by Alexia Purdy
She beckoned for me to take the pin.
“What is that?” I refused to budge. I didn’t want to touch anything this woman offered. She was bonkers.
“It’s a gift. Look at it as an apology of sorts. From me. I’m sorry I can’t help you more, but this is all I have to offer.” She stepped closer, her face now hardened into a blank slate, cold, aloof, and stoic.
“I appreciate the gesture, and no offense, Your Majesty, but I wouldn’t take anything you have to offer.”
She halted her approach, blinking her widened eyes at my refusal. “I swear it won’t harm you, Benton.” The way she said my name made me shiver, and not in a good way. “It’ll help you one day, when you’re down and the world has stolen all the light, leaving you in the darkness. I’ve been there, you know. Down in the pit… when your mind won’t allow you back out, and you stay because you don’t think there’s anything more to life than that darkness. Use it in your darkest hour.”
She was now inches from me, and I heard Soap tense up. She had appeared there in flash. She reached out to grasp my hand and pressed the pin into the palm of my hand, her fingers shaking and a single diamond tear flowing down her cheek. “Take it, dear Benton. Save us. You’re our only hope.” She closed her eyes, and as quickly as she had appeared by me, she was gone.
“What the hell was that?”
I shook off the trails of energy clinging to the spots on my hand where she’d touched me. The vibration of her magic felt tainted, impure. I’d met her when she was weak, and her power had never felt anything but white. Bright and unwavering, like the sun flashing in my eyes after a long night hunting, leaving me somewhat dehydrated, hungover from drinking, and overstimulated from fighting. I could feel it screaming for help in the tendrils of dark magic that were now laced through her aura, tightening its grip and strangling her magic. It left a bitter taste in my mouth, and I pushed the remains of it off my aura.
“She’s compromised,” I stated. “I think Rowan isn’t herself, and someone has pulled on the leash tied around her neck.” I held up the flower pin and watched its opalescent color shimmer under the candlelight. It felt light, filled with a power which smelled like spring flowers. Bright and white. Like the Rowan of old. “I think she was using this to reach out through the spell holding her back. She needs our help.”
Soap groaned. “Add her to the list of people in need.” He blew out a breath and studied the massive archive, now unoccupied save for the two of us and Willard’s cooling corpse. “I guess we should alert someone that this place is unguarded and needs a new archivist.”
“I’ll send a message to Ilarial. She’ll know what to do.”
Soap nodded, scratching his chin. “I think this Zena girl is the first person we need to find. Do you have any idea where she could be?”
I nodded, looking up at my comrade and throwing him a wicked grin. “I do. I left her in Vegas. I highly doubt she’s gotten that far with the memory wipe I gave her. In fact, I think the wipe might’ve kept her safer than anything else I could’ve done. She won’t know what or who she is, and that’ll keep mind readers and bounty hunters off her trail for a bit.”
“Let’s hope so.”
Chapter Eight
Rylan
There were so many faces. Hordes of tourists and working artists lined the streets, making the heat of the late summer afternoon seem even more stifling. Dozens and dozens passed us by as Benton and I leaned over the railing and watched the fountains of the Bellagio spray in their intricate dance of chlorinated water, lasers, and coordinated musical masterpieces. I made a face at the smell. Not of the water, but of the sweaty people who kept knocking into me from behind.
“Excuse me,” one drunken tourist managed to slur as he picked himself up after ramming his sticky body into my arm. That was not cool.
“Watch it, man.” Benton took the guy’s shoulders, turned him in the direction of the walkway and pushed him away.
“I’m not positive she’s even here anymore,” I mumbled.
“What?” Benton hollered back at me, scanning the array of people walking by. We’d done this same thing on Fremont Street the day before, and we were still no closer to finding Zena. I wanted to sit still for a bit, but Benton was restless and wanted to keep moving. It was hard holding him down for anything.
Besides, he was trying out a tracking spell on a tiny sterling silver charm he’d gotten from Rachel, Zena’s mother. It was a cheap little necklace that she’d worn when she was a baby, and her mother had refused to discard. It was lucky she hadn’t, or we’d have nothing to help us find her.
“I said I don’t think she’s going to show up here today.”
Benton threw me a wry look, rolling his eyes before turning back to the crowd. He was relentless, I’d give him that. He’d find her if it was the last thing he did, guaranteed. Something about the girl brought a darkness to his eyes when he spoke of her. Something was nagging at him. I wished he would tell me, but there were things even Benton, Mr. Outgoing, kept to himself.
I wasn’t so driven. Well, not lately. I had been. I’d pursued Shade like there was no tomorrow, and when she’d broken it off with me, I’d been devastated. After that, I’d lost something—some sort of gusto I’d had for life. Even the time I’d spent with Brisa, Shade’s best friend, had done nothing to reignite the fire inside me. I hoped it’d return soon. All this hunting for Unseelie wouldn’t last forever, and returning home to the Guildrin court or even the Teleen caverns would be bittersweet without something or someone else to concentrate on.
I was jealous that Benton had Zena to focus on. Perhaps they would become a matched pair. She was perfect for him: a non-faery magical. Nephilim, but still. She was not bound to Faerie, like Sary had been. I knew her deep-seated prejudices had broken his heart, but he’d done well to keep it deep inside and had never shown his disappointment. Maybe focusing on Zena helped.
I had nothing and no one to focus on except this mission. My heart sat in its cold iron cage, sulking. I was miserable, and I had no desire to dwell in it for much longer.
“She’s here.” Benton rubbed the charm furiously until tiny sparks of magic flickered off it like a bonfire reaching toward the sky. No one could see the sparks except me, luckily, or we might have caused a panic. “I can sense her. She’s close.”
He motioned me toward the south side of the Las Vegas Strip, walking through the dense Saturday crowd of tourists, street performers, and street artists selling their wares. This place was alive like no other city I’d ever tread through. It was like a feral animal, moving, alive. It was also quite obnoxious. I had to snake past several groups taking pictures of the fountains and each other just to keep up with Benton.
He was a fast little git. For a human.
As we weaved through the crowd, I followed a few feet behind, trying to keep an eye out for any redheads. Nothing but normal humans from all walks of life shoved past me.
Benton crossed the street nowhere near a cross walk, earning him a barrage of blaring car horns as he dashed past the clog of vehicles with distempered drivers already fuming from the thick traffic.
“Sorry!” I called out to them as I followed behind. All it earned me were glares and a string of curses from the taxi drivers, tourists, and locals alike. Blending into the mash of people was proving difficult when Benton seemed oblivious to the world around him. I had to scurry to catch up to him; he was already on the other side of the road and marching down the sidewalk. Once there, I watched him disappear into one of the many souvenir shops lining the street.
I entered the store, which looked much larger than it appeared from the outside. I was feeling the scorch of the early summer heat, and I stopped at the counter to ask for a bottle of water. I tossed a dollar onto the counter, unscrewed the cap, and downed the filtered water. It all tasted different in the human world than it did in Faerie, but it would do. I scanned the store and found Benton standing perfectly still, looking like he was studying one pa
rticular shot glass, but I knew he was really eyeing a redheaded girl who was folding shirts and stuffing them into stacks on the opposite wall.
Well, well. He’d done it. He’d found Zena. Not too shabby for an elemental human kid.
“Hey, Zena.”
One of the workers approached her and Benton feigned interest in a keychain with I Survived Las Vegas printed on it.
“Yeah?” The girl turned, and I could see her entire face now. Pure redhead. A spray of freckles, green eyes, and all. I lowered my eyes and peered at an assortment of chips but kept my ears tuned to the conversation.
“I’m going to have to send you home. I’m overstaffed this afternoon, and it’s your turn on the rotation.”
“But I need the hours. I went home early two days ago, you know that. If I don’t get my full check, I can’t pay rent at the dumpy studio I’m in!” Her frown creased her otherwise smooth skin. “Send Brenda home. She loves to go home early.”
The boss shook his head. “Sorry, I already asked her first. I know you need the hours, but she said she’s saving up for some trip she’s taking.” He shrugged, looking sympathetic before heading back to the front of the store. Zena cursed under her breath and flipped him a middle finger, not caring who could see. Then she caught Benton watching her she dropped her arm back to her side immediately.
“What are you looking at?” she snapped, blowing out a breath before turning back to folding shirts into stacks. I held back a snicker as I watched Benton’s confusion. He shook it off and approached her.
“Zena?”
She turned and threw him a sour glare. “Who wants to know?”
“I can help you with that rent problem you got.”
What was he doing? He sounded like he was propositioning her. I shook my head, knowing where this was leading. Not smart. Especially when in Vegas.
“Fuck off. Not interested, pervert.”
I chortled, turning red as I snorted. The guy was as smooth as a cactus with the ladies. I wondered if I should intervene, but it was worth the entertainment factor to watch Benton stumble.
“I’m not talking about that. Geez. You’re a bit different than I last remember.”
At this, Zena stopped what she was doing and turned back to him.
“I don’t know you.”
“Ah, but I know you.”
She shook her head, looking more irritated. “I would remember someone like you.” She squinted her eyelids together, studying him with an intensity that certainly burned through Benton’s guard. I had to give it to him, he stood his ground and lifted his chin as she eyed him from head to toe, determining if he was telling her the truth or not.
“Zena, I’m sorry you don’t remember anything. It’s my fault. I did it to protect you. I have to set things right.”
“You’re insane.” Zena shook her head, paling as she listened to Benton. “You don’t know anything about me. Now get lost before I call security.”
“I met you in Chicago riding the L-train. You freaked out because you can see things, things no one else can.” He pointed to the chain peeking out from the neck hole of her shirt. “The talisman on your necklace helps keep you safe. It keeps the others from seeing you and keeps the monsters from showing up.”
She grasped the lump under the fabric, her eyes widening in horror. “You’ve been following me, haven’t you?” She stepped back, shaking her head. “You—you’re one of them, aren’t you?”
“No… well, not exactly. I won’t hurt you. I’m here to help.” Benton’s words didn’t calm her any, and I was sure she would holler for her manager at any moment.
“You just said I can’t remember anything because of you. How’s that for help? You admit you erased my memory? Is that what you’re saying?” She turned toward the front, scoping out her manager. “You better leave before I scream.”
“Zena, wait.” Benton looked defeated, but as she opened her mouth to call out, he held out his hand and let a tiny flame ignite in the center of his palm.
Zena jumped back, knocking into a display of plastic snow globes and sending them clattering to the ground. Most survived the fall, but a few cracked, sending water and specks of white spraying across the tile floor.
“Shit!” Zena and Benton both swore at the same time and stepped away from the mess.
“They’ll make me pay for that out of my check,” she said.
“What the hell is going on here?” Her manager had returned. He gasped in melodramatic horror as he approached the mess. “Zena, what happened?”
“This jerk here—”
“I’m sorry, I tripped—”
They both stopped midsentence and gawked at one another.
I stepped forward as the manager was about to let them have it. Making sure no one else was watching or within earshot, I pressed a finger to his forehead. “Sleep.” I caught him before he tumbled to the floor. “Quick, fix the mess, Benton. I’ll revive him once he’s behind the counter.”
Zena’s mouth gaped open as she watched me drag her boss behind the long display counter like he weighed nothing. He wasn’t a light man, but it helped that my faery powers made me stronger than a regular human being. Benton managed to hit the spilled mess with a charm and repair the globes, sending them back to their original spots on the shelf.
Zena had yet to move. She was still stunned, her lips slightly parted as she stared at the now intact globes.
“H—how….”
I came back out from behind the counter and motioned toward the manager. “All fixed.” He looked a little dazed but smiled and waved to some tourists who were just entering the store.
“How—?” She was looking more confused than ever. “I need to talk to you both,” she said, regaining some composure. “Wait for me. I need to clock out.” She pivoted and walked briskly toward the back of the store. We watched her disappear behind the rear door, and the thought of her suddenly bolting out the back way did cross my mind. I shook my head. If she wanted to get away, Benton would feel it through the tracking spell on the baby necklace he still held in one of his hands.
“What do you think?” I asked.
Benton sighed. “I think it’s going to be a long day.”
“Can you reverse the mind wipe?”
Benton nodded, but his expression gave me little confidence. “I believe so. I consulted Braelynn, but she said sometimes it doesn’t work. I have to prepare for the reversal to fail, but I’m really holding out for it to work. Zena needs to know everything.”
I agreed as I peered around the large souvenir store. “You left her in quite a pickle from what I’m getting. You owe her a lot for leaving her here without her memories, to fend for herself.”
Benton groaned, closed his eyes, and rubbed his brow. “I know. I owe a lot of people a lot of things. Used to be the other way around, but this is getting ridiculous.”
I chuckled, giving his shoulder a rough pat. “Change is good, my friend. Change is good.”
Chapter Nine
Benton
“Cozy.”
I peered around Zena’s studio apartment as she dropped her bag on the floor by her rumpled bed. She was a slob. The place was full of food wrappers, dirty dishes, and wrinkled clothes. She didn’t seem to care that we were seeing it. She grabbed a soda bottle from the fridge and tried her best to unscrew the top to no avail. Grunting and struggling, she groaned then slammed it down on the tiny table with two chairs before she reached back to slam the fridge door closed.
“This is all your fault.” She pointed at me and paced the room.
I reached over, snatched up the bottle and cracked it open slowly, letting the fizz seep out before completely pulling off the top. “Here.” I held it out to her. She stopped mid-step and gave it a strange look. Instead of saying thank you, she snatched it from me and downed half the bottle before coming up for air.
“Okay.” She pushed back her wild, dark red locks, which were sticking to the sheen of sweat on her face and neck. “Tel
l me from the beginning what the hell is going on, who you guys are, and what the hell you know about me.” She pointed to herself with her thumb. “Something happened to me, and I have no idea what it is, but I think”—she jabbed a finger into my arm—“you know exactly what I’m talking about.”
“I mind wiped you.”
Her eyes bugged out. “What’s that mean?”
“It means what you think it means. I erased your memories.”
I waited for my statement to sink in and watched her as she paled. Her rosy pink cheeks lost their color, and she slid down onto one of the old, creaky chairs, placing her soda bottle in front of her.
“Why would you do that to me?” Her voice was no longer frantic, but came out quiet and forlorn. Her eyes wandered toward me, brilliantly green and shiny with unshed and confused tears. I felt for her. Felt horrible, actually.
“I’m sorry,” I offered. “I did it to save you. You have the Sight and can see strange things like… like creatures who shouldn’t exist and magic others can’t see or feel. You followed me from Chicago to Las Vegas somehow, and you saved me when I fought against a night elf named Cornelius who thought I had a thing for his girlfriend Braelynn. But I don’t, and—”
“Wait!” She held a hand out, looking bewildered. “I followed you? What? Why would I do that? What do you mean I have the Sight? I can’t do magic.”
“You’re right; you’re a human. You don’t have any magic, really. You’re just human, but once in a while, a human is born with special vision and can see the magical world, even though those with magic hide it from humans using magical cloaks called glamours.”
She clutched the stone around her neck, the same one she’d worn when I’d first met her on the L-train back in Chicago. It was her pendant that kept the fey from seeing her unnatural ability and kept their glamours from failing. The sight of the green-tinted rock around her neck made my throat tighten. My uncle Brendan had spoken about these special rocks in his grimoires. They helped these humans with the Sight elude those who would seek to destroy them. He’d wanted to help them before he got too ill to do anything. He’d witnessed one such human murdered for having the Sight. Now Zena was in danger, and I had to help her evade the bounty hunter trying to find her and her mother.