by Alicia Fabel
Vera stuck out her tongue.
Addamas set a path to the meadow.
17
Having Vera sitting at his table made Kale relieved beyond words.
“Let me see your horn again,” Mimi begged.
Vera sighed but summoned the symbol of her kargadan magic.
“That’s so cool. Can you make your gills and horn appear at the same time?” Mimi asked.
“I haven’t figured out how to get my demas and kargadan to play together yet.”
“You talk about your magic like they’re pets,” said Mimi.
“They kind of are. It’s weird. Like they have different personalities and minds of their own.”
“Well, I want to see you with a scorpion tail,” said Addamas.
Batten the hatches, she’s coming, warned Ferrox.
Vera jumped.
Did you break into Vera’s head? asked Kale.
Kale? That was Vera.
Blast. Kale threw up a shield before the girl found anything in his head that he didn’t want her to see.
What are you hiding from me? she asked suspiciously, not shut out at all. Across the room, she eyed him
Interesting. Seems the girl can ride my link to your mind.
You unlocked her demon? Kale asked.
Not on purpose. As soon as my mind touched hers, it just sort of popped out, said Ferrox.
Like an angry Jack-in-the-box. Are my eyes red?
No. But Ferrox’s eyes only glow when he’s angry.
That’s not the only time, Ferrox reminded, tinting the link with his innuendo to make sure they got his drift.
Vera blushed and looked awkwardly away from Kale.
Knock it off, Kale told Ferrox.
Interestinger, Ferrox mused. The horse looked back and forth between the two of them through their eyes. And disgusting. I’m going to need bleach for my brain if you two don’t pull it together. It’s like seeing my mother with a stud. Siphon girl, we’ll work on getting you some control later. For now, I’m out of here. Before someone thinks something I can’t unthink. Have fun with the witch.
Ferrox crossed into the first realm he could find. The link severed as Marianna walked through the front door, carrying a basket on one arm.
“I heard you were back, dear.” Marianna crossed to Vera, who hadn’t moved yet. “You look flushed, dear. Are you ill? Is she ill?” Marianna demanded of Kale.
Kale cleared his throat. “No. It’s just been a long day.”
“Yep,” Vera chirped. “I’m fine.”
“You look thinner. Good thing I brought sweats.” Marianna removed a plate of cookies from her basket and shoved them into Vera’s hands.
“How’s Eggbert?” Vera asked. The pulse throbbing in her neck did not slow, despite her nonchalance.
Mimi sniffed the air and then looked between Vera and Kale. Her eyes grew as big as saucers.
“Ate a few of my snakes before I knew it, so he has a new collar to stop him from doing that. Otherwise, he’s as good as always. You’d know that if you came to visit me.”
“Sorry,” Vera said around a mouth of cookie. “I’ll visit this summer. Promise.”
“I’ll hold you to it.”
“These are good.” Vera picked up another cookie. “What kind are they?”
“It’s an old family recipe. My father’s favorite.” Marianna swiped a cookie for herself and took a bite.
Mimi came to stand beside Kale, leaning a hip against the counter. “So,” she drawled under her breath.
“I’m not talking about it with you,” he said.
“So, there is something to talk about?”
“No.” Kale ran a hand through his hair. “Honestly, I don’t know.”
“Maybe you should figure that out before a certain librarian gets first dibs,” Mimi said.
“I’m not going to push her. She wasn’t in her right mind the other night.”
“She’s in her right mind now. And based on the pheromones in the air, the feeling is mutual. I mean you two always sent off some, but that was normal. This is like...dang. I think I’m getting a second-hand itch from you two.”
“I’m sure Addamas would be agreeable if you wanted to scratch that.”
Mimi gave him an annoyed look as Addamas stole a cookie and moved toward them. “Did someone say my name?”
“Gods, you’re full of yourself,” said Mimi.
“For good reason.” Addamas bit off half his cookie. He chewed a couple of times then stopped mid-chew. “Marianna, what’s in these cookies?” He spat a wad of cookie into his hand.
“That’s disgusting,” complained Mimi.
“Is that an acorn shell?” Addamas lifted a shard of something to look at it closer.
“It’s what gives them that nice crunch,” said Marianna.
“There’re acorns in them?” Vera lowered her cookie without taking another bite.
“Uh, yeah. The whole thing, shell and all.” Addamas held up half an acorn cap to show her.
“I told you I thought you’d like them,” Marianna told Vera, patting her leg. “They’re from a lucky oak.”
Addamas dipped his head under the kitchen faucet to rinse out his mouth.
“I’ve never heard of a lucky oak,” said Vera.
“That’s because they’re all gone. I’ve been rationing my stock of acorns for years. These are some of the last. When they’re fresh, nothing beats them.”
“I’ve never heard of lucky oaks either, and I’ve been around for a while,” said Kale.
“Being old doesn’t mean you know everything,” said Marianna. “Where do you think the superstition came from that acorns are lucky, if not for lucky oaks?”
“I’d never stopped to think about it.”
“What happened to them?” asked Vera.
“People burned and cut them all down,” Marianna answered. “There used to be a lucky oak in every town and village square. Now, people only remember that the acorns are somehow lucky. They’re not, you know. An acorn won’t bring luck. A person makes their own luck.”
“Then why do they think that?”
“Ah, because Kirin love them. If there was a lucky oak, Kirin would come around, and that was a lucky thing.”
“You knew what I was all this time,” Vera concluded. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
“It didn’t seem like you were ready to know.”
“Um, I was definitely ready to know. You should’ve said something,” Vera said, echoing Kale’s thoughts.
“If I’d told you, would you have gone to Nibiru?”
Vera considered. “Probably not.”
“What would have happened to your kargadan friend, then? Or all those people?”
“Yeah, things worked out,” Vera conceded. “But still.”
“I did want to tell you many times,” said Marianna.
Kale suddenly smelled saltwater and rot. They had another visitor. He made it to the door as Alalana crossed the boundary into the meadow. He was still debating whether to grab his sword when Vera poked her face between him and the doorframe.
Then she noticed his hand on the sword. “Seriously?”
“She deserves it.”
“She saved my life,” Vera said.
“She demanded too much in return.”
“Maybe, but I don’t think Kanaloa would’ve accepted anything less, and I don’t think she was any happier about it than us.” She wrapped a hand around his tense forearm. “I’d do it again to get us out of that place. Plus, if you kill her, I’ll probably never get it back.”
Kale released the sword. “You think you can get it back?”
“Not if you kill her or piss her off. Pretty sure she’s my best shot to get to Kanaloa.”
“But why is she here?”
“How about you ask,” Vera said under her breath, then added, “Nicely.”
“Alalana,” said Kale. “How can I help you?”
“I’m here to see Vera.” Which did n
othing to reassure Kale. “I brought a gift.” Alalana held out Vera’s eggshell charm.
“How did you get it?” asked Vera, tracing the acorn etching with a finger.
“I made a trade. That is the only thing that Kanaloa deals in.”
“Why would you do that?” It sounded suspicious to him.
“To repay Vera’s kindness.”
“I didn’t do anything.”
“You saved a tiny life yesterday. A demas half-breed.”
“You know about that?” Vera seemed surprised. Kale was less so.
“Demas lives are tied to mine. I felt that one slipping away and then stabilizing.”
“How are they tied to you?” Vera asked.
“A long time ago, and I do mean long ago—Kalesius was not even a thought yet—I fell in love. But there was a small problem.”
Kale snorted. “Falling in love with an aku-aku is a small problem?”
“You fell in love with a spirit?”
“Like I said, it was a problem.” Alalana threw him a dirty look. “I tried to bargain with Kanaloa for his soul, but he wouldn’t trade. So I stole him from the land of the dead and bound his spirit with the sea to give him a body.”
“She created the demas,” Kale explained to Vera.
“We had many children before Kanaloa reclaimed his soul,” Alalana spoke as if Kale had not interrupted. “This time he hid my love deep in the volcano where I could not steal him back again. And Kanaloa never forgave me for what I’d done. He made sure the Tempestarii feared my demas. No matter how deep into the sea they fled, the Tempestarii found them and destroyed them.”
“Until they killed Kale’s dad,” finished Vera.
“Then you know the rest of the story. Since the Unraveling, my children have been dying like all the others, but now there will be many more generations because of you. You have my gratitude. I hope your charm brings you luck.”
“Is there a way to get back what else Kanaloa took?” Vera asked hopefully.
“Nothing you’d be willing to trade, no,” said Alalana. “However, if something changes, I will see it is returned to you as well.”
“Oh. Okay.” Vera’s shoulders fell. “Can I ask something else?”
“Yes, but I cannot stay much longer. Kanaloa has been watching me closely lately.”
“You’ve been around for a long time.” Vera stuttered over her next words, “I mean, I’m not…”
“I’m not offended by someone acknowledging that I am ancient,” assured Alalana.
“Okay, because you look great, I mean.”
“Don’t worry about it,” said Alalana.
“I just wondered if you’ve heard of Lady Luck?”
“I have heard of her, but she is nothing more than a construct. No one has the ability to grant luck or take it away.”
Vera looked at the etched charm. “You said you hope this will bring me luck. Is it lucky?”
“No. A charm cannot endow you with luck either. It is only a symbol, a reminder that you have the power to change your circumstances. Which is a lucky thing to have.”
“Have you heard of Kirin?”
“Yes,” Alalana answered. “I’d almost forgotten about them. Is that what you are?”
“I think so. Do you know what happened to them?”
“They vanished long before the Unraveling. No one knows why. Many said that was the beginning of the end. The world’s luck had run out. In reality, people just forgot they could grow their own.”
“You can grow luck?”
“By planting kindness. With encouragement, it will sprout and grow strong as an oak. Luck grows on the branches like acorns.” She stopped, listening. “I have to go.”
“Thank you Alalana.”
“I will be watching and rooting for you. Now, I think you are needed.”
Just then, Addamas yelled for help. Kale raced inside with Vera right behind him.
Mimi lay on the floor, blinking in confusion. “What happened?”
“You fainted again,” said Addamas. “I thought you’d recovered your magic.”
“Vera never took any magic from Mimi,” Kale told the satyr.
“I told you so,” said Mimi.
“The best we can tell, my eyes changed that day because my morph recognized Mimi’s magic and snuck out to see her,” Vera explained.
“Then what’s happening to Mimi?”
Mimi swore. “I stood up too quickly. Just like last time. I’m fine.” She ignored both Kale and Addamas’s hands and sat up on her own.
“Fainting is not fine,” argued Addamas.
“Oh, you know everything?” Mimi began heatedly then pressed a hand to her brow and started taking shallow breaths.
“What’s happening now?” asked Addamas.
“I’m trying not to throw up,” Mimi answered.
Marianna started laughing. “None of them has any clue do they, cat?”
Kale rocked back on his heels studying Mimi. How did I miss it? She glared back as dawning flooded his eyes.
“What is she talking about?” Addamas swung on Marianna. “What’re you talking about?”
Mimi said between gritted teeth, “I got myself knocked up by a moron.”
The room fell silent. Vera stared at Mimi intently, probably looking for a new knot of magic inside their friend.
“Who’s the father?” Vera asked a moment later.
Kale cleared his throat. “I’m guessing Mimi’s husband.”
“You have a husband?” Vera said loudly. “Are you kidding? How have you never mentioned this to me?”
“The same reason you never told me it was your birthday,” retorted Mimi. “Because I try to forget about it. He tricked me into marrying him in the first place, so I refuse to give him the satisfaction of calling him my anything.”
“You don’t have a problem calling me all sorts of things when I get your clothes off,” said Addamas.
Vera’s mouth fell open. “You’re married to him?”
“You never suspected anything between them?” Kale asked curiously. Maybe since he knew the whole story, he saw things that others didn’t.
“Well, now that you put it like that, sure, I probably wouldn’t have been surprised to find out they hook up occasionally. But married?”
“That part’s just a contract, which I didn’t fully understand at the time.” Mimi shot Addamas an accusing look and turned to Vera. “Don’t be mad. It’s not a normal marriage. Obviously. And I can explain.” She sucked a slow breath between her teeth and lay back down. “When I don’t want to heave my guts anymore.”
“She doesn’t like me to talk about it, so I don’t.” Addamas added when Vera turned to gawk at him. “But I don’t regret it.”
“I’m going to make you regret it if this baby gores me with its horns,” Mimi informed him.
“He has horns?” A whoosh of air left Addamas’s lungs. “Is that why you’ve been so sick? You are not allowed to die.”
“Don’t be dumb,” said Mimi. “I’m just getting over the flu or something. Otherwise, my healers say everything looks great. Apparently, I’m compatible with your spawn. But who says it’s a he? What if it’s a girl?”
“Then she’ll have sexy horns.” Addamas’s grin quickly twisted into something dark. “I will hack off the horns of any boy who touches her.”
“I feel like I don’t even know you people.” Vera pressed her hands to the sides of her head, clearly reeling from the revelations. “The baby doesn’t even have horns, though, if that helps.”
“He’s like me?” asked Addamas. “Or he’s a morph?”
Kale could tell the idea of having a morph baby did not upset Addamas one bit.
“Neither. It’s a siphon,” Vera informed them, unconcerned.
Mimi threw a hand over her mouth.
Addamas crouched beside her. “We’ll run away and live on Earth. Heck, we already do. It’ll be all right.”
“Guys.” Kale held up his hands. “Hold
up. You don’t need to run away.”
Vera pointed at herself. “Multi-magicked girl, remember? I can unlock your baby’s magics, I just need to know which ones they are so I can unlock my own, first.”
“Morph and Satyr,” Addamas said like it was obvious.
“What else? The little thing has four magics. What are your non-dominate heritages?” At their surprised looks she added, “Yep, gonna be a handful.”
“My mom was a nymph,” said Addamas.
“Genie.” Was all Mimi said.
Vera’s mouth fell open. “Like, three wishes? That kind of genie?”
“Three wishes are a myth,” Mimi informed her. “The stories about them being manipulative conjurers are true, though.”
“Can you grant me a new car or something?” Vera asked.
“If I was a genie, I’d have a flashy car for myself, don’t you think? But I’m not a genie. I’m a morph.”
“Oh, yeah. Right.” Vera gave a cheeky smile. “Bummer.”
“Tell me about it. Especially since I can see all the magic residue everywhere, but can’t do a thing with it. Not even push the junk out of the way.”
“Morphs can’t see magic.” Vera frowned. “Is that your tell?”
“Yep. But I don’t see magic, not the stuff inside a person anyway. I only see the runoff that trails behind people like stinky farts.”
Vera made a face. “Eww.”
“A genie can use it, move it, pull stuff along it from one place to another like a porthole. Even if I were a genie, I couldn’t make you a car, I’d just be stealing it from somewhere else and moving it through the threads.”
“So genies are just thieves?”
“Bingo,” Mimi said. “And I’m their half-breed queen.”
“Wonderful,” Vera said tiredly. “Care to point me in the direction of a nice genie who will wake up my inner-klepto but not stuff me into a lamp?”
“That’s easier said than done,” Mimi admitted. “Let me get through finals, and then I’ll see what I can arrange.”
“Are you sure we should wait?” asked Addamas.
“This baby isn’t going anywhere for a while,” Mimi assured.
“We’ll have to get permission for Vera to enter Acadia too,” Kale said. “Which will take time.”
“Yay.” Vera gave a tight smile. “Can’t wait.”
