by Lora Edwards
“The one with the pretty wife? I wouldn’t mind getting my hands on her, if you know what I mean.” Delphine shuddered as she heard the leer in the man’s voice.
“Yes, the very one. He has to have full coffers, and we could use the money to fund a place to keep them on display.”
“Right-oh. I think that is a good use of the second invitation then.”
Delphine had heard enough and she silently slipped away. She needed to get back to the manor and talk with Flynn. He was about to get an invitation to walk straight into the lion’s den.
Delphine moved back out into the garden. Finding the hostess, she made her excuses, telling her of the fitting at the House of Worth. The woman was impressed and told Delphine she could not wait to see the new Worth creations that evening. Delphine was in the carriage and going back to the manor house within a few minutes of overhearing the conversation, and her head was still spinning. Would the society be bold enough to lead them right to them?
Delphine smiled. She finally felt as if she was helping on this mission, and she couldn’t wait to give Flynn the information.
Chapter 29
“What do you mean it’s not the right time?” Delphine stared at Flynn, incredulous. She had just handed him the society on a silver platter and he was saying no thank you.
“Delphine, listen to me: if I accept the invitation and they are putting something in the drinks to determine if the institute is trying to sneak in, there will be no way for us to catch them. It could be a trap specifically to draw us out.”
“But why would they do that? Do you think they know we are hunting them?”
“Of course they know we are hunting them, and the members are smarter than that. Supernaturals are always underestimating humans because they don’t have powers. Powers can make us arrogant. I can’t look too eager. There will surely be members of the society at the party and if I appear to believe this story that most humans would think was fantastical then I will blow my cover. They will pick up and move to a different place on the timeline, and how many more of our kind will have to die before we find them again? Do you remember what their last lair looked like? They are capable of such destruction, and we need to tread lightly.” Flynn stopped and gathered her in his arms. “Darling, we have to be patient. I know it is hard, but we must make them trust us or all this has been for naught.” He lifted her chin with his finger so she looked in his eyes. “You did well. Knowing that they are recruiting members is important information, and hopefully tonight at the party I can get more out of them, but for now we must lie low. Esme needs parents, and it would do her no good if we both perished at the hands of the society on this mission.”
Delphine nodded. There was sense in his words, but the Siren part of her—the part of her that wanted revenge—screamed within her mind, yearning to attack.
“I know what you say makes sense, Flynn, but I want revenge on them for what they did to my people. You saw that dungeon—you saw how they tortured the mermaids and Sirens, and they need to pay for what they did,” Delphine shouted, the hurt and rage she had kept inside spilling out into her voice.
“And we will, when the time is right. If we tip our hand now, we’ll be handing them victory.”
His soft, calm tone in direct opposition to her scream of frustration cleared some of the bloodlust from her eyes.
Delphine sighed. “You’re right. I am letting my need for revenge get in the way of what is prudent.” She turned and he caught her hand.
“Come here,” he said softly, wrapping her in his arms and holding her tight. “We will avenge Esme’s parents and all the other supernaturals they have harmed, I promise.” He laid a soft kiss on her forehead then turned and walked out the door.
Chapter 30
Delphine stood staring into nothing, her arms wrapped around her middle for a long moment. It had been too long since she had felt the sea’s embrace. That night after the party, she would go to the secret pools the mermaid had told her about. The soft touch of the sea may help to organize her thoughts.
Delphine stood behind the fabric that had been strung across the entryway to the parlor like a makeshift curtain. She looked down at her dress, a beautiful Worth creation. Delphine looked around at the other young girls in their finery and grinned. Maybe this would be fun; she hadn’t been looking forward to it, but how hard was it to flounce around in a beautiful dress?
“Ladies, ladies.” Mr. Worth moved the curtain aside and came to stand in front of the group. “Tonight you are no longer ladies of the ton but the perfect homage to the Worth empire. Please play the part—if asked, answer questions as you have been coached, and above all”—he paused to make a stern face then relaxed into a smile—“have fun.” There was much giggling and tittering from the assembled girls. Mr. Worth slipped back behind the curtain to address the guests. “Lords, ladies, and distinguished guests, you are about to see the newest creations of the Worth line. The ladies will circulate around the party. If you see a design you must have, just let me know and it will be arranged.”
Mr. Worth paused to wink at one of the matrons of the crowd, causing her to blush and giggle. He reached behind him and pulled the curtain down with a sweep of his hand. “Behold, the newest Worth creations.”
The ladies stepped out into the party and preened at the oohs and aahs of the crowd.
Delphine flowed up to Flynn and turned in a circle for him to admire the dress she was wearing.
“Mrs. Kirk, that frock is quite fetching.” He smiled at her.
“Why thank you, Mr. Kirk,” she replied, playing up her smile and batting her eyelashes.
She spent the next few hours parading around the room, laughing and talking with the guests and showing off the truly beautiful gown she had been given to wear. As the evening wound down, she found Flynn in the crowd.
“I haven’t learned anything and the crowd has thinned out enough that I think my absence won’t be noticed. I am ready to go take a dip, if you know what I mean,” Delphine said, looking at him meaningfully. She had told him earlier in the day of the supernaturals-only baths the mermaid had told her about.
“You go on ahead, darling. I think I will stay for the card party the gentleman here have invited me to.” He smiled and hugged her. While he was close, he whispered in her ear. “I think it is there that my invitation to view these unnaturals will come and I can glean some information from them.”
Delphine gave a slight nod then pulled back and pretended to pout.
“Wouldn’t you rather come home with me than hang out with a bunch of men,” she asked for the benefit of anyone who was close.
“My dear, men sometimes just need to be with other men. You be off to go home and get some rest.” He patted her hand in a condescending way.
Delphine made sure there was no one behind him then rolled her eyes and smiled. “Okay, I guess I will go home and rest then,” she said, pouting one more time before slipping into the crowd and out the front door.
Grabbing a cloak off the stand, she walked out the door. Delphine closed her eyes as the chilly wind whipped her hair. All the best mansions were near the waters so their residents could have exclusive access, so it was a short walk to the baths from their posh estate.
As Delphine stood outside the stone building, she could hear the murmurs of people inside, talking and laughing as they soaked; it looked as if she wasn’t the only one enjoying a late-night dip. Just to the side of the door, set into the stone, was a small mark. Delphine looked closer and smiled—it was as the mermaid had said, a small shell emblem. Delphine put her hand to the design and closed her eyes, letting a small amount of her transformation energy out.
As she did, the shell began to glow a soft blue and there was a gentle snick as a part of the wall soundlessly swung inward. Delphine walked through and the wall once again knit itself seamlessly together as if the opening had never existed in the first place. She could hear the lapping of the water and smell the salt from the sea. She i
nhaled deeply, and it smelled like home. Following the narrow winding staircase down, she wound around and around underneath the unsuspecting humans until she came to a large pool. It looked as if the area was deserted.
“Hello,” Delphine called out, her voice echoing off the rock walls of the caverns.
Satisfied that she was alone, Delphine quickly stripped out of her clothes, placing them on a high shelf that had been chiseled into the wall.
Stepping to the edge of the pool, she dived in, pictured her other form, and felt the burning pain of the change. She embraced it, having missed this side of herself. She flipped her fins and shot out of the water, diving back down into the depths of the pool. It was deep, quite a lovely spot for a lazy soak.
She surfaced again and realized she was no longer alone. “I see you found it.” The mermaid from earlier stood next to the pool, smiling down at her. “Your highness.” She bowed low. “I didn’t know you were a royal—it is hard to tell when we are in this form,” she said, gesturing to her own legs.
“Please, none of that. We are in the human world, and my title means nothing here.”
The woman quickly stripped out of her clothing and did a graceful dive into the water. Her tail was a beautiful emerald green that sparkled like a thousand gems.
Delphine grinned ruefully at the other woman and bowed to her. “Your highness. You didn’t tell me you were a member of the mermaid royal family either.”
“When in Rome, as the humans say.” Both women laughed and settled in, chatting as if they were long-lost friends. There, away from the prying eyes and ears of the humans, they talked of their families and their reasons for leaving royal life. The mermaid had met her husband, and Delphine had wanted adventure.
“You are here to hunt those they call the society. I have heard the fearful whispers throughout the supernatural community here. I heard they slaughter and experiment on our kind. If there is anything I can do to help, please do not hesitate to ask.”
“That is much appreciated, and yes, I will avenge our brothers and sisters of the sea. The humans will pay for what they did to our kind.” Delphine felt comfortable letting the Siren side of her out in front of one of her own. She may have been kind and beautiful, but underneath that seethed centuries of the need for survival and an instinct to protect what was hers that made her a dangerous enemy.
“I must go as my husband will be home soon and it will not do for me to not be there when he arrives. I am so thankful that you are here—it was nice to see someone from my own homeland. I do get homesick for others of our kind,” Lady Worthington said as she pulled herself up on the rocks and instigated the change from tail to legs.
Delphine politely looked away, and when the transformation was complete, she asked the question that was lingering in her mind. “Have you not seen any other mermaids or Sirens since you have been with your husband?”
“Sadly, no. As you are aware, our kind tends to stick to the sea. It is rare for one of ours or yours to venture onto land and live there among the humans.”
Delphine nodded; what her new friend said was true. Most of her kind were tied to the sea in a way that made it almost impossible to hide their true nature for long periods of time.
“I hope to see you again,” she said as she scampered up the rock staircase.
Delphine waved goodbye. The light from the high windows that had been carved into the cavern faded. It was time for her to change back and return to their estate. She wouldn’t want Flynn to worry if she was not there when he returned from the party.
Delphine hoisted herself up on the ledge, relaxing her body as the fire of the change swept through her. Standing on two legs once again, she slipped her dress and slippers on and turned to take one last look at the pool behind her. She felt more grounded, more level headed. She realized she needed to make more time to change into her other form. Even though it wasn’t required, it was still a part of her that, if neglected, would show itself, and possibly not in the best of ways.
Delphine slipped up the stairs and found a shell shape at the top. After she performed the same action she had on the outside, the door slipped out of the wall and she stepped out into the cool night air. The baths were still now, people going home to sleep before another round of bathing and parties the next day.
Delphine hurried back to the manor house. She would curl up with a good book, a glass of wine, and a fire while she waited for Flynn to come back from the party, where hopefully he would have gained some more information on the society.
Chapter 31
Flynn stood and surveyed the room. Tables had been set up and all around them were men in suits staring at the cards in front of them. The room was blue with cigar smoke, and he hoped he was approached with an invitation to view the society’s collection. He would then know where they were keeping the other supernaturals and they could take them down and get back to the institute. He had plans.
“Hello there old chap, nice to see you again.” Flynn turned to see a man in an expensive suit with a cigar clamped between his lips standing at his side. He recognized him as a duke or some such thing; they’d had a lively discussion about the future of the railroad and how his business ventures in the Americas were faring. He would bet this was the man Delphine had heard talking to his friend in the study during the garden party.
Flynn plastered an eager grin on his face and turned. “Hello again. It is good to see a familiar face—these aristocratic stag parties can be a bit tedious at times,” Flynn said, smiling good-naturedly.
“Indeed. With cards, cigars, and grumbling about the state of the world, one card party is much like another.” The man blew a stream of smoke from his cigar toward the ceiling of the room, letting it join the blue cloud that already hovered thick and fragrant above their heads.
“Fancy some entertainment do you,” the man asked, sizing Flynn up.
“If you mean of the female type, I am not interested. I am very much in love with my wife.”
“Fancy that—marrying for love. You Americans do strange things, but that was not quite the brand of excitement I was referring to.” The man came to stand closer to Flynn.
He felt his heart speed up. Here was the moment of truth—the man was going to reveal information about the society. Flynn felt the adrenaline pour through his veins. This was always his favorite part of the mission, when the cards were laid on the table and the action could begin.
“What kind of entertainment then,” Flynn asked, trying to keep a bored tone in his voice as he surveyed the room, wondering how many of the gentlemen at the tables belonged to the society.
“The kind that is secret. You seem like a good chap, and my friend wants to start a chapter of his…let’s call it a club in the Americas. What say you? Interested?” The man stared at Flynn as if trying to take his measure.
“That is not much information to go on. What type of club is this?”
The man produced a card from his wallet. It was made of heavy cream paper, and on one side in glittering red flowing script was an address and a time.
“Be here at this time and all will be revealed,” the man said, handing Flynn the card and then slipping back into the crowd.
Flynn knew he was being watched, so he frowned down at the card before shrugging and placing it in his breast pocket. He then meandered over to a table, lit a cigar, and proceeded to trounce the gentlemen at the table in whist.
He left a few hours later, his head full of new information and his pockets lined with the other men’s money. If anyone had been observing his behavior that night, he hoped he had showed them what he wanted them to see: a wealthy American railroad magnate with an uncanny skill at cards.
Flynn walked into the house, handing Stallings his hat and gloves. He had told the older man repeatedly that he did not have to stay up or wait on him, but Stallings refused. He was a brownie, after all, and he was most happy when serving others.
Flynn walked up the grand staircase and pushed open the
double doors to the suite at the end of the hall. The scene that greeted him caused his heart to swell. Delphine had fallen asleep in one of the large overstuffed chairs in front of the fireplace. He stood and watched as the light from the flames danced over her features, relaxed and peaceful in sleep. He marveled that this kind, fierce woman was his.
Walking over, he gathered her in his arms and put her in his bed where she belonged.
Chapter 32
Delphine woke the next morning to find the space next to her empty. She smiled; she remembered falling asleep in front of the fire, so Flynn must have brought her to the bed. She threw off the covers and stood just as he opened the door. She smiled at him and then her smile faltered as she got a good look at his face.
“Flynn, what happened?”
“They found a body floating in the baths this morning.”
“Human or supernatural?”
Flynn looked at her, his eyes sad. “Mermaid.”
Delphine gasped, putting her hands over her mouth. There was only one mermaid in Bath that she knew of: her friend who had rescued the lord and fallen in love.
“Lady Worthington?”
“Yes, I am so sorry, Delphine. I know you befriended her.” He came and sat next to her, putting his arm around her.
She shrugged him off, standing, her hands in fists at her sides.
“This has to stop! They are destroying our people and we aren’t doing anything about it. How many more have to die, Flynn? How many?” She screamed at him, letting her hurt, rage, and anger come pouring out of her.
He sat looking at his hands and let her vent her frustration. He remained quiet until she dissolved into sobs, sinking to the floor.
He swept her into his arms and just held her until she had cried herself empty.
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have screamed at you like that, it just feels as if these people are always one step ahead of us and I am tired of standing over the tortured and the dead.”