“You’ve brought your man,” she said, her lip quirked.
“Both of them. We’ve done as you asked and spoken to the necromancer. Was that it?”
“Of course not. How did you enjoy your little talk?”
“It was illuminating,” Veruca said diplomatically, disinterested in going over the finer points of Belial’s possible history with the snide Fairy. “What else do you want from us?”
“To the point, I see,” Ankyati said, enjoying Veruca’s impatience. “I have one more task for you, something that might make you more inclined to talk. Have you ever met a siren?”
“I’ve heard a siren,” Finn said, his tone telling Veruca he was doing his best to cut the tension he could sense between her and Ankyati. “Loud, shrill, but effective at letting me know there’s probably a fire nearby.”
“Could you really be as dumb as you seem?” Ankyati mused, her eyes fixed intensely on Finn, making Veruca worry he’d offended her. After a moment, though, the spiny, otherworldly woman smiled, sliding her gaze to Veruca. “Though, perhaps his ignorance is part of the attraction? You humans and your strange sexuality will never make sense to me.”
“Probably for the best,” Finn said, gesturing vaguely toward Ankyati and then to himself. “Nothing saying a lady can’t be the one doing the penetrating, but in your case it’d make rather the wrong sort of mess.”
Ankyati tipped her head, curious about his words, but she didn’t ask for him to elaborate.
Donald watched Finn with one brow up, perhaps wondering exactly what he meant. Veruca didn’t feel like elaborating then and figured Donald might not be down for the details in any case, so she pressed on.
“I’ve heard of them, come across one or two out in the world. Is this another passenger situation?”
“Nothing so vague. I need you to find a particular siren and bring her to me.”
“Can’t you send for her yourself?” Donald asked, pulling Veruca’s gaze as she wondered at his boldness. “If you’re so powerful and influential. As I understand it, they’re mid-level fae, still underfoot of those higher ranked in the queen’s opinion. Shouldn’t you be able to snap your fingers and have one scurrying over?”
“This one runs in your circles more than mine. I don’t venture to your plane of existence for much, but from what my minions have mentioned, you may have heard of her: Magna.”
“No,” Veruca said. The name sounded vaguely familiar, ringing a bell in her brain in a way that might have meant a specific knowledge of the creature or could have just reminded her of something else. In any case, she didn’t want Ankyati too eager to give her another assignment. She already had a duty she wasn’t attending.
“Well, you’re resourceful, I’m sure you can figure it out. You’ve made a new friend today, in fact, who could help make sure you come out of the encounter whole. Find the siren, bring her to me—by force if you must, or convince her to meet me on her own terms. It matters not. You have one day.”
“And if that’s not enough time?”
“We got to your friend once. Even if you were to ask your boss or his lower order for help in securing your loved ones, there are other ways I can be a nuisance. I can promise you, though, once you bring me the siren, your view on the situation will have changed.”
“Why don’t you just change it now and save me the trouble?”
Ankyati only smiled, and Veruca felt the familiar fuzziness of a cloud of sprites closing in, making her think there wouldn’t be time to wait for an answer.
****
“Have you really never heard of Magna?” Donald asked once they were back out on the street and free—presumably—of spying fae ears.
“I’m not sure,” Veruca admitted. “The name sounds familiar, but it could just be that it’s Latin for loud.”
“It is?” Finn asked, opening the car door for Veruca. “Lava is loud?”
“Magna,” Veruca corrected mildly, emphasizing the N.
“Eh, right,” Finn said, though Veruca recognized his tone to mean he wasn’t invested enough to keep up the line of questioning. He probably still thought they were the same word.
“She’s famous, but mainly underground. She’s a DJ, though she doesn’t play proper clubs and parties. Mostly it’s kids who follow her on social media and show up wherever she announces a show, even if that show’s in the middle of a park on a rainy winter evening.”
“Is that legal?” Veruca asked as they pulled away from the curb.
“Not really, but she doesn’t really have to worry about it, being a siren and all. We should probably get some supplies if we’re going to kidnap her.”
“You think we should?”
Donald was quiet, his brow knit in deep thought for a few moments before he turned to Veruca in the passenger seat just long enough to lift his brows in question. “This is your deal, not mine.”
“What do you know about sirens?”
“Just the basics, that they’re vocal and dangerous, that they can control you if they choose. I’m not really sure if they’re lovely maidens or bird-creatures or something in between. I’ve never met one in person. Might be a good idea to call our new friend.”
“He did say he’s available. At the very least he could offer us valuable information.”
“Like where she is?”
“I got that,” Finn said from the back seat.
“You do?” Veruca asked, though she hadn’t meant to sound quite so surprised. Finn either didn’t hear the disbelief or just wasn’t bothered by it, pressing on normally.
“Yeah, you said social media, which is a thing I’m all over, and kids, which … isn’t a thing I’m all over, but I do tend to have similar interests as the youth of today. I checked out a few accounts I follow and found what appears to be our girl. Our … siren. Is she a girl?” Finn handed his phone forward and Veruca looked over the black screen with grey line art of a megaphone ejecting sound waves that vaguely formed the shape of a bird wing in the center of the screen. Nothing else showed up, so Veruca tapped the image and waited as it faded to black and was slowly replaced by a date and time.
“Something’s happening tonight, but there’s no location.”
“Ah, that’s what you think,” Finn said giddily, reaching forward to fiddle with his phone in Veruca’s hands, bringing up a series of blog posts that looked like nonsense on their own, but the absence of text formed a familiar shape. “It’s Vancouver. So, she’s here, or will be soon. We can crash her party and have a chat.”
“I don’t think it’ll be that simple, especially if she can actually control minds. Last thing we need is a hundred fourteen-year-olds coming down on us because we pissed off their idol.”
“So we get there early, set up a trap,” Donald said.
“Or put beeswax in their ears!”
“How do you propose we do that?” Donald asked, as if it was a serious question Finn might be able to answer.
Finn was quiet for a bit, before relenting. “No, no, you’re right. A trap’s good. How does one set a trap for a siren? What do they like? Sailors! We can leave a seaman in the shade of a large box propped up with a stick. She’ll come a’ running.”
“I’ll call Benedict,” Veruca said.
****
“I’m glad you called,” Benedict said once they were seated again at Doireann’s café. “And so soon.”
“We’re a constant surprise,” Finn said with an eager grin. “It’s what keeps us fun.”
“I’ll bet,” Benedict said, clearly only humoring Finn, who didn’t care; he was used to being humored. Mostly it was just nice when people put forth the effort to make him feel good.
“You said on your message it was urgent. Are you looking for another cop?”
“No, a siren,” Veruca said.
“Ah, well.” Benedict took a moment to mull that over, and Finn took a moment to admire the man’s attractive face. He could tell by the way he moved that, even under his sensible clothes, he was
in good shape, probably chiseled and scarred, a pleasure to take to bed. Sure, it would never be Finn’s pleasure, as the man seemed only mildly interested in him as a person, not at all showing signs of attraction, but it was nice to think about, regardless.
Perhaps things would go south just enough that Benedict would have to rip his shirt off in a frenzy and maybe arm wrestle Donald. Finn wasn’t really sure what situation would call for such a display of manliness, but it would be better than anything else that might come up, that was for sure.
“I haven’t had to deal with one personally, but I know the ropes. Are you looking for location, or full-on delivery?”
“Location, and perhaps some help with persuasion. I’ll admit as well that I’ve very little experience with this sort of thing and could use your advice.”
“May I ask why it is that you need my help?”
“Is it my stylish outfit that’s thrown you?” Veruca asked with a smile.
Benedict laughed quietly, before leaning in ever so slightly. “I just mean, you’re rumored to be in close with some pretty powerful people. It seems to me that you should have resources that vastly outweigh mine.”
“This isn’t … something I can take to my people.” Veruca sighed and Finn reached over, rubbing her back without really thinking about why. She just seemed tired, and not because he’d worn her out the night before. Something had gone on between her and the cop that had tightened the skin around her eyes and made her look like she occasionally did when she had a headache that just wouldn’t go away. “I’ve got to outsource, keep things on the down-low, and your reputation precedes you.”
“Funny how that works, isn’t it?” Finn piped up, thinking aloud. “Everyone knows you for being the most secretive, but how does it get out that you’re secretive if you’re actually secretive?”
“It’s not what I’m keeping to myself that gets out, you know,” Benedict explained. “I’m good at my job, whichever one I’ve taken on at the time. That’s what people say about me. It’s like you and sex, I’d gather.”
“Yes, please, gather,” Finn said, intrigued. Maybe he’d read the man wrong after all and the shirt was about to come right off. Doireann probably wouldn’t mind. It wouldn’t be the weirdest bout of toplessness Finn had caused in the little cafe.
“I mean, I can tell by the way you look, by the way you talk, that you get around, but not exactly who you’ve slept with or what you’ve done with them. I’m sure your gal would give you rave reviews without getting too descriptive.”
“I could get descriptive, if that’s what you’re into,” Finn offered, waggling his brows.
Benedict just shrugged politely. “Maybe later, if we’ve got some time to kill.”
“Fair enough.”
Benedict turned back to Veruca and Donald, gesturing vaguely. “I’ll see a local guy, get some supplies, and we can start the search.”
“We actually have a siren in mind. Have you heard of Magna?”
“No, but I can brush up. Is this another fairy tip? Local but maybe not so much?”
“Local, but maybe not yet. She’s supposed to be playing here in the city tonight. She’s a DJ,” Veruca said when Benedict tilted his head slightly, curious.
“DJ, not a singer? Small blessing.”
“Doesn’t mean she can’t or won’t sing, just that it’s not what she’s known for.”
“The fact that she’s known at all could be a problem. Famous people—or not-people, as the case may be—go missing and it’s a scene. Is she going missing?”
“That we’re not sure of, but my guess would be yes.”
“All right. I’ll gather some things, do some research, and give you a call when I’m ready.”
“Are you hitting up Leo’s shop?” Donald asked. Benedict nodded. “I’ll go with you. I could use some things, too.”
“We could all go!” Finn suggested, eager to tag along and feel like part of the gang.
“We have some things to take are of on our own, darling.” Veruca patted his thigh and he turned to her, hoping she meant naked things, but certain she probably didn’t.
“Of course, my love.”
“How are you planning on tracking her down?” Veruca asked.
“Trade secret,” Benedict said, shrugging once.
Veruca nodded. “Fair enough. I’ve got methods of my own. I’m sure you won’t be insulted if I find her first?”
“Not at all. You can never be too efficient.”
“My kind of man,” Veruca said with a small smile.
“Mine too,” Finn said, making Benedict chuckle.
Chapter Twelve
“Do your methods involve us going back to the hotel and getting horizontal?” Finn asked eagerly once they were back in the car.
“Close,” Veruca said, throwing him a wink. “My methods involve you and hotels, but not necessarily ours.”
“I’m just happy to be included.”
“You usually are, for good or bad.”
“So,” Finn said, looking out the car window and watching the buildings go by. “Which hotel?”
“I’m not sure yet. Basically, we’re going to cruise around looking for the siren.”
“Are we hoping to just spot her on the street?”
“Not exactly. She’s probably in town, if her show’s tonight, so we find the hotel she’s staying in and get to her that way.”
“So you wanna find her without our new friend?” Finn asked, confused. Not that he didn’t mind seeing the pretty blond again—especially since it came along with happy visions of shirtless wrestling—but it seemed a silly idea to pay a man to do a job you intended to do yourself.
“I can’t guarantee my way will work, and it seems like a good way to pass the time whilst he gets whatever it is he needs.”
“I’ve got more fun ways to pass the time, you know. And much more environmentally friendly. No wasting gas if we’re parked and steaming up the windows.”
“How many times have you been arrested for indecent exposure now?” Veruca asked.
Finn pretended to give it some thought, though the true answer was none. He was much too good at talking his way out of things to get flagged for such a petty charge as showing someone a good time in the middle of the grocery store parking lot.
“Besides, if the siren isn’t amenable to speaking with us, we’re going to need whatever help Benedict can offer. Donald’s helpful, but empathy can only get us so far. If she flat out doesn’t want to speak to us, he can’t force her. Ankyati is likely just enjoying watching us jump through hoops, but if she does actually need this siren and can’t get her on her own, we’re going to need the big guns.”
“Literally?” Finn asked, nervous at the idea. Veruca only shrugged, making him frown. Guns made him nervous—especially since he’d seen Veruca get shot twice now.
“I don’t know much,” Finn began, changing the subject in hopes of erasing those unpleasant memories from his mind. Veruca patted his leg absently, as if he needed coddling over his lack of knowledge. “But I do know hotels don’t give out guest information. You taught me that.”
“I don’t intend to go into every one and ask if she’s there. Besides, she’s probably not staying under her DJ name. Luckily for me, I can see through walls.”
“You can?” Finn asked, genuinely surprised for a moment. “Oh, right. Not see—but, like, see. I gotcha. So you see her, and we head in and knock on the door?”
“Perhaps, depending on the hotel. Some require keys to get upstairs. That’s where you come in.”
“Am I dressing up as a siren and getting a key that way? What do I get to wear, a dress? A fishtail? Coconut bra?”
“Perhaps later, if that’s what you’d like. I was thinking a classier suit, shiny shoes, glasses, that sort of thing. You look like a manager, hers in fact, and you can swindle some poor desk agent into giving you exactly what we need.”
“You’re sure that’ll work?”
“I’m sure y
ou’re pretty enough and good enough at flirting to make it work.”
“True,” Finn said with a grin, already excited at the prospect of flirting. He’d gone straight since being with Veruca—not in the sexual sense, but in the honesty sense—but that didn’t mean he wasn’t up for a little doublespeak here and there. “Let’s get me some glasses!”
****
The siren was staying at the sixth hotel they’d checked out, somewhere up on the tenth floor, though Veruca couldn’t pinpoint the exact room from the lobby. As she’d worried, the elevator needed a key to be used and Veruca knew they wouldn’t be able to just ask for a random one and get it.
“I can just grab the one off that nice boy’s belt,” Finn said, eyeballing a bellman in a too-tight suit leaning against the side of the building, a dwindling cigarette hanging out of his mouth. Veruca snorted, recognizing the beard and the strong hands as two things Finn tended to appreciate in a man.
“He’ll get in trouble for losing it. You don’t want that, do you? No, we’ll do it my way.”
“I like doing things your way,” Finn purred as she smoothed his tie with one hand and reached into his pocket to pull out his phone with the other.
“Yes, darling, and I appreciate that very much. Now, how do I look? Appropriately beaten down by life?”
“No one’s going to buy you’re anyone’s assistant, my love. You’ve got too much confidence and sass.”
“I’m not going to sass anyone. I’m not even going to speak unless in response to something rude you’ve said. Now, the siren’s up on the tenth floor and you’re her manager, here to deliver her outfit.”
“I don’t have an outfit.”
“You don’t carry things, I do. Now, I’ve done a walk-through, and I know the lay of the land. We’re going to hustle to the elevator, with you on your phone. When we find we can’t get in without a key, you’re going to bark at me—”
“Woof!” Finn offered.
Veruca pushed on, though she couldn’t help but smile. “—reconsider, and then lead me to the desk, where you’ll cow the girl—go for the brunette, she’s the newest and they’ve spelled her name tag wrong—into giving you the room number and key.”
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