Chapter Eleven
CHARLIE
We gave ourselves only a few minutes to change into street clothes.
Stripping off my costume was like peeling off a second skin, because being on stage with Ava-Marie felt like where I was meant to be.
Ava and I hadn’t rehearsed a step, and we’d still performed in synchrony.
There was no denying, bond or not, that there was still a connection between us.
Marcus had given us a chance to step into character and test how well our bodies responded to one another’s, and every movement felt natural and honest.
But we were mere characters on that stage, and without this costume on, I had to return to the man I truly was— a broken, shattered version of myself who’d never get near enough to Ava to touch her again. It tore me to pieces to even hope we might be able to pretend again.
I was forced to place these painful thoughts deep in the back of my mind, because we had work to do. We hurried out the back doors of the palace theater, Oberi, Rishi, and Alette following at our sides.
The ploy was working. The palace halls were completely silent, since nearly the entirety of the palace residents were at the theater. My friends and I snuck as close as we could to the royal vault without being spotted and kept hidden behind a corner.
Ava peered around the corner and whispered lowly, “There’s only one guard at the vault. Oberi, you’re up.”
Oberi trotted around the corner, while he panted happily. The guard noticed him right away and cooed in a high-pitched voice, “Hey there, little fella. What are you doing all the way down here?”
Oberi gave a jolly bark.
“Oh, you want a pet, little guy?” the guard said. “Who’s a good boy— ow! You little shit, you drew blood!”
Oberi scampered away while the guard was still cursing. What a baby. It was just a little bite.
“Quickly!” Danny hissed.
Oberi practically jumped into the vampire’s arms. Danny used the blood Oberi had gotten on his teeth to cast his spell. The guard’s curses died instantly, and Danny sighed in relief as the compulsion overtook the soldier. “Just in time. Come on, it’s safe now.”
Danny ushered us forward, and the five of us waltzed straight past the guard and up to the vault door.
Marcus paused behind me, waving his hand through the air in front of the guy’s face. “Whoa, he’s basically a statue. It’s like he can’t even see us.”
Danny yanked Marcus away. “I can scramble his brains, but he’ll remember your face if you stand around gawking at him all day. I’ve compelled him to remain still, but I can’t hold the spell all day. Let’s get this over with.”
Ava punched in the code Cassiel had given her. A beep sounded, and the vault door swung open.
“Hurry,” Ava hissed, ushering us inside.
My magic could tell this vault was vast— it went on for a half mile underneath the palace, or more. How were we going to find the keys in this mess—
They’re here! Oberi barked. I followed beside him and reached out to feel the six Divinity Keys lying on a velvet pillow before me.
They pulsed with power, as if they knew their time to be utilized was nearly here.
I snatched up all six keys and tucked them safely in my pocket, then whirled toward the door.
“I’ve got them. Let’s get to the beach,” I ordered.
“Huh, I never noticed this before…” Marcus mused. He was dawdling, admiring all the precious gems inside the vault. “There’s a box here labeled The Prince’s Satchel. You don’t think—”
“Oh, gods!” Danny struggled to breathe through his laughter. “The rumors are right! Cassiel really did take Cameron’s balls!”
I smirked. There wasn’t time for this, but I permitted myself a small, selfish snicker. Served my dad right. It was no wonder he’d been trying to mold me into the Emperor he wanted me to be. He’d said he didn’t want to have any more heirs, but the truth was he couldn’t.
“We need to get out of here,” Kallie urged. We left the royal vault— and my dad’s puny balls— behind.
The guard outside moaned, like he was trying to say something, but couldn’t. Danny’s spell was wearing off, and if we stuck around any longer, we’d be caught. I quickly shut the door to the vault. We rushed off before the guard ever knew we were there.
We turned a few halls, but slowed when we heard several pairs footsteps near the doors to the gardens. They fell in rhythmic staccatos, like two people were marching side-by-side. It was a pair of Cameron’s guards.
“How are we getting past them?” Kallie whispered as we crouched behind a pillar. “We’re supposed to be backstage right now. If we’re spotted, they’ll know something’s up, and they’ll alert Cameron.”
“Danny will have to compel them again,” Marcus suggested.
“Oberi won’t get blood from them both before he’s caught,” Danny said.
I was nearly certain he was blowing smoke out his ass. I didn’t think he had it in him to compel two people at once, he just didn’t want to admit it.
“I’ve got a better idea,” Danny offered. “You’ll have to hop on my back. My vampire speed is the only thing that’ll slip us by unnoticed when the guards’ backs are turned. I’ll run ye down to the beach.”
“Huh? How are you going to carry us all?” Marcus asked dumbly.
“Not all at once, dipshit. One at a time.” Danny’s tone was scornful. “These are the demigod geniuses the Warden was convinced he had to lock up for the safety of the supernatural community.”
“Fuck no. I’m not doing that.” I was immediately not up for this. The only way Danny could give me a piggyback ride was if he was carrying around my corpse and I had no say in the matter.
“Oh, I’m sorry, pretty boy, are we trying to save the world, or is your frail, toxic masculinity going to allow The Mission to blow up the supernatural race before you’ll permit another man to carry you like a lovely little bride?
” Danny said scathingly. “It’s not like I want to feel your balls on my back, either. ”
I’d almost rather let the Warden win the war then let Danny carry me. Almost.
Danny gulped something down. “That’s the last of the potion that protects me from the sun. I don’t have another batch on me, so we’d better move quickly. We don’t have all day.”
It was evening here in Ilamanthe, but the sun would be shining where we were headed, because Kinpago was on the other side of the world.
“Are you sure this is going to work?” Kallie asked.
“I’m fast enough. They’ll never see me coming nor going.” Danny crouched down. “Hop on.”
Kallie was first, thank the gods. She ordered Alette to get in her pocket. Danny lifted her onto his back, and Marcus gave a few discontented grumbles under his breath.
“Oh, Marcus, quit being jealous,” Kallie said, and a burst of wind blew my hair back as Danny took off.
I wasn’t expecting him to return, because I was convinced he’d get his ass caught, but he was back in a little over ten seconds without Kallie.
“Nobody saw. Let’s get the rest of you down there. Ladies first.” Danny crouched to lift Ava out of her chair, and I swear to the ancestors, I nearly lost it.
I knew I had no claim to Ava anymore, but the thought of this guy laying his hands on her made me irate. Ava didn’t object, just looped her arms around his neck like he was carrying her down the aisle.
“Don’t drop me, Casanova,” Ava quipped. “I’m sure I’m not the first woman you’ve carried off.”
“That just means I have experience,” Danny said, and Ava laughed as he bounced her up and down in his arms.
Ava thought I didn’t notice these two getting all cozy.
She thought she could hide it just because I couldn’t see, but I heard the brush of fabric and the sound of their breaths growing closer.
She thought I didn’t know how she ran her fingers through his hair backstage, but I could perceive far more than she realized.
I had no right to be so upset. I knew Danny wouldn’t hurt her, but the fact that he was in such close proximity to her turned my stomach.
He was receiving the affection that was once reserved solely for me, and it was hard to imagine someone taking my place and caring for her the way I used to.
I wanted so badly to touch Ava again, but outside our one-time performance, she wouldn’t let me.
It wasn’t that I didn’t want her to be happy without me. The fact was, it tore me apart to think I’d been easily replaced by the next demigod who’d waltzed into the room… like the caresses we’d once reserved for each other never mattered.
“I’ve got your chair,” Marcus said as it disappeared into his stash. “I’ll meet you down there with it.”
Danny took off so fast I staggered back, but he was back a few moments later without Ava. “You’re next, warlock.”
Danny crouched down again. Marcus fumbled to get on his back.
“Marcus, I swear to—” Danny’s words were full of frustration. “You’re so clumsy. I’m going to drop ye if ye don’t hold on!”
“Where do I put my legs?” Marcus yelped.
“Around my waist, ye ass!”
Were these two having sex or getting this done? I couldn’t tell. Wind ruffled my clothes again, and I impatiently paced as I waited for Danny to show back up. He was taking longer than he had with the girls.
He returned after a moment and said, “I had to wait for a patrol to go by. He might’ve tumbled off at the end, there.”
“As long as he made it.”
Danny stooped down and picked up Oberi, while Rishi jumped into his hoodie pocket. “Right, now for all the pets.”
Wee! I get to run with a vampire! Oberi’s cheers of glee echoed in my head as Danny carried him off. He was the quickest this time, racing from the palace to the beach and back in a moment.
“Your dog’s heavier than I expected, you know that?”
“Maybe you’re just slow.” This was already taking longer than I wanted it to.
Danny gave a great sigh. “All right, ye big lug, hop on.”
I wrinkled my nose. I really didn’t want to.
“Well, come on! We don’t have all day.” Danny grabbed my wrist and yanked me toward him. “Hellfire, you’re so difficult. I don’t know how Ava puts up with ye arse.”