It gave a last jangle and fell to the ground.The spell broken, Cha’s head cleared.The kid, who might be naïve but wasn’t an idiot, began screaming, and the Eloko shrieked in pain, spurting blood the color and consistency of mud.The latter didn’t last long, as Cha carried through the counter swing to sever the Eloko’s other arm while it was distracted by losing the first, separating it from the kid, who fell to the ground like the bell.Instead of jangling, however, the kid burst into tears and began crying for their parents.
The Eloko fastened glowing red eyes on Cha and waved the stumps of its arms, clearly not quite comprehending that it had lost its primary weapon, the bell useless in the grass.Torches and shouts heralded the approach of humans combing the meadow, calling the kid’s name.The kid, bedraggled, covered in muck, screamed back.Cha slashed the sword at the Eloko, who cringed, then turned and ran.Just as well.It would be harmless without its bell.Possibly it would grow a new one?Cha didn’t know and didn’t much care.This was the Eloko’s territory, after all, and it wasn’t the creature’s fault that stupid humans had dropped a tasty treat in its lap.
“Bartholomew!”A person—possibly the dad—arrived with torch in hand, decked out as an Obsidian fae, complete with bat wings and horns so tall and twisted that, if they were authentic instead of hollow fakes, they’d topple a real fae.“What did you do?”he demanded, thrusting the torch at Cha likeshewas the monster.
This was why she had a non-interference policy.The kid—Bartholomew, apparently—wailed louder and launched themselves at the man, crying “Daddy!”
Cha pointed her sword at the bell.“Eloko,” she said by way of explanation.
“I don’t even know what that means and I see only you here,” the man spat, hampered by Bartholomew, who seemed intent on climbing the man’s body.
“It’s a fae monster,” she said, wondering why she bothered.“You’re in a fae realm, not an amusement park.You shouldn’t let your kids wander.”
“How dare you tell—”
“Don’t touch that bell,” she advised.“I’ve got an urgent appointment.”Before the stupid human could aggravate her further, Cha took off running.
She was going to be so late.
*
“You are solate!”Dy hissed as Cha and Katu pulled up beside Big Betty on the little used side ley that was their longtime rendezvous point.“I don’t even want to hear your excuses.”
“Good thing, cuz I don’t have any,” Cha replied.“Only a sincere apology.”
Dy, who’d been pacing the adjacent walkway, arms folded and golden curls flying in a magical wind, whirled and paused, narrowing her eyes as she surveyed the empty passenger seat.“What happened to Prince Charming?”
“Easy come, easy go,” Cha answered nonchalantly.“And no,” she hastened to add when Dy’s glare turned even more suspicious, “there was no coming.No hanky or panky.We were attacked by Cinnabar imps and he drew them off.Besides, the deal was that I’d get him across the Obsidian border and now he’s on his own.”Doing whatever he did when he wasn’t running from vengeful fiancées.
Dy sniffed.“You don’t smell like imp.That’s Eloko blood.”
“Really?Dammit.”She surveyed herself, realized she still had the jacket unbuttoned so as to show off her cleavage, and corrected that.No one to entice now.Alas for that.“I thought I avoided the spew.”
“Why were you fighting an Eloko?”Dy asked on a sigh.
“Long story and we’re running late.We need to go.”
Dy shook her head.“Runningtoolate.We can’t make the turnaround now.”
“Sure we can.Moonstone is right there and our rendezvous not that far past the border.”Cha checked the clock.“Only 45 minutes behind.We can make that up.”
“And if we don’t?”Dy demanded.“If we fail to make Otto’s deadline, then we forfeit everything.Big Betty is loaded with crates of pure black dust.Why not run it back now—perfectly legal—and take what bank we can?”
This again?Cha wasn’t sure why Dy kept wavering in her resolve, but clearly the last pep talk hadn’t stuck.She raked a hand through her short hair and climbed out of Katu.“Let’s say we do,” she offered agreeably.“You really think Otto will give us any payment out of this decoy shipment?We could end up with no pay, out the gems I already spent on bribes, plus the other coin we’ve already spent, and you’re minus a day-job to boot.”
Dy blew a golden curl out of her eyes, glaring in mutiny.“Which is all your fault.”
“You know what, Dymphna?”Cha countered, surprising herself with her sudden anger.“I’ve had enough of this.You could have said no.At any point when we discussed this, you could have turned me away—as I might point out you’ve done plenty of lately—and kept me cut out of your nice, cozy, happy life.I offered you something more.Doing something youusedto love that would have the delicious side benefit of getting your family out of a financial jam.
“Fine if you want to bail on this gig and slink home with your tail between your legs.I’m glad you have someone to go home to.Believe me, I am so happy for you.But don’t you dare blame this on me.I’m here.I’m ready to go and do this thing.You’ve asked me to make promises to you that I’ll come through on.I did and I have.I’venever oncebailed on you.But Dy, you bailed on me.You turned your back on me and cut me out of your life like something disgusting you needed to scrape off your shoe.”
Dy had paled, gaping at her, and Cha was surprised to find herself shaking with emotion.She had no idea where all that emotional vomit had come from.“Never mind,” she bit out, waving it off as if to clear the bitter words from the air.“I’ve had enough of this shit.Let’s just go home.”
“Wait.Cha.”Dy put a hand on her arm, holding her back.“I didn’t know you felt that way.”
“Oh yeah?Howdidyou think I felt?Is that something you actually thought about?”
Dy shrugged helplessly, her hair no longer dancing with magic, but flattened with unhappiness.“I thought you were happy,” she answered in a small voice.“You’re the one leading the glamorous life, with the racing and your adoring fans and hordes of pretty men falling at your feet.You’re not the one with the stupid corporate job, diapers to change, and snotty kids bickering at each other day in and day out.”
