by E.J. Stevens
I pulled on my gloves, glad they hadn’t ended up in the line of fire. I didn’t want to be smelling puke all day. In fact, I could really use some gum.
I turned to where I’d left my other things, and gasped. There was a note folded and set on top of the bag. Someone had been here in the alley with me while I was incapacitated by the vision.
I sighed and plucked up the note with two gloved fingers. I wasn’t sure who had left it, but judging by the smell of tuna and the fact we were in a shadowed alley, I was guessing it was from one of Torn’s minions.
I unfolded the note, reading it quickly. There wasn’t much to read. You’re in danger, princess. The courts know about you, and they don’t tolerate traitors. Watch your back.
I squeezed my eyes shut and let my chin rest on my chest. Traitor. I’d never even been to one of the fae courts, had only known about my fae blood for a few months, but they’d labeled me a traitor just the same. I couldn’t control my wisp powers, not without my father’s help, and someone had found out. I’d screwed up, and now I was on their hit list.
As if this day wasn’t bad enough already.
I retrieved my sack of belongings and began the methodical task of strapping on weapons. My muscles began to ease with the routine task and my breathing slowed. As I pulled on my leather jacket, my phone vibrated.
I checked the screen and sighed. It was Forneus.
“About time, demon,” I croaked.
I coughed, throat raw from those last dry heaves. Puking sucked, but dry heaves always seemed to flay the flesh from my throat.
“A pleasure as always, Granger,” he drawled. “I suggest we plan to meet.”
“Fine,” I said. I rubbed the back of my neck and sighed. I didn’t want Forneus to see me like this, but I could use his help. If we met up at The Emporium, I’d at least have a chance to get the shakes under control. “Meet me at The Emporium in twenty minutes.”
“You do realize that the witch’s abode is one of the few places in this city that I cannot enter,” he said.
“Yeah, yeah, I’ll take care of it,” I said. “Just meet me there.”
“As you wish,” he said. “If it will aid in Jinx’s recovery, then I will attend you outside The Emporium.”
I thumbed off my phone, changed the ringer to full, and shoved it inside a jacket pocket. I let out a shaky laugh and stumbled out of the alley. I wasn’t looking forward to explaining things to Arachne. The kid was probably going to take things hard.
I tugged at my gloves and closed my eyes, surprised at the relief that washed over me at the realization that I wouldn’t be doing this solo. When it came to hurting my friends, I was such a coward. But I needed to face Arachne and make sure she understood the full ramifications of her actions. With Forneus going with me to The Emporium, at least I wouldn’t have to do this alone—even if he was a demon.
Chapter 28
Forneus said he’d meet me at The Emporium at the turn of the hour, which gave me plenty of time to hoof it back downtown. In fact, if I was speedy about it, I could check in with my cat sidhe allies and see if Torn had seen or heard anything else that was useful. Maybe his network of cat spies could shed some light on Kaye’s whereabouts.
At least now I didn’t also have to keep an eye out for Hell gates. Touching the fire imp’s blood had sucked, big time, but now I knew there was no portal to Hell in my city. Normally, that would be reason enough to celebrate, but not today.
There was still the matter of cleaning up the demon pest problem for the people of Harborsmouth and the fire-phobic vamps. I also needed to find Kaye and convince her to let me kill her, and—fingers crossed—bring her back. And while I’m resurrecting my witch friend, I also had to find the incubus feeding on Jinx and break his hold on my friend, dodging fae assassins all the while.
Yeah, I wasn’t really feeling much like celebrating.
The cat sidhe, on the other hand, seemed to be having a freaking party. Cats bounded toward the mouth of the alley, ears and tails twitching in excitement, as I approached. The alley where Sir Torn held court was completely filled with cats of all shapes and sizes.
I tiptoed carefully through the sea of cats toward Torn’s leather clad body. Thankfully, the cat sidhe lord was in his human form, or I’d never have found him. Every surface was covered in felines, more so than usual.
I kept my gloved hands in my pockets and shoulders hunched. I’d had my fill of visions for one day, thank you very much.
As I approached, Torn turned and pulled a face. He didn’t look happy to see me. Go figure.
“Hey Torn, sorry to interrupt your party,” I said, waving a hand at the lively cats lining the alley. “I won’t stay long. Just wondered if you or any of your cats have see Kaye. Maybe out on the edges of the city?”
Torn wrinkled his nose and looked me up and down.
“What have you been up to, princess?” Torn said. “You smell like troll farts.”
Troll farts? I’d showered when I returned from working the fae pest control case, but there wasn’t enough soap in the world to wash away the stink of jincan guts, not from the sensitive noses of cat sidhe. My time in the alley probably hadn’t helped either. I blushed, but shook my head.
“Stop changing the subject, Torn,” I said.
He shrugged and made a series of growling purr-like sounds in the back of his throat. Heads turned and ears perked up.
“No, we’ve been busy,” he said. “No one here has seen your witch friend, but I can send word through the shadows—for a price.”
Mab’s bones, the cat lord was infuriating. We may be allies, but the cat sidhe dealt in information and that information rarely came cheap. I’d used up my one freebie when Torn sent me that note, vague as it may have been.
“Fine, what do you want in return?” I asked.
“A date with Jinx,” he said, a slow grin lifting his scarred lips. “Though she should be paying me for the honor, not the other way around.”
I ground my teeth. Cocky, son of a female cù sìth. He was right, of course. The cat lord was Jinx’s type. He was a mysterious bad boy who exuded sex appeal. That was the problem. If my best friend survived her incubus encounter, the last thing she needed was a date with Torn. The guy was trouble with a capital T.
“That’s not mine to give,” I said. “Ask again.”
Torn sighed and rolled his eyes.
“Fine, fine,” he said. “Help us rid the city of fire imp vermin and we’ll be even. I’ll call if we get word of the witch’s whereabouts. Deal?”
“Deal,” I said, grinning.
That was one bargain I could happily make. I was planning on taking care of the fire imps anyway.
“Anything else you can tell me about that note you sent me earlier?” I asked.
“The courts want you dead,” he said, shrugging. “I owe no court my allegiance. So long as the cat sidhe abide by the one rule that all fae must follow, then we are left alone, all but forgotten by the courts. You too may have remained beneath their notice if you hadn’t flaunted your powers where humans could see. You broke the one rule, and now you must pay with your life. It is our way. I won’t do the court’s dirty work for them, but there is nothing I can do to protect you, princess. My people will not raise arms against the Moordenaar.”
“Okay, um, thanks,” I said. “These Moordenaar, they’re tough I take it?”
“The Moordenaar are handpicked from the time they are infants and raised as killers,” he said. “They live only to obey the courts. They are the keepers of the law, and they will dole out their punishment with no remorse. My condolences, princess. It was nice knowing you.”
That was my cue to make a hasty exit. Torn had already lost interest in me being here. Either that or he didn’t want to be in the Moordenaar’s line of fire. I could take a hint.
But as I turned to leave, I looked past Torn and froze. There was the usual sea of cats, but this time they were playing with their food—food that was pint-sized
and crying.
Judging from the red skin and diminutive size, I guessed that this might be another fire imp, though this one looked different from the ones I’d seen earlier today. But that may have had something to do with the way he dangled from the claws of a huge tabby cat.
The imp’s long, thin ears drooped so low that the tips touched the ground and his pointy nose quivered with each gasping sob. His fingers twitched together repeatedly, but all they managed were harmless sparks. The little guy was shivering, skinny tail tucked between his bony legs.
I knew how he felt. I was being hunted by highly skilled fae assassins and being bossed around by powerful vampire and faerie leaders with nothing better to do than mess with me and those I loved. Something inside of me snapped.
“Put him down!” I yelled.
My hair danced around my head, tickling my ears, and the alley filled with light. I knew without checking my reflection that my skin and eyes were aflame. But it didn’t matter anymore, did it? My secret was out. The fae courts knew that my wisp powers were out of control, so why not set it all free?
The cat flicked an ear in irritation and turned its head to Torn. With a sigh, Torn waved a hand.
“By all means, let the creature go,” he said, voice thick with sarcasm. “We wouldn’t want to upset the princess.”
“You were torturing the poor thing!” I exclaimed, hands on my hips.
“That poor thing as you like to call it is probably one of the foul creatures setting our fair city on fire,” he said.
“I’ve seen the other fire imps and this little guy isn’t half their size,” I said. “Look, he can’t even make fire.”
I pointed to the thing’s fingers sparking together impotently like an empty lighter. Even though the imp’s skin was red, he somehow managed to blush as he moved to hide his hands behind his back. The movement made his tiny belly stick out like the starving kids on television and I had the craziest notion that I could save the thing for the price of a cup of coffee.
“He is a demon,” Torn said, rolling his eyes.
“He’s a runt,” I said. “Sorry little guy, but it’s the truth.”
“Runt or not, he’s a menace,” Torn said.
I snorted.
“Now who’s calling the cauldron black?” I asked.
The imp shifted from foot to foot.
“Pretty,” he said, pointing at my eyes.
Mab’s bones, but he was cute. Gah! Stop it Ivy. He’s a freakin’ demon. Demons are not cute.
“Um, thanks,” I said.
I fidgeted with my gloves. I didn’t like my glowing eyes. They were just one of the many things about my wisp magic that I couldn’t control—one of the reasons that the faerie courts had labeled me a traitor to our kind and sent assassins to put me down like a rabid animal. But it was kind of sweet that the little critter liked them—at least someone thought they were pretty.
“Thankyouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!” he cried.
Before I could react, the little imp launched himself at me, a mewling sound coming from where he nestled at chest level and wrapped his spindly arms around my neck. The imp was giving me a hug, which might have been cute if I hadn’t been born with the gift of psychometry. Thing is, there’s a reason I don’t give hugs, and the imp now had himself pressed directly against my bare skin.
Oh, shit.
I barely had time to brace myself before the vision ripped me from my body. With a gasp, I was suddenly a few inches from the ground. The alley was the same, but I was quivering with terror as cats with pointy teeth and sharp claws herded me toward a bored looking man dressed in leather clothing.
A big, scary cat hooked its claws around me and lifted me into the air. The cat shook me and the alley filled with the scent of urine. I was going to die. I just hoped that I hit the cat with my pee. He was mean. Stupid cat.
Someone yelled and the alley filled with a bright light, like beautiful flames. The cat dropped me to the ground, thankfully not in the puddle of pee, and I stared at the glowing angel. In Hell they say that angels are bad, but this angel was good. She saved me. My heart swelled. She was my new friend…
I sucked in air as the vision dumped me back into my body. I blinked at the little imp clinging to my neck as he rifled through my pockets.
“Okay, buddy,” I said. “That’s enough of that.”
I tried to put the imp down, but he clung to me like a spider monkey. A laugh came from Torn and I grimaced.
“You never cease to surprise me, princess,” he said.
I knew that boredom plagued the fae. I guess it’s hard to find something amusing when you’ve lived hundreds of years. It was the downside of being immortal. Combine that with the curiosity of a cat sidhe and you had Torn. I had a knack for drawing Torn’s attention. It was how we’d met. Too bad I didn’t like being the source of the cat sidhe’s amusement.
“Whatever,” I said, trying futilely to put the imp down.
I gave up and pulled a sparkly pencil from my utility belt. The imp’s eyes widened at the glittery object, just out of his reach.
“Want it?” I asked.
He nodded and reached for the pencil, letting go of my neck. I handed the little guy the pencil and set him on the ground with a pat on the head. I didn’t know what I was going to do with the imp, but I’d worry about that later. For now, I’d keep the cat side from toying with him. I didn’t like bullies, never had.
“He’s off limits,” I said, eyeing the cats who sat licking their lips.
“Off limits,” the imp said, parroting me. He snapped his fingers, creating sparks. With his other hand he held the pencil against his shoulder like a toy soldier.
“You tell ‘em, Sparky,” I said.
Torn’s eyes widened and a genuine smile crossed his face.
“You named him,” he said.
I blushed and looked away.
“Yeah, what of it?” I asked. “It suits him.”
“You’re right, princess,” he said. “It does.”
I turned back to see if Torn was mocking me, but his face looked serious as he watched the little imp marching around my feet. Mab’s bones, I think the little guy was trying to protect me. If he only knew what an impossible job that was, he wouldn’t be so eager to play soldier.
I just hoped being around me didn’t get him killed. Sparky thought I was his friend, but being my friend came with consequences. Just ask Jinx.
“Come on, Sparky,” I said.
The sea of cats parted and we made our way out of the alley without any trouble from the cat sidhe. Sparky marched along at my feet, brandishing his glitter pencil like it was a weapon. But I knew the real reason the cats let us pass was that we had Torn’s permission.
An itch burned between my shoulder blades, but I didn’t look back. I’d done it again. I’d landed squarely in the faerie cat’s sights, and it wasn’t a pleasant place to be. No, being Torn’s new curiosity was about as comfortable as a pixie rash.
Chapter 29
Sparky and I made it to Wharf Street with two minutes to spare. I yawned and rubbed a hand over my face. Oberon’s eyes, I was tired.
My eyelids drifted closed for a second, but the scrabbling of claws on stone woke me from my near-nap. God, I was stupid. I couldn’t let my guard down, not in this city, not with Moordenaar hot on my tail.
“Humphrey?” I asked. A growl from behind me lifted the hairs on my neck. “That you, big guy?”
I turned to see the gargoyle baring it’s fangs at Sparky. The imp, to his credit, stood at my back, pencil at the ready. Though what he thought it would do to a stone gargoyle was anybody’s guess. I suppose he could get in some graffiti before Humphrey crushed him. Not much of a consolation prize that.
Guess it was up to me to make sure that didn’t happen.
“Um, Humphrey, meet Sparky,” I said. “He’s with me.”
“He’s a demon,” Humphrey hissed.
“Well, yeah, I know,” I said. I ran a hand through my hair a
nd sighed. I should have thought about the gargoyle’s reaction sooner. “Actually, there’s another demon coming too.”
Unless the bastard stood me up. Forneus was late.
“Not inside,” Humphrey said. The gargoyle cracked his knuckles, which was just damn creepy. “Not without Madam Kaye or Mistress Arachne’s permission.”
I held up my hands.
“Okay, okay,” I said. “Let me call Arachne.”
The gargoyle and imp stared each other down while I grabbed my phone and dialed the witch.
“Ivy?” she asked. “Everything alright?”
“Um, not exactly,” I said. “I’m outside with Humphrey and I’ve got a demon with me…and another one on his way. I was hoping you could give us all permission to enter.”
“You’re kidding, r-r-right?” she asked.
“No, I wish I was,” I said with a sigh.
“But Kaye’s still not here,” she squeaked.
I lowered my head and massaged my temple. I’d held out a slim hope that Kaye might be here when we arrived.
“Yeah, I figured,” I said. “But you and I need to talk, and Forneus might be able to help us figure out how to fix Jinx.”
“Forneus?” she asked. “Isn’t he the demon Kaye rages about?”
“Um, yeah,” I said.
Arachne let out a laugh.
“By the Goddess, Ivy,” she said. “You don’t ask much, do you?”
Yeah, I was a shitty friend. That wasn’t news to me.
“Sorry, kid,” I said. “Kaye’s gone and it’s up to you to make the call. I can leave the demons outside, but I’d rather have them where I can keep an eye on them. And, for what it’s worth, Forneus has helped us in the past…and he cares about Jinx.”
I left it at that, letting the silence hang between us. Either Arachne would let us in, or she wouldn’t. There was nothing left to say, and begging wasn’t my style.
“Fine, whatever,” she said with a sigh. I heard the girl set down the phone, mutter something unintelligible, and come back on the line. “There, it’s done. You can pass through in the company of two demons. But if they do anything I don’t like, I’ll let Humphrey eat them for breakfast.”
