76. Summer #2
I groan. “Let me finish my coffee first, okay?”
Alice nods, vibrating happily. She watches me until I drain my cup, and then her eyes go wide. I give her a little squeal, and she claps, jumping in place.
Rafe comes downstairs looking as miserable as I probably did before my caffeine. He grabs a piece of meat and slumps against the counter as he chews.
“So how do we get there?” I ask, pulling Alice’s attention from Rafe to give him time to come to a little.
“I organized a portal outside the Avalon boundary.”
“When does it open?” I ask, pouring a second cup of coffee.
“Twenty minutes, so?.?.?.” Alice claps her hands. “Chop chop!”
“Why so early?”
“Because it’s Paradis,” Alice says as if it’s obvious.
“Too early,” Rafe groans.
“Let’s just go,” I say, rolling my eyes.
“I have outfits for us all to match,” Alice says, grinning again. I’m certain I haven’t seen her smile this much in the whole of our friendship. Alice holds out two tote bags with our names embroidered on them, then she grabs her own bag and goes to change.
Rafe pulls out a pair of white pants. “At least it’s pants,” he says, somewhat relieved.
“Mine isn’t,” I say, pulling a tiny skirt from my bag.
Alice comes back downstairs wearing a matching skirt to mine, and once we’ve all changed, we look like some weird Stepford family, but Alice is delighted. The skirt has a matching crop top, and Rafe has a wife-beater in a similar style.
Our suitcases are lined up next to the door, and Rafe frowns when he sees his. “Mine looks heavy.” Alice just smiles as we leave the house. She chatters excitedly about All Souls and the rumors she’s heard, all the way to the edge of Avalon.
As we approach the boundary, Rafe’s steps slow. “Alice. Once I’m past the boundary?.?.?.”
Alice is ahead of us, already past the boundary.
She stops and turns to face us. “I thought of that already,” she says, waving her hand.
“Summer, the headmaster says you should be able to do an Infernal rune to make a path to the portal, and once we’re through, Paradis is a safe haven for those who can afford it. ”
“He said that?” I ask with a frown .
Alice nods and pulls a folded piece of paper from her bag. She opens it and shows it to me. “He said Rafe just needs to step on this Infernal rune, and he’ll be protected for the half block to the portal.”
She hands me the paper, and I study it for a long moment before nodding and passing it back to her.
I grab Rafe’s hand and slice his palm with the small Infernal dagger that I always have on hand nowadays in case of emergencies.
“Rafe, stay here,” I say, scooping some of his blood onto the dagger and passing through the boundary.
Alice holds the paper up for me, and I glance at it once more before crouching to draw it out on the sidewalk.
It glows, and I stand up and nod at Rafe.
“Okay, make sure your first step lands on it.”
The moment his foot makes contact with it, the light turns red and slides up his body, laying over him like a second skin. A shiver goes through Rafe, and he shakes his head as if settling into a new form.
“I think it worked. All my senses feel a little muffled, but I am functional,” Rafe says, smiling down at me proudly.
“Ah, once again our savant rune caster has impressed the masses,” Alice says.
We start walking, but I stay close to Rafe, unable to relax despite the rune until we get to the portal at the back of a dimly lit alley. Alice steps through without a second thought, and Rafe slides his hand into mine as we walk through it together.
The portal sucks us through, depositing us on the other side.
I gasp and shield my eyes from the blinding sun as we’re enveloped in the heat of Paradis.
It feels like the most comfortable hug, and there is the faint scent of suntan lotion and coconuts.
Alice tilts her head back, basking in the sun, already in complete bliss.
Two attendants approach, one holding an empty silver tray and the other a tray with three tall glasses. They are filled with a bright yellow-and-orange liquid, with fluorescent straws and tiny colorful umbrellas sticking out of the tops.
“Welcome to All Souls,” the attendant with the empty tray says. “As you enter, there is a strict no-technology rule enforced by both the resort and the event. If you would please hand over your electronic devices, we will be more than happy to escort you to your suite.”
I look at Alice, wondering if she will balk, but she just pulls her phone free and kisses it before placing it on the tray. She notices my shocked expression and shrugs. “It’s how they keep it secret.”
Rafe tosses his on the tray without a second thought, and I reluctantly follow. For someone who could never afford a phone before and didn’t even have any friends to contact, it’s weird how attached I am to the little device.
Rafe picks up one of the glasses and studies it. “Is this brimstone?” he asks, looking at the gray dust rimming the colorful cocktail.
“Of course, Your Highness. We were made aware of your needs prior to your visit.”
Your Highness?
Alice picks up the other two glasses and takes a swig of hers. “Entrail alcohol? Incredible.”
I take a sip of my own drink, savoring the floral undertones. It tastes like something I’ve had before, perhaps in Eden.
“Miss Tuatha De Daanan, a pleasure. May I lead you to your suite?”
“You may,” Alice says, answering for me with a regal wave of her hand.
My lips twitch. “Lead the way.”