Gatekeeper

by Patti Larsen

  “Perfect,” I said before I could sensor myself. “We have to talk to him, too.”

  Liam frowned, backing away. “Why?”

  He looked like a spooked horse about to run off. I needed a better excuse than the magical one or I was sure I’d lose him. “My project,” I blurted as the idea came to me. “I bet he knows tons about the town that isn’t in these books.”

  Liam hesitated. “Probably,” he said finally. “But he’s not really all there anymore, Syd.”

  “Don’t patients with dementia remember the past way better than the present?” I winced inwardly. Way to sound callous. But Liam nodded and actually relaxed a little.

  “I use stories to sooth him,” Liam said. “It always makes him happy to talk about the old days.”

  I had him, awesome. Now to find a way to ask the grandfather about the Gate without freaking out Liam.

  One step at a time.

  “Can we go after school?” I couldn’t wait any longer, not with Shaylee’s fear so intense and with Galleytrot out there, searching for what I now knew was the connection between our realm and the Sidhe.

  “Well…” Liam ran one hand through his hair. “I guess so. But we can’t tell Mom. She’ll freak.”

  That was curious. “She doesn’t like you to visit? I thought that’s why you came back.”

  “It’s not that,” he said. “Daddo always talks about weird stuff and it makes Mom uncomfortable.”

  “The family stuff.” We both knew what I meant.

  “Yeah.” A little, shy smile bloomed on his face. “I think Daddo will be happy to see you, if you’re like us.” He straightened then and smiled wider. “Okay, Syd. You’re on. I’ll meet you at the front doors after school.”

  I let him go, breathing a huge sigh of relief inside. Even Shaylee seemed to relax a little. Progress, finally. And some further food for thought. It was quite probable that Sidhe blood ran unbroken through the male side of Liam’s family, passed from O’Dane boy to O’Dane boy, like mine had been passed from Gram.

  I was still standing there, thinking, when the bell rang for class.

  ***

  Chapter Eighteen

  I was a total idiot. So wrapped up in the O’Dane family tree I failed to consider the trap I headed for as I exited the library and down the hall to History.

  Late.

  She waited for me, right outside the door, a vulture hovering around a not quite dead carcass, lurking for the chance to feed. My death knell tolled the moment I looked up and into her glittering black eyes.

  They were full of triumph and more than a little smugness. Ms. Spaft didn’t speak, just handed me the slip of pink paper before spinning on her heel and striding away.

  I considered crumpling it up and firing it at the back of her head, but I knew my demon would be tempted to add some power behind it and I would have no way to explain why she was suddenly unconscious from the blow of a paper ball.

  Stomping my way to class, I also considered skipping detention. But by the time History was wrapping up I knew I couldn’t do it. Spaft would make my life even more miserable. I’d just have to do my time, take my punishment and meet Liam later.

  As luck would have it, I ran into Alison in the hall and remembered she shared last period with him. “I need a huge favor.”

  Her blue eyes winked at me. “Anything for my bestie.”

  “I need you to tell Liam I’m going to be late after school and I’ll call him.” Was that a flicker of something in her face? I thought we’d dealt with the whole jealousy thing. And after a brief instant the look was gone. Good, we had. “Thanks, Al.”

  She flipped her ponytail at me with a smirk and kept going. Now all I had to do was survive detention so I could save the world. Okay, maybe it wasn’t that dramatic.

  Then again, maybe it was.

  Dear Ms. Spaft:

  You suck and I hate your freaking guts. Your shoes are ugly and the mole on your left cheek looks like a molding raisin has somehow crawled out from under your skin. I hope you fall down and break something you value very much, and that it hurts so badly you suffer endless torment.

  I had to. This was the only way I could survive writing another apology letter. For every incarnation I penned, I wrote one of the opposite. By the time she finally accepted my letter, I was the last one left in detention, as though my early release the first time was a mistake she would never repeat.

  When I delivered my last attempt, she crossed her arms over her thin chest. “I worry you have as yet to learn this lesson, Miss Hayle.”

  She had no idea how close she was to going missing and no one ever finding her body. No. Idea.

  “Yes, ma’am,” I said.

  “I suppose this will have to do for now.” She tapped one spidery index finger on the page I’d handed her. “But bear in mind you and I have a great deal of work to do this year. A great deal. Discipline and proper behavior must be your first priority.” Ms. Spaft tsked. “And chasing the same boy, no less. Shameful, Miss Hayle. Have some respect for yourself.”

  Fireworks exploded behind my eyes as my demon went nuclear. Shaylee dove forward and smothered her as quickly as she could, but I’m sure from the tightening around Ms. Spaft’s eyes she saw the flicker of rebellion I was unable to contain.

  “Yes, ma’am,” I said. Eat dirt and choke on it.

  She let me go. It was the smartest thing she’d ever done.

  I ran right home, dialing Liam’s number as I went. No answer. I tried him again at home, then his email. Texted. Nothing.

  Okay then. But I was tired of being ignored and wired up from being treated like a criminal by Ms. Spaft so there was no way Liam was getting away with this.

  A quick internet check gave me his address. I was behind the wheel and driving over to his house before I could think about what I was doing. The small yellow bungalow looked tidy if older, the beetle in the driveway telling me I had the right place. Several sharp knocks on the front door did the trick, but it wasn’t Liam who greeted me. Instead, a short, thin woman with perfect makeup and really awesome hair pulled open the inside door and fixed me with a hard stare.

  She didn’t even bother to open the screen. “Yes?”

  “Hi,” I said, “I’m Syd, a friend of Liam’s. Is he home?”

  Her made-up face didn’t warm even a little. What was her problem? It’s not like I was selling something. “He has homework.”

  She was starting to close the door when Liam appeared. “Hi, Syd.” His mother backed off a bit, but stood there with her arms over her chest, scowling at me while he met my eyes through the mesh. “I waited for you, but you didn’t show.”

  Um, what? But Alison… that was just great. Just freaking great.

  “I had detention.” And winced when his mom’s face tightened further. Sheesh, Syd, just ruin any chance you have of winning the woman over.

  “I can’t go now.” His gaze flickered sideways, toward his mother. “Maybe tomorrow.”

  I wanted to hop up and down like a kid throwing a temper tantrum. “It’s really important, Liam. Really.”

  “Thanks for dropping by.” His mother grabbed the door from his hands and slammed it shut in my face.

  I was half way back to my car, fuming and steaming at the woman’s rudeness when my phone buzzed. A glance at it made my temperature rise even further.

  Jnyz?

  Alison was so dead.

  I stormed into the diner, caught sight of her at our booth. She started to wave with her cheerful smile, but sagged back as I stomped my way to her.

  “What the hell is wrong with you?” Oh so harsh, but I was this close to blowing a gasket and sending the entire town of Wilding Springs into the next county.

  “What?” She wouldn’t look at me. I wasn’t the only bad liar I knew.

  “Don’t ask me what.” The words barely made it past my clenched teeth. I felt Shaylee try to soothe me, the touch of worry she felt as Alison’s face crumpled, but I just couldn’t. She h
ad to understand. “I really needed Liam’s help and you blew it for me. Because you’re jealous and pathetic and an idiot.”

  Alison’s cheeks flushed and she glared at me then, her own anger rising. “So I forgot, so what?”

  I wanted very much to shake her and shake her until she just smartened the hell up.

  “The world doesn’t revolve around you, Al, just so you know.” I backed off a step. “You need to figure your crap out or we’re done.”

  I turned away from her then, marched out, despite knowing I’d very likely crushed what little remained of who she had been.

  ***

  Chapter Nineteen

  My temper cooled a bit on the drive home, but I was still worked up enough I was happy the house was empty. At least I wouldn’t have to inflict the rage still bouncing around inside me on my family.

  The anger I felt fell away in a surge of relief as I trudged into my bedroom and almost tripped over Galleytrot. Shaylee reached for him instantly, breaking through the static of my anger enough I realized I’d missed feeling him because of it.

  He swiped his tongue over my cheek as I hugged him. “I’m so glad you’re back.” Tears welled in my eyes, cracks forming in the veneer of control I’d managed to maintain. “Are you okay?”

  Galleytrot shook his heavy mane and growled soft assent. “I’m sorry to keep you out of the loop,” he rumbled. I’d missed the elemental sound of his voice. “But I have a great deal to tell you.”

  “Me too, but you first.” I sat on the end of my bed, happy to finally be finding some answers. Who needed Liam and his rude-ass mother? I had a Fey dog of the Sidhe on my side.

  “You know about the Gate?” His dark eyes sparked briefly with red fire.

  I nodded quickly. “At least, I know about it. Shaylee’s been trying to tell me but we don’t communicate as easily as I do with my demon.”

  “There used to be Gateways all over the world,” he said. “Though most of them have been closed over the years, sealed against the Sidhe. Honestly, I should have known there was one here, should have felt it. But when I moved here initially, my power was being controlled by the Moromonds. And when I returned, it was at Gwynn’s side. Since then, the presence of the sleeping Wild out there,” he nodded toward the yard, “has dulled my sense of the Gate.”

  “Until now.” I stroked the soft fur of his head as he sighed, the heat of his breath warming my leg even through my jeans.

  “Until now. And, to be fair, Gates are very well guarded, for obvious reasons. They are pathways, Syd, between here and the realm. If some mortal were to stumble on one, the consequences could be catastrophic.”

  “So what’s up with this one?” I had to press my hand against my left knee to keep it from jiggling in impatience.

  “There are three days a year the Gates are detectable. But only if the Gatekeeper isn’t doing his job.” Galleytrot snorted. “This one clearly isn’t.”

  My mind flashed to Liam. “What’s the big deal about these three days?”

  “Once a year, during a full moon chosen by the Sidhe, each Gate is capable of opening to the magic from their side.” Everything clicked together as he went on. “Unless there is a Gatekeeper present to prevent it, their power is free to cross over and enter this world.”

  “What if the Gatekeeper can’t?” My stomach dropped all the way to the soles of my sneakers.

  “Can’t?” Galleytrot’s ears perked. “You know who he is?”

  I nodded slowly, mind churning. “My new friend, Liam O’Dane. His family founded this town, have been local historians and librarians ever since.”

  “Mostly boys born to the line, all looking very much like each other?” His hot, wet nose pressed into my hands.

  “Oh crap.” I surged to my feet, unable to keep still any longer. “Liam’s grandfather.”

  “Where is he?” Galleytrot remained still and for the first time I felt how weary he was. “We have to find him, Syd.”

  “That’s the problem,” I said. “He’s sick, senile. There’s a good chance he can’t do anything about this anymore.” Though I recalled then what Liam said, how stories of the old days made his Daddo happy. “But we can try.”

  “What about the heir?” The dog’s tone sounded more grim.

  “Liam’s dad is dead,” I said, “and I’m pretty sure Liam has no clue about any of this, outside the fact there is something different about his family.” Which meant I’d have to burst his normal little bubble. Though it also meant I could now act and tell him everything. He was, after all, tied up in a magical event and not even Celeste could argue his need to know.

  I just hoped filling Liam in wouldn’t ruin any chance we had to resolve it.

  “Usually if there isn’t another to follow the Gatekeeper, he will seal the Gate forever.” Galleytrot sighed so deeply I smelled fresh fields and an approaching storm. “This one must have been unaware of his declining state and didn’t do his duty.”

  “There’s more.” I felt Shaylee’s fear rise, her connection to Galleytrot sharpen until he yipped unhappily. “There’s a Sidhe here in Wilding Springs.”

  The black dog stiffened. “Who?”

  It took a great deal of prodding, but I made Shaylee show him, share the conversation he’d had both with Liam and with me. Galleytrot shook his great head as if to clear it. “I know him,” he said. I thought he sounded grim before, but his voice hit all kinds of new unhappy as he went on. “This Hall Venner is really Lord Venemeth. Syd, he’s not just Sidhe. He’s Unseelie.”

  That’s what Shaylee had been trying to tell me. “From the dark court?” I mulled it over. “It can’t be that bad, can it? The Sidhe aren’t evil or anything.”

  He groaned and rested his head on his paws. “Not evil, Syd. But not human. And there are two courts remember, two sides to the fairy folk. The Seelie are dominant, but free of empathy for anyone but themselves. They would never knowingly harm you, but wouldn’t really care if it happened. And gaining their help in any way comes with a price.”

  Not so good. “And the other?” I already knew and wished I didn’t.

  “The Unseelie.” That word made me shiver, through Shaylee, all kinds of fear welling. “The second court cares nothing for anyone, not even themselves and live for the pure chaos they cause. They are as heartless as the elements themselves, but more ruthless in their desire for pleasure.”

  “I thought the Sidhe chose to leave.” There was my anger again, triggered by my sense of helplessness.

  “They did,” Galleytrot said. “The Seelie King and Queen drove both courts into the fairy realm and sealed them inside. But remember, humans were their pets once upon a time and the Queen is sentimental. She insisted on a way to return if they were ever able. She assigned her favorites and their families, all men naturally, as guardians.”

  How sweet of her. Selfish much?

  “What is a dark lordling doing here?” Galleytrot stood and left me to pace. He was so big he only made it a few steps before having to turn around. “And when and how did he cross over?”

  “I didn’t get those details, sorry.” I chewed my thumbnail. “But he’s here for the Gate, no question. And now I know why.”

  “He wants access to the power of the Sidhe.” Galleytrot stopped pacing. “He must have been reduced when he crossed, Syd. There’s no way his power would have made it through intact, not with the barrier between the worlds as strong as it is.”

  “So he’s been looking for a Gate and a means to regain his strength, is that it?” It did make sense.

  “It could be much worse than that,” the dog said. “Syd, if the Gate opens, the barrier is gone. Sidhe magic is once again free to enter our world. And while remnants of it are still here, if the two realms are once again joined by power, it could mean the destruction of the boundaries set by the Sidhe to keep both races safe.”

  Definitely not good. “If that’s the case, Venner must think he can somehow control it.”

  Galleytrot no
dded, a soft growl emerging. “If he manages to sever the protections, there’s a very good chance he could absorb enough power to depose the rulers of the Unseelie court and take over leadership, in perfect position to then challenge the King and Queen.”

  “Do you know where the Gate is?” If I could somehow lure Liam to it, maybe he could do the deed and end this quickly. But Galleytrot shook his head, crushing my hopes.

  “I know where it could be,” he said. “But not even I can uncover it. Only the Keeper to whom the Gate is tied by blood can reveal it.”

  “Okay, so if I bring Liam to the right general area, can you teach him how to stop what’s happening?”

  “He has three nights,” Galleytrot said. “On each of those nights, the power of the Sidhe will knock. He must answer it. If he doesn’t, on the third night in the full of the moon, the Gate will open.”

  This was some major suckage. “I think we have a problem then.”

  The dog didn’t move, but his body tensed.

  “The dreams I’ve been having?” I stopped my pacing and sagged. “I heard a knock last night.”

  “Then we have two nights left,” Galleytrot said in a voice like thunder and lightning, “before the Gate opens and Sidhe magic returns to this world.”

  “So all we have to do is find the Gate and get Liam to answer the knock.” Simplified it sounded way easier and I started to relax.

  Until Galleytrot growled softly. “Two nights, Syd,” he said. “Think your boy can figure it out by then?”

  I wasn’t about to give Liam a choice.

  ***

  Chapter Twenty

  The door creaked as Galleytrot and I fell silent, Sassafras letting himself into the gloom our conversation created. His silver fur immediately stood on end, tail thrashing as he looked back and forth between us.