“That’s not even true. You’re worth a lot.”
“What do you mean? The magic book is trying to steal everything from me. I didn’t agree to anything, I’m not getting paid to do this job, and nothing is free. Not even room and board like the flyer promised.”
“That’s not really true. Your parents are getting paid.”
I blink at him. Then snarl, “What?”
“Yeah. I mean, not directly. It’s just… good luck. They’ll wake up tomorrow and something good will come their way. Something fabulous. They win the lottery, they get left money in a will by some long-lost relative, their house is suddenly paid off.”
I put up a hand. “Hold the fuck on. My mother is getting paid? Like… I was literally sold into slavery?”
“It’s luck—”
“Fuck your luck! The woman who abandoned me with child protective services when I was nine because I refused to say that my Pia was imaginary—that bitch is gonna get paid with good-luck tokens while I’m stuck here being a monster’s slave?”
“Um. Wow. I’m sorry she did that shit to you.”
“And that reminds me. Where is Pia? This is not funny anymore.” I feel like I’m on the verge of tears. “I want my friend back.”
Tomas puts his hand on my shoulder. “Pie. Please, just don’t think about any of it right now. We’ll all work it out tomorrow. Maybe getting a job is a good idea. I’ll tell Pell that it is, OK?”
I sniffle. “You will?”
He nods. “Just… don’t cry. And relax a little. It’s gonna work out, I promise.”
He doesn’t wait for me to answer, just gets up and starts pulling my things out of bags. I watch him. Let him put it all away anywhere he wants. And he does all that in silence.
Finally, he proclaims the tub ready for me and then excuses himself to go make dinner and check on Pell.
The hot water does feel wonderful and when I sink all the way up to my shoulders, I let out a long breath of relief. Nothing is better. I’m not sure anything will ever be better again. But… Tomas was right. The bath was a good idea. It helps.
There are some bottles of stuff. Shampoo, I guess. And some bars of soap. And when I wash my hair with it, it’s surprisingly soft afterward. Maybe it’s magic shampoo? That would be a small perk.
I soak in the tub for a long time, just thinking about my new life. How none of this would’ve happened if I hadn’t stopped at that gas station to pee and wash my face.
I would still have Pia. I would be on my way to Toledo. I would still be me. And I would be free.
I don’t even know how to make sense of this new life.
Tomas is nice. I like him a lot. And he’s fun to look at. His wild, dark hair falls just to his shoulders, and it’s thick. His eyes are dark too, like maybe he’s Italian. If so, that makes sense because I’m pretty sure they come from ancient Rome. I wonder what it was like back then? I try to imagine living though all those two thousand years. All the changes. All the new inventions. Especially in the last century. Rovers on Mars, and self-driving cars, and cell phones.
I do have to admit, Pell could drive the Jeep. He didn’t lean on the clutch or stall out or anything. He’s been driving cars for a hundred years. That’s what he said.
He’s actually not that scary now that I’ve known him for two days. It’s rather easy to unsee his monster parts. Except that dick of his. Holy hell. It’s huge. And he has no shame about it dangling around all over the place. But he did put on pants for a few hours for my benefit.
I smile about that part. I was kinda bossy earlier. Before I realized I truly am a slave.
He’s got nice eyes. They’re yellow, and totally unnatural. But that just makes them interesting. And his hooves are really pretty. Those black and cream striations are unique.
And the horns. God, the horns. They aren’t like a ram’s, that’s for sure. They’re not circular that way. They are long, and don’t grow upward, but downward and to the back. They have a little corkscrew twist in them too.
Now, that cemetery? I don’t know what to make of that. I should probably just stay away from it, like Pell said. The cathedral though. Now that place is going to be a trip to figure out. I haven’t been up those other staircases yet. It could be cool to explore.
The apothecary, on the other hand, won’t be fun at all. There were so many jars. So many books. Too many potions and spells to think about. I’m never going to be able to break this curse, that’s for sure.