by Lela Grayce
“Okay, so I can’t stay here. Where do I go?”
“I have an idea,” Syd said, but the look on his face clued me in that he didn’t like it. “We need to go see the Gold Skulls.”
“Really?” I whined like an eight-year-old.
“Oh yes, they owe me and I’m cashing it in,” Syd said, with a manic grin.
Fucking pixies.
The Howling Cow was a shitty bar on the edge of the city. There was shitty music and shitty people that frequented the establishment. I let my dislike of everything be known to everyone on the car ride over. Lyndee had learned to tune me out but Kreed and Syd got front row seats to the whiny side of Nik.
“Nik, I swear to God I will give you a dead leg if you don’t stop,” Syd said, through clenched teeth.
“I’m a big girl, Syd,” I retorted. Basically over the fact we were going to see the Gold Skulls and now just whining for fun.
“I would beg to differ,” Kreed mumbled, not even trying to hide his words.
“Look, everyone knows that pixies are annoying little shits, Nik, so drop it,” Lyndee said. “Besides it’s not like they only allow pixies. There's other more unsavory creatures.”
“Like what?” Kreed asked, curious.
“It’s rumored that the Skulls have an honest-to-God vampire locked up under the bar and they feed it people who piss them off. They threaten people with it and there's enough evidence to suggest that they do have at least something in their back pocket,” Lyndee bounced in her seat as we turned on the road that led to the bar.
“Do all the gangs have rumors? You all have the rumor of Nik and the Skulls have this vampire nonsense. I’m starting to see a pattern.”
“Rumors are a good way to deter unwanted attacks.” Syd shrugged. “Our rumor was true and I’m wondering if there isn’t a shred of truth in the Skull’s rumor.”
“I know it’s rude to ask but what are you Kreed?” Lyndee sat forward in her seat in order to see Kreed better in the front seat. “I don’t recognize your scent.”
Oh, damn. At least she asked him instead of me. I did not want to even try to explain what he was. The fact there was another hidden supernatural race on Earth was mind blowing. Thankfully, I had Brutus and Ruvaen to help ease me into the knowledge which frankly helped my sanity.
“A story for another time,” Kreed replied, as Syd pulled his black jacked up SUV into the parking lot.
Looking around I wondered how exactly we would be able to blend in here. The lot was full of bikes of every size and a supped up SUV would stand out just as much as our slut mobile, Kurby, did everywhere else.
“So, what’s the plan?” I asked, trying to distract Lyndee from Kreed’s origins.
“Gotta talk to Bayard and ask some questions,” Syd answered.
I turned to Lyndee who glanced at me then whispered out of the corner of her mouth, “Syd commissioned the Gold Skulls to outfit the penthouse. It’s the best of the best and the fact that someone was able to bypass all of it is definitely concerning.”
“Concerning how?”
“They put a guarantee on this sort of thing. The attack last night proved that it isn’t impenetrable like they promised so if anyone could help us figure this all out it’s them.”
“I hate pixies,” I whispered, as we exited the vehicle.
Contrary to the stories of pixies being cute, fairy-like creatures that had iridescent wings and glitter dust to help them fly if they just think about happy things was utter bullshit. Pixies were small and have a big-dog complex. They were out to prove that they are the baddest kids on the block, but they were really just mischievous little devils.
“Watch what you say and don’t agree to anything,” Syd warned us as we started for the door. “Also, be very careful what you eat and drink in there.”
The stories of Fae being tricksters who couldn’t lie but could twist the truth for their benefit was a bunch of crap. Fairies were Earth-loving hippies, while it’s the other creatures from their world you had to watch out for. Pixies had no problem lying and would do anything to get them ahead. They were addicted to power.
Big dog complexes.
The bar was a rundown seedy-looking place from the outside. The inside was not like that at all. Expensive tapestries hung from the walls, tables inlaid with gold and diamonds, the flooring was granite so polished you could see your crotch while walking, expensive artwork painted by Pure humans were hung on the walls. The artwork wasn’t even that great but since a Pure human created them, it put a hefty price tag on even the simplest stick figure doodles.
The bouncer at the door wore glamour to make him look like a normal human, but my radar told me he was a ghoul. Foul smelling creatures who guard bridges and bogs back in the fairy world. Here, they did guard duty, and they were not very bright. They barely spoke, only grunting and pointing at stuff.
Did I mention they stink?
Syd spoke to the burly bouncer while I tried not to breathe too much of the scent of body odor, mixed with rotten meat. The little bit that I did get a whiff of made me want to vomit. Lyndee also looked a bit green, while Syd and Kreed were cool as cucumbers.
We were waved in as Lyndee and I pushed our way to the bar. The disgusting scent from the lobby morphed into cigar smoke and whiskey. The expensive kind. It was so much better smelling in here that Lindee and I took several deep breaths to purge our nostril’s palettes.
“Never gets better,” I grumbled, swallowing the taste of bile on my tongue.
“Try it with a shifter nose,” Lyndee retorted.
No, thank you!
Kreed brushed against me as he took up position behind me and though things were confusing between us I was glad he was here.
“Hey, we don’t serve his kind here,” a deep yet squeaky voice said from the location near our feet.
Looking down, a mean looking pixie glared up at us. His thick skin was a greyish-green color, a squat body stuffed into black leather pants and zipped up leather jacket. A gold skull embroidered on his chest with the letters P-R-E-Z spelled underneath it. His hair was a shocking forest green with eyes that matched. Definitely exotic with his under bite and fangs the size of pencils jutting from the bottom jaw and resting above his upper lip.
“Who?” Lyndee asked, confused.
“Him,” the height-challenged pixie said, pointing behind my shoulder.
I followed his finger, expecting to see someone other than Kreed but he was the only one.
“He’s with us,” Syd said, stepping sideways to block Kreed from view.
“I don’t care. Cowards and traitors aren’t welcome here.” The pixie snarled, baring his teeth at Kreed.
A soft sound of metal pulled from leather clued me into the fact that Kreed had drawn one of his swords. I gulped because I knew what the sharp blade in his hands could do.
Out of the kettle and into the fire.
“Whoa. Whoa. Whoa,” Syd said, glancing from the pixie to Kreed. “Bayard, we’re here on official business and he is an eyewitness, plus duty bound to protect one of ours. Her.” He pointed in my direction.
Bayard leaned around Syd to get a better look at me, his tiny eyebrows furrowed in confusion. He sucked in a deep breath, gathering our scents and committing them to memory. Pixies were better than bloodhounds. They could pick up a scent months old and track them. That’s why they were so adept at security. If someone did get past them, they would track them down and take care of the problem.
Bayard took a step closer, his eyes closed as he breathed in again and then sneezed. Green snot shot from his nose and down toward his mouth. I was on the verge of barfing when he wiped away with a handkerchief he had up his sleeve. A bloody handkerchief! Fancy but disgusting.
“I know you,” he whispered. Then surprised the hell out of me when he got down on one knee.
“Uh…” Real eloquent, Nik. But seriously what the hell.
“Tine Dian, I know you,” he repeated, touching his fingers to his forehead.
I froze stunned because I had no idea what he was talking about. I glanced at Lyndee and she looked just as stunned as I was. The only one who seemed unaffected was Syd.
“I’m sorry but what…” I trailed off as more pixies arrived and bowed around Bayard.
“You are welcome here, Tine Dian,” Bayard announced, his declaration repeated by everyone in the bar.
“What in the ever-loving-sex is going on,” Lyndee whispered in my ear which made me snort when she used the real meaning of a swear word.
“No clue,” I replied, my cheeks hot with embarrassment.
“This is… unusual,” Kreed whispered, suspicion clear in his tone.
“Follow me,” Bayard said, standing and trotting off into the bar. For someone so minuscule he could sure cover ground.
Syd followed him and gestured for us to follow. We were led into a room at the back. There was a massive desk facing the wall with two armchairs in front of it and two couches pushed against the walls. Bayard disappeared behind the mahogany desk then reappeared as he climbed onto the chair.
“Make yourselves comfortable,” he invited, gesturing to the seating areas.
I chose a seat in front of the desk, while Syd took the one beside me. Kreed took up his normal position behind me while Lyndee paced the room.
“What brings you here?” Bayard directed his question at me.
Thankfully, Syd answered for me because I was still reeling from what had happened with all of the pixies in the bar and what ‘Tine Dian’ meant.
“The penthouse was attacked and infiltrated,” Syd answered bluntly.
“Impossible,” the pixie replied, waving away Syd’s words with his hand.
“Check,” Syd demanded, crossing his arms making it clear we weren’t going anywhere.
Bayard glared at Syd but opened a laptop sitting on the desk. He typed a few key strokes then used the mouse. The room remained silent while he did his checking and for some reason my anxiety soared. As if sensing my turmoil, Kreed rested his hand on my shoulder. That small touch was enough to ease my discomfort, which wouldn’t have been the case a week ago. Something to think about later.
“I see a security alarm but nothing that would indicate a breach,” Bayard announced.
Syd pulled out his phone and did something then pocketed it again. “Check your email.”
Bayard sighed but clicked and typed away. Syd glanced at me with a twinkle in his eye. He knew something. The sharp inhale from the pixie was the only indication that he was upset by what Syd had sent him.
After several silent minutes Bayard closed his laptop looking troubled.
“This happened last night?” Syd nodded. “I understand now why you are here now.”
“I’m not entirely sure why we are here,” I spoke.
“The penthouse's security was installed and maintained by Bayard and his people,” Syd revealed.
“Why?”
“Because,” Bayard interjected before Syd could answer my question, “my people owe you a debt.”
“You do?” I was utterly confused.
“It’s clear that Nik doesn’t know so could someone fill her in unless you like keeping her in the dark,” Kreed spoke aggressively and it made my heart skip.
“Five years ago, you healed a creature,” Bayard began and I was suddenly transported back in my memories.
I was taking a walk with Zazu down a street just after dusk. The sky was darkening but for some reason a walk down the street from my house sounded like a good idea. The air was brisk with a cool nip that promised seasonal changes. It was a beautiful night.
We stopped at the small, rundown park just down the street from my home. Zazu explored the tall grass around a big pine tree when the sounds of multiple vehicles roared through the night.
Motorcycles in all shapes and sizes passed the park opposite Zazu and I. One of the bikers slowed, tossed a wadded ball of material into the gutter, then rode away toward the rest of the biker gang.
My ears rang with the aftershock of so many engines passing. Zazu scratched at his ears but overcame the discomfort quickly and then continued his exploration like nothing had happened.
The wind shifted, bringing with it a scent I could not detect, but Zazu could. He growled, then ran off toward the street where the bikers had just been. I called after him, but he ignored me and I kicked myself for not bringing a leash.
I chased Zazu to the edge of the park and found him crouched above the bundle that the biker had tossed. Wrinkling my nose, I tried to grab the Chia, but he slipped from my grasp, pawing at the bundle. That's when it moved.
Fearing the worst, I grabbed a stick and carefully began to unwrap the package, half convinced it was something dead that Zazu wanted to rub himself on. That wasn’t the case. The last flip of the gross material revealed a pixie covered in greenish blood and near death.
My reaction was immediate. My heart clenched as I lifted the tiny creature from the gutter and looked him over. He was badly beaten and by the way his limbs moved, the majority of his bones were broken. Breathing was labored and it was amazing that he was still alive at all.
Green blood coated my hands and the internal heat I kept hidden deep down rose, reacting to the creatures suffering. I had always kept that part of myself tucked away, terrified that every time it stirred was because of an injured person. Seeing weakness in others and wanting to act was something only a predator would do. Did the fire inside want to stamp out those that were weak? Cull the herd of the sick and old, was that what this power was?
I dropped the pixie, scared I would end him but the fire increased and moved to my hands that were still coated with green liquid.
A whimper escaped my lips as the heat licked at the blood growing higher and hotter until it was boiling on my hands. Still it continued until nothing was left but ash, rising from my hands and drifting on the wind.
Tears ran down my cheeks as I struggled to contain the fire but nothing worked. Roaring began in my ears and my head grew light. I thought I would pass out but then the origin of the roaring sound registered. The bikers were returning probably to make sure that the pixie was dead.
Looking down, forest green eyes stared up at me with awe and wonder. I swallowed trying again in vain to push the fire down but instead it built higher and higher. The pixie rose on shaky legs completely healed.
Motorcycles rolled up and the small pixie stepped in front of me ready to defend me and my pet. He was so small. There was no way he’d be able to fight them off which was punctuated by laughter.
Words were spoken but I was struggling with an inner battle. Zazu remained by my side, his paw resting on my thigh doing what he could to help.
Voices shouted and guns were loaded and cocked and I knew that they would kill us all. Not only had I somehow healed the pixie, they’d left for dead and I’d seen their faces. There was no way I would survive the night.
Zazu yowled and hissed at something over my shoulder. I chanced a glance and saw the little pixie standing before the hoard arms outstretched ready to be torn apart by bullets. I made a split-second decision, one that I hoped I wouldn’t regret in the future.
Standing on shaking legs I faced the bikers and growled at the one I’d saved to get behind me and get low. When I felt Zazu’s scaly skin and fur rub against my calf I knew he was safe so I let go. Flames shot from my palms and I funneled all its hot fury at the gang who attempted my murder. I didn’t stop until there was nothing left but ash floating on the wind.
I jerked back to the present, my hands shaking and drenched in sweat. I sat on the couch and had no memory of how I got there. I could’ve sworn I was on a chair. Kreed stood in front of me with a katana in one hand and a throwing dagger in the other.
My throat was dry and I tried to drum up some saliva so I could swallow and hopefully speak to find out what was going on.
“Step away from her and you won’t get hurt,” Syd spoke.
I didn’t know who he was ta
lking to.
Kreed laughed deeply in his chest and it made the hairs on my arms and neck stand up. This wasn’t good.
“The only way you’ll get to her is through me,” Kreed growled. The way he said it sounded an awful lot like possession. My stomach swooped at his tone which was all sorts of wrong.
“Kreed,” I managed to whisper through my dry mouth.
Quicker than a thought I was in Kreed’s arms, my head pressed against his chest and I could feel the cold bite of metal from his weapons but I knew they were there for protection not to hurt me. I took a moment to just breathe him in. His scent touched something inside and it calmed me. This was definitely new.
“Nik?” Lyndee asked hesitantly.
Turning my head, I noticed the room was full of pixies with weapons drawn and ready to attack. I couldn’t understand why until my eyes fell on a pair of forest green ones that I recognized immediately.
“It’s you,” I croaked, tears filling my eyes as the memory of what I had done to those bikers. They deserved it but I had blood on my hands. I was a killer. A mass murderer.
Bayard nodded confirming that the memory was real.
“I owe you my life, twice,” he answered respectfully.
“Why didn’t I remember?” I asked a sob catching in my throat.
“The memory was suppressed for your safety. It tore you up what you did and my identity had to remain a secret,” he answered, sadness in his eyes like the fact I was hurting affected him.
“You two knew?” I pointed at Syd and Lyndee, who both nodded.
“You agreed to this, Nik.” Lyndee spoke tears in her eyes and I knew it must have killed her to keep this from me. We were closer than sisters and it hurt more than I thought it would. “When Bayard became the president of the Gold Skulls he vowed to protect you whatever the cost but we needed you to be completely ignorant of it.”
Kreed’s arms tightened around me and I would’ve given anything to go back to last night when I was in his embrace when I felt desired, powerful and not the destructive kind.
“I need a minute,” I said, doing my best to suppress the tears I felt burning behind my eyes.
