by Ellie Margot
Ella turned again, and Riette stepped forward. Mekhi grabbed her arm, and when she looked at him, he shook his head.
“I’ll see you all later,” said Trinity, and when she turned, Riette could see the edges of her tattoo glowing, but there were scars that marred the image.
Riette couldn’t tell what the markings were, and Trinity was gone before she could say anything.
Chapter 14
They managed the rest of the day without killing each other or anyone else. Riette chalked it up as a win, but she didn’t want to endure another dinner with Ella, and she wasn’t going to leave without the book, so she wasn’t sure where that left her.
When they went upstairs, Guy and Cassian were both absent.
There were more people in the inn, but even with the extra bodies, Riette knew where to find them.
She parted ways with Mekhi and Corin to have some alone time in the room and let Bark and Barry play, but after an hour had passed, the group headed downstairs to the bar area with Riette and her bag in tow.
When they got there, the place was busy. There were people there—Elves too—but all of them didn’t seem distressed. The only one with worry lines on her face was Riette, and she was getting tired of being the only one who knew the place wasn’t as it should be.
“How are we supposed to find them in here?” asked Corin. She grabbed Mekhi’s coat and held on to him to fight against the hoard of people.
“I have a feeling I know where they are,” said Riette. She raised a hand over her head and gestured for them to follow her.
They moved through the people and found their way past a throng of bodies all swaying to the music of the live band that had returned in the corner.
When Riette got to the other side of the bar, she saw Guy, Cassian, and Trinity seated in the same cushion where Riette had seen Guy and Trinity the night before.
That time, however, the seating arrangement was different. Cassian and Trinity sat on one seat, with Guy on the adjacent side.
“I told you they’d find us,” said Trinity, and she winked at Riette before patting the seat next to her.
Mekhi and Corin sat next to Guy, with Corin in the middle. Mekhi shifted in his seat and gave Guy a side eye that Riette hadn’t seen since early on in the journey to find Corin.
Seeing them lit the fire that was already brewing inside of her. Her breath hitched as if she were on the edge of a dark hole, unable to see the bottom and unable to judge the depth.
She swallowed and shook her head, forcing the feelings loose and away from her.
Riette’s body was tired, and even though she wanted to get the book and get out of there, she also wanted a minute to not think. She glanced at Cassian who was raising a glass to his lips. Riette watched his face to see his expression change as the amber liquid touched his tongue, but there wasn’t a wince.
He swallowed and turned his head to regard her as he did. He raised an eyebrow and sat the glass back down on the table.
“How are you?” asked Trinity. She sat between them and smiled with her full face.
Riette considered her and the crowd still hovering around them. “I’m not good with crowds.”
“Oh, this is nothing. You should see them when a real band is playing.” Trinity looked at what they could see of the stage from where she sat.
Cassian raised his glass and shook it at the bartender just across from them.
The bartender, a man with silver hair and glowing blue eyes, nodded and started the work of making Cassian’s drink.
Riette bit the inside of her cheek, trying to still her tongue. Trinity watched Riette. Riette could feel her glance like a hand on her cheek. Riette turned and confirmed Trinity’s eyes were on her.
Trinity tilted her head to gesture to the bartender and then looked back at Riette. “He’s cute, huh?”
Riette turned and watched the man again. He had thick arms that were on display from the black vest he was wearing. A corded tattoo was on his upper bicep, and as Riette watched it, she saw the shape move.
It was a tattoo, but it moved as if it really was a snake. Its eyes were red, and it rippled before going still.
“He’s not the worst thing I’ve seen,” said Riette.
“Aw, I knew you’d be a hard one. Let’s see.” Trinity looked around the room.
“I’m not really looking,” said Riette.
“I’m looking for you,” Trinity said with a wink.
Riette looked at Guy, who was smiling at her. When she looked at Cassian, he was looking into his glass like there was something written on the inside.
Riette turned back and saw the bartender walk Cassian’s drink to the table. He glanced down at Riette before placing the glass on the table in front of Cassian and picking up the empty he had just set down.
His silver hair hit him at the middle of his chest, and it was pin straight.
“Thank you, Alex,” said Trinity.
He didn’t smile at her, but he nodded before walking back to his place behind the bar.
“Is he—”
“We’re not sure what he is.”
“Does he talk?” Riette asked.
“When the occasion calls for it,” said Trinity softly. She settled back into the couch. “It’s amazing how many situations you can get out of without saying a word.”
She took a sip of her drink before looking at Riette again.
Riette looked at Cassian, who was part way into his next drink. “How is he paying for all of this?”
“Oh, don’t worry about it,” said Trinity. “I have you all covered.”
“I don’t want to get you in trouble.”
“Trouble is my middle name,” said Trinity, and she had a small smile that didn’t reach her eyes before taking another sip.
She looked back at Riette again. “He’s fine. Really. You all should order some food or something. My treat. It’s the least that I can do.”
“You said your middle name was Ruby,” said Guy. He had his own cup in hand.
“Middle names are funny like that,” said Trinity. “They change based on the situation.”
“Mine never has,” said Guy, leaning forward.
Trinity mirrored him from her side. “You didn’t tell me your middle name.”
“You didn’t ask,” said Guy. “Frankly, I was insulted. Here I am, begging you to pour out your guts, and you don’t even ask to check on mine.”
“Guts are messy,” said Trinity.
“Whose guts now?” asked Mekhi. He leaned back with an arm around Corin’s shoulders.
“They’re comparing middle names,” said Riette.
“Ah, the basic flirting technique,” said Mekhi.
“I’m not flirting,” said Trinity. She looked at Cassian, who was watching the exchange.
“No shame in falling for the big Guy,” said Guy. “Many other women—”
“Have lost their minds?” offered Trinity. She turned to face Cassian fully. “What’s your middle name?”
“Don’t have one,” said Cassian. His voice was lower.
“He’s lying,” said Riette. “He just hates it. It’s really pretty generic. Not his middle name, but being embarrassed of it.”
“Then what’s yours, hotshot?” asked Guy.
“I actually don’t have one.”
“Bullshit,” said Guy.
“She doesn’t,” added Cassian. “Her mother said her first name and her lineage was enough.” He looked at Riette over Trinity.
“Your mother sounds intense,” said Trinity. “I don’t mean that in a bad way. My mother was a... very particular person.”
“And she left Vitan?”
“Yes, she and my grandmother left when she was young. Grandmother kept in contact with people from Vitan, but my mother never did. She never spoke of it.”
“I thought your mother died having you?” asked Riette.
Trinity stopped. Her cheeks were the color of roses. “Thereabouts. I only had her as a mother f
or a very short while before she wasn’t my mother anymore, and then she was gone. If my grandmother hadn’t taken me on, I’d—” Trinity stopped. “Well, I don’t know where I’d be.”
“Ella’s certainly something,” said Guy.
“What’s her story?” asked Riette.
“Ella’s?” asked Trinity. “She’s a big deal here. Leaf Landing is a destination in Esper. She made it from nothing. Do you know how hard that is?”
“We’ve been traveling Esper,” said Riette.
“So you’ve seen it?” Trinity asked. Her shoulders were hunched, and a tremor ran through her. “The desolation. The underlying chaos between territories. The people being degraded.”
She sat up straighter and continued. “She made nothing into something, and people are still coming here to check it out. She may be particular, but she’s brilliant. She had to be to do all this.”
“But you all don’t seem to have—” Corin started, but Mekhi’s hand on her arm stopped her.
“It’s okay. I know our relationship is—”
“Fucking frightening?” asked Guy.
Cassian shook his head.
“It’s its own category, but she’s been there for me,” Trinity said.
“Giving you a roof over your head doesn’t justify every other sin, though,” said Riette. “You know that?”
Trinity looked at Riette. Her eyes shone with something unshed.
Trinity took a breath, and then the words poured out, tumbling from her lips like rocks in a canyon. “I don’t think she’s going to ever give you the book.”
Riette sat forward. She felt her eyes shift and the fire brew in her, but it wasn’t anything she hadn’t suspected. Riette took a breath.
“It means a lot to her. On a sentimental level, it’s the last bit of Vitan that she has.” Trinity swallowed. “On a business level,” she shrugged, “it’s somewhat of an attraction.”
“She lets people view my grandmother’s book?”
“Oh no, never,” corrected Trinity. “But people know it’s here. That a magical Elf beyond all reason and understanding wrote a tome that Ella has guard over. It adds to her prestige.”
“No, it did add to it,” said Riette. “She’s not going to keep it. You know that I won’t leave here without it.”
“A lot of people have come here and never left, Trinity said. “It’s part of Leaf Landing’s appeal.” She tried to smile, but it fell on the first attempt.
“You think she’s toying with us?” asked Cassian. He leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand and pushing his weight onto his legs.
“I think she’s testing you to see what the book is worth to you. I don’t know much beyond that.” She looked around the circle. “Forgive me. I get dramatic sometimes. My grandmother says it’s my worst trait.”
“Your grandmother tries to find a lot of fault in you from what I’ve seen,” said Riette.
“Riette,” warned Cassian.
“Am I lying?”
“It’s none of our business.”
“I know that.”
“He’s right,” said Trinity. “It isn’t.” She changed her tone and shifted. “I shouldn’t have started the conversation. Not when you all have worked hard all day and are trying to relax. Not to mention dinner being soon.”
Riette shared a look with Guy from across the table, but she didn’t say anything else, not when it looked like Trinity had just won a little bit of self-control.
Chapter 15
“You know, people knock the awkward moment between ideas after people disagree, but I, for one, am a fan,” said Mekhi.
“I swear, Mekhi,” said Riette.
“No, no. Hear me out. Things are dicey. Who knows what’s going to be said? Things get all stilted and quiet. To not acknowledge it gives it power. We talk about it, and it gives us a conversation piece.” He took a breath. “Really, when you think about it, I’m doing us a service right now. Too long have we waited through awkwardness. Today is the day—”
“That’s enough,” said Corin. She laughed and placed her hands over his lips before pulling it back. “Don’t lick me!”
“You put something near my face, I’m going to lick it.”
“This is why we don’t take you places,” said Riette. “Next thing you know, you’ll be peeing on the carpet.”
Trinity laughed.
“Next thing you really know, I’ll be cleaning that shit up tomorrow, so I think I’ll pass.”
“Was it that bad?” asked Cassian.
“You know when people, guys in particular, this Guy specifically, get too excited?” asked Mekhi. “Well, in the meeting rooms—”
“It was bad enough to clean it up,” said Riette, and she fought the urge to throw up a little in her mouth. “Talking about it after is worse.”
“I might be sick,” said Trinity.
“You live here, lady. I’m just the help, as your grandmother said.”
“She really did say that, didn’t she?” asked Trinity from behind her hands.
“She says a lot of shit,” said Mekhi. Corin elbowed him in the ribs. He rubbed the spot before adding, “You know. No offense.”
“She’s not very good with new people.”
“So, she has a place where new people come like, well—”
“Don’t you do it,” said Riette. “Don’t even think about finishing that line of thought.”
“You know Riette will implode if someone says something naughty,” added Guy.
“Oh yeah?” asked Trinity. “Prude in the mix?”
“I’m not a prude. I just don’t feel like every part of a person’s personal life should be advertised like that.”
“Yeah, prude,” said Guy.
“She’s right,” said Cassian. “Some things should be private.”
“So, this a private party?” asked a new voice at their table. They looked up and saw Frank standing at the end of their cluster. “I’d love to join you.”
He pulled up a chair and sat it at the end of the table. He held his hand over his head and snapped his fingers.
“Alex, another round of whatever they’re having.”
“We don’t need—” Riette started. Her tattoo burned at full alert.
“I insist,” said Frank. He tapped the edge of an invisible hat to her, and Riette fought the urge to gag.
“What—what brings you here, Frank?” asked Trinity with a tremor in her voice.
“Oh, Ella’s with Billy, talking business. You know how much I detest that.” He turned toward Riette, sitting inches away from her. “I’m much more into the pleasurable side of life.”
“You’re looking at me like I give a shit, but I’m all out of fucks to give. Fresh empty.” Riette tapped her foot under the table and tried to channel the energy coursing through her.
“Me just being here makes you angry?” asked Frank.
“You existing makes me angry.”
He gave a short laugh and looked at the rest of the people in the group before looking back to her and leaning in.
“I have two modes. This is my nice. I ask you not to bring out the other side of me.”
“And here I thought you were two parts dick.”
Frank sat back and put his thumbs in his belt loops. “Now that’s just not very nice, is it? I come here, I buy you all a drink, and this is how I am thanked?”
“I didn’t need a drink.”
“No, you need to be taught some fucking manners.”
“Fuck you,” said Riette. She showed her teeth and felt the tattoo burn to a sizzling level on her shoulder.
The hum she felt in the air was back, and she saw Frank glance at her shoulder before leaning in.
“You think you really get to stay here for free?”
“I’ve been cleaning up shit for people like you all day,” Riette said. “I am not staying for free.”
Frank leaned in closer. There were inches between them, and he spoke softly. The rest of the table was quiet.
“I can feel your energy from here.” He looked her over. “You don’t even know what to do with it.” He considered her again for a moment. “I could teach you.”
“You think I’d let you touch me? I’d kill you and every fucker in this place first.”
“I want you, and I will have you,” said Frank.
“You are completely out of your fucking head.”
“One night. With me.”
Mekhi and Cassian stood up. “That’s more than enough,” said Cassian. “We’ve been standing back, but you’ve gone too far.”
Frank looked at both of them before smoothing a hand down his shirt. He held up his hands and laughed.
“You’re right. This was not my intention.” Frank stood, but then he leaned into Riette’s space. “But before I go, I want to let you know, Riette, that I know about your little Mage problem.”
Riette didn’t move. She didn’t blink. Samantha was so many lifetimes ago, it felt like, that none of it seemed real.
“Bounties like that with people like that aren’t something to play with.”
“Neither am I,” said Riette, steeling herself.
“Until we meet again,” said Frank.
Riette stood. The edges of her vision were going dark, and she walked until she was toe to toe with Frank.
He was tall, but she was within inches of his height.
“You come near me or any of my people again, and I will end your life. If you know me at all, you know how fucking serious I am when I tell you that.”
His eyes widened before he smiled. “Even your eyes show your power.”
“Back the fuck up before you’re the crispy, unidentifiable version of yourself. When I finish with you, they won’t be able to tell what you are or where you stopped and started.”
Frank looked down at his feet and then looked back up at her with an expression in his face that Riette couldn’t pinpoint.
“I’ll leave that right where it is. Evening.” Frank turned and maneuvered his way to another part of the bar.
Chapter 16
There was no dinner that night. Riette couldn’t say she was disappointed with a straight face, but they got the message soon after Frank left, and Riette was of the mind that he had something to do with its cancellation.
