Fragile Eternity
Page 49

She was in front of him then. Up close, he could see that the feather-hair falling down her back was singed in places. Shadowy wings blinked in and out of existence. Ashes had dried into patterns on her arms and cheeks. She looked like shed come to his yard fresh from a battleground.
Who are you? Seth asked.
You may call me Bananach.
He took another step and picked up his phone. Why are you here?
To take you to Sorcha. She nodded as she spoke.
Why? He didnt look at the phone as he slid his thumb to the key that would ring Nialls cell.
Dont. Im not going to bleed you unless you make it necessary. Doingthat would make it necessary. The madness in her words and expression had suddenly gone, and she was all the more frightening for it. She gave him a serious look. We all have dreams, Seth Morgan. For the moment, yours and mine line up. Consider yourself fortunate that your use to me does not require me to injure you today.
Then she stepped past him into his home.
Seth paused, finger still resting on the key that would call Niall. Youre offering to take me to Sorcha?
You seek her. Niall wont help you. The ash-queen wont give you what you want. Winter will refuse you. Reason can help if she deigns to do so. Your changing will help me. Ive been whispering words to get us here, Seth. Telling secrets to Winter. She stopped and cooed at Boomer. The boa was resting atop one of his heated rocks. She didnt look his way as she said, Gather your traveling things.
He knew enough by now to realize that she spoke the truth as she saw it.
And as I see it.
The things Bananach said were true: neither Aislinn nor Niall was willing to help him in his pursuit of being a faery. The High Queen could make it happen.
Bananach stood making kissy noises at Boomerwho was undulating in a way Seth had never seen. Then she glanced back at him. Ask your question. The window is short.
Seth held Bananachs gaze and asked, Youll take me directly to Sorcha and not harm me?
She corrected, I will deliver youunharmed to Sorcha. You must be more specific in your words if youre to do me any good. Suppose Id had someone else harm you as we travel? Precision is the key to strategy. You have the boldness, but not the precision. I need you to be both brave and calculating. Her gaze was assessing. Youll do. The ravens tell me that, but you must listen well to Sorchas wisdom. Tedious she is, but Reason will aid you in what we need.
We? Whywe ?
Because it serves my purpose. She opened Boomers terrarium and lifted the boa. Answering you further does not.
Right. He swallowed against a suddenly dry mouth.
From outside the door, Skelley called, Seth, are you well?
Bananach held a finger to her lips.
I am. Seth didnt open the door. The guard couldnt stand against Bananachand Seth wasnt sure he wanted her to leave. She had answers. She could take him to Sorcha.
Skelley was silent. Do you need company?
No, I think I have what I need. Seth glanced at the faery, who stood sentinel-still watching him. I just needed a moment alone to find it.
Skelley said his good-bye through the still closed door, and Seth turned to Bananach. I dont know how you know what I need, but I want to see Sorcha.
The raven-faery nodded somberly. Call your queen to tell her youre leaving. You cant go there. Not tonight. Not with me. They wouldnt welcome me in their home. And if they saw me Bananach made a happy sound Seth felt embarrassed to hear before she added, Nasty, bloody fun, but itll wait for another day.
Some residual bit of logic told Seth that he had ventured much too far from the path of good sense.
You can still say no,he thought.Right now. Tell her you were wrong. Tell her to leave. Maybe shell listen.
But that same logic reminded him of how much farther Aislinn seemed to drift each day, of how helpless he was against the weakest faeries, of how short a time hed had with her as a mortal.
He pushed 1 on his cell.
When the voice mail picked up, he started, Im leaving tonight, and
Bananach suddenly stood in front of him then, invading his space, whispering, Tell her nothing else.
Seth looked away from the faery. He knew better than to trust her, but he did obey her. He spoke into his phone. And Ill calllater. I just need to go now. I dont know whenifI need to go.
He disconnected.
Good boy. Bananach uncoiled Boomer from around her arms and handed the snake to him. Then she opened the door. Hold tight to my hand, Seth Morgan. Reason doesnt wait for us. We must go before the pieces move.
Seth wasnt at all sure what the raven-faery meant, but he took her hand and went into the night with her. He locked the door. A heartbeat later they were far from the railyard, past the guards, and in a street that took a good half hour to reach on foot. She moved faster than Aislinn, and Seth stood trying not to retch.
Boomer shivered a bit from where he was coiled around Seths shoulders.
Smart lamb, Bananach murmured as she patted Seths head.
Several ravens fluttered into the broken windows in the building across from them. They tilted their heads to watch him. Bananach tilted her head in the same gesture, in time with the black birds.
He forced the nausea back. Where is Sorcha? I need to see the High Queen.
Hidden. Bananach strolled away, and he ran after her.
Shed offered him his answer, and he wasnt going to let the opportunity escape himregardless of the risk.
Better to take a chance on forever than wonder what if later.
Chapter 19