We let the peace ride for a while as we head toward downtown. It makes sense. I can see Terrance living in one of the nicer apartment towers. But when we hit the heart of the city, we keep driving, zooming past the Cobo Center and Joe Louis Arena into the westside industrial area. I might fear for my life if it were anyone but Terrance behind the wheel. But I know he’ll keep me safe, so I don’t say anything when the city center high-rises give way to dilapidated warehouses.
We’re not too far from the water’s edge, driving on a street parallel to the river, and after a few minutes, the Ambassador Bridge looms in the air above me. The Ambassador Bridge is the only bridge in the city that crosses the Detroit River connecting it with its neighbor Windsor, Canada. I’m not worried that I don’t have a passport, because Terrance isn’t getting on the bridge; he’s taking us under it. “Under the bridge?” I blurt when I get it. I can’t help my disbelief. “You actually live under a bridge?”
Terrance slides me a glance. “You’ve never heard of a troll living under a bridge?”
“Of course; in scary stories or children’s fables. But I didn’t think you guys actually lived under bridges.”
He shrugs. “Stories have to come from somewhere.”
We reach a large cement bridge support closed off by a high chain-link fence. When Terrance stops in front of the closed gate, I assume he’s going to get out and unlock it. He looks up at the bridge and smiles. “Beautiful, isn’t it?”
It’s no Golden Gate, but I have to admit it’s pretty cool.
Terrance suddenly hits the gas and, without warning, drives right through the fence. I start to gasp, but I feel the tingle of magic right before we hit, and realize it’s merely a glamour to keep people away.
Terrance pulls to a stop in front of the bridge support and watches me as I force myself to relax. “You took that pretty well. You’re one brave little human.”
“It helps that I understand glamours and can feel the magic. A warning would have been nice, though.”
“You can feel the magic?”
“Sort of. A little. It’s hard to explain. Why, can’t you?”
“Yes, but I’m a magical being. All magical beings can feel magic’s presence.”
I shrug. “Well, maybe your theory of my having underworld blood in me is right. Who knows?”
“It’s definitely curious. Come on, I’ll show you around.”
After exiting the car, Terrance snatches my bag from the backseat before I can and heads for the cement structure in front of us. There’s a dimly lit steel door in the base of the bridge support with a large sign warning people to keep out and that trespassers will be prosecuted. I snort. “Nice welcome mat.”
Terrance grins at the sign. “I think so. No one’s welcome here, Trouble. ’Cept you, now.”
This startles me. “No one?”
He stops unlocking the door and glances at me with unease. “I guess, uh, if you have friends or, um, lovers, as long as they already know of the underworld, they are welcome here, too.”
He rubs the back of his neck and starts fiddling with the door lock again. His shyness is cute. Adorable, even. For such a big, formidable-looking man, I’m amazed he can accomplish such a feat. Suppressing a grin, I ask, “What about your friends and lovers?”
His discomfort finally passes, and he manages a surly grunt as he leads me inside and down a steep set of stairs. The door behind us closes, plunging us into the dark. Terrance doesn’t seem to have a problem with this. Thank heavens there’s a railing. It’s the only reason I don’t tumble down the stairs.
“Trolls don’t mingle much outside their clans,” Terrance answers as I follow him into what feels like an endless abyss. “My clan is up North.”
“Are you saying you don’t have any friends? No lovers?”
I frown when I get no vocal response from Terrance. He probably shrugged again. Not that I can tell in the dark. I’ll have to point out my human lack of night vision and invest in a good flashlight.
“None?” I press. Not that it’s such an impossible thought—I don’t have any friends or lovers, either—but Terrance doesn’t strike me as the loner type. Plus, he’s been so good to me. I don’t like the idea of him being lonely. “I find that hard to believe, T-Man. Your employees seem to like you, and you’ve been nothing but friendly with me from the moment we met.”
It takes him a minute to answer, and when he does, he grumbles as if he doesn’t like the focus of this conversation. “My temper is mild for a troll, and I’m used to being in the city around others. I also pay well and provide a good benefits package.”
He obviously wants to drop the subject, but I can’t let it go. “I suppose that explains the employees, but not why you’ve decided to take me in.”
He grunts his dissatisfaction, but answers me anyway. “You’re different.”
It’s all the answer I’m going to get, but that’s okay because I’d rather avoid that subject. I am different. Not that I know why. My inexplicable allure has always bothered me. It’s much worse with some than others. Terrance falls on the not-as-affected side. Perhaps because he’s telling the truth, and trolls generally don’t like anyone outside of their clans.
We reach the bottom of the staircase and, thankfully, Terrance flips a light switch. He turns his head away, to hide his pink cheeks, and waves his hand around the main living area. The space is shockingly large. It has a ten-foot high ceiling at least, and the doors and hallways that break off from it are all at least double, maybe triple the width of a normal human house. I’m grateful to see painted drywall and not the carved-out dirt cavern I expected. It looks like a normal house minus any windows. A really nice house.
It’s tastefully decorated despite its clear bachelor pad/man cave feel. There’s a large television mounted on the wall that has to be seventy-two inches at least, several huge leather sectional sofas, and a couple of recliners. In the far corner there is a pool table near a large built-in wet bar that looks like a smaller scale of the bar in his club.
“There’s a bathroom over there, but each bedroom has a private bathroom as well.” Terrance points to a door on the other side of the room, then heads into a large arched entryway that brings us into a massive kitchen and dining area. The kitchen could cater to a large restaurant and the dining table could seat at least twenty. “I keep the fridge well stocked. You’re welcome to anything you can find, and if you have any special requests, just let me know.”
I’m still gawking at the kitchen when he leads me through another archway into a long hallway with a number of doors. He walks to the second door on the left and leads me into a modest bedroom. It’s nothing like the suite Henry kept me in, but it’s the largest room that I’ve ever stayed in by at least double. There’s a king-size bed, a large dresser, a walk-in closet, and a private bathroom. The room is decorated in warm browns and greens—earthy colors.
Terrance drops my bag on the large bed and can’t quite meet my eyes as he says, “My room is next door. I figured you’d want to be close. But if you don’t like this one, there are several other rooms to choose from.”
I’m surprised by the hint of vulnerability he’s showing. I’m not sure what has him so nervous. “Are you kidding?” I say, wanting to put him at ease. “It’s fantastic. This is by far the nicest room I’ve ever been offered. I can’t thank you enough.”
He relaxes at my enthusiasm and finally looks me in the eyes. He doesn’t smile exactly, but there’s pride and satisfaction in his expression. He covers it with clearing his throat and a gruff, “I will install a light at the top of the stairs tomorrow.”
The statement startles me. “Can you read minds?”
“No. But I know humans don’t have a troll’s night vision.”
“So you do have night vision?”