Page 8 of Collected By the Crow

“Hey, guys, get a room,” she teased. “’Cause this one is leaving. Meet you back at the mansion?”

She thought she was joking, but one of the crows let out a caw and they flew off in the direction of the haunted mansion. She watched them for a moment, then shook herself, blinking rapidly. How sure am I that I’m not asleep in the lab right now?

The doors to the lab were locked, as she’d expected. She banged on them every few minutes, calling Ali way too often. Her heart started to sink. She’d been gone fora couple hours now.

Just as she slunk back to the driver’s seat, dejected, her phone buzzed.

“Cass, what the fuck is going on? Are you okay?”

“Dude, can I swing by and grab your keys?”

“What? Is this about work? You’re freaking me out!” Ali’s sleepy voice sharpened.

“Yeah, it’s work. I’ll come grab them and you can go back to sleep. I’ll drop them off and leave through the window. Please!” The line went quiet. “Ali? Did you fall back asleep?”

They sighed. “No, I’m here. I’m assuming you’re already at the building?”

“Yeah, but I can be at your place in five.”

“I’ll meet you there. Don’t go anywhere.”

“Thank you, thank you!”

Cass hung up and paced back to the building. She flunked against the door, sliding down to the sidewalk. Ali loved Zero. There was no way they weren’t going to help, but Cass wasn’t sure how much info she should share. How crazy did it sound? Not to mention irresponsible. She hadn’t considered the possibility that Qadaire might’ve done that to himself during an illegal, unethical experiment that involved himself and the common crow. She preferred to give folks the benefit of the doubt, but she was starting to doubt herself.

Best she didn’t say anything. Ali was her best friend. They’d known each other for longer than anyone else in her life, but still. Ali might think she was letting her neuro-spiciness get the best of her again, and then they would be checking on her night and day. She could hear it now: have you eaten today? Have you taken a shower lately? Maybe it’s time to go to sleep, Cassiopeia.

A few minutes later, headlights shone around the corner. Ali’s rusted beater pulled in. They made enough money now that they could easily afford a newer, nicer vehicle, but Ali always did have a soft spot for fixer-uppers.

Cass bolted to their window. She could hardly tell they’d just woken up under the accusatory stare they gave from under worried brows.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you!” Cass held out her hand. The freckles under their hazel eyes crinkled as they narrowed into slits. Cass curled her fingers in and out in a universal gimme gesture.

“Should I be worried about you?”

“I’m fine.” Cass leaned forward and placed a steady hand on Ali’s shoulder. “I’m not going nuts. I just think I found something.”

“All right. Good.” They didn’t sound convinced but still passed the key card through the window. “I’ll be right here.”

Cass forced herself to walk through the door calmly. The moment she was out of Ali’s view, she hurried her pace to the lab. She ticked off the items on her mental checklist as she gathered them into her remote working travel case. When she had everything she could think of, she scanned the lab again. She grabbed an extra notepad, just in case.

Winking at the crow on the windowsill, she hustled back down the stairs and walked to the lot.

“Thanks again,” she said as she passed Ali their key card back.

“Of course. Hey.” Ali gave her a serious look. “You’re gonna find it, okay? You’re going to save them.”

“I know. I just hope I’m fast enough.”

They parted ways. Cass wasn’t sure she’d be able to find the castle again, especially with whatever bizarre science-defying technology was used to keep it hidden. She could’ve sworn the house hadn’t been there, then it suddenly was. Any concerns she had died when the two lovebird crows danced through the sky together and cawed demandingly.

“So I guess I’m following birds around now.”

This was totally insane. Right? Whatever. She shifted gears and sped out of Papiliona, past her house, and down the dirt road.

*** *** ***

Her slick palm slipped on her briefcase handle. She reached to thunk the door knocker, but the door squeaked open. Qadaire stood to the side. He wore pants that hugged his legs, where she noticed uneven bumps and tufts of feathers peeking through the fabric. She nearly swallowed her tongue trying to hold back her questions.

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