by Emme DeWitt
“I did until I didn’t, okay?” Eli said. “I don’t know what else to say.”
“Fine,” Aleks said. “Go check in with Niko. I need to beat my uncle to the club, but I have to take care of something first.”
Eli snorted.
“Well, something is awake, so good luck,” Eli said, her heavy footsteps storming down the hallway and out of earshot.
I groaned into the nearest sheet. My eavesdropping skills needed work.
I could feel Aleks’ apprehension growing on the other side of the door. He was getting easier and easier to read, and that scared me. I wished for the days spent holed up in the library by myself, reading and studying. No big bad wolf. No emotional manipulation. Just me shutting out the world and living in peace.
Well, minus Mags.
I sighed in resignation, swiping blindly for the door handle in the dark. I swung the door open, catching Aleks off guard. Apparently he had not been successful in gathering the courage yet himself, but I knew he was on a deadline. I was no stranger to ripping off bandages.
“Hey,” he said, his face clamming up. He was uncharacteristically nervous, which left me perplexed.
“Hey,” I replied, sitting up from my rat’s nest of sheets. I ran my hands through my hair, attempting to smooth down the tousled strands and bring them back into order.
“You all right?” he asked, shoving his hands into the front pockets of his pants. His black sweater pulled slightly at the hem, the nervousness ruining the sleekness of his outfit. My face scrunched in response.
“That’s a deceptively simple question with some not so simple answers,” I replied. “But I guess so.”
“Really?” he asked, his eyes bashful in front of me for the first time.
“Yes?” I said, my tone doubtful due to his response. “Is there a particular reason why I shouldn’t be?”
“Yesterday…” Aleks began, losing his words almost immediately.
I nodded sagely.
“Was a shit show,” I completed for him, forcing him to crack a nervous smile.
“Yes,” he replied.
“Eli seems fine,” I said.
Aleks shrugged.
“Eli is Eli,” he dodged. I gave him a measured look.
“Eli can be a bitch, but she still has feelings,” I said, my lips and eyebrows drawn down in disapproval. “Just because she can handle a lot doesn’t mean you shouldn’t worry about her. It’s always the tough cookies that really fall apart once they break.”
“I guess I should have expected you to come to her defense,” Aleks said, his hands digging deeper into his pockets. “With a food metaphor, no less.”
“Just take care of her,” I stated. “She sacrifices a lot for you. The least you can do is look after her properly.”
Aleks rocked back on his heels.
“So that’s what you saw,” he said. His hand reached up, grabbing the back of his neck. “I kind of figured.”
“Empath guinea pig privilege,” I said, making the sign for sealed lips, miming me throwing away the key.
“I see,” Aleks said. “That seems fair.”
“I think it’s also fair to say that Eli is relieved of any future guinea pig duties,” I said, catching Aleks’ eye. “I mean it. Even if she volunteers.”
“Agreed,” Aleks said, letting out a big sigh. “I’m going to leave the practicing up to you. Clearly facilitating was not the way to go.”
“Hey, at least we tried,” I said, untangling my legs from underneath me. I crawled out of the linen closet, forcing Aleks to step back out of the way. I stumbled upright, shaking pins and needles from my waking limbs.
“And now we know not to mess with you,” Aleks said, his lame attempt at lightening the mood making him seem even more awkward.
I let out a laugh, overcome with his adorableness. He was trying so hard to not make things worse, even if he was doing an odd job of it. I had to give him credit.
“Yes, the tiny tyrant will make you throw a tantrum and then threaten to dig your eyes out with her baby spoon,” I said, wiggling my fingers ominously in front of his face.
He laughed, the tension finally breaking between us.
“Terrifying,” Aleks joked, stepping aside to leave me room to walk beside him.
“How much time do we have before you need to meet your uncle?” I asked, padding down the carpeted hallway in nothing but my socks. I was curious where my shoes went off to, but didn’t waste brainpower worrying.
Aleks tensed beside me for a moment, and I caught the pause before he was able to recover.
“We,” Aleks said, clearing his throat. “We need to meet my uncle.”
I stopped walking. He turned back to me, a sheepish look already on his face.
“Really?” I said, my voice flat and unamused.
“Can I redeem myself for giving you enough time to shower and be presentable this time?” Aleks asked, his hands clasped out in front of him, as if praying to the angry little deity he just woke up. “I even have occasion-appropriate clothing.”
I crossed my arms, refusing to move.
“We need to have a discussion about boundaries and schedules. Like telling me if I have one a good time before I magically have to be somewhere important,” I scolded. “You’re not doing much better than the Association.”
“Ouch,” Aleks said, bending over and faking a chest wound. “Noted, now can you please hurry?”
Finally, a smile reached his eyes, and I could see the lightness return. His smile was broad enough to activate his dimple, and my breath caught momentarily. Every damn time. That dimple would be the end of me.
“Words,” I said, wagging my finger in his face. “We will be having words.” I tried to remain serious, but Aleks’ smile was infectious. I cracked after only a moment, which only led Aleks to grin even wider.
“I promise,” Aleks said, ushering me down the hall, weaving our way back to my personal quarters.
Niko was waiting outside the door, glancing pointedly at his watch. Aleks and I both shrank a little with the silent rebuke, and I dashed inside, leaving Aleks in the hall with the burly school marm and what I was sure would be the most hilarious disapproving lecture ever delivered.
“You call this appropriate?” I said, tugging at what could be considered the collar of my borrowed shirt. It was cut across the shoulders, and every time I moved, it slid from one side to the other. I couldn’t stop fidgeting and trying to fix it. I’m sure it looked cooler on someone who didn’t pick at it all the time.
“You look great,” Aleks said, taking a moment to look me in the eye.
I tried to stop fidgeting, letting the line of the shirt fall where it may.
My hair was pulled back in a series of twisted buns at the back of my neck. It was an odd feeling not having my hair falling against my neck and shoulders, but I did feel a little regal. I tried to hold my neck straight and keep the buns from falling to the back of my neck. Childhood lessons in posture echoed back at me, and I smiled sadly at the mimicry of Abuela’s voice.
Someone had set up a table in the middle of the club, the area surrounding it black with shadows and empty space. I felt like we were on a stage somewhere, performing an elaborate play. I clasped my hands in my lap, calling my breathing to mind as I fought to steel myself against the impending meet cute.
“I suck at acting,” I said suddenly, my eyes drawing back from the black edges of the room to find Aleks’ calm gaze.
“You’ll be fine,” he repeated for what felt like the hundredth time.
I exhaled audibly.
“Should I just not talk again? I feel better about the not talking strategy. Worked well the other night,” I babbled, knotting and unknotting my fingers together.
Aleks’ palm covered both my hands, and I froze.
“Just like we discussed,” Aleks said. “If they ask you a direct question, you should answer them. It’s okay not to initiate conversation. It’s going to be a big show anyway. They’re
trying to figure you out just as much as you’re trying to figure them out.”
“Why do they care about me? I’m not anybody special,” I muttered darkly.
“My uncle wants to pay his respects for your grandmother. He’s also poking around to figure out why you’re with me,” Aleks said.
A warmth radiated from me at Aleks’ words. With him. I bit the inside of my cheek hard, drawing blood. This was not the time for dimples and hand squeezes to throw me off my game.
I closed my eyes, focusing on taking long, deep breaths. I could do this. Just one more gauntlet to survive. Show the pony around a bit, and then we’d be good. No harm, no foul. I struggled to find more pep talk phrases. I was out of practice.
“Who’s he bringing with him again?” I asked, trying to replay all the information Aleks had schooled me on while my hair was being pinned back. If I kept the information on loop, maybe I could retain it when I needed it. Anything to soothe me would be welcome at this point.
“He’s bringing one of his interns. The intern is likely to be a supernatural, someone on the rise. Try and get a reading off him if you can. My uncle likes to think he’s in the know of everything, so he gets upset when he’s outmaneuvered. I’ve been outmaneuvering him for years, hence the…animosity,” Aleks said, squeezing my hand in reassurance. “You’ll do great.”
The side door opened with a bang, a stream of light beaming through before being interrupted by two large shadows. Niko had been outside, guarding the door and awaiting the guests. I could make out his shadow before the door was shut. Niko resumed his guard post, this time on the inside, out of earshot. The other two shadowy figures made their way to the table, taking their time getting from the doorway into proper view.
Aleks squeezed my hand one more time. His chair slid back noisily as he stood, securing the button of the sport coat he had added to his ensemble. He walked out to meet the shadows at the edge of the ring of light. I set my chair back lightly, standing to greet the guests as well but remaining in front of my seat. My stature didn’t give me much advantage though, even with the behemoth heels that had been loaned to me as a part of this particular costume. Much like my first night at the club, I felt like an imposter. At least tonight I got a knee length pencil skirt for my troubles.
The two forms shook Aleks’ hands forcefully, and I waited, holding my breath for the big reveal. In the back of my mind, I changed our setting from an elaborate Broadway stage play to an episode of a mob boss crime show. The only things missing were the cigars. It had to have the right amount of camp for me to not take the meeting so seriously as to vomit. Whatever spin would prevent that, I thought to myself.
The first man to step into the light was a bigger, burlier version of Aleks. His face looked as if it had been carved from a jagged crag of rock, minus the smooth sanding of an expert hand. I couldn’t see his eyes clearly due to his strong brow, but the emotions rolling off him were clearer and clearer as he closed the distance between us. Eye contact would not be necessary.
While he was imposing, I felt safe enough with Aleks. Worst case scenario, Niko had been instructed to flicker me out at the slightest hint of danger.
It was the second guest that turned my blood cold. When Aleks noticed my face blanche, his demeanor instantly went on full alert as he assessed our interaction.
“Brendan,” I breathed out, locking eyes with him.
He stopped in his tracks, eliciting the same raised brow from both Aleks and his uncle.
“You two know each other?” the uncle boomed, his voice echoing even in the large event space. A smirk his in the corners of his mouth, sensing somehow the tide had shifted in his favor already.
“Yes, sir,” Brendan said, all the color gone from his face. I could hear the stream of thoughts barreling through his mind at 100 miles an hour. I didn’t even need to purposefully access them.
What are you doing here? I thought you were dead. Oh my God. Why are you here? This is not good. What am I going to do? I thought you were dead. How did you get here? You can’t be here. You can’t.
I swallowed hard, trying to rein in my own whirlwind of feelings. My eyes darted to Aleks, trying to explain with my eyes the severity of this situation. His hand lifted from his side, pushing the air down slightly. The message was clear. Calm down. I inhaled deeply, a polite smile plastered to my face as Aleks’ uncle reached the table, his hand out to greet me. I shook his hand firmly, trying to leave a strong impression without overdoing it.
“Marek Navratil,” Aleks’ uncle said, returning my handshake with a solid grip. Clearly he wasn’t worried about my doll-like hand breaking in his grip. Luckily, it was a brief shake. “This is my associate, Brendan Silva.”
Brendan and I exchanged glances, stepping forward awkwardly to shake hands. Brendan’s gaze kept bouncing back toward Aleks, as if he were some demonic presence ready to swallow me up if I did not behave. I relaxed internally, realizing Brendan would hold his cards close to his chest in an effort to protect me. I wasn’t sure he was protecting me from the right people, but I could only hope it would make the meeting end that much more swiftly.
“Pleasure,” Aleks said, stepping in front of me to shake hands with Brendan. I blushed at the show of ownership, chafing at the posturing between the two guys. I wasn’t completely helpless on my own. Any other time and place, everyone would be getting an earful. “This is Evangeline de los Santos. She’ll be sitting in on our meeting today.”
The formal impersonal language piqued my interest. Was it normal to speak to family members this way?
Brendan opened his mouth, moving to correct Aleks’ supposed naming faux pas. I shook my head imperceptibly, and he caught the hint. His mouth snapped shut, his mind still trying to piece together my presence with the last time he saw me alive.
We all took our seats, settling in for a long, awkward exchange. Aleks had warned me that his uncle tended to be long winded, and I braced myself for the idle pleasantries to begin in the elaborate dance we were forced to enact. I crossed politician off my list of future career possibilities. I could already tell this was going to be painful.
“I would like to start with my sincere condolences, Ms. de los Santos,” Marek began, surprising me with his formal use of my name. It took me a moment to realize he had spoken to me, since de los Santos wasn’t my legal last name. I nodded in response, accepting his well wishes. “Your family has lost a great treasure this week. I’m sorry to hear Ana Maria had been sick for some time. I was unaware.”
I nodded again, unsure what else I could say.
“You’re her youngest granddaughter, yes?” Marek continued, his fingers poised delicately over the base of his wine glass. Measured, but deceptively innocent.
“That is correct,” I managed, crossing my legs with some difficulty. I had forgotten how snug the pencil skirt was, but the movement allowed me to resettle myself, and I felt more confident instantly. “My mother was her middle daughter.”
“Elena? Ah, forgive my memory,” Marek said, his ego slowly filling the room with his hubris. He gave me an indulgent smile. “It’s not as good as it used to be.”
“I’m sure your memory is as good as it always has been,” I said, trying not to let the chill shivering down my body become noticeable to the room. Marek’s voice was like an eel, making my skin crawl. Aleks hadn’t warned me enough about him.
At my discomfort, both Brendan and Aleks leaned toward me unconsciously. I plastered a smile on my face, trying to brave Marek’s inquisition.
“Well, be sure to send my regards to her as well. It’s hard losing a parent, even at your mother’s age,” Marek said. “So shall we celebrate your reunion? I hear the Silvas and the de los Santoses go back quite a ways.”
Marek raised his hand, snapping his meaty fingers together. Two women appeared from the shadows ready with bottle service. Once they served the table, they melded back in with the shadows. Marek raised his glass, the table responding in kind.
“To fa
mily,” Marek boomed, the chink of our glasses colliding raising the hairs on the back of my neck. “May blood always be thicker than water.”
I set my glass down without taking a sip. Brendan raised his eyebrow at me, but that was unavoidable. Take a sip underage? Eyebrow. Commit social etiquette suicide by not taking a sip? Eyebrow. Just like most things with Brendan, my decisions were met with mild disapproval. He had clearly gotten over the miracle of my being alive. His subconscious stream was now focused on how everything was linked together.
Specifically, how I ended up where I had.
Which was an excellent question. Aleks was difficult to read again, and I chalked it up to my scattered state of mind. If I was calm and collected, peeking behind the dark curtain of energy was no more difficult than with anyone else. If I wasn’t collected, the wall of darkness kept a solid barrier between Aleks’ feelings and my fruitless pondering. I let it. There were other things I needed to focus on.
Aleks had also set his glass down, leaving Marek to drink alone. Brendan toasted the air, towards his boss, took a measured sip, and abandoned the mostly full glass on the table. Marek’s posture oozed power and dominance, almost enough to fill the entire room. I took a moment to study his facial features, giving myself time to strengthen my barriers in the background. Marek was Elevated, just as Aleks had mentioned. He just forgot to mention which plane his gifts were on, which could make all the difference in a battle of wits. Yet again, I felt unprepared. I was beyond tired of surprises at this point.
As Marek guzzled his champagne, I followed the steady pulse of his gulps from his chiseled face down to the buttress of his neck, past his Hulk-esque former bodybuilder shoulders to the loud paisley tie secured with a bejeweled tie clip resembling a garland wrapped lance. A little archaic, but the image stuck in my mind. What an odd tie clip.
“Glad to see old friends together again,” Marek began, his cheeks now colored a cheery red as the attendant refilled his glass for the third time.
Brendan and I shared a look, and he took the lead. My mouth was glued shut with nerves.
