Horns and Halos, page 26
As I slipped into my bedroom, I managed to sneak a peek over to the end of the hall that led to the front desk. It was there that I saw Micah slink behind the corner. I smiled at Elijah, blew a kiss, and felt my heart melt when he whispered, “I’m yours, Sia. Always.”
The door shut and I leaned against it. Everything in me wanted to go to Elijah. Everything in me knew that doing so would mean the end for him. There was too much unknown for me to let down my guard in this place. Until I was sure, I needed to play it safe.
“Pesky little thing ruining such a sweet moment,” Draki murmured.
Turning and leaning my back against the door instead, I let out a rush of air and nodded. “You saw it too?” I asked.
Draki held a finger up to his lips and pointed to the door. I looked over my shoulder to the barrier with a furrowed brow, and Draki was suddenly next to me, his breath playing over my neck and the cuff of my ear as he spoke across my skin. “They can’t hear me, but be careful how loud you get because they can hear you just fine. And, yes. I saw. You’re being watched.”
I pulled back enough to see his eyes. “Why?” I whispered.
He grinned as he inched closer to my face. “Because you survived out in the Wastes for so long. One has to wonder ... how?”
I opened my mouth and closed it. I couldn’t blame them. I wasn’t happy about being under suspicion, and I didn’t like being followed and watched. But I could understand.
“What do I do?” I asked quietly.
“Do your best to be whatever they want. I don’t suspect we’ll stay here very long.” When he looked back down at me, he laughed. It must have been written all over my face because he answered my question without me ever uttering a word. “I’ve come to know you quite well, Sia. Once you see this place for what it is ...” he looked up and around the room before returning to me, “you’ll beg me to leave.”
“But ... there—”
“There isn’t anywhere else to go?”
I nodded.
“You could always build your own village.” Quickly, he put a hand on either side of me and leaned in until he was practically pinning me against the door. His smile was positively dark as he added, “For a price, I’d be your village’s devil.”
Chapter 27:
The Trouble with Devils
The next morning, Elijah and I ate breakfast in the dining area before heading out into the city. I was curious to understand how much money was needed to buy standard essentials. I also wanted to see what the rest of the city—and the people in it—were like.
It was slightly irritating as it was distracting to try and consume our meal while knowing that every word spoken, every action made, and every sideways glance was weighed and measured from a distance. Micah was watching us still, and I was willing to bet the little money I had earned last night that Dara was too. I didn’t like that because I knew that feeling too well now—the feeling of secrets being kept. Not the kind that were openly gossiped about over tea and cakes. The kind of secrets that meant you had a deep, dark closet hidden away from the rest of the world and the depths of it was full to the brim with skeletons ... and none of them belonged to you. Those were the kind of secrets that were the most hideous because you didn’t hide them out of shame. You hid them because you didn’t want to get caught.
... Because you weren’t done collecting skeletons.
“Come on, let’s go,” I mumbled, picking up my things and quietly thanking the waiter that came to collect the dirty dishes.
“Ready to go so soon?” Elijah asked.
I was busy pretending to pat down my army jacket and fix my braids while catching glimpses of Micah watching us. I faced Elijah and responded to him, “Yeah, I’m really interested in stretching my legs and checking out the city.”
Dara’s voice came as a surprise as she exited the kitchen. “You two be sure to start heading back when the bells start sounding off from the cathedral.”
“I thought you wouldn’t be able to see us in the morning,” I said with a smile.
She laughed lightly. “I didn’t think I would be able to, either.” She pointed to one of the windows. In the distance, upon a large hill, there sat the monumental building that dwarfed any other structure in the city. “The bells start going off around eleven o’clock, so if you start heading back home around that time, you should have plenty of breathing room to get ready and meet up in the kitchen for lunch before the rush hour begins.”
Elijah looked the dining area over. “You seem to do rather well for yourself as a diner even though you’re an inn.”
The smile that we got then was the kind that held traces of sadness. You knew that there was happiness to it, but there was hurt there too. “That’s all thanks to my husband, Arrow,” she admitted. “He had a passion for making people feel comfortable and was amazing in the kitchen. He taught me a thing or two over the years.” She licked her lips and her eyes fogged over like she was drifting away to some faraway place that no one could follow her to. “Some days I miss him more than others.” She looked to the ceiling and sniffed before blinking away unshed tears. Turning her attention back to us, she motioned to the front door saying, “Return when you hear the bells,” in a soft voice that was on the verge of breaking.
I nodded and forced a smile. We hadn’t meant to bring up painful memories again. “We’ll see you around lunch, then.” With that said, the two of us headed out and hit the streets.
For several hours I had struggled to get used to the uneven roads. You’d think after falling twice, stumbling relentlessly, and scuffing my toes over the bubbled cobblestones more times than I cared to count I would have learned how to walk a straight line instead of looking like a nervous drunk caught in the act during daylight hours. Unfortunately, my learning curve was far greater than expected. Aside from mumbling a few choice words under my breath or laughing to hide my evident embarrassment, I managed to enjoy my day out. After entering only a few of the shops, it was clear to us that the money we had earned was minimal, as promised. It would be enough to buy a couple of meals, or maybe a small coin purse. Nothing more than that, though. I had assumed as much, but it was nice to be sure of that fact now.
There wasn’t anything really notable that happened while we were out. By the time the bells had started sounding off, we were already halfway to the inn. Every block or so, I would look back to the massive structure that shadowed everything. The longer I was in the faith city, the more that I saw things in a different light. Now—for whatever reason—when I saw the cathedral, the hair on the back of my neck stood on end. The building was both beautiful and haunting to look at. I couldn’t stop glancing at it as we headed back to the inn.
The lunch rush was similar to the dinner rush from the night before: different meal, same execution plan. Again, we received praise from Dara who looked at us with a smirk on her lips and a hand resting on her hips.
“I think I really need to put in a word with the Grand Master about how I would like to keep you two on staff.” She looked worried for a moment and quickly added, “Only if you two want to, of course. Don’t want you taking on a job that you would wind up regretting later. Don’t feel like you’re doing me any favors, ya hear? It won’t hurt my feelings if you decline so you can get something else that you might feel more passionate about.”
“I would love to work with you. I already know the kitchen, I’m familiar with you and the staff, and I know my way around the place fairly well for having just arrived. Besides, cooking reminds me of my parents,” I admitted.
Elijah thumbed to me saying, “I’m with her. Everything she said, I second.”
Clapping her hands together joyfully, Dara laughed, delighted with our replies. “Well, that’s that, then. I’ll write up a letter for you to take up to the cathedral tomorrow. Grand Master Arland will need to look it over and then it’ll need to be stamped by the employment house.”
“Do you think we could discuss wages and living arrangements later on tonight?” I pressed. Momma didn’t raise a fool.
She wagged a finger at me. “A girl that knows how to bargain. I like that.” Stopping to think for a moment, Dara nodded to herself with a slight hum. “Hmm, yes. I believe later on tonight will be perfect. I’ll be able to add the details to the letter, and it will make the whole process run a lot smoother for the employment house if we do.”
“Perfect!” I gleefully announced. Turning on heel, I called out to Elijah who had wandered off to scoop out some stew into a bowl. “I’m going to head back out into the city.”
“Want some company?”
I shook my head. “No. I just wanted to window shop at a few places that we passed by earlier. I’ll be back before it gets dark outside.” I looked over to Dara. “I know that the dinner rush starts not too long after sundown.”
“Right you are, young lady,” Dara said with a proud look in her eyes.
Elijah set his bowl down on the counter and looked at me with concern. “Are you sure that you don’t want me to come with you? I don’t mind tagging along as you daydream over things.”
I nodded. “I’m sure. Besides, you already got yourself an extra helping of food. Sit and enjoy it. I’ll be fine on my own. Don’t make me remind you that you’re still healing from your recent injuries, you’ll lose the argument real fast.”
He drew in a deep breath and released it slowly. We exchanged a look with our eyes. One that silently told the other that we needed to act normal and that we both needed to be careful no matter where we were in the city. That included under the roof of the inn.
“All right. I’ll see you later on tonight then.” He slid up onto a stool in front of the counter and gave me a weak smile. One that was full of worry.
“I’ll see you later on as well. I best be getting back to work. The linen should be dry by now and there are beds that need to be made.” I barely caught a glimpse of the hem of her skirt as Dara rushed out of the room and into the back courtyard where the laundry was hung.
I shouted to her, “I’ll be back soon.” I dropped my voice to a whisper only Elijah could hear as I passed by to say, “Be careful.”
“Mhmm,” he hummed with a mouthful of stew and gave me a thumbs-up as I left.
Micah wasn’t at the front desk when I left. I didn’t know if that meant I should be more careful or if he had been listening to our conversation in the kitchen. Either way, it set me on edge knowing that I was being followed around and listened to at every turn. Could I understand why they were being so careful with Elijah and me? Yes. Did I like it? Not in the slightest.
Outside, I took in a deep breath of fresh air and quickly headed in the direction of the shops that I had remembered from our ventures earlier. I wanted to get an idea of which tailoring shop had the better quality clothes. Between meemaw and momma, I had an eye for stitching. Tack on the fact that daddy could tell me the good leather from the bad and which fabrics could hold up through an honest day’s work, there wasn’t a chance I was going to be swindled by someone trying to earn a bit of money off of my ignorance. Browsing would also give me a good estimate of the wages I should be asking Dara for.
Around the third shop I was about to enter, there was a tall, sophisticated man speaking with another well-dressed male. The taller male had a long face and eyes that looked both sad and tired. His heavily creased brow was bent with anger, and his side-swept, sandy blond hair made the many folds visible as he argued with the other man.
The second male had deep, black hair that held hints of red when the sun hit it just right. It was shaved along the sides while the top was short and combed back, but it was long in the back. His hazel eyes also seemed to burn with a crimson undertone, and they came across as if they held a thousand schemes within them. His skin was dark. Darker than daddy’s. It appeared like a black pearl against the pale white of his pantsuit. The ruby feathers that were woven into his hair draped around his neck like a collar, and he had a very thin and finely groomed goatee that made him look a little older than I would have guessed at first glance. A series of black and silver necklaces that were thick and carved in a beautiful design that matched his large earrings were coiled around his neck and embedded with turquoise stones. I stared a little too long at the deep V of his suit and noted that there was nothing but a bare chest beneath it and not the expected button-up shirt I thought I’d find. When my eyes drifted back up to his face, our eyes met, and he winked at me before he resumed looking at the other male.
The two of them were blocking the path to the entrance and so engrossed in their conversation that they didn’t notice me needing to pass by. It didn’t help that the one dressed in white made no move to notify his conversation partner that I was coming up behind them. Agitated, I figured I would just walk through the street to get around them. No sooner had my foot hit the street did the chaos begin.
“You, sir, are a liar!” the taller man professed.
“Oh? If you believe that to be true then go see for yourself. I won’t stop you,” the male in white urged with a suspiciously chipper tone.
“You know nothing,” the taller man whispered heatedly. “I will go and see. If nothing more than to prove to myself that I was right and you are a sad, cruel man trying to create wedges between two loving people.” He stormed off through the street, bumping into me as he passed. “Watch where you’re going!” he yelled at me and then continued on his way like he wasn’t the one in the wrong.
I stumbled back and slipped on the curbside as I tried to right myself on the sidewalk. As I failed with my footwork, I found myself caught before I landed square on my backside.
“Whoa there, pretty lady. Careful, the streets are full of angry people.”
I shouldn’t have been as surprised as I was to see the suit-wearing male holding me in his arms. As I confidently situated myself, I gave a look of disapproval while dusting off unseen dirt from my clothes. “I’m sure you had no hand in causing him to be so angry.”
“He simply didn’t enjoy me telling him that his wife was enthralled with another man.”
“Charming,” I said with a sneer and a roll of my eyes.
“Heh, I’ve angered you?” The way he said it sounded like he was almost proud that he had managed to do it so easily.
I flashed a mock grin in his direction. “It’s a stretch if you think my annoyance is anger.”
He grinned as he said, “What is annoyance but a single stepping stone along the path to anger?”
I furrowed my brow and narrowed my eyes at him. I didn’t like the familiar way his gestures and speech reminded me of a certain devil. I took a step back and shook my head while speaking quietly. “I’ve no quarrel with you. I just want to look around in the shop up ahead, nothing more.”
He plucked a brow of one eye and gave a throaty chuckle. “Oh ... oh, you’re a sharp one.”
“Whether I’m sharp or dull to you makes no difference to me. Either way, you have a good day. I’ll just carry on.” I wanted nothing more than to have distance between us. I was willing to pass the shop, even. Maybe head a little deeper into the city before doubling back and rushing toward Arrow’s Inn. However, the male had no intention of letting me pass.
Quickly, he blocked my path again and held out his hand. “The name’s Kasim.”
I ignored the gesture. “Very nice to meet you, Kasim, but I’m pressed for time. I have to get back to work soon.”
“Hahaha. Surely giving me a name won’t make you late. If a few minutes of your time were going to make you so late to work, I’d dare make the assumption that you wouldn’t have had the time to visit this shop you were so keen on looking around in.” He grinned then. “Your name?” It sounded like a command, not a polite suggestion.
I drew my lips into my mouth and stared at him, then his hand. Again, I ignored his offer of handshaking and settled for quickly blurting out, “Sia,” before brushing past him hurriedly.
In an instant, he grabbed my arm and spun me back around to face him. “Sia, is it? That’s a pretty nickname. But it isn’t your real name.”
“Clever of you to pick up on that. No, it isn’t, and I won’t provide it for you. So—if you don’t mind—I’m going to be on my way now.” I tried to pull my hand away from his vice grip, but he wasn’t letting go. His smile was like a curved sword, and I saw something flash in his eyes. Out of fear someone would hear me, I whispered to him, “I won’t make a deal with you.”
That didn’t make him let go. In fact, it made him squeeze my arm a little harder right before he jerked me toward him with such force that I almost hit his chest. “Ah, see ... there it is. I knew you were different the moment I saw you. I do love it when the player knows the game. Makes it a bit more fun.”
I forced a smile. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I lied.
“Oh, my dear, I believe you do.” He drew in closer and then inhaled deeply. His eyes fluttered, and he laughed lightly. “You know better than anyone here.” He dropped his voice to a dangerous level that was meant for only my ears. “I can smell him on you.”
I went still. All of my assumptions collided together to form the ugly truth that I was afraid of. He was a devil, and one strong enough that it could reside in a faith city, too. Was this why Draki had told me to be careful? Was it because devils could roam through these streets just like they could out in the Wastes?
His words cut through my thoughts like a knife. “I see I’ve got your attention now.”
“Look, I don’t want any trouble ...”
“Nor I. I just want to see if you can resist the urge to lose control.” He lifted his free hand and reached for my face.
Looking away, I tried to peel away from his grip, but I found that I didn’t have to struggle much. His hold on me was released, and his hand never grazed my skin. Opening my eyes, I saw that he had made sure to put a good amount of distance between us. A devil didn’t back off like that because a girl was struggling. No. From my experience, the monsters only backed off when a bigger monster entered the room.
