Knell Page 4

  Finn perked up when he saw what looked like a very human kettle of tea in the center of a circle of delicate cups. He hoped there was sugar to be had.

  “First, let us get properly introduced,” the lady said when they each took a seat. She leaned forward to pour three cups of shimmering liquid. “I’m Ankyati. You’re Veruca and Finn, I assume?”

  “You assume right,” Veruca said, taking the offered cup and resting it on her knee without inspecting it or considering whether or not it needed cream or sweetener. Finn’s first instinct was to sniff the tea, but Veruca’s dismissive treatment of it made him wary, and he wondered for the first time if maybe it would be dangerous or stupid to drink it. There was a thing he’d heard about fae, that sometimes taking something from them could constitute some sort of deal or agreement.

  Finn felt his heart rate spike as he started considering all the things he could now owe this Ankyati just for accepting the cup of tea itself.

  “Excellent,” Ankyati said, before taking a small, absent sip of her own tea. “You’re a Reaper for the infamous Belial? And said Reaper’s pet necromancer?”

  “I wouldn’t refer to Finn as a pet,” Veruca said, the small edge of a warning steeling her voice. “He means much more to me than any mere poodle.”

  “And I’m not half as smart,” Finn piped up, hoping to ease the tension slinging around the misty glade.

  Ankyati slid her gaze to him, smiling and baring teeth that reminded Finn of smooth river rocks. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  “Now that we know who’s who, I’d like to get down to business,” Veruca said, still ignoring her tea, focusing almost menacingly on Ankyati. “Why have you taken my friend?”

  “To ensure your cooperation, I’m afraid. You’ve been sent on an errand, am I correct?”

  “I’m sent on many errands,” Veruca said, making it sound casual. “You’re gonna have to be more specific.”

  “The banshee,” Ankyati said matter-of-factly. “You’ve been sent by your master to collect a rogue banshee and bring her back to him. I’d like to ensure that doesn’t happen.”

  “You work for the queen,” Veruca said, and Finn could practically feel the electric unease that crackled through her.

  “Not for a long time, no. I’m my own agent. This isn’t about my royalty versus yours—or, at least, not directly. My goals are my own and my methods are as well. You have connections, you have orders, and I have a job for you. What do you know about your boss?” she asked, making Finn feel a little lost with the sudden change of subject.

  “That’s a rather broad question,” Veruca said, setting her teacup back down where it had been poured. “There’s a lot to know about anyone. To ask that about someone as influential and powerful as the Prince of Hell is a little naïve.”

  “Fair enough,” Ankyati said. “What has he told you about why he wants this particular banshee?”

  “It’s not my place to ask,” Veruca said, her tone that of a woman who knew her status.

  “Of course it is. I know enough about your kind to understand the leniency Belial gives you. He needs to keep you happy or he’ll end up with another Nysgrogh on his hands.”

  Finn wasn’t sure what the guttural sound that had come out of Ankyati’s mouth was supposed to mean, but she made it sound like it had been a very bad thing. Deciding he didn’t trust his tea if Veruca didn’t trust hers, he leaned forward, aiming to settle the delicate cup silently in its place. Somehow, he missed the edge of the stone entirely and managed to drop the whole clattering mess straight to the mossy floor.

  Veruca ignored the disruption, but Ankyati glanced downward, waving him away when he reached hastily down to pick it up.

  “Don’t worry about it. One of my girls will bring you another.”

  “Er, thanks,” Finn said, hoping he wasn’t given the responsibility of another cup too soon.

  “What’s he told you?” Ankyati repeated, her attention back on Veruca. “What was his story for why he wants you to find the banshee?”

  “I don’t know you well enough to be sharing my boss’ orders with you. I barely share them with Finn half the time, and there’s no one I trust more. You haven’t earned anything except my anger and suspicion. You’re going to have to give me something first.”

  “You want me to give you Donald?” Veruca nodded, and Ankyati brightened, but it was wicked, selfish. Finn recognized her smile as that of someone lording something over a lesser being. “Then I would have nothing to convince you to stay and chat.”

  Both women were quiet, leaving Finn wondering what was going through their very different heads. Veruca wasn’t naturally stubborn, usually willing to talk things through and work things out, but he could tell she wasn’t herself in this moment. Donald was in danger, Finn and herself maybe just the same. She had no leverage, Finn reasoned, and now this creature seemed to want something from her, so she was reluctant to give it. To Finn’s surprise, the fairy gave in first.

  “Listen, my intention here really isn’t to cause trouble. I understand your unhappiness, your wariness, your fear. I can offer you Donald’s safety, but you really must admit that I know quite a bit about you and that I’m not scared of your prince. He’s powerful, he has friends in many places, but I’ve been at this a lot longer than he has and, should it come down to it, who do you think the king and queen would rather smash beneath their collective thumb? A member of their own court, or someone who’s blatantly defied them so many times?”

  “You said you don’t work for the queen,” Veruca said, anger plain on her face once again.

  Finn wanted to reach out and hug her, to soothe her and make promises that he’d do his best to fix everything, but he knew to do so would make her look weaker in Ankyati’s eyes.

  “I don’t, not anymore. But I’m closer kin to her than your patchwork, bastard boss. He’s more trouble than I’ve been, even in my extracurricular activities. That being said, I don’t want to call down royal wrath any more than you do, believe me. If your boss goes down, so does everyone you’ve ever loved. The queen can be ruthlessly thorough when her hand is forced. So, back to the subject at hand: What’s your boss told you about why he wants you to track down this poor creature?”

  Veruca warred with herself for a few seconds, brow knit, lips tight. Finn reached out, taking one of her hands in his and squeezing it gently to let her know he was there for her. She flicked her gaze to him, watching him for a moment, and then sighed, letting Finn know she’d made her decision.

  ****

  Veruca had no choice really but to tell this Fairy what she wanted to know. She didn’t know enough about the fae side of things to be sure that her threat was valid, but she couldn’t risk everything she loved just on the off chance that it wasn’t. Belial had often cautioned her to steer clear of fae except where necessary. She hadn’t always listened, choosing to make exceptions where she felt she could handle the fallout that might occur.

  Generally, the fae she came across were small time, cowed by the fact that she was so close to a power as great as Belial and unwilling to risk their own necks going against her. Even the scout she’d been forced to deal with just a few months prior had been in service of something greater but still junior enough that he had seemed scared of what hurting her could mean for him.

  This Fairy, though, she was something different. She had power enough that Veruca could barely see through it to the knowledge within. Bits of her flashed clearly in Veruca’s mind, but for the most part reading her soul was like staring directly into a halogen light from three paces away. It hurt to be near, and if she had the sort of reach she claimed, and she could bring the wrath of the very king and queen of all of Fairy down, it might mean catastrophe.

  Even if Belial himself could survive their assault—something Veruca had never before considered one way or the other—those around him likely wouldn’t be so lucky. If even one of her friends got caught in some war between Hell and Fairy, she wouldn’t have been able
to forgive herself.

  Belial wanted the banshee to keep her safe, which seemed a noble thing, but if the alternative was going back to exile, and the human world remaining safe, Veruca had to consider the latter a better choice. The life or happiness of one seemingly immortal creature versus the lives of many fragile humans seemed an obvious choice to make.

  “He used to work with the banshees,” Veruca explained, letting the tension run out of her, hoping offhandedly that Finn would be up for giving her a massage later on. “He kept them safe, and he’d like to do the same for this one. He says the queen aims to lock her away again, to punish her, and he wants to put a stop to it.”

  “Just out of the goodness of his heart?” Ankyati asked, that nasty smirk still quirking her mossy lips.

  “Contrary to popular belief, he’s not a bad man,” Veruca said, weariness weighing her down.

  Ankyati hummed. “You’re assuming we have the same definitions of good and bad that you do. I meant to question his motives. Did he say why he wants her? Altruism? Just to stick it to Orlagh?”

  “Something like that,” Veruca said, unable to speak to Belial’s exact reasons. Ankyati grinned again, and Veruca decided she didn’t like feeling so out of the loop. Belial was ancient, had likely existed for longer than Veruca could have contemplated, which meant his history and knowledge was vast. Of all the things he’d asked her to do, she’d never felt so lost and unprepared as she suddenly did when faced with this powerful nature Fairy who wanted something from her but was taking way too long to explain exactly what.

  “What’s an Orlagh?” Finn asked when silence had fallen for a few moments.

  “The queen, little necromancer. Haven’t you been at all versed in the world from which you sprung?”

  “I know plenty about Ireland,” Finn said, straightening up in the way he sometimes did when he was trying to prove he wasn’t a total idiot. “And that’s the only place from which I’m aware I sprung.”

  “Your lineage goes much deeper, dear corpse puppeteer. I could teach you if you were curious enough to offer something in exchange.”

  “Nah,” Finn said, and Veruca could see through his cool exterior to the alarm bells jangling in his mind. “I’m fine being ignorant of all that. I’ve managed to survive so far.”

  “Surprisingly well, in fact. I witnessed your fight with the lamia. Very entertaining. I thought you were a goner when your yeti went down.”

  “I’ve got some tricks up me sleeve, don’t you worry.”

  “I don’t care enough about you to worry, pet. Your lady here, however, can see the big picture, and she knows when she’s been beat. So, we should get down to brass tacks, what do you say?” Ankyati turned her attention to Veruca, smiling.

  Chapter Five

  The teacup had appeared at some point and Finn had completely failed to notice. It had been a subtle exchange and Veruca probably would have missed it herself if she hadn’t felt the brownie’s soul as it made its way over to do the Fairy’s bidding. She knew little about brownies, even though she had a whole family of them living on her private island, but she knew enough to understand that they were often seen as nothing more than lowly servants.

  That was probably why Ankyati hadn’t even acknowledged the brownie when it replaced the cup, refilled the tea, and then made its way back into the vines and trees at the edge of the clearing. With nothing but the issue at hand to focus on, Veruca nodded Ankyati’s way and gestured for her to continue.

  Ankyati made a show of calling over one of the dryads, lifting her hand and wiggling her twig-like fingers in a come hither gesture. The tallest dryad, a unique creature that reminded Veruca of a topiary shaped like a praying mantis, wandered over, taking her time. She finally came to a stop kneeling next to her mistress.

  “See to it that our captive is released unharmed, would you?” Ankyati said without looking toward her subject. “As soon as possible.” The dryad nodded, getting to her feet without a word, and headed back the way Finn and Veruca had come.

  “Thank you,” Veruca said, knowing it wouldn’t mean much to the Fairy but figuring she seemed to know about human pleasantries to understand that it meant something to Veruca.

  “Of course. Be aware that your man isn’t out of danger, not until you’re no longer of use to me. You have other friends I can get to as well.”

  “I don’t need to be threatened,” Veruca said, her temper burbling in her chest. “You’ve made it clear how important it is that I go along.”

  “I knew you were the right woman for the job. I considered several of your contemporaries, but none of them had your … oomph. Nor do any of them have your necromancer. He’s key to all this, pet or not. Now, as you will be helping me, I must offer something in return.”

  “I’d rather leave unmolested and forget any of this ever happened,” Veruca suggested.

  Ankyati pressed on, ignoring her. “Raising the dead can be such a delicate dance, and I see your equipment is rudimentary at best. Have you heard of a man named Leo Slater?”

  “I don’t believe so,” Veruca said, before Finn spoke up, his mind going straight to a dirty place.

  “Nothing’ wrong with my equipment,” Finn said, insult making his voice a touch high. “And, besides, no one but my Veruca’ll be getting their hands where it matters.”

  “Hush,” Ankyati hissed, reaching across toward Finn’s chest. Her fingers seemed to stretch and curve, coming alive as a curious vine that slid into his breast pocket and pulled out a small tin that had held mints once upon a time, but now kept safe only some bits of twine. “This won’t do if you get into a bind. Too easily destroyed or burnt. You’re going to need something more permanent. Slater’s human, but his shop most definitely isn’t. Once you’re back in the weakened realm, I’ll need you to pay him a visit. Him specifically. There are other shops like his, but it’s paramount you travel there. Tell him I’ve sent you and then follow his orders.”

  “I don’t want payment or reward,” Veruca said. “Especially as you haven’t explained yet what you want from us.”

  “I want the same thing as you do, soul stealer. You need only follow my orders and by week’s end you’ll have your banshee.”

  “You know where she is?”

  “Don’t get ahead of us both. See Slater, he’ll pass along your payment.”

  Veruca held her breath, the only way she knew not to make demands or further arguments. This cryptic Fairy was liable to drive her mad, but that was part of dealing with such creatures, she knew. If Ankyati wasn’t ready to reveal her secrets, no amount of yelling was going to change that.

  “How am I supposed to find Slater?” Veruca asked finally.

  “Your man Donald knows him. He can sniff out a trail now that he’s unbound.”

  “How do we know this isn’t some sort of trap?” Finn asked, taking the tin back and tucking it into his jacket as if offended she’d had a finger on it at all.

  Ankyati pulled her hand back, the vines receding until they were digit-sized again. “Foolish boy. I have an end-game in mind, and you’re part of it. We’re all going to work together to make sure the banshee ends up in your arms safe and sound. Remember, if I wanted you dead, I’d’ve killed you the second you crossed the threshold into my pocket of Fairy. Now, hurry along my little fae spawn. Leo’s waiting.”

  ****

  Veruca called Donald the moment they crossed out of Fairy, her feet carrying her around to the side of the store at a speed Finn almost couldn’t believe. Her legs were short—muscled from blessed genetics and frequent exercise, but short all the same. He had to speed to catch up with her, his own phone in his hands as they moved. He hoped he could anticipate her needs and have a car there to pick them up before she even thought of it herself.

  “Donald? You’re all right? You’re okay? They didn’t hurt you?” Veruca asked, nerves naked in her tone.

  Finn flicked his gaze away from the app he was fiddling with and waited for her reaction. When she sigh
ed in relief, so did he. Donald was safe; the tree lady had kept her word. That probably meant she’d keep her word about killing everyone Veruca loved too, but Finn liked to focus on the positives in life.

  “Yes, we’ve been given a task, and it’s been requested you come with us. Are you up for it? I can always get you out of—” Veruca cut off, stuttered for a moment, and then breathed out a strained chuckle. “I know. I get it. We’ll be there before too long. I’ll get a car, collect our things, and meet you at the airport. But if you’re not sure—okay, okay.” Veruca’s smile grew as she listened to Donald’s deep voice.

  Finn watched her relax, hoping it meant all was well, Donald was unscathed, and that maybe this was all a good sign. With any luck, he and Veruca could be back in each other’s arms before the day’s end, rolling around in bed, celebrating their good fortune.

  Veruca finished up her call as Finn finished up his task, tucking his phone into his pocket as she sighed and lowered her arm.

  “He’s okay. He wasn’t hurt. They grabbed him, tied him up, and kept him somewhere he couldn’t identify, but they didn’t hurt him. God, I just keep thinking about what could have happened—”

  “What didn’t happen,” Finn said, gathering her into his arms and holding her close. “What won’t happen now you’re on the case. They’d be foolish to mess with you, my love. Trust me, I know. I’ve seen what you’ll do when push comes to shove.”

  “This is bigger than me, I think.” Veruca sighed, holding tightly to Finn and letting herself relax in his arms. He knew it wouldn’t last, that a hundred things would pop into her big brain and she’d be back to giving orders and making plans in no time. Until then, though, he wanted to make sure she stuck close and felt safe. “This is bigger than all of us. That scares me.”

  “So go to Belial, tell him to take his task and shove it. You and I can run off together. How many times have you denied me a trip to a nude beach? You owe me.”

  “How many times have you made a perfectly family-friendly beach into a nude beach, hmm?” Veruca looked up, challenging him with her perfect features and making him grin.