It knocked incessantly on Fey’s door for the past ten minutes. The witch tried her best to ignore it, but her patience was in short supply. She wobbled with her cane through the mess of her apartment.

  There was still so much cleaning up to do after the last debacle, but at least her Draugr were back up and running.

  Her usual trio were so hard to eradicate from existence, stubborn to the bone. Fey wondered if it was an unexpected feature or design flaw.

  But then the knocking moved. To her bedroom.

  Fey hobbled over with her crutch back to her bedroom door and yanked curtains open.

  “Hey, Fey.” Maya waved casually. “Mind opening the door for us?”

  Fey expected a lot of different things as she was part of the Norse world. But she did not expect Maya to use her girlfriend to hover over Fey’s small balcony, wings still flapping.

  Fey blinked. “What are you two doing out there?”

  “Well, you weren’t answering the door,” Maya explained. “Oh, by the way, I love your ponytail.”

  Fey grinned, flicking her ponytail back with dramatic flair. “Thanks, you may come in.”

  “Do we get guest rights?” Maya asked before she stepped foot onto the railing.

  Fey grumbled something under her breath before glancing over to Val. The Valkyrie eyed her more like a predator, making Fey wonder if she knew what had happened to Maya the previous day.

  She held back the urge to come up with a tease—for now.

  “Fine,” Fey relented, “both of you get guest rights.” and waved with her hand dismissively of the matter.

  Val flapped with her wings and let Maya climb over the railing first before she landed with a soft thump and retracting her wings back into her cropped sweatshirt.

  Fey wondered about the practicality of that piece of clothing as it exposed Val’s very toned midriff. Though she had an idea who would find it practical.

  “Alright,” Fey said, leaning on her crutch, hand on her hip. “What’s the occasion, Maya? As you can see, I’m thriving. Changed my hairstyle to prove it.”

  Fey gave another exaggerated flick with her hair to accentuate the curly ponytail—majestic and defiant like its owner.

  She then pointed at the covered glass oven dish in Maya’s hands. “And what’s that death sentence?”

  “Oh, this?” Maya said innocently, lifting up the oven dish. “I cooked.”

  Fey tugged an arm before her and raised the other while straightening her chin to look at Maya, not trusting a single word she said.

  “Fine… Val cooked. But I had the idea and helped.”

  “That I believe.” Fey gestured at the dish. “What is it?”

  “Kapsalon.”

  “Kapsa-what?”

  “Kap. Sa. Lon,” Maya repeated each syllable slowly. “It’s Dutch.”

  Fey made a sour face. “Honey, Dutch food is—”

  “Bland,” Val finished.

  “Exactly.” Fey agreed with Val for once. “I appreciate it, but…”

  “It’s got crispy fries at the bottom,” Maya pushed on, “shawarma, melted Gouda, fresh lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, a drizzle of garlic sauce and sambal,” Maya explained, holding the glass oven before Fey. “You’ll love it. No one can say no to it.”

  She uncovered the dish.

  Fey was absolutely willing to say no to the dish. The mix of textures, colours, and general chaos in the tray was not her type of food. Not even Val’s divine Valkyrie-class cooking could convince her otherwise.

  Though when she looked at Maya, who looked at Fey with adoring puppy eyes, the cold-hearted witch gave in out of guilt.

  “Fine,” she sighed in defeat. Her finger pointed to the kitchen. “We can use the old oven from the last tenant to warm it up. Let my zombies prep it.”

  “Will do, thanks Fey.” Maya beamed at her, and bounced off to the kitchen, though popped her way back for a second. “Don’t be shy, you two. Get along.”

  They gave her a cordial wave of good faith. Though the second she vanished, Fey and Val glared at each other. The malice almost seeped into the burned floorboard.

  “Witch.”

  “Miss Handsy.”

  Val sputtered at the undignified nickname, losing her cool and fuelling Fey’s roguishness.

  “Oh gorgeous, you’re truly adorable,” Fey stepped forward. She puffed out her chest, showing she was at least inches taller than the already tall Valkyrie. “I’d never forget about your little escapade.”

  Fey ran a sharp finger down Val’s cheek, looking directly down at the Valkyrie. “ Don’t have a retort to give? You’re adorable when you’re flustered.”

  Val squared her shoulders back and tensed them. She didn’t need to be taller to send the message that she was stronger than her. Her presence alone spoke louder than words.

  Though Fey did not feel threatened in the slightest. Her green eyes sparkled with amusement.

  “Keep yappin’. Witch,” Val growled. “See. Where it. Gets. You.”

  “Ooh? Does the swan bite?” Fey cooed. “Or is that just for the bedroom?”

  Maya’s head popped back with impeccable timing. “Are you two getting along?”

  “Lovely,” Fey said, sickly sweet, slinging her arm around Val’s waist who could only growl at this movement. She shot the Valkyrie a grin. “Play along if you want to keep your girlfriend happy.”

  If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  Val shuddered at the proposition. When she saw how Maya looked at them with unblinking blue eyes, Val forced a smile and hugged Fey tightly by the shoulder. “Yes. Lovely.”

  “Wonderful.” Maya clapped her hands with a beam.

  Then, there was a ring at the door.

  “You expect anyone today?” Maya asked, surprised.

  “I don’t.” Fey let go, and tensed up. “Get my staff.”

  Armed and ready, Fey marched using her staff for her crutch with some difficulty. Maya was a few steps behind her with Val at her back, keeping her hands on Maya’s shoulders.

  With a flourish, Fey swung the door open and jabbed the end of her staff forward to intercept the uninvited guest.

  “Is it Halloween already?”

  “Austin!?” Maya pushed herself past Fey who stumbled backwards into Val’s arms with a surprised yelp. “What are you doing here?”

  Flustered by how comforting Val’s hold can be, Fey extracted herself. “You know that shrimp?”

  “Wow. Rude.” Austin gave her the side eye and held up a paper bag before Maya. “I bought apple pie.”

  Maya snatched the pie and passed it into Val’s capable hands. Pulling her friend aside, she clamped down on his shoulders. “What are you doing here!?”

  “Dinner? We having any, don’t we?” He looked past her with a hopeful smile and offered Fey a hand. “Hi, I’m Austin. Nice to meet you.”

  Suspicion and mistrust crossed Fey’s eyes. Her hand grabbed him by his arm and yanked him closer. Her narrowed eyes scanned him up and down.

  “There’s something strange about you,” she muttered darkly.

  Maya got the jitters as she was pressed against the wall, standing right between those two. It was the absolute worst scenario she had imagined for two of her friends to meet.

  If anyone could sniff out what Austin was, it’d be her. And if she did, there would be hell—

  “You’re gay.”

  Maya and Austin both choked at the revelation, and Val almost dropped the knife on her foot when cutting the cake. This was not the kind of revelation they expected to hear right now.

  “I am,” Austin removed his hand. “Do you have some kind of gay radar in your head or what?”

  “More like a Fey-dar,” Maya whispered to Austin. They snickered.

  “Funny enough, I do.” Fey walked back into her apartment. “Come on in.”

  Austin rubbed his arm. “Does she actually have a magic gaydar?”

  Maya shrugged, then turned serious. “Austin, you shouldn’t be here. What are you doing?”

  “Dinner?” Austin laughed, as if the answer was so clear.

  “No.” Maya shook her head, and touched his elbow to direct him away. “You have to leave. What if she finds out who you are? What you are?”

  Austin shrugged. “The more the merrier. I thought you might need some help. Besides, I’m good at pretending to be normal.”

  “Oh, Austin.” Maya’s breath shuddered. “No one thinks you’re normal. Your outfit back then was outrageous.”

  “I still liked my fedora and scarf combo,” he mumbled.

  “You’re the only one who thinks so.”

  Fey shouted. “Close the damn door already!”

  Maya gave one last worried look towards Austin. “You’ll be okay with her, will you?”

  Austin fist-bumped Maya on her arm. “Trust me.”

  Back inside, Austin was met with the aftermath of Fey’s magic lessons to Maya.

  Half-scorched walls. Wallpapers peeled off in sad pinks and greens. A pile of broken wood lay in one corner. Burnt circles stained into the floor and ceiling like the remnants of a misfired ritual.

  Fey sat at the centre of it all, sipping on some orange tea on a cheap IKEA chair, fingers tapping on a table from the same store.

  “Let me guess,” Austin said, examining the stains with scrutiny. “Maya cooked again?”

  Fey snorted, and Maya gawked at Austin. Not even Val could hide a knowing smirk while slicing salad.

  “Something like that,” Fey admitted, laughing. She reached into her waistband, pulling out a cigarette

  Maya harrumphed.

  “What?”

  “Could you maybe… not today?”

  “It’s my apartment. I can smoke whenever I…” Fey put the smoke back into the pack with a sigh. She huffed, resting her chin on her hand and looked out of the window.

  Austin awkwardly took the seat across from her. “So… how you know? You know. My preferences. Not even Maya figured it out right away.”

  “I’m abrosexual.” Fey said simply, crossing her legs.

  “Abro what now?”

  Maya chimed in. “You know how genderfluid people sometimes switch on feeling male or female? Abrosexuals are similar but with gender preferences. They switch from preferring either men or women in fluid motion—faster than Fey’s mood swings.”

  Fey slowly craned her head to Maya and gave her a cat-like grin. “Couldn’t describe it better.” She smacked Maya playfully on the small of the back, earning a mean warning glare from Val.

  Austin leaned forward. “So, what, just because you are abrosexual you can guess someone’s preferences by taking a single look at someone?”

  “No, but it certainly helps. I’m just special.” Fey sipped on her tea. “You were a tough read. Maya, though? Open book.”

  “Hey,” Maya protested. “Am not!

  “Girl, I saw you swoon over Kellita Smith and Hugh Jackman during a coffee break. You’ve got more flags than a pride parade.”

  “To be fair,” Austin added, “no one can reject Hugh Jackman.”

  Fey and Maya nodded acknowledging, knowing full well that resisting that man was as impossible as pretending you don’t see your crush walk into the room or ignoring a perfectly good pun opportunity.

  “What about her?” Austin nodded at Val, who had found Fey’s wolverine muscle apron and put a bowl of fresh salad on the table. “Can you read her?”

  Val was eyed by the group with curiosity, who felt a nervous drop of sweat run down her cheek. “What?”

  Austin pushed one chair aside with his foot and Maya grabbed it, offering Val to take it.

  “Please,” her girlfriend said suspiciously. “Take a seat.”

  Val complied reluctantly and had her seat pushed right in front of the witch. Fey leaned towards the Valkyrie with unsettling mischief in her eyes. Val felt a cold shiver run down her spine, especially when Fey’s hands suddenly grabbed Val’s face.

  Maya and Austin repositioned themselves around the two, watching closely. Fey’s thumbs turned Val’s head left, right, up, and down, inspecting her like she was a rare porcelain vase.

  For a full two minutes, no one said a word as Fey tried to guess if there was a single thought in the Valkyrie’s brain—or how long her patience ran.

  Needless to say, Val’s patience did indeed have a limit when Fey suddenly licked her nose.

  Val jolted, shoving Fey hard enough to tip her back. The witch tumbled backwards in her chair, caught right in time by Maya and Austin.

  “Fey!” Maya helped right her but was more keen on lying on the ground than standing. “Are you ok?”

  Her eyes didn’t close as her brain was hard at work. She remained on the ground, with her butt not leaving the chair and casually whipping with her leg over the other.

  “Nope,” she declared. “She’s not gay.”

  “Huh?” said Maya alongside Val, with the latter rinsing her face by the sink.

  Her face whipped at Maya in confusion, droplets falling from her chin.

  “She’s not?” Austin blinked.

  “Nope,” Fey continued. “But she’s definitely asexual.”

  Austin glanced uneasily towards Maya who shared an awkward moment with Val, who didn’t really understand what was happening right now.

  “Are you certain?” Austin inquired carefully. “How sure can you be?”

  “Well, she’s definitely on the spectrum,” Fey explained, taking Austin’s help to sit back up on the chair. “My guess? She’s a demi. Someone who doesn’t experience any attraction or emotion to someone unless there’s a deep trust and emotional closeness between them.”

  Maya tilted her head. “She is?”

  Fey shrugged. “She likes you, doesn’t she?”

  Val hugged Maya from behind, rubbing her head against hers in a show of affection. She didn’t quite get what all the talk was about, but Maya just gladly took it and touched Val’s arm as they rocked in place.

  Austin sprawled out over the table dramatically. “Can we please eat now and stop unpacking our identities like Christmas presents?”

  “Seconded,” Fey muttered. “Someone pass the salad.”