“I hope she appreciates it more than my brothers. Neither of them listens. When Eban enrolled in school to become a doctor, I thought he’d get away from here. Maybe he’d find another life outside of Berner. I planned to send Tell too. Expose them both to the outside world and hope they took to it.” Wystan shrugged. “About a year after Eban left, Astaroth distracted us with a herd of barghests so he could send one of his chief demons to wipe us out for good. Noem was burned badly by the divine fire, but he had time to recover while we killed the barghests. He jumped me while I was on patrol one night. This one, right here.”
He turned to his left, showing her the thick, knotted scar as wide as his palm on his side. Rhia reached out and touched it. It was numb, the result of a poison blade. He could only imagine what her fingers felt like as they caressed the mark. Her pinkie slipped, brushing the skin below, and a shiver ran through him. She drew away as if he’d burned her.
“Sorry,” she whispered. “How did you survive?”
“Tell found me bleeding in an alley. Noem was slaying the demons who turned on Astaroth, raining a merry hell of his own making on my town.” Wystan winced. His town. Hell, it was just a place, a spot wiped off the map years ago. “You haven’t met Heng, but he’s a minor storm deity. Took him and Tell to catch Noem. And Tell, being too much of a worrier, called Eban back. I haven’t been able to get rid of either one since.”
“What a terrible family, Wystan. Interfering in your business and worrying when you were badly injured.” Rhia shook her head. “You’re lucky to have them.”
“And when the day comes that I can’t protect them?”
Sandra’s face swam in front of his eyes. He’d failed her. Let Astaroth claw his way inside her mind and destroy it.
“I’m sure it won’t come to that. They’re capable.” Rhia looked flustered. “I know it hurt to lose your parents and sister, but you can’t guard Eban and Tell their whole lives. If they’re stubborn, it’s because you taught them strength.”
He laughed. “Strength. The same kind you’re teaching Sylvie?”
Rhia frowned. “Sometimes men can’t be counted on. Sylvie needs to learn to fend for herself.”
“Like you and Beryl Brookshier?”
“Perhaps. I did bring Sylvie all the way out here.” She bit her lower lip for a few seconds. “I have to admit, I don’t know Beryl very well. She’s always polite and she’s good at keeping our spirits up, but I don’t have any idea what her story is. She’s been a good friend, though, when I needed one.”
Wystan stared. He’d allowed Beryl to stay in town because she was friends with Rhia. “Eban doesn’t think she’s all human. Did you know that?”
Rhia gasped. “What? Is she—”
“Not a demon, as far as he knows. Tell can probably identify what she is. Once he’s cleaned up, we’ll slip him in the room to talk with Eban and find out what your friend is hiding.”
“Oh no. I’m sorry, Wystan. I had no idea. But she’s never been even the slightest bit threatening. She’s so frail, it’s hard to imagine she’d ever cause trouble. I let Sylvie around her. What if…” She crossed her arms, hugging herself. “I told her about my father and everything we went through to come here.”
“If she’s…”—evil—“not like us, we’ll take care of it. There’s no reason for you to worry.”
The sudden urge to take Rhia into his arms hit him like a brick. He wanted to comfort her, to assure her that none of Astaroth’s demons would get her while she was under his protection. He reached out and cupped her face. She looked like she had the day before yesterday when she’d discovered there wasn’t a job for her. Lost and vulnerable. Something about that appealed to Wystan. He wanted to keep her safe.
“Don’t worry. The three of us will watch after you and Sylvie. The people here are different than most, but they won’t hurt you.”
She didn’t pull back from his touch. “I should be afraid, but I’m not. I must be crazy.”
“You’d have to be, to want to stay here. The town is dying. Most of the demons that come through the Pit won’t turn to our side. It’s too dangerous to allow humans. Someday we’ll vanish, if Astaroth wins.”
He thought about it every day. The few children in town might not live to see adulthood and it was even less likely that they could blend in to any human towns. Some days he wasn’t sure what he was fighting for. It wasn’t for women like Rhia to come riding into town thinking they could change things. It wasn’t that simple. He let his hand fall back to his side.
“You should find Sylvie.”
“I suppose.” She looked at him and offered a tentative smile. “Thank you for trusting me. I know you’d rather have run us off, but Berner is as good a place as any to start over.”
She licked her lips, a gesture that sent blood rushing to his groin. Wystan’s heart thudded in his chest.
“Six weeks,” he reminded her. Then he wouldn’t have to think about her shapely body or those damnably adorable freckles on her face.
“You’ll see.” Her smile widened, then faded. “Take care of your shoulder and…I hope Tell can tell us who or what Beryl is.”
“Me too.” He didn’t look forward to dispatching the withered-looking woman lying in bed down the hall.
Chapter Ten
Thoroughly exhausted from the day’s events, Rhia trudged down the hall to the room she shared with Beryl and Sylvie. The moment she opened the door, two pairs of eyes pinned her in the hall.
“Where have you been?” Sylvie launched herself from the foot of the bed into Rhia’s embrace.
“Exploring, trying to figure out what’s going on in this town. You’ll never believe it. I’m still not sure I believe it.” She ruffled her sister’s curls, then led her back to the bed. Dropping at Beryl’s feet, Rhia allowed her shock to surface. Her hands shook while she struggled to make sense of everything the Heckmasters had told her.
“What is it?” Beryl’s soft voice broke into her thoughts.
Rhia wished Sylvie didn’t have to hear this, but hiding the truth from her would just bring more trouble. “I have something disturbing to tell you. Remember what happened in Lincoln?”
She’d told Beryl everything about the experience, and her friend had seen the trouble plaguing the Dukes along the trail. Beryl nodded.
Sylvie’s eyes widened behind her spectacles. “Is it him?”
“No…this is different.” Rhia swallowed the dry lump in her throat. “The reason I went with Sheriff Heckmaster today is because the town is full of—of demons.”
The last word left her mouth with a little squeak. Sylvie and Beryl stared, their faces registering disbelief.
“I saw one with my own eyes. Two, if you count the thing the sheriff killed last night after I went out to use the privy.” She told them about the Pit, how the changesteed had mimicked Sylvie’s voice and attacked Wystan. She might have been talking to statues, because neither one moved until after she finished the tale.
“We’re leaving, aren’t we? We can’t stay here.” Sylvie tugged Rhia’s hand, trying to pull her off the bed. “I don’t want to be eaten by a monster.”
“That’s the problem,” Rhia muttered. “We don’t have anywhere else to go. Eban says Beryl can’t travel now. Even if she could, we’re almost out of money. So we’re staying.” She squared her shoulders. “If we follow the rules, I’m sure we’ll be safe enough.”
Sylvie’s mouth fell open. She looked at Beryl. “You’re right. We can’t leave Beryl.”
“We’ll make the best of it by doing what we intended. I’ll teach, even if it means educating young demon minds, and Beryl will get well. When we have enough money to move on, that’s what we’ll do.” Unless they were eaten first, but they’d cross that bridge later. “You both know if we had another alternative, I’d take it. For now, we’ll have to do the best we can.”
> This wasn’t how she’d pictured her life. Somewhere along the way, cotillions and fancy parties had been replaced by hardships and horror. Giving up wasn’t in her, not when she had Sylvie to look after.
Beryl cleared her throat. “I wish I had a suggestion other than staying, but I don’t have anything to add. You’re right—if we abide by whatever rules the sheriff sets out to keep us safe, we’ll be fine.”
“I’m glad we’re agreed.” She wasn’t, not with all the worry weighing her down, but she put on a smile, hoping to fool Sylvie. She’d managed it all the way across the country, what was a few more weeks? She just needed to break the suspicion about Beryl to the other woman gently, and without scaring Sylvie.
“Sylvie, can you go to the wagon for me?”
“Why?”
“I need you to find a half dollar I lost. Right now, please.”
“But…there are monsters out there!” Sylvie’s skin turned pasty. “I’m not going out there alone.”
“There’s still plenty of daylight. Sheriff Heckmaster only warned me about wandering around at night. You’re a big girl—you can go alone.” Rhia tried to keep her tone firm. “It shouldn’t take long.”
“You said it’s lost. Lost means it could be anywhere.” Sylvie glared. “I wouldn’t go if I had an army.”
“Sylvie.” Rhia stood, giving her sister a meaningful look. “You’ll do as I ask, because we’re a team. When I ask you to do something, it’s because—”
“You count on me to help because you can’t do everything on your own. We’re sisters and we’re in this together.” Sylvie’s monotone dragged out as she moved toward the door. “Fine, but if I die, you’ll be sorry.”
She slammed the door hard enough to make Rhia wince.
“Where did you get a half dollar?” Beryl struggled to sit up against her pillows. “Is something else wrong?”
A stab of regret pierced Rhia. “I need you to be honest with me, Beryl. I didn’t want to leave you on the trail and you’ve been my friend, but this place isn’t what I thought it was and now Eban’s telling me—and his brothers—that you’re not what I thought.”
Beryl’s pale face went a shade whiter. “What do you mean?”
“The Heckmasters aren’t human either.”
She waited for a reaction from Beryl. Shock, disbelief, or confusion. The other woman curled her fingers into the blanket and lowered her gaze.
“I’m not sure I understand,” she murmured.
“Their father was a demon and they protect an entrance to Hell. I saw demons with my own eyes. I killed one this morning. Now they think you’re something other than human. I won’t judge. I don’t care if you’re part spirit as long as you can promise you don’t intend to hurt me or Sylvie.” Especially Sylvie. “But their little brother Tell just arrived and somehow he knows how to identify nonhumans. You can tell me now and maybe if it’s something bad I can plead your case.”
Beryl coughed and curled her head and shoulders. When she got it under control, her eyes were teary and her mouth stretched in a deep frown. “I haven’t done anything. I couldn’t if I wanted to, but I don’t.”
Frustrating answers that didn’t tell Rhia anything. “Where did you come from?”
Beryl looked confused. “I don’t remember. Where did we meet? On a trail in Colorado Territory? Before that, it’s blurry.”
Was Beryl lying? Rhia studied her, but she thought the other woman’s confusion seemed real.
“You must know where you came from if you know who you are. You have a name. Please tell me. I’m frightened for Sylvie.”
“All along I told you that you didn’t need to worry about her. That you didn’t have to worry at all. We got here together, didn’t we? Without any trouble, and we crossed a lot of open space. I told you.” Beryl’s frame shook as coughing took her again.
Rhia sat on the edge of the bed and rubbed Beryl’s back. The bony knots of Beryl’s spine stretched against her skin. Rhia’s interrogation wasn’t getting her anywhere and just seemed to upset Beryl.
“I’m sorry. I do trust you, but I’m frightened.”
Beryl’s light-green eyes widened as she took a deep breath, then winced. “Is it too much to ask that you accept that I’m your friend? That this town isn’t right, but maybe you can make it better?”
“Me? How would I make it better?”
“There’s a little magic in everything, Rhia. And I’ve never seen anyone as determined as you to do something.” Beryl’s smile was tight and Rhia knew her chest must hurt after the coughing and the questions.
“They’re sending Tell. There’s nothing I can say to convince them not to.”
“He won’t learn anything that will hurt anyone. I promise.” Beryl squeezed Rhia’s hand. “You’ve trusted me so far.”
“I hope when you feel better you’ll be more willing to tell me about yourself.” Sadness washed over her. Her closest friend was a stranger, and she’d settled in a town full of demons under constant threat of being killed. It wasn’t the sort of life anyone would imagine and the last place she’d ever pictured herself. Anyone with sense, despite a lack of money, would move on.
“Don’t lose hope, Rhia.”
“That and Sylvie are all I have left.”
“They’re two very good things.”
The door opened and Eban crossed the threshold with Tell in his wake. Wystan stood in the hall. If the three Heckmasters had filled the room, there wouldn’t have been any space for anyone else. A current of fear jolted through Rhia. Tell had changed clothes and dressed similar to Wystan. In a simple cotton shirt tucked into trousers, knee-high boots, and now cleanly shaved, he looked less like a wild man. His face was grim and she didn’t think that was his usual expression. The lines around his eyes were created by smiling and squinting at the sun, not frowning like Wystan.
Eban, ever the caretaker, put his hand on Beryl’s forehead and frowned. “Just can’t lose that fever, can you?”
Beryl smiled weakly. “I’m not holding on to it for sentimental reasons.” Her gaze shifted. “You must be Tell. Rhia says you can learn something about me by looking.”
Tell nodded, face somber. “It’s not my name. It’s what I do and it stuck. I pick out demons and I know whether they’re good, bad, or indifferent.”
Rhia was surprised. She’d asked Wystan if his brother was named for William Tell and Wystan hadn’t denied it. She also wondered why Beryl didn’t seem more alarmed by anyone mentioning demons if she wasn’t one.
“What is your name?” Beryl asked. Her voice was soft, her eyelids lowered as though she were half-asleep.
“Not telling.” A smile crinkled one corner of his mouth.
If he could smile, then perhaps they really weren’t in any danger from Beryl. But the longer he studied her, the more Rhia’s insides twisted with worry.
“Well?” Wystan leaned through the doorway. He’d found a shirt and covered the bandages on his shoulder. The ends hung over his pants while his suspenders drooped against his thighs. The way he fondled the hilt of his knife made Rhia’s blood turn cold.
“She’s hard to read.” Tell’s brow furrowed. “I can’t—I can’t tell you what she is, only that she’s not dangerous to us. She’s…peaceful.”
Beryl raised her eyes and smiled at Rhia. Told you.
“You’re not a demon?” Wystan’s question was direct and a little harsh.
Beryl shook her head. “I don’t like demons.”
Eban stiffened at Beryl’s statement. Rhia felt bad for him. He was the least demon-like person she’d ever met.
“I think we’d all prefer if you could give us an idea of what you are.” A muscle in Wystan’s cheek twitched.
Rhia expected Beryl to protest, but Beryl frowned in concentration.
“I’m supposed to be here. That’s all I’m all
owed to say. The human body is weaker than I thought. I pushed it too hard in the beginning. I’m sorry for troubling all of you.”
Tell leaned closer. “What’s your purpose here?”
Beryl’s eyebrows drew together. “It’s more than luck that I met up with Rhia. We happened to be traveling the same path. I was sent here, but I don’t know who sent me.”
Beryl sounded uncertain, but not as though she was lying. Rhia chewed on her fingernail as she listened. She met Wystan’s gaze. He looked tense.
“That’s all you want to say? No past history?” Tell appeared unconvinced. “Any other clues about what led you to meet up with Rhia?”
Beryl shook her head. She coughed and Eban frowned.
“She’s had enough. I wouldn’t have allowed this much if I hadn’t worried she was one of them. Let’s take this into the parlor. She needs tea and rest.”
Eban shooed them from the room and closed the door.
“Well?” Wystan folded his arms across his wide chest.
Tell shrugged. “She’s a conundrum.”
Wystan scoffed. “What is she?”
“Can’t say.” Tell rubbed his eyes. “Whatever she is, I suggest watching her closely. Wait for her to get stronger, then see what we can find out. She’ll either remember, or if she’s pretending, she’ll have to confess sooner or later.”
Wystan looked displeased.
Rhia touched his arm. A current like an electric shock ran through her and for a moment she forgot what she’d meant to say. Wystan’s eyes widened and she knew he had felt it too. Shaking her head, she remembered Beryl.
“She hasn’t done anything to earn your distrust. Listen to Tell.”
Wystan moved away from her. “Eban says she can’t leave, Tell says she’s not a threat right now, and you’d never let me toss her out. I guess she stays until we figure out what she’s doing here.”
Rhia wasn’t happy with the small victory. She didn’t have time to tell him because Sylvie entered the hall, frowning.
Wystan Page 8
