Chapter 9: Tulip

It was a wonderful way to pass time, giggling with my best friend over a boy I'd probably never see again no matter what I'd told him. Tulip grew most excited, as I knew she would, when I mentioned him playing video games. Her hand instantly went to her vest pocket and withdrew a thumb drive, hope on her face.

"Do you think...?" She handed it over after some trepidation. "I'd love a beta test on the new game and a mortal sounds like a good person to give it a try."

I smiled at her, but shook my head. "I won't see him again. Against the rules, remember?"

"Tell me you're not going to let an antiquated rule keep you from him." She feigned shock and horror before pushing the drive toward me. "This," Tulip said over the rim of her cup, "gives you an excuse. Please?" Her long, thick lashes, dark despite her fair hair, fluttered over her giant brown eyes. "Pretty please I'll never ask you to do anything ever again for as long as we both shal-"

I laughed, waved off her giddy delight. "I'll see what I can do." I slipped the drive into my jeans pocket and wondered at the feeling of excitement warming my insides. The thought of seeing Adam again gave me shivers like I'd never experienced before. Which meant I absolutely should not go see him. Attachments to mortals were forbidden. But I wasn't attached. I would just be giving him Tulip's latest game to try, right?

I was so good a lying to myself. "I saw the mist again." I hadn't meant to bring it up to her. The mention of it always made Tulip uncomfortable though she could never tell me exactly why.

Today was no exception. She squirmed, hooves stomping before she waved off her own reaction. "You dreamed about it?"

I shook my head, frowning into my coffee. "When I was at the task," I said. "It came over me, kind of." I was never very good at explaining how it felt. Never mind trying to tell her about my empathy. "And, when I was in the Crosspath, I saw it make a door." That made me sound looney and I was sure she'd change the subject. But Tulip scowled instead into the distance.

"That sounds so familiar," she whispered. And shook her head. "I have no idea why. But there has to be a reason talking about it makes me feel funny." Bless Tulip for not ever giving up on anything. "I could ask Mom and Dad?"

I didn't know how I felt about her mentioning the mist to her parents. I adored them and hated to think they might judge me or think less of me for being partially crazy. Because that had to be it.

"Let me look into it." Tulip sounded determined and I hid a smile behind my mug. When my centaur friend got it in her head to do something, she turned over entire realms to make it happen.

"Thank you," I said. "I don't deserve you."

Tulip snorted over her mug, frowning at me for real. "Don't be like that," she said. "We've been friends a long time, Eve. I've always trusted you, and I know you're meant for more than some random angel of life or death." Funny, Dad had kind of just said the same thing. "You're meant for bigger things." I just nodded. And left it at that. Because I honestly didn't know if it was my imagination or not. At least Tulip would answer that for me once and for all.

I spent the next half hour or so listening to Tulip talk about her job in the stacks, complaining about a family of banshees who made a terrible mess in one of the sections that she was left to clean up and blushing in between stories over the occasional centaur male who came in for coffee. At least she had good taste. I had to admit, as a race, the centaurs were some of the most attractive people I'd ever seen. Inside and out. For the most part, the guardians and managers of the Repository were positive, optimistic, upbeat and kind. I finally sighed into my empty cup, knowing I'd stretched my return to the Garden about as long as possible. I wished yet again the time for my choosing was here now, instead of two years from now.

The best part of our brief time together came with the arrival of Blossom and Oak. The Repository never slept, so neither, it seemed, did the two centaurs who ran the show. Tulip's parents settled at our table, her handsome, blue roan father and palomino mother both offering me a quick cheek peck before sighing over their own coffee.

This was my real family. Oak's big hand settled on my shoulder a moment, kind smile lighting his icy blue eyes and flavoring my empathy with fatherly kindness. "Moving Day?"

Blossom winced before reaching into the pocket of her white staff jacket. She slid a thin, gold bracelet toward me, the chain dangling with tiny, sparkling books carved from gemstones. It looked like gnome handiwork, very rare. I let Tulip clasp it around my wrist, blinking tears.

"Happy birthday, Eve," they said together.

"Thank you," I whispered, barely able to breathe as the stunning bracelet glittered on my skin. No one else had said a word, not even Dad. But I could always count on the centaurs to remember and to give me a beautiful gift I would treasure in the worst of times.

I couldn't stop staring, turning my hand back and forth to admire the way the tiny pages seemed to come to life when I did. Who knew? Maybe the kind centaurs who were my dream family were prophets and this birthday would be happy. If Dad could convince Mom of what he now believed. Otherwise? Two more years of bouncing back and forth between Life and Death. Well, I could manage it. Undertown especially. As long as I could avoid Mom as much as possible and spend more time here in the Repository with the centaurs I adored, two years would fly by.

"We'd love to have you for dinner tomorrow," Blossom said, her smile an older and softer version of Tulip's, her dark eyes flecked with gold. "Once you've settled in."

I nodded, smiling. "I'd love to."

"I'll tell you all about the new variation on the silver rose bushes I've uncovered." Oak's favorite topic made the other two centaurs groan, but I was all ears.

"Can't wait." Dad had to come here with me. To see this, to understand how I felt when I was here, normal and like I fit in, despite my physical differences. Maybe I was meant for the Repository? It was worth looking into, and even hoping over.

"Surely you can find something a little more interesting to share," Blossom said, swatting at her husband's big grin.

"What, like boys?" He leered at his daughter while Tulip neighed in teenaged girl protest.

"Dad!"

Laughter. It felt so good. Which meant, of course, it wasn't supposed to last.

Eve. And there it was, the call to action I'd been dreading in the deep, commanding voice of my mother. Perfect timing, just what I'd expect from her, right when I was actually feeling as if my life might have a purpose other than being at her beck and call.

Mom. I shoved my mug toward Tulip who grimaced in sympathy, Blossom and Oak nodding with sage kindness.

You're late. I wasn't, not really. Honestly, it was probably just dawn in the mortal realm. And besides, it wasn't like we'd established a particular time for me to- Home, Eve. Now.

Yes, Mom. I stood from the tall stool that managed to keep me on level with Tulip and her mother, Oak still a head taller than both, waiting for my friend to lift me onto her back while the pixie cleared our table. I blew a kiss to Tulip's parents before hanging on when my friend trotted for the main foyer of the Repository, slower this time, though just as thoughtless of those around her. Sometimes I wondered if she even knew how big she was compared to others the way she barreled her way through life.

Frankly, I could learn a thing or two from my friend and her lack of giving a crap what anyone thought.

"I could ask Mom and Dad to request you help me for a few days?" That had worked in the past and given me a chance to spend time with Tulip and learn about the inner workings of the Repository. I truly loved it here, dove deep into savoring the last few minutes as she came to a halt at the bottom of the stairs and waited for me to slip down.

"Thanks," I said, "but it won't work, not on Moving Day." I hugged my friend and then let her go. She smiled down at me with sadness in her eyes.

"I'll see you tomorrow?" I knew she was already thinking about what she had to do next. I envied her this life, surrounded by the constant evolution of Creation, wishing it was mine. Tulip loved the Repository even more than I did.

I nodded and waved goodbye, but she was already galloping off, shouts and cries of fear trailing in her wake. Giggling, embracing the happiness for as long as I could, fingers exploring the beautiful bracelet I would cherish forever, I turned and left the Repository for the Crosspath.

***