Spinning Tales

by Brey Willows

  “And that means we need to focus so we don’t get totally consumed by whatever this is between us.” Maggie saw the briefest flicker of emotion in Kody’s eyes, but it was gone in a flash. The four of them sat in the living room, and Kody pulled a piece of paper from her pocket.

  “I was having trouble sleeping last night, so I did some digging. I found where Nick is working, and I think we should go see him this morning.” Kody passed the paper to Shamus, who nodded.

  “I know where this is. Maggie, would you mind using your rucksack once again? It’s across town.” He scooped another glob of cream cheese from the container and onto his claw.

  “Of course.” She took the piece of paper with the address. “The Big Bad Wolf works in the Bronx?”

  Kody nodded and licked a bit of cream cheese from her fingertip, grinning when she saw Maggie staring. “Like Di said, he never really wanted his part in his story. He might have been crazy when he was younger, back when the tale came to be written, but he wanted more from life as the years passed. I’m not surprised he took the chance when he had it.”

  Maggie considered the issue and found a problem that went back to her disturbing thoughts the night before. “So, am I supposed to make him go back to a world he despises, to play a role he doesn’t want to play, just because of some old rules?”

  Kody sighed. “That’s about the size of it. He doesn’t belong here, Mags. He’s one of us, and his being here can mess things up. Without the wolf, Red roams the forest free. She talks to strangers and finds out there are far worse things in the woods than a wolf. She gets lax and doesn’t bother to take the food to Granny because that’s boring. Granny starves in a home because no one bothers to come see her. Little Red turns to drugs because she’s bored and has no moral compass—”

  Maggie held up the last of her bagel to stop her. “Okay. I get it. Balance. But it seems really unfair.”

  Kody crumpled up her napkin, the frown line between her eyes pronounced. “Yeah, it does. But that’s the way it’s always been.”

  The others also gathered their things, and Maggie grabbed her backpack for Blech, who climbed in and shifted around the way he had last time. This time, Maggie started with the backpack on her front, knowing it was better for him and easier for her that way. She locked up the cottage and together they headed to the subway and into the Bronx.

  * * *

  After the open spaces and dense nature she’d been surrounded by for the past several days, the noise and crowds ebbing and flowing around her made Maggie’s anxiety peak in a way it had never done in the crowded city before. Could so few days away have changed her so much? Her breathing was shallow and fast, and she had to close her eyes against the human masses around her on the subway. Smells assaulted her from every direction—body odor there, a perfume bath here. She felt the tears welling in her eyes and held on to the backpack tightly. She felt Blech’s paws against her chin and looked down into his deep yellow eyes. She kept her eyes on his as his paws gently padded against her chin, and then she felt Kody’s arm slip around her waist and pull her tightly against her. The rising panic slowed its ascent, and she took deep breaths through her mouth, trying hard not to take in any more scents. The jostling grew less the farther into the Bronx they went, and she was glad they were taking the trip when it wasn’t rush hour.

  Their stop came up, and Kody didn’t let go as they made their way back above ground. Maggie leaned against the building and lifted her face to the sun, but kept her eyes closed. She needed to shut out the chaos for just a minute longer. When she felt ready, she opened her eyes to find Brenda a few shops down looking in a window, and Blech was curled back up inside the backpack. She turned to Kody, who looked concerned.

  “You okay? That was a pretty bad one.”

  Maggie nodded, glad she didn’t have to try to explain what a panic attack felt like, since Kody could feel her emotions. “I can’t fathom, honestly, how you managed to live in this world when you came from ours. Your first few years here must have been atrocious.”

  “Nah. I mean, the first couple of months, yeah. The noise was something else, and I couldn’t get used to how fast everything moved. But once I did, I could see how great it was, too. The amount of choice, the way streams of people moving in every direction were getting on with their lives. It was pretty exciting when I’d come from a land of carts and gnomes.”

  “Ugh. Gnomes. They give us all a bad name with their horrible fashion sense and marketing themselves as garden accessories. No class at all.” Brenda huffed and swung her shopping bag.

  Like so many other things, Maggie would file that away to think about later. Now, she looked at the address and started walking. When they arrived at the Legal Aid Society, she glanced at Kody. “Does Nick have a last name? Or do we call him BBW and see who arrives?”

  Kody grinned and opened the door for them all. At the reception desk, she said, “Hi. We have a last-minute appointment with Nick Trajan. Could you tell him Kody Wilk is here to see him?”

  The receptionist barely nodded and motioned them to blue plastic chairs against a bland yellowed wall. Within minutes, a tall man with a bushy beard came out and looked around. When he spotted Kody he paled and his smile was forced. He opened his arms. “Kody Damn Wilk. It’s been centuries.”

  She walked over and hugged him, and with her arm still around him turned toward Maggie. “It has, old friend. Let me introduce Maggie McShay. We’re working together and had some questions we wanted to run by you, if you have a minute?”

  Maggie watched the emotions cross his face. Fear, worry, resentment, and resignation flashed past in quick succession. She thought of the feeling of people getting out of her way at the marketplace, and although she’d liked it then, she didn’t like it now. She didn’t want good creatures to be afraid of her. She stepped forward and held out her hand.

  “Hi, Nick. It’s really good to meet you. I’ve heard great things about you.”

  His eyes narrowed slightly as he clearly tried to parse what she’d meant. “Great. Come on back to my office.”

  They followed him down long beige corridors that weren’t made any better by the scuffed and worn black floor. He opened a door and they filed into his office. Instead of sitting behind his desk, he took a seat on the little couch against the wall. With his hands spread on his knees, he looked from Kody to Maggie.

  “So, is this it? Is my time up?” He swallowed audibly.

  Maggie sat down beside him on the sofa and took off the backpack. Blech crawled out and onto Nick’s lap. Nick looked down at him in surprise, and only then seemed to really register Brenda. “Hello, Shamus.” He gave Brenda a polite smile. “I’m sorry. We haven’t met.”

  She came forward with a definite sway to her hips and held out her hand. “Brenda. Lovely to meet you.” Her accent was as deep as it had been back in their world.

  Maggie scratched at Blech’s head, and the fact that he was comfortable in Nick’s lap told her she could relax. “Thank you for seeing us.”

  He looked at her incredulously. “You’re kidding, right? You don’t have reception call and tell you there’s a shepherd here asking to see you and refuse.”

  Maggie shrugged. “You could have run, if you really thought this was the end of your time here. Or you could have attacked us. Any number of things, really.”

  He shook his head and continued petting Blech, who was purring loudly. “I came here to get away from my story, and even though all the spinners were gone I had a feeling it wouldn’t be a forever thing. When I heard through the grapevine that a spinner had returned, I knew it had been too good to be true.” His shoulders slumped. “Will you take me back? Or will my story be cut?”

  Someone else had begged not to have their story cut, and suddenly Maggie really understood what that meant. He was asking if they were going to kill him. “Good God, no. We’re certainly not cutting your story just because you wanted to choose your own life. How barbaric.” She smiled at the stunned look o
n his face. “I’m new to the job, and I haven’t quite decided how I want to perform the role yet. All I can tell you is that I’m not taking you back, at least not yet. But we do want to know if you can give us a few answers to questions we’ve got.”

  His gaze searched her face, obviously looking for the catch. “Sure…okay. How can I help?”

  Kody leaned on his desk, her arms crossed and all the humor gone from her expression. “You pay dues to someone, and then those dues go to someone called the boss. Do you know who that is?”

  He flinched like she’d struck him and sat back against the couch. His eyes were wide. “No one knows who it is. And I pay my dues out of things I’ve been given over the years. I don’t take them or steal them, I swear.”

  Maggie put her hand on his arm, trying to soothe him. “We’re not accusing you of anything, Nick. We’re trying to get to the person who is at the head of this. I don’t know how long it’s been since you’ve been home, but things are bad. Good creatures everywhere are scared and living in fear, and not because of their stories. Because someone is creating a story that means only the bad guys are in charge, and you know what that can lead to.”

  He stared at the wall behind his desk, which was full of framed photos of him with all kinds of people. “I didn’t want to be a bad guy, and here I get to be a good guy. I don’t want to lose that.” He looked at Maggie. “If I tell you everything I know, which isn’t a lot, will you let me stay?”

  Her heart broke at the simple request. He wasn’t here making a ton of money or living off other people’s problems. He was doing good, and that shouldn’t be punished. “I’ll do everything I can to make that happen, but I can’t promise. Is that enough?”

  He looked at Kody, who nodded.

  “You should go see Red Beard. He’s running a club in Soho, one of those underground exclusive kind of things. I had a client not so long ago who was in debt to him and had been required to do some terrible things to pay that debt off. He overheard Red talking to someone he called the boss and how they were taking over just the way they’d wanted to.”

  They’d planned on talking to him anyway after choosing him at random from the book, but it was good to know they were on the right track. “Anything else?” Maggie asked.

  “Be careful. Red is a real bastard, and he plays dirty.” He stopped stroking Blech, who climbed back into the backpack.

  Brenda jumped down from where she’d been sitting at his desk and caressed his knee as she walked past. “My number is up there, canine. Give me a call if you want to grab a drink.” She blew him a kiss and walked into the hall.

  Maggie shook her head. “Thank you for your help.” She turned to go and then stopped. “Oh. Do you have any idea what the marble things are used for?”

  He shuddered and held up his hands defensively. “I’ve never used one, just for the record. They’re from the old magic. Evidently, the dream seller has a way of taking some of a creature’s special magic, whatever it is. Like mine would be shape-shifting—and he puts it into those little marbles. Then he sells the balls so people can use magic that isn’t their own. It’s dark stuff, because if you have to give up a piece of yourself, the price is too high. You never get it back, and you always know it’s missing.”

  Kody whistled. “And when you use someone else’s magic, you have no control over it.”

  He nodded. “True.” He held out his hand, and Kody shook it. “Thank you for trusting me, and thank you for giving me a chance.” He interrupted when Maggie was going to speak. “I know you said you can’t promise anything, but just the fact that you were willing to consider it makes you something special. Thank you, tale spinner. It’s been an honor to meet you.” He actually got down on one knee and bowed his head.

  Maggie thought she might dissolve into laughing hysterics if he didn’t get up. “Please, seriously, don’t ever do that again.” She tugged on his arm until he stood. “Just stay safe and get in touch with us if you can help us any further, all right?” On impulse she wrapped him in a tight hug. “Everything will be okay.”

  He hugged her back, and Maggie left his office feeling hopeful. They knew what the marbles were, they knew of someone who was at least speaking directly to the boss. And she felt like she’d made a kind of friend in Nick, and though she never in a million years would have thought she’d become friends with the Big Bad Wolf, it didn’t bother her in the least that she might.

  Back outside in the sunshine, Brenda was practically vibrating with excitement. “So? Are we going clubbing tonight?”

  * * *

  “I feel like a bad TV sitcom, where people who have no idea what they’re doing pretend to be cops.” Maggie tugged at the short black dress that hugged every inch of her. She’d bought it as a sexy Halloween costume years ago and had chickened out of wearing it even then. Now she was headed out in public in something she was sure was going to have a wardrobe malfunction any minute. But when she saw Kody’s expression in the mirror, she thought she might have to live in it for the rest of her life.

  Kody looked hungry, and if they weren’t leaving the house, Maggie wouldn’t have given the dress much hope of surviving. With a grin, Maggie turned. “I like that look. I hope you look at me like that a lot. It makes me feel sexy.”

  Kody raised her eyebrow. “It should make you feel like a succubus. Or a nymph. I don’t know which is more sexual. Maybe it should make you feel like a filthy combination of both. Because what I want to do to you right now is definitely dirty.”

  The words were like a sexual charge through her veins. “We’d better leave before we burn the cottage down without even doing anything.” She blatantly looked Kody up and down. “Because you’re bringing on plenty of dirty thoughts too.”

  Kody was wearing a black leather jacket, a black V-neck T-shirt, and black jeans. They’d split up after seeing Nick so Kody could get a haircut and some clothes, and Brenda had gone back to her place to change as well. Only Shamus went back to the cottage with Maggie, and he hadn’t been in a talkative mood, so she’d been able to think about how amazing it felt to be her right now.

  “I think you need to discuss what your plans are.” Shamus, who was far too conspicuous to go to the club with them, seemed put out at being left behind.

  Maggie smoothed her hands over her dress again. “You’re right.” She held up her clutch. “I’ve got the hag stone and the paintbrush.” The thought of using them on someone even the Big Bad Wolf considered dangerous made her nervous. “I just hope I’m ready. Maybe we should have started with someone a little less badass.”

  “You’ve already beheaded an assassin. I think you’ll be fine.” Brenda reached into her low cut top and adjusted her boobs, which were already quite prominent. “And we’ll be there with you.”

  Maggie nodded. “So, I use the hag stone and the paintbrush to capture him. Then what?”

  Kody reached into her back pocket and pulled out a pair of handcuffs. “Then we go old school, and we bring him back here. We ask him some questions and hopefully get some answers.” She frowned and tilted her head. “And then, Mags, you have to take him through into our world and decide what to do with him from there.”

  The plan was fairly straightforward, until that last bit. “Okay. Let’s do it. I’ll know what to do with him in our world once we’re at that point.”

  Kody stood and took Maggie in her arms. “I like that you keep calling it our world.”

  She hadn’t realized she was doing it, but that meant it was natural, and she wouldn’t question it. “Me too.” She ran her hand over the freshly shaved back of Kody’s neck and liked the way Kody shivered under her touch.

  Shamus opened the door for them. “I’ll keep watch, and if anything happens I’ll call you.”

  Kody scratched his head, and he hissed at her slightly. “No wild parties while we’re gone, and be in bed by ten.”

  The door slammed shut behind them, and they were still laughing about it as they headed into SoHo. It was a
quick taxi ride from the cottage, but Maggie wasn’t about to walk the mile and a half in the sleek black heels she’d chosen to go with the dress. Again, they were part of an outfit she’d never worn, but the way Kody’s eyes had lit up when she’d seen them made them worth every penny Maggie had paid.

  The building itself was nothing interesting. Basic brick with matte silver shutters over the windows and peeling paint along the columns didn’t exactly scream excitement. But the crowd lined up to get in were dressed in clothes that probably cost more than Maggie’s whole wardrobe combined. The practiced looks of boredom and disinterest were at odds with the fact that they were waiting in a line.

  Maggie really hated waiting in lines. It was one of the few pet peeves she had, and she sighed. “That will take forever.”

  Brenda giggled. “You know, you’ve never asked how it is that Shamus and I can help you.” She walked right up to the guard at the door, who leaned down to listen to her, and when he stood he lifted the red rope with a smile. Brenda winked at him, and Maggie and Kody followed her down the short flight of steps leading into the club.

  Maggie looked at Kody. “Her superpower is flirting?”

  Brenda looked back over her shoulder. “We’re magic creatures, Maggie. Don’t you forget it.”

  That didn’t answer the question, but Maggie would have to take it up with her later. It was true, she’d never asked if they could do anything. It had seemed like it was enough they were watching out for her. But now that she thought about it, it would make sense they’d have some way to protect her or help her, too. It simply hadn’t occurred to her.

  Kody ordered the drinks, and once Brenda had hers, she shouted over the music, “I’m going to see what I can see. I’ll meet you back here in fifteen minutes!”

  Maggie nodded, not bothering to try to respond over the thumping bass. The crush of bodies was intense. Gay clubs never felt this claustrophobic, but it wasn’t like she’d gone to many, either. Kody took her free hand and pulled her onto the dance floor. They started moving together, and it would have been so easy to forget all about what they were there to do as their bodies moved together in time to the music. Kody had perfect rhythm, and her body pressed against Maggie’s was the most erotic thing she’d ever felt. Briefly, she wondered if the sparks they created would be noticed by anyone else in the club if she and Kody devoured each other right there on the dance floor. If the dark desire in Kody’s eyes was any indication, she was right there with Maggie’s thinking.