Dead Men Walking

by Raquel Lyon

  “Do you really think so?”

  “Definitely.” Sophie closed the lid to her laptop and placed it to the side. “Let me tell you a story.”

  Piper sat up and crossed her legs on the cushion as Sophie took a deep breath and began.

  “My father was not who I thought he was, either. I’d always presumed he was just a regular guy who got up, went to work every day, and spent his evenings in the pub with his friends. When in reality, he was born of an unearthly realm and had been sent here to blend in and produce an heir for the gods. He kept this fact a secret from his family until the day we thought he’d died in a factory accident. I didn’t find out the truth of what I was until years later.”

  “A trainee goddess?” Piper interrupted. “I remember you saying.”

  “Exactly. And I wasn’t the only one. There were many like me, all over the world—all girls, produced to succeed a goddess named Tokala, whose thousand-year reign was coming to an end. Why I was chosen over the other girls, I have no idea. I was a nobody. I didn’t feel particularly special, and it wasn’t the life I wanted.” A smile played on her face and her eyes gave a small twinkle. “Although shifting into fox form was quite fun.”

  “A fox?”

  “Yes. Tokala was a fox goddess. My father was one of her attendants, and a shifter, too. He returned, one day, in his fox form and bit me. That’s what started the whole confusing process of my inauguration. It was a very interesting year, but at the end of it, I discovered I’d have to leave this world and everyone in it behind. I hadn’t been prepared for that, and suddenly, it was as if I had no control over what was happening—like being in a skidding car. I had to grab hold of the steering wheel with both hands and get it back on track. But I’m so glad I did. You have seen enough of me to know that I’m perfectly content with who I am now. As long as I have my art, I’m happy—and Sebastian, of course.”

  “Of course.”

  Sophie’s smiled faded. “There’s only one thing missing, but sadly it’s something I’ve had to learn to live without.”

  “A baby?”

  She laughed nervously. “Maybe one day, but no. Sebastian had a cousin, Connor. I loved him too, but he died because of my stupidity, and I’ll never be able to forgive myself for that. I would give anything to have him back.”

  Piper wanted to ask what had happened, but Sophie’s grief was apparent. Her eyes had glazed, lost in the memories of her past, and Piper didn’t want to distress her further. “You must miss him terribly.”

  “I think about him all the time, but what I’m trying to say is, life is all about decisions. I realise people make decisions every day. Sometimes they are good ones, like when I chose my life here over a new one, and sometimes they’re the wrong ones, like putting the ones you love in danger. You’re a smart girl, Piper. Smarter than I am. I’m sure you’ll make the right choices.”

  Sophie opened her laptop again, and Piper picked up her book, but the words blurred in front of her face. She understood now why Sophie had said they’d lost too many people, and it obviously pained her. Did she not have the right to know there was a chance of one of them returning? She debated over whether she should say something, but it was like finding out your friend’s boyfriend had been cheating on her—damned if you do, and damned if you don’t and it turns out later you knew all along.

  “Who’s Seth?” Piper blurted out, her mouth clearly making the decision for her.

  A brief glimmer of surprise crossed Sophie’s face, but she quickly composed herself. “Connor’s father, who is unfortunately no longer with us, either. Why do you ask?”

  “I... overheard his name mentioned and just wondered. What happened to him?”

  “He disappeared, the night Connor died. Nobody’s seen him since.”

  Piper took a deep breath. “Um... That’s not quite true.”

  Chapter Six

  SOPHIE THREW HER PHONE onto the cushion beside her. She must have tried to call Sebastian a dozen times over the last ten minutes. “Why the hell isn’t he picking up when it’s obvious I need to speak to him urgently?”

  Piper tried to be diplomatic. “He’s probably driving. I’m sure he’ll call back when he gets to wherever he’s going.”

  “Not if it’s where I think. I doubt he’ll get reception from under the ocean.”

  “You know where he’s going?”

  “The beginning, you said. Which means Calpious. That’s where we were when everything happened.”

  “And it’s under the ocean?”

  “More so now than before, I’m sure. It’s what remained of an ancient island that sank thousands of years ago. All I saw was a couple of caves, and when the door to Hell opened, everywhere began to collapse. I doubt there was much of it still standing by the time we left.”

  “You were there?”

  “Yes—not that I should have been. A demon kidnapped Beth and took her there to use her magic to raise the Devil. Seb went to rescue her and ordered me to stay here, but I made Connor take me.” Sophie spoke quickly as she picked up her phone and pressed redial.

  Piper wanted to ask what had happened, but knowing it had resulted in Connor’s death, she felt awkward.

  “I can’t believe he’s ignoring me,” Sophie said, jumping up. “I’m going to speak to Jo.”

  Piper watched her leave, unsure as to whether she’d done the right thing, and Sophie’s present state of mind wasn’t filling her with much confidence. Hopefully, Jo would be able to put her fears to rest.

  Trying to locate the line after the one she’d read at least four times, Piper settled down to read, but only a few minutes later, she was interrupted again when Sophie returned.

  She held her hands up. “Jo is refusing to show himself. I know I shouldn’t worry, but with both of them giving me the silent treatment, I don’t know what to think.” She dropped her hands with a huge sigh.

  So much for hoping she had calmed down.

  “I’m sorry,” Piper said. “I probably shouldn’t have mentioned anything.”

  “No. No, you did the right thing,” Sophie said. “I just wish he’d told me. This is a family matter, and it hurts to know I wasn’t included in any part of its discussion.” She unplugged her laptop and tucked it under her arm. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be rude, but I need something to distract me. I’m going to have to go to my studio.”

  “Don’t worry about it.” Piper held her book aloft. “I have plenty to occupy me here.” And maybe I’ll even get to read more than a couple of pages at a time.

  A nice thought, but one which clearly wasn’t meant to be.

  She was three chapters in when she realised she’d skip-read most of it and didn’t have a clue what was going on with the plot. Her mind had continually wandered to Sophie’s life story instead, and she couldn’t shake the niggle that she’d seen something referring to shifters in one of her many study sessions with Lambert. She returned to the library to find out.

  When she got there, it was clear Jo had tidied up. The book Piper sought wasn’t on the central table where she’d left it.

  She sighed as her eyes adjusted to the darkness, wishing she’d thought to ask Sophie about the light switch. With the moon finding refuge behind a cloud, snuffing out what little light had existed previously, feeling her way around the shelves to locate the book appeared to be the only option. It would take forever. She didn’t have any idea which section Lambert had taken it from, but then she realised she didn’t really need one.

  Closing her eyes, she formed an image of the silver lettering of the title against the olive green of its leather binding and held her arms outstretched as she summoned the book to come to her. A few seconds later, she felt its weight drop into them. She smiled to herself, her sense of satisfaction marred only by the wish to master other forms of magic as well as she had compulsion. If she could, Lambert might not feel as obligated to stay with her. The last thing she wanted was to be the reason for his unhappiness.

  She to
ok the book to her room. The thickly bound tome wasn’t the kind of read she’d had planned for her evening, but the Roaring Twenties would have to wait. If she could find what she was looking for, there was a possibility of paying back Sophie’s hospitality in a different way. She lay on the bed and flicked through the pages, sure that somewhere amongst the ancient script, she’d find the information she needed.

  *****

  It wasn’t necessary for Piper to have been counting the minutes to know she’d spent far too much time searching; tiredness had almost overtaken her inquisitiveness by the time Lambert burst through her bedroom door and the wooden statue of a bird she’d been compelling to fly around in circles to ease her boredom thudded to the floor.

  He stooped to pick it up. “It pleases me to see you immersed in your studies,” he said.

  “Ever the student,” she answered with as much enthusiasm as her fatigue could muster. “Finished the game?”

  Lambert perched on the edge of her bed and flipped the cover of Piper’s book to read its upside-down title. “It finished me. It mystifies me how any sane person could find that pursuit enjoyable. I had to fight my desire to blast the moving-picture box from existence.”

  “But you’re a guy. How can you not like video games?”

  “Perhaps I am not a normal... guy.”

  “No, you’re not, but I wouldn’t have you any other way. You know that, right?”

  He looked up through his lashes, silent for a moment, and it would have been so easy to imagine his expression held more than just brotherly affection.

  “Our cultures differ immensely, but there are ways in which we are alike. I apologise if I push you,” he said. “I am not the best instructor. I shall endeavour to show more patience in the future.”

  “You’re doing just fine. It might not look like it, but I’m learning loads. I promise.”

  Lambert’s face took on a pensive look. “I once had a teacher who tested my limits. I came to despise him. I would not wish that sort of hatred to come between us.”

  “It won’t. I’ll admit you annoy the bejeezus out of me sometimes, but I could never hate you, and I hope you don’t hate me.”

  “Why would you think I would?”

  “Because I’m keeping you from going home.”

  A small snigger escaped his lips. “It is not you who is obstructing my return. It is the knowledge that it would likely lead to my death. I am certain my escape from the Genicerem would not be received well by the Crown.”

  “So you do want to go back?”

  He drew in a breath. “Do we not both wish for things to be as they were?”

  “They can never be as they were.”

  “No. They cannot. But that fact does not prevent me from being concerned for my mother. I know she would want me to be with her when she passes.” His voice slowed as he swallowed away his heartache. “All I wanted was for her to have everyone she loved around her when the end comes. Instead, I have condemned her to meet it with only a husband she does not love at her side.”

  “What about Dad? He’ll be there, too.”

  “Will he? You have had two visions, Piper: one through his own eyes, and the other a glimpse of the back of his head. In either scenario, was he with a woman?”

  “Well... no.”

  “Precisely.”

  “Then you should go to her.”

  “And yet, if I am captured and executed, she would have no son at all,” he said, almost inaudibly. “I would not wish for her to travel to the afterlife with that knowledge.”

  Piper lowered her eyes. She couldn’t look at the pain on his face, and had no words to ease it. The decision was one he would have to make on his own.

  They lapsed into silence until Lambert reached out a hand and cut the heavy air. “Why have you chosen this particular book to study?” he asked, tapping the page.

  “Oh, um... Do you remember the day we researched different Supes?”

  “I do.”

  “I thought I had read something about latent powers, but I can’t seem to find it now.”

  He swung the book around to face him and turned over a few leaves before swivelling it back. “This part?”

  “Yes. That’s it. How come you found it so quickly when I couldn’t?”

  His familiar grin returned. “Perhaps I am blessed with an excellent memory?”

  “Hmm... Well, thank you.”

  “Why the interest?”

  “This.” She pointed. “A spell to raise one’s forgotten true self.”

  “And you think it might help to strengthen your powers?”

  “I...” Piper debated whether to tell Lambert she had someone else in mind for the spell, but decided not to correct his assumption. It was probably better he didn’t know her real intentions. “I was just wondering. What do you think?”

  “You are a witch, Piper, not a shifter, and it is never advisable to use a spell on the wrong recipient. Anything could happen. Your powers will strengthen with practice... and sleep. It is late.” He bent to kiss her cheek. “Goodnight, Sister.”

  Chapter Seven

  AS SHE ENTERED THE ballroom the following morning, Piper glanced up to the rows of stuffed heads and eyed them suspiciously, wondering why Sophie hadn’t removed the fox from its position. Surely, for a shifter, having one of your own kind displayed as a trophy would be like having a man’s head on the wall for a human?

  She cringed at the thought and turned back to the table to place her previous night’s reading onto the corner of it, hoping she’d memorised the spell correctly. Scanning the selection of ingredients, she noted that everything she needed for her plan to work appeared to be there, except for one, and she wouldn’t be able to add that to the list while Lambert was watching.

  “Do you have any particular requests for today?” he asked, looking up from the circle of symbols he’d been chalking onto the floor. “Any sections of your training you would like to revisit?”

  Um... all of them, Piper thought, yet chose not to say. “No. Not yet. Maybe later. Let’s just go with whatever you already had planned. I trust you.”

  Discarding the chalk, Lambert stood up and smacked the dust from his hands as he walked over to her. “I like to hear you say that. I hope it is truthfully meant.”

  “As long as nothing is going to jump out and surprise me this time.” Piper tilted her head and narrowed her eyes. “Is it?”

  “Not by my hand. I thought you might prefer to take your revenge today.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Lambert looked up to the heads. “Target practice.”

  “On those? With pleasure. What do you want me to do?”

  “What you do best.”

  Piper raised her brows. “You want me to use my fire?”

  “It would be rather pointless to possess an ability and refrain from using it.”

  “Well... okay. I hope you’ve got the fire brigade on speed dial,” she said, forgetting that Lambert probably didn’t even know what a telephone was.

  To her surprise, Piper was only marginally inept and not totally useless at hitting her mark. After she had learned to calculate the size of the fireball required in relation to the size of the target, the aiming part was pretty easy, and somehow she felt no guilt at blasting the inanimate, bodiless heads—eliminating as a minor complication the fact that, in an actual fight, her target would not be so inclined to stand still and wait for her to line up the shot.

  In the end, it turned into a rather enjoyable way to pass a few hours, and Lambert had almost restored the charred remains back to their former selves when Sophie entered.

  She sniffed the air but made no mention of the lingering eau de toasted critter. “I’ll be going out shortly,” she said. “I’ve left some cold cuts in the refrigerator and prepared a few other bits and pieces for when you’re ready to eat.”

  “You are all thoughtfulness, madam,” Lambert said. “It is indeed time we took a break. Piper grows stronger by the day, b
ut we do not wish to jeopardise her recovery.”

  “You’re welcome.” Sophie turned to leave, then rotated back. “But, Lambert... There’s no need to call me ‘madam’. It makes me feel so old, and I’m only twenty-one.”

  “My apologies, ma—” Lambert stopped mid-word and gave a short bow of his head.

  Piper saw her chance. “Sophie? Have you got a minute?”

  “Of course. I don’t have to leave quite yet. What is it?”

  “Um—” She glanced at Lambert. “You don’t mind if we girls talk in private, do you? Why don’t you go make a start on the food? I’ll catch you up.”

  He inclined his head with a barely noticeable nod. “As you wish.”

  Piper wandered over to the table as she waited for him to leave.

  “Is it about Jo?” Sophie asked expectantly. “Have you seen him?”

  “No, sorry, I haven’t. You?”

  “Still avoiding me.”

  Piper ran her hand over the petals of a bouquet displayed in a vase. “I love roses, don’t you?” Sophie’s brow pinched at the unexpected question, but she didn’t get the chance to respond before Piper continued, “What’s your favourite colour?”

  “Doesn’t every girl like red?”

  Piper removed a red bloom and placed it on the table. “I like them all.”

  “Piper, why are we discussing roses?”

  “Because I’d like your help with a spell.”

  “Me? Why me? I can’t do magic.”

  “Just help me to prepare it. I’ll do the casting. Can you tie that bunch of thyme to the rose?”

  Piper felt Sophie’s eyes on her as she filled a bowl with dried lavender, and knew she’d been rumbled.

  “Why didn’t you want your brother to see you doing this?” Sophie asked.

  “Lambert makes me read all these books to expand my knowledge,” Piper said, taking the bowl to the circle and beckoning for Sophie to join her. “Then, when I discover something I think is useful, he thinks it’s a bad idea to try. I want to prove to him that I’m capable of doing something on my own.”