by LeAnn Mason
“Exactly. I wouldn’t go around accusing anyone of misdeeds toward others without proof. You never did say. How is that young Shifter? Any sickness on his behalf?”
Holy crap. It had been her. She’d done something to… something and caused Nick to go all crazy. Why hadn’t I seen it before?
“Why would you ask that?” Allya had caught on too, her ire rising noticeably as her eyes began to glow with the light of Ebony’s will. With the Scarlet Huntress on my side, I thought we could take her. I mean, what would she do?
The answer came with a distant rumbling, the ground vibrating beneath my feet. A crack splintered the cement between my feet, the split moving beneath the booth where Elsie and Allya gaped.
“You will not! As an Elder for the Mage community of Andersenville, I should think that you would have better control!” Ringing like a slap, Elsie’s verbal smackdown echoed through the diner, making sure all eyes drew our way. The earthquake had caused plenty of patron-related noise, but in the wake of Elsie’s admonishment and the ceasing of ground movement, all eyes watched us. I’d have sworn the entirety of the crowd was holding their breath. There wasn’t one person not riveted to our little standoff now.
“You would admonish me in front of lessers?” Circe ground out between clenched teeth, changing her ire to focus on Elsie.
“I would when you are acting like a child still learning to control emotions and their effects on magic. I will not allow you to destroy one of our beloved establishments because you took offense to something that was said. Now, fix it.”
“Isn’t it my right as an Elder to dole punishments to those who offend?”
“Not in this manner, and not when you are a guest in another territory. If you have a grievance, you can lodge it with the Grimm Hollow Elders, and we can investigate and decide what action is to be taken if any. Now, again, please fix it.”
“But–”
“But nothing. You certainly have a lot to learn about the position. You are powerful, obviously, or you would not have risen to your position, but that does not mean you have autonomy to do as you wish with impunity.”
“Dude, Elsie, you are my hero right about now.” Pride radiated from Allya where she sat across from the Elder duo, though a healthy dose of amusement was also present, pulling both her cheeks and eyebrows toward her forehead.
With obvious reluctance, Circe flipped a hand about, and the ground mended, shifting with much more stealth than it rent.
“I think it’s about time you left.” Emest placed a small foam to-go container on the table and a matching coffee. Honestly, I was surprised he was doing it. He was pissed, hated the woman before him, but still managed to remain civil, making Circe and her tantrum seem lesser. I should take a lesson from him. If he could do it, saving face and making Circe seem to be in the wrong, I could too.
“It was great seeing you again, Circe. I look forward to your next Elder-inspired visit. Take care, now.” Cue plastic smile.
If it had been in her power to kill with a single look, I would have perished on the spot. I’d almost have sworn that she was the fire Mage as flames seemed to dance in her narrowed teal eyes. And then, as if a switch had been flipped, all malice left her features. Skin once again smooth and unlined, she resettled her attention back on Allya at her side.
“Oh, I almost forgot. I made this for you. I think it would be a fabulous shade on you and add a little something to go with the cloak. Maybe extra emphasis on the name Scarlet Huntress,” Circe cooed, outwardly impressed with herself for her foresight. Rummaging around in her large leather purse, she missed how Allya’s brows pinched, and she tugged an edge of the bright fabric, rubbing the material through her fingers in an unconscious manner.
Circe finally found whatever it was she’d been looking for. With an “ah-ha!” and exaggerated flourish, the visiting Elder pulled out a small silver rectangular tube that I instantly knew to be lipstick. What was she playing at? Allya was totally not the make-up kind of girl, and she looked like the contents would jump up and bite her as Circe straightened her arm, pushing the item toward where my friend leaned further away.
It would have been comical in another situation. As it was now, it was just… weird.
“I think you’ll like it. Like I said, I think it’d look lovely on you.” Added lash batting and a bright smile made Circe seem almost genuine. I didn’t trust it. When she pulled the lid from the top of the enclosed cylinder, exposing a bright, blood-red stick of perfectly tempting creamy color, I understood.
She held the offering out for Allya, but her eyes held mine, a small malevolent smile curling the corner of her lips. It was another dig at me. The color was gorgeous. A rich, full and bright pigment that I would love to have in my armory.
But she wasn’t offering it to me. She’d slighted me again –subtly– by offering the gorgeousness to Allya. Not only would the Scarlet Huntress not appreciate the item, but it was something she’d never in a million years choose to wear for herself. That was the thing about the cape; it was her armor. Her calling card. The thing that helped her pick up the pieces of her life and become the woman she wanted to be.
No, that lipstick was just another dig at me.
Bitch.
“Here, take it.”
“Uh, thanks,” Allya murmured halfheartedly, eying the lipstick as if it would bite her as she pinched it gingerly between two fingers. “But I’m not much of a lipstick kinda gal. My girl B, on the other hand,” Allya said brightly, swiveling along the vinyl seat so that she faced me, her back to Circe whose eyes again sparked with anger.
“This is the perfect shade for her ivory complexion, dark locks, and gorgeous baby blues. Have I ever told you how much I love your eyes? I mean seriously, my friend.” And with a flourish of her own, Allya pressed the glinting, gilded tube of lipstick into my palm.
Closing my fingers tightly around the tube, I truly lit with excitement. This whole exchange had just been too perfect for me not to bask just a little. “Thank you so much; it’s beautiful!” I exclaimed, curling my arm so that my hand rested against my heart. “Such a thoughtful gift. You know me so well, friend.”
Seething good and proper now, Circe decided she’d had enough. Slapping her hands to the tabletop made the silverware and glasses jump, clattering with the force. “Well then, I guess I best take my leave. I’ll go gather my belongings from the Coven House and make sure that Gloria is aware of my extreme appreciation for the hospitality.”
Like that wasn’t a pointed barb toward the present company, but I didn’t think anyone present even cared. As long as she left, I’d call it all a successful venture.
“We’ve really enjoyed having you visit our home, Circe. Please feel free to call should you need something.” Translation of Elsie’s words: Don’t come back.
Man, did I love my people.
I gave a two-finger salute to the stepmother I couldn’t wait to watch drive away from this town and a wink to my new best friend. Tucking the silver tube into my pocket, I turned away from the table. Today would be a good day after all.
CHAPTER 19
T he lip color the Evil One created was spectacular, I had to admit. It was very similar in shade to my go-to armor, but the texture was even creamier, drying down to a kind of dewy matte, and it smelled divine. I was a sucker for that sweet almond scent. My only complaint was that, like many lipsticks, it needed to be reapplied often to maintain that full, smooth pop of red across both lips.
Seeing as just the act of reapplying the wash of color was almost a calming ritual for me, I didn’t mind. It also helped me mentally get through the next day, one of my full days of working at the diner.
Circe never made an appearance, thank the gods.
At the end of Tuesday night, I trudged back to the cottage with the dwarfs, my feet heavy and dragging, sleep tugging at my lids. Rune’s worried call roused me from a sort of spaced-out lethargy my evening shower’s warm spray seemed to have induced. I hardly remembered g
etting home, let alone making it into the path of the hot water.
Had the days taken that much of a toll? Was it a by-product of dying and having my body rebuilt from ashes? It seemed to be getting worse as time went on, truly puzzling me. I had no idea and doubted anyone else would either. I mean, where were the facts when you dealt in myth? The thought hit me again, redoubling my resolve that I, maybe with Mae’s research-oriented mind to assist, should write a journal or textbook for any clueless phoenixes the future produces. That I produced.
I shuddered at the thought.
Digging into my vanity once back in my room, I pulled out an old, forgotten journal. In my comfy cotton pajamas, adorned with every manner of orange fox, I perched cross-legged on top of the bed’s covers. Journal in hand, I bent over and tried to just purge my mind. There was a lot, and I was sure I’d miss some tonight with my mind muddled as it was.
The first inked page were addled ramblings about Nick and my thoughts on him and our new… problem. But that wasn’t the point of this purge tonight, or this morning, as it had passed midnight, and I made sure to stick to topic with the rest of the entry.
“Wake up.” A little shake accompanied the mildly delivered order. Groaning, I attempted to peel open my heavy lids. With tremendous effort and a whole lot of fluttering and widening, I worked to keep my eyes open. Stein’s toothy grin and kind, cocoa eyes loomed a little too near.
“I’m up. I’m up. What’s going on? Why are you in here?” I unfurled my cramped limbs, attempting to orient myself, the tingling burn a pleasant effect of the body-wide stretch. Confused by the wake-up call, I turned to locate the small alarm clock nestled atop the nightstand to the left of my bed.
8:15 AM.
The neon blinked accusingly at me while my sleep-addled mind attempted to make sense of the numbers. A ripple of shock flared across my nerves as I realized just what the little apparatus was telling me. “I overslept! Crap. Crap, crap, crap,” I muttered. Throwing off the heavy, warm blankets, I went about getting myself ready for the day in a flurry. I had a small fraction of the time I normally allotted to ready myself for the ordeal that was work. Pausing in my rush, I turned to where Stein now stood, watching in amusement from the open doorway.
“Can I just skip it today? I’ll come to the diner and work all day…” I cajoled, hoping the most pliable of the dwarfs may simply be taken in by my batting eyelashes and smile, even if my lips were unusually bereft of their bright color.
“No.”
It was Emest’s gruff voice that answered, completely negating whatever Stein’s open mouth would have said. As usual. Emest had the unofficial title of “Head Honcho” within the hierarchy of the brethren. Why, I wasn’t sure exactly, especially because he was by far the grumpiest of them. Maybe it was the mantle of leader that made him that way.
“Huh,” I surmised out loud, the epiphany of the thought ringing with an air of truth I’d never realized before.
“What’s that, Firebird?” Isaac asked, stopping his trek past my room. A huge yawn erupted from his mouth, basically swallowing the question as he rubbed at eyes even more bleary than my own.
“Come now, Isaac,” Selik chirped, leading his sleepy brother down the hall. I could always count on Selik to be wearing a smile and attempting to keep the peace. His smiles were always genuine even if directed toward Emest.
Funnily enough, those small interactions seemed to help soften Emest’s rough edges if only for a few moments. “You’re going to be late, B. I’d get a move on!” He called back toward me as he coaxed his sleepy brother down the stairs toward the kitchen and what I was sure would be a breakfast fit for kings. It always was.
I mean, there were a lot of them, so making an abundance was prudent. After all, they needed fuel to provide fuel to the inhabitants of Grimm Hollow in a manner that kept them coming back for more. And when they weren’t doing that, they were scouring the depths of the earth for materials fit for their weapons. There was a small, cavernous mine-slash-forge mere yards from our home that catered to just this.
After throwing together an acceptable outfit and completing the morning’s ablutions, I swiped on the minimal amount of face paint that I felt I needed to get through a school day: mascara, winged black eyeliner, highlighter, lipstick. With my hair cut in a short bob, it was easy to just brush and go as long as I hadn’t gone to sleep with it wet. Luckily, my late-night journaling ensured that was not the case last night.
Running out the front door, I snagged a bagel that had already been helpfully slathered with cream cheese, along with my weighed-down backpack, and sent a wave over my head as a goodbye to the guys. The school was on the other side of town, so I’d need to fly to make it on time. Too bad it looked like phoenixes weren’t literal birds. That would have been super helpful.
Being that my body and mind were still moving too slowly, I did not make the first bell and apologized heartily when I stumbled, late, into class. The entire day, I couldn’t seem to reload. My energy was sapped, mind muddled. Every time a teacher called on me, the answer –and often the question– eluded me. Mel had a ball, pointing various educators in my direction. She and her cronies used me as the day’s entertainment whenever possible. Normally that would get me fired up, but I just couldn’t summon the energy.
I couldn’t even muster my fire, a first that I could remember.
“Miss Katsumoto, did you have a question?” Mr. Magee, my Supernatural Abilities instructor called. It was only then that I realized that I’d raised my hand.
“Um, yeah. Can I go see Missus Castor?”
“Missus Castor? Are you unwell?”
“I, I’m not sure…” And I wasn’t, but something was wrong. Mr. Magee had witnessed my feeble attempts with my fire thus far, even chastising me for the lack of effect, so after a moment, he waved me away. His equivalent of permission granted, I took no time in fleeing the training yard, but I didn’t go to our nurse’s office. Instead, my feet led me along the woods’ edge until I came across the little path Nick and I had traversed on our first, well, only, date.
Legs again heavy as if weighted with lead, I trudged through the leaf litter toward the little gap in the trees where, only days before, we’d shared a pumpkin pie…
Right about here, I think…
When had I gone to the ground? I was so tired. Why? But this was a bad place to fall asleep. Alone, in the woods, in brisk, at best, weather. “Gotta get up,” I slurred. Pushing against the ground with less than needed strength. “Move, B.” This was ridiculous and couldn’t be natural. Had one of the coven bitches decided to get back at me for the grimoire thing? That made much more sense than me being… sick.
Again, I was reminded of just where I was; alone in the woods. Breathing seemed to be getting harder. The effort and thought required to pull air forcefully into my lungs wasn’t right. Too noisy. Too painful. My vision blurred in and out of focus as I scrabbled for purchase, trying to pull myself to safety. To someone, anyone.
This might be the only time I’d wish to have the dwarfs hovering and worrying over me. That would mean I wouldn’t be alone.
I wouldn’t die alone.
Because I was almost positive that’s where this whole ordeal led, back into death. Knowing it was coming was horrifying. My breath sawed even heavier, but less air made it to my lungs, to my heart. At least, that’s how it felt. I could now imagine what it felt like to have a heart attack…
Sentinels patrolled the area frequently enough so I shouldn’t go unnoticed for too long. At least, in theory. But it would be too late. And if one stumbled upon me mid-phoenix-transformation…
“Oh goodie, I didn’t miss the best part.”
It was a cruel joke that my ears seemed to hear the sultry tone I’d hoped to never hear again.
How? Why?
Camel-colored, fashionable, tall boots crunched their way slowly, with a mocking swagger, toward where I laid huffing for air in the dirt. At the site of one of my favorite Grimm Hollow memo
ries.
Fitting she would take even that from me.
Circe didn’t kneel to my level, didn’t deign to get her pristine outfit sullied by doing so. She merely put a boot on my bicep and pushed. The force rolled me onto my back. I was too weak to resist. Gasping like a fish out of water, I felt my limbs begin to seize as what little oxygen I’d managed to take into my body was devoured by my greedy cells.
Black impinged on my vision, my hearing with it, and whatever taunt I vaguely realized Circe delivered in some kind of supervillain way was blessedly lost to my failing senses. Small mercies, and all that. If only I could be free of her…
“No, no, no, child. Open those too-pretty, blue eyes. Now.” Her words which had begun sweet as honey turned to a growled demand delivered with a swift kick to my ribs, expelling what precious little air I had left. “That’s better.” But it opened my eyes, which was what she cared about. “How is it that anyone could think you to be the most powerful Mage? I mean, look at you,” she paused, looming over me to wave a measuring hand, indicating my length.
My hearing dimmed again, making her sound like that bird from those comics with the little Beagle dog. Wah wah wah. Sight followed as my eyes fluttered closed again, my body still screaming for air it would not receive. My sense of smell had left me long ago, and I couldn’t smell the decaying forest litter I lay amidst, let alone anything about Circe.
“Taken out with vanity. All it took was a pretty, red lipstick, and you were mine. Hook, line, and sinker, as they say.”
Lipstick?
“I decided I didn’t want to leave town without knowing that I’d done the job this time. Apparently, the salvia mint didn’t do its job when it had the chance. If you had been the one to eat the mint, which I’d hoped, we wouldn’t be here now. Who knew the big guy would be able to resist its rather… hallucinogenic effects. But the lipstick? I knew the lipstick would make its way to you.” She must have seen how my mind worked to connect the dots. Finally peeling my eyelids apart, I hated that I witnessed her teal eyes sparking so brightly they nearly glowed as she sneered down at me once again. Forehead pinched, I tried to work my mouth, ineffectually, to accuse her.
