by Darcy Town
Car horns went off, reminding him of their situation. He picked up his pace, uneasy about being in the open. He eyed the shotgun and the bottle of whiskey he kept in the cart. He hadn’t had to use either yet.
Furcas sneezed. The plants rustled as he moved. “Why are there flowers all over me?”
Paimon patted his head. “Because they make you so pretty.”
“Where are we going?” Furcas uncovered his face and looked around.
“Going? We’re here.” Paimon handed him the bottle of whiskey.
Furcas bit the top off and drained half the bottle. He sighed. “We made it.”
Paimon nodded and leaned over the shopping cart. “Yup.”
A car swerved at them deliberately. Paimon raised his modified shotgun and fired at the driver. The car careened into a wall. People ran by screaming.
Paimon picked up the cart and set it on the sidewalk. He reloaded his shotgun and scanned the road. “We’re going to run into more of that now that we’re in a city.”
Furcas looked around blurrily. “They can see us?”
“Somehow they can yeah, not sure why, haven’t hung around to ask.” Paimon looked around. Another car crossed the bridge and unnervingly knew right where they were. He fired and missed. He sighed. “Hang on.”
Paimon ran, pushing the cart in front of him. People dodged out of their way, confused. The cart bounced on the uneven pavement.
Furcas closed his eye. “I think I’m going to throw up.”
“Hold it in.” Paimon weaved between pedestrians; the crowd on the sidewalk grew thicker.
The pursuing car slammed on its brakes. The road ahead was closed and packed full of people. Furcas pointed. “There’s a crowd ahead.”
Paimon looked up. “I can see that, I don’t have depth perception problems, one-eye.” He pushed into the crowd of onlookers.
The Solomon Soldiers parked up on the sidewalk. Two men jumped out, costumed as maintenance workers. They ran to the edge of the crowd and split up.
Furcas looked back. “They’ve split up. One is gaining. We need to go faster.”
“Running isn’t my thing! Get out of the cart.”
“As if that will make us go faster.”
“We can’t blend in if you’re in a cart!”
Furcas pointed to a homeless woman with a cart. “She has a cart. Why can’t we?”
“We are not arguing about this, Furcas!” Paimon lifted Furcas out and set him on his feet. Furcas went limp. Paimon stayed on Furcas’ good side and wrapped his arm under his shoulders. Paimon walked for the both of them.
Furcas’ feet dragged on the concrete; he winced, but held back his complaints. They met up with the growing street crowd. Paimon and Furcas rushed in, stopped, and gaped. The throng of people moaned and shuffled their feet.
Furcas raised his head. “This city is fucking insane.”
“Isn’t it great?” Paimon bit his right hand. He splattered the both of them with his blood.
Furcas scowled. “What the fuck are you doing?”
Paimon bit Furcas in the shoulder. Furcas scratched Paimon’s face in retaliation, leaving three bloody gouge marks. Paimon left the wounds open and bleeding. He pulled back the glamour that made them both invisible. He made a moaning sound.
The nearest humans looked at them. “Awesome makeup!”
Paimon grinned. “Brains!”
Furcas closed his eye. “We’re in a zombie walk?”
The pair shuffled with the crowd. Paimon looked behind them, no Solomon Soldiers in sight. He held out one arm. “Brains! Come on, Furcas. Say it!”
“No.”
Paimon bit him on the shoulder. “Say it!”
Furcas bit him back. “Stop it!”
Paimon laughed and shuffled over to an impressively made-up zombie. “Great walk!”
“Thanks, we had a record showing.” The man smiled at Furcas. “Who did your makeup? That stitching is cool. Are you a steampunk zombie?”
Furcas grumbled, “Sure.”
Paimon raised his shotgun. “I tried to kill him, but he got me first.”
The man grinned. “Nice replica! I didn’t see you guys at our breakfast, but we’re having a party afterwards in Powell’s Books. Well, we’re invading, it’s our destination for lunch.” The man laughed and went back to moaning.
Furcas sagged. Paimon took more of his weight. “How’s your wound?”
Furcas winced. “Killing me.”
Paimon squeezed him. “We’re almost done.”
Furcas stared at the storm clouds gathering overhead. “Done with what?”
“The plan, dumbass.”
“What plan?” Furcas’ head rolled to the side. “Plan? Plan? I just want to sleep.”
Paimon put his cheek to Furcas’ forehead; he was feverish. “Great.”
Furcas held his stomach. “It burns.” He twisted in pain and fell out of Paimon’s arms.
Paimon caught him before he hit the ground. He swept Furcas off his feet and carried him. He shuffled along with the movement of the crowd. “Just a bit longer and we’ll get to rest. It’ll be all right.” Screams rose over the crowd. Paimon whirled around. Tourists pointed at zombies, pretending to be terrified. He sighed. “False alarm.”
Furcas nuzzled up to Paimon’s chest and bit at his ribcage, tearing through his shirt. Paimon clenched his jaw. “Let go.” Furcas sank his teeth in further and drew blood. Paimon hoped no one was watching. He glanced down. “Furcas, what are you doing?”
Furcas bit down until Paimon’s rib cracked. Paimon staggered. “Okay fine, keep biting if it makes you feel better.” Furcas smiled and bit again; he broke through bone, crunching and snapping. Paimon gritted his teeth. “Everyone thinks you’re the normal one and I’m the weird one. So fucking wrong, you’re a freak, Furcas.”
Furcas’ eye swiveled up. “I’m a zombie angel. Nom, nom, nom.”
“Zombies like brains, not ribcages!”
A zombie nearby shook his head. “No way, a zombie eats every part.”
A woman snickered. “Not traditional zombies. Where do think the whole ‘brains’ thing came from?”
A third joined the debate. “Most movies nowadays have them eating everything.”
Paimon grimaced. “That doesn’t even make sense! If you were dead, how could you eat anything? Furcas, stop it already!”
Furcas had torn a gaping hole with his teeth. He pulled his head back and the wound sealed up; his face was covered in blood. He grinned. “Yum.”
Paimon lifted him up so their faces were close together. He whispered, “Will you please keep it together? I do not need you going to delirious town today, got it?”
Furcas replied by kissing his cheek. He smeared blood on the both of them.
Paimon sighed. “I’ll take that as a yes.”
A man pushed through the crowd to their right. Paimon and Furcas glanced over. The man stared at them with a shotgun in hand, not a replica.
Paimon shouted, “Zombie hunter! He’s a Republican meat-eater too!”
The crowd turned as one and jumped the man. They pulled what they thought was a fake gun out of his hands and picked him up. Paimon reached over and grabbed the gun. “Thanks!”
The crowd carried their captive over their heads, laughing at their victory. Paimon rendered him and Furcas invisible. He walked over to the captured Solomon Soldier and smashed the butt of the gun in his face, knocking him unconscious. Paimon looked around, but no one had noticed.
Furcas coughed. “Behind.” He pointed with his stumpy arm.
Paimon spotted the second man. He dropped back into the visible. “Another zombie hunter!”
The shuffling crowd turned. The Solomon Soldier scowled and dodged. A few zombies electing to be fast-moving tackled the man and took his weapons. More cheers went up.
The organizer got out his megaphone. “Take them to Powell’s for lunch!”
Laughter rippled through the crowd. The conscious man struggled and got t
o his feet. He held up his hand, but his ring was gone, pulled off in the struggle. He swore and dove to the ground for it. The zombies hoisted him back over their heads; their shuffling feet kicked the ring away.
Paimon searched, but did not see any reinforcements. They were clear for now. He sidled up to a few zombies. “Anyone know if the Lesser Key is open?”
A woman shook her head. “That place burnt down early this morning.”
Paimon swore. “That was one of my favorites too. All of my mead…burned.”
Furcas went limp in his arms.
Paimon glanced down. “Furcas? Furcas?”
Furcas did not breathe, not that he had to, but it was a bad sign that he wasn’t trying. Paimon shifted them into the invisible and hopped onto the sidewalk. He dropped to his knees and took Furcas’ head in his hands. He lifted his eyelid. Furcas’ iris had turned brilliant blue and his hair stood on end.
Paimon grimaced. “Oh shit.”
Lightning struck them both. The force knocked Paimon off his feet. He hit the pavement with a snap as his ribs fractured. People scattered and stared at the sky, confused.
Paimon crawled over to Furcas and rubbed his side. “Come on, stop that.” Electricity raced across Furcas’ skin. Paimon shook him. “Stop it, Furcas!”
Lightning hit them again. Paimon spat blood. Furcas’ skin took on a bluish hue. Paimon slapped him across the face. “Get a hold of yourself!”
Furcas came to, groggy. “What?”
“You’re calling lightning, you asshole!”
Furcas rubbed his eye. “Sorry.” He yawned. “I’m finding it hard to concentrate on anything. I can’t think.” He pawed at Paimon’s burnt and bloody shirt. “Sorry.”
Paimon sat up and looked at the sky. “Fortunately it’s already stormy.” As he said the words, rain fell. “I think I can get you something to make you feel better, or at least concentrate, but I’m going to have to leave you alone for awhile.”
Furcas glared. “No. You’re going to do something stupid and reckless.”
Paimon shrugged. “If I don’t, you’re going to do something worse by accident.”
Furcas sat up straight. “But you were upset with me for doing the exact same thing! You said that we have to—”
“Hey. Difference is I’m capable of taking care of myself.” Paimon gestured to the people around them. “These zombie people are nice. You can blend in. Just hang out. Be friendly with them.”
“Be friendly? I can’t move!”
Paimon looked around. An overweight tourist zoomed by in a scooter. He tipped her out of her chair and brought the scooter back. He put Furcas in it and rested his hand against the control. “You can move your hand enough to move this right?”
Furcas tried it out. “Yes.”
“Good, you’re a disabled zombie, perfect.”
“This is degrading.”
Paimon pointed to the woman who struggled to stand. “That’s degrading, this is clever.”
“What if I get attacked? I can’t defend myself.”
“Then play dead, you look it already.” Paimon slapped Furcas on the arm and put his leather coat on Furcas’ lap. “That’ll keep the rain off until you get inside.”
“We’re not done with this conversation.” Furcas glowered at him.
“Uh-huh, sure. Be back soon. Stay at the bookstore so I can find you!” Paimon took off running.
Furcas sighed and zoomed back into the crowd. The zombies at the back saw him and grinned. “That’s awesome!”
***
Berith slammed on the brakes. The sudden stop knocked Lucifer and Apple into the seats in front of them. Apple looked up. “What?”
Lucifer held his gauze and hissed. “Are you trying to kill me?”
Berith pointed. “Police road block.”
Lucifer grimaced and repositioned himself in the seat so that he could see. “Another one?”
Berith nodded and stared at his map of the Seattle area. “Every street route to or near the water is closed.” He turned down an alley and hit the brakes. “Apple, there’s a Lilliam bird in the road.”
Apple caught sight of the raven and grinned. She waved. The raven changed to a man and headed towards the car. Berith unlocked the passenger side and the Chulyin warrior slipped inside. He bowed to them all. “I bring a message from Andrealphus and the Mother.”
Lucifer shot up in his seat. “Yes?”
The Chulyin spoke, “Andrealphus wishes to tell you that he is seeking alternate passage and that they are safe. The Mother also requested that we say ‘Tell Lucifer I love him and to not worry about me. I’m safe.’ They have three Chulyin with them. They are heading to the Old Road.”
Lucifer smiled dreamy-eyed. “She said she loves me.”
Apple grimaced. “You’re far south, have they hit the outposts in the north as well?”
The soldier nodded. “Everywhere on the continent. We were out searching for stragglers when we ran into them. There are two others with them, a Lilliam and a newly Fallen.”
Berith looked between Lucifer and Apple. “Helion and Whitney.”
The Chulyin looked ahead. “You are on your way to the second outpost? I will escort you.”
Berith sighed. “I don’t know how far you can escort us this way. The roads are closed. We’ll need to go out on foot eventually, but the less Lucifer must walk, the better.”
The Chulyin nodded. “I can search for a route.”
Lucifer grabbed the soldier by his shoulder. “How did she look?”
The Chulyin jumped in his seat, appearing startled for the first time. “In good health, dirty, but mentally fit. They will reach the Old Road soon, if they have not already. The one with flight makes things faster.”
Lucifer smiled, despite his pain. “Good. Thank you.”
Apple addressed the soldier, “If there is no open route we need to go on foot. Just get us as close as possible.”
The soldier nodded and turned to a raven. The bird hopped out of the car and took to the air. He circled higher and flew north.
Apple looked out the window. “Going north.”
***
Dahlia and Whitney walked between Nukka and Andy. Helion flew overhead with Tonrar and Sinaaq. Nukka had both blades drawn. Andy leapt from tree to tree; he kept watch on the area behind him. The girls did not pay attention to anything except the ground and their conversation.
Whitney laughed quietly. “Actually the wings were pretty awesome. Having sex in the air is an experience.” She thought back and laughed. “It’s still hard to think that it happened because you and Lucifer were getting it on upstairs. That’s kind of dirty.”
Dahlia blushed alongside her. “Yeah, tell me about it. How embarrassing is that? I’m just glad it was mutual between you.”
Whitney grinned. “Yeah, but it sped things up by years probably. I don’t get the impression he ever even thought about sex. He was a virgin,” Whitney whispered. “I wonder if it counts really since we were under the influence.”
Dahlia grinned. “Corrupter!” She elbowed Whitney. “So, have you two messed around since?”
Whitney shrugged. “Just kissing. He’s super shy; he seems to be content with just holding me. Oh God, he does this thing and it is so cute, Dahlia!”
“What?”
“He sings to me while he’s flying!” Whitney tugged on Dahlia’s arm. “I’ve never had anyone sing to me before.”
“Aww.” Dahlia and Whitney looked up at Helion. He saw them and waved with a big grin on his face. He and Sinaaq practiced cartwheels in the sky.
Andy came to a stop at Dahlia’s side. “We have people following us.”
Nukka stopped and ran back to him. “Lilliam?”
“They look like human hikers. They’ve seen our footprints though and are following.” He looked back through the forest.
Tonrar, Helion, and Sinaaq touched down on the ground. Helion gulped. “Could they see me?”
Andy shook his head. “We
are naturally glamoured. Humans don’t see us unless we want to be seen.”
Nukka and Tonrar shared a worried look. “We are close to the Old Road. We cannot risk a human finding the entrance.”
Dahlia looked behind them. “So what do we do? Can we cover our tracks?”
Nukka shook her head. “We are too close. They could find the entrance by accident if they stay in the area long enough.”
Dahlia frowned. “But they can’t get in right?”
Nukka nodded. “But they can wait and lay ambush to someone that can.”
Andy gestured to the forest. “Then we could lead them astray.”
Tonrar nodded. “We could leave fake tracks.”
Nukka shook her head. “I do not trust that method alone. We need to take care of this now.”
Andy frowned. “Well, I need at least one of you to come with us to get Dahlia into the Old Road and through the enchantments.”
Nukka smiled mirthlessly. “Only I have a passkey, Tonrar and Sinaaq do not.” She looked back in the woods. “We wait, we kill them, and we go to the Old Road.”
Whitney and Dahlia gaped. “We kill them?”
Andy held his hands up. “Dahlia, I’ve explained about humans.”
Dahlia scowled. “Explaining is not the same as actually seeing it and having it happen! I am human. I was raised by humans! I take issue with them being killed for no reason!”
“They’d kill you if they knew what you were.” Andy took her hand. “It’s safest this way. They are not an endangered species. A few lost hikers won’t hurt their numbers.”
Whitney looked ill. “Their numbers? They have families.”
Nukka examined her blades. “Irrelevant. They put our species at risk. It is us against them and there are far more of them.”
Andy nodded. “Always has been.”
Helion frowned. “I will take Dahlia and Whitney into the air so they do not need to watch.”
Andy nodded. “Nukka, can you take care of the hikers?”
Nukka nodded. “I will make it quick.”
Dahlia sliced the air with her hand. “Whoa! We have not agreed to this.”
Andy frowned. “This is not a vote, Dahlia.”
Dahlia went red in the face. “I am the fucking Mother-something or other, and I say you’re not killing them! So obey me!” The Lilliam and Andy went silent. The Lilliam nodded and bowed their heads. Dahlia gaped; she had not thought that would work.