“Well, what if I told you it did exist for sure. And that he last gave it to a harpie named Samuel.”
Digging her nails into the couch, she waited for the assault of questions and harpie suited emotional rage. None immediately came. Mason went first to the most rational solution.
“Did Eva tell you that?”
“Not quite Eva but trust me, I know the information is legit.”
“Go ahead.” His voice already changed with a more intense level of concentration.
She threw it at him.
“I know there’s a book and I know that it’s Adalyn’s father, Samuel, who has it. It has everything Jericho knew about the amulet and we can get it back. I think it’s our only chance now.”
He absorbed the first part quickly.
“And you know this how?”
In a single breath, she told him in a jumble. She told him about the realistic dreams, the exact locations, the names, and the people. She told him about Jericho’s theory-- his blood leaving some sort of imprint on the amulet. She lastly filled him in on how vague her theory was. Whatever was left of Jericho was left in the amulet.
All the while, the last, most vivid dreams played in her mind-- the odd but freeing weight of wings on her back, the hot garden, soft grass, and cold fountain water. She wasn’t watching it happen from third person this last time. She was actually seeing it from the eyes of Jericho. The silence on the other line lasted for awhile. The fog kept slipping away until it barely hovered around the cracked glass itself. Taking it back in her hands, she held the glass by her ear to listen hard. Mason still hadn’t responded, and the drawn out silence was making her worry. What if Mason just thought she was making a joke at the expense of his dead father? Even bringing the touchy subject up with him brought them into dangerous territory.
Finally, his quiet voice came across.
“It’s just a dream Avery.” He insisted, sounding like he was trying to convince both of them.
“It’s not. How else would I know about Samuel being Adalyn’s father? The garden? You didn’t correct me because you know those things are real.”
He let out a deep breath that sounded like static on the other line.
“How am I supposed to believe that, Avery? That my father...my father...”
He stumbled over his own words and then stopped. Avery didn’t need to hear the end and stayed quiet to give him a chance to collect his thoughts. Mason then changed topics quickly.
“You said Samuel had it? How long ago was this?”
Before she could respond, a third voice joined the conversation from his end.
“My father Samuel? What about him?” She recognized Adalyn’s voice coming over the line.
The harpie girl’s voice was just as loud as Mason’s, and the unwanted picture of them closely cuddled together popped into Avery’s head.
“I don’t think it was very long ago so her father was probably the last one with Jericho’s journal. If we can get it back, we can find a way to fix this.” Avery explained roughly.
Adalyn didn’t ask for the details.
“He wouldn’t give it to me even if I asked.” Adalyn commented blandly. Avery could just picture the blonde rolling her eyes and pouting her hot red lips.
“We can steal it, use it, and then give it back.” Avery pointed out.
“My father has lots of books. I can’t find it unless I know what I’m looking for.” Adalyn shot the idea out of the water.
The last of the magical mist vanished and just as Avery thought the connection might have died, Mason spoke.
“Avery, I have an idea.” He said. “We take you to court, Adalyn sneaks you in, and you get the book. Plus, we keep you safe from the Band a little longer. They won’t look for you there.”
“What about the police in the court looking for me?”
Avery knew the phrase “the best hiding spot is in plain sight” but that probably didn’t count with the seriousness of the situation.
“Trust me. We’ll need to meet… You remember that pier by your house?” He just spit out the directions before the last of the mist disappeared, and the telephone device died leaving Avery sitting in silence.
The next morning would find her packed, out at the location, and ready to go. She’d arrived before them and had been waiting awhile. Avery wrapped her arms around herself. The pier wasn’t her definition of cold, especially not with her heavy winter jacket. Rather, the area was beginning to give her the creeps. The sun still hadn’t risen and the small bits of yellow in the horizon didn’t light up the dim area enough. Even though no lamps stayed on overnight, Avery wedged herself under a light post and wearily watched the dark clouds.
Mason had told her to meet him here, probably so they could fly in without arousing suspicion, but she began to hate it. They couldn’t have picked a place more reminiscent of any horror movie. The water made the rickety wood beneath her begin to rot and the eerie silence had her on edge. Every once in awhile the wind would howl and the wood would creak.
Just about the point she couldn’t stand it anymore, shadows dropped onto the pier. Happily recognizing the harpies, she walked down to meet them. As expected, they didn’t cover their wings up.
“You didn’t tell your brother where you were going, right?” Masons question.
“Nope. He’s under the impression I’m going back to school.” She had to really push the act too. Avery had gotten her brother to drive her to the airport. Once he’d left, she walked out, and hailed a taxi to get across town. It wasn’t a permanent solution but it’d buy her some time.
“She can’t wear that unless you want her to stand out like a neon sign.” Adalyn said to Mason and gestured to Avery’s outfit with a less than pleasant face.
Avery had adorned jeans, sneakers, and the heavy blue jacket that kept her magical tattoo hidden away. Mason made a face that indicated his agreement.
“Wait, I’m not marching in the front door, right? I can’t! They’ll know I’m human.” She didn’t want to remind them or herself, but both harpies had at least a foot on her. Not to mention the whole lack of wings thing.
“There are humans in harpie court.” Mason said.
Impressed, she raised her eyebrows.
“Really?”
“Not many…you know some are servants and some are used for breeding…”He said quietly.
“Oh fun, I’m either a slave or a booty call.”
“Seriously, Avery.” He shook his head, lapsing into his authoritative voice that he seemed to reserve only for her. “I said we can do this but it won’t be easy. Please take it seriously. If you don’t act the part, you’ll definitely be called out on it.”
“Fine.” She said it only to reassure him. “I don’t have anything harpie formal ya know.” She added as an afterthought.
“We brought something. But you will need to be careful. The mark on your arm is still giving off a heavy aura.”
Avery paused in mid motion, letting her jacket hang off one arm.
“Wait, how are we gonna hide that?” She asked.
“Fake amulet. They won’t think it’s coming from your body.” He suddenly held up a plain black piece of glass that caught the rising orange sunlight.
Never let it be said that harpies didn’t think of everything, Avery mused. She took it from him. Touching his warm skin caused her cheeks to tinge red. Redirecting her face to the grey planks below, she worked on getting the oversized jacket off. Adalyn had already tossed the pile of white and tan clothes at her feet. The material could have been see through it was so light. Made of micro fleece, it apparently did a lot to keep one’s body warmth intact. Mason turned away, casting his attention out into the ocean and giving Avery a moment to slip on the new clothes.
Exactly as she’d expected, the clothes suited someone far taller than her. It hung off her hands and she stepped on the bottom hem. She had to push the sleeves back onto her shoulders a few times. At least the pants had a string belt that she co
uld tighten. Avery caught a glance of herself off a rusted piece of machinery.
“I look like I’m part of a cult.” She gasped.
Already pale, it sufficiently washed out the rest of her color. The clothes had no more design than a pillow case. Too big, it swarmed around her figure and made her resemble a deflated balloon. The only piece of color was the empty amulet strung around her neck, but that did nothing to fix the outfit’s blandness.
“Call it a step above how you usually look.” Adalyn laughed without even pretending to be friendly about it. If Mason heard the distaste in her voice, he ignored it.
“You can act like Adalyn’s new helper. Don’t speak unless spoken to and do not stray from her side. She can walk into her father’s study with no problem. Then you have to find it and leave before anyone looks at you twice.”
“You’re not coming?” Avery asked as it dawned on her.
“Banished from court, remember?”
Avery glanced over at the blonde harpie. She’d sprung up to balance on the railing of the pier. Adalyn’s face had twisted into something bitter, dark, and unhappy. Beyond her sat the vast abyss of blue ocean from which they’d come. Avery stared as it sunk in.
“Great.”
Seventeen
It would turn out that the harpie home base resided on an island off the California coast. Though not big enough to make the map, it still had a huge radius. It resembled one of those island paradises rich people would buy as a vacation place with the green gardens, blue pools, and shimmering waterfalls. It was also very modern. Infrastructure didn’t actually have accommodations for cars but walkways were plenty.
What Avery found most striking was the utter lack of human interference to the island. A whole other species existed with its own island and not a word about it was leaked to the media? The government either had some talking to do or harpie magic had a heavy hand in the area.
Adalyn began the first graceful harpie descent that Avery had ever been on, and she was grateful for every smooth inch of the way. The scenery became clearer as they got close enough that Adalyn stopped pumping her wings and glided them in. The buildings she’d seen from high revealed their true towering size and a monument to simple design. While they included big alcoves and huge archways, the design was ripped from middle century England with plain grey bricks. The harpies decorated well though. The buildings sat far apart with large pathways running between, and just off the pathways grew multicolored flowers, trim scrubs, and tiny ponds like it belonged in some Disney movie.
It took awhile for Avery to realize that they didn’t have any trees with long hanging branches. In fact, everything about the place demanded ample space for the harpies and their massive wing length. Adalyn glided them on the far edge of the island where the civilization hadn’t quite begun. Avery’s feet hadn’t made the sand when Adalyn dropped her and the subsequent landing left her spitting out dirt.
“Let’s get something straight.” Adalyn said while landing gracefully nearby.
Avery looked up while grudgingly wiping herself clean. The area on the beach around them was empty so Avery focused on Adalyn and waited for her to continue.
“I’m doing this for Mason and not you.”
Avery already knew that but instead of being rude about it, she went for the polite approach.
“Thanks. I know you don’t need to do this.” Avery forced out.
She wasn’t exactly sure how illegal this was by harpie standards but everywhere Avery went, danger followed. Adalyn’s hard expression never softened. Rather, she put her hands on her hips and stared down with a superior glare.
“I’m only doing this under one condition. After this is all over, you have to promise not to talk to Mason again.”
Avery’s brows furrowed. She hadn’t ever thought much about the after. Just the now. But letting herself consider it, she’d admittedly grown a little attached to Mason and the notion of never talking to him again left her with a mix of unsettling emotions.
Avery wrapped her arms around herself, defensive again. No way. She hadn’t done all of this for Mason to go ahead and peacefully walk out of his life. What kind of friend did that?
“Mason’s my friend. I’m not going to just like stop talking to him.” Avery said.
Adalyn bared her teeth like rabid dog. Her wings twitched and opened enough that her appearance looked huge. Towering over Avery, she intimidated.
“You will if you want my help, human. Do not contact Mason again.” Adalyn’s voice was sharp and dangerous, but Avery stood her ground.
“Wait.” Avery said as it dawned on her. “Why do you need me not to talk to him? Why can’t you get him not to talk to me?”
Adalyn’s face tinged pink and she whirled to face the opposite direction. Before Adalyn responded, a figure surfaced on the sandy beaches. The sight of another harpie made Avery freeze. The young male wore blue stiff formal wear that resembled the police uniforms. Avery waited for the man to jump, point, or scream. He only sent a half interested glance her way before his eyes went straight back to Adalyn.
“How was your trip out?” He asked her causally, not truly expecting an answer.
Adalyn gave some nonchalant chatter in response, turned, and waved Avery up the sand bank and over the rock bases. Without another word to the hovering male harpie, they marched in silence until they hit a pathway. If Adalyn had intended to finish the Mason conversation, she never got the chance. The sidewalk they were on led them straight onto a market street. Tents were set up on the side of the road bearing everything from fresh fruit to silver jewelry. The whole place smelt like heavy incense of cinnamon and nutmeg. Harpies lingered, chattering loudly and bargaining prices like auction pros. Avery probably should have acted more nonchalant but the chaos of it all had her head spinning.
The wide sidewalk became crowded enough that Avery found herself walking off the side, in the dirt, and receiving smacks of feathers in the face from a careless harpie’s wing. Only her tiny stature helped her to dart through the limited space until she surfaced almost a block ahead. Mason had spoken the truth about her trip here. No one on the island was shocked to see a human.
The crowd parted for Adalyn and the tall blonde watched her as she swaggered her way down the open sidewalk. Leaving the chattering market crowd behind them, they ended up on tranquil pathway with little more than stirring air to disturb the sound.
“So far so good.” Avery told herself to boost her wavering confidence.
“Ha, that was the easy part. Most people don’t know and don’t care. But you’re walking into Grand Central Station now, sweetheart. And if they catch you, they’ll kill you.” Adalyn dropped the foreboding comment just before they’d reached their destination.
In front of them sat an isolated building. Three stories tall, it was the first to demonstrate significant grandeur. The walls had green ivy climbing up the sides that only parted exactly where brilliantly carved insignia adorned the marble. For being on a first floor, it still had a dozen smooth steps to a set of heavy wooden doors. Harpies in sharp blue guard suits stood on either side and stared Avery down before she even got close. Growing more nervous by the second, Avery hesitated by her harpie companion’s side. She’d thought they’d sneak in, not walk in.
Adalyn snatched her shoulder, which with the height difference, was easy to do. Digging her claws straight into Avery’s skin, she pushed them both forward. Taking the unspoken hint to keep her mouth shut, Avery began the slow treacherous climb up the stairs.
“Adalyn.” One the guards stepped forward to intercept their path.
Broad shoulders, a wide abdomen, and thick beefy limbs made him look more pro-wrestler than bird. He wore an amulet around his own neck that flared an angry red. Staring down at them, his dark black eyes trained on Avery specifically.
“Who is this?” He quizzed.
Avery fought the urge to cower under the heaviness of his glare. Adalyn shrugged as casually as she ever did.
&n
bsp; “She’s a servant and present from my father to console my breaking aching heart.” She spit out the line to intentionally sound cliché -- a move that the guard seemed to find perfectly normal.
“She can’t have magic, Adalyn, you know that.” In a startlingly swift motion he swung his fingers out, caught Avery’s fake glass necklace, and popped the thing free of its chain.
Freezing, Avery just watched as he brought the thing to just below his chin. The amulet of his still glowed a hot and heavy red. Unsure what it was, Avery hovered. What if everything went wrong? What was her sign to turn and high tail it away?
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