Arc 2 Read online

  “Aw, you do listen!” Pixie sounded delighted. “And you made ‘bite the rich’ sound a lot smarter than it does coming from me. If we’d met in high school, you’d be making bank writing my essays.”

  “You didn’t answer the question.”

  “Yeah, I usually try to buy local,” Pixie said, fiddling with one ear piercing. “But Milo’s local! And okay, fine, The Abyss has some cute stuff. And cheap. I mean, come on, buying entirely organic homegrown punk, in this economy? Must be nice to be made of money.”

  Jude let out a snorting laugh. Pixie might still look tired after a poor day’s sleep, but at least he seemed much closer to his regular ball of undead sunshine. His smile made the ever-present knot of tension in Jude’s stomach unravel a little more every time he saw it.

  Fortunately, for once, when they got inside, the place was empty. Almost.

  “Hi, welcome to The Abyss,” Milo said with a tired smile and little wave, looking up from where they’d been leaning against the counter, resting their head on their arms. “I’d say the rest of the required greeting, but it’s you and I’m tired.”

  “That’s okay,” Pixie said, looking around the nearly-vacant store and only sounding slightly disappointed. “Just tired, or…?”

  “It’s about earlier,” Jude said in response to Milo’s confused look, while Pixie wandered off to peruse a stand of spiked and shiny jewelry. “That guy bothering Letizia, and yelling at you. Anything I should be aware of?”

  “What? No,” Milo said quickly, and Jude wasn’t convinced, but he didn’t pursue it either. People didn’t tend to open up when badgered, a lesson he’d come to reluctantly learn. “No, he’s just noisy. Nothing to worry about there.”

  “Okay, just making sure,” Pixie said, looking up from where he’d found a pair of earrings, cartoon bats with pink, glittering eyes hanging upside-down from his hand. He glanced around the empty store. “Pretty dead in here. In a bad way, I mean. Usually you got a packed house.”

  “I’d rather it stay dead, present company excepted. You’re someone I actually want to see,” Milo explained, a tired smile growing across their face as if the odd statement was a joke Jude didn’t quite get. “Great to see you again, Pixie. I was starting to get a little worried. It’s been a while.”

  “Sure has,” Pixie answered, replacing the bat-earrings and stepping toward Milo, but stopping a moderate distance from the counter. “A lot has happened, good and bad. It’s just been… a lot.”

  “Sounds like more bad than good,” Milo said, a concerned-looking wrinkle in their forehead. “Have you talked to Natalie lately? She’s been around here a few times looking for you.”

  “Oh—no, no, I’m just kind of, uh, keeping to myself lately. But it hasn’t been all bad,” Pixie said with a glance in Jude’s direction that made him feel a little warm inside. He gave a little nod back, and this seemed to put both Pixie and Milo a little more at ease. “More like, uh. Transformative.”

  “Ah,” Milo nodded sagely, cast a glance at Jude, who had stepped away to let them speak, and lowered their voice, which still carried in the unusual quiet. They murmured something that sounded like, “New pronouns?”

  “Not yet,” Pixie laughed, as if he’d been taken by surprise—both by what Milo had said, and at how much he was enjoying being here. “But there are a few other new things.” He carefully lowered his hood to reveal more of his telltale gray skin, pointed ears, catlike eyes, and pointed smile.

  “Oh,” Milo said, eyes widening and mouth becoming a perfect ‘O’ to match.

  “Yeah.”

  “You’re—are you—?”

  “In the flesh,” Pixie replied with a somewhat sheepish, yet pointed smile. “You know, so to speak.”

  “That explains a lot,” Milo said, letting out a kind of combination laugh and relieved sigh. No horror in their face, or even much surprise, Jude noted. His hunch had been right. This kid must be a lot more familiar with the night’s hidden citizens than he’d been when one of them had crashed through his window.

  “You don’t seem exactly shocked to learn that vampires exist,” Jude observed. “Witches aren’t the only ones who need to stick together, is that it?”

  “Oh, I’m not a vampire,” Milo said, giving Jude an appraising but open look. “Though this is a designated safe space. With magic, I mean. That, and common decency.”

  “I’m afraid I’m one-hundred percent human, mundane and ordinary,” Jude said.

  “Lying,” Pixie said with a snort. “You’re kinda norm-core, extremely straight-edge, but way less of a buzzkill than you think.”

  Jude covered a laugh that would have clashed terribly with his work uniform. “I’m going to pretend I know what those words mean, and take that as a compliment.”

  “Glad to find another ally. We can always use more,” Milo said, with another enigmatic little smile that reminded Jude a little of Letizia. But instead of her cocky assuredness, Milo looked more… sad. But then they brightened, and leaned over the counter in a conspiratorial way. “But Pixie! I’m so glad you came to me, there’s so much we need to talk about. You wouldn’t believe what happened just last night. Cruce, the monster himself—he’s dead.” Milo’s voice dropped to an intense whisper. “Dead-dead. Actually destroyed. He’ll never hurt anyone ever again. I never thought I’d see it.”

  “I did,” Pixie said with a sudden ferocity, eyes hard and haunted-looking. Then he seemed to catch himself, some of the fire in his voice fading, but he didn’t look any less shaken. “I mean—somebody had to, eventually. It’s about time.”

  “Yes, it is—are you all right?” Milo asked, clearly a bit surprised at his uncharacteristic demeanor. “This is personal for you, isn’t it?”

  “You could say that,” Pixie said with a halfhearted laugh. “Cruce wasn’t my sire, but he, uh… made my life a lot harder. Before-life, and after-life. I guess. So yeah. I’m good with him being deader than dead—better than good.”

  “Oh,” Milo said, and their mouth didn’t drop open this time. Instead, their violet eyes clouded with pained empathy. “Oh, I’m so sorry. He’s… I’ve heard what he…”

  “It’s all true.” Pixie’s voice went a little flat, and Jude noticed him tracing the scarring on the back of one hand. “Everything you’ve heard, and a lot worse. I guarantee it. But he’s gone now, and everyone he did turn is free, so everything’s coming up us, I guess.”

  “It’s a start. I’m just so glad it wasn’t him who turned you,” Milo said vehemently, and Jude believed them, even if Pixie’s smile looked a little strained. “Turning’s hard enough even if the one doing it isn’t a complete monster. In all sincerity, good riddance. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone throws a ‘B-I-H Cruce’ party.”

  “B-I…?” Jude asked, frowning.

  “Burn In Hell,” Pixie supplied with mildly unsettling perkiness.

  “Speaking of sires, is yours—no,” Milo broke off, pushing themself back a bit from the counter. “You don’t have to tell me, not my business. You look great, that’s all. Might sound weird to say, but un-death really suits you. It just does for some people.”

  “You know, I thought so too actually,” Pixie said with a nod. “It’s a major adjustment, for sure, but I’m making it work. And I do make it look good.” He chuckled at himself, then looked more serious, but just as happy. “Seriously, I’m so glad you’re up to speed, I’d pretty much given up on talking to anybody but like three people in the world about this. It feels good.”

  “I’m really glad to hear that,” Milo said with a small, sincere-looking smile. “Gives me a bit of hope. I’ve been hearing some… some concerning things, lately.”

  “What kind of concerning things?” Jude asked in as level a tone as he could, the familiar tingle of anxiety beginning to sweep through him. “Is there something going on I should know about? Not as, ah, this,” he said with a self-conscious gesture at his security guard uniform. “Just as a… concerned friend and ally. This is my last
day, anyway.”

  “Sorry to see you go. And when I say ‘concerning,’ I mean…” Milo’s smile faded, and they didn’t continue right away. Some of their scant color began to drain, making their makeup look bolder, and their face younger, less sure, more vulnerable, and that just made Jude even more hyper-aware of the difference in their stations. It felt like an interrogation, but not one that he’d intended.

  Jude shifted uncomfortably, his uniform suddenly not seeming to fit right—but then it never really had. He’d never actually liked being looked at as some kind of authority figure; it was too much pressure and too much responsibility—and where some guys might get off on the power and fear afforded even to a mall cop, it just made Jude feel wrong. Besides, the uniform was a barrier, keeping people at arm’s length when he was just now trying to open up.

  When Milo spoke again, Jude got the impression that they were choosing each word with care. “If I told you that something big and potentially dangerous was coming, and to make yourselves scarce for the next few days, would you listen?”

  “I mean, I want to say yes,” Pixie said with a wary glance at Jude. “But I don’t think I can say that and stay honest.”

  “Definitely not,” Jude confirmed. “And I do appreciate you just coming right out and asking.”

  “Cutting to the chase does save a lot of time,” Milo said levelly. “Then, if you felt bound and determined to involve yourselves in this dangerous event, would you feel confident in your chances?”

  “Of what?” Jude asked. “Defeating it, or staying alive? Because those are two different things.”

  “Both. Either.”

  Jude slid Pixie a slightly dubious glance and saw him looking warily back. “I mean, so far, we’re at a one hundred percent success rate for survival—even if not all of us are exactly, ah, alive to begin with. That’s pretty good, right?”

  “Yeah,” Milo said with a nod, but they didn’t look at all comforted. “While we’re cutting to the chase—it’s a good thing Cruce’s dead, but it also raises a lot more questions. Like, do we know who to thank for that… public service?”

  “No,” Jude said, folding his arms. “I’ve been wondering who or what could be powerful enough to take him out.”

  “That’s exactly what I’m afraid of too.” Milo took a breath, drumming their black nails in an anxious rhythm on the glass counter. “I just have the terrible feeling that something major is building.”

  “What kind of ‘something major?’” Jude pressed.

  “I… I think it’s the kind of thing where the less you know, the safer you are,” Milo said, after a pause in which they pressed their purple-stained lips tightly together. “I’m sorry. I know that’s an aggravating non-answer, I swear I’m not trying to be witchy and mysterious, but it’s all I feel confident saying. Just please, take my word and lie low for a few days, that’s all.”

  Something occurred to Jude, and he furrowed his brow. “Would this have anything to do with that guy who was stalking Letizia, and yelling at you?”

  Milo paused then, as before, spoke very carefully. “He isn’t a direct threat. If anything, he’s in much more danger than any of us. But interfering would only make it worse, so it’s best to stay away from him as well.”

  “I knew he was involved,” Jude muttered, but nothing more. Following one known lead seemed easier than digging unknowns out of someone so obviously scared and likely to clam up if pushed.

  “It’s not that simple,” Milo said with a bit of desperation that told Jude he’d been right to be careful. “You’re right, he’s involved with some very dangerous vampires, the worst I’ve ever known, but he’s not one of them. Consent doesn’t exist with—with the types of people we’re dealing with.”

  “Ain’t that the freaking truth,” Pixie muttered.

  “Please,” Milo insisted earnestly, looking Jude directly in the eyes with an intensity that took him by surprise. “I’m asking you as a friend, and a witch, and anything else that gets you to listen. No matter what he says—and he will probably say some unpleasant things if you run into him again—he’s not the threat here. Don’t hurt him.”

  “We wouldn’t…” Jude stopped. It was true, as long as the noisy punk didn’t take the first shot. “We won’t hurt him. Unless he tries to hurt us first.”

  “He won’t. Thank you.” Milo still seemed relieved, despite the possibilities that seemed all too obvious to Jude. Maybe they were just relieved that Jude would try to keep their complicated friend safe at all. “He’s been hurt enough.” Their gaze went back to Pixie. “And so have you. Keep yourself safe, Pixie.”

  “Hey, don’t worry,” Pixie said with a lightness Jude knew very well he didn’t feel. “It’ll be fine. Your friend will be fine, and I’ll be fine too. Whatever happens, happens, and we’ll figure it out when we get there. Remember, we’re down one monster. With Cruce gone, I think our lives are gonna get a whole lot easier.”

  “I really hope you’re right,” Milo said, but they didn’t sound convinced.

  “Sure I am,” Pixie said, still sounding rattled, but he gave an attempted smile and wave, pushing himself away from the counter and stepping toward the door. He hesitated only to cast the bat earrings a longing glance, then resolutely headed for the exit. “It really was great to see you, buddy. Talk to you later. And it won’t be so long this time!”

  “Pixie, wait,” Milo said, and both he and Jude stopped. In a contrast to their previous care and reticence, Milo’s words came out in a rush now. “Listen, I might not have gone through it myself, but I know enough about turning to know that it really is an adjustment. More than that, it’s a major trauma, no matter how smoothly it goes. If you ever need someone to talk to… you know where to find me.”

  “Thank you,” Pixie said with a smile Jude knew to be entirely real, genuine, and heartfelt. Now, he meant every word. “I’m totally gonna take you up on that. Really glad you’re here.”

  The relief so clear in Pixie’s eyes and the deep gratitude so obvious in his voice made Jude’s stomach twist just a bit. All this time, he’d been floundering, hadn’t known the first thing to say or ask Pixie about any of this, or had the slightest idea how to help. Now this familiar-but-new face seemed to have gotten him to open up more and better in ten minutes than Jude had in months.

  Maybe it was small and petty of him to feel anything like jealousy, but apparently Jude was smaller and pettier than he’d thought.

  “It’s no problem,” Milo said. “Oh, before I forget again, would you like me to let Natalie know you’re okay? I won’t say anything about—”

  “Nah, don’t worry about it,” Pixie said, and Jude felt more than heard the tension instantly come back into his voice. “I’ll handle it. See you!”

  “Have a great day!” Milo called as they exited the store, in a blandly pleasant voice with a matching smile. It seemed automatic, a reflex customer-service mask, but Jude had seen both the sharp acuity and the churning worry that lay behind it. Milo would never be just the sweet mall-goth kid to him again—or at least, not only that. “Thanks for staring into the Abyss.”

  They stepped out into the mall’s manufactured light and ambient noise, but Jude only had eyes for Pixie, who still seemed troubled and downcast, and somehow even more worried than he’d been before.

  “So, Natalie?” Jude had to ask as they walked, watching carefully for his reaction.

  “She’s just… you don’t have to worry about that either,” Pixie said, looking like he was doing enough worrying himself for the three of them. “I got this. Can you, uh?” After a quick look around to ensure there were no potential witnesses to the paranormal, he tugged on Jude’s sleeve and held his hand—which suddenly held a small pink bat.

  Jude tucked Pixie back into his pocket, thinking how nice it must be to have such an easy way to avoid an obviously unwanted conversation. But he was thinking more about everything he’d just heard, and everything yet to come, both from Letizia later, and from God
knew what direction next. Jude sighed as he forced his brain into something resembling work mode, and strode away from the Abyss.

  It wasn’t even ten o’clock yet.

  The next time Jude saw Eva, it was in the hall outside Letizia’s apartment, two floors up from his own. She was leaning against the wall, head back and eyes closed, as if she were trying to catch up on hours of sleep missed, of which Jude suspected were many. Eva always did try to take everything on herself, he thought. Whatever came next, he resolved to make sure she didn’t have to.

  “Hey,” he said as he and Pixie—in human form, and no longer in Jude’s pocket—approached, trying to make enough noise so as not to startle her in case she really was doing more than just resting her eyes. “Is she home?”

  “I don’t know,” Eva said, stretching and rolling her shoulders. Jude thought he heard a joint pop. “I knocked, but there was no answer. She didn’t really give me a time, so I figured I’d just wait for you and then see what…”

  She trailed off and looked down at the soft click of the lock. The door opened smoothly, but as Jude soon saw, the doorway beyond it was empty. No hand had unlocked or pushed it open, but with this particular occupant, it was fairly certain who was responsible.

  “I’ll take that as an invitation,” Pixie said, stepping over the threshold and turning to them with a confirming nod. “Yep! It’s for us. Hi, Letizia!”

  Nobody answered at first, and the room past the small entry space was dark, lit only by the flickering light of candles.

  “We’re in here,” someone called then, but it wasn’t the Witch. Jude would know Jasper’s voice anywhere, and, as he was inclined to do whenever he heard it, he followed.

  The place seemed like the same layout as Jude’s—kitchen, living area, and a short hallway to a bathroom and two bedrooms. No spatters of blood or visible coffins. It was pretty sparsely furnished, really, and didn’t look very used. She must not spend much time in it, or at least not as a human.