Wes texts me two things. The first is, see u later goin home, and the second is, messed w some stuff in ur appt but i put it all back dw abt it ok just know i got u. I don't know what Wes has been up to, but I text back a thank you, for her to get back safely, and that I hoped she slept well.

When I get to my complex, Freddy isn't waiting by the steps on its own like I thought it would be; instead, my landlord is standing on the front steps, hands on her hips, clearly scolding the familiar. My foot falters; my shoe scrapes slightly on the sidewalk, drawing their attention. Maimuna's face is stern, but as soon as it sees me, Freddy bubbles into a puddle of liquids, hat still atop them, and slides through the evening shadows of the buildings till it can zoom to mine, where it immediately hides.

“Really,” Maimuna booms, hands on her hips, shaking her head. She’s wearing a patterned dress of muted flowers today, and the years of her retirement have certainly hit her in the faded greys of her bobbed dreadlocks, the wrinkles of her skin, and the roundness of her generous waistline. More time for baking goodies, she’s told me, and more time for relaxing. “Don’t you hide under River. We are not done yet, little one. I’m counting down from 5, and when I reach 1, you’d better be back in front of me, or so help me. 5...4...”

Even by 1, Freddy’s hat doesn’t move. Gingerly, I take a heavy step forward. Then a second. It’s like trudging through sludge. Freddy really doesn’t want to go. “Evening, Ma'am. Did something happen to Freddy?”

“It was slacking on the job,” she says, irritated. She gestures over to the trash cans at the side, ready for collection tomorrow. “Caught it sifting through the garbage on the sidewalk instead of guarding the complex. Can't imagine what it was trying to do.”

I move, only to almost fall over with how heavy I am now. Grunting, I pull myself forward and then up the first set of stairs. It's like each leg has been weighted with pounds and pounds of stones. “You can’t fault it for being curious," I gasp out. I'm panting, hands on my knees. "Did it... Did it find anything?"

“Even if it did, it's no excuse for abandoning its assigned duties." Maimuna shakes her head, pursing her lips. The colour of her dark red lipstick stands out with equally vibrant autumn orange and yellow eye shadow against her skin. "If you let familiars run rampant, they’ll be taking more than you offer them. Doesn’t help that some fool is feeding it snacks outside of regular feeding hours.”

“Oh,” I say, awkwardly. I try to think if I’ve offered Freddy anything whenever I bring home leftovers or go grocery shopping. I'm not sure. Freddy tends to take anything gladly. “Is it bad if it does?”

“Steady diet of magic, and nothing else. They’ll grow human desires otherwise.” Soon as I’m close enough, Maimuna whips a strong hand into my shadow and yanks out a struggling Freddy. “Time out for you, Freddy."

Freddy bubble-deflates a little, looking at me pitifully. I look back at it, equally pitiful, because Maimuna does control my rent. Freddy droops, recognizing that I won't do anything, swaying its little limbs back and forth. A small sad whistle resounds from its half-transparent being.

Once Freddy has been deposited onto the concrete step, Maimuna shoos it to take a few steps back, and then snaps her fingers. At once, a familiar looking very similar to Freddy but with a pink headscarf settles happily, waving long tendrils of shadows at me.

"Oh. Hi." I wave back. It happily mimics the gesture. "What's this one's name?"

"Bambi," Maimuna says, and then when Freddy tugs at the edge of her dress, tsks. "No, Freddy, if you won't do your job, then I have to summon someone else to do it. See? That's how it works." Freddy shrinks a little, and makes another whistling sound. "No, Freddy. If you want the job back, you have to show me you can be trusted. If your behavior is befitting a familiar, I might reconsider for tomorrow. For now, Bambi will take over." Maimuna glances at me. "Oh, yes. Your witch friend, by the way--"

Oh, yeah. First rule with this complex is that we can't bring anyone opposite our alignment; Maimuna doesn't want fights or trouble. "That was Wes. She's not a permanent addition--just. Was helping me through some stuff." Wes doesn't get along with most people because she usually won't make an effort outside of the people she's decided she'll keep. "She didn't disturb you, did she?" I hope not.

Maimuna considers my expression, and then barks with laughter. "Don't worry," she informs me. "She's a good egg. Keep that one."

"Thank you," I say as I climb the stairs. "She's the best. Uh. Have a good night, Ma'am. Freddy. Bambi." The little summoned guardian familiars nod and coo at me, and then I head up.

Exhaustion doesn't hit me till I finish climbing the stairs and unlock my door. An empty home has a way of doing that, I guess.

Flicking on the lights, each step suddenly burdens me with a heavier weight to my limbs. I'm ready to collapse. I head over to the washroom to wash my face and brush my teeth. I shed my clothes at the foot of my bed, and change into pajamas.

My head feels like it's barely been on the pillow when my phone rings. I'm tempted to ignore it, but it's Maimuna on the other end, so I pick it up anyway, groggy.

"Hello?"

"There's a superhero outside the building."

"I didn't do it," I say, automatically, before my brain catches up. "Wait? Sorry, Ma'am, what? Superhero?"

Maimuna continues as if I hadn't been half-sleeping. "I'd appreciate if you supervillains left your nemeses at work. You know my policies."

"I-?"

"No more visits like this. Are we clear?" my landlord asks. "This is an apartment complex, not a neutral zone."

"All...all clear," I say, even though I'm confused.

"Good."

Soon as I hang up, I lay there for a while. Eventually, I sit up, and then drift to the windows. Opening a gap in the blinds with two fingers, I peer through.

"Oh," I say, suddenly awake. "Shit."

It's the Sentinel.