by Nina Bangs
“Yeah.”
“Why didn’t you talk to him? He would’ve understood what you were going through. It would’ve made him realize he wasn’t crazy if you were hearing and seeing the same things.” Why hadn’t she noticed that her brother was suffering? Maybe you were too busy staying grounded.
“Dad sees things too?”
Ivy nodded.
Kellen shrugged. “I figured if I was seeing things, that made me twice as wacko as Dad. Then Mom would start in on me. I thought maybe insanity ran in families.”
“Is that why you left home?” Guilt poked at her, whispering that if she’d been closer to her brother he would have shared his fears. What kind of sister did that make her?
And how could she explain this to her mother? Mom, who thought shows like Ghost Hunters were giant cons, that things that went bump in the night didn’t exist.
“That was part of it.” He swung his leg off the arm of the chair and sat up straight. “The money was part of it too. Mom’s thinking of taking a second job to help pay for everything.” He stared down at his hands clenched in his lap. “Things aren’t great between Mom and Dad either. Mom wants him to get help. He won’t go to a shrink. I think she might finally walk away. I guess I can’t blame her.”
Oh, boy. “How do you feel about Dad?”
Even though she’d always believed it might happen, the thought of her mother and father splitting shook Ivy more than she’d expected. But right now was Kellen’s time. She’d worry about her parents later.
Kellen took a deep breath. “I think Dad needs to suck it up. No matter what I can see and hear, it’s not going to keep me from going to college and getting a great job.”
“Good.” Thank God. “All those people you saw in the room with me were nonhumans. I’ll ask one of them to explain what you’ve been seeing.” She’d do it herself, but Ivy was still almost as confused as he was.
“Really? None of them are human?”
“None of them.”
“So can I stay?” He made the question sound casual, but there was nothing casual about the fear in his eyes.
Ivy didn’t know what to say. Finally, she came down on the side of keeping her brother close so she could help protect him—from whatever was out there as well as from her parents’ turmoil. “You can stay for now.” She only hoped she could convince her parents.
Ivy watched the tension drain from him. “Thanks, Sis.”
She stood. “Let’s find someone who can set you straight on things.”
Murmur would do the best job. Wouldn’t he? Or was he just the one she trusted most right now? Or maybe this was only an excuse to spend more time with him. She dismissed the thought. No way was she going there.
“I’ll get you something to eat first.”
She stood and walked to the door with Kellen trailing behind her. A few minutes later, they were in the hotel lobby headed for the restaurant.
Ivy was reaching for the restaurant’s door when she saw Murmur. He was standing in the lobby talking to someone whose back was to her, but she didn’t bother looking at anyone except the music demon. She’d interrupt him for just a second to ask if he could speak to her brother later.
Suddenly, he turned toward her. But instead of a welcoming smile, he glared at her. What the… ? Ivy didn’t have a chance to wonder what was going on before music—something tuneless and discordant—blasted in her head with enough power to shove her backward. Sound beat at her mind, a shrill demand that she turn and run. Instinctively, she clapped her hands over her ears. No use when the music was already inside her head. She tried to force it from her mind. Didn’t work. She was helpless against its command. She grabbed Kellen’s hand and started to drag him backward.
He resisted. “What’s wrong?”
Before Kellen could say anything more, the man talking to Murmur turned toward her. It was Tirron, the guy who’d passed her on the stairs, the one who’d said he was Murmur’s friend.
He smiled when he saw her, and then his gaze shifted to Kellen. Shock wiped the smile from his face. And before Ivy could decide what to do, Tirron was walking toward her. Murmur strode beside him, his expression thunderous.
Ivy gasped as the music stopped. She hadn’t realized she was holding her breath. It was too late to run without looking silly, and besides, she wanted to know what the hell was going on with Murmur’s musical attack, because it definitely was an attack.
Tirron stopped in front of her, but his attention never left Kellen. “We meet again, Ivy. Who’s your friend?”
She’d forgotten how uneasy he made her feel. “This is my brother, Kellen.”
“Hello, Kellen. I’m Tirron. Will you be staying here?” He held out his hand.
She didn’t like the way he stared at her brother. Questions tripped over each other. Was he human? Probably not if he was Murmur’s friend. Was he a demon too? Murmur looked furious as he stood a little behind Tirron.
Then she put it together—Tirron, the musical attack. Murmur had been trying to drive her away before Tirron saw them. Why? Did Tirron see Kellen’s resemblance to Mab? Fear pushed at her. There was so much she didn’t know. And ignorance was dangerous in this new world she’d fallen into. Whatever happened, she had to protect her brother.
Kellen shook Tirron’s hand, but he looked puzzled. “Hi. Yeah, I’ll be staying for a while.” He glanced at Murmur uncertainly.
“Good. Very good.” Tirron looked away. “As much as I’d like to stay, I have somewhere I have to be. I’ll see all of you again.” He speared Kellen with a hard stare before walking away.
Ivy looked at Murmur. “What was that about?”
Murmur raked his fingers through his hair. “That was an unfortunate meeting. Where were you headed?”
“The restaurant. Kellen needs to eat.” She glanced at her brother. “Kellen, this is Murmur.” Ivy started to add “a friend” but stopped herself. Right now, she wasn’t sure who her friends were. She thought about packing and leaving, but then decided she was overreacting. At least here there were people powerful enough to protect her brother. Besides, if she was going to support Kellen, she needed the money from this job until the new one kicked in.
She turned to her brother. “Kellen, why don’t you head back to your room? Order whatever you want from room service. I’ll be along in a few minutes. I have to talk with Murmur about something.” Ivy had to find out what was going on with Tirron.
Kellen shot her a frustrated glance. He wouldn’t be held at bay much longer. “Sure.”
She watched him walk away before turning to Murmur. “Now, why the flexing of your musical muscles?”
He hesitated and looked past her. She turned to follow his gaze. Holgarth was bearing down on them, robe swirling and pointed hat swaying. The wizard stopped in front of them and glared.
“I hate playing messenger boy. It’s demeaning for someone of my stature. But I suppose this time it’s necessary.” Huge dramatic sigh. “We have a situation in the great hall that Ganymede feels you should address, Murmur.” Holgarth shifted his attention briefly to her. “And Sparkle wants to see you. She’s not available at this very moment, but she will be. Eventually.” He turned, his blue robe whipping around him, and strode away.
Murmur strung together his favorite curses and put them on repeat as he followed the wizard. He glanced at Ivy. Her expression said she’d talk to Sparkle and then she’d talk to him. No escaping.
He followed Holgarth through the door separating the hotel lobby from the great hall. Music swirled around him. His music. The music he’d sent winging its way to the faery host. It was playing to human and nonhuman ears alike. Not good. And there was a crowd of women surrounding someone in the middle of the room. What the hell was going on?
Ivy moved closer to him. He didn’t think she realized it. Murmur allowed himself a moment to feel satisfaction. Instinctively, she trusted him to protect her. He listened to his music that was not coming through any speakers. Okay, moment over.
“That music. I remember hearing it in your room. You said you were sending someone a music-gram. Did that someone answer it?” She leaned forward, trying to peer around the seething mob of women.
“No.”
“Yo, demon. Someone just showed up, and he brought your music with him. Said he had an invite. Explain.”
He glanced down. Ganymede glared up at him, eyes narrowed to amber slits. Murmur tried to ignore the cat as he strode toward the women. Ivy kept pace with him.
“My honey-tart is in there somewhere. I think you need to trim the deadwood from your list of visitors. I don’t like any guy who makes Sparkle get that look in her eyes.”
“Right. Got it.” Murmur pushed his way through the growing crowd of women. He finally was able to see who was at the center. “Oh, crap.”
“Who is it?” Ivy stood on her toes trying to look over the head of a tall woman in front of her.
He heard Ivy gasp. Yeah, she’d seen him.
“Who is he?” The word “he” was drawn out on a breathy sigh.
“He is a faery, a Gancanagh. Unseelie Court. Now what the hell am I supposed to do with him?” Murmur knew he was muttering, but things were getting out of control. He’d have a long talk with Bain. This plot was his baby, so he needed to do some of the policing. Murmur had agreed to do a favor for his friend, not run around corralling random members of the fae.
“Is he bad?” She sounded fascinated.
He hated the faery already. “He’s rare. Thank the gods. Bad? He is if your woman is in that mob.”
She looked puzzled even as she edged forward.
Murmur grabbed Ivy’s hand to stop her. He watched Sparkle plant herself beside the dark faery and then glare at the other women. Sparkle had some dangerous vibes going on because, despite the faery’s lure, they backed up.
“He’s irresistible to the women he seduces. Some think there’s an addictive substance in his skin. Maybe he just has overactive pheromones. Who knows? But he’s deadly. Women he targets die from the withdrawal when he leaves.” Murmur had to get rid of him fast.
Ivy studied the faery. “I don’t think he’d need anything addictive to seduce women. That pale skin, black hair, and wow face are winners.”
“He’s going down”—Ganymede pressed against Murmur’s leg to keep from being trampled by the women—“as soon as I can get the bastard somewhere away from Sparkle. Don’t want her mad at me.”
Murmur was deciding how to reply when the faery saw him. His eyes lit as he walked toward Murmur. Too late to get Ivy away. He held her hand more tightly as the faery stopped in front of them.
“Your name?” Murmur wouldn’t get his true name, but he didn’t need it right now.
“Braeden.” The faery shifted his gaze to Ivy.
Instinct kicked in. Murmur released only one strand of his music. It was wire-sharp, meant to cut.
Startled, Braeden stared at the thin line of blood that had suddenly appeared on his hand. Then he looked at Murmur. A challenge stretched between them.
Finally, the faery nodded and turned to watch Sparkle join them. Murmur’s tension eased as Braeden and Sparkle locked gazes. Lots of interest there. Ganymede’s growl vibrated, low and menacing. Time to defuse the situation.
“Turn off my music, Braeden. It wasn’t meant for you.” He glanced around at the sea of female faces edging closer. “Send the women away before they touch you.”
Braeden raised one dark brow. “Not exactly welcoming, demon. Your music slammed into me. I didn’t go searching for it. The message just said to come to the Castle of Dark Dreams for a good time. Well, I’m here.” He glanced around. “When do the good times begin?”
Sparkle ran her fingers under the cuff of the faery’s jacket to touch his wrist. “Good times are always happening at the castle. Why don’t you send those other women away?”
Braeden looked intrigued. He nodded, and the crowd of women turned and went back to whatever they’d been doing. He’d made his choice. “I’ll go ahead and register, and then we can—”
“You can leave, you thieving bastard.”
Ganymede’s voice was a roar in Murmur’s head. He winced. Ivy did the same. The cat had lost his cool, and he wasn’t being careful. Some of the nearby humans looked shocked.
“Calm down. Everyone can hear you.” Murmur nodded toward the humans who were now looking around.
Ganymede had puffed himself up to twice his normal size. His ears lay flat against his head and his tail was a bottlebrush of feline aggression. Suddenly, all the humans in the room simply left.
Murmur started to pull Ivy away from the cat. If Ganymede was getting rid of witnesses, then bad things were about to happen.
Sparkle glared at Ganymede. “What was that all about?”
The door leading to the courtyard slammed open. Ganymede’s yowl of outrage rose from deep in his throat, and as it grew louder and louder, the walls of the great hall began to vibrate.
“Stop it. Right now.”
But Ganymede’s tantrum was flying free, and nothing Sparkle could say would stop it. Murmur’s music cut off as Braeden started to back away. Smart faery.
“Maybe we should get out of here.”
Ivy had barely finished speaking when some unseen force picked Braeden up and flung him through the open door. The door slammed shut behind him.
“I know trash pickup isn’t until tomorrow, but that piece of shit was stinking up the place.” Ganymede looked smugly satisfied. Until he looked at Sparkle.
Sparkle hissed her fury as she rose into the air. She hovered three feet off the floor, her hair floating around her on a nonexistent breeze, and her amber eyes glowing. “Who gave you permission to throw a guest out of my castle? Remember? This. Is. My. Castle. And you can sleep in your litter box for the rest of your miserable existence for all I care, because one place you won’t be sleeping is in my bed.”
She drifted back to the floor, turned her back on Ganymede, and tapped an angry beat with her sky-high heels as she followed Braeden out the door. Murmur composed a bass and drum rhythm to accompany her exit.
“It’s all about subtlety, cat. Jealousy made you stupid.” Murmur couldn’t empathize. He’d never experienced the emotion. He dropped Ivy’s hand. No, he had not been trying to keep her from the faery. Absolutely not.
Ganymede sat down and stared at the door. “Did I just fuck up? And is my honeybun as mad as she sounded?”
Ivy sighed. “I hope your litter box is clean.”
The cat glared at her. “That’s just insulting. The cosmic chaos-bringer doesn’t use a litter box.” He turned his attention to Murmur. “This is all your fault. Why the hell did you send out your music?” Ganymede looked as though he was ready for another eviction.
The cat was out of the bag, or in the litter box, depending on how you looked at it. “This isn’t my story to tell. Let’s meet tonight in my room and get things straightened out.” Murmur wouldn’t be surprised if Bain, Tirron, and he were sitting out on the curb with Braeden by morning. Asima’s music played in his head, something dark and ominous. Perfect.
Ganymede looked thoughtful. “Okay, I’ll give you till tonight. Your room at seven. Have any music to soothe Sparkle’s temper?”
Murmur decided now wasn’t the time to turn the cat down. “Maybe.”
“Yeah, well, maybe it might soothe my temper a little if you could do that.” The threat was implicit.
Murmur watched the cat pad toward where Holgarth lurked in the shadows. “Damn.” He mentally scanned his playlist. Nope, nothing that soothing.
“I’d like to be at the meeting.”
“What?” Murmur dragged his thoughts from the mess he’d created. “No, you need to stay as far away as possible from everyone involved in this.”
Ivy’s stare was lethal. “I was involved from the moment I saw the ogre. I’m coming.”
He recognized stubbornness when he saw it. If he said no, she might follow the cat right now to tell
him her tale of ogres and brownies. And with Ganymede’s crappy mood, the cat would probably kick him out without giving him a chance to warn the others. Murmur took a deep breath. No big deal. So he’d leave the castle and never have to see her again. Why did that thought make him angry?
“It’s your decision.” He couldn’t help the coldness that crept into his voice.
He hated feeling as though she’d backed him into a corner. Yes, he could still compel her silence, but he didn’t want to do it. The fact that he couldn’t name a reason for why he felt that way annoyed him even more.
If she went to the meeting and discovered what Bain and Tirron had planned for her, so be it. At least then he wouldn’t have to worry about his attraction to her. She’d grab her brother and put as many miles as possible between them.
“Good.” She looked away from him. “Okay, I know you don’t want me to be there, but this isn’t just about me. I need to make sure that none of what’s happening will put Kellen in danger.”
“I understand.” And he did, even though her presence would make things a lot tougher. For him. Not that it mattered. Not that she mattered.
He must have been scowling, because when she finally glanced back at him she looked uncertain.
“You say you understand, so why all the glaring?”
He wouldn’t lie. “I understand, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
“If you’re so against me going, why didn’t you fight harder to keep me away?”
He shrugged. “If I said no, you could just chase after Ganymede and tell him what you saw.”
She looked as though he’d struck her. “You honestly think I’d do something like that?”
The hurt in her eyes bothered him. But he was getting used to her affecting him in ways no one else had before now. “A demon wouldn’t hesitate.”
Ivy didn’t say anything for a moment, and he could almost see her testing different responses, searching for exactly the right one to blow him out of the water with. But when she finally spoke, there was no anger, only sadness.
“I’m sorry. It must be hard to trust so little.” She stood a little straighter and met his gaze. “I don’t break promises.”