by Amy Sumida
“Don't look a gift-Seren in the mouth, honey,” Abigail chided him. “Hurry up before she changes her mind.”
“Thank you, Your Highness,” Torquil called back. Then he picked Abigail up and raced off with her in his arms.
“Well, now that Feys of Our Lives is taking a commercial break, I'm off to interrogate your Delli-man.” Karmen hopped down the stairs.
“You're doing the interrogation?” I asked in surprise.
“I'm very effective at getting what I want out of a man,” Karmen assured me with a straight face that lasted for all of three seconds. Then he smirked and flipped his imaginary long hair. “This won't take long.”
“See what I've been putting up with while you've been off gallivanting through the realms,” Killian whined.
“You know you love me,” Karmen said as he sauntered to the elevator that went down to the subterranean levels of the council house. He leaned against the wall by the panel and pressed the button slowly as he eyed Daxon. “You wanna watch me work, sailor?”
“I'm not a sailor,” Daxon said in confusion.
“You're not?” Karmen asked with fake shock. “But you have the sea in your eyes.”
“You're a fickle pickle, Dinello,” Killian said.
“I'm a what?” Karmen's eyes went wide.
“A fickle pickle,” Killian repeated. “You were just hitting on me, and now it's Old Blue here. So, I either call your pickle fickle, or I call you a slut; which do you prefer?”
“Oh; slut; absobloominlootely,” Karmen declared. “Though I love the pickle reference; that's adorable.”
“Karmen, I'm going to tell Raza that you've been flirting with other men,” I threatened.
“Oh; Raza's my true love. Once you go black, and all that.” Karmen waved his hand flippantly as the elevator dinged and the door opened. “He'll always come first... and hopefully often.”
I groaned and rolled my eyes as the Star's Guard chuckled discreetly. Karmen slunk into the elevator and suddenly straightened; like, in every way.
“So, you guys gonna get in or what?” He asked. “The Head Councilman wants to see you, Seren. He's down in his office.”
“Oh, okay.” I got in, but there was only room for four more.
Ainsley, Daxon, Killian, and Matvei came with us; the rest had to wait for the next trip. We went down to the bottom level; stopping at the one just above it to let Karmen off. The rest of us went to see Murdock. His office was the last door on the left; just before the meeting room at the very end of the hallway. The door was open, and Murdock was at his desk, on the phone.
“Yes, Sir,” Murdock said as we walked in. He nodded and waved Daxon, Kill, and me into the chairs before his desk as he continued his conversation. “Yes, she just walked in. I'll tell her. Thank you, Sir. Goodbye.”
Murdock hung up the phone and gave us his full attention.
“That was High Councilman Murdock,” he said. “He's sending us reinforcements to deal with the Lana Clach situation now that we've verified it's her. You have verified it, right?”
Murdock gave me a heavy look. He knew the techniques I employed, and he was okay with them, but he couldn't verbally acknowledge that I used them or it would be condoning illegal activity.
“I have,” I assured him.
“Excellent,” he said. “I'm sure Councilman Dinello can get the same responses from the prisoner, but it's good to know just in case.”
“Reinforcements would be welcome,” I said. “But Lana's last known location was in Beverly Hills. I don't know if she'll stay in that area or in California at all.”
“She'll stay,” Daxon said. “Lana won't leave until she has what she wants, and I'm fairly certain that what she wants is both of us dead.”
“Huh; we never asked Delli that question,” I said. “We asked him what she had planned, but not what she wants.”
“Delli?” Murdock asked.
“The brag prisoner,” I explained. “It's Delli with two Ls. And yes, it's enough to make you hungry.”
Murdock lifted his brows at me.
“I may have had to explain it already,” I said dryly.
“Ah.” Murdock chuckled. “Well, he's our prisoner; you can still ask him.”
“Yeah but now that he's not...” I stopped and looked at Murdock the same way he had looked at me. “I can't be sure if it will be the truth.”
“He may bargain with you for the truth,” Daxon said. “He's a brag, after all; they love a good bargain.”
“Whatever works. Also, I have some information on the underground leaders we've been chasing,” Murdock said. “Two have been apprehended.”
“Only two?” I asked with surprise.
“Yes; we all share your shock.” Murdock grimaced. “These fairies have proved elusive.”
Daxon chuckled.
“You find that amusing?” Murdock asked him.
“It's kind of our thing.” Daxon shrugged. “We learned to hide in plain sight, and then we learned to hide underground. The ex-monarchs were the strongest of the underground fey, which means that they were the best at subterfuge of all sorts.”
“Fair enough,” Murdock muttered.
“That reminds me,” I said to Daxon, “did you find anything out about Gareth?”
“Nothing that will do us any good.” Daxon shook his head. “He's got no known friends or family outside of the Undergrounds. I can't come up with any way to get to him besides Lana herself.”
“Shit,” I growled.
“Gareth?” Murdock asked.
“Lana's lover,” Daxon explained. “We thought we might be able to use him against her.”
“Not every lead pans out,” Murdock said generously. “That's why you keep pursuing new ones, even after you do find a promising clue.”
“Where did they take the two monarchs who were caught?” I asked. “I'd like the opportunity to interrogate them.”
“I believe they're at the Human High Council House,” Murdock said. “They'll be interrogated there.”
“Perhaps I'll call High Councilman Murdock and ask him to add a few questions to the interrogation,” I mused.
“One last thing,” Murdock added. “High Councilman Murdock wanted me to tell you that he applauds the work you're doing with the orphans.”
“High Councilman Murdock said that?” I asked in surprise. “The guy with the permanent crevice between his eyebrows?”
“He can be rather harsh.” Murdock grinned. “And perhaps he didn't use those words exactly, but he does care about his fellow humans, Ambassador.”
“You don't have to tell me that,” I said. “I've worked with the High Councilman often enough to be assured of his integrity and good intentions and to know those weren't his words. So, what did he say exactly?”
Murdock sighed. “He said 'Tell that girl that she's done good with the kids.'”
“Humph,” I snorted. “He is applauding my efforts.”
“Ah; I see that you speak High Councilman Murdock-ese as well.”
“He grows on you,” I said.
“Like a rash,” Head Councilman Murdock muttered.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Delli had already been spilling his guts to Councilman Dinello when I walked in. He stopped mid-sentence and just stared at me. Karmen looked from Delli to me and then back again with wide eyes.
“Did you, uh, need to speak with me?” Karmen asked.
“No; him,” I said. “Can I have a minute?”
“Oh; sure.” He waved me on. “Go ahead.”
“Alone?”
“Oh.” Karmen stiffened and stood. As he passed me, he whispered, “There's a camera to your right; you may not want to rough him up, but if you do, I know a guy who can get rid of the evidence.”
Delli's eyes went round.
“I'm not going to rough him up,” I huffed. “I just want to talk to him.”
“Okay.” Karmen winked at me dramatically and closed the door.
I sat down,
and Delli eased as far back in his seat as he could.
“I heard what you could do,” Delli whispered to me. “But I didn't believe it. A fairy who can strike other fairies? It's impossible.”
“I like to do seven impossible things before breakfast,” I said casually. “Or was it six? Or was it think of impossible things? I can never remember the line; I'm not the greatest at movie quotes.”
“I think that's a book,” he said with a strange look.
“I like books,” I said. “I don't have a lot of time to read these days, though. You know why, Delli?”
“Because you're an ambassador?” He offered.
“That and because people like you and your boss, Lana, give me grief. Now, how about you give me a little less grief, and I'll do the same for you?”
“Okay,” he whispered and then looked around the room. “You aren't going to—”
“No,” I cut him off. “Just relax. All I want to know is what Lana wants.”
“What she wants?” He asked with surprise.
“You told us what she's planning; to kill her enemies,” I said. “But what is she really after, Delli?”
“Fuck; I don't know,” he huffed with an exhausted air. “That bitch is crazy.”
“If you think that, why did you follow her into hiding?”
“What other choice did I have?” He asked despondently. “I was on the wrong side of a war, and we had to retreat. Like I could have come to you and said 'Hey, I wanna switch sides cause my boss is insane?'”
“Yeah; you could have,” I said.
“Really?” He gaped at me.
“Really,” I said. “I'm all about the second chances. In light of that, I'll offer you a deal.”
“A deal?” He looked up at the camera. “They gonna let you do that?”
“I'm kinda a big deal around these parts.” I smirked.
“What's the deal?”
“I'll let you go on one condition,” I said. “You head back to Beverly Hills and try to find Lana. Just wander about like you're confused after I released you from your star-crossing.”
“And if she finds me?” He asked. “Because you know I ain't gonna find her unless she wants me to.”
“If she finds you, tell her that I star-crossed you, and after I removed the crossing, you escaped, or I released you,” I said. “Make her believe that you're not compromised.”
“But I am compromised?”
“If you truly want to switch sides you are.” I set a hard stare on him. “All you have to do is get back to wherever she's hiding and text me the address.”
“That's all?” He asked.
“We'll handle the rest, and I'll make sure you get pardoned,” I promised.
“Pardoned and given a place in Unseelie,” he said resolutely.
“Deal.” I held out my hand to him.
“Deal,” he repeated and shook my hand.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
“I don't recall giving you permission to release the prisoner,” Murdock growled.
My Guard—including a very relaxed Torquil—escorted Delli back out of the council house; past a line of confused extinguishers. Abby was there as well, but she was too satisfied to bother with confusion.
“You had your interrogation,” I reminded him. “I let Councilman Dinello go back and finish. But I saw an opportunity, and I took it. I'm pretty sure that I was within my rights since I brought him in.”
Murdock grimaced. “This had better work, Ambassador. If not, we'll both be answering to the Councils and the Coven.”
“There's a good chance that it won't work,” I admitted. “Lana may not even be looking for Delli. But I thought we should use whatever advantage we could get. We have his intel already, so if he escapes, all we're out is a prisoner. Does one fairy really make that much of a difference?”
“I suppose it was a good call,” he muttered. “Just don't go making them again without consulting me first. At least not within my council house.”
“Fair enough,” I said. “But I can't make any promises.”
Killian laughed as Murdock fumed. “Hey, at least she's honest.”
“That she is,” Murdock agreed. “So, let me be honest with you, Ambassador. Try that shit again in my house, and you won't be welcome back.”
Killian, Daxon, and Karmen gaped at Murdock, but I nodded. I had known this man for most of my life. He had been the Head Councilman my family, and I reported to, and he had been good to us when we were at our lowest. He deserved my respect.
“Understood, Head Councilman,” I said softly. “And my apologies for overstepping. My only excuse is that this place feels like home to me, and I consider you family. Sometimes we get a little too casual with family.”
Murdock cleared his throat and straightened. “It's forgiven and forgotten, Ambassador. I shouldn't have threatened that either; you'll always be welcome here.”
“Thank you,” I said softly.
“I'll keep you apprised of the arrival of the reinforcements, and I expect you to do the same for me with the Delli situation,” he added.
Yes, Sir.” I shook his hand.
“One more thing,” Murdock said as he produced a small box. “I thought you might need a tracker.”
“I appreciate it,” I murmured as I pocketed the box. “That hadn't occurred to me.”
“Experience counts for something.” Murdock smirked.
“I tell her that all the time,” Daxon drawled.
I shared an annoyed look with Murdock before I headed out of the Council House to the vans, where my Guard and Daxon's Elite waited with Delli. I scanned the area again, but my Star's Guard was already on the lookout. Nothing flew through the air at me as I climbed into my seat. Nothing but Daxon's poor humor.
“Can we stop and grab sandwiches?” He asked. “And pickles? I have a craving for sandwiches and pickles.”
I groaned. “This is my life.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
We were driving down the 101 to LA—right over a bridge, no less—when we were attacked by harpies.
They were glamoured invisible, so the humans around us thought we were maniacs or high; swerving around the road as we were. Killian and I could see the Harpies' auras, and the fairies in our van could see a vague outline caused by the magical disturbance. So, it shouldn't have been a big deal for us to engage them. Except we were on a treacherous stretch of road; thousands of feet above the rocky, California coastline, and the Harpies were tenacious.
“What the fuck?” Desmond growled as he tried to keep the van from going over the edge.
“Harpies,” Delli whispered. “The gig—as humans say—is up. Lana knows that I've been turned and sent them to kill me.”
“Or they're just taking the opportunity to attack us because it presented itself,” Daxon said.
“Is it 'gig' or 'jig?'” Conri asked. “I've always thought it was 'The jig is up.'”
“It's gig,” I said. “As in; an event or a mission.”
“Not jig; as in dance?” Conri countered.
“No.”
“Who fucking cares?!” Delli yelled.
“How did they find us?” Killian was staring out of the window steadily; tracking the flight of the Harpies.
“You can see them?” Ro asked. “They're moving too fast for me to get a read on.”
“What?” Killian asked in surprise. “I thought you guys could see the displacement of energy or some shit?”
“Isn't that how you're seeing them?” Ro countered.
“No; I have clairvoyance,” Killian said in an obvious tone. “I was a witch first, remember?”
“I thought witches just had diluted fairy magic?” Ro mused.
“No, we have a unique—”
The van was knocked from the side, and we skidded against the concrete railing; sparks flying out over the edge. Every other vehicle on the highway had pulled over to get away from us; every vehicle except for our second van, of course. They sped up alongsi
de us; Sanna at the wheel. She motioned to Desmond, and he nodded.
“We gotta get off this bridge,” Desmond said. “Then we can pull over and make a stand.”
“Good luck with that,” Delli muttered as he hunched into himself.
“It's on you and Seren,” Daxon said to Killian. “None of us can focus on the energy long enough to be able to accurately tell where they are.”
“No problem.” Killian went to the side of the van and slid open the door. “Seren?”
“Can anyone put up a glamour shield?” I asked.
“You're worried about humans seeing this?” Delli huffed. “Just fucking kill the Harpies!”
“He's got a point,” Killian said as he lifted his hand to the sky. “Anyone without fire magic, please keep your hands within the vehicle at all times.”
Rain started pouring down; pattering against the roof of the van. Except it wasn't rain; it was fire. Killian is the son of a Fire witch and a Storm witch, and his most aggressive talent was something he called the Firestorm. It blew my Firethorn balls out of the water.
“Fuck!” Desmond shrieked as he swerved in surprise.
“Steady, dude,” Killian murmured as he continued to concentrate.
I had an arm around Kill's waist, and the other around a headrest—making sure he didn't fall out—while I watched the air around us. It was currently full of shrieking harpies; and not in the way they usually shrieked. The fairies were losing their glamours; unable to keep them going under Killian's brutal attack. Their feathers were on fire, and their hair had been incinerated. They were falling from the sky into horrible, blistered heaps; the smell of burnt feathers and hair filling the air. Inside the van, we were roasting like a chicken in an oven; sweat pouring down our faces while the metal bowed and buckled.
“I'm losing rubber,” Desmond growled. “We'll be riding on rims in a few minutes.”
“They're down, Killian,” I said urgently. “Let it go.”
As soon as Killian pulled back his Firestorm, the sky darkened and storm clouds formed. Hideous harpies stumbled to their feet; the stubs of their damaged wings flapping uselessly as they stared after us with water dripping down their bloody faces. The metal of our van—heated and then rapidly cooled—was creaking ominously; making the Harpies seem even more monstrous. Killian leaned back into the van—breathing heavily—but I continued to watch the women. We had just made it to the end of the bridge, but we were still driving along a cliff, and I wasn't sure the bird-ladies were completely down for the count.