by Pat Esden
Tibbs took over again. “We don’t know exactly what’s going on. The cell service is intermittent at best. But they’re safe.”
All right, this wasn’t good, but there was no need for panic. “They’ll be able to get home once the weather clears, right?” I asked.
“No,” Olya said, her voice staggering once more. “They still have to get the flute and the avalanche closed the roads. It will be more than a week before they can do anything.” She looked at Lotli. “I am sorry. This delays you as well.”
“We are the last thing you should be thinking about. The men have a safe place to stay?”
“Yes, a cabin.” Olya’s gaze shot toward Zachary, her expression flip-flopping from worry to disbelief. She darted to him, wet her thumb, and used it to scrub a line of mud from his cheek. “What have you been into, young man?”
“We went to the Coffin.” He grinned. “Selena’s as dirty as I am.”
Olya grabbed him by the sleeve. “She is not. And she is welcome to stay here with everyone. You are going to take a bath.”
The Professor grabbed his six-pack of beer. “I believe I’ll go up to the house with you, see if Kate needs a hand.”
As they started up the stairs toward the cliff top, the rest of us gathered around the fire.
“Wow,” Selena said. “I sure wasn’t expecting that. I hope Dad’s all right. His arm’s barely mended from”—she stopped abruptly and shot a quick glance at Lotli—“getting broken,” she amended. “He really should be home, not stuck in a cabin somewhere.”
I moved closer to the fire, rubbing goose bumps from my arms. She was right. And, holy crap, Grandfather, his mind was sharp, but he was too old for this kind of stuff. And my dad, trapped by an avalanche. Even the thought made me crazy worried.
An idea built in the back of my mind, brand-new and scattered, steadily growing into something more solid. Selena’s dad, my dad, Grandfather, they were too old for this kind of stuff, but—
I glanced at Chase. He and Lotli stood on the other side of the bonfire, once more whispering. They both nodded, like they’d come to an agreement. I caught Tibbs’s gaze, tilted my head toward them, and raised my eyebrows to ask if he’d noticed. Tibbs nodded, his worried gaze signaling that he agreed with my concern. I pressed my lips together. Focus, Annie, I told myself. The fact that Chase and Lotli had formed some kind of team behind my back hurt more than anything. But I’d had enough of this crap. Chase needed to realize that I was as capable of focusing on the mission as he was. And, if he wanted to devise a plan and leave me out, fine. But I had ideas too, and no one was going to stop me from sharing them. Not even him.
Gritting my teeth, I clapped my hands to get everyone’s attention. “Guys,” I said, my voice rising until it couldn’t be ignored. “When my dad”—I nodded at Selena—“and yours and Grandfather were our age, they were already an active part of the family. My dad went to Central America on family business when he was my age and met my mom. Selena, your dad was how old?”
“He met Mom when he was nineteen, on business in Hungary. She was younger than I am even. What are you suggesting?”
“They aren’t the A-team they once were. Your dad almost got killed the last time. And look at Kate, she let Culus overwhelm her. But what do they let us do? Go to Bar Harbor to find Lotli.” I raised a hand, indicating that I didn’t mean to trivialize her. “Don’t take this wrong, you are vital to this. But finding you was hardly difficult or life-threatening and they’re asking you, a stranger, to risk your life while the rest of us sit at home and do nothing.”
“Annie.” Chase stepped closer to the fire, leaving Lotli alone in the shadows behind him. “What you’re thinking is too dangerous.”
“I don’t think Annie’s suggesting we all go to the djinn realm,” Tibbs butted in. “I think she’s trying to say we should all be as actively involved as the older generation.”
“Exactly.” I squared my shoulders and nailed Chase with a firm look. “You shouldn’t side with Kate and the rest of them just because they let you in on most everything. Think about how Selena and I feel—even Zachary, he’s smarter than the rest of us put together. It’s awful to be treated like children, when we’re perfectly capable of helping.”
Selena stormed forward, her voice strained. “I know it’s because they’ve seen a lot and are trying to protect me.” She clamped her eyes closed, frustration scrunching her face into a mass of angry lines. “But I feel like I’m nothing. They don’t want me to go to college. They want me to learn about the business, but they won’t let me do anything. When Culus cut Kate’s throat and I had to stop the bleeding and stitch her up, for the first time I felt like I was someone. I want to feel that way all the time.”
As if struck by the intensity of her words, sparks crackled up from the fire, spraying into the darkening sky.
When they died back, Selena opened her eyes. The lines vanished from her face, replaced by a wicked grin. “Besides, why are we waiting for the men to return from Slovenia before going to the realm? We don’t need a cave bear flute.” She turned to Lotli. “Right?”
Lotli shrugged. “Those flutes are powerful, perhaps more than ours. But they are not our tool, the tool of our grandmother and hers before us.” Her fingers stroked the flute tucked into the waistband of her pants. “This is.”
“All righty, then,” I said. “I vote that the five of us put this djinn-realm mission together on our own. We can’t let Kate or Olya or even Laura catch wind of this. Or the Professor. I wish we could include him, but he’d go straight to Kate for sure.”
“I’m in,” Tibbs said.
Chase smacked a fist against his thigh. “There’s a huge difference here. David and I have been to the realm. We know what to expect. With Lotli and the help of Annie’s dad, we can be in and out in no time.”
“That is true,” Lotli said.
The hair on the back of my neck prickled. She’d agreed without hesitation, as if Chase having been in the djinn realm wasn’t a surprise.
I narrowed my gaze on him. “I’m not suggesting we all go to the realm. And—since it appears Lotli is fully aware of your situation—maybe it’s time to clear the air. I understand this mission won’t work without your knowledge of the djinn and Malphic’s fortress. You’re the most vital link in this whole plan. But you’re also the one risking the most.”
His eyes grew dark and for an instant a flash of aura sizzled along his outline. “I don’t think any of you understand what it’s like in the realm. Malphic may appear human, for the most part. But there are other kinds of genies and things more terrifying than you can imagine, like the lealaps, they’re the genie version of a werewolf, and the shadows, of course. There are torture chambers and the Red Desert, haunted by those who’ve gone berserk.” He hesitated. “Where do you think your mother is, Annie? Do you think she’s sitting in a cushy harem surrounded by silk pillows and palm trees? Malphic’s fortress is not a sparkly One Thousand and One Nights fantasy. Humans are not solid in that realm, like they are here. They are ethereal, like genies are in this world. What do humans do with genies to imprison them?”
A sickening image swept into my mind. In the cellar of Moonhill, somewhere in the labyrinth of treasure rooms, the genies that once stood proudly behind King Solomon’s throne now sat imprisoned in jars, like pickled fruits or cucumbers. My hands went to my mouth as my thoughts rushed back to my mother—in ajar, like Solomon’s genies. Oh my God.
“That’s right,” he said. “That’s why I thought that bottle I found in the Coffin was genie-made. It’s like the ones Malphic keeps in his harem.”
Selena cringed. “That’s awful.”
“That’s not the half of it.” Chase strode around the fire, stopping right in front of her. His voice went deadly calm. “They have special clothing for human women complete with stockings that fit over their heads. Magic’s woven into the fabric to give their ghostly bodies and faces form. The women have to wear these robes when they servic
e their masters or when they appear in public. In the realm, humans are the shadows, sometimes bottled up and left on shelves for centuries, sometimes let out to do their master’s bidding.”
Horror and fear for Mother consumed me. What he was saying was almost too unbearable to think about. Yet, I knew Chase. Telling the truth as stark and grim as possible was his way of trying to weaken our resolve, to protect us. But he had to know that while I loved his concern, fear wasn’t going to make me back off.
I marched over to where he and Selena stood and took his arm, gently but firmly. “Chase, I get what you’re saying. Really, I do.” I looked into his eyes, begging for him to understand. “But we have to get my mother out of there. We can’t wait. And she is my mom.”
He took my face in his hands, his gaze reaching into my soul. “Your mom is luckier than most. She’s developed an ability to maintain solid form for brief periods, the way Malphic and some genies can in our realm, that’s why she could slip away to the slave barracks to teach us. If she’d been wearing her robe, the guards would have recognized her at once for what she was.”
I blinked at him. “What are you talking about?”
The bonfire’s flames died back for a moment, giving way to the whine and sizzle of the red-hot coals. Chase released me. “I’m not saying she’s wandering around all the time, she’s usually imprisoned like the rest.” He turned so he could see everyone. “I am against endangering any more of us than necessary. But I agree about the older men. I don’t think any of them should go to the realm. And I do think the more heads we have working on details, the safer it will be for those of us who do go.”
I bit my tongue to keep my thoughts inside and stole a sideways glance at Tibbs. He nodded. Yeah—those of us who do go—by that, Chase meant him and Lotli, and the fact that he was keeping that detail a secret was troubling.
“So”—Chase nodded—“I’m in on this idea.”
Lotli stepped forward. “We will be going no matter what the decision is, but we also agree that it is wiser to leave the older generation out of this.”
Tibbs and Selena added their consent, making it unanimous.
“Don’t worry, Lotli,” Selena said. “Kate won’t fire you or not pay you for going along with us. Freemonts keep their word, no matter what. Besides, if she even thinks about backing out on the agreement, I’ll pay you.”
Lotli dipped her head. “That is between Zea and your aunt.”
Once that was decided the air hummed with excitement. We moved the chairs into a huddle and began making plans, the fire crackling beside us, darkness falling now that the sun had set.
“Malphic holds festivals every full moon,” Chase said. “That will be the best time to go. There will be more guards on watch-duty. But their patrol routes will be predictable, unlike on other nights.”
I thought back to how close to full the moon had looked when I saw it from the widow’s walk. “You’re talking about two days from now, right?”
Chase nodded. “Exactly. Not long to put a plan together.”
He went on, explaining that no matter who went, they would have to use the Methuselah oil in order to appear solid in the djinn realm. Being ethereal might have sounded wiser, but it wasn’t the same as being invisible and it left a person more vulnerable to spells and capture, not to mention unable to do things like open locks. Also, whoever went would want to leave our realm right at sunset since the oil’s effects would only last from then until sunrise. Not much time, when all was considered.
“If you go,” Selena said to Chase, “won’t they recognize you instantly? I know you’re older, but you haven’t changed that much.”
The corner of his mouth crept up into a sly grin. “Probably, except most of my face will be covered.”
I eyed him. “Sounds great, but what are you talking about? I mean, is this festival some kind of masquerade?”
He laughed. “Not at all. The realm’s not a pleasant place, but it’s worse for genies than humans. Everything’s salty: the water, the Red Desert, the marshes . . . even the air tastes of it.”
“That weakens their powers, right?” I said.
“Exactly.” He rested his hands on his knees and leaned forward. “Genies believe God threw them out of the Garden of Eden and imprisoned them in a world purposely designed to keep them weak. I believe it’s true. Think about it. Genies have powers and physical strength. They should be a more successful race than humans. But they’ve failed to advance, partly due to their greed and deceitfulness, but also because of the salt.” He sat back. “Anyway, some warriors wear turbans and put black smudge under their eyes. It started as ways to protect against the harsh environment. But it has other purposes: anonymity, intimidation, the colors and designs mark where their allegiance lies. They most often keep their mouths and noses covered to filter out the salt. Some—like Malphic and his guards—can afford to wear magically enhanced scarves around their necks and use them when they need extra strength.”
“Sounds like testosterone overload to me,” Selena said.
Testosterone. Warriors. I reached up to my throat, my fingers closing around the chain that held the signet ring Grandfather had given me. Chase could try to scare the rest of us all he wanted, but mostly it was making me more afraid for him.
Chase turned away and got a beer out of the cooler. “Anyone else want one?”
“I would.” Lotli got up and took it from him. For a second, their eyes met. But this time, I couldn’t tell what they were saying to each other.
My stomach knotted.
Lotli opened her beer and settled back into the chair. “We always believed some genies could never appear as anything other than a shadow. But you made it sound like all genies have solid bodies in their home realm?”
I gave her a sidelong glance. I’d wondered how much she knew about genies. Perhaps it was more than she’d let on, but obviously she didn’t know everything.
“I didn’t mean to mislead you,” Chase said. “There are a lot of variables when it comes to genies and half genies. But don’t worry about that. If our timing’s right, the only ones we’ll run into are maybe one or two of Malphic’s guards.”
We talked a while longer about all sorts of things: how wealthy genies would send performers and prostitutes to the festival to gain favor from Malphic and other members of the elite, about how the performances rivaled Cirque Du Soleil, how later in the night there was wagering and fights, about the festival wine made from mushrooms and cocoons, and how burned cork could be used for eye smudge . . . about how, no matter who ended up going to the realm, they needed to think long and hard before volunteering. They might not come back.
It was around ten o’clock when Tibbs stretched his legs and got up from his chair. “I’ve got to get going, check the grounds and stuff. Maybe we can get together again tomorrow and talk strategy—after breakfast in the garage, like around nine or nine thirty?”
“Sounds good to me,” Chase said.
Selena slid her feet into her sneakers. “I have to take off too.” She gave Tibbs a coy smile. “Don’t be patrolling too carefully. I have plans for later.”
His face lit up and he nodded, eager to do her bidding even though her plans undoubtedly meant she was sneaking out to party with Newt and his friends.
I folded my arms across my chest. “Selena, you do realize you can’t tell Newt about any of this.” As soon as the words slipped out, I regretted it.
She scoffed. “Do you think I’m a complete moron?”
“Of course not. I—I’m just hyper-worried about everything. I—” Sweat trickled down my back as I struggled to say something to smooth things over. Yet I couldn’t push aside the niggling feeling I’d had about Newt ever since the first time I met him. “You really do need to be careful about him, though. Don’t get me wrong. He’s never done anything to me. But—”
She cut me off with a disgusted look. “Screw you. Newt’s the best.” She glanced at Lotli. “You want to head up to the h
ouse with me? Like Tibbs said, we can get together again in the morning.” She lifted her lip, snarling at me. “Like when people are done being assholes.”
“Sorry,” I said. “I just—”
“You just want to be right about everything—the queen almighty.” She snapped her folding chair shut, face red with anger.
Sighing, I turned to Chase and rolled my eyes. But I managed to keep from saying anything else until she and Lotli were halfway up to the cliff top with Tibbs tailing behind them. Then I huffed. “I guess I learned my lesson. But seriously, there’s something off about Newt. Don’t you think so?”
“I’d let that one go,” Chase said.
I threw my arms out in surrender, then let them drop to my sides. “You’re right. I don’t even know why I said anything to her.”
Our eyes locked. And suddenly I became keenly aware that we were alone, by a bonfire with a huge white moon rising in the distance. My heart stumbled, longing and sadness twining inside me, a strangling tightness that made breathing impossible. I looked away from him, down at the pebbles beneath my sneakers.
After a long moment, I mumbled, “Thanks for going along with my idea. I’m glad you told me about what it’s really like in the realm too. It helps me—” I let my eyes meet his again. This time he looked down. Still, I continued, “It gave me a better idea of what you lived through, makes it easier to . . . I guess it’s starting to sink in how important it is for you to focus and keep things under control, to get in the zone without distractions.”
“More than you can imagine,” he said. He folded up a chair and shoved it at me. “Why don’t you take this up? I’ll deal with the rest of the stuff and put the fire out.”
“Sure, okay,” I said. “If you really don’t need any help.”
With the chair weighing down my arms, I walked toward the stairs, slowly, expecting him to—I’m not sure, hoping, maybe deep inside that he’d tell me not to leave, and at the same time knowing that I was doing what was best for us both. Damn. This was hard.
CHAPTER 13