Sliver of Silver (Blushing Death) (20 page)

The warrior was shaken. I heard it in the quiver in his voice.

Patrick turned to glance back at me with sympathy in his dark eyes. He knew how much Byron had torn me apart but he nodded for me to proceed.

“I found him in a dark basement, chained to a wall surrounded by blood and human flesh. Midnight Ash had been feeding humans to him,” I said as quickly as I could get the words out. “He begged me to put him out of his misery.” I could still see him in my mind, pleading through the darkness for me to end his suffering.

“So I did.”

Saeran released a heavy shuddering sigh at my words, sitting for a long while as the room waited in silence for some sign that it was all right to speak again. He finally stood, bowing deep from his waist, then turned his face up to meet my astonished gaze.

“Then you have done for my brother what I could not. When I discovered he had been enthralled by Midnight Ash, I left him to her. I thought it better he was alive than dead by my hand. I am in your debt.”

Patrick stiffened.

Alex’s eyes went wide with disbelief.

I didn’t understand what had just happened but evidently it was important.

“When they speak of the Blushing Death, they speak only of her savagery, of her kills, of the fear she instills in those she hunts. They say nothing of her mercy or her honor,” Fergal whispered with a slight bow of his head.

“He was your brother?” I asked Saeran. He nodded. “And your father?” I asked Fergal. He nodded, mirroring Saeran. “Then I am sorry for your loss and for my participation in it.” Even I heard my voice quake with remorse.

“I imagine you did the only honorable thing for a fellow warrior,” Cianna said as she took Saeran’s hand in hers. “I believe we have the answer we need,” she said, rising gracefully to her feet. She motioned to the other Fae to do the same. Meara, Aoife, and Feoras followed her to the door.

“Alex, could you please show our guests around?” Patrick suggested with an accommodating smile.

Alex hopped off the bar stool and crossed the room without a word. Dean nodded to Jackson and Niyati to follow. Jackson growled his disagreement low in his throat.

“Go,” I snarled. I was tired of his disobedience, tired of him.

Saeran’s eyes turned up to meet mine, widened with surprise as Jackson flinched at my command. Jackson hesitated for a moment before he followed Niyati out. Sooner than I had expected, there were only five of us.

“She ranks high in your pack?” Saeran asked.

“That is an issue, among others, that we are becoming more and more aware of,” Patrick said.

Patrick, Dean, and I turned questioning eyes to Fergal.

“Fergal is my nephew and has been like a son to me. He is my heir to the Sidhe throne,” Saeran said. “He is aware of all my business and the business of the Sidhe.”

“Saeran, we would be happy to have your Sidhe relocate into our territory. I don’t believe, as some do, that having the Fae diminish in magic would be a benefit to our world,” Patrick said.

I envied Patrick’s diplomacy, his cunning, and his ability to turn any situation to his own benefit.

“Under normal circumstances, I would confer with my advisors in the Sidhe but I feel that step is unnecessary.”

“Uncle!” Fergal snapped.

“My dear boy,” Saeran said, sounding almost like an indulgent parent. “When you have lived as long as I have, you will remember this night as something that changed our fortunes. We so very rarely see honor from his kind.” Saeran motioned to Patrick. “The packs have grown weak over the centuries but here sits a Gaoh whose strength seeps from his pores,” Saeran almost cooed. He finally turned dazzling, sparkling yellow eyes to me. “And a human of mercy and savagery to balance them out.” He watched all three of us in our turn with an examining glare. “Fergal, send a message to your Aunt Riona,” he ordered. “She must prepare the Sidhe.”

Fergal nodded to his uncle and murmured, “Yes, Uncle.” He left his king unattended and unguarded.

Saeran noticed my concern. “He is young, only 600 years old. He has grown accustomed to living amongst humans and their technology. He knows not of what our magic can be once Sidhe is returned to its full glory.” He met my eyes. “He also has no idea what kind of power can be found in the service of a Fertiri,” he added.

Dean shot from the couch and was on his feet before anyone could stop him. Neither Saeran nor Patrick moved. Dean’s anxiety trickled at the edge of his power like hot popping grease on the stove. Instead of the warm bath of power I was used to, there was a shock of fear around the edges. I placed my hand on Dean’s shoulder and he tensed a fraction of an inch beneath my fingertips but it was enough for everyone in the room to notice.

“Tre,” I breathed. “He’s unarmed and outnumbered,” I whispered with a light laugh. “I think we can handle him.”

Patrick glared from me to Dean, concern crinkling the skin at the corner of his dark eyes.

“She’s right. He’s not a threat,” Patrick hissed.

“I didn’t say that,” I said, catching Patrick’s dark gaze. I dropped my hand from Dean’s shoulder, feeling the loss of his warmth in my hand, like I’d stuck my fingers into a bag of ice. “He’s still extremely dangerous but I will not attack an unarmed man unprovoked,” I said.

Saeran nodded.

Dean returned to his seat, somewhat calm and as friendly as he got.

“As you can see,” Patrick said, clearing his throat. “We have a delicate situation on our hands.”

“And a dangerous one, I think,” Saeran replied. “I believe there is a standing edict to slay all Fertiri’s on sight, is there not?”

“There is,” Patrick said.

“And you did not,” Saeran stated.

“No.”

“May I ask why?” Saeran asked.

Patrick turned to me with a smile gleaming in his dark eyes.

“I couldn’t have hurt her if I wanted to,” he whispered.

“Ah, then it is an emotional bond. Those are always the strongest, but as Cleopatra demonstrated,” he said and added under his breath, “to the detriment of all Fertiris, unfortunately, what can happen when those bonds are broken or even unstable. Madness, jealousy, and treachery.” He paused. “You have questions?” 

“We didn’t want to ask too many questions and risk her,” Dean said.

I faced him in astonishment.
How long had they been talking about this without me?
Patrick wouldn’t risk me but Dean would see to his Pack first and do what was best for them. He wasn’t as sentimental as Patrick. That’s one of the reasons I appreciated him.

“How do we control it? If the power gets away from us,” Dean growled. “Away from her.”

“I think you are still finding your way. This is new, is it not?” Saeran asked.

Patrick nodded.

“I also do not think your bonds are balanced,” he said, narrowing his gaze on me. “Are they?”

“No,” I replied. “They’re not.”

“That will also cause some fluctuation, I would assume. Power is a delicate balance of emotion, force, intent and control. Over time you will gain the control and balance you need to be truly powerful,” he said with a small knowing smile. “It will be good to be in the presence of such power again. America cannot be Erin but we could make this continent a power to be reckoned with.”

“We will have to be powerful,” Patrick said, almost to himself. “The Sidhe moving to my territory will be taken as an affront to Ciro and his territory along the eastern seaboard.”

“Ciro has been too long in his Onyx tower to notice the comings and goings of his own people, let alone mine. It will be some time before he notices we are even gone.” Saeran’s voice sounded cold and calculating.

“He will not expect our growth,” Dean snarled.

Saeran turned entertained eyes up to me and said, “I believe Ciro will be surprised on several fronts.”

“You may be right,” Patrick said, relaxing back into the red leather sofa and sliding his arms over the back, the perfect picture of casual cool, no matter how much his anxiety twinged in my gut.

The evening settled into a comfortable banter filled with food, wine, and me, still cautious and on guard. Someone had to watch our backs and be in charge while Patrick, Dean, and Saeran made nice. Besides, making nice wasn’t my strong suit.

Chapter 20

I was tired of this damned forest. I ran, racing to get somewhere I knew in my gut was too far away and that I’d be too late anyway. I was making better time. I wasn’t constrained by as many obstacles like every other time I’d run through this godforsaken forest. Breathing a sigh of relief, I breezed by the bushes without cutting my flesh or slowing down. I glanced down at my unrestrained feet. I was running on four dainty light-colored paws instead of two cumbersome feet. It should have scared me shitless but anticipation made the voice inside me urge me forward. She thought I might finally get there in time. Maybe this time I could make it.

I threw my head back and howled. The melodic soprano of my voice echoed through the trees, filling the dark of night with my excitement and my hope.

The world looked different from three feet off the ground. The trees seemed bigger and the bushes thicker, harder to maneuver around. Leaves covered the forest floor, giving off the faintest scent of decay, mixed with the wet aquarium smell of the forest after a few solid days of rain.

The scent of the grouse hiding in the underbrush tweaked my nose. The sound of rabbits running for cover and the musical chirps of the robins in the trees filled the night as I raced by. There was no time to stop and chase them. I had somewhere to be. Breaking through the trees and into the familiar clearing, I became bathed in a long sliver of silver light from the full moon above.

Danny stood in the center of the clearing. Two men circled him.

Patrick and Dean made wide strides around him. My haunches rose in alert as they circled him. I opened my mouth to ask what the hell they were doing but nothing came out. Instead, I growled low in my chest, feeling the sound rumble against my ribs and vibrate up my throat as it grew louder. All three men turned to face me. Danny’s eyes met mine, relief slumping his shoulders.

Patrick and Dean froze, expectant. I stalked over on four light paws. Leaping high into the air, I landed on Danny’s chest and forced him to the ground. I extended my claws and punctured his skin with my sharp, silvery talons. And the hot rush of Danny’s blood seeped beneath the pads of my paws as he screamed.

I sat up, drenched in sweat and panting. My breath was like a leaden weight in my chest.

The phone rang, echoing through the silence of my house with its hateful wailing. I prayed it wasn’t Derek. I couldn’t take another crime scene, not for a while anyway.

“Hello?”

“Hello, Dahlia.” My father’s familiar yet painful voice filtered over the line.

Light streamed in from the windows, casting looming shadows over everything. I squinted toward the open window and the afternoon light blinding me. I’d forgotten to pull the blackout shades before going to bed.

My pulse raced through my veins and my shoulders tightened with tension as I listened to his labored breathing on the other end. I wasn’t sure how my father had even gotten my number but I was sure Brennan had something to do with it. I’d thank him later for my morning trauma. “Dad?”

“Please, Dahlia, don’t hang up!”

“What do you want?” I snapped.

He sighed on the other end. I couldn’t tell if it was relief or frustration. I didn’t really care.

“I wanted to talk to you. Your mother and I miss you,” he said, sounding desperate.

My rage spiked as he tried to play the victim. I could hear the incredulousness in his voice and it set my nerves on fire in disgust. 

“So much so that you send a spy to watch me,” I snarled at him. I hadn’t had enough sleep. I wasn’t prepared to be diplomatic or nice. Especially without having had any coffee.

Maybe he thought I wouldn’t notice Brennan’s sudden appearance. Maybe he forgot that I wasn’t a little girl anymore and didn’t believe every word he said. Either way, I was tired of being underestimated.

“Your mother was worried about you. I thought Brennan would be more discrete,” he said in a biting tone.
More discrete? More discrete than what? Wait! I don’t care.

“You asked a priest to lie. Not to mention the fact that you asked my oldest friend to lie to me. He was never able to lie to me,” I growled. “Ever!” I finished through clenched teeth. My anger bubbled over into tears, and I hated it. I didn’t need this emotional bullshit before the Manit at full dark. Hell, I didn’t need this emotional bullshit on any day of the week. I still had to talk to Jade about what she’d found and needed a clear head, damn it.

Taking several deep breaths to bury the hurt and anxiety away, I focused my mind on finishing this damned phone call. “Dad, I can’t do this,” I said through gritted teeth.

“Brennan said you were in over your head. We want to help,” he said, worried.

“Like you helped me before,” I spat. I’d officially snapped. I couldn’t even mention my teen years without having a sensory memory flashback. The smell of burning flesh filling my nose and the mind-numbing pain as it pulsed along my skin, through my eyes, making my heart fluttered with the surge of electricity.

“She was only doing what she thought was best,” he muttered as if even he didn’t believe it.

“And you let her!”

“There was nothing I could do,” he said. I thought I heard a catch in his throat but I couldn’t be sure, and it didn’t matter.

“I’m sorry, Dad, but I can’t. It would’ve been one thing if you just didn’t believe me but to add electroshock to the insult.” I was crying again. I couldn’t stop the hiccup as I spoke, but damn it, I was going to get this out.

“I never said I didn’t believe you,” he whispered.

I froze, my mind came to a screeching halt as his words sunk in. His voice had trembled as he’d said them. I was sure of it this time. The knowledge that he’d believed me seared through my brain like a hot iron stabbed through soft tissue.

He’d believed me. He’d believed me? HE’D BELIEVED ME!

“Are you telling me that you believed me when I told you what happened to Brennan and me that night?” My voice was controlled, calm, and frightening, even to my ears.

“Dahlia,” he breathed. “I’ve always known that you were different . . . like me,” he murmured.

I covered the receiver with my hand, hearing the plastic crack in my grip as I squeezed. I sank into myself, where all I heard was the beating of my heart in my ears and the air filling my lungs with each long, slow breath.

“Chipmunk? Are you still there?” he asked. He hadn’t called me that since I was nine years old. Remembering how things had once been, how happy I remembered being . . . before, shut me down. I’d tucked all those feelings of betrayal, disappointment, and rage away into the very large black box in my soul that housed all the pain I couldn’t deal with on my own.

Once that black box had only held the remembrance of the pain my parents had caused, of them sending me off to electroshock therapy. It’d had more entries recently. My little black box wasn’t so empty or so little any more. Bubbling up inside me, that black box was ready to overflow and explode.

“Dad, that just makes your complicity worse,” I whispered.

“I’m so sorry. I know it’s not enough but I am. I wish I could go back and change things but I can’t. Dahlia, please, you have to forgive us. You have to forgive me,” he begged.

I could hear the tears in his voice as he begged me to forgive him, forgive them. I waited for that place in me to crumble, that part of me that was still human, still his little girl. Nothing happened. I was empty. I couldn’t feel the sorrow I heard in his voice, not any more.

“No, Dad, I don’t. Please don’t call me again,” I said before I hung up the phone. My hands shook as I laid them to rest in my lap.

I glanced over at the clock; 1:07 p.m. and I’d only been asleep for a little over five hours. There was no way I was getting back to sleep after that conversation. I suddenly felt dirty.

I rose out of bed on shaky legs and got into the shower, needing to clean last night’s makeup and club dirt from me. As the scorching water washed over me, I had a good long cry.

When I got out of the shower, Amblan called up to me to let me know she was there. After getting dressed and drying my hair, I came downstairs surprised to find her making me eggs and toast.

“What’s going on here?” I asked, skepticism thick in my voice. My trust was on shaky ground these days. I couldn’t handle another bomb, not at the moment.

“Can’t a friend make breakfast for another friend without the inquisition?” she asked, with an innocent, wide-eyed expression plastered on her face. Yep, something was up.

“Sure, I guess,” I said. I took a bite and watched her pour herself a cup of coffee.

“Okay, who died?”

“No one. I’m just trying to be nice.”

Yeah, right.
I wasn’t buying it.

“All right.” I sighed. “Give it up. What do you want?” She had an air about her like she didn’t have a care in the world, light and worry free. Plus, she was more
family
to me than any of my real family would ever be.

“Okay, well, since you asked. I could use a favor.”

I folded my arms over my chest and set a scowl across my face. “Uh huh.”

“My air-conditioning’s broken. Can I stay with you for a few days until it gets fixed?”

“What happened?” I asked, doubting whether I even wanted to hear this story or not.

“See, what’d happened was, the air-conditioner became
dislodged
and fell from the window casing,” she explained with a weak, yet embarrassed, smile on her lips as she glanced up from her plate at me.

“And how, exactly, did it become
dislodged
?”

“Kilee kicked it.”

“Why would she kick it?” I asked, my eyebrows knitting together in confusion.

“Well, she didn’t realize where her feet were,” she said, batting her eyes at me.

“Oh God,” I groaned, placing my head in my hands. “You were having sex, weren’t you?”

A satisfied glint lit her eyes as a smirk crept across her face.

“Well, can I crash here or not? It’s hot as hell in my apartment without the air.”

In the middle of July, I imagined it probably was hotter than hell in a second-floor apartment with small casement windows that didn’t open all the way.

“Yeah, sure,” I indulged. “But you know the rules,” I said, sounding more like a parent than her friend.

“Yeah, yeah, Mom. No girls. I know. I gotta go to work now but I’ll be back later and we can have dinner.” She bent down and kissed me on the cheek like I was June fucking Cleaver before she walked out the back door.

I kept thinking about the first time I’d met Amblan. We’d been next-door neighbors for a few months and had barely spoken, except in passing. I’d thought for the longest time her name was Rachel. Don’t ask me why. I was at home one day and heard a soft, pensive knock at the door. When I answered it, Amblan was there, dancing back and forth with her hand hidden behind her.

“Hi,” I’d said.

“Hi, ummm, do you have an extra roll of toilet paper?” she’d asked, embarrassed. “I just got home from dinner with my folks and I forgot I was out,” she’d said, trying to justify asking a total stranger for TP. I’d given her a once over and couldn’t help but smile. She’d been about to shit her pants and, at the time, I’d thought it was the funniest thing I’d ever seen. I’d strolled to the bathroom so slowly that she’d started screaming at me.

“Hurry up!”  But there was laughter in her voice. “This is
not
funny!”

When I handed her the roll, she’d snatched it from my hand and took off running. We’d been fast friends ever since.

The door closed behind her and I wondered if I’d made the right decision. I could put her up at a hotel, which might be safer. I couldn’t really afford that. Who knew how long it was going to take to get her air-conditioning fixed?

I’d have to tell everyone to keep to the shadows. I wasn’t about to explain to Amblan why there were people circling my house at all hours of the day and night. She was used to certain people coming and going; Jade, Kurt, Dean, and Patrick for sure, but everyone else would need to stay scarce. I couldn’t have Amblan asking too many questions.

I pushed back from the table and went into the living room. I needed something to distract me, something that wouldn’t make me want to cry for hours on end. Popping Disney’s
Beauty and the Beast
into the DVD player, I fell back into the sofa with a cup of coffee. Even monsters like me love Disney.

After
Beauty and the Beast
and
Cinderella
, I slid in
101 Dalmatians
and watched Pongo and Purdita run through the winter wonderland after Cruella DeVille.

I smelled Jade and Kurt a few moments before they knocked. Wrapped in my yellow Care Bear blanket, I crossed the room and opened the door. Jade and Kurt beamed at me in the early evening light but I could feel the scowl on my face. Jade raised her brows at me and then noticed the TV and shot me a worried look.

“Are you okay?” she asked with wide, worried eyes. “What happened?”

“Rough morning. That’s all,” I said with a shrug.

“It would have to be for you to pull out the Disney,” she said with a smirk.

I usually keep my DVD’s hidden so that no one noticed the abnormal number of Disney movies in my possession. Jade had gone digging one afternoon and discovered my secret. When she’d asked about them, I’d told her that they made me feel better when things got rough. She’d laughed but never questioned me again. We all needed outlets. Mine just happened to be singing princesses, dancing frogs, and woodland creatures.

“Do you sing along?” Kurt asked with a smirk.

“Of course I do! What kind of person doesn’t sing along?” I glanced from Jade to Kurt and they both burst out laughing.

“He sings along, too, even the girl parts,” Jade said, grabbing Kurt’s hand and smiling up at him. He shrugged and beamed down at her. They seemed so happy. I plastered a smile on my face and padded back over to the couch. I could be happy for them. I really could.

“Kurt,” I said. “Am is going to stay with me for a few days. Can you pass the word along to be inconspicuous around the house and no one she doesn’t know inside until she’s gone.”