by MJ Fletcher
“Men, they’re helpless without us.” Melissa winked at me and elbowed Ronan in the shoulder. “Not that I’d kick you out of my bed, cutie.” She slapped Ronan’s shoulder, and the two women burst out laughing.
I couldn’t help but smile as Ronan shook his head.
“You’ll help us then?” I asked.
“We’ll help, though I doubt you’re going to like what’s coming,” Jen said.
Chapter 28
“You trust these two?” Ronan asked as he used his fork to poke at his food, he had reluctantly ordered. He hadn’t taken a bite yet and seemed to be more interested in testing it with his utensils than eating it.
“Not at all,” I said and took a bite of my burger.
“Why bother listening then?”
“Because they know something and even if they send us down the wrong path, it might lead us to something that can help.”
“Interesting idea, and is this how you handle most of your assignments?”
I placed my burger on the plate and took my napkin, wiping my mouth with a quick motion. “Is this the part where we pretend to be real partners, and you get dirt on me for LaReina?”
“No, I’m curious.”
“About what?” I asked.
“Why you?”
“What are you talking about?” I pushed my plate forward and leaned back in the booth.
“Jessica, you’re one of the best I’ve ever seen with a Skeleton Key. Granted the Artifact helps, but people have been talking about your precision and skill since before you got those tattoos.”
“So I’m good. It’s not a big deal.” I shrugged, brushing off the compliment.
“No big deal to you maybe, but people practice for years to reach your skill level. So to others it is a big deal.”
“I’m sure my skills will be very useful to the League.”
“Not everything is about the League.”
“Then what?”
“I’m complimenting you. Has no one ever done that before?”
“I’ve had compliments.” I smiled almost laughing. “It’s just that it’s been a while that’s all.”
“Because of your scars?”
“I suppose,” I said.
“You’re more than a collection of scars—so much more.” His hand slid across the table, his fingers brushing against mine.
I flinched, but I didn’t pull away as his fingers rested on my wrist.
“You’re beautiful,” he whispered toying with the cuff of my sleeve.
“If you say so,” I said, trying to remain focused, but finding it difficult with the way he was touching me. It had been too long since I had felt the teasing touch of a man, and it was playing havoc with my senses.
“How did you get the scars?”
“I thought the League knew everything about me?”
“All I know about your scars is that you got them during the war. There is no record of how you got them.”
His fingers had continued to toy with the edges of my sleeve and my breath caught when his fingers slipped beneath and grazed over one of my scars.
I yanked my hand back.
He sat back. “I’m sorry.”
“No, it’s not you. I just don’t like to talk about it.” I also hadn’t wanted to be touched, but he was beginning to make me rethink that.
“Was it that bad?”
I tensed at the comment, and my mind flashed back to Gremlins surrounding me in the dark. I’d lost a lot that day, more than most would ever know.
“I don’t want to talk about it,” I said my voice turning gruff.
“I’m only trying to help you.”
“Then let me make this clear. Asking about what happened to me isn’t helping. If you want to help me, tell me about the League.”
“What do you want to know?”
“Can I trust them,” —I looked him dead in the eye— “and can I trust you?”
“You can trust me,” he said without hesitation.
“The League?”
“You know how dangerous the Guild can be. It is the same with the League.”
“What makes you different from the League that should make me trust you?”
“You don’t know me at all, and yet you think you do.” He shook his head and placed his fork down and glanced out the window.
“I’ve been burned by people before. We both know I didn’t only join the League to learn about Nyla.”
“LaReina thinks your infiltration into the League is some power play by your grandmother to oust her as leader,” Ronan said watching for my reaction.
“Is that what she told you?”
“She told me not to trust you,” he said.
“I’ve been hearing that about you as well.”
“Interesting.”
“Yes, it is,” I said.
“And do you agree?” he asked his eyes narrowing in anticipation of my answer.
“You helped me when Slade was hurt and that’s given you some leverage.”
“And my charm hasn’t hurt,” he said with a wink.
“Always so sure of yourself, aren’t you?”
“Mostly, yes,” he said, “but you should know that LaReina didn’t send me to warn you about the attempt on your life. I did that on my own.”
I’d been wondering about that since I spoke with LaReina. It didn’t sit well with me that if she was working with Nyla, she would send one of her best men to help me. Now it made sense, LaReina had never tried to help me.
“Then why did you?” I asked.
“The League learned about the plan to come after you. But it was decided to let things play out and see how you handled it while we watched from afar.”
“You’re kidding me?
“No,” he said.
“They could have killed me or gotten the Artifact.”
“Neither of which I wanted to see happen, so I decided to intervene.”
My mind raced over the possibilities, and I drifted back to the conversation I’d had with LaReina. When I had mentioned Ronan approaching me, she had seemed annoyed. He had taken it on himself to warn me. Maybe he was as trustworthy as I was beginning to believe.
“Why?” I had to ask.
“You’ll find, Jessica, that there is much more to me if you allow yourself to get to know me.”
“I’m not really about getting to know guys.”
“Why?”
He turned the tables on me and I found myself needing to think about an answer. After everything I’d been through, it was much easier to hide away from people and not let them see how much I had changed.
“I’m different, that’s all.”
“Different than what?”
“Who I used to be,” I said.
It didn’t make sense even as I said it aloud, but for me it explained everything. I wasn’t the pretty popular girl anymore and, finally being I was honest with myself, I didn’t want to be. I had friends now who I was closer with than the shallow people who once had surrounded me.
“What matters to me is who you are now.”
“But it matters to me,” I said.
“Was what happened to you that bad?” he asked softly, placing his elbows on the table as if he was digging in, determined to try and figure me out.
“Yes, it was.”
My fingers played with my shirtsleeve. I could feel the bulging scars and once again I felt the tearing flesh and roars of the beasts as they attacked me.
“If you ever want to talk about it, I’m here to listen.”
“Thanks, but it’s not something I want to share.”
“Regardless, I’m here if you need me.”
“Thanks,” I said. Maybe I was wrong about Ronan, perhaps I needed to reconsider him and his motives.
“Thanks for coming.” Jen the waitress waved to a couple as they left the diner. She reached out and grabbed the open sign and flipped it over to closed.
“Are we ready?” Melissa asked as she came through the kitc
hen door. She untied the apron around her waist and dropped it beside the cash register.
“I’m all set,” Timmy said as he joined them.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Jen looked my way as she asked the question.
“Yes,” I said.
“You heard the lady, let’s get the hell out of here,” Jen ordered.
Melissa pulled a folded piece of paper from her apron and laid it out on the bar. She grabbed a pencil from behind her ear and leaned over, talking to herself. She brought the pencil down onto the paper and golden glyphs sprang to life as she wrote.
“She’s a Mapmaker,” Ronan said.
“And a damn good one.” Jen winked at him and patted Melissa on the shoulder, but she didn’t move. She was in a trance-like state that most Mapmakers enter when they begin making calculations.
Timmy knelt down on the floor and pressed his hand against one of the checkered tiles. It hissed and descended beneath the depths of the diner. A two handed gear shift rose from the spot and Timmy moved out of the way as it locked into to place with a crackling sound.
“Where we headed?” he asked pulling a set of worn leather gloves from his pocket and slipping them on. He glanced over his shoulder at Melissa who was still working on her calculations. Her hand moved swiftly across the page, and the golden glyphs floated along after her. She ended with a flourish, and then spun off it into the air next to Timmy.
“That should do it,” Melissa said.
Timmy reached out, swatting the floating calculation toward the shifter until it slowly wrapped around them and was absorbed. He slapped his hands around both handles of the gear shift and pulled back hard on the levers.
The entire Diner vibrated and Timmy planted his feet firmly for better position. Melissa shook her head and slipped the pencil back in her hair while Jen walked over and stood in front of our table.
Energy surrounded the diner and my tattoos began to hum along as I felt the power and intensity grow. We were going to portal jump the entire diner.
“You might want to hold onto something,” Jen smiled.
Chapter 29
The windows outside the diner swirled grey and silver as we crossed the space in between dimensions. For Guilders and members of the Doorknob Society portals were immediate, but for other crossings you had to journey through the In Between. It always unnerved me when I had to do it.
The In Between was dangerous if you were to get lost or stuck. It was also the home of Gremlins, not my favorite animal.
Jen leaned comfortably against the counter. “What are your intentions when you find Mr. Slade?”
I extended my sense out and around the diner. I could feel the abilities of everyone around me—except her. Somehow she was blocking me. The only other person I had been unable to read since gaining the Artifact had been Merric. I had a feeling there was much more to this woman than met the eye.
“I do have an idea,” I said.
“Which is?” she asked.
“Private,” I answered with a smile.
“Where are you taking us?” Ronan asked.
He was sitting casually across from me, but I could feel the tension rolling off him. He didn’t like that we were headed somewhere blind with people we had only just met. He probably thought I was a nut job or maybe setting him up. But I figured LaReina had told him to give me latitude. If I screwed up, it wasn’t her fault, and she could just as well tell Gran she had given me a chance.
“Some place that nice members of Societies don’t like to go,” she replied.
“Dying Star Market’s, the Desolate Wastes?” Ronan countered. Both were well known black market stops.
“Nothing so common, I’m afraid.”
The diner rumbled, and my stomach jumped as it suddenly came to a stop and the grey mist around us moved and shifted until it finally disappeared.
The Dimensional Diner sat alongside a dirt road, leading toward a series of buildings. They were older, but well maintained. A series of gas lamps lined the streets of the town and people walked around, a few greeting the diner’s appearance with smiles and waves.
“Where are we?” I asked.
“The town of Black Hole,” —Jen took a deep breath— “we’ve brought you here. But that’s all we can do. If you get into trouble, you’re on your own. And believe me this isn’t a place you want to make enemies.”
“Why?” I asked.
“The Societies aren’t recognized here. It’s everyone for themselves. This is the last stop on the Map, as the saying goes.”
Melissa joined us, looking out the window. “We saw Mr. Slade here two weeks ago, but only briefly. He might not be here any longer. I would be careful no matter what.”
“Thanks,” I said as Ronan and I walked to the front door and giving it a push, stepped out.
Jen grabbed my sleeve before I made it all the way out and leaned in close to me. “Be careful with that one,” —she motioned toward Ronan— “and watch using your powers in this town. They have pre-designated areas where power use is allowed.”
“Will do,” I said and followed Ronan outside. I didn’t know what she had meant about him, but it rattled me.
“What was that about?” he asked.
“Nothing,” I said, not feeling the need to share it with him.
We entered the town and the people on the streets watched us warily.
“Can I help you folks?” A thin man walked forward, wearing a battered suit and weather worn jacket. I pegged him for a former HVO.
“And you are?” Ronan asked in his clipped accent.
“The one asking questions. We’re kind of particular about who we allow here in Black Hole. So unless you want a world of trouble, answer the question.”
“I’m Jess Grimm of the Skeleton Key Guild,” I said.
The man’s hands twitched at my name and Society. I could sense his power, and it wasn’t activated, but he was very nervous.
“What do you want?” he asked.
“I take it you’ve heard of me?”
“The Council and the Societies don’t have any sway out here, young lady,” he said.
“You’re right. We’re pretty far off the Map out here, and it’s a good place where people might come to hide,” —I looked over his shoulder at the people who were stopping to stare with curiosity— especially from someone like me.”
“Are you threatening me?”
“No, stating facts is all. We both know the people in your town here are looking to stay off the radar from people like me and my friend here.” I jerked my thumb toward Ronan who stood by silently allowing me to talk.
“Your point?”
His hand moved over the pocket on his vest and I felt the vibrations of an old and well-worn Silver Star. At one time he must have been a member of the HVO.
“My point is we don’t want trouble. We’re only looking for someone.”
“This place is a haven for people who don’t want to be found.”
“And we’ll let it remain that way.” I nodded trying to keep the situation calm. “But I’m not leaving without finding this man.”
“Then we’re at an impasse young lady,” he said his fingers slipping into his pocket and activating his Silver Star.
Ronan began to move, but I raised my hand, and he stopped.
“You don’t want to do that,” I warned the guy.
“Why’s that?”
“Because it will end badly for you, and I’ll still get what I came for anyway, so do the smart thing for yourself and your town and help me.”
“The people here expect me to protect them. I can’t go handing someone over to you,” he said shaking his head.
“You aren’t handing anyone over,” I said. “I only want information.”
“Then what, you kill him?”
“No, he’s working with dangerous people. We need to stop them.”
“Dangerous to whom? “The voice was cold and echoed around the street. I glanced up to see M
r. Slade standing a few feet away, staring at me.
Chapter 30
“Mr. Slade.” I stepped away from the HVO guy, Ronan remaining just behind me.
“I’ll handle this,” Mr. Slade waved toward the HVO member who nodded and walked off.
“We need to have a talk,” Ronan said to Mr. Slade.
“You’re one of my son’s friends, aren’t you?” He ignored Ronan and looked me up and down with utter contempt, as if I was completely beneath him, and I remembered why we all hated this man so much.
“A best friend of Slade’s,” I corrected.
He glanced up and down the street, and then back at me. “I don’t see him here. Only Guilders, —he frowned and his brow furrowed— “I assume doing the Council’s dirty work.”
“We thought it best if he didn’t come, and the Council didn’t send us.”
“The League of Skull & Bones. I should have known the Guild would send you for me. So you do their dirty work now, is that it?”
“If necessary, though at the moment, I’m simply looking for answers from you.”
“What answers?” Mr. Slade asked cautiously.
“About the device you’re building,” I said.
One of his eyebrows twitched, and he looked me over once again, taking a moment to linger on my forearms. His eyes finally met mine and he smirked. “You’re the Artifact aren’t you?”
“Like you didn’t know?”
“I’ve been out of the loop, dear, and, honestly, I thought it would have been your cousin who inherited the Grimm family legacy.”
“I took her place, lucky me.”
“Chloe does seem to be very good at getting people to do things for her.” He shook his head and began to pace back and forth.
“What?”
“You take on the danger of the Artifact, and she gets my son to turn against me.”
“You did a good job of that on your own.”
“Ridiculous, I was only doing what was best for my son and the Engineers.”
“You turned against the Old Kind and offered to join an enemy that was trying to destroy us. You betrayed your son, not the other way around.”
