Page 69 of Female Fantasy
“Who the fuck are you?” Kalli asks. Quite rudely, I might add.
“This is Nico,” I explain. “Remember, I told you he wasdriving me into the city?”
“Your brother’s best friend!” Roy cries. “Wait, but don’t we hate him?”
A twinge of hurt passes over Nico’s features.
Angel catches it and waves everyone toward the table. “Come now, children. Take your seats. I hope you like French mustard chicken and mashed potatoes, because that’s what I’m serving tonight.”
We all settle into our seats and pass around the home-cooked dishes they have brought out. Once all of our plates are full and our mouths are watering, Angel takes their seat at the head of the table.
“Holy Furnace, bless this meal for human, mer, and maecena,” they say.
My friends and I break into fits of giggles.
Nico raises an eyebrow.
“So, have you found your Ryke yet?” Kalli asks. “Start at the beginning.”
“Um, no,” I tell her. “We actually just got to the city.”
Angel narrows their eyes. “Without your wallets or phones, looking like sad, lost puppies? Didn’t you leave yesterday morning?”
This time, Nico interjects. “Well, we did take a quick pause to get kidnapped. Then, you know, we got pickpocketed by a psychic. But we got here eventually.”
Roy’s eyes practically pop out of his skull. “Tell us everything. In detail. This will be incredible for my method seminar.” He winks at Nico. “I’m an actor. Remember my name,pretty boy.”
I start at the beginning, with our car crash in the middle of nowhere and our friendly neighborhood kidnappers. With my voice low, as if the goons might be able to hear us, I recount the call from Harry “the Hug” Lester, the garage Thomas and Clarisse left us in while they went to get drunk, Nico’s misguided chivalry and misplaced bets. I pull out the notebook he stole and show them all the senseless scribbled numbers. Then I tell them about our escape to the Lonely Hearts Motel in the stolen Jaguar and the peculiar ride on the Amtrak. Finally, I end with the prophecy that resulted in our temporary poverty.
When I’m done, my friends stare at me, their eyes wide with horror. They look like I’ve just told them that EGC uses a ghostwriter.
“Um, okay. Main character moment much?” Kalli says. “You literally sound like Merriah training to confront the sirens at the Ball of Sinking Stars. And Nico’s sacrifice to save your family’s business? Sorry about that, by the way. But so swoon.SoRyke. And the way you escaped from your restraints? Badass. My pain tolerance isn’t even that high, and I’m a freaking tattoo artist.”
“And the fact that this all happened on your way to meet the love of your life?” Roy interjects. “So romantic. Ryan Mare is probably your fated mate. Your loch. This entire fucked-up quest is probably some kind of divine trial.”
I beam, just as Nico shoots Roy a glare that could freeze a Flamin’ Hot Cheeto.
“Y’all are ignoring the best part: the prophecy!” Angel cries.“Give it to us again, would you? You’ve got three of the best fantasy theorists on the planet in one room. I bet we can crack it together.” My friends whip out their phones and get ready to write it all down.
There’s a crash of utensils hitting a plate, causing us all to wince.
“I’m sorry, are you guys suggesting that this shit is normal?” Nico asks. “We were almost traded like cattle, and you all are takingnotes?”
“Baby.” Angel reaches out and places their hand over his. “You’re new here, so I’ll forgive the raised voice if you pay attention to this lesson: Sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction.”
That shuts him right up.
“Now, let’s hear that prophecy.”
I recount from memory: “Three men emerge from a shallow pool of damnation. One made of tree sap and ink. The second, hallucinations and the fog of the mystic. And the third, flesh, fire, and the truth of the histories. When the squatting bird chants twice, go forth to the fallacies of your heart. Do not use your mind or your eyes to guide you. Follow the moonlight of your heart. Beware the goat dressed as a lamb. Only then will you defeat the fool and the red-painted maiden, and land in the arms of the steady tide. For what you seek, you hold in the marrow of your shrouded words…or, uh, something like that.”
All three of my friends type furiously on their phones like they’re taking the SAT and are concerned their time is runningout.
“Well, it’s obvious who the three men are,” Kalli says, sounding bored. “Ryke, Ryan, and this dude.” She nods at Nico, who looks disturbed. “The shallow pool of damnation is your love life. Ryke is made of tree sap and ink, because he’s just words on paper. Ryan is hallucinations and fog, because he’s the man of your dreams, a fantasy. And this man right here, who is obviously living and breathing, is flesh and fire. Not sure whatthe truth of your historiesmeans, though. What’s the deal with you two?”
“Nothing.” I laugh lightly and take a sip of wine. The heat of Nico’s gaze practically burns the side of my face. “He’s my brother’s best friend, like I said.”
“Is that all I am?” Nico’s voice wraps around my throat and squeezes. “We were friends once, too, weren’t we?”
