Coach's eyes bulged like a fish, pupils boring holes through my head. I looked up from my quad stretch, attempting to smile. Nerves turned it into a grimace.
“Callie,” he said softly.
“Yes, Coach?” I said meekly. The other girls shot me sympathetic glances.
He stood rod-staight like a military general, arms folded behind his back. “What's in a week?”
“Our meet.”
“What meet?”
“A track meet...”
“And what do athletes do before meets?”
“Carb load?”
“Train, Callie. Athletes train,” he said decisively. “And our top varsity runner decided to skip practice Friday. What sort of message does that send, Parker? What example does it set for the underclassmen that look up to her?” He looked down his long nose at me, a slight sn
“You're suspended in mid-air, and you're part goat. Pardon my French, but what the bleeding heck? The peeping-tom poltergeist in the locker room was bad enough!”“There's a resident pervert of the spiritual nature in every changing room full of nubile young maidens,” Puck said sagely. He landed on his feet and scuffled towards me. The sprite stood tall, bent over like a slender tree. His limbs were long and sinuous, and his tail swished in the breeze. Puck's yellow eyes danced with amusement. “Oberon puts those shades to shame, though,” he whispered confidantly. “I'd hasten to lock my doors, were I you.”My cheeks blazed red. “You're disgusting, the both of you.”Puck laughed jovially. “Pardon if my coarse manners offend. I tell it like it is, sparing no truths betwixt. What might I say? My kind loves a merry ro
“But don't agents have to be trained?”Samael grinned, pouring himself more tea. “Smart girl. These-” he said, reaching behind the table and withdrawing three leather-bound tomes, “-are for you to memorize.” He plopped them down in my lap.They smelled musty and looked ancient. I opened the top one: vellum pages, elaborate hand-inked script, illuminated pictures- it looked like a medieval grimoire. I read their faded spines: “'THE SECRETIVE HISTORIE OFE DAEMONS AND FEY, bye LORD SAMMAEL MALKIRA.' 'An Inquiry Into the Heavenly Spheres; or, the Spiritual Realms: A Treatise by Dr. Mephistopheles.' 'The Idiot's Guide to Hell- by Aym the Disgruntled, upon Threat of Blackmail by Samael the Git.” I looked at him questioningly, holding the first one. “You wrote this? The handwriting's indecipherable,” I observed, examining the spidery script
I sat on the porch in the autumn twilight, pouring through the leather bound tome on my lap. Frustration mounting, I flipped through the pages, searching. NPR drifted from the kitchen as my father shelled oysters for dinner.“And in local news, a horrifying murder occurred in Anacostia this evening. Police just recently discovered the mutilated body of a sex worker in a dumpster on Good Hope Road. Commuters are advised to avoid the area, as the scene is closed to the public. Her identity is unknown, but her body shows evidence of brutal assault. The case is under intensive investigation. If you have any information, please contact local authorities.”The book shook in my hands. I cursed, slamming it shut. “You just won't tell me what I need to know, will you?” I said darkly.The book stirred, spine shivering. Surprised, I traced the stacked pages. A paper cut me.&n
Certain physicists have come to the conclusion that our universe is made of strings. While their simian minds are too primitive to grasp the true nature of the cosmos, the metaphor gives an accurate model of Creation at large.Whether the world is made of strings or string-cheese, and the moon is rock or Swiss, the material of existence has certain qualities. Swiss, as you know, has holes in it. Threads break. And string-cheese, obviously, is designed to peel. It's all very well that humans have discovered the material of the universe. But the sad fact remains that they understand little about it.The tapestry of our universe is imperfect. It unravels. It comes undone. An occasional hole pops up, and its edges fray with time. Wormholes, physicists call them. As if some hungry annelid munched its way through space and popped out into another dimension. Higher beings laugh at our
Seth punched his hand away. “See, Callie, you don't wanna get in a car with this guy.”“'Course she does,” Baxter brushed him off. “I'm taking Parker somewhere sweet tonight, and everybody wants to ride the Baxter machine-”Retha cleared her throat loudly, indicating the conversation was getting too crass for her refined taste. Baxter winked at me. “See yah tonight, Parker,” he grinned, saluting me as he jogged back to the Meatheads.“Why is the football team filled entirely with dorks?” Eva moaned.“Cute dorks, though,” Retha corrected.“I'm going on a date with Baxter,” I said incredulously. “Is the sky falling? Is D.C. up in flames?”My friends looked at me like I'd sprouted a third limb. “You asked for it,” Seth snorted. “Though why, I've got no idea.
“Hey, wait!” I panicked. No way in hell was I staying here. I straddled Pallor, trying to start it uselessly. Cursing, I turned to run but stopped dead in my tracks. Hooked bat wings crept round the building's corner. I froze, overwhelmed by terror as a foul-smelling cold mist filled the alley. Ragged breaths came from the beast. It sniffed the air viciously, and a monstrous, leathery black hand grasped at the bricks. Its hulking form stalked forwards.Bile rose in my throat at the sight of its naked, bat-like body, belly swollen with God knew what. It looked exactly like the monster from Samael's book. The incubus spoke, voice grating like the clang of metal chains. “Ah, what a delightful encounter!” it howled, unsheathing razor claws. “Another idiot mortal ripe for devouring. This town is an endless buffet.”I was rooted to my spot in horror. It smirked g
“Hey, Parker,” Baxter said woozily, bruises under his eyes, “about Friday...” He leaned weakly against the locker. “Did we...?”“Huh?” I asked in confusion, zipping my Calculus book into my backpack.The hulking linebacker actually blushed. “I can't remember much. That usually happens when a) I've had a concussion, or b) I've been drinking. Did we have too many shots, and then, y'know...?” He blushed.“No,” I said firmly. “Definitely not, Baxter.”“Oh, ok. Phew,” he said. “Hey, it was fun and all- at least, I think it was- but I don't think we're built for one another, if yah know what I mean. You're too intense for me.”I smiled. “You're right, Baxter. Friends?” I asked, extending my hand.“Right,” he said, slapping it. My pa
Rain fell softly beyond the window, clinging to the balding autumn trees. Eva tapped her pencil against the desk, humming as our Calculus teacher handed back tests. I froze, heart racing as he approached. He raised his brow: “Callie Parker, excellent work... except for the fact that you integrated instead of derived.”I went pallid. “Oh god. Did I?-”“Fail? No. I gave you half credit on those problems. The effort was spectacular. Just be more alert next time. The AP graders, unlike me, will be relentless.”I cursed inwardly as he handed me my test with a thin smile. “C+,” I groaned, slamming my head against the desk. “I hate math.”Eva smiled serenely at her A, putting it in her skull covered binder. “Lo siento, chica. But it's just one C.”“In a continent of failed tests. I