Page 16 of A Witch Out of Time
Forget magic pussy. This is some Ass Cake sorcery.
As we ran deeper into the forest, I heard the terrified screams of our pursuers echoing off the old-growth trees far behind us. Glancing at Vasi in question, she shot me a wicked smile I could somehow see in the dark. “They woke the Likho,” she simply replied, and I shuddered, remembering my grandmother’s warning about the nightmarish creature worse than any bogeyman.
“Don’t go looking for evil, or you just may find it.”
Vasi abruptly stopped at the edge of a small clearing, and I followed her gaze, although my brain took a good minute to comprehend what I saw waiting for us.
A cow.
A goddamncowwas standing in the middle of a field, deep in the woods, as if it’d been waiting for us to arrive.
Because, of course it was.
“Veles…” Vasi growled, and I suddenly remembered the god of the underworld was also the protector of cattle. Not only that, but it was a sacrificial cow that helped create the boundary between the Nav and the land of the living. Confirming Veles was behind this unexpected appearance, I drew my gun, although I had no idea if my bullets would do shit against a god or his messengers.
The cow cocked its head in what appeared to be amusement, which pissed me off. But before I could shoot myself a tasty steak, I heard approaching footsteps. Not human footsteps or even an animal’s—this was a deafening tread that shook the earth and toppled trees as it drew closer. Adrenaline spiking, I desperately tried to remember anyskazkisabout actual giants while simultaneously wondering if we could catch a fucking break right about now.
I almost laughed in relief when the “giant” who finally broke through the tree line turned out to be Vasi’s chicken leg hut. Turning to my witch, I noticed she looked as shocked as I was by herizba’ssudden appearance, which made me questionhowit had located us. Bringing my gaze back to the cow, I could have sworn it nodded its head in acknowledgment before disappearing into thin air.
As if understanding the urgency, the hut was already lowering itself to the ground so we could climb aboard. Once inside, I could feel it turning in a slightly different direction than we were initially headed before its lumbering gait started up again.
I helped Vasi get Anthia settled into her bed above the stove before collapsing in exhaustion in a chair at the head of the table. Sliding onto the bench at my right, Vasi stared out the window into the night, seemingly deep in thought.
“Did Veles just...helpus?” I broke the silence, causing her to turn those gem-like eyes my way.
“It would appear so,” she mused, her gaze running over me in return, as if taking in all the changes I’d felt as we ran through the forest. “And it would also appear we’ve been summoned to the Nav yet again.”
Dread pooled in my stomach as I realized the god of the underworld may call in his favor sooner than I would’ve preferred. “What makes you say that?” I asked, as casually as I could.
She shifted her gaze out the window again, her tempting lips pursing into an expression of grim resolve. “Because theizbais no longer answering to me, and I don’t know where it’s taking us.”
Chapter 13
Asa
Istared at the spot where Tan had stood for a long time after he disappeared. Part of me wanted to believe his visit had been a hallucination brought on by hunger and confinement. However, his lips on mine had felt very real, as did the pure hatred emanating from him as he’d faded from sight. Hearing those accusations from the man I loved had cut me to my soul. He’d meant every word, and the truth was, I deserved far worse.
How will I ever fix this?
“The same way you’ve tackled every challenge in life, sweet pea.”
“Perseverance,” I answered automatically, almost collapsing at the sound of my mother’s voice and wondering what I had done in my life to be tortured with heartbreaking visions like this.
Warily turning to face her, I readied myself for what would only be an illusion, but, just as with my dream of Savannah, my mother looked incredibly realistic. Instead of her usual conservative khakis and sweaters, however, she wore a flowing, emerald-green dress with a low neckline showcasing a dark teal stone hung around her neck.
Well, that’s a new look!
She laughed at my surprised expression, and the hearty sound made me smile, despite what was happening. “Well, I would’ve said ‘true grit,’ but perseverance works as well.” Cocking her head to observe me, she added, “Taneer didn’t mean it, you know. Men often engage their mouths before their brains are fully in gear.”
I chuckled sadly in reply, realizing not for the first time how badly I missed her dry humor. “He meant it. I can...feelhis emotions now, and there was some serious loathing there.”
My mother clucked as she approached, laying a comforting hand on my shoulder, making me jump at the unexpected contact. “Are you absolutely sure Tan’s loathing was aimed atyou,suge?” she hummed before sweeping past me and heading down a far tunnel, gesturing for me to follow.
I felt her touch me!
Scrambling after her, I followed that green dress like it was a beacon, terrified she would vanish into thin air as Tan had minutes before. In fact, I was so focused on her figure ahead of me I actually gasped in surprise when we suddenly emerged into a bright, cavernous space humming with energy. After days spent in cramped, low-light conditions, I had to blink a few times before my eyes adjusted. When I got my bearings, I could only gape at what I saw.
The domed ceiling towered overhead, with every available surface covered in earth-toned handprints and other rudimentary drawings that seemed to glow from within. It was these cave paintings that illuminated the space. Even as I watched, more images appeared, layering on top of each other in a dizzying, never ending mosaic of dazzling light.
