The Realm of the Deathless, page 5
Maybe it was their purchase that was drawing so much attention. It was fairly weird.
As they reached the counter, Aster reached into a pocket of the denim dress Ms. Fincher had given her. She muttered under her breath and pulled out something green.
She placed it on the counter. It looked like money.
“Twenty?” Aster said.
The woman looked at the paper, but she didn’t pick it up.
“You’re sure that’s what you want?” she asked.
“I’m sure,” Aster said.
The woman nodded. She stood up.
“It’s not for sale,” she said.
“Yes, it is,” Aster said. “It’s got a tag on it.”
The woman shrugged. “I changed my mind. I don’t want to sell it.”
Aster frowned.
“Billy,” she said. “Hang on to that.”
“Esenteyese!” she shouted.
The fluorescent lights flickered.
The old lady at the adding machine was no longer an old lady. She was a young woman with jet black hair, eyes that were so pale as to be almost white, and a five-pointed silver star on her forehead. Her clothes hadn’t changed—she was still in the puppy-shirt which was maybe weirder than the fact that she had been magically disguised in the first place.
“Nocturn!” Dusk snapped.
The curious strangers in the shop had also changed. Nocturn was one of Dusk’s sisters. They were now surrounded by her other three siblings. There was Hawk, with his coal-dark skin and golden hair under a trucker’s hat, dressed in walking shorts, polo shirt, and sneakers.
Dawn, about thirteen, red-headed and freckled, was clothed in blue scrubs, like a nurse. Long-armed, rangy Gloam, with his dark eyes and fine brown hair, had on a tan polyester leisure suit with coat sleeves and pants far too short for him.
As it turned out, Dusk didn’t have to go looking for her brothers and sisters. They had found her.
“Wow,” Errol said. “You people have really terrible fashion sense.”
Hawk lifted his hand, and Errol saw he had a sword in it, and not one he’d picked up around here.
“Still very quick of tongue, I see,” Hawk said. “Perhaps if I cut it off, it will run off on its own. Join a footrace, or something.”
“Your jokes kind of suck, too,” Errol said. But he didn’t feel quite as brave as he was trying to sound. Hawk had more-or-less killed him once, as casually as one might crush an ant. And he wasn’t the only one armed. All of Dusk’s siblings had swords.
“Do not,” Dusk warned them. “They are under my protection.”
“But you are under no one’s protection, sister,” Nocturn said. “And you have run up quite a debt with this family. Not the least of which is forcing us to come here, to this dingy, awful place.”
“If you’ve come for Aster, you’re wasting your time,” Errol said. “Killing her won’t fix things. Your mom’s plan was bonkers.”
Nocturn shrugged. “Her plan had merit, based on what we knew then,” she said. “How well it would have worked, we do not know. At the very least it would have given us more time to find a real cure to the world’s ills. But that is all past. The blood of Kostye’s daughter is worth nothing to us now.” She nodded at the shadow-box Billy was holding. “That, however, will be of value to us.”
“You didn’t even know what it was,” Aster said. “You’ve been sitting here with it, waiting for us.”
“That much is true,” Gloam said. “We don’t need your blood, but the things rattling around in your head—those we need.”
“I won’t be coerced,” Aster said.
“We’re on the same side in this,” Hawk said. “We want the same thing.”
“Yeah, you said that last time,” Errol pointed out. “Then you tried to cut her head off and murder the rest of us.”
“That’s unreasonable,” Gloam said. “We would never have hurt any one of you if you had but let us have her head.”
Billy settled the shadowbox on the ground. He was frowning, which was rare for him.
“Billy—” Errol cautioned.
Billy took a step toward Hawk, who lifted his sword to point at him.
“You would be advised against taking another step,” Hawk said.
By now, Errol thought he knew Billy pretty well. He was normally one of the calmest people Errol had ever known. He was not given to anger.
Now he was trembling with barely contained rage. Someone who didn’t know him as well as Errol did probably wouldn’t see it at all. But to him, Billy was a volcano a few seconds from erupting.
“Hey,” Errol said. “Let’s everyone just calm down a bit, okay?”
Behind Nocturn, Errol noticed someone else had just walked in. A young man with his long dark hair worn in a ponytail.
Nocturn noticed it to. She turned to see who it was.
“We’re closed,” she said.
“Apologies,” the fellow said, and ducked away.
Errol thought he looked familiar. Someone he’d gone to school with, maybe? He thought about yelling for help. Did the mall still have any guards?
Probably not. But it gave him an idea.
“What’s your plan?” Errol asked Nocturn. “The way he ran off, that guy probably saw you with those swords. You might not know it, but that’s not normal around here. It’s not even legal. Ask Dusk. When she came here after me the police caught her and threw her in the pokey.”
“That’s true,” Dusk said. “The authorities here are not tolerant of such things.”
“In that case,” Hawk said, “our time might be short. By the time the authorities arrive—if they arrive at all—four of you will be dead, and we will once more be disguised in illusion. Unless Aster agrees to go with us.”
“No chance,” Errol said. Nocturn was nearest. All he had to do was get past the sword. Knowing these guys, there wasn’t much chance of that, but it was better than just letting them take Aster away. And it wasn’t like Aster was helpless. Any minute now she would do some sort of spell....
Nocturn fixed her gaze on him.
“Aster, Keidi!” Dawn suddenly shouted. Aster hissed and grabbed at her throat.
“Hey—” Errol began.
“Steledi!” Nocturn said. Errol felt his limbs tighten, as if his tendons had suddenly been turned into wire.
Billy jumped Hawk, knocking his sword aside with his arm, but Hawk backpedaled and clocked Billy in the jaw with a left; and an instant later Gloam clobbered him on the head with the pommel of his sword. Billy dropped, moaning. Dusk was just behind Billy; she slammed Gloam with an elbow and followed through with a punch that caught Hawk in his armpit. Both men dropped. She kicked Hawk in the head and leapt toward Nocturn.
She never got there. Nocturn hit her with the same hex she had him, and she landed on the floor with a solid thud, her arms and legs frozen in the act of jumping.
Dawn immobilized the mute Aster and Delia as Hawk and Gloam slowly recovered from Dusk’s attack.
Hawk looked them over, panting.
“What now?” Gloam asked.
“Kill them,” Hawk said.
“Our sister, too?” Gloam said.
Hawk shook his head. “No,” he said. “But I will hamstring her. We cannot have her following.”
Errol fought to move, but he couldn’t even crook a finger to make the gesture he wanted. He watched helplessly as Hawk approached Dusk.
“I think you had best not do that,” a voice said, from the door to the shop. At his angle, Errol didn’t have to turn; he saw it was the boy from before. He noticed more details now; he was dressed in a vest, a long-sleeved white shirt with lots of buttons, and black pants stuffed into boots.
He held a revolver in one hand and a curved sword in the other.
Errol thought he recognized him now—one of the gypsies from the camp where he and Veronica had spent the night.
Hawk straightened and regarded the gypsy. Nocturn turned toward him, too.
“Steledi!” Nocturn shouted, gesturing toward the guy.
But the fellow just grinned a little. “It’s not wise to repeat yourself,” he said. Then he raised his gun and fired.
The bullet hit Nocturn in the shoulder and turned her half around. She screamed and clutched at the wound.
Hawk started forward, blade ready, but the gypsy drew a bead on him.
“This goes in your head,” he said. “As easily as that one might have hers. I’ve no wish to send anyone across the flood today, so all of you had best keep your peace.”
“You stink of the Pale,” Hawk sneered. “March-dweller. Half-thing.”
“I’ll not dispute my nature,” the young man said. “I am Shandor King Minko, a Prince Regent in my own country, which is maybe not so High and Far Away, but far nearer here than your rightful place. And as such, I put all of these here under my hand.”
Shandor. Errol knew that name. This was the guy who had been sweet on Veronica. The one who had tried to take her away from him. What the hell was he up to?
“If you do that,” Hawk said, “You’ll make enemies you don’t want.”
“I’m right good at deciding what I want,” Shandor said. “And right good at defending what I have.”
“You shot my sister,” Hawk said. “I will not forgive that.”
“What? You mealy-tongued worm. You were just about to cripple another sister of yours. Your outrage is a cracked bell, so far as I’m concerned. Anyway, you’re as welcome to try and kill me as the last many that failed. Sister, would you?”
The girl next to him stepped quietly into the room. Errol was nearest, and she touched him first. The magical paralysis instantly vanished. Aster was next, then Dusk, Billy, and Delia. Hawk and the others watched in obvious frustration. Nocturn took a seat. Blood was seeping through her fingers, but she looked more furious than pained.
Dusk didn’t waste any time. Ignoring his sword, she took two steps and slapped the hell out of Hawk.
“That’s for you, brother,” she said. “Hamstring me, would you? Try it now.”
Hawk glowered at her, but he didn’t attempt to raise his weapon.
“You betrayed us,” he said, softly.
“And you, me, and mother all of us,” she snapped back. “When was ever one of us born without a dagger in hand for the back of another. I’m done with all of you.”
“The world is dying,” Nocturn said. “You must think larger than that.”
“You should have considered that yourself,” Dusk replied.
Shandor kept his weapon trained on Hawk as Billy picked the astrarium back up. Then they all left the store.
“This way,” Shandor said. “Go down to the theater. I will make certain they do not follow us.”
“You’re aren’t going to kill them?” Errol said.
“If I meant to do that, I would have done it already,” Shandor said. “I’ll be right along.”
The theater was at the far end of the mall, looking somehow more abandoned and forlorn than the rest of the place. He remembered when it had been new and smelled of popcorn. He had watched a lot of matinees here with his friends. Some of his favorite movies, and more he couldn’t even name now.
True to his word, Shandor arrived a few minutes later.
“We should hurry,” he said. “They have others with them, waiting just beyond the Pale. They will be after us soon.”
“Hang on,” Aster said. “I know who you are. Veronica’s friend. Did she send you? Have you seen her?”
“She came to my camp some days ago, yes. She said I should come and help you from your troubles. She had, as she put it, other matters to attend to elsewhere.”
“How did she know we would have troubles?” Aster asked.
“I did not question her about that. She is a person of considerable power, as you ought to know.”
“How did you know we were here?” Errol asked. “We’ve been back in Sowashee less than a day.”
“My kingdom is in the Marches of this place. You came through it on your way here. You left your ship docked there. You were not hard to track.”
“Yeah,” Errol said. “Well, anyway, thanks.”
“You are very welcome.”
He touched the locked door of the theater and then pushed it open.
“We’ll go now,” he said.
“This isn’t how we came in,” Aster said.
“Nor I,” Shandor replied. “But your siblings have their gang waiting on that path. We must take another.”
“There is a way here,” Billy said. “I can smell it.”
“Aster?” Errol said.
She nodded. “We got what we came for,” she said. “It’s time to go back.”
Errol nodded. Then he saw Ms. Fincher, standing a few feet away.
“Wait,” he said. “What about her? Will she be safe if we leave her here?”
“I cannot account for what my brothers and sisters might do,” Dusk said. “But if you hide, Delia, I’m sure they will think you went with us. They will not return here once they have gone.”
“Right,” Errol said. “You could hide in a closet or a storeroom or the manager’s office or something.”
“I think I’m going with you,” Ms. Fincher said. “That man— or—whatever it was. At my house. Dusk, do you think your siblings sent that?”
Dusk shook her head. “No,” she said. “That was something else.”
“From very far away,” Billy added.
“Something that came just for me,” Ms. Fincher said. “Why?”
“I don’t know,” Aster replied. “You were my father’s lover. He had many enemies. It could be any one of them.”
“So I’m not safe here. Or possibly anywhere. I’m better off with all of you—if you’ll have me.”
“Of course,” Errol said.
“If this is all settled now ...” Shandor said.
“All of us then,” Aster said.
FIVE:
THROUGH THE KUDZU
Shandor led them into one of the theaters. It was dark inside, but the handrail was still there, leading them down toward the screen and the emergency exit. Shandor pushed it open. Outside, the parking lot stretched out, cracked and broken, grass pushing up through the seams, and kudzu had crept from the nearby fields to cover not only much of the parking lot, but the back part of the mall, as well. It made him a little dizzy. How long had it been like this? Not the last time he was here. But he wasn’t sure how long ago that had been.
And the parking lot seemed much bigger than it had. He couldn’t see the interstate, or any buildings south or east, because the Kudzu had engulfed all of the pines around the perimeter.
When they finally reached the edge of the lot, Shandor used his sabre to cut a hole in the kudzu, and they went in. They sloshed across the shin-deep Sowashee Creek that gave the town its name, and then into more kudzu.
Fifteen minutes later, they were still in the vines, although they should have hit the frontage road about fourteen minutes earlier, followed quickly by the interstate. Instead, they were in a forest of dead and dying trees, under a green, crawling canopy of kudzu.
“Oh,” he said.
“Yeah,” Aster said, understanding him. “Me too. We’re back in the in-between.”
Errol wondered what it said that parts of his hometown were so run down that he couldn’t clearly tell where urban decay ended and wilderness began. The High and Faraway was falling apart because of a curse. It seemed like his world wasn’t affected by that, but maybe it was. Maybe it always had been falling apart. The Kingdoms were on the verge of death, but his world had been dying for years.
“Is it just me, or is it getting easier to pass through?” Errol said. “I mean the first time you had to build me that body, and then we had to find Veronica —”
“Veronica was a creature of the Pale,” Aster said. “The in-between. So is Shandor. It’s the same.”
“I don’t know,” Dusk said. “Before I met you, I searched endlessly for your world. The Pale is vast and mazy. Finding the way through is no simple matter. This feels easier to me. As if the two are drawing closer. The Kingdoms are pulling apart, but they and the Reign of the Departed appear to be nearer. It seems a contradiction.”
“I don’t know,” Errol said. You said the Reign—my world— is like the bottom, as low as you can go. Maybe the Kingdoms aren’t just falling apart—maybe they’re also sinking.”
“Like a broken ship,” Dusk murmured. “And everything will pass into oblivion. An awful thought.”
“Except we’re going to stop it, right?” Errol said. “Break the curse.”
“My father’s curse isn’t the cause of this,” Aster said.
“Wait, what?” Errol said. “I thought everyone pretty much agreed on that.”
She shook her head. “My father was a powerful sorcerer, and he did make a curse. But as powerful as he was, he couldn’t cause all of this. No, it’s something deeper. His curse is a symptom of something else, a shadow of something much higher and farther.”
“What do you mean by that?” Errol said.
“Look,” Aster said. “You were just talking about your world being the “bottom.” So think of it that way, for a moment. Think of one of those wedding cakes, the ones that are stacked up, each cake a little smaller than the last. The higher up you go, the more elumiris is present. The more magic. Where I’m from— where Dusk is from—that’s maybe the second or third layer of the cake. On this cake, that’s only about halfway up, maybe not that. There are layers way above that. Each world is sort of a shadow of the one above it.”
“What’s at the top?”
“The real thing. Pure magic. I don’t know exactly. But the point is my father’s curse—my father himself—is a shadow of something even higher up. We can’t fix things by taking on his curse—we have to find whatever the real problem is. We have to go farther up. And that can be harder than moving from your world to the Marches.”
“So how do we do it?”
“That,” she said, pointing to the thing Billy was carrying. “I hope.”
