Whoever this Leckermaul chick was, she was some sort of magical creature savant. Kay slapped the book closed and scrubbed her face. Squinting through the over-bright fluorescents of the locker room, she could just make out the time on the analog clock hanging on the wall. When did two in the morning happen?

Her eyelids dragged, but Kay's mind was wired. She dove into the Compendium of Wyld Lyfe hours ago, intending to read until she passed out. Time slipped away, her gaze drawn to the words as much as the creatures that slipped and skittered in the corners of her vision through the bordered pages until she read the final entry on Antarctic pixies, considered one of the few free range creatures alive today. The idea of any magical creatures still roaming the wild anywhere, let alone the harsh climate of Antarctica, was pretty mind blowing, but the Compendium offered her so much more. It wasn't just the descriptions of the creatures, written in loving detail, but the hand written notes throughout. Kay wondered whose handwriting it was; certainly not Stanley's barely legible scrawl.

Kay fingers traced the embossed lettering on the cover as she gathered her thoughts. Why hadn't Stanley given this book to her on day one? Why didn't he use the information to improve the Grid? Shaffer might have shot down her budget proposal to manage their food, but the tips and tricks in the compendium opened whole new avenues of cost cutting even the corporate higher ups would be remiss to ignore. Heck, they were general dietary changes they could sneak in without higher up micro- managing.

Not to mention the quality of life improvements. Kay gnawed on the inside of her mouth, her thoughts churning and turning, until they strayed to those pitiful skinny unicorns.

Unicorns weren't supposed to cannibalize their own. The Compendium was clear on that. It was clear on a lot of things that left Kay with a sense of uncomfortable complicity. There was some not so subtle and far reaching cruelty happening in the bowels of Fantasy Land Inc. Stanley and Shaffer might have insisted on calling the Grid a holding facility for 'dangerous creatures' but Kay's first impressions of a prison weren't accurate either. It was worse than either.

Kay was suddenly glad she missed dinner as her thoughts ticked through the conditions she'd basically ignored to secure her paycheck. Serena might be on the lowest floor, but the high security prisoners were the lucky ones. The worst of it was, the conditions didn't have to be like this.

She bounced to her feet; pacing was becoming a new past-time for her as she tread the level of the concrete floor. There had to be something she could do, small things she could change, that wouldn't ruffle any feathers. If she could implement a couple small ones, maybe she could present a decent case for an overhaul of the whole Grid. Stanley would support, maybe. He seemed to care about the denizens, rather browbeaten by corporate politics.

Kay wished she could talk to Jess about this. It hurt to think about the rift between them. For the first time since she'd cracked open the Compendium, she glanced at her cell phone, the notification light feebly blinking under the glare of the ceiling fixture. Kay turned on the screen. Her shoulders slumped at the terse answer waiting for her.

Fine. Whatever.

Jess was so hurt. That helpless sensation of seeing her best friend drift further and further from her threatened to put her in a downward spiral. Kay got herself into this mess, and somehow she would find a way out. Despite her silent resolution, her vision blurred under the threat of unshed tears. She thumped back on the bed, her restless energy rapidly drained by the problem that continued to weigh like an anchor around her neck. She couldn't keep doing this to Jess.

And she wouldn't. It was two in the morning. Everything Kay owned was in boxes. Even Jess had to be asleep right now. She could slip in and out with what she needed, the bare essentials, and keep them in her locker. Stanley wouldn't have to know she was living here. Tiny might say something if he noticed she didn't come and go, but, well, she'd cross that bridge when she came to it.

If Kay did this, she wouldn't have to lie to her best friend; right now avoidance was the best option instead of digging the proverbial hole deeper.

At least, that's what she told herself.

***

Her sweat saturated shirt stuck to the small of her back when she arrived back at the gates with a single rolling suitcase and backpack. The bus service had long since ended for the night; it took her over an hour to walk to Jess's apartment. Inner Kay was a small tired voice that called her every adjective for coward she knew but the hurt expression on Jess's face from the night before spurred her continued stealth. She had to do this, until she could find a way to undo it.

The hardest part was right before she walked out the door. Kay stood at the counter for a solid fifteen minutes with only the light over the sink, staring at the scrap paper she'd snagged for a note. Should she leave a note? She didn't want Jess to worry about her, but what could she say? Jess had done so much for her and this made her feel absolutely awful. She planned to come back and slip as much of her paycheck as she could afford to her friend but right now, she was running away.

At least Jess couldn't see the lie with a note.

Dear Jess, I'm sorry I've been so distant and off. I'm having a hard time with work and just need to work a few things out. I'll be by to drop off rent. Love you, Kay.

The words were wholly inadequate but any more and she'd start babbling on paper. She'd shut the door as quietly as possible as she left, starting the long trek back. She'd arrived at the front gate just in time to see Tiny walking out to his station. His steps slowed as he caught sight of her, brows high with surprise.

"Hey Kay-kay, you're here early," he said. His gaze flicked to her luggage and back. "Moving in?" It was a teasing tone but inner Kay quailed. Outer Kay didn't do much better.

"Oh," said Tiny. He cleared his throat, looking slightly uncomfortable. "Technically, we aren't supposed to condone this sort of thing..." He trailed off, glancing down at the tech check in sheet at his desk. "Do you have anywhere else to go?"

Technically she did. It wasn't like Jess kicked her out. But, maybe, in this case, a little white lie wouldn't hurt? "No." Keep it short, don't try to elaborate.

It helped that she was out of breath from the long trek back. She sounded way more down trodden than she had any right to be. Tiny heaved a sigh through his long nose.

"I can look the other way for now, Kay, until you get on your feet, but this can't be permanent," he said, his expression one of friendly concern. "And I still have to take your cell phone if you got it. I'll charge it up for you. You can come check it in the morning and evening."

Kay barely managed to stop the flinch after yesterday's escapade. Not having a cell phone on her after work hours would suck. It was one of those modern conveniences she took for granted, like showers and poptarts, but she'd make do. She had to, for now. Just keep thinking of it as a 'for now' scenario and she would get through this.

"Thanks Tiny, I really appreciate it," said Kay as she handed over her magically mended cell phone. She didn't have to lie for that one, but she did feel awkward standing here with him after convincing him she was basically homeless. A spark of inspiration struck. "Hey, what's on the lunch menu today?"

"Thanksgiving Thursday. There's turkey loaf, garlic mashed potatoes, green beans, and a cranberry chocolate bar for dessert," he rattled off. The man had the month's menu memorized. "I could sneak you seconds."

"That's incredibly thoughtful," said Kay, "but does that mean the fryers are free?"

"Depends," said Tiny. There was a bemused twist to his mouth. "What do you need them for?"

***

Kay was glad Stanley wasn't here for this. She had a feeling he would have a few things to say about her 'wasting supplies' without concrete proof of success. But, the boss man appeared to trust her on her own., he left her to her own devices, confident she could handle her task load without his supervision. Which meant she was able to wheel in one hundred and fifty pounds of her experiment unimpeded.

She'd left the outer door open a crack, the scent wafting to the clustered herd through the cross breeze. A few had already perked up at the smell, their ears flicking back and forth as if they couldn't believe their noses.

Her mouth watered like crazy. Tiny, mad man that he was, insisted on breading and spices. These unicorns were about to get a tastier lunch than everyone enjoying Thanksgiving Thursday.

Kay fished out the tongs Tiny lent her from her overalls and snagged a piece of fried chicken. She nearly dropped it when she turned around to find every unicorn in the pen straining against the fencing. Several of them had long ribbons of saliva dribbling from their mouths, majestic creatures indeed. Kay ignored them, searching for the skinny one she saw yesterday, hoping she wasn't too late. The others had effectively blocked access for the weaker one to come through. Which meant Kay could either try her luck moving through them or take a page from the Compendium of Wylde Lyfe.

She leveled the stink eye at the group clustered directly in front of the starving mare.

"You lot let her through right this instant or no fried chicken for you." Kay held her breath.

The unicorns' ears flattened against their skulls. Not good. Their tails swish vigorously. Also not good. One of them lifted their hind leg to get back.

"No crispy skin," she said, waving the fried chicken breast at them. The unicorns snorted and moved aside. "Holy shitballs, it worked."

Score one for Leckermaul.

The skinny unicorn held back, hesitating until one of the others butted her forward. Kay quickly offered her the piece, her arms starting to shake as the mare took a tentative nibble of the new delicacy.

Kay jumped as the whole breast disappeared with a snap of teeth. The thin unicorn shuffled back, happily munching her prize. Score two for Leckermaul.

"Now, line up in an orderly fashion, there's enough for each of you." She hoped. Kay spoke clearly but she didn't expect them to listen. When she thought of it, she realized Stanley never talked to the unicorns, so she didn't talk to them, at least not directly. But according to the Compendium, the beasts were far more intelligent than their domesticated hornless brethren, and were quite capable of understanding human speech.

It was why Kay had made a point to feed the skinny unicorn first, particularly after her conversation with Stanley yesterday.

The herd was shockingly content to wait in line for their portion of chicken, many of them still happily munching away when she dragged out the next part of her plan. In theory she knew there was a drain somewhere beneath the filthy matted down muck. She hoped it wasn't too clogged or she was going to run into trouble real quick.

Kay turned on the spray full blast and took aim. At first, the unicorns scattered, until one of them tentatively walked through the stream. Kay the water pressure would last as more came forward for a blast of hot water.

Kay kept it up until the floor was a soup of mud and other unpleasant substances that created whirlpools around the drains in the floor. The hot water managed to break up most of the clogs. Once that was done, the unicorns stood by the fence, watching her from their unnerving slightly forward facing eyes, expectant.

"Who wants a brushing?"

She found Stanley tending the dragons an hour later. "I've got something to show you."

"Can it wait, I think Dorothy is coming down with the sniffles," said Stanley. A sneezing dragon sounded dreadful, but Kay wasn't sure how long the after effects of her experiment would last. She wanted to show Stanley before someone complained about the building's sudden lack of hot water.

"Two minutes. I promise it will be worth it," said Kay. If the Unicorns hadn't taken the opportunity to frolic in the still draining muck.

Stanley followed her with his usual befuddled frown as she led him back to the cell block, holding her breath as she threw open the door.

Her supervisor gaped at the herd of pristine groomed unicorns milling around in a somewhat orderly fashion. The mud had mostly drained to a half inch layer that squelched under their feet as they entered. A few of the herd even peeled off to approach the fence, their ears forward.

"I'll brush you again tomorrow, I promise," said Kay.

"Who are you talking to?" Stanley sniffed. "And why does it smell like a KFC bathroom in here?"

Kay turned to him and threw her hands up for extra effect. "I've been reading!"

"Well, I hear reading is very good for the mind," said Stanley

Kay made a face and shoved him in the shoulder. "The books in your office. Good grief. I found this one book that was stuffed with tips about the care and handling of magical creatures, and Stanley, there are so many things we could change to make it better here. Free things. Things we wouldn't even have to fly by Shaffer to see if it's in our budget."

Stanley's bafflement deepened. "What sort of things?"

"Well for one," said Kay, gesturing wildly at the herd. "Unicorns prefer cooked food over raw. It improves their temperament. Fried is their favorite." She glanced back at the cluster of shiny coats. "And they like to be clean. They swim in lakes and rivers in the wild."

She looked back to find Stanley staring at her, his bafflement bordering incredulity. "Which book did you find this information in?"

"The Compendium," said Kay. Now she felt slightly baffled.

Stanley tugged on his lower lip. "Can't say I've read that one. Mind leaving it on my desk?"

"Sure thing boss," Kay shrugged. "Hey since you have a potential sneezy dragon on your hands, want me to, uh, take down the tea tray?"

Stanley gave her a genuine smile. "Thank you, Kay, that would be great. I'm way behind with my share of the work." Stanley looked back at the herd as they walked out; the expression on his face looked troubled.

She didn't know why that made her so uneasy.

Kay tried to shove the feeling aside as she rushed to her locker and dug through her backpack. She had a promise to keep. She tucked the contraband under the cup and saucer and made her way down to the bottom floor of the grid.

Part of her was still furious with Serena, but there was another part of her, possibly a much larger part of her, that looked forward to seeing her again.

Plus, the golden princess had fixed her cell phone. It was her fault it broke in the first place, but she didn't have to fix it. She was a prisoner here, really, she could have just put all her energy into being an utter brat toward Kay.

Kay couldn't believe she was trying to justify the woman's actions.

She shoved her traitorous thoughts aside as she opened the door...and found Serena asleep.

It was very possible the woman was faking. Kay nibbled her lip, wondering how far to test the theory but as she stood there, listening to Serena's heavy breathing, she stared at the woman's face.

Her features were relaxed, unguarded; it made her look younger and far less imperious. Faking or not, the sight sent a wave of warmth through Kay. Her cheeks grew hot. Kay swallowed and grabbed her offering off the tea tray. She opened the two way drawer as quietly as she could and shoved it through to the other side. The drawer gave a plaintive squeal. She jerked her head up but Serena hadn't stirred. Quite the heavy sleeper for royalty, or Serena didn't want to talk to her.

Kay sighed and wheeled the unused tray out into the hallway. The princess would probably complain about missing her tea later. Served her right if she wanted to play the avoidance game. Kay should know since she was a champ.

Still, the missed encounter hung like a sour note over her for the rest of the day. She tried to shove it to the back of her mind, since every time she thought of it, there was also that unfortunate bit of blushing. It wasn't until she trudged back to the locker room at the end of the day she remembered Stanley asking to borrow the Compendium. Kay had left it on her cot, at least she thought she did.

She frowned, lifting up the blanket and pillow, even getting down on the ground to peer under the cot, but the book had disappeared.

Kay puzzled over where she might have displaced the book as she rushed out to meet Tiny and check her phone before he locked it up again for the night.

"Hey Kay-Kay, how did the chicken go over?"

"It was totally a hit," said Kay with a grin. Her good humor faded as she checked her messages. Not a word from Jess. Kay was certain she was the front runner for worst friend of the year right now. There was only one message from a restricted number. She almost deleted it without looking. Those things were usually spamalicious. Last thing her recently enchanted phone needed was a virus. Her thumb paused on the delete button, the entirety of the message visible in the preview window.

'Thank you for the books. '