by Andrew Peed
The back room had the same feel as the shop out front, but Kaylie knew that this room was filled with all of the witch’s personal items for magic. That’s what witches usually did. They tended to have vast collections of magical items, like squirrels collecting nuts for the winter.
“I’m the lead broker here in New Harmon. That isn’t saying much, though, because as of right now, I’m the only broker. Mama always told me to lead with titles, though.” She motioned for Kaylie to sit down on one side of a table that was tucked into the corner. Clara went about what she was doing, gathering a kettle, some water, and what Kaylie hoped was tea.
“I’m Kaylie. It’s nice to meet you,” Kaylie said, doing as she was instructed. She took her bag off her back and set it on the floor between her feet.
“We’ve been without a reaper for several months, so it’s nice to have someone to put these energies straight,” Clara chattered on while she brewed tea.
“Good for you, bad for me,” Kaylie said with a deep sigh. She crossed her arms and leaned back in the chair to brood.
“I’m sorry, honey, but that’s right.” Clara gave Kaylie a strong, solemn look and turned back to the tea.
Clara walked over to the table and sat down across from Kaylie. She set down two mugs, one for each of them. Kaylie picked up her mug and took a small sip. It was wonderful herbal tea and warmed her to her bones. There was a hint of something else, but if the old woman wanted to kill her, it would have been done already.
Clara sipped her tea as well. She looked over at Kaylie closely. Kaylie wondered if she was a woman who could divine from the energies.
“Dare I ask what crime you’ve committed?” Clara asked while she wrapped her hand around the side of the mug to absorb the heat.
“I’d rather not talk about it if you don’t mind.” Kaylie frowned. She was having a good day, and even though the event was always in the back of her mind, she didn’t want to recall it at the moment.
“Alrighty dear, but know this: our past is something that always catches us at the least opportune moment,” she said, looking into Kaylie’s eyes. “If you need someone to talk to, someone who understands mistakes, I will be an open ear.”
Kaylie looked at her for a moment, unsure of what to say. This was the first time that she had ever met a witch who was friendly. Something was up. They were mostly hateful and judgmental, just because they were judged once a long time ago.
“Thank you,” Kaylie said with a smile.
“So, about this spirit. Show me what you’ve got,” Clara said, setting her mug down and outstretching her hand.
Kaylie reached down and opened her bag. She unzipped the smaller pocket inside, where she stored a few essential things like her energy box. The rune-covered box was right where she had left it. She pulled it out and put it on the table between the two of them.
“Such an old box for such a young lady,” Clara said as she smiled.
“My mentor gave it to me when I completed his training,” Kaylie said. “That was a long ten years.”
She touched the rune that unlocked the box and opened it. The orb remained glowing, the energy flowed around inside the glass like a white smoky light inside. She turned the box so that Clara could see the orb.
“Very good work,” Clara complimented. “You freed the spirit very quickly. There is almost no decay. Our previous reaper had become lazy at the end.”
“He was a little feisty, I heard,” Kaylie said, shaking her head. “On top of that, the information they sent me was misleading. His file said that he was supposed to be killed by a heart attack. What it didn’t say was that the heart attack was caused by him being hit by a car.” She retrieved her tea to continue sipping.
“They don’t help us, sweetheart. You should know that by now,” Clara said, clicking her tongue.
“Isn’t that the truth? I had to sleep in a car my…” She paused. “Well, a car the first night here, cause I had to just up and leave,” Kaylie admitted.
“Do you have a place to stay now?” Clara asked with a concerned motherly expression painted on her face.
“Yes, actually, he led me to a guy who was renting a room,” Kaylie said and pointed to the energy orb. “One of the reasons that I was dead set on finding you today.”
“Well, this energy is worth about six hundred,” Clara said with a deep sigh.
“That’s it?” Kaylie said with her jaw dropping open. “I’m sorry,” she corrected herself. “In my last city, energies were worth more.”
“I know. We just aren’t doing too hot. With what happened with the last reaper, we are very far behind. I haven’t been able to fulfill my half of the bargain,” Clara explained, shaking her head.
Kaylie sighed and nodded. She could make things better if she did her job and she did it well. It was an assumption, but she felt like she was good at her job. Maybe not at her first city, but she’d really put effort into the last two before New Harmon.
“Look, if you’re after more money, I maybe could hook you up with some other work.” Clara smiled over the rim of her cup.
“I’m listening,” Kaylie said cautiously.
“There is a guy on the other side of the city.” She paused, for what Kaylie assumed was effect. “He trades in magical creatures. He lost a few hellhounds. He’s managed to collect most of them, but he has yet to get them all. I have a buyer that is interested in having a hellhound. If you were to be able to say”—she paused again—“round one up, I’ll cut you in on the deal.”
“Catch a hellhound. You want me to catch a hellhound? Like one of those big dogs from Hell?” Kaylie asked sarcastically.
“First off, he’s just a puppy. Secondly, there is some good cash in it.” Clara smiled sheepishly.
Kaylie mulled it over for a few moments, sipping her tea. She didn’t really want to get into this kind of work, but money was money, and she needed it pretty bad. She sighed and set her empty cup down on the table.
“Do you have any leads?” she asked.
“Excellent!” Clara said as she slammed her hand down on the table in excitement. “Yes, you should start over at West End River Park. There have been reports of mean dogs in the area, and everyone reports a different dog. Animal services is having a very hard time.”
“I’ll take care of it ASAP, but for now I should get back and pay this guy,” Kaylie said with a shrug. “I hope that he’s okay with just the first month’s rent and not both first and last for a couple days.”
Clara picked up the orb and held it between her thumb and pointer finger. She looked at the orb closely before pressing it to her lips to check it for authenticity. When everything checked out, she made the orb vanish from sight.
“It might take a little time before we get a big payday for collecting souls again,” Clara said as she pulled a wallet from under the large ruffled shirt. She waved her hand over it, making an unseen pocket appear. Kaylie watched as Clara picked out six crisp hundred-dollar bills from an assortment of different monies. Some from this era and some that had been around longer than the United States had.
“Well, I’ll be doing double time as soon as the assignments start rolling in,” Kaylie said, taking the money and hiding it away in her bag.
“I’ll see you when you’ve captured our hound. Make sure that you bring him straight here, and also make sure that you keep this between the two of us,” Clara said with a wave of her hand. The door leading back to the front of the store opened.
Kaylie took her bag and left the store to go back to her new home. At least, she hoped that it was still going to be her new home.
When she attempted to open the front door, it was locked, and she had never gotten a key form Waylon. She sighed a long sigh and leaned against the railing. Hopefully he would be home soon enough.
Chapter 07: Roomie Dinner
“Well, there is a way that you can make it up to me,” Kaylie said with a smile once Waylon returned with the extra key. A window shutter slammed shut against
a window a few feet from where they were standing, but there didn’t seem to be any wind at all. She carefully reached out and took the key from Waylon.
“And how, might I ask, is that?” Waylon asked, putting his hands into his pockets.
“The thing is,” she started, then looked at the floor and sighed, “I got my first paycheck today. It wasn’t nearly as much as I had hoped it would be. I have enough for my first month’s rent, but there isn’t much more than that. I found a side gig to get more money, but I don’t know how long it’ll be exactly until I get the rest. It might be a few days.” She sat down in the chair next to the fire. With a little bit of chill in her movements, she pulled her legs under her butt.
Waylon acted like he was thinking really hard about the situation and walked over to the chair that sat opposite of the one that she sat in. The reality was that he didn’t care that she wasn’t giving him both the first and last month’s rent. He’d only asked for it because that was what he had always heard. He laced his fingers and put the tips of his pointer fingers to his lips.
“That will…” He paused for a moment. “…be just fine.” He smiled when he thought that she had had enough.
“Oh, thank you! I was a little worried there for a minute,” Kaylie said as she sighed with relief. She pulled a wad of cash out of her bag and handed it to Waylon. He took it from her but didn’t bother to count the money and stuck it in his pocket.
“Thanks,” he said with a grin.
“Can I ask you a weird question?” Kaylie said, leaning back in the chair.
“Go ahead. We’ve got to get to know each other somehow,” Waylon said, nodding and leaning back in his own chair. He rested his hands on the arm of the chair, but it felt awkward, so he moved them to his lap, but that didn’t feel right either.
“Did you ask this house permission for me to move in?” she asked, knowing that he hadn’t. Since she never signed a lease, and she could feel the strong magic in the house, the house got a say.
“What?” Waylon asked and cocked his head to one side like a confused dog.
“Did you ask the house permission for me to move in here?” she asked again, unsure of any other way to word the question.
“No, I heard you, I just don’t know what you are talking about,” Waylon said, shaking his head.
“Never mind, then,” she said with a smile and waved her hand dismissively.
They sat for a few minutes in an awkward silence, both enjoying the fire. The temperature was dropping rapidly outside. It would only be a few days until it was snowing regularly.
“Are you hungry?” Waylon asked, slapping his hands on the chair, determined to put an end to the awkward moment.
“I’m famished!” Kaylie said, rubbing her stomach.
“Do you like pizza?” Waylon asked and stood up pulling his phone from his pocket.
“Who doesn’t like pizza?” Kaylie asked with a crazed look on her face.
“Actually, I have a better idea. Do you like Asian food?” Waylon asked when the ever-present idea of going to Wong’s entered his mind.
“I love it. Is it order in?” she asked in excitement.
“Nah, I know a place,” Waylon said with a cocky grin and motioned for her to come with him.
They went back to where he left the car in the front driveway. He got in, and she jumped into the passenger seat. He backed up and pulled back out onto the highway. It was getting to just about the time when Mr. Wong would be cooking for the night.
“How did the job hunt go today?” Kaylie asked. She watched out the window as they entered the city and started to pass the buildings. She was paying very close attention to each building they passed and making mental notes of them all.
“I found something. Some contract work,” Waylon explained. “Not exactly what I’m looking for, but it will allow me to work the hours that I want. It should pay good too, but I’m not sure how much yet.” He glanced at her but quickly returned his eyes to the road.
“What kind of contract work?” Kaylie asked. She watched Waylon as he paid attention to the road.
“I found this guy named Ivan. Crazy old Russian guy. He did some IT for a hospital. He’s going to let me do the work for a cut of the profits.” Waylon turned the car into the restaurant.
“Sounds sketchy,” Kaylie commented, getting out of the car.
“Super sketchy!” Waylon said with a nod.
The two of them were seated at the normal grill. Waylon got his usual spot, and everyone was a little thrown off by the cute girl who came into the restaurant with him. Waylon smiled slightly at that.
“So what is so great about this place?” Kaylie asked as she sipped her mixed drink. It was something that Waylon had never heard of before. She’d asked for Devil’s Blue Fire Water, and the waitress had returned with a tall glass full of a blue drink. At the bottom of the glass was a pocket of space that was on fire.
“Basically, I get to eat here for free. I also love everyone here, especially the chef,” Waylon said, staring at the drink.
Kaylie took a big gulp of the drink. Flames licked at her tongue. She breathed in a deep breath and set the drink down with a small slam.
“That’s got a kick!” she said, shaking her head.
“Well, yeah, it’s on fire.” Waylon shook his head in disbelief.
“Yes…” she said, giving him a sideways look. “Yes, it is Waylon.” She took another big gulp of the drink.
Mr. Wong started to roll his way out from the back. He waved at Waylon as he walked toward them, just like he always did when he noticed Waylon.
“Why do you eat here for free?” Kaylie asked. She watched Wong as he set up his station for the show. He started to fling his knives and fork around.
“I got stabbed during one of these shows,” Waylon explained. “They made a deal with me. I wasn’t really looking to make any money or anything, and I love this place, so I eat here for free.”
“And tonight, pretty girl, she eat on house,” Wong said in his accent and smiled at her.
“Thank you, sir.” Kaylie smiled back. She knew what Wong was, and it looked like Wong knew what she was, or at least partly knew what she had been.
“Why you come here with Waylon? He a loser,” Mr. Wong said, flipping an egg through the air.
“What the hell, man? I thought that you liked me?” Waylon demanded, throwing his arms out in disbelief.
“Just cause I like you do not make it not true,” Mr. Wong said with a wink at Waylon.
“I don’t think he’s a loser. I think he’s more than even he thinks. I’m his new roommate Kaylie,” she said, and then she stood up, holding out her hand for him to shake.
Mr. Wong tossed an egg into the air, and while it was traveling, he reached out and shook her hand. Waylon was sure that egg was traveling through the air for far more time then possible.
“Mr. Wong know the same about Waylon, but he got to figure it out on his own,” Mr. Wong said as he started on the rice.
“Why are you guys talking about me like that?” Waylon asked. He looked back and forth between the two of them.
“You’ll know soon enough,” Kaylie said as she sat back down.
Waylon turned to look at Mr. Wong.
“It not important. You just need know that we believe that you can make yourself not a loser anymore,” he said, scooping up the rice and dishing it onto the plates in front of Waylon and Kaylie.
“All right.” Waylon gave one last glace from one to the other. “I did what you said and got a roommate. And today I found a job.” Waylon smiled.
“I tell you focus on small thing, and big thing come into place.” He started on the vegetables.
“That’s not exactly what you said,” Waylon said, shaking his head.
“Close enough,” Mr. Wong said as he dumped three bowls of meat onto the grill.
“I guess,” Waylon said with a shrug.
“I bet that osueco no bother you today,” Mr. Wong said, pointing at W
aylon with his fork. Despite the slight flashback of his injury, Waylon noticed that Kaylie and Wong shared a look. A look that said that they knew something that they were keeping to themselves.
“No, I actually haven’t seen him at all today,” Waylon said with realization.
“Good, now you do new job, help take care of this beautiful lady, and work on your drawings,” Mr. Wong said as he divided the meat between the two plates.
“Yes, sir,” Waylon said and saluted with the hand that held chopsticks. He started on his steak. Kaylie dug in without complaint.
Mr. Wong cleaned the grill and offered a few more nuggets of comedic advice before leaving the two of them alone at the grill. They flagged down the waitress, and both got more drinks.
~//~
They drank for over an hour. Waylon actually decided to pay for the drinks because they had so many. After paying their hundred-dollar tab, they stumbled out into the parking lot. Onlookers would have thought that they were a couple of old friends who knew each other for years by the way they were cutting up and leaning on each other.
“I can’t drive home,” Waylon said and busted out laughing.
“Then where are we going to go?” Kaylie said, giggling.
“We have to find a place to live forever now,” Waylon said, dropping down on the sidewalk and holding his head in his hands. Kaylie had given him a couple of the Devil drinks, which was a poor choice, but she hoped that it would help him realize what he was. Things would be so much easier on her if he knew.
“No, we just have to go on a long journey!” Kaylie said, holding her arm out in the direction of their house. Her new home.
Waylon didn’t say anything. Kaylie took a couple of steps off the curb and turned to look at him. He was passed out with his head still resting in his hands. She tried snapping her fingers in his face and ear. She tried shaking him, but he was completely out.
“This makes this so much easier,” she said, taking a deep breath that was followed by a hiccup.
She took the key out from her pocket, clenched it in her hand, and heaved Waylon off the ground, standing him up next to the driver’s-side door. Putting her hand on his shoulder and the other on the hood of the car, she closed her eyes, and with a whooshing sound, they appeared in the driveway with the car parked where it had been before they had left for dinner.
