Page 25 of The Chosen Two

Overtheweekend,Itake it upon myself to do some reconnaissance work. I will still need to call on her in the case of an emergency, but I think we’re missing something important so I don’t want to sit around, thinking about the potential pitfalls Miranda’s unknowingly walking into while doing un-Guardian-like things with her family. I’m anxious to start her training this week, and I’ll feel much better once she knows how to fight some foes.

I head to a local dive bar where creatures masking as humans tend to congregate. I need to find out about this Jinn that has been around town. I can’t let it hurt Miranda. I would be the worst docent ever if something happened to her so fast. Miranda’s birthright is to protect the world. Mine is to protect Miranda. And I take that responsibility seriously.

Twenty minutes later, I pull into an unpaved parking lot. The gravel has eroded away, and the lot is mainly dirt. At three o’clock in the afternoon, quite a few cars fill the lot—mostly beat up, rusty piles that don’t look like they would move on their own, much less transport someone without falling apart. The bar, if you can call it that, is built entirely of cracked and faded wooden beams. The whole building appears to be leaning to one side and as if nothing’s holding it together besides old chewing gum and demon spit.

I walk in, and I’m kind of surprised the music doesn’t screech to a stop like the scene of a movie when the hip city dweller enters the local yokel bar. Not that I’m cool or hip, but I am human, and that’s still out of place here.

At one of the dark wood tables, two humanoid demons and a cyclops play a game of cards. The other three tables have their mismatched chairs filled with mismatched friends. A satyr is drinking with a siren and a pixie. Two gargoyles are chatting up a harpy. And at the far table, I spy a Jinn, but not the one from the pharmacy. At least, I don’t think he’s the same. He could have shape shifted into a different grotesque human-like resemblance, but my gut tells me that’s not likely. This Jinn is younger, with short curly brass-colored hair, and still has the telltale glowing green eyes. Beside him sits a similarly aged female Jinn who looks nervous. In front of them, six imps crouch on the table, trying to look scary while talking to the Jinns and failing miserably because they’re only about as tall as pint glasses. I head to that table.

I walk up behind the imps, with the Jinn facing me. The male has his arm around the female whose arms are crossed in front of her, shielding her protectively. The imps can’t see me from where I stand, and as I catch the male Jinn’s eye he flashes me a look that begs me to rescue him and his female. That must be the reason he’s holding her that way. Imps do have enough power in their little bodies to cause some bodily damage, but mostly they’re just self-important nuisances.

The closer I get, the better I can hear the low gravely voices of the imps. “You know what they want from you. It can be one of you, or your uncle, but it needs to get done. Or else.” The one talking slams his fist on the table and the group starts to fly off.

I jump in cheerfully. “Hey there! So sorry to interrupt. I was wondering, do any of you folks know anything about a Jinn who would have been at a pharmacy in Nutley this past Wednesday?”

The Jinn exchange a look, her brow is furrowed, he is stroking her shoulder with the hand he has wrapped around her. When the male Jinn speaks his voice is quiet and quaking. “No, I’m really sorry.” Then after a pause, “Are you human? How? How do you know about us?”

I probably should have been more low-key, considering this is my first real case. Oh well, too late now.

I look around the room and then bend down closer, talking in a hushed voice. “Haven’t you heard of H.A.A.M.? Humans All About Mythicals? We’re a collective that knows all about you. We even have pins and a secret handshake!” I start to do a few weird gestures, then stop abruptly. “Oh, no. I can’t show you that…. Well, I just wanted to give you a heads up. I should be going. Thanks for your time!”

As I’m crossing the dirt lot back to my car, I hear the male Jinn call to me. “Hey, ham guy! Wait!” I stop in my tracks and turn to him. He catches up to me, panting a bit. “I think you were asking about my uncle. Is he okay?”

“He’s fine. But what was he doing? He made quite a scene with gua—a girl. Most people wouldn’t have noticed, but ya know. I’m a H.A.A.M., so I did.”

“Oh, we were summoned by those imps back there. They want one of us to—” I must have looked too eager because he stops and begins to back away. “Ya know what? It won’t affect you. Don’t worry. Sorry you had to witness that. See you!” With a single wave, he turns and runs back into the bar.

And I have gleaned the slightest bit of intel to work with, which is better than absolutely nothing, I suppose.

Chapter 11

Miranda

I’vebeendownstairsfortwenty minutes, brewed a pot of coffee, and been staring out the window, hoping for a glimpse of the fluffy kistune, while pondering what the fuck is going on in my life right now, when the first of my kids shows his groggy face. It’s only 8 a.m., but I feel as if I’ve had a thousand new experiences within the hour and half my husband has been back from his trip.

“Hey, Sammy!” I think I said that with a little too much enthusiasm when he stops in his tracks and raises one eyebrow. I clear my throat and try again. “What can I get for you?”

He still has that one eyebrow raised, trying to decide what is going on with me, but he asks for eggs and toast. “Did Dad get home yet?”

“Ummm, yup. He’s pretty tired from his flight, so he’s sleeping.”

Sammy plops into his seat, his black curls appear as if he is living inside one of those static balls. “Okay. I’ll go get Dad in a little while.”

I nod. Luckily, I was prepared to make multiple servings of eggs because Phoebe comes in next, still in her pjs (which do match, ironically) and asks for “some of whatever smells so yummy.”

I start to whistle while I plate their breakfasts and when I turn around, they’re both looking at me like something is seriously wrong with me. “What?”

“Why are you whistling?” Jessie stands in the doorframe with her brown hair in a bird nest behind her and her eyes barely opened.

“I…guess I’m just happy Dad is home.” Avoiding Jessie’s stare, I hand full plates and forks to my little ones.

Jessie drags her feet to the table. “Really? You’ve never seemed so happy to see him before. Ew. Mom. You’re blushing! Ew!”

I smile to myself as I fix her a plate. Teenagers can be so much fun to torment. I swear. And she’s just at the beginning of her teenage years, so I have lots of years to mess with her. If I survive them, that is.

“So, what are everyone’s plans for today?” I’m met with silence while they are busy eating. “Okay, then. Good talk. I’m going to go check on your sister.”

I plop my apron on the counter and head to the stairs. I start up at the same time Jake is heading down. He smiles at me and when we pass each other half way, he turns quickly and presses me to the wall with one hand on my hip and the other at my neck. He kisses me deeply, then says, “Good morning, again,” before he turns and continues on his way.

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