Ferocious Flea Market Dragons, page 3
Trap be damned, I bolted away from my family and the others gave chase.
I raced through the woods, darting around obstacles until the forest eventually gave way to a ridge overlooking a river. I came to a hard stop when I spotted a lone, two-story paddleboat sitting along the bank. Thin lines of smoke rose from a double chimney. Lanterns scattered along the second-story iron railing cast an eerie, burnt-orange glow along the black-painted ship.
A familiar pumpkin-like scent crossed my nose as we drew closer. But it wasn’t the barge itself that caught my attention—it was the two figures not far from it. One was unmistakably Grandma, her distinctive silver fur making her stand out even from a distance. And I’d never forget the wisps of the night demon’s chartreuse hair or the peculiar sway of her colorful skirts and peplum tops. My former employer stood no taller than my shoulder, but the way she confidently stood next to grandma sent a shiver down my spine. Tonight, Mademoiselle Midnight wore a long, black peplum top and a midnight blue leather skirt and bare feet. The wind off the river tugged at the tail of her top, but I couldn’t see the end, only that it disappeared like the smoke off the chimney.
Good God, what was the demon doing here? Brenna had told me to be careful. The earth witch had been taught from a young age to avoid demons since many of them were unpredictable. I wished I’d brought my goblin blade. My time working at her rare antiques store for night spirits had ended, but I still had unfinished business. More importantly, why did Grandma leave us behind to confront the demon?
Dread seeped into me. I’d hoped for more time.
Grandma turned her head in our direction. A low growl circled from her throat. A warning.
The madame shifted her weight from one foot to the other as I shifted back to human form. Our gazes connected and she gave me a curt nod.
“I didn’t expect to see you this far north, Natalya.” Her green eyebrows rose in amusement. “A rather nice surprise.”
“Why did you come here?” I whispered to Grandma. Not a single muscle so much as twitched on the elderly wolf’s body. Her stony gaze was hooked on the demon.
I stepped between the night demon and grandma then added, “It’s a surprise for both of us.”
Thorn raced up to us. He bared his teeth at the night demon, but I touched the top of his head to calm him.
“Why is everyone so riled up?” the madame asked with a smirk. “I thought you and I were on better terms, Natalya.”
The night demon had threatened to eat me a couple times and I’d seen her natural form—her fifty-foot, armor-wearing, blade-brandishing get-up. Only a fool would trust her.
“Memories can be fickle,” was all I managed to say.
“So they can be.” She gestured toward the boat. “Since I’ve had the pleasure of meeting your grandmother, I should invite you on board for refreshments. Shall we?”
I gave a nod, so we made our way through the Main Deck until we reached a familiar upward staircase to the Hurricane Deck. It hadn’t been that long—seemingly a little over a month since I’d been here, but the place felt different. Far quieter with less traffic from customers.
My family followed her up two sets of stairs to the final floor. At the top, the doorway to the night demon’s quarters opened and revealed her private domain. The inner chamber was well-lit with endless, quivering lanterns hanging from the vaulted ceiling. I scanned the room, recognizing the sitting area to the right, her sleeping quarters in the center, and her collection of night things to the left. She coveted and collected pots and large containers of nightshade, ferns, and night-blooming moonflowers. Pretty much most of them were poisonous.
The last time I’d been in this room, we’d formed plans to confront her sister, the Daylight Dame. The daylight demon had stolen her sister’s whistle and had pinned the deed on the South Toms River Pack. It took my spellcasting friends and the entire pack to fight the daylight demon’s frost giant. In the process of trying to get the whistle, I had swallowed jade beads belonging to the night demon. Sooner or later, she’d wanted to collect on what she’d lost.
I strode over a glass floor in the center of the room. As I’d remembered, the strange dark waters churned underneath the thick glass. As to how this room had water below from the third floor, I wasn’t gonna ask. The night demon gestured for Grandma and me to sit on wooden chairs covered in sheep’s wool.
“Make yourselves comfortable,” the madame said.
One of her servants, a humanoid creature with circular white coral for eyes and waist-length ferns for hair, offered us robes and cups of water. Thorn declined the water and remained near the door, his hard gaze never leaving the night demon.
My aunt and uncle—the far more curious ones—snooped around, touching plants and the various artifacts in the room. A smiling Uncle Boris idled up to one of the night servants, but my quick-handed father redirected him away.
“I don’t think they want what you’re selling,” Dad hissed.
Mom approached Grandma before everyone settled in. “Are you going to tell us why you came here?” she asked her.
“I could sense her as we ran,” Grandma replied crisply. “There was no better time.”
“I’m surprised you wanted to speak to me on her behalf,” the demon said to Grandma in crispy Russian.
“She is a good girl, but like you said earlier, she hasn’t settled all her affairs with you, no?” Grandma Lasovskaya replied.
The demon’s eyes darted my way. “Not completely.”
“There’s a little matter of some jade beads I ate,” I whispered.
“You ate what?” Grandma’s eyes narrowed.
“In order to pick up the Cerberus’s Dog Whistle in the Daylight Dame’s office, I had to eat some fire-resistant beads. It’s a long story.”
Grandma shook her head with disgust. “What kind of fool just picks up and eats something you don’t understand—”
“At the moment I was a little pressed for time and—”
“You should know better,” Grandma snapped. “Why don’t you jump into a fiery pit and see if you burn?”
“Oh, Grandma.” I sighed.
“Maybe you should find the nearest bridge, as the Americans say, and just jump off it with your little friends.”
The demon sipped her spiced punch with a grin. I hoped she enjoyed my verbal admonishment. Two minutes later—with no lesson learned on my part—Grandma finished her speech and she turned to the demon.
“There is nothing that can be done about the jade.” Grandma’s voice lowered briefly as she added, “For now.”
She addressed the demon when she said, “What matters is your compensation and when you expect to get it.”
The night demon put down her cup and one of her servants scurried over to add more of the ginger and persimmon-laden drink. “You’re a wise one, Svetlana Lasovskaya. I like you.” She smiled. “Those jade beads had value and I expected to sell them.”
“Yes, yes,” Grandma said with a curt nod. “As you should.”
“How much does the demon want?” Dad asked.
Mom gave him a dark look. She’d sized up the expensive furniture and museum-quality pieces the moment we boarded.
“You see, my granddaughter has fallen into other troubles,” Grandma explained smoothly. “Now is not a good time—a creature of immeasurable power has sent her underlings after her.”
“Diana,” was all the demon said, not a sliver of emotion on her pert features.
“Yes, my night friend. Rest assured, the Stravinskys pay their debts, but we must deal with Diana and her hellhounds first.”
“There is no dealing with those dogs,” she said as if she’d seen them firsthand. “You either run or you call them off with the magical tools like the dog whistle.”
Back when I’d worked for the night demon, a spring fairy had stolen Cerberus’s Dog Whistle from Mademoiselle Midnight’s store. The whistle could summon a three-headed dog to drive the hellhounds away. I’d even gotten it back again, and yet I didn’t use it for myself. The night demon had threatened to eat me, so I’d done everything in my power to return it.
I glanced toward the blackened waters beneath the glass floor. Shadows shifted below as if mysterious leviathans dipped and rose out of view.
“I’ve faced many foes. The divine ones are the most dangerous.” She spat on her hand and extended it toward Grandma. “I will wait until Natalya is dead or she has dealt with the goddess. If she dies, then whoever’s alive in this room can settle this debt. No?”
Dad stiffened, anger pulsing through him. Mom grasped his arm and frowned.
“What’s going on?” Thorn asked, unable to keep up with the rapid Russian.
I stepped forward to handle the matter. Before anyone—namely me—could end this madness, Grandma licked her palm and shook the demon’s hand.
“Grandma, you can’t—” I said.
“Hush child,” Grandma Lasovskaya hissed. The bite in her tone pushed me back.
I opened my mouth again, but Dad shook his head. What was done was done.
“You sound so assured I won’t survive,” I said to the demon. “Have you met Diana before?”
“I’ve met many lifeforms,” the demon replied. “Some of them malevolent, some of them kind. That creature is pure whim. Whatever she desires—whether that is the joy of the hunt or the pleasures of mankind—she’ll get.”
“I don’t plan to die anytime soon so I’d appreciate more time,” I said bitterly.
“Thanks to your grandmother, I can give you more time.” Starlight flared in her hair. “I look forward to negotiating with you again.”
I sure as hell didn’t look forward to it.
“Then we are good,” Grandma said proudly. “One thing, though. Can you confirm there’s a special store east of here?”
“Is there something you’re in the market for?” the demon replied.
The two chatted as if they hadn’t bargained for my life a minute ago. Dad still fumed off to the side while Aunt Vera explained everything to Thorn. Mom simply stared daggers at the demon.
“I mean a store that sells seeds…special seeds,” Grandma said.
“Ah, you’re seeking a store called The Gray Glen.” The night demon folded her arms. “My products are much better than that dryad’s. Are you sure you want to find her?”
“They have what I need,” I added. “I don’t have a choice at this point.”
“I see.” The night demon’s gaze settled on the wall to the west. I imagined the madame could see through it to the forest beyond. “I can confirm it’s out there. Go east into the reserve. Find three hills with a set of nine pines forming a circle. What you seek is there.”
“Thank you.” As much as I didn’t want to say it, I added, “You didn’t have to help me, and I appreciate it.”
“You’ve got enough on your plate. With the fairy murders happening around here, this area is volatile as it is.”
“You know about the deaths?” I asked.
“My customers from the Old Lands don’t want to come to this area—even with all the discounts.” She released a long sigh. “I tried to set a trap for the perpetrators, but so far they’ve eluded my night guards.”
Grandma eased her way out of the seat, suddenly in a hurry to depart. “Your hospitality is beyond measure,” she said sweetly. “But, no offense, we must go find The Gray Glen. I hope my granddaughter never needs to cross paths with you again.”
The night demon took a slow sip of the red fluid, her eyes trained on our every move. “Too bad we both know it’s too late for that.”
Chapter Five
After our little chat with the night demon, we escaped into the forest and headed east in wolf form. The moon hung low in the night sky, casting an eerie glow over the Nahmakanta Reserve. Tall pine trees loomed overhead, their shadows stretching out like dark fingers. The wind whispered through the branches, carrying with it the scent of pine and damp earth.
Uncle Boris and Dad kept up the hard pace behind me, while Thorn held up the rear with Grandma, Mom, and Aunt Vera.
As we moved deeper into the reserve, the mystical tug grew stronger. We were almost there. Anticipation set me on edge until I spotted something to the northeast. A circle of nine tall pine trees, their branches swaying gently in the wind. In the center stood a narrow, three-story home, as wide as a redwood tree, with bark instead of siding and a roof made of leaves and branches.
In the front yard, a simple clothesline was strung between two sturdy branches. A few garments, made of organic materials and dyed with earthy tones, danced gently in the night’s breeze. Right next to the clothesline was a barrel for collecting rainwater and a tiny stone garden.
Many of the stones in the garden were painted in shades of white and gray, and upon closer inspection, tiny black dots adorned them. I found myself drawn to these dots. They seemed to pulse and move if stared at for too long, making my vision waver and my head spin slightly. I looked elsewhere—even I knew when to mind my own business.
Beyond the stone garden, a plot of rich, dark soil stretched out. This was no ordinary garden. Exotic flowers with petals streaked in vibrant shades of purple and red stood tall, their colors contrasting starkly against the night. Their sweet, intoxicating scent wafted through the air, drawing us. Interspersed among these exotic blooms were young stalks of corn and other vegetables, their green leaves rustling softly as the wind tugged at them.
As we approached, a curious phenomenon occurred. The petals of the purple and red flowers began to curl inward, closing up like disturbed clamshells. It was as if they were shy beings, retreating from the gaze of strangers. The sight was both enchanting and eerie, adding to the mystical aura of the dryad’s dwelling.
Thank goodness, we’d found it.
We circled the hills twice to search for danger. Not finding any, we approached the first hill. Right outside, Grandma and I shifted back into our human forms.
The shadows hid my babushka’s naked body, but I spotted the subtle jerk of her chin to the clothesline. “Bring me something pretty,” she said.
Grandma turned to the others. “Stay here,” she said. “Natalya and I will go inside.”
I nodded, taking a deep breath as I approached the house. The door opened with a soft creak. It looked like a farming supply store—shelves lined with jars of seeds, tools hanging from the walls, and the scent of fresh soil and dried herbs filling the air.
A dryad stood in the center, her black hair cascading down her back and her light eyes regarding us with curiosity. She wore a simple floor-length dress made of gray cotton, and her feet were bare.
“Good day to you,” I said softly. “Is this The Gray Glen?” I said, my voice shaking slightly. “Hope you don’t mind about the clothes.”
The dryad gave us a gentle smile. “Do not worry, Wolf. I am Hyacinth,” she replied. “And I know why you’re here.”
I licked my lips and tried to calm my racing heart. Maybe we could go home soon. “If you know why I’m here, then you know I need a champion to face Diana’s hellhounds.”
I added, “Is it available?”
Hyacinth tilted her head, considering. “You can have it for ten bars of gold,” she replied not blinking once.
“One gram each?” I squeaked.
“One pound each.” Damn, she said that with her whole chest, too.
I swallowed hard. At around thirty thousand dollars apiece, there was no way I could afford it. After paying for the cabins and this trip, I barely had a hundred bucks in the bank. “I don’t have that.”
Grandma stepped forward. “Is there anything else we can offer? A barter worth your time?”
Hyacinth pondered Grandma’s request as she picked up a rag to dust around tiny seed jars. “There’s a killer on the loose,” she said slowly. “They’re harming my brethren from the Old Lands. I cannot leave these hills, but if you can find the culprit and restore order, you’ll be more than worthy of the Seed of the Fates.”
“The Seed of the Fates,” I repeated. “How are the Fates related to a seed capable of summoning a champion?” My good friend Abby the Muse had spoken briefly about the three ancient sisters and how they protected her.
Hyacinth gave us a knowing smile. “How much do you know about them?”
“Not much,” I admitted.
She nodded. “The Fates are powerful beings. I believe they rival the gods, but others wouldn’t agree. Like Hera and her jealous ilk.” The dryad snorted and Grandma nodded sagely. “There are three of them and each play a role in our lives: the spinner, the measurer, and the snipper. In your case, a divine being is trying to interfere with the length of your mortal life. The Fates hate such things. They favor the brave. If you’re willing to sacrifice your life for others while yours is in peril, you will be a worthy recipient.”
Briefly, I considered walking away. I had no time to hunt for a murderer. I’d likely die trying to find them. But then again, what choice did I have? I swallowed past the lump forming in my throat. Many bargains would be made tonight. I didn’t like any of them. “I’ll accept your terms. We’ll find the culprit.”
Hyacinth’s eyes darkened. “Thank you, Wolf. You have one week,” she said. “After that, The Gray Glen will move to Yakutia in Siberia.”
“I understand.” I didn’t have plans to visit one of the coldest cities in the world to get what I needed so I’d have to hurry.
With a final nod, Grandma and I left the house, the door closing behind us with a soft click.
Chapter Six
The next morning arrived with a hellish nightmare. As I jolted awake, momentarily disoriented, I couldn’t help but recall the weight of Diana’s collar squeezing tight around my neck.
I touched my collarbone, finding nothing there. At least I was safe in bed. The quilt I had kicked off in the night was now tangled around my legs. Pulling it back up, I lay next to Thorn and tried to stop the world from spinning too fast. Too much had happened too quickly. I glanced around. Our temporary bedroom was smaller than I remembered. Wooden walls encased us, and I realized we weren’t in our own bed. Instead, we were in a quaint, rustic cabin bedroom. We were in Maine.
