Chapter 5
I’ve always been afraid of the monster inside me. Afraid that deep down, I was some predator who would suck the life out of those I loved. But this is so much worse than I could have ever imagined.
I sit on the pavement. Collin is in my arms, and I’m curled around him, my chin on his shoulder, my legs tucked in under his.
Smoke still drifts away from my body, but the only thing I’m burning with now is shame.
It begins to rain, soft and misty for a few seconds, and then harder.
Much harder. Except none of the big, fat drops fall on me.
Because this is the elf’s magic—as he walks up to me with Rafa, his fingers twirl in the air, his entire body seeming much recovered.
He’s putting out the string of house fires while keeping us dry.
“You couldn’t have done this five minutes ago?” Rafa growls, leaning in to the fae warrior. He mutters his words under his breath, but he’s now within earshot—of my paranormal senses, at least. He’s wearing his duster and is holding his long gun, looks like both made it out with him.
The elf curves his lip. “Five minutes ago, this street wasn’t flooded with ambient magic.
But now there’s more than enough for me to be generous.
” He stops a few feet away and airily motions down in my direction.
“And how can I not help? I mean, look at his sad little face. And after he saved us and everything!”
I can’t deal with his bullshit, so I turn back to Collin, who does seem to be healing while he rests in my arms.
“How many people did I just hurt? How many… did I kill?”
“Evil vampires? Loads,” he says, his voice sounding pretty much back to normal. The swelling has at least reduced enough for a genuine smile. “But as far as I can tell, no humans. They all had time to get out.”
Right. So I only caused massive property damage in one of the poorest neighborhoods in the city. What are the odds that anyone living here has actual insurance? I still ended their lives, just slower.
Well done. Truly outstanding work—for a monster.
Rafa touches the base of my chin and turns me toward him. He’s kneeling next to me. I realize tears are streaming down my cheeks.
“Hey, hey, hey,” he says, softly. “You okay, Alvin?”
No. No, I most certainly am not. But he shouldn’t have to take care of me. After what he saw I’m capable of, that’s not fair. Still, I shake my head.
“Right…” He clearly doesn’t know what else to say, so he turns from me to Collin. Or, more likely, the empty space he sees I’m cradling. “So, uh, this Avatar… That’s what it can do?”
He scans the destruction around us, a crease forming between his eyebrows, but he’s giving me an out. I could put this all on Collin. That would be the smart play for a paranormal like me. But I’m done lying to Rafa.
The muscles of my face weigh down with guilt. “No. Apparently, it’s what I can do. With my magic. If I get angry enough.”
The elf throws up his hands. He’s still standing a few feet back. “Midnight’s teeth, you truly are a dramatic, little fellow!” He shakes his head. “You’ve just done the most incredible thing, and all you can think of is to be miserable!”
I look over at the dozens of huddled silhouettes on the sidewalk, hugging themselves, trying to stay warm on a chilly San Francisco night under a drenching rain.
They are staring back at their smoking homes in shock.
Some families lean against each other and weep.
Only a few have realized they can avoid the downpour by standing on the other side of the street, where not a single drop falls.
And none are paying any attention to the three of us, who are just hanging out in the middle of the road.
Clearly, we’ve been hidden by more fae magic.
“I know you won’t understand this,” I say. “But I just ruined their lives.”
The elf cocks an eyebrow. “Ah. I see. So, if I promised to provide them all with enough money to rebuild and live comfortably for, let’s say, the next year—would that persuade you to stop sobbing?”
“Don’t answer him!” Rafa snaps, glaring daggers at the elf. He’s immediately back on his feet and in the armored man’s face. “You’re not going to entrap him again that easily, elf!”
The fae prince sighs but seems amused. “Settle down, Sir Galahad. There are no fair maidens to rescue here. This one would be free of charge. No Obligation.”
“Why would you do that?” I ask.
He studies his fingernails. “Consider it a gesture of friendship. I made a bad first impression, and I will admit that my behavior toward you over the last twenty-four hours has been perhaps… less than kind. Now that I’ve gotten to know you a little better, I’d like to start over.”
Rafa scoffs. “You mean, now that you’ve realized how powerful he really is, you want to get on his good side.”
“Your cynicism wounds me, Hunter. But my offers are genuine. Both to help the humans affected here… and for my friendship.” The fae prince looks down at me, with meaning. “I am Eirian, a Prince of Winter, and I assure you, I can be a very good friend to those I consider my allies.”
“Your ally? Unbelievable!” Rafa shakes his head. “Alvin, if I were you, I’d just tell ‘His Highness’ here to—”
“Yes!” I say to the elf, quickly. I then try to speak in the formal language Rafa used before, after the car crash. Hopefully its precision will keep me out of trouble. “I would consider it kind, and an act of friendship, if you helped these people and made them whole. I thank you… Prince Eirian.”
“Very well. You have my word. It shall be done.” He inclines his head, regally. Not even the hint of a sneer. “Now, do you think we might encourage you to step out of the middle of the road? My glamours have held off the firetrucks so far, but it is becoming tiresome to keep diverting them.”
I perk up my ears and take in multiple sirens in the distance, which means that not only has the elf hidden the three of us and caused a serious hyper-local downpour, but he’s also extended his magic some blocks away.
That would take a ton of power—and all of it supposedly based on the “ambient magic” I somehow pumped into the air.
What exactly did I do?
Well, one thing I did for sure is heal whatever burns I got from running into the fire.
I look down at myself, and while my clothes are basically just charred scraps at this point, my skin is unblemished.
The gross vomit and the cuts on my hands are gone now, too.
Even the achiness from the Obligation seems to have burned away. Mostly I just feel bone-deep exhausted.
And Collin is looking completely back to himself as well. He’s snuggling into the crook of my elbow, the damage to his face gone.
He notices my attention, squeezes his eyes shut, stretches his arms, and squirms slightly, like an adorable puppy. “Shite. I’m really liking being in your arms, Alvin.” He opens his eyes again with a sigh. “But the elf is right. We should go. There’s always the chance the vampires could return.”
I nod and stand, and he slides out of my lap.
I hold up what’s left of my pants against my hip so my dingus isn’t just hanging out there and make my way to the curb.
The back pocket is still intact, so Collin smoothly shifts up next to me.
His expression is warm and, despite everything, a smile of my own flickers in response.
Somehow just having him close makes me feel like things could still turn out all right.
“Much better!” the elf says, grinning at me like we actually are friends.
“Well, I do say, this has been a truly memorable evening, but now that I have the power to return home, I believe I must.” He twirls his fingers again and a long pale-blue feather appears.
He tilts it toward me, his head inclined at a polite angle.
“But throw this in the air at a crossroads, and I will come. Day or night.”
“Cool.” Rafa steps between us. “And what would happen if he throws it in the trash instead?” He narrows his eyes, clearly open to a fight.
It’s a fight I don’t have the energy for right now. I reach around the Hunter with my free hand and take the feather.
“Okay,” I say. “I can’t promise I’ll ever use it, but thanks.”
The elf’s eyes mirror Rafa’s, hostile slits filled with threat, but when they shift back to me, they relax again.
His tone becomes as serene as a snowy night.
“At least you will have the option.” He then continues with slick nobility.
“And over the next few days, I’ll make arrangements to provide funds for the residents affected here.
In the meantime, I’ve extended enough glamour around you that you’ll be able to travel within the city without anyone noticing anything amiss with your wardrobe.
That said, I would still suggest changing before midnight.
” His smirk finally re-emerges as he directs a pointed glance at Rafa.
“You never know what unsavory characters you might meet on these mean city streets.”
He gives me a rakish wink, pleased with himself, and then is gone. A slight breeze fills the now empty space.
Which leaves me and the Hunter standing alone. But the awkwardness is almost immediately broken by firetrucks with flashing red lights pulling into the block. Rafa places his hand on my shoulder and guides me firmly onto the sidewalk. It’s a familiar enough gesture that it’s actually comforting.
“You’re not, um… scared of me now?” I ask, once we’re away from everyone. I’m still holding up my pants with one hand. (I did manage to shove the feather into the other remaining pocket, though—next to my key chain which, along with my phone, miraculously seems to have survived.)
Rafa rests his shotgun against the side of a telephone pole and shakes his head with an amiable smile. “I told you, I know what you are. What I didn’t fully understand was how much power you had. And it sounds like you didn’t know that, either…”