Page 33 of Somnium

The message was followed immediately by a location pin, telling her exactly where Sera would be if she chose to join her. After the disastrous conversation she had just had, if she could even call it a conversation, the invite felt like a breath of fresh air. No expectations, no demands, just an offer should she choose to accept it.

She chewed the inside of her cheek for a moment, unsure if being in a crowd was really the vibe she needed. Though, maybe it was exactly what she needed. Her instincts had always been to hide away when things got heavy, but maybe it was time to try a different approach.

Besides, she was starving.

Cadi popped a fry into her mouth as she wandered through the eclectic gathering of food carts, working to suppress the embarrassing moan that threatened to break free at the savory mixture of cumin and garlic that danced over her tongue. Even through the blend of meats, cheeses, and spices that permanently saturated the air surrounding this particular block of the city, Cadi had been drawn directly to the massive vase-shaped cart fashioned entirely out of red pottery. Its aromatic offerings from the eastern part of the country had started making her mouth water the instant she arrived.

She scanned the crowd for Sera while putting together a running list of all the different spots she wanted to come back and try. Fried river eel from the sirens of the west, artisan waffles from the mountain lands, even grilled cheese made by a local centaur working out of a cart shaped like a stable. She knew it was likely impossible for her to experience them all, but she was damn well planning to give it a shot.

Her steps slowed as she passed a booth run by a pair of sleepy-looking faeries, their brightly colored eyes struggling to focus on her as she approached. One of them leaned forward, his iridescent wings drooping slightly as he gave her a half grin and gestured to a case containing rows of shimmering cakes before pulling a thumbs-up and slumping back against the wooden cart.

Cadi leaned forward to examine the pastries, chuckling softly when she realized that Dust was likely one of the key ingredients judging by the faerie’s current state of chemically induced bliss. While she’d never felt the inclination to try the drug, she’d been to several parties in her college days and seen a fair number of attendees that sported the same relaxed look as these stall owners. She pressed her lips together, seriously considering joining them after the morning she’d had, but quickly decided that was a bad idea. Maybe on a day when she didn’t have to go back to work.

“Cadi!”

She straightened, her head whipping around in search of the familiar voice calling her name until she spotted Sera’s arm waving above the crowd. Cadi pushed through the throng until the bustling rows of vendors gave way to an open seating area filled with polished wooden tables. Strands of lights hung overhead, threading between enormous triangles of strategically placed tan fabric doing their best to filter out the midday heat.

Trying not to look too eager, Cadi picked up her pace, and the tightness in her chest began to unfurl slightly when Sera’s arms wrapped around her shoulders in a warm embrace.

“Hey sweetie!” she said, “how are you?”

Cadi gave her friend an extra squeeze before letting go, surprised at how excited she was to see her, and how her jumbled mind seemed finally able to relax in her presence.

She lifted her shoulders in a shrug. “I’m alive.”

Sera leaned back to look at her, the lines of her face tightening when she caught sight of Cadi’s barely concealed injury. Cadi tried to hide her wince at the look of shock on her friend’s face.

“Cadi, what happened? Are you okay?” Sera asked.

Cadi hesitated, surprised to find that she very much wanted to tell Sera everything. But this wasn’t the time to. Besides, Sera had her own life to worry about, her own problems. So, Cadi clamped her lips together and forced them into a smile instead.

“Yeah, I don’t really want to talk about it,” Cadi lied, “it’s just been a day.”

Sera studied her for a long moment, her hazel eyes sharp and assessing, until, at last, she nodded.

“Okay,” she said, running her hand over Cadi’s arms before gesturing to the open seat across from her. The muscles in Cadi’s back slowly relaxed as she lowered herself down onto the sun-warmed metal, thankful for the lack of follow-up questions.

“How are those?” Sera asked after a beat of silence, drawing Cadi’s attention to where she was staring at her orange-tinged fries with a mix of suspicion and curiosity. “Other than pungent, that is. I swear I smelled you before I saw you.”

Cadi blew a laugh through her lips. “I’ll have you know they are quite delicious. Here, try one.”

She slid the paper tray across the table, letting out another bark of laughter when Sera recoiled and wrinkled her nose.

“I’m good,” she said, holding up her hands. “I don’t trust that the smell will come off me.”

Cadi shrugged. “Suit yourself.”

Tossing another into her mouth, she struggled to suppress a cough when a blast of cumin assaulted the back of her throat, and she quickly reminded herself to raid the hospital supply room for some toothpaste before seeing her next patient.

“So,” Sera said, her features softening as she leaned forward to rest her elbows on the table. “How was the club?”

Cadi had to swallow hard to force her last bite past the lump that appeared in her throat. It shouldn’t have been a shock that Sera asked about her weekend, but it still caught her off guard. How could she even begin to tell her how catastrophically wrong everything had gone?

She could just spin some story and tell Sera everything had been great, but the idea of lying like that made her itch. Her eyes drifted to the space between them, suddenly finding herself very interested in the craftsmanship of the table. “It was fine. I left early though.”

The brightness in Sera’s eyes faded, her expression turning serious. “Was it because Elias was there?”

Cadi’s head snapped up. “What?”