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Twenty miles out from town, I began to see spots of snow, and by the time I passed the WELCOME TO NEW FOREST sign, snow blanketed the ground. Not wanting to bother my aunt till morning, I eased into the parking lot of the Starlight 5 Motel. I stared at the flickering light that illuminated the VACANCY sign. I was in New Forest. I was really back.
Grabbing my backpack, I hauled ass out of the car and stood there shivering as I listened to the air currents washing around me. Something was off--I could feel it. New Forest didn't feel like I remembered it. A glance across the street showed me an all-night diner. The windows of Anadey's--a twenty-four-hour joint--glimmered with Christmas lights. I vaguely remembered Anadey from my visits. She was Marta's daughter, if I remembered correctly. I wondered what she was doing running a diner, but decided to check in first and then snag a bite to eat.
The motel clerk stared at me, unblinking. "You want a room?"
I nodded. "Single. One night." As I pulled out my wallet, he shoved the register across to me and I scribbled my name down and tossed fifty bucks on the counter in tens. He counted the bills, then nodded and held out a key.
"Room 105-A. Checkout by noon."
"I'll be gone earlier than that. You have anything on the second floor?" I'd long ago learned it was safer to be higher up.
He looked me over again and then handed me a different key. "Room 210-B. Nonsmoking and no hot plates."
"No problem on either front."
I took the key and headed outside again. The motel was a U shape and wrapped around the parking lot. I squinted at the upper story until I found my room and jogged up the stairs. As I unlocked the door, force of habit made me check the surrounding area, looking for anybody or anything suspicious. Krystal had raised me to be on guard, even though she had lost her own savvy over the years, thanks to the crack and the heroin.
No one in sight. I opened the door.
Cautiously, I scoped out the room. Queen-sized bed, a little lumpy. Headboard bolted to the wall. Utilitarian dresser and mirror with the TV atop it. Usable, clean bathroom with thin white towels. Typical cheapie motel. I dropped on the bed but was too pent up from the drive to sleep. My stomach rumbled and I realized I was hungry, so I gathered up my pack--no way would I leave anything in this joint while I was gone--and headed out to the sidewalk in front of the motel. I waited for the light to change and crossed the street to Anadey's Diner.
The cafe had that truck-stop vibe, though there weren't any places for semis to park. As I pushed through the doors, the dim light from the overheads filtered through the long, narrow restaurant. Utilitarian blinds gave a slat-ted view to the parking lot, and Formica ruled supreme. Booths lined one wall, while on the other, a long counter flanked the kitchen, with bar stools attached to the floor.
A tall, narrow Christmas tree nestled against one corner, sparkling with lights and gleaming ornaments. The tree was pretty and it made me smile.
Several late-nighters were scattered through the cafe. Two of the men sitting at the counter looked odd--they weren't magic-born, that was obvious, but they weren't human. I could read the difference just by looking at them. Both swarthy, with shaggy black hair and topaz eyes ringed with black circles, they watched as I passed by them, giving them a wide berth.
I chose an open stool at the opposite end of the counter and slid onto it. Picking up the menu, I pulled one of the saucers to me and flipped over the mug.
The waitress saw me and headed my way, coffeepot in hand. I recognized her.
"Hi, honey. I'm Anadey. What will you have? My daughter's the best short-order cook in town." She nodded toward the kitchen, where a tall, solid young woman flipped burgers behind the grill. A sparkle of magic flickered in the girl's aura, and also surrounded Anadey, only stronger. I gave her a slow smile. She didn't seem to recognize me, so I decided to wait until I was settled in before coming back and introducing myself. For all I knew, she could be angry that her mother had chosen to give me the family business.
"Your daughter's lovely."
"That she is, my dear. You want coffee?" Anadey hovered over the mug.
"Yes, and cream, please."
The coffee steamed hot and black as she poured it into my cup. Anadey hesitated for a moment, then said, "Her name is Peyton. Come back in sometime when you're not so tired. I think you'd hit it off. I'll get your cream now. You want another minute with that menu?"
"Yeah. Thanks."
She bustled off, returning with the cream as I added three packets of sugar to my coffee. I gave her a soft smile--she looked somewhere in her early fifties and exhausted--and flipped open the menu. The words all seemed to run together and I closed it again, turning to gaze at the posters on the wall. Fatigue from the trip was setting in big-time.
I motioned to Anadey. "Make my order to go, would you? A large chocolate shake. Cheeseburger and fries. Butter only on the bun. Hold the pickles and condiments. And a piece of apple pie if you have some. Oh--and make sure nothing has any sort of fish added into it, please. I'm allergic to fish and shellfish." I reached into my pocket and produced my EpiPen for emphasis. Some diners didn't take food issues seriously unless you hit them hard with the I can die speech.
"I have several friends with various allergies, so I keep a strict watch on my kitchen. We have a dedicated fryer for French fries to avoid cross contamination. And one section of the grill is reserved for unbreaded patties only and cleaned every time." She gave me a wink. "You look like you're about ready to crash, honey."
I nodded. "Long trip to get here. Been driving for two days with very little rest along the way."
"I'll get your order going so you can get some shut-eye. You look about done in." She hurried off and I sipped at my coffee. As I sat there, I became aware that the guy at the other end of the counter had gotten up and was strolling my way, his eyes glued to me. He didn't look impressed.
I gave him the once-over as he passed by, on his way toward the restrooms. As he crossed behind me, I heard him whisper, "Magic bitch, watch yourself. New Forest doesn't like your kind anymore."
Taken aback, I swiveled full around, but he just went on walking. Normally I'd get in his face--I'd been in enough street fights to hold my own--but I was too tired to deal with a confrontation. Instead, I just memorized his looks and turned back to Anadey, who was polishing the counter in front of me, a concerned expression on her face.
"Regular?" I asked, nodding at his back.
