“Our hands,” Alexei growled. “I don’t ever want to see that look on Bethany’s face again. Nor do I wish to explain to the high queen of the Otherworld if her sea-dwelling subjects start disappearing. They can’t hide out in their homes forever.”
Beka turned pale at the thought of telling the queen she’d failed in her mission. “We could call in Barbara and Bella, but I’m not sure what they could do that I’m not doing already. I tried a finding spell, but they don’t work well with water, and all I got was a vague location, which we already had, more or less.” She shook her head. “I am working on some defensive magic in case we meet up with it, especially if Chewie isn’t around to go all dragon on its ass.”
The Chudo-Yudos usually stayed with their Baba Yaga’s traveling homes when the witch in question was out and about. The dragons (in their guises as gigantic dogs or cats) guarded the Water of Life and Death the Baba Yagas drank to increase their powers and prolong their lives; the Chudo-Yudos also kept an eye on the portals to the Otherworld that was concealed in each updated hut.
They did, on special circumstances, leave to assist a Baba Yaga with a particularly tricky situation, but Chewie especially didn’t like to leave Beka’s converted school bus alone for long, since one time when he had, Beka’s former mentor had stolen the Water of Life and Death and caused all kinds of problems. To put it mildly.
“Going dragon only works if there are no witnesses,” Alexei pointed out.
“Yeah, well, I’m not sure how we’d explain a giant sea monster either,” Beka said. “Either way, we have to find the damned thing before we can worry about how we’re going to take it out, although it would be wise to be prepared. And if magic can’t help us, I guess we’re back to taking Calum’s boat out and hoping for some kind of clue to miraculously pop up out of the blue.” She looked as frustrated as Alexei felt.
“I’ve got a better idea,” he said. “That is, if you can figure out a way to persuade sharks to talk to me without trying to bite my head off. Literally.”
Chapter 12
“You want to what?” Alexei said.
Bethany put a foaming mug of beer down in front of him. “I want to bring my father out on the boat tomorrow,” she said, giving him a funny look. “Is there a problem with that?”
A number of them, including the fact that he was going to be trying to talk to sharks. Plus, you know, man (and probably woman) killing kraken on the loose.
“Uh, I just, you know, thought you’d want to stay home on your day off.”
She shrugged. “In a perfect world, I’d spend my day off sitting in front of the television watching Robert Downey Jr. and eating chocolate. But in case you haven’t noticed, I don’t exactly live in a perfect world. Hell, if I did, I’d be watching Robert and eating the chocolates while sitting in my old apartment in Boston and studying for the bar.”
Alexei stared at the wooden surface in between them. “Why would you need to study a bar? You work at one every day.”
He heard what might have been the sound of teeth grinding. “Different bar,” Bethany said. “The one I’m talking about is the test that says whether or not you are qualified to be a lawyer. That’s what I was doing before my father got hurt and I had to get home.”
Huh. That was a surprise. Or maybe not. Bethany was clearly smarter than your average whiskey slinger, and she’d said something when he first met her about coming back to take care of her dad.
“So, you want to be a lawyer. Interesting.” Okay, it kind of was, but also, maybe he could distract her from talking about going out on the boat tomorrow.
“Not really,” she said. “I’d already started to have doubts about whether or not I wanted to get caught up in a system that doesn’t work for most people. Now that I’ve been back here for a while, the idea is even less appealing, although god knows I spent enough time and money trying to achieve it. Although I had pretty good reasons for studying it when I started out, or so I thought.”
“What kind of reasons?” Now he was actually curious. It was hard to envision the Bethany he knew in a suit and carrying a briefcase, living in a city and working in an office. Somehow he doubted that her motivation had anything to do with money or prestige.
Bethany tucked a stray piece of red hair behind her ear. “My mom was sick for a long time,” she said, finally. “She died in misery after spending years being denied the disability and medical benefits she deserved. I thought I’d get a law degree and fight for people like her, but sometimes it seems like tilting at windmills. I’m just not sure I’m up for the fight. Some days I feel like I’d do more good just pouring drinks and easing pain that way.”
Alexei winced. He hated to hear her sound so discouraged, although at least he’d succeeded in distracting her.
She turned away to pour a drink for a customer and then turned back. “About tomorrow…”
Or maybe not.
“Beka and I already had plans for the boat,” Alexei said apologetically. “And your father did say we could use it. How about next Sunday? Maybe.”
“Look, Alexei. Going out the last time really cheered my dad up, and he’s been in a terrible funk since he found out about his friend Henry. I think it would make him feel better, and tomorrow is supposed to be a really nice day.” Bethany polished the already clean bar. “Unless, you know, you and Beka have something romantic going on. I mean, I know she said she’s married, but it’s none of my business if she and her husband have some kind of understanding.”
Alexei almost choked on his beer. “No! Ew. I practically helped raise Beka. I look at her like a daughter. Or a niece or something. And she and Marcus are madly in love with each other. So no, yuck. Nothing like that.”
Was it his imagination, or did Bethany actually look relieved?
“Well then, why shouldn’t my father and I come along wherever you’re going tomorrow? He won’t care where it is, as long as he’s out on the water.” Now she looked puzzled. With maybe a hint of annoyed thrown in for good measure.
“Don’t you think it is a little too dangerous?” Alexei thought he’d try a different tact. “What with Henry’s boat disappearing and the other odd incidents the local fishermen have been reporting?”
Bethany narrowed her eyes. “If you think it is so dangerous, then why are you and Beka still taking the boat out? Wouldn’t it be just as dangerous for you as it would be for us?”
Alexei had never missed his brothers so much. If they were here, Gregori would think of something clever to say or Mikhail would dazzle her with his charm. Alexei couldn’t do either, so he resorted to desperate measures: the truth.
“Well, maybe, but we’re going out to look for the monster. You don’t want to be along for that.”