We meandered through more trees and then around a ridge. The high fence kept out anyone with prying eyes, but the location was bordered on all sides by empty tracts of land. Otherwise, unless you were looking for it, you might not even know the house was there, which was exactly how Bud wanted it.
“Whoa, the house is incredible,” Ori said as the trees thinned.
The house had spotlights around the edges of the roof, and they turned on as Freddie stopped the car.
“Yeah, Bud’s like a pioneer in the industry. His first house was a yurt, and then when he’d made a bunch of cash, he put together a prefabricated house designed by a Silicon Valley startup. It’s solar and wind powered with a deep well. There’s propane for the back-up generator. Off-grid the way he likes it. Well, we do have some cell signal now.”
Bud was out of the house by the time I extricated myself from the back seat, his mouse-brown hair pulled back in a ponytail bobbing with every step. I cradled Ant’s carrier in my arms. She seemed fine, but I was still freaked out by almost losing her.
“Sorrel! Are you all right?” Bud asked, appraising Ori, Rose, Freddie, and Ranth.
“Yeah. I think I said I was bringing friends. Hope that’s cool?” I shaded my eyes against the blinding lights. The tang of woodsmoke scented the sharp chill of the evening air. I realized he must be thinking about male-female stuff. Bud was kind of old school that way, which made absolutely no sense. At the intentional community, sex was casual and safe with consent, and we were all adults.
“Uh, yeah. Sure. Hi there.” Bud raised a hand in a wave of acknowledgement. His hemp shirt was a shade off his pants and was the color of the Castelvetrano olives my mother had adored. She’d said leafy greens brought out the flecks of gold in Bud’s eyes.
“Bud, meet Freddie, and Ranth, and Rose.”
“Uncle Bud, so good to see you,” Ori said, rushing to Bud with outstretched arms.
Bud hugged her back, then opened his arms to me. Keeping Ant’s carrier steady, I hugged him, the pot and patchouli mix that was Bud flooding me with good memories and reminding me that for the foreseeable future, Bud’s home was my home.
Bud’s arms were iron bands, but the tightness was protective and sweet. He whispered into my hair, “I’m sorry about the house. But it doesn’t matter. You are all that matters.”
That bit into me. I clung to him for a second longer than was comfortable for any of us, but I was taking what I needed, where I needed it.
My mom’s words echoed in my head.Be true. Ranth had said that to me in the graveyard. My grandmother’s view was that coincidences should be treated with interest and respect.
Bud greeted Ranth and Rose and Freddie. Ranth and Freddie were about a head taller than Bud. Bud’s fatherly once-over was adorable. He cared so much about me. He lingered with each handshake, looking up into their eyes. Both Ranth and Freddie were firm and unfazed. I smiled as we walked into the house, and Bud nodded his approval to me.
Bud turned and opened his arms wide. “Welcome to Villa Fumo. I’m making pizza in the new kitchen, so I hope you’re hungry.”
“This place is amazing,” Freddie whispered as we entered the main room with its soaring ceiling and warmth from the radiant heated floors. Woodsmoke and crushed basil sent pangs of hunger loose in my stomach. Bud had built out one side of the modern-chic kitchen last fall, adding an Italian pizza oven.
“What do you all like on pizza?” I asked, setting Ant’s carrier down. I unzipped the door, and she leaped out and slunk off. Bud’s house was familiar to her, but he didn’t let her go outside because there were too many natural predators. I stripped my jacket off and settled on the back of a chair. Exhaustion settled into me like the plague, and I used the counter to remain standing. “Bud, got any salad mix?” I asked as Ori rubbed my shoulders.
“Sure thing. Micro greens or full leaf?” Bud replied, tugging open the cavernous fridge.
I was going to say, “Both,” but…
Pop.
A portal opened in the living room. Ranth and I exchanged horrified glances.
“What’s wrong?” Ori asked as I scrambled to my messenger. I dropped the emergency pack on the floor twice before I got the maca root out. There wasn’t enough rose-blessed jaggery to go around. I froze.
“You move to a plane, and I’ll protect them.” I nodded and shoved the maca into my mouth.
The room grayed out. Two Essifers spilled out of the portal that burned open by the pizza oven; I took the window, Ranth hit the sink for water, and everyone else ducked behind the island.
The wall and floor around the Essifers blurred with pinkish-purple smoke and pink goo.
Great. Both the Fire and Brimstone types.
The little pink Brimstone Essifers spotted me first—exactly what I was hoping for. I sprinted to the living room and put my back to the window.
The first Essifer was faster than I was, and he was next to me by the time I was in position. I pulled what I could from the root and balled up my waning energy, ready to blast at him as he opened his unhinged jaw, and the third leg probed the air. The second Essifer had hung back, and the first Essifer’s pink smoke stole my conscious thought at about the same time the second one attacked me.
I was on the planar floor, looking up at the smoking jaws. There was no more energy to pull out of the maca, and my reserve was so low I couldn’t find my core. I looked around wildly as its jaw dripped pinkish ichor across my torso. I couldn’t fight with normal magic. I spit the maca out. My hand closed around the wood from the pile near the stove. I glanced over atthe kitchen. Ranth was taking care of my friends, but it rested on me to save Bud’s house.
