by K W Quinn
Cass scrambled to untangle himself and help Kaida up as quickly as possible.
“This is all theoretical anyway. I don’t plan on lifting Andy,” Cass grumbled.
“You could,” Dez mused. “Might make for an interesting angle. Play up the relationship between Air and Fire.” Her eyes turned glassy, and Andy scowled.
“No more changes. We’ve almost got the routine down. We’re ready to go out and try it on our own,” Andy said, cracking his knuckles.
“I say when you’re ready, loves.” Dez winked at Andy. Cass tried to swallow his fondness for her, for the way she made Andy brighter and more confident.
Andy ducked his chin and wiggled his eyebrows at Dez, running a hand through his hair. “I’m ready for you,” he teased.
“No, love, you really aren’t.” Dez sauntered away, and Cass snorted at the way Andy’s eyes followed her. He was smitten too. Leave it to Andy to have the hots for teacher.
“Cass, we should, you know . . .” Andy said, eyes still on Dez.
“I’m not sure I do know.”
Andy turned, thumping Cass with a loose fist. “Let’s go.”
He waved to Kaida and pulled Cass to his feet. Kaida smiled up at him, and Cass heard himself start to ramble before he could stop.
“Sorry for getting all, you know,” Cass fumbled, flapping his hands in her direction.
“On top of me?” Kaida asked with a snort and her bunny-nosed grin.
“Yeah. That. Sorry.”
“Don’t worry. I’m sturdier than I look.”
Andy pushed him back toward the van. “Come on, Cass-anova.”
“But I wanna—”
“Live to see tomorrow?” Andy said through his teeth. “Less playing, more planning.”
“What are we supposed to do? We’re working the only plan we have. Learn to make money so we can keep running.”
Andy rubbed his shoulder but kept his head down, navigating the path back to the parking lot as though it were the path to enlightenment. “We should just leave.”
Cass’s words blew out of his head, lost as reality came rushing back in. They had built a little bubble around themselves, isolated from the rest of the world, pretending. The illusion of safety and that bubble could burst at any minute.
“I hate putting Dez in danger like this,” Andy grumbled. “If that Dragon thing catches you and Dez gets hurt, I would never forgive myself.”
Cass bit his lip and nodded, dragging his feet through the sand. Andy’s ability to feel guilt at the suffering of others had been sharpened by years of living with his grindstone of a father. Cass looked over his shoulder at Kaida, still resting languidly on the beach.
His heart stumbled in his chest as he thought about her getting hurt. She looked like she could take on a bear in a fistfight and win, but who knew what damage the real Dragon out to get him would inflict?
His feet stumbled on a tuft of grass, and he bumped into Andy’s back.
“Are you paying attention?” Andy asked through his giggles.
Cass stuck his tongue out at him.
“Airhead,” Andy scoffed.
“Hot mess,” Cass retorted. Guilt blew through him with every breath, stirring the panic he pushed down when he was with Dez and Kaida. He had to keep smiling. This was all his fault, and he would make it right. They would dance for their freedom and keep the witches’ rules.
As he pulled open the door to the van, the clouds began to spit and sputter. Rain splattered on Cass’s dejected shoulders. Even the sky knew this little bit of paradise couldn’t last.
Show
For a week, it rained. Dez wouldn’t let them leave in bad weather. “No tips in a storm, loves.”
The weather kept them trapped in close quarters, either holed up in the van or taking up all the space in Dez’s camper. She led them to safe campsites and tried to find dry places to practice.
Grateful but antsy, Andy had bitten his nails to nubs. He wanted to stay with Dez for the comfort of company, but their company would only become innocent bystanders when the thing hunting Cass caught up with them.
It was a nice game to play, pretending that all this work was more than just a stopgap solution. The witches were out there, doing whatever it was they did. Andy hoped their few pay phone messages were enough to keep Charly and Amel from worrying. As soon as they earned a little extra, they would get a burner phone and figure out the next step. Andy wouldn’t compromise Dez by using her phone. Using her home was bad enough.
One afternoon, she pulled out a set of matching glasses, painted with swirls of green and gold, and a cork-stoppered bottle. Andy didn’t miss the mischievous smile on her full lips.
“This rain is soothing to my soul but rotten for the pocketbook, loves. So tonight, we drown our sorrows.” She poured each glass full of clear liquid. “Sweet secret of the Water. Drink a toast with me.”
“To rain,” Andy said, lifting his glass.
“To learning,” Kaida added.
“To lifts,” Cass said with a sly grin.
“Any excuse for hands-on experience,” Dez muttered. “To my miraculous pupils,” she said and lifted her glass too. “And to the little dragon who has helped us through these lean times.”
Andy hummed his agreement, but Kaida was quiet. She stared at her drink, her pupils thin lines. She kept showing up, day after day. Her eyes flicked over Cass’s face, and she grabbed her drink and swallowed quickly.
“We should play a game,” Andy said, draining his glass and pushing it forward to Dez for more. If they were going to be stuck inside for another stuffy night, they should enjoy it. “Amazing stuff. It’s got a little something sweet going on. You wouldn’t think from the looks of it, but wow. It’s just like you.” His smile crinkled his whole face.
“Just wait, love. It builds and burns with every sip.” She poured him another and turned toward Cass and Kaida. “Hey, you two, you gonna join the rest of us in this conversation, or are you just gonna look at each other all night?”
Kaida didn’t answer. Cass giggled. They were sitting closer than there was any need to, pressed together from shoulder to ankle, staring at each other. Cass, smiling like a puppy, took a tiny sip.
All this time, Andy was focused on becoming a self-sustaining individual to maintain a life on the run. A life that Cass had forced him into. Yet here Cass was trying to woo a girl.
It was too hot in the camper. Andy drained his glass, hoping to wash away his bitterness. He was out of the Dome, and that was more than he could have hoped for. If only he could be as free and easy as Cass. Woo a girl of his own.
Dez was playing matchmaker with Kaida. She made sure Kaida practiced with Cass, leaving him with Dez. He did like that part, building his relationship with the enigmatic dancer. Leaving her was going to blister his heart, but he wanted every minute he could get.
His glass was empty again. Before he could ask, Dez was filling it, a deep tide building in her smile, pulling him closer.
“We need to play a game,” Andy repeated. “Nadezda?”
Dez lifted her eyebrows at him. “Don’t start something you can’t finish, child.”
“Show or tell?”
“Tell. It’s too early to be showing you anything,” she said, sipping her drink.
“Did you always want to be a dancer?” Andy rested his chin on his hands and stared at the way the wet light through the windows cast dappled patterns on her skin.
“Mostly, yes. Never thought I’d be making some sort of living at it, but I was dancing before I could walk, and my sweet mama made sure I was exposed to every kind of dance she could find.” She emptied her glass.
“So, little dragon, show or tell?” Dez turned her piercing eyes to Kaida, who tore her gaze away from Cass with a start.
“Um, I think I’ll show,” she said slowly.
“I wanna see your scales,” Dez said with a broad smile. “Just to the shoulders and knees. Nothing fancy. Sorry, Cass.”
Cass pres
sed a hand to his forehead in melodramatic despair, but no one was fooled. His eyes were glued to Kaida’s every move.
She sighed and stood, tugging up her leggings to her knees and unzipping her ubiquitous hoodie. Beneath it was a long-sleeved shirt. She reached for the hem, and Andy noticed the way Cass tried to stop himself from licking his lips. She peeled the shirt off and stood in a tank top, extending her arms to Dez for inspection.
Dez grabbed one wrist and pulled gently, looking up at Kaida. Kaida nodded and took a shy step forward, and Dez leaned forward until her nose was close to Kaida’s blue skin.
“Beautiful,” she said and rubbed her thumb over a small patch near Kaida’s wrist. “They’re so soft.”
Kaida shrugged, staring at the floor.
“Should we stop?” Cass asked gently.
“It’s fine. If I didn’t want to, I’d take my penalty drink and move on. You’re much kinder than I’m used to when it comes to this skin of mine.” Kaida grabbed her drink and took a sip anyway. Then she pulled her hoodie back on, zipping it up quickly.
“It is nice skin,” Cass offered.
“Thanks,” Kaida said into her cup.
“I like you,” Cass blurted. Andy looked at his cup. Still full.
“Oh. Yeah. Thanks. I like whatever this is,” Kaida said, downing the liquid in her cup. “It’s delicious. Smooth.”
Her eyes were glued to her cup, and she handed it to Dez for more. Could blue skin blush? Andy thought he saw a hint of purple on her cheeks.
“So, Cass, show or tell?” Kaida finally asked, still looking down.
“Make him show,” Andy interrupted. “Tell is no fun with him because he has no secrets.”
Cass gave Andy a pointed look, but Andy just giggled and took another drink. They had secrets that would shock the ladies, but they’d never tell. It was funny. Deadly but funny. Warm and melting into the sunset, Andy reached for the bottle. Dez rapped his knuckles but filled his glass anyway.
Kaida looked at Andy, but he waved her away. She turned to Dez for help, but Dez shrugged and scrubbed a hand through her short hair.
Cass beamed eagerly at Kaida. “Well, what do you want to see?”
Kaida quickly glanced around. “Um, do the splits.”
Sputtering and cackling, Dez and Andy leaned into each other. Arms full and heavy, he beamed at the impending humiliation.
Cass didn’t hesitate, though. He stood up and stretched briefly, long arms going over his head. He leaned to each side and grinned.
“Prepare yourself for my incredible feats of athleticism,” he boasted before spreading his legs as wide as he could and sliding toward the floor. Not very far toward the floor.
“Ta-da,” he boasted, arms in the air.
“An elephant could crawl through your legs without even ducking,” Dez said between giggles.
“There’s a trunk joke there that I can’t put into words.” Andy snorted. He pressed himself closer to Dez and shook his head. She squeezed his arm, and he felt it all the way in his gut.
Cass grinned and resituated himself at the table. “So, Andy,” he said slowly. “Andronicus, my bestie, my pal.”
“Show, show, show,” he chanted. “I can do the splits both ways. Actually, all three.”
“There are only two kinds of splits,” Cass argued.
“But I can do one kind both ways.”
Kaida rolled her eyes. “Yes, we know. I still have a bruise from our failed strength-versus-flexibility challenge.”
“Not my fault that your handstands were inferior.” Andy ran his hands through his hair. Victory was sweet. Like this drink. “But Cass, what do you want me to show?”
“Me? Nothing. I’ve seen it all.” He grinned that toothy smile that meant trouble was coming. The one that preceded all of his bad ideas. Like picking the lock on Mr. Arachea’s beer shed. Or piercing their ears.
Andy tugged on his earring and stood. “A repeat performance, then?” He rolled his hips and shook his shoulders, angling toward Dez with his best smolder.
“I think you need to show Dez your belly button.” Cass giggled and took another tiny sip, then shook his head like a dog after sniffing pepper.
“Why?” Andy and Dez said in startled unison. Cass waved his hand toward them without explanation. Andy sighed. This was just like Cass. Pulling ideas out of the smoke, poking at Andy’s insecurities. Well, the joke was on him, then. Andy’s insecurities had been burned away in the purifying fire of good booze.
He twisted in his seat and lifted his shirt until it covered his face. At least he didn’t have to see Dez looking at him this way. And it added an element of humor to the exposure to make himself the joke. It worked every time. He felt her finger dig into his belly button, which made him double over with giggles. Of course, that also meant that his face was half in her lap, but she curled herself around him, giggling too.
This was just what Andy needed. Easy laughter. Dez close to him and happy. It was almost like home. Almost like family.
Cass nodded at Kaida with a smug grin.
“Don’t look so satisfied, Calisto. It’s your turn,” Andy said and smoothed his shirt back down.
“Again? How is that fair?”
“Hush and make your choice,” Dez said, pouring another round.
“Fine. Show. Do your worst.” Cass crossed his arms and waited.
Andy tapped his fingertips together in front of his face. “Kiss Kaida,” he crowed. He cackled with glee while Cass and Kaida stared at each other.
“Well, pucker up, puffer,” Kaida said, leaning forward and closing her eyes. Dez sipped her drink and waved a hand at Cass to hurry him up.
Cass shook his head and leaned in, pressing his mouth against hers. Andy shoved a fist against his lips to contain his snickering. He expected them to break apart and blush like awkward teenagers any second now.
Any second now.
Instead, Cass lifted one hand to Kaida’s face. She tilted her head to deepen the kiss.
“Do we need to switch to playing seven minutes in heaven?” Dez asked slightly louder than necessary in the small space. “Or we can excuse ourselves while you two figure out whatever this is?”
Kaida startled and pulled away, fiddling with her braid. Cass stared at her, biting his bottom lip.
“I think we all need another drink,” Andy said and pulled all the glasses together in front of Dez. If he played this right, maybe there would be more kissing later.
Dreams
Sitting around Dez’s table the next morning, Cass started rambling. “You ever get that thing where you, you know, you’re, like, peeing in a dream, and then you wake up and have to pee? Or, like, you’re wrestling a squid and wake up to find yourself all tangled in the sheets?”
Andy nodded, and Kaida chimed in. “That’s totally been happening to me with this rain.”
“You too? I was just gonna say that,” Cass answered.
Kaida scrunched her nose in the super adorable way she did when she was pleased but uncomfortable showing it.
“Weird,” she said, sipping her coffee.
Cass stared at her. He tried not to do that too often. He didn’t want her to get the wrong idea, although he wasn’t sure what the wrong idea was anymore. She was so lovely and strong and self-possessed until she thought no one was looking. Then she turned into an awkward bunny of cuteness, and Cass’s face hurt from trying not to smile like an idiot all the time.
“I guess it’s all the talk of Mistwalkers. Dez keeps filling our heads with rebel stories at night, so I dream I’m out there, bringing wrath and destruction to the Conglomerate.” Cass watched the rain on the windows and thought of floods and wind.
“I thought Mistwalkers were supposed to stop the rain,” Andy said into his coffee cup. His hair was rumpled, and his face was puffy with the shadow of lingering regret. Hangovers hit him harder these days.
“True. Floods and tornadoes aren’t part of the story she tells, but bloody ash if the Conglomerate doe
sn’t deserve it,” Cass said. He flexed his hands to keep from making fists.
“Still thinking about the historical marker?” Kaida asked.
“Among other things. ‘Look at this beautiful vista we stole from indigenous peoples after we slaughtered them to make ourselves a vacation town.’ It makes me sick that they’ve managed to erase any mention of Air from things like that.”
“Flaming piles of ash,” Andy said into his cup. “They should be blown off the face of the world.”
“Never heard of a Mistwalker that could do that, love,” Dez said. Her eyes were glued to the map on the table, looking for their next stop. A scrying crystal lay next to a bowl of water. She’d been trying, without luck, to navigate them out of the wet weather. Her methods were inscrutable, but rainy or not, she had kept them safe.
“I guess so. My mom only ever brought a little rain. Just sort of coaxed it out of likely clouds to keep our vegetable garden going.”
Dez’s eyes snapped up and pinned Cass with a hard glare. “Your mother did what?” she asked.
“Well, she was sort of the town crazy lady. As Airs, she and Mama Yana, Andy’s mom, shouldn’t have been allowed in town. But Mama Yana married a Fire cop, so we were able to find some loophole that the Earth accepted.”
“No, the rain,” Dez said, waving her hand.
“Oh yeah. Mom was traditional. She celebrated the old holidays, listened for bad omens, made us wear protective makeup when she thought bad things were on the wind. It all helped with business, though. Who’s gonna visit a fortune-teller they think is sane? No one. So, you know, she did a little bit of everything, and we scraped by.” Cass shrugged.
“Right. Fine, but what about the rain, Cass? You said she coaxed rain out of the clouds?”
Kaida and Andy were watching him intently too. “Like I said, just a little. She tried to keep her head down so we didn’t get kicked out of town, but we needed that garden. So when we didn’t have enough to pay for all of Demeter’s permits and blessings, she would help our garden along with some rain.”
“Your mother is a Mistwalker,” Dez said. Her face looked strange without a smile, and her eyes were hard. Cass nodded. “Love, this would have been helpful information to have weeks ago.”