Delphi, Eganene

They had been Traveling this way for years and it took less than a heartbeat's thought. Not along the Umbilicus, that was long dead and eroding, but their own way, hopping across, ripping a hole in the fabric to drive their way through. From Earth to Eganene in seconds. It was simple, just a sweeping feeling of motion, a stretching and shredding sensation and then pop they were there.

For a single, beautiful moment, he was thrilled to be back. It was his own air, cleaner than that of Philadelphia. He opened his eyes, home again, beside the open-hearth fire and within the walls of his own kitchen. The smell of browned meat and freshly baked bread permeated the room.

Traveling was instantaneous and to the untrained eye witnessing their appearance, a startling experience. Tonight was no different. The women at the kitchen table were dressed in traditional housekeeping uniforms, aprons and hats. It would have been a happy picture of domesticity had their slack-jawed faces not been staring at him in surprise.

He’d caught them in the act, their greedy fingers filled with his food. Surprise and horror mixed pathetically on their faces so that they appeared even less human.

Thom had ahold of his arm and his fingers dug in, rooting Julian to the spot. Black eyes flicked past and his cheeks flexed as he spoke, “Come on, we don’t have time for this.”

“No, this needs to be addressed,” Julian said.

Thom didn’t understand the mundanities of running a household. There were some things that had to be dealt with.

“We don’t want to lose his trail.”

The girls were already sniffling, “I won’t be long. Why don’t you see if you can trace him?”

Thom released him. Julian smiled, wiping his face with the back of his hand. Order and decorum were imperative for a well-run household. His staff should follow his rules at all times, not just when he was there to watch.

It didn’t take long. The lesson was short but effective. The Yila cried, her tears slipping out from her yellow, cat eyes.

Julian took a hunk of bread off the tray, eyeing the women who knelt beside the fire. Their noises were a pretty kind of music. Finished, he retrieved his hat from the peg by the door and fought the oil-slicked hide onto his back. It was like wrapping himself in a gigantic trash bag, but better to be ugly than wet.

He left the house, feeling more spring to his step, his eyes already tracking the skyline. It was windy, the sky blacker here without the ambient light from Earth. His house was on the top of a small hill on the outskirts of the city and the view stretched for miles.

“There it is,” he whispered, finding the spell’s residue. It was an almost translucent ribbon of pale, yellowish light that covered blocks and trailed to the west. “You see it?”

Thom shook his head, “Hardly.”

“There are others,” Julian reported. “Not spells though. Real Traveling. It looks like fireworks out here.”

“Can you tell who it is?” Thom asked.

Julian frowned, “No. I’ve never seen these markers before. Someone got here before us?”

Thom shook his head, “I don’t think so. I don’t think anyone else was in Philly.”

“It was just the three of us at the last meeting. But couldn’t there be other cells?”

“It’s possible. But they can’t track majic like you can. No one will know where the spell originated and it will take them time to find it.”

“Good point,” Julian conceded, watching the strange glow from the city. There were multiple streams of pink light, varying in intensity, but all originating at the same place. It was easy to find since the building was on fire.

“I see it,” Thom said, not waiting for Julian’s observation. “The flames.”

“He was there,” Julian spat. “The other trails begin in the same place, all similar and pink, except one. I’m not sure what it means.”

“What’s the other one look like?” Thom asked.

“Green. Definitely a different party,” he responded. “I feel like I should know that one, but I can’t place it.”

Thom shrugged, “It doesn’t matter. You know which one to follow.”

Julian took point and the thin man followed. It was a good day. Thom was particular about their work habits and liked things done just so. He was usually first on the scene and first through the door. Tracking, though, was something Julian did better.

They were in for a long walk, probably more than an hour. It wasn’t so bad, not at first. But as the snow fell and the wind howled, he began to wish for Earth’s cabs. There were no carriages out tonight, not in Delphi, and he didn’t own one himself. He loved Eganene, but there were certain comforts he appreciated on Earth and vehicles made travel a simple affair.

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In Eganene, his association with the Family usually kept him comfortable. It was nothing like what he could expect on Earth. Here, there was no news bulletin, Internet or paper to tell him what was happening throughout the realm. Today there was food, tomorrow there might be none. It was unpredictable and often frustrating. Julian spent most of his time on Earth, so it didn’t bother him too much.

His friend walked behind him, using Julian to block the wind. Pointing up ahead, he waited for Thom to catch up, “We need to turn north there. Only have a few more blocks to go.”

Thom nodded, “Lose the skin before we get there. Peter will hear you a mile away.”

Julian grinned and stripped it off, holding it out in the wind. It reminded him of an immense flag, like they flew above ships on Earth. Feeling it slap about him, he let it go, the wind yanking it up over the rooftops.

It was strange to be back. The homes looked forlorn here. Their Philadelphia counterparts were filled with light and people. Here, in Eganene, the buildings were abandoned. The elements were slowly reclaiming the husks. It was ironic, he thought. These structures had come into existence with the witches and were being erased along with them.

Thom took the lead and looked back for directions. The wind made conversation impossible, so he pointed and his friend turned. They went on that way for some blocks, Julian with his eyes down, following the shimmering light that seem to glow from the banks of snow while directing his partner where to turn. He was following a made spell, something even less natural than the witches. The trail was like slime attached to Peter.

Interestingly, a second, pink trail followed his. It was the color of flowers and a strange hue to see in the snow. It tracked Peter’s trail as if glued to his side, the ribbons of brightness intertwining like ropes. He wondered if it was the witch’s residue and his heart skipped a beat.

The translucent paths led him right to Peter’s steps. Surprised, he reached out and touched Thom’s back. The house was well kept. Taking cover in the recess of a nearby doorway, he said, “I didn’t know he had a house here.”

Thom shrugged and went back to his observations. He was watching the upper story. Candlelight illuminated one of the rooms, the glow escaping from inside a privacy curtain.

“He’s up there,” Julian said. “I can feel him. And someone else, too. Their trail followed his.” He paused. “Who else would he have ripped through? It has to be the witch.”

His friend smiled. “I don’t know. I hope it’s her, but whoever he brought back has to be important.” Thom cocked his head.

“Let’s go in,” Julian said.

Thom waved at him. At this point, Julian didn’t care who was inside. Peter was spell-drunk and weak and Julian was going to get what he wanted.

He was going to kill Peter.

“Let’s go,” Thom’s rasped.

Julian shook himself, refocusing on Peter’s house. “You get anything else?”

“He has a girl up there. She passed by the window, but I couldn’t sense anything from her.”

“What if it isn’t her?” Julian worried.

Thom shrugged, “If he’s hiding her, then she has to be important.”

Drawing, he followed his friend to Peter’s door. The lights on the street were dark, the moon obscured by clouds and snow. Comfortable in that darkness, they crept up the porch steps. While Thom attempted to pick the lock, Julian stuffed his hat into his back pocket. Below him, he could see the remains of a shattered pot.

Julian’s heart was racing, pumping blood through his body to make his veins throb with adrenaline. This was his chance.

If Peter had the Radcliff girl, he should have taken her straight to the Family. Instead, he was holed up on the opposite side of town, hiding.

Traitor.

And if they were wrong? If Peter didn’t have her, then he and Julian would need to explain themselves. Julian wasn’t worried about that. There was plenty about Peter that didn’t sit right, particularly his disappearance during the Rebellion. To be safe, Julian had brought some contraband to leave in the apartment. If anyone checked their story, they could say Peter had ties to the Resistance. His corpse wouldn’t argue with that.

Having failed to pick the lock, Thom heaved a sigh. Julian motioned that he wanted to kick down the door and Thom nodded, stripping off his coat. His partner pushed his jacket against the wood, and Julian grinned in appreciation.

Drawing back his leg, he lashed out, feeling the bolt snap in its channel. Because of the dampener, there was little noise. Grinning at Thom, he used a gun to push open the door.

The entryway was clear and Thom waved him in. Julian moved to the right, crouching with weapons ready. He could sense Thom sliding through to the left. Because it was difficult to see, he put his back to the wall and waited for his eyes to adjust.

It was hard to resist the urge to run up the steps and make a hole in Peter, but Julian knew better. Once he could see the outline of the furniture, he began weaved his way through the room. Satisfied, he proceeded to the second room.

The kitchen was small and neat. Julian couldn’t imagine Peter hiding in the cabinets, so he padded back to the entryway. Thom used his chin to indicate that they should go upstairs. Julian gave him a smile, taking the lead.

Ignoring the banister, he walked up the middle of the steps, guns at the ready. When Thom was in position, Julian motioned towards the door. His partner had failed at opening the lock downstairs, but Julian possessed no skill at all in that department. Thom would have to pick it.

There were no pictures on the landing and Julian eased himself against the wall. From here, he’d have a clear line of sight to anyone on the left. Thom liked to be first through the door. It was his right as the older and more experienced partner. But tonight, Julian would have liked to be first.

As Thom’s pick thundered in the silence, Julian wondered what the witch would look like. And Peter’s face! That would be a memory he’d keep forever. There was a clicking sound and Thom looked up. It was time.

Thom turned the brass knob, smiling as Julian smiled with him. It was a grand moment, a perfect day. He lifted his guns into position, focused.

Thom pushed open the door and stepped through to his left. Julian had a clear line of sight, but before he could make out anything in the room, an ear-splitting concussion rocked the room. Within the walls of the house, the explosion reverberated.

It wasn’t Thom’s revolver.

His partner’s gun answered. Julian head split, threatening to bring him to his knees.

No time!

He made his move, ducking into the room and stepping to his right to use the door as cover. Processing everything at once, he saw Peter hidden behind a dresser and Thom on the ground, his partner’s blood pooling on the floor. Julian even had time to pull his guns into position.

Then, there was only a sharp pain and darkness. He never saw the blow that struck him. Like an avalanche, his body crumpled to the floor, his head ricocheting against the floorboards.