23. S P A M A N D V A N E X A : Dreamers

CHAPTER III

PREDATORS, Pt. I

"What do you want to be, Spam?"

Spam and Vanexa walked through the Animal District as the clock ticked ever closer to midnight, bringing the day to an official close.

"Wait—don't tell me," Vanexa interrupted before Spam could respond. "Singer/songwriter, right?"

"Yup!" Spam confirmed, bobbing his head up and down. "After I graduate next year, I'm gonna release my first album!"

Vanexa chuckled. "You've gotta have at least a hundred albums worth of songs in that book of yours," she remarked.

Spam grinned sheepishly. "Not quite that many, but it is a lot."

"No kidding." Vanexa gave Spam a sly smile. "Well, if you ever need a manager, give me a call. I might have spare time if I'm not writing a book or something."

"You never told me you wrote books," Spam said, surprised. "Can I read some?"

"Oh. Um... not yet," Vanexa replied, blushing. "I've only finished a few, and—"

Vanexa cut off abruptly and both she and Spam froze as an unfamiliar voice floated through the dark district.

"Let's get this over with. The Old Ones won't wait forever."

"Who's that?" Spam asked in a hushed voice.

"I... don't know," Vanexa answered, her voice equally quiet. "But did they just say... the Old Ones?"

"I think so." Spam hurried over to a tree, pulling Vanexa behind him with a paw. The smell of cigarette smoke was wafting through the air, covering the scents of whoever was speaking in the darkness.

"Sheesh. You're a tough one to please," another voice—slightly familiar, but rough and raspy—muttered. There was a moment of silence; then, "Nafl'fhtagn, R'luhhor. Nafl'fhtagn..."

All of a sudden, the sky blazed with light as a gigantic bolt of green lightning split the night, streaking from one horizon to the other. It stayed in place for about five seconds before vanishing, leaving only a rumbling thunderclap in its wake.

"What the heck was that?" Spam whispered, startled.

"I don't know—but whatever it was, it can't be good," Vanexa growled. She peered around the tree. "Can you see who's talking?"

"It's too dark," Spam replied. "You try looking."

Vanexa nodded, and her eyes began to glow bright yellow as she increased the intensity of her vision.

What she saw made her jaw drop.

Addison Derschwitz, one of the Worthy and a close friend of the Big 5, stood in the middle of a clearing with an unfamiliar woman, dressed in a black coat with his back to Vanexa and Spam. "In the meantime, I'm gonna get some sleep," he was saying in a hoarse, sneering voice. "Gotta rest this beautiful body for tomorrow." He took a drag on the cigarette he'd just lit and added, "Take it easy, madam," before heading away from the clearing.

"No way," Vanexa breathed. "Spam, it—it's Addison!"

"Addison?" Spam repeated, watching the shadowy figure disappear into the darkness. "Are you sure?"

"Totally sure," Vanexa confirmed, nodding.

"What about the lady?"

"I don't know." Vanexa frowned as the woman headed off into the night as well. "I've never seen her before."