Chapter 18 #3
“I appreciate your patience,” I told the headless figure, “but I regret to inform you that I’m not going anywhere with you.”
“We made a deal, Maya.”
“I realize that, and I intended to honor it, but this week has shown me how much this world still needs me.”
“Alas, I cannot leave without a life. It is my sworn duty.”
I understood sworn duty better than most. But still. “We have to be able to work something out. Maybe an installment plan. I’ll give you a piece of me now, and you come back for the rest in another fifty years or so?”
The dullahan balanced his head on the palm of his hand and spun it like a basketball. “Impossible, I’m afraid, but I respect the hustle.”
I folded my arms. “Then we seem to have reached an impasse because I’m not going anywhere.” I didn’t work this hard to have it all taken from me now.
“I volunteer as tribute!” a voice bellowed.
I turned to see a slender vampire elbow his way through the throng of Neighbors. “Gary, what are you doing?”
“Exactly what it looks like. I’ve had my fun. If I’m being honest, I peaked in the 1920s, and it’s been a downhill slide ever since.”
“It’s his senility talking,” Kaito said. “Somebody walk him home.”
“You nailed it,” Gary said. “That’s what I want—somebody to walk me home.” He faced the harbinger of death, chin raised. “My name is Gary. Say it. Say my name and take me with you. I’m ready.”
“Don’t do this, Gary,” I said. “You’re not in your right mind.” Even as the words left my mouth, I could see that the vampire’s eyes were clear and bright.
“I’ve never been more certain of anything in my long life.”
“I can fight him,” I insisted. “He can leave empty-handed.” Except I knew that wasn’t true. We all knew.
Gary took another step closer to the dullahan. “You seem like a reasonable harbinger of death. Help me turn the page on this realm. I’m ready for the epilogue.” He clasped his hands in prayer. “Please.”
“A willing soul. Very well, then,” the dullahan rasped. “I claim you, Gary.”
The air shifted as the harbinger’s magic released me from its greedy grasp. The dullahan spread his arms wide and folded Gary into his cloak. Together, they were swallowed by the shadows.
Meemaw was the first to break the silence. “Well, I sure as shit wasn’t expecting that.”
Kaito lowered his head. “RIP Gary.”
“What a lucky guy,” Joan said.
Margie’s eyes snapped to hers. “How is he lucky?”
“Gary got to choose his fate. Who among us wouldn’t want the same?”
Murmurs followed her declaration. The crowd dispersed quickly and quietly after that, leaving me free to finish dealing with the frozen faerie.
The old me would’ve already killed him, but I couldn’t bring myself to finish what he started.
I wasn’t that person anymore, nor did I have any desire to be.
“What do we do with him?” Meemaw asked. “As far as I know, the HOA doesn’t house prisoners.”
I couldn’t turn him over to the Fates or the fae without great risk to myself. “I have an idea.” I pulled out my phone and placed a phone call to the mainland.
“Elite Division. This is Gage.”
“Hi Gage. This is your old pal, Maya. You might want to fire up the yacht. I have an urgent pickup for you.”
“Is that so?”
“I’d hurry if I were you. I don’t know how long the magic will hold him.”
“On my way.”
I contemplated the frozen faerie. “I need to transport him to the dock.”
“My golf cart’s not too far,” Meemaw said. “I can try to help you carry him. No promises, though. That spell did a number on my low back.”
“I can manage,” I said. There was no wind at the moment. I could fly to the dock and dump him straight on Vale’s yacht. Gage wouldn’t need to set foot on Evermore soil.
“That was a fun trick you did with the flames,” Meemaw remarked. “Your mage father taught you well.”
“Yes,” I replied, noncommittal. “Thanks for the magical assist. You turned the tide.”
“Nonsense. You could’ve taken him, but I have to admit, it felt good to use magic again, especially in tandem with other witches.”
“You’re all badasses.”
She patted my arm. “You too. Judd would be proud of you, Maya. If it matters, I am too.”
My throat thickened with emotion. “Why? I didn’t save any of them. Belinda. Judd. Gary. All gone under my watch.”
“You’re not the only pair of eyes on this island, Maya. We all bear responsibility for what happened here.”
“I work in security. You’re a resident. There’s a difference.”
“Every single one of us possesses some level of power or we wouldn’t be here, and with that power comes responsibility. We all know this.” Her jaw set. “We also know that if someone dares to come for one of us, that unlucky bastard comes for all of us.”
“I think I missed that provision in the Neighborhood paperwork.”
“It’s an unwritten rule. A matter of honor and principle. We may not belong in modern society anymore, but it has nothing to do with our moral compass.” Meemaw paused. “Well, not entirely.”
“I appreciate what you all did today,” I said. The faerie had expected the crowd to be a hindrance not a help. There was power in being underestimated sometimes .
“The fact that you appreciate it makes it all the more worth doing,” Meemaw said. “I guess this makes you the official director of security. Congratulations, dearest.”
I wasn’t sure congratulations were in order. It didn’t seem to be a cause for celebration when you’d earned the position through the death of your predecessor.
Margie joined her mother. “You were awesome, Maya. That sword is amazing.”
“If I didn’t have faith in you before,” Edith added, “rest assured I have it now.”
“You didn’t have faith in me before?”
Edith offered a meek shrug.
Joan knocked on the frozen faerie’s head. “Drop this bastard off, then go home and sleep until noon tomorrow. You’ve earned it.”
I smiled. “I’ll let Justine know your explicit instructions.” I spread my wings, wrapped my arms around the Thread-Thief, and carried him through the air to the dock.
Gage was all smiles when he arrived. “And here you thought you could do this without us.”
I gestured to the frozen faerie I’d placed onboard. “I think you’ll find I did. Tell Vale I said, ‘You’re welcome.’”
Vale emerged from the cabin. “Why not tell him yourself?” He looked like he’d recently stepped out of the shower. His black hair was slightly mussed and damp, presumably from the water spray. I was one second shy of picturing him wrapped in a towel, bare chest and all.
I forced myself to focus on the task at hand. “One Thread-Thief platter with a side of enchanted comb, coming right up. You’re welcome, Protector.”
Vale regarded the faerie. “How long until he thaws?”
“That’s up to you. I’m sure you have someone on your roster who can undo the spell. ”
“And he’s responsible for killing both Belinda and Judd?”
“Yes.” I tossed him the enchanted comb. “This is the reason we were attacked in the cemetery. I had it in my purse.”
He examined the comb from all angles. “Not very special to look at.”
“It’s enchanted.”
“To do what?” Gage asked.
“It acts as a key to enter the Sídhe from this world. It’s a hot commodity, apparently. Unwoven. Thread-Thieves. Thornborn. Keep it safe.”
Gage gaped at the comb. “Well, damn. You can tell I’ve spent my whole life in this realm. I didn’t sense a thing.”
“Thank you for this.” Vale stuffed the comb in his pocket. “And here I thought it wasn’t a territory dispute. You were right, Maya.”
I didn’t need to be right; I just needed to be done. Thankfully, it was literally in the Protector’s hands now and out of mine.
“Quick question before you go,” Vale said. “How long have you known about the comb?”
“Since yesterday. Another unwelcome faerie clued me in.”
“And where is that faerie now?”
Uh-oh. Someone was displeased. “He escaped. Tricky little bastard.”
“Why didn’t you call me immediately? We could’ve taken the comb off your hands and avoided another unwelcome visitor.” Vale gestured to the frozen faerie.
“We wouldn’t have avoided this,” I countered. “Word was already out that the key was in my possession. The fae would’ve wreaked havoc in the Neighborhood before they were convinced otherwise.”
“Maybe so, but you would’ve mitigated the risk of the key falling into the wrong hands. That outcome could’ve been far more catastrophic.”
“No woman is an island, Maya, even if she lives on one,” Gage added. “Next time, accept the help that’s offered to you.”
“I’ll take it under advisement.” A heavy weight settled in my chest with the realization that I’d cracked open a door, one that would be difficult to shut again.
Vale nodded to Gage, who dragged the faerie toward the cabin.
“You look exhausted,” Vale said, sounding slightly more sympathetic.
“What every woman longs to hear. Now that this is over, all I want is a decent night’s sleep.”
“Then I wish you pleasant dreams,” Vale said with a slight bow. “Until next time.”
“There won’t be one,” I said, with more assurance than I felt.
By the time we finished our exchange, the wind had picked up again. I’d avoid the skies. My body couldn’t take another beating. I limped home, bleeding and victorious, yet fully aware that I was on the precipice of losing something far more precious than my pride.