* * *
“Give me one good reason why I should feed you anything different than I would if Claire were here?” Dean demanded, lifting Austin off the table and out of his supper.
“Claire’s not here.”
He thought about that for a moment then cut the cat some cold beef. “Okay. Good reason.”
* * *
“But time was running one to one when you checked at the Emporium.”
Claire nodded toward Arthur, who was still speaking quietly with Kris. “I think he’s a time distortion. He’s pure Otherside. Whoever’s running this segue can’t control him.”
“Yeah, but they clearly can’t control the elves either.”
* * *
“It’s June.” Austin settled himself in tea cozy position on the coffee table. “Why are they still playing hockey?”
“Because they’re not finished.”
“You know, the world made a lot more sense when I was young.”
Dean twisted the cap off a beer and toasted his reluctant companion. “Oh, yeah, I’ll drink to that.”
* * *
“They had no trouble controlling the elves before Arthur showed up. Kris said they were getting their asses kicked.”
“Okay, so these kids get caught in the segue, but it happened over time, so the darkness had to know about it, which means it has to want them here to…” Diana glanced around at the department store, complete to the sale banners hanging from the ceiling. “…to help define this end of the mall—which is where they’d end up, running from the darkside at the other end. The darkness figures it can remove them easily enough before the segue’s complete, but it doesn’t count on them banding together and being able to bring in outside help. Darkness underestimates Bystanders, the latest in a continuing series. But it must have realized that Arthur was a threat to its plans—so why hasn’t it moved to destroy him and his merry men?”
“Watch it, you’re mixing archetypes.”
“So? What’s the worst that could happen?”
“I can think of a dozen really bad movies that essentially answer your question,” Claire told her in a low voice. “And bits from any of them could show up if you’re not more careful!”
Diana shuddered and checked out the surrounding shadows. So far, they seemed clear of movie clichés. “Sorry. But I’d still like to know what the darkness is waiting for.”
“Maybe it’s not waiting. Maybe it’s just that the other end of the mall’s running a lot slower than this end.”
Time was relative, sure, but the Otherside took it to extremes. “Given your vast years of experience, what are the odds that our presence acts like a catalyst for a little localized Armageddon?”
“Pretty good.”
“How good?”
Before Claire could answer, Arthur clapped Kris on the shoulder and sent her on her way. Forgetting Armageddon, Diana watched her leave, watched the swing of her hips and the movement of her hair against her back until she disappeared around a corner. Then she stared at the corner as though wanting could make the other girl come back. Actually wanting could make her come back. As Kris reappeared, looking confused, Diana forced herself to think of other things.
Like being overrun by the forces of darkness.
On second thought, let’s not think too hard about that either.
“Come, drop your gear. Sit and we will speak together.” Arthur’s voice was deep and a little rough. It was a voice that spoke of fairness and trust and responsibility and the kind of values people always said they were looking for but never much liked once they found them.
He sounds just like the kind of guy you’d buy a new operating system from, Diana realized suddenly. And he sounds a lot older than he looks. Which he is. Thus the immortal part of that whole Immortal King thing. Duh. Still, losing the backpack seemed like the best idea anyone had had in days. Diana let it slide down her arms, caught it just before it was about to drop, and fell back gratefully onto one end of the sofa.
“Here, let me help.” Arthur stepped forward and lifted Claire’s pack off her shoulders. He showed no surprise at the weight, merely settling it to one side as Claire thanked him.
Stronger than he looks, Diana noted. Just another piece of the whole, too good to be true, package.
He waited until Claire and Sam were sitting before shoving his sword back out of the way and sprawling bonelessly over one of the armchairs. Archetype or not, he still sat like a teenage boy.
A teenage boy with a big honkin’ sword.
“Will you take refreshment?” He waved at a stack of juice boxes.
“No, thanks.” Diana pulled a bottle of water and Sam’s saucer out of a side pocket. “We brought our own. We’re not staying,” she added, as Arthur began to frown. “And we’d just as soon not have our ears sharpened.”
* * *
Wrapping himself in his tail, Austin glared up at Dean. “Just so we’re both clear on this, no cuddling.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t be sleeping on Claire’s pillow, then.” Setting his glasses carefully on the bedside table, Dean reached up and turned off the light. “Suppose I wake up lonely and confused?”
“Lonely, confused, and lipless if you come anywhere near me.”
“No tongue…”
“Because I’ll have ripped it out and batted it under the bed!”
“Good night, Austin.”
* * *
“Eating or drinking while we’re on this side, will make it more difficult for us to cross back,” Claire explained.
“I could be insulted that you refuse my hospitality, but you are of the Lineage, so I bow instead to your wisdom.” Suiting action to the words, he bowed where he sat and then straightened, flipping his hair back out of his face. His revealed expression was serious. “So, Keepers, what are you doing here?”
Diana passed the water bottle to Claire and told the story of the bracelet one more time.
“I don’t remember your bits of the dialogue being quite so witty the first time I heard this,” Sam muttered.
Ignoring him, she told Arthur about the Emporium, the mirror, and the segue.
“That explains a great deal,” he said thoughtfully. “Whoever is behind this no doubt allowed my people
