Curse Bound (Mist Warden #2)

By Adriaan Brae and Rebecca Brae

When the world goes crazy, it helps to have a head start.

Mutant science projects, a troubled werewolf, and other magic-related dangers are Jessica’s new normal, but someone is targeting the students of Coldwater High with powerful curses, and she’s a suspect. A serious mistake forces her to question whether she deserves Drew and Michiru’s trust, and with the gatekeeper’s alien influence in her head, she’s not even sure she can trust herself.

Just as Jessica realizes she has also been hit with a lethal curse, a disastrously magical Valentine’s Day leaves her cut off from friends and forces her to put her life in the hands of her worst enemy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BraeVitae
• Release date: Feb 13, 2021
• ISBN: 9780991883691

Adriaan Brae

I've been making up stories since I was very young and make-believe was my favourite form of play. I learned to read when my older brother did and immersed myself in as many new worlds as I could find. After I read Watership Down at age 6, my Mum stopped worrying about encouraging me to read and started worrying about how to get me to stop.I remember being told that the made-up worlds I loved were a child's conceit that I would need to grow out of if I wanted to succeed in life. The older I get, the more I realise how utterly wrong this is. In just the past few millennia, humans have moved from chipping tools out of stones to space exploration and heart transplants. Every step on that path was driven by someone who imagined something that didn't exist and someone who believed they could make it reality.As an author, I want to do my part to bring back a feeling of optimism in the ability of humans to solve our own problems, to grow and become better than we are today.

Book preview

Curse Bound

Book Two of the Mist Warden Series

By Adriaan & Rebecca Brae

Curse Bound. Copyright © 2016, BraeVitae Inc. All rights reserved.

Edition 1.0

Edited by Penelope Jackson, www.penelopejacksoneditor.com

Cover art by Derek Murphy, Creativindie Covers

Published by BraeVitae Inc.

PO Box 1897

Cochrane, Alberta T4C 1B7

Canada

[e-mail]

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

ISBN: 978-1-988174-00-6

For my father. You taught me about loyalty, honor, and love. Even when we don’t see eye to eye, there’s never any doubt that we have each other’s back.

Rebecca Brae

For my mom, who taught me, among many other things: How to type, the importance of art, and that life isn’t fair so it’s our job to fix it.

Adriaan Brae

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Chapter 1

The last two survivors of the cannibalistic melee retreated into shadow and silence.

Yellow Blaze pressed his belly against a flattened rock, tracking his opponent’s movements.

Across from him, Darkness shifted.

Pain.

Their shrinking prison closed in again.

Relentless hunger.

The rock quaked and Yellow Blaze lowered his head, set to counter the charge.

Slick bodies collided inside the terrarium. Stubby limbs entwined and grappled as they rolled, crashing over an empty food bowl and splashing into a pool of murky water where fleshy hunks of former cellmates floated.

Yellow Blaze flipped and coiled around Darkness, their bodies hammering into the tempered glass walls until one shattered. Out they slid, slapping wetly onto linoleum in a burst of twinkling shards.

Above, another tank heaved and rocked as a confusion of color writhed inside. It teetered on the edge of the counter and then crashed to the floor. Three entangled creatures rode a wave of water, sand, and glass across the room.

They smashed into a cupboard and the pale one backed away, flaring bright red, frilled gills. Ghost’s escape was short lived. He stopped, mid-step. His vertebrae popped as a spasm jackknifed his body into a tight ball.

Yellow Blaze darted in for the kill, but his snout slammed into a wall of muscle as Ghost’s body expanded, doubling in size.

* * *

Is it just me, or have these grown? Jessica peered around an enormous menu. They could double as room dividers.

Remember the epic duel we had our first time here? Eric chuckled and laid his menu on the table. He caught the end of hers, almost knocking it out of her hands. That waiter looked about ready to hulk out.

Jessica snorted. Good thing there’s a high turnover rate, or we’d never be able to eat here.

Who knew waiters wouldn’t find menu Thunderdome amusing?

Oh, come on. We knew. Jessica surveyed the entrées and set her menu down, discarding her initial determination to try a new dish. We were trying to get over those horrible first-date jitters.

Hardly. It was pure economics what made me do it. Eric adopted a cowboy twang, glancing between Jessica and their prone menus, eyes narrowed. How else are bodies s’posed to figure out who ponies up the coin? He stretched his fingers, as if readying to draw a weapon.

The classic western tune from The Good, the Bad and the Ugly played in Jessica’s head. She found herself smiling at his cocky grin. It was nice to see it in person again and not just in her steamier dreams. Pleasure fluttered in her stomach, radiating up her chest and neck.

The record scratched off track as a stocky waiter with curly, pepper-grey hair cleared his throat. A gentleman always pays, especially when he has the good fortune of such a lovely companion.

He spoke in a thick Italian accent and enthusiastically waggled his eyebrows at Jessica. They looked like furry, sparring caterpillars. "May I take your order, Bella?"

Jessica’s gaze slid back to Eric. His lips were pressed together, but the corners of his mouth were twitching.

A giggle worked its way up her throat. Taking advantage of her menu’s generous proportions, she grabbed it to hide behind. The corner bumped her glass and tipped it over, sending a wave of ice water onto the waiter’s pants.

"Merda!" He jumped back with a sharp hiss, snatched the towel from his shoulder, and wiped the front of his crisp white pants.

I’m so sorry! Jessica leaned forward with her napkin to help and stopped inches from his groin. Her cheeks blazed.

Eric snatched up his napkin and pressed it to his mouth, making choking noises. Jessica knew better.

Muffled laughter drifted from the kitchen as the waiter straightened his shirtsleeves with sharp jerks. It is nothing. Do not concern yourself. Now, your order?

Eric emerged from behind his napkin. She hasn’t said for sure, but my bet’s on calamari to start and then gnocchi?

Jessica nodded, trying to quell her blush as Eric placed his order.

Once the waiter departed, Eric slid his hand over hers. I’ve missed you. A lot. Nobody is as much fun as you.

I’ve missed you too, Jessica said seriously, turning her hand to intertwine their fingers. It felt wonderful to touch him again.

They had patched things up after a lonely Christmas and New Years, but this was their first real chance to see each other—another first date, though she was scared to call it that. Her stomach had been a knot of dread all day, but five minutes’ exposure to Eric’s playful charm had wiped it from her mind. He seemed to find her clumsiness endearing. It embarrassed most people, herself included.

A loud, metallic clang rang out from the kitchen, followed by more laughing. Eric bit his lip. Who wears flamingo pink underwear under white? It’s like he knew we’d be having a wet-pants contest. You two got a little something-something on the side?

Jessica giggled. It was a brief but passionate fling. His Victoria’s Secret habit came between us. He wouldn’t share.

Well, that’s just plain rude. You did the right thing, honey. Eric squeezed her hand. I’ve always believed in an open gaunch policy.

She snorted. Well, this date’s off to a roaring start. Maybe we should forgo the cherry flambé. There’s only one way that can end, and I’m guessing it involves firefighters and lots of cursing in Italian.

* * *

A lone figure in sooty grey overalls bent down to examine a glowing length of bar stock.

Darkness encroached, circling the pool of fluorescent light.

The clang of hammer against softened iron echoed off distant walls and ceiling. Sparks danced across the concrete floor as the man worked the metal; quarter turn to the left, strike, quarter turn to the left, strike. The bar stretched and sharpened to a point.

He plunged the glowing iron into a bucket of water. The surface roiled and a cloud of steam engulfed his head. When the water calmed, he pulled the blackened rod out and flipped up his face shield, examining his work as the last droplets of water evaporated.

A metallic creak came from somewhere in the shadows. He wiped a leather work glove across his forehead to stem the flow of sweat into his eyes and glanced around. There was nothing to see but unfathomable darkness and no sound but the rasping of his own breath.

Shrugging, he flipped his mask down and slotted the head of the rod back into the forge. He turned it to even the heating. Timing was everything. If he let the metal get too hot it would lose its shape, too cold and it would be unworkable.

A prolonged metallic groan sounded from above and he flipped his mask up again. Still turning the rod, he studied the overhead light. It swayed gently.

He stepped out from under it, fighting light-blindness as he squinted at the long chains suspending the fixture from the ceiling. There was a flash of brownish-red and a slick, writhing mass drove him to the floor.

His hammer and mask skidded away. Wet skin pressed against his face. It tasted of dirt and moldering plants. He couldn’t breathe.

The creature pawed at his chest and legs. Something sharp cut into his calf. He tried to get out from under it, but he could only move one arm. He heard the muffled grating of metal against concrete, felt heat through his glove. Raising the length of hardening iron, he jabbed it into the monster’s flesh.

Hot metal hissed against skin, burning through to muscle. The creature twisted away and the crushing weight was finally gone.

He scrabbled backward, catching glimpses of a long dragon-like beast with a blunted nose and small, flashing black eyes as it slunk back into the darkness. Its belly and feet scraped against the ground as it circled, just beyond the edge of the light.

He shoved the rod into the forge and grabbed a propane torch from a nearby bench. The delicate slosh of fuel was a terrifying warning that it was running low. He hoped there would be enough.

A gaping mouth charged from the shadows.

He grabbed the heated rod and threw himself to the side as the creature’s jaws snapped closed on his worktable. It shook the table like a dog with a toy, taking out a rack of scrap metal. The deafening clang of falling debris disoriented the beast and it spun, sweeping the floor clear with its tail.

Jagged bits sprayed the area, some striking him as he struggled to his feet. A bloody gash opened on his cheek, but he felt only fear. He flipped the torch valve open and smashed the rod’s glowing head against the floor as the beast spun toward him. Sparks ignited the gas and a jet of bright flame erupted from the nozzle.

The creature lowered its body, swaying from side to side. Fire reflected in its liquid black eyes. It inched closer and then leapt back, away from the heat. It feinted to the left. The searing rod bashed its muzzle and it slithered away, melding into the shadows.

The blacksmith followed, driving the monster back, herding it toward a storage room. His torch flame coughed just as the creature backed into the cinder-block wall beside the open doorway.

The beast turned to climb the wall, defensively whipping its tail. Then it stopped and watched the guttering flame with a predatory intelligence.

Knowing he didn’t have long, the blacksmith threw the now cooled rod at the wall beside the creature. Metal clanged against concrete and it leapt off. He lunged forward, directing his dying torch at its nose. Stung by the heat, the beast darted into the inviting darkness of the storage room.

The man dove for the door and slammed it closed. There was a loud crash inside the room and the wall and door shook, but held. For now. It was a thick fire door, but he couldn’t be sure how long it would last. He had to get out.

* * *

So, it’s safe to say your parents aren’t budging on the whole driver’s license thing? Eric sighed when she shook her head. Maybe if you promise to never park in the garage?

Jessica threw a crouton at him. It bounced off his cheek and landed on his plate.

He picked the garlicky cube up and tossed it into his mouth. Though I don’t know how you find time to worry about that with all the ghosts and radioactive squirrels running around town.

One squirrel, and it wasn’t radioactive, just mutated. We think. And that’s exactly the problem. Getting around would be so much quicker if I could drive. It’s not like I can ride my bike in the winter. And you know how much I hate running.

Oh, I know. I’ve seen you at track and field meets. His grin faded. My parents picked a hell of a time to move. I wish I could help more.

Trust me, they picked the perfect time. There’s already rumblings in town about the strangeness. Mom went to the last council meeting and said there were lots of arguments. Mostly about weird accidents and vandalism. Everyone wants someone to blame. The guy in charge of town utilities caught the brunt of people’s bitching. He up and left. And I mean, not just the meeting, he left town. Quit, sold his house, and poof, gone.

Jessica gave up on her limp salad when the waiter deposited a heaping plate of calamari between them. She popped a ring into her mouth and gasped as it sizzled on her tongue. Sucking air in to cool the molten batter, she went to drink from her glass and found it empty. The waiter had yet to offer a refill. She grabbed Eric’s water and gulped it until the calamari had cooled enough to swallow.

You going to survive? asked Eric.

Jessica nodded, swishing the last bit of his water over her burnt tongue. A full water pitcher sat beside the till, taunting her. There was ice in it.

Just a sec. Taking both glasses, she strolled over and helped herself. When she returned, a daisy had appeared on her plate. She planted a kiss on Eric’s forehead before sitting down.

Careful or they’ll be offering you a job next, he joked.

Yeah. Right. Because I’m so good at first impressions. Besides, I’ve got my hands full trying to make sense of this magic crap and not flunk out of school. Wow. I never thought I’d be saying that. Funny how your problems evolve over time. She sucked on an ice cube and tucked the flower behind her ear. By the way, you’re incredibly sweet. You didn’t have to bring me anything.

I wanted to. He was silent for a moment. I guess it goes without saying that I’d feel a whole lot better if you decided to waitress instead of dealing with possessed psychos, drug dealers, and hopped-up mutants.

Jessica’s ice cube melted down to a small nub and she chewed up the remainder. That’s not exactly fair. Ben saved my bacon last year with those roofies. She paused and shook her head. There’s another sentence I never thought I’d say. And, if I recall, not so long ago you said you’d be okay with a superhero girlfriend.

Sure. But you’re not a superhero, Jess. So until you become bulletproof, or psycho-proof, I’m going to worry. He swiped a calamari ring through the pot of cream sauce and devoured it. I forgot to ask, how did that squirrel thing end up? Did you convince the girl it bit to listen?

I see what you did there. She dipped a set of tentacles in the chilled sauce and closed her eyes, savoring the crispy golden morsel. The girl. Right. That was tricky. Amy ignored us until she collapsed and ended up in Emerg. Thankfully, the potion worked. The gatekeeper can be irritating, but it’s also useful. I never would have figured out how to fix her without it. I just wish I could convince it to help me with Sarah. You’d think it’d be interested in someone randomly turning into a wolf, but not so much.

Is Sarah still dodging your calls?

Yup. Even her parents are getting tired of brushing me off. Last time they told me they weren’t running a Gulag camp and said if she wanted to talk, she would’ve called me back. Jessica sighed and ate another piece of calamari.

The gatekeeper scares the shit out of me, Eric blurted out quickly, as if spilling a secret he didn’t want to let go of. You talk about it like it’s some kind of spirit guide, but anything that can make someone as sweet as you almost bash someone’s head in with a sledgehammer is seriously bad news. How are you not freaking out?

Oh, I am. I’m just doing it quietly so I don’t end up in a padded room. She concentrated on not replaying the gruesome scene in her head. Their final confrontation and exorcism of the shadow entity from Bill last fall had been traumatic for all involved. The fact that the gatekeeper had taken over her body and nearly made her murder him was just icing on the scary-as-hell cake. I can’t fix a problem if I don’t understand what’s causing it. And I definitely don’t understand the gatekeeper yet, but I’ll get there.

* * *

The blacksmith pressed his back to the door, breathing heavily. Sharp pain shot out from the bite on his leg as his muscles tensed. He grimaced and the cut on his cheek stung and itched like crazy. He levered himself up and hobbled across the shop floor toward the exit and the van his teacher had lent him to transport his work.

There was a thud from the hallway running alongside the shop and he quickened his pace, pulling a phone out of his pocket. He burst through the door into blessed moonlight and dragged himself into the back of the van. Yanking the cargo door shut, he jabbed at the phone screen, swearing under his breath.

* * *

You still aren’t getting much sleep, are you? Eric cupped Jessica’s chin and caressed the dark circles under her eyes with his thumbs. She’d tried to cover them up with makeup, but it hadn’t worked. I’d be scared to close my eyes too if I had your nightmares.

I can handle bad dreams. What sucks is wondering if they’ll come true. Sometimes it’s clear and other times…I mean, take last night, for instance. I dreamt our science club salamanders turned into monsters and ate the principal. Now, is that a warning or just wishful thinking? I— A loud, rumbling guitar riff interrupted her.

Eric cocked his head. The Hip?

Yup. ‘Locked in the Trunk of a Car.’ Sorry. I have to get that. It’s Drew.

Eric shrugged and sat back in his chair. He vaguely remembered her saying something about Drew riding in the trunk of her mom’s car while they were dealing with whatever had possessed Bill. But she came out with so many random details that sounded crazy. He wasn’t sure he’d ever be able to piece together a clear picture of what had happened. He wasn’t even sure she could.

He watched as she retrieved her purse. It was a large shoulder bag she’d made from an old pair of his jeans. Since he’d last seen it, she’d added some random patches of fabric from a shirt she used to wear a lot. She’d worn it to their end-of-school campfire last summer. It had just been getting nicely snug and he took a moment to mourn its loss.

Jessica fished out her phone and answered. Her face paled as she listened. Uh-huh. Bobby? Yeah. Definitely panic. Is he still there? ’Kay. No. I’ll meet you at the back by the bay doors. Her tone was flat and all business.

She fired off a quick text when she was done and then sat in shocked, wide-eyed silence more looking through Eric than at him. Okay. Not a dream. Can you get me to school, like right now?

Eric nodded, dropping a wad of cash on the table. This wasn’t where he had anticipated the night taking them, but at least this time he was in the right place at the right time. He could finally see firsthand what she had been dealing with all these months, and maybe put an end to at least one of her nightmares.

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Chapter 2

Just drop me off on Pinto Street, mumbled Jessica.

She went over the details of her dream, searching for clues on how to deal with the monster salamanders. It had been a confused affair—flashing images, sometimes wholly alien in their composition, scattered with earthy smells and unbearable pangs of hunger.

Are you kidding? No way are you going in there alone. Eric’s tone was clipped and she couldn’t decide if he was scared or annoyed.

I’m not. Mac and Drew are coming. She sighed. Hopefully I’ll have enough time to come up with a plan.

Eric turned off a residential street onto the road beside the school’s football field.

Here’s good. She leaned down to retrieve her purse from the footwell.

The car jerked slightly as he pulled over and parked in the shadow between two streetlights. She opened her door and felt his hand on her arm, pulling her back toward him.

I’m going in with you.

Stress pulled her jaw tight as she turned to look at him. I don’t think that’s a good idea. She was used to working with Drew and Michiru. Eric would be a wildcard, and throwing an element of chaos into an already dangerously muddled situation was a recipe for disaster.

Then it’s a good thing I’m not asking. He let her go and popped the trunk. I’ve got as much right to be here as you…which is actually none, unless they’ve changed the laws on breaking and entering.

Jessica let her head fall back against the seat, one foot on the pavement, one still in the car. He’s got me there, she thought, watching him disappear behind the raised trunk. She retrieved her phone from her purse and pocketed it, trying to think of a way to dissuade him.

A gust of winter air stung her cheeks and nose. She hunkered down in her jacket and pulled her hands into her sleeves.

Eric emerged with a foot-long metal flashlight. When he saw her still sitting, he held it out and inquired conversationally, Coming?

Jessica slammed the car door shut behind her and gave him an exasperated look. Fine. She grabbed the flashlight on the way by and marched toward the school, sticking to the tree line and bushes surrounding the field. Above them, a crescent moon glowed faintly behind drifting clouds. But this is a bad idea, and when it goes wrong, and I guarantee it will because it always does, I get to say ‘I told you so.’

Deal. Eric paused beside a bush in full leaf. Delicate pink flowers dotted branches bowed under the weight of ice and snow. What the…?

She looked back. Oh yeah, that. Weird, hey? Someone noticed it a couple days ago. People think it’s a prank, but I’m not so sure. I heard someone talking about an apple tree that had fruit on it and Jamie’s mom found some kind of orchid growing in their yard.

In frozen ground? He sounded skeptical. Someone’s just messing around.

Either way, those are the least worrisome things that have happened lately. Jessica carried on across the parking lot. It hurt that he so quickly dismissed her suspicions, but she wasn’t about to let him see that. She was probably oversensitive. Being ignored was a major pet peeve. She didn’t often put forward an opinion and when she did, it was because she was fairly certain about it. After everything that had happened, she was getting better at brainstorming with Michiru and Drew and risking being wrong, but it was still difficult and she had to constantly fight her instinct to stay quiet.

They rounded the school and stopped at a rusted industrial garbage container. There was a sharp psssssssssst from the other side and Jessica jumped, muffling a scream with her jacket sleeve.

Michiru emerged and scowled at Eric. You brought your boyfriend?

Her boyfriend brought himself. Eric bristled.

Michiru eyed him and then turned back to Jessica. Drew’s not here yet. I’ve done a circuit and the place looks secure. No obvious broken windows or doors. The shop door was closed, but unlocked. I kicked a chunk of wood into the gap and it’s still there, so nothing’s come out this way.

Jessica nodded. Apparently, Bobby trapped one in the storage room, so it’s contained, at least theoretically. There’s others, three or four if my dream was at all accurate.

Shit. Bobby’s in there? Michiru stared in horror at the jammed door.

It’s okay. He took off already. Jessica patted her arm. Drew said he didn’t know whether to be flattered or worried that he was the first person Bobby thought to phone. I’m afraid we’re all getting a bit of a reputation.

Michiru’s shoulders relaxed slightly and she leaned back against the dumpster. What exactly are we dealing with? Your ‘monsters running loose at school’ text, although motivating, wasn’t all that informative.

Yeah. Sorry. I was still assimilating things. Jessica brushed snow off a large rock and sat down. She laid the flashlight across her lap and wrapped her peasant skirt more tightly around her legs. I’m so not dressed for this. Anyway, I think something’s gone weird with the salamander project. I had a dream, but a lot of it doesn’t make sense. I need to think about it for a bit.

Michiru ushered Eric away. No worries. We’ll be over here. Standing. Silently. Her last words were directed at him.

He eyed Michiru, who eyed him back, and they waited.

* * *

Drew hustled up and dropped a bulging pillowcase at Michiru’s feet.

Ho, ho, ho. He paused to catch his breath. There’s something nice for you in my bag if you’ve been a good little girl.

Michiru raised an eyebrow. Ask me to sit on your lap. I dare you.

He thought about it for a second and then shifted his gaze to Eric. Right. So…how’s the date going?

Guess, Eric said tightly, gesturing to Jessica. She was perched on a rock, eyes closed, mumbling to herself.

Drew knew he wasn’t Eric’s favorite person. Made sense. Their introduction hadn’t been the most auspicious, and no guy was happy to have another dude hanging around his girl. That kind of jealousy didn’t normally move Drew, but since the blowup last fall, he’d come to realize how important Eric was to Jessica.

They were doomed, of course. Everyone but Jessica, and possibly Eric, could see that. Out of respect for Jessica, and a healthy dose of self-preservation, he’d tried to keep his usual talent for causing trouble reined in. Sometimes it even worked.

From the looks passing between the disgruntled blond giant and Michiru, it was obvious he wasn’t the only one out of favor. Hoping to avoid that apocalypse, he went into distraction mode and tipped up the pillowcase.

Michiru picked through the items that tumbled out and held up a can of aerosol hairspray. Makeover?

Drew grinned. You could use one. Maybe later if we have time. He ignored her growl. It’s flammable. Bobby said the monster didn’t like fire, so I rounded up as many arson-friendly supplies as I could.

Michiru snorted. Well, this stuff is noxious enough even without being lit on fire. It should do the trick.

Keep it. Drew handed her a barbeque lighter.

She stuffed it and the hairspray in the front pocket of her messenger bag. Thanks. She picked up three waxy red tubes and offered them to Eric. You know how to use these?

He took one and turned it in his hand. Road flare? He looked at Drew, who nodded. Then sure. You just take the cap off and rub it against the top. He demonstrated and then tried to hand it back to her.

"Yeah. You got the wrong end of the stick there, buddy. I know how they work. I wasn’t sure you did. Michiru shoved the rest at him. Take them. If the monsters are scared of fire, we should all have something."

"Wait. Monsters…as in plural? The nervous flutter in Drew’s stomach became a hurricane. Bobby only saw one. And he nearly shit himself."

Jess says there’s more. Maybe three or four. Michiru’s hand dropped back to her side once Eric took the flares.

Son of a… Drew glared at the school. Bobby said the one he saw was big, really big. I always knew this damn town would be the death of me.

So, are we going to actually do something, or just stand around all night talking? asked Eric, jamming the flares into his belt.

Michiru glanced at Jessica. We go when she’s ready. She turned in place with small, quick movements, scanning ground and sky. I hate waiting too, but until The Wiz figures out what’s up, we wait.

Don’t you think it would be better to keep her out of this? Eric’s expression was grim. I mean, if there really are monsters in there…

Drew cringed, checking to make sure Jessica was still lost in thought. She was. I’m going to do you a big favor and forget I heard that.

Eric glared at him, missing the telltale hardening of Michiru’s features. Drew stepped back, out of the line of fire.

"Well, I heard it and there’s nothing wrong with my memory. Michiru growled at Eric. Trust me when I say the best thing you could do is leave. Right now. You’re the only newbie here, and given what you just said, your judgment sucks."

I’m not going anywhere. Someone’s got to look out for Jess.

Michiru’s eyes narrowed. We all watch each other’s backs. Why do you think—

* * *

Jessica emerged from her thoughts and saw Eric, Drew, and Michiru standing in a loose circle.

Great, everyone’s here… Their expressions made her pause. She had interrupted something. Something contentious; Michiru and Eric looked like they might start beating their chests and grunting.

Drew seemed torn between bolting and staying to enjoy the show. He shot her a crooked smile and urgently gestured for her to join them.

She walked over stiffly, trying to work feeling back into her butt and legs after sitting still for too long on the frozen rock. Ummm, okay. So, in the dream, I remember seeing some…I don’t know how to describe them…knots of light…in the lab with the salamander terrariums. There was something important about the knots. I got the urge to touch them, undo them. Like having a smear on your computer screen. You can work with it there, but you can’t help wiping at it because it’s just annoying.

Drew was the only one who nodded in sympathy.

She continued. "Anyway, if I can find the knots, undoing them might solve the problem, or at least a problem. Not sure how many problems we’ve got, to be honest. I think I kept flipping in and out of the salamanders’ consciousness in the dream. They mostly felt hungry, but I suspect that makes them more dangerous."

Oh, come on. Eric shook his head and made for the door. Quit trying to psych out the new guy.

Michiru grabbed his arm and took a hitched step to the side. Jessica suspected she had barely managed to stop her foot from arching out and sweeping his out from under him.

He stopped and frowned down at her.

A muscle twitched in Michiru’s cheek as she released his arm. Going into a situation blind when you don’t have to is stupid. She has intel, so we listen.

Jessica gave her a grateful nod. Yes. We need to be smart about this, because we’ll be outclassed in every other way once we’re inside. She let out an uneasy breath as she glanced at Michiru and Eric. This tension between them was new, and it wouldn’t make their task any easier. What do you know about salamanders?

Cute pets. Squishy. Michiru shrugged.

Jessica dredged the recesses of her mind, picking out relevant details from the research she’d done for the science club’s group project. Okay, so, we were running experiments on five salamander species. There were two of each type, so that’s ten individuals total. I only remember half that many from my dream, so let’s hope that means they’ve whittled down the competition. Each species has different habits and abilities, but there’s no way I can tell which ones we’re dealing with until I see them. Some, but not all, can climb.

Right, Drew interrupted. Bobby said the one that attacked him dropped from the ceiling.

Jessica nodded. Good to know. Some of them catch prey with their tongue. Most have teeth that are like a cross between a shark’s and a snake’s.

Eric looked dubious.

He’s ignoring me again. Jessica buried her annoyance and forged on. Seriously. You get bitten by one of them and you’re not going anywhere unless it decides to let you go. Their teeth are like hooks. They can’t hear, but most can see well, some even into the ultraviolet range. They sense movement vibrations through the ground. They re-grow limbs. Some of them don’t have lungs or gills; they breathe through their skin. She paused to suck in a breath. In short, salamanders are fucking weird and, as far as I’m concerned, the very definition of scary. Her voice caught as she met Eric’s eyes. So we need to be careful. Very, very careful.

He slid an arm around her shoulders. I get it. I’m sorry. It’s just…I’m always too far away to help when the shit hits the fan, and this whole thing is—well, really odd. I’m having trouble wrapping my mind around monster salamanders. And, as you know, I’m more of a doer than a planner.

Michiru grunted. Ditto, but take it from someone who learnt the hard way, it’s less painful to listen to her first and act later.

Eric hugged Jessica to him. A delicious combination of Italian spices and woody cologne clung to his clothes. You are one smart cookie, but you’re not so good with the physical stuff. Why don’t the rest of us go in and give the all clear first?

A low growl issued from Michiru.

Not a chance. Jessica straightened and took a step back. I can’t help if I can’t see what’s going on. We stick together. That’s how we work. As she looked up at him, the daisy tucked behind her ear fluttered to the ground. We’ve done this before. You haven’t. If Mac or Drew says run, you run. If I say do a jig counter-clockwise around the room, you do. No questions. Understood?

Eric paused, taken aback, and then bent down to scoop up the fallen flower. He caught her hand and placed the daisy on her palm. His warm lips brushed her forehead. Listen to super-smart, sexy girlfriend. Check.

Jessica weighed his words and then nodded once, slipping the daisy into her jacket pocket.

Safe to say, this will be our most interesting date ever. Eric pulled one of the road flares from his belt and handed it to her.

Let’s just make sure it isn’t the last. Jessica stuffed the flare into her other pocket. She had a bad feeling about this. But that feeling had been hanging around her ever since they’d planned the date, so perhaps it was just general anxiety.

She swallowed the lump in her throat and took up position behind Michiru, who was listening at the shop door.