Page 55 of Sequel to the Easter Bunny

“Of course.” If I survive my next trip into the old gods’ realm.

The buildings cast long shadows when we step outside and anxiety pricks at the back of my mind. I need to get back to the spire.

But Ari stops, her hand held out, and I see them.

Figures around the car. But the moment they see us, they spook.

A half dozen shadows break, running down the alley.

“Stop.” The command slices through the air like a cracking whip and they all freeze. Held in place like statues, only their eyes move. And they turn to me, terrified.

I don’t like this aspect of the Power.

Walking to them, I stop in front of each in turn. They are vaguely familiar, and they’re all wearing guns in hip holsters.

They may not have used them to start, but I’m not about to let them use them when I’ve released them. I pull each of the guns and unload them while Ari checks the car to see if they’ve managed to do anything.

But when I get to the man at the front of the retreat….

“I know you… you were one of Jamus’ security crew.” I look him over, and manage to not tell him he’s seen better days. “Have you not found another job?”

“Same job.” He looks anywhere but at me. “There weren’t many options when you kicked us out.”

“Technically, I didn’t kick you out. You all just assumed and left.” I imagine they thought Jamus would taken the tower back from me.

“Jamus is going to get you killed.” I take the gun from him, removing the clip before I put it back in its holster. “Tomorrow, at midday, come to the tower. We’ll figure out somewhere safer for you to work.”

I look at the others behind him. “Tell anyone who needs a better means of employment, they’re welcome to come too.”

Releasing them, I walk back to the car and slip into the passenger seat, watching as they stumble away.

Ari says nothing as she starts the car and turns us toward the spire.

“I knew Jamus could influence people…” he’d used it on me more than once. “But that… that was not okay.”

She hums an agreement. “Weird to think you could tell them to walk into traffic and they’d do it.”

We spend the rest of the drive in silence and I try to push away the ugly feeling still coiling in my belly.

But she slows the car and pulls to the side of the road.

“Sorry, I can’t go any further.” She offers me a weak smile before putting the car in park.

Looking from her, to the pink line of trees that marks the boundary of Ester’s domain, it clicks. “You can’t cross the border?”

“I can never go back to their realm.” She looks down the road, to the part of our world that is always spring. “Like I said, always be careful of the wording of those bargains.”

If I had time, I’d press her for why. But my curiosity will have to wait.

“Thanks for getting me this far.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow.” She leans over to meet my eyes as I get out. “However long that takes.”

I don’t like the way she says it, like she knows something I don’t.

But I close the door between us and head up the road.

She doesn’t wait for me to get past the gate before she turns around and heads back into the city.

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