by Amy Sumida
“Thank you,” I exchanged a look with the guys. We probably shouldn't have been talking about walking the In-Between around humans. It was one of those fairy secrets I wasn't sure if I could share and from the look on Tiernan and Conri's faces, they didn't think we should either.
“So we have two hours to figure out a plan,” Tiernan said into the silence. “Any ideas?”
“Oh please,” Conri rolled his eyes. “We're fairies for fuck's sake. We don't need a plan.”
Chapter Thirty-Six
Turns out, Conri was right; getting into the hotel room wasn't a problem. He simply walked up to the front desk and fairy-struck the clerk into handing over a key to Penderson's room. Thanks to our Extinguisher escort, which had met us at the airport, we had the Governor's schedule and knew exactly when he'd be out giving a speech. We strode right up to the fifth floor and into Penderson's room without a single person questioning us.
The problem was; the staff wasn't there.
“Come on, did you really think the guy would just leave it in his hotel room for us to find?” Conri asked as he laid back on the bed, arms behind his head.
“I didn't think he'd carry it around in public,” I countered. “A big white staff with a bird's head on top might attract attention.”
“Unless the slachdan doesn't want to attract attention,” Conri smirked.
“Stop looking so damn pleased with yourself, Bargest,” Tiernan snapped. “If you were so sure of that, you could have mentioned it earlier and saved us some time.”
“You wouldn't have listened,” Conri sat up and shrugged. “But we haven't lost any time. We know where he is right now, don't we? Let's go hear the man's speech.”
“He's got a point,” I looked to Tiernan.
“Which makes him even more annoying,” Tiernan sighed. “Fine, let's go.”
And that was the extent of our visit to the Hotel Andra. I didn't even get to see the bar. Though I must say, Penderson had a lovely view of the Space Needle from his room and the hotel staff had been super helpful. Four stars definitely. Wait; was it stars for hotels or something else? I can never remember. Whatever, it was nice.
Our escort drove us directly from the hotel to Westlake Park, where Penderson was holding a rally. We had no plans on how to take the staff away from Penderson, just a thin hope that we might find an opportunity to do so. We had fey glamor on our side, including an ability called unseen; a beag magic that makes us invisible to humans. Unfortunately, we can't make ourselves invisible to humans with psychic abilities; a caveat that used to work well for me when I was just an Extinguisher. Hopefully, Penderson wasn't psychic.
We reached the park quickly but the entire area was overflowing with people and we had to get out of the car and walk the final way. Two Extinguishers from our escort came with us while the third stayed with the car. They tried to flank us but the crowd was too thick and they ended up just taking the rear.
Westlake wasn't really a park in my opinion, just an open area in between shopping malls. There were a few thin trees growing out of holes cut through the stone tiles; holes which were only a few inches bigger than their trunks. In fact, most of the ground was covered by stone. There were pretty patterns made from the multicolored tiles but I don't think that made up for the lack of grass. Shouldn't a park have grass?
In the center of this cement park, a stage had been erected. The crowd huddled in around it to listen to Penderson like he was Jesus come straight off his cross. I stared at the faces as we passed through, startled by how easy it was to navigate the throng. They were all enraptured by Penderson and no one seemed to care that we pushed them aside to get closer. It was bizarre and very disturbing. Even the police officers on duty for the rally just stared transfixed at the stage.
“Are you two alright?” I asked the Extinguishers.
“We're fine, Ambassador,” one of them answered for them both. “We've got our anti-fey charms.”
“Good,” I nodded with relief. The last thing we needed was our escort turning against us.
“He has it with him,” Conri pointed to the stage and sure enough, Penderson was holding the staff like he was Gandalf rallying the humans to war. Nobody seemed to think it was odd that the obviously fit politician should carry a walking staff. But then no one was really paying attention to anything but Penderson's words.
“How do we get it?” I asked.
“We could just run up and grab it,” Conri shrugged. “It's not like anyone would even notice.”
“Another good point,” Tiernan huffed. “Except that-”
“I'll do it,” Conri offered, cutting Tiernan off. “It's just a snatch and dash, no problem.”
Before we could say anything more, he was off, slipping through the last two feet of enchanted humans like a seal through water. Suddenly, he leaped from the crowd, straight at Penderson. He grabbed for the staff but as soon as his palm touched the wood, a flash of magic flared between them and Conri went flying back the way he'd come. Penderson stopped speaking momentarily, his eyes blinking in shock, but no one else noticed. Even the people Conri landed on, simply moved aside and went back to staring at Penderson.
“Goddess damn him!” Conri swore as he limped back over to us. His hair was disheveled, his sunglasses askew, and he had spots of angry color in his cheeks.
Penderson had started speaking again but his eyes had followed Conri back to us. His gaze settled on mine and his expression hardened. I narrowed my eyes as I watched his grip tighten on the staff.
“If you hadn't cut me off, I would have told you that your attempt wouldn't work,” Tiernan looked smug. “The staff can't be taken from its wielder, it can only be given.”
“Then we're screwed,” I whispered.
“Not necessarily,” Tiernan's silver stare settled on Penderson. “If he drops it, by accident or otherwise, it's fair game.”
“So what do you want me to do; go up there and tickle him till he let's go?” Conri snarled.
“There are other ways to make a man lower his guard,” I mused.
“That will happen,” Tiernan turned suddenly to me, “over my dead body. Besides, he's already seen you, you won't be able to seduce him. And in addition to that, he'll be on the look out for such tactics now that we've given him a bargest warning.”
“I wasn't talking about seducing him myself,” I rolled my eyes. “And seduction doesn't mean sex. I was thinking Aideen could do it.”
“Yeah, cause the dryad is such a temptress,” Conri chuckled.
“Hey, I think she's beautiful,” I defended my friend.
“She is,” Conri said immediately. “But she has the seduction technique of a tree; just stand there and look pretty. She can't help it, it's what her mama taught her.”
“And what did your mama teach you? To roll over and beg?” One of the Extinguishers said snidely.
“What the hell, man?” The other Extinguisher gaped at his colleague.
“I'll show you exactly what my mother taught me,” Conri growled and bared his teeth. “She was a glastig.”
The rude Extinguisher paled, though frankly, he should have known Conri was dangerous just by looking at him. You didn't need know that Conri's mother was a fairy known to seduce men so she could drown them and drain their blood. Though that definitely added to the intimidation factor.
“Easy, Conri,” I held up a hand between him and the Extinguisher. Then I looked over my shoulder at the human. “What was your name again?”
“Ed Teagan, Ambassador,” he said crisply.
“Alright, Teagan,” I nodded. “You realize that I'll never work with you again. I don't need a trouble-maker on my team. Now get your ass back to the car and wait for us there.”
“What?” His shoulders deflated. “I'm not just going to leave you-”
“Unprotected?” I lifted a brow. “You think Conri is scary? I could kill him with a thought. Now get out of my sight, you're stinking up my air with your mouth-breathing.”
�
�Yes, ma'am,” Teagan growled and stomped off.
“You just saved his life,” Conri snarled.
“A glastig?” I deflected his anger with the question. “Your mom is a glastig?”
“Yes,” Conri took a deep breath. “My race may have been born into Twilight but we still had to come from seelie and unseelie first. I'm one of the originals.”
“I guess I hadn't thought about it,” I admitted.
“It's alright,” Conri cast a glance over his shoulder. “Let's go. We've been spotted and there's nothing we can do now. We need to regroup.”
“Agreed,” I looked toward the remaining Extinguisher.
I actually knew this one's name; Randy Sullivan. I'd never worked with him before but I'd heard good things. The way he'd reacted to Teagan's behavior gave credence to the reports and I was inclined to like him.
“This way, Ambassador,” Sullivan said immediately. He turned and began leading us back to the car, pushing zombiefied people out of our way as he went.
“I guess he's afraid you'll send him home too,” Tiernan whispered to me.
“Shut up,” I hissed. Then a thought occurred to me and I looked over to Conri. “What type of fairy is your father?”
“A Cu-sidhe,” Conri grinned wickedly.
“A death hound?” My eyes went wide.
“Their prime form is like ours, not canine,” Conri added.
“I know,” I huffed. “It's just... a glastig and a death hound; that explains a lot.”
“Yep,” Conri's grin widened as he tapped his invisible bargest horns. “I'm a horny hound.”
Chapter Thirty-Seven
“I'm afraid we're going to have to kill him,” Tiernan said on the ride over to the house we'd be staying in.
“What?” I looked over at him in shock.
“Oh come on, I'm over it,” Conri drawled. “Teagan can live.”
Teagan glared at the bargest but didn't say a word.
“I meant Penderson,” Tiernan shot Conri an exasperated look before he went on, “The enchantment of the slachdan doesn't prevent physical harm from coming to its possessor. Nothing is stopping us from killing him.”
“Except maybe moral decency,” I growled.
“Killing him would save thousands of lives, right?” The driver, Extinguisher Jake Sloane, glanced back at us in the rear view mirror. “Maybe he's right.”
“Seriously?” I looked at the other Extinguishers. “You guys are okay with killing a human?”
“What's the difference?” Sloane asked grimly. “We're taught to protect the fey, not only hunt them. I respect fairies, as I know you do, Ambassador, and yet I kill them all the time. What makes killing a human any different?”
“Well, pet my fur and call me a pussycat,” Conri laughed. “I had no idea that was what they taught you. You guys respect us? Really? You'd never know it from the way this one acts,” he waved a hand towards Teagan, who was sitting up front, next to Jake.
“We're first and foremost protectors of the peace,” I told Conri. “Extinguishers kill only when they have to and we do it with as much mercy as possible. What did you think we were about?”
“Honestly, I thought you were all a bunch of psychos who liked to kill things,” Conri shrugged. “My mom used to tell me stories about Extinguishers snatching fey babies to sacrifice to their god. She said they'd come and steal me while I was sleeping if I misbehaved.”
“I bet that didn't stop you,” I smirked and he winked at me.
“We're not the Bogeyman,” Randy huffed a laugh but his eyes strayed to Teagan. “Some of us are assholes but we don't kill without good reason... and a warrant.”
“I'm not an asshole,” Teagan growled. “I just thought it was a funny joke. He's a bargest.”
“See, that's exactly what an asshole would say,” Jake glanced over at the sullen man.
“Fuck you guys,” Teagan crossed his arms and pouted.
“Would you like it if he called your mother an ape?” Sloane asked.
“Of course not,” Teagan snapped.
“That's on par with what you said to him,” Randy pointed out.
“Can we get back to our current concerns?” Tiernan asked. “I think I should just sneak into his room to kill him quickly and quietly while he sleeps.”
“You can't kill a human without an execution order from the Fairy Council,” I reminded him.
“I can kill in self defense,” he lifted a brow. “I think this qualifies.”
“No it doesn't,” I gave a disbelieving huff.
“I think the Fairy Council would take my side on this,” Tiernan pressed.
“We're not killing him,” I snapped. “He's just a man who's been led astray by fairy magic. He's a pawn and I'm not killing an innocent pawn.”
“Sometimes a pawn needs to be sacrificed,” Randy said from behind me. I looked back at him and lifted a brow. “Sorry, Ma'am but Lord Tiernan is right. The solution to our problem is a quick one. Frankly, as a politician, I think Penderson would make the same call. Presidents do it all the time; order assassinations.”
“I'm not going to justify our actions by citing someone else's,” I stared hard at him. “If the President decides to make that call, the weight of it will lie on his shoulders but I am not about to carry this.”
“Then let me,” Conri leaned forward from his seat beside Randy. “I'll do it and no one can give me any grief since I'm neither a member of the Hunt or the Extinguishers. I'll simply be acting as a knight of the Star's Guard.”
“No, Conri,” I said firmly. “You aren't my assassin and I would never ask you to be. You're far better than that.”
Conri's mouth fell open and his fiery eyes went watery. He slid them away, blinking rapidly and turning to look out the window as he took a deep breath. When he finally looked back at me, his expression was one I'd seen only two other times before; when he'd asked to serve on the Star's Guard and when I'd knighted him. It was a dramatic mix of pride, disbelief, admiration, and determination. Very striking and completely unforgettable.
When he spoke, his voice was rough with emotion; “I would kill simply to hear you say that again. Just point your finger, Princess, and I'll tear your enemies to pieces.”
“Conri, I love you and there's something terribly sexy about what you just said,” I held up a hand when Tiernan started to give me a horrified look. “But please don't ever say it again. You're not my dog, you're a knight of the Twilight Court, and no one, not even myself, will ever point their finger and order you to kill. You don't need to become a killer to hear me say nice things about you. You're my friend, I'd say nice things about you everyday, if I wasn't afraid of inflating your ego bigger than it already is.”
“Not possible,” Tiernan rolled his eyes.
“For good reason.” Conri smirked before he leaned towards me and whispered dramatically, “I knew you loved me.”
“And he's back,” I chuckled. “Look, we kill only as a last resort. I'm not going to order a man's death simply because it's the easiest way to deal with this. Come on, let's give it some thought. I think we at least owe Penderson that much.”
“And now you see why evil will always win; because good is dumb,” Jake shook his head as he navigated the busy Seattle streets.
“Did you just call the Princess dumb?” Tiernan snarled.
“Oh shit,” Jake looked into the mirror with wide eyes. “Sorry, Ambassador. I didn't mean it like that. I just... well, it seemed like an appropriate quote. You know, how good people always hesitate to do things that evil people...” he trailed off since I was laughing hysterically. “Princess Seren?”
“You quoted Spaceballs!” I pointed an accusing finger at Jake. “Spaceballs! That's freakin' awesome. I don't think I've ever heard anyone quote Spaceballs before.”
“Thank god,” Jake groaned. “I thought I was going to get kicked out of the Ambassador Club like Teagan.”
“Nah, I have a better sense of humor than Tiernan,” I was still
chuckling.
“And good taste in movies,” Jake grinned.
“Thank you,” I nodded in agreement.
“Spaceballs?” Conri asked. “Sounds like something I need to see.”
“Hell, man, I think you're in it,” Jake shot back and I started laughing again.
“Excuse me?” Conri narrowed his eyes on our driver.
“I know who you're talking abut and that's just not right,” I wagged my finger at Jake.
“Oh he can make dog comments but I can't?” Teagan muttered.
“It's all about the tone, Teagan,” I sighed. “Work on your tone.”
“Dog comments?” Conri growled.
“Here's a tip, dude,” Randy said from beside Conri. “Don't growl like an animal when you're disputing a dog comment.” Conri turned his glare on Randy. “Hey,” Randy held up his hands, “I'm just trying to do you a solid.”
“I will solidly punch the face of the next guy who calls me a dog,” Conri declared.
“Settle down, Barf,” I mumbled and Jake burst into laughter.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
We pulled up into the drive of a cute little two story house painted white with green trim. It had a lush garden and a red brick path that led up to the front door. Very nondescript, like most of the properties the Human Council owned. We tried to blend in as much as we could, especially those of us who were out on assignment, which is who the house was for. There were houses like this all over the world, just for our use, and I'd never been so happy to have them until this moment.
We walked in to find the answering machine glaring at us with a flashing red light. Jake went over to it and pushed the button. Councilman Murdock's voice came out of the little black box, asking politely for me to return his call... at once. He had information received from my father. I went straight to the phone and dialed Murdock's office number. He answered on the first ring.
“Seren?” He asked.
“How did you know it was me?” I blinked. “Do you have precognition?”
