Chapter 39 #2
There’s a lot from my talk with the high priestess to unpack with Memnon, but when Nero and I return to the house, my soul mate’s car is gone. On the front stoop, a pink package waits for me along with a note taped to the door.
Hunting down a few of Eislyn’s bonds. Forgive me for my absence. I bought pastries to appease you, my beautiful, vengeful queen. Enjoy your dessert, I’m going to have mine the moment I get between those pretty thighs tonight.
XXX,
Memnon
I feel myself flush at the note. But I gamely take the box of pastries into the kitchen and pull out what looks like a chocolate croissant. My heart flutters at the gift. This was really, really thoughtful of him.
I lean against the counter and take a bite, expecting buttery bliss. Unfortunately, I’m too distracted by the high priestess’s words to taste much of anything over my own churning thoughts.
Goddess, but right about now I could really use my bond with Memnon. I need to talk to him about everything the high priestess revealed.
I’ll just have to get ahold of him the old-fashioned way.
I pull out my phone to call him and inform him about what I learned today. Rather than tapping on his number, however, my fingers scroll down to a different contact on my phone.
The Bargainer left me and Memnon his number, and I stare at it now. I’ve looked at it a few times since I received it, but I’ve never quite had the nerve to call or text him. Taking another tasteless bite of my croissant, I decide to do so now.
Selene Bowers
Hey, so I have news on the Eislyn situation.
I wait for a minute. When the Bargainer doesn’t respond, I set down my pastry and message him again.
Selene Bowers
So, apparently the Flora Kingdom keeps the judgements of every person who’s committed a crime, including Eislyn, stored on spelled scrolls. It’s these scrolls that enforce the judgments. So because Eislyn has been banished, her judgment is keeping her from returning to the Otherworld.
I feel foolish writing all of this out to a fae king. The Bargainer must certainly know all this already.
Finally, finally, he replies.
Bargainer
And?
That’s it? And?
I tap out a response.
Selene Bowers
And if we hide Eislyn’s scroll, she won’t be able to find it and presumably destroy it.
The Bargainer responds much quicker this time.
Bargainer
You’re not saying the shitty part out loud.
The shitty part?
Bargainer
You want “someone” to steal the scroll for you.
Me.
I’m the someone.
I stare at my phone screen for a long moment because, yeah, that was what I was getting at.
Bargainer
I’m also a fae king and the ruler of a rival kingdom. So the optics of this request look like cow dung to me.
Selene Bowers
We’ll pay you.
My heart is beating fast. If the Bargainer could get ahold of the scroll, then he could actually keep Eislyn at bay—but he has to agree to it first. And right now it doesn’t seem like he will.
Bargainer
If you can get me the blood of the first witch, then I’ll steal your scroll.
The blood of the first witch? What the actual fuck?
Selene Bowers
You made that up, didn’t you?
Bargainer
Is that a question? Because that, too, will cost you.
Ugh.
Selene Bowers
Fine, don’t steal the scroll. Let’s just wait until shit hits the fan.
I have to wait a whole minute before the fairy’s reply comes in.
Bargainer
How about this:
I will look into sending someone to steal this scroll with Eislyn’s judgment on it, but you will have to be patient with me. This will take time.
Selene Bowers
How long?
Bargainer
Another question. Putting that on the tab. And I don’t know. Maybe a week. Maybe a few weeks.
I chew my lip. A few weeks feels too long, but it’s clearly the best option at this point.
Selene Bowers
Okay.
Bargainer
Then it’s a deal.
I can barely catch my breath. He’s going to try to get the scroll. Never mind that I might actually have to hunt down the blood of the first witch or whatever new horror he demands as payment. A solution is now in motion.
Another message comes in.
Bargainer
I’ll text you when I have an update.
Selene Bowers
Wait, one more thing.
Desperation claws at me. I was never able to go to Beldame Library yesterday evening after the attack in my dining hall, so I was never able to research what fae drink Eislyn gave me. But the Bargainer is a fairy. He might know.
Bargainer
No.
Shit. I type out my question anyway.
Selene Bowers
Have you ever heard of a purple fae drink that changes a person’s magic?
I wait. And wait. When still no response comes, I text again.
Selene Bowers
Please. It’s important.
Bargainer
Why are you asking?
Selene Bowers
Because I drank something like that and my magic hasn’t been the same since.
Bargainer
Of course you did.
Selene Bowers
Do you know what I’m talking about?
Bargainer
There’s a broom whose rider can use it to travel back in time. Get it for me, and I’ll answer your question.
You’ve got to be kidding me.
Selene Bowers
Seriously, are you just making this stuff up to avoid answering me?
No response.
Selene Bowers
I can’t get you that broom, but I can make you a potion to not be a dick. Would that work?
Bargainer
How about I charge you double? Would that work, sugar?
Shit.
Selene Bowers
Never mind. I hope you have the day you deserve.
When several minutes tick by and no response comes, I make an annoyed noise. I’m somehow both closer to a solution with Eislyn and yet more frustrated than ever.
Swiping away from the Bargainer’s texts, I call Memnon and fill him in about today’s events. It’s only long after that conversation ends that I remember the grimoire the high priestess gave me.
I go retrieve it from my purse and take it to my library. Once I’m at my desk in the quiet, secluded space, do I pull the small grimoire from its pouch.
I set it on my desk, grimacing at the sheer force of the power wafting off of it. Individual grimoires aren’t usually this potent.
The sensation only grows worse once I open the spellbook up, the magic from the pages themselves making my head pound. I can’t imagine what sort of spells lie within it to give off this much power.
Carefully, I leaf through the pages, my eyes lingering on the handwritten instructions and the meticulously painted diagrams. I still don’t know precisely what I’m looking for, not until I find it.
I suck in a breath as I read over the spell, my heart beginning to race.
This is it. The incantation the high priestess wanted me to find. It’s witchery that shouldn’t exist, though Goddess am I thankful it does.
Once I get to the end of the page, I read the incantation all over again—and again and again. I don’t stop until I commit it fully to memory.
Some day soon, I’ll need to use it.