by Pat Esden
Her eye caught a shift in the energy around him. Not magic. This was a vibration she’d heard about but never seen before. Her breath stalled in her throat as a likely possibility came to her. She bent close to Keshari. “I think he’s a shapeshifter.”
“Like the Shade?” she whispered.
“No. I think this is inborn, not a spell.”
With her heart in her throat, Chloe once again scanned the street, looking for other shifters or members of the Circle. No familiar faces. No indications of magic either.
She pushed back her worry and lengthened her steps, striding toward him. If this was a trap, so be it. It was the last place the Shade had been and it was the end of Devlin’s short breadcrumb trail.
A group of teenage girls stopped in front of The Thinker, whispering to each other and snickering. A couple threw a five into his donation box, then continued on arm in arm.
“Watch my back,” Chloe said to Keshari. Then she pasted on a cheerful smile and strolled up to him. “Hi, there. I hope you can help. This is a bit of a strange question, but we’re looking for a long-haired guy carrying a staff. He would have been with a group of people—and a steampunk monkey. Did you happen to see them by any chance?”
The Thinker’s expression remained stoically frozen. Not even an eyelash moved. Not even when she repeated the question.
She gritted her teeth, holding back the urge to give him a good shake. Desperation filled her voice. “There would have been a guy with dreadlocks and a taller woman wearing a choker with him. Please. It’s important. All I need to know is which way they went.”
A thought came to her and icy fear drained her anger. What if the Shade had done something to him, like turned him into a real statue?
She crouched down, leaning in close enough to see the slight rise of his chest as he breathed.
Keshari stepped up next to her and dropped a bill into the donation box. “Would a ten help you remember?”
His metallic lips twitched and his eyes shifted, indicating farther down the street.
“Thank you, thank you so much!” Chloe shouted, though she felt slightly embarrassed that she hadn’t thought of giving him cash before she wasted so much time.
They fast-walked in the direction The Thinker indicated, but with each step the normalness made Chloe increasingly uneasy. No traces of magic hung in the air. No news vans rushed to investigate reports of flying monkeys. A thought prickled the back of her mind. The horrible things the Shade had done so far to people and animals, plus him bringing the monkeys to life and creating the tornado in her hallway, these things had convinced her that he intended to shock the world with a dramatic entrance, a manipulative show of cruelty and power, backed up with more bullying and threats.
But everything around them said differently. The Shade was covering his tracks, showing care and control that made the possibility of him having seduced Athena into releasing him much more plausible. She was an intelligent woman and a high priestess, sincere about acquiring magic and medicine to help mankind. Her devotion to Devlin proved she cared deeply for family as well as coven. Someone like her wouldn’t have been easy prey, even for someone as powerful as the Shade.
Sweat trickled down Chloe’s spine and a sick feeling settled in the pit of her stomach. She moved closer to Keshari. “You don’t think the Shade manipulated Devlin into posting fake photos to mislead—or maybe lure us somewhere?”
“I would believe almost anything at this point,” Keshari said.
Two younger guys hurtled up behind them. As they shot passed, Chloe caught a few words “…Not kidding, man. A dude with a mechanical monkey is buying drinks. All night.”
Thank you, thank you, Chloe sent a shot of gratitude out to the universe. Such a coincidence had to have come from some god or goddess, or maybe even Nimue.
She grabbed Keshari’s hand. “Come on! Let’s follow them.”
They took off full-tilt after the guys, chasing them to the end of the block, around a corner and up the street. Straight to the front door of Club Elysium, where the guys vanished inside. Chloe paused, her breath coming in short pants, stitches pulling at her sides. Beside her, Keshari had her hands on her knees as she gulped air.
Club Elysium.
I should have seen this one coming, Chloe thought, waiting for the pounding of her heart to subside. Elysium was the most popular club in town. It had a small barroom in the front and a back area with three or maybe four bars, raised dance floors, loads of tables. She’d gone there once with Juliet.
“We’re looking for the guy with the monkey,” Chloe said to the man at the door, flashing her ID.
“Isn’t everyone? He’s in the way back. The VIP section.”
They slunk inside, heads down, moving along the dark edges of the room. Chloe prayed that no one from the coven would spot them. Not before she or Keshari found them first.
She stole a quick peek around. The bartender and a few patrons clustered at the far end of the bar. A couple of girls were playing pool. She focused on the club’s energy and picked up on the buzz of the Circle’s magic. Definitely coming from farther back in the club, amid the throb of the band and the roar of voices.
As they reached the short hall that connected the club’s two rooms, she leaned into Keshari. “If we get separated, meet me back at the Cherokee.”
Keshari slid her hand into the pocket of her sweater. The jangle of her bell-wand vibrated off the hallway’s walls, sounding loudly. “Do not worry. I will stick close to you.”
“No, I don’t want you to do that.” Chloe’s pulse raced, sending thoughts of what had happened to Keshari at the circle of stones shooting through her mind. “Watch my back. But stay as far away from me and him as you can.”
“If I daze him with my demon spray, you will have a better chance.” Keshari’s voice toughened. “This affects both of our magic communities. I want to help.”
A knot tightened in Chloe’s throat. She didn’t like this, but there was something she hadn’t thought about until now. If she failed to send the Shade back, Keshari’s family would be among the first practitioners of magic to be affected by his presence, considering they lived in the city. “I’m just—I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
“I’m worried for you as well. But this is beyond us. Returning the Shade is more important than your welfare—or mine. If you fail, then all we love will be destroyed.”
Chloe gave a slow, heavy nod. “I know. This just isn’t getting any easier.”
With heaviness weighing in her chest, Chloe took a fortifying breath, holding her magic back to hide her presence from the coven. Then she stepped into the backroom with Keshari an inch behind her.
For a moment, the loud music and flashing bolts of laser light disoriented her. She refocused on the coven’s magic and shouldered her way between the people and tables, past the raised dance floors to the end of a bar. From there she had a clear view of the bathroom hallway that was just beyond the other end of the bar. After the hallway came a short ramp that led to the VIP section, for the most part hidden by sheer curtains.
She glanced back at Keshari. “Ready?”
Keshari nodded.
Keeping one hand clamped on top of the case to make sure the sword’s light remained unseen, she undid its latch. Her pulse throbbed in her ears, louder even than the music as she moved along the bar. With each step, she could see more of the VIP section. Midas lounged on a loveseat with a girl on his lap. Jessica was talking with Juliet and someone she didn’t recognize. The curtains obscured the rest of the coven members. Em’s outline, maybe. The Shade and two winged monkeys, definitely. Even if his outline hadn’t been familiar, she couldn’t have missed the light glinting off the head of his staff, and the bee-like drone of his power. Actually, the intensity of his and the coven’s conjoined magic tugged at her, urging her to join them. The buzz prickled her s
kin and pushed against her forehead. Let go, let go, it whispered in her skull. Join us. Be one with us.
She dug an ampule from her pocket, opened it, and chugged the vile liquid down, trying to not gag. Keshari did the same.
A guy sitting on a nearby barstool chuckled loudly. “Might want to take that in the bathroom,” he said. His eyes went to the cue case and he frowned.
Chloe glanced at it. A fierce white glow leaked out from under her fingers. She grinned sheepishly and raised her voice. “It’s a sword of light.”
He waved her off. “Whatever, Princess Leia.”
Keshari elbowed her, then tilted her head toward the VIP section. Someone had just come down the ramp and was striding into the bathroom hallway. Devlin.
Heat rushed through Chloe’s body and for a moment she felt buoyant, as though floating above everyone—all the people who had no idea how much danger they were in. She glanced at Devlin again and the urge to run to him ached inside her. But she couldn’t afford to do anything stupid. What if he was under the Shade’s control? What if his breadcrumb trail had been a setup meant to specifically draw her in?
As Devlin reached the bathroom hallway, he paused and glanced back at the VIP section as if to check and see if anyone was watching. Then he hurriedly whipped out his phone and snapped a photo of the room.
Relief washed through Chloe. No. He was still trying to leave a trail and had gone out of his way to make sure no one saw him do it. He was on their side and they needed his help desperately. She bent closer to Keshari. “I’m going to talk to him while he’s alone.”
“Be careful,” Keshari warned.
“Don’t worry.” But she was worried. If it came right down to it, she was certain she couldn’t hurt him. Her heart wouldn’t let her.
Keeping one eye on the VIP section, she strolled to the end of the bar and went into the empty bathroom hallway. It was dark except for the glimmer of the emergency exit sign, reflecting off the walls. Both bathrooms were single occupancy. She’d only have to wait for a moment for him to come out.
She studied the walls, stained with who knew what. The smell of stale beer wafted up from the floor. Each note from the band went on endlessly long. She shifted her weight, listening as the roar of a hand drier came on in the closest bathroom, only a couple of yards away. The door opened—Athena stepped out.
Chloe jumped back, her pulse jackhammering. But it was too late. There was nowhere for her to hide. Athena’s eyes zeroed in on her face and a cruel smile appeared on her lips.
She strolled toward Chloe, closing the distance between them with the lazy gait of a panther who’d already won the chase. “Well, well, well, what do we have here?” She smirked. “Come groveling back to us, have you?”
The glacial tone of her voice made Chloe tremble. Athena didn’t sound like herself. Her eyes looked odd as well, twin ovals of glistening onyx. Still, maybe Athena could break free of the Shade’s magic. She was powerful.
Either way, there was one thing Chloe needed to know. “You knew we were going to summon the Shade, didn’t you? Why did you do it?”
Athena scoffed. “Because I could—with the conjoined power of you and the coven.” She caressed her throat, her fingers pale against the dark glimmer of her beaded choker. A black aura crackled around her, growing more intense. “Why do you suddenly care what side of light and darkness you’re on? You can have what you want. My Merlin has the power to heal the Vice-Chancellor’s son.”
Chloe’s voice splintered with anger. “Devlin told me how hard you worked to rebuild the coven. He told me how you were always there for him. This isn’t like you. You’re a good person.”
She snorted. “Devlin will have his reward, the poor deluded boy.”
Athena didn’t appear to notice the other bathroom door opening slowly behind her, nor did she seem to sense Devlin as he slipped out.
“He was kind enough—not like the other men.” Athena’s voice rose, sharp and brittle. “They said they loved me. But they got what they wanted, then ran away. Then they promised the world and told me they’d come back, only to choose another woman—”
“Athena,” Devlin interrupted her rant. “What’s going on?”
She wheeled on him, the air hissing with her power. “Your mother is such a skank. I don’t see why any man would want her.” She stepped back, her spine now against the bathroom door. Chloe felt the weight of Athena’s dark gaze on her, then Athena looked back at Devlin. “My Merlin taught me more as a child than your mother has ever known. He told me, ‘Rhianna, sweetheart, you merely need to present the weapon. There is no need to kill.’”
“Shush.” Devlin said, moving toward her slowly. “We need to go home. You don’t know what you’re saying.”
The hair on the nape of Chloe’s neck prickled, whispering that someone was behind her. She swiveled, glancing back toward the room. Keshari had moved closer, standing less than ten yards away at the end of the bar. She mouthed, “What’s going on?”
Chloe shrugged and held up both hands to say that she didn’t know. Athena was far too angry, too out of control to just be entranced. Drugged, maybe. Hallucinating. It was impossible to be sure.
“Come on.” Devlin’s voice gentled even further. “We can go out the emergency exit. Get some fresh air. Relax. I’ll take you home.”
Athena cackled. “The Queen poisons babies. Abort it! Kill it! It takes but seven Daucus seeds to clean a womb.” She glared at Devlin, like a pit viper ready to strike. “You’re so in love with your do-no-wrong sister you can’t see the truth.”
Devlin’s eyes went flinty. The air rumbled with his magic. “What the fuck’s wrong with you?”
“Poor boy.” She flicked her hair back and slid a sideways look at Chloe. Her gaze dropped to the cue case and her voice went deadly quiet. “What’s in there?”
In one swift movement, Chloe drew the sword. Blinding brightness engulfed the hallway.
Horror dawned on Athena’s face. She scuffed deeper into the hallway, whimpering, so unlike the composed Athena that Chloe had come to know.
“Merlin, help me!” she screeched, the sound rising above the music.
Chloe blinked against the sword’s light, now mellowing to a fierce glow. “Devlin, back me up,” she shouted. “I have to get to the Shade.”
The air thrummed with Devlin’s magic, stronger than Chloe had ever felt. Athena snarled at him, her power rising to an equal pitch. “Athena, please,” he said.
She laughed, a rasping sound that grated on Chloe’s ears.
But Chloe couldn’t stay and help Devlin. Time was running out. She had to get to the Shade. She swiveled away, magic roaring into her blood as she readied to dash toward the VIP section—
Thunder rumbled. The floor shook. Lightning cracked and zigzagged through the club. Bottles of liquor exploded. They ignited, blue and green flames roaring up the walls and bathing the room in fire. Screams replaced the thump of music. Fire alarms squealed. Sprinklers went off, water raining down as the crowd stampeded toward the front room, unable to get to the emergency exit through the wall of flames. Midas fleeing. Jessica. Fire. Smoke. Explosions. It took Chloe a second to realize the bathroom hallway stood intact, as if quarantined by magic.
The Shade stepped out from the flames and smoke, strolling into the hallway toward Chloe. He rested both hands on his staff, his attention on the sword. “I see you made the acquaintance of my Lady Nimue.”
Her brain told her to run for the emergency exit. To get out. But her witch-instinct held her still as he prowled toward her. His magic pressed against her forehead. It buzzed in her ears. She clenched her teeth, blocking it out as she braced herself, waiting for him to get close enough. She could hear Athena ranting as if she hadn’t even noticed the Shade. Devlin’s soothing voice.
The Shade’s voice whispered, velvet-smooth. “I have no interest in killing y
ou, Chloe. I wish to increase your talents, bring your dreams to life.” He pointed his staff at her and smiled. “You have already walked in darkness. The braindead boy in his sickbed is proof of that.”
Blood roared in her ears. “That’s not true. I made a horrific mistake. But I’m not evil. I tried to save him. I tried to heal him.”
Her attention flicked to a movement behind the Shade. Keshari was crawling across the floor, creeping toward him through a waft of black smoke. She held a rag over her mouth and nose while her other hand clutched her atomizer. Stealthily she inched forward, until she was less than a yard away from him. She dropped the rag, launched herself to her feet, and sprayed.
The mist hit the Shade’s neck. Howling in pain, he wheeled away from Chloe, his staff aimed at Keshari. She hit the ground and rolled, screaming as cracks of his magic drove her back toward the wall of flames.
Chloe lunged forward and thrust the sword into the Shade’s lower back. The sword hit bone. She shoved harder, driving it all the way through, and yanking it out.
Light burst from the wound. Red. Orange. White-hot flashes illuminating the hall like an exploding sun. The Shade crumpled to his knees, wailing like a banshee.
Athena flew to him, screeching so loudly that the sound of glass shattering could be heard somewhere beyond the flames. She glared back at Chloe. “What have you done!”
A hand clamped on Chloe’s arm: Devlin, pulling her toward the emergency exit. “We have to get out of here.”
She pulled against him. “Keshari. We have to find Keshari!”
The air was blazing-hot. Her eyes stung as black smoke billowed into the hallway.
Flames leapt toward them. The scream of emergency vehicles wailed outside.
“Hurry.” Devlin yanked her out the exit, smoke streaming past on both sides.
Chapter 29
By the dark moon’s light stitch beads of bone to skin dyed black. Your skin against my skin, my shape becomes yours.