by E. Menozzi
“Yes.” I watched her hands work and wished we were safe, back at the professor’s house.
She paused, clamping one hand over her bare wrist. “That’s why you said I shouldn’t wear the bracelet, isn’t it? Do you think that’s why they captured me? Because of the bracelet?”
“Maybe. Or maybe it was just to get to me. Maybe they knew I’d come after you.” I reached out and wrapped my arm around her to pull her close. She leaned her head against my chest, and I buried my face in her hair.
“Hate to break up the reunion,” said a voice at the cell door. I looked up and locked eyes with Nigel.
“You,” I said, tensing.
“Nigel!” Evelyn said, stepping away from me. “Wait. What are you doing here? Can you get them to let us out?” I hated the sound of relief in her voice, but there was no time to warn her now.
“I’m here to escort Evelyn to the party,” he said.
“No,” I said. I reached for Evelyn’s hand.
“What are you doing here with these people?” She squeezed my hand and didn’t let go.
“She’s not going anywhere without me,” I said.
“Oh, don’t worry. You’re coming, too. Your escort will be along to retrieve you shortly. She’s a bit delayed. She just found out that she lost a few of her favorite pets today,” he said, looking at me.
Great. The demon woman was coming for me. I didn’t know who she was, but from the talk in the arena, I anticipated the worst. I turned toward Evelyn.
“Eve.” I tilted her chin up so I could meet her eyes. I didn’t like the idea of sending her with Nigel, but she’d likely be better off with him than with me right now. “Be careful.” I kissed her once and let her go. I had a sinking feeling that we were about to be the honored guests in a very dangerous game.
13
Nigel opened the cell door and offered me his arm. He led me down the corridor, away from the cell, away from Liam. I’d almost been convinced that Liam was telling me the truth about the spirits until Nigel showed up, looking sharp in his dark jeans, button-down shirt, and sweater. But now I only had more questions.
“You didn’t answer me. What are you doing here?” I asked him.
“Maybe I came to rescue you,” he said. His short dark hair was swept back off his forehead in a perfect wave, and his imperfect nose and sharp cheekbones created odd shadows on his thin face as we moved through the torch-lit corridor.
“I’d like to believe that, but how did you even know I was here?” The last time I’d seen him he’d been backing away from me. Come to think of it, he’d been backing away right after he’d seen my bracelet. Liam had warned me about Nigel. If Nigel was associated with this place, perhaps Liam had been right. I tried to pull away from him, but he held my hand in place.
“Ah, ah. Better not run. You’re new around here, and it looks like no one warned you. It’s best to stay home on the nights around the solstice. You never know what or who you might run into out there.”
“Who, or what, are you?” I asked. “And are you really here to help? Can you get us out of here?”
“What? And miss the festivities?” He let go of my hand to adjust his tie.
“I’ll take that as a no, then.” I twisted away from him. “If you won’t help, then take me back to Liam.”
He reached out to grip my forearm, tugging me back to his side. “Liam can’t help you, either. Even he knows that you’re safer with me than with him. Why else do you think he let you leave with me?”
“Then tell me what’s going on.” This was insane. “Are those really spirits of dead people? Are you one of them?”
He laughed. “There is more to the world than you ever imagined, Evelyn. Yes, spirits are real, so are faeries and demons. You’ve met some already, and you’ll meet more tonight.”
“But you’re not, right? Are we the only humans here?” I asked.
“Who? You and me?” He seemed surprised at my question.
I nodded. “And Liam.” Liam had to be human. I’d seen him naked. There’s no way he was a ghost, and I think I would have noticed horns or wings or whatever.
Nigel laughed. “Evelyn, my girl, I do believe that you’ll be the only human guest at the party this evening.”
I blinked as my brain tried to process what he was telling me. “So, you’re…you’re one of them?”
He waved his hand in the air above his head, and two tiny black horns materialized. “No. I’m something else. Technically, I am half human. But the other half—the better half, I’d say—is demon. They call my lot cambions.”
I took a step backward and gaped at him. He had horns. And he was half demon. And spirits were real. This was too much to process. I was about to turn and bolt away from him and back to Liam when he grabbed my arm.
“Ah, ah, ah,” he said. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” He grinned at me, and I shivered.
“Where are you taking me?” I asked, trying to twist out of his grip.
“To the party, of course. You heard Lord Edric. You’re to be an honored guest at this evening’s festivities.” He wrapped my hand around his arm and started up the stairs, dragging me along behind him. “And, just because I like you, I’ll give you a hint. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll stop acting so human. He’ll keep you around longer if he keeps thinking you’re somehow connected to the Fae.”
“He thinks I’m connected to the Fae?” The last word squeaked out and echoed off the walls of the stone stairwell.
Nigel smirked. “Ridiculous, isn’t it. And a bit insulting, if you ask me. But he appears to have caught a whiff of something between you and Liam. And what he wants is to find his wife. Help him do that and he’ll never trouble you again.”
We reached the top of the stairs and stepped out into the large room with the pillars. In the short time I’d been in the cells below, the room had been transformed. Delicate lights were suspended from the ceiling, though I couldn’t tell how. There didn’t appear to be any wires holding them up. Garlands of holly and pine had been wrapped around the pillars and draped along the walls. Crystal stars sparkled near the ceiling, and music filled the air, even though I couldn’t see any speakers or musicians. Only a few people, or spirits, roamed about the room. If this was supposed to be a party, it appeared we’d arrived early.
“You’re quite lucky, you know,” Nigel said. “Lord Edric’s solstice party is really the best party in town. Much better than the bonfires and dancing in the town square.”
I searched the room for any sign of Liam, but he hadn’t arrived yet.
“Don’t worry, he’ll be along shortly,” Nigel said, as though he’d read my mind. “Though I have a feeling his escort will be keeping him occupied this evening. Don’t be upset if he doesn’t ask you to dance. Or even remember you exist.” He laughed.
Fear gnawed at my belly, and I tried to pull away from him again.
“I’m afraid you’re stuck with me for the evening. I do think that should be preferable to returning to the cells, which is your other option.”
I stopped pulling and stood rooted in place. More guests had arrived. The chamber started to buzz with chatter and the music played louder.
“Better,” he said. “But I don’t intend to just stand here all night and miss out on the fun.” He extended his hand toward the center of the room. “Shall we dance?”
He didn’t wait for a response, he just started walking toward the middle of the room, pulling me along as he steered us between clumps of people. I stared at everyone we passed. They all looked solid and human, except a few who I noticed had horns like Nigel.
“It’s not polite to stare,” he whispered in my ear. He’d caught me swiveling my neck to study a man with a shiny bald head, bare except for a pair of curved golden horns. “Lesson number one if you want to survive: try not to stare at the horns. Dead giveaway that you’re human.”
W
e slipped around a group of men and out into an open space where the music was impossible to ignore, and couples danced surrounded by a ring of onlookers. Nigel took my hand in one of his and wrapped his other around my waist. I followed his lead, only tripping and stumbling a few times before I grasped the basic steps. He moved us gracefully around the floor while I continued to stare, wide-eyed, at the other guests.
I kept searching for Liam in the crowd. I’d almost given up when I spotted a stunning woman with thick dark hair, swept up in a mass of curls on top of her head. She’d dressed in a low-cut, strapless ruby-red dress that left her bronze shoulders and arms bare, save for a golden band that snaked around her left bicep. When she turned, I spotted the blood-red horns nestled in her dark curls. I was so enchanted by her that I almost didn’t notice Liam at her side.
Nigel followed my gaze and chuckled. “See, I told you he’d be along.”
Liam’s eyes never left the demon woman. She greeted others and chatted with people, but he barely noticed anyone but her. My heart twisted, even as my brain insisted that she must have cast some sort of spell over him. I turned back to Nigel to ask him if demons could cast spells and found him smirking at me.
“Seems like lover boy has found himself a new lady,” he said.
I scowled. What right did I have to be jealous when I’d been so angry with Liam for chasing off Nigel in a display of what I’d thought was some territorial nonsense. Only, Liam had said he wasn’t jealous. He’d told me it had nothing to do with me, that I’d managed to find the most dangerous guy in town. I froze and tripped over Nigel’s feet. He righted me, and I fell back into step, but my mind was elsewhere. Liam had known. Liam had known that Nigel was half demon, and that’s why he’d chased him off. But how had Liam known what Nigel was if Liam was just a human, like me? How did he know so much about demons and spirits?
Then I remembered what Nigel had said in the corridor. I looked up at him. “You said I would be the only human at the party. What about Liam?” I had a feeling I wasn’t going to like the answer.
“I wondered how long it would take you to ask,” he said.
“Is he one of you? A what did you call it? Half-demon thing?”
Nigel raised his eyebrows. “Cambion, love. And no. No horns on that one. He’s all Fae. And Fae royalty, at that.” The corner of his mouth quirked. “Surprised he never told you. But I suppose if he told you, he’d have to kill you. Those Fae are more strict about their secrets than MI6.”
I stopped dancing and walked toward the ring of onlookers. Nigel followed me, grabbing hold of my wrist when he caught up with me.
“I thought we had an agreement. No running off.”
“I don’t feel like dancing anymore.” I needed to find a way to get rid of him so I could talk to Liam. “I’d like something to drink.”
“I suppose that can be arranged. Spirits don’t drink, but demons do, so there must be some refreshments around here somewhere.” While he looked around the room, I checked that Liam was still where I’d last seen him. The demon lady was chatting with a group of men as he stood by, hanging on her every word and smiling like a dope.
“I think I saw something over here,” I said. I grabbed Nigel’s hand and pointed toward a wall that would bring us close to where Liam stood.
“All right,” Nigel said. He started off in that direction, taking a firm hold of my hand and trailing me along behind him.
I watched the crowd and waited for my chance. I looked for a large group standing near Liam but behind the demon lady. I’d only have a moment to break Nigel’s grip, grab Liam, and pull him out of sight so we could disappear among the other guests. Perhaps if I could talk to Liam, I might be able to break the spell that woman had over him. I’d have to if we were going to have any chance to come up with an escape plan.
Nigel wove us through the crowded room, taking us past, but out of sight, of Liam. I waited until we’d passed them, then spotted my opportunity. I slipped my hand out of Nigel’s to push away a man—more likely a spirit—who’d reached out to grab at me as we passed. Nigel turned to confront him. While he was distracted, I lunged for Liam. Latching on to Liam’s arm, I hauled him with me into a clump of guests.
“Hey!” he said.
“Shh,” I said, pulling him with me and ducking behind one of the columns. I flattened myself against the stone and positioned him in front of me, wrapping my arms around his neck and forcing him to look down at me and meet my eyes.
He blinked as his pupils slowly began to focus on my face. “Eve,” he said.
Relief flowed through me, and I let out a sigh. “Liam. We don’t have much time.”
“She enchanted me,” I said. My brain was foggy. I shook my head to clear it. The demon woman had not been pleased that I’d killed her hell beasts. Upon arriving to retrieve me from the cell, she’d announced that I’d be her pet for the evening. A Fae enchanted by a demon. I’d never hear the end of this from Arabella if I ever got out of here alive.
“She’s a demon, Liam.” Evelyn’s shocked face stared back at me as my vision cleared.
“I know.” I’d just finished trying to convince Evelyn that spirits existed, and now she was telling me that I’d been enchanted by a demon. Since when did Evelyn know anything about demons?
“So is Nigel,” she said. Things began to make sense again. He must have shown her his horns, the bastard.
I raised my eyebrows. “He told you?”
“You were trying to keep me away from him because you knew what he was, weren’t you?”
I nodded.
“You could have told me.”
“You wouldn’t have believed me.”
“You’re probably right.” She frowned. “He also said that you’re…not human.”
I cringed. Of course he’d told her that.
“We shouldn’t talk about this here.” The last thing I needed was for anyone to find out that Evelyn didn’t know the first thing about the Fae. Edric would discard her immediately if he knew she couldn’t help him. But, if I could keep them from realizing their mistake long enough, I might be able to get her out of here. I looked around, trying to see if anyone was close enough to overhear our conversation.
Evelyn pulled me back behind the pillar. “Don’t,” she said. “He’ll see you.”
“Who?” It wasn’t exactly the most private location for a chat. I conjured a shield to hide us from the other guests and keep those nearby from listening to our conversation. It would screen us from view, making it appear like there was nothing here, and deter wandering guests from stumbling through and discovering us. Anyone who was searching for us and knew to look for magic would find the shield. But it might give us some time and privacy to talk.
“Nigel told me that I had to stay with him, but I needed to talk to you. I couldn’t leave you under that demon’s spell. We need to get out of here.”
I placed my palm on her cheek and let it run down along the side of her neck until it rested on her shoulder. She’d been captured, imprisoned, threatened, held at knifepoint, and shackled to a half-demon escort, and all because I’d let my guard down.
“I’m sorry,” I said.
“When were you going to tell me?” she asked.
I shook my head. “I just wanted to keep you safe.”
“Look at where we are, Liam! We’re surrounded by creatures I didn’t even know existed before tonight. And you…you let me think… Why did you sleep with me when you know it’s impossible for us to be together? Were you ever planning to tell me?” She glared at me with her arms crossed.
“No.” I couldn’t lie, even if I wanted to.
“So you were going to just disappear again?” She’d started to shake, but I didn’t sense her fear this time. She was angry, and she had every right to be.
“I told you I wouldn’t, and I meant that. I’ve never lied to you. I can’t lie.”
“Yo
u just left out the part about being Fae.” She squinted at me. “Wait. What do you mean ‘can’t’? Like Pinocchio?”
“Who’s Pinocchio?”
Evelyn groaned. “Little wooden boy. Couldn’t tell a lie or his nose would grow.”
“You believe in little wooden boys who can talk, but Fae, spirits, and demons are too far-fetched for you?”
She rolled her eyes. “It’s a story for kids, and you’re not answering my question.”
“No. I can’t tell a lie. Not even one that would make my nose grow.” I grinned.
“Not funny.” She frowned at me. “What can you do? Fae are supposed to be immortal, but these spirits and demons could still kill you, right? What about magic? Do you have any sort of powers?”
I hesitated. Whatever I told her might make things worse. I might be able to convince Fiona to let Evelyn live if the only thing she knew was that we existed, and that I was Fae. If I told her anything about my powers, Fiona might not be so easily convinced. Even if I failed, I wanted to know that Evelyn would live.
“Liam?”
“Yes, I have magic. But if I tell you more, they might kill you.”
“They who?” She shook her head. “Never mind. It doesn’t matter. Whatever magic you have, we need it. I’m just a human who’s supposed to be going to grad school in a few months. I certainly don’t have any special powers that might help us escape from this band of vengeful spirits and creepily attractive demons.”
“It would be a lot safer for you if you could pretend you never heard about this Fae thing and go back to just worrying about my being your uncle’s secretary,” I said.
She glared at me. “If we don’t find a way out of here, we’re both going to die. So, start talking.”
“Right. Well, yes, I have some magic, but I can’t just conjure us out of here, if that’s what you mean.”
“What can you do?”
I cupped my hand between us and conjured a ball of light, then let it float toward the ceiling.
Evelyn gasped. Her eyes followed the light up until it disappeared, blending in with the decorations. “You really are one of them,” she whispered.
