by E.J. Stevens
“Aye, lass,” Hob said, looping his thumbs in the straps of his suspenders and puffing out his chest. “Ye can count on us.”
“Secret mission,” Marvin said, nodding and grinning from ear to ear.
“Okay,” I said. “Be careful, and if you don’t hear from me by sunrise tomorrow, send a message to Kaye or to Father Michael at Sacred Heart. They’ll know what to do.”
If I wasn’t around to contact Hob and Marvin, then the worst will have happened and I’ll be dead. I didn’t want them out there on their own, but I knew that the suburbs were the safest place for them if the city was under siege. And even with Kaye’s territorial display, I trusted that she would do what she could to keep the kid and the crotchety old brownie safe.
“I wish you well on your mission,” Ceff said, bowing slightly at the waste. “Gentle tides.”
“Safe travels,” I said.
“Aye,” Hob said. “Fresh breezes and safe travels to us all.”
Hob and Marvin walked off, Marvin clapping his hands and Hob clicking his heels together.
“Keep them safe,” I whispered.
I wasn’t sure who I prayed to anymore. I’d never had a lot of faith in gods, but I’d seen too many things in recent months to deny the possibility that someone was listening.
I rubbed the back of my hand over my eyes, and Ceff came to stand beside me, a steady presence I’d come to take for granted before we’d left for Faerie. I’d lost him in the Otherworld. I’d mourned his loss for what had been months in that alternate time, and I’d only just got him back.
“I don’t want to send you away,” I said.
“Then let me stay by your side,” he said.
I shook my head.
“You need to warn your people,” I said.
“No, the kelpies and our mer and selkie allies are safe,” he said. “The Wild Hunt will not enter our domain, and after the losses we suffered from the each uisge, they will not be eager to join this fight.”
“Wait, you mean the Wild Hunt doesn’t like salt water?” I asked, mind racing.
While defusing the Forneus situation and developing our secret backup weapon, I’d been struggling to come up with a plan for how to get a piece of the Huntsman without putting the lives of innocents at risk.
“They don’t like any type of water, Princess,” Torn said. “Hate the wet stuff nearly as much as cats.”
“Good,” I said, flashing my teeth in a grin.
Jinx and Forneus hesitated as they approached, and the demon cocked his head to the side.
“Did she hit her head?” he asked, eyes traveling over my face.
“Worse,” Jinx said, shaking her head. “I think she has an idea.”
“Not an idea, a plan,” I said, licking my lips.
“Good thing I have nine lives,” Torn muttered.
I ignored Torn, and hurried up the street.
“Come on, there isn’t much time,” I said.
“Time to do what, pray tell?” Forneus asked.
“Set a trap.”
Chapter 9
“You do realize that it’s never smart to corner a wild animal,” Forneus said as we ran.
“No one ever accused me of being smart,” I said, a fierce grin on my face.
“Nope,” Jinx said from his arms.
We were running on foot across town, and as the only human, she had to be carried. Ceff had offered to change into his horse form, but part of my plan relied on him. I couldn’t risk his being stuck in horse form once we got to where we were going.
Things had been tense there for a moment until Torn had rubbed a hand over his leather pants and offered Jinx a ride she wouldn’t forget. After that vulgar display, Forneus hadn’t hesitated to swoop Jinx off her feet, and she hadn’t tried to stab him.
“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” I said.
“Any time,” Jinx said.
Forneus’ remark about cornering a wild animal brought a memory to the surface of a small demon dangling from the claws of a cat sidhe while cornered in a dark alley. I lost my footing and stumbled, slowing our run.
“Are you okay?” Ceff asked.
“No, I don’t know,” I said shaking my head, eyes wide. I whirled on Forneus and Jinx. “Where is Sparky?”
“I left him with…” Jinx said, hand going to her mouth and tipping her head back to read Forneus’ face. “Forneus, where is Sparky?”
“Bugger,” he said.
I took that to mean he’d been in such a tizzy that he hadn’t thought about Sparky when he ran off in search of Jinx.
“We can’t leave him on his own,” I said. “He’s just a kid.”
“You would rather bring him into battle?” Ceff asked. “Our choices are limited. The witch is not taking demon visitors at the moment, and our allies at the Hunters’ Guild would rather dip him in holy water than keep him safe.”
“Marvin and Hob are already gone…I’m so sorry, Ivy,” Jinx said.
“Wait, holy water, I might have an idea,” I said.
I pulled out my phone, which I’d been able to charge at the Emporium, ignored the dozens of text messages from Jinx, and scrolled until I found what I was looking for. We needed someone who wouldn’t mind babysitting a demon. That list was exceedingly small, but there was one man on my call list who would kill to get face time with hellspawn. Thankfully, he also had a protective streak and a soft spot for kids.
“Father Michael,” I said when the priest picked up. “I’ve got a demon I’d like you to meet.”
“You…you can’t possibly bring Sparky onto holy ground!” Forneus sputtered.
I’d thought of that. I couldn’t bring Sparky to Sacred Heart Church, but I sure as hell could send Father Michael to Sparky.
“Ah, an exorcism?” Father Michael asked, voice lifting eagerly. I could just imagine his bobbing head now. The birdlike little man was a friend, but one with an unhealthy interest in the supernatural denizens of Hell. “Let me get my things. A demon! I’ll be right there. Wait, where is this demon exactly?”
“Not an exorcism, Father,” I said. “And the demon is at my apartment.”
“What the devil is a demon doing in your apartment?” he asked. “And not an exorcism you say? Then it is in its true form? I must see this for myself.”
Father Michael had put me on speaker phone, and I could hear the priest rummaging through his office for supplies. I had to quell his excitement, or he’d be running off to my apartment armed with a demon hunting kit.
“Galliel, you there?” I yelled. I heard a whinny and the clop of hooves on floor tiles. “Good boy. Don’t let Father Michael leave his office. Sit on him if you have to.”
There was a thud and a clatter, followed by a muttered, “What the devil?”
“Did you just tell a unicorn to sit on a priest?” Torn asked.
I shrugged, and spoke into the phone.
“Father, the demon is a child and a friend,” I said. “I need you to go to the loft and look after him for a day or two. Can you do that?”
“You want me to babysit a demon?” he asked.
“Yes,” I said.
I crossed my fingers, and held my breath.
“Well, of course, my dear,” he said. “I never thought you’d ask.”
“Good, um, you remember where my office is?” I asked.
“Yes, yes, just off Wharf Street,” he said.
I usually visited the priest at the church, since that was where Galliel resided, but Father Michael had come to my office once before to help with a demon problem. Thankfully, he seemed to remember how to get there.
“The apartment is above Private Eye, the next door on the left,” I said.
I lowered my voice, and turned away from Torn who was watching me intently. He was probably too busy trying to come up with a new joke about a unicorn, a priest, and a wisp princess to listen in, but I didn’t like taking chances. As it was, I was going to change my wards once I got home—if I got home.
&nbs
p; “Speak the words ‘Sparky likes ramen’ to open the door at street level,” I whispered.
“That’s a terrible password,” Torn said, sneaking up behind me and making me jump.
“I told her that God, pet names, and 666 were all overused, but she didn’t listen,” Forneus said.
“At least she added the bit about ramen,” Jinx said with a nod. “That was my idea.”
I sighed, giving up on keeping my ward info from Torn. I made a mental note to change it to “cat sidhe are nosy bastards” as soon as possible.
“There’s a key to the apartment hidden inside a fake rock in the stairwell, Father,” I said.
“And the demon child, does he speak?” he asked.
“Yes, he’s a lot like a normal kid, but his fingers spark sometimes when he gets exited, hence the name, Sparky,” I said. “Oh, and he likes to watch cartoons.”
“Do not worry, I will take care of him,” he said.
“Thank you,” I said. “And, Father? There’s something powerful in Harborsmouth. Can you see if you have anything in your library about the Wild Hunt, and text me if you find any info on its weaknesses?”
“Should I be worried for my flock?” he asked.
“Yes, Father,” I said, shuffling my feet. “I’m afraid you should be. If I fail in my mission, we might all be in danger from the Hunt.”
“Then I will pray that you are successful,” he said.
A Cheshire cat grin crossed Torn’s face as I hung up, and I shook my head.
“What?” I asked, running a hand through my hair.
“You keep your spare key in a fake rock inside a stairwell?” he asked.
“Why not?” I asked. “You have to know the ward to get inside, and it’s not like it’s the cleanest stairwell in the world.”
I looked to Ceff for support, but his face was red from holding his breath.
“Oh fine, whatever,” I said. “Go ahead and laugh. Next time I’ll get the key holder that looks like dog poop.”
“Now that might be a more believable object to find in your stairwell,” Forneus said.
Everyone laughed, and I scowled, which only made them laugh harder.
“I’m not the worst housekeeper in the world,” I said.
Forneus started wheezing, and Jinx had to dab at her mascara.
“Remember the time she came home after cleaning out that jincan nest?” Jinx asked, chest heaving as she broke into another round of giggles. “Covered in guts and slime, but she saunters to the kitchen and says she wants coffee. Not a shower, not clean clothes, coffee.”
“Oberon’s eyes, you guys,” I said. I expected the teasing from Jinx. It was her way of motivating me to get off my ass and do my part around the apartment and the office. But I’d expected better from a bunch of immortals. “What are you all, two?”
“I will have you know that I have lived for at least three millennia, and I have never smelt anything quite as foul as the tray where you take off your boots,” Forneus said, which set off a new round of snorts and chuckles.
I ground my teeth, and gripped my blades.
“Come on,” I said. “Laugh time is over. We don’t have all day.”
They were still laughing, but nodded, and we headed out to follow the plan. My plan. Because no matter my other shortfalls, I’d become damn good at taking down the monsters that threatened this city.
Chapter 10
I planned on reminding Master Janus of my personal contributions to the protection of our city, but first I had to make it past the guard at the gate. Unfortunately, that guard was a huge Neanderthal of a man by the name of Hendricks.
Hendricks and I had met previously, and let’s just say we weren’t on each other’s Christmas shopping list. No, I’m sure this guy had a spot for me on a list with a more unsavory name.
Last time, I’d had a little help from Jenna’s friend Jonathan, a werewolf who had somehow become a member of the Hunters’ Guild. Perhaps, he could help me again.
“Look if you’re not going to call Master Janus, then go get Jonathan,” I said. “He’ll vouch for me.”
“The whelp ain’t here,” he said, shooting a thumb over his shoulder. “Neither is that Lehane bitch, so get lost.”
The local Hunters’ Guild was located inside what used to be the old Herne School. The name of the place might be a coincidence, then again it might not. I imagine the Guild could have felt an affinity for a god of the hunt, even if he was in truth a faerie. What I was certain of was that the Hunters’ Guild would never support an attack on humans by a supernatural force.
The Guild and I may have different methods, and frequently butt heads, but at the end of the day we both wanted the same thing—to protect the innocents of this city. My definition of innocents was more encompassing than that of the Guild, who only cared about human lives, but in this case it didn’t matter. The Wild Hunt was a major threat to those humans, the very same ones the Hunters’ Guild had sworn to protect.
“I have news of a threat to this city,” I said. “Master Janus will want to see me.”
Hendricks spat, narrowly missing my boots.
“We’ll see about that,” he said.
His hand lingered over the handle of the battle axe strapped to his hip before picking up a phone that was bolted to the stone wall just inside the gate. The black receiver looked like a child’s toy in his meaty grip. I had an image of Hendricks holding a teacup, pinky in the air, and had to stifle a giggle. Instead, I snorted and tossed my hair over my shoulder.
The conversation, once Hendricks got through to Janus’ office, was blessedly brief.
“He’ll speak with you, but you gotta leave your weapons, either here with me or with your associates,” he said. “Looks like Janus don’t trust you so much these days.”
I shrugged, and started stripping off my blades. I hesitated, but he gave my boot a knowing look, and I sighed.
“Okay, okay,” I said. “Just give me a minute to hand these over to my friends.”
“While you’re at it, give them a message,” he said, his lips lifting in a one-sided grin. “You can come inside, but your friends stay where they are. They come one inch closer, and you’ll be picking them out of the pavement for weeks.”
I figured the Guild would have sentries on watch who could see my friends. Leaving them across the street had been a calculated risk. I knew that a cat sidhe, a kelpie, and a demon wouldn’t be allowed inside, but I hadn’t wanted to split up. The last time we had separated, Ceff and Torn had ended up in iron shackles inside my uncle’s secret dungeon.
Of course, I was a lot more fae now than I’d been on previous visits to the Guild. I just hoped that they were willing to go by what they knew of me, rather than judge me by what I’d become. It gave me hope that Master Janus had knowingly allowed Jonathan, a werewolf, into his ranks. It meant that he, at least, wasn’t a bigoted prick. I couldn’t say the same for Hendricks, or the men targeting my friends with weapons.
“Relax, Hendricks,” I said. “My friends are here to help us protect the city, nothing more.”
“We’ll see about that,” he said.
I ignored the way Hendricks tracked my movements, the bulging veins on his neck pulsing in time to the compulsive flexing of his fists. Turning my back on a trained Hunter who probably had ogre blood somewhere in his family’s past probably wasn’t the smartest move, especially when he was obviously fantasizing about crushing my skull like a June bug, but there was no way I was letting Hendricks touch my weapons.
He was fully aware of my psychometry and touch phobia. Knowing his mean streak, and his ironic dislike of the fae, I wouldn’t put it past Hendricks to take my blades into the nearest latrine or worse. I stifled a shudder, and hurried my pace.
“Hendricks, huh?” Jinx asked, wincing sympathetically at my approach. “No dice?”
“I told you the Guild would never help the likes of us,” Forneus said.
“It’s not that,” I said, shaking my head. �
�I got permission to go inside. I just can’t bring these with me.” I turned away from Jinx and Forneus, and took a steadying breath. “Hang on to them for me?”
I handed my weapons over to Ceff, and he took them from me reverently. He knew how much the gesture cost me, and how far we’d come. I wouldn’t have trusted my weapons with anyone not so long ago, especially not a kelpie king. Now, I couldn’t imagine anyone I trusted more aside from Jinx, and she and I were still on the outs.
A cold hand gripped my gut, and I darted a look at my friend. I vowed to fix things with Jinx as soon as this was over. We suddenly had secrets between us, too many secrets. I had to resist the urge to confess everything now, but I was afraid that if I started unburdening myself of all the things I was keeping locked inside, I wouldn’t be able to stop. Now wasn’t the time for honesty and tears.
It was time for action.
“Torn, while I’m in there, you think you can contact your spies without setting off the Guild’s trigger-happy sentries?” I asked. “Hendricks warned that there are Hunters just itching for a reason to take out the potential enemies on their doorstep. I don’t want to give them an excuse to attack, but I’d rather not rely solely on their intel…or on Kaye.” I hesitated. “I’m not sure how much I trust Kaye and Janus right now.”
It was the first time I’d voiced my concerns about Kaye outside the privacy of my own skull. My mouth went dry, and I had a sudden wish for extra strength antiperspirant.
“One step ahead of you, Princess,” Torn said. His lips lifted in a lopsided grin. “I wondered how long it would take you to realize the witch has gone batshit crazy.”
“Amen to that,” Jinx muttered.
Forneus winced, but nodded.
“I would think it obvious after the unprovoked attack on me,” he said. He lifted a brow and spread his hands innocently. “Why on earth would the witch wish me harm? She is drunk on power.”
I snorted. I could think of plenty of reasons why someone might wish Forneus harm. Sadly, for all his grandstanding, he still had a point.
“Drunk on power and a few tarot cards short of a full deck,” Torn said.
