by MJ Fletcher
“DeAndre was trained by your grandmother. With you being reassigned to the League of Skull & Bones, several people in the Quorum raised concerns about her stacking the deck with her people. I was the compromise,” he said with a smile that made my stomach turn.
“Why you?” I asked.
“I’ve been with the Guild for forty years and have served the Quorum for half that time. The other members of our leaders felt I was a good choice.”
“I don’t like it,” I said.
“Regardless of what you like, I am now your handler,” he said.
“My grandmother approved this?”
“She had little choice if she wanted you to be considered for the League,” he said as he formed his hands into a temple and tapped his index fingers together. His eyes moved over me and lingered for a moment on my forearms.
“You don’t like me very much do you?”
“No, I think you have the position you have due to your grandmother and,” —his eyes flicked over my forearms once again— “other things.”
“I’ve earned everything I have,” I said gritting my teeth.
“Of course you have,” he said pursing his lips tightly.
“What did you do during the war Winslow?” I asked pointedly.
His brow furrowed and he leaned back sneering at me.” I know your grandmother is attempting to place you with the League in hopes of securing their support, thus making it more likely that she would remain leader of the Guild. I think that is a hopeless task. But I will carry out my orders regardless.”
He had no idea I was actually trying to discern whether or not LaReina was in cahoots with Nyla, when it came to the attacks on me. I had no choice but to deal with him if this was the only way the Guild would allow Gran to assign me to the League. I knew she was having trouble with other members, but it wasn’t until now that I realized just how prevalent the problem was.
“Just give me my assignment,” I said.
“I wanted to meet with you first and make several things clear.”
“Such as?”
“Your joining the League is not guaranteed. You must pass any test they require.”
“Fine,” I said.
“Also you will be reporting to them and me,” —he wagged his finger at me— “no one else.”
“Of course,” I said with a smile.
“I’m very serious, Miss Grimm. If you share confidential information with anyone other than the League or me, there will be consequences. Am I clear?”
“Crystal,” I said.
“Good.” He lifted a small card from the desk, and I felt his abilities activate. The card dissolved in his hands while a set of dimensional coordinates floated into the air like a swirl of smoke.
I reached out with my own abilities and immediately knew his limits. He had power, but nothing significant. In a fight, I would end him quickly. But something told me it wasn’t his powers that I needed to worry about. I wouldn’t be fighting Winslow on a battlefield, and my senses couldn’t tell me how cunning he was otherwise. I needed to be careful of him.
“Those are the coordinates where you are to meet with a representative of the League.” He waved me off, dismissing me like a lowly servant.
I lifted my arm and flicked my wrist, fully activating my powers and sucking the coordinates out of the air in a
whoosh of power. I then swung my arm as if I were throwing a ball and created a portal against the wall of his office. The power I had thrown off was large, though nothing compared to what I was capable of. Yet it had been enough to knock him back into his chair.
I wanted him fully aware of my skills as well. I stepped toward the portal, waved my fingers to swing open the portal and glanced over my shoulder at my new handler.
“Thanks,” I said with a wink and stepped through.
Chapter 21
The area was desolate and dark, the landscape barren. In my travels, I’ve been to many dimensions, some nice, some not so nice, but something about this place made my skin crawl. I’d stepped out of the portal, closing it behind me.
“I was wondering when you would show up.” Ronan Sparrow stepped out of the shadows.
My breath caught. I should have known it would be him. He was wearing a midnight blue suit that did him justice, though perhaps it was the opposite, he did the suit justice. Naturally, he wore his perfect smile as he looked me over.
“Miss me?” I asked coyly, though clearly sarcastically.
“But of course, Jess, without you tailing me I haven’t known what to do with myself.” He slipped his fingers along the edges of his lapels and tugged them straight
“I figured you would hang around looking at yourself in the mirrors,” I smirked.
“Is that what you think of me?” he said as he slowly walked around me.
I stood my ground and let him size me up once again while I answered him, “You are more perfectly attired than the fashionistas I know. I just assumed you must hang around all day, making sure you look perfect.”
“So you think I look perfect?” he said as he stopped in front of me.
“Well,” I stepped closer to him and slid my hand up along his blue tie and pulled the knot snug against his throat, “not perfect.”
“But close enough?” he asked in a whisper.
“I’m not here for that,” I said.
“Too bad. Then why are you here?” he said his voice no longer a whisper.
“I’ve been assigned to the League.”
“Have you now?”
“Maura Grimm asked me to join the League of Skull & Bones,” I stated flatly, wanting to make it clear to whoever might be watching us.
“And you,” he raised an eyebrow questioningly, “accepted?”
“Yes, and I am aware that I must pass whatever—” I pushed my tongue against the side of my mouth, trying to think of the right words. “Tests you might come up with.”
“Oh, that wouldn’t be me,” he said.
My senses came suddenly alive. I hadn’t yet deactivated the Skeleton Key tattoos on my forearms. They glowed slightly under my shirt, and I was ready to act if I felt threatened.
“What’s that?” I took a step backwards.
“That, Jess, is the League of Skull & Bones.” He waved his hand toward the barren landscape. Shadows scattered, shifted, and changed forms as people stepped out of them and marched forward. Men and women approached me, and I stood still, not activating my powers, and waited.
A woman walked toward me, her bronze skin accentuated by black hair that rolled down over her shoulders. Her hazel eyes bored into me, and I knew she was not someone to take lightly. I could sense the Skeleton Key that hung around her neck. It was old and formidable as was the woman who wore it. The other people held back as she joined Ronan.
“Hello, Jessica Grimm.”
Her eyes searched mine as though she was trying to peer into my very being, learn all my secrets, and steal them.
“I’m LaReina Graves the leader of the League of Skull and Bones. Welcome to our ranks. Let’s see what you’re capable of?”
“I’m ready,” I answered.
“We’ll see about that. Ronan, show your friend how we greet perspective members.” LaReina stepped back and crossed her arms over her chest.
“Sorry about this,” Ronan said pulling out his Skeleton Key and activating it.
“I’m not.” I lifted my arms and utilized my powers. I was actually looking forward to this. Everything of late had been mysteries and questions on top of more questions. I wasn’t sure who I could trust or who wanted what, but a fight I understood and relished.
Crimson smoke swirled around his hands and long tendrils of energy dripped from the end of his Skeleton Key, creating a cat o nine tails.
A smile spread across my face. My cousin and I had been practice partners for years, and a whip was her weapon of choice. I’d fought against every form of it multiple times.
I concentrated and a katana blade formed in my
hands. I spun it around in front of me, a blur of motion and fury. I was in my element. This was what I was born to do, not the preening beauty I had once been, but a warrior ready to battle when necessary, and, at times like this, I knew it.
Ronan snapped his whip in my direction, and I deflected it with ease. He was being cautious, but I could feel the flow of his abilities. He was no slouch, I could feel him holding back and that made me curious.
I raced forward and thrust my blade at him, forcing him to react defensively as I forced him backwards. I spun, swinging my blade at his side and chuckled as he barely dodged it.
“Don’t hold back on my account, Ronan.” I winked at him and fire sparked in his eyes that intrigued me.
He flicked his wrist and the whip dissolved. He stood empty handed and watched me intently. He was trying to bait me, draw me in, and force me to attack him before he showed his hand.
“Scared to get too close, Jess?” Ronan smirked.
I couldn’t help but smile and shake my head. I ran in against my better judgment. His power was contained around him, and I figured he was either going to blast me or create a shield to block my assault. Instead he dropped his power level to nothing and swept his leg out, catching me in the knees and knocking me over. My head slammed into the ground and my blade disappeared as I lost my focus.
He was on me quickly, his body straddling mine. The strength of his legs held me firm and I sensed him ready to attack. He activated his powers again, creating a dagger and raised it high above my head.
“Still having fun?” he asked.
“Yes,” I answered and surrendered to the warm glow of the Artifact that pulsed through me. I opened my hands, releasing a torrent of power that blasted him off me and sent him tumbling across the barren landscape.
I got to my feet and raced toward him. He recovered quickly and was on one bended knee when I reached him. I brought my hand around for a roundhouse and he ducked underneath it, jabbing his hand into my stomach. I stumbled back from the hit, my stomach tensing from the pain.
His hand was glowing as he had infused his fists with his power. He wasn’t going to use weapons. He wanted to get up close and personal for this fight. The members of the Guild who could fight like that were few, and if he was one of them that meant he had been holding back this whole time.
I clenched my own fists and crimson energy surrounded them. We closed the distance between us and traded blows, each blocking the other’s attacks. He was good, his hands quick, and he only attacked when he thought he saw an opening. I had to admit, I was impressed.
But I was no slouch. I pressed my attack, my fists flying in at him from every angle, pushing him backwards. I fell into the rhythm of the fight, attack and parry as we created a combat of dance like motions around one another.
The other members of the League gathered in a circle around us as we kept the fight close. Time crept by and any hit scored by either of us would cause a roar of approval from the crowd. But they were few and far between. Perhaps I had finally met someone who was my match in a fight.
“Enough,” LaReina’s voice cut above the chatter of the assembled group, and they parted as she stepped forward. “You know how to use your abilities, that much is obvious.”
“Thanks.”
“The question is—are you able to do what is needed when ordered.” A slight accent rolled off her tongue, but she hid it well. It was Hispanic, but I couldn’t place it.
“So do I pass your test?”
“The first one, yes.” She turned and began walking away from me. She raised her hand and motioned with her fingers for me to follow, “However, there will be more.”
I trailed after her. Ronan stood off to the side and smiled at me as I walked past him. He watched me, his eyes narrowing, and I saw that same fire again. I winked at him, and he shook his head laughing.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
“Somewhere private.”
“Such as?”
“The Cantina.”
Chapter 22
“Perfect,” I said as we stepped out of a portal onto the cobblestone street in front of the Cantina. This place was becoming a habit for me.
“Is there a problem?” LaReina asked watching my every move.
“No.” I lied. I didn’t want to see Merric right now. Not after how we had left things the last time I was here.
“The Cantina is neutral ground, so it makes it the perfect place to speak privately.”
We walked down the street toward a weather-beaten door that straddled the street corners. LaReina opened the door and entered. I stepped in after her.
The place was filled, and LaReina maneuvered expertly through the crowd toward a booth in the back. She slipped in and waved a barmaid over as I joined her. I looked around the bar, trying to catch sight of Merric, but couldn’t find him anywhere.
“Is this the interrogation portion of the evening?” I asked.
“You could say that,” she said as the barmaid stopped by the table. “Bring us a bottle of Cabernet, Merric’s private stock. Tell him it’s for me.”
The barmaid nodded and walked away, and I figured that LaReina must spend a decent amount of time here if she had been granted the privilege of using his private stock.
“You come here a lot?” I asked.
“Enough,” she said, “now to business. We both know your grandmother wanted you to join the League because she doesn’t trust me.”
“Is that so?”
“Please don’t insult me by lying,” she said.
“What’s your point?”
“She is in charge of the Guild for now, but there are plenty of people moving against her, though if she were to have my support that could solidify her place.”
“You have that much power?”
“I’ve been in charge of the League for twenty years, and your grandmother has been in charge for a year,” she said.
“So what do you want?”
“What do you mean?” she asked sitting back as the barmaid brought us a bottle of wine and two glasses. She poured us each a glass and left.
“If your position is so secure, what makes you think my gran needs you more than you need her? Why do you have me here talking about this? Why not simply bring me in and stick me in a corner? I would say you obviously want something from me.” I lifted my glass and took a sip of wine.
“Good, you’re smart that’ll help,” LaReina said.
“Help with what?”
“What’s to come,” she said her voice low.
I didn’t like the sound of that. “You might want to give me a bit more than that.”
“Regardless of what your grandmother thinks, loyalty to the Skeleton Key Guild runs high in the League of Skull & Bones. I see a greater threat in Nyla Foxglove than I do in you joining our ranks.”
There it was. Nyla had been broached, and I hadn’t even been the one to bring her up. I didn’t know what LaReina was up too, but her demeanor left little doubt that there was more going on here than what she was saying.
“Nyla is more than a threat, she made it personal,” I said.
“So I’ve noticed. She’s been going after not only you, but your friends. Why?”
“A distraction,” I said.
“How do you think she should be dealt with?”
“Fatally,” I said without hesitation.
“You know of the League’s reputation then?”
“Legend is more like it,” I said.
“We aren’t a Legend like the Gremlin King or Hellions,” she said using examples of things that Old Kind had used to scare their kids at night. The Gremlin King was a man who lived in the In Between and ruled over the hordes of Gremlins. While Hellions were the main nemesis of the First Kind, a terrifying group with power to rival our ancestors.
“Every legend holds a bit of truth,” I said.
“Agreed, and the Legend of the League of Skull & Bones is partly correct. We do the dirty work of the Guild.
But we also hunt down those that trackers, like yourself, can’t find and deal with other Societies’ problems as well. We are more than assassins.”
“So you don’t think we should deal with Nyla that way?” I asked baiting her to see how she might react.
“I didn’t say that. I’m only pointing out that we are not merely killers. Nyla obviously has people who are willing to do anything for her. With devoted followers, she could do a lot of damage, and perhaps even more if she were to become a martyr.”
I had to give LaReina credit. If she was working with Nyla, she was concealing her emotions about it well. But I would expect nothing less from someone with her experience.
I’d already seen how far her followers were willing to go when they’d sacrificed themselves while attempting to kill my friends. I hated to think LaReina could be right, but she had a point. My other concern was whether or not this was some kind of set up.
“She needs to be stopped,” I said.
“Agreed, but I think you’re missing a more pressing question.”
“What’s that?”
“What does Nyla want from you?”
I slid my hands over my forearms reflexively, feeling the ever present hum of power from the Artifact.
“Precisely,” she said.
“She has to get it first,” I said. “Besides, she hasn’t thought this through if she thinks she can steal the Artifact from me and use it herself.”
“Why’s that?” LaReina asked leaning back and taking a sip of her wine.
“The Artifact can only be attached to a member of the Grimm family. It’s pointless for her to come after me.”
I knew that better than anyone. I had taken my cousins place as the bearer of the Artifact. I didn’t regret saving her. She had done more than her fair share for me over the years. But it was our family curse to bear and no one else’s. If I could simply transfer it to someone else, I would have known that by now. I’d spent the last year researching everything I could on Artifacts.
“There is that,” she said, “but I think she has been working on a way around that.”
The list Merric had given me popped into my head. So that was what they were building, a device that could steal my Artifact and transfer it to someone else. I should have realized it before now. It all made perfect sense. That was why she went after my friends and not me. She wanted me alive, but off balance, so she could get the Artifact. But why hadn’t she made her move yet?