Hilario gave Odom a look. The paladin’s handsome brows furrowed.
“Black water never holds joy,” he said.
Hilario sighed. “What in the unseen world does?” he said.
He eyed the land on either side of the road crossing puddle. Rough, jagged rocks. More suitable for a goat than a 1967 Econoline van. He looked around to Roger, who had retreated behind the passenger seat.
As far from the Sapphire Witch as he could.
“Roger,” Hilario said, “Can we cross this?”
Roger poked his head up. Took a look at the puddle.
“Gots wingses?” he asked.
Hilario gave him a narrow eyed look. Which probably didn’t look all that menacing given his clown makeup. Or maybe it looked more menacing. His makeup couldn’t be in very good shape any more.
“Guesses thats a no’s,” Roger said.
Poop on a stick.
“We need to get across,” Hilario said.
“Fuck it,” Marco said, “Let’s get out and walk.”
“Bads ideas,” Roger said, “Walkers easiers to catches.”
Hilario swiveled his seat around. Came eye to goggle with the Sapphire Witch.
“You can get us over this,” he said, “We need your help.”
The Sapphire Witch’s face was as giving as stone. “Expect no help from me, clown.”
Marco raised his hand and gave her a one fingered salute.
“Screw you lady,” he said, “We don’t need your help. Give me my fucking gun back and I’ll walk.”
Leave me out of this, dog, the muffled voice of Detective Marco’s gun said, Like it where I’m at just fine.
Nestled up against the Sapphire Witch’s bosom. Cheeky weapon.
Besides, they did need her. And they needed her back on their side.
Hilario put his hands together and bowed his head to her. “My lady, please deign to assist us in our time of need,” he said, “One as powerful as you does not need the favor of the lords of the dark realms.”
Her cheeks colored. She brought her arms down, her delicate hands clenched into fists.
“You dare,” she said.
He was really getting tired of the you dare thing. Every time someone of a lower status said something to one of the upper muckity mucks that wasn’t dripping with subservience, that whole you dare thing came out.
Usually followed by some leisurely torture and then an execution.
The upper crust of the unseen world didn’t have a lot to entertain them. Backstabbing machinations and torturing the help filled the gap.
Honestly, everyone in the unseen world would be much happier and more relaxed if they just had one of the normal world’s greatest inventions.
Television.
And maybe a Netflix subscription. Heck, even basic cable would do.
“Yes, my lady,” he said, “I dare. I dare you to help us. Rise above your ambition and help me protect my friends and my city. Help all of us get home.”
The Sapphire Witch’s face was so pale she might have been made of chalk.
Through clenched teeth she spoke. And her words dripped with ice.
“Your suspicions are misguided, clown,” she said, “For the traitor in our midst, you should look to your ghostly companion.”
Hilario swallowed hard. And pointedly did not look at Larry.
“And how is he a traitor my lady?” he asked, “And a traitor to whom? There seem to be so many about as of late.”
Twin spots of color rose to her cheeks. Sparks crackled between her fingers. For a moment he thought he had pushed too far.
Then she shifted her goggle covered gaze to Larry. Or at least the seat he currently occupied.
“Why did the black angels not collect you, Larry Sparrow?” she said, “They should have taken you away. Taken you to where you deserved.”
Finally Hilario glanced at Larry. The ghost of his friend sat with his knees pulled up to his chest. His brows were drawn low over his eyes. His mouth downturned.
He looked far from the usual happy Larry Sparrow Hilario had known. Or even the scared Larry the ghost that had been lodged in his van all night.
Larry looked…furious.
The Sapphire Witch continued her icy words. “Why did you promise Sinzerklaazz your first born?”
Hilario rocked back. He’d forgotten all about that. How could that have slipped his mind? Well, maybe the explosions and the orkes and the desperately running for his life. Things kind of had a way of losing importance in such situations.
“Larry?” he said.
“I didn’t break any promises,” Larry said, “And I haven’t sold anyone out.”
“Larry,” Hilario said, “How deep into the unseen world have you been?”
Larry shook his insubstantial head. “He came to me,” he said, “He offered…”
Larry clenched his arms around his body so tight his ribs would have cracked. If he actually had a body.
“What?” Hilario asked.
Larry just shook his head again. But it really wasn’t necessary. Memories of Larry, spinning about in the Stung Sparrow’s kitchen, a cloud of ingredients around him–all of it coming together. Perfectly.
Magically.
He thought of the wonderful, stomach rumbling food smells coming from Sinzerklaazz’s keep. Or maybe it was from Sinzerklaazz himself. He knew nothing about Sinzerklaazz. But he had a certain suspicion that the entity had some mad cooking magic abilities.
Abilities that he must have shared with a certain Larry Sparrow.
At the cost of Larry’s first born child.
Except Larry didn’t have any kids.
Something he and Rachel had fought about, perhaps?
Perhaps a reason why Mr. and Mrs. Sparrow were no longer a couple?
“Rachel wanted kids, didn’t she?” Hilario asked.
Larry’s face crumpled. He put his ghostly hands over his features.
“Oh, Rachel,” he said, “I screwed up so bad.”
Detective Marco spoke up. “You know, I just realized I have no idea what’s going on here,” he said, “I mean, really, truly no fucking idea. I keep hoping I’m in a coma and I’ll wake up. That could happen, right? This is all just a dream. Isn’t it? Someone tell me it is. Please.”
Behind him the Sapphire Witch frowned. Hilario got
