Page 30 of Land of Monsters

“Nothing about either one of you blends in.”

Chirppp!Bitzy swayed, a creepy smile on her face, blinking at me with adoration.

“How much did she have?”

Opie shrugged. “You left it open.” He nodded at the bag in the corner.

“That shit is pure!” I exclaimed, tugging on my shirt. “She’s going to be high for days.”

Chirrrrrp!Her smile widened.

“You’re complaining, mushroom man?” Opie played with his skirt, spacing the deck of cards out perfectly.

“Answer my question.”

“No, Master Fishy isn’t here.” He put his finger to his lips. “Don’t tell, but we are on a secret mission to watch over you. You don’t know we’re here.”

I stared at him.

“Oh. I guess our secret is out.”

“You think?” I huffed, shoving my feet into my boots, not even bothering to lace them up. “How long have you been following me?”

“Well, technically, since Master Scorpion told her he saw you in the train station. But really, our first day started more… well… now.”

So Scorpion did see me that day. My family could find me no matter how much I tried to hide from them.

“Wait.” I yanked on my jacket. “That was a month ago.”

“Not my fault!” Opie flung down his arms. “There are a lot of distractions from there to here. It’s her fault!” He pointed to Bitzy.

Chrrriiippppp!She flopped on the bed, doing snow angels on the quilt, giggling to herself.

I squeezed the bridge of my nose, my concern going back to the empty spot where Raven had passed out last night. Many times on this journey, Raven had been gone when I woke up, but I couldn’t get rid of the odd feeling this time.

Maybe she needed to get away from you.Away from what happened between us.

I recalled everything that transpired last night, what we did, what was said. I wanted to blame the hallucinogenic, but deep down, I knew it would be a lie.

“Stay here!” I pointed at Opie.

“But…”

“Stay, or I will tie you to that bedpost!” I ordered, grabbing my jacket.

“Not really a deterrent there, is it?”

“Opie, I swear,” I threatened, hiking for the door. I paused, pivoting and snatching up the mushroom bag. No way I trusted them alone with it.

Banging out the door, I pretended I wasn’t racing to the stairs. She was probably downstairs drinking a coffee or something, and I was panicking for nothing.

My boots hit the ground floor, my heart beating faster than normal, my head snapping around the quiet room. Last night’s celebration now looked like a crime scene, laid out in empty bottles, confetti, discarded clothing, and passed-out bodies curled over table benches and on the floor. The smells of sex,sweat, and alcohol hung heavy in the air, ghosts of the festivities of last night.

But Raven was nowhere to be found.

Unease formed in my throat, riding my shoulders, a nagging worry scraping up the back of my neck.

She left you.

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