by Cheree Alsop
Aleric pushed up and Lilian helped him to a sitting position.
“I can’t believe you did that,” she said.
“Did what?” Aleric asked.
Lilian gave him a straight look. “You took off so they would follow you. They could’ve killed you.”
Aleric knew just exactly how true that statement was. The vampiress’ words echoed in his head. ‘Don’t tell anyone about me. Find me, Aleric.’
She had known his name. Perhaps she was hunting him like the gorgons had been. Maybe her presence there wasn’t a coincidence at all. He felt strongly that was the case. But vampires and werewolves hated each other. Why would she risk her life to save his?
“Aleric?” Lilian repeated.
Aleric met her gaze. “Uh, sorry. I guess I’m a little shook up.”
“I’ve never seen anything so terrifying,” Lilian told him.
A thought occurred to Aleric. “Yet you tried to fight them with a tree branch.”
The statement brought a small smile to Lilian’s lips. “I suppose. I wasn’t doing a very good job, though.”
“You didn’t get bit,” Aleric replied. “So you did an excellent job. Trust me. You don’t want to get bit by a gorgon.”
“Did you get bit?” she asked.
Aleric heard the worry in her voice. He glanced down at his bare chest, but the bites were on his back and shoulders. He could still feel the lingering pain from the fang marks. At least she couldn’t see them. He didn’t want to concern her after what they had gone through.
“I’m fine,” he told Lilian. “I just need a minute. Do you mind if I….” He indicated the clothes she held in her hand.
A slight blush touched Lilian’s cheeks. She handed them to him and backed up. “Oh, not at all. I’ll just wait in the trees back there, unless….” Her voice trailed away.
Aleric realized how much courage it had taken for her to run through the trees to find him. It was dark, pouring rain, and even the cellphone she held in a shaking hand didn’t penetrate the blanket of night further than a foot. If there were more gorgons out there, he didn’t want her running into them.
“Stay here,” he said. He rose gingerly to his feet. His strength chose that embarrassing moment, with the gorgon’s cloak clutched around his waist, to give out on him.
“Aleric!” Lilian exclaimed.
She caught his arm and leaned against him, helping him stand again. For a moment they stood there, her cheek against his bare chest and her arms around his middle. Warmth ran from wherever her skin touched and through Aleric’s body. The scent of her hair, complete with the peach aroma of her shampoo, filled Aleric’s nose. A tremble ran along his limbs. Aleric closed his eyes.
“Your heart is racing,” she said quietly.
“Surviving does that to a person,” Aleric replied. It sounded better than admitting that despite the fierce battle he had just fought, she was the one who made his heart beat so quickly.
He opened his eyes and looked down at her.
She lifted her gaze to him, her blue eyes bright and black hair soaked and dripping down her shoulders. He lifted a hand before he knew what he was doing, and he touched her cheek. He wanted to kiss her so badly in that moment that it was almost painful to deny the urge.
“We’d better get back to the car,” Lilian whispered.
Aleric nodded and took a step back.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
“I’m fine,” Aleric replied, his words barely audible above the pouring rain.
Lilian watched him for a moment, her gaze searching, before she turned around to give him his privacy.
Aleric pulled on his clothes, a task made difficult by his shoulder and all the more impossible because they were soaking wet. He debated whether it would be easier just to wear the gorgon’s cloak, but it stunk like snake and he figured Lilian would probably be more comfortable if he wasn’t wearing a skirt fashioned out of some killer Dark fae’s only item of clothing.
He studied her frame as he finally worked his injured arm through the sleeve of his scrubs top and slipped it over his head. She was slender but not too skinny, her build one of health and activity. The way the rain made her beige shirt and dark blue jeans cling to her skin unsettled him. He ducked under the strap of the sling and managed to get his arm back in without too much jolting to the swollen joint, though by that point, any jolting was considerably too much.
“Shall we continue our walk?” he asked.
The look of uncertainty on Lilian’s face when she turned back around gripped Aleric.
“What if the Second Horseman sent them?”
Aleric shook his head. “Fabian isn’t one to meddle in the dark arts. Only those who truly understand the nature of such things can command the loyalty of a gorgon.”
“Then who sent them?”
“That’s what bothers me,” Aleric told her honestly. “I have no idea why gorgons would be in Edge City, or outside of it like we are. They must be looking for something.” He didn’t say that the something they were looking for was a dashingly handsome but hopeless werewolf whose heart had been taken by one who had no idea of her power over him.
Aleric led the way to the path in silence. Lilian’s small light from her phone flashed behind him. He heard her stumble, right herself, and stumble again. The want to hold her hand and guide her whispered in his mind, but he was afraid to be near her. His thoughts definitely weren’t sound in her presence and if either of them had a chance of surviving the night, it would require his full attention to the matter at hand. He never should have brought her, and now she was entwined in the tapestry of mystery that had entangled Aleric since he had awaken to find himself in Edge City Hospital.
“That must be it,” Lilian said.
Aleric’s head jerked up. Yet again, the thought of Lilian had driven away the reality of danger or the task at hand. Aleric gave himself a mental kick. If he didn’t learn how to keep his thoughts focused and away from her, neither of them would be safe.
“That looks like it,” Aleric replied.
He led the way toward the small shack. The light from within its glowing windows turned the rain into drops of gold that vanished when they completed their fall past the panes. Aleric’s senses thrummed with each step he took. He expected gorgons or worse to jump out at them, the creatures’ presence hidden within the storm. If the gorgons had been waiting for them to find the Second Horseman, perhaps others were there as well. It would be the perfect opportunity to take Aleric unawares.
As if Lilian thought the same thing, her hand slipped into his.
Heat ran up Aleric’s arm. He was tempted to let go and gain some space, but he couldn’t will his fingers to open. They clung stubbornly and protectively to Lilian’s smaller hand as if they had a mind of their own. Aleric cursed them mentally, but the other side of him rejoiced at how close she was, the way her jasmine and sunshine scent still lingered despite the way the rain tried so hard to banish it, and the sensation of her fingers fitting perfectly in his as if they were meant to be there.
“I’m pathetic,” Aleric muttered.
“What was that?” Lilian asked.
Under her searching gaze, Aleric shook his head. “Uh, nothing. Just, well, nothing.”
He let go of her hand under the pretense of needing to knock on the door. It actually wasn’t an excuse; he supposed he could have knocked with his injured arm, but the pain would have made such an action ridiculous. In any case, he felt the excuse was a good one and stuck to it. After the knock, he attempted to cross his arms casually, but the sling made it difficult. Trying to cross them above, then below, and utterly failing, Aleric let his good arm drop and forced what he hoped was a calm smile but no doubt came across as psychotic. If she attempted to hold his hand again, he figured the best resolution would be to run off screaming into the trees. At least it would let her know how she made him feel.
“Come in.” The words were followed by a sob.
Aleric and
Lilian exchanged a glance.
“Is he crying?” Lilian whispered.
Aleric nodded. “Him or someone else.”
He tried the door. The doorknob was unlocked. Aleric turned it and pushed the door inward. It swung with a loud creak that set his senses on edge.
“Why do doors like to do that?” Aleric asked.
“Doors are drama queens,” Lilian replied, her voice light with only the barest hint of tremble to show how nervous she was to meet the Second Horseman.
“You’re probably right,” Aleric said with a nod. He led the way down the short hallway and kept up the banter to help Lilian relax. “I suppose if I hung there all day and night with only a few seconds of glory to spend whenever I opened and closed, I would definitely take advantage of it.”
That brought a small laugh from Lilian. “Me, too,” she agreed.
Another sob made them both fall silent. Aleric listened and tested the air carefully for any indication that anyone other than Fabian was in the house. All signs pointed to the fact that the Second Horseman had been alone there for quite a while.
Aleric and Lilian peeked into the room. An extremely rotund man sat near the crackling fireplace, his head in his beefy hands and his rolls of fat quivering with each sob. On a small end table at his side sat a pair of weighing scales that appeared to be made of gold.
“That’s the Second Horseman Famine?” Lilian asked in a whisper.
Aleric nodded. “He gets bigger whenever he takes nutrition from others. He’s obviously been busy.”
Just in case, Aleric whispered, “Wait here.” He didn’t know what state Fabian would be in, and he didn’t want Lilian walking into harm’s way.
Lilian nodded and stayed by the doorway. Aleric continued into the room.
“Uh, Fabian?”
The huge Horseman raised his head. Tears streamed down his face and into his thick black beard. His tiny eyes focused on Aleric. The big man’s eyes widened and he lunged to his feet. Aleric backed up at the surprisingly fast movement from such a large person. He held up his hands, prepared to fight if need be.
Chapter Seven
“Aleric! Thank goodness you’re here,” Fabian said with a sob.
The huge Horseman wrapped Aleric in a tight hug. Aleric bit back an exclamation at the pain that coursed down his arm. He met Lilian’s amused expression over the Horseman’s shoulder. She gave him a small shrug as if to say she didn’t know how to help. Aleric appreciated how hard she tried.
“Maybe you can help me,” the Horseman said, still hugging Aleric. “I pray that you can. I’m so sad without him.”
Aleric managed to work his way out of the Horseman’s bountiful grasp. He straightened his shirt and then his sling.
“How can I help, Fabian? You look horrible.”
The big man nodded and collapsed back into the chair with another heart-wrenching sob. The chair gave a creak of protest. Fabian buried his face in his hands and his words came out muffled. “I know. I know. I just don’t know what to do.”
“So you chose to poison the tomatoes and run your brother’s business into the ground?”
Fabian stared at up at the werewolf. “I didn’t have a choice.” Huge tears filled his eyes again. “I had to do it.”
“Why?” Aleric asked. “You spread the plague to dozens of people. If we hadn’t stopped Perry, the plague would be all over Edge City within the week.”
“I know,” Fabian replied. He gave a sweep of the arm to indicate himself, his expression one of disdain. “Look at me. Do you think I enjoy looking like this?” He sat back in his chair with a deep sigh. “I deserve to wallow in the consequences of my own actions. It’s not like they’ve made a difference anyway, only broken Perry’s heart and Fluffy still hasn’t been returned.”
That caught Aleric’s attention. “Fluffy hasn’t been returned? Was he supposed to be?”
“Who’s Fluffy?” Lilian asked from the door.
Fabian’s gaze swept past Aleric to the human. He quickly dabbed at his face with a corner of his shirt.
“I-I’m so sorry you have to see me like this,” he apologized. He attempted to straighten his very damp shirt. “A woman shouldn’t have to see a strong man this way, even if it does prove that he’s sensitive and caring.” His voice broke on the last word. “And I care about Fluffy so much!” Another sob took over and his buried his face in his hands again.
“Fluffy is Fabian’s horse,” Aleric explained.
“Perry’s horse is named Buffy and Fabian’s is Fluffy?” Lilian repeated.
The Horseman nodded. His watery gaze met hers. “Doyle’s horse is named Duffy, and Wallace’s is Bob.”
“Bob?” Lilian repeated.
Fabian lifted a shoulder. “Wallace likes to create conflict. As the Horseman of War, it’s his forte. We couldn’t get him to go along with the other names, so Bob it is, Bob the big, blood red, intimidating and scary stallion.” He gave Lilian a kind smile. “I secretly call him Muffy when Wallace isn’t around. He’d be so mad if he knew.”
“I’ll keep your secret,” Lilian promised.
Fabian gave another shuddering sigh. “But it doesn’t matter because Fluffy’s gone.” His thick eyebrows pulled together as he spoke, willing Lilian to understand. “Fluffy’s my best friend. He’s more of a brother to me than those other Horsemen. At least he loves me and he doesn’t force me to stay in this disgusting little hut poisoning tomatoes. I don’t want to hurt Perry. I really do want him to be happy, but I’d do anything to get Fluffy back.”
“What makes you think poisoning the tomatoes will bring Fluffy back?” Aleric asked.
Fabian waved toward the end table. Beneath the golden scales was a paper. Lilian pulled it free.
“Destroy the First Horseman’s business or you’ll never see Fluffy again,” she read aloud.
“That’s to the point,” Aleric said. Lilian held out the paper. He took it and studied it. “So you poisoned the tomatoes and there’s still no sign of Fluffy.”
“That’s right,” Fabian replied. “It’s got to be Wallace. He loves this kind of conflict. I’m sure he’s laughing up a storm somewhere, enjoying how miserable he’s made us both.” The Horseman’s voice quivered. It looked like he was about to start sobbing again.
Aleric set a hand on the Horseman’s shoulder. “Fabian, I will find Fluffy. You have my word. But you have to stop endangering lives. Don’t poison the tomatoes. Let Perry’s business flourish. He’s happy here and I think he could actually make a good citizen of Edge City.”
“You do?” Lilian and Fabian said at the same time.
Aleric nodded. “I do. I think it’s about time this city accepts that differences can be good. Abnormalities can be strengths, and if Perry has a dream to own his own restaurant and feed people, he should be able to do so to his heart’s content and not worry about endangering anyone’s life.”
A contented sigh escaped the Second Horseman. “That’s beautiful, Aleric.”
He moved as if to stand up again, but Aleric held out a hand. “No need to get up. Hugs aren’t necessary; trust me.” He honestly didn’t think he could handle it again. “I’ll find Wallace and get to the bottom of this.”
“And I’ll leave the tomatoes alone,” Fabian promised. He gave Aleric a closer look. “Are you sure you haven’t been eating Perry’s pasta? You look nearly as bad as I feel.”
Aleric gave him a dry smile. “I appreciate that, but I’m fine. We’ve got to get moving. In fact,” he looked out the window as the thought occurred to him, “I know two little grims sleeping out in this weather. We need to get a tent to them right away.”
“I love grims,” Fabian replied. “Hold on a second.”
He lumbered to his feet and made his way across the small shack. Aleric and Lilian exchanged a curious look at the man’s sudden haste.
Fabian returned with two huge quilts in his arms. “These came with me from Blays. They’ll keep those two little ones warm. You tell them that if
they need a place to stay, old Fabian would be happy to take them in.”
Lilian accepted the blankets.
Touched by the Horseman’s generosity, Aleric nodded at him. “I’ll let them know. I’d like to get them out of the streets, but they’re a bit stubborn.”
“Grims tend to be,” Fabian replied. “When your whole life revolves around telling others when they’re going to die, you get a bit stalwart in your attitude about the little things. I’d like to meet them.”
“I’ll mention it to them,” Aleric promised.
He and Lilian walked back into the rain.
“That was unexpected,” Lilian said.
“Fabian’s got a soft heart. I knew he wouldn’t poison people on purpose,” Aleric replied. “I just wish I knew where to find Wallace.”
“We’ll find him,” Lilian reassured him.
Aleric glanced at her through the rain. “Why do you sound so sure?”
She smiled at him. “Because you seem to be really good at making things work out.”
That brought an answering smile to Aleric’s face. “Thank you.”
They drove to Dr. Worthen’s house and Lilian brought out their tent. She also gathered a few other things that surprised Aleric, but he knew better than to argue. By the time they made it to the alley, it had been pouring for a few hours and Aleric was worried about how what state Grimma and Grimsli would be in.
“Grimma?” he called when Lilian pulled up to the curb. “Grimsli?”
The rain pounded around him; the huge drops hit the pavement so hard they splashed back up, soaking Aleric’s legs as much as the rest of him. He held the tent awkwardly under one arm.
“Grimsli?” he repeated at the mouth of the alley.
“That’s Dr. Wolf,” he heard Grimma say to her brother.
“We’re in here!” Grimsli called back.
Lilian reached Aleric’s side with Fabian’s quilts held in her arms. She didn’t look thrilled about entering the dark alley, but Aleric was grateful when she followed closely behind him.