She shook her head. “You’re going to scare the shit out of whoever this is.”
Unless they’re an enemy, John pointed out. In which case, we’re where we need to be and we’ll do what we have to.
“I’m not going to argue,” she said. “But we part ways now, and unless things go south, I can’t see you until I’m back at my bike.”
There was no reason to bring up the reality that they may have already compromised her. And at least the contact she was here to meet didn’t know where she’d entered the mountain’s preserve. There were a lot of ways into the massive acreage.
Maybe they were still okay.
Please be safe, John Matthew signed.
“Always.”
When she leaned in again for his mouth, he dropped his head down. As their lips met, she kept it brief.
And then after Blay gave her a formal bow, as was his way, the pair of them ghosted off, leaving nothing but thin air in their wakes.
Xhex turned and started walking again.
There was a timeless quality to the night, minutes passing like hours, with the inverse also being true, an hour going by at the blink of an eye. And yes, she would have dematerialized as well, but she wasn’t sure who she was going to see. Or exactly where on the trail they were going to meet.
Sometimes, it was best to keep your true nature to yourself. Even among people who couldn’t necessarily hurt you.
And especially among people who might.
It was unclear to her exactly how far she’d gone when she felt herself being watched. But she ascribed it to the creatures of the night who moved around to stay out of her way: wolves, deer, owls, raccoons. The farther into the preserve she went, the more she was forced to cede to the curiosity of the native animal populations.
And she didn’t mind it exactly.
Not when she was so clearly the apex predator—
It was at that moment when someone stepped into the trail up ahead.
Xhex stopped where she was. As a shiver went through her, it had nothing to do with air temperature. Something was … very off … about the creature that had placed itself in her path.
You have come to the mountain in search of your past.
“Hello,” Xhex said with annoyance. “Are you—”
And yet you do not know your true quest, child.
Okaaaaaaaaaaaay. Like she needed this smoke and mirrors, touchy-feely malarkey.
Yes, I am who you seek.
The entity came forward through the pines, but not on foot. It floated, traveling like it was on a hover board over the uneven ground, the shimmering robes swirling around.
The face that it chose to show her was that of a white-haired old woman, its features heavily lined, the eyes nearly sightless from under heavy lids, its wrinkled forehead echoing its sagging jowls. But only a fool would have been snowed. Enormous metaphysical power emanated from the being, to the point where the energy supercharged the air around it, tiny sparks crackling in the darkness.
That was what shimmered, not the fabric of the robing that covered its “body.”
“Listen,” Xhex said, “my name is—”
Your name is not important here on the mountain. Ask your question, and I will reply.
Xhex glanced behind herself, wondering if—
They are not far from you, child. They’ve been with you the whole way.
Ripping back around, Xhex opened her mouth. Closed it. “I’m here to ask about the labs. Whether they’ve started up again, and if so, where I can find them.”
That is not your question.
“Yeah, no offense, I’m pretty sure it is.”
That is not your question.
“Look, I’m thinking this was a mistake. You know, a trick played on both of us.” Fucking Blade. “I just want to know where the other laboratory is—”
You’re standing on the laboratory.
“I beg your pardon.” Xhex mostly kept the fuck-you out of her voice. “Actually, I think I’ll go now—”
They’ve experimented on the wolves who make this mountain their home.
Xhex narrowed her eyes. “What have they been doing to the … wolves.”
They are looking for forever. It is in the nature of human mortals to seek that which is not their due. To them, it is progress. Power. And in their desperation to succeed, they are cruel. Even those who would not usually seek to inflict pain become monsters to the innocent.
“Fucking hell,” Xhex muttered.
And that was when she realized the problem with the entity. Whatever it was … had no grid. Which meant Xhex was at a disadvantage she was unaccustomed to.
Ask your question, child.
The being came farther forward, closing in. And yet Xhex was unafraid. In fact, it was as if she fell into a trance, hypnotized by that aura.
You are safe here. Ask your question.
Xhex blinked. Under her skull, her brain constructed another sentence to the tune of I gotta go. That was not what came out of her mouth, however.