Shadowfever
Page 103
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Are you?
Why are you so pissed at me? Its not my fault who I am. The only thing thats my fault is what I choose to do with it.
He gave me a sidelong glance that said, That might be the only intelligent thing youve said tonight.
I looked past him to the wrecked faade of Chesters ahead, and for a moment it looked eerily like a ruin of standing stones, black against a blue-black sky, from a faraway time and another place. A full moon hung above it, wearing a halo of crimson, round fat face splattered with craters of blood. More Fae changes in our world.
When you get inside, go to the stairs and one of them will escort you up. Go directly to the stairs, he said pointedly. Try not to get in trouble or cause a riot on the way.
I dont think thats a fair statement. Life isnt always chaotic around me.
Like when isnt it?
Like when Im I thought a minute. Alone, I finished pissily. Or asleep. I didnt ask about my parents. It felt wrong, as if I no longer had any right to ask questions about Jack and Rainey Lane. It made my heart hurt. Where are you going?
Ill meet you inside.
Because if I knew whatever secret back entrance youre about to use, I said sarcastically, I might broadcast it to all the Fae, is that it? He trusted me even less now that he thought I was the kings mortal lover. How would he treat me if he thought I was the Big Bad himself?
Move it, Ms. Lane, was all he said.
I descended into the belly of the whale to find it crammed to the gills with humans and Unseeliestanding room only at Chesters tonight.
I couldnt be the king. These would be my children. I didnt feel remotely paternal. I felt homicidal. That sealed it. I was human. I had no idea why the mirror had let me through, but eventually Id figure it out.
I glanced around, shocked. Things had changed while Id been gone. The world just kept morphing into something new without me.
There were Seelie in Chesters now, too. Not many, and it didnt look like they were getting the warmest welcome from the Unseelie, but Id already spotted a dozen, and the humans were going crazy over them. Two of those horrid little monsters that made you laugh yourself to death were dive-bombing the crowd, clutching tiny drinks that sloshed over the rims as they flew. Three of those blinding-light trailers were whizzing through the masses. In a cage suspended from the ceiling, naked men danced, writhing in sexual ecstasy, fanned by ethereal, gossamer-winged nymphs.
I continued scanning the club and stiffened. On an elevated platform, in the sub-club that catered to those with a taste for very young humans,stood the golden god whod comforted Dreelia when Vlane had taken her mouth away.
It was all I could do not to march over there, stab him with my spear, and denounce Vlane as a traitor.
Then I had a better idea.
I pushed through the crowd, pulled myself up next to him, and said, Hey, remember me?
He ignored me. I imagined he heard that a lot if hed been coming here awhile. I stood beside him, looking out over the sea of heads.
Im the woman that was with Darroc the night we met in the street. I need you to summon Vlane.
The golden gods head swiveled. Disdain stamped his immortal features. Summon. Vlane. Those two words do not go together in any language, human.
I had his name in my tongue until Barrons sucked it out. I need him. Now. This golden god might have disconcerted me once, but I had a spear in my holster and a black secret in my heart, and nothing disconcerted me anymore. I wanted Vlane here, now. He had a few things to answer for.
Vlane did not give you his name.
On multiple occasions. And his fury with you will know no bounds if he learns I asked you to get him for me and you refused.
He regarded me in stony silence.
I shrugged. Fine. Your call. Just remember what he did to Dreelia. I turned and walked away.
He was in front of me.
Hey, what the fuck ya think ya doing? No sifting in the club! someone cried. The golden god jerked and disentangled himself from the arm that hed materialized around. It seemed to slide from his body, as if the section containing it had abruptly become energy, not matter.
The guy the arm belonged to was young, with a faux-hawk, a petulant expression, and twitchy, restless eyes. He clutched his offended appendage, rubbing it as if it had gone to sleep. Then he seemed to see what had just sifted in next to him and his eyes rounded almost comically.
A drink appeared in the golden gods hand. He offered it to the guy with a murmured regret. I did not mean to break the rules of the club. Your arm will be fine in a moment.
Scool, man, the guy gushed as he accepted the drink. No worries. He stared up at the Fae worshipfully. What can I do for ya? he said breathlessly. I mean, man, Id do anything, ya know? Anything at all!
The golden god bent down, leaning close. Would you die for me?
Anything, man! But will you take me to Faery first?
I leaned in behind the golden god and pressed my mouth to his ear. Theres a spear in a holster beneath my arm. You broke a rule and sifted. I bet that means I can break a rule, too. You want to try it?
Why are you so pissed at me? Its not my fault who I am. The only thing thats my fault is what I choose to do with it.
He gave me a sidelong glance that said, That might be the only intelligent thing youve said tonight.
I looked past him to the wrecked faade of Chesters ahead, and for a moment it looked eerily like a ruin of standing stones, black against a blue-black sky, from a faraway time and another place. A full moon hung above it, wearing a halo of crimson, round fat face splattered with craters of blood. More Fae changes in our world.
When you get inside, go to the stairs and one of them will escort you up. Go directly to the stairs, he said pointedly. Try not to get in trouble or cause a riot on the way.
I dont think thats a fair statement. Life isnt always chaotic around me.
Like when isnt it?
Like when Im I thought a minute. Alone, I finished pissily. Or asleep. I didnt ask about my parents. It felt wrong, as if I no longer had any right to ask questions about Jack and Rainey Lane. It made my heart hurt. Where are you going?
Ill meet you inside.
Because if I knew whatever secret back entrance youre about to use, I said sarcastically, I might broadcast it to all the Fae, is that it? He trusted me even less now that he thought I was the kings mortal lover. How would he treat me if he thought I was the Big Bad himself?
Move it, Ms. Lane, was all he said.
I descended into the belly of the whale to find it crammed to the gills with humans and Unseeliestanding room only at Chesters tonight.
I couldnt be the king. These would be my children. I didnt feel remotely paternal. I felt homicidal. That sealed it. I was human. I had no idea why the mirror had let me through, but eventually Id figure it out.
I glanced around, shocked. Things had changed while Id been gone. The world just kept morphing into something new without me.
There were Seelie in Chesters now, too. Not many, and it didnt look like they were getting the warmest welcome from the Unseelie, but Id already spotted a dozen, and the humans were going crazy over them. Two of those horrid little monsters that made you laugh yourself to death were dive-bombing the crowd, clutching tiny drinks that sloshed over the rims as they flew. Three of those blinding-light trailers were whizzing through the masses. In a cage suspended from the ceiling, naked men danced, writhing in sexual ecstasy, fanned by ethereal, gossamer-winged nymphs.
I continued scanning the club and stiffened. On an elevated platform, in the sub-club that catered to those with a taste for very young humans,stood the golden god whod comforted Dreelia when Vlane had taken her mouth away.
It was all I could do not to march over there, stab him with my spear, and denounce Vlane as a traitor.
Then I had a better idea.
I pushed through the crowd, pulled myself up next to him, and said, Hey, remember me?
He ignored me. I imagined he heard that a lot if hed been coming here awhile. I stood beside him, looking out over the sea of heads.
Im the woman that was with Darroc the night we met in the street. I need you to summon Vlane.
The golden gods head swiveled. Disdain stamped his immortal features. Summon. Vlane. Those two words do not go together in any language, human.
I had his name in my tongue until Barrons sucked it out. I need him. Now. This golden god might have disconcerted me once, but I had a spear in my holster and a black secret in my heart, and nothing disconcerted me anymore. I wanted Vlane here, now. He had a few things to answer for.
Vlane did not give you his name.
On multiple occasions. And his fury with you will know no bounds if he learns I asked you to get him for me and you refused.
He regarded me in stony silence.
I shrugged. Fine. Your call. Just remember what he did to Dreelia. I turned and walked away.
He was in front of me.
Hey, what the fuck ya think ya doing? No sifting in the club! someone cried. The golden god jerked and disentangled himself from the arm that hed materialized around. It seemed to slide from his body, as if the section containing it had abruptly become energy, not matter.
The guy the arm belonged to was young, with a faux-hawk, a petulant expression, and twitchy, restless eyes. He clutched his offended appendage, rubbing it as if it had gone to sleep. Then he seemed to see what had just sifted in next to him and his eyes rounded almost comically.
A drink appeared in the golden gods hand. He offered it to the guy with a murmured regret. I did not mean to break the rules of the club. Your arm will be fine in a moment.
Scool, man, the guy gushed as he accepted the drink. No worries. He stared up at the Fae worshipfully. What can I do for ya? he said breathlessly. I mean, man, Id do anything, ya know? Anything at all!
The golden god bent down, leaning close. Would you die for me?
Anything, man! But will you take me to Faery first?
I leaned in behind the golden god and pressed my mouth to his ear. Theres a spear in a holster beneath my arm. You broke a rule and sifted. I bet that means I can break a rule, too. You want to try it?
