She let herself out of the stairwell, gingerly closing the door behind her, then put on a haughty expression. Her posture screamedimportant, don’t mess with me.She adjusted her stance and walk so her presence also readbitch. Hopefully people would leave her alone and not notice her lack of shoes.
From the preparations, she knew the layout of the hotel. Turning left would take her toward the lobby. She went right, acutely aware of the cold marble under her bare feet. Various hotel residents were scattered around. Some glanced her way. Only two people looked harder, noticing her hair and then glancing down her body. Based on their huffs and grins, they probably thought she was doing a walk of shame. Great. Whatever helped explain her appearance.
Farther on and the corridor narrowed. Around a turn and past a service stairway, she found her safe haven. The exit.
Her sigh was audible.
Keeping her decorum, she pushed out into the night. Chilled air and silence greeted her like an oldfriend. A smile flitted across her face. She’d made it. That fae had thrust her into a very sticky situation, and even though she hadn’t specifically prepared for it, she’d still made it.
Something shimmered on the walkway up ahead, hidden in a glamor. The fae’s glamor, to be precise. She knew that beautiful twinkle.
Her stomach dropped when she recognized what was spread out on the ground before it. Duct tape. Three lines of it, each written on with black Sharpie.
Great work getting this far,the first said, with a happy face drawn at the end.
I got you a present,was the second.
Let me know how it works…
Just beyond that was a dagger lying in the center of the walkway, as though waiting specifically for her. The blade was tucked into the most beautiful sheath she’d ever seen, with metalwork in a bending, twisting sort of overlay. Within the loops and circles the design created, stones sparkled and glinted like crystals, glowing a soft turquoise or speckled cerulean blue. The hilt sticking out was wrapped in what looked like supple leather. The blade promised to be a work of art.
She didn’t bother to ponder how he’d known she’d be on this walkway. This was the rear exit, seldom used by anyone but hotel personnel escaping for a cigarette break. Of course someone in her situation—the situation the fae had forced her into—would want to sneakout this way. Understanding how no one had grabbed the knife before her was also obvious. He’d affixed his glamor to it, magic that no one else seemed to notice but her.
What she did wonder was what would happen when she picked up that blade.
Let me know how it works…
Another game. Surely this was a trap of some sort. There was no way she was taking the bait.
Veering right, she gave the knife a wide berth. Decorative stones poked the bottoms of her feet. She still needed to pick up her shoes and knives from where she’d tossed them.
As she passed the object in the center of the walkway, however, her face smacked into a solid surface. The air was acting as a barrier. She couldn’t go any farther.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” she whispered, putting her hands against the invisible surface. “Please be an air elemental. Please be a normal magical type whose weaknesses I’ve already studied?—”
You didn’t spring the trap.The fae’s textured voice rang within her mind, his tone teasing. Taunting.Very good. You can never trust one of my kind. You can also never free yourself once you’ve been ensnared. And you, my treasure, are definitely ensnared. By me. Pick up my gift. It is yours.
“If Irefuse?”
There is no need to draw attention to yourself by speaking out loud. People will think you’re hearing voices. Think your responses. As long as you are close to that knife, I’ll hear you. The telephone, remember? If you’re ever in trouble—trouble I didn’t create, of course—you can reach me through that means. I will come to your aid. That knife will grant me passage to do so.
She narrowed her eyes, thinking that through. Hearing the unspoken truth.
The knife will only grant you communication,she surmised.My asking for help, and your granting that help, is a deal struck. Thedealallows you admittance into this realm. The deal also puts me in your debt. I’d be at your mercy unless specified otherwise, and if I was in actual trouble, I wouldn’t have time to specify.
His mind was quiet for a long beat.
My, my,he thought softly, and she could hear his amusement.You are a quick study. Yes, you are correct. I will be lenient, however. You are mine now. Mine to play with. Mine to break. I do not share. If someone threatens you, they are threatening my property. I will deal with them in kind.
Shivers raced across her flesh. Dread settled in her gut.
Yes, little dove,he purred.It is quite a predicament you’ve gotten yourself into. Do not worry. You were always going to end up in this situation. Fate has had a hand in our affairs, I think. A heavier hand than we might’ve liked, but at least we got that kiss out of it.Don’t you agree? I thoroughly enjoyed the feeling of your lips. The rush of your spiraling out of control. I’ll dream of it often. Now, be a good little pet and pick up your knife. I want to see the extent of your battle prowess. It’ll help me plan.
She ran her thumb across the cloth that used to hold the panic button. She wasn’t proud. She could admit things had gotten out of her control. She desperately wanted help out of this situation.
I removed that, yes,the fae said.And the location device, as you’ve noticed. I am not like others of my kind. I’ve been in and out of your realm for years. I know how your technology works. Your teacher has no idea where you are, what you are up to, or if you are okay. I dropped into his head a while ago and informed him that if he interfered with my plans for you, I’d kill you. He is not handling it well. You can put him at ease if you just pick up your knife.
Anger was a live wire surging through her blood.You really should know better than to bring my family into this. Your death will be my very great pleasure, and I will use that knife when I slice you open.
