Tschida lagged behind Luca; Biff hadn’t looked at either of them. He slowed alongside the bewildered officer. The officer didn’t turn or react; he really couldn’t see them!
“Where the hell did you New York boys go?” Biff shouted, his face reddening. He stomped his booted foot and looked up at the sky, as if maybe his prey had somehow found a way onto the eaves.
Oh no. You’re my prey, Biff, Tschida thought. Keeping his footfalls delicate, he plucked the gun from the officer’s loosened fingers.
Biff stared at his now-empty hand. “Huh? What the—”
Tschida tucked the gun inside his waistcoat, which, he discovered, had a convenient pocket. Even if he lost the gun, his gloved fingers would leave no prints.
“This worked then?” Luca whispered once they were out of the alley.
Tschida walked in the direction of Nick’s house, hoping Nick would know enough to follow. “Luca, why can I see you and not Nick?”
“Because,” Trinket said, dribbling rainbows from above his shoulders, “you’re close enough where your Cloak is shared. Blue Baron Oberon is too far away still. But he’s close. I can smell him.” He gave a sharp bark, and in a few moments, Nick materialized as if stepping from behind a curtain.
“That was…” Nick shook his pink hair, as if trying to clear his head. “We got out of there. I couldda taken on Biff.”
“I know that,” Luca said, examining the pink ribbons wrapped along his arms. His garb wouldn’t provide him the same protection against leaving his fingerprints at crime scenes. “But we don’t know what we’re doing at all.”
“Let’s keep quiet,” Tschida whispered. “At least until we’re far enough away. Can they hear us outside the Cloak, Trinket?”
“If they’re close enough,” Trinket said. “It only protects you from view; it doesn’t hide sound or smell.”
Still, Tschida hadn’t thought to gain something as valuable as invisibility. And this was definitely real – his friends nearby, the cool night air, the smell of meat cooking at a nearby restaurant mingling with the strawberry scent of Luca’s shampoo, and the gun lightly poking his ribs. Dreams did not have this many sensations. He had invisibility magic that he could use as he liked. It did not matter what weapon he had if he had this and a gun. Doors Tschida had thought all but barred opened to infinite possibilities. People used knowledge against each other all the time; if he were careful, it would be a simple matter to learn many of the dark secrets of those in power.
“What even are you?” Nick asked Trinket as he batted at the rainbow light trailing beneath the chimaera. “That…tingles?”
“I was gifted with the power of the Rainbow Bridge, too, so I could go back and forth between here and there. Won’t Don be surprised when he sees me?” Trinket did a loop-de-loop, little paws waving in the air.
“We’re going to Nick’s to talk,” Tschida said. They were far enough away now where hushed conversation shouldn’t be a problem.
“Man, this hammer is badass, even with the damned rabbit.” Nick gave it a twirl, the rabbit head on the head spinning, and the ribbons whirling like propellers.
“You have the Crystal Tear of the Rabbit, Oberon,” Trinket said. It seemed the chimaera was going to use their Midsummer Court names when they were in these forms, and that was probably a safer idea to protect their identities. Identities…
“Can others recognize us?” Tschida asked. “Even with a mask, Luc—Titania’s hair is noticeable, and it’s only longer in this form.” Come to think of it, how hadn’t Biff grown suspicious if he’d been looking for a man with purple hair?
“It’s disguise magic,” Trinket said. “If your masks stay on, no one will recognize you. The chameleons contributed to your crystals, too. People only know if you tell them.”
“We tell no one,” Tschida said quickly. “And, Titania, be careful what you touch. Your fingerprints will still be traceable.”
“I hadn’t thought about fingerprints,” Trinket piped up. “But,the magic does help with cameras, too. Jennifer wanted to make sure you were all safe. She spent years on getting this right. But, we need to listen to Puck now. Titania, shout Butterfly’s Blessing.”
Luca flashed Tschida and Nick a giddy smile before he struck a hand high above his head, ponytail billowing on a sudden gust of wind. “Butterfly’s Blessing!” Showers of pink burst from his back, pink, purple, and silver butterfly wings bursting forth. “We…we can fly?” Luca twirled around, trying to get a better view of his wings, but instead looked like a dog chasing his tail. “I think we can fly!”
“I’d rather leathery wings, but I’ll take it,” Nick grumbled. “Butterfly’s Blessing.” His wings were light blue, silver, and pink.
Tschida was the last to spread his, and like the others, they had some silver; the other colors were a predictable dark blue and pale green. “Butterflies aren’t even pets, or at least aren’t the kind anyone forms deep bonds with, short-lived as they are.” Then again, did people form deep bonds with chameleons?
“They aren’t pets, but the Bridge is full of them. They were saddened by our tears, and Jennifer convinced them to aid us.” Trinket rain in circles that took him higher and higher above the rooftops.
Tschida and Luca launched themselves after Trinket, Nick following. Their boots left the concrete, and then there was nothing but night air beneath them and the ceiling of perpetual clouds above. Tschida’s stomach clenched as his head whirled with the rush of power. How easy it would be to steal into an open window, browse through computers, listen to conversations….
“Whee!” Luca shouted, doing a loop-de-loop as pink glitter showered in his wake, as if he were a human sparkler.
“Is there any way to do this without the glitter?” Nick asked, giving his hammer some test swings, arcs of blue glitter trailing behind it. His wings beat furiously to hold him in place.
“No. You’re a magical man,” Trinket said with a yip. “Jennifer knows all about those.”
Tschida peered down at the rows of double-blocks – usually called two-family homes by those outside of this state – crammed together amid the grid of potholed roads. Some of the drooping porches waved thin-blue-line flags, and many of those same houses displayed rectangular signs with the American-flag-patterned eagle logo. At least these abilities would keep them safe from the Janowskis. He’d make sure to pay Jennifer back for this somehow. Why hadn’t Jennifer spoken with him at all? Had Tschida just been dragged along because he was friends with the other two? Even if that were the case, what mattered was he had the powers, and he at least owed Jennifer a thank you.
“How do we get our weapons?” Luca asked. “Puck and I must have something good after Oberon got a war hammer.”
“I just wanted to smash that dumbass cop.” Nick shrugged, keeping pace alongside Tschida. “Then there was this sorta badass hammer.”
Tschida wasn’t fussed about his own weapon, whatever it might be; a gun would serve him well. He’d never been able to have his own after being arrested for attempted murder. Even if the charges had been dropped, the county refused his application. The prison counselor had diagnosed him with a host of issues that made him a “danger.” Why did Tschida need to apply for anything now if he could take what he liked? And a gun would be especially lethal when fired from invisibility.
“Your powers aren’t designed to be complicated.” Trinket bounced through the air to fly over Luca’s shoulder. “You’ll get stronger as you use the ones you have, and you can get creative when you use them.”
“And you aren’t going to give us clues?” Tschida asked, mostly for Luca’s benefit. This was probably Luca’s dream to be out here, like something right out of that Captain Celeste show; Luca would be miserable if he didn’t have some kind of useful ability. Besides, the dog should be doing more than doling out drooly crystals and vague ideas.
“It should come naturally, like Oberon’s hammer,” Trinket replied in his cheery voice, his catlike tail waving behind him.
“That is not helpful. Jennifer sent you to be our guide and you’re giving us platitudes. Next you are going to tell us to believe in ourselves or some other message from a children’s book.” Tschida sighed and adjusted his mask. “You expect me to think I want to do something and I’ll have a weapon?”
“That’s all I did,” Nick said. “Thought of smashing something into Biff’s head, and bam! Hammer!”
“There’s something off about your energy, Puck, so maybe you’ll have more difficulty.” Trinket flitted to Tschida and bobbled along in front of him, managing to fly backward, tiny front paws hovering over his round belly.
“There is nothing wrong with my ‘energy.’” Tschida glared at Trinket and ignored the chimaera’s suddenly wide eyes and trembling. He half-expected the little chimaera to try using crystals or reiki to balance his vibes or something like that.
“Sc-scary!” Trinket hid his eyes with his paws.
“What is wrong with Puck’s energy?” Luca asked, turning around to try flying backward like Trinket. He propelled his arms behind him, as if doing a backstroke through the night breeze. It was decidedly less muggy at this altitude.
“Did-didn’t you just see the look he gave me?” Trinket whimpered, still covering his eyes.
“Why are you taking his word?” Tschida asked Luca. “Energy… Next he might tell us about chakra balance or offer some essential oils.”
“I don’t think Trinket’s part of a pyramid scheme,” Nick said with a snicker. How long had it been since Nick had joked around? High school. It had been high school, before Don’s death, when everything had come undone.
Trinket darted over to Luca and wrapped himself in the long ponytail. “Keep watch on him.”
Don’t watch me too closely. I want to dismantle this entire county and make it mine. I want to pull all the strings.
A fan of glowing green cards suddenly appeared in his right hand. He turned them; the backs depicted green crouched dogs. The face cards displayed the three of them – Titania as King, Oberon as King, and Tschida as the Joker. The Jacks, however, looked like normal cards, but trinket’s bright purple face smiled from every Ace.
“I’m ready to play poker,” Tschida murmured. Was he supposed to do fan fighting? Would he just know how to do it?
“I’m all in!” Nick said with a laugh, all the anger gone from his face.
“Maybe you have that power, considering you like to spend time at the casino,” Luca said, looking over his shoulder. He couldn’t keep the disapproval from his voice.
“Unlike your father, I don’t gamble at all.” With card counting skills, he was assured he’d be leaving richer than when he’d entered.
Nick flew between the other two men. “Dude, next time I meet a girl, I’m taking her flying!”
“Remember to keep your identities a secret!” Trinket poked his head out of Luca’s hair to caution before Tschida could. “As soon as you remove your mask or give someone your name, they know.”
“You’ve told us this already,” Tschida said, peering at the normal Jacks. They seemed so out of place in this deck.
“All our magic has limitations. Like Chameleon Cloak will disappear if someone touches you, or when you attack,” Trinket said. “Now, tonight, you three will meet your first enemy. Or second if we count the cop.”
“What are we fighting?” Nick asked. “We going after some Janowskis? I’ve been waiting to—"
“No! We’re starting out small. I almost got shot by one cop. We have one glaringly important issue to take care of first,” Trinket yipped, rainbows swirling from his wings and ears as he flew above the three. “When I have to be here, I need a place to stay. Titania’s apartment doesn’t allow pets.”
Tschida closed his eyes and took a deep breath. This was absurd. While he couldn’t argue with Trinket’s logic about their lack of experience, dealing with a landlord was a waste of time.
“How is this a Midsummer Court problem?” Luca asked. “Stan isn’t going to give in. Jennifer and I tried to sneak in so many strays when we were kids. Stan didn’t even care if they were dying or injured. He was worried about the shag carpeting.”
“Trinket can stay with me,” Tschida said. He owned his own building, after all. His parents had purchased it for him and his butler before he was exiled to Anthracite City. He’d been renting out the other side to an elderly couple since shortly after he’d moved here, precluding him from giving Nick the offer to live on the other side. With the pet matter resolved, they could spend their time on a real threat instead of fighting a landlord who also ran a pierogi shop.
“I am not staying with Puck!” Trinket’s rainbows changed from waves to sparking zigzags. “I have to stay with the leader. And Jennifer has it out for Stan. He owns a lot of apartments, and none of them are pet-friendly. Humans here lose their homes all the time! They get old and can’t manage a house. Pets go to shelters. They get sent to the Rainbow Bridge. There are fifty-seven pets at the Bridge because of Stan alone. You must defeat this murderous human! Show no mercy!” The rainbows turned into prismatic lightning bolts and Trinket’s lips peeled back to display his small white teeth.
What was wrong with Tschida’s house? Why did this chimaera distrust him? He’d loved Jennifer. He loved Luca and Nick, counted their lives more precious than his own. He’d make this county his empire so they could all thrive.
If he had the secrets of those in power, they’d dance to his tune.
“Are you telling me our first job as heroes is to murder a landlord?” Nick stopped flying to hover and pass his hammer from palm to palm.
“I never said murder.” Trinket shook his head and paused to lick his crotch in frustration. How was this their guide?
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