Chapter 25

-Aisha-

I almost lost Taylor in an alleyway before catching a glimpse of her distinctive hair.

I figured she probably wasn't actually trying to lose me since I could still recognize her and all that, and if she really didn't want me tagging along she'd have just done that Jedi mind trick thing of hers, but that was damn close to an accidental success.

Seriously though, how is having legs that long fair? I have to take two steps for every one of hers on these moonlit strolls of ours. Well, not this one - last bits of waning moon tonight, but in general. I mean, not really, I'm not that much shorter than her, and it's pretty fun as far as exercise goes, but still—

I bounced off her back. Apparently, she'd stopped, and she was fairly hard to budge even for her twiggy frame.

Glancing around, it looked like the reason our walk got interrupted was Taylor turning a corner and seeing... a parked cab? My reality-challenged BFF stood there all frozen and shit for a few seconds, then leaped back around the corner, dragging me by the arm. Huh, I wonder how much she can lift? I let her pull me around the corner… though she coulda dragged me in a somewhat wider path.

Rubbing the back of my head where it'd bumped the bricks, I glanced at Taylor. Her eyes were wide open, she was deathly pale and not even breathing… oh, right, those last two are normal. Though her not breathing was usually more forgetfulness than fright, from what I could tell.

"What's wrong?" I whispered.

She just shook her head mutely, still on the verge of panic. I took the chance to stick my head out and look around. I didn't see anyone around, besides the cab's last passenger going on his merry way. The driver had slouched back in his seat, one arm placed across the rolled-down window. He was a pale man, with dark hair and sunglasses. Sunglasses at this hour?

That thought didn't get anywhere before Taylor dragged me back around the corner by the collar.

"We must go, we must go," she whispered urgently, dragging me away. "Before He sees us."

I could practically hear the capital letter, but let her drag me away despite my curiosity. About half a block later, she finally calmed down.

"What was that about?" I asked her, looking around.

"'Tis better not to stare too deep into this abyss, lest it bite. Let us put this many steps behind us - for though this night is long, it is not yet eternal."

I shrugged as she got back on the path towards that Empire warehouse we were going to spy on and followed her. One thing was sure, though. 'The night is not yet eternal?' I can never tell Lisa about this. She'd lose her remaining marbles.

I am so telling Lisa about this.

Taylor didn't even take fifteen minutes to wander off again (and the doc said I have attention problems…), leaving me alone, on a rooftop, behind an air conditioning unit, with three Wards on that same rooftop. I'd probably be madder about that, especially since the psycho bitch that shot my brother was with them, but I was kind of entertained watching as some girl snuck up on the Wards like a cartoon ninja with the exaggerated tippy toe shit. They all stopped and bunched up as Kid Win put his hand to his ear. "Come again, Console. What was that?"

"Greetings!" Taylor shouted, now recognizable again and standing just a few feet in front of Kid Win who almost toppled off his hoverboard in shock. Heh. Cute. I crept out of my cover, confident that they'd surely have their attention fixed elsewhere.

"Woah-" He steadied himself, trying very hard to ignore the hand that was being waved in his face. "Uh- Hi?"

Sadly, after taking a closer look, I decided that the boy Ward closest to my age wasn't much good as eye candy. The hoverboard thing was pretty cool, but he was kind of scrawny and… meh. Too bad, so sad. But life goes on!

Vista sighed. I glanced over, but she was like… what? Twelve? No thank you, I refuse to be the older "responsible" one. Ever. "Yes, Console, we see... her..." The chipper, too eager to please tone didn't really do her any favors either, even before she trailed off a bit at the end, sounding confused.

Probably because Taylor had stepped towards her and started waving enthusiastically even before she'd finished.

"And greetings as well to the Pun That Walks!"

"Oh great, it's the crazy bitch again," Shadow Stalker stage whispered. Ugh… Life would've been so much easier if she tried to nail my brother the other way, but nooo, he had to wind up with the no-fun kind of crazy stalker— Wait.

Wait a fucking second. I know that voice.

I moved around behind her and confirmed. Right height, right build, right voice, and of course… the right "have a look at all my fucking mental issues!" attitude. Well… fuck, of course it's her. How in the hell did I miss that? I mean, fuck, I'd followed the bitch home often enough trying to catch her plotting against Tay.

Shadow Stalker, that Sophia bitch from school apparently, slowly slid her hand towards her little crossbow. Her hand closed around the handle, but she didn't fire, and I saw the perfect opportunity to prank her. She used tranq bolts - there was no way these things weren't expensive and always accounted for. If she happened to lose them… and hey, there's nothing wrong with me finding them on a rooftop.

Just before I got to her, I realized there was gonna be a tiny problem in this plan. Not with the crossbow, Taylor could totally handle that even if it was drawn, and besides, her earlier step towards Vista had put Kid Win between them. No, the problem was that while I could easily reach the top of her arrow holder thing, I couldn't lift them up and out without tugging them sideways which would make her notice something was wrong. I thought so, at least. People usually noticed when I tugged on their shirts, and this would probably be like that and if she turned around then I'd be caught on camera. Also, I was gonna have to ask what those arrow holder things were called when we got back to base. I think I want one.

Fucking. Tall. People. And not in the fun way either.

I mean, seriously, she was Taylor tall, and not half as twiggy. I looked around the rooftop for a bit before spotting the pile of bricks sitting over by the building's exhaust vent.

A low snarl came from Sophia as I turned and walked over to get it. "No shit, Clocks, of course she means you." What crawled up her ass and died?

Vista's arms crossed as she glared at her teammate and I was glad I wasn't still right behind her, or the game might be over already. Carrying an armful of bricks over, I heard Kid asking Taylor if there was something they could help her with and it took all of my considerable awesomeness not to start laughing.

"I do indeed wish to beg a boon of thee!" Taylor nodded. "A thorny conundrum is had, and I seek the wisdom of those with more experience in such matters."

Completely ignoring Shadow Stalker's muttered, 'well she's fuckin' bonkers,' Taylor casually stepped to the side again at the same time Sophia shifted a step forward, keeping Kid Win between them. I glared at her anyway. Well, mostly I glared at her stupid cape. The 'smack me' sign I'd brought wouldn't have the same flair if it wasn't taped directly to her ass and moving her cape would be a pain.

Vista, apparently noticing that Taylor was directing her question at her, stood up a little straighter. "What's your… conundrum?"

Putting the last brick down on the stack behind Shadow Stalker, I climbed on top of it. Foot tapping, she still had one hand on her crossbow, but hadn't pulled it out yet. Her other hand was on her ear, and while I couldn't hear what was being said to her, it looked like it was pissing her off. Not that that's all that hard to do. I rolled my eyes.

"Oft times in stories on the open wire, a world is wrought anew but for simple lacking. If a nail is of no help this night, but perchance a bit of twine could stop some foul thuggery, would it not be better to seek the watchmen's aid?"

"...What?"

"You need a piece of string?" Vista's head tilted. "To stop a crime?"

Taylor nodded, but frowned. "Yet were ever an omelet to be made, the eggs must surely protest, no? Doubly so I fear this may go, for watchmen forced to give chase in laceless boots. So if this shadow must offend, what thoughts might let all mend?"

"You want our shoelaces?" Vista looked down at her feet, then at Taylor's. "Can't you use- You're not wearing shoes!"

I paused my attempts to get a good angle on Stalker's bolts to check. Sure thing… Coulda sworn I saw her put a pair on before we… Nope. Not gonna worry about that right now. Shaking my head, I took the arrows out of Shadow Stalker's arrow holder thing as Taylor frowned all expressive-like, waving an arm out towards the city. "Yon city has no lack of causes, lost and noble both, and foul thuggery abounds in spades. To stem the flow of evil, all must play their part. Mine own boots are no exception."

Arrows in hand, I made my way back around behind the air conditioner.

"Well then. Hmmm…" I heard Vista sigh as I poked my head back out. She sat down on Kid Win's board and stared at her boots in silence for a long moment, but I noticed her tilt her head as if listening to something. Ah, radio. Of course. "Really? I mean… I guess that it'd be okay?" She reached down and tugged on her laces.

"Ah…" Taylor stopped her with a raised hand. "'This conundrum is but a metaphor. I need not deprive thee of thy twine this night, but sought instead to clarify that petty acts and nuisances might be overlooked for greater gains. In thanks to the Lady at Arms for her insight, and the both of you for your patience in relaying her words," Taylor bowed dramatically, "I offer a token of gratitude."

She pulled something out of her pocket, and I recognized the golden sphere with wings. That's the nerds' camera!

She gently tossed the lifeless device to Kid Win, who managed to catch it after a bit of fumbling. "One more thing, a friendly gift - this humble wanderer offers you a warning." She dropped her voice to a stage whisper, one hand to the side of her mouth. "You are being followed by an evil spirit." Ending with a quick nod as if that was that, Taylor dashed off at full sprint without waiting for a reply. "Beware the Blackhearted Shadow that stalks you!" She shouted over her shoulder and then dove off the roof before Shadow Stalker had even finished her angry shout.

The bell above the door jingled as I set foot inside the shop. It was rather poorly lit, all things considered, covering the various trinkets in shadow. I cast a look around for a worthy prize—

Okay, I've been talking to Taylor too much lately.

Chuckling to myself, I scanned the shelves. Most items on display had a very… "Ancient China" look to them, but I could see a couple of things closer to home.

"Welcome to The White Cloud," a voice spoke up behind me while I examined a paper talisman with symbols I was sure I'd seen someone have a tattoo of. I most certainly didn't yelp or nearly let go of my power. An older Chinese man was standing behind me.

"Oh, hi. A friend recommended this place. Said you have some interesting things for sale," I told him. That was even true, though I wasn't quite sure why Taylor asked me to come back here in the daytime and do the shopping for her. She didn't even tell me what it was in more detail than 'it will catch your eyes like a thief'. She then hastily added that I should not actually steal anything from here.

"Yes, there's certainly something for everyone here," the man agreed with a hint of pride in his voice. "Either what they want, or what they've earned."

Not creepy at all. I wondered for a moment if Taylor avoided this place because the shopkeeper was stealing her schtick.

I'd made my way through most of the tiny shop - no way some of that stuff was legal - before my eye caught on a collection of masks. One in particular seemed perfect for… Heh. I remembered what she told me when I noticed her getting lost in thought before we went out tonight.

'A choice I've made before, and will make again. This time, at least, I've had the moons to think it over...'

I grinned. So that's what you meant, then.

Five minutes later, I was out of the shop, the mask in my backpack.