The Obsidian Mirror by K.D. Keenan

Author:K.D. Keenan
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781626818132
Publisher: Diversion Books
Published: 2015-04-30T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 20

“Where are we?”

Kaylee rolled over. Another odd dream. So many odd dreams…

“Hey. I asked where are we?” said Chaco.

Kaylee opened eyes that felt sandy and sore. She knuckled them and peered up at Chaco, who was looming over her.

Kaylee sat up. She had fallen into exhausted sleep after Chaco finally freed her from his grasp and slipped into blissful unconsciousness. She had been perfectly happy to sleep on the carpet under borrowed blankets, leaving Chaco snoring on the couch and breathing tequila vapors into the early morning air. Now she was stiff and groggy, and she hurt in odd places. Her left cheek, which had rested on the carpet, felt chafed. She sat up.

“We’re at Rose’s house. Do you remember anything that happened?”

Chaco stopped looming and sat on the couch, looking confused. “No. I guess I don’t. What happened? Who is Rose?”

Light streamed in through Rose’s glass wall. It was still a bit foggy, but the mid-morning sun poured through the redwood trees in glowing shafts, highlighting the moisture that still clung to the trees’ flat, dark-green leaves, making them glitter. Kaylee located Fred by the bubbly snores coming from under a jacket that Rose had loaned him for the night.

“I’ll tell you all about it,” she said, “But I hope we can get some coffee first. Why don’t you wrap that blanket around yourself? You look kind of cold.” She got to her feet and went to the kitchen while Chaco was taking her advice. Rose might be a traditional woman in many ways, but her coffee maker was up-to-the-minute, and she had thoughtfully filled it and set the timer the night before. The carafe was full of fresh, hot brew. Kaylee found two mugs and filled them, gratefully breathing in coffee-scented steam. She and Chaco removed themselves to the table on the other side of the room from the sleeping Fred.

Chaco took a generous mouthful of coffee and swallowed. “So what happened, Kaylee?”

Kaylee explained about Tzintzimitl and finding Chaco in that strange, frightening condition. She told the entire story, right up to his embrace after briefly regaining consciousness. He looked down into his coffee mug with a small smile on his lips.

“So you don’t remember that?” Kaylee asked.

“No,” admitted Chaco. “What a shame.” He looked up at her with clear eyes and grinned. Kaylee, after a slight stab of annoyance, grinned back.

“So, do you have a hangover?” she finally inquired.

“Avatars don’t get hangovers,” he responded. “Why would I have a hangover?”

“Because Rose poured half a bottle of tequila down you last night.”

Chaco nodded without surprise. “Just the thing. Good that she happened along." He shuddered and clutched his mug. "I truly am deeply grateful. I can't even think about what I might have become if it hadn't been for her. And you. And Fred." He smiled his devastating wide grin at Kaylee, but his eyes were serious.

“I don’t think she just ‘happened along,’ Chaco,” she told him, and then a realization struck her anew like a bucket of ice water in the face.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.