by Nikki Rae
“You said you had an apartment there?” I asked, unable to help myself.
“Yes,” he answered, seemingly pleased I’d remembered. “I can see it from my bedroom.”
Even from this distance, I can see all the bright flowers of the lawn. I’d love for you to see it
Half-finished, I pushed away the greasy food and drank my water. Little by little, the crowd dispersed; no more children played, and it put me more at ease to know they were safe with their caretakers and on their way home.
The lull in noise was interrupted by the vibration of Marius’ phone, which answered immediately. I stared at him, waiting for my Owner’s impatient muffled voice on the other end. Instead, I heard nothing but whatever Marius was responding to, the other side a mystery.
“Yes. We’re heading back.”
He ended the call without a goodbye, and I watched him expectantly as he replaced his device in his pocket. Marius didn’t explain, scanning the area and then clearing our trash and depositing it in a nearby bin. Arm around me, we went back to the car, where prying ears couldn’t hear us.
“That was Zoe. There are Mainworld authorities on their way to the cottage.”
Marius was careful to make the blow soft, but it still knocked the wind from my lungs. “N-now?”
Keys partway to the ignition, he paused to grab my hand. “Doe, what did you learn last night?”
I wracked my brain, replaying each moment in a manner of seconds and trying to find the one that was most useful to me now. Taking a deep breath, I answered, “I can lie when I need to.”
He stroked my cheek. “Good girl.”
The encouragement would have to be enough to carry me through whatever was going to happen next.
Though the ride to the restaurant was short, it was somehow an even shorter trip back to the cottage. I fumbled with the hem of my shirt the whole way, not knowing what to do with my hands or any other part of me. Marius’ fingers were tense around the steering wheel, and I was afraid to ask what we were about to walk into.
When we turned onto the familiar street and I could see the gate, he broke the silence.
“They want to ask us questions about their case. That’s all.” The entrance parted and parked out front was a dark blue car, two shadowy figures moving inside. Marius reassured me with a brisk kiss to the forehead. “Just follow my lead. All right? You’ll be safe as long as you listen.”
He seemed to add this last part in case I didn’t understand him the first time, wording it the way an Owner would to their charge to keep them out of harm’s way.
“Yes, Mr. B,” I answered as he stepped out of the car, and I opened my own door and did the same.
Unlike all morning and afternoon, Marius kept a distinct distance between us as we headed up the drive to intercept our visitors. We were less than a foot away when they emerged as well; two men in suits despite the blistering heat. I could hardly see them as the sun glinted off the hood of their car.
The man closest to Marius stuck out his hand, and when I stood at his side, I could make out more of their features. One was tall and lanky, his pants almost too big and held with a tight belt. The other had more muscles, and he crossed his beefy arms over his chest as the former spoke.
“Detective Kurt Collins, Federal agent,” he said reaching into his breast pocket, glancing at me but having the good sense not to shake my hand. “Sex trafficking division. This is my partner, Officer Reynolds.”
None of these words meant anything to me, and I wasn’t as quick to greet these men, lingering behind Marius like they couldn’t see me if I shrank back.
“Marius Bonhomme. It’s nice to finally meet in person.” He spoke easily; the butler of Lyon Estate. “Please, come in.”
He motioned towards the porch and only the detective followed. When I glimpsed in the officer’s direction, he was leaning against his vehicle smoking a cigarette, obviously staying behind unless he was needed.
Marius opened the door with his key and punched in the code. “Please, have a seat.” He indicated the chairs in front of the window, and Detective Collins unbuttoned his jacket as he sat and took out a notebook and pen. “Can I offer you tea? Coffee?”
The idea seemed to appeal to the man with auburn hair, but he ultimately decided against the hospitality. “No, thank you. I won’t be here long.”
I couldn’t tell if this made Marius more on edge, but he upheld his professional demeanor as he rounded the couch, realizing only now how paralyzed I was by the door. “My apologies,” he said, addressing our visitor as he grabbed my hand. “This is Fawn Lyon.”
He led me to the chair farthest from the man, sitting beside me on the sectional. The detective smiled at me, overly friendly and sweet. He wanted me to cooperate with him; I’d seen that face many times. “Nice to meet you, Miss Lyon.”
I didn’t respond aloud, forcing a nod.
Returning his attention to his pad, he said, “I just have a few questions for you and then we’ll be on our way.” He grinned at me like we shared something I knew we didn’t. “Then I will leave you to your evening.”
Between me and Marius, my fist ached with how hard it was clenched. He patted my knee as if to remind me he was there. “Fawn has never been here, so we’re making the most of it. Swimming. Visiting the sights.”
He flipped through a few pages of his notebook, strewn with messy handwriting. “And you’re recently freed?”
My eyes darted to him. “Yes, sir.”
“But your last name remains Lyon?” He didn’t look up at me as he jotted things down, but his tone had become slightly condescending. As if I didn’t know any better. Poor, naïve girl.
“Yes,” I answered.
His eyes flashed to me and they were a dull grey. “And is it common, for women to stay with their abusers?”
My fingers curled into the cushion beneath my legs, ready to lunge at this man. I’d flipped some switch in him with my name, and now his façade had crumbled. I almost stood to leave, but Marius held out an arm and I stayed put.
“Detective,” he said in a low voice, “what is this about?”
With a sigh, he held his pad between his legs so he could address both of us. “My apologies.” He didn’t appear remorseful at all. “We are a special division of the U.S. Justice Department tasked with gathering intel and shutting down human trafficking organizations like the one you came from. We’re called the Rapunzel Project, and unlike your Chaos, we have the clearance and resources to expose the Grimm Order.”
My lips parted with the new influx of information, and I looked to Marius for any kind of cue. His expression had completely morphed into something serious; he wasn’t playing this man’s games, and since the detective knew more than we’d been aware of, there was no need. The detective appeared pleased with himself, as if he’d cleverly thought of naming a second resistance after one of the fairytale characters the Order used to teach its values. It left me with a sick feeling in my stomach and I wasn’t sure why.
“While we appreciate what I am sure is going to be an intriguing offer, Detective,” he crossed his arms over his chest, “we are not interested in infiltrating any House or Compound with the aid of the Rapunzel Project.”
He sat back, unprepared for Marius’ reply. “Our intelligence tells us that Mrs. Lyon is already with Gregor Fabian. We aren’t aware of what her vigilante group are up to, but we were instructed to step in to avoid bringing more attention to this religion’s particular…beliefs.”
“It isn’t a religion.”
All eyes turned in my direction, alerting me to the fact that I’d said it out loud.
Detective Collin’s head tilted to one side. “We know that, Miss Lyon. It is a cult, plain and simple.” Then he was back to business. “We have the same goal, Mr. Bonhomme.”
Marius glanced at me before he stood. “I highly doubt that. Now if you don’t have any more questions or information on what is being done to put a stop to Gregor Fabian’s violence, I�
�m afraid we have nothing left to discuss.” He was already heading for the door.
At first, the man didn’t move and I was afraid he would call in his officer friend. Then he straightened his tie, buttoned his jacket, and stood. Reaching into his pocket, he offered Marius a white business card. “If you change your mind. We have other prospects we’re looking into, but House Chimera was the best choice.”
“Not likely,” Marius said in a mock-sweet tone. “I trust the next time we speak you will have a warrant.”
The detective’s friendly smile cracked just a little. He acted like he knew how our world worked, so we could do the same as well. “Thank you for your time,” he said with a tight grin, eyeing me on his way out.
Marius shut the door and locked it. As soon as he turned to me, I involuntarily trembled, not knowing how to react. “I-I’m sorry I said that about the Order.”
He crossed the space, arms on either side of the chair. “No, you did so well, Fawn.” Squeezing into the seat beside me, he wrapped my arm around his back. “I like when you speak for yourself.”
My mouth twitched. “What did they want?” I asked. “I thought they had to ask us questions.”
He laid my head against his chest. “They posed as FBI to get past Zoe. They aren’t with the government, but they do them favors. The Rapunzel Project…” He sighed, sounding exhausted. “They aren’t here to help us. They like to think they are, but if they had evidence of what we’ve done…”
He trailed off again and I hugged him. If the Chaos and the Rapunzel Project really did have the same goal in mind—to destroy the Order—why wouldn’t they be working together? Detective Collins had all but thrown himself at me with his kind looks my way, but it was only because I had something he wanted. Once he got whatever it was, who was to say he wouldn’t turn us all in?
One cage for another.
“They wanted us to go to a House or Compound?” My head spun, and I wasn’t sure if I was making sense.
“That isn’t going to happen,” he said into my hair. “But I suspect Elliot will have seen them on the outside cameras and will be calling to tell us to leave.”
I pulled away. “Leave?”
He wouldn’t meet my eyes. “He will think it’s not safe. We came here to blend in, and when they go back to their bosses, the detectives will inform them of our whereabouts.” He said all of this so evenly, stroking my back. “I don’t agree either,” he added. “That’s why it’s fortunate you will be on a plane later.”
Marius didn’t sound the least bit certain, but he’d already decided to support what I wanted. I just needed to ensure he wouldn’t change his mind before it was too late.
Eight
Everything was moving too fast, but as we packed the few belongings we’d brought, acting like we were merely returning to the cabin, the more I found I preferred it that way. As predicted, Master Lyon had called not five minutes after the detective and his friend left, asking to speak to me first. One look at Marius and he knew that wasn’t possible right now. Instead, he spoke to Marius, informing him what we’d suspected: the Mainworld authorities had found no evidence against us and for the time being; we were free to go. Something told me I was putting that into jeopardy by leaving, but even that wasn’t as big as our mission. The Order was right about one thing: the Mainworld never acted quickly because they all had so many varied beliefs. I wasn’t foolish enough to think they wouldn’t come knocking on our door again once the Rapunzel Project spoke to their masters.
The only part of the conversation I paid attention to was when Marius said, “No, she’s just very tired, mon couer. She isn’t used to all this hopping from place to place. I’ll have her call you when we get back.”
As soon as he’d hung up, Marius helped me into the car while he loaded the trunk.
We were driving by sunset, and since Marius kept his phone on him—and would until the last possible moment—there was always the possibility we were being tracked. Thus, we devised a plan to meet Zoe halfway between the airport and the cabin at a gas station. There, we ate prepackaged snacks and cheap coffee from Styrofoam cups as we waited for her. I only nibbled the protein bar, unable to stomach anything else. Soon after Marius had opened his bag of trail mix, he lost his appetite as well.
We sat in the car, holding each other’s hands until Zoe arrived in a black SUV.
“Another unmarked police vehicle,” Marius explained.
I’d been fighting against it—trying to prolong my freedom. However, if I was going to survive the Wolves again, I needed to accept things as they came. I knew what I was giving up, but I’d said goodbye to it all last night.
“Keep your phone here,” Marius said as we watched Zoe park. I pulled it out of my pocket and he set it in the cupholder. “You remember my number?”
I nodded; there were only a few I’d memorized. I recited it to him, whispering each digit into his ear as we embraced. Marius stepped out of the car first, opening my door for me and securing my old backpack over my shoulders. I made sure to take notice of the warmth on my face, the fresh air in my lungs.
Marius helped me climb into her van, securing my seatbelt around me and kissing my forehead. “I will see you in London.” He looked to Zoe. “Call if there are any problems.”
Zoe was dressed in civilian clothes; jeans, black shirt and combat boots. Her ponytail was threaded through the back of a cap with the logo of some team I didn’t know. She bobbed her head. “Everything is in place, sir.”
Shutting the door, we nodded to each other through the glass as Zoe started the engine. I didn’t watch him disappear as we got onto the highway. I knew it would only tempt me to turn back.
Zoe took advantage of the undercover police car, passing any other drivers that crossed our path. I wasn’t surprised when we arrived at the building she informed me was the airport. Circular metal beams curved over the main structure, and palm trees had been planted along the sidewalks as she took a ramp to the parking lot.
“Hey,” Zoe said after we’d stopped, checking her phone for the time. “We made it early. How about we find our gate and get something to eat?”
I hadn’t been able to think of food all day. However, I couldn’t resist the opportunity to distract myself longer. To have a few more choices before I gave them all up.
“Okay.”
Swinging open the door, Zoe hopped out and I did the same. I slung my backpack over my shoulders and she carried her bag towards the entrance.
I had changed into black pants and a matching oversized blouse and flats. Marius had told me to wear something loose and comfortable, and that the airport security would want me to take off my shoes. His presence lingered all around me because of this, so I was less aware of the mass of people filling the lobby. I could turn off my brain as my pack rode through its little bucket through the curtain and I walked through the metal detector without incident. Though I’d been on a plane before, it had always been private with no interaction from the Mainworld. The shock was like diving under water and trying to surface only to find you were swimming towards the bottom.
By the time I’d slid my shoes back on, my heartrate had spiked, making everything I heard muffled, anything I saw a blur of light and shadows. Around us, parents dragged their crying children, the bored voice of an employee overhead announced something I couldn’t comprehend. If Marius was here, he would notice inherently that something was wrong—anticipate the magnitude of just how overwhelming a place like this could be for a girl like me. The further into the madness we walked, the more the people thinned, and Zoe led us to a moving set of stairs—“escalator” the label on the side read—and I gripped the handrail all the way to the third floor, where it ended and opened up to an array of shops and restaurants.
“Our gate is close by,” she said, nodding in the direction of a door in front of waiting plastic chairs. “Is this okay?” She gestured to the nearest coffee stand, which turned out to be more of a cramped room with booths at the ba
ck.
The smell of meat and vegetables from a nearby table made my mouth turn sour, but it had been my choice to come here. We both seemed to have the same need for privacy, because Zoe chose the seats furthest from the counter and all the people milling about. Fortunately, the patrons appeared too busy to stop and eat, taking their purchases with them so they wouldn’t miss their flights.
“If you tell me what you want, I’ll order so you can sit.”
I followed Zoe’s gaze to the chalkboard hanging above the register, and I picked the first thing I could read, adding to ask whether they had mint tea and, if not, just water.
Disappearing towards the line wrapping around the storefront, Zoe left me on my own for the first time all day. When I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the napkin holder, I realized she had good reason to suggest I stay seated. My face had become pale despite the flush of color I’d acquired from the beach. I could scarcely make out the smattering of freckles across my nose and cheeks, which I’d only noticed this morning in Marius’ dresser mirror.
I’d thrown my hair into a high knot to keep it off the back of my neck, and it highlighted my stark cheekbones. My dark eyes had already taken on a detached, lifeless appearance. Like they were preparing for what was to come.
“All right.”
I jolted at the sound of Zoe’s voice when she returned with our food. “Mint tea and an egg sandwich.” She slid a tray to me, picking at the muffing she’d gotten herself.
“There are far too many people on this planet,” she mumbled before sipping her coffee.
The dry joke made me snort, but I was unable to appreciate the humor.
Zoe seemed preoccupied as I forced myself to at the very least sip my drink in hopes of settling my stomach. The liquid was too hot, nearly burning my mouth, and the tea itself tasted like they had kept the mint sachets around past their sell by date.
She set down her cup and looked at me. “Listen, I think what you are doing is very brave.” The lower she spoke, the more pronounced her accent became. It was so faint that I couldn’t place what it was, and I didn’t want to ask. Questioning where someone was from in our world was painful. It was asking someone to relive it all every time. “But if you want to go—”
