by E. A. Copen
“That’s the first time I’ve ever been called that.”
Abe gave me a salute and passed by, headed for the stairs out.
“Where are you going?” I called after him. “You’ve got a duel in a few hours.”
“He’s going to go get laid,” Robbie said with a grin.
I shook my head as I watched him go, wondering how he could not see a problem with arranging a prostitute with Robbie and a priest with me in the same breath. “Well, he’d better be back in time and have his head in the fight.”
“If you know a better way to clear your head than a good shag, let me know.” Robbie crossed his arms and paused, the laughter of a group of three Kings near a side exit drawing our attention. “Speaking of, the boys tell me you sorted one of their girls.”
“Did they tell you I slugged Sal, too?” I gestured to the last few tables we needed to stack and we made our way over to them.
“Among other things. Oh, don’t look so surprised, love. Nothing happens in this place I don’t know about. Information is my favorite currency, and rumor that Paint Rock’s very own federal agent has fallen in with a bad boy biker werewolf…” He smacked his lips. “You have no idea how juicy it is.”
“Yeah, well, keep it to yourself,” I said, lowering my voice. “Pass it around, it’s likely to do more harm than good, no matter how true it is.”
Robbie grunted as he shoved the table hard against the wall and then rolled his eyes. “What would BSI think?”
I decided a change in subject was in order so I nodded toward Creven, who was inspecting some bottles behind the counter at the bar. “What do you make of the elf? As a fellow fae, I mean?”
Robbie wrinkled his nose. “Elves are low fae. Half-bloods like your friend, except…different.”
“Different?” I asked, lifting a chair and stacking it on top of another before sliding the stack against the wall. “Different how?”
“Well, a half vampire is half human, too, right? Elves are what you get when a Sidhe beds any sort of low fae.”
“The Sidhe…those are like high fae, right?”
“The highest. The blue bloods. Ruling class. But they’ve no love for elves, even if they are the half-children of the Sidhe. The Sidhe argue that’s akin to shagging an animal and us low fae… Since they’re all bastard offspring of Sidhe and tend to think they’re better than the rest of us, we don’t much care for them either.” Robbie cast a glance at Creven over his shoulder. “Of course, that’s how it is in Faerie. Once you come here, everyone’s on equal footing, be he a mighty goblin or a lowly elf. It’s why you’ll never see a Sidhe here, not by choice. They like their power and they’ll do anything to hold onto it.” Robbie made an even bigger stack of chairs than mine and pushed it along the floor one handed.
“So there are no Sidhe on Earth?”
“I said not by choice. A few have done enough bad to get the boot…Banishment is serious business. A fate worse than death, some would argue.”
“Creven says the instability in Faerie has to do with a coming war.”
“Don’t know anything about it, love,” Robbie said. “And I don’t care to.”
“You haven’t heard anything from any of the employees you hired?”
He stopped and leaned on his stack, glaring at me. “If I did, what good would it do me or you? Let’s be honest. You only care because it’s causing trouble for you here. Given half a chance, you’d take all the fae and shove them back through a portal to where they came from. Worrying about a war in Faerie is like worrying about child soldiers in Africa when you’re a fat American. You just don’t. It’s outside of your experience. Why bother?”
“And if part of the war were to spill over here?” I asked. “What then? What would you do?”
“The same thing you ought to do,” Robbie said, shoving the chairs with a grunt. “Get the fuck out of the way and kiss the arse of whoever wins.”
“That’s a shitty position. I’d think you’d support one side over the other.” He didn’t answer me so I pressed him further. “You said you fought with an army before. Were you in the last war?”
Robbie avoided my question. “If you want war stories, go talk to the bikers.”
“But you must have a connection somewhere,” I pointed out. “Are you Seelie or Unseelie?”
We both shoved the last of the chairs against our stack of tables before Robbie answered me. Turning to me stone-faced, he said, “Some stories about the past are best left buried, love. I’m just an old hobgoblin. I hire strippers, sell glamors and keep an ear to the ground for interesting tidbits. That’s all I am. It’s all I ever hope to be. I don’t complicate things so why should you?” He grinned at me and then shot another glance at Creven. “Now, back to your original question about the elf. What I make of him is this. Don’t ever trust an elf. They’re not bound by their word like the rest of us are. They’re sly devils and they’ll lie, steal and con to get what they want. I wouldn’t trust that one as far as I could toss him.”
“Knowing Creven,” I said. “That isn’t very far. He’s a tough little guy.”
“All the more reason not to trust him,” Robbie said in a whisper. Then, he leaned back and laughed loud enough to attract the attention of everyone else in the room. “Of course, I don’t trust anyone I don’t see in a mirror, love, so take it for what it’s worth. But mark my words. Don’t get involved in fae politics. You think you humans have a political system in shambles. Wait ‘til you get a load of ours.”
I swallowed as Robbie wandered off to shoo Creven away from the top shelf liquor. It was already too late for Robbie’s warning if what Creven said was true. I’d already tipped off someone Creven had called a very bad man, inadvertently taking a side in a war I had nothing to do with. I just had to hope it wasn’t going to come back and bite me in the ass.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Tindall brought Sven down onto the dance floor a short time later. The big guy wore an expression of worry. His big, sea blue eyes drooped and I swear his skin was a shade paler. Sven scratched at his five o’clock shadow and rubbed at drooping eyelids.
I was glad Tindall had been smart enough not to put him in chains. The minute Sven realized he wasn’t going to make it back into his master’s care, he’d lose it. With magickal talent like that, who knew what he was capable of? It was best, we decided, to keep it a secret as long as possible.
I showed him to one of two tables we’d left on the floor, hoping he wouldn’t notice all the sketching and warding on the floor underneath it. “Have a seat,” I said, pulling out a chair for him.
Sven frowned and rubbed one bloodshot eye with the back of his hand. “Where is Crux? I need to see my master.”
“He’s coming,” I assured him. “Just sit and wait here, okay?” When he sat, I asked, “Is there anything I can get for you, Sven? Did you get anything to eat?”
He shook his head. “I’m not hungry. I just want to see Crux.”
“Soon, big guy,” I promised, patting him on the back. “Just try to be patient.”
“This is a bad idea,” Tindall said when I went to join him on the other side of the room. “You know that, don’t you, Black?”
“I didn’t have a lot of options, Tindall.”
I directed him back toward the front door. He’d offered to stay, but I didn’t want him to get hurt. I especially didn’t want him involved in any potentially compromising situations with the election coming up. No, it was best if Tindall sat this one out.
As we made our way into the lobby, I asked, “How’s the collection for the commercial coming?”
Tindall bobbed his head to the side. “One of the guys at the precinct has a cousin who works out at the public access channel. Looks like we’ve got enough to put together something small and have it out by next week. In the meantime, though, Maude’s just going to keep running his ads.”
“Aw, Tindall, you know most people these days just f
ast forward past the commercials.”
He put his hands in his pockets and turned to face me, leaning against the wall. “At this point, I don’t even care if I win. It’s not about that. The hate needs to stop. We’ve got to stop seeing them as the other guy and start seeing the werewolf or the vampire next door as our neighbor. It’s got to stop being about who we were and what we’ve done and become about what we’re going to do together. Maude and Marcus are going to stir an old, simmering pot. Even if I win, shit’s going to splash over the side somewhere, somehow. There’s too much of it now.”
I nodded. “When shit hits the fan, Tindall, you know you can count on me.”
The door to the club opened behind Tindall and both of us turned to see who was coming in. Sal and the big Asian fellow with the katana had taken guard duty at the front door and both of them stepped up to block the entry of Father Gideon Reed. I almost went and told them I was expecting him but hesitated when I saw Ed was with him.
“Shit,” I mumbled as I pushed past Tindall. “Ed, what the hell are you doing here?”
“I brought him,” Reed announced, his face blank. “He asked for my help finding Mara. When you called, he assumed it was connected. He wouldn’t take no for an answer.”
I waved the bikers back. “I’m expecting the priest. You can escort Ed out.”
Sal put a hand on Ed’s shoulder. “Come on, Ed. Let’s go.”
Ed shrugged Sal’s hand away and boldly glared up at him. “No. Mara’s in danger. I should be here.”
“There’s nothing you can do,” said the guy with the katana. “We have things under control here.” He pushed Ed back gently.
Ed ducked and stumbled forward, somehow wriggling past both of them before turning and standing, hands balled into fists, and announcing, “If you want me to leave, it’ll have to be in a body bag. I’m not leaving until Mara is safe!”
“He has a lot of tenacity for a little guy,” said the other biker, smirking.
Ed looked to me pleadingly. “Please, Judah. I’ll stay out of the way. I just want to make sure she’s safe.”
Ed was determined, that was for sure. Even if I had them escort him out, he’d hang around in the parking lot and get himself into trouble. Ed was better off inside, close to me where I could keep an eye on him. He’d be a lot less likely to do something stupid.
“Fine,” I announced and pointed a scolding finger at him. “But you stay out of the way and keep quiet. Everyone’s already on edge.”
The bikers stepped aside and let Reed enter. The father was wearing all his official church garb and came carrying a small, leather bound Bible. He took a few steps in and stopped just short of me, folding both hands over the book in front of him. “You said someone here requested a priest and I came, unarmed as requested.”
“Good because there are already enough pointy objects involved here,” I said and gestured toward the main dance floor. “Abe’s stepped out, but he should be back before too long. He’s the one that asked for you. You can wait downstairs.”
Reed hesitated and something in his face changed as if he had something he wanted to tell me. Then, his expression hardened. He nodded, gripped his book and followed where I had pointed, going to the dance floor to wait.
Watching him go, Sal asked in a wary voice, “What’s with you and the priest?”
“Nothing,” I lied. “We just don’t see eye to eye as far as eternity goes. You know how it is.”
Sal nodded. The other guy, who was holding the door open and peering out into the dark, turned and smacked him on the shoulder, drawing Sal’s attention away from me. “What is it, Bran?”
“Limousine,” Bran announced and pointed out into the parking lot.
I turned to Tindall. “You’d better get out of here,” I said and he nodded in agreement, making for a side exit.
Once I was sure Tindall was gone, I pressed in closer to Sal and Bran to catch a glimpse of the dark limo as it stopped in the lot. The driver got out and sprinted back to open the door for Crux, who climbed out in a three-piece suit, a sword at his hip. Crux surveyed the parking lot and the club before his eyes landed on the three of us standing in the doorway. Then, he sneered and reached back into the limonene to jerk Mara out by the hair.
Even at that distance, I could tell she’d been beaten. One of Mara’s eyes had been blackened and swelled shut. Her lip was swollen and crusted in blood and there were bruises all over her neck. He’d shoved a ball gag in her mouth and bound her hands and ankles with professional grade silver manacles. That wasn’t how he led her around, though. Crux had a silver collar around her neck and tugged her forward by the chain attached to it. Mara stumbled when he jerked on it but managed to keep herself from falling completely. Out of instinct, I surged forward, but Sal held me back.
“Agent Black,” Crux sneered as he came closer. “I wasn’t aware there’d be an audience.”
“Witnesses,” I explained, matching the acid in his tone. “And guards to make sure no one comes in who isn’t supposed to be here. They’ve all sworn not to intervene.”
“I see.” He gestured to Mara. “Well, here is your prize. Where is Agent Helsinki? I’m eager to get this matter dealt with so we can all be on our way.”
“He’ll be here,” I promised and gestured for him to come inside. “You’re early.”
“Well, I assumed there would be no harm in it. After all, once I win, Kim is sure to default on her debt, allowing this club to revert ownership to me. Though I must say, it’s not much to look at now. I think I can salvage it, though.”
Sal growled at him as he passed by, pulling on Mara’s chain. Crux jumped about two inches in the air toward Bran who snapped his teeth toward the vampire. Both of them chuckled when he hurried his pace and stopped a few feet away to adjust his suit.
“So,” said the vampire, indicating the chain. “As you can see, I’ve held up my end of the bargain. Where is Sven?”
“Downstairs,” I said, pointing.
Crux eyed the door suspiciously.
“It’s not a trap, Crux. As much as I would have liked to paint the floor with your guts, I know better. I don’t want all of the Stryx descending on Concho County, gunning for my head.”
“Then you swear to abide by the terms and outcome of this duel?” He faced me, his thin lip quivering.
“Sure.”
“It’s a pity you’re so firmly in the Kelley’s pocket, Agent Black. You and I could have worked well together to change things for the better here.”
“I’m not in anyone’s pocket.” I gestured again to the door leading to the lower dance floor. “This way, Crux.”
I pushed open the door and led Crux onto the balcony above the dance floor. As soon as Sven saw his master enter, he stood and let out a relieved exclamation before taking a step toward the edge of the circle I’d seated him in. A blue wall sprang up in front of him, bouncing him back a step when he ran full force into it. Sven twisted his features in confusion as he walked back up to it and placed his hands on the barrier.
“What’s the meaning of this?” Crux spat, turning on me. Mara let out a muffled cry as he jerked her closer to him and placed a sharpened fingernail against her neck just below the ear.
“The barrier is harmless to Sven,” I answered. “It’s as much for his protection as it is ours. Once the duel is over, the barriers will lower but, until then…” I pointed to another table opposite Sven’s in a similar circle. “Mara and Sven are going to be cut off from all of us. You’ll place her there, at that table, and the barrier will activate, effectively keeping her in place and out of reach until the duel is over.”
Crux removed his claw from Mara’s throat. “You’re well prepared. I’ll give you that.”
“Mara?” Ed’s voice choked from below. Mara turned her one open eye on her boyfriend, whose chest heaved and eyes glowed gold with rage. “You monster,” he said to Crux.
I held my hand out toward the v
ampire. “I think you’d better hand her over to me so I can remove some of these chains. She’ll be safe inside the barrier.”
Crux looked from Mara to Ed to me and weighed his decision. Then, he handed Mara’s chain to me. “Remember you gave me your word, agent.”
“How could I forget?” I said and led Mara down to the other table.
Once we were there and I helped Mara into the chair, I reached around and unbuckled the leather strap holding the gag in place. Mara coughed, spat blood and then offered a weak smile. “Heya, teach,” she said as I undid all the other restraints.
“Oh, Mara…This is all my fault. Why didn’t you come to me? I could have spotted you whatever cash you needed. You didn’t have to get involved with a place like this.”
She blinked her one good eye. “Really? All this and that’s what you’re blaming yourself for? Me becoming a stripper?” She let out a bitter laugh and then winced. “Teach, that’s the one thing that had absolutely nothing to do with you.”
“Why, then, Mara?”
“Because I wanted to be my own person,” she said slowly. “With my own shit. Make or break on my own, you know? All I ever wanted was to live my life and be in control of it, win or lose. I did it because I liked it. It made me feel good, powerful. People looked at me and saw me. When I was up on stage, I wasn’t a stupid little girl who got manipulated and used. No one felt sorry for me.”
“You should have come to me when Harry was stalking you. I would have helped you, Mara. It didn’t have to come to this.”
Mara leaned forward, lowering her voice an octave. “I didn’t want to be a victim again.” She turned her head to look at Sven halfway across the room. “He understood that. Why can’t you?”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. I hadn’t seen it because I’d been too busy feeling sorry for Mara. All she ever wanted was her independence. I had pushed her so hard to overcome obstacles, I’d never realized she’d already done it. She didn’t want saving then and she didn’t want it now. More than anything, Mara was angry anyone at all had come to her rescue, but her anger was directed inward. She saw herself as weak because she needed help.