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Elliot’s phone buzzed as soon as she slipped back into her room. Melinda, her roommate, had sent her a shotgun blast of messages.

“I put your laundry in your room. I could have left it on the floor but I was feeling nice.”

Elliot rolled her eyes. Sure she was.

Indeed, a heap of clothes were left on her bed. Elliot poked them. Still damp. Of course they were. She grabbed hangers out of her closet and began to hang her shirts up in her bathroom. She opened up a YouTube stream of music, “Chillhop beats to relax/study to,” because there was no “Calm the fuck down beats to hang up your laundry after your shitty roommates dumped them in your room too early” mix. That was a completely different raccoon.

Her bedroom door opened again. She thought about slamming it shut with — well, she guessed she was calling it magic now, but reminded herself she needed a place to live. She stuck her head out of the bathroom.

“Oh, you’re home.” Melinda stood about five steps into her room, looking for all the world like she wasn’t trying to be sneaky. “Next time you’re going to leave your laundry in the dryer all night, at least let us know.”

“I forgot,” Elliot said. “Sorry.”

“I’m sure you did,” Melinda said. “Like you forget to do the dishes, or take out the garbage, or clean up anything at all.”

Elliot felt the fur prickled on the back of her neck. “What- I do the dishes all the time. I take out the trash ALL THE TIME, even and especially after your shitty parties, which, by the way, none of that garbage is mine.”

“Some of it is.”

“Not three bags full of shitty beer,” Elliot said.

“Right, just your weeaboo coffee in the fridge.”

Elliot narrowed her eyes. “First of all, it’s like four cans at any given time. And second, how do you even know that word?”

“Anyway,” Melinda said. “It won’t be an issue for long.”

Elliot turned and went back to hanging up her laundry. She tossed a few pairs of underwear over the shower curtain rod, and picked up crumpled pair of jeans. Oh, come on, she thought. These will take forever to dry. She’d hang them up outside, but the misty season was just starting. She laughed to herself. Hi, I’m Misty Jeans, welcome to my smut emporium.

“I heard you lost your job.”

Elliot’s ears flattened on her head. She narrowed her eyes again and turned back to Melinda. “Where did you hear that?”

“It’s all over the news.” Melinda took a few mores steps into Elliot’s room, trying to look like she was a concerned parent trying to understand a D+ on a report card. “Kingway, right?”

“I’m actually shocked you remember anything about me. I need to sit down.”

“I’m sure you’ll come up with the money soon. Find a new job. There’s plenty out there you could do. What about barista?”

Elliot stared past her, watching her door carefully. “I’ll find a job.”

“Clearly you’re worried about it. That’s why you’ve been out all night.”

Elliot stared.

“If you don’t pay your share of the rent, we’re going to kick you out.”

“You’ve already got your money. You had no problem cashing that check.”

Melinda nodded slowly, considerately. “Let’s put it this way then: There’s four of us in this house, and one of us has an arrest record.”

“Is it you?” Elliot asked. “Too much fun at homecoming? Couldn’t keep your clothes on at Mardi Gras?” Elliot raised an eyebrow. “Arson??”

“We heard that cops took you in last night. We can’t have someone in this house that is dangerous, like you.”

This was starting to push a very specific button. Humans had ideas about the furs around them, based on ancient fables from when humans and furs interacted less. If she started about the black mask of fur on her face…

“They wanted a statement,” Elliot said. “I wasn’t arrested. I saw something and the cops wanted a statement from me.”

“Sure, buddy,” Melinda said. “Just something me and the girls have to think about is all.”

“Well,” Elliot said. She tried to think of something else, but she was just so tired. She put another shirt on a hanger and hung it in the bathroom.

The sound of an empty can hit the ground. Elliot looked out again. It was her Japanese coffee, coffee she bought in the International District when she had had a little surplus of cash. Melinda stood purposefully over the can, watching Elliot’s reaction carefully.

Elliot said nothing, but death stared at Melinda.

“Call it a little preemptive counter theft,” she said. “We have to protect ourselves when you leave. Who know what might disappear-”

Elliot concentrated until she felt the door and slammed it shut. Melinda spun around.

“Hell of a breeze outside,” Elliot said. She reached out up the stairs, farther than she ever had before, feeling around until she found the fridge.

“What-” Melinda said. Upstairs, the sound of beer bottles clattering to the ground broke the silence. Melinda shouted and flung Elliot’s door open. She darted upstairs. Elliot carefully hung up another shirt.

Upstairs, Melinda shrieked. Concentrating, Elliot found the sink and turned it on. She felt around for the dish hose and, not knowing where Melinda was standing, began to spray the area wildly. Melinda shrieked again. Elliot laughed to herself. She caught herself in the mirror, noticing a small trickle of blood from her nose, and she looked fucking metal. She laughed again and wiped the blood away.

“I don’t know how you did it,” Melinda said from her doorway. “But I know you did it, you fucking mutant. You’re out of here. I’ll call the fucking cops.”

Elliot looked at her, leveling her shoulders. “You’re right. I have, what, a week and a half left? So let’s discuss that.”

“Fuck you,” Melinda said. “I’m not listening to a fucking pel-”

“You finish that and I’ll set you on fire with magic,” Elliot said.

Melinda stammered. “You wouldn’t,” she said. “You can’t.”

“Ask somebody,” Elliot said.

Melinda’s eyes went wide, and she fell back into the hallway.

“I’m going to find a place to live. Meanwhile, don’t touch my stuff. Cool?”

Melinda nodded.

Elliot slammed her door closed again.

She felt dizzy and collapsed onto her bed, panting, her heart racing. She felt for her phone and instantly texted Z.

“I did a bad thing and I need a place to stay.”

Z responded instantly. “I’m at Vic’s Garage. Come meet me and we’ll figure things out. Wait, do you need me to get you? Do you have your stuff?”

“My stuff will be fine for a minute. I’ll be there soon.”

---

That night, Elliot made herself comfortable on Z’s couch. She and Ty had gone with her to collect up her things, which fit neatly in Ty’s trunk. In some ways, Elliot felt disappointed that her life was barely more than a suitcase full of things. But she also felt relieved to be escaping as quickly.

Ty got them to Z’s, a modest one bedroom in the Central District, gave Elliot a reassuring hug, and left them alone.

“It’s not much,” Z said, handing Elliot her own key to the building and the apartment. “But the Internet is fiber and my neighbors are pretty cool.”

“It’s really nice,” Elliot said softly. “Thank you.”

Z smiled at her. “My pleasure.” She went to her kitchenette and turned on an electric kettle. “Want some tea? Gimble has an amazing tea source. I got some great stuff to calm you down.”

Elliot nodded. She pulled her knees to her chest and hugged them.

Z fetched two cups from her cabinets and set them out, preparing the tea in its own pot.

“Have you given the group any more thought?” Z asked.

“I super don’t want to talk about that right now.”

“Fair,” Z said. She poured hot water into the teapot. “It’s a standing offer, so whenever you’re ready, let me know.”

Elliot stared at the wall. “I shouldn’t have done that to Melinda.”

“You did nothing that you can’t deny,” Z said. “So that’s like really good on your part.”

“Ha,” Elliot said. “I feel awful about it.”

“You stood up for yourself. It sounds like she deserved a punch in the jaw, if not being set on fire. Did you really threaten to set her on fire?”

Elliot looked away.

“You’re amazing,” Z said. She brought Elliot her tea. Elliot set it down on a side table. She looked around the apartment again.

“How is your furniture so nice?”

Z said, “Once upon a time, when I lived in Portland, I had a wife. Bet you didn’t see that coming.”

Elliot shook her head.

“I had a decent job and she did too, and we were able to get some nice stuff and a nice condo before things went totally nuts down there. And then everything fell apart.”

“I’m sorry,” Elliot said.

Z gave her a soft smile and dropped her eyes. “I appreciate it. It happens.” She took a long sip of her tea. “Anyway, she took the condo when we got divorced. I took the furniture. I think I did okay.”

“This couch is nice,” Elliot said.

“It’s very comfortable,” Z said. “Great for sleeping. But if it doesn’t work for you, you could always share the bed with me.”

Elliot gave Z a sidelong stare. “Well this escalated quickly.”

Z laughed.

“I’m not interested,” Elliot said.

“Okay,” Z said. “Just putting things out there. That’s part of the Secret, you know.”

“Ha.” Elliot tried the tea. It was well spiced, and it reminded her of Christmas. And, she had to admit, she felt better, even after that sip.

Z finished her tea. “You’ve had a long day. I’m going to go run some errands and let you have the apartment to yourself for a bit. Chinese for dinner sound good?”

Elliot nodded. “Yeah. Can… can we get some crab rangoon?”

“Do you think I’m just fucking around? Fuck yeah we’re getting crab rangoon.” She stood and patted Elliot on the head. “Text me if you need me.”

And with that, Elliot was suddenly alone. She stretched out on the couch.

Crap. She picked up the phone to text Z, but Z got to her first.

“The WiFi password is MegaButtz.”

“Ha, thanks. Read my mind.”

“;3”

Elliot laughed to herself. She opened her laptop, connected to the wifi, and began an episode of Emerald City Paranormal. A moment later she was asleep.

[g]

Back to Part 04 — Chapter Index — Forward to Part 06

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Back to Part 01 — Chapter Index — Forward to Part 03

Officially, Elliot was not under arrest. Officially, she was a witness, and the police wanted a statement. Officially, they could keep her there for days and no one would miss her.

Elliot waited in the cramped interrogation room. She knew how this would work, and she opted to nap instead of sweating out when the detectives would show up. The door opened with the smell of stale cigarettes and staler coffee. She didn’t bat an eye, but her ears perked as the chair across from her was pulled out. Elliot lifted her head, meeting the gaze of the cat in front of her.

The cat was orange, with a inverted white V of fur running from the top of her head to down below her neck. She wore a dark blue suit and looked well composed for stupid o’clock in the morning.

“You’re not my lawyer,” Elliot said.

“I am not,” the cat said. She opened a manilla folder and began to examine the papers inside. “Technically, under the Hunter Act of 1799 I don’t have to get you a lawyer. But you’re not a suspect, we just want a statement from you, and then you’ll be free to go.”

“So,” Elliot started, “I’m not an idiot, I know how this works. Get me a lawyer.”

The cat tilted her head at Elliot. “I forgot to introduce myself.” She retrieved a badge from her pocket. “Special Agent Gabrielle Lebeaux, Homeland Security.”

“What part?” Elliot would have crossed her arms over her chest if not for the handcuffs. Special Agent Lebeaux raised an eyebrow at the cuffs. She dug in her pocket and produced a key, and unlocked them. Elliot rubbed her wrists.

“Department of Extranormal Circumstances.”

“So what, like shitty X-Files?” Elliot said.

“That’s right, the really crappy ones,” the agent conceded.

Elliot stood. Agent Lebeaux watched her carefully.

“I’m not under arrest,” Elliot said. “I’ve been up since five o’clock yesterday. I want to go home.”

“I just need to know what you saw,” the agent said. “I promise you’re not in trouble.”

Elliot took a step back from the table, still rubbing her wrists. She considered this.

“Let me show you what we have,” the agent said. She pulled a photo from her briefcase. It was a blurry picture of Elliot and the woman, and the thing, but that was barely in focus. Elliot tried to concentrate on the thing, but her head started to hurt.

“Look,” Elliot said, “I can’t explain to you what this is.”

“That is you, is it not?” The agent asked.

Elliot stared.

“With evidence like this, we could charge you for releasing a banshee into a population center.”

Elliot’s ears twitched. “What do you do at the Department of Extranormal Circumstances…?”

“Crappy X-Files,” the agent said.

“She called it a banshee too. I thought those were fake. Like stories.”

“What else did she tell you?”

“Just that. And that someone from Scotland brought them over?” Elliot thought a moment. “I don’t even know her name. I don’t… This isn’t about the monster, is it?”

The agent raised an eyebrow.

“Okay, so clearly you know more about this than I do. I don’t even remember how this happened. One minute I’m in Pioneer Square, and the next I’m running from an actual banshee, which I’m told in actuality ARE SHY.”

“Not really the nesting season for them either,” Agent Lebeaux said.

Elliot threw her hands up in the air.

“Nevermind the monster,” the agent said.

“So then who is she?”

“Wrong question.”

Elliot folded her arms over her chest.

“My question for you is, what is her interest in you?”

“I don’t know,” Elliot said. She turned away from the agent.

“You attracted a banshee. Did she tell you why?”

Elliot didn’t answer.

“But you know why.”

“No, I don’t.” Elliot turned back to her. “And I am invoking my constitutional right to a lawyer.” She sat down on the chair, her arms still crossed, and started hard at the agent.

“No need for that,” the agent said. “You’re free to go.” The agent stood up. “I appreciate your time today, Elliot. I’ll escort you out of the station.” She gently but firmly guided Elliot through the police station, and a moment later they were standing on Pine. The agent handed her a card. “If you see anything else weird, call me.”

Elliot gave a half-hearted nod and set off into the city.

The morning sun cast pink light onto the clouds over the trees. Cal Anderson Park was still, and she could meander across Pine, hurrying only at the slightest threat of a number 10 bus, gliding down the street, its trolley poles sparking every so often. The Link would open soon, and she thought of nothing but crawling into bed, pulling the blanket over her head, and sleeping for like eight days.

Her phone vibrated. Elliot checked her messages. The sole message was from Zerina. She opened it.

“How was your night :3”

Elliot wanted to chuck her phone across the park.

“How did you even find a banshee nest?”

Elliot stopped. She nearly dropped her phone. A thousand questions barreled through her mind, a thousand doors opened. A thousand obvious answers reappeared, and waved at her.

Shaking, Elliot responded, “afdagrrega.”

Zerina’s reply: “>:3”

“How long? HOW LNOG?”

“>:3c”

Elliot collapsed onto a bench. “When I see you again I’m going to punch you in the throat.”

“Honk honk”

A car pulled up to the curb in front of her. It was an old BMW from the 70s, the realization of trapezoidal design, and a maroon Elliot was sure made sense at the time. The window rolled down and its passenger hung out of the side. Elliot didn’t look up. She didn’t want or need to.

“Get in, loser, we’re going to Beth’s!”

Elliot moaned, and looked up, right at Zerina’s smile.

“You promised me a punch,” Zerina said.

“I did.” Elliot held up her fist. “Get ready, here it comes.”

Zerina opened her door and got out, letting down the seat so Elliot could climb into the back. Elliot felt her shoulders go slack, and dutifully climbed in the back of the car.

She didn’t know what else to do.

Also, there were bacon waffles to be had. So there was that.

---

Beth’s was always open, and surprisingly crowded for this early in the morning. Zerina asked for crayons and paper right away, and began doodling as soon as they arrived. Ty had driven them there, and she sat next to Zerina in their booth. Ty was wolf, but her large ears and big fluffy tail betrayed some fox in her too. She was tall, her headfur cut close to her head, and she sipped her coffee confidently. She gave Elliot a friendly smile and said, “Sorry about the job.”

Elliot shrugged. “It happens. I’m sure I’ll find something at Lemuria or something.”

“I’ve heard they suck to work for,” Ty said. “Like, they’re a very ‘oh, you don’t want to work 70 hours a week’ sort of place.”

“What else am I going to do with my life?” Elliot asked.

“Literally anything else,” Zerina said, sketching out a sun on her paper. “None of us were born to work, pay bills, and die.”

“Hmm,” Elliot said. “You’re right, that could cut into my YouTube time.” She sat back as her bacon waffles arrived, watching hungrily. She wasted no time tearing into them.

“We’ll find you something,” Ty said. “Are you good at cars? Vic is always looking for Out of Towners.” Her ears twitched, and she looked around. Elliot’s ears perked. Ty leaned a little closer, and quietly said, “you are from Out of Town, right?”

Zerina elbowed her.

“I mean, this is Seattle,” Elliot said. “Everyone is from out of town.”

“True,” Ty said slowly. “I’m from Gateway City myself.”

“Delta City, Illinwah,” Zerina said. “Well, the crappy suburbs thereof.”

Elliot nodded. “Spokane.”

The conversation died when the rest of the food came. For a moment, Elliot just stared at Zerina. She was too tired to process what should have been obvious. Zerina ignored her, obviously so, and Elliot could feel herself fuming.

She thought about what that woman had said. She already had a guide. They wanted her to join them. And she put together things about Zerina, that she could see her when no one else could, that she knew about the banshee, and that she found her this morning.

Was Ty one of them too? She seemed nice enough, but everything felt so weird right now. If Ty suddenly pulled her face off and revealed herself to be a bird person, Elliot wouldn’t have been surprised.

She knew the answers to her questions and she hated them. So she concentrated on the bacon waffles instead.

Zerina and Ty gossiped about other people, other Out of Towners, Elliot assumed, whatever that meant. Ty talked about Vic’s Garage, where she worked, and it sounded legitimately cool. It was all women and/or LGBTQ people, and if Elliot had a car, she would have taken it there. Elliot didn’t have much to contribute to the conversation, but she was happy to listen, and Zerina and Ty seemed happy to have her.

Zerina finished her picture, a smiling sun sinking below the horizon, behind a cloudy sky. It said, “See you in eight months!” And Elliot remembered Autumn was almost there, and thus Seattle’s wet season. She didn’t mind it so much, actually. It was solid hoodie weather, and compared to where she grew up, she didn’t worry about freezing most of the time, or having to shovel snow off of anything. They stuck around Beth’s a little longer, and drove her back when Ty started to get antsy about getting to work.

They dropped her off at the University station, and Elliot settled into a Link seat, right before the rush hour crowd piled in. She closed her eyes and decided she could nap on the way back home.

As she dozed off, she felt something prickle on the back of her neck. Her fur stood on end, and her eyes shot open. She had felt it before, when that woman had arrived. She scanned her eyes over the passengers on the train, looking at all the women she could see. None of them noticed her, none of them stood out.

Elliot closed her hands into fists. She was sure she was being watched. She just didn’t know who was watching. And by the time they reached Capitol Hill the train was full. She watched the crowd shuffle on, and scanned who stayed behind. This time around she caught someone staring, a nerd in a green jacket. He looked like a dog, chubby with grey fur and darker grey headfur. He wore a pair of glasses on his muzzle, and a bandana around his neck, and he was watching her very carefully.

Elliot’s ears perked. Had he gotten on at the University station? Was he staring because she was having a minor freakout? It was about to be a major freakout if he was. She started planning her escape. She went unseen, and watched the nerd carefully.

The train pulled into Westlake, and the crowd piled out. Elliot watched the nerd go, relieved. She slid back in her seat, her eyes closed, and let out a long sigh. But when she opened them, he stood on the platform, watching from a distance, staring right at her. She was supposed to be unseen, but he had locked on to her.

And then the train was out of the station.

Elliot wanted to throw up. She lay back in her seat, looking up at the ceiling and willing her stomach into submission. She closed her eyes, and waited for her stop.

[g]

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