Now go clean up, you smell worse than Mack's burps."
Pumi went to shower and dress and I stood there for a moment, lost to dreams of a happy future with a man that cared and I knew I could trust with my life. Yes, he had his faults, we all do, but no way was I about to turn away from the chance of happiness. It had been so long, so very long, and I wanted nothing more than to share my life with somebody that made me completely relaxed, allowed me to be myself with no need to pretend, or hide things. Acceptance, and love, so unlikely even in a world of billions. You don't ignore a chance like that.
I left the spotless and strangely feminine scents of Pumi's home, looking at his bed with longing, getting all hot thinking about it, and went out to chat with Mack while we waited.
What I wouldn't give for sleep, but now wasn't the time for such self-indulgence. I had a sister to save and a wayward witch to have words with.
Mack was busy continuing Pumi's work, scooping up huge armfuls of decaying matter and making a mountain out of the already impressive compost pile. I stood and observed my oversized friend, wondering again how long he'd remain with us.
It's a peculiar feeling to become attached to someone only to know the friendship may be temporary whether you want it to be or not. Yes, he was annoying as hell with his always changing mode of speech and his wanton destruction of walls, but he was my friend, looked out for me, and I didn't want him to leave.
Would some form of magical disturbance come and then poof he'd be gone? Back to the netherworld where he'd do despicable things to the souls of the damned? How peculiar to think of him like that. But that wasn't him, not the him that was here. A creature taking on human traits and developing a personality that if not understood and cared about human concerns the way we do, then was at least learning compassion and empathy. An understanding of what it was to have emotions and feelings, all things new to Mack.
Poor guy must be as confused as a zombie in a mannequin factory, but he was making a good go of it.
"Hey, sister, you wanna go bowling after we get Robin?" Mack dumped the last pile of leaves and smiled with pride at the cleared garden—damn but he'd make a fortune as a gardener.
"Bowling? Are you off your head? How would you fit in the lanes? And I don't think they make balls with holes big enough for those things you call fingers."
Mack stared at his knobbly red digits, the curled talons sharp enough to slice right through a bowling ball with a gentle swipe. "Shame. I watched this movie about someone called the Dude and the game looked all kinds of groovy. How about we chillax and smoke us some good weed, then? They did that, too."
"Mack, my drug days are long behind me, thank you very much, and I don't think it's a good idea for you to get stoned." Visions of a demon with the munchies raiding the local supermarket flashed in front of my eyes. No, definitely no drugs for my already trippy amigo.
Pumi came out moments later, looking fresh and handsome, smelling nice and ready for action. I was surprised he didn't have a weapon, had expected to have to warn him not to do anything to antagonize the soldiers, but I guess he was smarter than I gave him credit for.
Squaring my shoulders, breathing deep, I took the hands of the two most important men in my life all of a sudden and went to have a word with some soldiers about my sister.
The Comedown
Residents of Strangetown, both Strange and Normal, have a deep affinity with the city if they've lived here for any length of time. The feel of the place, the vibe, the communal emotions hovering over us like light pollution, it seeps into our bones. It affects us, steering individuals this way or that depending on the mood of the majority.
The magical disruptions we'd endured had only increased until we were like a colony of bees or ants, each and every one of us unable to escape the general emotions and vibes that permeated our world. From a sense of foreboding and impending danger while the dark elves amassed and those in our city sought to overthrow us, to the relief when they were taken, to the animal instincts that came next, followed by anger, it was all changing once again.
I felt it as we walked across the plaza toward the town hall. The violence morphing as the jungle faded, past its heyday, the energy it used to grow now returning to make the Pool whole.
I knew it wasn't over, not by a long shot, but the forces were waning and that was good. The sooner everyone was in total charge of their own actions, the better.
"Wait," I warned, putting out a hand to Pumi. He stopped and turned his attention to where I nodded almost casually, not wanting to make a big thing of it yet.
Mack slumped down on the ground. I think he was trying to act casual, too, picking up on my actions, but you can't really hide when you're still a gazillion feet tall sitting down, and that's besides the fact you've got horns and are a red demon in a sea of human beings.
Or, once human beings. And that was the trouble.
A large group of vampires were standing at the bottom of the steps, bodies strewn around them, others sprawled on the steps themselves, some still twitching as vampires fed from their necks like starving children.
"Damn, I haven't seen that in a while. Not since the Reveal have they fed on people like that, and never so they'd be seen. What's going on?" Pumi clenched his jaw, fighting inner demons of his own, the violence affecting him as it was me. Both of us keen to save the soldiers being sucked dry, knowing it was the wrong move without more of an idea what was happening.
"They always use donors now. What's got into them?" The violence in the air was palpable here, but it wasn't the magic causing it, it was the emanations coming from the vamps. They have this feral energy about them, magic coming off them in waves. The knowledge they are no longer human but something else—in their eyes, something better.
They have changed their ways, most all too happily, more than willing to swap the dangers of hunting and feeding illicitly with all the risk t
hat entails for going to the blood bank and feeding off blood freshly given in return for payment. If that didn't suit, they could collect packs to warm up at their leisure.
Sure, there have always been "incidents," but the vampires aren't the nasty, cruel creatures you'd expect. Some are very nice, and most found it a blessing to no longer have to fight urges that disgusted them. Leave it too long and blood lust took over and they could no longer help themselves, feeding no matter the cost to themselves or others.
"Oh shit." The vamps' heads snapped to attention, all eyes trained on us. Those feeding turned with mouths stained red with the waning life force of soldiers who had no chance against the speed and strength of these ex-humans. But they knew better than to mess with me.
At least they used to.
A slender man with long, perfectly straight black hair and the face of an angel wiped away the blood and stood up tall on the steps. He smiled, fangs dark and dripping. He was at my side in a flash.
I sighed, and said, "You may as well drop him, Mack." The body slumped to the ground, the two-inch hole directly through his head meaning he was well and truly dead for good. I put my arm on Pumi's shoulder, feeling the tremble, and said, "No shifting. Let me deal with this. Okay?"
"Okay," he stammered, his body convulsing as he fought to remain a man. Small bumps popped then receded on his forehead and cheeks and I saw his clothes shift as his body ached to transform into the monster.
"Good. Mack, you did the right thing. Anyone else tries to attack us then you deal with them. But no attacking unless they do."
"You got it, sister. I'm the ice man, Mister Frosty himself." Mack inspected the claw he'd jabbed straight through the vampire's head, then licked off the stain with a frown—clearly he wasn't keen on the taste, which I guess was something.
The vampires were closing in on us now, feeding forgotten. The high of the violence and the blood dragging them to us like we were reeling them in on a magical line. As they walked slowly toward us, understanding fast movement would mean Mack would stop them, a group of soldiers ran out of the building, shouting and firing weapons.