Honeymoon of the Dead

by Tate Hallaway

  “We’ll find a bridge to leave it under. The troll will find it there.”

  I was satisfied with that. I gripped the dash as Sebastian hightailed it, New York cabbie-style, the rest of the way to the terminal.

  In the airport parking lot we found a spot underneath a bridgelike pedestrian walk. Leaving the doors of the troll’s cab unlocked, Sebastian tucked the keys into the glove compartment. If the troll was alive, he’d find it here. I grabbed our bags from the trunk. We needed to hurry if we were going to make it this time.

  We were dashing across the street to the ticketing area’s doors when I saw Fonn. She was standing at one of those electronic check-in spots, wearing a Delta Airlines uniform. Our eyes met as I crossed onto the curb. She started for me, and I felt an icy wind tug at my hair.

  “What now?” I heard Sebastian snarl.

  There was no way I was going to stand for another delay. Lilith roared up into me like a wildfire. I dropped my bags and ran toward Fonn. As we met, I slammed my fist into her gut with every ounce of Goddess I had in me. She went sailing across the crowded sidewalk, knocking down a bunch of people, crashing two cart stands, and bowling over a traffic cop.

  When I turned to pick up my bags, I saw that Sebastian held the door for me. “That might work for the troll,” he reminded me as I started to pass under his arm, “but I’m not sure it will with Fonn.”

  I was about to protest when I felt something soft bump up against my leg. I looked down and saw Hero rubbing against me. “Look who’s back!” I squealed joyfully. Despite my awkward position halfway in the door, I was about to kneel down to pick up Hero when he hissed. I pivoted just in time to see Fonn leaping through the air to pounce on us. I had no time to react. Sebastian still held the door. I figured we were doomed, but, with a yowl and extended claws, Hero sprang at Fonn.

  The two of them went rolling down the sidewalk.

  “I love that cat,” I told Sebastian. “He’s going to come live with us in Madison, okay?”

  Sebastian’s eyes were wide as he watched the cat versus ice-giant battle. “Okay. Sure.”

  I tugged Sebastian’s sleeve. “Come on. We’re going to miss our plane.”

  “Are you sure?” he pointed vaguely in the direction of the commotion of spitting hisses and gale-force winds.

  “Hero’s got it. Trust me.”

  Somehow we made it to our gate just as they were calling for stragglers. At the scent of cinnamon and baking bread, security waved us through. The flight attendant smiled warmly when she saw our first-class tickets, and she showed us to plush, comfortable seats in the front of the plane. I let out the breath I was holding.

  Sebastian still looked concerned, and he scanned the view outside the window. I, meanwhile, lay my head back with a deep sigh. I felt Lilith humming along my skin, and I knew, even if somehow Fonn got on this plane, I could totally kick her ass.

  Sebastian and I sat in a cafe in the fifth arrondissement gazing out at the rain-drenched streets surrounding the Panthéon. Our waitress, it turned out, was Kali, but I planned to give Her a nice tip, anyway, because She let us sit here for the last two hours just people watching and enjoying each other’s company.

  I’d heard from William and Mátyás, who called to let me know they’d made it home all right and that a skinny black cat showed up on my doorstep a few days later. Mátyás reported Hero was a bit scratched and hungry but had walked right into the house like he owned the place. Barney, apparently, disagreed, but they were working it out.

  I held Sebastian’s hand and smiled as the rain streamed down the window.

  So were we.