Amber Smoke

by Kristin Cast

  “I’m only here to keep her safe.” He turned back to Eva. “Can you not feel that we’re connected?”

  She shuddered against the goose bumps rising on her arms “Look, I’m not going to deny that I feel something, but I don’t even know you.” She opened the door and stepped out of the car.

  “But you do feel it?” Alek slid across the backseat.

  She slammed the car door and turned, almost running into Alek. His amulet glimmered in the strips of sunlight pouring into the parking garage. “Where did you get that? I swear I’ve seen it before.” Her fingers hovered above the cloudy pink crystal.

  “You guys do know that I live upstairs, right?” Bridget asked with her hand on her hip.

  “Yeah, sorry, we’ll be right there,” she said, letting her hand fall.

  “Eva, I can help you discover your true self.”

  “Fine. Then answer my questions.”

  “As you wish.”

  “Who are you? Why are you following me?”

  “I am Alek, son of the Furies and Immortal Warrior of Tartarus. My only agenda is to unite with you so we may save your realm from evil and mine from destruction.”

  Eva scoffed and followed Bridget to the elevator. “Okay. You sound bananapants.”

  “I am offering you the truth,” he said, chasing after her. “If not for me, you would be dead. What reason do I have to lie? You saw me in a dream, did you not?”

  “He’s got a point, Eva,” Bridget said, punching the button for the elevator.

  “So you believe that he’s a warrior from Tartarus and is here so we can join forces and save the world?”

  “Well, I’m not sure what Tartarus is, but I do know that you woke up able to heal like Wolverine, and this guy seems to be closer to having answers than anyone else. I would at least give him a chance and listen to him.” The elevator opened and Bridget and Alek stepped in. “You coming?”

  Twenty-Six

  James dropped his phone on his desk and collapsed in to his chair with a sigh. Dull pain pulsed behind his eyes, and he rummaged through his drawers for a bottle of aspirin.

  “What’d you find out?” Schilling asked.

  “Nothing conclusive.” He removed the cap and emptied three pills into his palm. “She says she doesn’t remember what happened, but then had a strange reaction when she looked through the pictures. I’m not sure what to make of it.” He threw the pills in his mouth and swallowed, ignoring their sour coating.

  “You mind sharing a few of those?” Schilling held out his hand, and James tossed him the bottle. “What kind of reaction are you talking about?”

  “She recognized Bill and said that he wasn’t the one who abducted her. But then she started laughing.”

  “Laughing? Like something was funny laughing or like she’s deranged laughing?”

  James shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  Schilling shook out the pills and hammered them with a big gulp of water. “She laugh again when you showed her that picture you took of our suspect?”

  “No, she stopped the interview after she saw Alek.”

  “I can feel you lurking, Winslow,” Schilling said without turning to face him.

  “You’ve got that scary Spidey sense, Detective,” Winslow said.

  Schilling crossed his arms over his chest. “What do you want?”

  “Just have some news for you fellas, but don’t shoot the messenger.” He held up his hands and chuckled.

  “Speak, Winslow,” James said.

  “Got a call from Lori Kostas. She said that Eva’s left the hospital, and she can’t get ahold of her. She thinks she’s with a, uh…” he glanced at the Post-it stuck to his hand. “Bridget Falling. I have her address right here.” He handed James the yellow square. “Wants to know if you two will swing by there and get her back to the doctors.”

  “We’re not babysitters,” Schilling grunted.

  “No, but they also barricaded a nurse in the bathroom before they ran out.”

  “You’re kidding. What for?” James asked.

  “Don’t know, but you’d think it’d be something pretty bad. I’ve never heard of someone waking up after being out of it for days to lock someone in a bathroom.”

  “The nurse, she want to press charges?” Schilling asked.

  “Nope. Well, not if you can get Eva back to the hospital. You willing to go give Miss Falling a visit?”

  James tried unsuccessfully to stifle a groan.

  “I’m taking that as a yes and a thank you.” Winslow flashed a thumbs-up before leaving.

  “This may not be a complete fucking waste of time,” Schilling muttered, digging car keys out of his desk. “Eva’s in on it. I can feel it.”

  “What, with your Spidey sense?”

  Schilling grumbled and headed toward the hall.

  “Wait, you really think she had something to do with murdering that TU student? Not to mention strapping herself to a table and having someone tattoo and choke her. She could have died. You think she wanted all of that?” James asked, following his partner to the exit.

  “I’m thinking her injuries couldn’t have been too bad if she’s running away from the hospital.”

  “No one said she’s running.”

  “There a better reason for her to trap that nurse?”

  “You’re the one who told me not to jump to conclusions. Something about bending the evidence to fit your assumptions? Rookie mistake number three hundred and eighty? Remember that?”

  “I also don’t ignore the evidence.”

  “Neither do I. What we know is that she’s confused, scared, and probably disoriented. I can think of several different reasons why she’d feel like she had to get out of the hospital no matter the cost. Fear can make a person do a lot of things.”

  Schilling stopped in front of the exit doors. “Fine. Let’s pick a reason and say she just wanted to stretch her legs. She was almost strangled to death less than four days ago. How bad were they when you saw her?”

  “How bad were what?” James asked.

  “Her injuries. How bad were they?”

  He quietly studied his memory. “I guess I didn’t notice anything. Her tattoo was wrapped, but that was it.”

  “Exactly my point. The Bailey girl was bound, tattooed, strangled, and stabbed from head to toe. But this time the victim wakes up three days later with only a tattoo as evidence of anything happening. They made sure she would only be hurt long enough for us to believe she wasn’t involved. They got us chasing our damn tails.” He shoved open the door and squinted as he stepped into the sunlight.

  “But what reason did Eva have to kill her? We still haven’t found a connection between the two of them.”

  “Maybe they were going after the same guy, or maybe Eva just didn’t like the way she was looking at her.”

  “Yeah, I guess,” James said with a sigh.

  “Don’t you get it? Eva was laughing because of how far off our investigation is. It’s been him and her together this whole time, and she thinks it’s funny that we’ve missed it.” Schilling pressed the key fob and the car chirped.

  “But what about the mom’s boyfriend?” James asked, circling to the passenger side. “He just vanished. You think they had reason to get rid of him too?”

  “Maybe, if he got in the way. Right now, I don’t care about motive. We need to find this Alek No-Last-Name phantom, and I want to bring Eva in and talk to her as a suspect, not a victim.”

  • • •

  “So, what you’re telling us is that you’re from a mythological place where souls go to spend eternity when they’ve been damned to hell?” Bridget pressed her code into the keypad attached to her door, and the deadbolt whirred to life. “At least I know you’ll be there as eye candy when I’m sent to the fiery pit.”

  “What I speak of is not myth, nor is it a fiery pit. It’s beautiful.” Alek’s smile faded. “Or it was before the curse.”

  “Ooh, a curse? Tell me more,” Bridget said,
holding the door open for them to enter.

  “It weakened Tartarus, almost killed it, and made it possible for the creatures it jailed to escape to your realm.”

  “Don’t encourage him, Bridget. At least not until he tells us something useful.” Eva sat on the arm of the couch with her back to Alek. “Do you have your phone? We should listen to that message from my mom.”

  She searched her pockets and emptied her bag on the floor. “Crap, I must have left it in the car.” She picked up her keys and paused in the doorway. “Don’t say another word until I get back. I want to hear all about this curse.” The door closed, and the keypad beeped a few times before locking.

  “The curse, that’s how Alastor was able to free himself and kill you.”

  Eva closed her eyes against the rising memories.

  “You remember, don’t you?” Alek asked, lowering himself onto the velvet armchair across from her. “Now you have proof that what I say is true.”

  She shrugged. “Maybe I’m starting to believe some things, but you’re way off about him killing me. I’m still very much alive.”

  “Part of you died that night. You did not leave that basement the same woman as when you went down. You now have the power to heal yourself. Who knows what other power you possess? You must feel the changes.”

  Eva’s gaze searched the floor for answers. “I feel different. But—”

  A buzzer interrupted their conversation.

  Alek shot to his feet. Eva rolled her eyes. “Calm down, it’s just Bridget.”

  “Why would Bridget call her own apartment?”

  “She’s being lazy. She enters a code to get in. She doesn’t even have a key.” Eva walked toward the door.

  “Wait, it’s not safe. I will go,” he said, jumping in front of her.

  “I’ve got it. It’s fine. No one knows we’re here. If it’s not Bridget it’s one of her neighbors’ friends. We buzz people in all the time.”

  “What if it’s the people chasing you?”

  “No. One. Knows. We’re. Here. And I’m not sure if anyone is really chasing me. But if they are, I don’t need your help. I’m a big girl.” She stepped around him and pressed the video monitor by the door. “Oh my God.”

  “Who is it?” Alek rushed to her side. His muscles tensed, and Eva’s eyes wandered over the tight ripples in his T-shirt.

  “It’s the cops,” she said, pulling her attention back to the door.

  “Bridget, you there? It’s Detectives Graham and Schilling. We just have a few questions to ask you.” James shouted before buzzing again. The loud noise made Eva jump.

  “You no longer have to be afraid,” Alek spoke quietly and placed his hand on her shoulder.

  “It just startled me, that’s all.”

  “I will keep you safe.”

  Her gaze met his, and she relaxed for the first time since waking up in the hospital. “I know.” Her eyes fell to his amulet. The silver-wrapped crystal pulsed a brilliant amber. “That stone. I remember it from in Bill’s house, with Alastor. And from my dream.”

  “It is the last pure piece of my home and how I’m able to travel between realms.”

  She rubbed her finger against its smooth surface. “Does it always glow like this?”

  Alek took his hand off her shoulder and picked up the talisman.

  “That’s weird. It stopped,” Eva said.

  Muffled voices caught Eva’s attention, and she pressed her face against the door. “Bridget’s back.”

  “What is she saying? What’s going on?”

  “I don’t know. I can’t tell,” she said, watching the monitor. “Too bad advanced hearing isn’t one of your super powers.”

  The keypad beeped, and Alek pulled her away from the door and into the nearest closet. Fur coats and winter boots filled the cramped space, and Eva pressed her body against Alek’s to make enough room to close the door. The crystal flared back to life, and Alek covered the bright beam with his hand.

  “Why does it keep doing that?” she whispered.

  “I have never witnessed it before. It must have something to do with you. You are the Oracle.”

  “Oracle? What are you talking about?”

  “So sorry you waited for so long,” Bridget said loudly. “But as you can see, there’s no Eva in here.”

  Footsteps echoed off the hardwood as one of the detectives looked around.

  “So Eva didn’t come up here with you?” James asked.

  “Like I said, she freaked out at the hospital, and I haven’t seen her since she forced me to drop her off at the bus stop.”

  “And your friend, Alek. Seen him lately?” The detective’s country twang made his words rough and choppy.

  Bridget chuckled nervously. “I wouldn’t really call him a friend. I only talked to him that one time. So, no, I haven’t seen him.”

  “If you do,” he continued, “don’t approach him. Call us right away. He could be real dangerous.”

  “Will do.” Footsteps returned to the door, and the hinges whined as Bridget opened it. “Thanks for stopping by, Detectives.” The door closed, and she let out a big sigh.

  Eva pushed open the closet door. “That was way too close.”

  “You’re telling me. I was sure I’d open the door and the two of you would just be standing there out in the open. I’m glad you found someplace to hide.”

  “And you did a fantastic job lying.” Eva tripped over a pair of sparkly Ugg boots and flailed to grab onto anything to keep from falling on her face.

  “I got you.” Alek’s strong arms caught her around the waist. He lifted her to her feet, and she rested in his embrace.

  “Thanks.” She tucked a few stray hairs behind her ear and smiled up at him.

  “Are you two having a moment or no?” Bridget asked.

  “No.” Eva smoothed out her shirt and backed away. “I, uh, I just—”

  “No need to explain. If hunky Hercules wrapped me in those arms we would take a lot longer to get untangled.” She smirked.

  Alek cleared his throat. “We can no longer stay here. It’s not safe.”

  “He’s right,” Eva said, shoving the shoes back in the closet. “We have to go somewhere they won’t be looking for us.”

  “How about our country house? You can stay as long as you need to,” Bridget offered.

  “Since when do you have a house in the country?”

  “Since always. It’s north of Mohawk Park, or maybe it’s west. I don’t know. Either way, we used to go there like every week when we were younger.”

  “Oh, that house. It’s definitely still in Tulsa city limits, not the country.”

  “But it is in the absolute middle of nowhere. No one ever goes out there, and it’d be a perfect place to lay low.”

  “And you are sure the police will not visit there as well?” Alek asked.

  “Positive. They’d have to search real hard to even find out about it.”

  “Bridget, you’ve already done too much. I can’t let you put yourself in another situation that could get you in trouble.”

  “We have an office full of smarmy lawyers that get paid whether or not they’re actually working. Why not give them a little something to do?”

  Twenty-Seven

  Bridget’s country house stood nestled between towering pecan trees on a quiet five acres. She guided the SUV up the long gravel driveway and into the garage. “We may not be in the country country, but it’s a good thirty minutes to the nearest Saks,” she said, hopping out of the car and leading them into the house.

  “I’ll take a walk around to be sure this place is safe,” Alek said.

  “Do whatever you want,” Bridget said, dumping her bag on the kitchen counter.

  “If you need me, just yell. I will come.”

  Alek shut the door, and Bridget’s eyes immediately darted to Eva. “He’s hot, right? You gotta love that macho Superman thing he has going on. And that tight shirt. Sexy, sexy.”

  Eva shrugged. �
��I guess. I mean, I have more to think about than how he looks in his clothes.”

  “In his clothes? I was hoping we could find a way to get him out of them,” she snickered.

  “Oh, Bridge.” Eva rolled her eyes.

  “Don’t oh Bridge me. I saw how you looked at him when he saved you from face planting on my floor. You were totally loving it.”

  Eva’s cheeks flushed, and she threw a decorative hand towel at Bridget. “Shut up. I was not.”

  Alek came in through the back door and made sure the deadbolt locked firmly in place behind him. “I believe we are safe.”

  “Thanks,” Eva said, fanning the heat in her cheeks.

  Bridget stifled her giggles. “I’m going to go change. Alek, you want to get out of those clothes and into some sweats? Eva and I can dig through my dad’s closet. I’m sure we’ll find something to dress you up in.”

  “No,” Eva said before Alek had a chance to answer. “I don’t think that’s necessary.”

  “Fine. Keep him all to yourself.” She flitted down the hall and disappeared into a bedroom.

  Eva’s shoulders slumped as she stared into the stocked refrigerator.

  “Is something troubling you?” Alek leaned against the fridge.

  “I just feel so bad about everything. Making Bridget lie to the cops. Lying to my mom. Leaving her with no explanation. This whole thing is a mess.” She took a deep breath and held it for a moment. “Sorry,” she said, exhaling. “I shouldn’t be unloading on you like this. It just feels so natural, you know?”

  “We do have air conditioning,” Bridget said, returning to the kitchen. She reached around Eva and grabbed a shiny pink can. “Cheers.” She popped the top and lifted it in the air.

  Eva stared at her blankly.

  “What? It’s barely even one serving. Can we not just relax for, like, five minutes? No one knows you guys are here, and all of this stress is going to make me break out.” She grabbed another can off the shelf before heading to the living room.

  “Hey, Bridget, do you have your phone? I want to listen to that message my mom left.”

  “It’s in my bag on the counter.” She took a long gulp from the can and collapsed onto the oversized couch. “You guys want to watch a movie?”