Page 46 of Taste of Fate

“We can’t prove it, but our theory is, our world and the human world overlap a little. Kind of like a venn diagram.” Robin drew two circles on the floor with chalk, overlapping them in the middle with a small sliver. She wrote HW for human world inside one circle and SW for our world, which most called Shyftworld.

“We’re somewhere around here.” Robin drew a small X in the SW circle close to the overlapped sliver. “But sometimes there are shifts.” With a finger, she erased the overlapping silvers of the two circles and re-drew them, making the overlapped portions slightly smaller. “Most people believe the human and supernatural worlds were far more overlapped thousands of years ago. Practically on top of each other.” She drew two more circles off to the side, making their shared area much bigger. “It’s possible that thousands of years ago, crossing between worlds happened far more frequently than it does now. That’s how everyone knows about dragons and vampires, yet they supposedly don’t exist in your world today.

“Also, nobody lives in neat little circles.” Robin tapped her finger on her drawings. “So what we’re probably looking at is more like this.” Her arm went wide over the floor, her chalk making a large, random shape with both wavy and sharp edges. She completed the shape with a single closed line, then made a second, equally random polygon slightly overlapped the first one. “You get what I’m saying?”

Heather had been staring intently at the drawings, then shook her head as soon as Robin posed the question. “You’re fucking nuts, lady. Alternate worlds aren’t real, no matter what your cult leader tells you.”

“Alright, well.” Robin gave her a patient, motherly smile. “Enjoy your breakfast. If you’d like to stay, we’ll prepare a place for you. You’ll be expected to work some kind of skilled trade to contribute to the community. Farming or construction would be ideal, but if you don’t have those kinds of skills, come find me. I’ll find something for you to do. Otherwise,” Robin stood from the floor, brushing chalk dust off her pants, “Best of luck to you, Heather.”

She headed for the double doors with Amy and me on her heels. The doors stayed open, the locking chain piled in a heap on the ground.

“You weren’t kidding.” I rested my arm on Amy’s shoulder. “She’s a feisty one. I just hope she’s not too reckless.”

“She’s scared,” Robin said, sympathy crossing her features. “She’s one of those who lashes out when she’s cornered.” Her eyes narrowed in my direction. “Just like someone else I know.”

I stuck my tongue out. “Only to assholes who deserve it.”

Robin grumbled something that sounded like reluctant agreement to me.

“Do you think Maureen will make pancakes if we ask nicely?” Amy piped up, bringing her arm around my waist. “I think someone’s got a craving.”

“Couldn’t tell ya. She’ll probably ask for some blackberry mead as a bribe.”

“Done,” I said quickly. “Cyan got me a bunch of equipment and I’ve done a few batches of wine already. I’ll start on Maureen’s mead as soon as I get back.”

“Well.” Robin looked at me with muted surprise on her face. “Sounds like you’ve got it good over there.”

“Yeah,” I answered quietly. “I guess I do.”

Chapter 17

Tavia

The day passed by too quickly. Before I knew it, the sun slipped below the horizon and I stood next to the road outside Sapien, waiting for the roar of an approaching motorcycle.

“I’ll text you as soon as I get home.” Amy and I had been attached at the hip all day, and while she waited with me for Cyan, I crushed her in another hug.

“Home, huh?” Amy grumbled against my shoulder.

I had no response, and didn’t even realize I had said it. Sapien had never been a home to me, not really. Had I really found home, and everything that word encompassed, among the vampires?

“You better text me every day,” Amy warned, squeezing around my waist.

“You better count on it, short stack.” I shook my head clear of the meanings of home, resting my cheek on top of her head as I’d done since we were children.

Amy was quiet for a few moments while we held each other. “I wish you didn’t have to go,” she whispered.

I hugged her a little tighter. “You could come with me.”

Her head shook, her hair tickling my nose. “I can’t live with the vampires. I’m not strong like you.”

“Shut up.” I pulled back to look at her straight in the face. “Are they leaving you alone?”

She shrugged and tilted her head from side to side. “More or less.”

“Amy.” Her name left my mouth in a low hiss. “You don’t have to deal with this shit. You don’t have to come with me, but you can leave. Go to the human world if you don’t want to be among the vampires.”

“If I don’t stay, people will starve,” she argued. “No one will take proper care of the animals. No one else will make big batches of soup in the winter when sickness is going around. People could die, Tavi, and it’ll be my fault.”

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