Brandywine Investigations by angel martinez

Author:angel martinez [Martinez, Angel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mischief Corner Books

Epigraph Three

Life and death are one thread, the same line viewed from different sides.

– Lao Tzu

Pack Up The Moon

Brandywine Investigations 5

By Angel Martinez

A Nagging Feeling

Chapter One

Beautiful days were a shame to waste on chores or obligations. Azeban threw his head back to soak in the sunshine from the bright October sky. His oversized sunglasses remained politely in place, of course. He'd had a talk with them about staying put while he was in human aspect. Two things he couldn't change when he altered appearances—his eyes were one of those things and humans paid attention to him for all the wrong reasons if he left them uncovered. Gluskabe's fault, of course, though Azeban couldn't stay mad about it after all the centuries in between. Too much to do.

He stood on one of the granite boulders at the top of the hill surveying the piece of city spread out so nicely for viewing with his crow companion, Kaukont, perched on his shoulder. His city. Fine, not his in an ownership sort of way. The death lords had declared New York neutral ground for immortals that year so no one owned it, but it was one of his favorite human places. A squirrel stopped to twitch her tail and chitter at him.

"Don't give a flying squid about your stash, friend squirrel," Azeban told her with a soft laugh. "I'm here to take from humans, not rodents."

That only made the squirrel angrier. She was shouting about not being dismissed so flippantly as Azeban leaped from his rock and half-jogged, half-slid down the hill to where several footpaths intersected. Good thing Gluskabe shrank the squirrels so long ago too. Their anger was dangerous enough now that they were small. He shuddered to imagine them still elephant-sized, as they had been when the world was new.

Human languages from all over stroked his ears. Couples, groups, and families consulted phone screens and took pictures. Kaukont flew down to a spot in the grass, cocking his head to search for insects. Azeban shot him a wink and let out a contented sigh. Perfect. Tourist buffet. He swept off his floppy-brimmed hat, set it on the ground beside him, and pulled out four brightly colored balls from his coat pocket. With practiced ease and his best, brightest smile, he tossed the balls up and down a few times before he began juggling. Some of the humans watched and smiled as they walked past, but no one stopped or tossed money into the hat. Not yet. He didn't expect it yet.

A little boy of about six came up the right-hand path, kicking at gravel as he trundled after his parents in a bored, feet-dragging fashion. He clutched a stuffed pony in one hand and the hem of his mother's jacket in the other.

"Psst! Hey," Azeban called to him in a stage whisper. "Little boy with Fluttershy. Throw me something."

The little boy squinted at him suspiciously, but he let go of his mom, stuffed a hand in his jeans pocket, and threw Azeban a plastic lizard.

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