Martinis with the Devil

by A. A. Chamberlynn

  “He goes by Pan in this realm.”

  I coughed. “Pan. Like, Pan the God of nature?” It had to be a nickname.

  Another ghost of a smile flickered over Selfora’s lips. “Yes, that Pan.”

  “I didn’t know he was a faerie,” I said. A bad feeling crept from the top of my head down to my toes. This dude was bad news. But again, it wasn’t like we had a choice. “Thank you, Selfora. I’ll owe you big for this.”

  “Yes. You will.” Her intense opal eyes bound my promise.

  I shivered. “What do you have in mind?”

  “I’ll let you know once I decide.”

  I nodded. “Okay. I’ll be in your debt.” Which was a very, very bad thing when you were dealing with a faerie. But again, not many choices.

  Eli looked back and forth between us, shifting uncomfortably. “We’d better get going.”

  “One more thing,” Selfora said as I turned. I slowly twisted back around to face her. “You can’t go dressed like that.”

  I looked down at my jeans and t-shirt. “What do you suggest?”

  She said nothing, but the air in the room got scarce and I felt a shimmer of power flow over us. Selfora’s eyes glowed like molten gold. I couldn’t look anywhere but right at them. In fact, it felt like I was losing my balance, like I would tip forward and fall straight into their depths…

  “That’s much better.” She sounded immensely pleased.

  I looked down to see that my jeans had been replaced by a black skirt which seemed to be made out of tattered butterfly wings, with iridescent swirls of blue and green and purple. Well, skirt was a bit of an overstatement. Postage stamp? That might be a more legitimate description. My top wasn’t much better. Kind of an off-the-shoulder black spiderweb contraption with long see-through sleeves of shimmery black. Sparkly fishnets and knee-high boots completed the look.

  Then I saw Eli and almost choked. His gray tunic was gone, replaced with skin-tight leather pants and a sleeveless shirt made of the same translucent material as the sleeves on my shirt. Abs that would make any woman weep were on display for the world. I moved my eyes quickly up to his face, which was not left without adornment. Black glitter dusted his eyes, and a pinch of eyeliner edged his lids. He even wore a spiked dog collar around his neck.

  “Um, thanks?” I said.

  “You’re welcome. Again.” Selfora raked her eyes over both of us. “Now leave before I change my mind and decide to keep you.”

  I nodded and we headed for the door. Out on the street, Eli turned to face me and I became acutely aware of how scarcely clad we were as he moved toward me to step onto the in-between roads. “That’s a good look for you,” I teased.

  He rolled his eyes, then said in all earnestness, “You think if this faerie magic wears off we’ll be naked?”

  “I sure hope not.” I gulped as he wrapped an arm around my lower back. And then we were stepping through the paths and out again onto 1st Avenue, near the Seattle Art Museum. Down the street, the sign for Gemstone glared bright blue in the night. A long line wrapped around the block, and I could feel the faint throb of music in my chest.

  There were three doormen. Only one had green hair, a vivid emerald spiked all over his head, reminding me of a cactus. We approached from the side. “We’re here to see Pan. Selfora sent us.”

  The green-haired faerie eyed us up and down. “A present, huh? Selfora’s certainly in a generous mood tonight.”

  I didn’t really like the sounds of that, but I just smiled, neither agreeing to nor denying his statement. The faerie opened the door, and the music nearly knocked me over. “He’s in the back. Far right.”

  We stepped into the club and the door shut behind us with a boom that sounded rather final. It was dark inside except for strobe lighting and the glow of hundreds of faerie wings crammed inside the massive room. A lot of the faeries had applied neon paint or shimmer to their wings. Glitter floated through the air, which gave the effect of walking through a 3-D galaxy. We cut our way through the throngs of sparkling bodies. Every color imaginable surrounded us. Some even changed colors, lighting in and out like a firefly.

  And the dancing. I knew faeries liked to dance. Even as a human, more than two centuries ago, I’d heard about faerie rings and the helpless humans who danced until they died. But even now, as an immortal, their dancing entranced me. Never had I seen anything move so freely, so pure and vivid. With such life. I felt a reckless and overpowering surge of envy.

  As we walked through the pulsating lights and the cascading glitter, I felt like I was diving deep, deep into a dream. I looked up at Eli’s face. He watched them, too, and seemed just as enchanted as I was. I could never be alive like that, needing to subsist on souls as I did. Eli would never see such vibrancy in me, never admire me for anything other than a cold, calculating warrior. Why did that bother me? Why did I want him to see me differently? I shouldn’t care. But I realized I did.

  And then we were approaching the corner of the room, and I forced myself to focus. Looking ahead I could see him. Pan, unmistakably. He sat on a curved semi-circle sofa covered in some sort of bronze metallic scales that looked suspiciously like dragon hide. An entourage of faeries sat around him. They all faced him, their bodies tilted forward. He was the supreme center of attention. And enjoying it very much.

  As appearances go, he looked pretty normal other than the usual unearthly beauty of the faeries. He didn’t have goat legs or horns, nor was he playing a flute. His hair hung long and straight, a rusty red color, and his eyes glowed a startling spring green like virgin flower buds. He wore pants that looked kind of like riding breeches made out of fine suede, tall boots, and a vest over his bare skin. And let’s just say it was a good night for amazing muscles.

  His eyes flitted up to our faces as we stopped before him. His entourage turned to stare as well. “What can I do for you?” Somehow his voice carried easily over the chaos of the club. It was deep, but had a musical lilt, like a mountain stream.

  “I’m Zyan Star, and this is Eli. My friend Selfora sent us.”

  Pan’s bright eyes passed over my face, down the length of my body, and then swept over Eli in the same manner. “What have I done to deserve such nice presents?”

  “We’ve actually come to ask for your help.”

  Pan smiled. It was a smile that hadn’t yet decided whether it was friendly or furious. “What kind of help?” His accent was strange; I couldn’t quite place it. Not that there was a human language comparison.

  Well, no point beating around the bush. “We need to get into the faerie realms,” I responded. “Selfora thought you might be interested in guiding us.”

  “Ah, yes, Selfora has had issues with some of her kin. It is better for her if she stays in the Earth realm.” Pan leaned forward, his hair swinging forward like a sheet of silk. “And what exactly do you seek in Faerie?”

  “My friends and the Holy Representative have been taken by a faerie. I intend to get them back. And I need to do it quickly, before Lucifer unleashes a bunch of demons on Earth.”

  Pan looked thoughtful. “Yes, I had heard that news. It is all very interesting. I can see why Selfora thought I might be intrigued.” He twirled a strand of hair around his finger. “However, I care very little for human drama, so it matters not to me whether your friends and the HR die, nor whether Lucifer burns Earth to the ground.”

  My heart plummeted to my feet, and I could feel his companions tense as Pan decided what to do with us. I wouldn’t go down without a fight, but even I knew it was hopeless fighting against this many faeries.

  But it seemed Pan wasn’t done with us yet. He looked up at me. “You are an interesting being, Zyan Star. Anam Gatai, if my senses are correct?” I nodded. “But unused and neglected is your magic, wild as an untended garden. You could do yourself and others much harm with this untrained power.” He paused, then reached out and grabbed my right hand. “This is very interesting. Lucifer himself tried to bond you. You must be very important
to him. Demon power runs within you now.” He took a deep breath and leaned back against the metallic scales. “And an angelic companion. Very amusing. How did the two of you form this relationship?”

  “The HR wanted Zyan’s help on an important mission,” Eli responded. “I was tasked as her partner.”

  “I see,” Pan said. “Purely business then?” Eli and I nodded simultaneously. Pan’s lips turned up in a smile. “Really? Are you sure?”

  “Just work partners,” Eli said.

  Pan frowned. “Well, I have to say that is really very boring. Especially considering that I initially thought Selfora sent the two of you over as entertainment.” He sighed and made a barely perceptible gesture to his groupies. “I’m afraid if that’s all, then I really must continue on with my evening.”

  Several of the faeries rose to their feet and moved toward us.

  “Wait.” I put up my hand to keep them back. My eyes moved to Pan’s. “What kind of entertainment did you have in mind?”

  Pan smiled broadly, a crocodile in sight of prey. “Oh, nothing too extravagant. I’m just so curious, seeing the two of you together. A soul thief and an angel. Willing partners. That’s something I’ve never seen, and I’ve been around a very long time.”

  Butterflies started forming in my stomach. This couldn’t be going anywhere good. “So, do you want to watch us chase down some criminals? That’s what we do best.”

  Pan chuckled. “Oh, I doubt that. I doubt that very much.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  I could feel the muscles in my jaw tightening. He was starting to annoy me. “Just tell us what you want.”

  “So feisty,” he cooed. “Maybe a few minutes with you would do the trick.”

  Eli stepped forward, putting himself between me and Pan. “Watch it.” His eyes had deepened to a twilight hue.

  Pan laughed, long and hard. When he had stopped, he said, “Such chivalry. Once again, however, completely boring. I’ll tell you what I want, because you asked so nicely.” His eyes danced up to mine. “I want to see some real heavenly passion from your boyfriend here. I want him to kiss you. And don’t even try any dainty pecks.” His eyes flicked back to Eli. “Kiss her like you mean it.”

  “You’re joking.” Eli’s face was a mixture of anger and horror.

  Pan let the smile drop from his face. “Do I look like I’m joking?”

  “But I can’t kiss her. It’s against the Angelic Code for an angel to—” he paused and glanced at me. “Unfortunately The Agreement classified her type under the devil’s dominion. So, the Code states that angels can’t have relations with Anam Gatai.”

  That was news to me. I’d never thought something like that was actually written in their laws.

  Pan waved a hand dismissively. “I’m not asking you to have relations with her. Just kiss her. Kiss her, or your Holy Representative will be stuck in Faerie forever. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind this one little thing in order to save his life.”

  Eli opened his mouth and then closed it again. Pan sat back in his seat smugly, watching the struggle of emotions on Eli’s face with obvious pleasure. Eli turned toward me, blushing furiously. “Uh, Zy…”

  We seriously didn’t have time for this shit. I closed the distance between us and pulled his face to mine. He stiffened for a moment, taken off guard. I dug my fingers into his neck, signaling for him to get with the program. All we had to do was give Pan a good show and we’d be on our way.

  Eli’s lips, which had been crushed awkwardly against mine, softened and parted. He reached one hand up to cup my cheek, the other slid around the small of my back, pulling me against the hard muscles of his chest. His hair fell forward against my cheek. I reached up and ran my hand through it, not realizing until I did it that I’d been wanting to for a long time. The music of the club seemed suddenly louder, pounding against our skin, pulsing through our veins. And then another song wove into the mix, the racing of Eli’s life force, silver and pure and sweet. I could feel it coursing through him, and an answering fire rushed through me. Without conscious intent, my lips moved from his, trailing down his jaw and along his neck. I could feel it flowing under my mouth, everywhere my lips moved…

  His fingers trailed up the length of my back, making my skin shiver. It distracted me just enough to break the siren song of his soul. He lifted my chin with his fingers, guiding me back to his lips, those petal-pink lips. The shy angel was gone now, something had changed. He had an edge to him now, a fire. His usual careful control vanished—no rules, no duty, no expectations to fulfill. His lips met mine with a freedom I hadn’t seen him express with anything else. I felt a heady buzz roll through me, like I’d just downed a few pixie dust martinis. His fingers trailed down to my hip, leaving a simmering line of fire, and each kiss seemed to sear through me like starfire…

  A noise broke through my trance. Clapping.

  Eli and I broke apart, our eyes meeting for just a moment. His held a strange brightness and something else… confusion? I felt dizzy and disoriented, and now the club music seemed grating and the lights hurt my eyes.

  “Well done,” Pan said, his smile huge. “Now that’s what I call entertainment. Was it really so torturous for you?” Neither of us answered, and his smile widened. “I think that was amusing enough for me to let you out of here alive.”

  “What about taking us into Faerie?” Eli asked.

  Pan leaned forward again. “Well, you are in luck. I am not friends with Taryn Blackflame, the abductor of your friends, in fact I dislike him very much. I will take you to the realm of Faerie, and lead you to your friends.”

  “And back to this realm again?” I pressed. Although I was probably pushing my luck.

  Pan smiled, and this time it held amusement. “Clever girl. Yes, I will lead you out again. All of you. If you can get your friends back from their captor.”

  “Thank you,” Eli said.

  “Nothing is for free. You will both owe me a favor, which I will call upon at a time of my choosing.”

  “We already did you a favor.” I tried to keep the anger out of my voice.

  “That little bit just kept you alive. But to go into Faerie, you will each owe me something else.”

  “Fine.” I glanced at Eli, and he nodded.

  “I’ve never had an angel owe me a favor before.” Pan smiled at Eli. “This will be interesting indeed.” Eli shifted uncomfortably. “Shall we head out then?” Pan rose to his feet, a tall walking staff with an ornate metal head appearing in one hand. “Follow me.”

  We didn’t have far to go. To the left of Pan’s corner of the club, a door opened onto a longish hallway. At the end of the hallway stood two satyrs. Not the cute-looking ones from out of a C.S. Lewis book, but looming seven-foot-tall ones with suspicious orange eyes. They held wicked axes which were crossed in front of another door. The door itself was fairly nondescript, just a gray metal door like you could find in any back alley.

  Pan smiled as he approached the guards, spinning his walking stick in his hand. “Good evening gentlemen. I’m taking a couple friends on a visit home.” They said nothing, just stared at me and Eli and slowly moved their axes out of the way. Pan opened the door and held it for us as we passed through.

  At first I thought we’d just passed into another room of the club. It was still dark, and there were still glowing shapes here and then. But then, looking up, I saw sky. Stars glittered overhead above skyscrapers that shot up into the night. We were in a city. Totally not what I was expecting.

  Pan strode past me. “I imagine it goes without saying, but stick to the path, and stay by my side. If you do not, I cannot guarantee your safety.”

  Eli looked over at me, his expression tense and his eyes a darker purple than I’d seen them before. “You first. I’ll take up the rear.”

  I nodded and marched briskly to keep pace with Pan, which was a little tricky wearing these ridiculous spike-heeled boots. “So this is Faerie, huh?” I asked.

  Pan nodded. �
�One part of it. There are many, many faces of Faerie, only a handful of which you’ll see today.”

  “How far do we have to travel until we find Taryn?” Eli called.

  Pan spun and placed a finger to his lips. “My young angel, there are spies everywhere. Be careful what you speak of.” He lowered his voice to a whisper. “But to answer your question, we must travel through this realm, then another before we get to where your friends are being held. We can only hope that they kept Taryn amused and are still alive.” He turned and continued walking.

  We hadn’t actually passed any faeries yet, unless they were hiding in the shadows. The street we were walking down had a feeling similar to New York, or maybe Tokyo. Glowing signs hung from various entrances, offering services such as ‘Wing Art’, ‘Dream Enhancement’ and ‘Purest Unicorn Dust in All of Faerie’. Graffiti colored many of the walls, except these pictures moved and sparkled and reached out at you. Up ahead I saw the first residents of Faerie creating their own graffiti portrait. They didn’t need paint; they waved their hands, spraying on color with their magic. The air around them hummed with power, and clouds of color and smoke plumed into the black sky. As we passed, I could see the scene they created was a rather intimate one, involving at least ten faeries. Their pleasured moans filled the street, and a dove-white hand reached out to me as I passed, beckoning me to join them.

  Hmmm. Looked like Faerie was certainly going to live up to all the wild tales I’d heard over the years. Maybe even exceed them.

  We entered a more active part of the city. The glowing colors and flashing lights made my eyes blur. Magic vibrated in the air everywhere. I’d never been in a place where it permeated everything so thoroughly. I couldn’t imagine the power the faeries held, that they could expend so much constant energy to sustain it all. Even the air itself seemed alive, a sinuous invisible being wrapping, curling, swimming around everything.

  I saw a faerie couple walk out of their building and approach a large, clear sphere. It looked solid, but had a slight rainbow sheen like a bubble. They opened a seamless door in the side of the sphere and stepped inside. The man appeared to be pressing some sort of keypad, and then the bubble vanished.