by Connor Crowe
This was gonna be tougher than I thought.
Myrella ushered us past the throngs of people and down a long, velvet-carpeted hallway. Glistening diamond chandeliers threw sparkles of light this way and that, just in time for the sun to set outside the floor-length windows. And what a show it was.
Up here in the clouds everything looked so much brighter. The colors that much more vibrant and the smells that much more intoxicating. They told us the air was thinner up here, due to the altitude. I could believe it. Even I was starting to feel a little lightheaded.
If Hugo lost control and shifted up here...
I gritted my teeth and shook my head. Not even gonna entertain that thought. To do that would put everything at risk.
The four of us approached an even larger doorway. A tall, bespectacled man in a tuxedo greeted us and bowed stiffly. He looked to Myrella, seemingly the only one he recognized. “Invitations, please?” His voice was dry and dull like sandpaper. So much the opposite of everything else around here.
Before any of us had a chance to do anything, Myrella took action. She fished into her robe and pulled out three bright pink envelopes sealed with red ribbon. “These should do the trick,” she replied sweetly. Could have sworn she batted her eyelashes at the man. He didn’t seem impressed.
He opened each one in turn, peering at them closely through his tiny eyeglasses. They sat precariously on his nose, far too small for his face. At length, he folded the paper and gave Myrella a curt nod.
“I’ll need your names for the register.” He pulled out a leather-bound book and flipped open to the first available page, holding it out to us. “First and last, if you please.”
My heart leapt into my throat for only a moment before Myrella took the pen. She wouldn’t be foolish enough to reveal our names, would she?
A few seconds later, I knew I shouldn’t have worried. She passed off each of our names without blinking, signing each of our “alter egos” onto the page in elegant script. It was the same names that she’d used when she first ran into us—now we just had to remember to use them ourselves and not screw it up.
Myrella handed the book and pen back to the greeter, who scowled at it for a few more seconds before giving another nod. He pushed open the door with one white-gloved hand and ushered us inside.
If the lobby of the Hub had been a chaotic frenzy of lights, colors, and sounds, the inside of the Gala itself was something else entirely. Was it still garish? Yes. Did it still feel like something from a fever dream? Yes. But things were more...I don’t know, structured in here. It was like the lobby was a free for all, and only those deemed worthy were allowed into the inner sanctum.
A large circular dance floor dominated the middle of the room while long tables filled with sweets and drinks lined the walls. Aerial performers swung on hoops and ribbons suspended from the ceiling, their costumes covered in bright feathers.
At the other end of the room was a towering, flickering bonfire. Or at least, that’s what it looked like. There was no wood, though. Nor any smoke or any ventilation. Not even the slightest bit of heat.
Oh, and one more thing. The “bonfire” was bright, neon pink.
“What on earth is that thing?” James hissed next to me. Hugo tensed.
“A trick of the light,” I muttered. “You know they can’t have real fire up here. It’s just a chemical reaction.”
“I don’t trust it.” Hugo shook his head. “But I shoulda guessed. Fake fire, just like everything else here. Fake.”
“Shut up and follow me,” Myrella hissed, her eyes flashing gold. “We don’t have much time.”
Hugo opened his mouth to retort, but I shot him a look and shrugged. He deflated, though I could still feel the tension rippling through the air. With Myrella taking point, we stepped into the fray.
James and Hugo stayed close to me, on their guard. Myrella was...well, doing what she did best. She glided into the room as if buoyed on air, letting out a high-pitched, tinkling laugh. Again I marveled at her ability to take on a new identity when needed. She rivaled even some of the best agents in the Black Hands, and we’d been trained specifically for the job.
I swept the perimeter and took note of any exits. Always good to know where they were in case of an emergency. I caught snippets of conversation here and there, but nothing that tipped me off to where we needed to go. Guess we were just going to have to mingle a bit more.
We stuck to the edges of the room, circling around to get a feel for the place. My eyes and ears were open, looking for any clues or secrets. All the while, I took in the mystery and majesty of the Gala. Even though it put a bad taste in my mouth, I had to hand it to them—Ataraxis sure knew how to party.
“Victoria, is that you?” I whirled around when I heard the voice. A man in a top hat taller than his head waved us over from behind a silver table.
“Mr. Rencourt, how lovely to see you!” Myrella launched into some complicated version of a curtsy, and the man did the same. She leaned across the table and pecked him on both cheeks. How they managed that kind of theatrics while wearing these costumes was beyond me. The guys and I stayed a few steps back, watching carefully.
“It’s always a lovely day when I see one of my favorite customers,” he beamed, puffing out his chest. “Can I interest ya in any of the wares?” Maybe Myrella didn’t notice it, but he raised his eyebrows like he was talking about more than just the food.
“And what are you hawking today?” Myrella didn’t miss a beat, cheerful as ever. “Is that fondue I see?”
“Oh, yes, yes—it is. Some of the finest in the land, and I’d love for you to try it. But first, you must introduce me to these friends of yours!” Rencourt looked right over at us and waved his huge, meaty hands to lure us in. “Come along come along! I don’t bite—unless you ask nicely.” Another ridiculous bow and a wink at the three of us.
I tried not to roll my eyes.
James and I exchanged glances, but we stepped forward. Had to play along, or we’d just look more suspicious. Besides, maybe the man had some useful information.
Although, with the way he was looking at us like we were pieces of meat...doubted it.
We stepped up to the table and the man Rencourt looked us over with beady eyes. A jewel-encrusted monocle scrunched between his heavy brow and plump, rosy cheeks. “Can’t say I’ve met ya before, and I know just about everyone on this rock.”
Once again, Myrella swooped in to save the day. Bless her. “Oh, these are my friends Lukas, Martin, and Anders. They’ve only recently been accepted into the Guild, you know how it is.” She leaned closer and her voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper. “They say Lukas’ parent was naught but a lowly servant. Can you believe it?”
Rencourt put a hand to his chest and made quite a show of surprise. “You don’t say. That is quite...unusual. Not often we see riff-raff joining the Guild.”
I bristled at that. Excuse me? Even though I knew it was a ruse, I didn’t appreciate being talked down at. Especially while I was standing right there.
Should have expected it, though. This place hadn’t changed a bit. Little did he know I came from one of the most powerful families on Ataraxis. Boy, would that throw him for a loop. Too bad I couldn’t show it. So I just took that knowledge as a bit of smug satisfaction and gave the man my most polite smile.
“I can assure you, you have nothing to worry about.” Myrella pushed a lock of hair behind her ear. Her headdress swayed side to side. “I’ve personally vetted these three myself, and you don’t think the council would have let them in if they were a threat, do you?” She actually fluttered her eyelashes at the man, her full red lips parted in a winning smile.
Talk about playing the game.
Rencourt looked us over for a moment, then flicked his attention back to Myrella. He adjusted his monocle and gave us a deep, complicated bow. “Of course not. Forgive me, young masters, for my intrusion.”
“It’s no trouble at all, sir.” I did my best
to match his bow, but I was pretty sure I messed it up. I just hoped he wouldn’t notice. “I understand my background is a bit unusual, but my friends and I have worked hard to get to where we are today.”
“Good lad.” Rencourt nodded, mollified at last. “Nothin’ wrong with hard work, that’s what I always say. Far too many don’t have what it takes.”
If only he knew...
Rencourt still rubbed me the wrong way, but I used the admission as a small success. I put on my most people-pleasing tone of voice and matched his exuberance using my skills from the Black Hands. “Your kind words are appreciated. Tell me, what do you have on offer here? I heard something about fondue, and I can never turn down a good cheese.”
“Well, come along then. There’s more than enough for everyone.” He took a step back and spread his arms wide again. Now that I wasn’t on my guard (as much), I had time to admire the table of food before us.
It was quite the layout—dozens of silver platters and in the middle of it all, a gorgeous fountain of melty, gooey cheese fondue. My mouth watered just looking at it. Arranged around the fountain was a mountain of crackers, fruits, chocolates, and vegetables in every color of the rainbow. The crackers, upon closer inspection, glittered in the light with edible gold flakes.
They were really pulling out all the stops on this one.
“Ah, and one more thing!” Rencourt added with a flamboyant gesture. He pulled a small vial from his waistcoat and unstoppered it, pouring the contents on to the fondue fountain. I stepped back in shock when the river of cheese began to glow, cycling through reds, oranges, and even a light blue before returning back to normal. “Tada.” He beamed and pushed plates and spoons toward us. “A little somethin’ special for Gala night.”
“How did you do that?” James asked in awe. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“Yes,” Hugo agreed, though his voice was still measured, impassive. “Quite impressive.”
Rencourt dangled the vial just out of reach before stuffing it back into his waistcoat. “Ah, a magician never gives away his secrets, does he? Don’t worry, it’s quite safe. Go on, eat up!”
I flicked a wary glance at Myrella, but she was already loading up her plate. I looked at my two mates. “Let’s dig in.”
With full plates we thanked Rencourt profusely and moved on to the next station which boasted sparkling wine that actually, you know, sparkled. Cause why not?
Everything I tried was just as extravagant and enchanting as the last. Each of the hawkers knew their products in and out, always going over the top to compliment or impress us with a bit of rare gossip. Unfortunately, it was all painfully boring class-warfare type stuff I had to smile and nod at. That is, until we reached the end of the food line and heard another couple talking nearby.
James was the first to notice. He nudged me while I was in the middle of an ice cream sundae and tilted his head to the right, indicating the couple standing off by the corner. Hugo picked up the signal immediately and stepped closer to James, his face a mask of concentration.
The first thing that stood out about the couple was that they were some of the only people here not wearing an outlandish costume. Instead, it was formal black tie wear, the man in a well-cut tuxedo with long tails and the woman in an elegant floor length red dress and pearls.
When I heard what they were talking about, I forgot all about the ice cream and the subtle buzz of the sparkling wine.
“Yes, the auction should be held tonight. VIPs and serious buyers only, of course.”
“And the full collection will be there?” The man placed an unusual emphasis on the word full, raising my hackles even further.
“Yes, yes. Everything’s in a staging room as we speak. Wanted to make sure it was all accounted for before the sale.”
“And you’re sure it won’t cause any...issues?” The man asked. “If the thing changes hands, I mean.”
The woman gave him a wicked smile. “You don’t believe in those children’s stories, do you? It’s all a lie. Another tale made up to inspire fear and compliance.”
Hugo gripped my arm so tight I almost lost feeling. “Snakes!” He hissed under his breath. Hugo’s skin grew hot. His hands shook. It took both James and I both to calm him, though I was just as upset as he was.
“Not here,” James said softly. He rubbed small circles on Hugo’s back while I tried to catch any other snippets of conversation. “We can’t have you losing it.”
After a few tense moments, he relaxed. His skin cooled. He folded his hands and cracked his knuckles, taking a deep breath. When he did so, a pale mist of steam floated out of his nostrils and up toward the ceiling. Hugo shivered and wrapped his arms around himself. “I’m fine,” he said, but his voice lacked the usual conviction.
I raised an eyebrow and glanced around at the other partygoers, trying to see if they’d noticed anything. The revelry went on as usual—nothing out of the ordinary. Well, out of the ordinary for this place, at least. I let out a relieved sigh and then turned my attention back to Hugo. James was still holding him, his small hands around the alpha’s waist. James wasn’t tall enough to whisper to Hugo, but he had his head laid on Hugo’s shoulder. For a moment, they closed their eyes and took in a breath together, each of them feeding off the other’s energy.
Not for the first time, I was glad I had both of them. Trying to deal with this alone, or with just one of them, simply wouldn’t work.
“Are you sure you’re going to be okay?” I asked Hugo. He’d said he was fine, but I’d seen him lose control before. If there was any risk of that at all, we needed to get him out of here and someplace safe.
Hugo straightened and wiped a fine sheen of sweat off his forehead. James gingerly unlaced his arms and stood beside him. “I’ll be fine,” Hugo repeated, though this time he sounded a little more sure of himself. “Let’s just find out where this staging area is and get out of here. This whole place is putting me on edge.”
I could agree with that one, though for a totally different reason. Every step I took, every person that passed by, I found myself looking over my shoulder. Double checking. Tensing up and preparing for a fight.
There were thousands of gryphons on Ataraxis, and hundreds at the Gala alone, but I couldn’t keep the fear of running into my family from my mind.
If they were to find me here, even the most intricate disguise wouldn’t be enough.
I closed my eyes for only a second, cutting that fear off before I let it take hold of me. I had more important things to worry about right now. Like the Key. Like my mates.
“Come on,” James muttered, tugging at my sleeve. “They’re heading that way.”
I caught Myrella’s eye for just a moment, giving her a meaningful glare. I jerked a thumb toward the escaping couple and mouthed one word:
“Now.”
17
Tristan
We hit the ground running. Literally. Myrella caught the attention of the men standing next to the doorway while Hugo, James, and I slipped out into the hall.
Another pulse of energy flowed through me the moment we left the Gala. From the tightening of Hugo’s grip, he felt the same. “Come on,” I hissed. The only thing to do now was to follow the pulse. That was all I had to go on.
The long tails of the man’s coat vanished around a corner before we had a chance to catch up. My wings itched at my back, ready to spring free and fly toward the target. But no. Not here. Not now.
We ran together, our legs pumping in sync, our breaths rising and falling as one. We were so close now. So close to finally getting some answers.
I rounded the corner and was left with a dead end. We skittered to a stop, nearly piling on top of each other in the sudden stop. My heart pounded painfully in my chest as I looked around at the bare walls. No windows. No doors. No cracks in the floors.
And yet they were gone. Vanished, as if they’d never even been here at all.
“Did you see where they went?” I asked breathless
ly. Hugo stepped forward, examining the wall. James simply stood there, looking a bit thunderstruck.
“Can’t have gone far,” Hugo said. He ran his hands over the walls, looking for some kind of secret door or opening, but nothing came. It was pure, smooth metal without a scratch on it.
I whirled around to look for another way out. Perhaps we’d just missed them and taken the wrong turn.
That’s when I heard the footsteps.
Click, clack, click, clack.
The sound of expensive shoes on tile. No, not shoes.
Heels.
Click, clack, click, clack.
Where had I heard that before?
My heart flew up into my throat and I realized the answer the moment she turned the corner.
The world darkened around me. Narrowed to only this point in time. A woman stood in front of me, looking almost as shocked as I felt.
Lady Linetta Fen.
My mother.
We stared at one another for a few long moments, not daring to say a word. Memories and emotions flashed back into my mind like fireworks.
The smell of her perfume. The silky fabrics she loved to wear. The sound of her voice. The last time I saw her face. The pain. The fear. The suffering.
Here we were, face to face for the first time in nearly twenty years. There were so many things I wanted to say to her if I ever met her again. So much I’d bottled up for so long.
But now that I was here? It all flew out the window. In its place was nothing but cold, raw emotion.
Mother.
Family.
“Tristan,” Linetta whispered, taking a tentative step forward. “Is that you?”
Of course she’d notice her own son. Even with these ridiculous costumes.
I looked up, meeting her eyes for the first time. So many words and feelings bubbled up on my tongue, but only one came out. “Mom.”
I felt Hugo and James at my side, felt their shock and concern, but it didn’t reach any further into my consciousness. All I could think about, all I could see, was her.
