Darkest Misery

by Tracey Martin

  Gunthra would not act rashly. Neither by trying to kill me, nor by handing over Ulan’s hotel room number. She’d thought this through and come to the same conclusion as I had—the only way to get shit done was for one of us to say “the hell with it” and just do it.

  Tom believed the goblins had brought information with them. Gunthra had given me a push in the direction to finding it.

  My pulse hammered in my ears. “I will.”

  “Good, and good luck.”

  Head spinning, I left the room and crashed into Tom, who must have been standing right by the door.

  “What did she want?”

  I checked up and down the hallway. Andre had disappeared, but a few other Gryphons roamed about. “Any of these rooms open?”

  Gathering I wanted privacy, Tom headed down the hall away from the interrogation rooms and led me into one of the dull beige conference rooms not far from where the Gryphons and satyrs were butting heads. He closed the door and blocked it with his body. “So?”

  I fingered the pendant beneath my shirt. “First, tell me your opinion. Do we really need the goblins and satyrs to find the Vessels?”

  Tom’s eyebrows shot up. “Honestly, I don’t know. I thought so, but we haven’t begun to scratch the surface of everything at World’s archives. All I can tell you is what the texts I’ve found say, and they say each group in the original alliance took a Vessel with them. So we probably don’t have everything we need without their cooperation.”

  “Okay, but think about this. We only need one, right? Just one is all it takes to prevent the furies from opening the Pit. Is it possible information about one of them is buried at the archives still?”

  “Anything is possible. I have a researcher working on it full-time, but she hasn’t discovered much yet. When I say the archives are huge, Jessica, I mean enormous and not necessarily well-organized. Very few Gryphons are interested in becoming librarians, and Gryphon policy isn’t to allow non-Gryphons a lot of access because of the magic involved.”

  I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. “So what if we went and dug some more ourselves? Both for the Vessel and for more information about this key Olef mentioned.”

  “We never did search the archives for anything about a key because we had no reason to.” Tom scratched his neck. “What are you thinking exactly, and what does this have to do with why Gunthra talked to you?”

  I released my grip on the pendant before I accidentally yanked it off. “I’m thinking this alliance is a failure. Neither the satyrs or goblins are going to share willingly, and I don’t much feel like hanging around and waiting for the next batch of assassins or the furies to make their move on me. I want to take what these people know and disappear. Specifically, disappear to France and go through the archives using Olef’s key and their information as a starting point.”

  I held my breath while Tom seemed to debate internally. “How will you get their information?”

  “I have a plan, which is where Gunthra comes in, and you’re better off not knowing it.”

  With a great exhale, Tom’s interest collapsed. “Forget it. You need to tell me what you’re up to.”

  I gripped the table behind me in frustration. He was so close to going for this. “Later. We still don’t know how the furies found out about Phoenix. The fewer people who know anything, the better. I’ll tell you all when you come to France with me, but we leave Ingrid and the others here without them knowing what I’m doing.”

  Tom groaned. “I still don’t believe there’s a leak within the Brotherhood, but I’ll concede the possibility since I haven’t had time to investigate. Just tell me how illegal are your plans?”

  “The less you know, the happier you’ll be. But I do need you to help. I need someone here to run interference for me. Let me know when Ulan and the other goblins leave since I’m guessing they can’t be detained forever.” I hadn’t thought of it before, but that was another reason not to bring Tom into my immediate plans.

  He chewed on his lip, then raised his hands in surrender. “Fine. But only because I agree that we aren’t getting far, and I can’t risk you being killed by a goddamned goblin. You’re safer outside the country. I’ll get plane tickets. When will you be ready to go?”

  “Tomorrow.” Once the goblins found out they’d been robbed, I wasn’t sure France would be far enough away.

  Chapter Eighteen

  I didn’t have much time. The goblins’ lawyer was on his way, and Tom could only stall Ulan’s release for so long. If Ulan and the others headed right to their hotel after leaving, I might not have enough time as it was.

  Speaking of leaving, the Gryphons and satyrs were abandoning their meeting. But although they were filing out, Xander must have arrived. I could hear him telling Ingrid that he approved of Claudius’s idea.

  Go fly into a tree, I thought, bypassing the room.

  “There you are.” Lucen grabbed my arm and tugged me toward the doors. “He left already.”

  My spike of fear must have been enough to inform him I’d been worried about Claudius seeing us. “Good. You need to stop challenging him, or you’ll get in serious trouble.”

  “Fuck him. He almost got you killed.”

  “Technically that was the goblins.” Ugh, it pained me to take some of the blame off Claudius. “Never mind that. I do not want you getting killed or demoted or kicked out of Dezzi’s domus, or whatever else might happen. Please. Yes, he’s an asshole, but…” He was a damn powerful asshole as I’d learned only too well.

  Lucen tightened his grip on my arm. “He’s not invincible, Jess, and he doesn’t get to come over here and threaten the people I love without repercussion.”

  I slipped my sunglasses on, and we stepped outside. “You are badass and wonderful, and I understand you want to protect me, but you’re not invincible either. And while if you got into a fight with Claudius, I’d root for you, no sane person would bet money on you. It’s not a slight. He’s older, more powerful, and he is definitely the biggest dick. Doesn’t mean he has the biggest dick, but he can hurt you.”

  Lucen scowled. The summer sun was high in spite of the hour, and he pulled a jacket on to cover his arms while we stood in the shade of the granite gryphons. “Yeah, well, Dezzi has ordered me not to attend the meeting tomorrow. Officially, I’ve been tasked with some menial duties for her and supervising The Lair’s rebuilding.”

  “Good. I’m not going to be at the meetings anymore either.”

  “Why not? They seem like the safest place. No one’s going to try to take you out when you’re surrounded by Gryphons.”

  I took off down the street, conscious of the time. “No one’s going to take me out if they don’t know where I am. I’m leaving, but first I’m on a mission.”

  “Leaving? What mission?” His voice was heavy with wariness.

  I filled Lucen in en route to my apartment. Not surprisingly, he insisted on coming along. Not just to the goblins’ hotel, but also to France. I didn’t have time for an argument, so I ignored the bit about France and agreed to take him with to the hotel. He’d likely be useful.

  Everyone was on high alert when we reached my apartment, but no one was waiting to ambush me. I snatched one of my remaining containers of the glamour Lei had made for me, and Lucen met us with his car.

  While he drove, I used the potent disguise spell to alter my appearance. It didn’t need to be a great job, just something sufficiently capable of making me look not like myself. Alas, the glamour was keyed specifically to me, so it wouldn’t work on Lucen or the guards. Instead, Lucen had grabbed a cheap, generic charm of his own, but since Gi and Melissa only had ones that hid their horns, I wanted to keep them out of sight in case things went badly.

  They refused to play along.

  “We already had one close call today,” Gi said. “We’re not waiting in the car.”

 
; Melissa inspected her knife in the backseat. “Dezzi will have our hides if something happens to you.”

  “I’ll have your hides,” Lucen growled. “Jess, you do realize you’re putting a lot of trust in Gunthra.”

  “It has occurred to me.”

  He turned into the hotel’s parking garage and removed his sunglasses. “This whole trip could be a trap. She could have more of her people waiting in the room to ambush you.”

  I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. “She’d have to have expected the first attempt would fail. Once it did, and she discovered it did, the Gryphons arrested her. She wouldn’t have had a chance to set this up.”

  Lucen shut off the engine, shaking his head. “Let’s hope not.”

  “One thing at a time. We’ve got to get a keycard if this is going to work.”

  “The keycard is easy. It’s the rest that makes me nervous.”

  Our timing was lucky. We got out of the car as a couple exited the hotel via the garage entrance. Hiding my grimace, I hung back initially while Lucen and the others approached the people.

  I didn’t like this part, but when Lucen suggested it, I had to admit it was the easiest method anyone had come up with. Besides, it wasn’t like the people were in real danger. Lucen, Gi and Melissa would bowl the couple over with their magic while I rifled through the woman’s purse and stole her keycard. When it was all over, the couple would be scared shitless by what happened, and yes, the woman would be a bit inconvenienced by the missing room key, but no one would get permanently damaged.

  For a hastily thought-out plan, I’d done far worse.

  Part one accomplished, we entered the hotel a few minutes later with me holding the stolen keycard and neither human any wiser about what they’d lost. They’d continue on their way to dinner, squirming with the aftereffects of lust and trembling with nerves.

  “You sure you’re the best person to do this?” Melissa asked.

  We stopped at the lobby periphery. A group of flight attendants had arrived in their bright red uniforms, and the area around the front desk was crowded.

  “If you do it, it’ll be obvious to anyone nearby what’s going on. They’ll feel your power, and who knows what they’ll do. If nothing else, you’ll be memorable. If I do it, no one will know. Not even the person I’m using my gift on.”

  Lucen nodded. “She’s done this enough.”

  Yup, I had, though the circumstances were usually different. Not so long ago, Steph had accused me of acting too pred-like for using my gift on innocent people. It hadn’t been a fun conversation. Nor had the follow-up been when I’d finally admitted to her what I truly was.

  Steph and I were good now, but I couldn’t rid my mind of her voice as I crossed the lobby. Under the circumstances, I hoped she’d be willing to overlook this abuse of my power.

  “Can I help you?” the desk clerk asked.

  I smiled and pushed the stolen card toward her. “My room key doesn’t seem to be working anymore.”

  “We can rekey it, no problem. I just need your room number and ID for verification.”

  “Room 452. Thanks.” As I exhaled, I channeled my power into my breath. Like a fog, I envisioned it slowly encompassing the clerk’s body and binding her to me. My gut clenched, informing me the bond was solid.

  Solid, yet weak. This was nothing like a true addict bond, but for the moment, she’d be highly suggestible.

  The clerk’s eyelids drooped under the weight of the spell, but her breath hitched in her throat. When she glanced up at me, she wet her lips, and I tasted her lust like a dense chocolate mousse. “Do you have ID?”

  I pretended to root around in my bag, and I let my face fall. “I must have left my wallet in my room.” I bit my lip in what I hoped was a seductive way. “You can trust me. I’m a good girl.”

  I threw every ounce of suggestive power I had into those sentences. I couldn’t force the clerk to do something she didn’t really want to do. All I could do was make her want to please me. Usually that was sufficient.

  “I’m not supposed to…” Her face was a perfect apology, but her tone was wistful.

  “Please.” I raised my finger to my lips, as if to say our secret.

  Her cheeks turned pink. “All right, just this once.”

  “I won’t tell anyone, and neither should you.” There was another suggestion in there, one she’d probably want to heed even if I hadn’t put any power into it.

  “Absolutely not.” Her fingers grazed my hand as she gave me back the card.

  Though I wanted to pull away, I let her touch me and reveled in the huge hit of lust the sensation provided her. When this was over, I wanted chocolate.

  “You should forget about this if you can.” Taking the card—and my hand—back, I broke the connection between us. “Thanks so much.”

  She blinked at me, slightly dazed. “Uh, you’re welcome.”

  As I left the desk, the chocolate I tasted turned to butterscotch confusion. If I was lucky, she wasn’t sure what I was thanking her for.

  Gi and Melissa split up, with Melissa staying in the lobby to watch for the goblins in case we ran out of time, and Gi accompanying Lucen and me to the room in case a threat was lurking. He insisted on being the one to open the door, and the men swept the room while I remained in the hallway, feeling superfluous.

  “Clear?” I asked, unable to keep all traces of sarcasm from my tone. I mean, yes, I had been attacked by goblins earlier, but I didn’t see this as a likely ambush for the reasons I’d already explained. Plus, I couldn’t get over the feeling I was being babysat.

  Gi tucked his gun back under his jacket. “Clear.”

  I strode into the meticulously clean room. Maid service had already come through, but preds being preds, everything about the place was neat and tidy regardless. It was a large room, with two beds against the far wall and a partition wall separating them from the seating area. The drapes were open, spreading sunshine around the place.

  Lucen unzipped one of the two suitcases. “Do we know what we’re looking for?”

  “No.” I grabbed an outer pocket zipper on the second suitcase. “Tom overheard them saying they brought information, and I’m assuming Gunthra didn’t send me here on a wild-goose chase. If we can’t find something obvious, then my guess is the information is electronic.”

  At my apartment, I’d also grabbed a spare USB key to download files if it came to that.

  “Let’s get started then.” Lucen flipped open the suitcase.

  We worked in silence, methodically checking every pocket in every travel bag, and going through drawers and closets. Lucen even cracked the room safe, but it was empty. My phone went off with the arrival of a text as I opened the last possibility—the laptop bag.

  Couldn’t hold them any longer. Left 5 minutes ago.

  I swore. “Tom just let me know they’re out of Gryphon custody.”

  “I’ll check the bag, you boot it up,” Lucen said.

  The goblins’ laptop was old and heavy, which was rather surprising. Such powerful people should have been able to afford the best equipment. But then I remembered Gunthra’s old-fashioned house and the few goblin-owned businesses I’d done soul-swapping deals with. Those goblins tended to keep their records on paper, as had the goblin we’d busted not long ago in the Marshall case.

  Given how old these goblins were, maybe technology wasn’t their thing. It gave me reason to hope their electronic security wasn’t so good, but alas, once the damn device finally finished booting, it turned out to be password protected.

  “Any ideas?” I asked.

  Lucen was rifling through papers he’d found in the bag. “Not a clue. There’s nothing here. It’s only their flight and hotel information, and a three-day-old newspaper.”

  “Damn it.”

  “Just take the laptop.”

 
; I tapped my fingers against the keyboard. “I was hoping to keep them in the dark about any theft until I was out of the country.”

  “Given how clunky it is, I doubt they’re the sort to regularly use it.” He pulled out a pocket knife and popped the screwdriver attachment. “Take the hard drive, and maybe they won’t notice it’s missing right away.”

  I twirled the screwdriver between my fingers. Take the hard drive, it was.

  Chapter Nineteen

  We were back in the car and I was stripping away my disguise when Lucen returned the conversation to France. “Do you have your ticket yet? Where are we going?”

  I ran a finger down the edge of the hard drive. Gi and Melissa did not need to hear us arguing. “Tom is getting the tickets, and I assume he knows where we’re going. Gryphon World Headquarters is in Grenoble.”

  “You always wanted to go to France, didn’t you?”

  I forced a smile. “Yeah, but not like this.”

  Lucen mused a bit about Paris and various things French, and I refrained from explaining that he was not coming along. My anxiety must have been evident, but goodness knew I had a lot of reasons to be anxious. A brewing argument with Lucen over international travel was unlikely to be the first explanation either of my bodyguards jumped to.

  Before leaving the hotel, I’d called Steph and explained I needed to talk to her in person. So her apartment was where Lucen drove me, and I insisted he drop me off.

  “It’s not that Steph wouldn’t be thrilled to see a group of satyrs appear in her doorway, it’s just that, well, she’d probably slam the door in your faces.”

  Lucen rolled his eyes. “I thought the couple times Steph and I met, we got along great.”

  “Meaning you didn’t kill each other?”