Relics and Runes Anthology

by Heather Marie Adkins

  The men approached us from all sides, wearing dark clothing and hoods over their heads. I pushed Grace back inside the trailer, but she refused to go. Stubborn woman.

  “Who are you?” I asked the men. I had called Niles and canceled the wild goose chase, but these men looked like his types.

  “Just want to have a few words with you Mr. Blake,” one of the men said.

  “You need to move along. I called Babineau and canceled my order,” I protested as they inched closer to us.

  “We don’t work for Mr. Babineau,” he said.

  “Who is Babineau?” Grace asked.

  “A business partner,” I muttered. “Then what do you want?”

  “We represent an interested party. You need to come with us,” he said.

  “I’m not going anywhere with you,” I protested.

  He snapped his finger, and I felt Grace lean into me. I turned just in time to keep her from hitting the deck of the trailer.

  “Grace!”

  “She’s just sleeping. I’ll wake her once we arrive at our destination,” he said.

  “Leave her here and take me,” I begged.

  “Nope. She’s coming too,” he insisted as a giant, black SUV pulled up at the end of the drive. “Let’s go. Do we need to carry her?”

  “Don’t you touch her!” I growled.

  “Have it your way, lawyer boy,” he taunted.

  I lifted Grace’s limp body. What kind of power did this guy have to put her to sleep? I’d never seen anything like it. I didn’t have the same kind of magic sight that she did. I only felt a wide-field of disturbance around him indicating that he could do more than he appeared.

  Awkwardly placing her into the vehicle, I climbed in behind her. The men got in on the other side of the backseat with us, then another got in the front. I didn’t see where the other men went before the SUV took off into the darkness.

  It wasn’t long before I realized we were going to my house. I held Grace close to me. I felt her heart beating and the faint breaths from her nose.

  “I’m sorry, Gracie,” I muttered.

  The spokesman sitting in front of me snickered. “She won’t forgive you after this,” he said.

  “She’s there?” I asked.

  “Yes,” he replied.

  “I beg you to leave Grace out of this,” I pleaded.

  “You had your chance to leave her out of it,” he said.

  We pulled into the drive of my home. My wife stood on the front steps waiting for us.

  “Don’t do this, Phoebe,” I begged my wife.

  “Drop the wards,” she demanded.

  “Let her go!” I screamed back.

  She laughed as she lowered the red hood from her cloak. “Now, Remington Blake, my loving husband, why would I let you get out of this? I warned you. I warned her. Now I do as I wish with both of you,” she snarled.

  I turned around to get Grace, but the man already had her limp body in his arms. He walked toward the house. Phoebe opened her arms, and he gave Grace to her.

  “Drop the wards or I walk through with her. Whatever happens to me will happen to her,” she said. She didn’t hesitate, facing the door.

  “Adasdelvdi,” I muttered the Cherokee word for protect which released the wards around the house.

  Phoebe marched in carrying Grace. Her minions followed her into the house. A house that she and I had never shared. We had never shared a bed. The marriage was only because I was an idiot once and needed a witch to get out of it. I had no idea she was a fairy witch at the time. Now she owned me, and she had the only woman I have ever cared about in my house.

  I followed them into the house. She had laid Grace’s body on the couch. I rushed over to her. Grabbing her hand, I kissed it gently.

  “I’m so sorry, Gracie. I’m so sorry,” I muttered.

  “You are ridiculous, Remy,” Phoebe taunted.

  “Shut the hell up! Do whatever you are going to do. Get it over with,” I yelled.

  “Wake her up, Lisette,” Phoebe said.

  The man that had approached me melted into a small-framed woman with deeply tanned skin. Her dark eyes fixed on me with scorn and laughter. Her long, kinky black hair swept down around her face. She was exotically beautiful. I felt the power move in the room, and she snapped her fingers before stepping in the shadows of the room with my wife’s other protectors.

  Grace moaned next to me. I placed my hand on her cheek as her eyes fluttered open. She jolted up on the couch staring at the people standing around us.

  “Remy!”

  “Hi, honey.”

  “Who are these people?” she asked in fear.

  “They won’t hurt you,” I said, looking at the tattoo on her arm flaring with power. I just hoped that whatever she was building up wasn’t going to be used on me.

  “Tell her who I am,” Phoebe said.

  “She’s my wife,” I admitted.

  Grace’s hands which were resting on my shirt turned to fists grasping at my shirt. “Your wife!” she screamed.

  She shoved me away from her.

  “Let me explain.” I don’t know why I bothered. It was over.

  13

  Grace

  My head was spinning. From the spell to the revelation that Remy was married. I didn’t know which way was up or down.

  “What have you done to me?” I yelled making my head pound worse.

  “I love ya, Grace. This isn’t a marriage. It’s blackmail,” he said, trying to explain.

  “You made me an adulterer. I’ve been with a lot of men, but I’ve never taken another woman’s husband!” I turned on him.

  He held his hands up in defense as my head began to throb in pain.

  “Grace, I know it looks bad, but you’ve got to understand. I’ve never even fucked that woman,” he said.

  “It doesn’t matter. A marriage is a pact. It’s protected by magic and laws. You made me break that,” I yelled.

  “Don’t act like you aren’t a whore, Gloriana,” the wife said.

  “I don’t care who the fuck you are or how you know my name. I want out of this house right now,” I said.

  “That’s too bad because you are right. You broke a marriage pact and now you owe me,” Phoebe laughed.

  I shook my head. “No, I didn’t know. I don’t owe you anything,” I said.

  “I think you forget that my apprentice can put you to sleep with a snap of her fingers,” she warned.

  “She won’t do it again,” I growled, pulling power from my tattoo. My hair turned platinum blonde and my eyes flashed a turquoise blue. The air in the room turned colder.

  Remy exhaled, and his breath floated in front of him as a frozen cloud. Only instead of begging me to stop, he nodded his head. There was no way in this world I was going to give him the satisfaction of killing his wife for him.

  “Your cold doesn’t scare me,” Phoebe ranted. “You are nothing. Nearly forsaken. All but forgotten, Gloriana.”

  “Jeremiah,” I growled.

  A flash filled the room, and suddenly we were joined by four robed figures. One stepped forward next to me, lowering his hood.

  “Good evening,” Jeremiah said.

  “We have no quarrel with the Sanhedrin,” Phoebe fronted. She clearly feared the robed men. Her pale skin, ruby lips, and black hair reminded me of the fairy tales of Snow White. Any woman that truly looked like that wasn’t natural.

  The younger woman standing behind her hid in her shadow like an apprentice. She kept her head tilted down so that I couldn’t get a good look at her. I called Jeremiah because I knew he would get me out of here. My agreement with the Sanhedrin sucked, but it also meant that they had to protect me.

  “See, that’s the thing, Sweetheart. Grace has a contract with us, so unless you want to buy it from us, then she and I will be leaving,” Jeremiah said. I grinned, then saddled up next to Jeremiah. I shook with anger, but I played my vixen role.

  “What is the price?” she asked as if she cou
ld pay it.

  “Your apprentice, plus 100 years,” Jeremiah said.

  She laughed, but I knew she wouldn’t pay it. 100 years of service to the Sanhedrin. There was no way.

  “No fairy queen is worth that,” she said.

  “Well, then, we will be going,” Jeremiah said wrapping his hand around my arm.

  “Wait!” Remy exclaimed running up to me. “Please, Grace, you have to know that I didn’t want this to happen. I wanted to tell you. I wanted…”

  He stopped mid-sentence realizing he wasn’t swaying me.

  “I told you, Remy,” Jeremiah said with a slap to Remy’s shoulder. “Tough luck, Ol’ Chap.”

  “Fuck you, Jeremiah,” Remy growled. “I love you, Grace.”

  “Let’s go,” I said.

  The colors of the world faded around us, and when they cleared again, I stood in the judgment hall of the Sanhedrin. Their leader, Caiaphas, stood in his white robe surrounded by his brethren. Jeremiah stood next to me.

  “For once, keep your mouth shut and let me handle this,” Jeremiah muttered.

  “If you want to live, listen to him,” Caiaphas said.

  The witch didn’t really scare me, but in this room, I was like a cat in a room full of rocking chairs. I could get my tail broke in an instant.

  “Well, fuck a duck.”

  14

  Remy

  “Well, that was unfortunate,” Phoebe said. “Did you really think that Oberon’s daughter would be forgiving?”

  “It didn’t matter,” I muttered, then slumped down on my couch. “You won. Now go away.”

  “Why? So you can drink yourself into a stupor again? Remington, my dear husband, why must you do this to yourself? Wouldn’t it be so much easier to just consummate our marriage?” she asked.

  “No, Phoebe. I’ll live like this or die like it. It doesn’t matter now,” I groaned. “Just go away.”

  She sauntered across the room, taking a seat next to me. She ran her cold hand up my thigh stopping right before she got to my crotch. I dared her to keep going. She would see very quickly that I wouldn’t even be able to get hard for her. No matter what she did.

  “I don’t get it. Am I not pretty?” she whined.

  “You are beautiful, but your heart is black. My people can see the heart,” I said.

  “Oh, really, and I suppose the fairy queen had a golden heart?” she scoffed.

  “No, her heart was cold as ice,” I replied.

  “She would have never loved you,” she said.

  “Probably not, but she has the capacity to love,” I said.

  Phoebe sighed, “Yes, she has loved before and it got her banished from the Otherworld. Scorned by her family. Hunted by the Sanhedrin. Love is death, and if she finds it again, it will kill her. I can’t wait.”

  “I’ll do everything in my power to stop you,” I growled.

  “What? You gonna throw stardust at me?” she giggled.

  “I’m putting the ward up in five seconds. Five…”

  “Remy…”

  “Four…”

  “Please, let’s talk about this. It’s hell for me, too,” she protested.

  “Three…”

  “Well, fuck. Come on, Lisette. You have a demon to summon,” she said.

  “Yes, ma’am,” she replied.

  “Two…”

  They walked out the door followed by her men.

  “One…”

  I didn’t bother putting up the ward. It didn’t matter anymore. Nothing mattered except finding a way to get back into Grace’s life.

  Just as I convinced myself to get up, two hulking men followed by a man I never thought I’d ever see walked into my living room. I knew exactly who he was.

  “You shouldn’t leave your door open, Remington Blake,” Tennyson Schuyler said.

  He wore a bespoke suit with shiny black shoes. Tattoos covered his hands and stretched up his neck just above his starched white collar. His dark eyes pierced through me.

  “Mr. Schuyler, to what do I owe the honor of your presence?” I asked. He was a Boss. Capital B. His holdings covered the South, the East Coast, and the old country. His dealings with the First People had always been generous. Despite his line of work, he handled business in an honorable way. I knew better than to cross him. I stood up to offer my hand to him.

  Reaching across to shake mine, he smiled. “I have a job offer for you,” he said.

  “I’m not in your line of work,” I replied.

  Tennyson sat down on the seat across from me, nodding to the couch.

  “Could I get you a drink?” I asked.

  “No, thank you. I couldn’t help but notice your recent company,” he said.

  “The witch is my wife,” I groaned.

  “That’s too bad,” he said. Sounded like he meant it. “I was referring to the fairy queen.”

  “Grace,” I said.

  “Hmm. Yes, Gloriana,” he said. “I know her father.”

  “Who doesn’t?” I replied too quickly.

  “I know him very well,” he added.

  I had no idea what ties that a mob boss would have to the King of the Otherworld, but I supposed in many ways they were close to being the same kind of person.

  “I see. Are you here to ask about her? She isn’t coming back. The Sanhedrin are moving her to Shady Grove,” I said.

  “Interesting,” he purred, stroking the large gold watch on his wrist. “A vacancy just appeared in the state prosecutor’s office. I think you would be an excellent choice for the job.”

  “I’m a resident of Louisiana,” I said.

  He waved his hand. “Something easily remedied.” He motioned to one of his goons who walked across the room and laid an envelope next to me.

  Opening the brass tab, I pulled out paperwork that apparently, I signed that showed me to be a resident of the state of Alabama, and this house was my current address.

  “I’d heard you were good,” I said.

  “I am,” he said, pulling on his lapel. “It will keep you close to her, and I promise if something arises that will allow you to help her, I’ll make sure you get your chance.”

  “I’ll do it.” I didn’t hesitate. I knew that my path would cross Grace’s again, and I would make this up to her even if she didn’t forgive me.

  He smiled, then said, “I have one other request.”

  “Alright,” I replied. In for a penny, in for a pound.

  “Your friend Niles Babineau has many businesses. Correct?”

  “He does,” I confirmed.

  “He finds people,” he said.

  “Fairies,” I replied. “He can find the ones that cannot be found.”

  “I’m looking for a grindylow by the name of Jenny,” he said seriously.

  “I would think a man with your influence could find whomever you wanted.”

  “I can. Unless that person knows as much about my organization as I do,” he sighed.

  “A grindy knows your operation?” I asked.

  “It is a private matter,” he retorted sternly.

  “I will call Babineau,” I replied.

  “Tell him I will pay any price to find her. I appreciate your time, Mr. Blake,” he said, offering his hand again as he stood.

  I mimicked his move and shook his hand again. “My friends call me Remy,” I said.

  “It remains to be seen if we are going to be friends, Mr. Blake,” he said.

  “Um, okay,” I replied. “Mr. Schuyler.”

  “We will see our way out. Put up your wards, Mr. Blake,” he instructed.

  “Yes, Sir,” I replied. It occurred to me that I might be working for the mob now, but I didn’t dare ask. One of his men shut the door behind them as they left. I gave the command, and the wards popped back up in place.

  I hurried to my office to make the necessary calls to end my law practice in Louisiana and my cases here as well. Just a few small steps that I needed to make in order to get back in Grace’s favor.

&nb
sp; “I’ll do better this time, Gracie. I swear,” I muttered.

  15

  Grace

  I’d stood in this room once before when they had presented me with my contract. The first time scared me. This time I was just as scared, but desperately wanted this little meeting to be over.

  “Jeremiah, you took responsibility for Grace’s case. It seems that there has been more than one magical disturbance over the past twenty-four hours,” Caiaphas said.

  “Yes, there has been. However, Grace only protected herself as needed. She had the opportunity to strike out, but she did not in a way that would harm anyone permanently,” Jeremiah explained. I grunted, and he growled at me.

  “So you say. It remains to be seen what will happen to Remington Blake. He is a respected member of the bar in this state as well as in Louisiana. He has many powerful friends. He also made an alliance this evening that was unexpected. But I know for a fact that he will not give up on making his way back to Miss Bryant,” the headman said.

  Jeremiah sighed. “I have a home prepared for Grace in Shady Grove. She has agreed to move there immediately.”

  Caiaphas’ bushy eyebrows shifted on his face to surprise. “She agreed?”

  “She did,” Jeremiah said.

  “I did,” I affirmed.

  “Interesting,” he said. “So, it is time.”

  “It is,” Jeremiah said.

  “Very well. Make the move now,” Caiaphas instructed.

  “Come with me, Grace,” Jeremiah said, holding his hand out to me. The world swirled around us once again. This time we reappeared in a new trailer. “Welcome to Shady Grove.”

  “Is this mine?” I asked, eyeing the shiny new trailer.

  “It is,” he smiled. “Do you like it?”

  I held up my finger, then ran to the bedroom. I opened the door to the bathroom and stared at the bathtub. Jeremiah moved in behind me.

  “Best I could do on short notice,” he said.

  “Better than a shower,” I replied with a smile.

  “I thought you would like it. Look, Grace, the same rules apply here as they did in the other trailer,” he said.