THIRTY-THREE
MALACHI DIDN’T ARGUE WITH me. He called Jim and Henry, told them we were on our way, quietly asked Raphael to procure us a car and some clothes for me, and then shut his bedroom door. “You are the Captain. But I need a few more details apart from ‘I’m giving myself up.’”
He crossed to his closet and pulled out a long-sleeved shirt and pants, which he tossed onto his bed, along with a pair of combat boots. He kicked off his patent leather shoes and yanked at the tie around his neck. And then he unbuttoned his shirt and stripped it off.
I turned my back and inhaled a shaky breath. “I’m going to let them know I’m offering myself to them, as long as they don’t hurt Tegan or possess her. And then I’m going to go in alone and unarmed to keep Sil distracted. You, Jim, and Henry will get in some other way, and it’ll be your job to get Tegan out so that I can escape without worrying about her.”
“Jim and Henry better have some intelligence for us when we get there, then,” he said. “And you can turn around.”
I did, to see him lacing his boots. He was wearing bracers over his shirtsleeves, the leather cuffs that protected his forearms from Mazikin claws and teeth. He’d also strapped on his vest. When he saw me eyeing him, he said, “I won’t be trying to blend in, and I figured I could use the extra protection.”
True enough. I looked down at myself, at my shredded dress, at the dried blood on my skin, wishing I had some armor of my own. I couldn’t wear any because Sil had to believe I hadn’t gone there to fight. If I could play my part, it would give the other Guards a chance. Still, I wanted to cover myself in thick plates of molded leather, anything to keep those fingernails, those teeth, those hands away from me. Then Malachi stood up, and the look in his eye gave me everything I needed. Without thinking much about it, I walked into his arms. He wrapped them around me, placing his hand on the back of my head and holding me against his armor-plated chest. I put my arms around his waist and held on.
“I won’t fail you,” he said.
“I know. I’m only worried about failing you.”
“You won’t … Captain.”
I smiled. For the first time in a long time, it didn’t feel like he was using the word to put distance between us. I tightened my grip on him and closed my eyes. “When we’re done kicking their asses, you and I are going to talk, all right?”
Even through his leather armor, I felt his heart speed. “Because I was out of line.”
Of course he would think that. I slid my hand over his chest and around the back of his neck. “Did you hear what Ian said to you, how you were a—”
“Clueless idiot. Yes, I caught that, thank you.” But there was hope in his voice.
“Here’s a clue.” I got up on my tiptoes and pulled his face to mine. Our lips met for the briefest moment, unbearably sweet and tender, full of promise. I sank back onto my heels. “Tonight, okay?”
He stared down at me, looking like I’d just hit him over the head, but then the most gorgeous, wolfish smile spread across his face. “Tonight.”
I nodded, and then went to open the door for Raphael before he could knock. I took the jeans, T-shirt, and boots from his hands. “Thanks for healing me. You did an awesome job.”
He gave me a faint yet blinding smile. “My pleasure. I’m glad to see you on your feet. Your car is waiting. Good luck.” He nodded at Malachi and disappeared.
I changed my clothes and pulled any remaining hairpins from my hair, letting it fall in loose curls around my shoulders. With Malachi on my heels, I went downstairs, retrieved my phone from the ruined clutch Malachi had been smart enough to remove from the SUV, and sent a text to the number scribbled on the crumpled paper my mother had given me at our meeting at the child welfare building.
I’m coming. Alone. In exchange for the girl.
The response was instant. You know where to find us. She will be released when we have you.
I gripped the phone hard. “They know we know where the nest is.”
Malachi followed me as I stalked out to the car, a black Hyundai that looked like it had seen better days. “I suspect they allowed Henry to survive on purpose. If they’d wanted to kill him, they could have.”
“Why didn’t they possess him?”
Malachi’s dark eyes glinted with anger. “You know why. They’ve set their sights on you, and they won’t give up until they have you.”
“Why me, though? It doesn’t make sense.”
“It makes perfect sense to me. You were everything they want in a human.”
I bristled as I backed along the driveway. “Because I look like an animal?”
“Because you look like exactly what you are. Wild and fierce and strong. Unstoppable and unbreakable. Beautiful and dangerous.” He laughed quietly to himself and touched a loose lock of my hair. “You’re everything I want in a human, too.”
I drove toward Providence. The latest nest was apparently in an abandoned nightclub down by the river. Malachi silently stared out the window as we got off the interstate and threaded our way along the city streets, toward the waterfront. I parked several blocks away and texted Jim, letting him know we were close.
By the water meet you in five, came his response.
It took us slightly longer than that to reach them, as we stuck close to the buildings and kept a careful eye out for scouts who might spot us together. Henry and Jim were crouched behind a concrete wall at the edge of the property. Above us loomed the nightclub, three stories high, ramshackle steps leading down to the pier below. Jagged shards clinging like loose teeth to their frames were all that remained of the once huge windows. A dim, flickering glow emanated from the upper floor. A candle. And, of course, a thick haze of incense hung over the place.
“The Mazikin held me on the bottom floor,” said Henry, staring up at the building with hatred. He was completely healed, but his face now bore the scars of his beating, the marks of torture.
“That’s where they’re holding Tegan,” said Jim, gripping the knife in his hand with white knuckles. “I saw them carry her in.”
Henry pointed to the lower patio, strewn with overturned beach chairs and chunks of rotted wood that had fallen from the collapsed deck above. “There, right? That’s the main entrance.” His arm swung to the right, and I followed the line of his finger to a corner window, busted out like all the others. “That’s where we can go in. There’s a bathroom down there, and no one’s guarding it. But it’s like a maze once you’re inside. A bunch of rooms, and they’ve got prisoners in every one. It’s like they’ve been collecting them. I could hear them crying the whole time I was in there.”
“How many Mazikin?” I asked. “Were you able to get a sense?”
“The one named Sil worked on me.” Henry grimaced. “Other than that, maybe a few dozen? Some in front of each room guarding those prisoners.”
“There may be fewer than that now,” said Malachi. “We terminated at least fifteen this evening. And two were arrested.”
Henry grunted. “Assuming they haven’t turned more in the past hour,” he said.
“They couldn’t have turned them all. It takes too long.” Even the thought of it made me shudder, though. Malachi scooted in a little closer, offering me the solid warmth of his body, the armor of his touch. This seemed possible—three of my Guards against a few dozen Mazikin was actually decent odds—if I could keep Sil busy. “I want you guys to get in there. Find a way to free their captives. Get to Tegan and get her out.”
I typed a text and sent it off, proud that my fingers didn’t tremble as I hit send. I’m here. Where do you want me?
Top floor street entrance open welcome lela girl
I clenched my teeth and stood up. “I’m going to go around the front. Give me two minutes. Then you go in. But be quiet. I’ll keep whoever’s up top with Sil occupied as long as I can. Text me when she’s safe, and come get me if I haven’t come down. Then we’ll burn it out.” I touched the tip of my finger to Malachi’s backpack, which held the deadly and powerful grenades that would blow this place into the next dimension. “With any luck, this will be it.” I raised my head and looked at each of them. “Kill all of them. We’ll clean up the stragglers tomorrow.”
My battle-hardened Guards nodded their heads. I drew the humid night air into my lungs, turned quickly, and took a few steps toward the street, only to be caught and whirled around. Malachi’s arms wrapped around me, pulling me close.
“You will kill whoever comes at you,” he said fiercely, his breath hot against my cheek. “You will do whatever it takes. But you will not let them take you.”
I put my arms around his neck and held on tight. I knew this was his worst fear, and this wasn’t the first time I’d made him live it.
“I won’t let them take me,” I whispered. “I promise.”
He gave me an iron-edged kiss. “Then I’ll see you when this is over.” He let me go, and I headed for the street before I had a chance to change my mind.
I looped around the block, coming at the club from a completely different direction. From the street, the building appeared completely dark and deserted, except for the smell of incense that permeated the entire area. Broken glass crunched under my boots as I approached the steel front door covered in a thick layer of graffiti. As promised, it wasn’t locked. It swung open easily as soon as I tugged on it. I poked my head in.
The distant spotlights of boats roved the river, and the indirect glow of dock and streetlamps shone through the shattered windows. I stepped inside and pulled the door shut behind me. Like a cold hand on the back of my neck, I suddenly had the worst feeling, like I wouldn’t make it out of this place alive.
I closed my eyes tight and shook my head, begging my thoughts not to turn on me now. Keep walking, Lela. Time to put on a show.
I followed a wide corridor to the main room, and as I walked, that dim, flickering candlelight came into view. A thick pillar candle. Weirdly enough, apricot-scented. Sitting on the U-shaped bar next to the dance floor. The panoramic view of the river, with the water glinting darkly under the stars, was breathtaking.
“You live,” came the choked whisper. I whirled around to see two figures at the edge of the rotting, splintered parquet floor.
My mother. No. The Mazikin who’d taken my mother’s body.
And Sil. The Mazikin who wanted to take everything else.
He grinned as he stroked a hand over my mother’s wild mane. “She told me you were dying. I guess she was wrong.”
“Wouldn’t be the first time.”
“I haven’t seen you in a very long time, girl. You look better here than you did in the dark city. This is where you belong.”
“It’s the makeup,” I said, gesturing at my face. Tegan was an artist. It hadn’t budged, despite the fact that I’d been savagely attacked and hit by a van.
Sil threw back his head and laughed, revealing his brown and jagged teeth. I might have looked better, but he looked worse. Less like a Japanese businessman, and more like an animal. More savage. And more crazy, if that was possible. “It’s more than paint on your face. You never belonged in that dead place. You are completely alive.”
His hand closed over a fistful of my mother’s hair, and he jerked her close, rubbing his nose along the edge of her face. She made this pathetic mewling sound and put her arms around his waist, turning my stomach as she tilted her head up and allowed him to give her a kiss so deep that he must have been licking her tonsils. Then he wrenched her head away, and his eyes swept back to mine. “I was so happy to find Rita here. She reminded me of you immediately. That’s why I took her, actually. I had no idea how you were linked. Such a nice surprise.” His hand slithered across her chest, squeezing and pinching, making me clench my fists.
“Where’s Tegan?” I asked, taking a step forward.
“They’ll bring her up when I have you secured.” He nodded across the room, where a table had been set up in the open space on the other side of the bar. Ropes had been tied to each of the table legs, and incense smoked up from four pots set at each of the corners. “But I wanted a chance for us to have a family chat first.”
“She’s not my family,” I snapped. “She hasn’t been my family for a long time. Nice try, though.”
He buried his face in my mother’s hair, but raised his head when he heard the glass crunch beneath my soles as I took another step toward him. “Ah, but you’re wrong. You risked your life to save hers. You took an arrow meant for her. You betray yourself, Lela girl. And our Rita … she cannot get her mind off you, no matter how hard she tries.”
The Rita-Mazikin gave me a tremulous, tender smile. “Mija,” she whispered.
Sil giggled, running his hands over her in a way that said one thing: he owned her. “You see? This Rita is bad,” he said, his voice soft and gentle as he nuzzled her neck. “She is bad and weak. This is her first time away from our Mazikin realm. And this body … its brain is rotten. It has made her very confused. She has lost touch with who she really is.” He snorted. “She forgets where her loyalties lie.”
Rita, unable to understand his words, purred at his touch. Sil wrapped an arm around her waist. “She said she understood how this place works. She insisted she could bring you in without drawing the attention of the authorities here, and so we allowed her to try. So many plans she suggested, and because she claimed to know you, I listened to her. Until I realized she was lost in this brain, in scattered and broken old memories, and she doesn’t know you at all. Tonight she was dispatched with final orders to bring you in, and she failed again. Instead, she brought me that skinny little thing, thinking that would satisfy me. It turns out Rita is mostly useless to me.” He pressed himself against her from behind. “Mostly.”
My cheeks burned as I watched, wishing my phone would buzz with a text, letting me know they had Tegan, that she was safe, that I could attack and then get myself out of here. But it lay silent in my pocket. “Sorry to hear that she hasn’t lived up to your expectations,” I said. “She never lived up to mine, either.”
He chuckled. “So hostile, girl with the hair. Is that where all your anger comes from? Did this woman hurt you?” He fisted her hair and gave her a shake, drawing a little cry of protest from her.
“She never hurt me. She just … left me. A long time ago. I barely remember her.” Let her go. I don’t like the look in her eyes.
“Your memories are in there somewhere. But I bet you wish they weren’t,” Sil said.
“Sometimes,” I admitted.
“I’ll give you new memories. You’ll thank me. You’ll be with her again. Don’t you want another chance?” He leaned forward eagerly. “Your bodies can be together here, and your souls can be together in the Mazikin realm. It’s perfect!”
“Your idea of perfect is vastly different from mine.”
He frowned and tilted his head. “You, a discarded girl, don’t wish to be our Queen?” His expression hardened. “You’re ungrateful.”
My phone buzzed in my pocket. I clenched my jaw. “Oh, I’m grateful.” I took a step forward.
“Me too,” he said. And then he drew a knife from his waist and slit my mother’s throat.