by Richard Amos
“No. It’s clean. Unused. They did go to her apartment. I went with them as I have a key. But it was empty too.”
“Is there anywhere else you can think of she’d go?”
She shook her head. “No. She didn’t do anything but work and study.”
Melony was putting herself through university with the money she was making. “What about the uni?”
“They haven’t seen her.” Her eyes glistened. “I’m sorry, Jake. There’s not much else I can give you.”
“Don’t worry. Drink some tea. It’ll help.”
She took a tentative sip. “I can’t stand waiting around to hear from the police.”
“I get that. I’m happy to help. We’re always happy to help.”
“Thank you.”
“No worries. You sit there and let me make some calls, okay?”
“Thank—”
The mainline phone rang. “Hallo?” I answered.
“Jake? It’s Lars. Are you both there?”
“No. Just me. What’s up?”
“You free to come down to a murder scene?”
Oh, God. “Yeah. Where is it?”
“Oudekennissteeg.”
“What?” That was just up the road on the other side of the canal.
“We had a call half an hour ago. A tip. One of the window girls, we think. Can you come? It’s weird.”
Please don’t be Melony. “Sure. I’ll be there in five.” What was I supposed to say to Cherry?
“Thanks.” He hung up.
Dealing with weird was what we did, often helping out the police with the paranormal side of things—one of six PIA agencies in Amsterdam.
I really wished I’d stayed at home. “I need to pop out.” There was no way I was saying anything to Cherry yet.
“Okay. I need to go home anyway.”
“Stay and finish your tea.”
“I’m sorry. I’m too shaken. I just need to go home and sleep.”
“Okay. Get a cab. I’ll call one now.”
“It’s not far, Jake.”
“Please. It’s on me. Do it for me, yeah?”
“Are you worried?” The way she was looking at me almost had me blurting out about the dead body.
Oh, God. She’d see the police.
I went to the window, opened it and looked right. Yep. There they were, blue lights flashing.
Crap.
This wasn’t gonna work. “Shit.” I sighed and folded my arms. “I need to tell you something.”
“It was that phone call, wasn’t it?”
“Yeah. That was Lars. You know Lars, right?”
“Melony…”
“I don’t know. They’ve found a body on Oudekennissteeg.”
“Oh, no.” Tears escaped her eyes. “Oh, please, no.”
I went to her, pulled her into a hug. “Let’s not jump to conclusions yet.” I smoothed her hair back. “Do you wanna wait here while I go over?”
“No. I-I need to come.”
“They won’t let you onto the scene.”
“Then I’ll wait outside the scene. I can’t go home, can’t be anywhere until I know.”
It would be a safe place for her to wait, what with cops being around. “Okay.” I needed to get over there.
I grabbed some stuff. We had a new magic detector, and another of Dean’s UV light gadgets that picked up on pod traces. I took those, popping them into a rucksack, and hurried outside with Cherry.
The scene up ahead was really starting to grab attention.
“Ready?” I said to my friend.
She nodded, and we quickly walked up the canal path, crossing over at the first bridge.
What a lovely way to spend a Saturday morning.
Six
Dean
“Are you sure you don’t want me to come?”
“No. Crack on with linking up with your dad. The sooner we know about Lou, the better.”
“Okay, baby. Keep me posted.”
“Will do. Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
The call ended. What an awful way to start the morning. I sent silent hope out there for it not to be the body of Melony.
“Was that Daddy?” Louise asked, still in her pajamas.
“It was, darling. Busy morning.”
“Hope he gots plenty of tea.”
“Oh, he has. Daddy’s never short of tea, is he?”
She giggled. “That’s right.”
“Okay. Shall we get ready? Can’t sit around in our night clothes all morning, can we?”
I wanted to do just that. More than anything. To stay on the sofa and watch cartoons, listen to her talk about her obsession with all things space, maybe crack open that box of double chocolate cookies in the kitchen cupboard.
“Ten minutes,” I said, glued to the sofa.
I felt bad while Jake was out there in the thick of it, but there was nothing I could do right now. If he did need me, I’d be there in an instant.
This meeting with my dad was extremely important. First, we’d talk about Louise’s strange freezing power. Then he could see her for himself tonight. This meeting was what he wanted—some one-on-one time with me. I was as fine with that as I could be. He was calling the shots seeing as he had the potential to put our minds at rest about our daughter.
My mind wandered to Orla, how beautiful she looked, the memories she’d stirred up. They weren’t bad memories by any stretch. I was head-over-heels for her back then, but it was nothing more than a teenage infatuation. A first girlfriend. I’d never deny my memories, but it didn’t mean I wanted to relive them.
I could still smell her, that delicious perfume.
Delicious?
A twinge in my crotch, a sudden flood of warmth. I crossed my legs, my mouth going dry. An image of her in that dress from last night flashed before my eyes, her slowly peeling it off her glistening body.
I broke the image with a mental hammer, leaping off the sofa and striding to the kitchen.
“Papa?”
“Just getting some cookies.”
“Yay! Cookies!”
Pouring some water from the faucet into a glass, I leaned against the sink, gulping the liquid back.
What was that just then? Not me, that was for sure. Nothing but memories stirred up.
I blamed Dad for this. He knew this would happen.
But why? Why would it happen? I was with the love of my life, not interested in anyone else at all. Okay, so it was human nature to have your head turned by an attractive person. Not for me. I’d had girlfriends before Jake, never a boyfriend. Then he’d come along and awoken my heart. Saying I was smitten was an injustice. I was besotted, completely devoted. I just didn’t want to look anywhere else, think of anyone in that way but him. His body was all I needed for my desires, his soul for the journey through life.
“Don’t be a dick,” I said, and grabbed the cookies.
The sooner Orla and Dad were gone, the better.
I left Louise with Sophie and Luuk. They were having a tea party this afternoon with some of my daughter’s space teddies.
The meeting spot was Vondelpark in Amsterdam-Zuid (Amsterdam South), a green space by a pond. It was a pretty spot down there, and the perfect weather for a picnic.
A shame about the company.
It was surprising that my dad wanted a picnic. He was far more decadent than that, but it only showed what I knew. Plus, I had to play along with his indulgences.
I cycled over, bringing a multipack of paprika crisps and some fizzy drink with me. Dad had insisted everything was covered, but I couldn’t turn up with nothing.
There were fae guards scattered everywhere, ready to defend their charge to the death, in shorts, vests, whatever. The weather was warm, and they were playing the part of enjoying it along with everyone else. Blending in. One pair were even tossing a Frisbee back and forth.
Locking up my bike, I followed a path under trees that took me alongside the water, curving round a green decorated with sunba
thers, more picnic people, and—
There she was. Orla. Dressed in a white summer dress, wearing a straw hat. Her raven hair billowed in the breeze. She was standing next to my dad, talking, not having noticed me a slight way away yet. I heard him laugh, stretched out on a deck chair under a white parasol, dressed in pink shorts and a gold vest, his silver hair tied up in a bun.
He spotted me, waved dramatically.
Here goes.
Food was spread out on a golden blanket, lavish golden plates laden with all manner of food from dates, to chicken, to pastries. So much of it. A sickening amount. A picnic basket bulged with yet more food over to the side.
Made what I’d brought look pitiful in the extreme.
“Hello, Son!” he boomed, standing up
I got dragged into a bear hug. “Hi, Dad.”
He slapped my back. “Good to see you again.”
There were three chairs around the blanket, each one with a parasol.
“Take a seat, Dean.”
“Hi,” Orla said. Her dress was sheer, and her perfume drifted into my nostrils.
“H-Hi.”
She smiled. “I hope you don’t mind me being here too.”
“That’s fine.”
“I didn’t want to be alone.”
I’m in hell. “Really, it’s fine.”
“Thank you.”
She sat down, leaving the chair between her and my father free for me.
Not a sandwich I wanted to be the filling of.
“Help yourself to whatever you like,” Dad said.
I was feeling hotter than I’d like, the back of my head on fire, and my stomach in knots. Over and over again, that perfume from Orla wafted over me.
Was it spelled? Trying to seduce me?
No. Never. Not her. She would never. She was kind.
You don’t know her.
I—
Another nose full, and I was grinning.
“I’d love some champagne,” I said.
“That’s my boy!” Dad bellowed.
Alcohol. I hadn’t touched it in years, dropping it for the sake of Jake. He was a recovering drug addict, off cocaine for years, as well as drink. He hadn’t wanted me to give drink up too, but I’d wanted to. For him. What did I need it for anyway? Nothing. And I didn’t miss it.
Until now.
The pop of a bottle, the fizz of the champagne. I watched it cascade into the flute, pale and golden, shimmering. Cold. Crisp.
I licked my lips.
“There you go.”
I took the proffered drink and took my first sip.
It was pure heaven.
“That’s good.” I took another sip, then breathed in the sweet scent of Orla in deep.
What was wrong with appreciating a pretty smell? That’s all it was. And what was wrong with a little drink?
I relaxed into the chair, yet felt slightly out of sorts. This wasn’t me. I shouldn’t be relaxed, shouldn’t be drinking or even eating. What mattered was Louise.
A hand on my arm.
Orla leaning over, touching me, her emerald eyes sparkling. “Wasn’t it a lovely night, last night?”
I watched her red lips curve into a smile, her eyelashes flutter, then came to my senses.
“I don’t want this.” I handed the glass back to my father. “I don’t drink. I’m not here to eat. I’m here to talk about my daughter.”
Fae trickery. You should never eat the food of a fae without caution or drink what they offer you. Being half-fae, I was kind of vulnerable if someone wanted me to be, if they really wanted to delve into the human side of me and take it for a spin. Generally, I was safer than a human, but not completely.
“Stop playing games.” I pulled my arm away from Orla. “And you can drop the perfume. Okay?”
She recoiled, hurt. “I’m sorry?”
“You’re doing something to me with it, aren’t you?”
“Are we going back to this?” Dad growled. “After we crossed over here and provided such wonderful food? I will not tolerate insolence from you or that man.”
“His name is Jake.”
Dad grunted. “He was extremely rude.”
“And so are you. You’re using trickery on me? Really?” The lingering taste of the champagne was toxic on my tongue, Orla’s perfume nothing more than stench now.
“Was it you?” I said to her. “The woman who took my daughter?”
She gasped. “I can’t believe this has come up again! I would never do a thing like that. Kidnap a child? Never. I promise you. And your daughter at that. Why would I want to hurt her?” She didn’t break her gaze from me, imploring me with her eyes. “Please, I need you to believe me. This is my first time in this realm, and I would never hurt you. I’m sorry about my perfume. It’s my favorite scent, but I know what it does to some folk. I’ll—”
“Enough!” Dad barked. I turned to face him, his face pure thunder. “For the sake of my granddaughter, I will not storm out of this realm and cut you off. I want to meet her, to form a relationship with you, Son. Believe me or not, it is true. I am here to repair the damage of the past, to wipe the slate clean.”
It was too dirty.
“But you cannot keep making these accusations, leveling this distrust at us,” he added. “Orla is here because she wanted to see you again. She knows you are in a relationship, and so do I. There is no greater plan here.” He sighed. “I can understand why you would think there is with the way things have been, from my behavior. I have never done anything to earn your trust, have I?”
I didn’t answer.
“But I want to.” He held up his hands. “We’re here, Dean, to help. Nothing more. Can we reset from last night?”
Humility from my father? He wanted my trust? What he deserved was my hate. Complete hate for never being there for me, for preferring parties and fucking to his family.
It was my turn to release a heavy sigh. What choice did I have? If I drove them away, I didn’t have anywhere else to go for help with Louise. What if her power reached deadly levels? What if it hurt her somehow?
I would never forgive myself.
“Okay. I’m sorry.”
“So am I,” Orla said. “My perfume made you drink. It’s all my fault. I’m so, so sorry. I won’t wear it again. I really didn’t think.” Her hand on my arm again. “Really, Dean. You have to believe me. I don’t want anything from you, but your friendship. I’m so delighted you’ve found happiness. Yes, I was surprised it was with a man, but I am happy for you. You seem to have a wonderful life. I’d like to be in it, even a small part. I truly would.”
I took half a minute to answer. “Let’s reset.”
“Excellent,” my dad said, mood shifted back to chirpiness. “I think we have orange juice somewhere.”
I opened my bag and presented the things I’d brought with me. “Nothing like this spread.” I dumped it on the blanket. “I’m not hungry or thirsty. Let’s talk.”
Dad, on other hand, took a date and also topped up his glass. “Very well. Talk.”
So I explained in more detail how Louise had frozen the people in the hospital, protecting Jake and me from the threat of Elijah Hart and his followers. We hadn’t been frozen. Dad knew the details, but it didn’t hurt to run over them again.
“That’s awful,” Orla said. “Poor little girl.”
“And then there’s the threat of this woman in green too.” I stood up, pacing. “What’s going on with my daughter? Why is this happening? What would anyone want with her?”
Fuck! I wanted to punch that tree.
“Dean…” Orla said, not adding anything further.
My dad stood up, crossing his hands behind his back and pacing too. I stopped, not wanting to mirror him. “It is commonplace, as you know, for a fae child to display their powers at birth. Not later on. But there is the condition of her quarter blood. However, that would mean her blood would be further diluted, that any power would be a simple trace magic more than actual skill.
Perhaps the glowing of her hands. Hmmm…” He paced some more. “I have a theory, but I will need your permission to put it into action.”
“What is it?” I sat down.
He sat down too, sitting forward with his shoulders on his thighs. “Have you heard of the Weed of Tine?”
“The fire weed?”
“That’s right. A common weed but brewed correctly, it can reveal things that are hidden. It would take an alchemist of great skill to enact the correct process.”
“I know someone just like that. We can go and see her now. She won’t mind if it’s about Louise.”
“Excellent. But before we go, let me enjoy some of this marvelous chicken.”
I didn’t look at Orla the whole time my dad ate, scared to look because things that wanted to be thought were lingering on the edge of my mind.
No way was I letting them take shape.
Seven
Jake
Dark skin, pallid in death, her neck broken. Naked, a red rose painted crudely onto her stomach. There was no sign of any other injury aside from the twisted mess of her neck.
Poor Melony. She hadn’t been here for long, it looked like.
She was inside a red window. Another worker coming for the daytime shift found her. Lars, Evi, and the other coppers had cleared people out of the narrow street of red windows branching off from the main drag. While I was taken to the body, Evi stayed with Cherry outside the cordoned off zone.
First, I used the UV light to check for pod traces. Pod traces were notorious for vanishing quickly or lingering for a while.
But… Ding, ding, ding! The rose was pure pod, and there were other traces (shown as a nasty yellowish-brown) spattered across her body, even across her face.
How the hell had it taken that rose shape? They were normally smooth bumps.
Crap. Mutation? Beefing up?
Crap!
“Pod?” Lars asked.
“Yep. Best keep your distance.” That stood for me too.
Magic scanner next. There were two screens on the pebble-shaped device—a dial-in one, numbers in the other. The dial buzzed gently, which meant that was a middle danger reading. I stood back after the reading. Everyone did when I warned them there was a threat.
