Chapter 23 #2
“No.” The answer was short and succinct.
Phlox flew higher, his cheeks flushed crimson and his fingers tipped in deadly claws. “Then why did you say that?”
“Because you were making an assumption based on nothing but your own beliefs.”
“Which were correct!”
The fairy, whose crimson hair, pale skin, and fire-laden eyes told me was Hellfire Rayburn, merely shrugged, refusing to comment.
“Ohh, you—”
It seemed like a good time to clear my throat and announce my presence. “Hey.” I waved at Ray. “Did I know you were coming today?” I scratched the back of my neck and then attempted to run my fingers through my bed-tousled hair. Unfortunately, my fingers got stuck in a couple of hopeless tangles.
Arms crossed, Phlox remained aloft. Chin jutted out, his foot tapped against nothing but air. “I called him. Seemed like a good idea at the time, to give Fairy a heads-up regarding our suspicions.” Phlox huffed. “I didn’t expect Mr. I’ll Portal Myself But Nobody Else to show up himself.”
Ray’s shoulders stiffened. “I have transported others before.”
“Pfft…” Phlox blew a raspberry in Ray’s direction. “Then what was the big deal about transporting Leon and me?”
Ray’s body stilled to the point I couldn’t even see his chest move in our out.
The temperature in the living room rose and sweat beaded on my brow.
The situation was rapidly deteriorating.
Phlox must have finally picked up what Ray was starting to throw down because he tilted his head to the side and gave a dismissive “whatever” before lowering to the ground.
The room only grew hotter. “Um… I don’t suppose you could tone it down before my house bursts into flames.”
I don’t know if it was my words or simply the sound of my voice, but whatever the reason, Ray eased down. “Apologies, Necromancer Boone.”
“It’s fine,” I lied and waved off Ray’s concern. My heart raced. I didn’t particularly like having a fairy in my living room. Pops would have a coronary if he knew about this.
“It is not, but I appreciate your grace in the matter,” Ray surprisingly answered. “I relayed Phlox’s concerns to Queen Silvidia, and she asked me to discuss the situation in person.”
“Oh.” I glanced over at Phlox. Leon was nowhere to be found, and I could only assume he was asleep given that it was morning.
From what I understood, Leon could be roused, but given how protective Phlox was of his mate, I doubted he’d do so.
Leon wouldn’t be happy when he learned about Phlox and Ray’s verbal spar.
“I’m not sure what Phlox told you or what I can add.”
“That is understandable. Perhaps we can discuss the current situation.”
Considering I didn’t have anywhere else to be, I nodded.
“Sure. You want to stay in the living room or go to the kitchen? Have you eaten yet?” Making the decision for us, I headed for the kitchen.
“Phlox might know what’s in the fridge better than me.
” I opened the refrigerator, only half surprised to find it better stocked than usual.
“I am not hungry, but please feel free to eat,” Ray answered as he followed me into the kitchen, Phlox hot on his heels.
“Leon fed last night, so I need to eat,” Phlox answered as he pulled things out of the fridge. Bacon, eggs, and sausage were soon frying on the stove. It was still difficult for me to wrap my mind around the idea of a pixie eating meat. “You want some too?” Phlox asked me.
“I think I’ll just have some cereal later,” I answered. “But thanks for the offer.”
“No worries.” Phlox waved a spatula in the air and turned his back on me and the fairy.
Swallowing hard, I asked, “So, what do you want to know?”
“Let’s start at the beginning,” Ray said as he pulled out a kitchen chair and sat.
I’d met less than a handful of fairies over the years but each and every one carried themselves with the confidence and surety of a creature that knew it was at the top of the food chain. Hellfire Rayburn was no different.
I spent the next hour and a half rehashing last night’s speculation. Regurgitating those thoughts didn’t do a lot for my appetite, making that bowl of cereal less appealing by the second. By the time Ray was finished clarifying my words, my hands were shaking, and I felt a little queasy.
“Here, eat this.” Phlox shoved a piece of toast lightly covered in grape jelly my way along with a glass of O.J.
I wasn’t sure I could stomach the food but did as I was told. While I hadn’t brought any souls back in the last twenty-four hours, I’d pushed my necromancer abilities pretty far the previous day. My blood sugar was still on a roller coaster of highs and lows.
“Thanks,” I offered while taking a tentative bite.
“You need more than that, but it’s a start.” Phlox had taken a seat beside me, his shorter legs kicking the air. His pixie wings were gone as he leaned against the chair’s back. Turning his attention to Ray, Phlox asked, “So, what do you think? Are we catastrophizing?”
Ray was quiet for a few moments before he reluctantly shook his head. “Unfortunately, I do not believe so. Your concerns are more valid than I’d hoped. The simple fact that Tenzen Huxley has found two objects of attachment is cause for concern.”
I chewed on my bottom lip. “I suppose Aurelia could be wrong.” Even I didn’t believe those words.
“Unlikely,” Ray answered, dashing the whisper of hope I’d conjured.
“Agreed,” Phlox quickly added. “If anyone would know, it would be Aurelia.” He cocked his head to the side and amended, “Or you. I’m guessing it’s a distance thing.”
“Kind of. I need a body. If I have that, then it doesn’t matter where the soul is.
Djinn are a little different. If I’m around their object of attachment, I can feel the soul within, so that is a distance issue.
” My face scrunched. “That sounds a lot more complicated coming out of my mouth than it is in my head.”
“I believe I understand well enough,” Ray said.
I was glad because I didn’t think explaining it again would come out any clearer.
Ray started to rise. Before he could get too far, I said, “Wait!” Ray halted mid-rise, a single crimson eyebrow raised.
“Sorry, I just… Do you have a few minutes to spare? Franklin’s working on a case—multiple homicide with questionable decomp of the victims. Last night he said he had some questions regarding fairy affinities, and…
I think it would be best for him to explain.
I can give him a call. If you have time. ”
Ray lowered back into his chair. “I can spare a few moments. This is a human homicide case?”
I nodded while pulling up Franklin’s number and hitting send. “It is.”
Franklin answered after the second ring. “Everything okay?” Franklin worriedly asked.
Not really. “Everything’s fine. I’m sorry I worried you. Remember what we were talking about last night?”
Franklin was quiet for a beat before he answered, “We talked about a lot of things last night. I’m afraid you’re going to have to be a little more specific.”
I wanted to smack my head on the table. My only excuse for being so damn vague was lack of sleep.
“You had some questions for Queen Silvidia, and I suggested discussing it with Hellfire Rayburn first. That’s his official fairy name, but most of us call him Ray.
” I raised a questioning eyebrow Ray’s direction, and my tension eased when he nodded his assent.
Franklin gave a hesitant “yes. I remember.”
“Well, it just so happens that Ray is sitting at our kitchen table.”
“I… What? Why? You said everything was fine.” Anxious concern filtered through the connection.
“It is. I’ll explain why later. Listen, I imagine Ray is a busy fairy.
I don’t want to take up more of his time than necessary.
I’m going to put you on speaker, and you can ask him your questions.
” I didn’t wait for Franklin to answer. I simply pulled the phone from my ear, hit the right button, and said, “You’re on speaker. ”
When I nervously glanced at Phlox, he had a shitty little grin on his face. I wasn’t sure if he was enjoying my discomfort or simply found the whole situation humorous.
A few undecipherable noises came across the line. I thought Franklin might be shifting some papers or maybe just trying to collect his thoughts. Maybe I should have texted him first.
“Um… Mr. Rayburn—”
“You may call me Hellfire or Ray.” Ray calmly sat across from me, hands resting in his lap and expression set in perpetual resting bitch face.
Franklin cleared his throat. “Thank you…” He hesitated and settled on “Ray.”
“How may I help you, Detective?”
The question seemed to pull Franklin out of his stupor. Again, I wasn’t certain if Franklin’s hesitancy was due to exhaustion or the fact he was speaking with a fairy. I was willing to give him a pass either way.
“Long story short, I’m working a case involving multiple homicides.
Skeletal remains are all that were found and our ME tells me that shouldn’t be the case given the more recent deaths of some of the victims. I want to make it clear that I’m not accusing anyone or any particular species. I’m just exploring every possibility.”
“As any good detective would,” Ray graciously replied.
“Thank you, that’s… Anyway, what I would like to know, if you’re willing to answer, is if there are any fairies whose natural affinity might allow them to remove the flesh from a body without leaving any trace behind.”
As a necromancer, I dealt in death. Some would say I waded neck deep through death on a daily basis. However, my dealings with death were far different than Franklin’s. I didn’t envy him his job and cringed at the reasoning behind his question. Ray’s answer only added to that unease.
“There are several,” he calmly answered.
“Several?” Franklin, Phlox, and I asked in unison.
Ray seemed emotionally unaffected by our surprise and disgust. “There are several ways in which it could be accomplished. I can think of at least five off the top of my head and several fairies who could exact such punishment. However, should something like that occur, the deed would not be hidden from humanity.”
Franklin was quiet. I had no such malfunction. “It wouldn’t?”
“No,” Ray answered without any further explanation.
Phlox was the one who enlightened Franklin and me.
“The gruesome death would be the point. Fairy wouldn’t hide it because if it were authorized, then there was a specific point to be made.
” Phlox crossed his arms over his chest, chin tilted down.
“You’ve gotta admit, that kind of thing would get everyone’s attention and bolster fearful respect. ”
“Oh.” I had absolutely nothing more to say.
“Phlox is correct. I can speak with Queen Silvidia and ask if any such show of force was recently authorized, though I find that doubtful.”
“I would appreciate any assistance and information you can provide,” Franklin diplomatically answered.
“You will be notified soon. Are there any other inquiries?” Ray asked.
“No. That’s more than enough,” Franklin answered.
“Then I must be on my way.” Ray stood and opened a dimensional rift. The tear no more than formed when Ray walked through, and it closed behind him.
“Asshole,” Phlox mumbled. “See how easy that was.” He looked at me, eyes narrowed and Pallas’s cat amber peeking through. “I’m still going to have a talk with Wendall. He’ll get Ray to agree.” Phlox’s lips twisted into a parody of a grin.
“Do I want to know?” Franklin asked, still on speaker phone.
“You really don’t,” I answered. “You really, really don’t.”