Last Car to Annwn Station

by Michael Merriam

  Mae waited impatiently for the water to boil, then made them both a cup of strong, sweet tea liberally laced with whiskey. She placed two mugs on the table. Mae pulled a chair around and slowly rubbed Jill’s back with one hand. “Drink your tea,” Mae commanded.

  Jill sat up weakly and gripped the mug in both hands. She took a sip and then a deeper drink of the warm liquid and sighed.

  “What I want to know is where in the world did you learn to fight like that?” Mae asked. “I mean, I’ve seen you in class tossing around our instructors and whacking the hell out of everyone else with bamboo sticks, but damn!”

  Jill gave her a lopsided smile. “College.”

  “College? Did you take fencing or something?”

  “I took every self-defense and martial arts class I could afford, and I had this friend who was a stick-jock in the SCA. He taught me a lot about fighting with a long weapon.”

  “And you challenged a fully trained warrior to a duel? Are you completely mad?”

  Jill gave her a hard, blazing look. “You’re about to go charging into a mansion of powerful mages who have control of the pack of the Wild Hunt. You don’t have any magic of your own, and you’re not even as well trained a fighter as me, poor excuse for a Champion that I am. Don’t talk to me about mad.”

  Mae realized that no matter how calm and matter-of-fact Jill had been on the surface about the duel, it was all bravado. The look on Jill’s face and her shaky body language told Mae that Jill had been terrified.

  Mae took a long gulp of her own tea, scalding her tongue in the process. She was feeling more than a little shaky herself. She needed to get Jill cleaned up before the shock of it all overwhelmed them both. She stood and touched Jill’s shoulder. “Come on, let’s shower and go to bed.”

  Jill gave a weak nod and, finishing her tea in one gulp, stood from her chair. She swayed on her feet.

  Reaching out to steady her, Mae placed Jill’s arm around her shoulder. They walked slowly up the stairs to the master bathroom, Jill leaning on Mae as much as needed, despite Jill’s protests that she was fine.

  Mae settled Jill on the closed toilet lid, letting her place her head in her hands, while Mae started the shower water running. Once the water was hot enough, Mae turned to Jill, who was trembling violently.

  “It’s okay,” Mae said. “You’re fine. I’ve got you.”

  Jill looked up at her, locking her good eye on Mae. “He could have killed me.”

  “But he didn’t.”

  Jill stood and started to slowly undress. “Mae, he let me win. There’s no other explanation. He was faster than me, he had magic to use. He’s probably been fighting with a sword for centuries. He let me win.”

  Mae reached out to help Jill, whose hands were shaking so badly at this point that she could not unbuckle her own belt. “Well, I’m glad he did. I much prefer you alive and well.” And maybe that will keep you from taking unnecessary chances.

  It seemed reasonable to Mae that the faerie captain had indeed thrown the battle. He had stated that his fight was not with Mae. Perhaps he had wanted to accept their offer, but had to find a way, even if it was a token way, to make it look like he had tried to kill Jill and accomplish his mission. She wondered if other faerie creatures could sense the fae blood in her.

  Mae helped Jill undress, taking a moment to check her injuries. The shallow wound on her back would need cleaning. Mae looked at where she had seen the glowing dart strike Jill. The leg was bruised but not punctured. The dart had been some kind of magical energy, Mae realized. She hoped there would be no lingering magical effects.

  Once Jill was safely in the shower, Mae gathered up all the dirty clothes and took them into the master bedroom, dropping them into a corner. Silently thanking Kravis and possibly Ellie, Mae opened up their luggage and withdrew clean clothes for both of them.

  “I brought you a change of clothes,” she called out through the steam in the bathroom.

  “Thanks,” Jill’s voice spoke over the sound of running water. The water switched off. “Can I have a towel?”

  Mae handed a towel over the shower curtain to Jill. It vanished, and a moment later Jill appeared wrapped in it as the curtain was swept aside. “Your turn.”

  “How are you feeling?”

  “Better. Being clean helps.” Jill leaned forward and kissed her. “Thank you.”

  Mae smiled at Jill, happy warmth spreading through her body. “It was my pleasure.”

  Mae waited until Jill was finished drying herself. Jill picked up her clean clothes and slipped into the bedroom, leaving Mae to shower.

  She went about the business of getting clean in an efficient manner, washing herself quickly under the steaming water. Mae did not want to leave Jill alone any longer than necessary. Ten minutes later Mae was dressed in flannel pajamas and drying her hair with the towel. A moment of searching in the linen closet produced peroxide, sterile gauze and white medical tape. She added cotton pads to the pile and went in search of Jill.

  It was a short search. Jill was stretched out crosswise on the large bed, lying on her stomach. On the floor was a tray with two steaming cups of tea, a carafe and a plate piled high with toast. Peanut butter and two different kinds of jam rounded out the impromptu dinner.

  “You’ve been busy,” Mae said, nodding toward the food and drink.

  “I thought we’d both want something, so I decided on quick and easy food. There was a loaf of bread in the freezer.”

  Mae settled on the bed next to Jill. “I’m going to clean your cut. The last thing we need would be for you to get an infection.”

  Jill made a grunt of assent and shifted around, lifting her shirt to give Mae access to her small injury.

  It was only a moment’s work for Mae to clean the cut and cover it with gauze. As she worked, Mae noticed the thin red reminder of an earlier wound, the cut across Jill’s hip, peeking up from the waist band of Jill’s pants. She taped the gauze over the new cut securely and let Jill’s shirt drop. She gave her friend a soft pat on the rear.

  “Done,” Mae said.

  Jill looked over her shoulder and grinned at Mae. “What? You’re not going to kiss it better?”

  Mae dropped the remains of the improvised medical kit on the floor. “Flirt.”

  “Shameless,” Jill acknowledged, sitting up and lifting the tray onto the bed.

  Mae scooted around to face Jill over the food. For the next several minutes both women concerned themselves with the contents of the tray. Mae noticed that Jill seemed to be returning to normal, attacking her toast and tea.

  She also noted the dark bruise on Jill’s forehead. A large part of their plan tomorrow concerned Jill going to the party. They would need to hide that bruising under her hair or cover it.

  Jill gave her a thoughtful look and started nervously playing with the sheet. “Can I ask you a question?”

  “Of course.”

  Jill exhaled nervously and licked her lips. “It’s just—this may not be the ideal time to ask about this, is all.”

  “Go ahead.”

  Jill lifted her head and locked her mismatched eyes on Mae. She reached out and took both of Mae’s hands in her own. “You remember the night I told you about my suicide attempt?”

  “Of course.”

  Jill’s voice was little more than a whisper. “You told me I needed to forgive myself, and that someday I’d take what I’d learned and help someone else. I said you sounded like the voice of experience and you told me that was a story for another night. I was just wondering…”

  Mae took a deep breath. “You’re not the only one who made mistakes as a young woman.”

  “If you don’t want to talk about it, that’s okay.”

  “No.” Mae gave Jill’s hands a squeeze and took a deep breath. “It’s fine. I—I had a child when I was in college. A son. His name—his name was Liam.”

  “Was?” Jill asked.

  “He died. When he was still a baby.”

  “Oh,
Mae, I’m so sorry.”

  Mae gave Jill a weak smile. “I loved him like I’ve never loved anyone. It’s just that, for a long time after he died, I blamed myself. I couldn’t help but think if I’d done something differently, he might have lived. It’s not true, of course. There was nothing I could have done. He was doomed from the moment he was born, and sometimes—sometimes that makes it worse, you know? Because if I’d been using any sense, he would never have been born. He would never have had to die.”

  “I take it he was not a planned child?”

  Mae shook her head. “No, he actually was planned. Would you like some more tea before I tell you about the truly awful thing I did?”

  Jill gave her a surprised look. “Okay.”

  Mae poured the last of the tea into the two cups. “It was when I was going to the U. My father had died. He was my only family.”

  Jill’s face took on an expression of understanding. “You didn’t want to be alone.”

  “I was desperately afraid to be alone. I was a freshman, living away from home. I had no family and no friends. What I did have was Jerry, my more-or-less boyfriend.”

  “Oh, Mae. You didn’t?”

  “I did, but not because I expected him to marry me. In fact, I was pretty sure he would bolt when he found out I was pregnant.” Mae gave a humorless snort. “He did not disappoint.”

  “What happened?”

  “Jerry was the only boyfriend I ever had. We’d been a couple since middle school, but it was more a relationship of convenience than anything else. He was one of the boys I played hockey with. We lived near each other. We’d ride on the bus out to the little frozen lakes in south Minneapolis together. I’d never had another male show any interest in me, flat-chested, plain little thing that I am, and I didn’t have the self-confidence to pursue another boy.”

  Jill grinned. “It sounds like maybe your subconscious already knew which way you swung.”

  “Looking back on it, I had little enough interest in the boy I was with and none in the other young men around me. Still, boy-and-girl relationships were all I knew at the time because it was all I saw in school.”

  Jill nodded in understanding.

  Mae took a deep breath. “So, I never went after another boy, and Jerry was too lazy to pursue other girls. In truth, he was just someone to take me out once in awhile, or go to school functions with. I stayed with him because I was afraid I’d never find anyone else. He stayed with me for the occasional sex. Simple as that. We probably would have married eventually, just because there was nothing better to do.”

  “And then your father died,” Jill said.

  Mae nodded. “And then my father died. I don’t know what I was really thinking. I just—I didn’t want to be alone.”

  “How did you manage?”

  Mae shrugged. “You find ways. I got pregnant and Jerry ran. I dropped out of college for a year and took a job waiting tables.”

  Mae paused and gathered herself. She did not want to cry, but there was no stopping it. She looked down at her lap and let the tears come. “Liam was born with a heart defect, a condition called tricuspid atresia. His heart didn’t have a tricuspid valve.”

  “Oh,” was Jill’s only reply.

  “The doctors did everything possible for him. They kept him alive for almost six months, but in the end it wasn’t enough.” She looked up at Jill and sniffled. “When he died, for the longest time I hated myself.”

  “Why?” Jill asked, her voice very small and quiet.

  “I brought him into the world. I brought him into the world for purely selfish reasons. I couldn’t help but think that his death was my punishment for being such a terrible person.”

  Mae looked back down at her lap. She felt Jill reach out and gather her close. Mae leaned into Jill.

  “Did you love him?”

  Mae nodded against Jill’s shoulder. “Yes. More than anything.”

  “That’s all that really matters,” Jill whispered.

  Mae felt Jill begin to stroke her hair. She closed her eyes. “I know. And I know his death wasn’t my fault. It was—it was just stupid bad luck for both of us.” She felt Jill’s head gently rest on her own.

  “We’re quite the pair, aren’t we?” Jill said.

  Mae sniffed. “I’m glad you asked, truth be told.”

  “Yeah, well, now we know each other’s pasts.”

  Jill kissed the top of her head, hugged her tight, and then released her. Mae looked up as Jill set the half-empty box of tissues on the bed.

  “Thanks,” Mae mumbled, pulling several tissues from the box. She wiped her eyes and blew her nose. “Thanks.”

  Jill set the tray of dirty dishes on the floor. Mae sighed as Jill gathered her close, holding her in her arms, drawing her down to the bed. It made her feel safe. It made her feel loved.

  Mae closed her eyes and snuggled closer to Jill. She was exactly where she wanted to be. Mae raised her face toward Jill’s, stopping with her lips less than an inch from the other woman’s. Jill gazed down at her, her eyes filled with hunger.

  Mae felt herself being pushed backward as Jill’s lips met her own. She let Jill take the lead, enjoying the feeling of Jill kissing her.

  Mae ran a hand through Jill’s hair, guided Jill to the base of her neck, moaned when Jill’s lips started toward her shoulder. She pulled Jill closer, twined her legs in Jill’s and gave a gentle thrust of her hips upward. Jill growled, started back up Mae’s neck with her lips. Emboldened, Mae dared to reach under Jill’s shirt, gently stroked along the curve of Jill’s left breast. Jill broke off her kisses and pushed up on her arms, looking down at Mae with a wide smile. Mae withdrew her hand from Jill’s breast and ran a finger over Jill’s cheek. She leaned up to kiss the skin next to Jill’s silver eye and then rained a soft series of kisses along Jill’s jaw and neck. Jill turned her head, her lips reaching for Mae’s. Mae happily obliged her when Jill’s tongue touched her lips, seeking entry into Mae’s mouth.

  She was not sure when or how Jill had unbuttoned her top, but Jill’s clever hands were caressing her breasts, stroking the flat of her stomach, slowly working down, reaching under the elastic of Mae’s pajama pants.

  “Yes,” Mae murmured. “Just like that…”

  Dear Wall,

  It was a rat. He got into the walls and chewed most of the way through the paneling. I dug the rest of the way to him with the butter knife I stole. I have my herald.

  Of course, that involved giving him something he wanted, which meant stealing meat from the dinner table. I’ve always refused meat, so Mr. Hodgins was more than a little suspicious when I asked for my serving of the bacon-wrapped steak they had for dinner tonight. I had to eat almost half of the meat to convince him. I really thought I was going to vomit, especially since my stomach is still rolling unpleasantly.

  I managed to secret the rest of the meat away. I snuck it into my room, gave the rat his bribe and sent him on his way with my message to Mother. Hopefully she gets it.

  I’m willing to sit tight tomorrow. I’ll take a wait and see approach until the veil starts to thin, then it’s everyone for themselves.

  These pads are really uncomfortable.

  I wish Chrysandra was here. At least I’ve got you and the silver.

  I need to shove something over the hole the rat came in before Elise notices.

  Good night, words. Good night, wall.

  Tuesday, 31st of October

  Mae opened her eyes. She felt a moment of panic as she took in her unfamiliar surroundings, but settled at the sound of Jill’s soft snoring.

  She stretched, languid and lazy. The sheets were cool and crisp against her naked body.

  Last night had been something beyond wonderful. Mae had forgotten what it was like to make love with someone you cared deeply for. It had been far too long.

  Mae rolled over on her side to face Jill. She had convinced Jill to leave the eye patch off during the night. Jill had hesitated, but gave in to Mae’s wish. Th
e eye looked unchanged, silver instead of the pale blue of Jill’s other eye. Mae wanted to assure Jill that, at least when they were alone, Jill could leave her changed eye uncovered. She could also, Mae pointed out, get a colored contact lens to cover the silver eye.

  Mae reached out and caressed Jill’s cheek. Jill looked softer, almost vulnerable in her sleep. All the worry from her face was erased, and her black hair lay in a wild tangle around her. Mae thought she could stay and gaze at this woman forever.

  Unfortunately, her body was letting her know there were certain pressing needs it wanted addressed. Mae sighed and slipped from the bed, grabbing her clothes from the floor as she made her way to the bathroom.

  Once Mae made her bladder happy, she brushed her teeth and dressed. She looked in on Jill, who had rolled over onto her back and sprawled out, taking up three-quarters of the bed. One pale leg was uncovered, dangling over the side of the mattress, and the sheets had pulled down, leaving her exposed to the waist.

  Mae resisted the urge to crawl back into bed and reprise last night’s lovemaking. It would be enjoyable, but they had a rescue to undertake. She slipped out of the room on silent feet, leaving Jill to whatever pleasant dream she was having.

  Coffee was the first thing on the agenda. Mae found the canister of grounds and the filters on the counter where they had left it yesterday. She set the pot to drip and went about finding breakfast.

  Her search yielded a package of freezer-burned cinnamon rolls. Mae thought she might be able to make them palatable by smothering them in butter and letting them microwave for a bit. Mae took a can of peaches from the pantry, placing it on the counter, ready to be opened when the rolls were done. She set the timer on the machine and snuck back into the bedroom to retrieve the carafe and serving tray she had seen last night.

  Jill had flipped over onto her stomach, tangled up in the sheet and comforter. Her hair made a dark halo around her head.