It’s about a mile, maybe a little more, to Ash’s house, and I’m feeling the post-fight exhaustion setting in. Even the shortest fights will take it out of you, and the walk probably didn’t help, but I’m here.
I get to the apartment door and I ring the bell.
The door opens and Ash ushers me inside the door, stopping me just inside as she closes the door behind me and picks up a flashlight.
“How many hits to the head did you take?” she asks.
“None,” I tell her.
“I’m being serious,” she says, shining the flashlight in my eyes.
“Do you know what you’re doing?” I ask as I’m now effectively blind in both eyes.
“Of course I know what I’m doing,” she says. “I just haven’t had a lot of practice yet, that’s all. Any dizziness, nausea?”
“Ash,” I say, smiling and lightly grabbing her hands, “he got one good kick to the leg and I blocked or dodged everything else. I’m fine.”
“Okay,” she says, taking a deep breath and blowing it out. “What do you want to do tonight?”
“I don’t know,” I tell her. “It’s been a while since we’ve had your place to ourselves.”
“Yeah,” she says, coming a little closer and taking a sniff, “I think you should shower before we do anything else.”
“All right,” I laugh. “Care to join me?”
She smiles, but shakes her head. “I’ll get a movie set up,” she says. “You look pretty tired.”
“That sounds perfect,” I tell her.
I set my bag down and head to the bathroom while Ash looks over her movie collection.
The shower is nice, relaxing, but by the time I get out, I can barely keep my eyes open.
I dry myself and get dressed, “borrowing” a bit of Ash’s deodorant as I didn’t bother to pack any in my bag before I left for the fight, and I shuffle my way back to the living room.
Ash is sitting back on the couch with a large bowl of buttered popcorn and I sit next to her, leaning all the way back and letting gravity and the couch beneath me do the work of holding me upright.
“Feel better?” she asks, but I’m halfway to sleep.
“What was that?” I ask.
“Never mind,” she says. “Just sit back and I’ll get the movie going.”
That’s about the last thing I remember before losing the battle against sleep.
* * *
When my eyes open again, they’re greeted with another pair about an inch away from my face.
“I think he’s awake,” the strange woman in front of me calls out loudly. “Have you been travelling the realms?” she asks.
Despite her unnerving proximity, I still have to ask, “Are you talking to me?”
The woman stands up straight and says, “You need more kale in your diet. It’ll help you stay sharp in the morning.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” I tell her.
I take a quick glance around, finding Jana standing over the sink, pouring herself a glass of water. Ash isn’t in the room.
“Where’s Ash?” I ask.
“Such a silly name for a beautiful young goddess, don’t you think?” the woman who can only be Starbright asks.
From Ash’s descriptions of Jana’s mother, I was expecting paisley and peace signs, but the only outward indication of Starbright’s eccentricity is the vivid purple and pink hair.
“She had to run to the store,” Starbright says. “We were out of hummus.”
“I love hummus,” I say, not knowing how else to respond.
“Great,” she says. “You should stick around. Have you ever had your palms read?”
I rub my eyes.
“No,” I answer.
“Well, I charge twenty for a full reading, ten for an overview, but since you’re practically family, I think I could cut you a discount if you’d like.”
“I couldn’t ask you to do that,” I tell her, making my way to my feet, hoping it’s not too obvious how uncomfortable I am right now.
“All right,” Starbright says, “full price, then. I do appreciate those who appreciate things,” she says and she’s staring at me as if she’s looking for some sort of approval.
“Me too,” I say, slowly making my way toward my bag and then, or so the plan goes, the door.
Jana’s mom seems nice enough, but she’s a little intense for my tastes. She’s just glaring at me.
“When was the last time you had your aura cleansed?” she asks.
“Mom,” Jana calls, “Ash made you promise not to do that in the apartment anymore after you spilled your frankincense all over the couch and burned holes in the cushions.”
“Oh, I’m not going to use the frankincense,” Starbright says. “I’m going to use sandalwood.”
“It’s not going to matter,” Jana warns, but seems resigned that her mom’s not going to listen to her.
“Really,” I tell Starbright, “I’m fine.”
“Have you ever studied demonology?” she asks, and I can’t begin to describe my relief when I hear the key entering the front door lock.
The door opens and Ash walks in, carrying five large grocery bags in her hands, saying, “Would you guys mind helping me bring the rest of this stuff in? There are like ten more bags out there.”
“I thought you were just going to the store to get hummus,” I say as I almost rush to Ash and throw my arms around her, causing her to drop a couple of the bags.
“Everything all right?” she asks quietly.
“Yeah,” I tell her. “You’re back, just don’t leave me alone with that woman again. She’s asking me if I’m into demons.”
“Demonology, actually,” Starbright corrects.
The woman has spectacular hearing.
“What’s the difference?” Jana asks.
“What time is it?” I mouth to Ash.
“Three,” she mouths back.
“Well,” Starbright says behind me, “demonology is the study of demons, rituals associated with them, how to banish and exorcise them—it’s a complete field of study.”
“Bed?” I mouth.
Ash smiles.
“Sure,” she says at her normal volume. “Help me get these bags in the house and everything put away and we can do whatever you want.”
I give Ash another squeeze, but start for the car when Starbright starts chanting in some ancient or made-up language. If I understand the context right, I think she’s calling upon the forces of the underworld to step in and take in her share of the groceries.
Then again, I could be wrong. I know exactly nothing about that sort of thing.
Chapter Ten
Pendulum
Ash
After waking up to the smell of burning cabbage, Mason and I made the immediate decision to spend the morning at his house. Now, alone again, things are finally back to the way they have been since he and I talked.
I sit, facing Ash at the breakfast table. Everything’s going so smoothly, everything’s so peaceful and then there’s a pounding on the front door.