by Patti Larsen
I let him be, accepting his terse directions until we pulled into a long, narrow lane, shadowed on both sides by thick banks of trees, only to emerge a moment later into a parking lot. Sunlight warmed the red brick building, a tall, wide box punctuated by many old windows. It reminded me of an insane asylum, the kind you might see in a horror movie and I suddenly dreaded going inside.
Hospitals were bad enough with the fresh soul echoes of the dead assaulting me. Places like this could hold onto those echoes for years, especially if the owners of those spirits died insane.
Liam didn’t notice my reluctance, but Galleytrot swiped the side of my face with his tongue in comfort. I scowled at him, wiping away the slobber as I left the car and went after Liam.
He paused only once, fingers wrapped around the door handle. “He’s nuts, okay? Totally loony. Don’t freak.” Then he pulled the door open and strode inside, leaving me to follow.
I found myself giggling at the thought of my grandmother. Once upon a time, she had the corner market on crazy. Liam turned and stared at me and I shrugged. “I know exactly how you feel,” I said. “Exactly.” His brows came together, head tilting sideways. “Ask me again sometime.”
Better yet, I’d just let him meet Gram. Once she came back.
If she came back.
That thought was a mood killer.
Liam kept walking, ignored the front desk and went right to the elevator. He pressed "Up", the peeling paint on the doors not instilling me with a whole lot of confidence, especially when they parted in little jerks.
I followed him on board and held my breath as the old lift creaked and clanked its way to the third floor. The moment we stepped off, I let out the stale air in my lungs, swearing when I left it would be by the stairs.
We were stopped by a heavy wooden door, flanked by a glass nurse’s station. Liam smiled at the woman in the white uniform behind the counter like he knew her.
“Just here to see Daddo,” he said.
She glanced at me, sharp nose wiggling. “You’re not supposed to have guests.” How pleasant.
Liam smiled wider, pouring on the charm. I had to admit, he was very charming when he wanted to be.
“Daddo’s so lonely,” he said. “We just wanted to keep him company for a while.”
She hesitated another second then smiled back. “How sweet of you, dear.” Her hand reached out, sounding a buzzer. “Come on in.”
Liam led me through the wooden door. I glanced into the nurse’s office, seeing the woman watch us go, caught her lifting the phone receiver and dialing a number.
That couldn’t be good. “We’d better hurry,” I said. I reached for Galleytrot at the same moment but, to my shock, couldn’t feel him. A thin barrier of Sidhe magic blocked the way.
No wonder we hadn’t been able to find him. Someone was hiding Fergus from us.
“I know,” Liam shot back through gritted teeth, unaware of my discovery. “That nurse is friends with my mom.”
Perfect.
I refused to swat at the ghost who popped out of one of the rooms and wailed in my face. It was hard, but I did it. The next one made me gasp, as she flashed me and cackled her way straight through me. Ew. She wasn’t young. Liam glanced at me like I belonged here and I just shot him a scowl.
One of these times I was going to scream out loud. Though chances are my shriek would be lost in the heavy madness of this place. It was hard to pick out the moans and yelling of the residents from the ghosts who roamed the halls. I was so grateful we’d never had to put Gram in a horror show like this.
Liam paused near a door, real worry on his face. “He’s in here,” he said, and pushed his way inside.
I followed, a million questions on the tip of my tongue, still trying to puncture the shielding around the place. No amount of searching would have helped Galleytrot find the old man, not when he was hiding behind a carefully constructed Sidhe wall meant to feel like nothing at all.
But thanks to Liam, the barrier and whoever created it—a particular Sidhe lordling came to mind—no longer mattered. I was so ready to find the answers I needed and end the threat before it was too late.
A thin old man in a rumpled blue sweater and pajama bottoms hummed and rocked in a rickety chair, green eyes locked on the wall. For a moment I was afraid we were too late. He was already gone, empty. Until he looked up and saw Liam and a slow smile appeared.
This might work out after all.
Yeah, not so much.
Fergus O’Dane’s gaze drifted past his grandson and landed on me. He instantly surged to his feet, mouth gaping open, reaching for me, staggering forward.
“NO!” He began to weep, trying to grab me while Liam held him back. “You’re early! It’s too early! You’re not supposed to be here!”
***
Chapter Twenty Seven
Fergus finally broke free of Liam, grasping a hold of me, green eyes locked on mine as his old face twisted into fear and deep regret. “I’m sorry,” his voice climbed in volume as Liam desperately tried to hush him, glancing at the door. “I’m late, I know I’m late, but I have one more night, the Gate should still be closed. Why are you here? WHY ARE YOU HERE?” He shook me, harder and harder, forcing me to shove him away. My hand brushed his, skin on skin and Shaylee’s power instantly swelled.
Fergus fell to his knees at my feet, wrapping his thin arms around my legs, sobbing. “Forgive me, Princess. I need to go home, are you here to take me home at last?” I stared down into his eyes, feeling frozen and useless, unable to comfort him, an unbearable longing in his gaze that made me want to cry along with him. “Please, I promise I will never fail you again if you just take me home.”
He lurched to his feet as two nurses rushed in, Fergus lunging for clothing in the nearby dresser, jerking the drawers open as the one male, one female attendant grasped his arms and tried to pull him back.
“Time for your medicine, Mr. O’Dane.” The male nurse was rougher than he had to be, I thought, until I watched Fergus turn on him with a snarl, shaking him loose. He pointed at me without looking, eyes locked on the orderly. “Do you not know who she is, you fool?” His voice boomed, deep and powerful, humming with the same undercurrent of earth magic as Galleytrot’s, as Gwynn’s. For a moment, Fergus O’Dane was himself again. “She is Princess Shaylee of the Sidhe and I must escort her home.”
Oh boy. As much as I knew every word he said was true, I could see the looks on the nurse’s faces, the knowing expressions as they approached him again. They thought he was crazy. Hell, I would have too if I wasn’t, in fact, exactly who he said I was.
“Fergus,” I said, voice low, “it’s okay. Just tell us where it is.”
Liam shot me a look, a warning, full of anger. Was I going to far, feeding the old man’s need to reach the Gate? Maybe. But I had to be ruthless if I was going to save us.
“I can take you, Highness,” he said, trying to free himself again. “If these fools will just let me find my pants.”
I saw the needle emerge from the male nurse’s pocket, the twitch in Fergus’s lips as the sharp end punctured his arm. He scowled at the man in white beside him, gaze whipping around to me.
“This can’t be,” he said as he instantly started to sag. They eased him back into his chair as he struggled with consciousness. As he spoke, his words began to slur together, but to his credit he held on to the truth. “You must go back, Princess. You cannot be here.” His watering eyes flickered to Liam. “Boy,” he whispered as he slid deeper into the chair, “you must take her back and answer the knock.”
Well, so much for that idea. He didn’t tell us anything we didn’t know already. I had to wake him up.
I didn’t get the chance. Liam’s mom stormed into the room, the front desk nurse right behind her.
“What the hell are you doing here?” She scowled at Liam, voice ringing in anger. When she caught sight of me, her rage doubled. But under it, simmering below her fury, was the most fear I’d ever seen. “How
dare you intrude on our family? I told you to stay away from my son!” She reached out and grabbed my arm to forcefully shove me out of the room.
Funny thing about touching. If you have power and don’t shield it, you reveal all kinds of things about yourself. And in that instant Sonja grabbed me, I learned what I needed to know.
Her eyes flew wide and she let go immediately. “This is all your fault.” There was little volume behind her words, but her rage and shock and crushing terror spoke volumes.
“You’ve been lying to him his whole life,” I said. “Don’t blame me for this.”
“Get out.” She turned away from me, toward Liam, hands shaking, pulling him to her. “You are grounded for the rest of your life.”
Fergus continued to mutter, one hand fluttering like a wounded bird, gesturing for me. I sent a soft thread of Sidhe magic to him, letting him drift the rest of the way to sleep. It was the least I could do.
I turned then and marched out, back into the hallway to catch my breath. Sonja dragged Liam out past me, but he jerked himself free of her and faced her down, probably for the first time in his life.
“Why did Syd mean?” He shot me a look before focusing back on his mother.
“Let’s go.” She tried to drag him away again, her fear clear to me, but he wasn’t having any.
“Syd?” He caught my eye, but I just shrugged. It wasn’t for me to tell.
Not that I was done with her. “What are you so afraid of?” I looked right at Liam when I said it. Why hadn’t she told him what he was?
She shuddered all over, refusing to meet my gaze. “Liam, please.” Her voice shook as much as her body. “We have to leave now.”
He went with her, casting looks at me over his shoulder all the way to the elevator. I sighed and headed for the small sign with the stairs on it. I took my time going down, reaching out to Galleytrot.
Where were you? His voice growled soft and deep, rage bubbling along with his own concern. I couldn’t feel you anymore.
I let him touch the barrier as I’d found it and felt him curse as much as heard it, a ripple of echoing thunder in his mental voice. They dare hold him so.
There’s more. I told him about Sonja, her terror for Liam. He owns her, I told Galleytrot as I thought of Venner. That has to be it. She must know about him, be under his control somehow. He has something on her. And yet, she’s tried to escape before.
She can’t lie to the Keeper like that. Galleytrot didn’t sound very forgiving.
Shaylee was just as angry and it was only because of her I really understood.
We had no way of knowing Sonja had power, I told the big dog as I pushed against the exit door and headed across the fresh-cut grass to the car. The aroma reminded me of the mess we were in, solid earth magic stirring.
No wonder she kept all of this from him, dragged him away. Galleytrot’s eyes glowed red behind the windshield. I climbed inside Minnie, started the engine as he went on out loud. “What I want to know is, what is an Unseelie woman doing with a husband who is clearly Seelie blood. And did he know?”
Before I had a chance to pull away, a sleek black sports car pulled up and parked. I felt a twinge in my stomach even before the driver’s door opened and Venner climbed out. He smiled at me, waved before going inside the hospital.
Galleytrot’s growl made the car shake. “You’re right,” he said. “The Unseelie lordling does own her.” Venner. Sonja was his, and fully aware of her heritage, I knew that much now. She’d screwed up, had no idea who I really was or she wouldn’t have risked that touch. Clearly the one holding her leash hadn’t told her everything.
Idiot.
“He’s gathering all his little underlings.” It made sense there were more Unseelie-blooded mortals here, just like there were those of the light court, like me and the O’Danes.
Galleytrot nodded, snorting out an angry breath. “At least his power is reduced.” The dog was right there, too. The barrier was subtle, took talent, but very little strength. I’m sure with time to focus I would have broken through it, though the need to do so now was gone. I knew where Fergus was hiding. But Venner’s magic, thought backed by talent, was so weak it had taken a touch and Shaylee’s fear to tell me what he was.
One bonus at least. Until he got a hold of the Sidhe magic coming through the Gate. Then all bets as to who would be more powerful would be off.
“How did an Unseelie-blooded mortal come to be the mother of a Seelie Gatekeeper?” Galleytrot’s musing broke me out of my thoughts.
“Very good question. No Unseelie would willingly marry one of the light.” Shaylee shuddered at the thought. “And how would she hide it from him?”
Galleytrot sighed. “This grows worse and worse, Syd,” he said. “It’s possible Liam is of both courts now.”
“What does that mean?” More bad news? Really?
“He has no alliance. And more, he could access both sides of the power.”
“Giving Venner access not to just his own court’s power, but to the Seelie magic as well.”
“Exactly.” He huffed out a breath reeking of shadows and doom. “And with this being the last night, having control of both of them, Venemeth is now poised and ready,” Galleytrot said. “For the Opening.”
“We need to find that Gate.”
Our chances of that were now almost gone. Looked like the Unseelie might get his wish after all.
***
Chapter Twenty Eight
As futile as we both knew it would be, Galleytrot and I spent the next several hours searching for the Gate. I let Shaylee have full control, prodding her out of her fearful hiding only with the help of my angry demon. But even she was honestly baffled, leading us in circles from one end of town to the other.
I parked Minnie in the square and stared at town hall. “Let’s think about this logically,” I said, not feeling logical at all, just angry and frustrated. “The protection or supernatural feeling to Wilding Springs is roughly circular, right?”
Galleytrot nodded. “Which means the source of that needs to be the center of town. We know that, Syd. We checked the library and the rest of town hall, remember?”
“It has to be in that building somewhere.” I was about to open my car door when I spotted a familiar figure approaching. I waited, frowning, as Ms. Spaft took once glance around before going inside town hall.
“What if I was right and Liam’s mom isn’t the only mortal Unseelie agent in town?” I was already out of the car, heading for the side door. Stay with me.
I’m here. Galleytrot’s voice was loud and clear, though I could tell he wasn’t happy being left in the car.
I slid in the doorway after using a thread of magic to unlock it. It makes sense, doesn’t it? That Venner would be gathering his people?
The more the merrier, Galleytrot sent. He can use them as batteries, to soak up as much of the power as he can. It’s actually brilliant.
Way to cheer on the bad guy, big fella. I felt like a criminal, holding my breath as I eased the door closed behind me. I was in a corridor, one leading up toward the main entrance and the other back further into the building. I heard the tap tap of heels and barely had time to sneak behind a wooden door, easing it closed behind me. I ignored the scent of pine cleaner and the slosh of a half-empty bucket of water at my feet, peeking out the crack I allowed between the broom closet and the hall.
Surprise, surprise. Guess who walked by a moment later? Looking guilty as sin? Or, at least, like a woman on a mission.
Ms. Spaft passed me quickly, the sound of her heels growing quieter, but not because of distance. I leaned out the door, watching her disappear around the corner, walking on her tip toes.
Guilty was right. My sneakers didn’t make a sound as I crept after her. I reached the corner and peeked just in time to see her descending a flight of stairs.
I waited as long as I dared before darting down the dark hall, lit by one bulb, and to the top of the narrow steps. Another bulb lit the botto
m, empty of Ms. Spaft at least. I crouched as I descended, trying to keep my eyes peeled for her or anyone else who might get in the way.
Where did you go?
I jumped with a mouse-like squeak of fear, clutching my chest.
Don’t do that!
Galleytrot felt suitably contrite. Sorry. But I lost you.
That made me pause. You what?
I was with you the whole way, he said. Until you started down the stairs. I can hear you, know you’re there, but I can’t feel you anymore.
I wanted to do a little dance, heart rate rising. This has to be it. Right? There would be pretty hefty protections around the Gate.
Maybe, he said. Or you’re walking into a trap. Be careful.
Right. Deep breath, Syd, and get a hold of yourself.
I’m coming in. He sounded really worried.
How do you plan to open the door? I winced at the thought of him scratching my car.
He did a very good mental eye roll. Came across crystal clear. I filed that one away for future use. I’m a magic freaking dog, Syd. I’ll mask my presence and come inside. Don’t go on without me.
Galleytrot was turning into as big a smart ass as Sassafras. I’m not stopping. So you’d better hurry.
Boy was I wrong. I heard Ms. Spaft coming just in time, saw her shadow returning and was just able to spin and sprint back up the stairs and in the opposite direction I’d come. My sneakers squeaked softly as I skidded around the corner, panting, trying to be quiet. Her tapping shoes touched ground floor. But instead of moving on, she paused.
Silence. Crap. Did she know I was there? I could take her if she attacked me, if she was Unseelie like Sonja O’Dane, but I didn’t want to be throwing around magic, especially so close to the Opening.
I had no clue if that would adversely affect the protections around the Gate, but I was not willing to find out.
A footstep at last. But closer. Much closer. She’d been sneaking up on me the whole time. I braced myself, prepped my family magic to throw a protective bubble around me and her, to trap as much of the power as I could, begged my demon to keep her temper to herself and let Shaylee out again.