Mimi and Ky: The Beginning

  Chapter 8

  Mimi had been looking out the window since she had stupidly lost track of Henry. How could she? Where was he? And more important, had Ky found what he was looking for? Midnight was fast approaching, and despite what Ky said, she had no intention of leaving without him. She was hoping to see his sleek shape running across the lawn to where the limo was parked; instead she saw Henry, injured—limping maybe?—running. Mimi made a split second decision and ran out the door across the lawn faster than she had ever run before.

  Henry reached the ground under the library window and looked around warily, bloody knife still drawn. Ky had the advantage now. Henry didn’t know Ky’s shapes. If Ky had something small he could be anywhere, and small shapes could be dangerous. Hal himself had a scorpion, a deadly one. He heard rustling and shouting from the party. He walked further into the bushes, every sense on alert, when he heard rushing feet and Mimi’s voice calling his name.

  Mimi came running up to him, shouting, “Henry! Henry, what are you doing?” She caught up with Henry, letting her eyes glance around as much as she dared: no sign of Ky that she could see. She played her best drunk.

  “Henry, what are you doing here? Everyone else is up there!” she gestured erratically toward the noise of the party.

  “Why, Mimi! I’m flattered that you came looking for me.” Henry cursed under his breath, his eyes casting everywhere as Mimi took his arm; he had no choice, he let the knife fall from his hand.

  “C’mon, we’re going in the hot tub and then the pool!” She tried to pretend she couldn’t see that he was distracted, that his eyes were smoldering, his arms were taut. What would she have thought if she didn’t know about him? She glanced sideways at his sweaty, angry, glittering face, his expression of violence. She felt a lump in her throat. A thought ran through her mind on repeat. Please, please don’t be dead, Ky. Don’t be dead. Then it crossed her mind that maybe Henry could read her thoughts. Think drunk, she thought. What does a drunk person say? What does a drunk person do? What does a drunk person think about? She spoke again in her drunk voice. “And then we’re going back in the hot tub…and then back in the POOL!” She pulled at him. “I’ll tell you a secret. Ready?”

  “I just need another minute here,” Henry said. He knew Ky was wounded. He could smell the blood, yet he saw nothing that looked out of place. Could Ky have flown away already? He had the crow. Henry looked up at the sky. Maybe Ky wasn’t as wounded as Henry had thought. The glare from the party made the horizon dark. He didn’t have good night vision in this shape, his human shape. He scanned the low bushes. There was no movement.

  “What are you doing?” Mimi asked loudly, shaking his elbow. “Were you going to pee in the bushes? I’m going to tell!” She had no idea what she was going to say next. She decided she needed reinforcements and called out to the nearest guests she could see. “Somebody bring Henry a drink! And me too. Quick! He’s not having a good time yet, and it’s HIS