Page 8 of Red Dragon’s Flame

Shadowfire: Like rescuing me from dark angels who want to eat the fire out of my soul with a spoon and throw the dead husk away?

That was more like the Shadow he was used to. Sure, he replied. I never thought much of angels anyway. Arrogant holier-than-thou bastards. Happy to smite them for you.

That got him a smile emoji, anyway.

Shadowfire: Real feminist assassins don’t need heroes, but I’m glad you wanna be my hero. Make sure you’re wearing that fur loincloth.

Now they were back to normal. He felt relieved on one level, but deep down he still felt a small twinge of disquiet. He hoped she was really okay.

Starthrower: All the time. Even at work.

Shadowfire: LOL I’d pay to see that.

Starthrower: Cost you big, babe. He changed the subject. Hey, I almost forgot to ask, NinjaWolf is coming to stay with me for a few days. ‘NinjaWolf’ was Michelangela’s game handle. Is it ok if she comes with us on that Vesuvius raid?

There was a long silence. Then, You know she’s always welcome. She puts the bad in badass. Meet you both at the Horse’s Ass tomorrow, 8pm.

Mikah started to answer, but three dots wavered in front of him, showing Shadow was still typing. They disappeared, then reappeared, disappeared and reappeared, like she kept deleting and rethinking what she was going to say.

Mikah waited, and finally the message appeared. And it will give you someone to do the adventure with, if I don’t make it.

Mikah frowned. She’d been setting up this adventure for weeks. He typed slowly, We can always postpone it a day or two.

Shadowfire: Sure.

Too quickly. And he was left suddenly unsure if she’d meant ‘if I don’t make it tomorrow’ or ‘if I don’t make it at all, ever.’

What the hell was wrong with her? He tried to keep it light.

Starthrower: You wouldn’t ghost me, would you?

Nope, not light. Needy. Fuck.

There was another long pause, with the dots moving and stopping, moving and stopping. Finally she answered.

Shadowfire: If I did disappear, would you come find me?

Mikah stared at the screen. Now what the hell was that supposed to mean?

He typed carefully, Absolutely. I’d scour the Realms until I found you and freed you. Heroically, in my loincloth.

Pause. A long one.

Shadowfire: I’d take lame-ass, in a Chevy, wearing a polo shirt with a calculator in the pocket.

Wait, hold up. She was afraid of disappearing in real life?

Starthrower: Are you sure you’re ok?

Shadowfire: Sure. Just in a mood. Have to go now.

Starthrower: See you tomorrow. He hesitated, then added, Take care.

Shadowfire: Always do.

And she was gone.

Mikah leaned back in his chair, clutching his beer bottle tight in his hand. Don’t make too much out of it, he told himself. She probably didn’t mean it the way it sounded.