“I haven’t smuggled any creatures. I am just the middleman. I take deliveries for customers and keep their precious commodities safe until they take possession.” Nick said with an air of nastiness.
I walked over to him, twirling my walking stick faster and faster with each step until it was nothing but a blur. Centuries of practice hadn’t been dulled in the past decades. I didn’t bother with a warning or theatrics. Nick tensed, anticipating something, but he didn’t expect me to swing the improvised weapon downward toward his kneecap. It connected with the bone with a solid crack. I felt his kneecap shatter. Nick screamed as his leg gave out. He caught himself on the desk and began to whimper. I moved out of his arm’s reach but stayed within striking distance.
“That would be lie number one. Kneecaps, I might add, don’t heal very well the mundane way,” I stated matter-of-factly, much like a teacher would speak to a classroom of students. “You still have another kneecap, two hands, two feet, and various other bones I can break.” I glanced at Sterling. “I won’t kill you, though you may wish you were dead.”
Sterling nodded and gestured for me to proceed.
“Aaahh! You bitch! I wasn’t lying! Sometimes clients change their minds, and I end up stuck with some odd creature I need to find a home for!” Nick’s face was deep red, and his veins stood out on his neck and forehead. “For that, you come in here and cripple me?”
“You do know that your gremlins are no longer under compulsion to keep silent, right? They like me because I treat them well. And since they aren’t under any obligation, they were more than happy to tell me all about your operation.” I twirled the walking stick again and slammed it down on his left hand. The bones didn’t break, but they would be bruised. “That was a warning. But that is the only one I’ll give you.”
“Of course. Betrayed from every corner.” Nick groaned. “You win the award for worst ex ever, Catherine! Does that satisfy you? Of course not. And you brought your current boyfriend to show off. The gremlins told you? Why don’t you get the location from them?”
“Are you aware that if one of us uses Magick on you, you will feel the effects but have no idea what’s being done to you?” Sterling cut in. “For example, turning your good leg into a tree root, again, will make it rigid and immobile, and it will cause tremendous pain. It won’t have a pulse, so human surgeons will likely amputate it without realizing they removed a perfectly usable limb.”
“I’m feeling a little old fashioned and Italian today,” I said. “You still have use of one hand. Unless you don’t want it for those lonely nights, I’d suggest you talk.”
Nick opened his mouth, closed it, then sagged.
Finally, he said, “There’s a set of Magickally cloaked doors, built by dwarves, that go into individual chambers.” Nick sighed. “I’m pretty certain they’re still there. I can feel something like static electricity where I used to see them. But I can’t use them, thanks to you. I was going to sell the creatures that remain for some traveling money.”
“See, that wasn’t so difficult, was it? If you hadn’t lied, you’d still have an intact kneecap and an undamaged hand,” I said cheerfully. I twirled the walking stick nonchalantly. “Perhaps, next time, you’ll be smart enough to tell the truth. I doubt it, though; since that’s something you’ve never been capable of doing.”
Nick snarled but didn’t say anything, as I turned and walked out of the room. Sterling followed me, as I made my way to Nick’s basement. The location, fortunately, hadn’t changed. As we walked, I wondered what else Nick had done since I’d dumped him, not to mention how much he’d kept hidden from me while we were together.
I was thankful I’d left him but regretful I’d allowed the failed relationship to affect me so much. I glanced at Sterling out of the corner of my eyes. Regardless of how whatever I had with Sterling ended, I wasn’t going to let it alter my life as drastically as my last relationship had.
It only took us a few minutes to find the doors. The woodwork, as with all dwarven workings, was exquisite, and the Magick wasn’t minor. It was, however, the same as I had in my basement.
“I wonder how much this cost Nick?” I asked Sterling. “The clan that did this isn’t overly fond of anything remotely human. The only reason they like me is because I cleared some rather nasty critters they couldn’t handle out of several of their tunnels.” I grinned. “I ended up with some rather useful and rare ingredients from the venture, as well as my basement level.”
“They can be quite generous when you show them you can be considerate,” mused Sterling. “They have been around long enough to see humans degrade from masters of invention to whining, lazy children of distraction. It’s tainted their view of the species. Where shall we begin?”
“Door Number One?” I suggested pointing to the left door. There were three. I snickered before adding, “Or we can play eenie-meenie-miny-moe.”
“We need to examine what’s behind each one. Where we start is of little concern to me,” Sterling replied. His business voice was deep, and it conjured thoughts that were anything but business like.
Drawing a breath and letting it out, I opened the door to our left. The interior appeared to be nothing more than a very large room with straw strewn on the floor. A large pile was in the far corner, and there was a trough filled with water. I heard a rustling as I cautiously stepped into the room. Sterling was close behind me.
I stared in awe at a creature I’d only heard about. It had the body of a snake and the head of a dragon. Its scales were iridescent and shifted colors, even in the dull light of the room. Its wings, with equally brilliant and colorful feathers, held it aloft. It hovered in the air, coiled in a loose S-shape. The air around us buzzed from the rattles on its tail. The feathered serpent was gorgeous, and, I was certain, pissed at being held hostage in the room.
Moving slowly to the side, I tugged Sterling with me. I noticed he held the door open with his foot. “Okay, you lovely thing, be free,” I said softly. “Go through the door and enjoy freedom once again.”
The serpent hissed once, then flew past us in a blur. The moment it was outside, it vanished from sight, teleporting away.
“I’ve never seen one before,” I said in awe, staring at the now-empty room. As I turned to leave, I saw something glittering on the floor. I went over and picked up a scale. It was smooth and cool. I smiled. “I think I might frame this.”
“Keep it if you wish. She left that as a thank you,” Sterling said pleasantly. “Usually they go someplace very secretive to shed their scales. That way, poachers and trappers cannot easily find them.”
I looked at the scale again, and my smile softened. “She was beautiful.” Tucking it into a pocket, I left the room and headed for the center door. “Shall we try Door Number Two?”
“Of course,” he said and gestured for me to lead the way.
I opened this door with a little more caution. This time, we heard a screech followed by a chitter that sounded all-too-familiar.
“Oh, bloody hell,” I groaned.
Pulling my arm back, I began swinging the walking stick like a bat. Like any good batter, I swung from my hips, adding momentum and force. The end of the stick connected soundly with the two-foot-tall creature that was racing toward me, a spear held high.
The kobold went sailing across the room, splattering with a sickening thud and very large mess against the far wall. It slid down, leaving a smear of blood and brains on the wall.
I carefully looked around the room, searching for more of the grotesque creatures. They were typically found deep in the bowels of the earth and were considered pests by dwarves. They were grotesque caricatures of humans, with wide, sharp noses, heavy lidded eyes that were too large for their faces, and leathery skin.
Seeing no more kobolds, I turned my attention to the other creature in the room.
The Kirin, or Qulin, depending on which you preferred, was majestic. Its head reminded me of a Chinese dragon, complete with silvery whiskers taperi
ng around its face. Its body was sleek and elegant, like a fae deer’s, except that it had a long tail with a tuft on the end. Its delicate silver antlers swept upward gracefully.
Its fur was iridescent shades of blue and green, and the tufts on the end of its tail and its hooves were a soft turquoise. Eyes the color of turquoise lakes blinked at me as it pawed the floor.
“You’re free,” I said, stepping to the side.
The Kirin tossed its head, its turquoise mane shimmering with the movement. It pranced by me, flicking its tail with each step. Like the serpent, the moment it was outside the room, it vanished.
“Next up is Door Number Three!” I announced in my best show host’s voice.
Sterling chuckled as I moved to the third door.
The third room was drastically different. Instead of a place to keep animals, it resembled an Old World office. Aged bookshelves lined the wall to the right, and there was a desk in the corner. Several ledgers with leather bindings sat on the desk’s surface. A quill and ink set, and a blotter, rested beside the ledgers. The quill wasn’t the modern type; it was an actual feather cut to create a writing utensil.
Along the back wall were cages like those you would find in a pet shop; wire cages lined the left wall. Only one cage was occupied—the center-most cage along the back wall held a creature I’d never heard about, let alone seen.
The creature resembled a midget tiger, barely larger than a small, six-week-old kitten, with snow white fur. The fur covered its entire body from head to toe, and there was not a speck of color in it. Golden eyes peered at me from behind the glass as it cowered in the corner. The tail wrapped around its body had a small scorpion’s stinger on the end, and two barely noticeable, black horns sat almost comically on its forehead, in front of its ears.
I walked over to the cage and knocked on the glass twice. The glass melted away as though it had never been there.
“Come here, little one,” I cajoled in a quiet voice. “It’s okay. You’re safe now.”
The little cub stopped quaking and twitched its nose, its whiskers bobbing with the movement. Slowly, cautiously, I reached into the cage, hoping like hell it wouldn’t think I was going to harm it. I’ve been stung by scorpions before, but I suspected this one would do more than hurt. I kept repeating my words over and over as I slid my hands around the little body. Easing it out of the cage, I cuddled it close, tucking its head under my chin.
Looking up, I met Sterling’s gaze and saw fury burning in his eyes.
“What is this thing?” I asked, keeping my voice low. “Are you sure we can’t kill Nick?”
“The species is tykcri, and this one is male,” Sterling informed me. “Since each of the beings we are releasing is endangered, I am sorely tempted to allow you to kill Nicholai. However, that would end his suffering, and I do not think he’s paid his pound of flesh.”
“What are you planning to do?” I asked.
Still snuggling the little tykcri, I headed for the desk. Once there, I flipped open one of the ledgers. In it was a list of creatures, purchase and sale dates, prices and buyers. It was very thoughtful of dear ol’ Nick to keep these records, I thought.
The second ledger held even more interesting notes. It listed addresses, creatures kept at those addresses, and notations about Universal Manpower employees.
“These need to go with us. The first one should probably go to the Council. The second one might help us find Althea and her amulet.”
Sterling took the ledgers and slipped them into his jacket. “I intend to make sure his sentence is extended to life. Then a committee will be formed to reclaim and release all the beings that have been illegally bought and sold. Each of the soon-to-be-former owners will be told why the creatures are being reclaimed and who sent their information to the Court. Most will not take kindly to that and are very likely to take advantage of Nick’s inability to detect anything Magickal.”
“I think he’s a waste of space and oxygen,” I stated dismissively. “But having his sentence extended is a good second.” Nodding toward where he had tucked the ledgers, I added, “I do hope you aren’t planning on keeping the one ledger to yourself. I’d like to see if anything in it matches up with what I retrieved from the company.”
“I will make certain you have access to both volumes, very soon,” Sterling promised. “Are you planning to take this tykcri home?” he asked with a bemused smile.
“I guess so,” I said, looking at the sleeping cub. “But, what am I supposed to do with the dragon egg?”
“Keep it safe and at room temperature,” Sterling replied. “And, for this little beast? Get a large silk pillow or dog bed. Tykcri won’t soil or shred silk for some reason. And get plenty of fresh meat.”
“I suppose I can let Maekyl babysit the egg,” I said with a sigh. “Though I question what sort of influence he’ll be.”
“At least the dragon will be raised with the knowledge of his or her kind,” Sterling observed.
“Wait! I thought this was just temporary. Why will I be raising it?”
“It’s bonded to you, Catherine. You have become its surrogate mother,” Sterling told me.
“Oh, hell,” I said with a groan. “My mother warned me this would happen, one day. Does that mean this little tykcri is bonded with me, as well?”
“He’s recognized you as his liberator. But I will find a home for him, where he can roam and hunt and be visited,” Sterling assured me. “It may take a while, however.”
“That’s something, at least,” I replied with a sigh. “Shall we vacate this place? Perhaps you can assist me in a long shower that requires lots of scrubbing?”
“Absolutely,” Sterling replied, wrapping an arm around my waist and teleporting us to my house.
After depositing the egg in the basement and the tykcri on my bed, I dragged Sterling into a long, hot shower.
Some things, I decided, were worth the wait.
* * *
Unfortunately, life wasn’t all about being intimate with an incredibly hot man who could make my toes curl with a single touch or kiss. We stayed in the shower long enough to run out of hot water. When that happened, we finished in the bedroom with a curious tykcri watching from the top of one of my dressers. Then Sterling left to speak with the Council.
Wearing nothing but a fluffy robe, I returned to my job of finding the missing amulet and stolen grimoire. After checking my account, I found Dante’s card and called the number on it. He answered after two rings.
“I know I’m a bit late calling you,” I said after initial greetings were over. “Unfortunately, some unexpected business popped up that I had to take care of.”
“Unexpected business is often the best kind of business,” Dante reflected. “Now, where shall we begin?”
“You said three members of your house knew about the grimoire. Who had access and what are their races or species?” I asked, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.
“Two are humans, the last is a minor vampire of the energy variety, if that makes a difference to you.” Dante spoke smoothly, with no tension. It almost sounded like he was trying to seduce me with his voice. “The vampire, David, knew where I kept the book, but I did not give him the spell needed to open the cabinet.”
“Who did you give the access spell to?” I asked, ignoring the honeyed tone of his voice.
“No one. I don’t trust anyone with my tomes. I am a devil, after all. The worst aspects of humanity used to be my bread and butter.” A twinge of humor had crept into Dante’s voice. “If you’re wondering if any of my minions or guests could have learned about the cabinet and the contents, the answer is yes. People talk, after all, and are quite nosey.”
“Was the entry spell broken or accessed?” The method of entry could make a difference. If the theft hadn’t occurred recently, I’d be inclined to pin it on the dead hooker.
“Accessed. But the energy was fragmented around the cabinet. That makes me wonder if the fiend didn’t try to break the s
pell or made several attempts before finding the right combination,” Dante explained.
“Have you put the spell back on?” I asked, although I couldn’t imagine this demon leaving anything unprotected.
“I’ve put a different spell on the cabinet,” Dante said. “It’s one that uses a very different set of components and energy. How good are you at spell detection?”
Shit, the cunning devil had backed me into a corner.
“If you’re asking whether I can sense the differences in the spells and what might have happened, the answer is maybe. So, I suppose I will have to come over.”
“That would be delightful.” Dante was clearly pleased. I could hear the smile in his voice. “I promise, I won’t invite you to see my ‘pleasure room’ or anything so laughably juvenile.”
“I’d beat you back to Hell with whatever object was closest. If you had testicles, I’d pop them like grapes,” I retorted. “That’s not an invitation or any kind of flirting.”
“Yummy,” he purred. “But you’re the type I prefer to leave intact and set loose upon the Earth. So, no fun for either of us.”
“We have an accord, then,” I replied. “I will text you my number, then you can text me your address.”
“Splendid. See you shortly,” Dante said before ending the call.
Deciding to be professional but not suggestive, I chose a pair of black jeans that were snug but not a second skin, a fitted white blouse and a black, fitted jacket. I forewent the corset this time. It would probably give him too many ideas.
Grabbing my purse and keys, I left for the address Dante had texted me. Gods alone knew what the demon was planning, but I had a job to do, and he was paying a cool half mil. It wasn’t a bad job, especially since it coincided with the job Sterling hired me to do. I hadn’t charged Sterling a suitable amount, but the fringe benefits made it totally worth it.
The Fae's Amulet Page 18