by Alex Rivers
“Sure you can.” Kellen grabbed my face, pressing my cheeks as he examined me like a prized cow. I slapped his hand away, and he smiled, and grabbed it again. “Taranis,” he breathed out in wonder. “Those deep blue eyes, the flecks of green… They are unmistakable.”
“You’re dead, Kellen,” Roan snarled, stepping closer.
I stared as his ears lengthened into points. Antlers gleamed from his head, and his tattoos began to glow, metallic copper now instead of black. His hair paled, from deep gold to nearly white that draped over his shoulders, and his eyes burned, a fiery amber. White claws grew from his fingertips, and he growled, the deep, animalistic sound sending a primal pulse of fear through my gut. I couldn’t explain exactly why—maybe it was because he no longer looked quite human—but the sight of him unveiling sent a sharp spike of fear through the ancient part of my brain, the part that told me to run when I was about to die. I managed to stand my ground, my legs shaking, but if he’d cast a look in my direction, I would have fled the club and not looked back.
The look he was giving to Kellen conveyed something like I’m going to rip out your lungs. And if that happened, I’d never get to Lucy. I also had the disturbing feeling that once he gave in to his violent side, he wouldn’t be able to stop.
I grabbed his arm. “Roan, don’t!”
Kellen smiled, sharp teeth shining in the dark hall. “I’ve been wanting to slaughter you for a long time.”
“Don’t move, demon.” Gabriel moved up behind him, holding the gun I’d given him that morning, pointing it directly at Kellen’s back. “Ever heard of a gun, demon? This one’s full of iron bullets.”
My heart thumping, I looked around us. So far, everyone around us was too busy writhing on each other to notice. I prayed this would last.
Kellen turned to Gabriel. “I know what a gun is. Their bullets are all made of useless lead.”
He stepped toward Gabriel, reaching for the gun. Gabriel took a step back and shifted the slide quickly, letting a bullet pop out to the floor.
“See for yourself.” Gabriel smiled calmly. “But move slowly. If you shout or move too quickly, you’ll get an iron bullet in your skull.” He kicked the bullet toward Kellen.
The fae stared at him, and I caught the faint tremble in Kellen’s hands. Slowly, he bent and touched the bullet, and hissed in horror. He rose too fast, and Gabriel raised the gun just a bit higher, his eyebrow quirking in a silent warning.
“You dare bring an iron weapon to this hall?” Kellen growled.
“Shut up.” Ferocity burned in Gabriel’s eyes. “You and me, we’re taking a little walk. If you do anything to startle me, I’ll shoot. I’ll empty the fucking magazine in your ribs. It has twelve bullets, all iron. Believe me, I’ve been itching to do some demon-killing for years. What do you think? Will you survive it?”
My stomach churned, and I suddenly regretted dragging Gabriel into this. If anything happened to him, I’d never get over the guilt.
“This is what it’s come to, Taranis?” Kellen growled. “Slumming it with humans who carry iron?”
“Move,” Gabriel barked, taking a step closer. “Now.”
Kellen’s eyes narrowed, but the two of them walked slowly into the crowds, Gabriel’s gun now hidden under the flap of his jacket. I stared after them, my heart in my throat. At the first opportunity, Kellen would tear Gabriel’s head off. I could only hope Gabriel wouldn’t give him the chance.
“Come on.” Roan touched my arm. “Your friend has done well. But this encounter was ill-timed. Let’s get Lucy, and get out of here. Fast.”
His features had returned to normal, his tattoos black again, his hair a deep honey.
I quickly bent to pick up the discarded iron bullet, and palmed it before a random fae dancer stepped on it. We moved closer to the door with the naked chick, glowing with a golden light. Two guards stood before it, and at the sight of Roan, they shifted slightly.
One of them, a fae with dark hair, stared at me. “Sir, you are always welcome, but the girl can’t enter.”
Reaching into my dress, I pulled out the parchment and handed it over. The guard glanced at it, then moved away from the door. The door swung open, revealing a spiral stone stairwell, overgrown with ivy. Roan grasped my hand, leading me down.
* * *
We walked through a domed hall, its walls half-claimed by plants. Among the vines and flowers, the walls glittered with gems and gilt bas relief sculptures, depicting stag hunts and ancient trees. It was an immense display of wealth, and I could now understand why they were so particular about not allowing bags in the club.
Underneath the sweet perfume of wildflowers, the scent of something dark and rotting hung in the air. The club’s music now seemed faraway, hardly penetrating these walls.
We crossed through a tall, arched threshold into another room—an octagonal shape with a domed ceiling formed from hemlock vines that glittered with lights. In leafy alcoves around the room, fae sat at wooden tables. Candlelight from chandeliers cast dancing light over the room, and the shadows seemed to writhe around us. A gilt-framed mirror hung on one of the walls. Always good to know where the reflections were in any given situation.
On the far side of the room, before a dark alcove, stood four of the largest fae I had ever seen—nearly seven feet tall—holding curved swords with nasty-looking blades. Their silver eyes were alert to their surroundings in a way I easily recognized. They were bodyguards, and their sole purpose was protecting one individual.
As I shifted my position, I caught a glimpse of the person they were guarding. The creature sitting behind them looked so alien, so unabashedly inhuman, I could hardly bring myself to look at him. At first glimpse, he looked like a very old man, dressed in rags. But as my eyes adjusted to the dim light, I realized he was shirtless, and what I’d mistaken for rags were swaths of sickly green algae and brown muck. His large mouth opened in a ghastly grin. His skin was bone white and his eyes were light gray, matching the color of his elongated teeth. Among the muck and algae, something white gleamed on his chest, bathed orange in the candlelight.
On either side of him sat two naked human women. The man’s arms reached around the women, and he groped their breasts with his green, webbed hands.
Roan paused, leaning into me. “That’s Grendel,” he whispered. “But I don’t know which of the women is Lucy.”
I looked at the girls. Each wore a fixed smile on her face, though their smiles didn’t reach their eyes. They seemed young—no more than twenty, perhaps even younger. I wondered if they were trapped here, or if they were escort girls, paid for their time. Either way, I didn’t feel like leaving either of them here with this man.
“We’ll take both with us,” I said. “We can figure out which one is Lucy later.”
“And how do you propose to take them from him?”
I didn’t have a clue. “I suppose just killing him is out of the question.”
Roan cocked his head. “It’s typically my favorite approach. I can take the bodyguards.” He nodded at a hall, opposite where we stood. “But I guarantee there are a dozen more outside.”
“You think you can take out these four bodyguards?” I asked, raising my eyebrow.
He looked almost hurt. “Of course.”
Damn it! We had to get the girls right now if we wanted a chance of getting to the Sheerness Docks in time, and even that was cutting it close.
“We’ll talk to him,” I said. “Perhaps we can cut a deal. There must be something he wants.”
“It doesn’t look like he’s lacking for anything here.”
We crossed to him, and as we approached, the rotting smell grew stronger. The guards parted, and Grendel’s murky eyes fixed on us.
“Well,” he croaked. “Roan of Taranis. And a lovely plaything. You always could pick them, Taranis.”
“Grendel.” Roan’s voice was stony.
“What’s your name, plaything?” Grendel asked, looking at me, his mouth opening and a
long purple tongue emerging to lick his thin lips.
Bile rose in my throat, and I stared at the ornament on Grendel’s chest. It was a bone. A human pelvic bone. Well, that was… unexpected.
Grendel stroked the bone. “Admiring Lucy, I see?” He grinned at me, his sharp teeth glinting in the light. “She was something special. The most beautiful woman I ever owned. But, of course, human, and like all of your race, she aged too quickly. Still, I keep her best parts with me.” One of his webbed paws caressed the bone lovingly. “Reminds me of old times.”
“We just wanted to pay our respects,” Roan said. “Thank you for your hospitality.”
Grendel smiled again, staring at me. Roan grabbed my arm and pulled me away.
“Lucy is the fucking bone,” I hissed at him when we were far enough.
“So I noticed. He won’t give it away,” Roan said. “Not without a fight.”
“Maybe he’d be willing to trade—”
“If he would, the price would be too high.”
I thought of Scarlett. “There isn’t a price that’s too high.”
Something fierce flashed in his eyes. “Trust me, there is.”
“We’re running out of time.” Damn damn damn!
A briny draft whispered over my skin, and I turned, catching sight of a small, wooden door, inset into a shadowy wall by the gilt-framed mirror. It stood not ten feet away. This door, inside the inner court, led somewhere important. To Grendel’s private quarters, perhaps?
I pulled Roan closer to me, whispering into his ear. This close, heat from his body warmed mine. “I have a plan,” I whispered. “You should get out, find Gabriel, and wait for me.”
“No.” His tone brooked no argument.
But I was already walking away from him. He reached for me, but I rushed out of his grasp.
The moment I moved away from his side, all the eyes in the room turned to stare at me, as the fae immediately sensed my pixie emotions. Their eyes widened, and I saw the mesmerized looks around me. Pixie emotions were like a drug to fae—a mix of magic and human feelings. And it helped if the emotions were powerful. Which, considering my fear and revulsion, they were.
“A lilive.” Grendel’s tongue flicked out, licking his lips as I approached. “Imagine that.”
I smiled at him. “That’s right.” I fluttered my eyelashes. “I’ve heard you’re the richest fae in London. Is that true?”
“Yes.” He quirked his head, entranced.
“I thought… we could spend some time together. Privately.” I trailed my fingertips down my chest, between my breasts. “And maybe you could… reward me for my favors, later?”
“That’s an interesting proposal.” His grip tightened on the girls’ breasts. “What did you have in mind?”
“Oh…” I looked around me at the sparkling rubies and diamonds. “I’m sure we can work something out.”
He stood up slowly. He was completely naked, and I kept my eyes firmly off his crotch. I did not need any more fuel for my nightmares.
Roan growled behind me. “Cassandra. What are you doing?”
What I’m doing is saving my friend, and I will do whatever it takes.
I turned to look at him. Those antlers had reappeared, and his golden eyes burned into me, copper tattoos gleaming on his skin. “Cassandra!” He bellowed, his fists clenched. I had the feeling he was about to level this place, but I needed him to stay in control for just a few more minutes.
I widened my eyes in an expression that I hoped conveyed trust me. “I’ll be fine.”
“I’ll be gentle with her,” croaked Grendel. “Perhaps.” He nodded at the door by the mirror.
I plastered a smile on my face, and followed him to the door. He grabbed my arm, his webbed hands surprisingly strong. He dragged me toward the door, and his bodyguards followed. I could only hope they wouldn’t be faster than me when I made my move.
“Oh, it’s going to be a party?” I smiled at them. “That’s good. I have enough emotions for all of you.”
Grendel blinked, aware of his bodyguards for the first time since I approached. “Wait here!” he snarled. “I want her alone.”
I tried to hide my satisfaction as they froze, hoping Grendel couldn’t feel the sense of achievement I was emanating. Furtively, I glanced at the chain that held the bone around his neck. It was thin. I could easily break it. I just needed to time it right…
As we approached the door, I felt the mirror by its side merge with me, forming a bond. As fast as I could, I searched for a second reflection to jump through. My pulse racing, I grabbed the bone and tugged it hard.
But the chain didn’t break, and my heart skipped a beat. Grendel let out a rough laugh, and flung me against the wall. My head snapped back, slamming into the stone, and pain cracked through my skull. I cried out, my vision darkening as I lost my grip on the reflection.
“Interested in Lucy, little fortal?” Grendel hissed at me, his webbed hands all over me. “Well, you’re about to know her real well. We’re going to have great fun, the three of us. And I won’t be gentle.”
Over his shoulder, I was dimly aware of Roan charging the bodyguards, roaring in anger.
Behind me, the door swung open, and Grendel shoved me inside, letting the door close behind him.
Chapter 12
He dragged me down a steep flight of stairs, much stronger than I’d imagined he’d be, his slimy hand gripping my wrist. Adrenaline burned through my nerve endings. If I didn’t get the fuck out of this situation fast, some psychopath was going to burn Scarlett to death. Rage flooded my body. Someone was trying to play the puppet master, pulling my strings and sending me on a wild goose chase through the city. Someone knew I’d do anything for Scarlett, and wanted to watch me flail around. Did my tormentor know that I hated being underground, that I loathed the dank air?
This had gone terribly wrong, and my chest tightened. How was Roan faring against the bodyguards? He’d been completely unarmed.
Pain throbbed through my skull, and I struggled to concentrate. A cold, briny breeze chilled my skin. As Grendel took me lower down the dank stairwell, I could hardly see anything around me, and the rotten smell in the air grew heavier.
Finally, we reached the bottom of the stairs, and he pulled me into a dark room. With a shock, I found my feet submerged in water. The sound of rushing water echoed off a low ceiling, but I couldn’t see a thing. Icy water flowed over my legs, up to my knees, chilling me. Where the fuck were we? Fat drops of water dripped of a ceiling, dampening my dress. My best guess was that he’d dragged me into some sort of underground river.
I desperately tried to feel for a reflection in the water, but in the dark, I had nothing.
“Now…” Grendel shoved me against a damp wall, and my head smacked the brick. “Let’s have some fun, little fortal.”
The blow dizzied me, and I grimaced in revulsion as Grendel squeezed his slimy body against mine, pressing my wrists to the wall. I felt his slimy tongue lash my cheek, and heard his groan of pleasure, his excitement at my pixie horror apparent. He let out a small gurgle of pleasure, and he breathed on me, his breath full of rot.
When I had killed the Rix, I had used the reflection in his eye as a weapon against him, but in the dark, I had nothing.
“Your emotions are exquisite, lilive,” he groaned. “Now let’s feel your pixie body.”
He pressed my wrists into the wall, which seemed to curve behind me. One of his knees nudged between my legs.
This had gone on long enough. I had a friend to rescue, and this rapey fucker was getting in my way. Hot anger blazed. Clutching the iron bullet I had palmed earlier, I head-butted him, and he dropped his grip on me. I slammed my knee into his crotch, his agonized howl echoing in the dark space. I thrust my right hand forward, feeling his open mouth, shoving it inside, driving the iron bullet into his throat.
He bit down on my hand, pain splintering my fingers. I kicked him in the gut and he stumbled away from me. I couldn’t see him,
could only hear the sound of his coughing and hacking as it echoed off the ceiling. His body splashed into the water, and I trudged toward him through the river, plunging in deeper, up to my waist. My feet brushed against a slimy body. It seemed the iron bullet had worked.
Holding my breath, I plunged under the icy water, feeling around his fetid carcass for his necklace. At last, my fingers brushed over the smooth bone, and I pulled it from his neck, struggling as it got caught around his head, my lungs burning. At last, I unhooked the thing and rose, gasping for breath. I shivered in the frigid water, moving back to the shallower edges of the tunnel.
As the rage and panic in my mind subsided, I heard shouts echoing in the stairwell. I tensed, ready to kick someone in the gut again.
“Cassandra?” Roan’s voice.
I loosed a breath. “I’m right here.” I caught my breath. “I got the bone.”
“Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. Just soaking wet.” I wasn’t about to tell him I was terrified of tunnels. I didn’t need to sound like a major wimp.
“What happened to Grendel?”
“He’s in the river with an iron bullet lodged in his throat.”
“Impressive.”
As much as I wanted to bask in his admiration, we needed to get out of there. I trudged toward the sound of his voice. “I got Lucy; let’s go.” Please, let’s get the fuck out of this tunnel before I suffocate.
“We definitely can’t go back that way.” He touched my shoulder, stalling me. “I killed four of the bodyguards, but there are more on their way.”
My jaw clenched. “Down the tunnel, then.”
Already, I was moving through the water, with Roan by my side. The darkness here was so complete I felt disoriented, my eyes scanning for any hints of detail.
“Can you see anything here?” I asked, shivering.
“Faintly. There’s not much to see. A round tunnel, dark stones. Moss on the walls. That’s it. I can see you, faintly. You look cold. And your dress is sheer.”