by Amy Sumida
“Huh.” I turned back around and took the stairs at a fast clip.
The extinguishers and Williams were waiting for us in the foyer.
“Ready?” Williams asked.
“About that,” Killian said and then launched into the reasons why we should take a smaller, less-human group.
The extinguishers started looking more and more annoyed the longer Killian spoke until, finally, Lance Sloane stepped forward and held up a hand to stop him.
“We're extinguishers,” he said crisply. “We don't sit out the fight because some woman hired a sniper. We knew we'd be dealing with humans and we've taken appropriate measures.”
He opened his jacket to expose the guns holstered beneath. Extinguishers don't usually use guns because they're so ineffective against fairies but when dealing with humans, they adjusted their weaponry to suit.
“That being said,” Sloane went on, “we're only after one man tonight and with the addition of Drostan, we can afford to pair back a little. Chris Teagan and Brad Murdock, you two come with us. The rest of you get some rest.”
“Yes, Sir,” the other extinguishers said and headed back to the guest house.
“Teagan and Murdock will ride with me,” Sloane said. “Councilman,” he turned to Williams, “you drive the others. We're heading into a bad neighborhood so I'll also need you to stay with the vehicles.”
“Don't think that I don't know what you're doing,” Williams grumbled as he headed toward the front door. “Even if you're right. If we leave the SUVs unattended where we're going, they'll be stripped in minutes.”
“Where are we going?” Drostan asked excitedly.
“Grand and Montgomery,” Williams said grimly. “You know it?”
“Can't say that I do.” Drostan frowned.
“It's in the Jeff-Vander-Lou neighborhood,” Sloane said as if that explained it.
Our group split up and climbed into two SUVs. Drostan came with us and got into the back seat with Conri and Felix. Raza took the front passenger seat since we were down a passenger and I took the middle with Killian. Williams slid in behind the wheel.
“I'm not familiar with that neighborhood,” Drostan said once we were all settled.
Williams glanced at Drostan's mansion and muttered, “Why am I not surprised?”
Chapter Thirty
Driving into the Jeff-Vander-Lou neighborhood was like entering another world. And not a better one. There seemed to be more fallen structures than standing ones and they'd been in ruins long enough for plants to climb the crumbling brick walls. It reminded me of the devastation seen after a bombing. Empty lots sat forlornly between the wreckage, without even a pile of bricks to claim. Interspersed with all of this were a few small businesses trying to eke out a living by catering to the poor souls who wandered the dirty streets searching for their next fix, whether it be drugs, sex, or money.
My heart sank just looking at it.
“Dear Danu,” Drostan whispered behind me.
“Danu can't help them,” I murmured back. “And Anu has apparently abandoned this place.”
I felt a little guilty for speaking about the Gods like that. It wasn't Anu's fault that these people had come to this. It might not be their fault either but then again, it might. Who knew what decisions had been made to lead them there? I sure as hell didn't, and I thanked both of the twin gods that I hadn't made those mistakes myself.
Williams found one of the more brightly lit areas to park in and the other SUV pulled in at the curb in front of us. Everyone but Williams warily climbed out of the vehicles.
“If you have any trouble, call us,” I said to Williams as I was getting out.
“I may not be an extinguisher, but I can take care of myself, Ambassador,” he assured me.
“I'm sure you can but if you need to take off, do it. You can meet us somewhere else and we can come back for the other car.”
“Understood.”
“Should we split up?” Drostan asked.
“No,” Extinguisher Sloane and I said together, then we gave each other guilty looks.
“I know these are just humans, but they're desperate humans and I don't want to hurt them any more than they've already been hurt,” I explained.
“Okay, everyone,” Sloane said crisply. “We're looking for a man named Eddie. About five-nine, short dark hair, Caucasian, average build, blue eyes, and a tattoo of a snake head on his left hand. Everyone keep an eye out for him.”
We started roaming the streets, checking out every dark hole and every haunted-eyed person we passed. The smell was nearly as bad as the sights and I found myself tensing as if in preparation of a fight. I told myself to relax, that these were people who deserved respect as much as anyone else. They had made some mistakes and now, they were paying for them. That didn't mean they'd—
“You guys lookin' for something in particular?” A hunched man in a hoodie with pale, pocked skin asked from his post near the corner of a liquor store.
“Yes,” Drostan approached him confidently. “We're looking for Eddie. Do you know him? He has a snake tattoo on his hand.”
The man frowned. “You're newters, eh?”
“Newters?” Sloane asked as he stepped up beside Drostan.
“You're after that drug, newt, right?” the man asked. “Eddie's the only one who sells it around here.”
“Yes,” I said before Drostan told the guy we weren't buying. “We're after some newt but if you can help us find Eddie, I'll pay you for your time.” I pulled out a twenty.
The man grinned and held out a hand. “You got it, lady.”
I passed him the money.
“Eddie's on Bacon street right now. I just saw him not more than ten minutes ago.”
“Thanks,” I said. “Which way is Bacon?”
“That direction.” He pointed to his left. “Not too far. He's wearing a blue jacket.”
“I appreciate it.” I nodded at him.
We headed toward Bacon Street. People crouched in corners, relieving themselves near others who were sticking needles into their arms or smoking all sorts of things. Wet, slurping sounds emerged from one alley we passed and you couldn't have paid me enough to investigate. People slept on the sidewalks, some simply passed out beside puddles of vomit, and others walked around or over them as if they were part of the scenery. I had to bite my lip to keep from making sounds of distress. I've seen a lot of horrible things but sometimes the things people do to themselves are the worst.
“There he is,” Sloane said under his breath after we'd turned the corner onto Bacon.
About three yards ahead of us, a man leaned against the side of a building, smoking a cigarette. He had a blue jacket on and fit the description Roma Stillson had given us. As he lifted his cigarette to his mouth, light fell on the back of his hand, illuminating a snake head tattoo. Yep, that was Eddie.
“Hold on,” Killian said to our group. “He might run. Sloane, why don't you take your guys across the street and then down a bit. You can circle back and come up on Eddie's left while we approach from the right.”
“Sounds good,” Sloane agreed, then waved Teagan and Murdock along with him.
Raza, Killian, Conri, Felix, Drostan, and I waited until we saw the others approaching Eddie before we started toward him. Eddie glanced at us, did a double-take, and frowned. I nodded to him as if I were interested in what he was selling and he relaxed, then grinned.
“You looking for some newt?” Eddie asked as we stepped up to him.
“Not exactly,” I said as the extinguishers closed our semicircle around Eddie. “We need to talk to you about your supplier.”
“Fuck you, lady.” Eddie started to back away and got pushed back by Teagan.
“Answer her,” Teagan growled.
Eddie pulled out a knife. Drostan grabbed his wrist and twisted. Eddie shrieked and let go. The knife clattered to the ground. It all happened in less than two seconds.
No one approached us or said anything. Instead
, the area cleared out.
“I don't know nothin'!” Eddie hissed. “Nothin'!”
“Look, we don't want to hurt you,” I said, then inwardly cringed at the cliché sound of that. “People are dying because of newt. We just need to stop Alicia.”
“You know Alicia?” Eddie blinked.
“We know about her business.” I nodded. “Look, we're not cops. We're far worse than that and I have a feeling that you know exactly what I'm talking about.”
Eddie eyed us and nodded. “Yeah, I know what you are. But Alicia's worse.”
“If you think that, then you have no idea what we are,” Raza snarled and flicked his hand out, shifting his fingernails into talons.
Eddie paled. “All right, look, I pick up the stuff from this place on—”
A soft pfft sound made me frown. Raza snarled and grabbed me. Everyone started moving but I couldn't figure out why. Then I saw the blood streaming down Raza's cost and Eddie lying on the pavement. The extinguishers went into low crouches and pulled their guns as they scanned the surrounding buildings. Before they could return fire, Drostan flung out a hand and light blinded me for a moment. Drostan grunted and dropped to his knees but managed to send another bolt at the shooter. Things went still.
Raza eased back and let me up. “Are you all right, mo shíorghrá?”
“I'm fine. But what about you?” I frantically pulled away his coat to check out his chest.
There was a hole in Raza's shirt. I urgently yanked the hem up, displaying his taut belly, and used the bunched material to wipe away the blood, but I couldn't find the wound. He had healed already; it must have been minor. I let out a sigh of relief as Raza wrapped one of his hands around mine and stroked my face with the other.
“I'm unharmed, mo shíorghrá. I don't think they were aiming to kill me, just trying to get me out of the way.” Raza looked pointedly at Eddie, who lay gasping on the sidewalk.
“Eddie!” I jerked away from Raza and scrambled over to the drug dealer. His shirt was soaked in blood. I pulled it up as I'd done to Raza but this time, blood gushed from an open wound. I pressed my hands over the hole in his chest and leaned on them. “We're going to get you some help. Hang on.”
He whispered something.
“What?” I leaned down to hear him.
Eddie whispered it again, his hand reaching up to grasp my wrist. I listened, then pulled back and nodded somberly. Eddie's hand fell away and his eyes lost focus. I sat back on my heels and that's when I noticed Drostan. He was holding his chest, his head hanging forward and his shoulders hunched.
“Drostan?” I asked urgently.
Drostan looked up at me with a strained expression. “I just need a minute, Your Majesty. He hit me very close to the heart.” He gave me a wry grin. “I suppose this is what I get for all of my big talk.”
Blood seeped from between Drostan's fingers. He looked down at it as if it shocked him and swayed forward. I dove for him. He landed in my arms and we sort of crumpled together. Before we hit the sidewalk, Felix and Killian were there, righting us. I returned to my knees and Drostan came with me, his face nestling into the crook of my neck. His lips brushed my skin as his hand came up to clutch at my shoulder.
Drostan took a deep breath, his face skimming up my throat and into my hair as he straightened and then moved back. “I'm all right.” He swayed again.
“Whoa.” I grabbed his upper arms to steady him. “Are you sure? Let me have a look at your wound.”
“Thank you, but I'm fine, really,” he protested.
“Anyone else injured?” Extinguisher Sloane asked as he looked around.
“No, just Drostan and King Raza,” Felix said. Then he looked at the drug dealer. “And Eddie.”
“Murdock, Teagan, with me,” Sloane said as he headed across the street, in the direction that the shots had originated from. “Let's see if the bastard is original recipe or extra crispy.”
“What did he say to you?” Drostan asked me as he lowered his hand, revealing a bloody hole in his shirt, directly over his heart.
I stared at that hole, then looked up at Drostan's wan face. “He gave me an address,” I said with grim satisfaction. “And he told me to kill the bitch.”
Chapter Thirty-One
I had Eddie's blood on my hands.
I mean that literally. I kept wiping my hands on my thighs but blood gets everywhere. It stains and sinks deep. It had oozed beneath my fingernails and filled every wrinkle on my hands. Blood defined the line of fate on my palm. What did that mean? Where was a fortune teller when you needed one?
The extinguishers had found the sniper's body, charred beyond recognition. We were pretty sure it had been a man but that's about all we could tell from looking. Drostan's lightning had even melted the man's rifle. Sloane went back for the SUV and returned with Williams right behind him in the second one. While we guarded the alley, Sloane and Teagan wrapped the body in a thermal blanket taken from the SUV's emergency kit and loaded him into the back. Even after the corpse was bundled up, the scent of roasted meat and burnt hair scented the air.
Raza's belly rumbled and we all stared at him in horror. Well, all but Killian and Conri, who laughed their asses off. Raza winced and looked away uncomfortably. Thankfully, Sloane put the corpse in his SUV instead of ours. The shooter would have to be identified by dental records so Sloane, Teagan, and Murdock were taking it to a local medical examiner on the Council's payroll while the rest of us went back to Drostan's.
I rubbed at my hands again.
“Seren, stop it,” Killian said firmly as he grabbed my hand. “There was nothing we could have done.”
“Out damn spot,” I said with a sad grin.
Killian chuckled. “You are no Lady Macbeth.”
“No.” I lifted my chin and took a deep breath. “And I've had blood on my hands before.”
I looked over at Raza—specifically at his shoulder—but both Raza and Drostan were already healed. I shouldn't have been surprised at how quickly they'd healed; my extinguisher training, my past experiences with fairies, and our earlier conversation should have prepared me for it. But as an extinguisher, I fought with iron weapons and most of the battles I've been in had involved both iron and magic. I've watched many fairies bleed and die. It just hadn't registered with me that in those battles, they'd killed by iron or each other—with extinguisher weapons, magic, fey claws, or teeth. It made a huge difference. I had a sudden memory of the Sluagh rolling across the field before the Unseelie Castle—the old Unseelie Castle. I saw their burning eyes and vicious claws again. The monsters of Fairy. Yeah, they were far deadlier than bullets.
“Seren?” Raza leaned back toward me from the front passenger seat and took my hand. “We're Fey, bullets can't kill us. We just talked about this.”
“Yeah, but it's finally sunk in,” I whispered. “Magic, iron, and each other.”
“What's that?” Raza asked.
“The things that can kill us,” I said with a glance back at Drostan. “Magic, iron, and each other.”
“Yes,” Raza said grimly. “We're good at killing each other. But the humans aren't completely inept at it either. Even those who aren't extinguishers.”
“You don't need an iron blade to behead a fairy,” Conri said gravely. “We have our weaknesses too.”
“Con!” Killian snapped.
“What?”
“Not the time.”
“Sorry,” Conri muttered.
“No, it's fine,” I said. “That helps.”
“It helps to know that you have weaknesses?” Williams asked in surprise.
I sighed deeply. “Extinguishers and council members often forget that I was an extinguisher once—that I'm half human—but the Fey never forget. My history is taken from me by one race and held against me by another. Sometimes, I don't feel like a bridge between the races so much as a wall. Alone and crumbling.”
The car went utterly silent.
Raza stroked my hand with his thumb b
ut it was Killian who broke the silence.
“That's a load of crap,” Kill huffed, startling everyone, especially me.
“Excuse me?” I gaped at him.
“First of all, woman,” he growled, “you're not alone. Hello, I'm human too, remember? Second, you've never been good at keeping people out; you'd make a horrible wall. But inspiring people? Uniting them despite centuries of ignorance and hatred? That's what you do best, sweetheart. I get that you've had a bad night but snap out of it, Seren. Because this sob routine is giving me the creeps and if you start crying, I swear, I'm going to throttle you.”
