Theres sothing to be said for southern hospitality. Id never seen the point of it before, but inviting neighbors, friends, and enemies to mingle in a closed setting was a hell of a way to create a sense of unity where none existed before.
Even if that sense of unity was counterfeit.
The location was the old golf course, around twenty minutes east of the city center. With Kinsleys help and a courtesy call to the region 18 leader, it was easy enough to secure the area as a small venue, with speakers, tables and chairs quickly unloaded by Kinsleys ever expanding roster of rcenaries and employees. Grit and Ire arrived shortly after with the catering.
Ire was right. Smokey Jons was too good not to share.
Sae and Sara chatted over styrofoam plates nearby. Sae seed to pick up on Saras visible discomfort with her appearance and, instead of avoiding her, appeared to be doubling down and chatting Saras ear off.
A line of SUVs drove onto the green and ca to a stop. Shortly after, the rear SUVs passenger door popped open and Iris jumped out. She spotted and sprinted over, nearly slipping on the grass as she made her final approach, hitting my chair full force and rattling .
Are we really going to fly? Iris asked, her eyes wide.
After everyone eats and has so ti to digest. I answered. Iris looked around, inspecting the various plates present.
We cant just go now?
Patience, kiddo. I ruffled her hair. Then jerked my thumb to Miles, sitting uncomfortably in the lawn chair next to . You know who this is?
No? Iris cocked her head.
He helped save our asses yesterday.
My sister reacted imdiately and tackled Miles in a hug. Miles patted her awkwardly, shooting a dubious look. Just doing my job.
I gestured towards my ear, then my sister. Miles nodded in oh-right acknowledgent and waited to repeat himself until he could see her. Before he could, Iris quickly pulled away. Have you eaten yet? She asked in excitent.
Uh. No, Miles said.
I watched in amusent as Iris took Miles' hand and dragged him away. Co on, the sooner we eat, the sooner we can fly!
Miles looked back helplessly at , then followed along as my sister led him to the small line of rcenaries queued up next to the silver serving trays. Hed shown up shortly after Tyler, and never seed to drop his guard until now.
Before I could respond, I felt a presence beside . Mom was there, one-hand on my lawn chair, staring after Iris and Miles. That man. Ive t him before.
Have you? I asked, clamping down on the imdiate burst of irritation.
Hes the one you ntioned, isnt he? Miles? Part of the Taskforce? Mom asked, visibly working through confusion.
Thats him.
What a coincidence. We ran into each other at a restaurant, chatted for a while. Mom covered a laugh with her hand as she watched Iris railroad Miles through the serving line. Her wrinkles looked more pronounced than they had weeks ago. As annoyed as I was that shed unknowingly leaked vital information, it was easy to forget that shed been working tirelessly in the background this entire ti.
That is a coincidence. Was he nice? I asked carefully.
Mom sighed. A perfect gentleman. And look how good he is with your sister.
Hardly. Iris could charm an inanimate object.
There was no mistaking the sigh in my mothers voice. My imdiate reaction was to stomp the brakes. Even if Miles wasnt a borderline enemy, on the frontline of several dangerous situations liable to get him killed, further entanglent with him was dangerous. Then again, Id created this situation for exactly that purpose. My mother getting involved with Miles was unlikely to end in anything other than tragedy.
Hes been married before, I hedged.
So have I. Mom shot an eyebrow.
And he has kids.
Explains why hes so good with them.
I pald my forehead. Isnt he a little young for you?
Matthias. Mom snapped.
An uncomfortable silence passed between us.
Youre right Mom gazed down at the green, crestfallen. Ellison ran away
He didnt run away, he just needs so ti. I interrupted, reiterating what Id already told her.
I shouldnt be pining, like so nave, star-struck child. Your brother should be my focus right now. Mom finished. There was enough self-loathing in the statent that I hesitated. For the first ti in what felt like years, I felt genuine guilt towards her. No matter how spotty our upbringing was, what was happening with Ellison now wasnt my mothers fault.
Hows the system forum coming along? I asked, attempting to redirect the conversation sowhere more positive.
The pain in her expression lightened sowhat. Almost have all the kinks ironed out. Should be ready to go live in a few days.
I hesitated. We lost a lot of people in the transposition. Makes it hard to keep track of whos alive and who isnt. Miles suggested creating a forum subcategory to gather that information.
My mothers eyes tracked towards the serving line. Thats a wonderful idea.
Why dont you go talk to him about it? Saying the words was like chewing glass.
Mom smiled, for the first ti in a long ti, and waggled an eyebrow. Is that your way of giving your blessing?
He is a cop. I couldnt stop myself from adding it as one final, pointless protest.
Ill be careful. Mom nodded, over serious, giving a small wave as she walked lightly towards the serving line, a skip in her step. I scowled as she left, more than a little unhappy with the unexpected turn.
A short figure walked across the green. Kinsley sat on the far end of the row of chairs, as far away from and everyone else, while a small cluster of rcenaries milled around her.
Her styrofoam plate was piled high with large enough serving of premium, five-cheese macaroni from Smokeys to feed a small family. Kinsley continued the dead-eyed stare and slowly raised a fist, middle-finger extended.
Fair enough.
/////
Iris shrieked as she flew through the air. I caught her beneath her arms and sent her flying back towards Mom as we floated together. Mom caught her, laughing as the montum pushed them both back, spinning Iris around in a gravity defying dance.
On the return trip, Iris flew directly at , shifting direction right at the last mont, curving around and flying out the opposite way like a slingshot.
Be careful! I called after her.
Sothing clipped my feet, nearly sending spinning before I corrected my trajectory.
I glared at Miles. Really?
Fancy a dogfight? Miles ca to a stop with a graceful barrel roll.
No. I said, monts before I lashed out with a leg and caught his ankle.
Miles spiraled, the green of the golf course, hundreds of feet below us. Bastard! He called back.
Dont pretend like you werent asking for it.
When he regained control, he gave a serious look. Thanks.
It was already happening. I shrugged. Adding a plus one was simple enough.
Not just that. Miles surveyed the fliers.
As a whole, the group was dealing with the nausea far better than I had. Tyler was the only one to lose his dinner. Kinsley was struggling not to follow in his footsteps. She floated motionless in the air, supine. Its fine. No big deal. Just like floating in a pool. Im a cloud. And clouds dont She suddenly writhed in the air and turned to the side with an audible hurk, making the near-fatal mistake of glancing down, slapping both hands over her mouth and closing her eyes tightly.
Sure you dont want to turn on your stomach? I asked.
Kinsley opened one eye and glared at . Go away. Let be a cloud.
I scanned the sky for Miles. Hed joined my mother and Tyler, and was laughing loudly at sothing Sara had said. Iris swooped around them, and Miles snatched her out of the air, launching her higher. Iris whooped, giggling with a freedom and lightness I hadnt heard in years.
It was so easy to forget how young she really was.
You okay? Kinsley asked, one-eye open again.
Its just I dont know. I cant rember the last ti I saw Iris this happy. The words ca tumbling out. Mom too. All I want is this. But the good days are harder and harder to co by.
Its okay to enjoy them. You get that, right?
I swallowed. Its not that simple. Im underwater. Small chance in hell its getting any easier. Lucks the only reason Im still alive. I can reduce risk, take strides to mitigate probability, but in the end, its down to luck. And eventually, luck runs out. I have to make sure theyre safe when it does.
Jesus. Family outings always make you this bleak?
Did you find our makeshift prison? I asked. I hadnt decided on how to deal with Buzzcut yet, but I needed sowhere to take him if it ended up being less final.
Yeah. Abandoned building, north end of the region. Basent is solid and securable. Had a few mages reinforce the door and whip up a fancy lock. Added the modifications you asked for. Everything else should be fine as is, unless he can tunnel through concrete. Kinsley avoided eye-contact throughout the report.
Ok. Great. Gonna tell why crankys been your default state lately?
Kinsley looked down at where mom and Iris had gathered. My sisters braids flew back and up, at an unnatural angle, and mom cradled her, slowing her downward montum.
Its not rational. Kinsley said.
Doesnt have to be. I shrugged.
Its not fair to you.
Things rarely are.
I miss my dad. Kinsley exploded. And I know its unreasonable, and maybe makes a total bitch, but every ti I see you with your familywhich is often, us being neighborsI cant help but think about how my dad is stuck, in hell, made to do god knows what. And contrast that to what you have. She tugged at the back of her head. And yes, I know exactly how shitty that makes sound.
Kinsley. You know wed get Vernon out now, if we could.
In the middle of biting her nails, Kinsley said sothing indecipherable.
What? I asked, reaching out towards her back.
Leave it. Kinsley spat the words, and I pulled my hand away.
Her lip fird. Lets just get through the next few weeks. Ill do everything I can to cover on my end. But my dad needs to get out, Matt. As soon as theres an opportunity.
I frowned. That was always the plan.
Right. Her confirmation ca with a side-eye. So long as it stays that way.
There was a flash of motion as a pair of dark chitin feet slamd into Kinsleys backside and shoved, sending her spinning, swearing incessantly, towards the opposite end of the of the golf course.
That seed like way too serious a conversation for a party. Sae rotated to face , smoothly shifting herself in a diagonal roll.
Is everybody better at flying than ?
No idea. When are we moving on Caron?
I rubbed the bridge of my nose. Thats a lighter topic?
Dont get lost in the weeds. Sae prodded in the ribs. You said you only have a couple days left.
We recon this evening. Act tomorrow.
Really want to push this to the last minute? Saes mouth turned downward.
From the dossier and character sheet, we dont want to go into this half-cocked. Especially if theres an advantage to be had. I smiled widely.
Sae looked slightly perturbed. Oh?
All we have to do is get within range. Azure will do the rest.
User Comments
0 comments from readers