Part 12 (2/2)

”Then we run, screaming, and nearly get hit by an unsympathetic car,” Lachesis said.

”Unsympathetic?” Dex asked.

”We were in crisis,” Atropos snapped. ”The driver should have known and been more careful.”

”Then this creature appears in front of us, grabbing for us,” Clotho said.

”Only he got hit by a more sympathetic car,” Lachesis said.

”It took us a while to figure out that we needed help,” Atropos said.

”So you came here?” Dex asked.

”Actually, we'd arrived outside Quixotic, but the doors were locked,” Clotho said.

”We're going to have words with Aethelstan about that,” Lachesis said.

”The restaurant hadn't opened yet,” Vivian whispered.

”I got that,” Dex said.

”That creature attacked us again,” Atropos said, ”and I stabbed him with my shears.”

”Breaking them,” Clotho said. ”I'm not sure what the Powers will think of that.”

The women pondered that for a moment, apparently forgetting to make obeisance to the Powers That Be with that mention. Or maybe it wasn't necessary when the name was shortened.

Lachesis sighed and the others followed, as if her response awoke them all from their reverie. ”Then Clotho remembered Eugenia, only we couldn't remember where she lived.”

”But we knew where Vivian was because we had just gotten her change of address,” Atropos said.

”Right before we left,” Clotho said. ”I believe it was on the very last day.”

”And lo and behold, the address was right here in Porttown,” Lachesis said.

”'Portland', ”Dex corrected, but he was alone this time. Vivian looked startled. She let go of his hand.

He felt the loss. It was almost as if she had, in her surprise, closed herself off from him.

”Change of address?” she asked. ”What change of address? I haven't sent out any forms yet, and I wouldn't have sent any to you anyway, because I didn't know any of you before this morning.”

She sounded almost angry. Not that he blamed her. He remembered when he found out he was going to have magical powers. He had gotten angry too, wondering why no one had told him sooner, why they hadn't made the transition easier, why nothing in his life could be simple.

And of course it had gotten even more complex.

”Oh, you don't send them, my dear,” Atropos said. ”We just sort of know.”

”Or we used to,” Clotho said. They all sighed again.

”And when we came up here and tried to explain what was going on,” Lachesis said, ”we realized that Vivian knew nothing--”

”--and the attacks continued,” Atropos said. ”Which is why we sought you.”

Dex rubbed his forehead with his hand. He was the one getting a headache now. Or maybe he just wished he was so that he could conveniently pa.s.s out on the couch--next to Vivian. Alone.

”What kind of creature was attacking you?” Dex asked.

”Well, it wasn't a creature, exactly,” Clotho said.

”It was a person,” Lachesis said.

”Although he was dressed like a creature,” Atropos said.

”Not to mention he hadn't bathed in--oh-- weeks, maybe,” Clotho said.

Vivian wrinkled her nose. It was a cute reaction. Dex looked at her fondly. She raised her eyebrows at him, as if she expected him to ask another question.

It took him a moment to remember what the group had been discussing. ”Was this so-called creature a man or a mage?”

”A mage,” Lachesis said.

”Definitely,” Atropos said.

”And a familiar one,” Clotho said.

”Sort of,” Lachesis said. ”He was dressed differently.”

”Lots of metal,” Atropos said.

”And he'd lost all his hair,” Clotho said.

”If you recognized him, tell me who he is and I'll stop him.” Dex tensed as he spoke. There were many mages, especially dark mages, who were more powerful than he was, but he had fought powerful dark mages before. And won.

Vivian looked at him sideways, as if she had heard that thought and it surprised her. He extended his hand under the table. She took it.

”We said he looked familiar,” Lachesis said.

”But that doesn't mean we recognize him,” Atropos said.

”That power seems to have disappeared with our magic,” Clotho said.

”And we need it,” Lachesis said.

”Who knew we weren't very observant?” Atropos asked.

Dex knew, but he said nothing. Vivian watched them avidly, her hand warm in his. He loved this instant connection between them. She had a familiarity. It wasn't as if he'd known her all his life. It was as if he'd expected her all his life.

<script>