The Eldest Marked

8. Six of Cups

As it turned out, the world was a lot dirtier in focus. Despite their mostly secluded spot she could hear the people all around them like a constant choir. Winona wrinkled her nose at a stench. It was all around, clinging to them like a needy child.

"What is that smell?" she asked from behind her hand.

Demeter laughed. "That's garbage! Welcome to the world Winnie," she said.

"They should really do something about that," she said. She made a mental note to weave herself a bracelet that turned her nose off whenever she went back.

"They sure do. Put on your ring," Demeter said. "It's time to go see Tabitha."

She fished through the pockets of her cloak three times before Demeter held out her ring. "Trick question, you forgot to pack it. You have to be more careful next time. I won't always be here to help, you know," she said.

Winona honestly never thought about the possibility of her mom not being there. Which was quite ridiculous, because she knew she wouldn't be there even for the whole time she would be searching for her pact. She slipped the ring over her throbbing witches mark. They passed back onto the sidewalk.

Strangers passed them in a wide berth. She could feel the stares of men crawl over her. Her cheeks burned, but she still met their eyes until they looked away. She knew the names of everyone who lived near her back home. There was a part of her that was saddened by the fact that she would not be able to know all the people there were.

Demeter tapped her on the shoulder. "This is it," she said.

Winona turned.

"This is where she lives?" Winona asked in awe of the size of the building.

"As do dozens of other people. It's like a hive, but for people. An apartment," Demeter said. She walked up to a panel of buttons on the wall to produce a sound much like an angry bee. "Hey Tabby, it's us," she spoke into the panel.

The door let them through, her bracelet whispering to her about the system of electric locks as she brushed her hand along the door.

Tabitha had changed in the two years since Winona had seen her. She left with waist length wavy brown hair, suntanned skin, and a lanky body like her own. The young woman who answered the door was much paler, with a puff of hair that barely went past her ears. At least her hugs were the same, even if she was much softer. Winona could not stop staring.

"Happy birthday kid," Tabitha said.

She pulled Winona into a hug. Pyxidis crawled from inside her hood to across Tabitha's shoulder, and back within her hood before she could react.

The room they entered was warm. Despite the multitude of potted plants around Winona still felt cut off from the world. Back home everything breathed through the open windows and open doors and cracks in the walls. There was one small window along the far wall that didn't look openable. At least Tabitha tried to bring some life into her home.

Pizza was ordered, three very different combinations because everything sounded so interesting to her. Winona wanted to be well informed when she sent a letter back to Fiore with her review. She had no concept for many of the toppings she included but she was excited to find out.

"Can I meet your familiar?" she asked. "You know, the one you never sent back to keep in touch?"

Tabitha tried to look casual, but her forehead crinkled in the same way it always had when she got uncomfortable. "Oh, she's off gathering something for me. Maybe later," she said.

A small box by the door buzzed. "Must be the pizza," Demeter said. "I'll get it."

Things were weird when it was just Tabitha and her.

"I'm sorry if that was a little mean," Winona said. "I missed you, but I get that finding your pact was more important."

"It is important. Deciding to make a pact at all is something no one can decide for you," Tabitha said. "No matter what anyone says, it is a decision."

"What do you mean by that?"

Demeter returned, shutting the door on the conversation. Tabitha and Winona set about filling their plates. Her stomach turned. She felt just as hungry but with no desire to eat, more empty than anything else. She wanted clarification, but just as she felt at Cyrille's house, this was not something to bring up around Demeter.

"It's time for me to go," Demeter said. "I'll be back in three days."

"What?" she asked.

She was at once terrified to be alone and excited to possibly continue her talk with Tabitha. If she was asked a week ago if she would ever be eager for Demeter to leave she would be offended. But here we are, she thought.

"I want to give you and Tabby time to hang out and have fun. You'll be fine," her mother said.

Tabitha followed Demeter out into the hallway. She could hear them talking in low voices, but couldn't make out the words. Something unsettled her about them talking without her. Pyxidis stood on his hind legs to get closer to her face. An understanding passed between them: Pyxidis was asking if he should eavesdrop on them. Winona froze.

By the time she nodded and Pyxidis ran to the door their conversation was over. She tried to straighten her face to match Tabitha's frozen smile.

"Do you want a drink?" she asked. "I have a whole bunch of drinks you've never heard of. I could just surprise you?"

"Sounds good," Winona replied. Pyxidis scampered across the floor as Tabitha turned away from them. He was frantic as he clawed up her cloak to reach her ear.

'Don't you dare tell her,' Pyxidis hissed in her mother's voice.