Infinite Risk (19 page)

“You give me something to aspire to,” I said softly.

And it was true. I imagined Nadine fleeing her home in the night with the clothes on her back. If she could rise from those ashes and reinvent herself as a long-distance truck driver, then maybe I could still save Kian. It couldn't have been easy to find a place to stay or get the training she needed, but from the look of this truck, she was doing well. I'd take heart in her success.

“I didn't do it alone. People gave me a hand along the way, so that's why I stopped for you and your boy. Paying it forward, you know?”

“We wouldn't have lasted long out there.”

Her tone became brisk. “You need hot food and a shower. Lucky for you, I was planning a break at a truck stop in five miles.”

The travel plaza was big and rustic with a restaurant, a driver's lounge, general store, and a fleet of trucks in the lot. There were also some tour buses as Nadine expertly parked her vehicle and then flipped down the sun visor to get something.

Offering me twenty dollars, she said, “That's far less than relative strangers did for me. I'll be here for an hour. If you want to ride on with me, meet back here on time.”

I let out a slow breath. “Okay. Thank you.”

With that, she climbed out of the truck, and we followed so she could lock up. The Harbinger didn't let go of my hand even after we got to the entrance. It was a sprawling place done up in country-style décor with lots of wood and Americana memorabilia, photos of athletes in black and white, men in suits shaking hands. I didn't pause to admire any of the homey touches since I had a lot to do and only fifty-seven minutes left.

First I went into the general store and bought the cheapest clothes they had: a pair of sweats and a novelty T-shirt. Next stop, personal hygiene. But when I asked how much, the woman said, “Nadine already reserved you a shower room. Here's your key, honey.”

I'd expected a dormitory sort of thing, but it was a full bathroom with a lock on the door, clean tan tiles, a sink and mirror, hooks for my clothes, a bench where the Harbinger could wait, plus toilet and shower stall. I got in, pulled the curtain, and undressed. Inside, the place offered the same basic amenities as a cheap motel: tiny soap and shampoo, plus a scratchy towel. There was a plenty of hot water, and I moaned as it sluiced over me.

“Are you all right?” It was the first time he'd spoken since turning into a little kid, and his voice was more than a little disconcerting with me naked and only a thin vinyl curtain between us.

“Yeah. It just stings a little. This is way better, though, don't worry.”

I spent a good ten minutes scrubbing and rinsing until it felt like my skin was raw in certain places. There was no money to spare for soothing creams, however, so I reached out of the shower feeling around for the towel, only to have the Harbinger place it in my hand. That startled me so much, I laughed.

“Something amuses you?”

“This whole situation just feels fairly absurd.”

“Imagine my dismay,” he said dryly. “I never pictured myself playing lady's maid to someone like you.”

“What's that supposed to mean?”

“Just get dressed. We only have forty minutes left before the kindly driver abandons us.”

“She wouldn't mean it that way. I think she just didn't want us to feel obligated to stick with her out of gratitude. But I doubt we'll get a better offer.”

“Unlikely,” he admitted.

He passed my clothing through. Going commando was the only option, but the fleece felt so good on my raw skin that I almost cried. In this timeline, I didn't have clothing to spare; otherwise I would've stuffed these jeans in the garbage can. Instead, I folded them and hoped a good washing could save them. My dirty things I stowed in the bag they'd given me for the items I bought at the general store, and then I was ready to eat.

“See, it's good you're not human, or I'd have to figure out how to feed us both on eight dollars and sixty-four cents.”

“Small mercies indeed.”

After I towel-dried my hair, we headed down the hall, past the store, and into the restaurant. I didn't see Nadine anywhere, but we still had time. She might be upstairs in the lounge watching TV or something.

A busy waitress waved from the counter, where she was topping off a man's coffee. “Take a seat anywhere,” she called. “I'll be right with you.”

The room was pretty packed, a good indicator that the food must be tasty, so I chose a couple of stools at the counter. It wasn't like we had time to linger over lunch. Based on the specials written on the chalkboard, I guessed it must be around that time. I ordered some coffee and a bowl of vegetable beef soup, surprisingly cheap on both counts. Certain franchises would be astonished that $1.09 could buy unlimited refills. My meal came with a basket of bread and crackers, and it was hard not to empty it in the first thirty seconds.

“Doesn't he want anything?” the waitress asked.

I glanced at the Harbinger sitting quietly beside me. “We'll share.”

“Okay, hon. But kids get a free dessert. I'll get him a play mat.”

It took all my self-control not to break out into giggles when she set a battered plastic bucket full of chewed and broken crayons in front of the trickster god. He immediately plucked out a purple one and solved the maze puzzle, getting the goat out of the cornfield.

“Good job,” I said.

“If I can save annoying schoolgirls, why not goats? The sky is the limit.” He kept his voice soft to avoid attention.

Smiling, I devoured the soup, half of what was in the bread basket, and downed two cups of coffee. And when the nice waitress wasn't looking, I ate the small slice of cake she brought for my “son.” Anyone paying close attention would be horrified at what a terrible mother I was, but luckily, the patrons were far more interested in their phones or the game playing on the big TV. Once I finished, I felt almost strong enough to face another round of sudden death against my varied opponents. We made it back to the truck with two minutes to spare, and I wished I could hug Nadine in pure gratitude. She waved away my thanks as we climbed back in.

“Nothing somebody else didn't do for me at one point or another. If you tell me where you're going in the city, I can drop you off.”

“Any bus stop should be fine,” I said.

“Greyhound or local?”

“We're going a long way, so Greyhound.”

“Whereabouts?”

I trusted her as much as any relative stranger, but I was wary of dragging her into my problems. The longer we stayed with her, the greater the chances my troubles could explode all over her generosity. So I resisted the temptation to find out exactly how close she could take us to Pennsylvania.
Of course, on a public cross-country bus, it might be even worse, and those people would just be bystanders who are in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Chewing my lip, I wished I could ask the Harbinger, but he'd clammed up again.

But maybe …

“Should I…?” I whispered.

He nodded ever so slightly.

Yeah, things are already messed up enough. No point in making life more complicated.
I already couldn't stop worrying about what might be happening to Kian in the aftermath of the party. If everyone blamed him for it—
oh, shit. It might already be too late.
My stomach knotted.
No, I can't think that way. Everything will be okay. Right?
But he must be wondering what happened, why I just disappeared, even if people at school weren't blaming him for the crazy shit at Jake's party.

“Pennsylvania,” I said finally, hoping her patience and goodwill didn't run out.

“I'm heading through there on my way to New York.”

Relief surged through me. Now I didn't need to worry about scrounging bus fare somehow. I had been holding on by a thread, trying not to obsess over problems before we got to that point, but it felt like a huge weight slid off my shoulders. The Harbinger squeezed my hand as if he sensed my shifting mood. Wait, not if. From what he'd said before, he did, no doubt.

“Then if you don't mind the company, we'll stick with you as far as you'll take us.”

“It's a nice change and your little one is so well-behaved, quiet as a mouse. Probably skittish around strangers, huh?”

“A little,” I mumbled.

“He'll get used to me. We'll be together for a while yet.”

“Thanks again. You probably don't know Cross Point? It's in northern Penn.”

“I'll find it. I can't promise door to door service, I hate city driving. But I'll get you to a safe bus stop there.”

“You have time?” I thought there were usually delivery deadlines.

“Sure thing. The weather was okay coming through, so I'm ahead of schedule.”

“I wish I could offer to drive to help out, but…”

She laughed at that. “Forget it. I'll be fine. But I do nap from time to time, so you and your boy will have to make do in front. I only have one bunk.”

“No worries. You've already done too much for us.”

“Stop, you'll give me a big head.” She flicked on the radio, making me think she was done hearing what a heroine she was.

Okay, message received.

For like two hundred miles, we sang along with the radio instead of chatting. Her taste in music ran toward oldies, but thanks to Kian, I actually knew some of the songs. Funny how meeting him colored so many of my interactions. By the time we stopped at a rest area, I felt pretty good, all things considered. I went to the bathroom and pretended to take the Harbinger, who seemed less than enamored with all the subterfuge that came with acting like a human child.

Maybe I'll get back to Pennsylvania before everything explodes.

As I emerged from the brick restroom, the killer clown stepped into view.

 

DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA

“Funny how much trouble your pet gets into,” Buzzkill observed. “Though from where I'm standing, you two sure play some twisted games. Jesus. And I thought
I
was messed up.”

His arrival meant all manner of terrible things, but I still choked the urge to laugh. The killer clown had always struck me that way, all carnage and inappropriate humor. Honestly speaking, he'd made an awesome ally when I could trust him not to murder me in the most gruesome manner possible. I froze, sensing that this encounter wouldn't stop at clever repartee.

The Harbinger morphed into the appearance I'd grown accustomed to, when he wasn't pretending to be someone else. At this point, I had been exposed to his aura so much that I only shuddered in discomfort. Or maybe it was more that his strength had been so depleted fighting into that warded warehouse that he didn't have the juice for a powerful display.

“You have an unprecedented fascination in my business,” the Harbinger said.

“Sucks for you. From here, I can tell you're running on empty. You won't win this fight, and I can't end you. So let's save the posturing; just give me the girl.”

Weird. In my experience, Buzzkill was always eager for a battle, but this was the second time he'd tried to reach a resolution through verbal means.
Either he likes the Harbinger or he's wary of him.
But that question didn't change the fact that we were in a bad situation.

“I take it your master gave his blessing.”

“Obviously. How would it look if the boss backed down from some indie asshole who doesn't even play the game?”

Just then, I couldn't factor what it would mean for my mission, but the time had come to stop pretending to be a helpless, normal girl. The Harbinger could burn himself into a shadow trying to fight Buzzkill, and in the end, the clown would still drag me out off by the hair to see his boss, presuming he didn't execute me on the spot. I tapped Aegis and called it to me in a whisper; the bracelet shifted into the glowing golden blade that slain so many immortals in the other timeline.

“What the hell,” Buzzkill said.

“Enough bullshit. Let's go.” I stepped forward.

“Edie.” Actual fear vibrated in the Harbinger's voice.

Ignoring that, I positioned the sword before me as Raoul had taught me, sparing a moment to mentally shake my head over the irony that the Black Watch's training might save me from a murderous immortal as I tried to flee from a kidnapping attempt by the former.
My life has become a Gordian knot.
Yet I didn't feel confident about this fight. Luck let me win last time, and I couldn't count on that again. Since it was daytime, however, the clown wouldn't be able to strike from the shadows. He excelled at stalk-and-kill tactics, so maybe I had a shot.

Maybe.

“Don't stop, little girl. Let's play a game. You show me yours, and I'll show you mine.” Blades appeared in the clown's hands, twin serrated knives that would hack through bone in a messy aggressive slash.

He came at me so fast I barely had time to block, and both knives slammed against my sword hard enough to knock me backward. I didn't make the mistake of rushing him; instead, I readied myself for his next run, and this time, I sidestepped and twirled my blade in a move that would've disemboweled anyone else. But I left my flank open, so his lunging blade opened a long jagged cut on my arm. One minute he was there, and then he was just … gone. Blood poured from my slashed biceps, a white-hot throbbing that affected my ability to guide Aegis. The injury seemed to inflame my weapon, though, because it trembled in my hand … like it was hungry, even for
my
blood.

What the hell did Govannon give me?

Laughter echoed all around us. “This is fun. I can see why you're so desperate to keep her, Trick.”

“You cannot win,” the Harbinger snarled, low. “Not alone. Let me in.”