Fine. Two trips.
I wrap as much as I can in the first blanket and toddle toward the stairs. They’re narrower and more treacherous than I’d like, but there’s a handrail and a light that will one day work, so there’s that.
My family is standing in the kitchen when I reach the top. It’s not a terrible place, at least in the glow of Ace’s lighter, and it does look like they had someone do a once-over with a broom up here. It’s somewhere between three-star hotel and getting fileted by a mob boss and left in the gutter to bleed out, so I’m pretty happy with it.
My brother grabs the food and the candles from me, and I head back down for the second load. Once I’ve got all the essentials in the apartment, I head to the bedrooms. I flop everything down with an ungraciouswhoomphthat makes the candlelight dance. I stare around the room as I take a deep breath.
All wood floors that have been scuffed over the years, windows older than me, and cobwebs that are probably about myage hanging from the ceiling. It’s more open than our apartment in Boston, which is nice. Nai Nai can hang her warding lanterns, and I’m sure she’ll adopt some hanging plants no matter how short I tell her the stay will be.
The same presence from downstairs makes itself known in the room with me, and I whirl around, hunting for it. The candle makes shadows into demons. Horns and wings paint the walls, but there’s really nothing there. At least, nothinghere,on this plane.
It moves downstairs in a rush and I follow it much slower.
“I’m going to check the shop,” I say vaguely as I pass the kitchen.
Ace and Nai Nai are arguing about how much rice to make and don’t reply. I would grab a candle so I could see, but my eyes aren’t going to do much except spook me more than I already am. No need to pee my pants before we get the clothes unpacked.
I actively extend my senses with my astral spirit and gasp as a hotbed of activity comes back to me. There is somethingbonkersgoing on here.
I take the stairs two at a time and follow the source of energy. It’s not entirely hostile, but it certainly feels…grumpy. My hand guides my steps as I move through the coffee bar. There are cups stacked on the shelves that look almost fresh among the dusty containers of straws and the old espresso machine.
The energy leads me back to the storage room and I follow. It’s so dark here without even the light of the moon to help my eyes. I should’ve brought a candle.
When I sense I’m near the pinnacle of astral essence, I close my eyes and allow myself to pull away from my body. Light bombards me immediately and my senses are overwhelmed. A creature made of blue sparks passes through me and then stops, looking back for a second before shrugging and moving on.
There are crates stacked high with glittering containers of green and gold, spherical purple things that might be fruit, and red wheels of what is unmistakably cheese. I would know cheese on any plane of existence.
I reach out and feel the shape of it. Touching it filters the senses through to me and I smell old feet, but taste something like parmesan.
If I can interact with their plane this strongly without being in it, there must be a breach somewhere nearby. I wonder if C. Monty gave this place up because it was haunted. Some of the beings, smells, and senses from their world are slipping through to ours, and it would definitely seem like ghosts to someone not knowledgeable in these things.
A sudden heat fills the room. Not just for my astral body, but my physical one. I whirl around and the sight stops me cold. A fiery creature, seven feet tall with horns, wings, and wicked claws, is reaching for my body!
I rush forward as my spirit and shove it back. The demon staggers, then turns its head. I can feel its eyes on me. No, I canseehis eyes on me. They’re black all the way through with orange irises that dance like fire.
“What are you?” he asks.
His deep voice penetrates through my astral body, making my real knees quake. There’s something positively electrifying about it. It reminds me of the hot jolt that met my hand when I touched the door.
He reaches for my real body again and I rush back into myself. I open my eyes, whirling on the spot to see—
Fire.
four
Oh No! There’s an Ifrit in my Cosmic Café
His smoldering gaze holds me on the spot as I take in what little of him I can in the darkness. Flames dance under his skin like veins of rushing power, highlighting bulging biceps, broad shoulders, and a strong square jaw.
He takes a step forward and I finally breathe as I move one step back. This only makes him advance faster, spreading his wings of smoke and flame as far as they’ll go. A scream is on the tip of my tongue when I bump into the wall.
“No!” he growls, lunging forward.
I shriek, like any normal person would, and throw my fist in a wild punch. It connects with his chest and I think I’ve broken my knuckles. He grunts but keeps reaching for something that’s fallen behind me.
When I realize he’s not trying to get to me at all, I sidestep and take a steadying breath. He’s on his knees, scooping something white off the ground and back into a ripped bag. The sweet smell hits me with the powdery dust he’s kicking up.
Sugar.
