by Jen Pretty
Rory nudged my shoulder.
"Fine, follow me."
Derrek smiled. The idiot. Then he traipsed along behind me to the bank. The demon in his hand was crackling and scraping its rocks together. I climbed the dumpster and offered Derrek my hand to help him up. Rory waited in the alley while I indoctrinated Derrek into his new life.
"Put him feet first on that corner and he will freeze," I said. Then I watched as Derrek, the idiot, completed his first gargoyle retrieval. He was now a gargoyle hunter and my town really didn't need me.
"That's it?" he asked, as if it was a simple task.
"No, that's not it," I snapped back.
His eyes blinked at me in the moonlight.
"Fine, yes. That's it. Let's go."
Fuck.
We crept down the way we came up, and as my boots hit the ground Rory's arm slid around my shoulders. "You are doing the right thing, Har."
I scoffed. "Easy for you to say. You hate it here."
"I'm not going to deny it, this place is vanilla-boring. But also, you need to be out hunting bigger game. The world needs you."
I didn't reply. Stupid world.
"Are there more?" Derrek asked, his face full of anticipation. "I noticed one missing from the library."
As if I wasn't low enough, the thought of my potential daddy demon out there somewhere causing shit raised my heart rate and probably gave me gray hairs. "That one has been missing for months."
"You should tell him, Harlow." Rory piped in again.
"Fuck. Fine. But not here. Let's go to Lincolns," I replied.
Derrek opened his dumb mouth again, but I put a finger to my lips to silence him. He glanced around like there might be someone nearby and that's why I told him to shut it. Really, I just didn't want to hear his voice anymore.
I tucked my net under my arm and stuffed my hands in my pockets. He found his father's journals? Stupid idiot old man, what was he thinking leaving journals lying around for anyone to find?
"He had them hidden in the attic. I found them when I was cleaning out his house after he died."
Shit, I must have said that last bit out loud. "I'm very sorry for your loss," I said, remembering my manners. I didn't know his father passed away. Oops.
"Harlow, can I just talk to you alone for a minute?" His voice had lowered into that octave people used when they wanted to say something I didn't want to hear.
Rory piped up then. "I'll meet you two back at the house." And he strode off down the sleepy pre-dawn street before I could stop him.
I took a steadying breath and waited to hear what Derrek had to say. His dark eyes studied my face for a moment, and he bit his lip.
"What?" I asked, impatience eating at me. I wasn't in any mood to deal with Derrek crap.
"I just wanted to apologize for high school. It was never what you thought. My father insisted I take Rhonda instead of you. He said it was important for the town, which didn't make much sense back then, but now I realize he was just trying to keep me from having this job. Keep me from you." He lifted his hand to brush his knuckles along my cheek. "In his journal, he called you a half-breed."
"Rude, old bastard. I'm part demon." I just didn't want to consider how big that part was.
After a long beat, he continued. "Tonight, when I found that gargoyle rolling around in old man Keller's vegetable garden, it was like I had found the purpose I'd been missing."
"Yeah, well. It's a good gig. You will get paid, too, so you won't have to keep driving the police car around if you don't want to."
He smiled, and his white teeth flashed in the dark. "My father had a full career while taking care of the gargoyles. I hope I can, too."
I sighed and turned, walking down the sidewalk towards home. Or what was my home. I felt set adrift. I wouldn't be able to stay here now; my final excuse evaporated when Derrek grabbed that gargoyle. I would have to leave. I felt the prick of tears in the corner of my eyes and took a deep, steadying breath. No tears for the town that didn't like me anyway. I would be the roving huntress at large. I could fly to exotic lands and chase down monsters that threatened the very survival of our world.
We passed Len's Pizzeria and I glanced through the steamy windows to see Len’s hunched figure moving about inside. The tears rolled down my cheeks. I wiped them away quickly, but Derrek saw them, and his damn arms wrapped around me, stopping my progress home. We stood in front of Len's and I let my tears soak Derrek's stupid shirt while his warm body cradled mine. I felt empty.
After a few minutes, Derrek whispered. "Why are you crying, Harlow?"
I sniffled a few times and took some deep breaths. "It doesn't matter. It's just time for me to go."
I pushed away from Derrek and he let me go. I missed the warmth immediately but scolded myself for missing it. Derrek hurt me all those years ago, and just because he knew my secret and was part of my world now didn't mean my feelings about him had changed. This new revelation that his father had muddled in his love life didn't change the facts.
Derrek pulled open the door to Lincoln's shop and held it for me. Inside the smell of bacon and coffee still lingered. Rory and Linc were sitting at the table, their smiles fell when they got a look at my face. I wasn't a pretty crier; I knew that. I was probably all blotchy and red. I hustled past them to the bathroom and splashed cold water on my face until I looked somewhat normal.
Slipping back out of the bathroom silently, I leaned against the wall and listened to the guys talking about gargoyles and the job I was leaving behind. I couldn't muster the strength to walk back in and join them.
Derrek sounded excited. Even Linc's voice was more animated than usual. Instead, I slipped into my room and silently shut the door behind me. I crossed to the closet and swung it open. Inside was a messy stack of boxes. They were worn at the edges from all the times I had shoved them back in and slammed the door.
I picked up the first box and carried it to the bed where I sat cross-legged and began unwrapping in the silence of my room.
The time had come to mend old bridges and move on with my new life.
Or whatever.
CHAPTER TWO
The first box I opened contained a thumb drive. I knew it would be among the packages because Julian mentioned it when we were in Jackson. I dusted off my old laptop and started it up, while I retrieved a few more boxes from the closet. The second box was small, like jewellery-sized; small. I set that aside for last. The next box was a large, flat rectangle.
"A guitar?" I whispered to myself, shaking the giant box. I sat back down and tore the battered paper off. I struggled with some packing tape until I growled and rose, stalking out of my room to the kitchen where Rory and Linc were in some deep conversation. They ceased as soon as I walked in. I didn't care if they were talking about me, I was on a mission.
I hunted down a pair of scissors and snipped them dangerously close to Rory's head as I passed him making him dodge away and almost fall off his chair.
"What are you doing, Har?" Linc asked.
I waved over my shoulder and left without a word. I didn't want company for this job.
The scissors made tidy work of opening the box to reveal my old net. I stared at it for a moment as if it were a ghost from my past. It kind of was. I had written it off as a casualty of the demon war after paramedics dragged me out of the office building in New York. But here it was. Whole and undamaged. I took a deep breath and pulled it out of the box. The handle felt awkward in my hand; I had grown used to the new net Nick had sent me.
I took a few practice swings, using the skills I had learned in tennis lessons. The netting whistled through the air like a song I had forgotten. I set it on my bed and stared at it for several more minutes. I had good memories with that net.
With a sigh I turned to the laptop and plugged in the thumb drive. It pulled up a security video of the room Nick and I had fought the first demon in. The pentagram on the floor was lit by candles, and in the middle sat Collin Gamagin. He was si
tting on his knees, his large bat wings stretched out behind him. There was no sound but after a moment the demon appeared before Collin. The demon's mouth was open in a scream. He roared in Collin's direction who didn't move a muscle.
Soon the demon's contorted face relaxed as he stared at Collin. I was sure Collin was speaking and wished I could hear what he said. Soon the demon's face lifted to a grin and he threw his head back in laughter. The video cut out to black.
Julian wasn't lying. He hadn't been there when Collin summoned the demon, and obviously there was some kind of deal struck between the two.
I flicked off the video and returned to my task. I had four more boxes to open.
The next one contained a bottle of gin with a note. 'Don't drink it all at once,' It said.
I might have gotten drunk on gin a few times travelling with Julian.
The next two boxes contained memories just like that. One was a bottle of bubble bath, which would have been weird except it was kind of thoughtful. It reminded me of the time he walked in on me in the bathtub. I laughed at the memory. The next box had a motorcycle helmet. It was silver and I was sure matched his own helmet. It had a dark visor and, when I looked in the mirror, I looked like a cool bobble-head wearing it.
The final box was the one I had been trying not to look at. It sat on my bed, defying me to open it. I took one step forward and paused as there was a knock at the door.
"Hey, Harlow..." Rory said, walking into my room and stopping when he got a look at me. I was holding the open bottle of gin and wearing the motorcycle helmet. He looked stunned, then a smile cut his face. "That's wise actually, considering how much you fall down when you drink."
I narrowed my eyes at him. "Why are you in my room?" I asked, not really wanting to explain myself.
"Tickets just came by courier. We leave for New York in the morning."
"What? Why so soon? Who sent the tickets?"
"The Demon Division," he replied.
"Who spilled the beans to the Demon Division?" I asked, stalking forward.
He raised his hands in surrender. "It wasn't me. Must have been Derrek."
"Argh! Well, I'm not leaving until I say an actual goodbye to Len. His pizza built the Harlow you see before you and I won't abandon him without a real goodbye."
"Great, I'm starving. You think he has some dough made up?"
It was only ten in the morning, but I knew that Len made the dough the night before and left it wrapped in cheesecloth overnight. That was his secret to the perfect pizza pie.
"Yeah, let's go. Maybe we can get in before they start to prep for the lunch rush."
Rory grinned. "You aren't going to wear the helmet, are you?"
I scowled at him and pulled the helmet off, completely messing up my hair. I spent a few minutes flattening it out and pulling it all back into a ponytail, then we hit the sidewalk.
Butterflies filled my stomach as we strolled through the quiet town. The kids were all in school, but the retired folks were out walking in the sunshine and chatting with each other. I passed a few I knew, and they waved. I returned the waves and 'hellos' and thought about how much I would miss Humber Falls. It was my town, for worse or for better.
At the front steps to Len's Pizza, I stopped. The man himself was sitting on his porch swing rocking slowly. The old hinges squeaked, and Len's old face creased into a grin.
"I told 'em you would stop here first," he said.
I took the steps two at a time, fighting the tears that tried to push out. "Who'd you tell?" I asked as I collapsed onto the swing beside him. They only made it for two people, but Rory went into the parlour. Probably to fire up the oven and get to work on his pizza. He was a quick study and figured out how to make pizza on his third day here.
"These Division folks. They keep calling me up to make sure I won't be a problem with you leaving."
I scowled. "They shouldn't be bothering you. I'm gonna knock their heads together," I replied. I probably couldn't really do them any damage at all, but I was outraged that they were harassing my friend.
Len tutted like an old grandma. "They just been keeping an eye on you. I don't blame them. Told them you was special the first day they came 'round."
I smiled. "And when was that?" I asked.
"Oh, you was about four or five."
The smile fell off my face. "They knew about me then?"
Len just nodded. "I told them to leave you be and I would take care of you. They had no business being in your life. They gave me the creeps."
I laughed. Len had been around me too long and picked up some of my slang. It was endearing and hilarious.
I leaned back in the rocking bench and let the gentle motion sooth me. "I have to go again," I said after a long while. I turned my head and looked at Len.
He tipped his head back to mirror me and then turned to look me right in the eye. The wrinkles beside his mouth twitched down into a frown. "You know this time is different, though. You won't be comin' back here in a week or two or ten."
I bit my lip, but the tear fell anyway. Len never pussy-footed around the issue, but sometimes I wish he did. Like right now. I could have sat here for at least another ten years, but Len preferred to get right to the point.
"I'll miss you," I said in a broken sob.
His strong, old-man arm slid around my shoulder, and I curled into his side. Len had been my rock through it all. We may not have seen each other every day since I had to give up my job at the Pizzeria, but I counted on him. He was still there for me, no matter what.
"Now, now," he said in a soft voice. "Big bad demon huntress better not be caught crying over a foolish old man."
I giggled and then sobbed again, but eventually, the tears wore out, and the resulting hiccups died, too. I wiped my face on Len's sleeve and looked up into his eyes. "You will be okay, here?" I asked.
"Won't be the same without you, but I've been through worse."
"I'll call," I promised.
"You best. Unless you want me traipsing through the streets of New York screaming your name."
I wouldn't put it past him. The thought made me smile.
Just then, Rory stepped out of the pizzeria, making the bell above the door jingle one last time. He held an extra-large pizza box in his hand.
"You feeding the whole army, boy?" Len asked when he got a look at Rory.
Rory looked abashed but said, "Nah. Just Harlow."
The rumble of Len’s laughter vibrated through him, and I felt it in his shoulder. "You sure that's enough?"
"Hey," I said, but without my usual indignation. I just couldn't pull up the light mood they could. I felt deep and dark like a leaf in a river being swept downstream to somewhere I didn't really want to go.
Len squeezed me tight and then pulled back to look me in the eye. "You go save the world, Harlow. Like I always knew you would."
I bit my lip again and nodded before the old man stood up and limped back into the pizza parlour.
CHAPTER THREE
Rory and I walked back to Lincoln's house in silence. I'm not sure what he was thinking, but there was something about the look on Len's face just before he walked back into his shop. I wanted to hug him and hold on to him so tight he could never let me go, but I knew that wasn't his way.
I sulked all the way back to my room and curled up on the bed. Something pointy dug into my back, and I fished the small box from Julian out from under me. I set it on my nightstand and stared at it. It could be something harmless, like a bottle cap or... something small and harmless.
"Shit," I whispered, rolling over to face the wall so I couldn't see the little box anymore. I squished my eyes closed hard and tried to convince myself to go to sleep.
"Harlow," Rory's voice came through the door.
"What?" I said.
I heard his feet shift beyond my door. "You want some pizza?"
I was sad, not dead. I rolled back over, stuffed the tiny box in my nightstand drawer and pushed myself up. I would h
ave some stuff to pack later, but first I could eat my fill of Len's pizza. Julian was rich, maybe he could have some of Len's pizza flown in for me now and then.
Rory grinned when I flung the door open. "You okay?"
"Yeah, this just sucks."
He nodded and led the way back to the kitchen, where the smell of pizza was warm and delicious. I flipped open the box and pulled out a gooey slice, directing it to my mouth instead of a plate. Plates were for pizza newbs.
"You know, you will probably be back here from time to time. It's not like this is goodbye forever," Rory said around a mouthful of cheese.
I scoffed. Only if there was a wayward gargoyle or a demon-apocalypse in Humber Falls. It was doubtful. I appreciated his effort to comfort me, though.
We left a couple slices of pizza for Lincoln and then got to work packing our stuff. Rory didn't have much, but I had some stuff I needed shipped to New York. I hadn't spoken to Nick or Julian much since I left Jackson. I worried it would be awkward to see them again. Particularly Nick. He had changed in the last few months. He was harder, less easygoing. He didn't text me at night just to chat anymore. I realized I hadn't heard from him in weeks and promised myself I would look him up.
Julian, on the other hand, had become more like he was when I first met him. He was still a stick in the mud, with his fibre and vegetables, but he joked around when we spoke on the phone. I almost looked forward to seeing him.
I did two loads of laundry and boxed up a bunch of things I wanted in New York. Then boxed up some stuff I didn't need there and shoved them in the closet. I hoped Lincoln wasn't planning to get a new roommate.
That night I curled up in my bed, but the room felt empty and cold without my pictures and stuff around.
My cell rang around ten pm, and I scooped it up off the bedside table.
"Hello?" I said with a frog in my throat.
"Harlow? You OK?" Julian's smooth voice came through, making me shiver.
I cleared my throat. "Yes, I'm fine. All packed and ready to go."