“I don’t need a talking pony for back up.”
“Of course you don’t. You need a unicorn demon queen.”
“No, you’re going to go back to Hogan’s house where you belong, Xtelle. Unless you want the government taking over Ordinary and starting a war with every single supernatural in town, you will cool your jets, keep a low profile, and go home.”
I thought she was going to argue, but she tossed her head, making her mane shine. “Fine. I’ll go back to a boring existence in this boring town. When do I get to have fun? When? A nice shopping spree, the theater, a consensual virgin sacrifice?”
“I’m not even going to unpack all that. But if you want a life that is something more than what a pony is allowed to do, choose a different shape.”
“Butresponsibilitiescome with different shapes.”
“Yep. You got this?” I asked Than.
He was a god. The god of death. He had probably met a lot of ghouls before. The ghoul certainly knew him on sight. I didn’t think it would be too terribly difficult to keep the ghoul from running.
“If there are problems,” Than said. “I will just torpefy them.”
The ghoul made a littleeepsound, and now I wondered if that’s what panic looked like on my face.
“Sounds good,” I said, not knowing how Than would do that exactly or why the mere mention of torpefying a ghoul would get that kind of reaction out of them.
“But remember to follow the law. No one will be harmed under our watch.”
“The ways of Ordinary are clear to me, Reed Daughter.” He extended his hand once more to Tish. Finally, Tish accepted.
For a moment I was standing face-to-face with myself. Tish held my gaze, maybe a little fascinated to see me this way too.
“Do you get any more of me besides my shape?” I asked. “Like my thoughts? My memories?”
“I am not a mind reader? Your memories are not mine?”
“So, no?”
“No?” Tish smiled. I knew it was not my smile, because it was shorter, pursed more in the center. And while I thought it was strange to see it on my face, it still was genuine, joyful.
I smiled back, because how could I not, and watched as Tish changed their smile to duplicate mine.
“You’re good at this,” I said.
Tish nodded quickly. “It is my great pride?”
“I can see why. Okay, Tish, we’ll get this all figured out. Go with Than, don’t run, or try to escape. If you’re hungry or thirsty, let Than know. He’ll see that you’re taken care of. I’ll meet you both there.”
“You,” I pointed at Xtelle, “go home.”
“You can’t make me.”
“I can,” I said.
She rolled her eyes and trotted over to the green space behind the house where the fence was lower. “I do what I want,” she said. Then she hopped over the fence and took off at a slow trot.
“The queen is your friend?” Tish said.
“I don’t think so, Tish.”
Tish-me just smiled back at me and looked smug.
Whatever. I didn’t think a ghoul had a very good grasp on the dynamics going on in this town, much less whatever relationship I’d built with the ex-queen of hell.
