“They found me, Abra. There are eight of them around my car. People must have been talking about me. Dang. I agreed to sing at the dark court’s king’s birthday party on Saturday. I think Nessa and Atolica looked into me.”
“Where are you?”
“Danforth and seventh. Next to the tallest tree, across from the computer repair shop. I think I am going to be transported soon. They are rocking the car, and they have started chanting.”
“Right. Pants are on, I am on my way. This isn’t going to be subtle.”
“Great. Subtle is overrated.” She braced herself as her car began to rock. She called Nessa and left a message. “Who did you talk to about me last night? These guys are looking to snag me, and they are not my normal stalkers. There are nearly ten of the fuckers to start with. I am about to send the message to Atolica as well. This is going to be bad.”
She sent a similar message to Atolica. The chanting was picking up speed, and the car was vibrating.
Light filled the air, and she heard screaming. Abra had arrived.
Bethany watched through the windows as a blur of glorious light spun around her car, and the men went flying, their little chant shattered. She smiled and stayed in until Abra came to her window and tapped. Bethany lowered the window and said, “I would like pancakes, waffles, strawberries, and a large coffee. Double Double.”
“Come on. My housekeeper shot out of bed when I headed out of the house. Waffles are definitely in the cards.”
“Can I bring my car?”
“Sure. Unlock it, and I will be your navigator.”
“Sure.” Bethany crawled to the front seat and unlocked the car. When Abra was inside and buckled in, Bethany started the engine and smiled. “Where to, miss?”
“Smartass.”
“All of me is smart. Now, which way am I going?”
Abra started directing her through the pre-dawn city, and when they finally arrived at her large, gated home, Bethany said, “I feel like I need to wash my feet to walk into your house.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I don’t expect you to bathe anything to come in. Afterward, we will debate the variable levels of cleanliness.”
“You are funny for a talking radiation cloud.”
“And you are clever for a superheated rock. And yet, here we are.”
The gates swung open, and Bethany drove her car up the long and winding drive. Statues were visible behind the large manor. Bethany saw something familiar in the shapes, but it would be something to investigate the following day if she were able.
“Do you have a room I can crash in? I need some safe sleep. I haven’t had any for years.”
“How many years?”
“Sixteen?”
“Geez. You should have come to me sooner.”
“I didn’t want to be a burden.”
Bethany parked, and Abra got out of the car and walked around to the driver’s door. Bethany got out and was subjected to a serious hug. Abra’s energy signature was definitely familiar. It was like a flavour from childhood. Something that she recognized upside down and in the dark. “Your name is Delphine now?”
“You are going by Bethany?”
“It was nice and generic. I wanted to blend in. I tried Jane, but no one would go for it.”
Delphine laughed. “You are not a Jane or Sara or Anne. Bethany suits you until you can be yourself again.”
“How did you get away?”
“My father is an ass. He had my mother sign a dismissal contract. She got a single payout, and he was to have no contact with her, nor she with him. So, when I arrived, he tried to put a claim on me, but the contract stipulated that he rejected her body as it was on the day of signing. So, since she was a few days pregnant, he lost custody to me. Wow, was he pissed. He didn’t find out about me until I was five, but I had already begun to help Mother with business, and we had enough funds to fight him. That surprised him.”
