by Elle Lincoln
He leans down for a brief moment, where only the two of us exist amongst the chaos. His lips brush against mine before he disappears into the crowd.
I look out over the throng of people trying to make sense of everything, but the dirt and chaos makes it hard to comprehend the seriousness of the situation. Though, if I’m being truthful, no explanation is required. Giving up, I ghost my way back to the tunnel, getting knocked back at the entrance to the library. The archways stands open, lit by witch’s orbs hanging just a few feet above my head. Again, I’m reminded of the ominous feeling cast from the depths of the library, although her secrets run deeper than any well.
“Rocco!” I yell into the stack of tomes. “Argos!” My voice, absorbed by the leather, stands static in the air. “Rocco, Argos!” I try once more before giving up and running into the stacks. My feet pound the ground in heavy footfalls as urgency rushes through me, I don’t want to leave Flynn too long. But time moves differently here, I could be in here for a moment while hours pass or vice versa. I haven’t stopped to think about how it truly works. Only that it does.
I run through the Celtic knot and into the cavernous interior. Rocco, Argos, and Killian look up at me in shock as I skid into the room. We’re going to have to come up with some form of communication in this damn place, one that transverses space and time. Shit, I sound like a science fiction movie. Yeah, that’s me living in a b-rated movie. “Headquarters is under attack. Tell me you’ve found something.”
I slow my pace to a walk, my breath heaving more from the chaos than the exertion. That and the time pressure I feel riding my nerves at the moment.
“Well, first of all, this place is amazing. Can I live here? Too bad, this is now my home. My forever home,” Argos rambles. I can’t tell if he’s nervous, processing his grief, or truly excited and distracted. Maybe this place will be good for him in the long run, once we’ve got the time oddity solved. Until then, we’ll need to keep our time in here limited to an hour.
“Argos, focus,” I scold him. Unfazed, he keeps his head buried in his book. His eyes scanning quickly, running down the page in excitement.
“What kind of attack?” Rocco glances up at me with a book in his arms, his body frozen from my words.
“I honestly don’t even know. Flynn assumed it was his father’s men. Truthfully, I couldn’t tell. There was smoke everywhere and that doesn’t sound like the enforcers’ MO.” I groan, remembering Flynn’s words at the cabin, my thoughts scattering from one topic to the next. “There was a kid at the cabin I almost caught up with him, Flynn said he saw him in a picture at the missing pub?”
Rocco places his book gently on the counter, his movements calm and measured. “The old man and his wife. I believe a kid was in the back as well.”
“Flynn didn’t mention that.” I rub my temples as a heavy pressure begins to squeeze my head. “The house was dying.”
“Dying? How?” Rocco demands.
I quickly explain what we found there, from Flynn explaining that the cabin had been in use and that it shouldn’t look the way it had to chasing the kid. “I think homes hold a sort of magic,” I state, voicing my theory.
“Everything holds magic, Mae,” Killian, who is thankfully wearing a shirt, answers. His voice is neither condescending nor knowing, but he speaks as if he’s just stating a commonly known fact. Even though I clearly do not. “Wood, buildings, all things. Places were alive in the Realm, not just the people. We saw the world differently than humans. We respect most things because we know there is an energy to it.”
I don’t point out that I’m not so sure the fae play by those rules. “So, my theory is plausible, that’s what I’m hearing.”
“Yes, of course.” Killian places a book down. “I think we’ve figured out how to find Neit.” He changes the subject, bringing us full circle to why I’m even down here in the first place.
“Okay, how long is it going to take? Because all hell is breaking loose outside, and I have no idea how long I’ve already been here. It’s dawn outside these walls.” I frown. “Or it was a moment ago.”
“I honestly can’t say how long we’ve been here.” Killian scrunches up his face. “That must be a part of its magic.” He laughs at his own joke. I see the connection he made there, I just don’t find it amusing.
“Okay, well, can you do it outside of these walls, we need you guys on the same timeline for the moment.” I shift from side to side, impatience eating at me.
“Of course, we took notes. It shouldn’t be too hard to find Neit now.” Killian frowns, his finger tapping the table in an erratic rhythm.
“What?” I ask blandly.
“Unless he’s hidden from us somehow,” Killian answers.
Once again, I’m reminded of the lack of rules regarding magic. I prefer rules. I’m happier coloring inside the lines. “Well, we’re going to have to figure it out later. Right now, I need your help to get people to safety and to figure out what’s going on.”
“Sure, unless an entire day has already passed and we are too late.” I stare at Rocco in horror. Leave it to him to really put a damper on an already shitty situation and to do it with a freaking smile.
I turn to walk away, hoping everything isn’t covered in a layer of rubble. “Come on, I’ll get you there faster.”
I don’t wait for them to answer and instead leave the library on quick feet. Once I pass through the archway, I begin to pace. I should leave them here, they will eventually figure out that this is a priority and they will come along.
Footsteps sound in the distance, finally, and I turn, ready to sweep Killian, Argos, and Rocco away. But I don’t find them there. The arch is closed and nothing but the tunnel looms in the distance. I didn’t even hear it close. Nothing but that endless circle surrounds me now.
“What the hell?” That can’t be right, they were right behind me. I run my fingers over the brick squares, but I don’t find the locking mechanism to open the door to the library. I hope to hell they can get out, because I can’t get in.
With nothing left to do, I turn around and find a woman there. A gasp leaves my lungs and I damn near fall on my ass.
“Oh, sorry, I didn’t think you’d be standing there.” She holds a hand to her chest, her chubby face flushed from not seeing me.
“What they hell are you doing down here?” I brace myself against the wall. Yeah, I know, strong and powerful goddess gets startled by a strange woman.
“I might ask you the same question.” She places her fisted hands on her plump hips. Her simple dress swaying with the movement.
“Touché,” I grumble, shaking at the oddity of seeing someone in these tunnels. Even more odd is I can’t seem to tell what kind of species she is. I mentally pinch myself, realizing how absurd that is to even think.
“Were you coming from the library?” She fusses a bit with her long red hair. It’s frizzier than mine but somehow, she makes it work, where mine looks like an electrocuted ponytail.
“Um, yeah.” For some reason a strange feeling worms its way up my spine. I don’t want to tell this woman about the library. Though she’s dressed like Maryann, the feeling I get from her isn’t the same one I get from the testy brownie. Appearances aside, Maryann gives off that motherly feel, that warm, home-cooked meal aura of an old Italian mother who tries to shove food in your face. This woman, however, looks the part, but doesn’t feel like it. Her movements feel unnatural, as if she’s acting. Her smile and dimples feels wrong.
Everything feels wrong about her.
“Oh!” she exclaims. “You think you can get me in?” Her eyes seem too eager, her posture forward.
“Not at the moment, I have to go anyway.”
“Oh, what a shame.” She tsks. “Yes, we are going to have to go.”
“I’m sorry, what?” That’s when my spine screams and a full body shiver takes over. I feel him before I see him. My scythe is in my hand as I spin right into a cloud of dust and a smiling man. My blade rests at his throat, anger thrumm
ing through my veins.
“Hello there. I’ve been rather eager to meet you.” His voice is oddly warm and intrigued.
“What was that powder?” My gut is already telling me it’s too fucking late, I’ve inhaled it.
“Oh, that? Don’t worry about that, it won’t harm ye none.” I don’t trust him.
My body sways, my eyelids droop, and my scythe vanishes. I didn’t even send it away. I begin to slump before arms catch me.
“What did you do to me?” I slur, and slowly blink my eyes.
“We just need to have a chat, that’s all. I can’t have you killing us before we get a chance to talk.” The man crouches before me. “I guess both my brother and I go for redheads, must run in the family.”
Panic strikes me like a bullet, but it’s too late, my consciousness is already fading. I can’t hold on to it, and the strands fall from my fingertips as blackness consumes me.
Chapter 20
Flynn
My eyes scan the crowd, ensuring Mae fled, then the slight intrusion to the veil skitters up my spine, and I turn around and run down the steps, my body pushing through hundreds of people. All vying to get to safety. Truth be told, I wasn’t even aware that this many people still called Lancaster home. It’s definitely something I’ll have to check into later. But for now, I continue making my way through.
My eyes catch on a tall form ushering people into a random home—Gramps. Giving up, I ghost toward him, startling the old man as I pop up right beside him.
“What’s going on?” I demand.
He holds his hand over his heart before pushing his specs up his nose. Soot mars his wrinkled face and his bushy brows lower over his lids. “No idea. All I know is someone came running into the lobby screaming about a bomb. But Flynn—” He pauses, looking over the crown before leaning down. “I’ve never seen these people before.”
Foreboding flares, driving my adrenaline, and I barely contain the heat demanding release. “Enforcers?” But I already know the answer.
“All in their building, and if you look closely, you can see their noses smooshed against the windows.” My head jerks in that direction and sure enough, little puffs of breath leave marks on the tinted windows. “What the fuck is this?”
“If you want my opinion…” He pauses to usher another woman into a building. “Tunnels lead to the prison. I’ve been directing those I know who are mortal there.”
I wave him on, I can put two and two together, but the chaos has no formulaic element. Something is amiss here.
“Anyway, these people don’t even know where they are, Flynn.” He lowers his head with a knowing look. “Not only that, some don’t speak English.”
I roll my eyes, ready to address the absurdity in that statement.
“Not any other known language either, Flynn.”
“Just because you don’t know a language doesn’t mean it isn’t native to this world.” I try to be diplomatic with Mae’s grandfather, but I’m reminding myself he is rather old, growing up in turbulent times where racism was high.
He cuffs my ears. “Listen, boy.” He turns me around as I rub my sore ears.
That’s when I hear it. The lyrical language. The musical tone of voice. “The language of the gods.” My eyes widen as I pull away from Gramps.
“That’s what I was trying to tell ya!” He begins to walk away.
“Where are you going?” My hand snaps out to hold him back. He looks pointedly at my grip and I quickly remove it.
“I’m taking these humans to the prison. We can’t fight this shit. That’s for you to figure out. Not even your father’s henchmen know what the hell is going on. That’s why they haven’t left their hidey hole.” He exhales a tobacco scented breath as he scratches his muttonchops. “Figure this out, Flynn.”
He turns and leaves me standing in a crowd of known and unknown people. I hate to admit that I don’t know where to begin, but the truth is, I have no idea. From day one, this entire ordeal has been nothing but a clusterfuck, every turn leading me somewhere unfamiliar. It’s all even more troubling now that Mae and I are separated, as well as Rocco.
I’m utterly alone. For now.
I run down the street as a wave of smoky fog thickens the air and the screams deepen. At least smoke is something I can handle. I rush into the road, holding my hands out as I call the smoke to me. My magic threads through the elements that hide in each individual molecule. I grasp them and demand they heed my call, although they struggle against me.
We aren’t dealing with just a bomb of any kind here. In fact, I highly doubt any bomb even went off. The smoke denies me. Fine. I’ll redirect it instead. If my father’s loyal followers won’t come out to help, then I’ll smoke them out. I walk up the steps, changing my intent as I approach my father’s front doors. Men stand there with their eyes wide as they bar the door.
I smile. I’m not coming in, you fools.
Instead of asking the smoke to dissipate, I nicely request that it enters the building where it can cause more chaos. Without resisting this time, it floods under the teeny tiny cracks in the building, making the wait excruciating as it slowly fades away.
Finally, I get a good look at the streets before me. Silence reigns heavily over the area as everyone holds their breaths. Their eyes wide as they look around in confusion. But it isn’t just confusion over what happened, it’s an unknown that they haven’t met before. Gramps is right, these people don’t belong here.
A door opens behind me, but the smoke stays in their building. I smirk to myself as Alloysius comes tumbling out, annoyed.
“I have you to blame for that, don’t I?” I realize he isn’t annoyed with me, he’s annoyed with the idiots still choosing to hide in the building. “Cowards.” He adjusts his suit pockets.
I turn away, deciding to greet one of the men on the street, his eyes widening as I approach. I can see his muscles tense beneath his dirtied clothing.
“Sir, I’m Flynn,” I begin, his head cocking to the side and his eyes squinting. I try again, but this time I speak in the language of the gods. “Sir, I’m Flynn.”
His reply comes with that musical quality I only hear in the Realm. “You’re a god. He said you’d speak to us.”
I ignore that information for the time being. “Tell me what happened.”
“A man, he broke into our hall, we were having a meeting on what to do about the winter. He said he’d take care of that for us. Then we found ourselves here.” He rubs his forehead in confusion. “Where is here?”
“What’s he saying?” Alloysius interrupts.
I pinch my brow, ignoring Alloysius and addressing the man. “Head to that building there.” I point to my house. “Bring as many of your people as possible and we will figure this out.”
He nods as a bit of his confusion melts away.
“Well, what is going on?” Alloysius’s impatience gives his tone an edge to it.
“They were moved here.” The problem is, what can move a group of people to another location and why? I don’t voice my questions, not to Alloysius, even though the vampire is growing on me now. Especially now that I know he is Mae’s great—multiplied a few times—grandfather.
“There isn’t anything that can do that, not even Daghda himself.” He shakes out his hands as if flinging invisible dust from them. An odd tell that he’s unsettled.
I know the feeling.
“Where’s Mae?” he questions.
“I sent her to find Rocco and Argos. They were searching the library for a way to find my father.” At the time, I thought that was where I needed her to be, but now I’m not so sure since I know this wasn’t my father’s men at all.
“Never make assumptions.” I roll my eyes at his words, walking away from him. I don’t have the time nor that patience to be scolded by an old vampire.
“You shouldn’t be out in the sun,” I counter, knowing damn well the myth is false.
“Flynn, I’m serious. I have a bad feeling.” I pause,
the snarky part of me wondering when a vampire could grow a conscious, but I do know better. That’s the only reason I stay quiet.
“Of what?” I don’t look at him as my gaze stretches across the road. People are finally getting the message to go indoors. But what has a chill spreading up my spine is the lack of destruction.
“This isn’t right, Flynn.” He grips my arm, spinning me around. It’s an unnecessary action because I know exactly what he is talking about.
I rip my arm away. He may be Mae’s great grandfather, but that doesn’t mean he gets to manhandle me. “I know,” I growl.
“I’m serious, where is Mae?” His eyes drill into mine and I swear he tries that vampire mojo on me to get me to answer him.
I don’t, of course, because I already answered him. “Let’s go.”
I turn and rush down the street, still searching for any hints of destruction. But I find nothing. “Alloysius,” I begin. “When this all started, what did you feel?”
“A rumble then smoke, smoke everywhere. Saturating the light, dampening it. Then screams and chaos.” His stride picks up to match mine.
I nod in reply. I hate to admit it, but now I’m feeling the urgency to get to Mae, even though I’m sure she’s just fine in the library. Time runs differently there, so she probably rushed to get out, but hours have passed here. No, that can’t be right.
I walk faster, wishing I could just ghost long distances, but that gift is reserved solely for the goddess in question.
“There’s nothing, is there?” He voices what I dare not admit.
Until now. “It looks that way.” I round the street to Madam Delores’s shop, remembering a forgotten promise. “Did anyone come across a clan of pucas?”
“You mean a pack of pucas?” he corrects.
“I thought it was a clan, but yes.” Annoyed, my feet clap the pavement harder.
“Yes. Thanks for that, by the way,” he answers drolly.
“I figured they’d find my people.” I’m not at all sorry about the tricky demons.
“Well, they questioned the first person they ran into, an enforcer.”