10. Infiltrating the Court
Infiltrating the Court
Seth
Typically, modern paranormals try to adapt to the mortal world as unobtrusively as possible.
Living in plain sight, and all that jazz.
The Unseelie Court does a little of both.
They're stubborn about the optics and very much embody the stereotypical depiction of a "dark court" with the heavy fog, thick forests, and general gloomy atmosphere that reeks with the sulfurous stench of dark magic.
Thankfully, it's really hard to just stumble upon the Unseelie lands, as they're protected by magic and entry usually requires finding an access point.
Access points are often very innocuous. A dilapidated bench, a dark passage spelled to repel strangers, the occasional mushroom circle here and there, sure, but largely all things and places that obwoms (ordinary beings without magic) would not pay any attention to, or would flat out avoid.
Each access point is marked with a magical signature, so they aren’t hard to find for the paranormals who know what to look for.
The closest one to Ryn’s apartment, it turns out, is only two blocks away.
I glance wearily at the weathered-looking railroad crossing sign and wonder briefly what happens if the sign breaks while we're in transit, because this thing has seen better days. Passing through barriers like this always feels a bit like falling off a bed while dreaming, but then waking up to find that you didn’t actually go anywhere.
That quick stomach-pitching swoop, and then it’s over.
Would getting stuck in a broken one end up feeling like a perpetual downfall? Fuck.
"You ready?" Her voice is shaky, and I wonder if it's because we're about to return to the place she hates most, or if she's also sketched out about this flimsy fucking sign. She needs you to be confident right now, Seth. Get your shit together!
I plaster a playful grin on my face and say, "I'm always ready when I'm with you, baby." She smirks, and a little light reaches her eyes before she grabs my hand and nods.
Swallowing thickly, I follow Ryn into the access point, clutching her hand tighter.
As soon as we breach the barrier and the freefall sensation washes over us, I pull her into my chest. She shivers and clings to me, and I think for a split second that maybe being stuck in a freefall with Ryn might not be the worst thing in the world.
In the next blink, it's over, and Ryn is smiling up at me gratefully as we re-orient. She pulls out of my arms to look around, and the loss of her steady heat against mine leaves me feeling a little off balance again.
Movement behind her draws my attention, and I tense as courtiers glance over with bored expressions on their painted faces. Holding my breath, I scan the crowd, relaxing infinitesimally when it's clear that no one is lying in wait to attack my woman.
Satisfied for now, I look down at Ryn, who is peering around the shadowed terrace we’re standing in with concentration.
“I think we’re on the pleasure terrace. Saskia’s office and lab will be in the business wing, but we should be able to cut across the outdoor ballroom.” She worries her lip as she glances around the corner, “I doubt any of the courtiers we meet will be very helpful, but maybe…”
I nod absentmindedly, scanning the crowd again. “Come here quickly, please.”
Ryn looks back at me with curious eyes for a moment before coming over to stand in front of me. I focus my magic on my hands and compel my shadows to bind with it as I work the two forces into a ball between my palms. I can feel it as they come together, transforming into something new.
I’ve never attempted anything like this before, and I’m sure that the Reaper’s Guild has some rule about it somewhere that I’m breaking, but tough shit.
I turn my hand over and slowly unfurl my fingers, revealing a necklace.
The chain is made-up of perfectly round, black pearls of solidified shadow.
A red opal-looking gemstone glints with hints of magic against a cloudy darkness, the teardrop-shaped pendant a striking contrast against its pale casing.
Ryn cants her head to the side, “What is that set in?”
“Bone.”
She reaches out and slides a delicate finger over the necklace, and I shiver at the echo of sensation that goes down my back. The shadows I used to create it are still bound to my magic, so it's basically a live connection to me.
“It’s beautiful.” Her grey eyes are trusting but intent as she turns around and lifts her hair, looking back at me over her shoulder, “What does it do?”
A smirk lifts one side of my mouth. Of course, my girl would be too smart to think this was just a pretty bit of magic.
A weird rush of pride swells in my chest at the knowledge that this gorgeous, intelligent woman actually wants me.
“I’ll be with you now. I’ll be able to hear and see what’s happening, and if shit hits the fan, I’ll pop out of that gemstone like a fucking ninja and castrate everyone. ”
Ryn quirks a brow, “You’re going to castrate my sister?”
My lips curl into my mouth, and I bite down as I tilt my head to consider, “No, you’re right. That’s selfish. I’ll let you take care of her.”
She laughs, and my heart does a little flip in my chest. I reach out and quickly do up the necklace, then wrap my arms around her waist and pull her back against my chest in a hug, gently kissing her head while stealing one last pull of her scent into my lungs.
She smiles at me briefly before nodding toward the outdoor ballroom, “I know we’re here to talk to Saskia, but if she won’t talk, we might still find some answers in her office.”
Now it’s my turn to quirk a brow. “Say no more.”
Her eyes soften, and she cups my cheek in her warm hand. “Thank you, Seth, I—”
“No, really. Please, baby.” I reach out a finger and place it against her lush lips. “Plausible deniability.”
Her eyes sparkle with mirth, and I grin back at her. She probably thinks I’m just being playful, which works for me. I am, technically, but I’m also about to break at least five Guild sanctions by the end of this day, and there’s almost no way they won’t find out.
Willing as much confidence into my voice as possible, I whisper, “Go, I’ll be with you if you need me.”
Her fingers brush over the necklace as she smiles and turns to leave. I shiver as a tingle races down my spine, and watch until she disappears around the corner.
My shoulders drop, and I stare down at the ground for a minute.
I've always tried to keep my head down with the Guild, especially since I already stick out like a sore thumb.
Breaking rules like this—they'll definitely have something to say about it.
Will they fire me? What the hell would I even do if I wasn't a soul reaper?
She’s worth it.
I nod, agreeing with the voice of reason inside my head.
Besides, the Guild really will care about this soul stone business.
It makes sense that I’m trying to help her stop it.
I square my shoulders and smile ruefully as I vanish into shadow, flying along the corners of the walls as I make my way to the business wing.
I’m placating myself. They’re gonna be fucking pissed.
Ah, well. At least I'll have yellow-booted lap dances to fall back on. My mood brightens as I imagine the look on Ryn's face if I told her I was using her 'suggestion' as a fallback career. I think I'd make a pretty good stripper, yellow boots and all.
I pause for a moment outside of Saskia’s office.
It’s definitely not empty; I can hear papers rustling and vials clinking from where I’m hiding in the shadows of the barren stone hallway.
Of course it couldn’t just be empty. I concentrate on Ryn’s gem to see how things are going for her.
A slightly distorted image of the sight-line from around Ryn's neck appears in my mind's eye, and I sigh.
Oh. Well, that’s a relief, kind of. She’s watching Saskia and some other courtiers laugh at a very drunk-looking prince Brenyn, which means Saskia is not the one currently inside her lab.
I glance over at the closed office door and purse my lips, trying to imagine what kind of foul Unseelie Court members might be in there.
Focusing back on Ryn through the necklace, I whisper that I've located the lab, hoping that she'll be able to hear me over the noisy courtiers, and then I swoop across the hall and under the door. Thankfully, this place is exactly what you’d expect a malevolent lair to look like, so there’s plenty of shadow to sink into.
Not so great, though, are the two hobgoblins bustling around.
So much for 'in and out with no one the wiser'.
“How many more batches can we get from this?” A thin hobgoblin with a hooked nose and gnarled hands asks in a particularly nasally voice—probably extra nasally thanks to the disproportionate nose taking up most of his squished little face.
“Less than one,” another grumbles. He seems slightly larger, but mostly in the stomach area. He has his little potbelly resting on the table as he shuffles papers around. His thick eyebrows dance like miniature schnauzers above his beady eyes.
“Pfulit. She’s going to skin the hides from our flesh. His royalness said there would be enough for two.” Nose drops a bit of something into one of the flasks bubbling in front of him.
“Royalness,” Eyebrows spits the title, looking up from his papers, his beady eyes flashing with resentment. “And he’s a pillar of honesty, he is? That snaarik is going to get us all kilt.”
Nose grumbles incoherently before turning back, a velvet pouch clutched in his knobby hands. He opens it and pulls out a rough-looking, clear crystal. “He proved true enough, he has.”
Eyebrows harrumphs, his thin lips wrinkling in a severe pout. “I s’pose.”
“Let’s just finish what we can and let the lady decide what to do next. This is enough for now besides.” Nose drops the stone back into the pouch, and I wait until it clears the opening before making my move.