Lucy at Last

by Mary E. Twomey

  I rolled over and watched Jamie fumble with his knife, his hands shaking from the ripples of residual pain that were still sweeping through us both. “Hold still.”

  I shook my head. “Never mind. I’ll wait for the guys to get back. You look one shudder away from slicing off my hand. Our hand.” I rolled over to face him and butted my head to his shoulder, ignoring the gold dust that floated in the air around us. “I’m so sorry. I had no idea we’d run into trouble this quick.”

  “You couldn’t have known. Good call sending Britta back with Foss. That’s the only thing keeping me sane right now. Let’s dig up Linus as fast as we can and run back home.” He kissed the top of my head and did his best to calm his uneven breathing.

  I struggled to wriggle my hands out of the restraint, but it was no use. It’s hard to be patient when you’re trussed up like a chicken, but I fought with my panic to remain calm until Jamie had a steady enough hand to cut me free. I closed my eyes as I inhaled my favorite prince’s oatmeal cookie scent. “I think I killed a man back there. Jarl. I didn’t want to do it, but I had to!”

  Jamie draped a clumsy arm over me. “I know. I saw. Maybe they’ll be able to patch him up.”

  “I sliced through his kidney. No way he’s recovering from that. I’m so sorry. Was he your friend?”

  Jamie scoffed. “Every man there works for my father, who tried to arrest me and beat the life out of Jens. They used to be my countrymen, but Tonttu is different since I lived there. I’m ashamed to call myself a prince of that greedy kingdom. It’s on the edge of collapsing. What an utter waste of good people and amazing land.” His teeth gritted together as he found the wherewithal to sit up. “Our soil was fertile. Our people were happy. I was there to speak to my father on their behalf, making sure no family was worked too hard. It’s like he abandoned everything I put in place when I left.” He clutched his knife with a steadier hand. “Father’s ashamed of me, but I’m ashamed of the crown.”

  I nuzzled his thigh with my cheek as he sat next to my body, shaking out his unsteady hands. I was trying to be supportive while still bound. Judging by the gold floating in the air in the distant village, I guessed we were still in Elvage, though I couldn’t tell you where exactly in that vast expanse we were. There were towering, gnarled trees with fat trunks a stone’s throw to my left. Narrow, heightened houses that looked magically constructed due to their precarious heights were a fair distance off to my right. There was a small smattering of people going about their evening activities, but they were so far away, they paid us no mind. “I’m sorry, Jamie. That must’ve been awful to see.”

  “You have no idea.”

  I counted to ten before speaking again, trying to be respectful of the somber moment. “Hey, buddy?”

  “Yes?”

  “If it’s not too much trouble, and you’re not so shaky anymore, could you cut these ropes loose? I’m at a disadvantage, here.”

  Jamie came to himself, apologizing up and down as he released my wrists from the binds. He patted my back in that guy-to-guy way, which made me sorely miss Britta, who knew when to give a girl a hug.

  We waited in silence, sitting on the grass for too long. It felt like twenty minutes before I started going to bad places in my mind. “They should’ve been back by now. This isn’t right.”

  Jamie was in a world unto himself, and I could tell without poking into his brain that he was overwhelmed by the state of his country’s deterioration.

  “Look alive, Jamie.”

  “Huh? I’m sorry. Did you say something?”

  “I did. Jens and Tucker should’ve been back. It’s been too long. Something’s wrong.”

  Jamie looked around and stood, offering his hand to help me up. “Do you want to try trekking back toward the gate and see if we can find them?”

  “That might be best.”

  No sooner had I said the words did the two appear in front of us, collapsing on the vivid green grass in a tangle of bloodied limbs and a puff of gold dust. “Jens!” I cried, dropping down beside him.

  My beautiful boyfriend had a bloody nose, welts across his face and arms, a deep cut that was seeping through his shirt on his shoulder, and various other signs of a brutal beating, including a wounded spirit.

  Without his consent, I removed his red pack and peeled his shirt over his head to get a better look at what we were dealing with. With trembling fingers, I fished around in the Mary Poppins bag for my first aid kit, dropping the thread twice as I tried to ready the suture.

  Jens closed his eyes and did his best to suffer in silence through the needle tugging clumsily at his skin.

  “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” I breathed, moving on to his other injuries to disinfect and patch as quickly as I could. “I’m sorry, Jens. I’m sorry.” My brain was stuck on repeat, unable to see past his unending sacrifice to keep me safe, and how unfair it all was to him.

  “Are you bleeding?” Jens asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

  “I’m fine. Nothing happened to me. They didn’t beat me up like they did you. How could you possibly be worried about me at a time like this?”

  “Siren blood,” he coughed out. “You can’t get cut over here. They see a hint of it, and you’re dead. You have to be extra careful, Loos.”

  I nodded, not wanting to think about that whole mess of complications. “Okay. I’ll be careful. What can I do? I stopped the bleeding and patched you up, but how else can I help?”

  “I’m fine,” he lied. “Looks worse than it is. I could use a doctor, though. Something feels off. Jaggoff got me in the back hard with his boot.”

  Jamie helped Tucker up. “Perhaps we should stay here for a few days.”

  “Might want to make a stop by the palace to let them know we’re having problems with Tonttu, and that the Tomten army drew blood on their soil. They should know who they’re harboring.” I motioned to Jamie to help me with Jens. Gently, we got him to sit up, supporting him through his grunts of pain. “We’re not getting to Nøkken anytime soon. Do you think the king’ll let us stay at his place for a few days?” I asked Jamie.

  With the utmost care, we hoisted Jens to his feet. He sagged against Jamie, who was tall enough to support his weight. “We can stay at Alrik’s house. It belongs to you, Lucy. Did you forget your arv entitles you to your uncle’s inheritance?”

  I pulled back, scrunching my nose in confusion. “Huh? How’s that, now?”

  “You’re your uncle’s daughter, for all intents and purposes. His only heir. We can stay there until Jens feels better.”

  “Okay. Weird.” I tried to shake off the strange feeling it gave me in my stomach to own houses I hadn’t worked for in a land I didn’t want to be in. “Let’s go. You know how to get there?”

  Jamie nodded and helped Jens forward, moving at a snail’s pace to help the wounded warrior. I turned to Tucker, who was still on the grass catching his breath. He struggled to get to his feet, but looked like a drunk fumbling his way through lucidity. “Here. Let me help you.” I’m not sure how, but I managed to bring Tucker to his feet, which moved clumsily through the grass as he leaned on my shoulder for support. “I need a Tom,” he whispered. “I can’t be seen here.”

  “What do you mean? We’re in Elvage, Tuck. The Tonttu don’t know where we disappeared to.”

  “Warrants. Too many warrants for my arrest in Elvage. Can’t be seen.” He huffed like a heavy smoker on a winter’s morning.

  I brought Tucker to Jamie’s other side. He placed a hand on Tuck’s shoulder, which vanished all four of us. Though I didn’t feel in danger here, I felt better moving through the evening in the village without being seen.

  Three.

  Tea with Tucker

  Jamie remembered the way to my uncle’s house better than I did. The gold dust in the air was a constant reminder of which land we were in even as the giant red moon rose to power in the sky. Jamie uninvisibled us and knocked twice on the door when we reached the tall home I’d met my brother i
n.

  The door opened, revealing Delling, my uncle’s housekeeper. Her gray hair was pulled back in a messy bun and her eyes were wide when she took in the state of the four of us. Her hand flew over her mouth as Jamie pushed past her with Jens. “What are you doing here?” Her voice came out in a warbled screech that made my head whip around. It dawned on me that I’d seen the woman before, but I’d never heard her speak. Surely I would’ve remembered a sound like that.

  “This is Queen Lucy’s house, isn’t it?” Jamie answered, setting Jens down on the gold couch with blue cushions in the nearest living room. “Alrik’s dead, and Lucy has his arv, so this property is hers.”

  Delling spluttered a few half-protests before composing herself. “I only thought that since her kingdom was on the Other Side, she would reside there.”

  Poor woman. Thought she’d been granted run of the place since Alrik was gone. I held up my hand to stave off any false assumptions. “I’m sorry to just barge in, Delling. I’m not here to stay. My Tom got injured and I didn’t know where else to go. Is it alright if we crash here for a bit? I promise to keep out of your way.”

  Delling seemed slightly mollified, so she nodded once before making herself useful. “What happened to him? Does he need a healer?” Her eyes fell on Tucker, who was sitting on the wooden floor next to the couch, catching his breath. “Is that… Tucker St. James! Get out of this house! I’ll not harbor the likes of you here! Out, before I call the guard!” She flew at him, pulling him up by his suspenders.

  Tucker came to his full height and towered over the woman who was a measly stooped 6’3”. Tucker had a good four inches on her, and wore them with as much intimidation as he could muster in his knocked-around state. “Delling, dear, is that any way to greet the strapping young lad who watered your petunias?”

  Her wrinkled face soured. “Watered my petunias? Pah! Get out! I’ll not be taken in for having you under my roof! How many warrants are still out for your arrest? Five? Six?”

  Tucker chuckled at her in his cocky condescending way. “You underestimate me, darling – I mean, Delling. I won’t be here long.”

  “Another breath is too long. Out!” She pointed a crooked finger toward the door.

  I wanted to sit with Jens, but the two hens were proving to be problematic. I locked the front door and began drawing the gold tapestries shut, in case any of the neighbors were as fond of Tucker as my uncle’s housekeeper was. “Come into the kitchen, Delling.” I took her by the hand and gently led her to sit at the long table. “Can I make you some tea?” I fished around in the cupboards, worried at the unmarked bags. I didn’t want to accidentally make her a potion that would turn her into a toad; I just wanted some chamomile for her.

  Tucker strode into the kitchen. “Do you still take your tea with lemon and one lump of sugar?”

  Delling clutched the fabric over her chest as if he’d said something scandalous. “I regret every cup of tea you ever made me! Tucker, you’ll stay away from Miss Lucy. You’ll not sink your hooks into Alrik’s daughter.”

  My nose wrinkled as my head whipped to Tucker, who was stirring the tea he’d heated in the palm of his hand. “Hooks? Oh, no. Don’t you worry about that. I’m immune to Tuck’s ‘charms’. Part of my human magic. I don’t fall for idiots.” Tuck shot me a simpering smile, which I returned.

  “Must be nice,” Delling murmured, taking the tea from Tucker with an entitled harrumph. “Get out, Tucker. You’ve done enough.” She sipped the warm beverage in the ornate gold-rimmed teacup that had blue petunias painted on the sides.

  Tucker tipped his head to her with a roguish smile that had entirely too much agenda to it. He placed one hand on the table and the other on the back of Delling’s chair, leaning over her in a way that made me feel somehow like a third wheel. His head dipped down to whisper in her ear, giving her the visible shivers as she closed her eyes with obvious desire. He was quiet enough to pretend civility, but the filthy words he murmured to her were just loud enough to carry to my virgin ears. “Excuse us, Lucy dear,” Tucker said to me, his eyes on the rapidly melting Delling.

  I blushed at his gall and made my exit just as he cupped her wrinkled face in his hands, kissed her trembling lips, and then moved with a dancer’s grace to straddle her lap like a male stripper.

  Four.

  The Serial Killer Wall

  I shuddered at the mental image I was sure I would never be able to scrub from my mind as I moved into the living room to Jens’s side. “I… Can you… How do we call a doctor for him?”

  “What’s wrong?” Jens asked, taking in Jamie’s soured expression that matched my own.

  “Nothing,” we both answered, sparing Jens the horror I’d been treated to.

  Jamie held up his hand. “I’ll go get a healer. They’ll come faster if I ask. Best keep Tucker upstairs and out of sight when I get back. If he does have warrants out, that could definitely slow us down.” He sighed and turned to me, his posture erect. “You should probably stay out of sight too, if you can help it. I’d like to travel through Undraland as quick as possible, but if the King and Queen hear you’re in their land, they’ll want to sit down with you, and it’ll be a whole long thing.”

  I nodded. “Alright. I don’t know what we’re going to do about Delling, though.”

  Tucker emerged from the kitchen with his shirt unbuttoned and the frail old woman in his arms like a bride. “I’ve taken care of that. She’ll be out for a few days with the amount of koma valerian I put in her tea.” His shirt was untucked and his suspenders hung down from his waist. His hair was mussed in that post-makeout way. He ignored my dramatic fake barfing noises and took Delling to her room.

  When he returned, I couldn’t help but hiss, “You’re disgusting. She’s got to be twice your age!”

  He smirked at me, a tired smile creeping over his features. “She’s more like five times my age, but that sort of thing doesn’t matter as much when your life expectancy is six hundred.”

  Jamie stretched out his back, trying not to look as tired as he felt. “When I get back, I want you two upstairs and quiet. I’ll be home soon.”

  Jens tried to sit up, but failed. “I’m fine, guys. Nothing a little rest won’t cure.”

  Tucker checked Jens’s vitals, knowing a bit more about these kinds of injuries than I did. Something told me he’d been in his fair share of bar fights. “Rest and some lavender powder. You’re lucky I don’t leave home without it.”

  “No,” I ruled. “He’ll see a doctor.”

  Jens nodded grudgingly. “Yeah, I’ll wait. I’m fine.” He shut his eyes and laid back down on the pale blue cushions. “Had a little problem a while back. Trying to quit.”

  “Keep that away from him,” I warned.

  Tucker chuckled as he shook his head. “I’ll wait until you’re howling in pain in a few hours from that mark on your back.” He looked up at me. “You’d really let him be in pain like that? Jens doesn’t have a problem.”

  “Just go upstairs, Tuck!” Jens shouted as a ripple of agony shot through him. “I’m fine.”

  Tucker shrugged and moved up the stairs. When I knelt next to Jens to hold his hand, he spoke to me through gritted teeth. “You should go, too, Loos. I need to get some sleep.”

  “I can get you some pillows or a blanket. Hold tight.”

  “Just go!” he shouted, his hand leaving mine to clutch his side.

  It dawned on me that I’d never seen Jens truly injured. He’d acquired various cuts and bruises, but this was a mass beating he’d suffered. He’d basically been jumped by a small army. I knew enough about the male ego to realize the internal beating was every bit as important as the external. Jens had needed to be rescued. That was the thing that hurt him worse than the bruises and scars.

  “Okay. I’ll go get some sleep, if that’s what you want.” I kissed his lips that were pursed against the pain. “But Jamie’s sleeping down here with you, then. I won’t leave you with no one.”

  Jens h
esitated, but then consented to the help. “Fine. But you’re taking Tuck with you, then.” When I opened my mouth to protest, he cut me off with too much tension in his voice. “I’m serious, Loos! Don’t fight me on this. You and Jamie each get a guard until we’re out of Undraland. Just let me do my job without arguing for once!”

  My reply was tart. “Fine. He just drugged an old woman, but whatever. If I’ll be safer with the guy who kidnapped me and fed me to the sirens, oh wise guardian, then I’ll bunk up with your pervy friend.” I snatched a crocheted blanket from the nearest chair and draped it over him.

  “Tuck took a vow to keep Jamie safe, which means other than with me, he’s the safest place you’ve got. He won’t do anything like that with the sirens again, and you know he wasn’t trying to hurt you. He was trying to help break the bond!”

  “Are you kidding me with this?”

  Jens took a breath, and I could tell he was struggling to keep the strain from his injuries out of his voice. “Please, Loos. I don’t have it in me to argue with you.”

  “Fine. I’ll go. The dangers I could get into sleeping alone.”

  “Why do you think you’ve never slept alone on the Other Side, either? It’s our job to watch our charges.”

  My mouth dropped open, the arrow sticking deep. I stood straighter, composing myself so I didn’t tear him a new one when he was already so far down. “Good to know that’s why you slept in bed with me all those months.”

  Jens rolled his eyes and reached his quaking hand out for me. “I didn’t mean it like that, and you know it.”

  “Goodnight, Jens.” I dug out my green backpack from his red bag, spun on my heel and marched up the stairs. “Have fun snuggling Jamie tonight. Keep him good and safe.” I stomped up to my old room, flinging open the door to find it empty and untouched since the last time I’d been there. There was less gold dust in the air, which made sense since I didn’t leave a trail of magic wherever I went, and Uncle Rick was dead. I changed into shorts and a fitted soft blue t-shirt that felt like a hug when I needed it most. I debated just going to sleep without looking for Tucker, but his knock on the door found me before I could deviate from the plan. “Hey,” I greeted him unceremoniously.