Keystone

by Chloe Adler

  Candy points to it. “You can use that.”

  I blink at the Beemer as though it’s a mirage that will disappear at any moment. “What do you mean? That looks like a brand new car. Whose is it?”

  Candy and Sabin exchange looks.

  “It’s y—”

  “The house car,” Candy interrupts, squeezing Sabin’s arm. “They bought it while you were gone. Anyone can use it.”

  “What?” I walk over to the beauty, running my hands over her hood.

  “The keys are inside,” says Sabin. “We’re all listed on the insurance.”

  I open the driver’s side door and slide in, the creamy leather seats smooth against my hands as I run them back and forth over the surface. The keys are in the cup holder and I stare at the button that says start. I push it. Nothing happens. I put my foot on the brake and try again.

  She starts up, purring, and I throw her into drive. I may not own a car but I do know how to drive.

  “Have fun!” Candy waves as I pull around the drive and down the path that leads to the dragon gate.

  It makes sense that they’d get a car for the house. After all, there are three of us living here now who don’t have vehicles, and the Ridge isn’t exactly on a convenient bus route. It’s too affluent for that, which also makes walking a bitch. The hills up here are killer on the legs.

  Once through the gate, I wind my way down the hill, marveling at how far I’ve come in such a short time. I went from living in Bar None, the ghetto of Distant Edge, to bunking in a mansion in the richest neighborhood here. And now I’m driving a luxury sports car. I pause, waiting for the familiar niggling of doubt to worm through my brain. But all I can think about is the fact that I’m a rare synergist and I’m finally coming into my powers. I can stitch worlds together! And it looks like I may even be the one responsible for bringing back my men’s magic after it fizzled out years ago. Who’s on top of the world now?

  If only I knew that Vasily was safe. As soon as that thought enters my head, a strange sensation washes over me, almost like a tug coming from somewhere within me. I nearly slap my forehead when a distant voice sounds in my skull.

  Amaya, can you hear me?

  Vasily? I swerve the car to a stop at the side of the road.

  Yes!

  What’s going on? Where are you?

  Still in Juna. I’ve been trying to reach out to you telepathically.

  I finger the locket around my neck. Is everything okay?

  There’s some trouble here, some dissention, but I’m working on it. I wanted to make sure you were all right.

  I’m fine.

  I can almost hear him sigh in my head. Amaya . . .

  Yes? Vasily? I shake my head and tap the locket but he’s gone, a dull headache in his place. Shit. But at least it worked once. He’ll probably try again later.

  I look around and pull back out onto the road, trying not to worry. He contacted me, he’s safe, and if he needs to, he’ll reach out again. We’re connected, him and I. That makes me smile like a teenager newly in love and I reach up to finger the locket.

  Seventeen minutes later I pull up to Ichor, parking right in front of its gaudy Corinthian columns. Jumping out of the car, I leave the top down and run up the steps to the vectum. What is Jules doing here? She doesn’t work tonight.

  I pull open the heavy front doors and a waft of heat and sharp scents hits me in the face. It’s the usual Ichor scene. Women and men draped over vampires of every shape, size, gender and sexual orientation. A high shriek erupts from one of the velvet couches as an androgynous vampire leaps up, pulling its human toward it with unnatural speed. In a split second the human is draped over the vamp’s shoulder, squealing in delight. The vampire spanks him repeatedly, then bounds up the massive staircase in a blur.

  I pull out my phone. Where you at?

  Upstairs.

  The stairs loom larger than life before me. Jules knows what happened to me up there. Come down, I text back.

  No, you come up.

  What the hell? But I trust my BFF. Maybe she’s in trouble. I look around to make sure Ms. Cheryl isn’t in the foyer and then take the stairs two at a time. When I get to the top, I pause to text her again. What room?

  At the end of the hallway on your left.

  I slink down the hallway. If anyone comes out while I’m walking down, I could get in trouble. Coming here after being fired does not look good. But luck is on my side, and when I reach the door, unseen, I knock softly and wait.

  “Come in, bitch ho,” Jules calls out and I breathe easier, cracking the door and peeking inside. She’s sitting on the bed. “Quick, cunt, get your ass in here and close that door.”

  “What the fuck’s going on?” That’s when I notice the pile of tissues on the bed next to her. I edge closer, taking in her smeared makeup and puffy eyes. “Hey.” I sit next to her and take her hand, but she pulls it away. “Sweetie, what is it?”

  “I can’t tell you,” she sniffles. “I know I talk a good game but . . .” She stops and wipes her nose with the back of her hand.

  “I don’t understand. Did something happen?”

  “Tell me I’m doing the right thing.” She pulls her hand out of my grasp and reaches for another tissue.

  “I don’t know what you’re doing, so how can I say that?”

  “What if . . .” She blows her nose in a tissue. “What if I had to do something a little unscrupulous to save someone I love?”

  I lean back on the bed. Well, that’s cryptic. Jules has told me everything since we were kids. The only people I know she loves, besides me, is her family. And my parents too. Did she start seeing someone she didn’t tell me about? “I’m not sure how to answer that. If someone’s life is in danger and you have to do something to save their life, then yes, of course, but that sounds like blackmail. And if that’s the case, I’ll go with you to Chief Sheldon right this second.”

  She wads up the tissue and adds it to the pile next to her. “I’m not going to the cops.”

  “Okay.” I let out a long sigh. “What do you mean by unscrupulous? Is it hurting someone? Is it illegal?”

  “Sure, all of the above.” She waves her hand. “Look, I can’t tell you exactly but let’s say it’s bad.”

  My blood runs cold. Jules has never minced words before. She’s honest to a fault and has never met a truth worth hiding. “Jules, you’re scaring the shit outta me.” I put a hand on her shoulder. “If you won’t confide in me, what can I do?”

  She looks away, shrugging off my hand. “I can’t, I just can’t. I don’t want you involved and . . .” She sucks in a trembling bottom lip and blinks rapidly. “I was waffling but I’ve made up my mind.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “I love you, Amaya. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” Her voice is quieter than Jules’s boisterous voice ever should be.

  I cross my arms, hugging myself. “Forget it, I’m not leaving until you tell me what’s going on.”

  She looks around the room, her gaze jerky like an animal looking for predators, then stands, straightens her shoulders and juts out her little pointed chin. “No way. You have to go now.” She gathers the tissues from the bed and throws them in the wastebasket.

  “I’m not leaving you like this.” I remain seated.

  “Get the fuck out!” Her voice is a high screech as she points to the door.

  Well, there’s the Jules I know and love. Except even this tactic is nothing but smoke and mirrors. “No. You can’t make me.”

  “Amaya,” her jaw clenches and she draws out my name, “if you don’t leave . . .” She walks over to the bedside table and picks up the handset off the rotary princess phone that’s connected directly to Ms. Cheryl’s office.

  “You wouldn’t dare.” I lunge at the earpiece but she yanks it away.

  “Hello, who’s this?” Ms. Cheryl bleats over the line.

  I narrow my eyes at Jules and shake my head. Ms. Cheryl could and would arrest me fo
r trespassing if she found me here. I can’t believe my best friend is playing this dangerous game with my life. Fuck you, I mouth, then turn around and walk out of the room. At least I know Ms. Cheryl won’t peek her head out as long as Jules has her engaged on the phone. Still, I don’t take any chances. I fly down the stairs and out the front door as fast as I can.

  Seething, I hop into the convertible that I didn’t even get to share with my bestie. What kind of bullshit game is she playing? She’s obviously in trouble and I regret telling her off, but being in trouble does not give someone license to hurt anyone.

  As soon as I pull back onto Discovery Highway, my phone rings and I answer it immediately, through the car’s dash. I don’t look at the number. It’s got to be Jules, coming to her senses.

  “Bitch, you there?”

  “Excuse me?”

  Shit. “Hi, Siobhan, sorry, I thought you were Jules.”

  I can almost hear the talent agent rolling her eyes through the phone. “Amaya, I know we haven’t had a chance to talk in a while. Bodhi said you were out of town but I thought you’d call when you got back. Even to just formally turn down my offer.”

  “I’m sorry, you’re right. I should have.” I turn up the winding road that leads to the Ridge.

  “I’m calling because I want to give you another chance to do the right thing.”

  I swallow a girlish squee! before it can escape. “There’s still an available understudy role in the new opera house?”

  “Not exactly. The roles have been filled, for now.”

  Of course they have. Even though it meant losing out on this opportunity, I don’t regret my decision to help Vasily, but it burns nonetheless. “What then?”

  “I’d like to work with you. Plain and simple. When I last spoke to Bodhi, he said that you’d been practicing on your own and that you were carrying a new range, that of a soprano as well as a mezzo. Is that true?”

  “Yes ma’am.” Bodhi told her that? I’m sure he didn’t tell her how I acquired that particular ability. Thank you, fairy crack-water.

  “I have a client who used to be a very famous opera singer but she’s retired and wishes to take on a student.”

  I grip the white leather steering wheel so tightly my knuckles pale. “Who is it?” I breathe.

  “Angela Caprini.”

  The most famous soprano in Italy this decade? La Grande Signora herself? I almost pee my pants. I pull the car over in order to breathe.

  “Amaya? Are you still there?”

  “Yes,” I chirp. “But I think I heard you wrong.”

  “No, you heard right. Angela is visiting from Italy. She’s one of the donors for the new Distant Edge Opera House and when I told her about you, she expressed interest.”

  “But surely she wouldn’t want to meet me based on . . .”

  “I played your audition for her and she was—let’s just call it impressed.”

  I bend down and put my head between my knees so I don’t pass out. The most famous opera singer of this century wants to teach me how to go on stage and perform in front of an audience? She wants to mentor me? She wants to meet me? “I . . . I . . . I don’t know what to say.”

  “Just say yes.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  By the time I get back to the house I’ve ramped myself up instead of calming myself down. I dance from the car to the front door, burst inside and start screaming. In less than a minute I’m surrounded by all the men, Candy and Sabin. Once they see me, they stop about a foot away—lest they get hit by my flailing arms.

  “What’s wrong with her?” Candy asks.

  “She’s excited about something,” Forrest says.

  “What happened?” asks Bodhi.

  “As if you didn’t know.” I meet his gaze, wearing a huge grin. “Thank you for staying in contact with Siobhan.”

  “You’re welcome.” He hugs me and kisses my forehead.

  The other four men line up to do the same and once I explain to everyone what happened, they lead me into the dining room and pull out a chair so I can sit and calm myself.

  “I’ll go make you some tea.” Sabin disappears into the kitchen.

  I’m buzzing and they listen, rapt, happy to see me bursting with excitement. After a cup of tea, I finally settle.

  Cedar moves a chair next to me. “I need to talk to you.”

  “Shoot.” I’m still sailing a thousand miles above Earth’s atmosphere, high on future possibilities.

  “I think I found something.”

  “Do you care to elaborate?”

  He slides his chair closer and lowers his voice. “I’m sorry, that was cryptic. It’s just that I don’t want the others to know yet but . . .” He leans close to my ear and his vicinity triggers sparks up and down my spine. “I think I may have found a way for us to get our magic back.”

  I rub my hands together. “Really? What is it?”

  “I don’t want to tell anyone until you and I have tried it on our own.”

  That sounds fun. “Wanna go now?”

  “Yes.” He stands up and I follow suit. “Hey guys, Amaya and I will be back in a bit.”

  “Sure thing,” says Bodhi, who exchanges a glance with Forrest and Arch. Forrest shrugs.

  “Thanks.” I reach out to take Cedar’s hand and Bodhi’s concern grows into a smile.

  “Have fun.” Forrest winks at me.

  I stick out my tongue. Geez, it’s not what they think, but I can’t say that so I go along with the ruse.

  “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” adds Arch.

  “There’s something you won’t do?” asks Bodhi as we leave the room.

  Cedar is leading me up the stairs, still holding my hand, when the doorbell rings. We turn to descend the staircase but before we can answer the door, it slams open. On our threshold is the last person on Earth I ever wanted to see.

  “You have to help me.” Betty rushes in at the same time the other three men, Candy and Sabin are coming out of the dining room.

  On the tip of my tongue is—No bitch, we don’t, get the fuck out and leave us alone, but Cedar squeezes my hand and I swallow my anger, choking its ugly blackness back down.

  “We know who you are,” Cedar growls next to me.

  “So no,” says Arch, “we don’t have to do anything for you. Especially if you deliver it as a demand.”

  Betty’s cheeks flush. She looks down, wringing her hands. “I’m sorry. You’re right. I’ve lied to all of you but—”

  “But nothing,” I snarl.

  “I wouldn’t have come here if this wasn’t important.” She looks at me. “Life-threatening important. This affects us all.”

  “Let her speak, guys.” Bodhi holds his hands out, palms up.

  “Fine,” says Forrest. “You have three minutes.” He looks pointedly at Betty.

  “Someone stole my horn.” Betty remains in the doorway, hopping from one foot to the other.

  Shit. I’ve been waiting for so long to see this woman squashed and reduced to begging, but instead of satisfaction, I just feel like complete shit.

  “What?” Arch rumbles. “Who stole it?”

  Betty points to me. “Her friend Jules.”

  “What? No way. She’d never do that.” But when I close my eyes, the weirdness from earlier flashes back. Jules was struggling with something, and then she uncharacteristically made me leave the room. No, it couldn’t have been this.

  “She would and she did. I saw her.”

  “Liar.”

  “You’re right, I am a liar. But not about this.” She clenches her jaw shut.

  Cedar pats my arm, then pins Betty with a frigid stare. “You can see why we’d all find this hard to believe, right?”

  Her beautiful features crumple, tears leaking down her face. Crocodile tears, no doubt. The woman is a born sociopath.

  The men exchange glances, engaged in silent dialogue. Arch steps forward. “We’ll hear you out but if you try anything—”

  “I
won’t, I promise.” Her lower lip trembles.

  “Amaya?” Arch says and everyone looks at me.

  “Fine. We can talk.” I wrap my arm around Cedar’s back.

  Bodhi nods. “Let’s sit down.” He ushers her stiffly inside, closes the door behind her and leads all of us into the dining room. Candy ushers Betty into a seat at the head of the table. The men, Candy and Sabin sit as well but I remain standing. No one says anything.

  “What happened?” Arch’s voice is gruff.

  “It started last week when Bob offered me a room at his sister’s vectum. We’d worked together before so I just thought he was being nice. You know, helping me out.”

  Of course they did. The night they kidnapped me and jaunted me into Tara against my will. Whoa, where did that come from? The memory floods back like an unbidden nightmare, and I shiver. Goddamn Betty has been messing with me for longer than I realized. So why is the memory back now? Did her spell wear off, or did my growing power nullify it? Cedar wraps both arms around me and tugs me in close.

  “After I started staying there, Bob was hanging out at Ichor. I didn’t think anything of it until the donors started talking. I overheard them. Apparently, Bob’s never hung out there before.” She runs her hands through her long hair.

  “Go on,” Bodhi urges.

  “Four days ago he approached me and asked if he could borrow my focus.” She chews her lip and looks around the table.

  “But he’s not a warlock. What would he need the horn for?” asks Forrest.

  “Exactly,” she says. “I told him no and he got angry, but he left me alone so I figured it was nothing. But just in case, I reached out to Azotar and had it remove all the power it had given Bob to use.”

  “What power?” Bodhi asks.

  “In exchange for helping us, Azotar gave Bob the power of persuasion.” Betty rubs her temples. “It wasn’t permanent, it would have worn off eventually, but I worried he’d try and use it on me to get the horn.”

  So that’s why Bob’s hands glowed blue in the coffee shop. And how he talked that girl into making him another drink when he was being an insufferable asshat.

  Bodhi’s voice is gentle, instead of reprimanding her for helping Bob as I want to. “So what happened?”