We stopped in our tracks. “Wait. Everyone receives a base income that provides for…”
“Food and the use of a healer when necessary. Fae make their own dwellings. Magic is an integral part of our lives, and having someone else build your home could contaminate the energy inside, so we also provide funds to help with the cost of stone and wood, whatever they may need to build.”
“Aren’t you worried about people trying to scam the system?”
Mom’s laugh was deep and wicked. “Everyone knows not to cheat their ruler. Every dime is meticulously accounted for, and we verify everything before doling out funds. If we suspect someone is trying to cheat, we have our ways of curtailing such behavior and finding out the truth.”
Moira winced. “Not a fun way?”
“No,” Mom assured us. “We do not pay for clothing, though we do assist with fabric for those who make their own. The necessities only. Food, fresh water, things our citizens must have to survive.”
“Damn,” Moira said, eyeing my mother with a glimmer of respect in her eyes. “I’m surprised you don’t have humans beating down your doors.”
Mom grunted. “Humans quickly learned of the culinary habits of the fae. Many of our citizens like exotic meat.” She winked and jogged the few steps up to the door, leaving Moira and me speechless on the sidewalk.
The vampire leaned over. “Did your mom just say she eats people?”
I slowly shook my head. “Not directly.”
“Hmm. She’s super creepy sometimes.”
“Yep,” I agreed. “I won’t be getting my passport stamped for an extended visit anytime soon.”
The door opened. A familiar silvery head poked out and waved when she saw us. “Evie! Moira!”
Mom turned around, her eyes wide.Be careful, she mouthed.
Something was up.
We waved back and started down the sidewalk. “Be on your guard,” I said under my breath.
Tess looked well. Better than well, actually. Her hair was down and brushed to a silvery sheen. She wore makeup, blush, gloss and mascara, giving her face far more color than normal. Her eyes were bright and borderline feverish, and she watched us with an odd stare as we came up the steps.
Tess held open the door, and we brushed past her on our way inside. The house was small but clean, and the only magic I sensed was Tess’s.
Mom followed behind us.
“Would you like some tea?” Tess asked when she’d shut the door. “I have Earl Grey and Jasmine.”
“Please,” Moira said. Mom and I nodded.
Tess shooed us toward the living room. “Please sit! We can chat while I make your tea. It feels like it’s been ages since I’ve seen you!”
Tess never spoke much. When she did speak, whatever she said was sure to be either morose or important. Her voice always had a tremulous warbling tone, none of it evident today.
Tess seemed…normal.
And that meant something had goneverywrong.
“We’ve been worried about you,” I started.
Tess filled a tea pot with water and lit the pilot light. She laughed merrily. “Worried? Why ever for?”
Moira and I gave each other a wtf look. “Because you left without telling anyone and didn’t even leave a note. We’ve been worried sick.”
Tess took four mugs down. “Left? What do you mean left? I haven’t left anywhere.”
“You missed work two days in a row,” Moira said. “Don’t you remember?”
