Bittersweet (9 page)

 

 

“A karaoke club? Seriously?” Mom leaned against the doorframe of my room. Her keen lie-detector gaze scanned my face and then the signed permission form she clearly hadn't bothered to read earlier. “
That's
your class field trip?”

“Yep.” I shrugged. “Teacher's orders.” Mr. Smythe was notorious for unusual field trips, but this one was a first. I heard he went through reams of red tape to get clearance for this trip to Dissonance, a night club in the city where we could live out our rock star fantasies. No way was I missing it. He'd even reserved a private room with a stage, just for our class. “He's a huge Glee fan.” I shrugged. “And it counts toward my final grade, so I have to be there,” I reminded her, while searching for the trendiest jacket I could find.

I'd never been to a night club, and had no idea what to wear. Brianne had offered up a few suggestions, which all involved micro minis or belly shirts. Needless to say I took a pass. My ripped jeans, Hard Rock Cafe T-shirt and high heeled ankle boots would have to do.

Mom gave me the once over and wrinkled her nose. “Is that what you're wearing?”

Sigh. “You have something else in mind?”

Apparently that was all the invitation she needed. She nearly sprinted down the hall to her room, throwing open the door to her walk-in closet. I cringed at how much of it sparkled. It looked like it had been bombed with pixie dust. But she made her living in the public eye. Glittery low-cut ball gowns made for a clever distraction to hide who you really are behind a showy false persona. Although, I suspect she did it more to hide from herself.

She pulled out a dress and I shook my head before she could even hand it to me.

“Nope. No dresses. I'm keeping the jeans.”

My mother rolled her eyes. “Fine, then how about this?”

I liked a little shimmer as much as the next girl, but really? This one was more sequins than fabric. It was like a liquid mirror. Way too Vegas. I was about to reject it too when she took it off the hanger and pushed it at me.

“If you're going to be on stage, you have to get used to being the center of attention. Nothing catches the light and the eye like sequins. Just try it.”

For a change I did as I was told, and to my own horror, it wasn't half bad. Fitted but not too clingy, with enough black to make it nightclub worthy. Even the sequins weren't too much. I liked the way they reflected the soft chandelier lighting in her dressing room. And since she'd picked it up in Milan, the chance of anyone else having the same thing was zero. Nothing like my usual style, but then I was nothing like my usual self. Life was all about broadening horizons, right?

Not to mention I was actually looking forward to this assignment. A nightclub in the city could only be fun. A much needed distraction from, well…
everything
else. Being away from school and Drearyton Cove just seemed best for now. I finished getting ready and plodded down the stairs to wait for Brianne who'd surprisingly offered to pick me up.

Adrius would be back in a day or two. Traveling with his uncle once again; that was the excuse we used and everyone bought it, no questions asked. I'd somehow have to manage to stay off Venus' radar. Who was I kidding? She obviously didn't have anything planned for me. If she had I would have known about it. For all I knew her sudden silence meant she'd followed Adrius back to the Nevermore. I found an odd sense of relief in that possibility. I hated her anywhere near Adrius, but he could look after himself. My human friends were a lot more vulnerable.

***

Dissonance wasn't so much a night club as it was a dark gathering place for wannabe rock stars. At least that's what it appeared to be tonight. Every other night might have been different, but tonight it was a crowd of all ages rivaling those on the American Idol television show. The bar was packed with teens and nothing but virgin drinks without proper ID. Scattered among the throng were some twenty-somethings, either there for the same reason we were, or newbies who didn't know Thursdays was an all-age no-booze night. The abstinence from any alcohol was the only way our forward thinking music teacher would have gotten clearance for this little road trip.

Since we didn't get access to our private room for another half hour, I scanned the club. The walls were vibrating from the pulsating music. Every second song, someone got on stage to sing along. A guy with jeans hanging off his hip just finished rapping when a glittering parade of sequin-enhanced diva wannabes flowed through the room toward the stage. I hated it when my mother was right. But they looked amazing on stage. Black lights made the white walls glow, and the high tables were glass lit from underneath with blue lights.

“Very cool,” Brianne yelled in my ear over the Katy Perry tune someone was belting out off-key. At least they looked good doing it.

I agreed with her. This totally beat sitting around doing homework, which is what my night would have had in store. I wanted to keep my mind busy and this was perfect.

I watched the crowd undulating to the throbbing bass for a while, before Brianne dragged me onto the dance floor. Before I knew it, I was gyrating and spinning with the rest of the crowd. It felt good to cut loose. It was freeing for once to not be looking over my shoulder and worrying about how my life would fall apart next. I spread my arms, and whipped my hair back and forth to the beat. Music pumped from all corners, filling my senses. It was almost like there was something more than music in the air, making me light-headed. Giddy almost. I liked it. I danced harder, riding the energy high I was feeling. The music thrummed through the soles of my shoes, as my sweat dampened hair flew over my face. I didn't want to think about that. About the way the temperature had dropped, or the way everything blurred by me while I was spinning, or the witch threatening the lives of everyone I loved.... in this moment all I cared about was the music coursing through my veins, and the blissful sensation of bass pumping through my body.

When the song came to an end, I didn't notice, until Brianne grabbed my arm. “Hey, let's sing something together.”

She was in super-friend mode tonight. But not even that bothered me. “Ya, sure. You pick.” I felt confident, certain I could handle whatever song she picked.

Pushing through the crowd, I made my way to the bar. The long list of drinks were completely foreign to me.

“Not much of a drinker?”

A voice came from a man next to me. I shook my head and turned my attention back to the bartender. But something pulled my gaze away, and I returned it to the man who'd spoken to me.

It was a face I recognized. But from where? Wherever I knew him from he had that creepy vibe.

“What'll you have?” the bartender shouted, more than a little impatient.

“Uhm...” I stared at the assortment of beverages lining the back wall. I could have just ordered a cola, but felt like something a little more interesting.

The strange man lifted his drink, which had a salted rim and was garnished with a celery stick. “Even without vodka, Bloody Caesars are good, if you like tomato juice.”

“I don't.” But I also didn't want to keep the bartender waiting. “I'll have the same.” I pointed.

The bartender started to whip together my drink while the man a few stools down from me nodded with a smile. I offered a half smile then turned away, not wanting to give him any ideas. Where had I seen this guy before?

At the same time my drink arrived in front of me, the man shuffled to the stool right next to mine. I sighed internally. Where was my knight in shining armor when I needed him? Now I was going to have to fend off some forty-year-old perv all night? Not part of my just-cut-loose plan.

I was preparing to give him my
so not interested
look, when I caught sight of his ring. It was massive, and gold and flashy... and in that moment I remembered where I'd seen it before.

I swung my gaze back to his.

He smiled, again, seeming to know I'd recognized him.

I didn't return his smile. “Peterson? You're the guy who called me, aren't you?” I nearly whispered the words.

He nodded. “Yes, Lorelei, I am. Considering we've only met once, you have a good memory.” He gestured to the booth near the back of the club. “Can we talk?”

I tried for an air of cool and calm as he led me to a quieter part of the club. It was a tough act to pull off. Mutely, I followed, not sure what to say. What did you say to a stranger who may or may not be involved with the disappearance of your great aunt?

 

 

I slid into the booth. Every cell that was twirling with abandon not long ago was now guarded and on edge.

Peterson squeezed into the booth across from me. “This hardly seems a fitting place for a young girl. On a school night no less.”

I looked up over my virgin drink and stared into his roundish face. His russet cheeks pulled back in an overly friendly smile that bordered on eerie. I gulped down another mouthful, taking a moment to find my voice.

“I'm actually here for a class,” I said, looking around for the nearest exit in case I needed to make a quick getaway.

He made a face like he didn't believe a word I was saying, so I pointed to Mr. Smythe who was across the room. “My music teacher is right over there,” I said. “The entire class is here.” I wanted him to know there were people here who knew me, who would notice if I suddenly went missing.

He glanced mildly in the direction I was pointing then smiled again. “I'm sure you have questions?”

Understatement of the year. He hadn't changed much since the last time I saw him, at the reception after the vocal competition. Only then I thought he was the talent scout my mother had sent from Julliard to watch me perform. All I knew about this man was that he was somehow involved with my great aunt. The one who'd been missing for over two weeks. And that he'd sent me on a wild goose chase for reasons I couldn't begin to fathom.

“Are you going to tell me what happened? I mean you call and tell me to meet you at your office. Then send me to that dive to find Camilla and don't bother to show up.”

Peterson examined me carefully then leaned back, folding one dimpled hand over the other on the table. “I thought it best I stay away, given the circumstances.”

“What circumstances?”

“Did you come alone?”

“You're crazy if you believed I would.”

“Lorelei. There are things that you know. Things that I also know. About you. Your grandmother. Your parents...”

I sucked in a silent gulp of air. What does that mean? Did he know what we are?

He leaned forward, and his voice dropped to barely a whisper. “And I know what you did in the Nevermore.”

I gasped just as Brianne approached our table.

“Lorelei,” she said, staring down the man across from me. “You alright?”

“Fine, thanks.” My voice sounded strained and not convincing at all.

Brianne picked up on it because she folded her arms, in a bouncer stance. “Is this guy bothering you?” she asked.

She was
protecting
me now? Under any other circumstance I might have laughed. It was sweet in a twisted way, but I mean what would she have done about it if he was?

“I can go get Mr. Smythe, he's right over there. And I've got pepper spray in my purse, buddy.” Her volume escalated, catching the attention of a few people nearby. Exactly what I didn't want to happen.

Peterson look mildly amused, and strangely accustomed to being threatened, which didn't help my uneasiness.

“He's a friend of my mother's,” I said quickly, hoping he wouldn't introduce himself. I didn't need the name triggering her memory of our road trip to meet him.

Fortunately, she relaxed. “Oops, sorry. Guess I'll catch up with you later, Lorelei,” she said, and then careened off to put in another song request.

My attention whipped back to the mysterious Peterson, sitting across from me in a three piece business suit, purple silk tie and thick gold chains linked around each wrist.

“How do you know about the Nevermore?” I was careful to keep my voice low, in spite of the booming music. “Who are you exactly?”

“You might say I represent an organization with a vested interest in seeing to it that the Fey do not ever cross over into the human realm again.”

Another gasp. The veil. Could he be the one responsible? “I don't understand.” I needed more information, more details. And the less info I gave him in return the better.

“Listen to me. I don't have time to explain. I know where your father is. And I can help you find him. But you have to do something for me in exchange.”

For someone not fond of the Fey, he certainly bargained like one. I didn't say anything. What could I say? If he had information that could lead to my father, I had to have it.

Peterson tapped the nail of his index finger against the table. “Your father has something. Something I need to obtain.”

“What is it?”

“First things first. You give me your word that you will return the item in question to me, and I will give you all of the information you seek.”

My head was spinning. I frowned, rubbing my temples. “How can I agree to something when I don't know what it is?”

He smiled, but this time it was void of all warmth. For the second time since he'd arrived, I looked around for possible backup.

“You're a child. To you this is all a game. A little adventure to occupy your over-stimulated teenage brain. You hang around with an elven knight and a shadow faerie and you act as though they were characters in some fairytale and not the dangerous beings they are. I'm here to tell you this is bigger than you and your hormones. The fate of the world is in jeopardy.”

My hands clenched in my lap and I swallowed a torrent of angry words that I might regret later. “With all due respect, Mr. Peterson, you came to me asking for my help. I think that entitles me to some answers, wouldn't you agree?”

He squinted at me, and his narrow eyes almost vanished in the thick creases. After a few seconds, he said. “Fine. Ask away.”

Deep breaths.
“You said you knew where to find my great aunt, and now you're telling me you know where to find my father. How is it you know their whereabouts?”

“I am a part of a privileged team of specialists. It's my job to know where certain beings are at all times. Especially when they are in our world. Like a secret agent, if that helps you.”

“So where are they?” Greenbalm had gone missing too. Was he in on that as well?

“You could sit here all evening asking your questions, but answers won't help you if you're asking the wrong questions.”

I frowned. Not sure what the right questions were. “Okay, what it is you want from my father?”

“It is an amulet. It will be of little use to him, once he has been found. But it is of grave importance that we have it here. Before it's too late.”

“Too late for what?”

“To stop the revolution.”

Now I was questioning not only his information but his sanity. Revolution? I was as open-minded as they came, but none of this made any sense. “You think the Fey are going to revolt?” I asked slowly.

“There are dark forces passing into our world. We need to put an end to it. And we intend on making it permanent.“

“So you're the ones behind the veil sealing.” My skin prickled.

“No. We are not. But we intend to see that it remains sealed.”

“How do you know about all of this?”

He smiled in reply. “Do we or do we not have a deal? You need your father for more than just your boyfriend troubles,” he said. “Your healing powers will continue to disintegrate. It's nature's way of restoring balance.”

I sighed, tired of trying to decipher his impossible code. It was more than a little creepy that this guy and his organization knew so much about me. I'd never encountered anyone outside of my little circle who knew the truth. It was alarming to suddenly discover there were whole organizations involved.

“Why do you want to help me anyway? What's in it for you?” Cynical as it sounded, it was a question I'd come to understand was behind almost every motive. This guy wasn't offering assistance as a random act of kindness.

He leaned across the table, his small grey eyes growing harsh in the pulsing strobe lights. “Your kind was never meant to be. An abomination of nature. Your great aunt knew this. She was of great assistance in providing us the information we needed. But now we need more. I need more. It's not your fault you are what you are. But I can change that.” He put his hand on mine consolingly and I yanked it away.

“I'm offering you the chance to be normal again. Human. Why would you not leap at this?”

My stomach hit the floor. “You want to make me into something else with this thing my father has?”

He shook his bulbous head. “Not something else, something
real
. None of this was meant to be. It all goes against the laws of nature. Camilla knew this. Unfortunately, she did not have the inner discipline to continue the work. She let her family obligations get in the way of her better judgment. At least, she led us to you.” His friendly jovial smile returned, like we were discussing the weather and not the nature of my existence.

Camilla? A traitor? I always knew she hated us.... hated me... but to turn her whole family over to people who were no more than witch hunters? Gran would be so disappointed to know her only sister had betrayed us that way. I swallowed the lump in my throat. If this guy thought I'd agree to any deal with a hater, he didn't know me at all. But he had info I needed.

“So what you're saying is you will lead me to my father, ensure I can pass through the veil, bring me home again and make me a regular human?”

He nodded.

“And all I have to do is provide you with my father's magical amulet.”

He stuck out his hand. I didn't take my eyes off his. “No offense but this sounds like the kind of offer a faerie would make. One that looks like I'm getting the better deal, but ends up with me being screwed royally somewhere down the line. Why should I believe a word you're saying? I don't know you or anything about you.”

He withdrew his hand. “I see that I'll need to earn your trust. Which I am more than willing to do.” Leaning back, he folded his fingers together under his chin, reflectively. “My original offer to lead you to your great aunt still stands.”

Given what I now knew, I wasn't sure I wanted to find Camilla anymore. All those times I'd been stuck staying with her while Mom was touring... her open hostility wasn't because she didn't want me in her house; it was that she wanted me erased entirely.

The music softened and the lights dimmed. Brianne got up on stage, and started singing “No Air” with a guy she no doubt had picked up tonight. It was the song Adrius and I sang in the finals last spring, the song that won us the championship. I listened for a moment, feeling a twinge of anguish. How I wish he was here. He'd know what this man was really up to, whether he could be trusted.

When I snapped back to the present, Peterson was studying me closely. “Perhaps I need to sweeten your offer,” he said. “With this artifact belonging to your father, I can not only restore your humanity, I can do the same for your elven boyfriend. The two of you could live out your lives in this world together. Get married, have children, grow old and eventually pass on, as was meant to be.”

Something in my expression spurred him on.

“I know the beings hunting you. Including the redhead.” His voice lowered. “You want passage between the realms to remain intact, I understand. But as long as you remain what you are, and the veil is kept open, they will never stop.”

I sucked in a strangled gasp of air.

“I offer not only your freedom, Lorelei, but something you and your elf prince will never have without my help. I'm offering you a happily ever after.”