by Anthea Sharp
“We do know someone who’s been playing,” Tam said. “Roy Lassiter.”
Jennet met his gaze, seeing her suspicions mirrored in his eyes. Something, or someone, had drained Keeli’s energy to the point she had collapsed.
“Come on - you’re trying to pin this on Roy?” Marny snorted. “That’s taking the jealousy a bit far, don’t you think?”
“Hey,” said a voice behind them. “Talking about me?”
Jennet pivoted to see Roy Lassiter himself standing there. An easy smile lay on his face, but his eyes were cold.
“Hi, Roy,” Marny said, her voice suddenly all soft and gooey.
Jennet wanted to give her a sharp elbow to the ribs.
“Mind if I join you?” He didn’t wait for an answer, just set his tray down on the other side of Marny.
“Actually, we do,” Tam said.
“Funny.” Roy shook his head. “You crack me up, Exie. So, Marns, how’s it going?”
“Really good,” Marny said, “now that you’re here.”
Jennet nearly choked on her water. She set it down and blinked at the other girl.
“Are you serious?” she asked.
“Relax.” Roy turned to look at her. There was an odd glow in his eyes. “Everything’s fine. I thought it would be nice to spend a little time with Marny. She’s sturdy - just how I like my women.”
Marny giggled. Giggled! A sick feeling washed over Jennet.
“Stop it.” Tam shoved his tray away and glared at Roy. “Your girlfriend just collapsed, and now you’re putting the moves on Marny? That’s seriously flawed.”
“Piss off, Tam,” Marny said, a hint of vigor back in her voice. “You think Roy’s too good for me? Well, not everyone shares your warped social views. Just because you’re so screwed up over Jennet, doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate a good thing.”
“Whoa.” Tam held up his hands. “This isn’t about you - it’s about him.”
“That’s what I’m saying.” Marny stood up. “Come on, Roy. I’m sure we can find someplace more hospitable.”
“She’s got spirit,” Roy said, standing too. “I like that.”
He laid his arm across Marny’s shoulders, and she glowed, happiness practically rolling off her in waves.
“Wait,” Jennet said, holding out her hand. “You two can stay here.”
She didn’t want to let Roy out of her sight, and the way Marny was acting was just… wrong. The whole situation was so freaky it made her skin itch.
“I don’t think so.” Marny tossed her head. “Let’s go.”
Roy kept his arm around her as they walked away. Across the table, Tam looked as stunned as Jennet felt.
“This is grim,” she said. “What are we going to do?”
“First thing, we need to get Marny away from him.” He set his hands on the table, then balled them into fists. “Keeli looked the way you did, when the Dark Queen was sucking your energy.”
She nodded. “But Keeli isn’t a sim player. Even with Roy helping her, there’s no way she could have gone that deep in-game already.”
“Maybe she didn’t have to. Remember what Thomas told us before, about how the Realm of Faerie is starting to die?”
“Yes - he said there’s not enough contact with the mortal world. You think this is the Bright Court’s solution?” She glanced to the front of the cafeteria where Roy sat with his adoring fans. And Marny.
“I do.” Tam narrowed his eyes. “Somehow Lassiter is taking people’s energy, then transferring it in-game for the faeries to feed off. He’s probably giving it directly to the Bright King.”
Cold comprehension crept down her bones. “I guess we don’t need to warn Roy about the tithe - not when he’s taking other people’s energy to pay it. I wonder how many others he’s harmed.”
“He’s not getting Marny.” Tam’s voice was hard.
“Agreed - but how do we get her away from him? She’s convinced he’s wonderful.”
He swiped a hand through his hair, then let it fall back over his eyes. “I bet that’s another thing we can thank the faeries for. Lassiter’s amazing ability to influence people. All that false charm and handsomeness.”
His words rang an echo of recognition deep inside her. Handsome looks. False charm…
“Faerie glamour!” She leaned forward. “Tam, that’s it.”
“Faerie what?”
“Glamour. It’s one of the fey magics described in my book. Here.”
She rummaged in her satchel and pulled out the green-bound copy of Tales of Folk and Faerie – the old book Thomas had given her, before he died.
It had given her the answer for how to save Tam, and she’d kept it with her ever since. She paged through, looking for the stories about faerie glamour. There, starting on page 238.
“Faerie glamour,” she said. “Confusing the senses and enchanting human perception in order to change the appearance of a thing.”
“Like making a regular-looking guy seem irresistible?”
“Exactly. Read this.” She slid the book over to Tam.
He scanned the pages, then frowned. “So what’s this ointment they talk about, that lets mortals see through the enchantment?”
“Faerie ointment. Here.” She set her finger on the opposite page and read aloud. “Wylde Thyme, Marygold Flowers, A Four-Leaved Clover, Budds from a Younge Hazelnut, and Grass of a Faerie Throne.”
“Nice. Grass of a faerie throne. Unless you know of some faerie throne sitting around in the real world, we’re going to have to go in-game for that.”
“Yes, but I think I know where I can buy most of the rest of the ingredients - the herbs and stuff, anyway.”
He lifted one brow. “Does your upscale market sell four-leaf clovers?”
“Um…”
“Don’t worry - I was kidding. I know where to find some clover, even this time of year. I can go this afternoon.”
The harsh tone of the bell cut through the cafeteria babble, signaling the end of lunch. Jennet closed the book, but something made her hesitate. Instead of tucking it back in her satchel, she slid it across the table.
“Here,” she said. “You keep this for a while. Catch up on your reading.”
“Are you sure?” He picked it up, the gilt-edged pages glinting in the light.
“Yes.” She didn’t know why, but it felt right that Tam take the book. “I’ll hit the View market today, and get what ingredients I can. The sooner we make the ointment, the better.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN - THE BRIGHT COURT
The halls were crowded at the end of the school day. Still, Jennet could always find Tam, no matter how many other students were around. She hurried up to where he stood, one hand on his locker. His lips were set in a worried line, and following his gaze, she knew why. Roy Lassiter was walking down the hall, his arm draped around Marny.
“Oh, no,” she said. “You don’t think he’s going to take Marny home with him?”
“That’s exactly what I think.” He sounded grim.
“We can’t let that happen! We’ve got to keep her out of his clutches.”
She hurried after them, Tam right behind her. They caught up to the couple outside school. Roy was leading Marny over to the parking lot, where his red grav-car waited.
“Hey, Marny, hold up!” Jennet called, waving.
Marny scowled, but at least she stopped. “What do you want?”
Tam stepped forward. “I thought we could go to Zeg’s today. You know, do some gaming. All together.”
“I don’t think so, Exie,” Roy said. “You lost your chance at that, a while back. No, Marns is coming over to my place to check out my gaming systems. They’re pretty sparked. Just like me.” He winked.
Jennet drew in a quick breath. They had to do something - Marny was in peril, whether she knew it or not. Thinking fast, only one solution came to her. Too bad Tam was going to hate it.
“Sweet!” Jennet said, trying to sound excited. “I’d love to come over and game,
too. Let me drop my stuff off at home, and I’ll meet up with you two at Roy’s.”
Tam shot her a glance - but what else could she do? She had to invite herself along, and cross her fingers Roy would agree.
“What about your low-level boyfriend?” Roy asked. “Leaving him in the dirt, where he belongs?”
“Tam’s not dirt,” Marny said, some of the star-struck glow fading from her eyes.
“Don’t be so literal, babe.” Roy squeezed her shoulders.
“Anyway,” Marny said, narrowing her eyes at Jennet, “You’re not invited. What is it with you, fancy-girl? You have to try and steal every guy in my life?”
Jennet forced out a laugh. “You can have Roy - believe me. But he’s asked me to come play on his systems too, right?”
She glanced at Roy. He looked amused and indulgent, as if he were used to girls fighting for his attention.
“Chill, Marns,” he said. “Jennet can come along. If she wants an excuse to ditch Exie-boy, why would I stop her?”
Tam’s face was set, his hands jammed in his pockets. “Well,” he said in a voice like stone, “you three enjoy your afternoon.”
“Oh, we will.” Roy swung Marny back toward his grav-car, then glanced over his shoulder. “Come on by anytime, Jen.”
Marny frowned, but it was clear she wasn’t going to argue with golden-boy Roy.
“Great,” Jennet called. “I’ll see you guys over there. Can hardly wait.”
As soon as they were out of earshot, Tam turned to her. His green eyes sparked.
“What the hell are you doing?” he asked.
“Look - it’s not like you can follow them around. One sight of you, and Roy would call View Security to throw you out. I have to go - we can’t let Marny be alone with him.”
“No way.” Tam shook his hair out of his eyes. “It’s too risky.”
“I know you don’t like it, but at least I understand what I’m dealing with. Marny has no idea.”
He regarded her a moment longer, the anger in his expression slowly fading. She was right, and he knew it.
“I hate you putting yourself in danger,” he said.
“I know, Tam. I’ll be on my guard.”
“You better.”
He stepped forward unexpectedly, and wrapped his arms around her. Surprise zinged through her. She leaned into him and returned his embrace, closing her eyes to better memorize the warmth of his body against hers. His breath brushed her temple, and she felt their pulses settle and match, their heartbeats echoing together. Time seemed to stop for a long, golden moment.
Then Tam released her, and she reluctantly stepped back.
“Alright,” he said, clearing his throat. “Go watch out for Marny - and yourself.”
“I will.”
“And be careful. We don’t know what Lassiter is capable of - but he’s severely dangerous.”
Tam dodged through the graffiti-etched alleys of the Exe, senses alert. He hated having to let Jennet go back into the lion’s den, alone. Given a choice, he’d like to stab that particular lion through the heart, and drag both Jennet and Marny to safety. Too bad it didn’t work that way in real life.
Jennet. Her name was a bright flame inside him. A flame he feared would suddenly blow out, leaving him in darkness. Though he knew she’d had to play along, he was bruised by the idea she was dropping him for Lassiter. She wasn’t - he knew that in his head. But Lassiter’s ugly words still ricocheted through him, sharp-edged.
He exhaled, trying not to taste the smell of rot that clung to everything in the Exe.
At least he had something to do, to dispel the anxious energy pulsing through him. Find a four-leaf clover. He’d take the Bug, too, for added distraction. Plus, the Bug could help him look - after all, the kid was closer to the ground.
Tam made it home without any trouble. When he got the locks undone and pushed the door open, he was surprised to see his mom sitting on the couch. Her face was wet with tears, and she held a faded paper photograph he’d seen hundreds of times - a picture of herself as a girl, wearing a red dress and smiling. A past that nobody could return to.
Damn. Weepiness was a sign she was heading for one of her downturns.
“Hi, Mom,” he said, closing the door and doing up the locks behind him.
“Tam - you’re home early, honey.” She tried giving him a smile, though it wobbled weakly at the corners.
“Not really. Can I make you a cup of coffee or something?”
He set his backpack down beside the roll of his sleeping bag. What he really wanted to know was if she’d taken her meds, though the answer was obvious. Anyway, she’d lie like she always did, and tell him everything was just fine.
Not for the first time, he considered doing something sneaky like grinding up her pills and putting them in her food. Except that if she was taking her mood stabilizers, a double-dose might end up making her severely tweaked.
“Oh, coffee would be nice,” she said. She surreptitiously dabbed eyes with her sleeve, then tucked the photo away.
Tam went into their tiny kitchen, put the water on to boil, then pulled down the jar of powdered coffee. His hands were steady, calm, as if they weren’t attached to the same body that was tensing with anxiety. Should he message Mom’s new state-mandated counselor? Or could the family just ride this one through, as they had so many times in the past?
He glanced over to where she sat on the couch, looking pale and a touch wild-eyed. Not too over the edge though, not yet. Ok, he’d send a message. Maybe the counselor would be able to do something.
Right, a voice inside him whispered. Like they’ve ever helped before.
“So,” he said, keeping his hands busy with mugs and spoons, “I thought I’d get Peter from school today and take him down to the park.”
“Isn’t it a little… cold for that?” She glanced out their wire-webbed window. “It’s a sweet idea, honey, but what if it snows?”
“Mom, it hasn’t snowed in Crestview for years.”
No, it just threatened to. Every winter he could remember was hard and bare, with nothing soft and white to redeem it.
“It used to snow.” Her voice went wistful. “We’d go sledding down the big hill outside of town.”
That hill was now The View, and certainly not outside town any more. But Mom didn’t need to hear either of those things - not when she was fragile like this.
The battered kettle began its creaking whistle. Tam grabbed it off the stove and fixed two cups of coffee, putting lots of sugar and creamer into her cup. He took them over to the couch and handed her the less-chipped mug, careful not to spill.
“Thanks.” She pulled in a deep breath. “Some days it’s just… I want more for you and Peter than this.”
She waved a hand, encompassing the living room with its ramshackle bookcases and piles of clothes. The only bedroom he and the Bug had ever had. He sat next to her and slid an arm around her shoulders.
“Hey, Mom, it’s ok. We’re doing better than some.”
Like the squatters down the block, who half the time were so smoke-drifted they didn’t know they were half-starved and freezing. Still, that reminded him. He needed to take part of the cash VirtuMax had paid them off with - the blood money - and stick it downstairs in his own secret stash.
Especially if Mom was going unstable again. He took a long swallow of coffee, trying to dissolve the cold knot of fear in his belly.
“Shouldn’t you go, if you’re meeting Peter?” she asked.
“Yeah.” He gave her shoulders a quick squeeze.
Rising, he gulped the rest of his coffee, though it was too hot. He set the mug by the sink, then pulled on his coat. More threads hung down inside, where the lining was coming off, but for now the coat was hanging together. Sort of like his life.
He paused with the door open. “We’ll be home around dark.”
“Take care of your brother. I love you, honey.”
“Me too,” he said.
The doo
r thudded closed behind him, the keys cold in his hand. The old, familiar worry clenched through him. When he came home, would Mom still be there?
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN - THE BRIGHT COURT
Jennet made herself hurry to Roy’s after George drove her home. She hummed along on her g-board over the empty streets, leaning forward to increase her speed until she arrived at Lassiter Palace. Her skin chilled from the winter air, she tucked her cold hands in her pockets and waited for the house to let her in.
The door slid open. Roy stood in the entryway, but she couldn’t see Marny. Fear snagged in her throat. Was her friend all right?
“Hey,” he said. “You made good time over here. Couldn’t wait to see me, hm?”
She stepped into the house and propped her g-board by the door. “Where’s Mar - ”
“You came over.” Marny said, appearing in a nearby doorway. “Can’t you give it a rest?”
“Nice to see you too, Marny.” She actually meant it, though the other girl wouldn’t take it that way.
Roy smiled. “You two are cute. Come on in and have something to drink. House,” he raised his voice, “three mochas in the sitting room.”
“Right away, sir,” the network said in its tinny tones.
Jennet saw Marny looking around, locating the speakers and cameras tucked up in the corners. It must seem weird to her. On second thought, it was kind of strange, living in a house that tracked your every move.
Marny lifted her hand and fingered the guest pass clipped to her shirt. Did she feel as out-of-place here as Tam had the first time he’d come up to The View - or did Roy’s glamour smooth over her reactions?
“Come along, ladies,” Roy said, waving them forward.
“Fine,” Marny said. She pivoted and stalked back down the hall.
After a second, Jennet followed. She could feel Roy right behind her. This was so awkward - but who knew what he would do to Marny, if she wasn’t there?
The sitting room was all done up in blue velvet, like some prince’s antechamber. Which it probably was - at least in Roy’s mind. Jennet wanted to take one of the chairs clustered around the low, ornate table, but instead she sat on the couch next to Marny. Now there wouldn’t be enough room for Roy.
