Chapter 20
20
I led the way into my apartment, then stopped just inside the kitchen, my senses tingling. Sebastian stepped up behind me as I looked around for what felt… off .
I took a few more steps, then Sebastian stopped me with a hand on my shoulder.
“Lock the door and wait here.” He strode ahead of me, going for my bedroom.
Ringo hopped up on the kitchen counter as I hurried to lock the door, then I went into the kitchen to wait. Normally I didn’t like being bossed around, but it had been a long few days. If Sebastian wanted to check things out first, I would let him.
A moment later he exited my room, then went for Braxton’s door.
“Wait—” But he was already opening the door.
I hurried forward as he stepped inside. Everything was almost normal, except that the bed was mussed. Braxton always made his bed. It was an annoying habit I had teased him for since childhood.
“Something is wrong,” I said.
Sebastian’s eyes were on the bed. “There were vampires here last night. I can sense them.”
My heart fell to my feet. They had seen Braxton with me before. They knew we were close. I nearly jumped out of my skin at a knock on the front door. I hurried from Braxton’s room to answer it, but Sebastian beat me to it.
He lifted one arm to keep me back as he opened the door, revealing the elf from Crimson Kisses.
She looked pissed, and had a bruise going down one side of her face. “Can I come in?”
Sebastian glanced back at me, and I nodded. We both moved for her to come inside.
She looked a little more normal in an oversized gray sweater and jeans with low-heeled suede boots, her glorious red hair pulled back in a tight braid.
My entire body itched to take another look at Braxton’s room for clues, but the elf was probably a better clue. “Where is my roommate?”
She lowered her pointy chin. “Good, you already figured it out then. That will make this easier.” Her green eyes met mine. “Ivan wants you, Eva. He thinks you’re the key to this stupid game.”
“I thought you were staying out of it,” I accused.
“Trust me, I tried.” She tilted her head to display her fresh bruise. “But they needed a daytime messenger, and I was convenient.”
Sebastian’s expression was the coldest I had ever seen it. “Deliver the rest of your message and get out.”
She turned her attention back to me. “Crimson Kisses, midnight, or your roommate is dead.”
I could sense Sebastian’s magic flaring with his anger. “They do realize they are encroaching on my bargain?”
The elf eyed him warily. “I don’t think they care. Ivan seems to believe that if he can win this game, everything will change.”
“And he would risk making an enemy out of every devil in the city?” Sebastian asked.
The elf shrugged. “I’m just a messenger. I’m not here to judge the sagacity of his plan.” She looked at me again. “Don’t bother trying to find your roommate during the day. You won’t be able to.” She lifted a hand before I could speak. “And I don’t know where they are keeping him. Do you really think they would tell me?”
I shut my mouth. “We’ll be there, but I have a message for you to take back in return.”
She waited for me to continue.
“Anyone that harms a single hair on Braxton‘s head is dead.”
“And will you be the one fulfilling this threat?” She glanced at Sebastian.
I ignored the doubt in her tone. “You bet your ass I will. ”
She smirked. “I would love to see it. I’m Elena, by the way. I hope I see you again, alive .” She turned and walked back out the door.
I looked at Sebastian. His jaw was tense with anger.
“Don’t tell me you’ve actually developed a fondness for my roommate.”
He glared at me. “Ivan knows the rules. He knows the hierarchy. He will pay for this insubordination.”
“And here I’d thought maybe you had actually grown a heart.” I walked past him toward my bedroom.
“What are you doing?” He asked to my back.
I stopped in front of my room. “I’m going to get a change of clothes, then I’m going to make a few calls.”
“You plan to hand yourself over to save your roommate?” he asked.
I lowered my chin, my eyes on my doorknob. “I plan to get him back through any means necessary. Whatever it takes. You can help me, or not. Just don’t get in my way.”
I turned to see him smiling like a cat that had eaten a canary. “And here I had been worried you would run to the Bogs in fear.”
“Not this time. Are you going to help me, or not?”
He stood perfectly still in my little kitchen, entirely out of place. “What will you offer me in return?”
“Vengeance on Ivan for his insubordination?”
His laugh slithered down my skin. “Very well. Prepare yourself and make your calls. I will wait.”
I shut the bedroom door behind me, then slumped against it. Ringo had slipped into my room without me noticing, and now perched on the foot of my bed.
“You shouldn’t go to the vampires, Eva.”
“You know I don’t have a choice. And they don’t want to kill me. They just want me to find my mother and hand her over.”
He huddled down around himself, puffing up his fur. “But you don’t know how to do that.”
I didn’t. And I wasn’t sure I wanted to even if I could. I wanted answers from her, but I was pretty sure I didn’t want whatever the vampires wanted from her.
Or I supposed it was whatever the mysterious offerer of the bounty wanted. That was the real person ruining my life. The person who allegedly had the Realm Breaker, and was offering it in exchange for my mother’s life. I would find them if I could, but first thing was first. I had an annoyingly cheerful werewolf to rescue.
I tightly laced my boots, fighting the slight trembling in my hands. If those vampires harmed Braxton…
I couldn’t even think about it. He had been a part of my life for so long. Once my mom left and took my memories, we had moved into the apartment next to where he and his mom lived. We had become fast friends, and when my dad died, they took me in. Braxton was the closest thing to family I had. And the only person who remembered my dad, at least for those nearly three years. I was glad his mom had moved out to the country. She would kick my ass if she knew I had gotten him into trouble.
I tensed at a knock on my door, but that would be Sebastian, not Braxton. I was just so used to it being Braxton.
Ringo watched silently from the bookshelf as I went to answer it, smoothing the hem of my lightweight gray sweater over my jeans. The sweater covered my wrists and most of my neck. I didn’t want to needlessly tempt anyone at Crimson Kisses. Not this time.
Sebastian stood outside with a bored expression. I was pretty sure devils didn’t know a single thing about sympathy. “I wanted to discuss what might happen tonight.”
I stepped back, inviting him in. Maybe he was an asshole, but he was also the only person going into the vampires’ den with me to rescue Braxton. We needed to be on the same page.
I walked toward my bed and sat.
Sebastian looked down at me. “You do not know how to reach your mother.”
I glared up at him. “Obviously.”
“This will present a problem. Ivan believes you can reach her, and when you fail, he will not let you go easily. ”
“I thought my bargain with you trumped whatever the vampires want.”
“It should, and it may tonight, but Ivan will not relent until Celeste is found. For now, you are his only lead.”
His words hung in the air for a tense moment.
“So you’re saying even if we’re able to rescue Braxton, it won’t be the end of it. None of this will end until someone finds my mother.”
“Or until whoever offered the bounty is dead. And the item claimed by another.”
I studied his impassive face. “You mean you don’t know who it is?”
“I do not, although I suspect a full-blooded celestial. No one else would be willing to let go of such an item.”
I furrowed my brow. “But why do they want my mother?”
He gave me a knowing look, then said softly, “She took your memories, didn’t she.” He didn’t say it like it was a question.
I stiffened. I may have admitted it to Mistral and Ringo, but I sure as hell wasn’t willing to admit it to a devil. I stared back at him.
“It’s important, Eva. If she took your memories, there had to be a reason. Perhaps somewhere deep down, you even know who is after her. That could lead us to whoever supplied the bounty.”
“Us?” I asked
He stepped closer, looming over me. “I want the bounty, Eva. Either you can learn enough about your own power to find your mother, or you can unlock the memories hidden inside of you. Either way, you are the key.”
Uncomfortable with him looming over me, I stood, but with his height it did little to rectify the situation. “I know the bounty is the Realm Breaker. Allegedly . Though I think you’re all fools if you not only believe it exists, but that this person will give it to you.”
He leaned his face near mine, his eyes serious. “You believe I would go to all this trouble if I had not seen the sword myself?”
I jerked back like he’d slapped me. “You’ve seen it? How?”
He took a deep breath, then slowly let it out. I could tell it pained him to actually explain himself. “The bounty was not listed through any of the normal networks. I was approached by . . . someone. They were heavily glamoured, their enchantments strong enough that not even I could see through them. And they had the sword—I could sense its power.”
My heart fluttered in my chest. If the Realm Breaker was real, then Mistral was right. He could go home. He could cut a path directly to the goblin realm.
“But how can you trust that this person will actually give you the sword?” I asked.
He smirked.
“You made them sign a contract,” I realized. “What were the specifics?”
He tilted his head. “The terms were quite simple. Your mother for the sword.”
My cheeks flushed with anger, though I shouldn’t have been angry. My mother didn’t deserve my protection. But there was still something else for me to be pissed about. “You manipulated me into agreeing to find my mother and turn her in.”
He leaned in close again, which was a risk since I was debating punching him. “My contract with the owner of the sword was simple. Celeste for the Realm Breaker. I imagine any other contracts or bargains signed were similar.”
I glared at him. “You’re not helping your case.”
“I want the sword, Eva. That is my price. I don’t care how you get it. You can find your mother and turn her in, or you can find her and use her to learn who offered the bounty. You can take the sword from them instead.”
My jaw fell open. “But how am I supposed to do any of that? I can’t even remember why my mother left me to begin with.”
“Memories cannot be stolen, Eva. They are merely hidden.”
“They’re not hidden,” I snapped. “She stole them.”
He put a finger under my chin, lifting so I would meet his eyes. “I assure you, memories cannot truly be stolen. She manipulated your mind, hiding them away. They are still somewhere within you, and you can get them back, without her. ”
My mouth fell open. “But it’s impossible. I try to think about my past, but there’s simply nothing there. I have one single clear memory of her, and it was after she stole everything else. I was only ten years old. She kissed me on the cheek, and she left. I watched her go, not even realizing who she was at that moment until my father explained it to me later. He didn’t know why she had done it, at least not that he was willing to tell me. And he told me nothing else about her, other than that’s where I got my celestial blood. He wanted to erase her from our lives, and that’s what she wanted too. I’ve had a few flashes of memory here and there, but nothing clear. Nothing that means anything.”
He took it all in, studying my face a little too intensely. “How many years ago was this? How many years since your memory was stolen?”
“Fifteen.”
He lowered his head, thinking.
“You said you knew her before,” I pressed. “You knew what she looked like before she changed. That’s how you recognized me.”
I assumed he wouldn’t answer me, but surprisingly, he once again met my eyes. “It was long before you were conceived, when she first came to this realm. The city wasn’t what it is today. The barriers did not yet exist.”
I remained silent, hoping he would say more. The barriers had existed a long, long time. When he didn’t speak, I asked, “Just how old is my mother? ”
One corner of his lips curled up. “I’m not sure. Maybe as old as me.”
I lowered my chin. “And just how old are you ?”
He simply smiled. “You said you wanted to make some phone calls. What do you plan?”
“Now wait a minute.” I narrowed my eyes and stepped toward him. “You can’t just tell me all this stuff about magical swords and my memories just being hidden, then go and change the subject like that.”
He stayed put even though I was invading his space and still debating punching him. “The Realm Breaker exists, and to fulfill our contract you must acquire it for me. Else you must acquire your mother—I will take either. The easiest path to your mother would be to regain your memories. She hid them for a reason. Beyond that, I believe for now we must focus on rescuing your roommate. Was there something I missed?”
I stared at him, wanting to argue, but he was right. For now, I knew everything I needed to know. “I was going to call Dawn, my old boss, to track down Lucas, the angelic. Maybe my memories are the key to finding my mother, but he’s actually working for her. And that celestial woman—” I shook my head. “I don’t know who she is, but she knew me. I don’t know how to get my memories back, nor how to access enough power to actually realm jump. But my mom has to at least come here to communicate with them. Or else she sends someone else. Either way, they’re our best lead, not me. ”
“Lucas is simply fulfilling a favor owed. He received a missive to test and kill any night runners with enough celestial blood to advance in power. I do not know how your mother learned that you were one of his targets, but it was fortuitous. He would not have stopped trying to kill you otherwise.”
I scrutinized him. “At the poker table. That’s what you were talking about.”
He nodded.
“But what about the woman?”
“I had not seen her before last night, but she is a celestial. I think she may be your mother’s messenger. Your mother would not risk stepping foot in this realm herself, lest she be caught.”
“So we need to find that woman,” I concluded. “And Lucas knows her.”
“Lucas also intends to bring you to the Silver Quarter to keep you safe. If he achieves that, he will not let you leave, and I will not be able to reach you.”
I shivered at the thought. “Okay, so we figure out who that woman is some other way. But that leaves us with no plan for tonight.”
“The plan is to visit Crimson Kisses. Either you convince Ivan you are no use to him, or you must kill him.”
I leaned back abruptly. “What? Me? Why would I kill him?”
“Did you not tell that elf you would do just that?”
My jaw fell open. “Well yeah, but that’s how threats work, you know? I’ve never actually killed someone. And I’m sure you have.”
He sighed. “I had to agree to certain terms to be allowed in the city. I can make any bargains I choose, but the participants must be willing. And I cannot upset any of the larger factions. Ivan is not the Master of the City, but he is one of her lieutenants.”
I pinched my brow. “And what happens if you kill him?”
“I will be forced back to the hells, where I will not be able to aid you.”
I looked at him. “You do realize I’m aware you’re not actually helping me. You’re just using me.”
“If my actions help you, then I’m helping you. Intent is irrelevant.”
I shook my head, but let it go. “Okay, so we go to Crimson Kisses, try to reason with Ivan, and if we can’t, then what? I shove a stake through his heart?”
“You may use whatever means you prefer.”
My cheeks heated. “That’s not the point, dude. I’m not capable of killing a powerful vampire. I’m not capable of killing anyone . What about your threats of sending every devil in the city after him?”
“That would only happen if he truly interfered with our bargain, which would require him to either hold you prisoner, or kill you. I am assuming you would prefer it not come to that.”
I swiped a palm across my face. This was insane. I had a devil somewhat at my disposal, yet I was the one who was supposed to potentially kill an ancient vampire?
He lightly gripped my chin and leaned close as he peered into my eyes. A spark of magic erupted between us, making goosebumps crawl across my skin. His voice lowered, “You will do what is necessary to survive, Eva. Unless you would like to abandon your roommate and hide in the Bogs forever. It seems Mistral has developed a fondness for you.”
My pulse fluttered in my throat at his continued grip on my chin. “How do you know him?” Gabriel had claimed they were old rivals, but that could mean a hundred different things.
Sebastian gave me a wicked smile, then released me. “Mortals are not the only ones who seek out bargains with devils.”
“And did my mom seek out a bargain with you as well?”
“No,” he said simply, then stood. “We have a few hours until nightfall. I will let you rest.”
I watched him walk out of my room, then threw myself back against my bed. Rest was the last thing I wanted. Waiting while Braxton was out there somewhere was torture.
I thought about what Sebastian had claimed, about my memories simply being locked away. If I could access them, I could learn why my mother took them to begin with. Someone had been after her. That’s why she went to Mistral. Even back then, she was on the run.
Was it from the same person who had now placed a bounty on her head? Fifteen years seemed like a long time to keep looking, but if her pursuer was another pure-blooded celestial, I knew they viewed time differently than the rest of us.
I sat up and looked down at my hands. None of it mattered if I couldn’t save Braxton tonight.
But could I really kill a powerful vampire to do it?