“I love you.” The words were out before I knew it, and I blushed the instant they did. I gazed into his eyes, and the seconds I waited for his response felt like an eternity.
“I love you too. I’ve loved you for so long,” he beamed. A playful grin crossed his face, and he grabbed my hand. “Come with me.”
He ran through the halls with manic speed, and I laughed as I struggled to keep up. We raced down the halls until we emerged in the back of the Mansion. The setting sun cast a golden light over the city, and Aidan tapped his foot until it vanished behind the mountains. We watched as the black cloak of the night settled over the city. The stars twinkled like diamonds, and the silver glow of the moon was the only light. Fireflies danced, and I beamed as I watched Aidan crunch through the snow.
“Did you invite me out to see the sunset?” I teased, as he tapped his foot and glared at the sky.
“No, something else. Look at this.” He let out a deep breath, which crystallized into a series of snowflakes. The air swirled and danced around him before shooting into the distance. It hit the trunk of a nearby oak, spreading and solidifying into a solid chunk of ice. I gasped in surprise as the ice changed into the shape of a door. The door shone like a massive diamond, each facet gleaming with light. A golden doorknob winked into existence, and Aidan motioned me over. He opened the door, revealing a road carved out of obsidian blocks leading into the distance.
“What is this?”
“It’s my home,” he returned. We walked down the pathway, and I spun around, trying to take in everything. Crystalline trees lined the path, each carved out of a solid block of ice. Fruit made of diamonds hung from the trees. Furry creatures swarmed up the trunk, taking a bite out of the fruit and causing pale blue juice to run down their mouths. Trees, green and verdant, walked down the path, their branches creating dozens of spider-like legs. We walked through the forest, and a garden spread out, with thousands of flowers made of solid ice and snow.
“Welcome to Eira,” Aidan stated.
“It’s beautiful.” I whispered. I gazed around the area, trying to catch each sight and hear every sound. The land was beautiful beyond words. Each tree, each creature, each building was a work of art so beautiful that it could drive a grown man to tears. I wanted nothing more than to turn over each stone and talk to every creature.
“In some ways.” Aidan admitted. “This is where I’ve been most of the time.”
“Why?” As I asked the question, the woods shook, revealing a horde of creatures. Trolls, giant, hairy creatures whose skin was pale blue and teeth gleamed red in the dim light. Furry creatures whose jackets held knives, guns and clubs walked toward us. Their crimson hats dripped with blood. Living trees stood next to massive blocks of ice with gleaming coals for eyes. Blue skinned women dressed in light patches of frost that snaked down their body all emerged. Each one glanced at Aidan before sinking to the ground and kneeling in front of him.
“What the hell...?” I said, trying to make sense of everything.
Aidan bowed his head, and the crowd dispersed. Many ran, fleeing into the trees as if he was an ax murderer. The weapon covered creatures grumbled, issuing threats under their breath. They grabbed a knife, hand on the hilt as the backed into the forest.
“What was that all about?” I asked as the last creature disappeared.
“It’s nothing. Do you remember when Kat said I was Dark Fey?”
“Yeah.”
“She was right. She also had every reason to fear me and worry that I was spending time with you. All the Dark Fey, every single one, is a killer. From the second we choose our mantle, we’re taught that life is a brutal contest. The ones that survive are the strong, the powerful, and the ones who are willing to do whatever it takes.”
“That sounds awful,” I said, my eyes widening at the thought.
“It’s not so bad,” Aidan returned. “It means that all of us, from the second we wake up to the second we fall asleep, work to better ourselves. The dancers obsess over their dance; the singers devote their existence to their song, and the warriors push their body to the breaking point. It results in some of the most beautiful dance, music, and fighters in existence. We love without hesitation, forgive without question, and live as if there’s no tomorrow.” Aidan walked over and plucked one of the fruits from the tree, staring at it as he twirled it in his fingers. “The Light tries to gild over everything, to hide away the flaws and blemishes because they’re too dark or unpleasant for them. The Dark knows better. We can find the beauty, the poetry, in every struggle, in every challenge, and in every brutal, violent contest.” He tossed the fruit to me and gave a grim look.
“So what, you’re all murderers?” I asked, catching the fruit and wincing as its chill cut through my palm.
“No. We may all be killers, but murder is beyond most of us.”
“I don’t follow. What’s the difference?”
“Killing someone who never meant you any harm leads to a dark and twisted place. Sometimes the world needs someone to stand in the way of the murderers and villains of the world. To stop them before they can harm those who don’t deserve it. Sometimes stopping them means taking them out of this world before they can hurt anyone.”
“Okay, this is a bit over my head,” I said, prompting Aidan to chuckle. “So why is everyone afraid of you?”
“The Unseelie have a strict hierarchy. Everyone fits in somewhere, from the farmers and the pixies at the bottom to the High Nobles at the top.”
“I take it you’re near the top?”
“I’m what’s called a Knight of the Dark. Whenever the Noble who commands me thinks someone’s a threat, she sends me. I…deal with them.” I noted the grim finality in his voice as he mentioned dealing with someone. “The Lady I serve has a reputation for nastiness.”
“Who is she?”
“Mab. Queen of Midnight, Lady of Storms, the Ice Witch, Matron of Death, and the Dealmaker.” Aidan rubbed his eyebrows as he sat on a log.
“Dealmaker?”
“She’s known for seducing humans. She offers them whatever they want. Money, power, anything they need as long as they’re willing to pay whatever terrible price that crosses her twisted, little mind. She’s the reason I wasn’t there for you when the incident at Olympus went down. If she calls for me, I have to come. No excuses, no exceptions. The good news is that being around my kind is useful for drawing out information.”
I sat next to him, wrapping my arm around Aidan. “Well don’t worry. If she ever starts to be a pain, I’ll punch her in the face until she agrees to let you go.”
Aidan slid away from me, his eyes as wide as dinner plates. “Don’t even joke like that. Mab is a force of nature. On a whim, she could burn Woodland Falls to ash.”
“She can’t be all that bad.”
“She’s worse.” Aidan stated, putting his hands on my shoulders. “I want you to promise me that you will never talk to Mab, you will never joke about her, and you will never make a deal with her. If you see her, you will run the other direction as fast as your legs will carry you.”
“Aidan, come on-”
“Promise me.” Aidan never raised his voice, but the words that came out were steel. His voice shook every time he mentioned the woman’s name, and I felt the sweat pouring from his palms as he grabbed me. I nodded.
“Good.”
“So you said you found a lead earlier?” I asked, desperate to change the subject. In the decade I’d known Aidan I’d never seen him fearful or intimidated. The mere mention of Mab’s name, though, caused him to shake.
“I did. I figured we’d need to get our hands on all your mom’s research, that way we have a clearer idea of what’s going on
. I started asking around about her, and I found something.”
“What?”
“More of a who. A woman in town knows every dirty dealer’s secret. Her name’s Siren.” Aidan sniffed in derision. “Think of her as the mystical equivalent to Don Corleone.”
“She sounds like bad news. Why are we dealing with her?”
“Because she’s the only person alive who knows everything about your mother’s old research. She told me that she knows what it was, where to find the last remnants, and what aspects that Drake is trying to find. She won’t deal with me, though. She’ll only deal with you.”
I paused, mulling the idea over as I tossed the frozen fruit into the distance. It didn’t hit the ground before a swarm of light caught up to it, devouring the food before it hit the ground.
“Is she legit?”
“Yes.”
“You’re sure?”
“I’ve learned how to tell when someone is lying over the years. She’s telling me the truth.”
“Alright. Let’s head back to The Mansion. Ripper is going to want to hear about this."
Chapter 16
“Do you expect me to let you walk into the den of one of the most powerful women in this city on the false hope that she may have some useful information?” Ripper asked, his eyes narrowing as he glared at me.
“Kind of, yeah,” I returned.
“Well by all means, would you like to borrow my car? I could even lend you some money for drinks while you’re there.”
“It can’t beat your plan of sitting with our thumbs up our butt, waiting for Drake to come for us.”
“Okay, the two of you abuse sarcasm,” Aidan stated, stepping between us. “I get that it’s dangerous.”
“Understatement of the year, kid.”
“But I’ll be there to back her up every step of the way. If anyone decides to try something, I’ll be around to keep her safe.”
Ripper paused, stroking his beard. “You’d need eyes on the doorway.”
“I’ll go,” Dad and Kat said at the same time.
“No way,” Frank corrected. “The two of you throw lightning and fireballs. We don't need that kind of attention. I’ll keep an eye on her.”
“You think you can protect my daughter?” Dad said, narrowing his eyes at Frank.
“I'm pretty sure this is less dangerous than my usual jobs, yeah. Besides, the cops don’t even come down to the Shade anymore. We’ll be able to get in and out without any red and blue attention.”
Ripper grunted. “The man has a point.”
“Yeah, on the top of his head,” Dad countered. “No offense, I’m sure you’re used to dealing with thieves and stalkers.” Frank snorted, shaking his head back and forth as my dad continued. “This is more dangerous.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah, that’s so.”
“Have you ever been to The Shade? I’m not talking about the fringes where rich, white folk go when they want to live on the edge. I’m talking deep in, where people don’t go for fear of getting shot. Places where going down to the corner store for milk is taking your life into your hands.”
Dad sniffed. “Yeah, I get it, you’ve dealt with the local gangs, you’re a tough guy.”
“No, you don’t. How dumb do you people think the rest of us are? Do you expect that people would disappear from their homes at night, and no one would notice? Even before the skyscrapers came up, everyone in the Shade knows the rules. You never go out at night. You never invite strangers inside, and you never, ever went anywhere with an open cut. We knew the score, man. You weren’t there to do anything about it.”
The room went silent, with Dad glancing toward the ground and thrusting his hands in his pockets. “Do we know anything about Laurie?” I asked, breaking the silence.
“We have good news and bad news,” Kat returned. “Drake called a press conference after we made it home, and that’s part of the bad news.” Kat picked up a remote and turned on the TV. The DVR had an image paused on the TV, and I groaned in frustration at the site. Pyrus stood at the right hand of Drake, an annoyed scowl on his face.
“No fucking way…” I exclaimed as Frank strode toward the TV.
“You have to be kidding me! I threw a grenade in that guy’s face! How the hell is he still alive?”
“We don’t know. I’ve been scouring the Council’s records on him, searching for some weakness. According to rumors, there’s been one person who managed to take him down. She was a mercenary known as the Blackrose.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose as I shook my head. “Mom. For some reason, everything keeps coming back to her.”
“Do you know why?” Kat asked, raising an eyebrow as she glanced at me.
“Not a clue but it’s a break that we’ve needed for a while. Mom documented everything, so if she knew how to take down that behemoth, we could find it. How does this relate to Laurie, though?”
“I’ll spare you the details, but Drake mentioned her in the press conference. He said one of his valued employees got hurt in the attack and Drake took her to be treated by his personal doctor.”
My eyes went wide at the announcement. Fear gripped my heart as I paced up and down the room, struggling to deal with this new revelation.
“That’s…I…” I struggled to form a thought as a thousand nightmare scenarios played themselves out in my head. “We have to get her back. We have to rescue her somehow.”
“We have to stop Drake first,” Ripper grumbled. “I know she’s your friend, but we have to keep our perspective…”
“Kacey’s right,” Kat interrupted.
Ripper groaned as he walked over to Kat and leaned in.
“I understand you have a soft spot for these kids…”
“That’s not why,” she stated, her words almost a hiss.
“You risk your life to rescue someone who’s a stranger to you, who’s not even one of us yet. Not only that, you allow her human friend to stay in The Mansion. You’re soft.”
“You need to take a step back,” she commanded, eyes flashing as she glared at him.
“Guys, calm down. Why do you say that, Kat?” I asked as Ripper stalked away from her.
“I’ve been examining over the ritual that Drake was planning. It’s half arcane magic, half micro-biology. I’m sure he can handle the mystical aspects himself, but he’ll need someone to work through the science.”
“Didn’t the kid work for him? If she’s so smart, then why hasn’t she already figured it out?”
“She was an intern,” I explained. “She had a few pieces of the puzzle. If she had everything that would be another story.”
“How smart is this kid?” Ripper asked, drumming his fingers against the wall.
“Smart. Laurie’s won damn near every science award they offer.”
“And she went to Colorado State?” Kat asked, raising an eyebrow. “Why not MIT?”
“Her mom couldn’t afford out of state tuition and her dad refused to help. My point is that if anyone can work it out, Laurie can.”
“This isn’t my playground, but I have to side with the supermodel,” Frank stated.
Kat’s eyes narrowed. “My name’s Kat.”
“Noted. What does this ritual do?”
“It makes humans into weapons. Almost unstoppable creatures that obey their master's commands without question.”
“You’re serious?” I asked, staring at her in disbelief.
“Of course. Do you remember the old myths and legends about hydras, minotaurs, griffons, and so on
? They were real. The council hunted them down millennia ago. Someone figured out a ritual to take everyday humans and transform them into something similar.”
“How bad are we talking?”
Kat paused, rubbing the bridge of their nose. “Their skin would harden to the point where it would be bulletproof. They’d be stronger, faster, able to rip through concrete, brick, and even steel like it was nothing. Their sole weakness is that they’d need to eat over ten thousand calories a day. If they don’t, their body starts to consume itself. But we live in a city with half a million walking, talking meal tickets for them to snack on.”
“How would we stop them?”
“I don’t know,” Kat said. “According to my research, the ritual is irreversible. If Drake pulls this off, then he’d have an army of creatures that we wouldn’t be able to control. The creatures would descend on Woodland Falls, and in a manner of days, the city would collapse in on itself. Worst case scenario, Drake decides to take his show on the road…”
“And it’s game over,” Frank stated. “How do we stop him?”
“We need Laurie.”
“I hear you, but Drake owns half the city. He has a thousand places he could stash Laurie. By the time we hit them all, she would have given Drake everything he needs.”
“No way,” I shook my head as I stalked across the room like a caged animal. “Laurie would never help him with this. Not in a million years.”
“She would,” Frank said, his voice dropping.
“No way. I don’t care what he offers her.”
“He’s not going to offer her a damn thing. A few months ago, Drake had me hire some new personnel. Nasty pieces of work. I objected, but he made me interview and hire them. He called them interrogators, but judging by what I dug up…”
“Torturers,” I whispered. “He hired torturers.”
“If he uses them, then sooner or later your friend will break.”
“I thought torture wasn’t effective. Isn’t…isn’t that what they say on TV.”
“If we’re talking about getting information, then no. It’s a tool for sickos and sociopaths that will get you the first lie the victim can imagine. This is different, though. They’re going to cut into her for hours, maybe even days. Every night they’ll use your voodoo to heal her up, so they can go at it again tomorrow. They’ll strip her of everything even resembling hope. When she’s curled up in a ball in the back of her two-foot cell, they’re going to come to her with an offer. Work for us and the pain stops. She might resist once, maybe even twice, but sooner or later, they’ll cut into her to the point where Laurie no longer exists. After that, she’ll have no problem saying yes.”
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