Richard Kadrey: Blind Shrike

"What?"

"Teach me magic. I still have all this juice left in me from falling into the book, but it comes out in strange ways. I was dreaming of my younger self back in Berenice the other night, and in the morning my bedroom was full of all the keys to all the cars I'd ever stolen."

Shrike put her hands on Spyder's shoulders and stood up.

"I'm glad you asked. I'd love to teach you. When you're ready, there's plenty of work for us to do. I'm going to take back my kingdom from the bandits who are running it now. After that, we'll figure out a way to drive the Dominions back into the oblivion where they belong."

Spyder ran his hands down Shrike's back, thrilling to the reality of her warmth, her presence right there with him.

"It's cute, how you have no ambition," he said.

"We'll have to leave this Sphere to do it. You'll come with me?"

"I'd be a fool not to."

Shrike climbed on to the back of Spyder's bike, wrapping her arms around him. Spyder kicked over the motor and gunned the engine. They shot off and the fog closed in behind them, swallowing the tail lights and even the engine noise. They were gone.

~