Restless—the next day after being out on the Crossroads always left me at loose ends—I skirted the vendors setting out their wares for the day in the Market Square. The center of Darktown, the Market was where everybody gathered. In summer, on the few hot days we had, the kids would break open fire hydrants and dance under the spray of water, but now we were into early September and autumn had closed in fast and furious.
The play-girls were already leaning against light poles, eyeing the growing throng like so many vultures. Pickpockets were out looking for easy marks, and the Nancies paraded on display as if for an invisible beauty crown. And, of course, there were the bogeys, but they kept to themselves. As I passed by a small group of them gathered on the street corner they gave me a silent nod and I raised my hand in return greeting. Most of them came out of the Junk Yard, but the shadow men knew who I was and what I was capable of. I didn’t bother them, they didn’t bother me, and we left it at a nice little truce.
Moving through the cacophony of sound and movement, I blinked against the rising smoke of the food stalls. It blended with a hundred different perfumes, urine from the burrow-lanes, smog and exhaust, to create one exotic fragrance that permeated the streets of downtown Seattle.
I paused for a moment and leaned against the side of a Moroccan restaurant. The smell of spicy couscous and lamb drifted out, and my mouth began to water. I hadn’t eaten since lunch the day before, and that had only been a hot dog and a shake. The thought of stopping in for a quick breakfast crossed my mind, but then I nixed the thought. I was running low on cash, and I could always bum a muffin and coffee from Shevron at Up-Cakes.
Besides, Hecate would kick my ass if I didn’t take her call when she rang. I promised myself that I would come back and pick up some of the lamb along with some apricot delight once I’d managed to find another job. I had almost run through the money from my last contract.
I gazed around the streets, scanning the crowd to make sure there weren’t any Aboms around, but my Trace screen told me that the coast was clear for now. There had been an upswing in activity from the World Tree the past couple of months. While not all were Aboms, there were other creatures just as unwelcome and just as dangerous. Ker demons, for example. Three of them had crossed over a few days ago and vanished into the crowded city.
“Hey baby, how much for a go-round?”
Startled, I whirled to find myself facing a nondescript Suit. Slummer. He fingered his money clip in plain view, pegging him for an outlier. Anybody who lived in Darktown knew better than to flash cash around. His gaze darted nervously from me to the play-girls and Nancies lining the street. Most likely, he was afraid of being caught, but he shouldn’t have worried. The sky-eyes seldom showed up in the Market during the day. Too many chances for somebody to try to take one down, and that was an expense the Devani didn’t want to incur. They had learned the hard way to leave the streets in Darktown and the Trips to the bogeys. Nobody with any sense went into the Trips at night unless they lived there.
I glanced down at my outfit, wondering what about it screamed hooker to him. Yes, I was showing some skin, but not like the play-girls. But the dead giveaway should have been my sword, sheathed in the scabbard slung over my shoulder. Sex-for-sales didn’t tend to carry large, ornate, prickly sharp blades when they were working. They were usually packing, yes, but not so obviously.
I brushed him off. “I’m not selling what you’re looking for.”
He tugged on his tie and cleared his throat. “You sure? I can pay—”
I stared at him coolly and then grabbed his collar, shoving him up against the wall, hard. The shadow of fear clouded his eyes as he realized just how strong I was. Good. He needed to learn a lesson before somebody really nasty got to him.
“You see my sword here?” I pointed to the hilt of my sword with one hand while holding him firm with the other.
“I thought it was a prop,” he squeaked out.
“Trust me, it’s not. I could cut you in half.” I suddenly smelled urine and realized he had peed himself. “Are you afraid?”
He nodded.
I could have let go, but I wanted the lesson to sink in. “Then you’re not entirely stupid. You should be afraid. But you’re lucky that I’m the one you stumbled onto and not one of the bogeys. The shadow men don’t like strangers, and their play-girls are usually armed with steely knives and bowie clips that they’ll use without hesitation on the likes of you.”
A tendril of Wandering Ivy reached out from the swath covering the side of the building, tapping him on the shoulder, and his eyes grew wider. He squirmed harder.
“Please, let me go. It’s going to choke me.”
“And that would break my heart how?” But I loosened my grip, letting his feet hit the ground again. I held firm to his collar, ignoring the tendril. I could tear it away if the ivy got pushy.
“While we’re on the subject of stupidity, you might want to tuck your cash out of sight. You’re in Darktown, for fuck’s sake. Use your common sense. Daylight won’t protect you here. Neither will the Devani. Meanwhile, there are plenty of thieves around here who wouldn’t think twice about dragging your sorry ass into one of the burrow-lanes and snagging that windfall. Now, why don’t you run on back to Croix or Uptown, or wherever it is you’re from, and if you’re still horny, call one of the sky-high girls. Don’t come here again. Slumming’s not a hobby for the weak of heart. Or for Suits.”
I let go and he backed away, his face a mask of fear as I motioned for him to run along. He turned, scuttling off toward the Monotrain platform. He’d probably be safe enough without an escort but, for his sake, I hoped I had thrown a good scare into him. Next time, somebody bigger, badder, and meaner was going to find him first, and if it was a bogey, he wouldn’t be nearly so generous.
Turning my attention back to the street, I crossed over to Prickle Street and headed toward Dream Wardens. The doors were unlocked and as I pushed through, a wave of asafoetida assailed my senses. The resin was pungent, but the smell made me feel at home.
Jason was bent over one of the workbenches. He glanced up at me, arching an eyebrow as his gaze slinked over my body.
Jason Aerie had wheat-colored hair that fell to his butt. He kept it braided most of the time, and his eyes were a brilliant green. He wasn’t a pretty-boy, but he was striking, with a firm jaw and an aquiline nose. The fact that he was built didn’t hurt, all muscled but not hulking. He usually wore snug jeans that hugged his butt, a long-sleeved sweater, and motorcycle boots made for actual use rather than looks.
It occurred to me that he was too handsome for his own good, or rather, for mine. Jason was engaged to a Corp-Rat named Eileen, an uncommon match, but there you had it. Sometimes opposites attracted. But they did have something in common—they were in the same Cast—hawk-shifter family. I didn’t have much to talk about with her, other than the fact that we both cared about Jason. To be honest, I had harbored a mild crush on him for years. But since he was also one of the best friends I had, I made sure to keep any and all attraction under wraps. I wasn’t into breaking up love affairs. Love was too rare to tamper with when you found it.
“Kae, how are you feeling this morning?” Jason was one of the few people who still called me by my name. Most people called me Fury, but Jason chose to help me remain connected to a time when I had just been Kaeleen Donovan, before my mother died and I had taken on the full mantle of divine demon hunter and dark moon witch.
“You don’t want to know. Ugh, I had horrible dreams.” I shrugged off the sheath holding my sword, propping it against one of the chairs, and slid out of my jacket. I still felt like I had been punched in the gut—another lovely side effect from being out on the Crossroads.
“You look like you lost a bet with a bottle of vodka.” But the smile fell away as he realized I wasn’t returning it. He wiped his hands on a cloth and stepped out from behind the counter.
I wandered over to a well-used sofa agains
t the opposite wall. As I dropped onto the welcoming cushions, I leaned my head back. Every ache and pain running through my body began to clamor for attention and I realized I still wanted to sleep.
“So what’s next?” he asked.
“I wait for Hecate to call. I’m not sure what’s up, but she told me that there’s something going on. At least I got the Abom.” I grinned at him.
“And you did a good job of it, by the way you looked last night. Kae, I don’t envy you,” Jason said. “Honestly, I don’t know how you manage to navigate through the minefield of being a Theosian. Especially running off-grid. How you remain…you…after you’ve faced some of the assignments you’ve been given confounds me. I don’t know if I could do it.”
“Facing my mother’s murderer was harder than any Abomination I’ve had to kill.” I held his gaze, feeling both jaded and very young at the same time.
“I know, kiddo. I remember.”
Jason had taken me in from the time I was thirteen, after I had been forced to watch my mother die at the hands of a ruthless serial killer. He had given me a place to stay, fed me, sent me to school, and made sure I got my ass to my lessons with Hecate. Thirteen years later, when I was twenty-six, I tracked down my mother’s murderer and cursed him for life. I had wanted to kill him, but Hecate had other plans. That night, I took the name Fury. It fit.
And Jason? He had never turned his back on me, and I would never turn my back on him.
“I’m not a kid anymore and you know it,” I said softly. “I’m thirty now, and Hecate expects me to do what she asks. Failure is not an option, and there’s no getting out of the gig when you’re born one of the Theosians.”
He laughed as he pushed himself off the sofa and returned to his work. “Kae, I’m a hawk-shifter. I’m two hundred and twenty-four years old. Minor goddess or not, you’re still a kid to me. Get used to it.” But he hesitated, and I felt his gaze lingering on me for a moment. Then he went back to his work. “I have to finish making this spell powder. We’re out and people will be coming in today looking for it. Apparently, it’s Bonny Fae week.”
“Oh, crap.” The Bonny Fae came into Seattle from the Wild Wood twice a year. When they did, it seemed like every eligible man or woman in the city wanted to catch their attention. Dream Wardens sold a lot of love and lust spells during this time. The fact that potions and powders seldom worked on the Fae didn’t seem to harm business. People believed what they wanted to believe.
“That means everybody and their brother’s going to be walking around under a glamour spell, doesn’t it?”
“Oh, it gets better. Not only are the Bonny Fae in town, but the Portside Festival begins tomorrow afternoon. I can use the extra manpower if you want to put in a few hours for me.” He rolled his eyes, but I knew full well that Jason loved the pageants and festivals as much as the rest of us did. He just put on a good front of being world-weary.
“As long as I don’t have to simper over Tam.” I grinned at him. Tam O’Reilly was our techno-witch. He was as brilliant as they came, and he was one of the Bonny Fae. At the other end of the spectrum, we had Hans. The brawn of Dream Wardens, he was a Theosian like me, a motorcycle nut, and yoked to Thor. His girlfriend was in training to be a Valkyrie.
“Tam loves it and you know it. Anyway, don’t you want to catch yourself a gorgeous husband?” Now he was just goading me.
“When and if I look for a husband, my hunt won’t be cloaked under a spell or illusion. There’s only one reason to get married—if the couple can’t keep their hands off each other. And even then, I’d think twice. From what I have seen, most marriages aren’t destined to end well.” I didn’t add that I had noticed that while Jason was engaged, he and Eileen hadn’t set the date yet, and they seemed in no hurry to do so.
“Well, most marriages that actually work are usually based on some sort of economic incentive.” He glanced at the clock. “You should call Hecate. She’ll be waiting.”
“She said she’d call,” I muttered, but I pulled out my phone. I texted her that I was awake and up, but there had been no answer as of yet. “She knows I’m ready when she is. Until I hear from her, put me to work.”
Even as I was speaking, the shop door opened and three young women wandered in. They were giggling and dressed in Lamar’s—one of the trendiest designers, whose unmistakable style was cropping up all over town. That alone pegged them as outliers to Darktown. Almost nobody who lived south of Croix had the money to buy high-end
Jason was still tied up with finishing the spell powder, so I approached them, looking forward to helping them as much as a dentist’s appointment.
“May I help you find something?”
The center one—a blond bombshell—blushed. “We’re looking for…”
I knew what they were looking for. “Let me guess. You heard the Bonny Fae are in town and you’re looking for something to make yourself more attractive so you’ll catch their eye?”
Jason had just finished, and now he cleared his throat. As I glanced at him, he scowled. I let out a sigh and plastered on a smile.
“Perhaps you’ll allow me to show you something in a glamour spell?”
Inwardly, I cringed, but I was a pretty good actress when need be. I had no problem helping people who genuinely needed help. In fact, I was more than willing to go the extra mile, especially if they were looking for protection spells or healing magic. But dabblers annoyed me.
Jason and I had argued the point over and over. His stance was that he was here to serve, not to judge. But I knew damned well that he felt the same way I did. He was just better at hiding it.
The girl bit her lip. “Yes, if it’s not too much trouble.”
I sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “No trouble at all. Please excuse my churlishness. I had a late night and very little sleep.” I gave her a tired smile and she relaxed.
They followed me over to the other counter. I set out several options—all of which Jason had finished making the night before. He usually sold several thousand spells of one sort or another during Bonny Fae week.
“We have scrolls, but scrolls are better if you are already familiar with magic. Should I assume you aren’t?” I smiled to take the potential insult out of my voice.
The girls nodded. Their spokeswoman gave a little shrug. “We’re students at University Hall. I’m majoring in business, Cindy is studying home management, and Alisa studies social dynamics. We don’t have much time for extracurricular activities.”
I glanced over at Jason, who was obviously listening in. He cringed at the word “extracurricular” but merely gave me a nod of encouragement. As much as I wanted to tell them to go back to the university and find themselves husbands as quick as they could because they were probably going to need them, I restrained myself.
“This might work better.” I set out three little bottles of oil. They were decorative and looked like cut crystal, but were actually just glass. During Bonny Fae week, Jason could charge three times what he normally did for them, at half the cost.
“This is glamour oil. You dab a drop on your pulse points before you go out. We don’t guarantee it will attract the person you’re looking for, but it will add to your personal magnetism and charisma. Though I doubt if any of you need much help.”
Jason was right. A smile went a long ways, and so did a compliment. In the end, not only did they each buy a bottle of the oil, but I was able to steer them to music and tarot cards and blank journals. In other words: anything they couldn’t screw up too much. As soon as they shuffled out the door, I groaned and dropped on the stool behind the counter. The shop was momentarily empty.
“I really hate Bonny Fae week. Portside Festival is bad enough, but at least the shoppers aren’t looking for ways to manipulate somebody into marrying them. Do these girls even realize what it’s like to marry outside their race? Humans do not live in the same world as the Fae, regardless of how glamorous the tabloids make i
t sound.”
“You’re preaching to the choir, sugar. But there’s not much I can do about it. And if I don’t sell it to them, somebody else is going to. I might as well make money and ensure they get quality products.” Jason paused as his phone rang.
As he moved away to answer it, I glanced over at Hans. He had come in while I was helping the girls. “What’s your opinion? Should we really be selling these girls love potions?”
Hans shrugged. “They’re adults. If they don’t know what they’re getting into, then it’s their own fault for not doing the proper research. And really, is it any of our business what they want to do with their lives? That’s one thing you need to learn, Fury. You can’t make life choices for everybody. When you think someone’s making a mistake, sometimes you just have to let them burn their fingers.”
“He’s right,” Tam said from behind me as he emerged from his computer cave—aka the break room.
“You’re Bonny Fae. What’s your take on this?”
Tam ran on a moral scale a lot more ambiguous than Jason’s. His kind had emerged out of the woodlands after the Weather Wars and after the World Shift. I had no idea if they had entered via the World Tree or if they had always been around, and I doubted if there was anybody alive who knew. Except, perhaps, the gods.
“The Bonny Fae come to town looking for mates to keep the bloodline from growing too inbred. Since Fae blood breeds true, and trumps human blood, it doesn’t matter whether the mother or father is human. As long as one parent carries the Bonny Fae genes, all children will carry them and breed true.”
“Do most of the marriages last?” I still had my doubts. Moving into a different culture was hard enough, but to marry into a people who weren’t even your species seemed an uphill battle.