Page 27 of Lower World
“Dominic said I’m a Mimico.”
“He doesn’t know what he is talking about.” But Alice waved me off.
Her chin jutted out in defiance as if daring me to contradict her. “If you give me some of your blood, maybe I can wake him? I’m not asking for a bucket, just a couple of drops,” she rushed to assure me.
This was going from bad to worse.
Alice took what Dominic said to heart. It was amazing to see how she took pride in being labeled as something none of us knew anything about. We weren’t even sure that what he said was what she actually was, yet my friend accepted it, and the fates help anyone who tried to take it away from her. For somebody like me who spent their entire existence being ashamed of who I was and the atrocities my kind had done, it was unfathomable.
I was already too deep in this insanity, so I figured what the hell? That was how we ended up with me plopped on my ass on the stairs with my head in my hands while I tried to pull my hair out, and Alice with her right palm, which was painted with my blood, extended in front of her like a holy grail in the basement next to Johnathan.
“All I have to do is scream.” Alice said calmly, impressing me from inside the basement. I couldn’t see her because the wall blocked my view. “And saber tooth will file you like a fish, so no monkey business.”
“Come closer, human,” Johnathan sneered, and my heart skipped a beat. “I promise I won’t give you time to scream.”
“How’s your face doing?” She gloated, her tone making me close my eyes. “It was so much fun watching you get up close and personal with what this human can do. Don’t you think?” She laughed in his face.
Who was this woman, and what did she do to Alice? I had every intention of blaming it all on Dominic. He was the one filling her head with magic and powers and shit. Tensed and strung like a bow ready to snap, I debated when to go snatch her and drag her out of the basement. Unfortunately for me, I needed her help to sidetrack the shifter, and her words from earlier were taunting me on repeat. If you asked me, not everyone should be allowed to make their own decisions. Alice being the perfect example.
“Don’t lie, human, I can smell the deception on your skin.” The Atua didn’t believe his own words. “You are not a witch.”
“I’m not.” Those two words were loaded with so much meaning it gave not just Johnathan but me a pause, as well. “But I’m not here to talk about me, dude. I have a couple of questions for you.”
“And what makes you think I’m going to tell you anything?”
“The way I see it, you can tell me on your own, or I can make you. I’m not Brooklyn, but I have my own ways. I’ll leave that part to you. Tick tock, your time is up. What’s it gonna be?”
My lips started curling from the way she talked, all cocky and confident, until magic prickled my skin, drenching me in dread. I scrambled off the stairs, plastering my body to the wall so I could poke my head out a little to see what in the fates name was happening. Thankfully, Johnathan was gaping at Alice or he would’ve seen me with my mouth open, too. My friend was standing just out of reach in front of the Atua, her right hand where she smeared my blood raised flat between them. Tendrils of red and black magic swirled from her palm like baby snakes hungrily snapping for their first meal. All the short hairs on my body were up at attention. I couldn’t see Alice’s face, but I felt her awe as if it was my own.
“It cannot be.” Johnathan breathed, her face draining of all color. The magic reflected in the dark color of his irises, curdling my blood.
“Guess again, fucker.” Alice leaned toward him, and I received another shock when he jerked back so violently he almost toppled over with the chair. “You will tell me what I want to know, capisce?”
Her answer was frantic nodding, much to my dismay.
“Is Brooklyn’s mom still alive, or did you lie about that?”
“How do you—” Johnathan started.
“Answer me,” Alice shouted, jabbing her palm closer to his face.
“From what I’ve heard, she is alive. I cannot say for certain because I have not seen her.”
“But they say she is alive, correct?”
“Yes.”
“Who are they?”
“The Council.”
My fingers ached where I was clinging to the wall, which was the only thing keeping me standing. I forgot how to breathe, blink, or think. Alice was firing questions like a drill sergeant, and Johnathan was answering on autopilot, staring unblinkingly at her palm. I’d seen witches do their magic, but nothing like I was witnessing in this basement. Obviously, Johnathan must’ve since I’d never seen him so afraid in my life.
“How about her dad? Is he alive?”
“No, he is dead. Again, I cannot be sure because it’s only what I’ve heard.”
“So, he could be alive, too?”
