Page 1 of All My Hexes (Pine Gulch Ever After)
Shadow
“Train, taxi, or walk?” I glance at Amadala, knowing she’ll have planned every detail of this girl’s weekend.
She erupts into laughter, shaking her head, which sends her long aqua braids swaying.
“Girl, no. It’s twenty miles to town and I’m the only one with wings.
Pine Gulch doesn’t have taxis although there should be a few pickup trucks for hire.
” She waves at the exit all the way across the cavernous, western themed portal station.
“But I was thinking it might be nice to take the train, Mabel.”
Our friend Kingston and I exchange a knowing look when Amadala reaches into her purse and withdraws four sheets of paper. She hands one to each of us as she continues on. An itinerary, I’d bet. Classic Amadala.
“I mean, I assumed we’d want to take the train—Mabel’s pretty famous around these parts. She’s magical, sitting in a time loop so you can ride the train for several hours and see all of this haven. But no matter where you hop on, she arrives every quarter hour.”
I pinch the brow of my nose, trying to imagine how that’s possible with physics. Of course, I’ve never understood how time moves faster inside our warded monster haven system versus outside in the human world. I gave up understanding that a long time ago.
Kingston snorts and elbows my side boob. “Don’t try to figure it out. Just trust that if Amadala says some weird ass magic allows this train to be in two places at once, it will be.”
We share a laugh as Amadala clears her throat, looking between us.
“It’s not in two places at once,” she says with a sigh, rolling her eyes. Then she cackles. “Never mind. You don’t need to know how just that it’s my professional-ish recommendation that we take the train.”
“I vote train, then.” I carefully fold the itinerary Amadala handed me and slip it into my back pocket.
She smiles at me, aqua eyes flashing with excitement.
Our friend Naima sighs, rubbing thoughtfully at her lower jaw tusks. “I wish Lemon could have come. It sucks that she’s stuck prepping for that Introduction Ceremony.”
It’s my turn to snort. “Lemon in the country? There’s not a hot enough male in the entire monster haven system to get her out of the city.”
Amadala chuckles. “And definitely not enough glitter and sequins. I promise she’s happier back home. It’s a huge deal that her father finally let her be in charge of delivering a potions order without his guidance.”
“Facts,” Naima says softly, “but I’ll miss her anyhow. She makes everything a little brighter when we travel.”
I consider Lemon’s unfortunate absence as we haul our luggage out of the portal station to wait out front by a set of worn-looking railroad tracks.
I actually think Lemon would enjoy a little change of pace and she’s always up for an adventure.
There are probably sequins somewhere around here if we look hard enough.
In front of the portal station there’s nothing as far as the eye can see, just fields of tall yellow grass and rolling hills. Lots of blue sky and big, open nothingness.
Okay, maybe that’s a no on sequins…
It’s so incredibly quiet here in comparison to where we live in New York that I almost can’t comprehend it.
Until an unmistakable whistle cuts through the silence, announcing the train’s arrival. We step slightly back as an enormous black and red train roars up over a distant hill and into view.
“So, we’ll board and it’s about an hour to downtown PG, as the locals call it. They’re Gulchers, by the way,” Amadala says. “You might hear them call it the Gulch or PG, either one. But if we say Pine Gulch they’ll know we’re not from here.”
“Oh,” Naima says, pointing to my seafoam green cowboy boots, “I’m pretty sure it’s obvious we’re tourists.” She waves at a few other groups of monsters who exit the station and join us. “Not to mention, we’re probably not the only ones in town for the Fall Ball.”
A vampire from the group next to us looks over, eyes dropping up and down my figure as she smiles.
“Hot, but not your type,” Naima whispers in my ear with a chuckle.
“Nope.” I’ve dated a few female vampires in my day, but a big beefy minotaur or gargoyle is way more my speed. It’s hard to beat horns and those big leathery wings. In my experience, vampires can be a little dramatic. Ask me how I know.
The train slows in front of us, steam whistling from up front as the wheels screech to a stop.
Glossy red metal doors open at the front and back of each car.
Amadala guides us into the nearest one. When we enter, a pixie pops from her small form into her larger size and smiles at us, arms aloft in welcome.
“Welcome to Pine Gulch, where the land kisses the sky! Please find a seat unless you’ve reserved one ahead of time. There are flags at your table to let me know if you’d like to order a drink or food.”
I thank her and look around. A few of the seats are taken, but inside the train feels wider than it seemed from outside. To my right, twin velvety green sofas facing one another look perfect.
I glance at Amadala. “How about right there?”
She takes a peek at the area and nods, waving our group forward.
We store our luggage in the rack behind the sofas and take a seat. It’s just a few minutes before everyone’s loaded up and the train departs the station.
Amadala arranges glasses on the tip of her nose, waving at the chunky wood table between the sofas.
A tiny vase with a rose in it is the table’s only decoration.
“Okay, so there’s a flag there”—she points to a tiny black flag folded against the table’s front— “And there’s a menu tucked beneath the table, according to the brochures.
Stick the flag up, Shadow, because I want a drink. ”
Reaching beneath the table, I withdraw a menu and hand it to Naima. Amadala and Kingston have one, as well. Then I lean over and toss my long black hair over my shoulder while I find the flag, flicking it upright.
The pixie attendant immediately shows up, hands clasped as she looks expectantly at our group.
“How about a Blue Jean,” I say with a smile, laying the menu down.
The attendant takes our order then disappears from view. Mabel begins to roll forward, the car swinging softly from side to side as we leave the portal station behind.
We chatter amongst ourselves while we wait for the drinks.
I’m just glad to be out of the city and away from work for a few days.
My green magic is tired, and while the pocket garden network I’m responsible for is looking amazing as we head into the fall season, I could use a break.
Growing plants is hard work, especially with New York’s unpredictable fall weather patterns.
The drinks come quickly, and the train herself has such a cute personality, flipping the windows open to give us a little breeze when Naima mentions that she’s hot. This much-needed girls’ weekend is going to be the absolute best, I just know it.
Although I really do wish Lemon was here…