“I almost have it,” said Holly, her voice equally hoarse. Her black hair had gone almost completely gray, and her face was sporting lines that looked like a series of dry riverbeds. The use of so much magic was draining her fast.
The shape of the Tree was morphing into something resembling a mushroom. Oleander bent over and retched again, but the weirdly morphing landscape caused her to fall forward, and she landed on a ground that felt like as soft and sticky as fresh marshmallow. “Holly!”
“Pipe down! Allll…most…there.” Though she looked much older, her eyes were sharper than Oleander had ever seen them. She stood tall, in her element, directing every ounce of her abilities toward her target, with a command and precision that even Lily might have envied. For the barest moment, Oleander felt a tickle of fear at this new witch. Perhaps it wasn’t killing Holly, but making her stronger.
Suddenly there was a click and the shape of the world rebounded with a loud snap. Flocks of crows cried in the distance. Oleander slowly righted herself, ears still ringing and stomach still spinning. Holly was lying in a heap a few yards away. Wisps of her now fully gray hair caught the breeze. Hobbling over to her sister, Oleander reached down and gave her shoulder a quick shake.
Holly rolled onto her back and looked up with eyes that were as dull as they’d ever been. Her vision of Holly being made a more powerful witch shattered, and she exhaled in relief.
“Oly?”
“You did it, Sister. Good job.”
“Did what?”
The pill was already beginning to take effect. “I’m going now. You should head back.”
“I…I think I’m going to sleep…now. So…tired.”
Oleander sighed. She didn’t have time to mess about. The woman would find her way back eventually or die there. At any rate, she’d finally served a purpose for the first time in her life, and it would likely be the only one.
After taking one last look at Ellemire over her shoulder, she stepped through the Door of All Doors. It slammed shut behind her with an ear-shattering clap and Oleander screamed again as the ground began to shake.
-10-
Chaos filled the Oasis house. Screaming and crying girls darted back and forth across the lawn as the earthquake made everything that once appeared solid look like reeds bending in a high wind.
“Get off the porch!” screamed Ivy, who grabbed Aster’s hand and led her to an open spot in the front yard. “Stay here while I go check on the others.” Ivy dashed off in a whirl of floral print as Aster crouched low so she could feel more in control of her legs.
She’d never experienced the sensation of moving earth, and she pushed away thoughts of a great crevasse opening up in the ground and swallowing her where she sat. All around her were the sounds of houses and trees creaking, glass breaking. Unfamiliar wails and warbles soon joined the chorus. She closed her eyes and hummed, the way she used to do when she was a little girl and certain every shadow in her bedroom was a hungry monster in waiting, and that she could dissolve them with the power of her lullabies.
The ground stopped moving almost as suddenly as it had started, and a few seconds later, the birds started singing again. Aster slowly came up on wobbly legs and gazed up at the house, which had a few crooked shutters and broken windows, but otherwise looked intact. Neighbors emerged from their houses with wide eyes and slack jaws. She heard one of them ask, “Has there ever been an earthquake in these parts?”
Aster followed Ivy into the house to make sure all the other girls were accounted for. Pictures had fallen from the walls, and shards of glass from a few broken vases lay on the floor. The commotion of the frightened girls was the worst part. Several of them were still screaming in spite of Ivy’s calming touch. Tonya sat nearby on a couch hugging the girl who’d made the terrible pancakes the previous night.
Ruby was still gripping the banister as if at any moment the shaking world would fling her right off. Larkspur was standing guard two steps above her, his eyes wide and alert, ears twitching at every sound. Aster’s heart flooded with relief and she ran to them. “Are you okay?”
Ruby uttered a shaky laugh and looked up at Aster with her haunted black-ringed eyes. “As okay as a girl can be after an earthquake in a place where earthquakes don’t happen.”
“You don’t get earthquakes here?”
Ruby shook her head. “Not that I’ve ever heard of, but what do I know? I guess California doesn’t have all the fun.”
She sat down next to Ruby, troubled. The ground had quaked when the Door of Doors had closed, the night she’d arrived. If earthquakes were rare here, was it possible the Door had opened again? And if so, who had come through it?
No, no you are not going to think about this now. You’re just trying to scare yourself. Stop.
She pried Ruby’s hand away from the newel post so she could hold it in hers. “It’s okay now. Do you want to go outside and have a look around?”
Aster got up and gave Ruby’s hand a tug, but Ruby resisted. “Wait. I need to say something first. I’m sorry for how I acted earlier. I shouldn’t have turned into a bitch like that. Maybe the planet was trying to send me a message or something.”
Aster sat back down, still holding Ruby’s hand but finding that she didn’t mind. Something about it comforted her. “Did I offend you somehow? If you want Bryon for yourself, I will stay away.”
“Trust me, that’s not even close. I… I really like you, Aster. I know we hardly know each other, but you’re the first girl here that I didn’t want to strangle at first sight. I mean, I thought you were kind of a dork, and I still do. But it’s the good kind of dork. And I guess, given what you are and all, I’m afraid you won’t stay around long.”
Aster’s gut tensed up. Had she somehow exposed her identity? “What do you mean by that?”
“You’re only the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen. There’s something about you, Aster. It’s like you’re… magical.” A full blush stood out on the other girl’s pale cheeks, but she didn’t drop her eyes. Aster admired the girl’s bravery in standing her ground and saying what she believed. She wished she had that ability.
Ruby’s eyes were like open portals into a starry night, and Aster felt the sudden need to escape into them and stay there. Something stirred in her gut. It felt both wrong and right. This isn’t what she came here for, but none of that seemed to matter right then.
Ruby reached out and cupped Aster’s cheek before leaning down and kissing her lips. It began as something almost sisterly, but as the duration increased, Aster felt herself falling into a place of unexpected lust as she let her lips part so their tongues could mingle. She’d never kissed anybody in such a way, and she was acting not just on instinct, but also feeding off of Ruby’s energy and obviously superior knowledge in this area.
A heated spark ran all the way through her body and bloomed like a firework in the most sensual and private part of her. This is what it feels like to want somebody. And for once there was no maddening refrain to remind her of what she “should” be doing. She fell deeper into Ruby’s kiss, embracing her as she did so.
Whether it was just a few seconds or an eternity later, Aster couldn’t tell, but the screen door slammed shut with a hard crack as someone either came in or went out. The two girls parted abruptly and sat forward. Aster shook her head to clear it of the fog. This isn’t what’s supposed to happen.
Aster sighed. It was only a matter of time before that needling voice of doubt returned. Of course it wasn’t supposed to happen. And she wasn’t completely clueless about how it was supposed to work. No matter how much she and Ruby kissed, or if they ever escalated to doing more than that, the other girl would never be able to get her pregnant. Lest you forget why you were sent here, daft girl.
That was Nanny Lily’s voice, and although it was only from Aster’s imagination, she nevertheless cringed at the reprimand. The whole house suddenly seemed quieter and Aster wondered if Ivy had taken everyone else outside, or if they were all
listening in.
“So… How about we go outside?” Ruby asked. Her knees were bouncing up and down with energy she obviously needed to release.
“Yeah, that’s a good idea.”
They dashed down the stairs and out the door, with Larkspur tagging along. All the Oasis girls were standing around in the front yard with their arms crossed in front of them as if to ward away the invisible hands that had just shaken them.
Tonya saw them and trotted over. “This is nuts! A real life earthquake. I never thought anything cool would ever happen in this craphole.”
“Is everyone out here?” Ruby asked.
Tonya nodded. “Pretty much, but Cynthia’s in the house already trying to get online. Big dummy. The power’s out. I don’t know how any of us are going to survive until it’s back on.”
Aster smiled. Finally she didn’t feel like such an outsider. “We’ll be okay.”
Ruby laughed. “Says Laura Ingalls Wilder with pink hair.”
“Who the heck is that?” asked Tonya.
“Don’t you people read anything other than vampire romance books?” Ruby looked at Aster with a pained expression. “I’m clearly alone on this island. The only person under the age of thirty-five who read Little House on the Prairie.” Aster suppressed a laugh; she didn’t know who this Laura Ingalls person was either, but she wasn’t going to say so.
She looked over to see Ivy wading toward her through the gaggle of girls, her dark face drawn with worry. “Ladies, can you all go in the house and start cleaning up while we still have daylight coming in the windows? And dig out the candles and flashlights. Ruby and Tonya, I need you to run down to the corner store to see if you can scare up some bags of ice before they’re all gone.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out some money. “Get only what you can carry for now. I’ll have to make a trip uptown to get some other supplies in a few.”
Once everyone had cleared out, she turned to Aster. “I just got some news from the neighbor across the street. He checked with the geology survey on that fancy phone of his. Seems the earthquake’s epicenter was about thirty miles north of here.”
Aster wasn’t sure what exactly that meant. “Is that… bad?”
“It could be. The Tree is also thirty miles north of here.”
“Oh. Oh Gods.” It felt as if someone had begun squeezing her lungs as those questions resurfaced in her head again. Who came through the Door? Certainly not Dahlia or Lily. You know who it was, you just don’t want to admit it. Nothing about this could be good. At all. She suddenly felt nauseated.
“Now don’t get yourself up in a panic. It could just be a coincidence. It ain’t the first time this area’s had an earthquake.”
Aster didn’t believe in coincidences, and Ivy didn’t sound like she much believed her own words either. Everything in their lives had always revolved around destiny and purpose, and there was no reason to switch that track now. “When are we going up there?”
“We ain’t going anywhere. I am. It’s my job to keep you safe, and you’ll be much safer down here.”
Aster didn’t like that at all. Other than Larkspur, Ivy was the only tie she had to her home. “But if something happens to you, you won’t be able to keep me or any of us safe.”
“Have some faith in me, girl. Stick with the others here. Ruby and Tonya can help hold down the fort for a little while, and you’ll be a help to them. I’ll be back in a few hours. If I’m not or if you get so scared you can’t contain yourself, the number for Sheriff Kennedy’s on the fridge. He’s a good friend of mine and he can help. He might be pretty busy right now, but he’ll come when he can.”
She cupped her hands around Aster’s cheeks. “Whatever happens, protect yourself first. You hear me? You’re far too important a girl to go getting yourself mixed up in any danger.”
Aster sighed. It was shaky and it had the threat of tears behind it, but a trickle of Ivy’s calming spell was keeping her under control. “Okay. But please be careful.”
“Put your worries to rest, dear. The girls here are gonna need someone who knows how to survive without television and electricity.” She kissed Aster on the cheek. Its warmth sunk into her mind, pacifying the mounting dread she felt as she watched Ivy climb into her flashy red SUV. Aster watched it drive away until she could no longer see it. She’d never felt more alone.
-11-
Ruby and Tonya returned from the corner market with armloads of ice and bottled water, their faces marked with annoyance. “You’d think it was the zombie apocalypse down there,” Ruby grumbled as she stomped up the porch steps where Aster had been sitting and ruminating ever since Ivy left. “I had to practically punch an old lady for this bag of ice, so let’s make sure it doesn’t melt. Wanna snap out of your trance and help me get one of the coolers out of the basement?”
Aster sighed and stood up. No amount of moping was going to bring Ivy back sooner, and she needed the distraction anyway. “Sure.”
Tonya set down the bags of ice on the porch. “Have fun. I’m going to see if the stuff in my room is all in one piece.”
Ruby frowned at Aster. “What’s wrong? Did something bad happen? You know, other than the obvious earth moving thing?”
In spite of her new bond with Ruby, she hesitated to say much. The ties to her original duty were stronger. “Ivy went to check on some other people. Said she’d be back in a little while with some supplies.”
Ruby shrugged. “Well that’s okay, right? Ivy has a lot of friends around here.”
“Yeah, maybe.” The words felt hollow, something to fill the space.
“C’mon,” said Ruby. “Let’s go get those coolers.”
The basement was dark and dank, but it was a cool relief from the sticky heat outside. It reminded her of the root cellars back home, but this space was filled with an abundance of things that weren’t vegetables. She recognized fishing poles, stickball bats, picnic baskets, stacks of books. She could have spent the rest of the day rifling through this stuff, learning everything she could about these people.
“Got it!” called Ruby from the corner, wrestling with a big blue ice chest. Aster went to help her by grabbing one end Once they’d emerged from the basement, they set it down while Ruby put the bags of ice inside. “That should hold for a little while, but if they don’t have the power back on sometime tonight, we’re going to have to get more and start moving food over from the fridge. Ugh.”
A knock came from the front door. Aster went to answer it and was surprised to see Bryon standing on the porch, twisting his work hat nervously in his hands. “Everyone okay here?”
Ruby appeared beside her, hands on hips. “Come to check on the damsels in distress?” The grin on her face didn’t quite reach her eyes, but Aster was glad to see the girl at least making an effort to be civil.
“Onyx sent me home early after the earthquake and wanted me to check on you.” He met Aster’s gaze and held it for a few seconds before looking away again.
Ruby snorted. “That’s big brother. How is he?”
“Everything’s okay, I think. We got the mess cleaned up, but Onyx wants to get someone to inspect the lifts before he uses them again. Actually, I wanted to talk to Aster.” He turned his eyes to her again. “Can we talk? Alone?”
Aster prepared for a scowl or an acid retort of some kind out of Ruby’s mouth, but Ruby only gave a short nod. “Go for it. I have full confidence that Bryon is not a rapist or perv, though if I’m wrong, I’ll happily slice off his balls with a pair of rusty pruning shears.”
Bryon’s grin was cautious. “Wow. Thanks?”
Aster stepped outside and the two of them walked down the porch steps. “Is everything okay?” she asked
“Oh yeah. Yeah, I guess so. I wondered if maybe you wanted to go get a bite to eat.”
“Didn’t we just have ice cream a little while ago? Besides… I don’t know that any proprietors will be open after all this.”
He laughed. “You’re right. I guess my brains
are a little scrambled right now. How about just a drive around then? Maybe see if there is any real damage anywhere. I know a place where we can get an awesome view of the town.”
She eyed Bryon’s car parked on the street. It looked like a huge blue fish, and its shiny metal threw sun flares into her eyes. “Okay. Just don’t drive too fast. I don’t really like riding in these things.”
Bryon skipped down the steps and stopped at the passenger side door, petting the roof with obvious affection. “Don’t worry. Betty here is a gentle giant.”
Aster mused over how people named their driving machines the same way they name their horses. Bryon opened the door for her and she slid inside, liking the springy feeling of the seat. Unlike Ivy’s vehicle, which practically seemed to hug the breath out of her, this one felt almost like a cave inside. The musky but clean smell excited her a little. It was both masculine and gentle, like its owner, she supposed.
He got in, buckled his seatbelt, and started the engine. It roared to life like an angry monster and then settled into a contented purr. “Don’t forget to buckle up,” he said.
She fastened her own belt. “This is a nice carriage.”
Bryon smiled. “Carriage. I like that. Betty’s a fine carriage. My dad and I fixed her up together. She’s a 1971 Olds Delta 88. We rebuilt almost everything under the hood, reupholstered the seats, and put in a more modern stereo system.” He pulled the car away from the curb and Aster noticed Ruby waving at them from the porch as they drove off.
She fumbled to make conversation in the way her mother had instructed her not long ago, when Aster had ventured to ask how she was supposed to interact with boys. Ask them questions about themselves. Seem interested, even if you’re not. They like that. The problem is she took any silence as an indication that things weren’t going well, so she felt compelled to fill every quiet space with words. “So… Do you like working on cars a lot?”
“I like cars, but I’d rather work on rocket engines someday. Getting up into space is my big dream.”
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