by A. Blythe
He’d lowered the wards in anticipation of my arrival. I strolled up the walkway, trying to feel as normal as possible about the whole affair. It had taken me so long to trust someone outside of Mix and Farah. I was intensely afraid of getting burned. Of all the men in the world, though, I truly felt Reed was the least likely to hurt me. Not once had he given me a reason to doubt him.
Usually he met me at the door, but this time he waited for me to ring the bell. A dog barked in the background. Jack the Giant Slayer was settling in, it seemed. The door jerked open and my pulse quickened at the sight of him. He wore a simple light blue T-shirt with dark jeans. It was the most casual I’d ever seen him look.
“I feel overdressed,” I said, glancing down at my outfit. I’d even worn heels.
“I’m sure we can think of a way to remedy that,” he said, with the hint of a smile.
Reed was starting with the sexy talk and I wasn’t even inside the house yet. This dinner was shaping up to be more interesting than I imagined.
He stepped aside to let me pass and Jack immediately jumped on me, barking happily.
“Hi Jack. You remember me?” I scratched him behind the ear. “How he’s doing here?”
“He loves it,” Reed said. “It’s weird. It feels like he’s always been here. I had to put in an oversized doggy door so he can take himself outside, but that’s the only major change.”
There was music playing in the background and I recognized the dulcet tones of George Michael.
“I never would have pegged you as an Eighties fan boy,” I said.
“I think there are a lot of things about me that would surprise you.”
I swallowed hard. So it was going to be like this, huh?
Jack got distracted by a bone and Reed and I moved into the kitchen where a familiar smell greeted me.
“You made macaroni and cheese?”
“With a breadcrumb topping.”
I blinked. “But that’s my favorite.”
He grinned. “I know. You mentioned it.”
“I did?”
“You were semi-conscious at the time.” He pulled a bottle of chilled Pinot Grigio from the refrigerator. “I thought this would keep things sophisticated.”
I laughed. “Sophisticated? Have you met me?”
I watched him work his way around the kitchen, removing the macaroni and cheese from the oven and pouring the wine.
“You seem very relaxed,” I said.
“Why wouldn’t I be? Good food, good wine, and good company. That’s what life is about.” He ushered me to the table.
“You don’t need my help with anything?”
He raised an eyebrow. “Let’s not kid ourselves.”
I parked myself at the table with Jack at my feet and waited to be served.
“It smells amazing,” I said. I attacked the meal with so much enthusiasm that Reed stopped eating to admire the show.
“It really is your favorite, isn’t it?”
“It is.” I continued plowing through it. “This is delicious, Reed. You used more than one cheese, didn’t you?”
“Cheddar and gruyere.”
Just like my guardian, Esme. In a flash I was six years old and back in the Marida compound. Prince Simdan had ordered me to miss dinner because I refused to demonstrate my summoning powers for a group of VIP visitors from another colony. Esme had taken pity on me and snuck me down to the kitchen after everyone else had retired for the evening. While I gorged on her homemade macaroni and cheese, one of Prince Simdan’s spies overheard us and reported the incident. Esme never told me what her punishment was. I only knew that I didn’t see her for the next week.
“My guardian used to make this for me the exact same way. Prince Simdan hated that she catered to me. I think he wanted me to suffer through childhood the way he did.”
“He’s a prince,” Reed said. “I hardly think he suffered as a child.”
I swallowed another delicious forkful. “To be fair, there are a lot of expectations on the royals in our caste. He was definitely groomed from an early age to take over the colony.”
“So no baseball games or sleepovers?”
I snorted. “Not quite.” I couldn’t even imagine Prince Simdan as a little boy. I was fairly certain he evolved straight from a flickering flame of soulfire to the grown jackass he was today.
“What about you?” he asked. “Sleepovers?”
I took another bite of macaroni and cheese. “Ask me again after dessert.”
Reed nearly spilled the wine as he topped up the glasses. “Do you think he resents you for having people in your life who care about you? Maybe that was something he wanted but never had.”
“I think he spent years trying to toughen me up,” I said. “Especially after Esme died. I became his pet project then. He hated how much time I spent with Farah and Mix. They weren’t in my caste so…”
“Why didn’t he just prevent you from seeing them?” he asked. “It’s a pretty large compound you guys have.”
“Oh, he tried.” More times than I could count. “I was the juvenile delinquent all of the guards avoided. No one wanted to be on Alyse duty because I could outmaneuver all of them.” I smiled at the memory. “No one wanted to be on Prince Simdan’s bad side either. It was a lose-lose.”
“You were that powerful as a kid?” Reed scraped the rest of the macaroni off his plate.
I nodded and polished off my wine. “I think that’s why Prince Simdan was determined to break me. He thought he could control me if he got his claws in me early enough.”
Reed smirked. “Didn’t quite work out for him.”
“I feel sorry for the guy,” I said. “His motivation was solid. He thought I’d bring honor to the caste and his colony in particular. Elevating me would elevate him.”
“Elevate how? If you became a major player in PAN?”
“That was his great hope,” I said. “I think he would’ve settled for personal assassin too. Anything to keep me under his thumb.”
“Why do you think your powers are so much stronger than others in your caste?” He wiped his mouth with his napkin. Sophisticated, indeed. “I mean, you’re already in the most powerful caste. That’s a lot of magic packed into one person.”
“Honestly, I have no idea,” I said. “Why are you the top of the Naphil food chain? Not all of you can use telepathy and control fire.”
“True. Luck of the draw, I suppose.”
“Can Greer do those things?” I asked. We didn’t talk much about Greer’s abilities.
“No,” Reed said. “He has his own skills, though.”
“Flattering the ladies and playing the role of your mother’s favorite son?”
A smile tugged on his lips. “Among other things.”
“Do you think he’d ever leave PAN?” I asked. Although Greer seemed to fit in there, I felt like he was capable of more than following the orders of the nameless, faceless members above him.
“I think he’s content,” Reed said. “Not everyone needs to ride hell for leather on a daily basis.”
“I think daily basis is overstating it.”
“Only because you don’t have your powers,” he replied.
I studied him. “You think I’d be different?”
“Don’t you?”
I fiddled with my fork. “I don’t know how.” Okay, that was a lie. I knew exactly how. I wouldn’t even be here. Before my burn notice, Philadelphia was on my list of Places To Avoid Forevermore. Now there were times when I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else.
“What would you do…?” he faltered.
I decided to help him out. “If I ever got uncorked?”
He nodded. My insides churned when I noticed the expression on his face. Reed was worried—worried about what, I wasn’t entirely sure. That I’d become a monster? That I’d leave town without a backward glance?
“I don’t know,” I said. “I think it needs to be a reality first before I can contemplate it.”
&nb
sp; “You never ask about me,” he said quietly.
I stopped fiddling. “What do you mean?”
“You never ask about my future. What I see for myself.” He drew breath. “You ask about Greer. You’ve obviously given your own path a bit of thought. You worry about Pinky. Are you at all interested in my aspirations?”
I felt as though he’d slapped me. In a gentlemanly way, of course—lightly and with a silk glove, but still.
“You’re already the captain of the Protectorate in the colony,” I said. “What other aspirations do you have?”
His expression clouded over. “I’m not necessarily talking about my career.”
I glanced around the dining room of the very suburban house in the family-friendly neighborhood. It was clear to me what Reed’s aspirations were. His hopes and dreams currently surrounded us on all sides.
“I think I know what you want, Reed.” My voice came out softer than I intended.
“I hope so,” he said. “I haven’t been shy about expressing it.”
I inhaled deeply, drinking him in. His ridiculously handsome face. His compassion. His intense loyalty to those he cared about. Reed was the whole package. He was the damn unicorn and I’d been too scared of my emotional shadow to give him the chance he deserved. All that was going to change. Starting now.
“About that sleepover…” I began.
His brow lifted. “What about it?”
“I’d like to.” I glanced down at my clothes. “But I’m afraid I came unprepared. I didn’t bring any pajamas.”
He couldn’t stop the grin from spreading. “I think we can make due.”
I chewed my lip. “Maybe I should test out the mattress first. Make sure it’s to my standards.”
He pushed back his chair so quickly, he nearly knocked it over. “I’d be happy to show you the way.”
“Don’t go to any trouble on my account,” I said. “I’m sure I can find it on my own.”
“I’m sure you can, but isn’t it nice to have someone beside you?” He extended his hand toward me. “Allow me.”
So I did.
11
An urgent phone call from Oscar brought our lazy morning to a halt. Reed fried eggs for a quick breakfast so that I could make my way back into the city to Enclave Headquarters. Because the location was secret, I had to wait for an escort. Usually they knocked me unconscious with a magical drug and I woke up nauseous in the lobby. This time, however, I was given the courtesy of an escort and a magical blindfold that no humans could see. Of course, the escort was Justin, the bow-tied and perpetually plucky receptionist, but I still took it as win. Anything that helped me avoid vomit was a plus in my book.
Oscar brought me into one of the transparent rooms. All of the rooms reminded me of fish bowls, where everyone could see your every move. I hated the idea of being on display, especially during those moments when I wanted to pick the food out of my teeth.
A woman sat in one of the Plexiglas chairs. Her white blond hair was teased in a way that I hadn't seen since a Whitesnake video. She turned toward me when we entered the room and my attention was immediately drawn to her oversized chest. A plastic surgeon had clearly earned his money here. She made Dolly Parton look like an A cup. I had no doubt the poor woman suffered from frequent backaches. I wondered how she managed to stay so thin when exercise was unlikely an option.
"Alyse, meet Barbie Leibowitz."
"Nice to meet you, Barbie. How can I help?"
Oscar took his seat behind the desk and I noticed his subtle use of a handkerchief. His OCD was fascinating to me. He quickly tucked the handkerchief back in his pocket. "Barbie has some interesting information to share with us. You were the first person I thought to call."
I took the seat beside her. “I’m listening.”
Barbie straightened her shoulders, ready for her close-up. "I work for a place called New Horizons."
I'd heard of New Horizons. It was a nonprofit. Something to do with science.
"Are you a scientist there?" I asked. Although it seemed unlikely, it was downright sexist not to entertain the notion.
Barbie giggled. "Well, that's the first time I've ever been mistaken for a scientist. No, I'm a secretary there. I work for Dr. Frankenheimer."
"And?" I prompted. I couldn't guess what a nonprofit scientific organization would be doing to warrant Barbie's visit to Enclave Headquarters.
"They’ve been working on a project for a while," Barbie said. "At first I didn't understand what it was because I don't pay attention to the things I’m filing or typing. I kinda just get in the zone, you know what I mean? I like to be out of there at five on the dot.”
“I completely understand,” I said. “What’s the project?”
“Have you ever heard of those things that are like grenades but they got gas inside?"
The hair on the back of my neck pricked. "You mean like nerve gas?"
She nodded profusely. “Yeah, that's it. I seen it in movies and stuff. There was this one movie with—oh, I forget that actor’s name. Anyway, it was awful. I'd watch it again for him, though. He’s so hot.”
“Can we focus on the project, Barbie?” Oscar prompted.
Barbie fanned herself. "Sorry, I have a touch of the ADHD."
"So you think the New Horizon scientists are making a type of nerve gas?" I asked. For what purpose? Were we dealing with some kind of domestic terrorist cell? Of course, there was a more pressing question.
“You’re clearly human. Why come to the Enclave?" I asked.
"I think whatever this thing does is gonna be bad for mages." She cocked her head, scrutinizing me. "Are you a mage, too? I’m not getting that.“
"No, I'm a special case,” I said. “Oscar just likes to have me around for my breezy personality.”
“It turns out that Barbie’s favorite cousin is a mage,” Oscar explained. “They live together over in the Graduate Hospital area." Oscar gave me a pointed look. “It’s also worth mentioning that Barbie has the Sight now."
Now? Got it.
"So have you always known about the supernatural world?" I asked.
Barbie waved me off. “Oh yeah, like always. Chantal, that's my cousin. Her mom is my mom's sister. So Aunt Darla married a djinni. Uncle Frankie. He's really cool. He can shift into weird shit, you know. He makes himself visible all the time because he loves to freak out our friends. Anyways, Uncle Frankie always said for me to keep quiet about him and Chantal. That humans don’t want to know about them. It would upset people.”
The gears started clicking in my brain. "So whatever is in this gas, you think it gives people the Sight?"
Barbie nodded. "I never could see all their stuff before. I knew about it, but I could only see part of it. Then one day I came home from work and Chantal was in the kitchen. She was glowing. I told her what I could see and she said it sounded like I had the Sight. So we went around town and she tested me." Barbie spread her arms wide. "Voilà. I got it now."
So the New Horizons team tested their invention at the office. "Do you think everyone in your office has it? All the scientists who are working on it?"
"Nobody talks about it openly, at least not when I'm around," Barbie said. She paused to examine her purple fingernails. "But I got the sense that's what's going on. After that, I started paying attention to the stuff I was typing." She gave us a mournful look. "Whatever it is, it don't seem good."
"What makes you say that?" I asked.
"Because of what Uncle Frankie says, but also because the guys I work for are dicks. I've heard them make comments about the human race. They’re all supremacists. That’s the word, right? Anyways, they’re pretty racist. They think there's going to be the next phase of human evolution or something and they’re like top dogs. I don't really get it, but I get the gist of it."
I felt my blood begin to boil. "The gist of it being that humans are better than every other creature on the planet."
She nodded. "If you met my cousin Chantal, you would tot
ally love her. Everybody does. I don't want anything to happen to her or Uncle Frankie. They’re my family."
"We really appreciate you coming here," Oscar said.
Barbie shifted nervously in her seat. "I don't got to leave the way I came in, do I? It was a little freaky." She looked thoughtful for a moment. “After what I seen, though, I get why you guys are so secretive."
Oscar stood and walked Barbie to the door. "Find your way back to Justin. He'll arrange for transport back to your office."
"Won't your bosses be missing you now?" I asked. It was the middle of the morning on a weekday.
Barbie smiled. "I told them I had a gynecologist appointment. They never say boo about it when I tell them I'm doing girl stuff."
Beauty and brains. Barbie had more to offer the world than her boobs. I hoped she realized that.
“Before you walk out of here, can I have your number?" I asked. "In case I need to speak with you again."
Barbie gave me a flirty smile. "That's flattering and all, but I'm not into girls. Don't take it personally. You're real pretty and all. I like what you have going on with your hair. It’s very Seventies chic.“
Oscar strangled a laugh. "I think Alyse is interested in following up with you on the case," he said, putting on his most diplomatic mask.
Barbie's eyes widened. "Oh hell. I'm sorry. I'm just so used to people hitting on me. Gender don’t really play into it.“
I pressed my lips together. “Yeah, I’m right there with you.”
Oscar rolled his eyes. “Thanks for your help, Barbie. Take this hall straight down and it will lead you right to Justin."
“Good luck,” she called over her shoulder. “I hope you nail the bastards.”
Me too.
“We were supposed to meet with the caterer today and make our menu selections,” Flynn said, pacing the floor of the apartment.
“Then what are you doing here?” I asked. I was trying to focus on Barbie’s information but Flynn’s pacing was driving me to distraction.
