by Angel Lawson
I read over the article but there wasn’t much more information. Just that all the windows shattered at once. The authorities were blaming it on everything from some sort of noise frequency to a practical joke. They could be right about the frequency thing; the houses were in an industrial area. Or it was just vandalism? From the photographs the houses had a shabby look about them. “I’ll check it out when I get back.”
Mrs. Graves left and I walked to the closet to change. Stripping off my shirt, I tossed it into the laundry basket and flipped through the neatly arranged row of shirts. I found the blue one I liked. I had just slipped it over my arms when I was startled by a voice behind me.
“I see some things do get better with time.”
I had the blade in my hand before I turned around. Fiona, the Bronze Queen, stood before me, regal and beautiful. She’d come alone. I studied every inch of her with a quick sweep, but found no visible weapons. “I’m sorry, Your Highness, did we have a meeting scheduled?” I glanced over at my calendar to prove a point. “Mrs. Graves should have reminded me.”
“Since when have I needed an appointment?”
I placed the blade on the desk and returned to dressing. Her bright, emerald green eyes watched as I buttoned the front.
“You’re looking quite…fit.”
“What do you want, Fiona?”
“Just checking to see how our girl fared after Eleanor’s attack.” She circled the room studying my collectables. Her hair tumbled down her back in soft, white-blonde waves. Black leather boots came all the way over her knees, stopping midway up her thigh. A thin cord held a platinum charm at the center of her throat. The jewel was green like her eyes. Her velvet jacket was certainly out of place for this realm. I doubt she cared.
“Nadya is fine. Progressing with her training. I know she’s important to you, but there must be more for you to visit the human world.”
She shuddered at the word human and ran finger ran over the edge of the glass cabinet where I stored my most valuable possessions. Silver jeweled rings sat on display. The Queen’s abilities came from precious metals and stones. The energy coursing through the set of rings would call to her. “I want you to bring Claudia’s daughter back to Otherworld to meet her people. Well, her other people.”
I laughed and tucked in my shirt. A thin line creased between her brilliant green eyes.
“Does something amuse you?”
“Absolutely not.” I was not amused, nor would I take Nayda to Otherworld.
“Why? She should learn everything about the Sidhe, and the Sidhe should learn everything there is to know about her.”
“You want to test her.” For my suspicions, I wanted to add but did not. It was unspoken. We both knew it.
“I’ve already seen what she can do. She should see her mother’s home.”
The skill Nadya showed at the battle was only a portion of her true power, or at least, that was my theory. Colleen’s training was just one manner of finding out exactly what Nadya could do physically. I hadn’t even begun to make concrete attempts on her magical abilities. Beyond that I had to consider her weaknesses. Did being half-human allow for additional flaws? I needed more time to be sure. “Your concern for her lineage is appreciated but it’s out of the question. Nadya belongs here. Guarding the portal. That is her duty.”
“What’s the point if she doesn’t know what she’s guarding it for? Who she is guarding it for? Claudia’s choices may not be shared by Nadya. There is much more at stake here.”
Fiona approached the desk and a scent of sweet fruit wafted over me. She’d coated herself in a charm before she came, something that would ignite from skin to skin contact. I steadied myself from the intoxicating scent. At least I knew she didn’t trust me anymore than I trusted her. She reached for me and I held the blade between us. “I can smell the charm on your skin. Don’t even think of touching me.”
Amusement glinted in her eye and she lifted a finger and licked the tip. “Just a little protection. A girl can never be too safe around you, Liam Caldwell. I’ve learned that lesson the hard way. In fact, I learned it from you.”
“I think you should go.”
She pouted. “We’re not finished. Tell me, do you think Nadya is the one?”
Yes. I wanted to tell her but I couldn’t. It wasn’t true, and if it was it was dangerous. “I don’t know.”
“Very well.” Fiona blew me a kiss and the room shimmered. A moment later she’d vanished. I picked up my phone and hit a number in my contacts. Daniel picked up on the first ring. “We have a problem. Bring your kit.”
Daniel walked around the room sprinkling ash on the doorway and windows. From my desk chair I asked, “How did she break the wards?”
“They’re still in place and active.” The lines of his forehead creased in confusion. “Technically she shouldn’t have been able to enter, either through the portal or into your home without permission.”
“Double them up—and add something about royalty and powerful Sidhe. She must have found a loophole. Then go to Nadya’s and do the same.”
“Do you think she’ll go to her house?”
“Eventually—unless I stop her first.” I leaned back in my seat and propped my feet on the desk. “Which I will.”
“Do you think she’ll harm Nadya?”
“I’m not sure, but Nadya is special. More than I ever could have expected—the energy she possesses is greater than anything I’ve ever seen. She could be our best ally or our biggest enemy. Neither Fiona or Eleanor need that information, not yet. It’s important that we continue to protect Nadya as though our lives depend on it.”
“Will you tell her about Fiona?” Daniel brushed his blonde hair out of his eyes. “You know—everything?”
“When you live for an eternity it’s hard to confess to all your sins.”
He nodded and packed away his tools. I’d hoped Fiona would sit this round out, let me focus, but obviously that was not her intent. It was my job to make sure the Queens were contained. They were going to be a problem, in more ways than one.
Chapter 16
Nadya
I had barely made it to my desk when I spotted Colleen walking over from the snack bar. I accepted the cup of coffee she had in her hand and said, “Thanks for the help the other night.”
“You had everything under control.”
“I passed out.”
“In capable hands.”
I rolled my eyes and walked behind my counter, flipping on the computers and setting up for the day. The weather forecast rolled out of the printer. “It doesn’t count when he’s the one that attacked me.”
“Normally, that would be true, but you look better now. A lot better.”
I felt better, like a new person, but I didn’t give her the satisfaction by saying so. With each feeding I better understood the hungry glint in Liam’s eye. I felt like a mythological vampire, consumed for the need for his very essence.
“I’ve been wondering something. Do you think I’m at a disadvantage being part human? Do I injure more easily?”
“That’s sort of the big question around here,” Colleen admitted. “What are your powers and their limitations? Will your humanity make you stronger or weaker? That’s part of the reason Liam is being so hard on you with these workouts. He’s testing your limits.”
I glanced around, not wanting anyone else to hear what I had to say next. I’d learned at the battle that many co-workers and associates were actually Sidhe. Because of this I was not sure where loyalties fell. With me or with Liam? Or where they the same? I didn’t know enough about my Sidhe history to judge. Not yet. “Do you think Liam’s motives are pure? Being with him is very…intoxicating. Each time I grow stronger but so does he. It makes me uncomfortable.”
Colleen nodded in understanding. “I think you are smart to have reservations. Jumping into this is scary—for all of us. Liam has spent a lifetime protecting the portal and protecting you. He works very hard to maintain balanc
e between here and the Otherworld. I’m not telling you not to trust him—do trust him, but also rely on your own strength. That is the Sidhe way and how your mother would have raised you. Just make sure you don’t lose yourself in him.”
“Good advice.” The problem was that I wasn’t clearly defined before I discovered my bond with Liam. My father had protected me to the point that I had few friends or interests outside the airport.
The door swung open and our first customer of the day came in with a rolling suitcase trailing at her heels. Colleen slipped away to her station. I smiled and said, “Mrs. Cameron, I see you have a 9 AM takeoff scheduled?”
The rest of the day was spent busy in work. Liam passed through late afternoon, checking in quickly. We played it cool with one another even though my body reacted wildly to his presence. “I’ll be back tomorrow,” he said, making sure both Colleen and I were aware. “Be careful.”
I watched his plane take off and head toward the portal. I could see it now, unlike before, and sure enough, the bluish-red swirls swallowed him whole, taking him from this world to another. A sharp worry twisted in my gut. Colleen caught my eye and gave me a sympathetic look.
“Any idea what that’s about?”
“No clue. I’m not privy to his schedule.”
By the time my shift was over I was determined to behave like a normal twenty-year-old girl again. One not hung up on a supernatural bond or squelched by her overprotective father. I stopped by Pop’s office on the way out the door.
“I’m going to the diner for some food. Want anything?”
“No, sweetheart. Colleen left me something. I’ll meet you at home.” He glanced over his glasses to confirm.
“I won’t stay out late,” I promised. “Dinner and then the gym.” He had relented a little on his rules since I’d found out my history—but not much. Instead we sort of had a don’t ask, don’t tell situation. It worked so far.
The diner was busy so I took a seat at the counter. The waitress, Gail, was one of the regulars. Gruff and a little hostile. I ordered quickly, making sure I didn’t ruffle her feathers. She seemed the type to spit in your food if you pushed too hard.
The daily paper sat on the counter and I flipped to the horoscope page. I hadn’t had time to read it that morning.
Your fantasies seem to be blown out of proportion right now. The Sun makes it even trickier to handle the erratic relationship dynamics that could catch you off guard. Nevertheless, you must maintain a healthy perspective on your dreams by behaving rationally in spite of your strong feelings. Instead of stressing about making any long-lasting decisions now, put them off for a day or two until you have regained clarity. In the meantime, throw your worries out the window and enjoy the spiritual ride.
“Oh horoscope, you never let me down,” I muttered and folded it into a tight square and accepted my plate from the waitress.
“What’s your sign?” asked a bright-eyed girl around my age sitting next to me. She had short blonde hair with purple streaks. A tattoo was visible just behind her ear.
“Pisces.”
“Oh, a water sign.” She jabbed her thumbs to her chest. “I’m a Cancer. What did it say?”
“Just the truth, that my love life is a hot mess and I’m a little bit of a hot mess and I need to keep my head on straight. Which is easier said than done.”
“Tell me about it. I feel like I’ve spent my entire life following around one bad guy after the other.” She slammed her fist on the table and I jumped. “But not anymore. I’m swearing them off. Forever.”
“Forever?” I said through a bite of hamburger.
“Well, this week at least.”
“Good idea. Me too. No more guys for a least a week.” I offered her a fry but she shook her head. Gail appeared with her notebook ready to take her order.
“I’ll take a piece of cherry pie.”
“We’re out of cherry.”
The girl frowned. “Are you sure?”
Gail rolled her eyes. Oh boy. She was not known for her patience. “Positive.”
“Hmmm…” The girl ran her finger down the menu but shook her head. She caught the waitress’s eye and said, “I’d appreciate it if you’d go look in the back. I really want cherry.”
I sucked in a breath, waiting for some sort of backlash but Gail spun on her heel and walked into the kitchen.
“Wow.”
“What?”
“One time I asked for extra cheese on my hamburger and it came with no cheese and a lecture about wasting her time.”
She shrugged. “Eh, we’ll see. Hopefully no one spits in it.”
Two minutes later Gail returned and slid a plate with a big slice of cherry pie and ice cream across the counter. The blonde picked up her fork and took a huge bite. “Oh yeah. That’s what I’m talking about. Now,” she said through a mouthful of pie. “What was this about you and swearing off guys?”
“Uh, yeah well, easier said than done. The guy in my life is a little persistent.”
“In a bad, stalkery kind of way?”
“No, not like that, not really. It’s just that a month ago I didn’t think he knew I existed and I was pretty determined to change that. I’ve definitely got his attention now and I have no idea what to do.”
“I have the opposite problem. The guy that I thought was into me definitely isn’t. In fact, that’s why I moved here. Just looking for a fresh start.”
I looked down at my dinner and tried to figure out how things got so complicated. Before Liam dropped the Sidhe bomb on me I was just a normal girl with a normal life. In fact, it was less than normal because of being so sheltered. I wanted something in the middle. Screw training and meeting Colleen. I was taking a night off. “Do you want to go do something? Like see a movie or something? I need to take my mind off some stuff.”
“That would be really great.”
“By the way,” I said, offering my hand. “I’m Nadya.”
She smiled. “Nice to meet you, Nadya. I’m Grace.”
Grace and I went to the dollar theater on Main Street. The seats creaked and it smelled a little bit like mildew, but the screen was huge and they played awesome retro movies for a dollar. There were only four other people in the theater, so no one cared when we said the lines to Goonies out loud. “My dad loved this movie; we watched it at least once a month,” I said on the way out of the theater.
“Too bad Josh Brolin turned out so 1ouche.”
“Right? Movie stars from the 80’s should always stay the same. No aging. No altered life. Everything needs to just remain perfect like the final scene of the movie.”
“Thanks for thinking up this idea,” Grace said as we stood beneath the theater awning. The rain from earlier had let up. “It’s been a while since I’ve done anything fun.”
“Me, too. Things have been super crazy for me lately.” She raised her eyebrows in question and I added. “You know, with the guy and stuff at home with my dad. Plus, I feel like I’ve been working non-stop.”
“Well, I think we should do it again. Soon.” Grace pulled a pen out of her bag and took my hand. On the inside of my arm she wrote her phone number in loopy black ink. “That way you won’t stash it in your pocket and lose it in the wash.”
I laughed, thinking Grace was just the thing I needed in my life. Nice. Normal and absolutely harmless. Maybe I could even introduce her to my father. We separated at the curb and I waved one final time before her blonde hair disappeared into the night. Yes, it was nice to have a friend.
The drive home only took a few minutes and I parked behind my father’s beat up truck. The house was dark, and I was surprised to see he’d gone to bed already. I don’t think he’d ever gone to bed before me, especially if I’d been out. My suspicion grew when a tingle spread down my arms as I entered the kitchen, met with the smell of cut wood and paint from the repaired window. Was it the memory of the fight with the Otherworld soldier or the idea of Liam that made my skin itch?
The top st
ep of the stair creaked underfoot and I paused, hoping I hadn’t woken Pop. He snorted and mumbled under his breath but never fully roused. Maybe there was nothing out of the ordinary and he’d finally begun to trust me. I slipped into my room and my body surged with heat. I didn’t need to turn on the light to understand.
“What are you doing here? You weren’t supposed to be back until tomorrow.”
“I got back early. It was just a standard transport. There and back.” He said from the dark. “You missed your training.”
“I decided to go out with a friend.” My eyes adjusted quickly to the dark. Enhanced eyesight may be one of the benefits of my evolving Sidhe powers. I took off my jacket and shoes.
His green eyes watched me closely. “I was worried when I couldn’t find you.”
“What? You haven’t put the fairy equivalent of a GPS on me yet?” I glanced over at the cross over my bed. Guess it didn’t protect me from the likes of Liam.
“Should I?”
“Liam you’re being creepy.”
“You’re being foolish. It isn’t safe for you to go missing for hours on end. Something could happen and I wouldn’t be there to help you.”
I lifted my fists and punched the air like a boxer. “Isn’t that why you’re training me? So I’m ready for a fight?”
He ran a palm down his face and I noticed for the first time how defeated he looked. “There are some fights you do not have the skills to win, Nadya. You have to be careful at all times.”
“Going to a movie isn’t dangerous. Stop being paranoid.” I gave him a stern look and he held it until the waves of anger shifted to something different something that ebbed through my skin and settled into my bones. Fear. “Who or what are you afraid of Liam?”
He closed the space between us and reached for my face. Caressing my cheeks with his thumbs he said, “You’re so special. I wish you understood that.”
The closer I was to him, the stronger my feelings became. To his credit, he waited for me to do it—to kiss him. He didn’t force me or even make the first move. His touch was gentle and when I pressed my lips to his, my fingers tucked into his waistband, pulling him close.