“Easy, breathe.” She spoke gently into the phone. The morning wind whipped and Layla tucked her curls behind her ear. “You can keep it all together, Dusk. I know you can.”
“Isn’t that usually my line?” She heard him smile through the phone.
“Well, now it’s mine.” Layla smiled back, walking to the edge of the patio and looking far out over the morning ocean, watching the mist begin to lift. “We’re all facing new territory. I can’t say what the Paris Hotel is going to look like from here on out… but I’m going to do my damnedest to make sure we’re all safe.”
“You sound like the problem-solver now,” Dusk smiled again. “How is the search for the Aviary going?”
“Pretty good.” Layla scanned the cliffs below, spying the grassy promontory where she’d walked off into the water the night before. “I found the cliff-access last night, but no bridge materialized. I’m going to try again this morning.”
“Be careful.” Dusk’s tone held warning. “Even Reginald’s pearls can’t keep you from falling off a cliff and drowning.”
“Well thankfully, Tempeste has been a big help in that area.” Layla smiled, enjoying how protective Dusk was of her. Just then, their connection began to fray, cutting out with static. She heard Dusk’s voice come tinny and fractured as he spoke again.
“Come again, Layla? Who did you say was helping you?”
“Tempeste!” She spoke into the phone, louder now. “Tempeste Durant! Dusk? Are you there?”
The line was fraying dramatically now, with electric whines and pops. Glancing around, Layla looked for the closest cell phone tower, but didn’t see one on the cliffs. Moving to a different spot, she kept speaking Dusk’s name and heard her name come back from him, but the line was truly fucked now. Turning, she glanced at the balcony doors to see Tempeste was awake now, watching her out on the patio with a concerned frown. She waved and he waved back, then set a hand to the doorknob and came out, dressed in just his slacks from the day before.
“Layla? Who are you talking to?”
“Dusk.” She growled. At last, the phone line finally cut out, replaced by a busy tone. With a harsh sigh, Layla touched the screen to hang up. “Or at least I was. Fucking cell phones.”
“I don’t think there’s a cell tower nearby. Reception’s probably spotty all through this area.” Like her, Tempeste glanced around, scanning the adjacent hills as the early morning sun began to flood down the crevasses. Golden-rose rays lit hilltop vineyards as far as the eye could see along the coastline, showing the grand beauty of Cinque Terre. Though the morning was glorious, Layla felt darkened. She tried dialing Dusk’s line four more times but got a busy signal each time, and the same for the Hotel’s front desk. Her belly rumbled, and with a growl Layla finally gave up, resolving to call Dusk back later.
“I need something to eat. How about you?” Layla spoke as she turned to go back inside.
“I could eat. So how are things at the Hotel?” Tempeste asked casually as he followed her, moving to the kitchenette and starting some espresso, though his husky-blue gaze was wary.
“Shitty, apparently.” Layla sighed, flopping to a seat at the formica breakfast table and setting down her phone.
“And Heathren? Does he have any leads on Hunter?”
“Not that Dusk said.” Layla watched Tempeste’s lean, elegant hands move through pulling espresso and steaming milk at the fancy little espresso machine on the counter. “Your people are still crawling all over the Hotel, looking for clues.”
“I’d expect no less.” Tempeste finished their espressos, then brought them to the table. Going to the fridge, he pulled out the local delicacies they’d snacked on the day before, opening them for a casual breakfast. Layla began to eat, finding that sardines and olives made a surprisingly good breakfast. Moving to the small stove-top, Tempeste sliced a crusty loaf of bread and toasted them in a pan with olive oil and herbs, making crostini. He brought them to the table and Layla dug in with the olive tapenade from the welcome basket, creating a repeat of their appetizer the night before.
“So, down to the cliffs again this morning?” Layla spoke around a bite, determined to find the Aviary.
“Indeed. Intercessoria reports suggest that Arini’s fortress is most approachable after dawn.”
“Seriously? Why didn’t you tell me that last night?” Layla set her crostini down with an incredulous look.
“It was theory I had yet to test.” Barely suppressed laughter curled Tempeste’s lips. “Now we know.”
“You’re very cavalier for Intercessoria, you know.” Layla shot back with irritation.
“I enjoy Disneyland and Six Flags, Layla.” Tempeste grinned around his tasso of espresso. “I like a thrill. It’s one of the reasons I joined the Intercessoria, to do field work. I love being with my family, but I also love having a thrill ride. On this job… it’s always something different. Different places to go; different issues to solve. Different dangers.”
Layla could see it. She was learning that Sirens had a push-pull between control and recklessness, almost moreso than any other type of Dragon. Shaking her head, Layla rose from the table. “I’m going to get dressed.”
“Meet you out here in ten, and then we’ll go down to the wharf.”
Layla turned away without comment, truly irritated now that she knew Tempeste had used her as a test last night. It pissed her off, but didn’t seem to bother him in the slightest. As Layla dressed in a plum wrap sweater and skinny jeans that hadn’t seen any seawater, Tempeste went to dress also. Re-packing her rolling bag, she glanced at her possessions. Taking up her passport, her Hotel credit card, and Arini’s blue feather in its silken pouch, Layla snapped it back inside her shirt on her bra, then slid her phone and the rest into a zipper-pocket of her jeans. She’d leave everything else behind with Tempeste, just in case things got hairy at the Aviary. Moving back to the living area, she saw he was fully dressed now, but in a clean navy pinstriped suit, different from before.
“How… did you pack a second suit in your briefcase?” Layla blinked.
“Magic.” He smiled, his blue eyes amused. “Intercessoria Judiciary always pack light, but our briefcases can hold a surprising amount of belongings and weapons. I always bring at least one change of clothing on assignment. Come on, let’s get down to the cliffs.”
