by R. L. Naquin
He tore the stubs off the twig he was holding and sent the small pieces flying off into the grass. “Dad had me behind a desk. Boring job. Mostly doing payroll. But I could still feel your magic.” He held his right arm out and pushed up his sleeve to show me his gems. “The ceremony they did when we were kids tied you to me.” He held his arm closer to mine, and his gems flashed.
I pulled away. “What the hell? Nobody told me that could happen.”
He pushed his sleeve down and buttoned the cuff. “If you’d married me, your mother would have told you about it before the wedding. It’s supposed to be a secret only men and married women know.”
My eyes felt like they were going to explode out of my head. “That is the kind of sexist bullshit I ran away from.”
He nodded. “I don’t agree with it, either. But I’m glad I had it. When you got captured, I felt it.”
“You did?” I was angry that my culture had forced us into an arranged relationship. And I was furious the process had put a magical tracker on me. I swallowed my anger at Tahm. He hadn’t done this. He was as trapped as I was.
“I was afraid you were dead. One minute your light was bright, the next it was completely absent. I went to the portal depot and jumped through the first one that opened.”
“So, you’ve been here almost as long as I have.”
“No.” He looked at the smooth twig in his hands and hurled it away. “When I came out the other side, I found out it wasn’t a human-world portal. I landed in the demon world.” He climbed off the table. “And there I stayed for nearly a century.” He held out his hand to me. “I’m a little hungry. Let’s go back.”
I stared at him, wide-eyed. “You’re just going to leave the story at spending a century with demons?” I folded my hands together and refused to climb down. “Uh-uh. You have to give me more than one sentence.”
“There’s a lot I don’t really want to talk about right now.” He winced, as if realizing I’d already used that line, then went ahead and shared anyway. “The demon world has different rules than what they have back home or even here.” He climbed back on the table and sat. The distance between us seemed vast, but was only a few inches. “I didn’t have a visa to be there. I was an illegal, and they grabbed me as soon as I came through. Time is different there, just as it is back home. At home, the pace is slow, and time goes by at a crawl. Here, time is quick and relentless.” He paused and wrinkles formed on his forehead. “In the demon world, time means nothing. There are no seasons. No calendars. Nothing changes. They put me in a cell and left me.”
I gasped. “They can’t do that. Didn’t you tell them who you are? Didn’t you get a trial or a phone call? Something?” A piercing cold ran through me, as if my blood had turned icy and I’d never get warm again because no heat could penetrate it. He’d gone after me. And he’d ended up a prisoner for what sounded like an eternity. “How did you get out?”
He scratched his jaw and watched as the playground kids flew through the air and landed upright in the sand. “Eventually, they put me on the auction block, and I went to the highest bidder.” He shrugged, as if trying to make light of such a shocking revelation, but his eyes were distant and unfocused. “It wasn’t so bad, really. I helped build a railroad between two of their major cities. And when it was done, they sent me home.”
I touched his sleeve, emotion clogging my throat. “How long?”
“How long was I gone? Turns out it was about seventy years.” He shuddered. “Dad was furious with me.” He looked down at his hands. “It doesn’t matter how old you are or what you’ve been through, you’ll always be a little kid when a parent is angry.” Clearly, there was more to this story, but I felt his reluctance to go on. And everything that had happened to him had been my fault.
“I’m so sorry, Tahm.” I swore to myself I’d never be nasty to him again. I’d already put him through so much.
He shook his head. “No. Don’t be. You were a kid. And our culture clearly has some issues.” He sighed and climbed off the table, holding his hand out for me again. “It’s getting chilly out here. I think we both have more to talk about. Maybe we can do it again someday.”
I took his hand and climbed down. “Yeah. Someday.” When my feet touched the ground, I gazed up at his face and saw him differently than I’d seen him in the past. He was still the most gorgeous guy I’d ever set eyes on, but now he seemed...more, somehow. Did I love him? I didn’t know anymore. And maybe that was a step forward, instead of the step back it seemed. Because now, I could start fresh and find out for sure.
A woman walked by with an empty double stroller and two toddlers following behind her. Tahm smiled and waved at her before I did.
Running away from love was looking far more complicated than I’d originally thought.
Chapter Thirteen
Five people were dead. CanDorCon was four days away. Two souls were still on the loose. We only had one suspect. Zero people knew what she looked like.
None of those numbers made me happy.
We’d have to wait for Lenora to run tests on the dust we’d dropped off before we knew for certain it had once been Jackie. The list Jyll had given me had one name left on it. She was our last hope of figuring out how to find Sister.
Brody was more than happy to give me Penelope’s home address when I called. He’d already called her that morning and told her to stay home, lock the doors and not let anyone in until he called her back.
When we arrived at her apartment, she didn’t answer. I tried not to let this panic me, but a vision of Jackie’s dust-covered room haunted me.
I pounded the door with the outside of my fist. “Penelope? Brody sent us. Please. Open the door. We’re here to help.”
The peephole in the door darkened. I smiled and waved so she’d know we meant her no harm. A chain rattled, a bolt clicked, then the door swung open. A pale face emerged from the shadows, peered up and down the hallway, then an equally pale hand waved us inside.
Once the door was closed, bolted and chained, Penelope let out a long breath and turned to face us. “Was there anyone else out there?”
“No.” I wanted to touch her or hug her—something to reassure her she was safe and also reassure myself that she wasn’t going to bolt out the third-story window. “Can we turn some lights on? The darkness kind of makes everything seem scarier.” As I spoke, I moved through the living room turning on the table lamps on either side of her couch.
“I don’t see how things can get any scarier than they are.” Her chin quivered, and she held still—almost frozen—as she watched me.
Penelope was in her own home, so her human cover was turned off. She was stunning. Pale and lithe, her skin emitted a glow, even with the lights turned on. On her back a set of gossamer wings fluttered nervously, refracting light into tiny rainbows with their movement. Penelope was a fairy. The big kind. I’d seen the tiny ones before, but Penelope was altogether different. She wasn’t adorable and bug-size. She was delicate and ethereal. She looked like a princess from a fairy tale. No way would I allow anyone to hurt her.
I must have met her at the store, but without her human disguise on, she was a complete stranger to me.
I patted the cushion of an overstuffed chair. “Come sit with us. I have questions. You have problems. We can help each other.” I patted the seat again.
Ash settled on the sofa and flung her arm across the back of it, as if none of us could possibly have a care in the world. I appreciated her effort to lighten the mood. Tahm stood by the door with his arms folded across his chest and his feet spread apart. He looked like a mighty wall through which no evil could pass.
I had a great team.
Penelope perched on the edge of the chair, regarding first Ash, then Tahm. Her posture relaxed, though not entirely. She was obviously spooked, but at least she appeared willing to trust us. When she turned her atten
tion to me, her green eyes had mellowed from terrified to nervous. We were making progress.
“Are you okay?” I took a seat on the end of the sofa near her chair. “Do you need a glass of water?”
She shook her head and her dark curls shifted on her shoulders. “I’m sorry. I’m so rude. Can I get the three of you anything?”
I gave her what I hoped was a reassuring smile. “We’re fine for now. Can I ask you some questions?”
She nodded. “Sure. I’ll tell you whatever you want to know if it makes all this stop.”
“Will you tell me about Sister?”
Her cheeks grew pink. “It’s kind of embarrassing.”
“I know. But we aren’t here to judge. You get your costumes from her, right? How long have you been doing that?”
“This was supposed to be my sixth year.” She lowered her head. “I won in my category last year. Best pro-level costume.”
Ash and I exchanged a look. Another person receiving an honor for a costume she didn’t make herself. No wonder Sister was cranky.
“You never saw her face, right?” I asked. “Did you ever talk to her on the phone?”
“No. Never. First, you get an invitation in the mail. You don’t contact her. She contacts you. The letter gives instructions and a list of rules. Don’t speak to anyone about the arrangement. Don’t try to contact her outside of the arrangement. Destroy the letter after you read it.”
“So, how do you let her know you agree to her terms?” I was beginning to regret passing up something to drink. My throat felt dry.
“There’s an envelope inside already addressed to a post office box. We fill out the costume questionnaire, put it in the envelope with the check, put a stamp on it and drop it in the mail.”
“How do you get your costume?” I was horrified. What possessed them the first time to follow directions like that without any proof the mystery person would follow through? They were in retail, for goodness’ sake. I’d worked a lot of retail jobs. It didn’t pay much. These people must’ve been saving all year in order to afford what I saw hanging in Jackie’s closet.
“It shows up in my living room. I don’t know when it’s going to happen, but I come in here, and there it is.”
“Holy shit.” I clapped my hand over my mouth. I hadn’t intended to swear in front of a fairy princess. “She just broke into your house? Didn’t that bother you?”
She turned pink again. “The first time she contacted me, I had to include a key to my front door in the envelope.”
I blinked at her. What was wrong with these people? I spoke slowly, afraid I’d raise my voice if I wasn’t careful. “When you realized people were being killed, did you have your locks changed?”
Her voice was a whisper. “No. She hasn’t dropped off my costume yet.”
I didn’t roll my eyes. I didn’t smack my head. I didn’t say what I was thinking. Sometimes I could be diplomatic as hell, and somebody should have offered me an award for my incredible show of restraint. Or at least a cookie. A stick of gum. Some sort of recognition. Because this woman was terrified that she was about to be murdered, knew the most likely suspect had a key to her apartment, but wouldn’t do anything about it until she got her costume.
That wasn’t entirely true. She’d put the chain on the door. That’d keep out an intruder. Sure.
I had no words.
Ash rescued me. She leaned forward on the sofa and spoke softly. “Do you need to be here when the costume arrives, Penelope?”
“Well, no. But I don’t want to be poisoned in the middle of a crowd, either. At least this way I can see it coming.”
And do what when she saw it coming? I pressed my lips together. She was beautiful, but she had no damn sense. “Penelope, do you still have that post office box address?”
“No. Her rules say I have to throw it away, so I did. If she found out I kept it, she’d stop making my costumes.” She jutted her chin out in a small measure of defiance. “I try not to even look at it.”
“So you don’t remember either? You can’t give us the address?”
“I’m sorry, no.” The defiance was short-lived, and her chin lowered.
I wanted so much to help this woman, but she appeared to lack sense enough to help herself. “Is there anywhere else you can go, Penelope? Do you have family out of town you can stay with?”
She hugged her arms around herself and looked away. “The con is this weekend.”
I glanced at Tahm. He was out of her line of sight and was doing all the eye-rolling and head-smacking for me.
Ash crossed her legs and rested her hands in her lap. Apparently, she was the only one on the team who remained unfazed. “What’s your costume this year? Who are you playing?”
Penelope perked up, then slouched and pressed her lips together. “I can’t tell you that. I’m sorry. But it’s going to be the most gorgeous costume this town has ever seen. And once I’m on that stage, there will be a surprise that people will talk about for years. I’m positive this will be the year I get Best in Show.” Her expression was so full of hope and sincerity, it nearly broke my heart.
“Would you mind if I stepped into the hall and had a word with my team?”
“Of course not. Will you be coming back in?” From the polite look on her face, I had a feeling she was hoping the answer would be no.
“I, at least, will be back to talk to you. Just give us a few minutes.” I gestured at Ash to come with me, and Tahm opened the door for us to gather in the hallway.
Once the door was closed, the bolt clicked and the chain rattled. She wasn’t taking any chances. Which was weird, considering this whole situation was because of all the chances she had taken.
“Okay.” I took a moment to gather my thoughts. “At the moment, she’s the only potential victim left that we’re aware of. She has to be kept out of danger.”
“We should move her to a safe house.” Ash ran her fingers through her hair. “She can’t stay here huddled in the dark waiting for a dress delivery that will likely kill her.”
Tahm grunted. “If we take her out of here without knowing who’s after her, she’s exposed, and we could be followed. We don’t know who we’re watching for. At least here we can control the situation.”
I nodded, taking in what each of them had said. “I think we’re probably in over our heads as far as keeping her alive is concerned. I’d kind of like to hand that over to Tyrell and his squad. They probably have a safe house, and they’re probably better equipped to guard her here around the clock. I’m happy to help. But the final decision on this should probably be his.”
“That’s fair.” Ash’s expression remained neutral.
Tahm nodded. “I agree.”
“Good. We’ll give him a call in a minute. As far as catching the killer goes... I know we could also leave that to the OGREs. It’s what they do. But I have some thoughts about that. And I’m pretty sure once the killer is caught, we’ll be able to find Wendy and Felicia. Their unfinished business should be done.”
“Okay. Great. So, what do you want to do?” Ash glanced at the door and back.
“I think the one place we know Sister is going to be is at the convention. After all this, she can’t possibly skip it, right?”
“You just want to dress up.” Tahm raised an eyebrow.
“Well, I admit, it’s a perk.” I winked. “We’ll talk to Tyrell, but I think our best bet is to keep Penelope alive, get her to the con and catch Sister before she kills her.”
Ash’s jaw hung slack with disbelief. “You want to use her as bait?”
“She’ll be well guarded.” I held my hands up in defense. “But what if I wore Jackie’s dress, and my guards were less...obvious?”
“No.” Tahm’s jaw clenched and he folded his arms. “You are not going to be bait. End of discussion.”
Ah. That was too bad. He’d been so much more relatable and easygoing since we’d talked. Why’d he have to go and act like overprotective testosterone guy again?
I clenched my teeth and smiled. “Great! Then it’s settled. I’ll call Tyrell and tell him the plan. We’ll wait here with Penelope until his people replace us, then we’ll head over to Jackie’s place to pick up the dress.”
Tahm growled low in his throat. “Why do you have to be so difficult?”
I tapped my finger on his muscled chest. “Because I’m in charge of this team. The sooner you finally accept that, the sooner our relationship can stop being so combative.” I turned away and pulled out my phone.
Tahm knocked on the door. “Penelope, we’re ready to come back in.” His voice lowered to a mutter. “I don’t think our relationship is combative.”
The phone rang twice before being picked up. “Tyrell? It’s Kam. Have you got a minute?”
* * *
We stuck around with Penelope until Tyrell’s guys showed up. As we turned guard duty over to the experts, I shuddered, thinking about what might have blown up a gargoyle. Was Sister carrying around sticks of dynamite? Did she have a gun with explosive bullets?
It wasn’t as if silver or holy water affected gargoyles. There was no special substance I was aware of that could do what I’d seen. But Tyrell’s werewolf scientist had confirmed it. The dust in the room had been Jackie.
I wasn’t thrilled with my own plan to go back to her house, walk through her remains and grab the dress she’d intended to wear.
“You look a little green.” Tahm paused in Jackie’s living room and touched my elbow, turning me to face him. “I know you don’t want me to play the hero, but you’ve already been in there once. Do you want me to get the dress for you?”
I took a deep breath to clear my head and settle my nervous stomach. Tahm was being sweet by offering to go in for me rather than ordering me around or barging in to do it for me regardless of my feelings. And his dark chocolate eyes looked so sincere and gentle. He meant well. I knew he did. But I wasn’t used to letting other people do things for me. The few times it had been necessary, it was because I’d have died if they didn’t. This was not a life-or-death situation.