So, first things first, talk to Lily.
Second, talk to Jack.
Third, have a good, stiff drink at a bar where nobody knows me and pretend like none of this ever happened.
Tomorrow, I’d deal with the bigger fish—like Xavier and Gabriel and the end of the world scenario people kept hinting at every five minutes like it was an upcoming sporting match.
Two tubes full of commuters and a short walk later and I was heading up the short set of steps into the University College Hospital. The glass building still looked brand new, and I was happy to say it was one of London’s many hospitals that I hadn’t had the joy of visiting, so far at least.
I didn’t bother with reception, following the standard directions for Lily’s ward and catching the lift with ease. It was bustling with staff, most bleary eyed from the early morning or a long night at work. Part of me envied them. Their jobs, although challenging, were normal. They had colleagues, friends. Of course, the hours were excruciating, the education was never ending and there was no way in hell I was even half as smart as any of the doctors or nurses in this place. Still, at least they had colleagues, friends. All I had was Thatcher and a growing collection of weirdo not-so-humans.
The lift opened, and I headed out into yet another long hallway towards the ward where Lily was staying. A clatter of trays and a food trolley told me the patients had just finished breakfast, so hopefully, the nurses on duty wouldn’t have an issue letting me in for visiting hours—even if I was a touch too early.
“I’m here to see Lily,” I said as I approached the nurse’s station. A round faced matron with red cheeks and blood-shot eyes looked up from the computer. Despite my initial reaction to her age toughened exterior, she smiled lightly.
“Oh lovely,” she replied. “She hasn’t had a visitor yet.”
My heart ached. The poor old nurse with the flushed face had no idea why Lily had had no visitors. Had no clue that her sister was missing, or that her parents were no more. She didn’t know Lily was all alone, that she had no one. I wasn’t even a friend—I was just… hired.
And I didn’t even come with anything good to tell her.
It crushed me when the nurse took me through to Lily’s room and her face lit up for a split second, hoping I had something to tell her about Jocelyn. As if all of this would’ve been worth it if I had any information to give her.
“How are you feeling?” I asked, trying not to focus on the parade of bruises pattering Lily’s face. Her expression dropped, her eyes leaving my face and moving to examine her hands where they sat twisting in her blanket covered lap.
She shrugged, “better. I just wish they’d let me go home. Hopefully tomorrow.”
“What was the damage?”
“A few broken ribs, a concussion. Ankle is broken too. They had to put some pins in. It’s the only reason I’m still here,” she replied with a sigh. “I guess I don’t even have to ask?”
I winced, smiling sympathetically. “I’m sorry, Lily. We’re getting closer but there's nothing to report yet.”
“Thanks, for… keeping me in the loop, I guess.”
We remained seated in silence for a few moments, both uncomfortable but unsure of what we could say in a situation like this one. What was there to say?
“Have you had any more visits from Detective Amanya?” I tried to sound subtle. It clearly didn’t work because Lily looked suspicious almost instantly.
“Yes, why?”
I drew in a deep breath as I tried to come up with an easy way to tell her to keep her mouth shut. She was a victim too, after all, and he was the good guy—the police, he was supposed to help. “I just think that with your sister’s case, the fewer police involvement, the better.”
The knot in my stomach was telling me that was just not going to cover it. That plus the eyebrow Lily was raising in my general direction.
“What’s that supposed to mean? What have you found out that you’re not telling me?” She shifted in her seat, wincing when her IV caught on the sheet. I waited for her to adjust herself before I spoke again, curling a strand of loose hair behind my ear nervously.
“I need you to trust me, Lily,” I began. “The man that broke into your flat, there are more like him. Worse than him. They are the kind of people that have your sister and the police know nothing about them. There’s a good chance she’s still alive, but if I’m going to find her, I need them to stay out of it.”
Lily frowned, her thin eyebrows drawing in above her nose to create a perfect crease. “What do you want me to tell them?”
I shook my head slowly, “as little as possible.”
“If Jocelyn is with people like that man, like the one that attacked me,” Lily began, her voice cracking beneath the weight of impending tears. “Is there even any point in looking for her? Surely there’s no way she’s still alive?”
My throat tightened, and I forced a deep breath into my aching lungs. I wanted to lean forward and wrap my arms around Lily, this woman I hardly even knew. We had so much in common. Shared so much pain and loss and in this moment, just looking at her was breaking my heart into a thousand pieces.
“I still have hope, and so should you.” I set my hand on Lily’s shoulder gently, squeezing it to reassure her as best I could. There were no goodbyes or well wishes. I just turned and left, leaving Lily to cry in peace on her own. There was no strength left in me to watch her break down, not when I still had a job to do.
The old bookshop didn’t look any different from the last time I had visited with Xavier. Once again, the smell of dust and stale coffee hit me square in the face when I entered through the front door and walked past the ceiling height bookshelves.
Seamus was perched on the edge of the counter with a small notebook in his hands. The corners were dogeared, and he was tapping rhythmically on the corner as he wrote. He didn’t even look up when I stopped in front of him.
“You’re late,” he grunted.
My brow furrowed. “You didn’t even know I was coming.”
“I had a feeling. Just thought it would be earlier. I’d made a bet it would be yesterday,” Seamus replied quietly, biting down on his chapped bottom lip, his thinly framed glasses slipping a little further down his crooked nose.
I laughed unintentionally, looking around the store. “Made a bet with whom?”
For the first time since I’d arrived, he met my gaze. “The wife and kids up the stairs. Who do you think?”
There was too long a pause before he rolled his eyes and jumped down from the counter, his short stature matching mine and his olive-green dressing gown swallowing up his petite frame.
“I made a bet with the books. There’s a few in the back that are terribly fond of you. Would you like to see them?” He leaned closer. The smell of cigarettes and rosemary slipped up my nostrils and had me both edging closer out of curiosity and wincing in disgust.
“Maybe next time,” I replied as casually as possible, not wanting to offend the crazy man. “I need to know why Lilith is here and what she’s doing with the Silver’s.”
Seamus stilled, his shoulders hunched forward. “What would I know about that?”
My hands lifted, and I signalled to the hundreds, possibly thousands, of books that lined the walls. “Man with this many books has to know something, right?”
For the first time, he smiled, flashing a set of squint and greying teeth. He reminded me of a rodent—at first glance he was a little disgusting and yes, he smelled bad. But actually, Seamus had some endearing qualities on further inspection. I wasn’t frightened of him, for one. Cautious of him, yes, but frightened, not at all. It was as though he’d been working a solitary job too long and just forgotten that there was a world outside and people that he could talk to. Maybe he had no interest in remembering. It wasn’t my place to judge him. In reality, I was just as antisocial.
“Lilith was never evil, did you know that?” Seamus began, his form hunched over as he marched through to the back room
and sat down at the kitchen table covered in open books and empty cups. A few dirtied plates were scattered around for good measure. I joined him out of politeness, not put off by the mess and too curious to decline the invitation.
“I don’t know anything about her,” I stated. “So far all I’ve found out is that everyone is very good at keeping secrets.”
Seamus nodded excitedly. “Yes, yes they are. Very good.”
It went quiet again, like he’d lost his train of thought.
I urged him on, “You were saying about Lilith?”
“Oh, of course! Lilith wasn’t evil, not really. Everyone talks about good and evil and balance and blah, blah, blah. It’s all nonsense. There’s no such thing. Lilith has spent her entire existence being told she wants too much. Too much sex, too much power, too much this, too much that.” Seamus’ hands were swinging from side to side as he tried to make his point while I leaned forward, listening intently like a child would at story time.
“In my opinion, she’s tired of being told she can’t have everything she wants.”
“What does that have to do with the Silver’s?” I asked.
Seamus frowned, chewing the inside of his cheek. “I do have a theory.”
Patience was a virtue I didn’t have. “Which is?”
“Those from Gehann must return to Gehann. At least at some point. So far, all I have is evidence that she came through the gate but didn’t leave. If she has been in the Terra realm for as long as we suspect, then her powers are practically nonexistent. She’s weak, vulnerable. Whatever plan she’s brewing, she’ll need help.”
“I’m sorry, you’re going to have to explain the Gingham thing,” I winced.
“Gehann?” Seamus questioned. “Has Xavier told you nothing?”
“Nope, I’m pretty sure he’s just keeping me around as his plaything.”
“Didn’t I hear something about dead girls and what not? Aren’t you supposed to be finding them?” Seamus asked, and I found myself taken aback with surprise. I had thought Seamus was entirely insane. Perhaps I was mistaken. Maybe he was just an avid eccentric.
“That was the plan. I’m feeling like I’m in so deep I’ll never get myself out, never mind anyone else.”
Seamus sighed. “Well, Gehann is what you would consider Hell. Terra is earth and Caelum is Heaven. The three levels. In between you have many realms which we don’t talk about but the gates can, of course, deliver you there if you ask them to. I have visited them in my youth but don’t plan on going back. If you’re looking for a party, though, head to Inanis for the Wild Hunt. I lost a good few marbles but my goodness do they know how to throw a good one.”
My mouth was open, jaw slack. “I do not know what to do with that information, but sure.”
“I don’t have a lot of information on the Silver’s, but if Lilith is using them because she’s losing her powers… I don't think she’ll keep them around for long. She tires easily. The missing girls are a curious one. Let me look into it further and I’ll get back to you.”
“Thank you,” I replied. “I’d be grateful for that.”
“Can I ask,” Seamus added quickly as I stood up.
“What?” I urged.
“Quintessa is an unusual name,” he began. “Where did it come from?”
“Your guess is as good as mine.”
“I want to give you something,” Seamus said, moving towards a cupboard in the back of the room and rummaging through the clutter inside. Within a few moments, he pulled out what looked to be a leather bag of some kind. With a tremble in his hand, he passed it over to me. “Don’t completely give up public transport, but use it when you must.”
I reached out to grab it, but he yanked it back, lifting his finger to stop me.
“This is ancient and you must be very careful. It will not kill a vampire, a demon, or an angel, but it will hurt like a bitch. It will kill a human with ease. You won’t get it close to a fae or an elf, but it will do grand with a goblin or a half-breed.”
“I don’t have the strength to even begin to understand half of what you just said right now,” I stated, wide eyed.
“When you want to open a gate, picture where you’re going, prick your finger and touch the ground beneath you. It will open and close behind you. Use it sparingly and protect the balance,” Seamus clarified. “Do not rely on Xavier to cart you around like his pet. You are stronger than you think.” He winked so briefly that I almost didn’t notice it.
“Before I go, do you know anyone that goes by the name of Meri?” I asked.
Seamus looked up, racking his brain before shaking his head. “Doesn’t ring a bell, I’m afraid.”
Chapter Twenty Two
The dial tone came to pause as the automated voicemail began, and I cleared my throat to prepare whatever I was about to say. Thatcher was probably still fast asleep, either that or he’d got himself down to the Friar’s for a pint. Although given he’d been stuck inside with Barbara for a few days already, maybe that would be his first port of call.
“Hey, Thatch. Sorry I took off this morning. Just thought I’d get a head start on the case and visit Lily. She’s getting out of the hospital tomorrow hopefully. I was thinking about what you said about my parents and everything and I know I’m going to have more questions. I just…” I paused as the lights turned to green, signalling it was safe for me to cross the street.
“I don’t think I’m ready to ask them yet. I’m not mad at you for keeping things from me. At least not right now. I’m sure I’ll keep my emotions nicely bottled up for a few months and explode later when I’ve got more time, but, hey, at least it’s something to look forward to. See you later, stay out of trouble.”
I hung up and slipped the phone back into my pocket, narrowly avoiding a puddle just before a dark car came speeding up beside me, splattering me with filthy water.
“Fucking asshole!” I yelled, the vehicle coming to an abrupt stop. The door opened just as I was doing my best to wipe dirty street water from my jeans, I looked up to find Xavier storming over to me in his finest black suit, like he’d just stepped out the pages of GQ.
“I’ve been looking for you everywhere,” he snapped, the muscles in his jaw pulsing with tension as the rain started to soak through his hair and drip down the lapels of his jacket.
“Was that really necessary?” I asked, indicating the puddle and my now entirely soaked form. “You could have just called me.”
“Would you have answered?” He raised a dark eyebrow in question, peeling his jacket off and setting it around my shoulders to protect me from the rain. Reluctantly, I accepted it. More because I wanted to see that white shirt of his get soaked, bond or no bond. He was a sight for sore eyes at the best of times, but in a wet shirt—perfection.
“Probably not, but it would’ve been better than soaking me,” I quipped. “Listen, I’ve had a wild twenty-four hours and I just want to sleep in an actual bed. If I don’t go now, I’ll miss my bus and I’ll probably die of hypothermia, so…” I shivered, stomping my feet against the ground.
“I’ll take you,” Xavier said, already turning and walking towards his car.
“If you hadn’t noticed, I’m fucking angry at you,” I yelled back, glancing towards the bus stop and trying to ignore the freezing rain as it soaked through my clothes.
He held the back door open and waited. “I’m fucking aware,” he mocked.
With a groan, I walked over to the car and climbed inside.
The warm leather felt like heaven against my skin and I all but melted against the seats. Xavier followed, closing the door behind him and motioning to the driver. Seconds later, the screen between the front and back seats was rolled up and Xavier was above me. The jacket that had been covering my shoulders was discarded as his form swallowed mine and his mouth met my own.
Xavier’s large hands, cold and domineering, ripped at my top as I fought to catch my breath.
“What are you doing?” I gasped when his lips shif
ted their attack to my throat, working south until his tongue was spinning circles against my collarbone and his hand was palming my breast.
“Punishing you,” he growled, and although it shouldn’t have turned me on, my god it did. My stomach clenched as Xavier nudged between my thighs, his sizable body struggling in the enclosed space of the car.
“Is this what your blood bond does? Turns you into an asshole?” I asked while he hoisted me up onto his lap and discarded my bra so my breasts were bared to him. He took the first nipple into his mouth, suckling, pulling and biting so hard that I had to grit my own teeth to stop myself from screaming. The fact that the driver was right there, a few feet away in the front seat, didn’t matter at this point. All that mattered was that I could feel Xavier’s cock pressing against me through the confines of both our trousers and I wanted it inside me—now. Bond or no bond, I needed this, whether I hated him or not.
Xavier’s focus turned to my jeans. His large hands gripped my thighs as he lifted me up just enough to pull the material down. I shimmied out of them enough so that I was exposed to him, hot and wet—ready to take all of him. In a rush of movement, I reached for his buckle. Expensive leather—of course. He spotted me staring at it and pulled it from the loops. In a split second, he had it wrapped around my wrists, tying it off on the handle above the car door to keep me in place.
“Good girl,” he purred in my ear while he removed his own suit trousers. His voice was hoarse and laced with desire. It made my eyes flutter closed. He held me above him, hovering my entrance above him torturously, so close that I was entirely under his control. Between the belt around the wrists and the grip of his hands on my ass, I couldn’t move.
Xavier’s hand ran down between the valley of my breasts slowly, leaving me breathless and itching to get closer to him.
“Hush, now,” he purred, his movements continuing south until his fingers reached my swollen clit and gently circled the sensitive bundle of nerves. I whimpered, the immediate relief almost too much to bear.
Silver Vein: Beneath the City Sleeps Book 1 Page 18
