by Liz Schulte
And now we had lost her. She left us because we were too weak. It was no wonder she liked the jinn better. They, at least, were strong and fought for what they wanted. Holden was dogged in his pursuit of her, and it paid off in the end—
Jace reappeared across the table from me.
“Quintus, by God, you look downright surly.”
“Do I?”
He nodded. “None of the elders I spoke with had any idea about the missing guardians. They think it’s a fluke.”
I shook my head. “How can they be so out of touch with their own people?”
“I understand your frustration, my friend, but I do have something that might help.” He produced a sheet of parchment with at least two dozen names scrawled across it.
“What is this?” My eyes scanned the sheet, noting a lot of the same names were on my list.
“The missing guardians.”
“How did you get it, if no one knows about them?”
“There is, for lack of a better word, a resistance among some of the younger guardians who are not quite so settled in our ways. They are on the ground and more aware of their peers than the elders, I am sad to say. They have compiled the list of missing people. I was able to get us a copy. I thought while you are confined to the house, you could study the names and search for a connection.”
“I haven’t spoken with some of these guardians since their training. I don’t know all of them well.”
“But you know some. Write profiles on all those you know, and we’ll worry about the others later. Even the smallest detail might help.”
And so I began: Lucas: Approximately 600 years old. Worked the North Carolina region. Had been with partner Anna for 125 years. Interests/Hobbies - golf and hiking.
Henry: 200 years old. Worked in Texas region. Unattached. Interests/Hobbies - Art and Amateur Historian.
I went on like this for hours, grasping for any threads of memories pertaining to the missing. By the end of the list, I had managed something, however minor, for each person which made me feel better. Jace set up a map and placed pins to mark where each of the guardians worked. I transferred each profile for the missing guardians to a white board. When we were finished we stood back and surveyed our results. There was no obvious pattern to the places disappearances had occurred. Guardians had gone missing from all over the map. There were huge differences in ages and interests. I didn’t know these guardians well enough to find the link, if there even was a link.
Jace looked at his watch. “I have a meeting, but keep trying. I’m sure you’ll find something.”
I stared at the boards until they swam together. How did the jinn transport guardians from all over the country back to Chicago without anyone noticing? It couldn’t have been easy to hide an upset guardian over a four or five hour flight. I kept coming back to Lucus’ name. He and Anna were my friends. I imagined Anna was taking all of this hard. Then it hit me like a sledgehammer. Why was I sitting here doing nothing? I was doing the same thing I had cursed the elders for. All of these people had homes or significant others who could shed far more light on this than I ever would. I transported to Lucus and Anna’s home an instant later.
Their house looked the same as the last time I visited, about fifteen years ago. It was a stone and wood cabin nestled in the mountains of North Carolina. Large pink rose bushes bloomed by the front porch, and a manmade stone waterfall cascaded down the mountain next to the stairs leading up to the house.
When Anna answered my knock and opened the screen door, I almost didn’t recognize her; she looked so tired and down-trodden.
“Quintus, please tell me you’re here with news about Lucus.”
I took her hands. “I’m so sorry, Anna. No...”
Her shoulders slumped and she shuffled back into the house with me at her heels. She sat on the couch, pulling her knees up under her. “I don’t know what to do. Who could have taken him and why? You don’t think he left me, do you?”
“Lucus would never leave you.” I squeezed her frail fingers. “And he isn’t the only one who’s gone missing. I am looking into the disappearances. Can you tell me anything out of the ordinary that happened?”
She shook her head. “I’ve racked my brain trying to think of any indication of where he went, but everything was business as usual.”
“What happened the last time you saw him?”
She swallowed, and her deep brown eyes glassed over for a moment. “We woke up, had breakfast, then went to get our assignments for the day. Once we had the assignments he kissed my cheek and I haven’t seen him since.”
“What was his assignment?”
“I don’t remember.” She looked up thoughtfully. “I think he might have mumbled something about Chicago though.”
“So he was sent out of his area.”
“Yeah, I think so. But that isn’t unusual. We’ve all been sent to Chicago at some point or another in the past year. Lucus was sent because he was so good at working with children. He often got special assignments.”
I smiled encouragingly. This would solve my transportation issue. If they all had assignments in Chicago the day they disappeared, then at least they were abducted from the same city. However, it also didn’t prove one way or another it was Ezra. Sure he gave out assignments, but if he assigned everyone to Chicago and only two dozen went missing, something else was still linking them. “Did he see or talk to anyone that day?”
“Well, we ran into Ezra. It was so strange to see an elder, I can’t believe I forgot. He was posting jobs when we arrived. I thought he had assistants for that type of thing. We also chatted with Bryan, Chris, Marybeth, and Jace for a little while. Everyone was in good spirits.”
I patted her hand. “If you need anything or if you remember anything else, you know where to reach me. I’m trying to lay low at the moment, so I can get to the bottom of this. Please don’t let anyone know you’ve seen me.”
She nodded then tilted her head to the side. “You look as worn down as I feel, Quintus. Take care of yourself. You work too hard.”
“There’s always so much to be done.”
“Is it true you’ve been training a new guardian alone?”
“Yes, I was training her.”
“Is she out of training already? After a year?” Anna’s face contorted in surprise.
I forced a smile. “She caught on very quickly.” I stood up. “I am sorry, Anna. I will do everything in my power to find out what happened.”
She hugged me, and I hugged her back. For a moment my heart lightened. “I know you will.”
I left and went to Henry’s loft. It was cluttered and chaotic. I glanced around, but nothing stood out to me until I was about to leave. There was a faint line down one of his bookshelves that didn’t appear to be a seam. Inspecting it, I couldn’t tell what it was, but I suspected a door. I tried to pull it open, but it didn’t budge. I searched for a lever, but couldn’t find one. I gave up and transported to the other side. In the little, dark room was a large map on the wall that looked very familiar. Pins were sticking out of it in the same places Jace and I had pinned earlier, only on this map all of the pins had strings that led back to Chicago. Next to it was a city map bearing marks for each missing guardians. Each had disappeared from an area I knew all too well—the warehouse Olivia and I were assigned to. Pieces of parchment paper with similar handwriting to the sheet Jace gave me covered the walls. Henry must’ve been part of the resistance. I needed to talk with Jace’s sources.
My investigation lit a fire in me that burned away all my self-pity and remorse. I would find the traitor and set everything right again. I now understood why Olivia liked getting so involved. It was exhilarating.
Twelve
A knock at my door woke me. I shot out of bed and back to the living room where I discovered Liv had managed to keep herself busy, very busy, while I slept. “Go in the bedroom,” I told her as I headed for the door.
“No.” She followed behind me.
I guess we’re both liars.
I sighed. I had no idea how I was going to handle her. Not only had she turned my apartment into a pink, orange, and purple nightmare, she was willful to fault. I stopped walking and faced her. Go to the bedroom or I call this whole thing off.
Holden, if you’re going to be in danger then I’m going to be in danger with you.
That isn’t what we agreed on. Go.
She stared back at me making no effort to move.
“Hey, boss-man, you in there?” Baker’s voice called from the other side of the door.
I opened it without forcing Liv to hide. Baker ambled inside and smiled at me, still wearing my face. Olivia gasped behind me, but moved for a closer look. “Lose the disguise.”
In the simple motion of a shrug, he melted back into himself—at least the version of him I knew. Who knew what any shifter looked like.
“It’s good to see you, boss.” His eyes sought out Olivia, an almost manic grin splitting his face as he ran his hand through his ginger hair. “And you. I’ve been waiting to meet you. I knew you existed though he kept denying it. Can’t pull a fast one over ol’ Baker. You aren’t at all how I pictured you though.” He spoke at his usual ninety miles an hour.
Olivia had yet to crack a smile. I couldn’t hear a damn thing in her mind. “You’re his criminal friend?”
Baker gave her a strange look.
We’re all criminals here. You have to blend.
She ignored me. “Where’s my mother?”
Baker glanced at me. “Safe,” he answered her.
“That isn’t what I asked.”
“Boss?”
I shook my head and a wave of anger hit me.
Olivia stomped her foot. “Damn it, Holden!”
“It’s better like this. I’ll take you to her when it’s safe.”
“She was a real nice dame. She’s happy and relaxing right now.”
Olivia ignored him and glared at me, fuming.
I took a step toward her and ran my hands down her arms. There are more important things to worry about. If they don’t accept us back, the less you’ve revealed to them the better. Trust me, Liv.
She sighed, and her anger wavered, revealing worry beneath it. I pulled her into my arms, and she returned the embrace, much to my surprise.
Baker gave a long whistle from behind. “Have you lost your marbles? She’s a flippin’ guardian.”
“Oh my God, the horror,” Olivia spoke against my shoulder, not pulling back.
I laughed and feathered a kiss against her temple. Even if I died today on Olivia’s emotional roller coaster, I’d die happy.
Baker stared at me with his mouth agape.
“What?” I asked him.
“Okay, well let’s ignore the obvious—that she’s your enemy. You laughed.” He walked a little closer shaking his head. “You threaten to kill me. You order people around and roll your eyes, but you never laugh.”
Olivia broke our embrace, but kept her arm around my waist. “That surprises me. I used call him Chuckles.” Her voice and face were serious which made a smile tick at the corner of my mouth.
I nodded and Baker’s eyes looked like he might have to push them back in. “Baker, stop being an idiot. We have to catch you up, and I don’t have a lot of time. This is Olivia. Olivia this is Baker—”
“Nice to meet you.” She offered him her hand, but he gawked at her.
“I’ve never met a guardian.”
“Well, they don’t bite,” Femi’s voice came from closer behind us than she should have been able to get without my noticing. When had she come inside? Had she been here the whole time? “But I do.”
Olivia smiled. “Took you long enough.”
“Jesus H. Christ! A sekhmet.” Baker shook Olivia’s hand still flabbergasted and stared at Femi now. “This must be some story.”
“We don’t have time to get into this now, so you get the Cliff notes. Juliet and Danica were selling Guardians to demons. I stopped them and saved Olivia.”
Olivia snorted.
“Well, I tried to save her. They were about to send me to Hell, when she pulled my soul from purgatory and killed the demon. So we left.”
“I don’t want to go back to the guardians. They’re stuffy and boring. I want to be with Holden. I always wanted to be with Holden.”
Femi prowled around Baker, her eyebrows pulled together, sniffing the air.
“I know this is where I should be.” Olivia took my hand and burrowed into my side a little. I repeated in my mind she was playing a part, but my heart ignored me as it clenched in my chest at hearing the words I wanted to hear.
“Who are you?” Femi asked.
“I’m about to become their fire extinguisher,” he mumbled, frowning. “Name’s Baker. How about you, doll?”
“Femi. You smell—” she sniffed the air three times, “trustworthy. I like him.” Despite Femi’s bold declaration, I could still feel Olivia’s doubt even though she was blocking her thoughts. It took her less than 24 hours to ignore everything she agreed to.
Baker laughed. “Look, I’m no pushover. Are you two on the level?”
I nodded. “She’s mine.”
Baker shook his head. “And you have your soul?”
“Yes. We need to figure out what to do.”
Baker whistled. “I never thought I’d see you with a bluenose, no offense.”
“Bluenose?” Olivia asked.
“Damn it, Baker, no more slang.”
“I didn’t mean any offense. Boss, we need to talk.” He nodded over to the side.
“But what’s a bluenose?” Olivia asked.
“You know like a nun, a prude, a guardian.” He shrugged with his cheerful half grin.
Olivia scowled. I resisted the urge to smack Baker on the back of the head and walked over to the kitchen with him before he could offend her further.
Baker gave me a bewildered look. “This dame’s gonna get you killed. And what the hell happened to your place?”
I rolled my eyes, still not looking at the tangerine colored chairs with checkered pink sides or the terrible flowered curtains.
“I’m going to be frank with you, boss, even if it pisses you off. Cut her loose or get the hell out of Dodge. You have your soul and the girl you love? Why come back? She doesn’t belong with us.”
“Baker, I’m going to say this once so listen. Mind your own business. Where I go, she goes, and I’m staying here. End of story.”
Baker didn’t look fooled, but he dropped it. “Okay, so what’s the plan?”
“That’s why I called you. We need a way to make them want to keep me on even with the guardian girlfriend and a soul.”
Baker tapped his foot and rubbed a hand over his ginger stubble. “When you meet with the demon, make a big show of power. Show them like this you’re stronger than anyone else.”
“Yeah, that’s great, but how?”
“Get Phoenix, Mears, and Cicero and their people to stand behind you, plus all the new jinn who are loyal to you. Have them all at the club when you meet Malphas and show you have the backing of jinn.”
“Jinn aren’t known for loyalty. They’re just as likely to kill me. What do they gain by keeping me in charge?”
“Don’t sell yourself short. Times are good for jinn, especially for those three, and you’re no small part of that. You brought organization and hierarchy. Something jinn needed. They may not like you, but they respect what you’re doing.”
“I think you underestimate their greed and thirst for power.”
“Well, you still have one thing they can’t get without you. A piece of power the demons will never offer.” He paused, waiting for me to guess.
“Get to the point.”
“Freedom. Dangle the guardian in front of them. If she could free you, she could free them and that is powerful motivation. I think you’ll find people become very loyal to you, boss.”
“I�
��m not a carrot, and I won’t be treated as such. I’m not freeing anyone else,” Olivia said behind me, a frown marring her beautiful face. “And I don’t appreciate being left out of conversations that have to do with me.”
I knew I kept Baker around for a reason. This plan could work, if we could get Liv on board.
Baker chose to ignore her and continued to talk to me. “Call a meeting, tell them she pulled your soul from purgatory, and it’s a brave new world for jinn. Only the most loyal soldiers will be given this opportunity. Then call the meeting with Malphas and lay your cards on the table. You’ll continue to do your job and improve results, but you get to keep the girl and your soul.”
“And if he says no?”
Baker shrugged. “Maybe it’s time for a revolution.”
The bedroom door slammed shut and waves of anger came from the room. Femi gave me a sympathetic look as she headed for the door. “You’ve got this covered. Liv has my cell phone number if you guys need me, but this,” she pointed at the bedroom, “you have to deal with on your own. Oh and nice place. Love the pink.” She winked and strutted out the door.
I nodded to her then looked back at Baker. “We’ll do it. Get everyone to the club tomorrow. I’ll talk to Olivia.”
“You’re different now. You know that, right?”
I glared at him.
Baker shrugged. “Don’t let them see that.”
“Get the hell out. I need to smooth things over with Olivia.”
The instant Baker departed, the bedroom door flew open, slamming into the wall, making me cringe at the mar it would leave.
“I’m not freeing every jinni, Holden! That wasn’t part of the plan. That wasn’t what we agreed to.”
“Olivia—”
“Do you have any idea how hard it was on me to free you? Not to mention the kind of havoc a gaggle of uncontrolled jinn will wreak on the world.”
I moved closer to her. “Liv—”
“It isn’t worth it. I’ll find the traitor another way.”
