by Tegan Maher
He gave a sharp nod. “Okay, then. Let’s go.”
Chapter 4
WHEN WE STEPPED OUT of the alley beside Mila’s shop, Potions & Lotions, Abaddon’s Gate was bustling. Moms of all species hustled their children down the street, stopping at this street vendor or that for roasted treats for the kids or dried herbs or fresh produce for herself. Businessmen strode with purpose, most of them either talking on Bluetooth mics or staring down at their phones, punching out texts or scrolling through work-related stuff.
This part of the Gate was decent, catering to small, legit businesses. The whole town wasn’t like that, though. Just a few blocks over, shady people conducted all sorts of business twenty-four/seven. The friendly vendors making an honest living faded to black-market privateers hawking all manner of illicit goods: dark charms and curses, counterfeit purses and spelled items, and even “personal services” that covered debt collection and other not-so-pleasant and violent solutions to problems.
Unlike human cities, there was no fear that the dark side of Abaddon’s Gate would consume the light. Everything had its place and the city had remained the same for centuries. It worked, and everybody understood the balance.
Mila’s storefront was bright and cheery, painted a clean white with lavender framing the large picture window. Bottles and vials of all shapes and sizes were arranged artfully in the window, and a small sign advertised the prices. I’d asked her once why she did that, and she’d smiled when she’d replied that she was tired of folks coming in, seeing the prices, and leaving. She considered the sign a way to save both her time and theirs by letting them know upfront that though quality was affordable, it wasn’t cheap.
Something was wrong, though. The windows were dark, and the lights were off even though she wasn’t scheduled to close for hours yet. I pressed my face against the glass, but the inside was dark and deserted.
I glanced at Colin and a cold finger of unease traced its way down my spine.
“Don’t panic yet,” he said. “There could be a perfectly reasonable explanation. Maybe she ran out of supplies and had to close early to go get more. Or maybe she just took a day off.”
I tried to swallow that, but it just wouldn’t go down. “That might sound reasonable if she hadn’t blown Charles off, or if she were answering our texts.”
As if on cue, my phone dinged. I pulled it out of my pocket and frowned. It was from Mila.
I’m fine, silly. Just slammed at the shop. Speaking of, a crone just walked in that looks like she could use some serious moisturizing. Talk soon, love ya
I read it out loud, my mind spinning. “I don’t know about you, but I don’t see any dry-skinned old crones hangin’ around.”
Tempest hopped up onto my shoulder and peered into the window. “Nothing’s broken or out of place. No sign of a struggle.”
“Try Calamity again,” I urged.
She closed her eyes, then sucked in a breath and popped them back open again. Hurt and confusion crossed her features. “She answered, but she snapped at me. Told me to drop it and stop pestering them.”
That was even stranger than Mila lying to me; the two foxes shared a bond unlike that between even human twins. It was like they were two parts of a whole. The same went for their other sister Chaos, our cousin Cori’s familiar.
I paced back and forth in front of the shop. I considered breaking in and looking around, but a quick magical scan told me I wouldn’t find anything.
“Can I help you, sweetie?” I pivoted at the sound of Mrs. Crookshamble’s voice. She was standing outside the store next door, a little flower shop she’d owned for almost a century. “If you’re looking for Mila, I’m afraid she’s not here. Hasn’t been in a couple days.” Her wrinkled face reflected worry, and her peach-tinted lips were turned down in a frown.
“Days?” I repeated. “You haven’t seen her in days?”
She shook her head. “She’s been ... strange lately. She’ll be around for three or four days, then disappear for a few. She said she had some upheaval in her personal life and asked me to watch over the place when she has to leave. She gave me a key so I can water her plants.”
“And she hasn’t said anything else about this upheaval?” Colin asked. “No details?”
Mrs. Crookshamble shook her head, her gray bun wobbling. “Nothing. I’m worried about her, to be honest. When I do see her, she looks tired. Black circles under her eyes, and she’s lost weight. Not quite a bag of bones, but I know she’s not eating right.”
“What about Calamity?” Tempest asked.
“Oh, your sister looks fine. She tried to soothe me last time, saying what they were going through was temporary and that they weren’t in any danger, but I could tell she wasn’t telling me the whole truth.”
A gorgon with a couple of kids walked into her shop, and she smiled at them. “I have to go, but if you find her, please let me know. An old lady worries.”
I patted her on the arm and assured her I would. “You take care, Mrs. Crookshamble. If they get back today, will you please tell them to call me?”
“Sure thing, dear.”
She disappeared into her store, and I chewed my lip. “I don’t get it. She never lies to me, and this shop means everything to her. She spent her entire life savings opening it, plus mortgaged it to the eyeballs. She’s just about to pay it off. What would possibly be more important than that to her?”
Colin put his arm around me. “I think you’re going to have to trust her, at least for now.”
I huffed an irritated breath out through my nose. “I don’t have much choice, now do I? Let’s just go home. But you can bet your boots this ain’t over.”
With that, I took his hand and ported us back to the entrance of the resort, then back to the tiki. I did my best to push my worry back and enjoy what was left of the day. Mila was a big girl, and if she needed my help, she’d ask. But I hadn’t lied to Colin. She had some ‘splainin to do when I caught up with her.
Chapter 5
SINCE THE LUAU WAS on the beach, we opted not to go back to my place to clean up. No need to wash off sand just to replace it with fresh.
The smell of roasting meat was making my mouth water as we strolled down to where Angus was hard at work. Well, he was drinking beer and sitting in the shade shooting the breeze with a brownie who must have come down from the kitchen to help him. But still, he was cooking meat over a blazing grill in ninety-plus degree temps.
Two of the tables I’d set up earlier were practically groaning under the weight of a dozen big bowls of sides, finger foods, and desserts, and the coolers were full of waters and sodas for people who didn’t want to buy booze from the bar or needed to take a break from drinking while they ate. A third table held four giant serving tins covered in foil—the meat, no doubt.
“Hey, Angus,” I said, grabbing a Coke from the cooler then waving a hand over it to re-freeze the melted ice. “It smells amazing down here.”
I picked up the corner of the foil covering a large roasting pan and plucked a piece of brisket out before Angus could smack my fingers with his tongs. “No piecing!” he said. “Get a plate.”
I gave Tempest a piece of my purloined goody, then stepped back out of Angus’s range and smiled at Colin as he handed me two plates. I loaded them up then took them to a table where Jolene, Bob’s wife, was sitting with a couple other girls who worked in the casino.
“Hey, ladies,” I said as Colin and I slid onto the bench across from them.
Tempest hopped up onto the bench and went to work on the plate I’d made for her. “Where’s my baked beans?” she asked, and I shook my head.
“No way. If you want beans, you’re sleepin’ on the porch. Count yourself lucky I put coleslaw on there.” My little fox was furry and adorable, but she could gas out an entire platoon if she ate beans, onions, or broccoli. She scowled at me but didn’t push it. Not that she had any reason to. Even without the beans, her plate was loaded.
“Who was that guy you
were talking to at the bar earlier?” Kathy, the older of the two casino girls, asked me. “I was off today and couldn’t help but notice him.”
I had to admit, Charles was a looker if you liked the brawny type. Still, just in case Mila was involved with him, I figured I’d approach it from that direction. “He’s a friend of my cousin’s. She was gonna join him, but couldn’t make it.”
A finger of worry slid down my back, and I glanced down at my phone for the hundredth time that day. I was getting anxious and had already decided to take a trip to the Gate the following day if she hadn’t gotten back with me.
Angus had outdone himself on the meat, and by the time I’d finished my plate and gone back for a big slice of chocolate cake, I was glad I’d brought a tee shirt and shorts to wear over my bathing suit. I was pretty sure I wasn’t looking as svelte as I had an hour before. I sure didn’t feel like it, anyway. That wasn’t going to stop me from taking a piece of strawberry cheesecake or two home with me, though.
“Wanna go for a walk?” Colin asked after we’d dropped our plates in the trash.
“Sure,” I said, loading up a plate with cheesecake. “You want cheesecake or chocolate cake for later?”
“Yes,” he said, smiling. As a werewolf, the man ate his weight in food, though you’d never guess it looking at him.
I rolled my eyes and loaded up a second plate. I figured if I wanted to make sure I had a piece it would be safer to take extra.
“Chocolate cake for me,” Tempest said. Not surprising considering she counted chocolate as a food group.
“Gimme two seconds,” I said after I’d drizzled strawberries over the slices on the cheesecake plate. “I’ll be right back.” I closed my eyes and pictured my kitchen and a second later, I was standing by my fridge. I slipped the plates onto the counter, then snapped my fingers and was back on the beach.
Colin smiled and shook his head. “That’s damned handy. I admit to being jealous I can’t do that.”
“I know,” I said with a smug look. “It’s pretty cool being me.”
He held out his hand and I took it, but rather than following him toward the beach, I pulled him toward the forest behind us. I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about the fairy pools Angus had told me about earlier. Even though they weren’t quite finished, I still wanted to see them.
“I wanna show you something.”
“Ooh,” he said, waggling his brows. “A gorgeous witch wants to drag me into the dark woods and show me something. I’m not sure if that’s exciting or terrifying. Either way, I’m in.”
I bumped him with my shoulder. “You should always be a little scared when I suggest something like that. It’s not in your best interests to be complacent.”
He laughed. “Noted. Now, what is it we’re going to see?”
“Angus told me they’re building fairy pools out here, and I’m dying to see them. I’ve seen pics of the real ones in Scotland, and this may be the closest I ever get to them.”
“I’ve actually seen them. They’re amazing.”
“Now I’m the one who’s jealous,” I said, digging in to keep my balance in the deep sugar sand that led to the woods.
I was having a tough time finding the path into the forest in the dark, so I summoned a ball of pink light. “Ah, over there it is,” I said. “I’m not sure exactly where they’re at, so this may be a hike.”
“I’m out, then,” Tempest said. “I’m stuffed and tired. I’ll meet you guys back at the house.”
I turned to her and wagged my finger. “Don’t you dare eat all the cake. One piece. That’s it.”
“Oh,” she said, feigning innocence. “I’d forgotten there’s cake.”
“Yeah, sure you did,” Colin said. “I’m with Destiny on this one. There better be cake left when we get there. Two pieces each.”
“Whole pieces,” I added. She was notorious for whittling little slices off the sides so that the “piece” dwindled away to something that added up to a large bite.
“Fine,” she huffed. “Whole pieces.”
“If you eat our cake, you’ll have nothing but bananas for breakfast for a week. I’m not kidding,” I said. She liked bananas but preferred them sliced in pancakes. The threat would be sufficient to keep my cake safe.
With a final eye roll, she blinked out. She and I were one of the few people on the resort with teleporting privileges, and it sure did come in handy.
We strolled along in comfortable silence for a few minutes, the light orb bobbing ahead of us. It didn’t shed much light, but it provided enough that I didn’t fall flat on my face. Colin didn’t need it; werewolves had excellent night vision.
“Stop,” he commanded, grasping my hand tighter and shoving me behind him. Normally, the alpha behavior would have irritated me, but he had utter faith in my abilities. If he thought I needed to be behind him, I was willing to listen. The action set my defenses on red alert, though, and rather than stare at his back, I turned and put mine to his, watching his six. I scanned the inky darkness for danger, my magic tingling through me.
“Make the orb bigger,” he said. Keeping one eye behind us, I flicked my hand at the ball and turned up the wattage. He paused and listened, then put his nose in the air and sniffed. “We’re alone. Look. Up ahead.”
I relaxed and released the magic that had hummed instinctively to the ready. Turning around, I looked where he was pointing. Somebody was lying on the path in front of us, her back to us. With the way she was positioned, all I could see was that she was wearing a black tank top and jean shorts, which didn’t do much to identify her. I crept closer, still holding Colin’s hand.
“Hey,” he called. “Are you okay?”
When she didn’t respond, he cautiously closed the gap between us and the body and reached down to touch her shoulder. When he did, she rolled over onto her back and I sucked in a breath. Liz’s lifeless eyes stared up at us, and the barbecue fork sticking out of her chest was proof that she was definitely not okay.
Chapter 6
THE FOREST AROUND US suddenly felt dark and dangerous. Every sound was magnified, and I expanded the ball of light until it shone as bright as a stadium light. Or, I suppose, a crime-scene light. I scanned the shadows again searching for any sign that we weren’t alone.
Colin shook his head. “I’m absolutely positive there’s nobody here. Or within a quarter of a mile for that matter. I can still smell the luau, but there’s nothing else, and all I can hear are normal forest noises. Even those are muted at this point, though, which tells me whoever did this hasn’t been gone long.”
I had to go get Blake. The question was whether or not Colin should stay near the body or go with me. He was a werewolf, but the dead woman in front of us had been Valkyrie and Fae. She hadn’t exactly been a lightweight. I wished Tempest had decided to stay with us; that way, she could have gone.
“Go get him,” Colin said, reading my mind. “We don’t both need to go, and I’ll wait here to make sure nobody else stumbles across her.”
I pulled in a breath and pictured the Luau, where I’d last seen Blake. Rather than just blink in, I ported to the edge of the woods, then trotted over to where he was talking to Stephanie and Mariah. I sighed. That wasn’t ideal, but they deserved to know. Still, that was Blake’s call to make, and my first loyalty had to be to him.
“Sorry to interrupt,” I said, breathless, “but I need to talk to you for a minute, Blake. It’s an emergency.”
Concern colored his chocolate eyes, but he followed me several feet to where we had some privacy. I slapped up a muffling bubble just in case.
“There’s been a murder in the forest. Liz, the third girl who’s here with Steph,” I said, keeping my voice as low as I could while still being heard.
The color drained from his face. “How? When?”
I shook my head. “I don’t know when, but Colin thinks it wasn’t long ago. She was stabbed with a barbecue fork.” I glanced toward Steph. “We have to tell them now. If we do
n’t, she’ll lose her mind and we won’t be able to maintain control of the situation. You know how hot-tempered Valkyries are.”
He rubbed his jaw, something he tended to do when he was stressed and trying to make a decision. “Yeah, and Valkyrie law is clear and quick. They don’t require much proof, especially if it seems clear-cut. We can’t have her going off half-cocked. Take me to her first, though, then you can come back and tell them. Gently.”
The two Valkyries were watching us, curious, but seemed more interested in whatever gossip I may be bringing. They’d obviously not overheard us.
“Can you two wait right here?” I called, trying to keep my tone serious but calm. “I need to talk to you, but I have to show Blake something first.”
“Sure,” Steph said, drawing her brows down. “Is everything okay?”
I pulled in a deep breath and blew it out through my cheeks. “No, it isn’t. But give me ten seconds. I’ll be right back.”
Blake took my hand and gave me a sharp nod to let me know he was ready for me to take us to the body. I closed my eyes, trying to remember the exact location. Snapping my fingers, I sent out a wish to the universe to guide me, then waited while the sensation similar to taking off in an airplane overtook me. When the coppery smell of blood and the clean scent of Colin’s cologne filled my nostrils, I knew I’d gotten us to the right place.
Blake and I had been peas and carrots at one point, so he was used to porting together even though he was perfectly capable of doing it himself. The thing with teleporting, though, was that it helped to have been to wherever you were going. In my case, it was almost necessary. So, when we went somewhere he’d never been, I took us, and vice versa. Since he was used to traveling with me, it only took him a split second to gain his balance and stride forward. He nodded to Colin, who was standing with his arms crossed and his feet shoulder-width apart.