I woke up the next morning surprised at my lack of nightmares. I had thought that delving into As's mind was a kind of magic, and would have drained me in the same way. Apparently As had been right in telling me that this was a different, less draining, kind of magic. It was nice to get a good nights' sleep. Sun was filtering through the dirty windows, right into my eyes. I sat up groggily and looked around. An odd sight awaited me. As and Alex were standing over something, shoulders pressed together, muttering. I didn't want to disturb them if they were finally getting along, but I stood anyway. They glanced up at me, but then went right back to what they were doing.

"Morning," I tried.

"Hi," Alex responded, voice far away. As didn't respond at all. 

"What are you two looking at?" I asked. 

"We're trying to figure out the best way to California," Alex said, shuffling to the side to make room for me over what I now could see was as map. "We estimate that we're about here," he said, pointing to a spot in between Springfield and Newark, right in the middle of the Ohio. "It would take about three hours by car to get from here to Springfield, and then we could probably get on a bus, or a train," he said. 

"With what money?" I asked. My bag was gone, but when I reached into the pocket of my sweatshirt, I found that the money I had stashed there was still there. Those idiot vampires hadn't felt the need to take it, probably thinking they would take it after I was dead. I almost laughed as I pulled bill after bill out. 

"With that money," Alex said, equally happy to finally have a reprieve from worrying. 

"Okay. Well how do we get from here to Springfield?" I asked, counting out the bills. 

"We walk," As said matter-of-factly.

"You want to walk all the way to Springfield? That'll take an entire day!" I exclaimed. I looked to Alex for some support, but he looked thoughtful. I finished counting the money. Four hundred and twenty dollars. Some must have fallen out of the pocket along the way.

"As is right," he said slowly. I looked at him incredulously.

"Since when do you agree with As on anything? And since when do you call him As?" This was just too weird. Alex rescues us from vampires one time and suddenly they're the best of friends.

"It's easier not to argue all the time," Alex responded with a shrug. "And anyway, he is right about his. We walk along the highway and we're bound to hit a town eventually, or at least a car. Maybe we can hitchhike. And it's not like we have any other choice. Last time I checked, with all your magical powers, you still can't teleport all of us without seriously draining yourself, which is something we really can't afford." I tried to find a flaw in his argument, but eventually I nodded begrudgingly.

"Fine."

"All right then," As said, all business. He folded up the map and it disappeared into one of his pockets.

"Can I have the book?" I asked him. We were out of danger, and it would be useful to have if we ended up back in danger, which seemed likely.

"No," he said.

"Excuse me?" I asked.

"No. You're using the book as a crutch. You need to be able to magic without it, and the only way you'll do that is if it's necessary for your survival. So no, you may not have the book back." I marveled at his nerve.

"You do realize that I could simply order you to give it to me right?" I asked.

"I am aware of that yes," he responded. I regarded him curiously. 

"Fine," I agreed. "But if you get us killed I'll kill you." As opened his mouth, probably to tell me the impossibility of that, but he closed his mouth again, deciding not to push his luck. Alex had watched this exchange with something in between interest and fear.

"We should go before it gets too late," he said cautiously. I nodded silently, and turned away. I saw As's shoulders slump out of the corner of my eye. He hadn't been sure I would agree with him. He was basically my slave, which was actually really messed up. He probably had a million different places he'd rather be right now. I found that I was actually feeling pity for him. A demon. I was feeling bad for a demon. Maybe when this was all over, I would start looking for a way to free him. No. Not maybe. I would. It was the least I could do. I grabbed a few water bottles and some snacks and put them in a plastic bag.

The tinny bell echoed through the empty gas station as the three of us exited.

----------------

We had been walking for what I estimated to be about four hours before we saw any sign of civilization. I heard the roar of a car coming up behind us. I turned around and saw that it was a big camper, and it seemed to be slowing down.

This is way too convenient, I thought as the camper pulled up beside us. I waited for something to jump out and attack us, but instead, a little girl poked her head out.

"Hi!" she said brightly.

"Hello," I said carefully.

"My mommy says that we should offer you a ride, but daddy always says not to because sometimes people on the road are serial killers. Are you serial killers?" The girl couldn't have been older than eight, which thin brown hair and hazel eyes. She was wearing a sunshine yellow skirt with electric blue leggings and a purple t-shirt emblazoned with a unicorn. I couldn't help but smile. 

"No. We're not serial killers," I responded. As looked confused by this exchange, but Alex was smiling. 

"That's exactly what a serial killer would say," the girl said matter-of-factly.

"What's your name?" Alex asked.

"Julia," she said.

"May we speak to your mommy?" Alex questioned. Not a moment later, a tall woman with a kind smile stepped up behind her. They were clearly mother and daughter, with the same hair, eyes, and smile. The only difference was that little Julia had freckles, while her mom's skin was clear. 

"Where are you three heading?" the mother said kindly.

"Springfield ma'am," I responded politely.

"We can give you a ride if you'd like. We're heading that way anyway," the woman said, stepping to the side with her daughter to offer us entry. A tiny voice in my mind was still suspicious, but I stuffed that voice to the back of my mind. As would have been able to tell if either the girl of the mother were demons.

"Thank you ma'am," I said, leading my group up into the camper. 

"Oh, please. Ma'am makes me feel old. Call me Olivia. What are your names?" I liked this woman. She smiled easily, and I was pretty sure her daughter was the most adorable being on the planet.

"I'm Luna, that's Alex, and this is A-"

"Adam," Alex interrupted. Right. It probably wasn't a good idea to address As by his actual name. It wasn't exactly a common name. Thankfully, As seemed to get the message and didn't protest.

"Well, it's wonderful to meet you all. My husband is in the back, taking a nap. Don't worry about waking him. That man can sleep through an elephant stampede," Olivia said with a laugh. 

"Come on!" Julia said, leaping out and grabbing my hand. "We have games!" she exclaimed, leading me over to a table. I let her. I'd always been good with kids. They just seemed to like me. Alex and As followed us, and Olivia went back to the drivers' seat. Before long, the three of us were sitting across from Julia as she dealt out cards and the camper bumped along the road. 

"Do you know how to play crazy eights?" Julia asked brightly.

"Alex and I do, but I don't think Adam does. Why don't you explain it?" I responded with a smile. 'Adam' shot me a quick glare, but listened attentively as Julia prattled on about the rules. I watched the countryside roll past, barren wasteland giving way to fields full of grazing cattle, horses with swishing tails, and various other farm animals. I was disappointed that I had been asleep when we had gone through New York. I had always wanted to go. I was so lost in thought that I didn't hear Julia when she asked me something.

"Luna?" Alex said from next to me.

"What?" I said, yanking myself out of my thoughts. 

"Julia wanted to know if you wanted to go first," he continued, worry etched on his face. I turned to Julia and smiled.

"If you'll allow me the honor," I said with a wink. Julia giggled, and I played a card.