“Link, you feel more like a bad rash.”
Floyd’s mouth twisted into a smile, short-lived as it was. Link glared at her.
Sampson ignored both of them. “You make me itch—it’s uncomfortable. Like poison oak. I think it’s the clash between your powers and your powerlessness. Hybrids always feel like that.”
“Maybe you’re just allergic to good looks and musical genius?” Part of Link wanted to beat the guy up. But the rest of Link wanted to hear what he had to say, even more.
“Maybe.” Sampson shrugged. “I don’t like Incubuses much, either.”
“Okay. We’re gettin’ somewhere.”
“What about Necro?” Floyd asked.
Sampson reached for her hand and took it. “She feels still and cold, usually. Calm. It’s not a bad feeling. More like floating, maybe in a lake.”
“Have you ever been in a lake?” Link looked at him. “Because it’s pretty much none a those things.”
“Let the man talk,” Floyd said. She looked at Sampson. “What do you feel now?”
“She’s still there, cold as the Underground. But I can feel the Charm. It’s heat and fire—sharp and strong. And something else.”
“What?” Floyd sounded anxious.
Link reached out his hand and put it on Sampson’s shoulder. “Seriously, man. You’re killin’ us. Spit it out.”
“Sweet,” Sampson said. “It’s sweet. Like burning sugar. I think—”
“Don’t say it.” Link sounded grim. “You don’t have to say it.”
“A Siren,” Sampson said. “And we’ve only been around one of those.”
“That we know of,” Link snapped.
“Would she do something like that?” Floyd was wide-eyed. She stepped away from Link, as if the fact of his knowing Ridley was itself somehow contagious.
“No. Never.” Link was sure of it.
“Your Siren’s never hurt anyone before? Even if she didn’t mean to?” Floyd looked doubtful.
Link didn’t answer.
She never means any harm.
Much.
“Because if that’s true, Link, she’s the first Siren in the history of the world who could say that.” Floyd sounded bitter.
“It wasn’t her, Floyd, I know it. She wouldn’t have done it.”
“You’re just whipped. You can’t even see it.”
Link brushed her off. “What does it matter, anyway? Rid’s gone now. Knowing if she did it doesn’t help Necro.”
“Of course it matters. I need to know whose ass to kick,” Floyd snapped.
Sampson shook his head. “Floyd’s right, Link. You don’t get it. Only the Siren who did this to Necro can undo it. You can’t save her if you can’t find the person who tricked out that knife.” He looked at Link. “Necro’s running out of time.”
“You think you can find her? Ridley?” Floyd asked.
Link looked bummed. “She just took off. I have no idea where she is. But I’m telling you, it wasn’t her.”
Sampson practically growled. “You’re sweet, Incubus.”
Link grabbed Sampson by the collar of his shirt. “Listen up, Maybelline. I know Rid, and she didn’t do this. I swear on my life.”
Sampson looked at him calmly. “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”
Link flexed his hands, releasing Sampson’s shirt. “Sorry, man.”
As he pulled his hand away, his Binding Ring began to glow again—this time turning from red to a pulsing golden color.
Link stared at it, holding it in front of his face. Floyd and Sampson watched the ring change colors.
“What’s that?” Floyd reached out for it, letting pink glow spill across her fingers. “It’s sort of beautiful.”
“Old magic,” Sampson said. “And powerful. It doesn’t feel like anything else. Not that I’ve encountered.”
Link held up his hand. It glowed color after color, as if it had suddenly come to life. “I think this thing is tryin’ to tell me somethin’. That, or it just wants to burn my finger off.”
“Let it tell you, whatever it is.” Floyd stared at the ring like it really was made of fire.
Link held his arm with his other hand. “It’s pullin’ me out the door.”
“Whoa,” Floyd said.
“Then follow it,” Sampson said as the ring lit up the room.
“I think I know how to find Ridley,” Link said slowly. “Or at least, I think the ring does.”
Floyd turned toward the bed. “Don’t worry, Necro. We’ll be right back.” She straightened Necro’s blankets, then grabbed her leather jacket. “Let’s go.”
“You’ll stay with her?” Link looked at Sampson, who nodded.
“One thing.” Floyd stopped Link when they got to the door. “I don’t care if she’s your girlfriend or not. We’re going to find that Siren and kick her ass.”
Link didn’t say a word.
He didn’t have to.
If Ridley had anything to do with this, it wouldn’t be Floyd who dealt with her.
“Hold on.”
Link stopped for his backpack. He just needed to get one thing. Burning ring or impatient Illusionist or wounded Necromancer—or not.
A rusty old pair of gardening shears.
If Ridley was involved in something this Dark, there had to be a reason. And if there was a reason, well, it wasn’t likely it was a good one.
Better to be prepared.
CHAPTER 27
Fly to the Angels
Ridley’s phone was dead, along with her resolve. Lost phone chargers notwithstanding, no one accidentally missed a hundred calls, not even Link.
Message received, loud and clear.
She had promised one day, and Nox could have it. Nox and his mysterious Siren, she thought. If Ridley knew more about the Siren in the photograph, maybe she would understand the secret behind Nox himself.
Her battle armor was simple enough: The closet had offered up a vintage floral slip dress, along with chained and studded black leather ranger boots and a matching studded jacket.
The closet, it turned out, was partial to Saint Laurent. Go figure.
The sun rose leisurely, like it had nothing better to do. The day started late and continued with tea in the lobby and a tower of macarons, brought in from Ladurée, Madison Avenue’s own Parisian tea shop. Rose, strawberry candy, and of course chocolate, and maybe the melon. All the best flavors.
In another lifetime, Ridley would’ve thought it was perfection.
Nox drank tiny cups of espresso as if they were hot chocolate. Ridley couldn’t stand coffee. “The world is already a bitter enough place,” she said. “I’ll stick to chocolate.”
“Chocolat chaud,” said Nox.
“That, too. Now hand me the good stuff.” She reached for the nearest plate of cookies.
“Un de chaque, that’s what you want.” Nox smiled, offering Ridley half a salted caramel macaron. He looked particularly out of place in his club clothes—black jeans, a vintage black jacket, and a skinny black tie—surrounded by pink and purple pastel cookies and pastries.
“What’s that?” Ridley popped the macaron into her mouth, making a face. Salty sweet wasn’t so much her thing as sweetly sweet.
“Well, in Paris they’re not quite as indulgent, but the Italians get it. Uno di tutti. That’s what I say when I walk into a Roman bakery. One of everything. Try the coconut.”
She had.
Then she tried it again. And again and again, until the tower of plates was empty except for crumbs. With her mouth as full of sugar as it was, she hadn’t had much time for questions. Not yet, she thought. Soon.
After breakfast, they wandered down Madison to the Whitney. Construction crews had ripped open the sidewalks, taxis were honking and screeching, fast-walking people were jabbering on phones.
It was a perfect New York City morning. At least, it should’ve been—and if things had been different, it would’ve been.
“It’s only one day. Why wast
e it in a museum?” Ridley argued. “Is that what a real New York Siren would do?”
Now. Show me what you’re about.
“It’s not just a museum. It’s my favorite of all the New York museums,” Nox said.
“A favorite museum?” Ridley shook her head playfully. “Really? I don’t believe you just said that. Favorite means you’ve gone to more than one.”
“I have. So should you. Think about it. Andy Warhol did Marilyn and Liz. If they weren’t Sirens—”
“They weren’t.” Ridley rolled her eyes.
“They should’ve been.” Nox laughed. “Show me a great artist, and I’ll show you—”
Ridley cut him off. “A gift shop and a snack bar.”
“A great Siren.” Nox grinned.
“Is that it? Marilyn and Liz? No other great New York Sirens you want to introduce me to?”
He looked at her, his smile faltering.
She met his eyes.
Now. The woman in the photograph. Tell me.
But Nox’s phone buzzed, and he pulled it from his jacket, frowning. “Sirensong pulled out of a sold-out gig for tonight. What’s going on?”
The moment had passed, and with it the light and the laughter of the morning. Nox’s face was once again dark and impenetrable.
Ridley couldn’t worry about it, though, because once again all she could think of was Necro.
Ridley pulled his wrist toward her and looked at his watch. “I’m sorry. I need to get back.”
There. She could stop pretending it wasn’t on her mind.
“To your friends?” Nox asked. “I thought they were the ones who kicked you out.”
“They were, I mean, Link was. But my—” What was I going to say? Friend? Was that what this was? “Necro’s sick.”
“Necro?” Nox pulled his arm back, straightening his shirt. “What kind of sick?”
“She passed out onstage. Didn’t you see it? Yesterday, just before I came to the hotel?”
He shook his head. “I left as soon as we—you know.” A shadow crossed his face. “I’m sorry to hear that. I should call someone. Send a doctor.” He felt for his phone.
“I’m not sure they want anything from either one of us right now.” Ridley said the words slowly. “In fact, I’m pretty sure we’re the last two people on earth that Floyd or Link or Necro want to see.”
Nox lowered his cell back into his pocket.
“You think so?”
She raised an eyebrow. “You were there.” When you kissed me. In front of him. While they watched.
“What do we do?” He sounded genuinely worried.
“I’ve left a thousand messages. All we can do is wait.”
“Until what?”
“I’m not sure I know,” Ridley said.
He sighed. “Fair enough.”
“Sirens.” Ridley looked up. I’d better get on with it. The Siren in the photograph. A plan is a plan. “You were going to show me a Siren’s view of New York.”
“First the museum. I think we’ve got to expand your definition of what a Siren is.”
“Enlighten me.”
Nox smiled. “Look, I’m not saying I know you better than you know yourself. I’m saying that if you open your eyes, you’ll figure out you’re not so alone. Or at least, you don’t need to be.”
“I’m not alone. I have—” Who? Not Link. Especially not after yesterday.
Not anymore.
“Well, I have my cousin, Lena.”
Nox nodded. “The Natural. And you have your sister. The little Thaumaturge.”
“Sisters. Can’t forget Reece, no matter how much I’d like to.” She stopped. “Wait—how do you know Lena’s a Natural?” She didn’t like surprises, and she didn’t know if she trusted Nox not to pull them on her.
“She’s Lena Duchannes. You’re Ridley Duchannes. I’ve known many Duchannes, and more Ravenwoods. You don’t exactly keep a low profile.”
They kept walking. “And Ryan? How could you tell what sort of Caster she was?”
“I could feel it. She’s a powerful little girl.” He smiled. “Like her sister, I think. I can tell you care about her. But you have to admit, you yourself? You’re something of a lone wolf. Especially for a Siren. I thought you only traveled in packs? With whole boatloads of your adoring sailors?”
Ridley didn’t say anything. She’d been alone from the moment she’d left home until she’d met Link. Ever since her own parents had kicked her out of her family home, after her Claiming. But even with Link, no matter how well things seemed to go for a while, she always ended up back where she’d started. Alone again.
Back on the curb.
“Maybe I want to be alone,” she said finally, because everything else was too painful to say.
“Maybe you’re as big a liar as I am,” Nox said, holding out his hand.
She took it.
His hand was warm and strong, and she felt inexplicably better holding it.
Even if he was the second most horrible person in the world.
Even if she was the first.
Then he squeezed her hand, as if he felt it, too.
The museum became a picnic in the park and shopping in SoHo. An afternoon walk became delicate sushi. Dinner became dessert, caramel and crème fraîche, and cream puffs drowning in warm chocolate fudge. Waiters stood at attention as if they were bodyguards; doors were opened, cars were waiting, store clerks were doting.
It was like a popcorn wish-fulfillment movie of someone else’s life. Ridley wished it were real. She wished it were hers. But even if she was only playing the part for today, it was better than nothing.
Still, there were no Sirens.
The day might have been charmed, and the prince might have been charming, but there was no evidence of any other kind of Cast or Charm.
Still, she savored every minute of it.
By the time they ended up back at Les Avenues, Ridley let Nox come up to the apartment with her.
“Just for a minute,” she said.
He’s not half bad, she thought, as far as princes go.
“Just to watch the sunset,” he agreed.
He’s not half bad, she thought, as far as enemies go.
“Just to see the stars,” she conceded.
This isn’t half bad, she thought, as far as wars go.
“Just one day,” he said. “You promised.”
And just to take another look at one small photograph hanging on the wall, she thought.
Lennox Gates, what is your Siren story?
CHAPTER 28
Fear of the Dark
How well do you know this guy?” Link was sweating. He shook his ringed hand. The whole thing felt like it was burning off.
“Who, Sampson? How well does anyone know a Darkborn?” Floyd was annoyed. They were stuck on the subway. Not the Underground, and not the Tunnels. The regular old subway. The one that smelled like stale cigarettes and adult diapers.
It was rush hour in New York City, which meant every time the subway doors opened, as many people got into the car as were already inside it.
The whole thing was a hopelessly broken puzzle.
Link and Floyd had been following the ring throughout the Underground, and as far as Link could tell, it was leading them both to nowhere and back again. Necro didn’t have time for either. And Ridley…
Link had a bad feeling Ridley was in a whole lot more trouble than even he realized. That second marker, he thought. That second marker means she’s not in control. That second marker means Lennox Gates can make her do anything he needs her to. Even if that means hurting Necro.
He didn’t know what to think about Ridley, but any way you looked at it, he was worried.
Link tried not to think about it. He clung to the overhead pole, letting his long body sway with the motion of the car. Then he looked back at Floyd. “But for a Darkborn. You think he’s for real?”
Floyd stood firmly planted against the side of the rattling seat. “Look, Lin
k. Are you asking me if I believe him that your girlfriend could hurt my best friend in the world? Not to mention our keyboard player? Of course I do.”
Link watched the tunnel pass by, through the flickering black windows of the subway car. She’s not my girlfriend anymore. But that doesn’t mean I don’t know her. And it doesn’t mean she could do something like this. Not on her own.
His hand ached.
Floyd only watched him. “You don’t think she could?”
He made a face. “Don’t be stupid. Of course I don’t.”
She looked away, hurt. “All right, then. If I’m so stupid, then I guess there isn’t much left to talk about.”
“I guess not.” Link didn’t want to think about the gardening shears tucked in his back pocket. If you’re so sure, why did you bring them? Who do you think you’re gonna fight? And what could she possibly have gotten herself involved in this time?
After that, Floyd and Link rode in silence. But the silence only lasted for a few minutes, because then Floyd looked up at him and started talking, out of the blue. “It’s none of my business.”
“What is?” Link wasn’t really paying attention. He was watching a guy at the end of the row of seats secretly pick his nose, which wasn’t all that easy to do on a crowded subway car during rush hour.
“You deserve better. That’s all I’m saying.” Floyd looked away.
Link rubbed his hand through his hair, confused. “Better what? What are you talkin’ about?” She wasn’t being all that specific. Plus, the guy had his finger halfway up his nose now. If he wasn’t careful, he was going to scratch his own brains.
“You know what I’m talking about.” Floyd was irritated. Link could tell.
She sounds kinda mad.
“I really don’t.” Now Link was irritated. He flexed his burning hand against the safety pole he was holding on to.
Seriously. Not a clue.
“It’s none of my business. I’m done.”
See? She’s ticked.
“Fine,” Link said. “Be done.”
Seein’ as I have no idea what you’re done with.
A man shoved between them. Floyd shoved back. She slid closer to Link. “Ridley treats you like garbage.”
Here we go. “Rid treats everyone like garbage.”
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