by Summa, S. E.
Finn stared around her as if trying to see what she meant.
“I felt confused. Anxious. He said it was my hex reacting to him and it flared at him, some kind of a defense thing. He seemed surprised, but I don’t really know what that means. It was unpleasant, though. I felt dizzy.”
“Wait, did he drug you? If the bas—”
“No, no. I swear, Finn.” Seraphina shook her head. “It was nothing like that. When he realized how it was affecting me, he stopped right away. I felt his power pull away. I was sort of in shock, I think because I wanted it to come back. I missed it. He could’ve tried to take advantage of the situation but didn’t. He, well, he was gentle and kind.”
“Oh, hell, Seraphina.” Finn crossed his arms. “You don’t have a crush on him, right? Do you care about him? You know we cannot risk what could happen.”
“No. I don’t even know him. It isn’t like that, okay? Besides, I know better, Finn.”
“All right, then tell me he is a wrinkly old man. He’s a warty, rather ugly fellow who smells like moldy cheese. Tell me he is repulsive.”
“Who smells like cheese?” Khat asked as she came in swinging a grocery bag. When she heard Finn and Seraphina were both cooking, she quickly assigned herself dessert duty and left for the store.
“No one smells like cheese,” Seraphina muttered.
She and Finn stared at each other across the kitchen island. “And he is not old either. Twenty-five, I’d guess? I didn’t exactly ask to see his driver’s license.
“So ghastly ugly then? I was right about the warts?” Finn sounded hopeful, desperate almost.
“No. Jeez, Finn. I didn’t see any warts. He isn’t bad looking, I suppose. But that’s not what matters here at all,” Seraphina said. “Pay attention to the important part, would you? He claims he finds weaknesses in hexes. He doesn’t just weave them. He can break them too. You know how rare that is?”
Marceau had sounded sincere, but she’d never met anyone who had a similar gift. Many others created curses. Travelers and those who practiced voodoo specialized in them. Seraphina had sought help from members of both, but no one had been either able or willing to help. A curse weaver was easy enough to find, but a curse breaker was extremely rare.
“If it’s even true.” Finn folded his arms across his chest.
“Of course, if it’s true. Which is why I invited him to dinner tonight. We have to, at least, check his claims out. But he did figure out I’m hexed without a hint at all from me, so that’s something, isn’t it? He said he wants to try to help us.”
Finn asked, “Help us? And what does he want in return, love? Why would some irritatingly wart-free stranger who isn’t bad looking, you suppose, want to help break our curse?”
Seraphina hated this side of Finn. He was usually so open and carefree with her, and now with Khat. But Finn had taken in countless sins. He’d seen—no he had personally experienced—the absolute worst, most vile deeds of others. When it came to outsiders, he was not trusting by any definition of the word.
“Finn, please try to have an open mind. I understand why you’re leery. He’s offered his help, but it’s not as though I have accepted it yet. I invited him here so you can meet him, and we can decide together. I know we both have a say. We share the curse.”
“You did not answer me, love. What exactly does he want from you in return?” Finn emphasized each word.
“The book. He wants access to the Blackthorne Grimoire.”
“See? I knew there was something he wanted. Well, that better be all he wants. I’m not going to lose you again, Seraphina.” Finn slapped a towel over the dough and walked away. From down the hall, he added, “Next time, there may be no way of pulling you back from the dead.”
“Are you all right?” Khat asked and put her hand on Seraphina’s back. “I’ve never seen him like that. I don’t understand.”
“Ugh, I’m okay. Just pissed off. Finn’s different with outsiders, Khat. He does not trust easily. It’s a side effect of what he does.”
“Oh,” Khat said, tilting her head, “that does make sense. I guess I wouldn’t either if I’d felt so much sin and could read it on others.”
“Yeah, I just hope Marceau’s sins are of the more mundane variety. Or this dinner could be a complete fiasco.”
“Marceau, huh? Ooh la la. Is he as sexy as his name?” Khat giggled.
“Unfortunately,” Seraphina grumbled and she started chopping again. “And don’t think for a moment, Finn won’t point it out.”
The grandfather clock downstairs chimed. Seraphina put the salad on the table. Khat set the table. It looked lovely. Fragrant purple and white flowers in small, low vases and tea candles cast their flickering light on the mixed plates. The whole scene resembled a fancy tablescape from a magazine.
Seraphina jumped and almost knocked over a wine glass as the buzzer rang for the door. “I got it,” she called out and headed toward the stairs.
As she passed the hallway, Khat’s voice soothed, “…trust her judgment. You never know this may be a great opportunity…”
Earlier, Finn had come back to the kitchen to finish his contribution to dinner. Garlic rolls were baking in the oven now, filling their home with the aroma of fresh bread. Seraphina didn’t enjoy the aroma nearly as much as usual. She had to force replays from her night at the Woodard mansion from her mind.
Finn had barely spoken to her all afternoon. He’d finally stopped slamming things around, which was good, but he was closed down. It hurt when he acted so distant.
Seraphina hoped she hadn’t made a mistake by inviting Marceau. It wasn’t because Finn was jealous or territorial. Or even that he was a controlling jerk, which was how he’d acted earlier. Finn was afraid. And he was trying to keep her alive.
She opened the door. “Hi,” she started, but it died in her throat.
Flowers.
Oh, come on. Not good. Not at all.
Marceau stood there looking too handsome in a black sweater and dark, snug jeans, a canvas bag in one hand and in the other held a small bouquet of vibrant dahlias. Her favorite.
Damn it.
“Come on in.” She backed up without taking her eyes off him.
“I hope you like dahlias,” Marceau said as he handed them to her.
“Yes, they’re actually my favorite.” Seraphina frowned at the bouquet.
“If you like them, then why is your forehead all wrinkled like that?” As Marceau stepped inside, the smell of him enveloped her space, and she was struck silent by how intimate the sensation became. She inhaled, but discreetly because she didn’t want to look like a weirdo.
“Oh, um.”
“It’s okay, Seraphina. What’s wrong?”
Marceau took another step, and his closeness was overwhelming. Seraphina shuffled back and the familiar smells of the herbs and essential oils in the shop helped clear her mind.
“It’s just that, well, Finn is a little concerned about your intentions. I reassured him you only wanted access to the book for helping me, for helping us. That you had no interest in…”
“I see. So he may question my motives if he sees the flowers?” Marceau interjected.
“Yeah, probably. But it was so nice of you to bring them.”
“Relax. It’s okay, really.”
Marceau held his hand out for the bouquet and she bit her lip while giving them back, careful not to touch his hand. He walked over to the sales counter and laid the flowers near the register.
“Let’s leave the dahlias down here, for now. I’d prefer to not upset your friend before I even have the chance to meet him.”
“He…” Seraphina realized her shoulders were so tensed they almost touched her ears. She took a deep breath and centered herself. Her shoulders lowered as she exhaled. “Finn is just really protective. Thanks for understanding.”
Marceau turned, surveying the apothecary. “This is quite a place, Seraphina.”
He walked along one of the long shelves,
surveying the dark blue hermetic bottles, each labeled and organized. Stopping at a tincture made of a scarce dried Amazonian flower, he made an appreciative whistle. “Impressive.”
“Thanks. I’m glad you like it. We’ve been collecting them for many years. Finn is quite an herbalist.” She was an accomplished herbalist too but preferred to brag about Finn’s talent. He’d studied so hard. “We get orders from all over the world for the rare specimens and tinctures.”
Seraphina turned the door’s three deadbolts. Her hand glowed and illuminated a red circle against the door as she activated the magical locks.
Marceau raised a brow.
“Oh, they are designed to keep beings out. Like I said, we have some very valuable items here that would be quite dangerous in the wrong supernatural’s hands. I’m not taking you prisoner or anything creepy.”
Marceau’s laugh echoed, deep, masculine.
“Hungry?” Seraphina asked in a high pitch voice trying to deflect from what she’d just said.
“Famished. Something smells wonderful. I brought beverages as requested.” He lifted the canvas bag. Glass bottles clinked together.
“I’m starving too. I’ve been smelling dinner for the last hour. Come on then.” Seraphina started up the stairs. She stopped and turned without notice. The bag’s contents clanged together again as Marceau stopped short to avoid walking into her.
She said, “Finn is my best, my dearest, friend. He’s wonderful, really.”
“But?”
“But, he does not trust you. Well, not yet. So, I just wanted to.” She hesitated.
“To warn me?” Marceau smiled. “Seraphina, it’s okay. I’ll be fine. I’m sure he will be too. I can understand him being protective of you.”
She took a deep breath, started up the stairs. “You’re right. I’m probably worrying over nothing. Let’s go see what you brought. I think I could use a drink.”
He chuckled again causing goosebumps on her arms.
When they arrived in the large open area of her loft, Seraphina was relieved Finn had come out of his room. He was taking steaming rolls from the oven. Finn turned, locked eyes with Marceau, and slowly set the hot pan on a trivet on the dark marble counter. “Well, you were right, love, he did come.”
“Love? I didn’t realize the two of you were…”
“Oh, they aren’t together like that at all. He calls me Sparrow. It’s a Sin Eater thing, I think.” Khat said as she bounced into the room and smiled appraisingly at Marceau before going to Finn and leaning into his side. Finn broke eye contact with Marceau long enough to kiss the tip of Khat’s nose before resuming his glare.
Marceau took a sharp breath.
Finn raised his arm and Khat snuggled into his hold.
“A Sin Eater and a djinn?” Marceau turned to Seraphina, incredulous. “I assumed your Finn would be of the magical community, but my, my, what interesting company you keep.” He bent, “Let me guess, you keep an exoskell as a pet?”
Huh? Exoskells were monstrous tentacled skeletal creatures. “Of course not, an exoskell would be ripping away your flesh by now… Wait, a djinn? What are you talking about?”
“Me,” Khat said. Finn stiffened and his arm was holding her in a more protective way now. “I don’t know how he could tell so easily. But, he’s talking about me.”
“Glamours don’t work well on me. My work requires I travel in some exotic circles and the Djinn Faction granted me the gift of Sight so I could complete a task for them.”
“How convenient.” Khat’s smile was forced.
“Hold up. Let’s just back this train up, shall we?” Seraphina said. She was gaping at them, her head bouncing back and forth like a tennis match.
“You are a djinn?”
Khat nodded. “A djinn halfling.”
“Halfling?”
“I’m at least a quarter Spellcaster on dear old dad’s side, and my mother is a djinn, so yes. I’m not sure how the quarter Possessed affects my genetics, but I can’t rule it out.”
“That is quite some pedigree. And you knew about this?” Seraphina fired the question squarely at Finn.
Finn was still staring at Marceau, his jaw set.
“Oh, quit with the stupid stare off. Look at me, Finn. I’m the one you are catching hell from, not him. Did you know?”
Finn stared down at the floor and shifted his weight, then raised his eyes to meet hers. He swallowed and gave the tiniest nod.
Seraphina crossed her arms over her chest and said, “You did, Finn. You knew she was djinn. And you were hiding it from me?”
Finn closed his eyes and took a pained breath. In a soft voice, he said, “I was planning to tell you, love. I just wanted you to get to know Khat a little better. To trust her before…”
“You conniving jerkface.” Seraphina got almost in his face. Her fists clenched at her sides.
In a louder voice, Finn said, “I know, Khat. She would never use her power against either of us, love, and I trust she wouldn’t…”
“Oh, give me some damned credit. I know that, Finn. I’m not mad for what she is.” Seraphina waved her arm at all of them. “We’re all, who we are. I doubt any of us had a damn choice in it, did we?” She looked around. “I’m pissed off because you were hiding it from me. You’ve been manipulating me. Waiting until I was friends with Khat while you withheld the truth. You didn’t trust me enough to know the truth and to still give her a chance.”
“Love, I…”
“Oh, don’t you love me right now. Finn McKenna, I’ve been tiptoeing around here all day. Worrying and feeling, well, guilty for inviting someone to dinner who might possibly upset you. Even though I don’t think he poses a threat…”
“Maybe I should go.” Marceau took one long stride back.
“No. You, stay put.” Seraphina pointed and glared at him.
Marceau’s eyes opened wide, but he halted his retreat. Finn and Marceau exchanged a look. The irritating guy look. The “I know women can be kind of crazy” look.
“Stop it, you two. You can bond in a minute, right now I am busy having a hissy fit.”
Finn laughed. Marceau and Khat jumped and looked at him confused. Seraphina’s mouth twitched.
“Nuh uh, it is not going to work, Finn.” Seraphina sucked in her lower lip and bit down.
“Are you finished with your hissying?” Finn had managed before he began shaking from holding his laughter.
Seraphina stomped her foot and gave in. “Oh, damn it,” she said as she burst into uncontrollable laughter too.
Marceau grinned at Khat, “Do they do this often?”
Khat’s shoulders raised and dropped. “I have no clue. This is my first time invited to dinner too.”
Seraphina’s laugh died down. She pointed her finger at Finn and said, “Look you. We don’t keep secrets like that. I told you what Marceau’s power was right away and you still pouted and acted all pissy. I put up with you stomping around and slamming things half the day. I needed you to trust my judgment in inviting him here, but you didn’t.”
“You are absolutely right, love.” Finn put his hands up. “Can I safely call you love again?” He raised an eyebrow and smirked.
Seraphina nodded but crossed her arms.
“Okay, love,” Finn said. “I apologize. I should have trusted you both with Khat’s,” he said with a lifted shoulder, “unusual pedigree as Marceau put it. And I should’ve trusted your judgment on your new… friend.” He emphasized the friend part a bit too hard, but it was clear the drama was over.
Seraphina’s arms dropped, and she smiled. “Okay. I accept. Now let’s stop behaving like children. We have company for a change. We both worked hard on dinner. Smelling your garlic knots has been making my mouth water all day, and Marceau was about to offer us a drink.”
Marceau stood still. Neither he nor Khat had moved an inch since she had ordered him to stay put.
“Ahem, that’s your cue, Marceau,” said Finn.
“Oh, yes, of
course.” Marceau approached the counter and set his bag down. He pulled out a pricey red wine, a white wine she didn’t recognize, and a bottle of Gentleman Jack.
Finn nodded at the Jack and asked, “On the rocks?”
“Please,” Marceau responded.
“Men.” Seraphina blew out her breath puffing her hair off her forehead.
“Red for me,” Khat said, laughing.
“Me too,” Seraphina added.
Seraphina walked around the counter, pulled a corkscrew from a drawer and slid it across the granite counter to Marceau. She turned and gloved up before pulling two deep-dish lasagnas from the oven and placing them on the stovetop.
“Fifteen minutes for the lasagna to rest.” She turned and took the wine Khat offered. After a long sip, she asked, “So, how did you know Khat was a djinn?”
“Well, she’s kind of shimmery for starters. As a Spellcaster, you should be able to see that, right?” Marceau said and took a sip of his whiskey.
“I thought that was… I thought you just liked to wear a lot of gold glitter.” Seraphina looked at Khat and yes, she had her usual slight shimmer.
Finn rolled his eyes and Khat snorted.
“Glitter?” Khat laughed. “I’m not twelve, Sera. Why would I wear glitter from head to toe?” She looked insulted, with a smile, though.
“I thought it was a stripper thing?” Seraphina added grimacing.
Khat stuck out an inhumanly long tongue. Whoa, Gene Simmons had nothing on her.
“Also, there are the ears, of course,” Marceau added.
Seraphina stared at Khat’s ears. They looked perfectly normal to her until Khat shrugged and dropped her glamour as a golden shimmer traveled down her body. Her small ears came to points at the top, just like every genie character Disney ever made.
“You can see why they might get unwanted attention. But on the bright side, I can be ready for a Renaissance Festival in two seconds flat.” Khat giggled but sounded nervous.
Marceau tried to stifle a laugh.
Khat’s brown skin had almost a sparkle to it as the kitchen light reflected on her face. Her features were more angled, sharper. Her heavy lidded eyes were sultry and surrounded by thick, full eyelashes. Her pupils elongated and looked feline, a striking shade of teal. They reminded Seraphina of a prism as they switched between silver and blue tones in the light, both shades much too bright to be human. Her smile revealed teeth just a tad sharper than normal. She was beautiful but definitely otherworldly.