Chapter One
FLETCHER
The plane flying overhead of Flinders Metro saw the patchwork quilts below and as it flies closer to the city centre, the roads are lit up like veins connecting the metropolis together. The buildings tower upwards like the spines of the city, some submerging with the low hanging plumes of burnt pink clouds.
The click of Fletcher’s bicycle chain is the only sound to be heard as he rides along the suburban streets, throwing newspaper after newspaper over the fences onto people’s lush green lawns. No one in Flinders has a boring lawn. In a city that rains 330 days out of the year, the gardens are seas of green grass, speckled with pops of colours from various flowers. The first lights of day turn Flinders into an assortment of shadows silhouetted against the road and passing cars. Despite its rainy nature, Flinders’ early morning has never rained on Fletcher since he started doing his paper route. Nevertheless, he races the streetlights as they begin to flicker on, illuminating the beginnings of a grey sky that would take over in half an hour.
Fletcher tucks his long nose into his navy raincoat to avoid the slight wind that begins to weave and nip between buildings. The old man of number 22 Taheko Street waves at Fletcher from his porch as he throws the paper over. Other than early morning commuters, he is the only one awake as early as Fletcher, most likely enjoying the few minutes of blurred sunshine Flinders would have today. Skidding his tires along the road, Fletcher aims his next newspaper right at Mr Callohan’s window and cackles as his dog begins to howl from the smack.
Fletcher doesn’t deliver to the inner city, but he narrowly dodges cars as he nears it, the stark and straight buildings pressed together like lovers. A bus blares at him as he rounds the corner back into suburbia and he’s hailed by a towering, muscled woman wearing a bright red polka dot raincoat over her police uniform.
“Chief,” Fletcher nods politely, screeching his brakes to a halt.
“Just Olive, Fletch, we know each other well enough by now,” she smiles, running her hand through her black pixie cut.
“Did you want your paper early, Olive?” Fletcher asks with a slight smirk. She chuckles.
“No, I trust your speed, I just pulled you over to tell you your glamour is fading a bit, might be time for a top up.”
Fletcher’s lips contort to a cringe at the thought of the vile liquid touching his lips in order for him to blend in, so he cannot be seen by people unlike him.
“You’re lucky you don’t have to take that shit anymore,” He sighs, looking at Olive and not detecting any signs of magic or fortune from her gypsy days. Once she’d learnt that gypsies were amongst the lot who harvested the power of young witches, warlocks and mages through collecting their hearts, she left her family, town and everything behind. She’d been a police officer protecting the practisers in Flinders since Fletcher was a small child.
“It’s not that bad, it’s worth it,” Olive promises.
“I’ll get right on it,” Fletcher sighs, forcing a smile. “Now, if you’ll excuse me-“
“Try not to get hit by a bus Fletch, I’m sure even a luck charm on your bike has its faults,” she smirks as Fletcher begins to wheel away from her. “And say hi to your dad for me!” She yells.
“Not bloody likely,” Fletcher mumbles as he feels the first drops of rain wet his nose.
***
‘Kai’s Kafe’ neon sign comes into blurred view through the rain. The doorbell tinkles as Fletcher steps through and pulls his wet hoodie off. Sitting in the purple booths are a few students from Fletcher’s grade, no doubt drinking a galaxy milkshake that Kai is famous for making. The tall, burly man is standing behind the counter, his dark skin sheened with sweat from running around his small, hot kitchen. Kai’s Kafe is dimly lit by pale blue lights to act as stars amongst the galaxy mural covering the walls.
“Hey Kai,” Fletcher smiles and takes a seat at the counter. “A Mercury Muffin and Milky Way Strawberry Milkshake pretty please,” he flutters his eyelashes and fumbles in his hoodie for the money. “With a shot of glamour if you have any in stock,” Fletcher adds under his breath.
Kai smiles knowingly. “I only have half a shot left, Samantha and I used the most of it this morning,” he begins to serve up the Mercury Muffin (an apple flavour with cinnamon swirled a top).
“Yeah well, you mages need it more than I do I suppose,” I say and look over to where Sam is taking orders from the group of guys. Fletcher’s eyes sweep over her curvy figure, her curly brown hair that rests on her shoulders carefully tucked behind her ear to reveal nine planet earrings sparkling despite the dim light.
“I do wish you’d be more subtle when checking out my daughter,” Kai chuckles, sliding the white, blue and pink milkshake across to me, the whipped cream sparkling with sprinkles and glamour.
“You’d be so lucky for your daughter to receive my courtship, being a filthy mage and all,” Fletcher jokes.
“I’ll tell your grandmother you said that,” Kai laughs. The only thing louder than Kai’s booming laughter is the group of boys getting rowdy while Sam rolls her eyes at them.
“Fletch, leave it, she can handle it-“
But Fletcher is already up and walking over.
“So what’s your favourite planet Sam?” Thomas Ainsley sniggers, his eyes looking Sam up and down, “Jupiter I expect.” All his cronies laugh.
“Oh Ainsley not doing comparisons are we?” Fletcher croons, crossing his arms and standing tall next to Sam. Thomas rolls his eyes and stands to puff his chest close to Fletcher’s.
“What’s it to you Kirks?” He spits Fletcher’s surname like a curse.
“I just find it funny,” Fletcher shrugs with a smile, “because if we’re going to do comparisons I’ve heard certain parts of you could be compared to Pluto –“
Thomas goes for the swing and Fletcher ducks just in time. Another one of his friends – Don Bradshaw – gets up and reaches to hold him around the middle, but Fletcher slips from his grasp and wraps his own arms around Sam’s middle to pull her into another booth. Thomas’ fist collides with Don’s massive nose. Soon, they’re all up and arguing and storm out of the café; Don smashing his plate onto the ground on the way.
“You didn’t have to be a hero Fletch,” Sam looks at him, mirth and wit alight in her amber eyes.
“I just wanted you to owe me,” He chuckles.
“And what is it I owe?”
“Three free milkshakes,” Fletcher offers.
“How about one free milkshake? Considering because of you we’re going to have to buy a new plate,” she counters.
“Fine, but only if I get to buy you one too,” Fletcher winks. She laughs.
“Aren’t you supposed to pay for the first date entirely?”
“Oh come on now Sam, it’s the 21st century, I believe in equality,” he grins. She laughs again, her eyes crinkling at the corners and Fletcher feels his own grin widen with it. “Don’t listen to what Thomas said okay?”
Sam rolls her eyes. “Fletch didn’t you know that big butts are all the rage nowadays? Or have you just not noticed mine?”
Fletcher goes to retort when he feels the skin prickle around his ankle. He looks down and pull the leg of his jean up to see his small tattoo of Mercury glowing slightly gold. They wanted him.
“Everything okay?” Sam asks, looking at his ankle too. Fletcher slides out of the booth.
“Not sure. Don’t think I’ll be at school today though, I’ll catch you later for that equality milkshake,” Fletcher smiles but his mind is racing. Signalling was for emergencies only.
Kai already has his muffin and milkshake in a takeaway bag for Fletcher as he dashes out the door. The rain pounds the ground to a beat that matches Fletcher’s heart. He takes a quick gulp of his milkshake to top up his glamour before mounting his bike. The wheels skid and slide as he races to where his tattoo is directing him.
Lightning cracks the sky and Fletcher speeds up; his Dad must be furious.