21. Drew
Drew
" H ey," Sett said when we entered Spiti for what felt like the millionth time that day and I closed the door behind me, succumbing to his touch once again.
I rested against the door and looked into his beautiful golden eyes and tried to find a way to describe how I felt. "I…I'm okay. I think. Talking to Tomasz and Loki helped. A little. Well, a lot, considering they gave me a possible way out."
"Are you sure?" he asked, running the backs of his fingers down my face with such delicacy I couldn't help but follow his touch if only to feel him some more.
"Yes. I'm not a hundred percent yet, but I will be. Once I know Frankie can help me," I said.
Sett's other hand came up and he cupped my face, leaning into me until there was no breathing room between us and he took my breath away.
"Us. Help us . You're not on your own, Drew. You will never be on your own ever again. You hear me?"
His voice made my insides tremble and my heart pounded at double the speed.
I nodded and he closed the gap between us so I could taste his lips again. So I could taste his love for me again. It was addictive. I never wanted it to end. I felt like a siren willing to suck the life out of him just so I could have his taste on my lips for a second longer.
But every second that passed was a second I was bound to Horus and my brother was in danger, and so was Sett's son.
I opened my eyes and put my hand to his chest, pushing him ever so gently.
"We should go," I whispered.
Sett closed his eyes with a nod and took a step backward that felt as if someone had yanked my heart right out of my chest, knocking the wind out of me. And yet somehow I steadied myself. Somehow I took another breath. Somehow I turned around, opened the door and came out into a busy London street I didn't quite recognize.
It was very clean, with trees lining each side of the road, making it look cozy, almost fake. As if it was a film set and not a real place.
"Welcome to Kensington, I guess," I mumbled when I glanced up to read the street sign. Kensington Church Road.
"It's nice around here," Sett took in his surroundings and it took everything in me not to get distracted by his awe.
"Yeah, money talks around here. I don't often have a reason to be in this side of town," I said and reread the card Tomasz had given me.
*Charmsmiths
Enchanting jewellery for every occasion
circ. 1946
27 Kensington Church Street
We were definitely in the right place. I looked up and down the street and once I had an idea which way we needed to walk, I took off with Sett by my side. We only stopped when he came across a corner shop that was as white and polished as anything I'd ever seen, their window displays shone so bright they could compete with the sun itself.
A sign above the door read Charmsmiths in a bold calligraphic font, and a little bell rang as soon as we went through.
There were glass displays from top to bottom with rings, necklaces, bracelets and watches galore and my senses tingled at the magic charging the air all around us.
"Do you feel that?" I asked.
Sett nodded with a smile.
"I feel way too poor to be in here," I said.
Sett laughed. "So do I!" he said.
I raised an eyebrow. "You're a god!"
Sett shrugged and flashed me his gorgeous smile again.
I was about to say something when a beautiful Black man walked in from the back wearing a monocle on one eye and holding a butterfly.
When he stopped in front of us did I realize it was not a real butterfly, but a creature made of glass and gold. That didn't stop it from fluttering its wings or from flying from the man's hand into its glass case.
"Welcome to Charmsmiths," he said.
"Hi. I'm Drew," I said.
He took the monocle off his eye to shake my hand. "Nice to meet you, Drew. I'm Frankie."
"This is Sett," I said. "Tomasz sent us."
Frankie shook Sett's hand and ushered us to the counter at the far end of the shop where he offered us both a seat.
"What can I help you with today?"
All eyes turned on me as I studied Frankie's face and took courage in knowing he was a friend and not a foe. "I'm looking for something that will keep me from being compelled by a god."
Frankie raised an eyebrow and leaned in closer. "Tell me more," he said.
So I did.
I told him everything. All these years I'd kept the truth from everyone, unable and unwilling to tell them how fucked up my life was and now, it seemed I couldn't stop sharing my story with anyone willing to listen.
Frankie licked his lips when I was done and sat back in his chair. "Wow. I'm so sorry you went through all that Drew?—"
"Thank you. Do you think you can help?"
Frankie sighed and looked down at his desk.
It took everything in me not to deflate right on the spot.
"I don't know if I'm powerful enough to defy a god. Without knowing the specifics of his power it's all a guessing game…"
I squeezed the armrests, bracing myself to throw the chair back and march right out.
"What about what you did for Loki?" I asked.
Frankie pursed his lips.
"What I did for Tomasz and Loki was simpler. I do it all the time. Binding sets are not hard to make. Kinky jewellery is a niche of mine, but…this is different."
"What if…" I glanced at Sett and bit the inside of my cheek. "What if you made a binding set for me and Sett?"
"Drew?" he asked.
"What? Maybe if I'm bound to you, he won't be able to control me. What have we got to lose?"
Sett searched for my hand and when he found it he held it close to his chest.
"It means the world to me that you would trust me with your body and your heart, it does. But are you sure?"
I turned from him to Frankie and without a second thought I said, "Let's do it."
The mere fact that he had said that, that he hesitated, that he checked with me, told me all I needed to know. I might be switching one gilded prison for another but I knew I could trust Sett with all my being. I knew he wouldn't take advantage. I knew he wouldn't put me through even a touch of what Horus did. It was the only way.
"All right. You wait right here. I'll get right to work," Frankie said and got up.
He pulled a drawer open under the desk and retrieved a small paper knife and a little silver bowl with a floral pattern.
“I just need a few drops.”
We both extended our hands and he pricked our fingers before he retreated to the back, leaving Sett and me on our own. He still held my hand to his heart and he still looked at me as if I was special.
It would be unbearable if it wasn't just what I needed right now. I may not know what he could possibly be seeing in me, but the fact that he was still here, fighting for me, spoke volumes to his character.
He was a god and he was mine.
I had no idea what I'd done to deserve that. No clue. And once this was all over he'd probably realize just how terrible for him I was, but…but until then, was it selfish if I didn't want him to let go?
It felt like forever before Frankie returned, a few more bugs flying out of the room and into their cases as he exited his workshop. He smiled from ear to ear as he took his seat and slid a blue velvet case across the desk to me.
"Is…is this it?" I asked.
He nodded.
My fingers trembled as I reached for it and pried it open but I was breathless as soon as I opened it.
In it was a silver chain with an amber-studded ankh and in the middle was an amber ring that seemed to glimmer like a firefly.
"This is beautiful," I said and reached for the necklace.
"I know it's a bit on the nose, but I thought you could use the extra protection of the ankh."
Sett ran his finger over the cross and smiled at Frankie.
"The necklace is for you, Drew. The ring is for Sett."
I put the necklace on straight away and reached for my phone.
"How much? What do I owe you?"
Frankie shook his head. "I can't in good conscience charge you for that. Not when I don't know if it will work for what you need it."
A frog formed in my throat and I swallowed with difficulty.
"Th-thank you. I…if it works, I'll be back to pay you." I rose to my feet.
Frankie did the same. "If it works, you being free will be payment enough," he said.
I almost choked up again. What had I done to deserve so much kindness from everyone? I'd been a cheat, a liar, a trickster all these years. I'd fooled people, stolen things, broken things and everyone was being super nice as if I wasn't a horrible human being.
"Thank you, Frankie. Thanks for everything," I hugged him. It was the only thing I could think of, the only repayment for his kindness.
I just hoped it worked so I could repay him one day. Repay all of them. All the people I'd betrayed because of Horus.
"Go give that son of a bitch a taste of his own medicine," Frankie said.
"That's the plan," Sett said as he slipped the ring onto his ring finger and put his hand on the small of my back. The mix of his touch and the magic coursing through the jewellery gave me goosebumps.
Goosebumps that made me believe this was going to work.
I would be able to resist Horus's compulsion and kick him all the way into oblivion.
Once and for all.