26
The Halloween party on Bourbon Street raged late into the night. I stood at the attic window, watching people dressed as vampires, demons, wizards, faeries, and werewolves stagger around on the street below. To them Halloween was a time for make-believe. For tricks and treats. For costumes and party decorations.
Little did they know the beings they pretended to be weren’t just the stuff of myths, folklore, or fiction. And the reality of our world was a far cry from silly masquerades and street parties.
In fact, this Halloween in particular marked either the dawn of our salvation or the eve of our destruction.
I snorted at my maudlin thoughts and turned away from the window. Staring out windows was no way to make life decisions. So I went to clean my guns instead.
After Adam’s freakout, I’d allowed Rhea to take him away for a chat. Part me of me wanted to fight her for that role, but given my own brittle state of mind at the time, I was in no position to help Adam calm down.
I scrubbed a hand over my face and pulled out my cleaning supplies. I laid out my weapons on the table: my specially made handgun with a handful of vampire-killing apple bullets, two mundane Glocks, a couple of daggers with applewood handles. Not nearly enough for the battle tomorrow. But the same bitch who’d just casually discarded my sister’s life as unimportant was also sending enough weapons and manpower to ensure we had a fighting chance of saving it.
How did things get so f**king complicated? On one hand, my gut told me I should ignore my disgust over the leaders’ priorities and focus on using their resources to achieve my own goals. I’d just have to use every resource at my disposal to save my sister and ensure Lavinia Kane died before she could summon Cain. Not an easy agenda, but it beat facing off with Lavinia armed with nothing but a few weapons and a bad attitude.
On the other hand, I’d be a fool not to face reality. Even with the Fae Knights and Pythian Guard as backup, Lavinia had the advantage. No doubt about it. So my other option was to go tonight to save my sister. Lavinia wasn’t expecting us until tomorrow, and from what I’d seen in my astral projection, the tomb was totally unguarded. If I left now, I could be in and out in less than an hour. Then we could go in with guns blazing tomorrow and not have to worry about Maisie getting caught in any actual or political crossfire.
But, if I had a third hand, I’d remind myself that that kind of thinking was totally Old Sabina. The angry one who worked alone. The rebellious one who ignored potential consequences to do what suited her own purposes. The lonely one who didn’t trust anyone. Hadn’t I learned yet that I was at my best when I allowed myself to depend on those who’d proven themselves trustworthy?
Adam and Giguhl had saved my ass more than once. They’d supported me through some pretty low times and high-fived me after victories. They were more than my friends. They’d become just as much my family as Maisie, maybe more in some ways.
I smiled as memories of our exploits played like a highlight reel through my head. As I did, the tang of cleaning solvent tightened my nostrils. With methodical strokes, I wiped down all the components. I guess Giguhl and Adam were a lot like my weapons now. I wouldn’t enter a fight without some firepower. And now I couldn’t imagine sneaking out without letting them in on the plan.
The door opened and the mancy strolled in as if my thoughts had summoned him. When he saw me, he stopped abruptly, as if he hadn’t been expecting to see me. His high color hinted at embarrassment, too. After all, the last time I saw him he was murdering a computer.
“Hey,” I said softly. I shoved the gun back into the bag. My stomach dropped the minute he walked in. Seeing the lines of tension on his face made my protective instincts go into hyperdrive. “How are you?”
“Fine.” He walked forward and grabbed his backpack from the armchair. He seemed to dismiss me completely as he rummaged through it.
“Want to talk about it?”
“Not really.” He didn’t look up.
I sighed. “Adam, please just talk to me.”
When he looked up, the heat in eyes was so intense I had to look away. I’d seen Adam angry before, but nothing like the rage rolling off him in hot waves. “Why? So you can tell me you were right?”
I frowned. “Right about what?”
“When we started this mission, you questioned the leaders’ motives. But I, being the good little Pythian Guard, chanted the party line like it was our f**king salvation.” He laughed bitterly. “Guess the joke was on me all along.”
I walked to him and squatted next to the chair. “You listen to me,” I said, forcing him to look at me. “This isn’t about who’s right or wrong. It’s beyond that now. The truth is Orpheus did what he had to do as the leader of the mage race.”
Adam jumped up so fast I fell back on my ass. Towering over me, he yelled, “How can you defend him? You, of all people?” He jabbed a finger in the air. “Maisie is your sister.”
I clenched my teeth and rose to face the mancy. “Look, Adam, I know I’m not always the most level-headed person around. I’ve certainly done my share of yelling and bitching about the unfairness of this situation. But you know what? That shit won’t save Maisie.” I poked at his chest with a finger. “It f**king sucks that Orpheus didn’t stand up to that bitch. But what choice did he have? Fuck up his alliance with her on the off chance we might have to make a choice between Lavinia and Maisie? She’d turn every mage out on the streets if he did that.”
“Whatever,” Adam said. He raised his chin. “I won’t be a pawn for the Queen like Orpheus. Maybe Erron was right to go recreant.”
I crossed my arms. “So what are you gonna do, mancy? Walk away to prove a point? Leave Maisie behind and let Lavinia win because Orpheus made a shitty decision?”
His gaze shifted guiltily.
I forged ahead. “You’re the one always telling me to use my head. So when are you going to start using yours?”
His eyes narrowed. “So what? I’m supposed to sit around and take orders from the Queen’s f**king captain? Because don’t fool yourself. The minute Orpheus bent over for Maeve tonight, Ilan earned the right to call the shots tomorrow.”
I got in his space. “No, you ass, I expect you to remember that you’re not alone in all this. We’re a godsdamned team, remember?”
He stared me down for a moment. Then his lip twitched. “You really need to work on your pep-talk skills, Red.”