“If you don’t let go of me, Shasta, I’m going to make sure you lose that hand,” Elle said pleasantly.
“Okay, okay.” Shasta let go of Elle’s hand and shoved both of his own into his pockets for good measure. “I just didn’t want you and Jones going at it in Aunt Kaede’s living room.”
“He’s got a stick up his ass lately.” Elle considered a moment. “More than usual, I mean.”
Shasta snorted a laugh. “He’s stressed out, I guess. And you do your best to piss him off.”
“It’s a talent. Well, I wanted to talk to you anyway.”
“Is this going to involve bringing Jones anywhere? ‘Cause he’s never going to listen to me again.”
“No, this is about what you saw in the between places. Some sort of giant snake?”
“Oh, yeah.” With a little bow, Shasta pulled out one of the kitchen chairs for Elle, earning himself an amused smile as she sat down. He took one of the other seats and leaned his elbows on the table, propping his chin in his hands. “Snake is the best way I can describe it, I guess. It chased me and Shiki and then trapped us in my house. We couldn’t get out no matter what we tried, until I used a location bomb I picked up... somewhere.”
“Somewhere you don’t want me to know about?”
“Somewhere I can’t remember. I think I bought it at some market because it was pretty, and I forgot about it until I needed a way out.”
“You have the brain of a goldfish.”
“Thank you. What do you know about this thing?”
Elle shrugged. “Not a lot. I’ve heard him called a lot of things but mostly I know him as The Kingsblack. And he’s not really a him, exactly, but it’s just easier to use that. He’s old, Shasta. Older than I am.”
“You look barely a day over five hundred.”
She stuck her tongue out at him. “Don’t be a brat. I’m trying to tell you something important here.”
“All right, keep going then. So it’s—he’s—not just appeared. How come I haven’t run into him before?”
“Last I heard, he was sleeping. Something woke him up.”
“Let me guess, you have an idea of what that was.” Shasta held up both hands. “Don’t look at me, I’m pretty sure I didn’t do it.”
“No, you’re not that special. I think Drae did.” Elle glanced towards the living room, though everything was quiet. “Or his being at loose out in the world did.”
“Okay, what the hell is he?”
Elle looked back at him and smiled. “You haven’t figured it out yet? Come on, Shasta, aren’t you supposed to be smart?”
“You’re the one who keeps calling me dumb.”
“Well, if you haven’t figured it out yet, you are dumb.” Elle pushed her chair back and got to her feet. “I need to look around a bit more. Give my love to Jonesy.” She blew him a kiss and disappeared before he could do more than open his mouth to respond.
“It’s like dangling raw meat in front of a starving dog,” Shasta muttered. “Next time you better give me more than that, Elle.” He got up from the table and went into the living room when he heard voices, pleased to see that Shiki had returned. He recognized the woman and child as Jones’s friends and Shiki introduced them as Lea and her son Andy.
“Shas, do me a favour and go pick up dinner while I get Lea and Andy settled?” Shiki asked. “Chicken and potato wedges or something.”
“Are you trying to get rid of me?”
“Just go.”
Shasta snapped off a salute and went to grab the keys to Kaede’s spare car from the hook on the kitchen wall. He didn’t quite dare to travel through the between places like before, though he knew Kaede was still risking it. So far she hadn’t reported seeing any giant snake—The Kingsblack, as Elle had called it—but he didn’t trust that it wasn’t attuned to him personally; he had an idea that now it had his scent and would be able to find him no matter where he tried to go in the between places.
He shivered and rubbed at the goosebumps that had sprung up on his arms, then slid into the driver’s seat of the car and turned on the engine. The sun was just beginning to set when he pulled out of the driveway, turning the sky brilliant streaks of purple, orange, and pink. He took his time driving down to the store, enjoying the breeze coming in through his open window and the music from the car’s radio.
The store was crowded when he got there, full of harried-looking parents shepherding their children through the candy aisle at top speed and a bunch of college students buying junk food and beer. He was browsing the rotisserie chickens available, trying to decide between honey-glazed and plain barbecue, when he felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. He glanced back quickly but there was only an old woman passing behind him, her attention on the display of navel oranges by the cash. Turning back to the chickens, he grabbed the honey-glazed and went to order potato wedges and salad, his good mood draining away. The sensation of being watched was like a spider creeping across the back of his neck, and he caught himself rubbing at it more than once. It didn’t help.
He caught sight of his reflection in the mirrors above the produce and saw a dark shadow looming behind him. He turned again but saw only a woman pushing a child in a cart, both of whom gave him funny looks for his sudden movement. Swallowing hard and feeling his heart beating hard against his ribs, he hurried through the cash and went out to the car, avoiding looking at himself in the car’s windows. It took some effort for him to look in the rearview mirror as he was pulling out but the mirror was empty of everything but the parking lot and his own worried eyes.
His drive home was uneventful and he began to relax again, wondering if he’d let his imagination get the better of him. He pulled into the driveway just as the moon was beginning to brighten in the dark sky and paused a moment when he got out of the car to look up at it, then grabbed the food and went inside to eat.
They all gathered in the living room, where there were more spots to sit and eat, with the exception of Kaede, who hadn’t returned yet. Lea entertained them with stories of her military days as they ate, including one about Jones being forced to run laps naked, and Shasta relaxed fully in the bright light of the living room, with good food in his belly and Shiki leaning against his shoulder.
Kaede returned late, after Emily and Andy had been put to bed—Emily was actually willing to share the room she’d claimed, which seemed to surprise Jones—and Lea had gone to bed herself. Jones and Drae were almost asleep together on the couch, though Shasta saw Jones start every time an explosion or gunfire happened in the war movie they’d put on. It was almost more entertaining than the actual movie.
“Still up?” Kaede asked as she came in. “Sorry I was gone so long.”
“Did you get what you needed?” Shiki asked.
“Yes, but we can discuss it in the morning.” Kaede covered a yawn. “I don’t know about you but I’m exhausted. Did you find the people I asked you to look for?”
“They’re upstairs in bed.”
“Good. Wake me up for lunch.” She came over and gave Shiki and Shasta both a kiss on the forehead, waved to Jones and Drae, then went upstairs.
Drae and Jones went up shortly after, when the movie had finished, leaving Shasta and Shiki alone in the living room. Shiki flicked the channel to another movie at random and moved to the couch, pulling his legs up to allow Shasta to join him. They watched the opening scenes in silence, until Shasta said Shiki’s name softly.
“Mm-hmm?” Shiki said, most of his attention still on the TV screen.
“Have you felt like anything’s... watching you tonight?” Shasta asked.
“Not really.” Shiki glanced over at him. “You have?”
“Yeah, and I saw something in my reflection when I was at the store. Like a shadow behind me, but when I looked there was nothing there.”
“Could just be nerves or your imagination. Do you think it’s anything more than that?”
“I dunno. Have you ever heard of something called The Kingsblack?”
Shiki thought about it for a few moments then shook his head. “Don’t think so. I can look in my books though.”
“You should. We both should.” Shasta nuzzled at his shoulder. “Am I bunking with you tonight?”
“If you want to.” Shiki brought up the satellite guide to look at the time; half-past midnight. “I guess we should be getting up there.”
“Yeah, this movie is dumb. He gets killed in the end.” Shasta got up and stretched, then pulled Shiki to his feet, keeping their fingers laced together as they went up the stairs and got ready for bed.
Shiki fell asleep within a few minutes but Shasta lay awake, spooned up against Shiki’s back and listening to his breathing. The house was dead quiet and dark; even the light of moon and streetlamps seemed dimmer. He told himself it was his imagination and resolutely closed his eyes, tightening his arms around Shiki’s waist. Eventually he dozed off but slept only lightly throughout the rest of the night, dreaming restlessly of being chased through dark caverns by something sleek and endless, with sides that whispered past the cavern walls like secrets between lovers.
No comments:
Post a Comment