by Alicia Fabel
“I can’t imagine what it must be like to have the responsibility of making sure my people don’t become extinct.”
“You took on a High Witch and an unnatural army to keep your kind from being wiped out. So you have some idea.”
“I’d probably marry a toad and have toad-babies if it would save mankind.” Vera took a tiny taste of her stew. “Holy crap! You can cook.”
“Kuwari did most of the work,” Addamas said with uncharacteristic humility. “I just finished it up.”
“You have got to make this for me again after we go back home.”
Addamas blew on a spoonful of stew. “I can do that.”
Vera was on her second bowl when Kuwari returned. He inhaled appreciatively. “My son, I’m glad I taught you to cook. Not that I had much choice with how much you liked to eat.”
“I bet he was a handful,” Vera teased.
“Two handfuls,” replied Kuwari.
“Hey.” Addamas scowled over his spoon. “I was a good boy.”
“Sure, sure.” Vera raised a dubious eyebrow.
Kuwari laughed and then said, “No, he really was a very good boy.”
“See?” Addamas shoveled another bite into his mouth.
“He’s your dad. He has to say that.”
“Truth be told, Addamas was quite bashful. Always hiding behind his sister and me. Trying to be invisible.”
“Seriously?” Vera eyed Addamas. “What happened? I pictured him throwing fits and storming away through paths.”
“There might have been some of that too,” Kuwari said with a fond smile. “Growing up in the village was not easy for a satyr boy.”
“Understatement,” mumbled Addamas.
“The biggest challenge raising him was the sleepwalking, though,” Kuwari told her. “He didn’t just wander around the house. He disappeared into other realms. The first time, I had no idea what had happened to him. I searched everywhere. The next day, the Guardian showed up on my doorstep with Addamas in tow. Nearly stopped my heart, him at my door, Addamas's little hand in his. That’s when I found out what Addamas could do.”
“Wow,” Vera said. “Good thing you landed in the meadow.”
“For a little boy, I can assure you that finding myself face-to-face with the Guardian did not seem like a good thing,” Addamas informed her. “I would lie awake, terrified to fall asleep at night, thinking I’d wake up to him towering over me again. Eventually, that terror made my subconscious take me to some of the most terrifying places in the world. Places of my nightmares.”
“After a few times of the Guardian delivering him back home, Addamas figured out how to open a path and bring himself directly home. I always worried until he showed up, and then one day, he didn’t. It was two weeks later before he made it home, ragged and dirty, the Guardian half-carrying him. He’d had to make his way by foot across Saguenay, a realm of ice, to the world-gate because he couldn’t open a path for some reason. The Guardian patched him up and fed him before bringing him the rest of the way home, but Addamas didn’t want to waste time getting cleaned up.”
“That’s when I learned that facing Kale was not the scariest thing in the world.”
Kuwari rose and retrieved a bowl from the top shelf. Inside was a child-sized ring made of blackened metal. “When Addamas landed in Saguenay, he landed in a bed of rock, all laced with this metal. Shards of it were stuck in his hair and shoes, and even in his pockets. Once I collected it all and got him washed up, his ability slowly came back. So, I melted down all that he’d unwittingly brought back and combined it with a metal we have here in Nibiru to make this ring for him. He’d wear this when he went to sleep at night and wake up in his own bed. Fortunately, he outgrew his sleepwalking habit. Or else, I’d have had to trek across Saguenay, searching for the substance somewhere under the ice, to make him a larger ring.”
“Addamas couldn’t go back there?”
“I have no idea where it is. All of that realm looks about the same to me. And I was too busy trying not to become dinner for the abominables to pay attention to where I was most of the time.”
“So you can’t just take a path anywhere?”
“I can go places I know. Places I don’t know, it’s all a crap shoot where I’ll end up.” Addamas pointed at her empty bowl. “Are you finally done?”
“Yes. I wish I could eat more, but I can’t.” Vera drained the last of her eitr. She’d gone for the second cup when Kuwari offered it. Her belly was full, and her eyes were drooping.
“You should probably get some sleep,” Addamas noted, “before you start hallucinating from sleep deprivation.”
“You headed to Florida?”
“In the morning. In that time zone, all the parties are wrapping up, and everyone’s crawling home for some sleep. I’ll stay here tonight and make sure you’re settled in before I go. I’ll get there in time for the fun to begin tomorrow.” He winked.
“Then I will see you in the morning. And if you get the urge to cook breakfast for me, Chef-Boy Satyr, I would not turn it down.”
Vera stumbled into the room Kawari had pointed out earlier and fell into bed. She was too tired to think about sea monsters or eyes filled with sparks. Luckily, none of those things followed her into her dreams either.
Ferrox and Kale melted into the night’s shadows as a young chimera woman crept from her home. She looked to the left and right. The breeze stirred her mane while her pointed ears pressed forward, listening. Probably for the sounds of any restless neighbors who might notice her sneaking away. She tucked her long, barbed tail around her waist and shuffled toward the trees, careful that her claws didn’t click against the stone pavers.
Think her husband knows she takes midnight strolls? Ferrox asked.
Where do you think she’s going?
My guess? Out for a booty call.
Chimeras mate for life.
Ferrox snorted. Maybe once upon a time.
Come on, things haven’t changed that much. She might be in trouble.
If you say so. Ferrox poked around inside Kale’s mind. You’re hoping she’s in trouble. You’re looking for a fight.
You’re wrong, Kale protested.
I’m not, Ferrox said gleefully. Let’s hope you’re right.
You just want things to get bloody.
I would not be disappointed by lots of blood.
Kale and Ferrox were alert while they trailed the woman. If anyone else was awake and saw them, things could get complicated. Best-case scenario, they’d assume Kale was a centaur from off-realm. Being an outsider caught in Kunlun without an escort was preferable to being recognized while in his current form. If anyone figured out he was an unnatural, a lot of screaming would ensue. If they recognized who he was, there would likely be an all-out rebellion against the meadow once news got out. No one would care that he had complete control over the situation. Kale fell back farther, following the woman by scent. If they couldn’t see her, she couldn’t see them.
They were creeping forward when the woman’s muffled cry went up. Kale leaped forward and crashed through the undergrowth. Ferrox sank back to let him take the lead. They nearly tripped over the couple tangled in the brush.
Ferrox howled with laughter as the mussed woman screamed and shoved her lover toward Kale. It seemed she was willing to sacrifice the man to save herself. The chimera male cowered, cupping his business with both hands.
Not really a two-hand job, is it? Still, it looked tasty for such a little morsel.
You’re not getting it.
Shame. I bet he’s wickedly delicious if he’s out here with another man’s wife.
“Sorry,” Kale mumbled and backed away from the couple.
Think they’ll continue where they left off? Ferrox asked curiously.
We’re not sticking around to find out, Kale said before Ferrox could ask. When did the chimera mating bond become so fickle?
About the same time the clans separated to keep their bloodlines pure. The Yar
en clan stopped having girls after that. Although, if their men are out sampling Pixiu wives in the middle of the night, their line is probably still thriving. It’s just being raised by other men.
You know what. I don’t care. So long as they keep their mouths shut about us.
They will. They can’t have anyone find out about their midnight rendezvous.
Let’s get to Diyu before we come across anyone else.
On to the torture show, cheered Ferrox.
9
Vera buried her face in the pillow to block out the daylight. She wasn’t ready to wake up, but all that eitr meant she had to pee. Like a boss. When Vera kicked off her blankets, the air felt cool against her damp skin. She stumbled down the hall to the bathroom, rubbing sleep from her eyes. The hut was quiet. She wondered if the guys had gone somewhere.
Once she could stop doing the pee-dance, she wandered into the living area. A plate of dried fruit, nuts, and a brown roll waited on the table at her spot from the night before. Assuming it was for her, she savored a few pieces of fruit, which tasted like they’d been dipped in honey. Then she grabbed the roll and headed down the hall toward the lab.
Kuwari looked up when Vera opened the door. He folded a letter he’d been reading and packed it away before giving Vera his full attention. His eyes flicked up to the top of her head. Crap. I forgot my head-cover thing.
“You won’t need to cover your head while you’re in my home. Unless someone comes to visit,” said Kuwari as if he’d read her mind. But he hadn’t. Addamas said a kargadan’s only tricks were poison control, glamour, impressive strength, and douchebaggery.
Vera combed through her nest of hair with her fingers. She hadn’t seen a mirror anywhere. Not that she would’ve paid attention if she had since she could barely see straight yet.
“Glad you found your breakfast. Have a seat if you want.” Kuwari pointed at a stool across from him and then bent to peer into the lenses of a microscope. He scribbled a few notes.
“Is Addamas still sleeping?” Vera pulled off a piece of bread and stuffed it into her mouth.
“He left hours ago. We thought you might sleep all day.”
“Sorry.” Vera played with a wad of bread, pressing it between her fingers while processing the reality that she was on her own in a foreign realm. On the one hand, it was exhilarating, but on the other hand, it was a little intimidating. She hadn’t expected that. Like she was somehow unmoored and without a paddle. “You could’ve woken me.”
“Nonsense. Have you been getting much sleep lately?”
“Not really,” Vera admitted.
Kuwari studied her. “Have you been feeling well?”
“Oh yeah, I’ve felt fine.” She’d forgotten she was talking to a doctor. “It just seems like I can’t get my brain to slow down anymore.”
“Does your magic situation make you anxious?”
“Constantly.”
“When your stress is high and you aren’t sleeping or eating properly, you are more susceptible to illness.” Kuwari pulled a drawer open and retrieved a stethoscope. It looked similar to what humans used, but instead of metal and plastic, it was made of the same clay as Kuwari’s dishes. “Forgive the healer in me, but would you mind if I listen to your heart and lungs?”
“Oh, sure.” She figured he’d do that anyway since she was his specimen for a few days.
Kuwari felt around Vera’s neck with cool, dry fingers and then placed the stethoscope against her back. “Take a deep breath,” he instructed. Apparently, some things about doctors were the same in every realm. Although, when he went to peer down her throat, the light he used, came from the center of his forehead. Kuwari noticed Vera staring and tapped the spot before the light went out, “Handy, right?”
“Uh yeah. But…” Vera frowned, not sure what she wanted to say.
“Not what you were expecting?”
“Honestly, no.”
Kuwari straightened. Half his mouth curved up, and then the same beam appeared before condensing into a horn made of light. He pricked a finger on the tip, and a bead of blood formed on his skin. He flicked the light, and it sounded like clinking glass. “Sharper than any blade, when I need it to be,” said Kuwari.
“Will I be able to do that?”
“That is the goal,” Kuwari answered. “You seem healthy enough, but we do need to calm your mind.”
“Yeah, good luck with that.” Vera picked up her roll and took another bite.
“It won’t take luck, just practice. Follow me.” Kuwari beckoned and headed out of the lab.
Vera hopped off the stool to follow, stuffing the last of her roll into her mouth. The man led her to the living room. He folded himself onto a pillow, gesturing for Vera to do the same. Feeling self-conscious, Vera sat on a red pillow with gold tassels.
“We’re going to work on some meditation,” Kuwari informed her.
“Meditation?” It sounded like something a kook would say. “Is that really necessary?”
“Only if you want to unlock the kargadan inside you.”
Vera sighed. “Tell me what to do.”
“Close your eyes,” he said.
Vera gritted her teeth and complied.
“Now, clear your mind of everything. Think nothing. Feel nothing.”
“Not even the pillow?” she asked to be funny.
“Not even the pillow,” he replied, letting her know she was not funny at all. “You are a blank canvas. And when you can hold it for twenty minutes, you will be ready to move forward.” Kuwari’s clothing rustled as he stood.
Vera opened her eyes. “You’re leaving?”
“I have work to do, and so do you.” And then he left.
Vera scowled. Whatever. I can clear my mind for twenty minutes. She wiggled to get comfortable. Then she took a few deep breaths. No clue why, it just seemed like the right thing to do. Yoga people breathed a lot, didn’t they? Not that she’d ever taken a yoga class. But she’d seen them in the park on her way to work sometimes. She wondered what her old bosses thought had happened to her. A year ago, she was scheduled to work when she’d ended up tossed out of her realm. Had they been worried when she never showed up? No missing posters had gone up, so obviously they hadn’t been too worried. She wondered if anyone had even noticed that she was gone. Ok, Vera, shhh. Breathe in. And out. Her chest rose and fell slowly. She’d heard someone saying once to breathe out twice as long as in, so she tried that. In for four. Out for eight…
Am I supposed to feel light-headed? Is that what I’m supposed to be going for? Holy heck. Vera sucked in a breath on six. It’s a good thing it didn’t take me long to figure out which way was up after I fell into Lemuria. Because I can’t hold my breath for crap. If Kale hadn’t shown up, though, it wouldn’t have mattered because those crabby-swordfish things would’ve killed me. Then I’d have taken a very different underwater taxi ride. Ugh, and been butchered like a pig for Octo-creep’s dinner table. Vera shivered. Seriously, stop thinking about it. Blank canvas… A white sheet. Blowing in the air—no, not blowing. No breeze. Just hanging there. All white and nothing. Inhale... Exhale.
Vera’s foot began to tingle. She shifted to get the blood flowing again and blew out a frustrated breath. This is stupid. She twisted around to glare at the lab door. How is this helping me turn into a unicorn? If I tell him I did it, I wonder if he’ll believe me. She had a suspicious feeling that he would not. Shaking out her arms, Vera closed her eyes and focused again on breathing. Maybe if she counted her breaths like sheep, her mind would stop thinking. Eventually.
She made it to the fifties before she lost count and then sat there trying to figure out if that was fifty-two or fifty-three. Does it matter? Just pick a number. Of course, by then she’d taken another handful of breaths. Should I just go with sixty? Yep. Sixty it is. Sixty-two. Sixty-three... Vera yawned. Maybe it was too much like counting sheep. Who thought of counting in the first place? I mean, what kind of person was lying in bed one night, so whacked out of th
eir mind from exhaustion, that they thought “hey I’m going to imagine sheep jumping over a fence. That’ll put me to sleep, for sure.” And how did word get out that it had worked? Did they go around demonstrating and fall asleep for people? Ahhh! Focus, Vera. Blank canvas. How many breaths am I on?
“How’s it going?” Kuwari asked.
Vera jumped. The man looked at her with a knowing smile. There was no way she could lie to him. “Could be better.”
“It takes practice,” Kuwari said. “You’ll get there. Would you like to go with me on a house call? The prince’s intended is under the weather. I’m supposed to check on her.”
Vera wasn’t sure if going into the village was a brilliant idea. She was no closer to controlling her siphon. What if someone figures out what I am? Addamas won’t be back for days.
“You can stay and meditate if you’d rather,” Kuwari told her.
Forget that. “I’ll get changed.”
Vera hurried down the hall. A pile of appropriate clothing was laid out for her. What’s the worst that can happen? Addamas said they aren’t sensitive, so if I siphon a little magic, that means they’ll never feel it, right? They’re magical creatures too, not just wielders, so they can grow their magic back. And if I do siphon anyone and then do anything kargadanish, they’ll just think I’m part kargadan. Which is what they’ve been told anyway. Now if people start collapsing around me, that could be a problem. Vera shoved her siphon down and built a mental wall over it. Stay put.
Vera, dressed and thoroughly convinced everything would be okay, went to join Kuwari.
Kuwari knocked on the front door of a hut in the village center. Across the road was a large section of vegetable gardens, which made up the village square. Vera felt the eyes of the people working in the gardens on her. She didn’t dare turn around. Instead, she focused on the worn carvings in the doorframe. The same carvings decorated the window frames too. At one time, they must have been breathtaking. Even faded, they were undeniably charming. Vera made out vines, flowers, and maybe even a crab. She made a face at that, just as a middle-aged woman opened the door.
