Tia continued quickly, putting a steadying hand on her arm. “As it happens, I would like a favor from you, but I’ll help you no matter what.” The vertigo faded under the demon’s warm touch. “You’ve made a choice to protect these girls and I like that. Some of my brothers would say that the angel’s curse is the natural consequence of that choice, but they're idiots sometimes. Ettoriel’s trying to take the easy way out.”
“What favor?” Marley breathed, afraid the vertigo would begin again.
“I’d like to talk to the little ones. Present them with a few of their choices.” Marley stared at her suspiciously and Tia added, “I’m not asking you to stop protecting them. But even children should be allowed to make choices.”
Slowly, Marley shook her head. “Like whether to stick their hands into a fire? Whether to look at things that will give them screaming nightmares? Or run out into traffic? You can’t let a child make that kind of choice. They don’t have enough information or enough understanding to make it properly.”
Tia kept her fingers on Marley’s arm, her touch light but steadying. “I expected that answer from you. But I wouldn’t encourage that kind of activity. The actions you described aren’t so much choices as impulses. To follow one’s impulses can be a choice, but it rarely is when you’re four, and miniature. Or so I’ve observed. One moment.” Her light touch drew Marley over to her car, and her fingers slid down to Marley’s hand. Intertwining her fingers with Marley’s own, she opened her car door and rummaged around inside with her other hand.
“Aha,” she said, and pulled out a folded umbrella. “Let’s walk over to that lamp post. What was I saying?”
“You were explaining how children don’t make choices, but you’d like to tell the twins about their choices anyhow.” Marley walked beside Tia. The demon’s grip was light enough that she could pull away at any time, but she was, for now, choosing not to. “Why do you have an umbrella?”
“I know; it’s August in L.A., right? How long has it been since it rained? But you know how it is, there’s that one time your hair is ruined by a downpour and you swear you’ll never be caught without one again.”
Marley glanced up at the dawn sky. “The only rain we’re getting is ash.”
Tia smiled, and spun the umbrella in her free hand. “So may I speak with the children?”
“I’d rather you didn’t, if you’re going to upset them, or make it harder for me to look after them. There’s already enough rebellion in the ranks.”
Tia pursed her lips, and then glanced up as they passed under the light. “Here we are.” She shook open the umbrella and raised it over their heads. “Would you put your hand on the lamp post, please? Like that, yes. In a moment, I’m going to stop suppressing the curse. You may feel a bit of pressure, but you should be perfectly safe.” The demon grinned and let go of Marley’s hand.
The world flattened until it was lines on tissue paper. The tissue paper stretched taut. It tore.
-twenty-seven-
There was a pop, and a tinkle. Tiny shards pattered against the umbrella and slid off to make a circle of broken glass around their feet. After a moment, Tia shook the umbrella clear and closed it. The light above had shattered explosively. “Sorry about that,” said Tia. “The curse pressure was building up and I didn’t want to inadvertently trigger an earthquake.”
“The world is breaking around me?” said Marley, aghast.
“The pressure builds up, but is fully discharged each time it triggers. It might not always be actively dangerous; it might simply be inconvenient some of the time. But if it can’t discharge, it’s able to affect bigger and bigger things.” Tia glanced up in the sky. “I suppose a helicopter passing overhead might fall out of the sky before a fault line shifts.”
Marley stared at her in horror. “And this is supposed to... what, kill me? My God, I think I liked the women with guns more.”
Tia looked interested. “Guns, really? That’s not very angelic. They like to rely on the hand of the divine unless they’re being directly threatened.”
“There were guns,” said Marley firmly. “And Ettoriel protected them after, so I know they worked for him.”
“Protected them from...?”
Marley’s gazed darted to the pile of children and dogs. “I don’t know.”
“Ah. Yes. Interesting. Perhaps one of his mortal servants displayed some initiative.” Marley thought of Jeremy, and nodded vigorously. “But you protect the children and the children protect you. The difference, of course, being that the children can’t protect you from what they don’t understand. And their protection is, naturally, rather aggressive. But that, I imagine, is why Ettoriel has chosen this particular curse. If the children think your death is an accident, they may be too confused to get angry.”
Marley blew out her breath and stepped away from the circle of shattered glass. “Why does AT like you so much? You’re as vague and mysterious as the fairy.”
Tia’s eyes sparkled. “She was in a situation where her choices weren’t being respected. I insisted that situation change. As for the rest... she might tell you the details if you ask. Her father isn't a very nice person.”
Marley couldn’t help making a face. “You can’t just ‘insist’ here?”
“Here, I can teach. For example, I can teach you what it feels like when the curse is about to trigger, so you can influence how it triggers. Did you notice the way you felt before the light shattered? Good. That isn't normal, by the way. You may not be able to protect yourself as you can protect children, but your particular heredity makes you sensitive to rips in the world. I can even give you a small blessing that will allow you to duplicate what I just did in suppressing the curse until an appropriate time.”
“Why not just remove it? Can you do that?”
“I might be able to. But I won't. It will fade on its own in a day or two, so it isn't currently worth my while to do so. Especially since it will be so very educational for you.” Tia's teeth flashed again.
“All right. Do that. And then, please go away.” Tia raised an eyebrow and Marley plunged on. “You and that other guy, you make me feel helpless and small. All I want to do is curl up and hope somebody else will deal with this. But you won’t. And I can’t have you distracting me right now.”
“Of course,” Tia said. She took Marley’s wrist between her finger and her thumb, and then tapped two more fingers down in quick succession. “Here is the assistance. The memory of this sensation will activate and deactivate the suppression.” A ticklish warmth spread out from her touch, running down to Marley’s fingers and up to her chest.
“The suppression will draw upon your own energy, so I suggest only using it when you feel the discharge is imminent.” Tia smiled again, but this time it was tight and concerned. “Good luck.” She pulled away.
“Wait.” Marley stepped after her. “Wait. I know I’ve been ungrateful, but can I ask something else?”
Tia put her head to one side, her eyes drifting over Marley’s shoulder to the kids. She arched an eyebrow.
Marley blew out her breath. “Later. Come find me if we survive the next few days and... something... can be arranged.”
“I just want to talk to them, Marley. Just a conversation. But come, what else did you want from me?”
“My friend, Penny, she’s involved with this angel. It’s hurting her. Corbin says it’s destroying her. Is there any way you can free her? Help her?”
Tia pulled out her cellphone and tapped on the screen a few times, frowning. She looked up, her gaze vague and distant.
The moment dragged on. At last, she shook her head. “I’ve found her, but I can offer her nothing. She’s made a choice.”
Marley set her jaw. “So? She’s been brainwashed or enchanted or something. The choice isn’t good for her.”
Tia smiled gently. “Choosing despite the consequences is integral to humanity. The act of choosing is itself meaningful.”
Marley gave the demon a hostile
stare. “That is a bullshit philosophy.”
Tia’s smile faded. “To force her to change her mind would be just another form of ‘brainwashing.’ Is that what you’d prefer?”
“Can’t you just—protect her from the angel’s influence somehow? Give her a chance to see herself without a haze of angel love clouding her mind?”
“Maybe. But I won’t.”
“Because I won’t pay for it? I—”
“Marley. No. I won’t because this is what she wants. She wants to be part of something bigger than herself. She wants to feel like she has a place in the world, that her life has meaning and purpose. She wants all that and he’s giving her that and she’s at peace because of it. She doesn’t know all the fine details, but she doesn’t care to know them either.”
Marley’s jaw ached. “I don’t know where you’re getting your information from, but you’re wrong. I know her better than that. I’m her friend.”
Tia shrugged, put away her phone and folded her arms. “Recall, please, that my ‘bullshit philosophy’ is why I’m helping you. Get your friend to ask for help, and hell, you might be able to save her yourself. But you want to break her? Apply to the kaiju, not me.”
Marley opened her mouth and then shut it again. She took a deep breath. “You’re right. Thank you for your help.” The words burned.
Tia nodded curtly. “If you don’t end up dead, I’ll be around to claim what you offered me later.” She raised her hand in greeting to AT, who had approached. “I’m just leaving, my dear. Your friend mostly wants heroes, not helpers.”
“I want a chance, damn it!” The shout ripped out of Marley before she knew it.
The demon smiled again. “Then take some.” She ruffled AT’s hair and strode to her car. A moment later, the engine roared to life and the vehicle sped off.
AT looked at Marley anxiously. “Was that not good?”
Marley shook her head. “She was... helpful, I hope. I’m just an ungrateful bitch right now. She’s right. I want somebody to deal with all this for me, make it go away. A big strong man to save the day. Branwyn would punch me.”
AT said, “Well, I’m strong, and Corbin’s a man... I don’t know what we’ll do for big, though.”
“Where the hell is Corbin, anyhow?” But Marley thought of Zachariah, and his broad shoulders. Then she looked over at the children, and thought, But before I learned about princes, it was my mother who fixed things. Is this what happens to moms?
“Um, yeah, about that. I sent Nod to go look for him. Through the Backworld, you know? That's how I usually get around. Nod hasn’t come back. He’s not hurt—I’d know if he was hurt again—but something’s wrong. I can feel it.”
“Like he’s been caught and held?”
AT shrugged. “I don’t know how that could be, but I guess so.”
Marley chewed on her lip. “What would you do if I weren’t here?”
“I’d go after him. Both of them. Corbin’s smart, but without tons of preparation, he isn’t nearly as powerful as I am.” AT looked embarrassed as she said this.
Marley raised her eyebrows. “Oh yeah? What makes you so powerful?” And she wondered what “powerful” meant, in this context. Was there a measurement, like with light bulbs? Corbin was only 25 watts and AT was 100? What, she wondered, was she? Or the twins? Zachariah? The angel?
AT hesitated and then matter-of-factly said, “My father is a kaiju. Corbin is third-generation nephilim. That matters, at least for demiurgy and sorcery.” She saw the look of incomprehension on Marley's face and added, “Those are the kinds of magic derived from being celestial.”
Two different kinds? Whoo-ee! “Would you fight? Do you know how to fight?”
AT’s smile was wry and sad. “Oh yes. I mean, I can’t take out a celestial myself, but anybody else, hurting a friend of mine? I’d at least try. Probably get my butt kicked, but...” She shrugged. “It’s all I can do. I'm not good for much else.”
Marley sighed, remember her lesson with Corbin the night before. “I wish we could get our hands on one of these Machine weapons. There must be another way to hurt a celestial.”
“Senyaza,” AT said, instantly. “They use spirit tethers, which I don't know how to create. But it's one reason why the angels hate us so much.” Then she sighed. “It isn’t a useful answer right now. They’ve got this major event going down in Europe right now and the local monster hunters are all laid up.”
Take chances. Marley closed her eyes, felt the pressure of the angel’s curse building around her. “Tia basically told me I can’t protect people who don’t want to be protected. But AT, you don’t have any aversion to being protected by me, do you?”
Confused, AT said, “I’m supposed to be protecting you, I think.” She added, in a low voice, “I haven’t done a very good job.”
“Protect me. But let me protect you, too. Maybe that way we can go get Corbin out of whatever trouble he’s in.” Marley opened her eyes and reached out to AT, pulling her close, wrapping her arms around her in a hug. After a startled moment, AT hugged her back. The teenager seemed so fragile in her arms. She thought she could fight? She wasn’t even fully grown. Marley could protect her. There was no resistance. Marley felt her power settle over AT like a cloak.
And when Marley stepped away, she knew AT was safe. As long as they stayed close, what could hurt her? And she knew more, too: the dogs were part of AT, somehow, just as the twins were part of each other. She thought she could look deeper, but she didn’t want to. The peace that swept over Marley was intoxicating. To know, really know, that everybody around her was safe was astonishing. Would the peace last when she took them someplace truly dangerous?
Giddiness swept over her. She remembered good times with Branwyn and Penny, back when she’d been a teenager herself. Action Girl, Smile Girl, and Research Girl, out to cause trouble and save the day. “AT,” she said, “Let’s go save the boy.”
-twenty-eight-
“It’s so white,” Marley said. They walked down a matte hallway, all holding hands. “Like a really boring, endless office building. But where are the doors?”
“There are other areas of the Backworld that are much more interesting,” said AT. “But they’re much more dangerous, too. The folk who live in those places are masters of glamour and you can’t trust that anything is real. If you spend long enough there, you stop being able to tell whether you’re in the Backworld or not.”
If Marley hadn’t been holding a child’s hand in each of her own, she would have rubbed fingers across her forehead. There were mild tingles in all of the chakra locations Corbin had pointed out, but her forehead actually itched. “Glamour. Fairies?” She had a moment of déjà vu, and tried to remember wisps of dream.
“Yes. But not like the toys... not little pixies. The fae were angels once, too, you know.”
Marley shivered. “Bound now, though?”
“Bound first, before any of the others, because they were scary-dangerous. The angels tried to cut them off from the Sea of Dreams, so they developed new magic, based on the nature of Creation itself. Nobody liked that.”
Marley shook her head. Neath, peeking out of her bag, reached up and snagged her wrist with a claw. “Ow! Why are you so aggressive lately, kitten?” She glanced down and stumbled. “AT, hold on. Look at their feet.”
The white tile they walked on clouded faintly, like marble. But where the twins had walked, the tile gradually darkened, until the center of each little shoeprint was dull black, threaded with red veins. “Uh,” said AT. “That’s new.”
Kari lifted up her feet to look at the bottom of her shoes. “They’re clean,” she reported. There was a little popping sound, and Lissa shifted her weight uneasily. AT crouched down, still holding Kari’s hand, and ran her free hand over the mark she left behind.
“It’s rough. I think it’s... eroding.” AT stood up and wiped her hand on her jeans.
“Why?” Marley demanded.
AT’s brow furrowed, her e
yes dark as she glanced at Marley. “I don’t know. But let’s keep going.”
“Yeah. Yeah. So... where are the doors?”
“Here and there. I don’t use them, though. I’ve never needed to. I’ll open a window when we get to where we’re going, just like I did to get us in.” The two dogs, Heart and Grim, trotted ahead of them, noses to the ground.
“Will you know what’s out there before we go through?”
AT didn’t answer at first, and Marley glanced down at the footprints again. Maybe she should be carrying the kids. One on her back, one in her arms; it wouldn’t be too bad, and more comfortable than the sack-of-potatoes carry. She remembered the vision from the angel again, the children playing alone in the broken landscape. It couldn’t be true. So they were powerful, even special. They were sweet kids, too, as innocent as the current situation could allow them to be. But they were a lot more innocent before Zachariah had been stolen from them...
How much more could they take?
“Probably. I have a sense for where we are in Creation as we move through the Backworld, anyhow,” AT finally said.
“AT...” Marley paused, trying to sort out what she wanted to ask. It was awkward. But AT shot her a knowing look and it untied her tongue. “You said your father was a kaiju. Do you know him?”
“Yes,” said AT quietly. “He was an…involved…father. He’d still be involved now if I let him. He had big plans for me.”
That was enough. Nobody said anything else until AT announced, “We’re here.”
It was an expanse of white hall, exactly the same as the hall they’d been walking down for the last ten minutes. Marley had no idea how AT and the dogs could tell that this location was significant. Heart was sitting alert, nose to the wall, while Grim scratched around the floor as if he wanted to start digging. AT placed her two index fingers together in the center of the wall and drew them apart in a diagonal line. A square of light expanded under her fingers. When it was a couple of feet wide, she stopped and placed her palm in the center. The glowing square chimed.
Matchbox Girls Page 20
