He took it with a grateful smile. Evidently whatever Trace had given him hadn’t entirely hydrated him; I felt guilty for having fed from him. I pressed a little packet of cheese I’d found in the fridge into his free hand.
“You need to keep your strength up.”
He rolled his eyes, but I knew James. Cheese was a definite weakness. It was gone well before the tea.
“So, what have you found?” I asked Baxter.
“Not a great deal, to be honest. Shirley has an older brother, Mark, who currently lives on the southern edge of Sheffield. James says he didn’t even know he had an uncle, let alone what his name was. He says he doesn’t remember his grandparents either, but seeing as their current address is less than a mile from Uncle Marky, methinks Shirley might have been the black sheep of the Wilson family.”
“If she was an unmarried mother, there are plenty of families out there whostillthink this is a sin, or shameful,” I ventured. The memory of my own mum having impressed upon me at a very tender age that if anybody were to enquire about my father, I was to look sad and tell them he died and I didn’t remember him was a sting that had never quite gone away.
James sighed again. “I reckon you’re right. Mum hated religion. Said I wasn’t to pay attention to any of it.” His next sigh was accompanied by a throat clearing as he freed himself from my grasp and took a seat next to Baxter.
“Do you think…Would you be able to…” He took a couple of shallow breaths, his pulse quickening.
“Find out how your mum and your grandparents are doing, pet?” He nodded. “Course I can. In fact, I already did, in case you asked.” Baxter pushed the empty mug to one side and hooked a leg around James’ chair, pulling it closer to her and the screens.
She pressed a button and a few pages of type spewed from the nearby printer. She reached over, then handed them to James. “Sometimes it’s easier to sit with new info this way rather than stare at a screen.” She patted his arm, then arched backwards to beckon me closer. “I think we have to assume that going on all the evidence wedon’thave, that your fella here has some Fae blood, quantity unknown. Which is probably like several thousand or more humans in England alone, because we all know the Fair Folk are long-lived, prone to boredom,and often highly sexed. James could even be a half ’n half considering his ears, but it’s impossible to tell. Well,” she eyed me thoughtfully, “not impossible, but I think asking Volik for his help might be seen as inflammatory right now. He’s nice enough when things go his way, but he was well snotty when Charley stood up to him. I’d rather not bother him unless we have to.” She sighed happily. “I do wish I’d been there. Charley ain’t afraid of anyone, is he?”
I chuckled in agreement, watching as James folded the papers and stuffed them into a pocket of his jeans. I could tell he was listening intently. “What’s a half ’n half?”
“Someone like Charley’s mother,” I said. “Literally half and half, human and Fae. But I doubt you are. You don’t kill your technology, do you?” His eyebrows rose in a question. “I mean, your phone doesn’t glitch or blank, you don’t have any issue with bank machines, computers, games consoles.”
“Uh, no?” He looked mystified. “Is that a thing?”
“Oh yeah, babes, the Fae are known for not being compatible with Earth technology, although like with everything, there are always some exceptions.” Baxter cackled. “You should hear Charley curse when his phone shorts out. Silver,” she shuddered “helps negate some of these effects. I’ll send you a link to buy some silver knickknacks to dot about the place, Eddie. Give your fella here some protection from the frame of your delightful railway carriage. Make sure you buy the good stuff, mind. No plate.”
I tried to swallow the horrified gulp that threatened even as I shut down James’ immediate protest. “I might have to insist you dust anything we buy,” I said weakly, already knowing I’d hang silver charms from the ceiling if it helped him. “And don’t think I haven’t noticed you no longer wear that necklace. I told you, just keep it inside your clothing and I’ll be fine.” I was glad I couldn’t sweat when I was nervous.Silver, in my sanctuary?
Baxter looked at me approvingly. “You’re a good ‘un sometimes, Edwin Marsh. Oh, sorry, James, I should’ve explained right away. The Fae have some very particular weaknesses, not that we’re saying you have any… Aha!” Her grin widened and her eyes lit up. “I know. Up you get, lad.” She was halfway across the room before he followed, his expression curious.
“I nudged him as we climbed the stairs. “Pound to a penny, we’re headed for the scullery.”
Sure enough, Baxter was waiting with an assortment of heavy items. “Pick this up for me, sweetie?” Her tone was saccharine, but James wasn’t fooled.
“Why?”
“Fae experiment number one. There’s no catch.”
I glared at her over his shoulder because if it hurt him, my impulse would be to knock her perfect teeth out, blood sister or not. I didn’t want to influence his reaction in any way though.
James hefted the flat iron. “That’s heavier than it looks,” he remarked. Encouraged that he hadn’t so much as flinched, I suggested he turn it over. He did, then placed it back on the worktop. “Was I supposed to learn anything?”
“Try the bootscraper. I’d like it over by the kitchen door if you don’t mind, poppet.” There was a hint of thrall from Baxter now, which prompted me to grind my teeth. She flashed me acalm downlook which had the opposite effect.
James returned, wiping his hands down his jeans. “Is that all?” He still seemed curious, but not in any obvious discomfort.
“I think we should try the kettle next. It’s been too long since I had a proper cuppa boiled on the range.” James dutifully grabbed the cast iron monstrosity. He lugged it through to the kitchen where he added water and set it on a plate of the massive range at Baxter’s request. He winced as he let go.
“I think I need to get fit,” he murmured. “Those things weigh a ton.”
“Give me your hands,” I demanded. James was thin, but he had well-defined muscles. I thought it unlikely those few items would make his arms sore.
He held them out. I flipped them palms up. “Baxter…”
“What the fuck?” Small blisters were forming across both his palms.
“Oops,” Baxter apologised. “I really didn’t think he’d react. Let me find Isher.”
