by Jen Pretty
I flipped a few more leaves and gobbled up a cricket that wasn't fast enough to hop away. Then I launched myself into the air, flapping hard. I thought of the Sanctuary and let my form dissolve. The feeling was as comforting as Selena's couch with the big cushions. The space in between that I had called Nevermore since the beginning of time, was warm and dizzying, but I only stayed there a moment. The need to show Selena the truth was more important than keeping Nevermore from her. Besides which, I was reasonably sure she would find Nevermore on her own very soon. Or at least with a bit of help.
I appeared in the Sanctuary, in Niri's office. The old man's eyes grew wide. I knew he would hear Selena deep inside me, but I would need his help in this anyway. Just because I knew where the boy was, didn't mean I could get to him on my own.
"This is interesting," Niri said. "What are you up to, old bird?"
I wasn't sure who he was calling old, but I was the only bird in the room. I called out from my usual perch on Niri's bookshelf and he rose.
"I do hope you take her back to her body this time. You know she is still angry about the last time you tucked her away and took her for a flight."
I did know, but there was no time to worry that she might hoard the bacon in retaliation. She would see what I needed her to see and then she could have her body back. Well, after I had a bit of a rest and a snack. It's not easy flying through Nevermore.
Niri opened the door to his office and I flew out. He trailed along behind me. The boy was in the auditorium, though I was pretty sure he was supposed to be in bed. He was rarely where he was supposed to be according to the teachers, but always exactly where he was meant to be.
I landed on the floor in front of the room. The magic inside was so dense, I couldn't shift through it, but luckily, I had a warlock with thumbs who could open the door.
And as the door swung open, the warlock chuckled predictably. Colvin might have most of the other teachers fooled, but I would have bet Niri knew exactly where he was and what he was up to.
In front of us, Colvin stood facing the far wall where a bright light shone, and a section of the wall shimmered like a pool of water in the mid-day sun. Sweat trickled down the boy’s neck and his shirt was soaked, but he had opened the door to Nevermore wide enough that a grown man could step right through.
A grown man, or an entire school full of children, walking single file.
Colvin might have shown Selena what he could do, but she had no idea of the consequences or the reasons why it was so important that Colvin be allowed to continue working with this skill.
The door snapped shut when Niri cleared his throat and Colvin spun to face us, a look of shock etching his young features.
"I'm sorry," he said. "I'll go back to bed."
"It's alright Colvin, I think it's best if you stay here for a moment."
That was the moment Colvin noticed me on the floor beside Niri. "What are you doing here?"
I cawed at him, but of course, he still couldn't understand me. If we were in Nevermore, he would. But I hoped the events that would lead us there could be changed before they happened. Only time would tell.
"I believe Crow has brought his passenger."
Colvin looked confused for a second before he launched himself at me, throwing his arms tightly around my sides and crushing my wings. "I can't believe it! Selena?" he backed up enough that he could see my face, but I had Selena tucked away. Safe and sound. It was better this way.
"Selena is worried about you," Niri said. I had felt the same worry from her, but the fact that Niri could also feel it was a sign the old warlock had grown in power since the last time I visited him carrying a human.
Decades before he had no idea. It made me wonder how much longer the old man would live. He was much too old, even for a warlock.
By now Selena was thrashing about inside me, but I wouldn't let her out until we were back in Phoenix. She needed to know about this, but her first job was to try and stop this war before it could truly begin to do harm to the community.
I shifted out of Colvin's arms and cawed at Niri, sending him my thoughts.
He sighed and then looked at Colvin. "I think this is a better use of your time, for now. But you should get some sleep. Tomorrow you can return and work on your doorway."
Colvin blinked. "Will we need to use it?"
The little boy was wiser than his years and I wondered not for the first time who he really was. He was more than he appeared to be. Perhaps an old God made new. But that thought was something I could ponder while Selena worked to fix the mess the vampires started, and warlock and witches escalated.
"We may," Niri said, solemnly. "But that is not your concern. Why don't you head to bed?"
"But-"
"But nothing. You have done enough for one day." Niri hugged the little boy. When he released him, Colvin flung his arms around me again. I had to admit, though his hugs messed my feathers, he was warm and sweet.
He ran off toward the sleeping quarters, and I took flight, aiming for the kitchen.
"Don't frighten the night cleaning crew," Niri shouted from behind me. He always ruined my fun.
In the kitchen, I found someone had thoughtfully left an entire rack of fresh-baked bread out to cool. The rack had a very handy perch on the front that accommodated me. The first bite of warm bread exploded on my tongue and I imagined Selena sighing with relief that I was eating people food. She should really feed me more bread.
I pecked away at the loaf until the scuff of a foot behind me alerted me to the approach of someone. I hopped around to face the door a split second before a woman pushing a rolling mop bucket stepped through the door. I screamed out a caw.
The woman screamed and purple strands of magic lashed out from her like tentacles. She jumped back and grabbed her chest.
"Damn it, Crow!" she cursed.
I cawed a few more times before leaping from my perch and flapping twice hard toward the wall. Just before I reached it, I slipped back into Nevermore and followed the pull of Selena's body all the way back to Phoenix.
CHAPTER NINE
The feather lodged in my throat choked me, making tears spring to my eyes as I shoved my fingers down my throat and ripped the long black feather out.
I fell back on the bed I was laying on and caught my breath. I would never get used to that. It was a second longer before I remembered everything that had happened, including the place Nick was buried. Could he still be alive?
"We have to go!" I yelled, pushing to my feet and immediately falling to the ground again. My legs were jello. "What the hell?"
"God, Selena. Just take a second to get yourself together." Falcor said.
He was sitting on a couch in what looked like a hotel room. The curtains matched the bedspread and the room smelled vaguely of cleaning products. "Thank you for your concern for my health," I said with a sneer, pushing to my feet. "I'm fine. We have to go get Nick."
"You found him?" Jax asked, striding out of the bathroom with just a towel slung low around his hips.
"Wipe your drool, Selena," Falcor said.
I flipped him my middle finger and pulled on the boots someone had helpfully taken off my feet. "He's fucking buried in the graveyard."
"Jesus," Jax whispered, grabbing his suitcase and disappearing back into the steamy bathroom, his broad back still dripping with water.
I shook my head and focused on tying my laces.
"You sure you want to find Nick?" Falcor asked.
"What are you talking about?"
Falcor shrugged but wouldn't look at me. "Seems like you have a replacement vampire."
"What the fuck is your problem? Nick is my friend."
"Hmm," Falcor said.
"I don't need your bullshit right now," I said rising to my feet just as Jax stepped back out of the bathroom, fully dressed. He pulled on his boots and we all walked out of the hotel room.
Falcor took out his phone and called for a cab while we took the elevator down to th
e lobby. The hotel was much nicer than what we usually stayed in. A giant chandelier hung in the lobby. It was silver with crystals hanging from it like a very classy Christmas tree, but it only had one ornament and that was a big, Black Crow.
"You shit," I said. "Get down here."
"What did he do this time?" Falcor asked, apparently, he was still talking to me even though I was apparently cheating on his friend by looking at a half-naked Jax. God, Falcor was a weirdo.
"The usual, slugs and-" I stopped talking to cover my mouth so I wouldn't actually puke as my gag reflex kicked in.
"Gross," Jax muttered. I felt like I should wash out my mouth with bleach but reminded myself I hadn't actually eaten them. It was Crow. I scowled at him again where he sat silently.
We slipped into the cab waiting at the door. I had to look up a map to figure out what graveyard we were at, but once I found the name, the driver pulled out into traffic and I got lost in my thoughts. I needed to tell Jax and Falcor about the potential situation with the Sanctuary and Colvin. But not while we were in a car with a human.
I still wasn't sure I was catching the full meaning of the problem. Were the vampires and warlocks going to attack the Sanctuary? That didn't sound right. No matter how bad a war got, would they really attack children?
I couldn't imagine it, but I guess all’s fair and whatever.
The car pulled up to the graveyard before I was done thinking that thought through, so I set it aside for now. I wished for the millionth time I knew where Dorothy was. I needed her guidance. She would know better what to do.
I pushed the car door open and stepped out into the dark. Dew had gathered on the grass making it glittered in the moonlight. When the car pulled away, Falcor turned to me.
"So, where is it?"
"I don't know. We flew over. It doesn't look the same from the ground."
It was a pretty large graveyard. A road led in and then branched off in several directions.
"It was a new dug grave. The name on it was Franklin Jefferies."
"Well, that narrows it down not at all," Falcor said. "Let's split up. I'll go this way." He strode off to the right, leaving Jax and me alone.
"I guess I'll-"
"Selena," Jax interrupted. "I just want you to know that this isn't your fault. Falcor seems like a bit of a jerk."
I snorted. "Yeah, well, he has his reasons. I'll take the middle if you want to take that end."
Jax's hand squeezed mine, then he walked backward up the lane. "Don't beat yourself up just because he doesn't see how amazing you are." He turned and stalked off into the darkness.
It was a strange thing to say, really, but made me feel a bit better. I started scanning the rows of graves, trying to make out one that had dirt. There was no way I could check every name, so it was a good thing the dirt was still freshly turned. Not that it helped that much.
I sighed and glanced down the next row. The fire in my stomach had been quiet, but as soon as I had that thought, it sparked up into a flame, pressing to escape.
I was going to ignore it, but it was pulling in one direction in particular. I didn't really have a system in place, so followed the pull instead of heading straight toward the back of the graveyard. It tugged me closer to Falcor's section, but I stopped before I made it that far.
My magic slipped out and pushed toward a grave. It wasn't Franklin Jefferies' though. It was older, with moss growing on the stone. I let a bit more magic slip out. It sunk into the ground and a form rose from the earth until a long-haired man was sitting before me.
I didn't have my knife, but I sat down in front of him as he bobbed there. His skin was worn and creased like Niri's, but his hair was black.
I waved and he waved back.
"This is dumb," I said.
"Selena,"
I looked behind me to find Falcor standing there.
"Sorry. I'll get back to looking."
"No," he stepped forward and handed me the blade that the witches had given me. "If you are supposed to raise this wraith, then do it. It's not like Nick is going anywhere."
I stared at him for a minute.
"I'm sorry, I'm a jerk."
I raised a brow, unsure exactly how to answer that.
He just shoved the blade in my hand then turned and scanned the graveyard. Apparently, he was happy to keep watch, so I pulled the blade from the sheath with a smooth movement. I glanced back at the old man in front of me, then slid the blade lightly across my forearm.
It bit deep and hard, forcing a hissed "Shit,' from my lips, but a moment later, a drop of blood wept from the wound, falling to the ground and disappearing into the grass.
"Hello, you must be the Black Crow."
I was taken aback. "You've heard of me?"
"I realize you probably haven't raised any of my kind before. We aren't usually buried. Our ashes drift to the wind instead of being entombed in the earth."
"You're a vampire?"
He nodded once.
"But you look old." I bit my tongue hoping he wouldn't take offence, but he broke out in laughter.
"Well, yes."
"I thought you stopped aging at 18. That's what everyone says."
A gasp from behind me made me turn to find Jax standing there, awestruck.
When I turned back, the old vampire grinned past my shoulder. "Your young friend can fill you in on the details of my life. I'm sure it's in the history books."
"It is," Jax whispered.
"Good, but right now, I need to tell you something important." His eyes had turned back to me.
"What is it?" I asked when he didn't immediately go on.
"The history is repeating itself. You need to be ready." The man was still clear and solid. As if he was sitting on the grass with me, but I could tell he was done talking.
"Thank you." I raised the blade to my arm, but the cut was still open, so I let a few more drops fall to the ground and the man sunk back into the earth.
"What was he talking about? What history is repeating itself?" Jax asked from behind me. I hadn't filled either him or Falcor in about what Colvin was up to.
"Let's talk and look. I'd like to find Nick before morning."
Falcor pushed off the gravestone he was leaning against. "Fine, but you better get talking."
We started walking and I took a deep breath. "Colvin can open some kind of portal."
"Holy shit," Jax said.
"I'm not sure where it leads, but I think I went there with Crow when he shifted or whatever from here back to the Sanctuary. It looked the same. The sun and the moon hung in the sky."
"So what history is repeating?" Falcor asked.
"I'm guessing it has to do with the war. Crow apparently hopes that I can change it, so whatever terrible thing is coming won't come. Or something. I don't know. I'm pretty shaky on details, but I think I'll have to do something.
"Here," Jax said. I looked back at him and he pointed to a grave we had just passed. It was the right one.
"Now what?" I asked. "Anyone got a shovel?"
Falcor disappeared. Hopefully off to get some shovels.
"Selena," Jax said. "I just want you to know that I don't want to leave your team. Even if we get Nick back and he wants to stay with you." His hand took mine and squeezed. I realized I didn't want him to go either. That was a problem for tomorrow though. I needed to get Nick out of the ground first. I couldn't believe he was buried and still alive.
"What will he be like when we get him out of there?"
Jax took a deep breath. "Well, he's been starved for sure, so will be thin. If they did any damage to him, it wouldn't have healed. It could look really bad."
I stared at the dirt and sent out my magic. Blue sparks flooded the graveyard, but none could penetrate the earth deep enough to find Nick. "It's like he isn't down there."
Jax still had my hand but switched it to his other hand and slid an arm across my shoulders, pulling me in tight to his chest.
"If the warlocks d
id it, he could be in a spelled casket."
"Shit," I said, just as Falcor popped back into the graveyard with three shovels. He tore the tags off and handed one to me and one to Jax.
"Can't you just move the dirt with a spell?" I asked.
"Sorry, I might crush Nick. He's probably had enough rough handling."
I put the tip of the shovel in the ground and stomped down on it. "Let's get to work then."
CHAPTER TEN
It was nearly an hour of digging before Falcor's shovel hit something hard and hollow. We all found our second wind then. It was a casket and I prayed it had Nick and not some poor dead guy. If we dug up someone's grandpa, I'd feel really bad.
Our shovels found the outline of the casket and cleared the dirt off the top. Jax lifted me and jumped out of the hole, setting me on my feet, then threw Falcor up with very little concern. I peered down as Jax lifted the heavy top of the casket. The clouds covered the moon, and I couldn't see well enough to know what exactly I was looking at, but Jax reached down into the casket and took something out. It couldn't have been Nick though. My eyes couldn't focus properly as Jax leapt up, landing beside me with scraps of clothing and a skeleton covered in skin.
"My God," Falcor whispered.
"What the fuck?"
"It's him," Jax said. "His heart just beat."
I dragged my eyes away from the thing in Jax's arms. Not a thing, it was Nick. I reached over to the gravestone and grabbed my blade, unsheathing it. I was about to lay it on my forearm but changed my mind. I lay it across my wrist as Jax set the small form on the ground. The knife cut deep as I pulled it across the arteries and veins.
"Selena," Falcor said when he noticed what I had done, but I didn't have time to argue.
I pressed my wrist to Nick’s mouth and blood shot out, bright and glittery. It coated Nick’s face and ran down his chin.
Crow appeared, and called out once, breaking the silence of the night. The silence grew heavy as I waited, praying that Nick would be alright. The blood seemed to be pooling and just running out the sides of this mouth. I watched his throat, begging it to swallow.
