“You were being starved!”
“You should’ve had more faith in me.”
Ezra tapped his fork to his wineglass. “That’s neither here nor there. It was a pragmatic decision, Von. As her Reaper, you should be glad when your charge exercises caution.” He nodded to me. “Do continue, dear.”
“After the healing waters, Finn took me to his house where he brought in Garrick to pull for me.” I let Mason explain Garrick’s death, since I didn’t have that many more horrible words in my soul that dared birth out of my mouth. After Mason finished, the conversation was handed to Von, who explained his role in taking down Banak’s son.
Von traced the lip of his glass, speaking to it instead of the people who gawked at him. “Finn led me into the harem, checked me in using all the normal paperwork, oiled me up and brought me to Prince Julius’ Hari room, which is more or less a dungeon with a bed.” I stopped moving and probably breathing as Von explained what Ezra, Mason and I already knew – that Von was never a male escort for wealthy women, but a bedslave for Julius to work off Boston’s debt.
Danny held his stomach. “I think I’m going to be sick. I can’t hear this.”
Von glared at his brother, for once not shrugging off Danny. “That’s right. All those times you wrote me off and told people I was a prostitute, I was really paying off a stupid gambling debt the old-fashioned way. A debt that wasn’t even mine. Finn caught me the first time and brought me in. I was Julius’ slave for the worst three months of my life. You heard a rumor I was an escort and wrote me off. Never even bothered to ask. That’s the kind of brother I get. I walked you to school every morning, packed your lunch, handled the blokes who bullied you, and you threw me under the bus over a rumor. I’ve always believed in you, and you jumped at any reason to be ashamed of me.”
Danny’s chin was low, and his spirits even lower while he shook his head, as if the slow side-to-side would make it all go away. “Why didn’t you set me straight?”
“You never asked. You wanted me to be a screw-up, so that’s what I was. You wonder why November and I are so close? Because she asked me what happened. You ever wonder why Ezra would hire a prostitute to help guard the mansion? Because he knew the real story. He gave me a chance to explain, and then helped me get back to normal. You?” He waved his hand to be done with it. “I already lost the brother who truly loved me, and Boston’s a shell now because of it. Danny, you threw me away a long time ago. The prostitute label was just a nice little excuse for you to have no guilt at writing me off. If not that, you would’ve found another reason.” He shook his head in disappointment. “And the sad part is, I never expected any different from you.”
I buried my head in my hands when Danny abruptly stood and marched up the stairs. Mariang didn’t run after Danny, but got up from the table and flung her arms around Von’s neck. With tears in her eyes, she whispered, “I’m so sorry that happened to you.”
Von kissed her cheek with a sad smile. “You’re a good sister, you know. You loved me even when you thought I was a prostitute.”
“I do love you, Von.”
Ezra whipped out his phone and barked into it. “We haven’t finished. You’re not dismissed from the table just because you don’t like something you heard. Come back down immediately.” I kept my head downward as Danny skulked back to the dining room table and slumped in his chair, refusing to speak or look at anyone. Ezra straightened. “That’s better. Von, you went to see Julius, and then what?”
“I don’t think Danny can handle a play-by-play, but I got him to let his guard down. Finn had hidden a knife in the room for me. I grabbed it, we fought a bit, and finally I stabbed him. A few times, actually. Then I waited all afternoon for Finn to come and take the body. I’m not sure why it took so long for the other girl to off Banak, but there you have it. One foul monarchy gone in a day. Just how we like it.” Von slid his hands together as if gearing up for delicious gossip none of us wanted a taste of. “Anyone hear details about Banak? Did the lass make him suffer?”
Mason opened his mouth, but I shot him a look to shut his donut hole. “Does it matter? Point is they’re both dead, and that’s that. Finn’s plan is to put Mathias of the Green Lakes on the throne, since he’s next in line with no heirs. That gives Finn a little time to get a good face in front of the people so that when time comes to choose a new ruler, they’ll have a better one to follow. Harem’s going to be disbanded immediately.”
Ezra nodded. “Sounds good.”
Mason sat back in his chair, glaring at me. “Really? You’re going to sit on this one? Well, I’m not, and I don’t know why you’re keeping it a secret. This is the time to put it all out on the table, October.”
I fought the urge to run and hide. “Fine. Tell them what you want. I’m tired.”
I made to stand, but Ezra was unswerving. “Remain. Seated.”
I reared back in my chair. “I’d like to know when you thought you could tell me what to do.”
Ezra stood, his fists resting on the table. “If you want me to play the ruler card, I will. You and Mariang are Omens, which puts you under my jurisdiction. You’ll sit and give a full account of things, young lady.”
I directed my anger at Mason, who shrugged as if to ask me what I expected. “Fine. Von, it took so long to get a girl in to Banak because Banak had Finn’s mom in his sex dungeon for days.” I paused for the gasps. “That’s right. None of this is my secret to tell, but you’re making me lay out his garbage so you all can sift through it like scavengers. Finn tried to disband the harem earlier that week because I made him see how cracked it all was. Banak caught wind of it, and wanted to get back at Finn. He can’t exactly fire Finn, since Finn does everything for him, so Banak took Finn’s mother into the harem.”
Ezra rested his hand on his head. “So Finn killed the king?”
I swallowed a lump in my throat as the backs of my hands started to itch. “No. When we made it to the palace, I found out Banak was still in there with Finn’s mom, so I played my Omen card to interrupt them with a national emergency so Finn could get her out of there. Only I was too late.” My voice quieted, and I kept my eyes on my plate. “Banak had already killed her.”
Von hung his head, swearing. “Oh, bollocks. That’s dreadful. Honestly, I didn’t know about that. I wouldn’t have given him such a hard time before we left.”
“Finn was a mess, so while he and his men went out to bury her, I slipped into Banak’s sex room.”
“Locking me out, by the way,” Mason interjected, clearly miffed.
“You’re welcome. Did you really want to watch me seduce Banak?”
Von gripped the table, eyes shining with horror and revulsion. “You did what?” he said in time with Ezra.
“I lifted Finn’s knife when he was distracted, hid it in my backpack and, how did you put it so eloquently? Waited until Banak’s guard was down.” I drew my thumb across my throat. “He’s got a thing for legs. And toes.” I shuddered, and the ripple made its way across the table, hitting everyone like a punch to the gut. They no doubt wished they hadn’t asked me for more details.
Mariang let out a horrified cry of distress into her hands.
“You shouldn’t have done that,” Von murmured. “How far did it go?”
“I’m still a virgin, if that’s what you’re asking.”
Mason cast me a dubious look. “A pregnant virgin? Okay, October.”
I ignored Mason as Ezra stiffened. “I did what needed to be done. I wasn’t about to let Finn bring in a woman he’s already dominated and terrorized to try her hand at killing him. Plus, I already knew Banak would be up for it. When Finn brought me in to get at the healing waters when I first got to Dagat, Banak told Finn to give me to him, even though I was almost dead.”
Ezra rested his elbows on the table, looking disheveled, confused and completely lost. “Wait. First things first. You’re pregnant?”
I threw out my hands. “I can’t keep having this same conversa
tion. I’m not pregnant. You have to have sex to get pregnant, and I’ve never done that, Dad.” I said the last word like a dig, but Ezra took it as a compliment.
Ezra looked to Mason and Von. “Which one of you is it?”
Mason shook his head in time with Von. “Not mine,” they said in unison, like they didn’t want to get caught with the hot potato. If I had actually been pregnant, I’m pretty sure I could’ve been offended at that point.
“Why won’t anyone listen to me? I’m not pregnant. This is so infuriating. Is this your circuitous way of telling me I’ve put on weight? Because it’s mean.”
Mason spoke up. “We’re pulling for two, hani. We can tell just by touching you.”
Mariang put her hands on the table to stop the back and forth. “There’s a simple way to get to the bottom of this, you know. Just take a pregnancy test, October. I’ve got an extra one upstairs.”
Danny and Ezra both clutched their chests like Mariang had issued them conjoined heart attacks. I rolled my eyes. “Fine by me. But I want each of you to have to do something equally degrading as peeing on a stick when it comes back that I’m not pregnant.”
“Of course, dear. I think we’d all like to resolve this as quickly as possible.”
As I stood and stomped toward the stairs, Mason called out, “I got most of my strength back, by the way. Thought you all should know the healing waters did a number on me. I’m good as new.” He grinned as he snapped his knife in half using one hand, his thumb on the flat of the blade and a triumphant grin on his face.
Fifty-Two.
Failing the Test
I had never taken a pregnancy test before, and read the instructions over several times. When I finished, I came out of the bathroom, my brow wrinkled as I held it out to Mariang. “Something’s wrong with this test.”
The joy in Mariang’s eyes told me she’d been hoping I was lying, but deflated when I showed her the stick. “It’s supposed to have one pink line for not knocked up, and two pink lines for baby. This has the whole reading area fogged over to black. That can’t be right. There’s not even an option for that on the box.”
Mariang frowned and pulled out her phone. “Danny, could you go get another test for October? This one’s not working. Maybe it’s expired.” She hung up to cut off his gruff complaining and hugged me. “I know you don’t want to hear this, but I do hope it’s a girl. I’m so strong now; I’ll be the best aunt in the world. You have no idea what this feels like. To go from not being able to go for a walk most days to being normal? Normal feels like Wonder Woman.” She flexed her bicep and laughed. “If it’s a girl, we can dress her up in ruffles and bows. Pink from head to toe. Danny and I can take her for weekends. I’ll be Aunt Mariang. We can bake cupcakes!” She grinned at the sound of it.
I didn’t have the heart to burst her bubble. “You know, if you want a kid this bad, it might be worth a conversation with Danny to look into getting a little crawler of your own.”
Sadness passed over her eyes. “We want one, but it’s not possible. I started reaping too young and it made me too weak to carry a baby.” I tilted my head at her as the light dawned in her eyes, spreading through her body like honey that only glowed sweeter as the idea festered. “But I’m healthy now! Maybe, do you think I could…” The light fell again. “But no. I couldn’t do that to the kingdom. It would put me out of commission for at least a few weeks, if not longer.”
I waved off her concern. “Pfft. I’ve got you covered. No big deal. Plus, with the stone going out to the nations, we have to reap way less. If it’s something you want, you should totally go for it.”
Mariang’s eyes glassed over. “I told Danny I wouldn’t do that to him, saddle him with a sick person. It’s why I told him no when he proposed.”
I gaped at her, though I probably should’ve guessed as much. “Danny proposed? He actually got down on one knee and the whole nine yards?”
Mariang nodded. “Two years ago. I told him no. I wouldn’t make him a widower so young. But now? Maybe now I can have that life. Maybe now I can have a life.” Tears fell down her cheeks as I wrapped my arms around her, grateful that the sweetest, most unselfish girl I knew could finally have a few good things for herself. She waved her arms around. “Look at me. This is your special moment, and I’m making it the Mariang show. I’m sorry. It’s all hitting me at once.”
I laughed. “This isn’t my special moment. It’s barely a moment at all. Have at it. You deserve something good for a change.”
We girl-talked about Danny’s proposal and how she really wanted two children: a boy and a girl. She told me about her first time with Danny, which was also in her dreams, the way mine had been. She asked a good many questions about my dream honeymoon with Von, which I tried to answer in as few words as possible.
Danny knocked on the door, red-faced with a grocery bag clutched in his hand. “Never make me do that again.”
“Thanks. You’re the king of Mariang’s dreams.” I opened the bag and found a dozen tests inside, each a different brand. “How many times do you think I need to take this test?”
“I would’ve thought just the one, but apparently at least twice.”
I fished through the bag and pulled out a bottle of water, a pack of condoms and some prenatal vitamins. “Are these supposed to be funny?”
“No. They’re supposed to get me out of ever having to go buy those things for you again.” He leaned in, conspiratorially. “Seriously, though. Whose is it? Did you take up with Finn or something?”
I answered by slamming the door in his face and chugging the water. I waited the necessary minutes and took another test, coming out equally baffled by the non-results. “Same thing. It’s supposed to be one pink line.”
“Or two,” Mariang amended.
“But it’s completely black and fogged over. What gives? You take one. Maybe I’m doing it wrong.”
“You’re a nurse. Is there more than one way to take these?”
“No, but I need a control to see if the whole pack’s defective. Maybe because I’m an Omen they’re turning out weird?”
Mariang and I took turns working our way through the packs, chugging water and comparing results, which I hope is the weirdest thing I’ve ever done with another woman. Hers all turned out normal, not pregnant, and mine were all defective. She got so frustrated that she asked to watch me take one of the tests, which then turned out to be the weirdest thing I’d ever done with another woman.
When we descended the stairs to a pacing Ezra, an impatient Danny and Mason, and Von smoking his cigar out on the porch, we had no new news to report. “I’ve called the family doctor. He’s a Duwende,” Ezra told me, apologetic. “I got worried when you didn’t come down right away. If you’ll consent to an exam, he can confirm everything right now. He’s set up in one of the guest rooms upstairs.”
“Oh, jeez. I’m not getting out of this, am I.” When Ezra was resolute and Mason guarded the front door to ensure I didn’t make a run for it, I huffed. “Fine, but when this all turns out that I’m not pregnant, you’re all getting colonoscopies, do you hear me?”
Never mind that I had a general practitioner. Never mind that no one else was subjected to this kind of treatment. I jerked my head for Mariang to come with me, and like a good sister, she didn’t bat an eye.
Fifty-Three.
My Surprise, and Danny’s Dream
“I’m what?!” I shouted, unable to control the volume of my voice. We were all sitting in the living room with Doctor Henderson standing in the archway. Dude needed a bulletproof vest for all the ammo I was ready to fire at him. “I’d like to see your medical degree, sir.”
“She needs to go off her meds immediately, as hers can cause birth defects for the baby in rare cases.” He recommended a different brand that was apparently a little safer, though not without risk. His higher-pitched voice was matter-of-fact, and left us all with only more questions he didn’t have the answers to. I heard precious little after that
; it was all a blur of white noise and shock that just kept on coming.
Mason was in my face demanding answers. Mariang was bouncing on the balls of her feet with glee. Danny had his planning face on to account for the changes in security he insisted would need to happen before I ever left the house again. Ezra had his arms around me.
I didn’t feel any of it. I only felt the nothing of shock and the confusion of biology – the subject I’d loved and excelled in – failing me just when I needed black and white to stay put. Now my uterus was a storm of gray I hadn’t asked for, or even earned.
The worst was Von. He started yelling his confusion at me, accusing me of sleeping around. His hands were running through his hair until it completely stuck out in the back.
I hung my head, the world tilting at an odd angle that forced everything to fit into the wrong puzzle. I heard them all talking to each other around me, but none of it made sense. My ears filled with a buzzing that made it hard to breathe. My arms banded around my stomach as I rocked myself on the couch, hoping for anything to make sense. The only constant in the past year seemed to be that nothing ever did.
There was a bang of the front door, some yelling, but I couldn’t decipher a word until Ezra knelt in front of me, putting himself in my line of vision that saw, but didn’t interpret as fast as it should. “Sweetheart, you need to try breathing. Lynna’s making you some tea.”
“Ollie?” I asked, hoping saying his name would make my brother materialize.
Ezra closed his eyes. “No, dear. It’s Ezra, your father. Ollie will hopefully be here tomorrow.”
I looked up and saw that Von was gone. Just utterly and completely gone.
Doctor Henderson cleared his throat to regain the floor. “If you’ll all let me finish, I can confirm both that October’s pregnant, but that somehow she’s still a virgin. Short of artificial insemination, I don’t see how this happened.”
Treat (Terraway Book 5) Page 28