by James Gough
The only response was a watery growl.
The iguana enchant was halfway up the wall and a few snake enchants with bandaged heads appeared in the treetops. Will pulled his feet farther from the cliff.
Hisses and rattles filled the cavern. More reptiles moved out into the open.
“Always picking on Donk. I would have thought better of you, Mars. It’s really not very sporting.” Near the exit, Cylus appeared, flicking his tongue. His scrawny sidekick, Wart, bounced at his side.
“Cylus!” Mars bristled. “What is he still doing here?”
The hooded reptile sneered, revealing his glistening, black fangs.
“You know him?” whispered Will.
“Yeah, he and his gang are in here every time they need to be patched up after a fight. They think they own the place. But they were supposed to leave two days ago.”
“Who’s that you’re whispering to Mars? Wart!” Cylus snapped his fingers and Wart climbed the wall and sped across the ceiling until he could get a good look at Will.
Wart flicked his tongue. “It’s that smelly kid that was with the ram and the doe.”
“You,” Cylus hissed, all humor gone as he caught Will’s eye.
“You know him?” whispered Mars.
“We’ve met. He threatened to kill me.”
“Don’t worry, that’s all bluff. He’d never go lethal in here. Not even Cylus is that stupid.”
“You dare invade our turf?” Cylus stared up and lowered his hoodie, revealing a waxy, bald head.
“Your turf? Who died and made you head gecko, Cylus? Shouldn’t you be curled up under a rock or something?” called Mars.
Cylus glared at her. “I’m exactly where I should be, but you seem to have forgotten your place in the food chain, you little winged rat. I have an idea. You like visiting so much, why don’t you join us permanently?” His neck expanded into a menacing cobra’s hood. “Now!” he shouted. The cavern exploded in chaos.
Will’s ribs were in a vice and he was sailing through the air. The iguana enchant had reached the ledge and lashed out with blade-like claws, slicing the leg of Will’s sweatpants. They tried to skid along the ceiling, but Wart hissed and the skin around his collar blossomed into the frightening red-spiked face of a frilled lizard. He spat and struck, forcing Mars and Berko to dive into the trees.
They weaved through the vines, prepared for an attack.
In the lead, Mars swooped down and kicked a spiny lizard in the side of the head, sending him tumbling into the water. Berko plowed through a group of snake enchants balancing on a branch. Ahead, the exit was blocked.
Cylus crouched in the center of the mob, his cobra hood extended. At the last second, he reared back and lunged. Will instinctively kicked. The bottom of his shoe made contact. Cylus howled and Berko bowled through the waiting enchants.
“That was crazy!” Mars giggled uncontrollably. “Did you see their eyes, Berko? They were all glazed over. I don’t know what meds they’re on, but those cold-bloods were messed up tonight.”
The close call in the swamp did nothing to squelch Mars’ adventurous spirit. She spent the next two hours showing Will parts of St. Grimm’s that looked like snapshots from a horror film. They zipped through the subterranean caves, blowing holes in giant spider webs and zooming uncomfortably close to a group of ghostly eyeless enchants swimming below the surface of an underground lagoon. They even flew past the carnivore cafeteria, but as daring as she was, even Mars refused to land.
After wreaking havoc on several more peaceful corridors, they flew into a huge library hewn from stone. A librarian with moth wings and horn-rimmed glasses chased them away with a yardstick. She flapped her dusty wings and warbled something about the bats using the reference stacks as dominoes.
The next stop was a time-worn hospital store named Zwick’s Emporium, where an ancient tortoise enchant named Mr. Zwick snored behind the counter. The shop was full of products made for enchants.
Will browsed aisles of Cloak-laced clothing, candy-coated chew toys, meat-flavored toothpaste, and human-sized scratching posts. Displays highlighting the latest in scale-itch cream or carrion jerky book-ended each row.
One wall was covered in advertisements. A play at the New Wik Opera House called Zoo Break, the Musical was about to open. Posters advertised a band called Brementown’s Wild Side playing at a club called The Kennel.
Handwritten signs for a tooth and tail poetry competition were posted next to a recruiting poster for something called the Enchant Liberation Movement, with a picture of Councilman De la Vega pointing a finger under the words, “E.L.M. WANTS YOU.” A chill ran down Will’s neck.
“What is it?” said Mars at Will’s side.
“What is what?”
“Whatever you’re looking at just made your heart go into overdrive.”
Will hesitated. “It’s just some poster for something called the Enchant Liberation Movement.”
“Don’t tell me you’ve never heard of E.L.M.? Geez, Stinky, you’re hopeless.” Mars rolled her eyes. “E.L.M. has their claws into all of enchant politics. About half the seats on the Council of Wik are in their greasy pockets. And their leader, Victor De la Vega, is the worst—as dirty as they come. They supposedly stand for the idea that we shouldn’t have to hide in Nep society, and that we should join Neps as equals and stuff.”
“What do you mean ‘supposedly stand for’?”
Mars listened over her shoulder cautiously. “Well, a lot of us think E.L.M. is really a bunch of enchant extremists all about survival of the fittest and obeying instincts, nothing but a bunch of predatory jerks. Cylus and his meat-headed buddies are total junior E.L.M.-ers”
Will looked at the poster again. De la Vega was smiling, a fang glistening between his lips. Uncomfortable, he moved on. Several huge white and gold posters announced events for Sanctuary Day 200—underwater fireworks and an aerial parade were at the top of the list; concerts, a festival and competitions were all taking place at St. Grimm’s, as well as a performance by Cirque Du Amazon. Near the posters, white flags with gold trim hung from the ceiling. In the center of each flag was the Point of Sanctuary symbol.
Will followed Mars along racks of white and gold Sanctuary Day paraphernalia. He picked up six-armed t-shirts emblazoned with SD 200 and tried on embossed hats with ear holes. There was a rack of spider web dye, antler paint, fur spray, and antennae toppers.
“What do you think?” Mars modeled a giant leather collar with a tiger symbol that covered her whole neck.
“Very nice, but you need those too.” Will pointed to a pair of golden sunglasses in the shape of 200 that would fit an elephant.
“This year’s Sanctuary Day is going to be awesome.” Mars’s entire face fit behind one lens.
“Yeah, I saw the posters. I hope I can go to some of it.”
“Go to it? Oh, you’ll be in the middle of it, Stinky. Everybody pitches in, whether they want to or not. Me and Berko are on the decoration committee for the maternity wing. Hey, you should help us so you won’t get stuck on clean-up duty. Rizz already promised he’d help too. So what do you think? Wanna help? Do you?”
“Yeah, sure.” Will shrugged.
“Awesome! It’ll be great.” Mars filled him in on all her plans for decorating. As they browsed the shelves of bacon-flavored candy, Will’s stomach rumbled loudly.
“Whoa there, Stinky. Hungry?”
Will nodded.
“Me, too. Come on.” At the back of the store, Berko was ordering his third cone from an all night ice-cream parlor. Flavors ranged from sagebrush to dung beetle. Will had no idea what to choose but it didn’t matter, Mars ordered for him. He was grateful to be pretending to be a vegetarian, since it rescued him from some of the more questionable flavors, like lime larva sorbet or blood kidney crunch.
Five minutes later, Will was sandwiched between Berko and Mars five stories above the main lobby. They sat at the feet of the Grimm brothers’ statue, their feet dangling off the colu
mn. Will licked around the green stuff in his chocolate-alfalfa cone.
“So, what did you think of my tour?” Mars slurped the side of her cashew cricket double scoop.
“My official judgment? You’re crazy.”
“No, he’s crazy.” Mars pointed at Berko, who grunted and started on his fifth tooty-fruity waffle cone of the night. “I’m just insane.” She punched Will in the shoulder.
“Ouch. What was that for?”
“For passing the test.”
“What test.”
“This one.” Mars spread her arms. “Tonight was a test to see if you were gutsy enough to hang with us. See, we figured if you didn’t freak out after the swamp, you’d be in. Most new kids never make it past the Aviary. Last month Berko made some hot-shot leopard enchant wet his pants flying through the tunnels.”
“He ruined my favorite jeans,” grumbled Berko.
“Honestly, I almost lost it in that swamp,” admitted Will. “I thought Cylus was gonna nail me, but all he did was hit my foot.”
“Really? Where?” asked Mars.
“Here,” said Will turning over his shoe. “What is that?”
A jagged, black tube stained with blood was embedded in the sole of his sneaker. Will reached to touch it, but Berko grabbed his hand. The big bat enchant used the tips of his claws to pry the tube free, then held it up to the light. The two-inch fang still dripped with a yellowish liquid.
Mars whistled. “Well, that could have been bad.”
“Is that venom?” asked Will, inspecting the hole in his shoe.
“Yep.”
“Do fangs usually come out?”
“Nope.”
“What should we do?”
“Well, I’m not going to give it back.” Mars held her hands up.
“Don’t look at me, mate.” Berko slid the severed fang behind the foot of Jakob Grimm’s statue.
“I suggest you avoid the swamp habitat for a while. I’m guessing Cylus won’t be too happy with you,” said Mars. “I wonder what he’d want? Fang for a fang? You don’t have any fangs.”
“Not funny, Mars.” Will imagined being tracked down by the one-fanged cobra enchant.
Mars shrugged. “Don’t worry. It wasn’t your fault. Even Cylus and his idiot friends know better than to attack like that—they were totally out of control tonight. I’ve never seen them that aggressive. And striking with venom? That’s a really serious crime. He could get jail-time. But knowing Cylus, he’d just slither his way out of trouble. If you ask me, that little snake deserved what he got.”
Mars was interrupted by a sudden outburst below.
“You! Step away from there!” An angry fox enchant with fiery orange eyes and torch-like hair marched across the lobby shouting at Sergeant Gnar, who stood inside the taped off area. “This is my crime scene now. You—out!”
“Just a minute, Missy,” argued Gnar, lifting his massive leg over the tape. “What gives you the right to march in here and start—”
The woman shoved a badge in the his face. “This gives me the right.”
Gnar read the badge and stammered, “Deputy Director Liska, I didn’t realize…uh.” He snapped a crisp salute. “Sergeant Gnar. St. Grimm’s security. Here to help ISPA however I can, Ma’am.”
“You can help by leaving. Now. This is an ISPA crime scene.” She snapped her fingers, and a team of agents in suits and ties tore down the tape. Then they put up their own, which was identical to what they had just removed. The St. Grimm’s security guards were shoved to the side and shooed away. Dejected, Sergeant Gnar retreated to his security office.
“Now, where is that fat hospital administrator? I want him here now!” growled Liska.
“Well, she seems nice,” sniggered Mars.
They watched the fox woman bully her team. She wasn’t tall, barely reaching Gnar’s shoulder, and her thin, slinking physique didn’t seem to offer much of a threat, but there was something hard behind her razor-like features that caused subordinates to wither in her presence. A permanent sneer creased her face.
“Deputy Director Liska,” a voice squeaked from the base of the pillar below them. “How lovely to see you again.”
Will leaned forward for a better look and accidentally let the top scoop of ice cream roll off his cone. It fell fifty feet, hitting the ground with a giant splat, and spraying chocolate all over an enchant in a suit directly below them. Will and the two bats pulled their feet back and hid behind Jakob Grimm’s stone legs.
“What is the meaning of this?” an angry voice squealed. “Who’s up there?”
Mars and Berko looked at each other with wide eyes.
“Who is it?” Will whispered.
“You just choco-bombed Dr. Bump.” Mars bit her lip and shook with a silent giggle.
“You up there. Show yourselves!” Bump demanded.
“Dr. Bump, we need to talk.” Liska stood with her hands on her hips.
“But.” He pointed at the ice cream.
“You don’t look like you need any more dessert, Doctor. Now, are you going to show me to your office? Or do you prefer we discuss this facility’s complete lack of competent security in the middle of the lobby?”
“No, no. Please. Let’s move this elsewhere.” Dr. Bump waddled ahead of the agent, wiping his suit with all four hands. Before leaving the lobby, he peered over his shoulder at the top of the pillar. Will pressed into the shadows.
“Coast is clear,” whispered Mars.
“Dropping ice cream on Bump. You’re crazier than me, Mate.” Berko slapped Will on the back.
“Stinky, that was brilliant. But I think we ought to call it a night before you make any more enemies.” She shook her head. “Builders, Cylus, and Bump? You really know how to pick ’em.”
21
Bacon, Bacon Everywhere
Will opened his eyes with a start. He felt like he had just put his head on the pillow. The knocking on the door forced him awake.
“Will? You okay? I got everybody together like you asked. Kid?”
Will could hear the electronic key card beeping, but the door wouldn’t open. Mars must have locked the deadbolt.
Will sprung out of bed, but his foot landed in something greasy and he tumbled to the floor.
“What the—?” He had stepped in a heaping plate of bacon. Not just one. There were stacks of cold, smoky bacon everywhere. The smell of smoked pork was overwhelming. Was this a dream? Or one of Mars’s jokes?
“You alright in there, kid?”
“I’m coming. Just a second.” He kicked plates under his bed and threw a blanket over the mountain of bacon on his desk. There was no way to hide it all. “Um…almost ready.” How was he supposed to explain this? Will unbolted the door and opened it a crack. The entire protection team and Dr. Noctua stood in the hall.
“Will? Are you okay?” asked Kaya, sniffing the air.
“Is that smoke, Tuttle?” Manning was trying to look into the room.
“It’s nothing.”
“Nothing? A fire isn’t nothing.” Agent Flores pressed against the door. Will resisted but was overpowered. The door swung open and he stepped back, his foot crunching into a pile of bacon again.
“Oh!” Manning and Rizz covered their noses. “Is that meat?”
“Bacon?” Kaya pulled the blanket off the desk and picked up a piece.
Dr. Noctua hobbled forward, sniffing the air and poking at a pile of pork with his cane. “Wilhelm, might I inquire where you got all this bacon?”
“I don’t know. It was just here when I woke up.”
Kaya raised a brow. “Someone filled your room with bacon while you were sleeping?”
He swallowed. “I…”
“Okay, it was me.” Rizz put his hands up. “I confess.”
“You did this?” Kaya didn’t seem convinced.
“Yeah, it was me.” Rizz pushed a plate aside with his foot. “See, Will was begging me for bacon all day, and I thought this would keep him from wanting it anymore
. Kind of an extreme bacon therapy.”
“That doesn’t make any sense at all, Rizz.”
“Yeah, not my best idea, I admit. But Will was out cold after Starr pheromoned him, so I thought I’d give it a whirl.”
“Where’d you get the bacon?”
“I got a friend in the carnie cafeteria, Earl Peter…meyer…son. He swiped it for me.”
Everyone stared at Rizz.
“Look, it was a dumb idea, I know. I’ll just help the kid clean it up and that’ll be it. No harm done. Why don’t we all meet in the library in thirty minutes? It should be pretty empty at this hour. Sound good?” Rizz ushered everybody out the door.
“Fine,” Kaya said, “but don’t forget I want two agents with Will.”
“No problem. Flores can guard the door. See you in a few. Bye.”
“But,” Flores tried to argue as Rizz closed the door in his face and bolted it.
Rizz spun around with his eyes bulging and held up his hands. “What is going on?”
“I told you, it was here when I woke up.”
“Okay, let’s just clean it up and figure out what happened later. Deal?”
“Deal.” They worked together to shove the mess into plastic sacks Rizz found under the sink.
“How can you even think about eating this stuff?” Rizz held a fistful of meat. He wore a pair of Will’s latex gloves and a look of disgust.
After ten minutes, three fat bags of bacon sat by the door. Will changed into clean clothes, took his anti-Cloak meds and reapplied the gerbil musk.
When they opened the door, Agent Flores greeted them with a snarl and a face that was turning a blazing shade of red. “This is outrageous, Agent Rizzuto. I refuse to let you treat me like—”
“Here ya go, Flores. Thanks.” Rizz tossed him a bag of bacon. “We’d better get moving. First, we drop this by the incinerator, then head to the library.”
“Que barbaro,” Flores muttered and followed Rizz and Will, holding the bacon at arm’s length. They took the long route to the incinerators, not wanting to go anywhere near the carnie cafeteria with three loads of meat across their backs.
