Grounded

by Constance Sharper

  “What, you didn’t think he’d be a vicious murderer?” Avery posed bravely—something that earned her a harrowing glare from Eva.

  “Simply that his intentions now run counter-course to mine.” Eva hissed.

  Leela had once said that they were “moving Eva out”. Eva might have been picking up on it too. It somewhat justified Eva’s actions. Avery did consider the possibility of Eva’s actions being a trap. It wouldn’t have been the first time the Band was absolutely underhanded. But considering she’d just saved Mason from untimely death, Avery trusted her. Backing up a step, she let the girl into the building. The metal door swung shut behind her and the room got substantially darker. Being so close to Eva felt awkward. Trekking across the room, Avery perched on the side of Mason’s chair.

  “You mean Mikhail suddenly remembered that you still are and always will be Jericho’s child?” Mason suddenly harped at his sister.

  “Shove it or I might finish where Mikhail left off.” Eva stood, apparently ready to go through on her threat but Avery intervened.

  “Hey wait up!” Avery held two pacifying hands out. “We can’t fight each other! Or did you guys just miss the part where Mikhail swore to kill us all and is going to fill his body up with Willow magic? The enemy of my enemy is my friend.”

  Whether or not the two siblings wanted to agree, she had a point there. Eva leaned back, her attitude sliding from anger to apparent calm.

  “So start thinking dear brother. What’s the next step?” Eva quizzed with the rational approach.

  “We tell the police about Mikhail’s location.” Mason said first off.

  Eva broke down that option quickly.

  “He likely won’t be there, but if they can track him they might find him.”

  “Will the police be able to hold him this time?” Avery asked next. A few months ago, Mikhail had broken out of prison and escaped. He’d taken out dozens of harpies just to do it. And now with the magic of Willow, he’d be harder to contain.

  “It might slow him down.” Mason answered. “But they wouldn’t be sending enough police to stop him. They’re going to be holding down the fort. They know where Mikhail will go.”

  “What do you mean?” Avery interrupted, feeling out of the loop. During the conversation, Mason and Eva sent silent glances to each other sharing some unspoken understanding.

  “Mikhail’s going to take back his throne after he kills everyone standing in his way.” Eva snapped out. Avery knew without asking that the harpie woman was wondering if she’d allied herself on the losing side.

  “I guess we should just pick a place, hunker down, and get ready for the attack.” Mason said.

  Avery looked between them, only finding matching scowls. They weren’t waiting for an attack, Avery realized. They were waiting for an execution.

  “You guys aren’t talking about giving up that easily, are you?” Pacing through the small room, she wrung her hands and thought. “Even if he makes an amulet following that book’s directions, then it’ll be no stronger than the Willow magic, right?”

  “What are you getting at, girl?” Eva turned the full weight of her stare on Avery. For the first time, Avery had earned their attention and she went on.

  “That means we can fight him on an even playing ground. We can win.” Avery’s voice spiked with a fresh wave of energy.

  Eva didn’t share the enthusiasm.

  “Are you insane? You can’t fight Mikhail.” The female harpie said blatantly. “Believe me on this one, human. He never loses.” She put particular emphasis on the “never”.

  More defensive, Avery wrapped her arms around her chest and debated.

  “There’s a first for everything. He’s not invincible. And there are more of us.” Avery then gestured to all of them.

  Mason shifted in his chair and his hand snaked behind Avery’s back.

  “Avery, you’re not compensating your theory for the rest of Mikhail’s associates. We don’t know what we’re up against.” He pointed out, tracing his fingers lightly beneath the bottom of her shirt.

  Determined to stay focused, Avery shook her head.

  “Yea, we do.” Avery then pointed at Eva. “And with the police, we can win. It’s that or prepare to die. I’m not willing to die.”

  Avery shifted her attention to Eva, waiting for the woman’s reaction. The plan would be pivotal on her agreement. After a minute, Eva nodded stiffly.

  “You think you know how to fight little brother? Because I’m in now whether I want to be or not.” She threw the ball back to Mason’s court.

  Mason’s eyes clouded with debate. Hand continuing to trace over Avery’s bare skin, he clearly thought about it.

  “Maybe. No, it’s a yes. I guess it’s a must.” He clearly struggled with the answers.

  “So what would be Mikhail’s first stop on his revenge on society thing?” Avery quizzed Eva this time.

  The woman thought about it for a second but answered fairly quickly.

  “A year before Mikhail was cast out, his fate was uncertain. The counsel was divided. But then one harpie—the harpie who was later Jericho’s assistant—came on board and swayed the vote. Considering that he doesn’t live within the secure borders of the Court anymore, I imagine he’ll be the first target. His name is Samuel.”

  Avery’s let out a breath of disbelief.

  “Small world.” She whispered after it fully sunk in. She didn’t relish the thought of Adalyn and Patrick again but pushed those worries aside for later complication.

  “What about Leela? I know they took her back to Alaska, will she be okay?” Avery asked the next.

  “The popsicle stick?” Eva frowned but obediently answered. “I imagine. They wouldn’t have any contact with Mikhail until they returned to the island.”

  “Good, I can call her later and have her go somewhere safe.” In fact, Avery rapidly realized, she could use Nate to do that. She hadn’t talked to the boy since the encounter at Moose Pass, but she knew he’d be in on keeping Leela safe.

  “Fine, but you,” Mason pointed toward Avery, “Should disappear into a human city too. You can still slip away. Mikhail will be distracted by searching for us.”

  Avery’s jaw dropped before she could properly construe a set of vicious protests. Eva beat her to it.

  “The white horse thing, Mason? Really?” Eva rolled her eyes like a teenager.

  Finding it just as unfunny, Avery spoke up.

  “Are you serious? I’m not leaving. So don’t try to protect me either.” Avery started and then felt more strength return as she kept on. “That aside, you can’t do it without me. I have some of the Willow magic so if we’re using the magic to fight, then we need to be together. Mikhail wants me dead so this is my fight too.”

  Avery smirked, having found her own argument convincing. Eva even piped in.

  “She’s so much like a harpie isn’t she?”

  “Avery is a human. Avery is not a harpie.” Mason shot up from his seat the second his voice began to rise. “Avery is not a killer. And Avery shouldn’t be involved.”

  Apparently sick of sitting there, Mason stormed for the door. Before he could get away, Avery hurried to follow.

  “What is wrong with you today?” Avery shouted.

  “It’s not me, it’s you.” He finally turned but she didn’t expect the blank expression he wore. “You shouldn’t be like a harpie. That’s not a favorable thing.”

  Avery’s brow furrowed but she couldn’t muster an appropriate response.

  “Says the harpie.” She pointed out.

  Finally, Mason paced back. When he got close enough, he snaked his long arms out and caught Avery in a hug.

  “You don’t understand. I’ve had a lot of time to think about my life, Avery. All while staying in Alaska with you.” He whispered into her hair. “I like you because you’re brave and ready to fight for anything, but you’re not a killer. I don’t want you to be like a harpie. I don’t want you be corrupted into being nasty
and violent all of the time. Why is it such a bad thing that I can trust one person to not be a damned murderer?”

  Pressed against his body, she arched to place her lips on the nape of his neck and took in a breath of his peppermint scent.

  “It’s not going to be like that. I don’t plan on changing, I just plan on fighting. And to be fair, as much as Adalyn drives me up a wall, I don’t think I could even kill her.”

  Although, Avery wouldn’t mind hog tying Adalyn and ditching her in the forest. That comical thought wasn’t something she’d mention in the serious moment. His muscles relaxed under her touch and she tilted her head up until their eyes connected.

  “Now you, you’re acting like a human. You’re being so sweet and modest!” She curled her voice at the end and gave him a mocking, brilliant smile.

  One of his eyebrows arched.

  “Human? Sappy? I think not. I’m too awesome to be lowered to the level of a human.” He said.

  She swatted at him playfully and he squeezed her more tightly.

  “You are absolutely acting more like me. I’m so rubbing off on you.” She said and something in her words made his face take on a more serious tone.

  “Maybe. Maybe I got some of your personality mixed in when I took the magic from you.” He suddenly made a gesture to the magical mark on both of their arms. "I didn’t know how to find you earlier. At the island. I just kind of… did and I can’t explain it. The magic was giving off an aura but it shouldn’t have been strong enough to summon me across the pacific.”

  She didn’t know how to answer, but her heart chose to skip a beat in response. A sound caught their attention and Mason’s jade green eyes escaped for a second, trailing back toward the building.

  “Eva’s reminding us that we should hurry.” He said after his eyes fixated on the origin of the noise. The subject had rapidly changed, and feeling her throat open up again, Avery asked, “Are you okay with Eva being here?”

  She knew the moment it left her lips that she wouldn’t get a clear answer. Eva and Mason had a complex relationship at best. His disconcerted expression confirmed her theory.

  “Eva’s only in it for Eva. We can’t forget that. But for now we’ll have to tolerate her.”

  He propped his chin on top of Avery’s head. Avery didn’t want to move on from the moment but knowing time was pressing, she didn’t stall.

  “I guess Portland, Oregon it is…”

  Fifteen

  “He couldn’t get a place with roof cover?” They’d barely been at Samuel’s compound for less than a minute and Eva was already sizing up the place. Her sharp green eyes crawled over the muddy ground, grey walls, and cloudy sky.

  “We’ll be at a disadvantage if they can come from the sky. To stand a chance, every harpie needs to be grounded.” She said.

  Mason’s eyes swept over the same key points but he didn’t stare as intensely.

  “Then go map the place and find any strategic points.” He said to Eva.

  The harpie girl gave a half frown but obediently took to the sky, leaving Avery and Mason alone in the courtyard dirt. Avery’s eyes went to the door. The place hadn’t changed much in the past few days but Avery was certainly dreading it more this time. Adalyn and Patrick were probably waiting inside and the disconcerting feeling left her stomach in knots.

  “You think Samuel’s going to believe us?” Avery asked, taking only one step forward when Mason stopped her with an arm.

  “He’ll believe me. But sorry, you should wait outside.”

  “Whoa, why am I waiting outside like a dog?” She immediately complained.

  The temperature was chilly in Portland and she wasn’t wearing the proper size jacket to deal with it. Tugging her hoodie tighter around herself, she scowled.

  “It’s not exactly like we left on good terms. And this sort of situation will take some careful treading. Having you there won’t help.”

  Rolling her eyes, Avery agreed. Having Adalyn stare her down the entire time wouldn’t help the conversation. Nor would it help Avery’s health.

  “Go ahead. I’ll be here.” Avery gestured to the two walls she’d be pacing between. Mason gave her shoulder a squeeze and offered her a parting smile.

  He entered through the set of steel doors and disappeared when they swung shut. Alone, Avery curled her arms around herself. She focused absently on the cloudy sky and smelling the hint of coming rain. Just as she paced to the end of the building, she heard a murmur of sound. Poking her head around the side of the building she stole a glance.

  Hunched over the blue mist of a harpie telephonic amulet was Samuel. Face white and thin hands running through his balding hair, he trembled.

  “I’m well aware.” He spoke into the mist.

  Avery fidgeted, caught hesitating between giving Samuel his privacy and spying a little bit. Before she could even decide, Samuel’s head shot up and his hazel eyes spotted her standing there. Avery froze in place and curled her fingers around the building’s edge.

  “I will.” He said into the blue mist just before it fully dissipated. He then stood and dusted the brown dirt off of his white pants.

  “My, the human girl again. You just can’t seem to stay away.” He spoke, breaking the minor silence that developed.

  Remembering her manners, Avery quickly amended herself.

  “Sorry, I just heard talking and didn’t mean to eavesdrop.”

  Samuel didn’t even look like he’d heard her speak. His eyes dropped and trailed to Avery’s right arm. Though hidden by the jacket, on it was the silver curling mark. It showed more predominantly now since she’d begun using the magic, but the lines were still not thick and black. Seeing his interest change as if he could sense it, Avery subconsciously tugged her jacket tighter.

  “You’re not good at staying out of trouble either.” He said. They both knew he wasn’t referring to the eavesdropping or even the current day’s visit, but rather to the magic’s aura. Avery wouldn’t bring it up. Instead, she changed the subject while she could still remember how to form words.

  “We’re not trying to bring trouble your way. Things have just…changed.”

  His eyebrows rose, quizzically and daringly.

  “I imagine. Are you here to tell me about it?”

  Avery opened her mouth but hesitated. Stealing a quick glance backwards, she searched the outside area for Mason. The sky and ground remained empty. The entrance door remained shut.

  “Well…” Avery turned back to face him. “It’s about Mikhail. He’s making an amulet like the one that Prince Jericho had and is going to use it to-”

  She stopped, lacking a delicate way to put it. She didn’t need to because during her hesitation, Samuel finished the thought for her.

  “I know.” His voice was tired but his tone was light and he didn’t seem nearly as concerned as expected. Confused, Avery searched for a visual clue. Her eyes went up and down the walls looking for any type of security, sharp blue suits of police, or hints of magical wards. Samuel sighed and slumped his shoulders a bit. Wings shifting to fold behind him, he leaned against the nearest concrete wall to support himself. “Mikhail has always wanted to create magic to absorb into his body. He will and then he’s going to come after us all. This was not unforeseen child.” He said.

  “We have a plan, we can fight.” She declared.

  “Perhaps.” His eyes crawled over her again but this time the softness on his face was startling. “Walk with me child.”

  He turned and began moving down the side of the building. Avery followed and in only a few feet they passed through another wooden door. Inside the fluorescent lights and warm cinnamon smell strikingly contrasted the overcast sky and smell of rain. Soft jazz music played overhead and the heating hissed through the vents.

  Samuel led her into the first room on the left-- a living room bearing a few sofas and tables. Samuel whirled to face her just as the door shut and sealed them in.

  “You should know something in case I don’
t make it, Ms. Avery.” He said.

  She didn’t get the chance to chide him on the negative thought before he continued.

  “As you know Mikhail’s family were once rulers. When he was cast out and his father the king died, their family lost the throne. Jericho and his family would take the crown.”

  Avery nodded. She’d heard that once before.

  “Jericho died and he is no longer heir to the throne. That means that only one person is. A male child and an heir to his bloodline.”

  “What are you talking about?” Avery asked, suddenly suspicious of where the conversation was heading.

  “It’s Mason. Mason has as much, if not more, claim to the throne than anyone else. He will need to one day step up into his father’s place.”

  Avery’s heart picked up pace but she forced herself to take it in stride. Licking her lips wet, she replied while moving onto the next logical idea.

  “But what about the allegations with Adalyn’s fiancé and all that?”

  Samuel gave her a long look.

  “Because of his important position in society and in light of Jericho’s death and the anarchy that has followed… Well those issues are no longer important to the authorities. Not even the Willow magic inside of his body will dissuade them now.” He surmised finally.

  Avery thought about the implications. Mason would have found out about this when he’d visited Adalyn. He hadn’t told Avery and she quite frankly didn’t know what to make of it. She didn’t know about this development but she did know that Mason didn’t plan to take the throne. He didn’t ever seem to be the dutiful civil servant.

  “I know what you must be thinking, child. There are no places for human mates for the harpie on the throne. But--”