Sighing, I glanced up from my perch above the cash register at the Green Tea Leaf. Business had been slow all afternoon, and it was easy to get lost in a daydream. Since no one seemed to be on the way in for a coffee fix, I let my thoughts wander again. The animosity between Devlin and me was eating me alive. I needed to make peace with him. When my meeting with Mikael was over and I was ready to deliver whatever bit of information I could glean from him, I’d have to offer Devlin an apology. I only hoped he would be willing to listen.
“Nervous about your big date with my brother?” Moira's chirpy voice cut into my reverie.
I yelped and turned to face her.
She arched a perfect, dark brow at me.
I only glowered in response. “Not that nervous,” I grumbled.
A wicked smile graced her face. “Oh, I hear Noctaine always has the best New Year’s party! I’m trying to talk Jon into going, but he’s adamant about some boring meet and greet at his parents’ house. Ugh, what college student wants to spend New Year’s with his mom and dad?”
She rolled her eyes and walked away, presumably to get back to cleaning off tables and restocking the spices and cream on the other end of the counter.
I gritted my teeth as my inner voice reminded me that tomorrow evening I’d be in the position to bring her and her brother down.
Later that night, I tossed and turned, eventually falling asleep well past midnight. I woke up groggy and feeling sick to my stomach. Due to a change in my work schedule, I had the entire day and half of the coming week free to do as I pleased. This morning, however, I chose to go over all the possible scenarios regarding my date with Mikael. When every single outcome ended with me getting sliced open by a troupe of evil Faelorehn men, I ditched my scheming and attempted to get lost in one of my favorite books.
Eventually, five o’clock rolled around and it was time to get ready. After eating a quick dinner and showering, I stood staring into my closet, trying to decide what to wear. If I wanted to catch Mikael’s attention and distract him, I’d wear the dress from the Christmas dinner with my co-workers. The only problem with that was the dress had been ruined the night I was attacked and one of the heels on my matching shoes was broken.
Pursing my lips, I considered my options until I finally decided on a look. Pulling out my best pair of dark, slimming jeans, a slinky, silvery top and a black leather jacket I hadn’t worn in three years, I got quickly to work. A wicked looking pair of high-heeled, black faux leather boots completed the outfit. The boots had been part of a Halloween costume a year or so ago, and they hugged my calves, stopping below my knees. They screamed wicked seductress, so they were perfect for the occasion.
For the next hour I stood in front of my bathroom mirror, curling my hair just enough so it hung above my shoulders like an ominous rain cloud, the violet streak to the left resembling a highly charged lightning bolt. I applied my eyeliner and mascara with unfettered abandon and changed out all of my earrings to match my dark ensemble. Finally, I added a touch of deep red lipstick to complete my transformation. When I was done, I glanced at myself in the mirror. My dark hair, usually straight with a bit of a wave in it, framed my face in soft, loose curls and the black eyeliner and mascara gave my look a dangerous edge. The streak of color in my hair was a nice touch, and I added some deep violet eye shadow and nail polish to match.
When I stepped back to admire myself, I couldn’t help but smile impishly. I hadn’t gone this hardcore Goth since high school, and the few tattoos that now adorned my arms would only heighten the effect once I shed my jacket at the night club. I looked positively fierce.
By the time Mikael’s car pulled up outside my apartment, I felt like some demented female demon ready to wreak havoc upon a troupe of bikers. I imagined ordering them around with malicious glee as I recalled everything I knew about the Morrigan.
You once idolized her, Robyn, my inner voice told me, before you knew that she truly existed and that she wished to kill your best friend. Now would be a good time to put all that knowledge to good use; to use what you know of the Morrigan to convince Mikael you aren’t interested in anyone but him.
It was a slightly ridiculous notion. Okay, a really ridiculous notion, but if it meant taking control of the current situation with the Daramorr, then so be it. If it meant tapping into my dark, ambitious side in order discover all of Mikael’s weaknesses and hiding places for Devlin, then it was a sacrifice worth making. Time to shift into high gear, Robyn.
The familiar sound of pop music blasted into my ears as I left my apartment behind, the narrow heels of my boots threatening to wedge themselves into the gaps of the sidewalk. My housemates were obviously throwing a party of their own, and it was in full swing. The drunken laughter of their male guests followed me as I made my way toward the street. I glanced up and took note of the black car waiting for me. A luxury model, of course.
“You Robyn?” a middle-aged man in a uniform asked through the open window on the passenger side.
“Uh, yeah.”
He nodded and waited for me to climb into the back. Once I had buckled myself in, he pulled away smoothly and headed west. The light flutter of butterfly wings brushed against the walls of my stomach. I clenched my teeth and breathed deeply through my nose. Oh no, none of that. You are not going to let your nerves overwhelm you tonight. Fierce Robyn, be fierce!
To my delight, my little pep talk worked and the butterflies disappeared.
About ten minutes later, the car turned one last corner and rolled to a stop in front of what appeared to be an old abandoned warehouse wedged between the freeway and the edge of downtown. I had seen the building before, had suspected what went on inside, but I’d never been curious enough to stop by. Of course, I was pretty sure I’d have been turned away at the door. Oh well. Now I had a VIP pass of sorts and I was going to make the best of it.
Thanking the driver, I stepped out of the car, then turned and straightened myself before approaching the two daunting bouncers standing on either side of the obvious entrance, their thick arms crossed over their large chests. Probably some local college football boys or a couple of recruits from the track team’s throwing squad.
Swallowing back my apprehension, I gamboled over, trying to keep my pace steady. My legs seemed to be fighting hard against me.
One of the men eyed me, his gaze traveling up and down my body. I only arched an eyebrow and mimicked his stance, mentally daring him to make some suggestive comment. Instead he said in a gravelly voice, “You looking for someone girly?”
A tiny spark of indignation blossomed in the pit of my stomach. Instead of tamping it down, I let it unfurl a little.
“I’ve been invited by Mikael,” was my cool answer.
“Mikael?” the bouncer prompted.
For a second I nearly panicked, then I remembered Moira’s last name. “Mikael Barry,” I said, tilting my nose upward.
The young man’s eyes widened a bit, then he spoke quietly into a handheld radio, presumably checking to see if I was to be permitted. A second later, he faced me again.
“I’m to escort you in.”
He moved aside, and I stepped inside the door. Immediately, I was overwhelmed with too many sights, sounds and smells to focus on just one. The deep, reverberating beat of heavy metal music assaulted my ears and vibrated within my chest cavity. The cloying scent of perfume, cologne and aftershave, combined with sweat and desperation, stung my nose while the flashing blue, red and violet of a strobe light hurt my eyes. All in all, it wasn’t a very pleasant experience. My shoes stuck to the ground as I pressed through the writhing bodies on the dance floor, and I only hoped it was the residue of spilled beer and other beverages that made the floor gummy, not urine or vomit.
Off to the side and seated in one of the raised booths, I spotted Mikael, his handsome facade cool and collected beneath a single hanging lamp. He looked like a haughty prince, enthroned above the commoners, and this night club was his realm. Straightening my shoulders
and drawing in a deep breath, I nodded to the bouncer who had been so kind to help me across the crowded floor before stepping up onto the ledge where Mikael’s booth rested.
He turned to acknowledge me as I came to stop beside the booth, his fingers resting casually against the stem of a martini glass. Immediately, his calm face took on a look of surprise. For several long seconds he looked me up and down, taking in my wardrobe, my makeup, my general aura of determined confidence.
“Well, Miss Dunbarre, you certainly know how to dress for the occasion.”
His words were punctuated with a charming smile that would knock the air out of any girl’s lungs. Fortunately, I had my conscience there to remind me exactly who, and what, this young man was.
“Well, it isn’t every day that a successful young man asks me be his date for the evening at an exclusive club,” I said in my most seductive voice. Mikael’s eyes lit up and he gestured toward the bench across from him.
“Hungry?” he asked.
I nodded and he waved a hand, immediately catching the attention of a waitress. He ordered a few things and when the girl sauntered away, he returned his attention to me, smiling in that way that sent tingles down my spine and a chill through my blood.
“So, do tell me about your life since last we saw one another.”
Immediately, the memory of his stolen kiss flared in my head, and I almost suspected he had somehow placed it there. Grinding my teeth together, I adopted a contemplative look. “I was busy with school before winter break. Now I just have work and a lot of free time on my hands.”
The waitress returned with a drink Mikael had ordered for me. It was sweet and had an after taste of alcohol. For a fleeting moment I wondered if he was the type to drug me. Concluding he was more likely testing my trust, I continued to drink. Mikael looked satisfied, and I only hoped my instincts proved correct.
“I feel I must be completely honest with you, Robyn,” he said suddenly, his voice lowered so that I had to lean in to hear him. “I didn’t just invite you to join me this evening because I’m interested in you, although that plays a large part.”
His cool smile took away the sting of his words. “Is that so?” I responded with just as much disinterest.
“And I’m not the type to skirt around a problem,” he continued. “Given your connection with that neo-pagan group and your association with Devlin O’Brolaigh, I suspect you are very much aware of what my sister and I are.”
There was a brief pause in the blaring music between songs, and the fierce beating of my heart filled my ears. Of all the things I had expected him to say, that hadn’t been it. Doing my best to cover the look of shock that surely dominated my face, I cleared my throat and said, “Very perceptive of you.” Because really, why deny it?
Mikael nodded once and then narrowed his gaze on me again. “I take it by the fact that you showed up here tonight that you have at least some interest in me and my presence in your world. You are well aware of Eile, Robyn, and those who live there, both Faelorehn and faelah. Am I correct?”
I reached for my drink, taking a slow, languorous sip so that I could think of how to best respond. This was an unexpected turn of events, Mikael up and admitting to what he was. I would need to handle this carefully if I wanted to stay in control of the conversation.
Finally, I glanced back up at him, trying to assess his expression without being too obvious about it. He wore that placid mask of his, though I was certain he was studying every inch of my face, looking for the tiniest detail that might betray me as a threat or a deceiver.
Making a decision, I shrugged and said, “You’re right. I am interested, though I only have Devlin’s side of the story to go on.”
Something akin to fire flared up in his eyes, those changeable eyes I hadn’t noticed before now. “Oh? What has he told you?”
Keeping up my act of the girl bored with her meek little Lorehnin watchdog, I shrugged, then sighed and waved my hand around. “He told me he was from the Otherworld and that he was here looking for a Doormore or Darmore or some such thing. According to him, this character is guilty of murdering people in order to steal the Morrigan's magic.”
I gave a light little laugh. “If you could hear him say it, you might come away despising this Dormar person. But Devlin was pretty confident about tracking him down and capturing him.”
Mikael, who had remained a dark statue on the other side of the booth, shifted forward an inch.
“And has he done so yet?” His voice was a harsh whisper, both seductive and dangerous.
I lifted my eyes to meet his, my mind awhirl with thoughts about Devlin. If I recalled all the good memories I’d had with him, the times he had smiled at me and helped me through my sorrow, that time he kissed me and set my blood on fire, then Mikael would know me for what I was: a fraud. A sheep in wolf’s clothing. Instead, I forced those blissful memories away and conjured up an image of Devlin arguing with me and demanding that I stay cooped up in my apartment. Although I had been more than ready to forgive him and beg his forgiveness for the past few altercations we’d had, I hung on to the fresh anger I’d felt when he’d hurt me. It must have worked because Mikael’s eyes softened ever so slightly and the corner of his mouth curled up.
“No,” I piped with an air of haughtiness. “He keeps saying that he’s oh-so-close, but frankly, I’m tired of his claims. And all this time he’s been convincing me that it is you I need to look out for, that it’s your Otherworldly monsters that have been after me.”
Mikael looked absolutely predatory, but before he could say anything more the waitress brought our food. I glanced at my plate, appreciating the expensive cut of meat and perfectly sautéed vegetables. Suddenly, my stomach growled and I dug in. Just extending the trust, I convinced myself.
“He is wrong,” Mikael snarled.
I blinked up at him, my mouth full of seasoned rice.
“Devlin O’Brolaigh is nothing more than a fatherless Lorehnin man with no sense of honor. He hunts me and my sister merely to prove that he is worthy of some imagined glory.”
The words stung me like the lash of a whip, but I maintained my composure.
“Really? So all those things he said aren’t true?”
Mikael scrutinized me once again, this time his face impossible to read. Beyond our little booth, the music thundered away while the throng of people fell victim to its ghastly charm, and the strobe light painted the room in the dismal colors of death and doom. It was a wonderland of edgy college students who believed they were a part of some other realm beyond our own.
Mikael took a breath and leaned back, his fingers tracing the stem of his martini glass. “I will not lie to you, Robyn. Many consider me a dangerous man, and I do seek out the glamour the Morrigan has left behind. But I am honest about it. I have not sent the faelah after you. They are attracted to you of their own accord.”
I gave him an incredulous look. Devlin had once suspected as much, but as soon as I told him I wasn’t Otherworldly, he’d tried to come up with other explanations.
“Devlin told me it was because of the unique magic I have. Not Otherworldly glamour, but the magic every mortal thing contains. He said it might be stronger than others, not as potent as that from the Otherworld, but enough to make me stand out a little more than the rest.”
Mikael smiled, his eyes flashing to pale gold. “In that aspect, he is correct.”
“And is that why you are interested in me? Because of my strong earthly magic?”
It was a risk, asking such a bold and accusing question. But if I wanted Mikael to believe my ruse, I needed to be just as blunt as he had been earlier.
The Daramorr surprised me by barking in laughter, his eyes dancing with pure amusement. “My dear girl, your glamour is of no interest to me. Yes, I wouldn’t mind adding it to my cache, but it would expend far too much energy to get it from you.”
The casual way he talked about extracting my magic sent chills over my skin, but I did my best to hide
my disgust.
“Then why the interest? You can’t be surprised that I should want to know.”
Mikael shrugged and took a sip of his drink, his previous mirth having faded. Once he set the glass back down he looked me in the eye.
“The truth?”
I nodded.
He gestured for me to lean in. I felt a little bit like I was in high school again on my very first date, waiting with bated breath to find out if my crush really liked me as much as I liked him. Only, in this situation, I was hoping for information, not seductive words.
“You fascinate me, Robyn Dunbarre,” he drawled with smooth, liquid precision.
Fortunately, I managed to suppress my sigh of disappointment. Had Mikael not been a bloodthirsty, Otherworldly villain, and had Devlin never stepped into my life, I might have been drinking this up like a freshman getting asked to senior prom by the star quarterback. Instead, I returned Mikael’s lazy smile and batted my mascara-laden lashes.
“Then I have a secret to tell you,” I murmured, “I am fascinated, too.”
The smug look on Mikael’s face was the first sign that I was making any progress tonight. The music shifted again, changing from heavy metal to a lighter rock mix. Mikael cast his eyes over the dance floor below and then glanced back at me.
“Would you care to dance?” he asked.
Fighting a shudder, I said, “I’d love to.”
As he led me down into the middle of the throng, everyone stepped away from him, in apparent deference to the power he wielded.
When his arm wrapped tightly around my waist, I forced myself to relax and imagine he was Devlin. Only Devlin would never be so forceful with me. A pang of guilt spiked through me. I really hoped he would return in the next few days so we could patch up our shoddy friendship. First you must complete this task Robyn, my conscience reminded me. Focus, or else all your work will have been in vain. Yes. Right.
Lorehnin: A Novel of the Otherworld Page 23
