“You heard me,” Roarke snapped at Spink over his shoulder. “We got a counter offer. This contract says we deliver her alive.”
“Oh no, no, no, no,” Spink stammered. “We’ve got to kill her.”
I gave a gargled laugh. “Worried, Spink? You should be.”
Roarke rubbed his erection against my hip. “First we have some fun though.”
“Get your big gorilla hands off me.” I twisted in his grip, then stopped, seeing something move behind Spink. Seth eased from the shadows, looking deceptively unarmed. “Lora,” he nodded to me. “I see you’re making new friends.”
Roarke spun around, bringing me with him, his arm looping under my neck. Spink gave a girlie scream and turned, trying to aim the flintlock. Seth knocked it out of his hands with a contemptuous sound. Spink’s nerves broke and he sprinted towards the church doors, disappearing outside.
Roarke snarled at Hallow. “Come any closer and I’ll break her fucking neck.”
“Like your friend was saying, she’s got a pretty thick neck.” Seth gave me a wink. “Don’t think you have the strength, my friend. Besides, once you do that, there’s nothing to stop me from signalling my men outside to hunt you down and see you dangle from a lawman’s rope.”
Roarke hesitated; his options had shrunk considerably. He yanked a knife from his sleeve and the blade bit my throat. The steel was freezing cold and I stayed very still. Roarke’s body was coiled tight, tension simmering off him. “Come any closer and I’ll cut her, Watchman.” The Regulator’s voice was muffled by my hair.
“You’ll be dead soon after.” Seth gave him an easy smile.
I felt Roarke shift from foot to foot as his frustration rose.
“I’d get going, Regulator,” I said to Roarke, my words clipped by the pressure of the knife. “Save your skin while you can.”
“Regulator?” Seth gave Roarke a considering look. “Now isn’t that interesting.”
Roarke made a disgusted sound, then I was free from his grasp. I stumbled forward, then turned, wanting to kick Roarke’s balls until they broke, but my feet tripped over each other and I nearly fell. Seth grabbed me, giving me a tired smile under his goatee.
“How’d you find me?” I managed.
“I always know where you are, Dimples.” He let me go, his eyes dropping to under my chin. “You’re bleeding.”
My fingers touched my neck, coming away bloodied.
“That looks pretty nasty,” Seth said. “You might need stitches.”
I stared at my stained fingers and my head began to swim. The earlier panic I’d felt had disappeared, leaving a profound tiredness in its wake. My knees began to tremble and my ruined leg throbbed with a deep hurt. “I don’t feel well,” I said, my voice distant and tinny.
“Are you drunk?”
“No more than usual.”
Seth’s face swam in and out of focus. “You’re not going to faint on me, are you?”
I threw him a disgusted look, managing to focus on his amber eyes through the spin cycle in my head. “Don’t be ridiculous.” The world swayed around me. “I’ve never fainted before in my life.”
“As long as you’re sure.”
I took a shaky step, then realised with dawning horror he was right. I was going to faint. Colour drained out of the world and my vision narrowed.
“Lora?”
Seth’s voice sounded far away and a roaring started up in my ears. I opened my mouth to tell him I was fine, but darkness fell quickly. The last thing I registered was pain as my head hit the floor.
Chapter 26
I was six years old again, standing in a forest of beech trees, and couldn’t remember how I’d gotten there. Daylight streamed through the canopy overhead, dappling the ground golden. The air smelt earthy with tones of mildew and wet leaves, and I heard butcher birds call.
A stone cottage sat before me with a pokey chimney on a roof of twigs and straw. The front door was open and I stepped inside to see a table circled by three wooden chairs. A shabby cloth rabbit was slumped in one chair, one button eye missing. The two other chairs were empty. A kettle steamed in the middle of the table with three teacups beside it. A stove stood at the far end of the room, its pipe shooting up into the ceiling. There was nothing else in the room. No other doors and strangely, no windows.
Sitting down in one of the chairs, I realised I was moving with ease. My leg wasn’t bothering me at all. Then I figured, why would it? I was only six years old. The age when I’d first began to dream of the stone cottage, with its fire hazard of a roof and the pre-loved bunny rabbit waiting patiently for me in his chair. I knew the rabbit’s name was Mr Noodles. Orella had given him to me on my fourth birthday. The tea set had been from Gideon for my fifth birthday. I picked the kettle up and poured some bitter looking tea into the three waiting cups. One me, one for Mr Noodles, and a third for the guest.
A shadow fell across from the open door, blocking the sunlight and darkening the room. The Shape stooped in. He sat opposite me, his clothes lifting as if caught in a breeze. His shoulders were high, eyes smudges of mottled grey. Pale lips were pulled back in a permanent grimace and his teeth were like rows of glass shards. Two great wings folded behind him and they rustled like dead leaves in the wind. “I’ll never understand why you come here,” he spoke, and his voice was like pebbles falling into deep water.
I knew this voice, I knew this place. I’d been here before. I pushed a teacup over to him. “Drink your tea.”
“Perhaps you could think of somewhere else for us to meet,” The Shape said. “Somewhere a little more appropriate. After all, you’re a grown woman now.”
“Drink your tea.” I lifted my teacup delicately to my lips and indicated that Mr Noodles should do the same.
“Lora, I want you to hear what I have to say.”
“I always listen.”
“But you never hear. Today I come with an offering.” He pushed his cup towards me. The liquid in it was now thick and glutinous, like melted silver.
“That’s not my tea,” I told him gravely.
The Shape leant forward, one long finger tapping against the teacup, making a ting sound. The skin on his hand was the colour of an egg-shell, off-white and lightly speckled. “Drink it, Lora.”
“No.”
“Drink from my chalice and accept me as your blood,” he said.
“No.”
“You must.”
“Why?”
“I can help you,” he said.
I pulled Mr Noodles out of his chair and into my lap, sneezing from the dust that rose from his floppy head. “I don’t want to drink your tea.”
The creature’s teeth clacked together, sounding like breaking china. “One day, you will have no choice.”
“Leave me alone,” I told him.
The Shape reached over the table to touch my arm. I watched as long, thin fingers came for me and a buzzing noise filled my ears, like a hive had erupted in my mind. My teeth clamped down on my tongue and I tasted blood and pain. I opened my mouth to scream for help.
Chapter 27
I blinked my eyes open, a short yelp hiccupping from my throat. I saw Seth leaning over me. I blinked some more, then realised I was lying on a bed, with blankets as soft as lamb’s wool wrapped around me. The room was cool and dark.
“Where am I?” I croaked.
“You’re at my house.” Seth tried to push me back down on the bed. “Just relax.”
Shoving his hands aside, I sat up. My head gave a few throbs and I groaned, regretting the drinks I’d had at the Mermaid’s Cleft. “What happened? What time is it?”
Seth got off the bed, walking to where some heavy curtains were pulled closed. He peered out, letting in a stream of light. “It’s midday. I didn’t want to wake you, thought you could do with the sleep. I cleaned the cut on your neck, it wasn’t deep.”
“I’ve got to get home.” I tried to move off the bed, but the world pirouetted and I fell back down on the soft wool with a grunt. I was st
ill wearing my black dress but saw my coat folded neatly on a chair. “What happened?” I licked my lips, feeling weak and parched.
“You fainted.”
I frowned. “Take that back.”
“You swooned like a little princess.” Seth grinned. He let the curtain drop and turned to me. “Now I want you to stay here until you’ve had a warm bath, then some food and coffee.”
“Why do I feel so bad?” I murmured.
“Did you drink anything last night?” Seth asked.
Thinking of the boilermakers I’d knocked before meeting up with Cloete, I wondered if my liver had finally committed suicide. I tried to rise again, but found myself tumbling off the bed to dry retch beside it. When I was sure the moment had passed, I wobbled to my feet and took in my surroundings. The room was furnished with heavy oak furniture, padded with expensive yellow silk. Thick rugs lay on the floor and though it was cold, unburned logs were stacked behind an elaborate iron grate. An archway opposite the bed led to a spacious bathroom with white tiles, holding a claw-foot tub with gold plated taps. Steam rose from the bath, promising bliss.
“You have an ensuite?” I arched an eyebrow at Seth. “That’s a little modern for Harken, isn’t it?”
“The estate agent assured me it would be all the rage in a few years time.”
“This place is amazing.” I looked around again, surprised at the money I was seeing. “I thought you lived in a hovel near Butcher’s Lane. Where are we?”
“Butcher’s Lane was four years ago. This is Gilsen Street.”
“That’s pretty close to High Town.” I knew what City Watch Captains made, and there was no way he could afford this place on his salary. “You’ve got an expensive taste for a City Watch Captain.”
“I moonlight here and there. It gets me by.” He motioned towards the inviting bath. “Hurry up before it gets cold. You need it.”
I eyed his dishevelled uniform. “You don’t look so sweet smelling yourself.” A wet coil of steam reached my nose, bringing with it a faint smell of roses. I gave him a pointed look. “You going to give me some privacy?”
“Not like you to be modest, Lora. And no, I’m not leaving. I’ve got some more questions for you and I want answers.” He made a show of covering his eyes. “I swear I won’t look at your lovely breasts.”
Feeling too tired to argue, the idea of a good soak was too inviting to pass up. Peeling off my filthy clothes, I felt every muscle in me ache. When I’d stepped out of my pants, I hurried into the small room and jumped into the bath. The warm water was like an embrace, sending a shiver of pleasure through my body. Closing my eyes, I leant back, trying to relax. Hearing the sound of cloth rustling, I cracked an eye to see Seth in the room, stripping off his Captain jacket and unbuttoning his shirt.
“You’d better not be thinking what I think you’re thinking,” I said.
Seth’s hands paused at his trousers, then dropped by his side. He picked up a stool and sat down. I averted my eyes from his half-naked body, pulling my legs up to my chest. “Do you mind?” I asked haughtily. “Is it so much to ask for a little privacy?”
“Yes, right now, it is.”
“Honestly,” I said. “You’re such a pig.”
“Would you feel better if I put my shoes back on?”
I threw him an exasperated look, then said, “I want to find this Aldebaran book.”
“Why?”
“It’s all a little coincidental, don’t you think? Everything is connected to that book.” I spread my hands. “Morious said the book dealt with chaos magic, so there’s a good chance someone in The Order is responsible for this whole mess.”
Seth leant back in his chair, lacing his hands behind his head. “Do you seriously think you can accuse a Grigori priest of using darkcraft? Do I need to remind you of how dangerous the Girgori can be?”
“It’s not an impossible theory.” In fact, in my mind, it all added up quite nicely.
Seth leant forward with a sigh, resting his elbows on his knees and staring at me with a concerned look. “I know you hate taking advice, but this is the best you’ll get in your entire life. Leave The Order alone. They’ve been around for hundreds of years. They have secret splinter groups and cosy little fraternities, all with their own agendas that you and I will never understand. Just leave them alone. You want a copy of the Aldebaran? Fine, I’ll look on the black market for you. I’m sure there are a couple of copies out there.”
I lowered my head and stared through the water to my feet, thinking about Seth’s motivations. I couldn’t be certain where his allegiance lay. What if some of this moonlighting he mentioned was working for The Order? I wiggled my toes, the water’s surface lapping at my raised knees. A scrubbing brush was hooked on the lip of the bath. I picked it up and started brushing my legs.
Seth was watching me through narrowed eyes, like he knew what I was thinking. “This isn’t a game, Lora. I’m deadly serious about this.”
“You think I’m not?” I said grimly.
“The Order of Guides keeps their books of magic under lock and key. You’d never even get inside their library.”
“So I’ll break in. Check it out. If it’s not there, then I can cross it off the list. I’m telling you, this is the best path.” My mind had turned to the Grigori priest, Fowler. I’d lay money down he had access to the books of magic.
“You’ll sneak in?” Seth was laughing softly. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
I lifted the dripping scrubbing brush and pointed it at him, splashing water over the floor. “What are you laughing at? You don’t think I could?”
“Lora, you’re a walking disaster.”
Though I didn’t think I could completely trust Seth, I was dismayed to realise my feelings were a little hurt. I lowered the brush, noticing Seth’s eyes had trailed down to my breasts.
“You want help washing your back?” he asked, the corner of his mouth curling up. “A dirty back on a beautiful woman is a terrible thing.”
“Don’t come near me.” I put my hands on the sides of the bathtub and hauled myself to my feet, water streaming from my limbs. “Make yourself useful and pass me a towel.”
Seth’s eyes traced my body, going still. Instead of desire in his face, he looked furious. “Who did that to you?” he choked out.
Glancing down at myself, I remembered I was black and blue all over.”Trouble with some Regulators, and an angry witch.”
Seth’s hands clenched into white-knuckled fists. “The Regulator from last night?”
“No.” I gestured for a towel, starting to shiver. “A different one. I got roped into a sham of a witch hunt. It doesn’t matter now. The Regulator owes me now, maybe he can help me.”
Seth stood abruptly, retrieving a towel from a wall-hook. As I reached a hand for it, he grabbed my wrist and stepped close. I struggled to maintain my balance in the tub, my other hand pushing against his bare, warm chest. My stomach went taught as his gaze swept over me, soft as velvet. His hands stroked my spine and I felt the familiar warmth of wanting spread through my body.
“Don’t play games you can’t win, Lora.” His arms snaked around me, hands stroking my wet back. “Stay away from The Order.”
“What do you care?”
“You know why.”
“No, I don’t.”
Seth pulled away and ran a hand over his mouth, like it hurt him to say it. “Look. I care about you Lora.”
“No you don’t.” I felt angry he didn’t think I was capable of getting into The Order and I was furious with my body for responding to his touch. “You don’t care about anyone but yourself.”
Seth’s eyes widened a little. “Do you really think that? Is that the poison Orella and Gideon have been pouring into your ears about me?”
“Don’t play this game, Seth. We both know what our relationship is. Convenient sex.” As quick as the anger came over me, it receded, leaving an empty feeling behind.
A terrible thought occurred to me, a flash o
f self-insight. Maybe my anger at Seth was that he had never really defined his feelings for me. Sure, he wanted me physically. That was nice. It was great to feel sexy and wanted. But somehow, somewhere, I think I’d wanted more and Seth had never delivered. Seth’s eyes stayed on mine, his mouth working a bit before he could manage the words. He reached for me, but I took a slightly wobbly step back in the bath.
“Don’t you know, Lora? Don’t you see it? I’ve loved you for years. It would kill me if something happened to you.”
My mouth turned down. With horrible clarity, I realised if I’d heard those words when I was younger, I would have been his, body and soul. But I’d hardened into a successful Runner, trained in violence and death. It was too late for professions of love, like we were kids. Only the strong survived in Applecross, and love was just another weakness, another tool my enemies could use against me.
Seth saw my expression and sighed. “Please. Just do what I say on this.”
The image of Morgan’s lifeless body flashed through my mind. “It’s too late. The path has been set,” I told him coldly.
Our eyes locked. A quiet desperation was in Seth’s eyes, but he said no more. I pushed him away and stepped out of the bath, wrapping the towel around me. I could control myself. I could, I could, I could. Padding back into the bedroom, I heard Seth remove his pants and splash into the tub.
“There’s coffee and food downstairs,” he called to me. “I’ll join you in a minute. I’ve got some ointment for those bruises. Then there’s something important we need to talk about.”
“What’s that?” I fixed on my Outland style bra and knickers, dusted off my dress and pulled it over my head. Seth didn’t answer, just began whistling a tone-deaf tune. Rolling my eyes, I pulled on my coat and buckled on my work-belt. Making my way into downstairs, I searched for the kitchen, following the smell of fresh coffee.
The stairs led into a corridor with doors that were locked. Annoyed I couldn’t do some serious snooping, I found the kitchen at the back of the house.
The kitchen looked like the rest of the house, untouched and unlived in. It was a nice enough, all rich mahogany panels and speckled marble bench tops. I was surprised to not find any staff and wondered again how Seth could afford such luxury. A kettle sat on a warm wood stove, two empty mugs on the table. I poured myself a cup and sat down, thinking how Seth’s didn’t like to talk about his past. I didn’t know if he’d been married, or why he’d chosen his career. Most men took the mantel of their father’s profession and I’d always supposed that was Seth’s story. Looking around though, I began to doubt it. No paintings on the walls, no indication of family.
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