Long Night Moon (The Bradbury Institute Book 2)

by Sonya Clark

  Eve shoved him away from Agnar, the scream dying with a jarring suddenness. “Stop it! Don’t do this!” She gasped for breath, stumbling to her knees next to him. “Whatever happened before, it’s over. It’s gone. Leoben is gone.” She reached for him but he drew away, unwilling to look at her. “You’re Pete Cadkin now. The past is gone.”

  Pete shook his head. It didn’t work that way. He could run, hide, change his name, but the past had found him anyway.

  Agnar sat up, wiping blood from his face. “The past is never gone. It lives inside us, doesn’t it, Leoben?” He climbed to his feet and tossed the manacles aside then addressed Eve. “I don’t know how much you were able to glean from the manacles so I’ll give you the highlights. Little brother Leoben ran away to Sideways for the umpteenth time. He refused all of our mother’s attempts at discipline, at education. Magical education, of course, not that mundane nonsense. He thought he was better than us because he happened to have more innate talent, but he refused to do anything useful with it. So he ran away, yet again. He made the mistake of venturing into the Valley Below and the Bone Queen took him.”

  “That’s a lie,” Pete said. “Want to tell her what your idea of useful was?”

  “The Bone Queen took him and made him her favorite pet. I don’t even know for how long, since time works differently here. You look older than you should, Leoben, so I’m guessing it was quite some time. And as for useful, I’m the one who secured your release. But by then you were nearly insane.”

  “I won’t argue that. I was stone crazy by then. I might have been okay with just you but you had to bring her with you.”

  “Of course I brought Mother, why wouldn’t I? I’ve never understood your hatred of her.”

  Pete laughed. “You were always such a momma’s boy, you never had any idea what she was really like. Or how far she was willing to go to get what she wanted.”

  “So she wanted power, so what? Knowledge, magical ability. What’s wrong with wanting those things? Should I tell Eve what you did to our mother or would you like to be the one?”

  Pete stood slowly, every muscle aching from tension. Eve stood as well, but edged closer to Sanngrid. Good. Let her be afraid of him. He met her eyes. “I killed her because she’s the one who sold me to the Bone Queen. She traded me for access to Fae magic she wasn’t capable of on her own.”

  Agnar’s icy control finally broke. “You’re lying! You bastard, you lying bastard!”

  Eve hugged herself, ignoring Agnar and holding Pete’s gaze. “I know. I saw it. Oh, Pete.” She reached for him, her hand hanging in the air.

  Pete looked away, not wanting to see pity in her eyes. “I lost control and the magic just came out like a bomb blast. I couldn’t stop it. By the time all that dark energy was out of me, she was dead. A bunch of the queen’s courtiers were dead, some of her guards, even a few other prisoners. I’m not sure if I consciously tried to kill the queen but all I managed to do was leave a scar on her face.”

  Sanngrid came to stand close by Eve’s side. “That’s why she wants your skull.” She stood so close to Eve that he almost missed Sanngrid pressing a gun into Eve’s hand.

  Right. Time to go. Whatever Agnar wanted from him, he’d done enough damage. They needed to get out of Sideways. “We’re done here,” he said to Agnar. “You know where to find me.”

  “Don’t you want to know how to reach me?” There was a nasty little undercurrent of amusement in Agnar’s voice.

  Pete stared. “Whatever you’re up to isn’t just about me. You’ll turn up again when you decide to show your cards.”

  Crantz decided to remind everyone of his presence. “Not that it isn’t just loads of fun to take in all this family melodrama while I sit here bleeding, but you might want to take note of the new arrivals.”

  Pete turned to face the entrance, senses already prickling with a powerful energy signature he recognized. From just beyond the curve of the tunnel, still out of sight, came a ragged scratching noise. Like nails on a blackboard, or in this case a stone wall. Inch long nails filed to dangerous points, stained with blood in a sickening version of a French manicure─that had been part of her signature look. Pete remembered those nails slicing open his flesh over and over.

  She entered the cave at a stately pace, dragging her fingers across the stone until she ran out of wall. Dressed in layers of her favorite colors black and red, a mass of dark curls piled high on her head and held in place by a crown made of finger bones. Her eyes glittered like jewels and her full mouth stretched into a wide grin. Her pale skin was marred only by the scar that began just below her left eye, traversed across her nose and lips, and ended at her jaw line near her right ear. She might have been beautiful if not for the scar and the madness that oozed from her like sweat.

  The Bone Queen clapped her hands. “My darling Leoben! My favorite pet. How good it is to see you again. You have grown more handsome in our time apart.” She giggled, holding her thumb and forefinger an inch apart. “It will give me a little twinge when I tear your face off your skull. But just a little.”

  Pete wanted to run, vomit, blow stuff up. Not necessarily in that order. He had to agree when he heard Sanngrid mutter, “Sideways is full of psycho bitches.”

  The part that really bothered him, though, was the sight of dozens of the Queen’s guards arrayed behind her, cutting off their only exit. The three of them would have to fight their way out. He had no doubt Agnar and his lackeys would refuse to help.

  Pete withdrew Bloodsinger from its sheath. “Game on, Valkyrie.”

  Chapter 13

  Bettine tossed the magazine to the floor and glanced at the clock on the wall. An entire day and now half the night wasted on this ridiculous goblin hunt. She’d never understood why Judith didn’t employ a larger security detail. The least the director could have done was insist Pete and Sanngrid be the ones to deal with this nonsense, leaving the rest of them free.

  Even if Judith had done so, Chet still would still have wanted to help. He took on entirely too much responsibility, usually at the expense of time with her. Bettine was used to being the one in charge in her relationships and though she still was in this one, Chet had a bad habit of asserting his independence when it least pleased her. If he wanted to get his hands dirty capturing a goblin, let him. She had better things to do.

  Except she really didn’t. Her work running the Collections department bored her no matter what sort of interesting magical items came into the institute. None of them could do what she wanted and she found it increasingly difficult to even pretend to give a damn. Chet made for a pleasant diversion but even that was beginning to wane. She’d briefly considered tossing him aside for Pete but it was clear the younger man had no use for her and only had eyes for Eve Kane. Not that that made any sense to Bettine, but humans were frequently inexplicable to her.

  With a wave of her hand she turned off the lights in her office and gathered her coat and gloves. She locked her office door and walked briskly through the department, the click of her heels the only sound. Something tickled her senses as she reached the exit. She ignored it and passed into the hall, locking the second door. The goblin could be parked in plain view in the hall for all she cared. It was not her concern.

  Still, it did surprise her to find exactly that. The nasty little creature sat several feet away noshing on a pilfered cupcake. Chocolate frosting was smeared over its greenish skin and under its yellow nails. Bettine curled her lip, disgusted at both the sight and smell of the thing. They had their uses, to be sure, but she’d always agreed with her father that the best use of a goblin was on a hunt. He had always enjoyed killing the vile things.

  It made her sad to think of her father, which made her want to hurt something. She’d become skilled at putting thoughts of home in the back of her mind. She’d had no choice. For some reason now the memories filled her.

  Bettine swayed, catching herself with a hand on the wall. The goblin chuckled, a sound even dirtier that its fac
e. The thoughts of home were coming from it. It held up its free hand to display fingers busy weaving nightmare gossamer.

  She stalked toward it, ready to kill. How dare the nasty little thing use its magic on her. She would teach it a lesson by putting her heel in its filthy face.

  It stopped her cold. “Your father sends greetings.” It smacked on the last of the cupcake.

  No such creature would dare mention her father, even in an oblique way, without reason. Without sanction. Her insides twisted. Unable to voice a question, she stared.

  “Does thee wish to return home?” Its mouth curled into a semblance of a grin, baring crooked, pointed teeth.

  Bettine found her voice. “Don’t play with me, goblin.”

  It tittered. “No, highness, no. I would do no such thing.” It managed to sound both obsequious and menacing at the same time. “I bring a message from your king and father.”

  Her exile had lasted decades, the curse that kept her from returning to Sideways immune to her best efforts at lifting it. She didn’t dare hope this could be real, or even if it was that a reconciliation might be in the offering. “Speak your message and leave.”

  “His Majesty will allow the wayward half-breed to return. If the one displays proper remorse. If the one is willing to do what is necessary to lift the curse.” It rubbed its hands together in glee, a sure sign that what was necessary would be quite bad indeed.

  But the thought of home, that took her breath. All these years of living among mortals had taken a great toll. At times she despised them, even Chet. She tried not to, she really did, even if the others at Bradbury didn’t see it. She tried to care for them and find common ground and even allowed Chet to show her kindness, affection. But no matter how hard she tried, her nature-her true Unseelie nature, not her mother’s mortal blood-always found its way to the surface.

  “Tell me more.”

  ***

  They’d made a dent in the Bone Queen’s guards but not enough. Pete and the others had been forced into the back of the cave, badly outnumbered. He hacked and slashed with Bloodsinger, careful in the tight space not to hurt anyone he cared about. If Crantz got in the way, well, too bad.

  A woman’s scream drew Pete’s attention. Sanngrid slumped against the stone wall, blood flowing from a wound in her upper right arm. Her sword arm, damn it. Eve rushed to her side and did what she could to help. Pete returned his attention to the fight as another of the queen’s guards advanced on him.

  Exhaustion made it a struggle to repel the guard but he got it done. Slumping briefly against the wall, Pete began to contemplate the possibility that they were well and truly screwed. No way out of the cave, no guarantee they’d be able to reach any portals, much less the right ones. A whisper of magic teased just below his awareness, a magic that was violent and brutal and guaranteed to leave blood in its wake. That could get them out, but did he want to call on that part of himself? Could he, and still face Eve after it was done? Face himself?

  Pete glanced at his brother, backed into a tight corner at the other end of what meager space they had left. The familiar glow of Agnar’s magic, a reddish-purple light, was cast against the stone. His lackeys were nowhere to be seen.

  His brother never went anywhere without a way out. It was one of their mother’s few useful lessons. Pete pushed off from the wall and began to fight his way to Agnar. He yelled at Eve and Sanngrid, “Follow me!” Eve nodded, taking the sword from Sanngrid and supporting her.

  Agnar greeted him with a sneer. “Want something, little brother?”

  “Don’t be an ass!” Pete slashed at another attacker. “Get us out of here.”

  “Are you deigning to ask for my help, Leoben?”

  “She’ll cut you into ribbons too, you know. Now get us out!”

  Eve cried out as she struggled to heft the heavy sword. Sanngrid used her good arm to help and they took out an attacker. Pete called out to Eve, “The guns have cold iron bullets!”

  Agnar raised his hands, the reddish-purple light expanding across the wall. Magic parted the elements that made up the stone like water, creating a wide opening. Pete ushered Eve and Sanngrid through, then stood shoulder to shoulder with Agnar. “Where does this lead?”

  “The lakeshore,” Agnar said. “After you.” He jerked his head at the opening.

  It might give them just enough time. Pete couldn’t see the Bone Queen in the fracas but her mad laughter echoed through the cave. He didn’t trust his brother as far as he could throw him but he did trust his brother’s sense of self-preservation. Besides, he didn’t have a choice.

  Pete stepped into the opening. Eve and Sanngrid were a few feet ahead, waiting for him. Agnar had created another tunnel through the mountain, or perhaps found an old one long ago sealed by magic. Either way, it would lead them out. “Let’s go.”

  Agnar followed and sealed the entrance behind them. Shouts of anger could be heard for a moment, then nothing. Pete tossed a ball of blue-silver witchlight into the darkness. The tunnel snaked through the mountain, the only sound their breathing and hurried footsteps. The air gradually became colder. Soon they didn’t need the light. An exit beckoned ahead, glowing with the intense light of the Long Night Moon.

  They ran out into the snow. Pete grinned, exultant. For one brief moment he considered thanking Agnar. Then the shimmer of magic revealed itself to him, followed by the sight of the Bone Queen and more of her guards surrounding them. Spears and swords were thrust inches from their faces. The tip of a sword bit into the vulnerable flesh of his shoulder, between the plates of armor that protected his arm and the top of his shoulder. It sank deep, sending pain shooting through his body. He dropped Bloodsinger in the snow.

  Agnar stood flanked by his lackeys, untouched by the guards. Smug triumph twisted his face.

  Pete glared at Agnar. “You son of a bitch.”

  The Bone Queen’s laughter rang out. With a lazy wave of her hand she raised Pete several feet off the ground and trapped him immobile.

  Chapter 14

  Chet dropped into a chair in the Oracle. “You’re sure the goblin’s dead?”

  Bettine raised an eyebrow. “It got in my way so I dealt with it. Nasty thing.”

  “Where’s the body?”

  “In the incinerator.” Bettine kept her flinty gaze on Chet.

  He had no reason to doubt her. No specific reason, anyway. Now their goblin problem was over and all that was left was the last of the cleanup. Maura worked on breaking down the traps. Niall and Franny had taken the weapons back to storage. Judith was on the other side of the room, holding her phone to her ear and looking impatient. “Okay. Guess we can call it a night then.”

  Bettine swept from the room without another word. Chet had a feeling he’d done something to anger her but for once he didn’t care. She’d left him alone and vulnerable to attack by a nightmare goblin. Let her stew for a while.

  Judith walked over and tossed her phone onto the table. “When’s the last time anyone saw Sanngrid?”

  Chet shrugged. “When she brought the weapons up?”

  Rami ambled over with two cups of coffee in his hands, offering one to Chet. “Did Pete and Eve ever show up?”

  “Maybe they’re in their apartments.” Chet tasted the coffee. “I don’t think anyone ever called them.”

  Judith said, “When you go home, check on Eve, will you? I don’t like this goblin business going on and not hearing from my people.”

  “I thought we had some things to discuss.” Chet didn’t want to bring up Devin’s name.

  “Damn.” Judith rubbed her temple. “Yeah, meet me in my office in half an hour.”

  The door banged open, Franny and Niall running in. “We’ve got a problem,” Franny said. She dropped a black box on the table.

  Chet looked inside. “What the hell is this?”

  Franny pointed at the contents. “That’s Eve’s hair, I know it is.”

  “That’s not all,” Niall said. “Bloodsinger’s gone and so is
Sanngrid and Pete’s personal armor.”

  Chet pulled his phone from his pocket. “I’m calling Pete, somebody else call the other two.”

  Rami withdrew his phone and Judith picked up hers. No one got an answer.

  Judith said, “Does anybody know anything, anything at all?”

  “Just that they were going into town,” Franny said.

  Chet rose. “If Pete’s got Bloodsinger and they’re wearing armor, there’s only one place they could be. Sideways.”

  “Pete wouldn’t go to Sideways, he doesn’t even like being near the gate,” Franny said. She lifted the box, staring at her friend’s hair.

  “He would if someone took Eve.” Chet looked at Judith. “We’ll need George.”

  “He’s in the library, I’ll get him.” Judith left in a run.

  A sense of panic enveloped the room. They had no idea what happened or where to look. Thinking of the tiny black diamond found in the kitchen, Chet had an inkling of who they were dealing with.

  Niall said, “Are we to raid?” An undercurrent of excitement colored his voice.

  Chet took a deep breath. “We’ll need weapons and armor.” He turned to Maura. “And first aid supplies.” Niall, Rami, and Maura scattered. Chet placed a hand on Franny’s shoulder. “And someone to hold the fort.”

  “No! I can help. They’re my friends too, Chet!”

  “You have no combat training and we don’t know what we’re walking into.” He softened his tone. “Please go help with supplies.”

  She left the room angry but he knew she’d follow orders. What he couldn’t understand was why Pete didn’t come to him. Pete might care for Eve but if someone took a member of the institute, getting them back should not be turned into a personal vendetta.