by MJ Fletcher
“Like I said it’s nothing.” I leaned back in my seat, my mind racing with possibilities. Everything we were doing could be considered traitorous. Did that mean our fate was to wind up in Storm Reach?
“I can help, Chloe, if you’ll let me.”
Faith was trying to get me to confide in her, but how could I willingly involve her in something that would not only place her in danger, but could label her a traitor. There was something else though, something about the strange look in her eyes. I had seen that look before but where? A fleeting image kept playing in my head but I couldn’t hold onto it long enough to make sense of it.
“Don’t worry, I can deal with it.” I glanced out the window and watched as the snow fell. I thought of another day sitting here watching the snow falling with someone else. Nightshade’s face popped into my head like a snapshot. He smiled that lopsided grin of his and his two different colored eyes taunted me.
“Things haven’t exactly been great for you since Nightshade died and now with you and Jess not talking... I’m here for you, let me help.”
“I appreciate it, but it’s not necessary.”
“I know you have other friends like Edgar and Val but with them being a couple now...” She looked toward Val and I followed her gaze watching as Val happily poured coffee for customers. “I would hate to see something bad happen to either of them.”
My stomach churned recalling that we had almost lost Edgar the same day that Nightshade had died. I couldn’t lose anyone else and I damn well didn’t want to see Val go through the hell that I was going through. .
“I worry about that every day,” I confessed.
“And Slade and you are so complicated. I can imagine how hard it must be to ask him for anything.”
I wished Faith would stop talking, but she was right and I needed to hear it. I cared about my friends and family and I didn’t want them to get hurt. Maybe that’s why I was trying so hard to push everyone away lately. Maybe I thought keeping them at a distance would keep them safe.
“I don’t want anyone to get hurt,” Another confession but heck it was supposed to be good for the soul, though it didn’t feel as if it was doing any good. I still felt guilty.
“Like I said, I’m here for you whenever you need me.”
I looked at Faith; she was smiling. What had we been talking about just a moment ago?
“If I need help, you’ll be the first one I call.”
Chapter Eleven
Status: I go to a club and it is not fun at all.
I hung my hoodie on my closet door, it wasn’t going with me tonight. I sighed as I turned to inspect myself in the mirror. I wasn’t one for dressing up but if I was going to get into the club with no problems and get close to one of the guards, I figured I needed to at least look appealing.
I had on stockings and a skirt that hugged my hips, two shirts one a form fitting and the other loose and emblazoned with some eighties rock band across the front. My heels were strapped and solid so if I needed to run in them I could, though I’d be better off taking them off. My hair was straight and I actually had made an effort with my makeup. I sighed, I looked like a trussed up sheep waiting for a wolf. I grabbed my leather jacket and threw it on, figuring I could slide it into my bottomless bag in the club. No reason not to have it handy with how cold it was out tonight. I already had a change of clothes and a good pair of sneakers in there ready to go.
“No turning back now,” I said to my mirror image, the Mapmakers’ holiday party was tonight and this was our last chance at the Legend.
I walked to the edge of the stairs leading down from my attic room. “Gran, I’m going out with Edgar. I’ll be back later.”
“Call me if you’re going to be late!” Grandma yelled up from downstairs.
She didn’t know what I was planning tonight. I figured the less people who knew the better, and the safer they were, especially if what Faith had told me about the Council was true. I wasn’t going to have my whole family in Storm Reach.
“Love you!” I yelled back and pulled out my doorknob activating it and pushed it into the wall opposite me. The shimmering blue lines formed a door and I yanked it open and stepped through using the coordinates that Edgar had given me.
I stepped out onto a cobblestone street and cursed the fact that I was wearing heels. Snow-covered cobblestones are not conducive to heels. The buzz of voices drifted toward me and I walked forward to see the line of people leading toward a beaten up metal door. I glanced up and down the line and saw Edgar waving madly in my direction. I walked up and stepped into line beside him, the people behind him giving me dirty looks as I did.
“Where’s Slade?” I asked.
“Not sure.” Edgar shrugged as the line crawled along. I was glad I had worn my leather jacket. The weather had taken a nasty turn and was ice cold. After a half hour we finally made it to the metal door and the man guarding it.
“What have we here?” Long blond hair hung down to the guy’s shoulders and a five o’clock shadow covered his jaw. He was smiling and his hands were shoved inside his black pea coat pockets.
“I’m with the Mapmakers Union, Edgar Magnus,” Edgar responded stomping his feet to keep them from freezing.
The guy nodded and then looked at me, his eyes lingering on me. “And you?”
“The Doorknob Society, Chloe Masters.” He raised his eyebrows at my name and smiled.
“Not going to cause us any troubles tonight, are you?” He chuckled, my reputation obviously having preceded me.
“Not planning on it.” I smiled trying to stay cordial while I shivered, my legs turning to icicles.
“Get yourselves inside before you freeze. Go by the far end of the bar, there’s a fireplace.” He smiled at me again and I returned it. Damn, but if freezing doesn’t turn you thoughtful when someone offers you heat.
We walked into the club and were blasted with the sound of music. Old Kind clubs are eclectic at best and almost always have live music of every kind. Tonight we were listening to the rockabilly styling’s of the Los Luchadores Fantastico in their 60’s style suits and wearing Luchador masks, like I said eclectic.
I took the doorman’s advice and we moved toward the end of the bar where a couch sat in front of a blazing fire. I slid onto the arm and stretched my legs out letting the flames warm them. Edgar sidled up beside me and when the heat finally returned to my limbs, I pulled off my jacket and slid it into my bag and handed it to him. He slipped the strap over his shoulder and it appeared as if he only carried his usual map bag.
“Maybe we should text Slade?” I yelled above the music and Edgar nodded in agreement reaching for his phone.
“No need.” Slade stepped up holding three drinks and handed one to each of us. He hunched down so we were all close enough to hear one another over the music.
“I got here early and came inside; I’ve been waiting for you guys and watching the Mapmakers arrive. They’re using a room upstairs for their party, but it doesn’t seem like anyone is checking identities as to who goes in and comes out.”
I noticed Slade checking out my legs and saw that he had dressed up for the occasion. So I returned his once over. He was wearing a form fitting t-shirt and jeans with boots. His rock hard abs and chest did not go unnoticed by the women.
“Are either of our guards here yet?” Edgar had supplied us with descriptions of the men we were looking for earlier this week.
Slade shook his head. “No, but it’s early yet.”
Determination was etched in every sculpted line and crevice of Slade’s handsome face. That he had purposely arrived earlier and had been so very thorough checking things out made me wonder if he was trying to impress me. Then I remembered the stricken look on his face when he had admitted that he had let himself down. Maybe being extra vigilant was his way of making amends.
“Do you have it?” I whispered to Slade.
He nodded and reached into his pocket and pulled out what looked like a series of bracel
ets that were attached by thin metal bands. He gestured for my hand and I held it out to him. He slid the first bracelet over my hand, down my wrist, and twisted a dial on the side. The ring tightened around my wrist fitting snuggly. The next ring slid above my thumb and across my palm. He moved another dial and it fit itself to my hand. He adjusted a set of small dials on the side and then turned it over and in the middle of the ring on my palm laid a small crystal.
“This is the catcher, it can store the last five portal jumps that were made. But you need to touch the person with the crystal so you’re going to have to get close. Once you touch him press the button on the side of the ring and it’ll collect the data we need. Got it?”
I nodded and examined the device. It was simple in design and blended well with my clothes appearing nothing more than a set of bracelets. I was relieved, afraid it was going to be some massive contraption that would need concealing, but this was elegant.
“Chloe.” I shifted to see Edgar bent over scribbling on a napkin “I think you’re going to need to get the coordinates from both guys.”
“What? Why?” One was going to be hard enough I didn’t feel like throwing myself at two guys tonight.
“That’ll be the easiest way to cross reference the locations. When I can match up where they’ve both been it should narrow our options down to the location of the Legend.” He glanced up at me with a smile, pleased that he had thought of a way to double check his work.
I love Edgar but sometimes he is completely oblivious. I nodded and grinned back. Great, so now I need to get close to two guys both of whom were attending the same party.
“This should be fun.” I downed my drink quickly, my throat having suddenly turned dry.
“A plan?” Slade titled his head and waited.
He had to be thinking the same thing I was. I shrugged and scanned the club, trying to figure out my options. “No clue.”
The Bronze Compass had two levels that I could see. The main floor consisted of a huge dance floor in front of a stage where the Los Luchadores Fantastico was jamming and a waif of a girl in a blue polka dot dress was singing. We were seated by the edges of the dance floor where couches and bar tables dotted the area around the bar. Two sets of metal steps rose along the walls on both sides leading to the second level, which wrapped around the building with an open square in the middle. People leaned on the railings looking down on the band while others sat at numerous bar stools.
“That’s where the party is.” Slade pointed toward the second floor above the stage.
A set of double doors sat open, people streaming in and out of the room. I tried to locate any other exits or access points and could only see the sets of stairs going up. If trouble started I wanted an easy route out, and I wasn’t sure what type of precautions the club took against the Old Kind, which could prove a problem.
“Can we access our powers in here?” I leaned closer to Slade talking over the music but still keeping it for our ears only.
“I’ve seen people doing it, but not often; they might have a drain on powers but not a block.
“I can work with that.” I smiled and casually glanced back toward the door, hoping the guards would show soon. The long-haired door man entered and looked right at me, his smile growing. I spun around quickly. Great, I had stared right at him not realizing it and now he probably thinks I was checking him out. I mean he is by no means hard on the eyes, but I don’t need any complications tonight. I want this to go as smoothly as possible. Then again when do any of my plans ever go smoothly?
Edgar’s voice cracked as he yelled over the music. “Chloe, we’ve got a problem.”
Chapter Twelve
Status: Here we go again.
Edgar was staring at the dances crowded together on the dance floor. I followed his wide-eyed gaze to see what the problem was. My heart slammed against my chest. There was Jess surrounded by three guys, each trying to get closer to her with each bump and grind of the rhythm. She looked spectacular dressed in a hot pink outfit that hugged her slender body. Her long blonde hair whipped around her head as she moved flawlessly with the music.
“Damn.” I hadn’t told Jess anything about what we were up to, though how could I when she avoided me. Still I probably should have at least made an effort. Now if we made a move while she was here and anything went wrong, she could get caught not only in the crossfires but the aftermath.
“What do you want to do?” Slade asked no doubt sharing a similar thought.
“We can’t miss our chance. We need to let her know that we’ve got something going on.”
“You?”
“Somehow I don’t think she’d be happy to see me, you want to give it a shot?”
“I need to get her somewhere quiet.” He looked around the club searching for a place he might be able to talk with her and suddenly his eyes lit up and he tipped his head toward the main door.
I gave a look and spotted the guards we’d been waiting for walking into the club. “Perfect.”
“Actually, this is pretty messed up,” Edgar chimed in.
I nearly laughed at how over-his-head my attempt at sarcasm had been.
“Now what?” Edgar asked.
I noticed the guards making their way upstairs and another problem walking down the stairs. Darla from the Skeleton Key Guild was way too interested in the dance floor; her eyes never leaving it as she maneuvered past the crowd on the stairs. I had no doubt that she was focused on Jess and not with good intentions.
“Crap.”
“What?” Slade asked.
I pointed out Darla and the girls who now flanked her on both sides after stepping off the stairs. “That’s the Guilder I fought at the Diesel Factories.”
Slade shook his head. “This is bad.”
He had that right. I was on my feet making my way to the dance floor. The club was packed and I was having a hard time reaching it. Darla’s two cohorts helped to clear a path for her and she stepped onto the dance floor. A glint of crimson flashed off her hand and the energy in the room crackle.
“Jess!” Her name tore from my throat trying to warn her.
Power surged in the room and yells and howls erupted around me. Suddenly, I was being pushed and shoved as people frantically raced off the dance floor. I twisted my shoulders from side to side battling through the chaos. When I finally broke through Jess and Darla were facing off against one another. They both had their keys drawn, trails of power dripping from them.
“You’re a traitor.” Darla spit.
“Little Darla thinks she can play with the big girls does she? Take your shot.” Jess’ eyes narrowed and I felt her power growing.
“You turned on the Guild and against Nightshade. He’s dead because of that DS bitch!”
A steel grip seized my hand and my other hand was about to come up and knock the person cold for interfering when I saw that it was Slade keeping me from rushing forward to help Jess.
“Wait,” he whispered.
Jess spun and let lose a torrent of energy that pushed Darla backwards, nearly knocking her off her feet.
“Talk about my friends and family again and I’ll knock your teeth out.” The words were thick with venom and seemed so out of place coming from a girl as beautiful as my cousin.
Jess circled Darla, her eyes never leaving her. I searched the crowd knowing Darla’s two cohorts had to be lingering nearby and sure enough I spotted them behind Jess. And they both had their skeleton keys out and activated. I nodded to Slade and he let go of my hand and gripped my doorknob. Energy poured into it. I stepped forward ready to jump in and help Jess.
The two girls were about to step onto the dance floor and I was worried that I wouldn’t reach Jess in time, but just then the blonde doorman stepped in front of them. A silver light emanated from his hand and both girls stumbled backwards.
“Let’s keep this fair shall we, ladies.” I heard him say.
I stayed where I was, Slade joining me.
Darla
sneered busy forming the crimson bands of energy around her key into a curved blade like the one she had used against me. As soon as it finished forming she raced across the dance floor and swung it at Jess who side- stepped it easily, while the wisps of red smoke coming from Jess formed into long chains.
She walked calmly backwards as Darla ran at her again, swinging her blade in one arc after the other. Jess never bothered to create a shield; she moved swiftly avoiding each slice with skill and speed. With a quick twist of her hand the chain shot out and clasped around her opponent’s wrist.
Darla’s eyes popped wide and she brought her blade down hitting the chains, sparks flew but the chain held. Jess rushed in flicking her hand and another chain shot out locking around Darla’s other arm. Clicking sounds echoed throughout the dance floor as Jess activated the locks on her ethereal chains.
Darla’s blade dissipated and she spun her key around trying to unlock the chains. But for every lock she broke two more took its place. Jess’ fingers manipulated the tendrils of energy working to combat every technique Darla attempted to use to escape. Darla’s energy finally wavered and she dropped to her knees, new wisps of crimson bands snaked out locking her legs and around her mouth. Finally her head dropped and Jess reached out and pulled the skeleton key from Darla’s hand. Murmurs rushed around the room and Skeleton Key members mouths hung open in shock.
Jess held the key up and turned full circle so that everyone in the room could see her holding it aloft. “Does anyone else want to call me a traitor?” she yelled and then spun and pointed at the girls who had been ready to attack her. “You two?”
Her voice resonated power and she stepped toward them, both girls scurried back their eyes wide with fear.
I rushed across the floor and reached out grabbing Jess’ shoulder and pulled her back. She turned, shooting me a lethal look that had me dropping my hand off her shoulder and before I could warn her to calm down someone else did.
