by K W Quinn
“Juji isn’t the love—” Marv started to object, but Cass shushed him and began rummaging through the pile of shoes in the foyer. Marv yawned and tried to go back to sleep standing up.
“You’re right, Marv. Not the one, dude, but you have us to thank for the insane number of super-kinky nights you’ve always bragged about. So I’m gonna take some clothes and your car.”
“Cass, I’m not sure if this is funny or not, because it’s late and I’m tired. Let me ask Juji,” Marv said through another yawn.
“No. This isn’t a joke. None of this is funny. I’m tired. My head is too quiet, and we have to get as far away from here as possible. You have a car. You like us. You owe us. Hand me your keys, and Andy, try these on.” Cass slid a pair of shoes over to Andy on the couch.
Marv shuffled over to a bowl in the kitchen, then pulled out a jangling set of keys. He held them up, and Cass quickly swept them out of his hand.
“I hope this all seems like a bad dream in the morning, and I swear, if we ever sort things out, we’ll make it up to you. But for now, our eternal thanks. And I’m gonna raid your closet.” Cass headed off toward the bedroom. Marv plopped himself down next to Andy.
“This seems weird,” he said, rubbing his eyes again. “You guys don’t usually hang out like this. I’d expect this out of Juji’s friends but not from you.”
“It is super weird. I can’t make sense of it all.” Andy tugged at the hem of his shorts and tried to smile.
“You look rough,” Marv said softly, pulling a blanket from the corner of the couch and tossing it over Andy’s bare legs. Andy snuggled down into it and sighed.
“Marv?” Andy’s voice was as tiny as he was. Marv grunted, head lolling on the back of the couch. “We need any and everything you can spare. I don’t think we can ever come back.”
“I’m not awake enough to be making these kinds of decisions, but I’ve got an embarrassing amount of stuff. Take it.”
“You’re decent, Marv. I don’t hate all the Earth because of you.” Andy’s voice was quiet and rough.
“Thanks. Most of us are horrible, whether on purpose or by lazy default. My dad’s a bloody cheat and a liar.”
“I understand,” Andy said, nodding along.
“Yeah, I guess you would. Take his money. Take my car. Take it all.” Marv looked up. Cass carried two armfuls of clothes into the room. “I have to admit I didn’t mean that as literally as you seem to be taking it.”
“I’m not taking all of this, but it’s dark in there, and you said Juji is awful when she wakes up suddenly.” Cass dumped the clothes on Andy’s lap. “She’s about the same size as you, so see if any of this looks workable.”
Andy’s face scrunched up. “We’re the same height. Not the same thing. I have shoulders, and she has—”
“They’re just workout clothes. Figure it out,” Cass said. “Marv, I’m gonna take something more practical than cashmere.”
“As happy as I am to see you wearing my birthday gift, it doesn’t travel well,” Marv agreed, rubbing a hand through his hair.
Andy grabbed at the pile of clothes, tossing the longer items to Cass. “There are about a thousand questions I want answers to, but first, should I take the red hoodie or the blue one?”
Cass smiled. Marv knew he was missing a joke, but he was too tired to follow. Cass’s voice tugged at him.
“Marv, do you keep much cash on hand?”
“You’re bold as brass tonight,” Marv said, lifting himself with a groan off the oversized couch.
“Yeah, I think I left my shame back somewhere around the first time I thought I was gonna die,” Cass said, pulling out long-sleeved shirts and pants. Without ceremony, he pulled his sweater off and began wiggling out of his pants.
“Your dad get rowdy again?” Marv asked, looking toward Andy and rummaging in the pockets of a coat hanging near the door.
“If only it were that easy,” Andy replied, voice muffled from inside the hoodie he’d chosen. Marv’s eyes widened a bit. He felt almost awake now. Almost.
“I’m guessing you’re not going to tell me the details?” Marv pulled out bills and coins, then walked them back to Cass.
“You’re too sleepy to remember, and the less I talk, the happier I’ll be.” Andy pulled on socks and some sweatpants before cramming his feet into the shoes Cass had picked. “Do you have anything as basic as a backpack? Your fancy, hand-stitched leather bag is safe from our pillaging.”
Marv sighed and stumbled back to the hall closet, cash still in hand. He stuffed it in a zippered pocket and tossed a backpack at Cass’s feet. “Fill it up. Let me know how you’re screwing over the Conglomerate so I can have a laugh when my dad is pissed about it.”
Cass, now in baggy sweats, sighed and began rolling clothes. “Did you know Andy was Bonded?”
Marv leaned heavily against a bright-patterned chair. His eyes were open now. Andy pulled down the neck of his red sweatshirt.
There it was. A collar. On his friend. Here. There was any number of obscure laws to prove someone’s disobedience to the Conglomerate, and no disobedience was tolerated. The Earth needed labor, and they took it however they could find it. Nothing in the city ran without Bonded. People were Bonded every day. But Andy?
“Oak and sap,” he muttered. “I never thought that bastard would do it. I knew your dad was unrooted, but this? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Sorry, Marv, I didn’t get a chance from inside your dad’s dungeon,” Andy snarked.
“Not you. Him,” Mav said, glaring at Cass.
“I didn’t know what to say. I thought I might get you in trouble.”
Marv shook his head and stood quickly. “Andy, you’ve got to go.”
“I know. Lemme catch my breath, Marv. Just while Cass is packing.”
“No. No time,” Marv said, rushing to the closet. He grabbed an extra bag and began shoving clothes in. “They’ll track you. They’ll find you, and if they find you here? Better that they don’t.”
Marv shook his head, thinking of the things that he’d seen in the service of the Conglomerate. None of it was fit to be put into words.
“You have to go. As far as you can. Get out of Earth towns. No cities. Away from forests and mountains. If you can make it to the coast, hop on a boat or something.” Marv spit out the words, hands moving frantically.
“The flaming collar,” Andy said. “I wasn’t sure how much of the intimidation speech was real and how much was just to bust our balls.”
“Oh, it’s real. Those things are nasty. Witches put them on, and that Binding? It’s on until you die. Demeter help us all.”
“Not the news I’d hoped for,” Cass said, shaking his head.
“And I wasn’t expecting to have a Bonded in my living room, but here we are.”
“Whoa, Marv. I thought this was the safest place,” Cass said, tugging zippers closed. Andy scrambled to his feet, scooping up the leftover socks and underwear.
“In the center of the business district?” Marv squeaked. “You’re surrounded by Earth on every side.”
“Aren’t you untouchable?” Cass asked. “Your father owns everything and everyone.”
“Yeah, but don’t think he’s above stripping me of everything to make an example. You don’t get to the top of the Conglomerate by being merciful and just.” Marv shook his head, shoving the bag he’d packed into Andy’s arms.
“Go. Now. The coast is safest. The Waters are technically allies, but they’re always looking for ways to snub us, so stay out on the waves. Makes you harder to track. I’m parked on the east side. Tank is mostly full, so you should be able to make it pretty far without stopping. Don’t stop unless you have to. Bloody ashes, Cass, move.”
Cass and Andy rushed out the door, Marv pushing them along.
“Marv, I’m sorry. And thank you,” Cass said to the closed door.
“Well, that was something,” Andy said, breaking into a sprint toward the east stairs.
“C
ar, cash, clothes. We got what we came for.”
“And more.” Andy was grinning widely. Had the beating he’d taken done some brain damage?
“The fact that your sweatpants say sweet across the ass?”
“What?” Andy craned his neck and twisted, trying to get a look. It was like watching a dog chase its tail. “Damn it. But no, not that.”
“The warning about your collar?”
“No. Heard all that and more before they put it on. Creepy bullshit about how it was forged in blood, blah, blah, blah. No, witches, Cass. Witches. I wasn’t conscious when they put it on because of initiation beatings, but witches.”
Through the door, down the stairs where it was too noisy to talk, across the parking lot, Cass tried to make sense out of why Andy was excited about witches. And how he could say something like “initiation beatings” without a shudder.
He pressed the lock button several times, looking for the answering beep and lights from Marv’s car. They made their way to the sleek gray sedan. Cass shook his head.
“I give up, Andy. What’s with the witches?”
“Witches put it on. Witches can take it off,” Andy exclaimed, pulling the door open and tossing his bag inside.
“Sure. Lemme drive up to the Dome and walk right back in.” Cass ran a hand through his hair and winked. “I’ll charm another witch with my now-less-impressive wardrobe. I’m sure I can whore it up again.” He slid into the driver’s seat.
“How about we drive to Goleta instead?”
“What’s in Goleta other than fish and surfers?” Marv had said boats were safer.
“Witches. More importantly, witches not controlled by the Conglomerate. Most importantly, witches who I know are keen to help poor, unfortunate souls. Like ourselves.”
Cass tensed at the mention of a soul. His was already sold. He was supposed to be heading to Min’s shop. Set Andy free and turn himself in. That was the deal.
But Andy wasn’t safe yet, so he couldn’t abandon him. That was the logic and loophole he was clinging to. For now. He was certain Min would disagree and be displeased, but Min seemed like the less pressing of their problems.
“It’s a long drive. You catch a nap. I can get us in the general vicinity, then wake you for the specifics?” He’d have to tell Andy the whole truth eventually, but selfishly, he wanted to wait a little longer.
“You’re hopeless with directions. What makes you think you can find Goleta?”
“I can find the coast. We go out of the canyon, through the mountains, and then back down again. There are signs for the coast. I’ll follow those.”
Andy tucked his knees up to his chest.
“Witches. Who would have thought?” Andy said through a yawn, already drifting to sleep. The adrenaline crash had hit him hard. Cass was still jittery enough.
“Witches. Muses. Souls. It’s a tangle for sure.”
Out of the Capital and through the tiny towns that spread out like tree roots around it, Cass tried to focus on how to tell Andy. He was so elated about being able to solve all their problems soon. Towns gave way to foothills and then to barren, rocky mountains.
Cass turned the words over and over in his mind. Without the pressing need to get Andy out, it all seemed so reckless and impulsive now.
It was reckless and impulsive. It was also the only thing Cass could do. A last-ditch effort. Plan Z. It was cooler up in the mountains, so Cass kicked on the heater and hoped Andy would stay asleep a little while longer. They had hours to go up the mountain. Somewhere on the way down, he would wake Andy up. Somewhere else, he would tell him. Somehow.
Witches
Everything was fog-draped and sleepy in the not-quite dark of dawn creeping up behind them. Andy stared out the window, watching the trees thin.
His bloody head felt as foggy as the streets, bits of nightmares clinging to his memories and making it hard to concentrate. He had woken up briefly when Cass stopped to piss, but otherwise, he’d slept most of the drive. The panic of running had faded to a dull, aching gloom.
“I should call my mom,” he said, voice creaking.
“Your mystery witches will have a phone. I’m not using mine, just in case,” Cass said.
“If they’re already tracking the collar, what does it matter? Probably easier than tracking a cell phone.” Andy turned his phone on, flipping through games. Something mindless that he could win would feel good right now.
“I don’t want to tempt fate,” Cass grumbled.
“Are you mad?”
“No. I’m totally fine with the fact that you’ve got secret witch friends. It’s not as though I could have used some witchy help when I was trying to figure out how to get you out of that hellhole. Now, the coast is right there. Which way do I turn?”
“Cass. Secret witch friends. Really secret. I literally can’t say much more. It’s an actual curse or something, I think.” He ran a hand through his hair and let his head hit the back of the seat. It was all an ashen mess, a tangle of words in his head. “Go north.”
“I’ve been heading south all night. Are you sure?”
“Sorta. I can’t think of their names, but I know I know them. I couldn’t even remember what town they lived in until we were running for our lives.”
“Weird curse,” Cass muttered but followed the highway north.
Andy stared at the towns around them, trying to figure out what to do. Signs for Goleta finally appeared.
“Now what?” Cass asked.
“I don’t know. Keep going. It’s like following a trail of dots that only appear one at a time.”
“We’re running out of town. Are you sure this is the right place?”
“I don’t know anything right now, all right? I’m just trying to figure out what’s going on in my head so we can get this flaming collar off me. Here. Here!” Andy pointed. His hand moved on its own. “Here, here, here. Turn here, right now.”
“All right. OK. Hold on.” Cass turned the wheel sharply and took the highway exit.
“Don’t drive like that.”
“I’m not driving like anything. I’m following instructions,” Cass said through his teeth.
“I’m telling you everything I know. If I know it, you know it, all right?”
“This is some weird bloody ash, Andy. Curses? Hidden memories?” In the early light, Cass slumped, shoulders hunched and jaw tight.
“What part of the past flaming twelve hours has been normal?” Andy asked, eyes scanning the road for familiar landmarks. Everything looked the same, with sun-bleached signs nailed to spindly honey locust trees. The land didn’t end gracefully here; it stopped abruptly, as though broken by the waves below.
“You still fart in your sleep,” Cass said, a tiny smile creeping across his mouth.
“And you’re a fancy pretty boy that everyone loves,” Andy said with a snort. “Honestly, Cass. Too much eyeliner for a Tuesday.”
“One, it’s Wednesday. Try to keep up. Two, you know I look good.”
“All the ladies say so. Now turn up there and park.” It wasn’t a road or a driveway. It was a slightly less overgrown section of sandy grass on the side of the road.
“In the middle of nowhere? On the side of the road? Just out in the open? Sure. Whatever you say, Andronicus, Keeper of Secrets.” Cass rolled his eyes but did as he was told.
“Shut up, Calisto, Wearer of Tight Pants.”
The car rolled to a stop, crunching grass beneath the tires. The morning light pressed against him. Everything was salty and heavy. The grass was bent over with dew, the air moving in lazy waves. Andy sucked in deep lungfuls.
“Come on.”
“Where, exactly?” Cass was looking around, but Andy pushed forward. He knew the way, though he wasn’t quite sure how. All his memories felt like dreams, but he was headed in the right direction. He panted, struggling to breathe in the tacky, salty air.
Cass walked next to him, normal as ever. This is what Andy got for being a Fire in Water territory.
Some magic or some mystical thing was doing this. A warding. A warning. But he had to push through. Push forward.
There was nothing in front of them but weeds and wind. A cliff stretched out a mile or so away, but between here and there were scraggly sagebrush, pampas grass, and air too humid to breathe. How could Cass stand it, this air that was mostly water?
“Andy, there’s nothing here,” Cass said. “Andy? Andy!”
Andy felt Cass’s hands under his armpits. His knees were on the ground. When had he fallen? Why was it so flaming hard to get a breath?
“Andy, what’s going on? Breathe. Just breathe,” Cass said frantically. He patted Andy’s cheek slightly less gently than Andy would have liked.
It was close. Had to be close now.
On hands and knees, Andy pulled himself forward. The grit under his fingernails was his only tether. His lungs burned. His head pounded. Cass’s shrill voice faded into the dull roar of the ocean. The ocean was in him, in his head, in his lungs.
He pulled himself toward the house. The house that wasn’t there. Somewhere Cass was screaming, but Andy had to get to the house. The witches’ house. He lifted a shaking hand and collapsed on his elbows. But he’d found it. His fingers brushed against something slick and cool. He pressed his fingertips against it with every bit of strength he had left.
The air rushed into his lungs, sweet and clear.
“That wasn’t there a flaming minute ago,” Cass spat and waved his arms at the house that had appeared. Andy rested his head against his arms, reveling in how easy it was to breathe now. His fingers rested against wood damp with fog. Vines trailed up and around the house haphazardly.
“It’s actually been here the whole flaming time,” a sharp voice rang out. “It’s you, on the other hand, who wasn’t here a minute ago and shouldn’t be here now.”
Standing against the sky was a witch. The witch. The witches, leaning against the porch, arms crossed, looking cranky.
“Amel. Charly. It’s me,” Andy croaked. The names were on his tongue before he knew he was saying them.
“Whoever it is you think you were, you’re Bonded now, which means you should be dead in this field, not touching my house. You’re awfully persistent.” Charly didn’t mince words. Andy could remember that now. This was Charly. Tall and broad shouldered like a model or a farmer. The kind people got tongue-tied around. Andy wasn’t sure what to say now, but it wasn’t because he was losing himself in Charly’s deep-green eyes.