Alice Series Box Set

by Maria Dean

  Astrid shut the television off and squealed. "We did it, Nova!" She jumped off the couch and ran to her room, trying to put a presentable outfit on as she texted her friends. "Goddamn, we did it!"

  "I am so proud of you," Nova gushed, kissing her on the forehead when she returned. "You deserve the world. Go out and have fun with your friends. Doctor's orders."

  At that point, Astrid was willing to do anything to celebrate, and that included watching Tom fail karaoke at a dive bar north of the city. She scrambled to coordinate the event, sprinting as if she wasn't out of shape and still recovering from her dangerous journey through space.

  A shimmer appeared behind Nova, and she sighed. "I can't keep this up, Calypso. She was broken when she came to me. And if she's not careful, she will break. Someone needs to teach her how to use her abilities!"

  "Not while her father's still here," said Calypso Gray. "Aaron needs to go."

  Nova sighed, looking back at her sister. "Then you know what we have to do."

  Grimly, Calypso nodded. "The alchemists have needed to die for a long time."

  And so, unbeknownst to Astrid, her father's fate was sealed by the rest of her family.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Alchemy

  CHAPTER 1

  Dear Giovanni.

  That didn't sound right. 'Dear' was too intimate for Astrid's liking. She wouldn't use that word to describe her relationship with him. Maybe to describe Christian, who she'd had sex with. Or possibly even Lorenzo, who she felt deeply connected to on a level she couldn't put into words. Then again, she'd felt respected with Giovanni, something she couldn't say about the other two.

  'Sup dude, what's cracking?

  Too casual, and way too urban. If she said 'what's cracking' to any of the Russo brothers, they'd stare at her like she was speaking in a different language. Besides, she never said it in real life, anyway. No matter how much they cared about her or respected her powers, the Russos were still from a different world. It was already hard enough for her to step into their economic playing field. Astrid was too tired to acknowledge that in her apology letter.

  Hey. It's Astrid.

  Ambiguous. That could work.

  "How's it going?" Nova crooned, stretched out on the couch with a second glass of merlot. She was enjoying her extended stay in the Twin Cities. Now she'd made contact with her old friends in the slayer circles, Nova was experiencing the finer facets of life. It turned out she was the woman, the witch to know, if you wanted something. She traded favors with slayers and hunters alike. It allowed her to live lavishly on Astrid's couch.

  "I am working on it," Astrid said keeping her voice even. It was the only way to put it without showing too much emotion. Writing an apology to Giovanni was the main concern on her mind. It wasn't the best idea, as she had more paperwork to fill out and she needed to prepare for her suit against VidaCo but her mind couldn't settle with things unresolved with Giovanni. Her logic was the VidaCo suit required Giovanni, and therefore she needed to be on good terms with him again to succeed.

  "I don't see why you have to write this down. Calling him would communicate the tone better as would showing up in person. Anything besides sitting there and moping because you don't know how to talk to boys." Nova shook her head, reclining on the couch and propping her feet up on the arm. "You're a grown woman, Astrid. This shouldn't be difficult."

  "You haven't met Giovanni," she replied. "He's not like Lorenzo or Christian. When he talks, it feels like every word is chosen carefully. Everything he does has a purpose behind it. I need to pick my words to make sure I don't offend him."

  Speaking rashly was what got her into that mess in the first place. Even if he wasn't offended by her words, she still could've argued more eloquently.

  "Astrid, you've caught this boy in your web hook, line, and sinker. You could call him a bourgeoisie cow and he'd still fall in love with you," Nova replied. 'Bourgeoisie cow,' was one of Nova's favorite phrases. She used it to describe anyone she thought was an upper class asshole, but in more educated terms. "Now listen here. There's nothing you can't do if you just put your mind to it. But you ain't gonna get anywhere if you keep overthinking this."

  A fair point, though Astrid didn't want to admit it. "I want things cleared up. I feel terrible about what I said. He didn't deserve it. I was just so angry, it kinda poured out of me all at once."

  "Then tell him that," Nova said. "Be honest and open."

  It sounded so easy when she said it like that. Astrid looked back down at her phone, before shoving it across her kitchen counter. "I need to space to think," she announced to Nova. "Want me to go get takeout?"

  Nova nodded. "You know what sounds good to me? Pad Thai. I haven't had good noodles in such a long time."

  Astrid's mouth began to water. "Khoa pad curry from that place on Grand Avenue would hit the spot," she said. "Fuck. That place is far."

  Her aunt shrugged. "Let's go on an adventure, then. I haven't drunk too much, and you know I'm always in the mood for trying new things."

  Astrid left out the fact the place on Grand Avenue was close to Lorenzo's house, and therefore the Russo estate. It was so much easier if Nova didn't know how close he could be. He was still out of town and unlikely to drop in on her during dinner. Still, she kept it to herself, not wanting to get Nova's hopes up.

  Nova whipped out her phone and began to order a car. Astrid turned her phone on silent, not wanting to get distracted by the office or the Russo family. Dinner would be about her and Nova, and whatever crazy story Nova wanted to bring to the table.

  But Astrid's life was never that easy, and she should've known better.

  When their Lyft driver dropped them off, Astrid stopped to inhale the scent of the noodles cooking inside the building. The restaurant, named Pad Thai, was a popular place for locals and students from nearby colleges. The two of them stepped inside and waited in line just to put their name in.

  "Nova?"

  Astrid didn't recognize the voice hailing her aunt, but she didn't have to. Nova's attention snapped forward as she put on her outlandish persona. "Zion, darling, what good timing!"

  Zion, the dragon slayer Astrid had met at the library, beckoned them closer. He was standing alone in the line, with two loud families separating them. "And Astrid. I must admit I didn't realize who you were during our library encounter. I was more concerned about finding Jonas."

  The low, drop-off at the end of the sentence told Astrid they never found Jonas. Her indirect role in the situation turned her stomach. Jonas wasn't a bad kid, he just got caught during a job gone wrong. Even if she disagreed with what he stood for, he was still a good person on the inside. He didn't deserve whatever fate had befallen him and Alexi Spinelli.

  "I'm sorry about Fletcher," she said in a quieter tone. If there was one thing Astrid had learned, it was that you never knew who was listening in. "I didn't know him well, but he was very kind when we met. Eager and wide-eyed, ready to see what was in store for him in the world."

  Zion's gaze narrowed as he scrutinized her. "You know, I would love to understand your role in this situation. I never quite caught why my slayer was heading to your apartment. Nor do I understand why the librarian is so taken with you. Being Calypso's daughter doesn't make you any more special than your aunt." He glanced at Nova who smiled quite in return. That was out of character. "Though I must say, your aunt has made quite the name for herself up here. You don't hear me complaining about her work."

  He's not doing what I think he is, Astrid thought to herself.

  Nova let out her signature sultry chuckle and batted her eyelashes at Zion. "Well thank you, Mr. Wells," she said. "I pride myself on being useful for others."

  Astrid couldn't think of the right thing to say at that moment. The phrases 'fuck me' and 'dear God please save me' came to mind, but neither seemed appropriate.

  "Sir?" The host approached Zion with a stack of menus. "We can seat you now. Table for three, yes?"

  "Four, act
ually," he corrected. "It's perhaps fate that you've come in tonight. I was just meeting with your friend for dinner."

  It took Astrid a moment to realize he was talking to her, not Nova. She wracked her brain to figure out which friend they could have in common, forgetting Zion's previous comments. There was only one person she knew who had connections all over the city, but it didn't feel right.

  "God, if you know Sally Stannis," Astrid began, "I'm going to do a background check on her."

  Zion looked at her with a blank stare. "I know of no such woman," he replied. "I was speaking of your friend from the library."

  The host seated them at a window table and set out their menus. Before she could tell them their server would be there in a moment, X Dougherty burst through the restaurant's doors and stumbled inside. Had Astrid not known he was coming, she wouldn't have recognized the man in front of her. X's usual untamed hair was neatly combed back. He looked like a fish out of water. He had replaced his typical Hot Topic t-shirt and jeans with a pressed dress shirt and pants. The only thing that remained was his satchel, swinging behind him as he hustled over to the table.

  "God, Zion, I'm so sorry. I couldn't figure out how to tie a bow tie and left the house ten minutes late." X stumbled over his words faster than he could stumble into his chair. For a moment, he allowed himself to collapse into the chair and breathe. His head fell into his hands as he leaned forward on the table. "I didn't realize you were bringing guests, though."

  Astrid coughed. "Neither did we," she said, catching his attention.

  X turned his head enough to the left to see her. He squinted, then jerked his head backward. "Astrid?" X poked at her with a free hand to check if he was hallucinating. "Hey, you're here." Then he pulled back, going rigid in his seat. "Oh my god, you're actually here." X looked between her and Zion. "Is this an intervention?"

  Soothing his tension, Nova chuckled to herself and reached over to pat his hand. "Not that I know what this would be about, but you're fine sweetheart. It's all coincidence we came here," she smiled. "You know, the first time I met you was during Astrid's coma. I never got the time to get to know you, kiddo."

  "I'm twenty-four," he mumbled in defense.

  The server floated over to their table to take their drink orders. Astrid found herself taken aback when Zion ordered two bottles of white wine for the table.

  "I guess I would've thought you were a whiskey kind of guy," she noted.

  Zion ignored her, turning his attention to X. "I brought you here for a reason. And I believe we're lucky to have the Grays here," he said, glancing over at Nova. "Dougherty and I are here to discuss the alchemist issue in the Cities. This is one of the few places I am positive is alchemist free."

  The server came back with their wine and asked for their food orders. Zion, winning Astrid's heart, ordered a round of egg rolls and cream cheese puffs. "I do not eat out often," he reasoned. "The church requires us to be at our best, all the time. Being physically fit is key. However," he noted as he poured a glass of wine, "I can afford to enjoy myself every once in a while."

  Astrid ordered curry fried rice, asking for the hottest flavor possible. X blanched and pulled his water glass closer. "You're a brave woman," he said. "I don't understand people who can eat spicy food. Why would you want to do something like that to yourself?"

  "Xander," Zion coughed, "focus."

  X sighed. "Right." He leafed through his satchel to retrieve a stack of papers. "Since Astrid's case against the alchemists, I've come across more and more comments discussing VidaCo and their subsidiaries. It's not just the seven-country metro area, either." The Twin Cities sprawled across at least seven different counties and several suburbs, taking up a large proportion of Minnesota's population. To hear that the alchemists reached further than southern Minnesota was astonishing at best and wildly worrisome at the worst.

  "How far?" Astrid asked, wetting her lips.

  The researcher frowned. "Well, the furthest north I could find were reports from Bemidji." He pointed to a smaller college town in upper Minnesota. "But that's not considering any other direction. I found complaints from as far as Milwaukee and Fargo."

  Nova finished up her first glass of wine. "Now wait just a minute," she said. "I don't know my Midwestern Geography that well, but those ain't cities in Minnesota."

  "Milwaukee's in Wisconsin," Astrid said. "We went there for trips when I was at Wicker Lake. And Fargo is in North Dakota. How is it possible that they could cover three states at once?"

  X shuffled his papers and handed Astrid a detailed directory. "The alchemists work in cabals based on region," he said. The paper he gave her was divided up based on location and the leadership structure. Astrid flipped through the pages, her heart skipping a beat when she reached the 'Southeast' district. The name in bold written right below the Memphis cabal sent shivers up her spine.

  "Good to know," she muttered as she handed the sheet back to him.

  Pausing, X glanced at the sheet and deflated. "God, I'm sorry Astrid. I forgot about him."

  I wish I had too. Astrid sipped her wine faster. "It's fine. What were you saying about their cabals?"

  "Right," X said, getting back on track. "They work in groups based on region. I wouldn't be surprised to find out that VidaCo was run by the Upper Midwestern district. That would be why they're found as far as Fargo."

  Zion nodded. "What is most concerning to me is how much they're willing to sacrifice for their own gain. Jonas Fletcher is not the only slayer I've lost because of alchemic interference."

  "So you're sure it was them?" Nova asked. Her playful tone had drifted far away, replaced by concern and caution. "I just want to be sure what I'm dealing with here. I'm not a fighter, Zion, and you've always known that."

  X hesitated. "I have some... evidence." The word struggled to get out of his mouth. "But it's not great. And probably not ideal for a dinner time conversation."

  "We can take it," Astrid blurted. "Whatever it is, we can handle it. Right?" Nova nodded, though her eyes told a different story. "You can handle this, can't you?"

  "I'm not worried about myself," Nova said. "I want you to be careful, Astrid. There's still a chance for you to step back from this situation. Looking into the alchemists will only lead to trouble. Is that something you're prepared for?"

  I don't have a choice. That's what she wanted to say. Instead, Astrid said, "I can take it. I've been watching shitty horror films from the seventies for years."

  X winced but pulled another file out from his stack. "They found the bodies at the bottom of Lake Bde Maka Ska. They suffered severe bruising all over their bodies, and serious burns on the torso. It's weird, look here. The medical examiner's report said they died from an unknown toxin, ingested with chamomile tea." He handed the file to Astrid. "I told you it was bad."

  What hurt wasn't looking at the nasty injuries that covered Jonas and Alexi. It wasn't the way their flesh was charred, or the blue-purple welts painting their skin. No, Astrid's heart jumped out of her chest when she saw their lifeless expressions. There was no light left in Alexi's eyes, no curiosity written across Jonas's face. They'd been broken, bruised, and drained of what made them human. Nothing left but the husks of who they used to be.

  "My dad did this," she said to no one in particular.

  None of her dinner companions wanted to confirm her suspicions. Nova reached out and covered her hand, saying nothing with her words but everything with her touch. "Baby, I told you this was rough."

  "My dad's a murderer," Astrid said, ignoring her aunt. "And a liar. And just an ass."

  Zion raised his wine glass to his lips. "You're lucky you've got more of your mother in you," he mused. "Calypso Gray is one of the fiercest people I've ever met. I do not believe for a second she will let your father get away with something like this, especially if he's here and affecting your life."

  The more Astrid dove into the world of alchemy, the more her life became intertwined with her father's. If she wasn't car
eful, he would end up at her front door with the rest of his cabal.

  "We will get him," X said aloud. Astrid couldn't tell if he was trying to reassure her, or if he was trying to convince himself it would happen. "No matter what, we will shut them down."

  Nova squeezed Astrid's hand. "Think you can get your other friends in on this?"

  As Astrid looked across the table at the stoic dragon slayer and her monster hunting friend, she realized that would be a lot harder than Nova realized.

  ***

  "I think I have it," Astrid said to Nova early the next day. It was a quiet Saturday morning, one of Astrid's few days of solace. Even when she wasn't in the office, she was busy. Saturday was the one day she designated to self-care Astrid started early that morning with a homemade breakfast and fresh pot of coffee. She finished the coffee while composing a text to Giovanni.

  A hungover Nova was less enthusiastic about the endeavor.

  "Baby, you know I want the best for you, but can you leave me out of this one for the time being? I just need to sleep this off."

  Astrid snorted. "Yeah, sure," she said as she slid off the kitchen stool. "Just give me this one thing, okay? You owe it to me for all the time you've spent obsessing over local covens and the benefits of essential oils."

  "They're called essential oils for a reason," Nova complained. "I don't understand what you don't get about it."

  Despite her annoyance, she made room for Astrid at the foot of the couch. Astrid settled down with a cup of coffee in one hand and her phone in the other. "Hey, it's me. I want to say I'm sorry for my outburst the other day. It was uncalled for, and not appropriate for the setting we were in. You deserve better than that. If you're willing, I want to take you out for dinner as an apology. It's okay if you decline, I was kind of a jerk. Let me know if you're up for that. Love, Astrid." She looked over at her aunt. "Is that okay?"

  "Are you really ending the text with 'love'?" Nova questioned. "Not that I don't understand your sentiment, dear, but it's pretty loaded for a man who's interested in dating you. Is that what you want to go for?"