Harley Merlin 8: Harley Merlin and the Challenge of Chaos

by Forrest, Bella

  “You smuggle?”

  She chuckled. “I had boxes and boxes of phones and SIM cards, and this is the thing that shocks you? It’s all goods to me. Doesn’t matter if it’s cellphones or ghoul bones, I get the stuff, you give me the cash, everyone goes home happy.”

  I couldn’t believe it. “But this is mega illegal, Kenzie.”

  “Pot, kettle, black?” She grinned. “You think what you asked me for is sugar and spice, and all things nice? If you’re worried about me, don’t be. I keep a low profile. Nobody’s going to catch me. I get the goods myself, then I use my animal pals to deliver and get the money. I’ve seen grown-ass men crap their pants at the sight of a six-foot grizzly at their door. Best debt collectors ever.”

  I frowned. “Then how come you’re here now, and not one of your animals?”

  “I recognized your number. Couldn’t resist.” She shrugged.

  “Do you have what I asked for?” I wanted to chat for a bit longer, but I didn’t have the time.

  “Would I be here if I didn’t?” She chuckled, and delved into her bag, bringing out a sleek black box. “What do you want them for, anyway?”

  “Do smugglers always ask questions?” I replied, smiling. She didn’t need to know why I needed the rare bones of a Bai Gu Jing, which literally translated to the White Bone Spirit. I’d done some research before I’d asked “Tiny” to acquire the ingredients for me, although I hadn’t gone into nearly as much detail as Astrid would’ve. From what I could find, the Bai Gu Jing was literally a pile of bones from ancient female Purge beasts of Chinese origin who’d been as sentient in life as Naima or Tobe and hadn’t turned back to black smoke when they’d been killed. They could still transform back into their living form on certain nights of the year, and were said to be these beautiful, nymph-like beings. These bones still held the spirit of one.

  “Fair point.” She handed the box over but stopped short as I reached for it. “Do you have the cash?”

  I smirked. “Would I be here if I didn’t?”

  “Ha, I guess I deserved that.”

  I rummaged around in my Mary Poppins bag for the money and handed over a heart-wrenching wad. That was pretty much everything I’d earned during my time in the Fleet Science Center archives, but Alton had promised to give me the money back once all of this was over. You’d better, Alton, or I’ll be the one sending a grizzly to your door.

  “How did you get a hold of this?” I took the box from her as I made the exchange.

  “You got lucky. I know a guy in Chinatown, and he had a box of these lying around. Weird thing to just have in your house, but I don’t judge.”

  “Seriously, though, why did you come instead of sending a cat or something?” After the way we’d left things, I’d never imagined I’d see her again. She’d been adamant about staying out of the whole Katherine thing, and yet here she was. She was a clever, streetwise kid—she had to know this had something to do with stopping the end of the world.

  She shrugged. “I wanted to. I do the anonymous schtick for most magicals, but I can’t trust those folks as far as I can throw them. With you, it’s a bit different, y’know? What can I say, you made a mark last time. I thought it’d be cool to see you again, especially with you asking for those weird-ass thingies. You’re an odd one, Harley, and odd is cool. I can get down with odd.”

  She nodded to the box that I was in the middle of stowing away in my bag. Out of anyone else’s mouth, her words would’ve sounded like some cliché hood-talk, but she made it sound almost musical. Like a rapper or a beat poet, every word punchy and precise.

  “Does Finch know you’re here?” The thought jumped into my head. These two were kind of friends, after all.

  Kenzie sighed and glanced over her shoulder. “Ah, busted.”

  Finch emerged from the shadows behind her, leaving me speechless. Kenzie spun a good yarn about wanting to see me again, but she hadn’t come here alone. I should’ve known, the moment I saw her, that Finch wouldn’t be far away. I supposed that was what I got for thinking I could outsmart my brother with charmed chalk and Aperi Si Ostium doorways.

  “Sorry to gatecrash,” he said, with a wry grin.

  “Why?” was all I could say, staring at Kenzie.

  She met my gaze, a little apologetic. “I didn’t know what you were getting yourself into. I spoke to my dude in Chinatown, and he was crazy agitated about giving the bones to me. I had to go back out and Morph with a fox, and pretend to be a fox spirit, to get him to give in. The Chinese are mega scared of those creatures, if you ever need a way out of an argument with one of them. Anyway, when I Morphed back into my own body, and after he’d stopped cursing me, he kept chattering about the bones being mad dangerous.” She paused, lowering her gaze. “Call it friendly concern for a cool compadre.”

  “She did the right thing,” Finch added. “We were both worried about what you were up to. I mean, who needs ancient Asian ghoul bones? It’s not as if you wanted them to cook up a stock or something. Ugh, can you imagine the taste?”

  Irritation bristled through me. For all Kenzie’s hipper-than-thou, don’t-give-a-crap attitude, she’d gone running to the one person I wanted nowhere near this. I wanted to Aperi Si Ostium the heck out of there, but I realized Finch would only follow me. Give up, please… you have to give up.

  “You shouldn’t have done that,” I said coldly.

  “What, and just let you fiddle with your ghoul bones by yourself?” Finch replied. “No way, Sis. I want to know what you’re going to do with them, and I’m not leaving until you spill the beans. I let it slide last time, but you’ve been acting like a nutcase.”

  I narrowed my eyes. “I don’t have to explain myself to you, Finch.” Jumping up, I made for the door of the maintenance room. If I had to be cruel to be kind, then so be it. Finch wasn’t getting involved, end of story. I wouldn’t lose my brother as well as my aunt.

  “Actually, I’ve got a ghoul bone to pick with you, Kenzie.” He shifted gear, knowing I wouldn’t be able to resist my curiosity. “How come you went ahead with the sale, when I asked you not to?”

  She looked nervous. “Business is business. You think I can say no to that kind of money?”

  “You’re too much like me, do you know that?” he replied, genuinely frustrated. “Look, just tell me the truth, Harley. Whatever it is, we’ll figure it out.”

  “I’m already figuring it out. I don’t need you.” I hated saying that to him, but what choice did I have?

  “You know what happens to martyrs, don’t you?” His voice sounded strained and thick with emotion. “Heroes end up on plaques and gravestones and monuments. They don’t get to live, and they get forgotten about soon enough, so if you’re doing this to prove some kind of point, or to wind up in some dusty old history book—don’t.”

  “I don’t need to listen to this.” I turned and strode to the door, turning the handle. I was about to swing it open when I felt something hit me in the back, knocking me hard into the door itself, my forehead banging off the metal.

  “You’re going to listen, Harley!” Finch shouted.

  I whirled around to face him, though my head was ringing. Lifting my palms, I sent out a violent wave of Telekinesis, my powers still souped-up from feeding my Darkness. It smacked into him way harder than I’d intended, sending him flying across the room. He crashed into the far wall and slumped to the floor, looking up at me in surprise. Tears stung my eyes as I looked back at him, hating what I’d done. Torn between rushing to his side and getting the heck out of there, I knew what I had to do, and it freaking killed me inside.

  Turning around, I drew a chalk doorway and whispered the spell, focusing on where I wanted to go. Finch didn’t say a word. I pulled down on the handle and paused on the threshold, blocking his view of the other side. A sharp pain splintered through my temples, my brain feeling like it had swollen to twice its size. I knew I was pushing myself too hard, but I couldn’t stop now.

  “Keep quiet about this,�
� I said, not turning back. “It’s for your own good—yours, and Wade’s, and the rest of the Rag Team’s. You’ll understand. I know what I’m doing, and I just need you to trust me on this.”

  With that, I stepped through and closed the door behind me before I could change my mind.

  Twenty-Two

  Harley

  With all the ingredients secured, and my body about to pack it in from exhaustion, I was ready to crash into my pillows and catch some well-earned Zs before night fell. Finch wouldn’t follow me here. Even if he banged on the door until his knuckles were raw, I wouldn’t let him in. I needed rest.

  It should’ve felt good to be back in my bedroom in the living quarters, but it took a split second to realize I wasn’t alone. Wade sat on the bed. He looked up in fright as the doorway slammed, while my heart jolted in complete shock.

  “What are you doing here?” I gasped, the doorway disappearing at my back.

  “What are you doing, coming through one of those doorways?” His words tumbled out; he was evidently still getting over the surprise of me appearing out of nowhere. I really need to put some extra charms on my bedroom door. That was the only way to keep people out, even if I was secretly glad to see them. The trouble was, I knew more questions were coming, and it wasn’t going to be easy to lie to the man I loved. He knew me too well.

  “I was tired, and it’s the quickest way to get here without running into anyone. I know they mean well, but I can’t handle being asked how I am for the millionth time,” I replied, putting on a weary display as I padded over and sat down next to him, leaning my head on his shoulder.

  “So, I shouldn’t ask how you’re doing, then?” He lay his head down on mine.

  “Not right now. Not unless you want a weeping mess to deal with,” I said softly. “I just want to sit here for a bit, with you, and forget everything that’s happening outside that door. Is that okay?”

  At this point, I wasn’t even trying to manipulate him away from his potential questioning. I really did just want to sit there, beside him, and forget about the rest of the world for a moment. We hadn’t had a chance to be alone for a long time, and I missed just being with him, in this room. Up until recently, this had been my happy place, tucked up in bed with him, watching some dumb movie or another. He’d laugh while I asked a billion questions, and I usually fell asleep before it was over, but that was our routine. And I missed it so much.

  “Of course it is,” he murmured against my hair, kissing it gently.

  I turned my face up toward him, taking in every contour of his face. My fingertips reached out impulsively, grazing the stubble across his jaw. I wanted to remember him exactly like this, in case I never saw him again. I glanced up to meet the intense gaze of his deep green eyes, which looked like sea glass washed up on a stormy shore, so full of emotion and love. Love for me. I could feel it flowing out of him and into the center of my being, lighting up every nerve in a way that neither Darkness nor Light ever could. This was beyond Chaos. Love—real, true love—was stronger than anything magic could conjure up.

  My breath caught in my throat as I sank into those beautiful eyes, letting them erase everything else. His hand cupped my cheek. A small smile edged across his sexy lips, heightening the electric shiver before the thunderstorm of our kiss. Anyone who’s ever loved someone would know that feeling. It can’t be put into words. It’s a tension, and a fear, and a release, all at once, knowing that everything will change the moment you kiss them, even if you’ve done it a thousand times before. Only, this time, it was tinged with a flicker of the bittersweet, because I didn’t know if I’d get to do it ever again. I wanted thousands more, but I didn’t know if I’d get that chance.

  “I love you,” I whispered thickly, looping my arms around his neck and clinging to him for dear life.

  “I love you, too,” he murmured, as he dipped his head and caught my mouth in his.

  I kissed him with the desperation of someone with a ticking clock over their head. Every touch, every embrace, every movement of his lips was precious, more precious than it had ever been before. If he thought something was strange, he didn’t say anything. Instead, he matched my desperation, kissing me back with a deep, burning desire.

  I’m sorry. That was all I wanted to say to him, over and over. I wanted to pull away and explain everything so that I could have him at my side when I performed the spell tonight, but I couldn’t do that. Even if I never got to kiss him again, I didn’t want to take happiness away from him. Maybe, one day, if I didn’t make it, he’d find love again, and I’d smile down on him from wherever I was, knowing that he was safe and happy because of me, even if I couldn’t touch him or kiss him again. Naturally, I’d be sick with jealousy, unless there was no such thing in the afterlife.

  All those thoughts brought tears to my eyes as I kissed him deeper, reaching for the buttons of his expensive shirt. I made quick work of them, pressing my body flush against the bare muscles of his torso. There was so much strength in him, and I wanted to draw that into me, so I’d have the courage to carry on, even when things got dark in the days to come. His breath had turned to short gasps as he held me, his strong arms gripping me tight as he lay me down beside him on the bed. I reached up to kiss him again, but he moved his head back slightly, his fingertips caressing my cheek as he stared down, a sad smile on his face.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked.

  “Nothing. I just wanted to look at you.”

  I smiled. “I look tired, right?”

  He shook his head. “No, you look beautiful. You always do. I just hate seeing you so sad. I wish I could take all that pain away.”

  “I don’t think that’s possible,” I said quietly.

  “Maybe one day, when all of this Katherine stuff is over.”

  I nodded, my stomach gripped with guilt. “Maybe.”

  Wade’s phone went off, the buzz of it splitting the tension between us. I wanted to take it and throw it against the wall, because I knew we’d never get this moment back. It was a harsh reminder that I couldn’t just forget about the outside world. And, with so much going on, there was no way he couldn’t answer it. I had to watch as he sat back up and took the phone out of his pocket, swiping the answer button and pressing it to his ear.

  “Raffe?” he said. I couldn’t hear what was being said, but there were a couple of “ums” and “ahs” as the conversation went on. “I’ll be there as soon as I can.” He put down the phone and turned to me, buttoning his shirt back up. So, the moment’s really passed, huh?

  “What’s up?” I asked, sitting up and fixing my clothes.

  “That was Raffe.”

  I nodded. “I guessed as much.”

  “Zalaam is asking for you.”

  I frowned. “What?”

  “Apparently, he wants to speak to you about something.”

  “Why didn’t he call me himself?” I asked.

  “He says your phone’s off.”

  “Oh… right.” I’d switched it to airplane mode when I’d gone to Waterfront Park, to avoid being disturbed or potentially being tracked. Ironic. I wished I could’ve put a big “Do Not Disturb” bubble around us, just for a little bit longer. But that bubble had burst. “Did Raffe say what he wanted to talk to me about?”

  Wade shook his head. “No, apparently Zalaam is being very tight-lipped. He’ll only speak to you.”

  I didn’t know whether to be intrigued or terrified. Zalaam hadn’t seemed too impressed by me the last time we’d encountered one another, so what on earth would the djinn have to tell me?

  Twenty-Three

  Harley

  As I entered the infirmary, Zalaam’s ruby eyes flashed right at me, a look of impatience on his face. Well, Levi’s face.

  Raffe, Santana, and Tatyana were standing awkwardly around the hospital bed, and nobody seemed to be speaking. Even if Zalaam hadn’t been looking annoyed, it wouldn’t have chased away the dark cloud across everyone present.

  I guessed Astri
d and Garrett were still working through all of the video feeds from across the globe, pushing Smartie as hard as possible, but I wasn’t sure where Dylan was. Or Alton, for that matter. Wade was standing at my side, accounted for, and Finch was probably on his way back from Waterfront Park, or having a stern word with Kenzie.

  Meanwhile, Louella was in her steadfast position at Jacob’s bedside, one hand fixed on his temple. I couldn’t see Krieger anywhere, but a moving shadow behind the blinds of his office let me know he was keeping busy.

  “Where’s Dylan?” I asked, so used to seeing him at Tatyana’s side.

  “He went to tell Astrid and Garrett about our latest failure,” Santana replied.

  I sighed. “No luck with the old sites?”

  “Zilch.” Santana shook her head. “The place was empty. Not a scrap of evidence anywhere.”

  “Sorry,” I murmured.

  “Why are you sorry?” She smiled. “It’s not like you’ve got your feet up, chillaxing while we bust our asses. Not like others I could mention.” She shot a look at Zalaam, who smirked. “It’s just massively disappointing. It sounded like such a good idea, but nope—just us slamming our heads into another dead end.”

  “Isadora used to say a dead end was just a good place to turn around,” I said, lowering my gaze.

  “And she never let us down,” Tatyana replied, with a sad chuckle. “She’s right. We’re just wallowing right now, but we’ll be back to our usual, determined selves in no time.”

  “Are you all quite finished?” Zalaam muttered. “Your droning on is giving me a headache. I’m almost tempted to retreat back inside Levi, if you’re going to carry on. I feel like one of you is about to lead us in a communal prayer.”

  “That wouldn’t be such a bad thing,” Raffe snapped. “You could certainly do with a bit of soul-searching.”