She’s a Runner

by B Amari

  Silas had warmed to the idea that Calix wasn’t entirely insane. He trusted that I was telling the truth as I knew it - and he was raised in a family home that still honoured the old gods, so his superstition was forefront of his mind - but he still carried a heavy load of skepticism. Andreas flat out didn’t believe any of it. Still, he couldn’t come up with anything more logical without calling me a liar, or entirely insane, and that bothered him, I could tell.

  “Well I’m supposedly a descendant of an order that was sworn to protect, and procreate with girls like you, so I better get to pleasing your demands on the double.” Andreas’ smile said he was having fun laughing about this whole mess, but that the underlying innuendo was pure truth.

  I felt my legs wobble, and I sat back down in my chair, superman pose abandoned. “Yes, why don’t you?” I replied, bravado in place. That man intimidated me, but somehow, I liked it. It wasn’t so much that I thought he would hurt me, but just enough that I knew he would if I asked.

  Fuck, it was so hard to stay mad at him sometimes.

  Silas chuckled, and shut down the computer. “Would you two just get it over with already? Maybe then we can focus on the bastards that are after you?”

  I could feel my eyes widening in surprise, but I couldn’t stop them anymore than I could stop my mouth from gaping. I didn't reply, no quick come back for that one. I wanted to know what Andreas would say though. On second thought, did that really just come out of Silas’ mouth, Silas who was jealous the first time he met Andreas, before I even knew there were feelings on either side? Ah, cunttwizzler, I was so confused.

  Andreas smirked as if he could read my mind, and swaggered over to the captive. He had given Calix some mercy, taking off the extra cuffs and only keeping one arm connected to the bar, out of thanks for his cooperation. His ankles however were still tied up with a thin chain, that was also tied, and padlocked against the alarm system, which would trip and sound off if he moved too far. “I’m going to take the nice lady out for ice cream now, we might be back before we head to the cafe for the night, we might not. I’ve left you a bucket, and a pencil with some paper. If you think of anything else you want us to know before we decide what to do with you, write it down.”

  Calix smiled up at him like Andreas hadn’t kidnapped, bound, and tortured him. “Will do boss.”

  I hid the giggle that sprouted forth. Calix had no idea how spot on he was with his quip. I jumped back up from my chair and rushed to Andreas, trying to take his focus off Calix, who should know better than to bait him.

  I wrapped my arms around Andreas and squeezed. “Ice cream, now.” I squeaked.

  Andreas peeled me from his body, picking me up by the shoulders and placing me tightly beside him. He sighed, and shook his head. “Yes, princess, lets go feed the monster.”

  I knew he was talking about the craving I was having, but for one second I felt what it would feel like to have someone I trusted, someone I was starting to care about, find out what I am, and truly hate me for it.

  I pressed the feeling down. There was no time for a pity party when there was frozen sugar milk to be consumed. “Don’t call me princess.”

  I left his side and went over to Silas who was holding my coat, ready for me to insert myself into it. I really did adore his gentleman's side. There weren’t many like him left in this world, and I made sure that even if I was mad at him I would remember, he had two very distinct sides, and I cared about one of them a fuck load more than I should.

  I lapped up the cookie dough ice cream like I was starving, searching for the little bombs of delicious cookie dough like a gold miner would pan through gravel, but with my tongue. It was just what I needed.

  We had decided on staying at the cafe apartment for the night, much to Andreas disapproval. He had ranted that it wasn’t secure enough, that I had frequented it enough that these people who were after me would know to look there.

  I had protested on Silas’ behalf. I wanted to at least grab the rest of my things from the cafe. If we were going to be staying at the penthouse, I needed more than a simple stay bag.

  When we got settled into the cozy apartment Andreas headed to the couch to finish off his parfait. I had mine down to the cone, and was biting off pieces already. Neither of us could beat Silas though, he had scarfed down his ice cream so fast I wondered how he hadn’t gotten brain freeze.

  Silas disappeared into his own apartment on the back of the building, and returned with a package. Holding it out for me, he looked hesitant. “My Ya-ya sent Papou’s pin. It finally arrived, I just hadn’t had a chance to show you.”

  I took the package and opened it gingerly. I felt like I was handling a family jewel, even though I knew it was a pin button that could be added to a jacket, nothing valuable in any obvious way, but knew it was priceless to Silas.

  A small round pin fell from the opening into my palm. I studied the face. A healthy looking tree with what used to be apples - obvious wear on the metal - and coiled around the trunk of the tree was a winged serpent.

  “Silas bring me your laptop,” I said absentmindedly, then remembered my manners. I looked up, “Please?”

  Silas brought me his laptop without complaint, and set it on the couch beside where I sat. I opened it, bringing up a search engine. Something I remembered from my own teenage phase-like obsession with greek mythology. I typed in Ladon, and read the information that came up. Next I searched Chrysaor, and devoured all of the information I could.

  After awhile I looked up from the screen. Andreas had finished his treat, and Silas had went back downstairs, to do office work I imagined. I had been keeping him all to myself lately, I was sure there were things he had to tend to.

  “Andreas,” I said. “Look at this pin, and then read this page. I think Silas’ grandfather was part of the Order of Ladon, the one Calix told us about.”

  Andreas looked over the information and examined the button. “Seems like a stretch but it makes sense.” Andreas got up from the couch, and put away the laptop and pin, taking special care not to lose it.

  He went back out to the hall, and grabbed his jacket off the hook. He strolled back in with a shit eating grin on his face. From the inside pocket of his coat, Andreas pulled a boxed set of DVDs. When he showed me what it was I giggle-snorted.

  He plopped down beside me, throwing the DVDs in my lap. “Time to educate me on G-O-Freaking-T.”

  We sat cuddled together watching episode after episode. I heard Silas come back upstairs and head towards his apartment. He didn’t come and say goodnight, and I almost felt betrayed.

  Where the hell did that come from? I have no reason to expect that kind of action from him, or judge him for it.

  I put myself in my place and turned back to the show.

  Andreas was looking at me, I could feel his gaze on my neck, my chin, jawline, my mouth. I turned to tell him he was missing a really funny part when he leaned in, and captured my mouth with his own.

  His lips were hard against mine, fighting for dominance. His tongue explored the space between my lips before taking over, and demanding more. The sensation rocked me to my core. I saw stars, and felt fireworks. He ran his tongue around my canines before pulling back, and looking deeply into my eyes.

  “Wow,” I blurted, then feeling like a fool wrapped my face up in the crook of my elbow. Andreas chuckled good heartedly, and before I knew it I was snuggled up under his arm, fading to sleep.

  Apparently Andreas hadn’t had the problem of exhaustion, and thank god for it. He shook me awake only Gods knew how many hours later. The dvd was rolling end credits, that was a whole season he watched while I slept.

  “Medoe,” he whisper-yelled. Don’t ask me, it was a special talent of his. “Medoe, get up, now. I smell smoke.”

  That did it. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end, and I bolted from position. I was sure my hair was pointing in many different directions without my silk pillowcase to tame it but I didn’t care. I bolted off the couch,
and to the front window. Sure enough the inside was beading with condensation, the smell of smoke wafted in the air, and the faint orange glow of flames flickered below. “They found me,” I whispered to myself.

  When I turned back around Andreas had one of my bags over his shoulder, one fisted at his side. I ran over to him and grabbed the rest of my small bags. “Silas, we have to get Silas, and get out of here. Call the fire department!”

  Andreas grabbed me by the arm and pulled me from the room. “Already did. Come on.”

  Andreas led me down the hall towards Silas’ apartment. Without knocking he busted through the door, and started hollering. “Rise and fucking shine fuckwad. Your cafe is on fire. We need to get out of here, but downstairs is burning. Wake UP!”

  Silas bound out of bed in a position that said he was ready to lay a hurting on the intruder, until understanding painted itself across his face, and he rushed to his desk. He grabbed a briefcase and threw on some clothes. “Follow me.”

  Silas led us to the very back of the building and down two flights of stairs. We were in some type of cellar. When we came to a stop Silas put down his case and went to the wall. He pushed in on what looked like a simple foundation stone, and it moved. Beside it a panel slid back revealing a keypad. He typed in a series of numbers and a part of the wall slid into itself, revealing a tunnel.

  “Holy moonshine burgers.” I blurted. That was crazy. Before Silas led us into the tunnels I could hear the wailing of sirens in the distance. God I hoped they could save the cafe.

  Chapter 15

  The tunnels were impossible to see in, it was so dark. There were no openings to any sources of light, not that I could see, nothing to make into a torch either; just pure darkness. “What the fuck is this place? Where are we?” I asked the darkness, hoping the man holding on to my right hand in front of me would answer.

  He didn’t. He hadn’t said a word since we’d got down here.

  We had formed a chain when I had fallen behind, and then almost had a panic attack, thinking I was lost and alone in a cold dark area underground, but Andreas had grabbed my hand, and promised not to let go. When I found Silas in front of me I grabbed into the darkness finding his as well. A two person chain wouldn’t work, neither Andreas nor I knew where we were going.

  Andreas stubbed his bare foot into something hard and a string of curses followed his shout of surprise. “I swear coffeeman, if we get trapped in these infernal catacombs, I’m eating you first.” I would have laughed that he had forgotten his shoes, if the seriousness of the situation weren’t so dire.

  “Shhh, I know where I’m going okay? I’ve played in these tunnels since my grandfather showed them to me as a child. Just let me concentrate.”

  We continued on in silence for awhile, turning left, then right, then right again, then left, and so on. I wasn’t keeping track for any particular reason, I couldn’t use it to get back, I didn’t start making the list until we’d been on foot for the first ten minutes.

  In those first fear inducing moments, I was more worried about an oncoming panic attack, or the Guild following, and finding us down here in this cramped enclosed space, than I was about finding my way back to the cafe.

  After a long trudge through the blackness, I finally saw a small orb of light, no bigger than a baseball at first, but when we continued on straight; taking no more turns, the light grew first to the size of a melon, than a steering wheel, until I finally understood what I was looking at.

  The smell of salt air hit me first, the sound of gulls screaming registered second. We were approaching one of the culverts that the road runoff used, so the beach wouldn't be corroded by the heavy rains.

  I’d only seen it a couple times, on trips to the beach, but it always looked like the perfect place for a serial killer to hide a body, so I stayed well and clear from it. I never thought one day, that creepy pipe opening would be my escape hatch.

  When our feet finally hit the sand, and our hands reluctantly unclutched from one anothers, Andreas’ face turned hard. “What the fuck are you behind that coffee counter Silas!”

  He marched up to Silas and pushed him backwards. Before I could even gather what was happening, Andreas had landed two good blows to Silas’ face.

  Silas didn’t fight back, but he spit the blood from his mouth that the third blow caused, and pulled himself back up to full height. “I don’t owe you anything, that’s my story, and I’m not sharing.”

  I thought for a moment about taking the opportunity to take advantage of the conversation and get my own answers, but sympathy won over, and I decided I should probably try to break this up. If Silas was just going to let Andreas pummel him, than there was no sport to it. He’d just be damaged, and need medical attention.

  Andreas landed another shot to Silas’ stomach. “We could have died, in that stupid unsecure cafe. I knew we should have stayed at my place! It was stupid to leave. This is your fault. They found her again, and it’s your fault!” Andreas landed another as I reached him, and stood between them.

  That’s when it hit me. Silas wasn’t fighting back because he, and Andreas were on the same page. They both felt that way.

  “Listen,” I yelled. “This is no one’s fault but the Guilds, and we’re not going to start blaming each other now.” God I needed to go dancing, but that was such a bad idea. I knew how bad. I knew how risky it was. That didn’t stop me from craving it. I had a tension running through my body that I had to release. It was driving me koo-koo for koodle puffs.

  “I know where we are. We’re alive and intact. Calm your horny-mones, and come with me. We’ve got to make sure they didn’t get Calix!”

  I turned to Silas. His poor gorgeous face. It was starting to swell, and I could tell it would be bruised by the time the sun came up in a half hour or so. “I’m so sorry Silas. I’m so, so sorry. Your cafe,” I choked back a sob. I couldn’t cry, not now. “Your grandparents cafe.” I hung my head low.

  If anyone was to blame it was me. These two had insisted on being my shadows, but since I came into their lives I’d cost them nothing but grief. I couldn't understand why they still stuck around.

  Silas took my hand and rubbed his thumb over the inside of my wrist. “You’re okay, that’s what matters.” He slung his arm over my shoulders, and we made our way to the road to hail a taxi.

  Going around the back of the building to the private elevator entrance, I was hyper-aware of everything. Every breeze that changed even slightly against my skin had me looking over my shoulder for attackers.

  It wasn’t until we reached the penthouse and entered Andreas’ bachelor pad, that I let my guard down for even a brief moment. When I saw that Calix was in his spot, and in a deep sleep, I sighed, feeling a little lighter than before. They hadn’t made this connection yet.

  I watched as Silas iced his eye and laid back onto the couch beside my napping chair. Andreas stormed off, sitting on his bed, his elbows on his knees. Soon snores started to rise from Silas’ direction and I went to take the ice off his eye. It would just melt. I took the blanket off the back off the couch and covered him.

  With a quick look at his poor face I shook my head and walked away.

  When Andreas heard my footsteps approaching, he lifted his head from its hung position to look at me. “I know, I shouldn’t have done that. I was just so angry.” I could tell he was trying not to raise his voice and wake Silas. “Angry at these damn psychos, who won't take a break. Angry with that boy over there for fucking with my head. I’m angry that I couldn’t protect you, and I’m so savagely pissed off that the barmaid over there won't come clean about who and what he is. I’ve brushed arms with some pretty scary people, some sketchier than hell. But I made no secret of it. He’s hiding things, and I don’t trust him.”

  Well, there was the truth of the animosity, I assumed. “Listen, Silas has a past just like you and I. It’s his to tell or not tell, we can’t force that.”

  “Yeah, well I don't have to keep my nose out
of it either. I have my ways, I’ll figure this one out, you wait and see.” He paused, I could see his mind working through his sharp honey golden eyes. “You know who had tunnels like that? Cartels, smugglers, and drug runners. That’s my bet. And where there’s drugs and money, worse things aren’t far off. Assassinations, human trafficking, robbery, they all have a use for those tunnels.”

  I smiled. Sure. Silas was a pistol whipping, ninja, drug runner from a cartel family who sold women...riiiiiight.

  “Lay back, it’s been a long night. Get some sleep and we’ll figure everything out tomorrow. Silas is going to have to go check out the cafe with insurance, I’m sure. We’ll have to occupy ourselves with something productive while he does.” I pushed back on Andreas’ shoulder until he was flush with his bed. I could tell his eyes were heavy so I left, after placing a small chaste kiss on his cheek. “Sleep well.”

  “Mhmm, I am kind of tired…” he trailed off.

  I was too wound up to go back to bed. I started for the kitchen when I heard Calix cough. Not a ‘I'm so sick, poor me’ cough, but an attention grabber. I whipped around to see blue and green eyes peering at me. I noticed the eye that had been the worst was starting to get better. “You’re back?” he whispered.

  I made my way quietly over to him and sat beside him. He reached to his side, and grabbed the stack of papers Andreas had given him. He had jotted down notes about anything he thought we might want to know. “Thanks. These will be really helpful.”

  I placed the papers on top of the bar and hoped I wouldn’t forget them. I wasn’t the most organized person in the world, and I was distracted rather easily.

  I stared at him, examining his features, the way he held himself - even beaten - with dignity. “Who are you?” I mumbled completely unintentionally.

  “I don’t really know,” the whisper fell off his tongue, and he slammed his lips closed like he could stop the sound from escaping after the fact.