“Geez. High-strung much?”
Aspen groaned as she lurched to sitting and rubbed her face. She’d slept in her clothes, and her hair would probably be looking like a dream house for New York’s resident rat population.
“Sorry. I’m not used to somebody waking me up.”
“Not even at your old place?”
Old place. Like it wasn’t her home anymore.
Aspen imagined Brune gingerly navigating his massive frame up those tiny, rickety stairs to her loft, then daintily poking her until she woke. Her heart lurched as she thought of him. She’d been so caught up in everything that had happened with Lucien she hadn’t even tried to contact him. He’d be worried sick.
“No, nobody woke me at my old place,” she finally answered. She rubbed her face again. “Sorry. Didn’t sleep much.”
“Nervous?”
Aspen gave her a confused look.
“About the Mage’s assessment?” Tana said. “I…kind of listened in. Lucien’s cool about letting me stay here, but I don’t really leave the house much. You’re the most exciting thing to happen in, like, a long time.”
She brushed her stringy hair back so that both her eyes were showing, almost hypnotizing. Her nails were still jagged, teeth a little pointed. Despite this, Aspen found that she liked this girl. Which was weird. Normally, she had an automatic aversion to people. As in, she hated them. It was only natural when the magical community didn’t care much for you either.
But Tana seemed beyond all the normal bluffing and false friendships. She seemed real. Honest. Perhaps a bit sheltered.
Or maybe not, Aspen thought, remembering the girl’s vicious bite during the fight against Isak’s thugs.
“You don’t leave or you’re not allowed to?”
Tana nibbled her bottom lip. “Don’t.”
Aspen stood and walked into the bathroom. She splashed water on her face until she felt halfway human again. When she emerged, Tana was holding out a brush. Aspen gratefully took it and began unsnarling her hair.
“Lucien said you were a Vampee,” Aspen said.
“A half-breed,” Tana said darkly. “Half vampire, half banshee.” Aspen caught her glancing at her veins, and she subtly pulled down the sleeves of her jacket.
“Sorry,” Tana said, shaking herself. “I’m not usually like this. I don’t need blood to survive like full vampires, but it’s still tempting, you know?”
“Not really. I mean, I understand the concept, but I’ll take your word for it. And what’s wrong with being a half-breed?”
“Would you like them?”
“My best friend’s a half-giant and I love the guy. There’s nothing wrong with them.”
“Thanks,” Tana muttered. “But then you’d know there’s a reason you don’t see more of us. Most supernatural beings like their own kind only. Most people probably won’t mess with a half-giant. But if they see me coming…I’ve had a couple close calls, that’s all. I was lucky I found Lucien.”
“And you and Lucien…are you…together?”
Tana gave her a shocked look. Then she giggled. “Together? Oh, gross! I mean, yeah, he’s handsome—because have you seen the guy? But he’s…no, just no. He’s like a big brother to me. Found me when he was visiting Scandinavia on Mage business. One of his houses is there.”
Of course it was.
“Right. Had to ask, you know.” Aspen spied some of her gear sitting by the door and her day instantly improved. She rushed over and began slotting everything back into its rightful place. True to his word, Lucien had given back almost everything, save for her guns. But she did have her knife. It glittered as Aspen slipped it into its sheath beneath her jacket. Tana eyed it warily.
“Don’t worry, I made a deal with Lucien and I plan to follow through with it.” Aspen grinned. “And if I get to give Isak a little payback while I’m at it…”
Tana matched her grin. Aspen finished with the last adjustments to her gear.
“Fantastic. Now, please tell me why I’m up so early.”
Tana’s eyes widened in sudden realization. “Oh, dragon spit! You’re going to be late for the Council!”
“What?” Aspen was immediately at the door. “Where’s Lucien?”
Tana poked her index fingers together, looking sheepish.
“He’s…still asleep. He can be kind of grumpy in the mornings. I’m…scared to wake him.”
Aspen set her jaw. “Show me where he is.”
Tana led her across the courtyard to another wing of the sprawling house (just how big was this place?) and to a narrow outdoor corridor of more closed panels.
“He’s in there.” Tana pointed to one. The inside was still dark.
Aspen stomped over to the door, fist raised to pound on it. “Lucien!”
“Allow me.”
Aspen jerked in surprise, stumbling away from the door. The woman had appeared out of nowhere, breezing past Aspen and making her wonder, as all-powerful as Lucien supposedly was, if he’d ever heard of the concept of locks. It seemed anybody could stroll into the house whenever they pleased.
The woman’s skin was caramel brown, hair pinned back in an elaborately braided pattern. She was rocking some patterned tights with a loose silken robe thrown over it; one not nearly as ridiculously pompous as Lucien’s, but form-fitting. Fashionable, even, with patterns of birds and plants covering it. Intricate mehndi tattoos ran down from her right elbow, stopping at a wicked pair of folded scythe-knives tucked onto the underside of her wrist.
She gave Aspen a semi-approving once-over, then a smile.
“So you’re it. He said he’d found somebody, but, girl, you must owe this idiot big time to get roped into this.”
Aspen finally got over her shock enough to say, “Believe me, I’d rather not be here. And you are…?”
“Nina Ashmir. One of the other Mages on the Council you’re going to be late to.” She jerked her head towards the room. “Also his ex. Don’t let him tell you otherwise. Now…”
With a powerful tug, she threw the screen open. “Shall we rise and shine?”
Nina shook her arm and a cluster of small metal charms slid to her wrists, clacking together as they stopped. Summoning charms, Aspen realized. A summoner. She had the ability to reach magical beings on different planes and call them to help her. Aspen had never seen anybody who could do that. Not only did it tend to be a more eastern practice of magic, just having the ability was rare.
Nina pinched one of the small blue charms and it glowed. A circle of ground directly in front of her fell away into darkness, and from it popped a small blue nymph. With translucent wings, baby-blue skin, and large, doe-like eyes, it almost looked angelic. Almost. But Aspen had seen what an infestation of them could do.
Nina pointed at Lucien’s sleeping form. “Wake him up. Without hurting him.”
The nymph cackled. It raised its arms, drawing together a large, condensed ball of water overhead. Then it moved it over Lucien’s head.
The result was just as glorious as Aspen imagined. Sputtering, Lucien tried to sit up, but only managed to get tangled in the wet sheets. He finally freed himself, swiping his dripping hair out of his eyes, peering at all of them furiously.
“What do you think you’re—”
His eyes landed on Nina. A slow smile curled over his face. He propped his head on one elbow, somehow instantly appearing nonplussed, even half naked and soaking wet.
“Nina, my love. Just couldn’t stay away, could you?”
Nina chuckled, crossing her arms. “Hardly. I’m just here to save your sorry butt from yourself. The Council convenes in twenty. If you aren’t there, they’ll see it as another snub.” Her voice softened. “You don’t have many strikes left, Lucien. I can’t talk them out of punishing you forever.”
“So let them be disappointed.”
“It wouldn’t be the first time you disappointed someone on the Council,” Nina said, her eyes flashing.
For a second, Lucien almost looke
d nervous. Then his suave smile returned. “Low blow there, love. We’ll get there in our own time, and the Council won’t do anything. They’re just a bunch of blowhards.”
“Then why did you join?” Aspen said, exasperated.
“Because I was young and idealistic once. And stupid.”
“Debatable how many of those you still are,” Nina said. “Still, I highly recommend you don’t be late.”
“We had a deal, Lucien,” Aspen said.
“And what’s she got to do with this?” Nina said, thumbing at Aspen.
Lucien sighed. “Normally I’d love being verbally whipped by you, Nina, but…” he rolled over and stood, whipping the bed sheets off him as he did and ending up completely dry and in full dress and robe like he’d worn yesterday. The rings had found their way back to his fingers. He straightened them before checking himself in one of the mirrors. He brushed his hair back and forth, then gave his reflection a cheeky grin.
Tana poked her head in. “Is he dress—oh, good. Lucien, Caretaker needs you.”
Lucien swept past Aspen and Nina. They followed him to the main courtyard where a man as skinny as a sapling stood rigidly, hands clasped in front of him. He was dressed in an impeccably trimmed suit, like a butler, hair immaculately combed, face sharp. It was impossible to tell his age; one second, he looked no older than Lucien, but the next, when he turned to peer at Aspen, she saw in his eyes a glimpse of an aged, infinite, powerful being.
Aspen’s senses were immediately on alert, a deep, primal fear stirring within her. She was positive his aura was a demon of some kind. She’d never had much interaction with the most dangerous and ancient of supernatural beings. But just ten seconds of meeting Caretaker and she was sure she never wanted to.
“What’s the problem, Caretaker?” Lucien said, adjusting the cuffs at the end of his robe. “Seems like you’re letting everybody in nowadays. First the ones yesterday, now my…” He glanced at Nina, “…good friend.”
“Apologies, Lucien.” Caretaker gave a brief bow to Nina. “Mistress Nina, a pleasure, as always. You’ll recall, sir, I was indisposed buying your groceries yesterday during the incident.”
“Ah, right. Remind me not to do that again.”
“Indeed. As for today, I thought letting Mistress Nina inside was in your best interest. And I was…otherwise occupied.”
“With what?”
“Distracting our newest guest. Now that you’re up, perhaps you will do me the kindness of talking some sense into him. He appears to be under the impression that Mistress Aspen is with him—”
The front gates burst open behind Caretaker and Brune charged in.
“Don’t hurt him!” Aspen cried as Lucien immediately raised a hand. “He’s my friend!”
Brune had no such reservations. In three quick, booming strides, he’d crossed to them and swept Lucien up in one meaty fist.
“Brune, no! Down! Put him down!” Aspen demanded.
“Aspen!” Brune’s face lit up, his child-like joy dampened slightly by Lucien still struggling in his grip. “I found you! I heard you were here and I found you!”
“Yes you did. Good job—”
“Hooray for everybody! Now put me down!” Lucien commanded, his face beginning to take on a slightly purplish tinge. “I said—Agh!”
He winced as Brune squeezed harder, his expression furious as he turned back to him.
“Brune, drop him,” Aspen said, as calmly as she could.
Lucien struggled a bit more. “Please do as she—No, Caretaker.”
Aspen turned to see Caretaker, who a second ago had been standing behind them, now rippling with dark magic. His eyes had taken on a dangerous red tint. Tendrils of darkness leaked from his skin and curled at his feet, ready to do his bidding. Demon-kin. Aspen had never seen one; they were incredibly powerful beings that could host a demon inside their bodies. In exchange for allowing them on the humans’ plane of existence, the demon granted the host long life, and access to some of its powers—powers that even Brune, resistant to magic as he was, probably wouldn’t survive against.
“Please put him down,” Aspen repeated, forcing her voice calm. “He’s with me.”
“But you didn’t come home,” Brune said, confused.
“I know. I can explain.”
Slowly, Brune uncurled his fingers one by one, until Lucien dropped unceremoniously to the cobblestone. He put up a hand to wave off Caretaker who drew back, his eyes returning to normal once more.
“You failed to mention you roomed with a half-giant,” Lucien wheezed, still catching his breath.
“There wasn’t time between you kidnapping me,” Aspen said.
Brune swelled with anger. He reached for Lucien again. “Kidnapping?”
“No! No, Brune. Give me a second to explain,” Aspen said to Lucien. “He can get a bit overprotective.”
Lucien rubbed his side, pulling back some of the shirt at his waist to reveal where fingerprint-shaped bruises were forming. “No kidding?”
“What are you doing, Aspen?” Brune said as Aspen led him a little ways from the group. Aspen made sure they were far enough away to not cause another scene. Caretaker still seemed ready to jump in and attack at any moment, and even Tana was gazing at Brune warily.
“Did he kidnap you?” Brune said.
Aspen sighed. This entire thing was too complicated for him to understand, but she had to break it down the best way she could. She just didn’t like it. And neither would he.
“I…took another job.”
“Job?”
“As a thief.”
It was almost physically painful to watch the hurt fill Brune’s face. “But you said—”
“I know what I said. I lied. Listen, it’s just one more. That’s it.”
“You said that before.”
“Well, I mean it now. If I do this, Lucien—the guy you were strangling—will pay me. Hopefully enough so that we won’t have to worry about money for a while.”
“But you don’t have to worry about money! I said I would—”
“Don’t, Brune. Just don’t. I’m not a kid anymore. I know things are bad for us.”
His response was to give her a long, mournful look. “But if you get hurt…your parents…”
“Are dead,” Aspen said savagely. “Me doing this isn’t going to change that.”
“But what about me?”
“You need to go, Brune. I’ll come home after I’m done.”
“But, Aspen…”
“Go, Brune.”
She turned away from him, effectively cutting off the conversation, but mostly so he couldn’t see her getting choked up.
She focused on nothing but the leaves brushing against her feet until Brune’s booming footsteps faded away. She heaved a big breath. Then another. What was she going to do with him? She couldn’t keep this up forever, even after getting the money from Lucien. Being torn between the safe life he wanted for her, and the dangerous one she led for sake of necessity was going to destroy her eventually.
“You finished with your tender moment?” Lucien said when she returned to them.
“Lucien…” Nina warned.
Aspen stuck a finger in Lucien’s face, glaring. “When I’m done with this, condemn me all you want, but you better pay up for him.”
Lucien took a long moment before nodding. “Was there ever a doubt?”
“Don’t make me answer that. Now let’s go before this morning can get any more screwed up.”
They left Ember’s Landing through one of the numerous exits and were soon absorbed into the foot traffic on Broadway, heading away from the Lincoln Center and towards Times Square. Despite their lateness, Lucien didn’t seem at all in a rush to meet the Council, spending most of his time gazing around or staring at the ground for extended periods of time, nearly getting himself run over by taxis and angry cyclists at the crosswalks. He was starting to attract looks.
“Is he always like this?” Aspen asked the third ti
me Nina pulled Lucien out of the way of an oncoming bus. “Completely and utterly oblivious, I mean?”
“It’s the city,” Nina said. “It’s teeming with magic. And he feels it more than most. It’ll take him a bit to adjust, then he’ll be fine.”
Aspen did a double take at her surroundings. She’d spent plenty of time outside the borough and among the Norms; much more than she was sure a majority of those in Ember’s Landing had. She couldn’t say she felt any magic, but there was something there; something she was sure everyone could sense. A buzz. A hum. Electric. Dangerous. Enticing. The tight streets leading to broad avenues. The constant movement and energy. The cars, the people, lifeblood in the stream of veins that powered the behemoth that was New York.
And the magic. Old magic. Ancient magic humming just beneath its skin. Mingling with the lives of everyone, whether they were aware of it or not. Someone had once told Aspen that New York was one of the oldest magical cities, second only to a couple in Europe. There were buried secrets here. Things found, and even more things lost.
She loved it.
Nina let out an exasperated noise. “Lucien, no, we don’t have ti—”
But Lucien cut across the street, leaving them behind. He held up a ‘just a sec’ finger and entered a restaurant, a long line snaking out the front door.
“Unbelievable,” Nina muttered. She crossed her arms, glaring at the front of the store like that would make him come out faster. Eventually her eyes flicked to Aspen.
“He never mentioned anything to me about you. How long have you been Lucien’s apprentice?”
Aspen scrambled to think of an answer. Not because she respected Lucien enough to want to salvage his reputation, but it was probably safer if the nature of their agreement was kept under wraps.
“I’ve been training with him for a couple months.”
“Liar.”
Aspen forced her gaze to stay forward, even as her heart rate sped up.
“Why would I be lying?”
“Lucien would never take an apprentice. I know that for a fact. How long, really?”
Aspen warred with herself, before saying, “Couple days.”
Mage's Apprentice (Mages of New York Book 1) Page 8