Quiver of Cobras Page 6

  Morgan sucked in a breath. ‘You have to take care. Believe me, I’ve tried to thwart him on numerous occasions. He sees several moves ahead and always ends up with the upper hand.’

  ‘You give him too much credit because he’s your brother,’ I scoffed. ‘He doesn’t achieve as much as he thinks he does.’

  ‘He managed to get you.’

  A flicker of pain ran through me. ‘That was the old me.’

  ‘Was it?’ he asked softly.

  I sighed. The truth was that I didn’t really know.

  We stepped onto the scarred first-floor landing. Although the damage here was extensive, there were a few odd corners that appeared untouched by the flames. There was an oriental rug, which still had patches of its original red wool visible beneath the layer of ash. A cabinet stood at the end of the hallway. It was open and obviously empty and its door hung off one hinge but it appeared salvageable.

  Morgan nodded. ‘There might be enough here to make this work.’

  I gazed at him blankly. ‘Huh?’

  He chuckled. ‘You still don’t know everything that you’re capable of. Faeries can do more than affect time and lust after home.’

  ‘I shot a magical beam at the sniper who was firing at us at the Travotel,’ I said importantly. ‘Alas, it was with my hand rather than my eyes. It would have been cool to shoot laser beams from my pupils.’ I stared at him. ‘Unless we do have laser vision?’ I crossed my fingers.

  ‘No.’

  Darn it.

  ‘Most of our skills have little to do with fighting. We’re Fey, Maddy. Our role is to enhance the earth and the environment, not to destroy.’

  ‘Tell that to Rubus.’

  Morgan’s expression was rueful. ‘That’s the trouble. He believes that he is enhancing life and, in a way, he is. He’s seeking to return us to Mag Mell, which is why he has so many followers. That and numerous pixie-dust addicts.’

  ‘Have you tried yourself?’ I asked. ‘To re-open the borders, I mean?’

  ‘Again and again and again.’ His mouth turned down. ‘Whatever occurred to slam the borders shut in the first place, I can’t see a peaceful way to return them to their former state.’

  ‘So now you advocate patience?’

  He nodded. ‘You can see why Rubus’s call to action is more desirable.’

  Yeah, I supposed I could. ‘And maybe,’ I said, ‘you can see why it’s a good idea for me to stay by his side.’

  Morgan rolled his eyes but I could tell he agreed with me.

  He dug into his pocket, pulled out a small white object and passed it to me. I held it up and examined it. ‘A shell? Is this a memento of you, Snail Boy? Are you trying to ensure that I don’t forget you?’ As if that was likely to happen, I snorted to myself.

  ‘It’s a communication device,’ he said shortly.

  I stared at it. ‘I’m pretty sure it’s a shell.’

  Morgan sighed. ‘It’s a communication shell.’ He pulled out an identical one. ‘I have its pair. You speak into it and I’ll hear you. It’s completely secure and easy to conceal.’

  I burst out laughing. ‘So what you’re really saying is that this is a shell phone.’

  ‘Why is that so funny?’ he enquired.

  ‘You know. Shell. Cell.’ At his expression, I gave up. ‘If I have to explain it, it doesn’t work.’ I eyed the thing. It would come in handy. Another thought occurred to me. ‘Hang on a gasbudlikin minute,’ I said. ‘You’re carrying this around so you were expecting to see me. You were planning to give it to me all along,’ I crowed.

  Morgan shrugged. ‘So?’

  ‘You really did come here to look for me.’

  ‘I really didn’t.’

  I pointed to the shell. ‘This proves otherwise.’

  Irritated, he ran a hand through his hair. ‘Let’s just say that I had the feeling I’d bump into you again before too long. I didn’t come here with any expectation of finding you.’

  ‘Yeah, yeah. You keep telling yourself that.’

  He tutted.

  I smiled. ‘For what it’s worth,’ I murmured, ‘I’m glad you’re here. And I’m grateful for the shell.’

  For the first time Morgan seemed unable to meet my eyes. ‘You’re welcome.’

  ‘Now I can booty call you whenever I want,’ I beamed.

  Morgan’s gaze flashed to mine. ‘That’s not why I’ve given it to you.’

  ‘Methinks the gentleman doth protest too much,’ I whispered. I breathed in his heady masculine scent. Mmmm. As if agreeing with me, the building around us creaked. I shook myself; we were here for a reason and it wasn’t to have mind-blowing, no-holds-barred sex. Unfortunately.

  ‘Anyway,’ I prodded, getting back to our earlier conversation, ‘what did you mean? What might work?’

  Morgan took a moment to answer. Apparently I wasn’t the only one who’d been using their imagination for things other than arson investigations. He licked his lips. ‘Along with slowing down time, we can also make use of magic to reveal what used to be.’ At my look, he explained hastily, ‘I can’t bring back your memory or reveal who you used to be inside.’ He tapped his temple. ‘The sort of magic I’m talking about affects only surface appearances. The complexity of the mind is a completely different thing. Affecting the biology of living things, rather than just their appearance, is far too complex for even the most adept faery.’ He waved a hand around. ‘But as far as this place is concerned, I can hinge onto the undamaged spots and use them to create an image – a reality-based glamour, if you will – of what once was.’

  ‘That’s all as clear as mud,’ I said cheerfully. ‘This faery shit is complicated.’

  Morgan laughed. ‘Yes, I suppose it is.’ He shot me a look and jerked his thumb at my head. ‘Either that or your wheel is still spinning even though the hamster is dead.’

  I gasped. ‘I’m really jealous of people who don’t know you, Morgan.’

  His grin broadened and he blew me a kiss. I stuck my tongue out at him but my insides were doing a happy cha-cha-cha. If we could hang around here for the rest of the year and do nothing more than throw insults at each other, my life would be perfect. Would that it could be so.

  Morgan fixed his eyes on the cabinet in the corner, his pupils narrowing into pinpricks as he focused. ‘Watch,’ he murmured.

  He extended his arms, his thumbs lightly touching his middle fingers. It seemed as if he were drawing power from the very air around him. I could almost hear the buzz.

  Our surroundings started to flicker and blur. I blinked to clear my vision and, a moment later, not only had the cabinet repaired itself but the walls shimmered with green-and-gold wallpaper. What had been bare scorched floorboards beneath my feet were now strips of burnished mahogany, complete with a carpet runner in rich red.

  I gazed around, my mouth hanging open. ‘This is amazing.’ I stepped forward to touch an oil painting and marvel at its texture but, as I did so, my foot went straight through the floor. There was a tremendous sound of splintering wood.

  Morgan leapt forward, grabbing my arm and hauling me upwards. ‘Careful,’ he warned. ‘It’s only an image of what was. This entire building is still unsafe.’

  I could feel his heartbeat thrum next to mine. For the briefest of seconds, I enjoyed the sensation of being pressed against him then I pulled away. ‘Let’s see what there is to see.’

  Taking more care, I tiptoed gingerly into the nearest room. It appeared to be some kind of study area. There was an antique desk and numerous books. The far wall remained untouched by Morgan’s magic so, aping his moves, I spread out my arms and connected my thumbs to my fingers just as he had. Disappointingly, nothing happened although I did feel a brief tug of magic. Discarding his actions I tried my own, flicking both middle fingers up at the wall and grimacing. Just as Morgan had managed it out in the hallway, I managed it here. The burnt wall repaired itself, re-forming back into its former glory. I beamed. Go the Madhatter.

  ‘I did
it!’ I crowed.

  ‘Well done,’ Morgan murmured. He cocked his head and frowned. ‘That’s not right.’

  I put my hands on my hips. ‘My magic is just as good as your magic.’

  ‘I’m not denigrating your skills, Maddy. I mean that something’s not right about the wall.’ He glanced at me. ‘Remove the spell for a minute.’

  He was just jealous, I decided, but I did as he asked and flicked my fingers back at the wall. The glamour vanished, leaving the depressing black flakes of plaster and charred timber frame instead.

  ‘There,’ Morgan murmured. He pointed. ‘You see this?’

  I squinted. ‘It’s a hole. Half this building is a hole.’ I looked harder. Hang on a minute. Without waiting for Morgan to give the word, I turned the spell back on again. A painting, a square painting, had covered the hole. I edged up and poked my finger at it before removing the glamour again. Huh. Snail Boy had sharp eyes.

  ‘Something was here,’ I said. ‘Built into the wall itself.’

  Morgan nodded grimly. ‘What better way to hide a theft than to burn the building to the ground? It was probably a safe of some sort. Whoever destroyed Chen’s home took the time to remove his safe first. Maybe they even used the fire to dislodge the safe from the wall. Either way, this is important. I’d have said the sphere would have been kept here, except the building didn’t burn down until two nights ago. Where was Rubus then?’

  I shrugged helplessly. ‘I don’t know. Until today, I’ve been locked up in a room.’

  Anger sparked in Morgan’s eyes. ‘Rubus is afraid of you and what you’re capable of.’

  ‘Or he just doesn’t trust me.’ That was more likely. Another thought struck me. ‘Or he needed me out of the way because he had things to do – like come here and burn the place to the ground.’

  ‘And steal Chen the Dragon’s safe,’ Morgan agreed. ‘You need to get back to Rubus. And you need to find out if he has the safe and what’s inside it. We’ve saved the sphere, Maddy, but what if there are more objects like it?’

  My mouth was dry. Gasbudlikins. This could be very, very bad. I still glanced at Morgan, though, and murmured, ‘Now you’re glad that I didn’t run away from Rubus, aren’t you?’

  He tutted but didn’t otherwise respond.

  ‘Score one to the Madhatter!’

  ‘You’re a bad winner,’ he told me.

  ‘And you’re a sore loser.’

  We stared at each other for a moment. Morgan’s eyes dropped to my lips and I couldn’t stop my tongue from darting out to wet them.

  There was a loud crash from somewhere over our heads and we both jumped.

  ‘We should get out of here before the building collapses,’ he whispered.

  I nodded in agreement and turned to walk away. I knew without glancing back that Morgan was watching my arse. As he should.

  Chapter Five

  Evil Madrona, I told myself, as I strode back into Rubus’s rabbit warren of a place. Evil Madrona, not Superhero Madrona.

  ‘Hey, Madrona,’ Lunaria called out.

  ‘Evil Madrona,’ I snapped back, without thinking.

  She blinked. ‘Uh…’

  Gasbudlikins. ‘I’m trying out new nicknames,’ I said. ‘To be honest, I like the Madhatter but I’m not sure that Rubus is a fan.’

  ‘No,’ she agreed. ‘And it’s important to keep him happy.’ She said this last part with a completely straight face, as if she wholeheartedly believed it. I did too – but I suspected that was for entirely different reasons.

  ‘Where is our self-styled king?’ I enquired.

  ‘In his room,’ she told me. ‘Down the corridor, last door on the left.’

  ‘Thanks.’ I suddenly remembered who I was supposed to be and gave her a critical look up and down. ‘Are you wearing that?’

  Lunaria blinked, her skin paling. ‘What’s wrong with it?’

  I shrugged. ‘Nothing. Don’t mind me.’ I smiled prettily. ‘It’s perfectly … nice.’

  Lunaria’s fingers twitched at the fabric of her rose-sprigged dress. She looked utterly crestfallen. Unfortunately, my bid to be mean and nasty also filled me with an irritating wave of guilt. ‘We should go shopping,’ I told her. ‘The clothes I’ve been given, and which I presume my old self rather liked, are nothing more than “nice” too. We work for Rubus. We should dress like we do.’

  Lunaria’s eyes suddenly shone. ‘That’d be brilliant.’

  ‘I wouldn’t go that far,’ I said. ‘Let me talk to Rubus first then I’ll come find you. Okay?’

  She nodded vigorously. ‘Okay, yes. Thank you, Mads! You’re amazing.’

  I wrinkled my nose as I walked away. While it was a good idea to keep Fey like Lunaria on my side so that I could hear the gossip, I wasn’t sure that becoming bosom buddies with his minions would encourage Rubus to trust me. But Lunaria had looked so hurt…

  ‘Evil Madrona,’ I muttered again under my breath. If I couldn’t convince myself that I was evil, I wasn’t sure I’d convince anyone else. I’d have to try harder. I considered punching the wall next to me for no other reason than because I was the Madhatter but decided I liked the skin on my knuckles where it was.

  Hmmm.

  A stocky-looking Fey who I vaguely recognised was standing outside Rubus’s bedroom. His expression didn’t change when I approached but I noticed that his chest expanded slightly, puffing out as if he were trying to make himself look larger and more imposing than he really was. I paid him no attention and moved towards the door handle. I’d barely touched it when he placed his hand on my arm.

  ‘Boss in’t be disturbed.’

  In’t? What kind of word was that supposed to be? ‘The boss is not to be disturbed, you mean.’

  He gazed at me unblinkingly. ‘Thass what I said.’

  I didn’t have the time, the patience or the vaguest inclination to continue this conversation. As I shook off his hand and sniffed, the Fey wasted no time in thrusting out his arm to bar my approach. This was one of those occasions when I could wholeheartedly agree with Rubus that the truce was a pain in the proverbial arse. If it didn’t exist, I could have beat this arsebadger to the ground or maybe even killed him with my thumbs if I felt like it. Then he’d be sorry. Unfortunately the truce prevented violence of any sort, so the only thing I could do was resort to my other wiles.

  I darted out my tongue and slowly licked my lips then I widened my eyes slightly. I did everything apart from grab my breasts and plump them up in front of the Fey’s face. ‘I’m sure he’d like to see me,’ I purred.

  He didn’t even react. ‘No dice.’

  I threw up my hands. ‘Oh, come on!’

  He shook his head. ‘Nope.’

  ‘It’s important.’

  ‘Don’ care.’

  I gritted my teeth. Why was this so difficult? ‘Rubus!’ I bellowed. ‘I need to see you!’

  Crickets, I cursed to myself. ‘I saw my soap-star friend! She’s agreed to meet with you!’ I called

  I waited a beat. Still nothing. Gasbudlikins. I had no choice but to resort to the truth. What a shambles. ‘I have information about Chen too!’

  There was still no sound and Rubus’s door remained tightly closed. A glimmer of a smile played around the Fey bouncer’s lips. I pushed myself onto my tiptoes so that my eyes were level with his. ‘You have no idea who you’re dealing with,’ I hissed.

  ‘I heard you got umnesia. You don’ know who you’re dealing with either. You don’ even know who you are.’

  Touché. ‘It’s amnesia, you tool.’

  He shrugged. ‘Whatever.’

  I reached into my pocket. ‘Do you know what I have in here?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Pixie dust,’ I told him. ‘Delicious, homesickness-reducing pixie dust. Have you ever had any?’

  For the first time he looked uncomfortable. ‘No.’

  ‘It’s fabulous.’ I gently brushed my fingertips against the centre of his chest. ‘It takes away the ache
, the one that’s always there. It’ll make you feel better.’

  He stiffened. ‘I like the ache. It reminds me that what Rubus is doing is helping us all. He’ll take us back to Mag Mell. He’ll lead the way.’ His lip curled. ‘Your dust shit is just temporary.’

  There was a feverish light in his eyes. Yeah, okay. I was beginning to understand why so many Fey were around here, hanging off Rubus. It wasn’t just about pixie dust; the blasted man was like a cult leader who was promising guaranteed entry to heaven.

  That didn’t mean I was going to give up. From what Morgan had suggested, I’d been an outstandingly effective drug dealer. I wasn’t going to let all that slip away. ‘So you don’t want a free sample?’

  ‘No.’

  I nodded. ‘Okay. That just means there’s more for the others. I’m impressed that you’re resisting, especially when I know that Rubus likes pixie dust because it makes his trusted people like you feel just that tiny bit better. He knows it’s only a temporary solution but he’s doing his best to help us out. If you’d rather not do as he suggests, however…’ My voice trailed off.

  There was a flicker of doubt in the Fey’s expression. It was faint but it was definitely there. I was finally getting somewhere. Trying not to let my triumph show on my face, I smiled softly at him. Then the door opened.

  ‘You can come in,’ Rubus said.

  ‘Just a minute,’ I told him. ‘I’m getting better acquainted with your bodyguard here.’

  Rubus rolled his eyes, reached out and pulled me in, closing the door behind him.

  ‘Hey!’ I protested. ‘I was just about to make a sale!’

  ‘Do you have any dust on you?’

  I frowned. ‘No, but—’

  ‘Do you realise that Amellus is already loyal? I don’t need my trusted soldiers to become drug addicts, Madrona.’

  ‘Yeah, but…’

  Rubus smiled. ‘You’re still in there,’ he said quietly. ‘You might not remember but you’re still my Madrona. You were quite prepared to forget why you’d come here because you wanted to sell Amellus some dust. We’re so similar, you and I.’ His eyes gleamed. ‘Win at all costs. Right?’