KDBookOnline
Share Us
Garnet loved storms. Every flash of lightning visible from the living room window excited the carbunclo, and she chittered at the rain streaming down the glass. While she put her paws on the sill, someone had taught her to be careful around fragile things, thus sparing me from an expensive repair.
At a little after nine in the morning, my phone rang, and my mother’s cell number displayed. I grabbed the device, swiped my finger across the screen, and answered, “Is Dad still alive?”
She laughed. “Why would I kill your father? He’s useless to me dead. I did beat him a little for the right to call you. We are in Dragon Heights.”
“I recommend a cab. If you get a rental, it might still have wheels ten minutes after you park.” In reality, nobody stole cars like that near where I lived. Other wards had it worse, but I wasn’t about to pass up a chance to worry my mother and drive her a little crazier at the same time. “Please opt against any dramatic entrances. I do not want to explain to my landlady why you’re crazy and that I was the one who shoved you over the edge.”
“I see you’re feeling quite fine this morning. What has you so excited?”
“Garnet is trying to talk to the rain.”
“A chattery chittery noise?” my mother asked.
“Yes.”
“She wants to hunt. Let her outside to play. She’ll enjoy it.”
Huh. I hadn’t realized she wanted to go play in the rain. If she wanted to play, I would indulge her. I grabbed my keys, shoved them into my pocket, and headed for the door. “Garnet, come along,” I called, waiting for the kitten to leave the window. While she protested in a mew, she obeyed.
I released the beast and said, “Don’t go into the street.”
In the blink of an eye, the carbunclo barreled down the steps, aimed for the nearest puddle, and splashed into it. Fortunately, she obeyed my edict to stay off the road, and I closed the door behind me to keep an eye on my pet. “Well, it seems you were correct. I thought cats didn’t like water.”
“Most cats do not. She’s not quite a cat. She just looks like one and mostly acts like one. She’s much smarter than any house cat.”
“I mean, the fact she understands English indicates that’s probably the case. Odd question for you.”
“Yes?”
“Can you think of any reasons why absolutely nobody would be on Shrine Hill except for me?”
There was a long moment of silence. “Can you repeat that? I couldn’t have heard you correctly. Did you say nobody was at Shrine Hill?”
“That’s correct. There was nobody there. I went around the entire place, and there wasn’t another soul on the hill or at any of the shrines. It was an empty forest on a hill. Garnet had a good time, but the entire place creeped me out. I was expecting tourists. Or somebody.”
“There were no shrine guardians?”
I frowned. “There wasn’t anyone there at all. Was there supposed to be? I’ve never been to Pilgrimage Ward before yesterday.”
“Every shrine is supposed to have a representative to teach the history of the dragon clans during daylight hours. Did you tell anyone you were going to the shrine?”
“No, but Cedrick warned me against going there because of all the attacks. I was not attacked.”
“Had they, they would get a taste of my flame, but only for a moment. They would not live longer than that.”
I cleared my throat. “Mother.”
“I see you have not lost your cop voice.”
I opened my mouth to chide her when a burst of wind exploded from the sky, signaling the start of a rain. Spouting curses, I dashed forward, snatched Garnet, and retreated into my apartment, holding her close to my chest.
A moment later, feathers exploded in the air, and thousands upon thousands of rapidly beating wings hummed even over the rain. A riot of color, flashing blue, green, red, orange, and yellow, expanded as the rains turned from mundane to magical. The conjured bodies splashed onto the ground and lay still.
Knowing what I knew of the magic, the sight no longer pained me.
“Kinsley?”
“And today’s rain seems to consist of hummingbirds. Garnet, become a wisp for me, please. It might not be safe for a few minutes.”