24. Greg
CHAPTER 24
GREG
My third interview appointment for the front desk opening didn’t show up, so I was able to finish everything I needed to get done a little after 4:30pm. I changed clothes in my office and texted Cal to ask if it was okay if I picked him up a little early. We could always have a drink in the bar while we waited for our reservation time. Plus I’d been dying to ask him about the map of fog monster victims he’d posted this morning.
My phone chimed, then chimed again before I could pull it out of my pocket.
Cal
Ghbju
Werdf
Plokm
Plok
My blood went cold. I couldn’t feel anything through our connection. I hit the Call button and left the office at a run.
The call connected as I exited the lobby doors, but no one said anything .
“Cal? Cal, are you okay?” I got in the SUV and shut the door. I could hear breathing on the other end. Was he conscious?
Fuck, it’d take me twenty minutes to get to his place. I briefly considered sending an ambulance, but odds were this was not a traditional medical emergency.
Felix or Steve must have a key. And Felix and Malcolm lived five minutes from Cal’s apartment.
“Cal, I’m on my way but I’m twenty minutes out. I’m going to hang up and call Felix to see if he has a key and can check on you.”
I heard what sounded like an animal making a chuffing sound. A shifter? “Wait, are you Cal? Make one sound for yes and two for no.”
Two sounds came over the phone. Fuck, who the hell was at Cal’s place?
“Is Cal injured?”
The shifter made a weird sort of whine. Not sure, maybe?
“Is he conscious?”
Two chuffing sounds. Fuck.
“Wait, so you were the one who texted me back?”
One chuff. Okay, so the shifter had been trying to help at least, so odds were I didn’t have to worry that they meant Cal any harm.
“Can you change to your human form so we can talk?”
Two chuffs. Double fuck. What the hell had happened?
“Okay, I’m sending his friend Felix over if I can reach him. I don’t think he’s met any shifters, but he knows about you and about the magic. Is the security deadbolt unlocked from the inside?”
One chuff.
“Good. I’ll call you back if there’s a change of plans.”
One chuff.
I forced myself to drive carefully out of the parking lot, but as soon as I was on the road I told my phone to dial Felix.
“Greg? Hey, what’s up?”
“Felix, thank fuck. Are you home? Do you have a key to Cal’s place?”
“Uh, I’m at Steve’s and yes, I have a key. Why? What’s the matter? I’m putting you on speaker.”
“Is that far from Cal’s apartment? I need you to go over there. He’s unconscious, and I’m 20 minutes out.”
“ Unconscious ? Does he need an ambulance?”
“No! No ambulance. Are you and Steve alone?” I did not want to have to explain magic to Malcolm or to Steve’s husband.
“Yeah, Baz is out and Malcolm’s back at our house. Steve and I can be at Cal’s in less than ten minutes. What’s wrong with him? Wait, hang on.”
I heard sounds of them getting in a car.
Felix said, “Okay, Steve’s driving. We’re on the way.”
I cursed silently as I was forced to stop at a red light. “Okay, when you get to his place, the security deadbolt is unlocked and there’s a shifter inside.”
Steve shouted, “A shifter ? Like, what kind? Are they friendly? Wait, did they hurt Cal? ”
“No, I don’t think so. I don’t know who they are. They managed to answer the phone when I called, but they must not be able to shift back to human for some reason. I got them to make noises and answer some yes or no questions.” I swallowed back my frustration and fear. Cal did not need that coming through the connection right now. “One noise for yes, and two for no. They indicated that Cal is unconscious, but I don’t know anything else. Don’t touch him or the shifter unless the shifter says it’s okay. Something magical may be going on.”
“Got it,” Steve said.
“Okay, call me when you get there, please. And, uh, thanks for doing this.”
Steve huffed. “Cal’s still our bestie, even if he is some sort of magic badass now.”
We hung up, and I concentrated on driving as fast as I dared without drawing attention from the police.
A few minutes later Felix called back and put me on speaker again.
Steve said, “Okay we got off the elevator on Cal’s floor.” I heard the key turning in the lock. “Opening the door— holy fuck! ” then, “Sorry, sorry. I was just startled.”
Felix hissed, “Get in here and shut the door!”
Dammit, why hadn’t the Elves given us the ability to teleport?
The sound of the door closing came through the phone. Felix said, “Hi, there. Um, I’m Felix and this is Steve. Can we, uh, take a look at Cal?” He paused. “It’s okay to touch him? Good, thanks. Uh, Greg, Cal is lying on his back between the couch and the kitchen table. His eyes are closed, and he’s not responding, but he doesn’t appear injured. ”
Steve said, “His skin is cool, so I don’t think he has a fever, and I don’t feel any injuries to his head.”
“And the shifter?”
“Uh, we have a very large black panther here. Are you injured? They say no. Did you see what happened to Cal? That’s a yes, Greg.”
“Thanks. I don’t know any panther shifters. Um, can you look on the coffee table and see if there’s a Ouija board?”
Steve said, “There isn’t one.”
I frowned. Maybe Ms. Jackson didn’t like visitors. “How about a cat statue?”
Fucking finally, I’d reached Cal’s apartment building. I turned into the parking lot.
“No cat statue. There’s nothing on the coffee table except Cal’s laptop.”
I got out of the car and sprinted for the building, phone pressed to my ear.
Steve said slowly, “Uh, our panther friend just got on the coffee table.”
Huh? Surely not.
“Can you please ask them if they are Ms. Jackson?”
“That’s a yes. Hi, Ms. Jackson. Nice to meet you.”
“I’m getting in the elevator. I’ll be right there.”
When I opened the apartment door, Felix was sitting on the ground next to Cal, who was flat on his back with a pillow under his head and a blanket thrown over him.
Steve was standing uncertainly in the entryway to the kitchen, holding a water bottle .
And on the coffee table was a shifter-sized black panther.
A breathing being who could move.
I’d figure that out later.
I rushed over to Cal and dropped to my knees next to him. Felix scooted over to give me room.
I pulled the blanket back. Where was Cal’s magical aura? I pressed my hand to his cheek, and I gasped at how little magic he had left. Closing my eyes, I pushed mine into him, trying to fill the void. What the hell had happened? No wonder he’d passed out.
I opened my eyes again, and Ms. Jackson was peering over the back of the couch at us. Unlike Cal, they had an abundance of magic sparkling around them. And they’d somehow transformed into a living creature. Faint runes were visible in the black of their fur.
Striving for a calm, non-accusatory voice, I asked them, “Did Cal give you his magic?”
They tilted their head back and forth.
“Sort of? What does that mean, that you took it ?” This time I couldn’t keep the rage out of my voice.
Ms. Jackson’s eyes went wide, and they tilted their head back and forth again. Then they jumped to the floor and came around to sit next to me. They closed their eyes and a small Ouija board appeared where their chest had been.
Felix and Steve gasped.
Ms. Jackson spelled out, C-A-L-P-U-S-H-E-D-M-A-G-I-C-O-U-T-A-N-D-I-T-F-O-U-N-D-M-E .
I blinked. “He pushed his magic out of himself?”
Yes flashed on the board .
I frowned. “It makes sense the magic would be attracted to a magical entity nearby. But I told Cal we can’t cast spells, so what was he trying to do?”
Ms. Jackson flashed, V-I-S-I-O-N .
“He was calling a vision?” And trying to force it with his magic maybe?
Yes flashed.
The flow of my magic into Cal began to slow down. I’d given him about half of my reserve. I leaned over him and said, “Cal? Can you hear me?”
I felt through our connection the moment he woke. I let out a huge breath. Thank fuck.
His nose wrinkled, and he blinked his eyes open.
“Hey, are you with us?”
“Yeah, I—shit!” He jerked under my hand. His eyes were on Ms. Jackson.
“It’s just Ms. Jackson. They won’t hurt you.”
Cal opened his mouth and stared at the panther. “Holy fuck.”
“Apparently you gave them all your magic.”
His eyes flew to mine. “Oh, fuck. I was trying to call a vision and I wanted to see if I could help it along with the magic.”
I shook my head ruefully. “I think I need to give you a lesson on the properties of magic. It can’t be manipulated or used by humans. At all.”
“Crap. Sorry.” He looked at Felix and Steve. “Um, hi? What are you guys doing here?”
Felix and Steve explained their presence, and I helped Cal to sit up. I kept my arm around him, and we leaned against the back of the couch.
Steve handed Cal the water bottle he’d retrieved from the kitchen and said, “Why don’t I order some pizza?”
I raised my eyebrows at Cal.
He nodded, “I’m starving. But I don’t think I’m up for going out tonight, sorry.”
I kissed his temple. “We’ll do it another time. And some greasy pizza might help get your energy back to normal.”
I looked up to find Felix and Steve both staring at us. “What?” I snapped.
Felix shook his head. “Nothing.”
Steve snorted. “It’s not nothing. The last Whack-A-Mole Cal dated policed every calorie he ate.”
Cal shifted uncomfortably beside me.
Not sure how to handle this, I just said, “Well, it’s a good thing they didn’t stay together.”
But internally I asked, What’s his name and where does he live?
Cal chuckled and patted my leg. Not telling .
I eyed Steve. I’d bet I could get him to spill. He seemed up for a little retribution.
“Uh.” Steve held his phone up. “Ms. Jackson, would you like something to eat?”
We all waited, curious to find out.
Ms. Jackson seemed uncertain. They cocked their head and spelled out I-W-I-L-L-T-R-Y-P-I-Z-Z-A .
“Sure,” Steve said easily, as if he ordered food for Ouija-bearing, panther-shaped magical beings all the time. “Meat lovers?”
They curled their lip. C-H-E-E-S-E .
“Got it.” He pressed his finger to his phone a few times, then clicked it off with a flourish. “It’ll be here in thirty minutes.”
When Cal was ready to stand up, we relocated to the couch, with Steve and Felix taking the chairs to either side. Ms. Jackson prowled around the apartment, exploring.
When they disappeared into Cal’s office, Steve pointed and hissed, “What’s her deal?”
Cal leaned his head against my shoulder. “Their. Greg will tell you. I’m too tired.”
“Uh, when we went to TWIST, we went through a bunch of old books to see if we could find anything about who’s killing the Wonders. Ms. Jackson was in the book room, but they were only able to take the form of inanimate objects.” I shrugged, lifting my hand, palm up. “I think everyone who knew what they were either left, died, or just forgot, so they were moldering in that room for decades.” I grimaced, wishing I’d known they were in there when I was a kid.
Ms. Jackson came back and hopped gracefully onto the coffee table.
I gestured at their chest. “Up til now they were able to communicate with us by changing into a Ouija board, but this form is completely new.”
I-L-I-K-E-W-A-L-K-I-N-G they spelled out. T-H-A-N-K-Y-O-U-C-A-L .
“You’re welcome. If I’d known that was possible, I would’ve done it sooner.” He must’ve felt my reaction because he added, “With Greg’s help of course. That way I might not have passed out.”
I checked his magic levels. He was staying steady at around halfway replenished, and I was about the same. Food would help, and we’d be fine by morning.
Cal asked, “Uh, Ms. Jackson, can you still change forms? Or is this the new you now?”
They cocked their head, then only a Ouija board was in their place. But instead of the Ouija board we’d seen for the past few days, this board was easily four times its size, hanging over the sides of the coffee table. In an instant, the panther was back.
They spelled out W-I-L-L-H-A-V-E-T-O-P-R-A-C-T-I-C-E-O-T-H-E-R-L-I-V-I-N-G-S-H-A-P-E-S .
When the food came, Felix put a slice of cheese pizza on a plate and cut it up for Ms. Jackson. They sniffed at it, licked once, then purred.
Felix said, “Pick up one piece, chew it with your back teeth, then swallow. Uh, that part should be instinctive? I hope.”
Ms. Jackson gave him a skeptical look but put their face back to the plate and delicately picked up one of the pieces of pizza. We all watched raptly as they chewed. And chewed. And chewed. They looked around at us rather desperately.
Steve said, “Uh, swallowing is like... you put your tongue against the roof of your mouth and kind of contract your throat?”
Ms. Jackson squeezed their eyes shut and made a gulping sound. Their eyes popped open, and they gave us a smug cat smile. We all cheered .
We finished our dinner. Steve and I stayed quiet while Felix and Cal had a rather uncomfortable discussion with Ms. Jackson about what to do if they turned out to have a regular panther’s digestive tract. At least they were smart enough to navigate the bathroom. Taking a panther for a walk outside would be problematic.
Cal perked up a little after eating. The four of us played some video games, though I was hopelessly outclassed by the other three.
Cal started yawning around 8:30pm, so Steve and Felix politely left us to ourselves.
“I’m staying,” I told Cal, as if it wasn’t obvious by my sitting right where I was while he escorted the others to the door.
“Okay.” He flopped onto the couch next to me. I pulled him down so his head was in my lap.
“Take a little nap. I’ll check Discord and see how badly everyone is freaking out over your post from earlier.”
“M’kay.” He shut his eyes, and I smoothed back his hair. The connection told me he was exhausted but happy.
I looked over at Ms. Jackson, who was trying out one of the gaming chairs. They’d gotten it to recline almost all the way back. They flashed I-S-C-A-L-O-K-A-Y.
I nodded. “He needs to rest,” I whispered.
My phone chimed with a text. Edgar had messaged me and Cal.
Edgar
I tried calling a vision about the victim like you suggested, Cal, but I can’t get anything solid. Just an overall feeling that something will happen soon. Sorry .
I thanked him then checked Discord. People were replying to Cal’s post with concern, but so far no one seemed to be getting hysterical.
After making sure Cal was still sleeping, I opened my emails. My DM account had one with the subject line, “New to town”.
I clicked on it.
Hi, Mr. Shaw. I got your name and email from an Adventurer I met in Austin this past week. I just moved to Wimberley from Albuquerque. It’s a long story, but I needed a fresh start. Anyway, would you have time soon when I could meet you and do the thing? I’ve got a car so I can come to you. I’m working at Build Barn most afternoons and evenings, but my mornings are free, and I usually have Tuesdays and Wednesdays off, so whatever works is fine.
Thanks,
Mia Chavez
I sat up, my heart pounding. Build Barn. I looked at my watch. 8:50pm. A quick googling revealed that the Build Barn in Wimberley closed at 9pm.
Mia had included a phone number. I was about to call when a surge of fear crashed through the connection from Cal. He jackknifed off my lap, sitting up and panting.
I rubbed his back as I clicked on Mia’s phone number. “Is it tonight?”
He nodded, rubbing his face. “I think so, but I still don’t know which Build Barn location.”
“I do. Wimberley.”
He turned to look at me. Then he jumped up and ran toward his bedroom, shouting, “I’ll be ready to go in five minutes! ”
Mia’s number rang and rang before finally going to voicemail. Fuck. Hopefully she was still on shift at work and hadn’t left yet.
“Mia, this is Greg Shaw. Thank you for your email, but I need to tell you that several Wonders have been murdered recently, and our Seer believes the next attack will occur in a Build Barn parking lot. Do not go outside the store. We’re on our way to pick you up. Please call me when you get this. I’ll try you again when I’m in the car and have an idea of our arrival time.”
I hung up and looked at Ms. Jackson. “I know you’re not a weapon, but do you want to come with us anyway?”
They nodded and strode toward the door. Hopefully no one would notice them on the way to the car, but we’d deal with that later.
Cal dashed out of his bedroom and ran into the office.
“Let’s go, Cal!”
“Ready!” He emerged from the room carrying the two Klingon weapons that had been hanging on his wall.
“Good call. Ms. Jackson’s going with us.”
We exited the apartment, Cal carrying two large deadly weapons, and a black panther pacing by our side. In the elevator I told Cal about Mia’s email.
Amazingly, we didn’t run into anyone on the way to my SUV. Ms. Jackson hopped in the back seat, and Cal propped the weapons on the floor next to his feet.
“Um, maybe those would be safer in the cargo area.”
He shook his head. “Not if the fog monsters are already there when we arrive. ”
Fuck. “Okay, but be careful if I have to stop suddenly.” I programmed the address into my phone.
“Yep.” He pulled out his own phone. “I’m posting the location on Discord in case anyone can come help us.”
I grimaced. “Are you sure? What if we’d be, I don’t know, bringing the fog monsters an all-you-can-eat buffet?”
He raised an eyebrow at me. “Do you have any combat experience?”
I winced. “No. Just hand-to-hand training.” Which my combat mode would help with, but would I even be able to get that close to a fog monster?
Cal said, “Greg, these weapons are pretty sharp, but I’ve never used one in actual combat, and neither have you. Not to mention, we’re not sure what these fuckers are, or what that fog can do. All I have is my experience in video game battle situations. And that experience is telling me our best hope is gathering a large number of people to scare them away.”
I breathed in and out. Up til now I hadn’t really let myself consider the reality of fighting the fog monsters. Of Cal fighting them.
“Understood. Do it.”