by Lily Luchesi
“Eryx, is it? Why have I not heard of this partner of yours before?” I didn’t bother to hide my irritation.
“Eryx B. Katz, to be exact. I do apologize, my dear. Eryx has been a silent partner for years. It wasn’t until recently that he began to show a personal interest in my collections, and about 6 months ago began planning a trip to meet you himself. I truly didn’t know if he’d actually come until yesterday!” Upon entering the building, Constable ushered me into an elevator and tapped the 30th floor, where his penthouse and personal office were located. I pursed my lips but stayed silent the rest of the way, focusing on my breathing in an effort to keep my temper at bay.
As soon as the elevator doors opened, I focused on the back of a tall, semi-muscular figure dressed in high fashion slacks and a snug fitting button down shirt with the sleeves rolled to the elbows. He gazed out the tinted windows across the city, his face turned away from us. I noticed that even though he’d gone through the effort to dress nicely, he still wore tennis shoes that had seen better days, and simply tied his slightly longer hair back rather than making an effort to get a haircut before flying out. I frowned, unsure what to think of the details of his clashing choices in appearance.
“Eryx Katz, I’m so excited to introduce you to our incredible treasure hunter. Please meet Draya Kintyre!” I stepped forward, ready to fake a smile, stretching a hand out in preparation of a proper handshake. The world moved in slow motion as this Eryx turned to me, showing me his face. He smiled genuinely at me, his dark eyes glistening with shocking delight as he watched my own smile falter. I couldn’t hide the betrayal from my own features, and it took every ounce of self-control not to pull away from him as he shook my hand. Took every ounce of control not to shudder from his touch.
“Miss Kintyre, it’s truly an honor to meet you in person.” He meant it. I could tell every word he spoke was sincere. But it didn’t take away the gut-wrenching feeling I got as I watched his perfect lips turn up into a smile that made my knees weak.
“I uh...I’m glad to meet you, too, Mr. Katz.” The words barely came out above a whisper. Mentally, I screamed at him. Threw every profane word I could think of at him. Couldn’t decide if I wanted to throw him to the ground and strangle him or if I wanted to shred his clothes and make love to him. Despite the torrential emotions raining down around me, I honestly meant what I said. I was glad to meet him. To finally meet him and to touch him, even if it happened to only be his hand. I couldn’t wrap my head around it, though. How could he be standing there? How was he there in corporeal form and not just in my head? None of it made sense. Is this why he told me to stay home?
“Um, Eryx is it?”
“Yes,” he chuckled lightly. “But you can call me E.”
CHAPTER FOUR
“Oh, do you know each other?” Constable asked inquisitively, noticing the immediate tension in the room. Tension that apparently only I created.
“No,” we said in unison. I forced a smile at him, still screaming at him in my head, using every profane word I could think of in every language I knew. Constable nodded once and waved a hand at the large table in the middle of the room. I watched his every move, noting how fluid his motions were as he pulled out a chair and sat. He leaned back, tilting the chair on the back legs, and folded his hands across his abdomen. The motion tugged his shirt down slightly, spreading it evenly across defined muscles. I swallowed a lump in my throat, unable to stop my lip from curling in disgust.
He smiled at me kindly and I found myself staring at him, waiting for some evil sign to appear to tell me this wasn’t him. This wasn’t my E. I could feel it in my gut. Yet, he looked just like him. I licked my lips, suddenly feeling very parched. I traced each muscled crease with a mental finger, imagined touching every inch of that perfect torso right before loosening the genuine leather belt he wore and ripping it from his pant loops.
“Run.”
There. The quietest whisper in my head. The sign. The interruption I needed before getting too lost in my poorly-timed fantasy.
I smiled, keeping my cool, sinking smoothly into the chair directly across from him. “I rather like Eryx. Do you mind if I call you that? I quite like it.” I used as much flirt power as I could muster, refusing to call him by the same name I used for the soul stuck somewhere unknown.
“If you’d like,” he responded, obviously pleased with my fake flirting. I watched him intently, refusing to take my gaze away. Refusing to let him out of my sight even for a moment. I watched his eyes rake over me from head to toe, likely undressing me in his mind. Sadly, if that’s what it would take to find out who hired him, I’d let him undress me. I’d let him do a thousand dirty, immoral things to me if it meant tying him either to some sleaze bag rookie or to Yurik himself.
“Eryx here was just telling me he’d like to tag along during one of your escapades,” Constable finally piped up. He handed me a glass of what looked and smelled like champagne before sitting in the seat to my right. He leaned back in his seat, spreading his legs wide as he sipped his own glass of bubbly. He nodded at Eryx, silently encouraging him to lead the conversation.
“Right, yes. I’m a bit embarrassed to admit it, but I have always been passionately curious about treasure hunting, yet I’ve never participated in a hunt myself. I wonder if you’d mind greatly if I tagged along. Lose my hunter virginity, if you will.” That last part he said with a wry smile, his eyes twinkling with unspoken innuendos. I don’t understand how that was meant to be sensual, but I forced a quick smile which I hoped came across as bashful.
“As soon as I find out who he is and who is paying him, I’m gonna skin him alive,” I mentally yelled at no one in particular. I knew several of the echoes could hear me. They often floated in and out of range, grasping bits and pieces of my life. They held onto those little moments. Held onto the only thread of humanity they could grasp.
“Do not harm.” I heard E again. He whispered so quietly I almost didn’t catch what he’d said. I found it concerning since he’d never spoken so softly before.
“You have some explaining to do, sir!” I hollered at him, beyond frustrated. “Why does he look like you?”
Silence. I realized then that he was trying to keep quiet. What little he’d said he’d done so while risking himself. In risking himself, he risked any chance he had in getting back. That frustrated me even more.
I cleared my throat and leaned forward, placing my elbows on my knees. I glanced at Constable, cocking a single eyebrow to change my expression from serious to mischievous. “When do you wanna go?” I asked.
“Um, well…” Eryx hesitated, clearing his throat. He looked around the room, avoiding eye contact for a moment. Once he finally looked at me, I was shocked to find that his nervousness appeared legitimate.
“Tonight?” I blurted. I bit my bottom lip, hiding my impatience as anticipation. Eryx blushed, smiling widely.
“Yes. Tonight would be sublime.”
“Perfect! It’s a date. I’ll have Charlie take you home, Draya. Eryx and I have some business matters to attend to.” Constable hopped up, ushering me out the door where Charlie stood, waiting to escort me. I rode down in the elevator with Charlie, truly confused. He wanted us to meet, waited for us to set a hunting date, then kicked me out? Constable never made rational choices. I don’t really know why I expected any less from him.
“Something’s wrong,” Charlie said under his breath, breaking the silence and making me jump. I looked over at him, waiting for him to continue. The corner of his mouth crooked up in the slightest smile. He was truly pleased with himself making me jump like that. But it didn’t last long, and he returned to his normal sullen composure. Only this time, the space between his well-maintained eyebrows creased.
“You noticed, too,” I finally responded. He nodded once, never truly looking back at me. He glanced briefly up at the security camera semi-camouflaged in the corner of the elevator. I nodded back so he knew I understood, then turned my back on him and go
t out my cell phone. I made it appear as if I answered a call and said everything with hand motions to give the appearance that I was really involved in that imaginary call. “This sudden, new partner isn’t who he says he is.”
“No,” Charlie responds, turning his back to the camera as the elevator door opened, ushering me out first. He walked a full step behind me to create inconspicuous distance, but to make sure I could still hear him. “I imagine Constable gave you a similar story. He tried telling me he’d been a silent partner just recently interested in what he has you doing. Which, by the way, isn’t exactly legal either.”
“No!” I said much more enthusiastically than needed, feigning a giggle. A group of high-class clients stood in the lobby, eyeing me suspiciously. The ditzy twenty-something routine always created a high level of disinterest for rich people, and they quickly turned their attention back to topics they found much more appealing. Usually politics or how much they spent on their newest vacation home. We exited the building quickly and I cleared my throat, putting my cell phone away.
I clamored into the back seat of the luxury car and waited anxiously for Charlie to hurry up and get in the driver’s seat. Then I waited for him to pull into the flow of main traffic. Then I simply waited. When he said nothing, I opened my mouth to jump back into the conversation, but he silenced me with a single, leather-gloved finger to his lips. So I waited some more. Waited all the way back to my rundown house, and then all the way inside my house. Once inside, Charlie ushered me into the backyard and as far from the house as possible.
“The car is wired, your house is probably wired, and I imagine this is as close to safe as we’re going to get.” Charlie looked up and down the alley briefly, examining the electric lines that ran the full length of it. He nodded slowly in satisfaction before finally turning his attention back to me. “I’ve worked for Constable long enough to know when something is off. This silent partner didn’t exist before this last week. Yet, as far as I can tell, he truly believes this man, whoever he is, has been a business shareholder for years. I have played ignorant through many situations and it’s saved my bacon more times than I can count. I don’t know… This situation feels different. It feels…”
“Dark? Dangerous no matter if you’re silent or not?” Charlie looked shocked by my guess. Sadly, it wasn’t a guess. Not really. I knew the feeling. Knew it like a second skin. It’s how I felt every time I encountered an unsettled soul or an unrested screamer, most often tortured by an untrained spellcaster. This world I lived in, the one Charlie didn’t realize he was getting a taste of, wasn’t for the faint of heart.
“How did you…”
“I’m going to show you something that I would, under normal circumstances, never show any normal human being. I am only choosing to do this because it could mean life or death for you if I don’t. And honestly, Charlie, I like you.” I took a deep breath, still debating momentarily if I should follow through. The echoes whispered encouragement, giving me a positive nudge to trust this man who I’d only ever known as our mutual employer’s designated driver.
Charlie waited patiently, a tint of fear staining his usually stony features. I tried to smile encouragingly, but I had a feeling I looked about as fearful as he felt. With a deep, calming breath, I cupped my hands together in front of me, creating a small bowl shape with them.
“Would you give me permission to use a single strand of your hair?” Charlie stared at me silently. I wasn’t sure if he’d agree. I could tell he was contemplating whether or not it was a serious request. Finally, he reached for a few strands sitting on the shoulder of his driver’s jacket and placed them in my cupped palms. I nodded my gratitude, smiling faintly.
Closing my eyes, I began by praying silently to my ancestors. I told them what I intended to do and asked for their blessing. When no resistance came, I bowed my head, touching my forehead against my upturned wrists. I held this stance as I began to chant words quietly. As I slowly raised my head, I chanted louder, willing a single deceased ancestor of Charlie’s to step forward and commune with him in the living realm.
Finally, I felt the touch of a lovely, gentle soul. She felt young and untainted by the evils the world provided. My chest immediately tightened. The worst part about this ritual was the sinking knowledge that the connection meant this single soul never moved on as she should have. Perhaps that was something I could fix in this process.
I finally opened my eyes and watched the glowing blue image begin to form in my cupped hands. A miniature human form came into view, glowing bright as the connection grew smaller. Charlie watched intently, first with curiosity that quickly turned to a terrible intrigue. He squinted down at the small figure standing in my hands, frowning as he tried to understand what he saw. I watched in near slow motion as his eyes grew wider and he stumbled backward, a hand flying to his chest.
“Hi, Papa.” The small image spoke softly to him. He shook his head in absolute bewilderment, battling between wanting to deny what his own eyes showed him and what human logic had taught him his whole life.
“How...how are you...I watched you die,” Charlie mumbled. He looked up at me, so much confusion and pain and hope in his eyes.
“I did,” the small figure confirmed, nodding her head sadly. “And I never got to tell you I love you one last time. So I’ve been waiting. Waiting to talk to you again, either in this life or the next.”
“Waiting?” Charlie asked her, shaking his head. “Do you mean...do you mean you’ve been stuck somewhere in between? All because you wanted to tell me you loved me?” When the girl nodded silently, Charlie sucked in a painful breath, unrelenting tears spilling down his face. “Oh, sweet Cateline! Baby girl, why? You didn’t have to wait to tell me something I already knew!”
Cateline. She who is innocent and unsullied. A name too fitting of a girl who couldn’t have been more than twelve upon her death. My heart broke for them both. I would never understand why we existed in a world so cold and merciless as this one, that cares so little for life, especially innocent life. The kind that only brought light to our lives. Poor Charlie. I lost a sister and that nearly killed me. Yet, there stood a man before me, who lost a daughter, who still wept because of it, and still stood tall every single day.
“It doesn’t matter, Papa. Because now I can move on. I can go join Mama in the light.” The little girl in my hands smiled brightly up at Charlie. His face glistened with wetness, but he still smiled down at her. “I love you, Papa.”
“I love you too, my sweet baby. Love you to the moon and back a million times. Don’t wait for me anymore! Go!” He shewed her with the wave of a hand, nearly laughing as she faded away. When she was gone, he sank to the ground and sat on his knees for a long time.
“May I get you some water?” I asked quietly, hoping to offer some tiny semblance of relief to a man who was probably replaying his whole life in his head. Charlie looked up at me slowly, his eyes glistening with unshed tears, and he actually smiled. Not one of his usual half smiles that I could never fully tell how genuine they were. This was a full-faced smile, bright white teeth flashing in the dimming sunlight. His face, although a mess, glowed with true happiness. Seeing him like that loosened the tightness in my chest and I took a relieving breath.
“Help an old man to his feet so we can have a real talk.”
CHAPTER FIVE
“It’s a strange feeling to know something and still not fully believe it.” Charlie rubbed the back of his neck. I could tell he struggled with the load of information I just dumped on him. I had lived every bit of it and I still knew how crazy it all sounded. “I mean, I know there’s no way you could’ve faked what you just showed me. Yet, what you’re asking me to believe…”
“It’s a hard pill to swallow?” I nodded at him. “I know. Trust me, I know. I didn’t tell you any of it with any hope you’d believe a single word of it. I told you to be informative. I told you so that you would know, once you started witnessing the seriously crazy stuff, what to e
xpect. I’m trying to keep you safe by educating you. It sounds crazy. Heck, it sounds utterly insane. But it’s the truth. And the truth is dangerous.”
“And you’re sure this guy isn’t human?” Charlie squinted at me, unsure of his own words leaving his mouth.
“No, I’m not sure. I honestly have no idea who or what he is. The only thing I know is he looks exactly like a man that I know is dead, or at least his soul has been enslaved.”
“By this Yurik character.”
“Yes.” I watched the old man nod again, scratching the side of his head, along the point in his hairline where he began to turn salt and pepper instead of onyx black. He paced slowly in front of me, subconsciously holding his lower back. I made a mental note to make up a poultice for him to rub on before bedtime to help with the arthritis I knew he suffered from, even if he’d never mentioned it or complained.
“And you say you hear these...souls...in your mind?” Charlie asked, abruptly stopping in front of me.
“Yes.” I answered simply again. I didn’t want to add on to what I’d already thrown at him, so I tried to keep my responses basic while he worked through the current situation on his own.
“Uh-huh,” he grunted. He went back to pacing, mumbling quietly. He rubbed his chin every time he’d managed to settle his mind on a piece of the craziness he’d found himself unwillingly thrust into the middle of. “All right, well…” Charlie started, clapping his hands together loudly. “What is your plan and how do I fit into all of this?”
“You don’t.” I crossed my arms in front of me, hoping my posture told him I had no intentions of letting him argue his way out of this. “You have been informed for one reason and one reason only. You are involved only because our mutual employer has been enchanted and thus has allowed an imposter into our midst. I would like to keep you out of it as much as I possibly can. But if anything weird happens or you see something you would’ve written off as your mind playing tricks on you on a normal day, I want you to be aware. I want you to have your eyes wide open. I want you to see it for what it is, acknowledge its existence, and then walk away.” I waited for Charlie to absorb my words. As soon as he nodded his understanding, I said, “And then I want you to call me and tell me what you saw while you’re walking away.”
