The third guy was almost on top of the second one, and he yanked on Gilbert’s left arm and then got him by the right, snatching his hand, taking the knife, and twisting it behind his back. “Gotcha,” he said.
“Hmph,” Gilbert said. “Kudos. You all weigh more than six of me put together and it only took three of you to get me. Listen to me. We don’t mean any harm—unless provoked. We’re looking for somebody. We want to offer this person a job. It is terribly important and the rewards will be great.”
“We’re looking for someone upstairs!” I added. I could sense the presence of my third guardian, almost directly over my head, as I edged to the stairs. Silver-Eyes blocked me.
“You are looking for the Lucky Dragon?” she asked.
“Sure. Probably. I have something that belongs to him.”
“This story stinks. We need to just get them out of here,” said the guy holding Gilbert.
“She is telling the truth,” the girl said. “She has something that belongs to the Lucky Dragon. I think he would like to know what it is.”
“Fine. But I’m not done with you,” the guy said, shoving Gilbert toward me.
“I think you are, actually,” he said. “But why don’t we see what your boss decides?”
“Oh, the boss isn’t going to like what you did, I can tell you that.”
“Please follow me,” the girl said.
The toughs held back until Gilbert and me were halfway up the stairs, and then they followed at a distance. Gilbert put away his knife, peeled off one of his gloves, and rubbed his hand. “Not a scratch,” he said, glancing back at the toughs. “You’re lucky.”
“You’re gonna cry when I kick your ass later,” the guy growled.
“Did he hurt you?” I asked, stroking my fingers along the top of his hand.
“Not really,” he said, but I still took his hand and kissed it. Maybe I wanted to reward him for fighting on my behalf, or maybe I liked making him blush. It was entirely possible the power I had over these guys might go to my head at some point. Hopefully I would have as much power over the one I was about to meet.
Chapter Twelve
At the top of the stairs, the hallway was lined with six doors. The girl went to the one on the end and knocked. “Master, you have two visitors. One is a woman and one is a man wearing women’s clothes.” (Gilbert lifted a hand in protest.) “But they are not lying when they say they have something for you and they mean no harm.”
“Ah, just another day,” a man commented on the other side, and the door swung open. He glanced over the scene with faint amusement in his golden eyes. I had never seen eyes like that before; they were a dark, bronzed color with a shimmer almost as if they glowed from within. Those eyes seemed familiar somehow. His hair was black and thick, slicked back off his face but still slightly untamed like even hair products were no match for him. He wore a relatively sedate variant of the capital fashions: a long, fitted black coat that split in the back, looser gray trousers tucked into black boots, and black gloves, the only spot of color being a blood red cravat underneath. He had the persuasive air of a man who was very good at what he does and knows it.
Paired with a certain air of mystery? Hmm….yes please. It was easy to forget, under the influence of the sigils, that Forrest and Gilbert weren’t quite my type.
But there was one big problem. He was wearing a thin silver headband with a circular, silver ornament on his forehead, right about the same size as a sigil.
I wasn’t sure it was a coincidence that his sigil was covered up so I couldn’t touch the stone to it without his permission. He knows?
“So, you’ve invaded my establishment, have you? I’m very curious to know what you could possibly have for me.” He surveyed us with an assured glance and then paused over Gilbert.
The color drained out of Gilbert’s face.
“Gil? Gil Curran?” My third guardian sounded surprised, even as he looked like an impossible man to surprise. “And don’t you look pretty—”
“I’m only doing this for Phoebe,” Gilbert interjected.
“What the hell? You should’ve given your name at the door! I would have let you in. Come on.” He swept a hand into his room, and Gilbert seemed to muster himself before following.
Meanwhile, I was annoyed because my guardian’s smexy golden eyes had barely even looked at me. The weird artificial girl followed us in, too. The Lucky Dragon swung the door shut before the toughs could think about following.
“Niko,” Gilbert said. “I—I didn’t know it was you.”
“Please tell me you guys weren’t like, together,” I said.
Niko laughed. “Gods, no. I prefer the ladies.” He poured some drinks. I looked around the room, which was full of more stuff. Lots and lots of stuff. Bookshelves were packed, cabinets were full of rocks and insect specimens and weird little contraptions, and there were enough swords to open up a weapon shop. There was an actual treasure chest in the corner. The artificial girl stood among them quietly and I wondered if she just sat there until she was needed.
Niko handed me a glass of amber liquid. “Gil was like a little brother to me. I taught him how to survive on the streets. He was such a pretty boy. He was the distraction while I relieved them of some of their pocket weight.” He rubbed his fingers together.
“Wait—you mean, you were thieves?”
Gilbert looked ashamed.
“I don’t think of it as thieving,” Niko said lightly. “We were kids. Our parents were dead or gone. What else were we supposed to do? You could hardly get hired for a decent job when you looked as scrappy as we did. A fair redistribution of wealth, that’s all it was.”
“Fair enough,” I said. “Don’t feel bad, Gilbert. You should be proud of yourself for getting out of it and going to bardic college and everything—”
“Bardic college? You don’t say,” Niko commented. “The last time I saw you, you were an escort.”
“A—what?” I sputtered.
“I never went to bardic college,” Gilbert said.
“What? But—but you told me about dorm room antics! You made up antics!? You didn’t have to go into all that detail, you know.”
“Telling tales is in my nature, I guess.” He shut his eyes. “Don’t say anything to Rin. When we met, I was so overwhelmed and flustered, him being a prince and all. I just started making stuff up. It came so easily, I wanted to believe it was true. But the truth is, I parted ways with Niko because I wanted to be a musician. I went to a house that trains men and women to be highly paid courtesans with skills, and I learned to play my violin there. Then I left. I went on the road. I played for a troupe; that much was true. But I never tell anyone where I came from.”
“Oh dear,” Niko drawled. “Well, you have nothing to be ashamed of where I’m concerned. I’m still right where you left me, only a good deal richer. I haven’t seen you in years.”
“I wanted to go to to bardic college,” Gilbert said. “If Rin knew I had such a disreputable background…”
“He wouldn’t care if he really loves you,” I said.
“Then you don’t know Rin,” Gilbert snapped. “He has a stronger sense of honor than anything else. He won’t love me if he knew all that. Don’t tell him, either of you.”
“I don’t even know who Rin is,” Niko said, with a light shrug. “No need to talk about the past. Why did you come if you weren’t looking for me?”
“I’m looking for you,” I said.
He finally gave me his full attention, and it was worth the wait. When those golden eyes took me in, it was like he was already touching me. He took a step closer to me; he had a catlike lightness on his feet although he was actually the tallest of them all, a few inches taller than Forrest. “And who is this exquisite little treasure? Have you brought me something for my personal collection?”
I kind of hated myself for swooning at that line. But I was practically drooling in anticipation of putting that stone to his forehead and binding him to me
forever. Just take off that headband and let’s do this… “Yes.” I lifted the pendant which was resting between my breasts. “I’m Phoebe, and I’m the priestess of the gate. The first one in a hundred and eight years; at least, the first to stand a chance. You probably know the legend. The priestess has four guardians. You’re one of them. I’ve been looking for you. I just need to touch the sigil on your forehead with this stone.”
His expression darkened. “The sigil…on my forehead?”
“Yes.”
“You don’t want to do that,” he said, his voice low.
“Why not?”
“My fortune teller gave this to me,” he said, pointing at the silver ornament covering his sigil. “Three years ago she came to me and said I’d better wear it and never let anyone touch my forehead ever again, or bad things would happen.”
Gilbert snorted. “Your fortune teller? Still superstitious as ever…”
“Don’t sneer at a fortune teller,” Niko said, shaking a finger. “If they’re good, they might just hear you. And she is very good. I’ve certainly had good fortune, as you can see. They don’t call me the Lucky Dragon for nothing.”
“Maybe she misunderstood,” I said. “Activating your sigil means I can lend you power and you can help me save the world. We need you. We walked two hundred miles and the Black Army might kill us if we don’t find the guardians!”
“I’m sorry,” Niko said. “My fortune teller used to be a temple maiden and now she’s the best fortune teller in the city. She’s almost old enough to remember the real priestesses. Maybe she knows something you don’t.”
“Can I meet her?” I asked.
“My next appointment is a month from now,” he said. “You’ll have to wait.”
“We don’t have a month! She won’t come early?”
Gilbert suddenly jumped Niko from behind, holding back his arms.
“Just do it, Phoebe!” he cried. “We’re not waiting for his stupid fortune teller!”
“Let go of me,” Niko growled. “Gilbert, you’ll pay for this—” He was thrashing around, and I was afraid Gilbert wouldn’t be able to hold him. The headband clung to his skin pretty well. I had to dig my fingernails under an edge to shove it off.
“Don’t,” he growled at me. “Don’t…you…dare.”
The artificial girl stood up. “Don’t hurt the Master!”
I touched the stone to his forehead as the Silver Scribe girl tried to reach for me, but her arms felt rickety. I kicked her off me and she fell to the ground.
The sigil flashed there, but instead of blue like Gilbert and Forrest and me, it burned black. Niko screamed, and when his mouth opened, his teeth were fang-like. I knew they weren’t like that a minute ago. He twisted away from Gilbert, who quickly let him go, and if my eyes didn’t deceive me, his body was shifting shape. His clothing strained as his body twisted beneath. He hunched forward, like he was trying to hold back his twisting body. His back hunched, and his footsteps stumbled.
He shot me a wild look, and I suddenly realized why his golden eyes seemed familiar. Monsters. Monsters had eyes like that.
“Stop…this…,” he demanded, his voice a pained rasp.
My sigil burned in response to his, and a sensation flooded me that was fierce and strange. I felt more powerful than ever.
It actually felt really good. For a moment, I didn’t react. I let it wash over me, this energy that sparked and pulsed through me.
“Phoebe,” Gilbert said. “Do something. Try touching the sigil again.”
I rushed to Niko, snapping out of it. “Stop moving,” I told him, as he tried to edge away from me. He still reminded me of a monster, some wounded, limping creature that would tear me apart if I got too close. “I’m trying to help you.” I put the headband back on his head and then I grabbed his face and kissed him.
I knew my kiss could heal my guardians, but I’m still not sure why I kissed him. He wasn’t wounded, exactly. i just knew it would help, somewhere deep down. The second my lips met his, the burning feeling inside me started to calm down. He calmed down, too. Breathing hard, he caught my wrist in his grip as I drew back.
He was holding my arm so tight it hurt.
“I told you not to touch,” he said. His tone was vicious. “What part of that did you not understand?”
“I’m—I’m sorry—I needed to wake your sigil.” I bit my lip. I could feel the connection between us humming. The sigil had been woken, one way or another. “If something’s going on, we should figure it out together.”
“‘Together’? I don’t work ‘together’.”
“That’s true,” Gilbert said quietly. He was hanging back now.
“Polaris?” Niko looked at the girl.
“Yes, Master.” She struggled to her feet. “I was not strong enough to protect you.”
“You weren’t made to protect anyone. It’s all right. Sit down.” Niko glared at me. “What have you done to me, girl?”
“You’re my guardian. I had to do it.” I tried to pull my hand away, but he was very strong and unyielding.
Despite his anger, the sigils were working. I felt my forehead humming. I was drawn to him, and my fear of him started to slip just a little. I saw his guarded eyes trying to fight something within.
“I can see that you’re used to running things, but your destiny has given you another role now,” I said. “One that is so important, it might crush the entire empire. We have a lot to discuss. You need to come with us.”
I let my face say softer things to him. You feel it. I know you do. You’re mine and I’m yours. You can’t fight it if you tried.
His lips twisted into a humorless smile, and he gave Gilbert a look that was almost mocking. Like this was a move in a game they had once played. “Come with you?” Niko said, lightly now. “Ah, no, you will stay with me. I have plenty of drink, food, beds, servants, and guards.” His hand slid gently down my arm to the elbow, but he didn’t let me go.
“There are two others,” Gilbert said. “Sir Forrest, the first of Phoebe’s guardians, and my partner Rin.”
“I’ll provide you with a carriage,” Niko said. “And my two best guards—not the ones who caused you trouble earlier. Bring the other two gentlemen here. I will keep Phoebe safe in my quarters so we can have a little time to talk alone.”
Gilbert paused.
“You trust me, don’t you?” Niko asked. “I trust you. Neither of us will speak about what happened today or in the past…shall we?”
“No…,” Gilbert agreed. “But more importantly, do you trust him, Phoebe?”
“My guardians can’t hurt me,” I said. I didn’t understand what Niko’s deal was, but surely that must be true.
Chapter Thirteen
We were alone now. Well, sort of. The mechanical girl was still there, as Niko poured another drink for us both.
“Where did she come from?” I asked him. I hoped it was okay to ask him and not talk to her directly. I didn’t want to be rude somehow.
“That is a Silver Scribe,” he said. “A rather poor model. I got her in a trade for some ancient temple vases. She’s powered by a cheap crystal.”
“A scribe?”
“In Arc City, in the east, they use them for all sorts of record keeping, business, guard duty—you name it. The damn things are everywhere there. She’ll write a report of anything that occurs, if I wish. But she is good at detecting all sorts of things and she tends to unnerve people, which is handy. She’s not a fighting model, lucky for you. Polaris?”
“Yes, sir.”
“You can leave us now.”
“You don’t wish to have an incident report, sir?”
“No. You can erase the incident report. I know what happened. Thank you.” He waved her toward the door and she left. He settled into a love seat and pointed me toward the other end. The seat was by a window that was blocked out, and the furniture was somewhat crammed into the room. The rest of the house was elegant, but this room was more like stora
ge bunker.
“You’ve been outside of the realm?” I asked.
“When I first took over this operation, the girls were escorted east first and then they had to take what they could get once they arrived. It took me some time to arrange it this way, where they don’t have to leave until they are assured of a place to go, and I can keep them safe here in the meantime. It’s taken a lot of building up of connections. Besides, it lets me indulge in my hobby of acquiring interesting trinkets.”
“What is all this stuff?”
“Treasures.” He opened a jewelry box and pawed through a tangled pile of chains and glittering gems idly.
“Why do you do it? That is—not the collection, but marrying girls off outside of the realm?”
“It’s dangerous and illegal. I like jobs that are dangerous and illegal.” He grinned. “They make me lots of money. But it is quite altruistic to help people escape the empire, don’t you think? Hardly a perfect situation for these women, but better than staying put.” He finished his drink and put it down. I remembered to drink mine. Maybe it would help. I was tingling all over, but whenever I looked at him, I remembered the glow of his eyes. I felt sure that if I hadn’t kissed him just now, he would have turned into something else.
Something with eyes like a monster.
“I—I guess I should explain more about the priestess and her guardians,” I said. “I have a book, but it’s back at the inn…”
“A book about the priestess of the gate?” He paused and stood up, walking toward one of the crowded shelves. I leaned forward so I could peer around a stack of boxes.
“I’m sure you don’t have this book,” I said. “It’s very rare.”
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