When we rounded the next corner, my skin prickled; the area was almost identical to where Stuart had his big fight to keep me occupied. It all came crashing back to me. Stuart had looked so relaxed, almost like he was having fun.
“This is as similar to the area as where Stuart fought as it can be. There’s more garbage, and things are painted differently, but it was like this. Stuart is about my height, and slight in build. He fought a huge beast of a man. He danced around, gave body blows, and wore the larger man down. It was all going beautifully, actually. I was impressed with his tactics.”
I didn’t want to think about Stuart anymore. He was probably in need of regeneration again at that very moment, needing to be healed from all of his injuries for the day—even though it was still early. I hadn’t had a chance to ask for his reassignment.
“What was the bigger man doing? Was he fighting back as hard as he could, or did he look like he was biding his time?” Gus snapped me out of my thoughts.
“I don’t know. I didn’t really pay that much attention to him, I was enthralled by Stuart.”
Nodding, Gus walked us around the area.
I stopped at a place on the sidewalk and pointed. “This would be where Stuart fell after the big guy hit him.”
“Explain to me everything you remember about the point in the fight where it turned.”
Gus had crouched down, and I matched his stance while he examined the vicinity.
“Stuart was dancing around. The larger man tired and leaned down, as if he was spent. A moment later, he grinned and gave one more burst of speed. Then Stuart was on the ground.”
“Like he knew just when to take the shot,” Gus said.
I stared at him in dumbfounded shock. “Yeah. How can that be?”
Scanning the area, he studied each building. His analytical approach checking every angle.
“Someone told him.” He faced me. “There was someone watching and waiting to let the guy know when to end it. Someone who could see you and knew you were there.”
Sweat broke out on the back of my neck, and I felt sick.
“How?”
“That I don’t know. When you saw the man’s expression change, what direction was he facing? Where was he looking?”
I twisted around, Gus following my gaze and my slow spin.
“There! He was looking that way.” I pointed the way we’d just come. “But he was looking up, kind of.”
We both analyzed the surrounding buildings.
“Eleven o’clock, see the fire escape on the side of that building? Someone would be able to see the street clearly from that spot, without drawing attention to themselves. Whoever it was stood there and let the bigger guy know when it was time for the farce to end.”
We both rose to full height.
“Donovan. It had to be, don’t you think?” I was positive, but I needed a boost of Gus’s confidence. “He spoke to me to distract me, but he’d already set everything in motion. This was all staged. He set up the perfect scenario for me to fall into. This may not have been the first time, either . . . ”
I needed to sit down, but we still stood near the place my mind pictured Stuart laying bloodied. I didn’t want to be there anymore.
“Can we go?”
“Sure. Let’s take a look at that platform. I want to know how he got up there,” Gus said.
We headed for the building where he believed Donovan, or someone, had watched me choose Stuart. Where he’d conspired against me with the man that I was supposed to take.
How did he know I’d be there? Who told him?
Whoever it was would pay.
20
We’d searched the platform of the fire escape and realized that there wasn’t any way for a human to get there on his own. Only half of the building was occupied, and the doors were locked. A few businesses filled the street level, but none on the floor where Donovan had watched me—if it really had been him.
It couldn’t be a coincidence. Even if Donovan wasn’t the one who had alerted the man, I believed he was still involved.
We walked back toward where the coffee shop should have been. It was confusing that it wasn’t there anymore. While I contemplated how the city had changed so quickly, Gus thought through the scene.
I didn’t care where we went, so long as it was away from where I kept reliving the moment Stuart’s head hit the concrete—and how satisfied I’d been that I could take him with me after all.
There were monsters throughout the realms: dragons, witches, giants, draugar, and, as it turned out . . . me.
“We’re missing something. How did that man know when Donovan gave the signal? If he’d switched into ethereal form so he wouldn’t be seen by others, how did the man see him?”
I couldn’t answer that either. “Maybe he didn’t change forms.”
“Then how did he get onto the platform? He’d have to have movie-style super powers to make that jump.”
There was something about what Gus said that made me wonder. “I’ve never tried to do anything physical when I’m here. I mean when I’m waiting in my corporeal form. What if I could jump higher or run faster, or stuff like that?”
“That’s an interesting thought. I wish we had the ability to test it out.”
I glanced at our clasped hands. No, it wasn’t worth the risk to try.
As we passed an alley, supplies were being delivered to the back door of a restaurant. We had to walk around the front of the truck, that had parked over the sidewalk. The smell of baked bread wafted out of the open doors to the building.
“I could really use a maple scone right now.”
Gus nudged my shoulder and flashed a small grin in my direction. Then he pulled me to stop, abruptly ending my sugary memories.
“Look at those men.” He pointed with his chin to two men in white jackets who were helping bring in the supplies.
“What about them?”
A low grumble came from Gus. It shocked me to hear his irritation, and how much I liked that it made him sound sexy. I needed to concentrate.
“Look at the backs of their hands. Those look like calc tattoos. Let’s get closer.”
Without waiting for my answer, he tugged me with him along the side of the van. Sure enough, the rune symbol covered the entire back of their hands, from knuckles to wrist.
Gus slid sideways, as if he had to hide.
I chuckled. “You know you don’t have to be so stealthy, right?”
To his credit, Gus covered his embarrassment with a joke.
“It’s more fun this way. Can’t hurt for tactical practice later on, right?” He winked.
It was growing harder to resist his charms the longer we stayed together.
While he might have thought it fun, I was too tired to care, so I didn’t bother hiding. Perhaps I should have, though, because one of the men darted a glance in my direction.
There was no way he could see me. “Gus?”
“I saw. He’s made you, I think.”
I was about to protest, when the man nudged his co-worker. The second man turned and stared right at me, which caused the delivery driver to turn as well.
“Guess that answers that question. Delivery boy has the same rune on his neck, too.”
I’d been going to point out that the rune could be algiz, depending on how the men held their hands, but Gus was right again. The delivery driver had a larger one on his neck, tucked under the back of his jaw, with the points clearly pointing downward.
All three men stared at us when Gus left his spot against the van. He’d been hidden by the open door, but revealed himself to move closer to my side.
I wasn’t sure what to do—I’d never knowingly been seen in this form, with my wings in full view. There wasn’t a lot of time to think about it, though.
The driver tossed a box of vegetables at us and charged around the other side of the van, and both of the workers took off toward the open door of the restaurant. The truck fired up and peeled away
as the open back doors spilled produce onto the street. Without hesitation, we ran after the workers.
If they could see us, they could talk to us.
As soon as we entered the busy kitchen, we slammed into someone, and all three of us tumbled to the floor.
That shouldn’t happen either. Something was very off.
The woman we ran into screamed and crab-walked backward to get away. Gus had landed next to her, nearly pulling me on top of her. In the midst of the fall, he’d squeezed my hand harder to keep us together.
I shoved to my knees and climbed to my feet as he rose by my side. Choosing to ignore the screamer, we took off in the direction of the chaos, following the two men as they shoved their way through the crowded space.
Slipping in hot tomato soup that had been spilled at some point in the confusion, we followed the runners. They smashed through the double swinging doors leading into the dining area, with us right on their heels.
The room was empty, since it was too early for lunch, except where two men sat talking at a back table.
“That’s him!” I yelled. “The man who fought with you.” The one I should have taken.
I couldn’t miss twice. This was my chance to make it right—and our ticket back to Valhalla.
Both men at the table stood. The one with his back to us glanced over his shoulder, and I stumbled. All the air left my lungs, and I could feel the shock on my face.
Scrambling to stop myself, I fell backward and lost my grip on Gus. He turned to me with wide eyes, reaching out to reconnect our hands, and I watched over his shoulder as Donovan disappeared.
Instead of running away, the brute who had been with him charged at us, knocking Gus away from me and into a table. I heaved to catch my breath, while at the same time realizing that Gus was still there—he wasn’t fading or slipping away. But the more he grappled with the man, the more he stumbled.
I gathered my wits and charged into the fight. First, landing a right hook against the brute’s jaw, and then snatching up Gus’s hand. Two breaths later, he was at my side, his strength restored, and we lunged at the savage, who’d fallen backward against a table.
Gus tackled him, taking me to the ground as well, but he managed to pin the man. Using his free arm, Gus bent the brute’s wrist and slid his knee onto the man’s neck.
“Who are you?” Gus growled. “How can you see us?”
The man snarled, but didn’t answer. Blood smeared his teeth from where I’d slugged him, and a ribbon of eery smoke rose from under his body. I used my left hand to do it again. It wasn’t as strong, because of the angle and the fact it was my weaker side, but it was effective enough for me to hear the satisfying crunch of his nose breaking.
“Talk, or she’ll keep at it.”
Oh, good—I was afraid Gus would want to take the lead on the fighting. He could talk all he wanted, as long as he let me smash this guy’s face.
“You’re in over your heads. She’s too stupid to figure anything out, and you’ll not get anything from me.”
The man had a brusque voice, with a Yorkshire accent I recognized even though it had been years since I’d traveled there.
I punched him in the mouth again, and blood trickled out. I smiled. He growled at me and struggled to free himself from Gus’s hold. It didn’t work.
“Last chance, and then Niasa helps you to the afterlife. Tell us who you are and what that calc tat means?”
“Are you working for Donovan?” It was the question I wanted most. I didn’t care who this toad was; clearly, he was only a foot soldier. I wanted to know who to go after once I dumped this sap at Odin’s feet and gave him the satisfaction of sentencing the traitor to the Gap.
“You can try all you want, you’ll never bring down the Legion. We’ll never stop.” The man glanced down at where Gus and I had our hands latched together. When he brought his gaze back to me, his smile was wicked and chilling. The face of a demon flickered into view and then disappeared.
In the span of a heartbeat, he kneed me in the side of the head, then bit our hands. He caught both of us by the thumbs and drew blood. I grabbed his shirt and tried to headbutt him, but my blow landed against his throat and lost its power. An elbow went into Gus’s groin, while his other hand squeezed around my neck until the edges of my vision turned dark.
This shouldn’t be possible. How could he even touch us?
Confusion clouded my judgment, and I could only claw at the meaty hand around my throat. Sharp nails threatened to pierce my skin. Then I was sent flying backward to crash into a table and crumble to the ground. I heard Gus fighting, but, in my struggle to breathe again, could do nothing to help.
Then the room went silent and dark.
21
Terrified, I scrambled to my feet. “Gus!” I screamed.
Relief surged through me when I saw his prone body against a stack of chairs. Stumbling to him, I landed on my knees with a crack.
I didn’t know how he’d stayed present without me holding him, but it didn’t matter.
I rolled him over and cradled him in my lap. The rise and fall of his chest eased my concern.
“Gus, can you hear me?”
He moaned and lifted his hand to his head. “Stop yelling.”
Closing my eyes, I leaned down and rested my head against his.
“Niasa,” he whispered.
There was a huskiness to his voice that sent a charge through my belly. When I opened my eyes and met his gaze, he sank his fingers into my hair at the back of my neck and pulled me closer.
I stopped breathing. Then I sprang backward, heaving for air.
I opened and closed my mouth, gaping like a fish, not knowing what to do or say. My gaze caught on his full, pink lips, and I tipped my chin into the air to stop myself.
Gus pushed himself up and sat facing me. Slipping my hand into his, he rubbed my palm with his thumb. His other hand had slid out of my hair and rested on my thigh. The heat of it burned through my leg, straight to my head, muddling my thoughts.
“We need to leave before any of his buddies come in here,” I said.
It was true, and as good an excuse as any to put some space between us.
“Yeah, you’re right.” Weariness, or possibly disappointment, edged Gus’s words as he stood. “Looks as though we don’t need to hold on to each other like before.”
He started to draw away from me, but I tightened my fingers around his hand.
“Let’s not risk it.” I forced myself to meet his gaze and hold it. I hoped he saw my concern through the strength I tried to project.
After seconds that felt like hours, he nodded and turned toward the broken doorway at the front of the restaurant.
We’d walked about ten paces when everything started spinning. I had to grab Gus’s shirt to keep from falling. The next thing I knew, his arms held me, and my cheek rested against his chest.
“It’s all right, I’ve got you.” His voice comforted me.
I’d spent too much energy in the fight. Maybe for once, I’d accept surrender and rest.
Gus’s lemon and cedar scent tickled my senses as he walked with me wrapped in his arms. I didn’t know to where, and I didn’t care. The pain in my head was so intense, I couldn’t think straight. The streets were pretty quiet, as long as we stayed off the main ones, and Gus knew the city.
He’d manage until I died.
When the jostling stopped, I tried to peek around. I settled instead for just talking through my hair, making as little movement as possible.
“Where are we?”
Gus sighed before he spoke, like he wasn’t sure. I didn’t want to move if I didn’t have to, and I hoped he didn’t want to argue. For once, I wasn’t up for it.
“Is there any truth to those who say they can speak to the dead? Like palm readers or psychics?”
“Weird question, but oddly appropriate in our current state, I suppose.” I could hear the scratchiness in my voice, and it took more effort to get out the word
s than I wanted. “There are some who can speak with the spirit realm. You have to be very careful who they’re connected with, though. There are some from the underworld who tell lies and deceive to draw the unsuspecting away from the gods. Why?”
“Because when I was in high school, there was a girl whose mom didn’t have a shop or anything, but she claimed she could communicate with the other side. I wondered if she could help us get in contact with your command center.”
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea. Besides, she won’t be able to see us anyway, and she was most likely a fraud.”
“I’m afraid you’re wrong about that, sweetheart.”
I popped my eyes open and lifted my hair from my face.
Standing in front of me was a petite, older woman. The wide grin on her face and the twinkle in her eyes were enough to prove that she could see us clearly.
“Gus, where are we?” I kept my eyes trained on the woman who held my gaze.
“This is the woman I was asking about,” he whispered. Then he spoke louder to the woman. “Hello, Mrs. Porter. I guess you can see us, so I’m hoping you can help us, too.”
“Put me down.” I wiggled to free myself from Gus’s grip. He let go enough that I could slip to my feet, but he kept an arm around me. “You shouldn’t have done this.”
“You don’t have to worry about me,” the woman assured me. “I don’t use my gifts for gain because I know that’s not why I have them. You’re right, there are too many out there that play with the spirit realm like a game. They don’t know there’s too much at stake.”
“As anyone working with dark forces would say to gain our trust. You’ll have to excuse my buddy here—he’s new. We’ll be going now.” I grabbed a handful of Gus’s shirt, and started to pull him away.
“We need help, Niasa. You aren’t going to make it back, and I don’t know what to do if you pass out again.”
“How about you come in? We can talk where we can sit in comfort, and then you can decide if you can trust me. No promises, no guarantees. How does that sound?” Mrs. Porter said.
Time Magic Page 14