Chapter 41: Chapter Sixteen: The Testament of Shana MacArthur

As Reli ran out the door, Miki got one last shout “Reli stop!” before disappearing into thin air. 

“Shit, shit shit! Fuck!” I leapt from the cot and doubled over to the table, picking up Michael’s carta, “the hell just happened?”

“We had a fight, and she stormed off, it’s exactly what you saw,” her voice spoke to me from the card.

“Yeah, no shit, I mean what the hell were you fighting about in the first place.” 

She was silent for a moment, before answering, “ask the harlot.” 

I rolled my eyes, and groaned, What are you jealous of Josie now? You’re fuckin kidding me right?, “I don’t have time to talk to her about this. Damn it!” I threw back on that stuffy gross poncho and put the wide straw hat over my head.

“Where you goin?” Naomi asked, as if it wasn’t obvious.

“Kid just ran off, no disguise, and no carta, where the hell do you think I’m going!” I looked around real quick, and settled on grabbing Delun’s sword to use as protection. 

“Hey, that’s mine,” he somehow was able to protest in his drugged state.

“I need it,” I answered back sharply and ran out the door. I had to do a double take, trying to figure out which way she went, and made my best guess before running down the street in a random direction. Shit shit shit! I just kept repeating over and over in my head. My brain was a wreckage of worried thoughts, all I could form were those words among the chaos of scenarios that tried to play out in the theater of my mind. I pushed back all the gruesome scenes that popped up, and just tried to focus on my own hurried footsteps. 

“My love, should I fly up and see if I could spot her?” Gabby suggested.

“You crazy? They’re looking for witches, remember? Last thing we need is you getting spotted.” still running, I tried not to bite my tongue as I shot down Gabby’s idea.

“I will be too fast for them to see me, besides, Ael rarely look up.” 

I slid to a halt and sighed. “Fine, make it quick!”

Without another word, Gabby sprung forth, and flew high into the air. She scanned the streets while she hovered there in the sky, before pointing, “She’s to the west, by a bridge!” I took off in the direction she called out, and Gabby disappeared. 

“I’ve never seen Reli act so impulsive, she’s lost her senses.” Miki clicked her tongue.

“Yeah, I wonder who’s fault that is.”

“It’s that Josie’s fault, not mine.”

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“Why don’t you shut up already? Damn, I never met a familiar so bossy with their witch.” I growled.

“Excuse me? I am only looking out for her best interest.”

“You ever think that maybe you don’t always know what’s best for her?” 

“You wouldn’t understand, you’re just an Ael.” Miki huffed.

“No, I agree with Shana,” Gabby pipped in, “I understand your intentions, Michael, but your thoughts and actions are just as clouded by your own emotions as hers are.”

“Gabr...Gabby, how could you say such things?” Miki gasped.

“Just tellin it like we see it,” I responded.

“You say you want what’s best for Reli, but don’t listen to her when she tells you what she thinks is best. She’s young and we are ancient, but even still we don’t know everything.” Gabby went on, “you need open communication in your relationship. Be willing to hear her out. Otherwise you will accomplish nothing more than angering each other.”

“It’s rich getting relationship advice from a familiar and witch who’ve yet to consummate.” Miki snarled.

“If I didn’t respect Reli, I’d drop this carta right here!” I hissed. 

“Our partnership has its structure, just as yours and Reli’s has its own. Still, no relationship can stand without a sturdy foundation.” Honestly I was a bit surprised, Gabby sounded like a proper teacher. Where was the flirty goofball I was used to? She was right though, and I was relieved to hear her say it. Can’t say I talked alot about that kind of stuff. Maybe I didn’t have much authority to go on, I’m just the loner wandering the Wastes lookin for her next big score after all. Still, it doesn’t take some genius professor of love to see that they needed to have a serious conversation. They were a good team, not just because of their power, but because they just clicked right, you know? I didn’t want to see that fall apart. And yeah, I was weary about Josie getting close to Reli, but Josie isn’t the miscreant I thought she was. She’s, well she’s something special. Maybe if Miki would give her a chance too, she’d see it. Course, I know this poly stuff isn’t for everyone, and I’m not about to tell someone they have to share their partner. Still, I think it’s worth trying if it was truly what Reli wanted. Shit, how the hell did we get to this? Aren’t we supposed to be talking about a heist or something? Oh, sorry, I’m breaking the what now? Narrative. Okay, Hah so that’s how Kara’s telling it.... you’re writing all this down? Well damn, I’ll get back to the story then.

After that Miki was quiet, pretty sure she was contemplating what we had said, though it could also have been that she was just done listening to us. Either way, I ran, I ran hard and fast till my legs ached. Where the hell did you go kiddo? I thought as my feet continued hitting pavement. 

I got closer to the bridge Gabby mentioned, it was suspended over a sewage ditch, and what I saw was worse than shit water. Two inquisitors pincered Reli on each side of the bridge. She backed up against the rail, as they closed in on her. Without even giving it any thought, I drew Delun’s sword and tossed the sheath down. Holding in every instinct that told me to shout as I rushed in on the pair, I skewered one through the back, barely making a sound. 

“Halt witch!” the other turned her attention away from Reli, and aimed her rifle at me. She fired a shot, but I had pulled her companion between us, and the bullet struck them instead. 

“Get out of here kid!” I barked at her, and with an eep, she ducked under the dying inquisitor and ran behind me. 

“So we meet again, Shana MacArthur,” the inquisitor spoke with a distinctly different voice from before. A distinctly familiar voice. It was husky and smooth, like bourbon.

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