Stalking the Moon

by Angel Leigh McCoy

  I stuffed clothes and a pillow under the blankets to make it seem I was still in bed, in case anyone checked. The homunculus wouldn’t stand up under direct scrutiny, but it was improbable that anyone would look that close.

  “Simon?” I whispered. “Are you here?”

  Simon said, “I’m here, my love. Are you ready to go?”

  “I’m ready. Can you see if the coast is clear?” I picked up the gym bag and double checked the contents, which now also included Jaxon’s ashes, then zipped it shut. I tucked my cell phone into my jeans pocket.

  A moment later, I cracked the door open and peered out into the hall.

  “There’s no one,” Simon whispered. “I’ll head down to the exit and warn you if you’re in danger of being seen. Just keep going until you hear otherwise.”

  “Okay.” I started down the corridor.

  Several doors down, Simon hissed a warning. “Wait here.”

  After a few long seconds, he whispered, “Clear.”

  I tapped twice on Dahlia’s door and it opened. I did the same on six of the other doors. By the time I was done, all my ladies had shambled out into the hall and were gathered in a motley mob, silent and serious.

  Eun Hee approached me and gave me a hug. It started a series of hugs, one from each woman. Only Una didn’t participate.

  Then Dahlia led them silently into the rec room where Marsha was lounging to watch a late-night talk show.

  I held back, peeking around the corner at them.

  Una took up her position in the corner, keeping an eye on everything and everyone, a stalwart and stoic guardian.

  Dahlia snuck up behind Marsha and tapped the orderly on the shoulder.

  The orderly hadn’t heard Dahlia approach. She turned in surprise.

  Dahlia punched her, right in the nose.

  Marsha fell back onto the couch, arms flailing.

  Dahlia said, “Sorry. I didn’t see you there.”

  Iraida and Eun Hee took Marsha by the arms.

  “Don’t worry, Marsha,” said Eun Hee. “We just want a midnight snack. Then, we’ll go right back to bed. We promise.” They turned Marsha so her back was to me and the exit.

  Marsha let loose a string of curses and threats that echoed in the large room.

  Nurse Andrea hurried out of the nurse's station. Hands raised, she tried to talk the patients down. Calla took one of the nurse’s arms and twisted it behind her back. She turned her to face away as well.

  Dahlia went to the dining room doors and input the security code to open them.

  Nurse Andrea asked, "How did you get that code?"

  "Oh, please, bitch," replied Dahlia. "You think we don't pay attention?"

  Led by Eun Hee, they started singing the "Haloperidol Hoochie Koo."

  Haloperidol makes you itch.

  Paliperidone makes you twitch.

  Fat on risperidone,

  flat on ziprasidone.

  But without them, you’re one crazy bitch.

  “Bitch!” repeated Dahlia at the top of her lungs.

  Simon whispered, “Go now. Now.”

  I scuttled across the rec room to the exit and tapped in the security code. The door unlocked. When I opened it, the bell dinged, but it was drowned out by the cacophonous song.

  I hurried through, and when I would have pulled the door shut behind me, I was halted as a small hand took hold of it. The door opened wider, and Corona slipped out.

  “You can’t come with me,” I whispered.

  “Why not?”

  “It’s too dangerous.”

  Corona pulled the door shut behind her. “You shouldn’t be going alone."

  "What about Jake? And going to his place?"

  "That can wait. I’m coming with you. Now get moving before somebody notices us.” She was carrying a pillowcase half-filled with her belongings.

  I hesitated, but the truth was that I was glad to see her. “All right, but stick close.” I opened my gym bag and indicated that she should put her things in there.

  Corona scooted close, stuffed her pillowcase in the bag, and then took hold of my shirt tail.

  Though muted, the song trailed after us to the stairwell door.

  No more voices.

  Your doc rejoices.

  It’s the cocktail of the week.

  They’re gonna fix you.

  Gonna remix you.

  Your meds gonna make you oblique.

  We made our way out of the Center. Once outside, we ran to the orchard and hid ourselves among the trees. No one stopped us. Phase Three of Operation Freedom was going without a hitch—so far.

  We followed the long driveway out to the main gate, sticking to the shadows at the edges. I swiped the employee badge Lettie had loaned me, then hid it where I’d agreed I would.

  The gate opened with a clatter. We skirted the road, rather than walk down the middle of it, and watched in all directions for cars. The buses didn’t run that late at night, not that far out of the city, so we had a long walk ahead of us. I figured once we hit a landmark, we'd find a phone and call for a cab.

  Beyond the Center’s drive, the countryside was dark. Night bugs hummed in the background. The mist—not quite rain—felt good on my skin, like it could get into me through my pores and plump me up.

  As we walked in damp darkness, the full moon squeezed through clouds intent on forming a barrier to silver light and illuminated the fields surrounding us.

  The scene had a surreal quality. Corona and I were the only two people in sight, looking down the long expanse of road in both directions, corn fields on either side. The only man-made lights came from the distant Center.

  Corona said, “Have you ever felt,” and her voice had an ageless quality, “like you’re standing at the edge of the world, looking out into endless possibility?”

  The question made me uncomfortable, and I didn’t answer.

  A car came from behind us. It could have been anyone. The mist made auras around the car’s headlights. It was a scene from a Hitchcock movie.

  I grabbed Corona’s arm.

  She said, “I see it.”

  “C’mon. Let’s get off the road.” I led her into the ditch, then up the other side where tall weeds stuck burrs to our clothes.

  I willed the car to keep going, but it slowed, then pulled up—and I recognized the black sedan with tinted windows.

  “It’s Nathan,” I told Corona.

  “What does he want?”

  “I don’t know.”

  We started walking again, our pants getting wet all the way to the knees in the tall grass, unable to cross into the field without tackling a barbed wire fence.

  The car followed us, creeping along the shoulder that ran parallel to the ditch, a pair of smearing headlights upon a black hole of mystery and danger.

  After awhile, it zoomed ahead a short way and stopped. We had no choice but to go back the way we’d come or pass it.

  I said, “This is starting to freak me out.”

  “Starting to?”

  The back door of the car opened, and Nathan got out. The night enclosed him in camouflage, embracing him as if he were an old friend. Only his face stood out in contrast, a cratered moon reflected on a deep, black lake.

  He called, “Hello, my dears. What a pleasure to see you both. You look well…for fugitives.”

  I told Corona, “Just keep walking,” but that strategy didn’t work.

  The driver’s door opened, and an enormous man got out, dressed in black pants, tailored white shirt, and suspenders. He moved like a warning without even trying. I found myself wishing for Nathan’s other, less scary driver—the one who’d worn leather chaps.

  We stopped a short distance away.

  I asked, “Did you find Colin?”

  Nathan replied, “His name is Aubrey, and I did indeed. His father is so pleased. We expect Lord Rebus to make a full recovery now that he knows his son is safe.”

  Hope filled me. “I want to see him!”


  “No, Viviane,” whispered Corona.

  Nathan smiled a white, toothy invitation and put his hands together as if in prayer. “That’s why I’m here, lovely girl. I've come to deliver you to your sweetheart.” He indicated the open backseat door.

  I hesitated. I didn't trust him, though I didn't know for sure that he didn't have Colin's best interests at heart. No matter what, he could be a means to an end. Anything that moved me closer to Colin worked in my favor.

  I said, "C'mon, Corona. Let's go." She and I walked slowly toward the car.

  Simon protested, “Viviane, don’t.”

  "Shut up, guardian," said Nathan. "Would you stand between the girl and her true love?" He chuckled.

  Corona asked, “Are you sure?”

  I walked right up to Nathan. “Is he okay? Where is he?”

  Nathan latched onto my wrist with surprising firmness.

  I stared at him. "You don't know."

  A slow smile spread across his lips.

  I took a step back, but I was too late. Corona squeaked behind me, and I turned to see the driver holding her by the arm.

  "As soon as I saw you two walking along the road, I had to wonder. I don’t imagine they permit you to roam the countryside at your whim. So, what would make you leave the sanctuary? It must be a very important mission indeed. I'm guessing you think you know where Aubrey is, and you're off to find him."

  I said nothing.

  “Tell you what. How about we find him together,” said Nathan. He waved his hand toward the car. "My chariot awaits."

  I shook my head.

  “This, sugarkin, is the part where you acquire a full understanding of just how dedicated I am to finding my brother.” He kept his tone light, but the underlying menace was clear as a bell. “Tell me. What do you know?”

  “Nothing,” I answered, horror building in my chest. I'd made a huge mistake.

  “I don’t believe you.”

  I looked into Nathan’s eyes, black as a starless sky. He waved his hand toward Corona and the driver.

  The unmistakable crack of breaking bone fractured the night, followed instantly by Corona’s howl of pain. I swung around.

  Corona sank to her knees, cradling her forearm against her chest.

  “Stop it!” I shouted at the driver and would've rushed to put myself between him and her, if Nathan hadn’t latched onto the back of my shirt.

  He held me easily in place, the neck of the shirt biting into my throat until I stopped pulling. Almost lazily, he said, “Have you ever heard the sound of a neck snapping? It’s not dissimilar.”

  “You wouldn’t,” I said through gritted teeth.

  Nathan moved in close to me and growled. “I wouldn’t. He would.” His breath smelled of dry, dead leaves. “Gimme.” He pulled on my purse, and I let him take it.

  “Let us go,” I commanded.

  He ignored me, his attention on the contents of my purse. He tossed my money out, my cell phone, and my pictures of Colin. Then, he came across the shipping label with Bella’s address on it. “What have we here?” he purred.

  An aura of efficiency came over him. He threw my purse down, grabbed me by the arm and tried to shove me into the car. His touch was cold and clutching.

  I resisted, dropping my weight.

  He hissed in my ear. “Get in the car, or Missy-miss has her necky-neck go snappy-snap.”

  "I'll go with you," I said. "But leave Corona. She needs a doctor." Corona was sobbing, rocking herself, and she'd gone pale. "Please."

  Nathan studied Corona with disgust on his face. "Get in, and we'll leave her here. If she blubbers that obnoxiously in the car, she'll be dead before we reach our destination anyway. Get in."

  I slid into the backseat and turned to watch through the back window.

  The enormous man left Corona behind and walked to the driver’s side. I breathed a sigh of relief. "Simon, stay with Corona!" I commanded and hoped that Simon would do as he was told.

  "He sure as hell isn't coming with us," said Nathan with a smirk in his tone. "Not if he values his disembodied self.

  The driver got behind the wheel and started the car.

  Getting into the backseat beside me, Nathan said, “Take us to this address.” He handed the packing slip across the front seat.

  I watched Corona through the rear window until I couldn’t see her anymore. She shakily got to her feet and watched us drive away.

  ♦♦♦

  CHAPTER 32

  We drove through the countryside and penetrated the city limits, streaking along I-74, headed for the living heart of the city. The drive took approximately half an hour, making it almost midnight by the time we arrived.

  “We’re here,” said Nathan. The car pulled into a parking spot on the street. The driver opened his door and got out, looking around.

  Nathan straightened his sleeves. “Ah, the Monsieur Hotel, one of the oldest, most magickal buildings in Peoria. You'd better hope this isn't a dead end.”

  The driver leaned down and looked into the car. His face was harsh. When he spoke, his mouth barely opened. “The path is clear.”

  Nathan drew a knife from inside his coat. He pressed the tip to my throat, just below my ear. It stung, and I leaned away.

  “We’re getting out and going inside," he told me. "If you try anything, I’ll slit your throat from ear to ear, and you’ll never see your beloved again.”

  I nodded acquiescence, and he put his knife in his pocket, then got out of the car, pulling me along after him.

  Standing on the sidewalk, I touched the spot where he’d jabbed me, and my finger came away with a stain of scarlet.

  Nathan lifted his nose and took a deep breath. “He’s here.” There was something animal in the way he smelled the air, and his eyes took on a steely intensity, unblinking.

  Normal people walked by, traipsing between bars or heading home after an extended happy hour, unaware of the drama happening in their midst.

  People got out of our way without even looking at us. I wondered if the driver was invisible, too. Did I seem like I was alone to them? Just another woman getting out of a car.

  "No one's going to help you," Nathan hissed. "Normals are oblivious."

  "Normals?"

  Nathan tugged on my elbow, and we headed straight for the front doors of the hotel. "The non-magickal." He gave me a judgmental look. "Have you been living in a cave all your life?"

  "Kinda," I replied.

  The lobby was luxurious and spacious, with marble flooring and a second-story gallery that looked down upon arriving visitors. A uniformed clerk stood behind the counter, talking to an elderly couple. It occurred to me that maybe I could say something to…

  “Don’t even think about it,” said Nathan, jabbing me in the ribs with the handle of his knife. “It would take one second for me to kill you, and while they were trying to figure out what had happened, I’d continue on as planned.”

  “I get it,” I said, stumbling a little. I probably seemed impaired to anyone who did look at me.

  “This way.” Nathan's grip tightened around my waist. We crossed the lobby to the elevators, and he pressed the call button.

  It felt unreal, standing there in the serene lobby, listening to ambient jazz.

  While we waited, Nathan pointed up to the giant mural over the elevator doors. It showed a missionary standing in a canoe, preaching to half-naked primitives on the shores of the Illinois River. He hissed, “This is why Apfallon left your world. Look at the arrogance. You still honor someone who invaded and imposed his culture upon the native people.”

  "Apfallon?" I knew that word.

  Nathan smirked at me. "The land of apples and honey. The holy grail of neighborhoods. Your ancestral homeland."

  "Mine?"

  "Half of you. The other half is from my homeland, Gehenna."

  The elevator arrived with a chime, and Nathan pulled me into it. The driver stepped in last and pushed the button.

  “What are you talk
ing about?”

  “You are so cloaked in Normalcy, it makes my teeth hurt." Nathan came close to my face, his eyes intense. I turned my head away, and he spoke at my cheek. “They imposed ignorance upon you, sweetling. I can't wait to see how you feel about that once you realize how much they wronged you.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “You don’t have to. Not yet. You'll see it all when we get to Gehenna.”

  “You’re insane.”

  “Oh no, precious. I’m as sane as you are.” He gave a screechy sort of laugh. “Though I guess that’s not saying much, is it?”

  As we exited the elevator, Nathan paused and looked at the shipping receipt in his hand. “1402,” he said. “Stay alert. And you, don’t try anything.”

  “All right,” I said. “Stop poking me.”

  We followed the signs to suite 1402.

  Nathan bent and put his eye to the keycard mechanism, then stood aside and nodded to the driver.

  The large man in suspenders kicked the door in.

  Nathan pushed me in ahead of him.

  I stumbled slightly when Nathan released his grip on me.

  The suite looked more like an apartment than a hotel room. It had a kitchen visible to one side and matching leather couch and chairs. A dining table occupied the far end of the main room, just past which was another door that I assumed led to a bedroom. Tall windows lined one wall, the lights of Peoria visible through sheer drapes.

  A loud thud and grunt resounded in the hall behind us. We both turned to face the open doorway.

  Colin charged into the suite, shoulder in the lead. He plowed into Nathan, and the two of them went down to the floor. Colin quickly moved to straddle Nathan and punched his brother.

  I gave a whoop of pure joy.

  Then, the knife gleamed.

  “Colin!” I rushed forward.

  Colin caught Nathan’s arm in mid-swing and managed to hold it away from himself.

  Adrenaline coursed through my veins, pushed on a hyper heartbeat. I grabbed for the knife.

  Nathan twisted his hand around and brought the blade across my forearm. I saw a red bloom, and white-hot pain followed. I pulled back just in time to avoid a second cut.