Deliverance (16 page)

"We need your help," she whispered.

I looked behind at the shop where I had just encountered the other Jinni. What was it about Tehran and supernatural creatures? Was it always like this or was it just the events of the past few months drawing them out? Why did they all come to me? Couldn’t they solve their own problems?

"You too? Do you know him? Are you working together? Or am I to be approached by every supernatural creature in Tehran today?"

She looked around "Who else?" Then her gaze settled in the direction of the antique shop where I was looking. "Oh. What did he want?"

"To give me something that will help Nagissa."

"Nagissa is dead."

"So you keep saying."

"What did he give you?"

I put my hand in my pocket but hesitated. I didn't know who I could trust and I was starting to feel drunk on all the essence that flowed so freely around these creatures. If only I could find a way to feed off it so I wouldn't feel so weak myself. I hated that I needed Aude so badly. Though if I learned anything from all of this, it seemed that there were more ways than one to do things with essence.

"Why did you come to find me?" I asked her.

She tilted her head. "You know my name," she said. "That gives you some measure of power over me, but don't think you can abuse it."

"So you came to tell me that I could have power over you if I wanted?" I pinched the bridge of my nose and shook my head. "Spill it Pareen. What do you want from me?"

"I need your allegiance."

"My allegiance?"

"A war is brewing and Ramtin is right in the middle of it all. I can defend myself against humans and most of the Jinn. But the power Ramtin is gathering is something different. I need his type of creature on my side. I need essence sucking creatures."

"I can't suck essence. Only our witches can."

"You can't?" She laughs. "Oh, Garnier, you are so very young. Sometimes I forget. Nagissa and Ramtin can both do it. Did you know that?"

Nagissa and Ramtin could withdraw essence from others without a witch? How was it possible? Everything has its limitations. And why did Ramtin surround himself with witches if he could just do the work himself? "I'm not here to argue with you, and I'm late for an appointment..." I turned my back to leave and hesitated. I faced her again. "If Ramtin and Nagissa can withdraw essence it means that they are different than me and the rest of my kind. I don't know how much help I can be, but if your side is against Ramtin, then consider me in your allegiance."

She nodded.

"Oh, and you may want to talk to that shopkeeper. Though it sounds like you already know him. It seems he's on your side too."

"Oh?" She cocked her head.

"He wants me to find Nagissa because she would help me fight Ramtin."

Pareen nodded and smiled faintly. "She certainly would. Thank you, Garnier. One can never be sure where her allies lie."

I nodded back at her and went to find Davood. I wasn't sure if she was talking about me or the shopkeeper, but I had a feeling she meant both.

I couldn't help but examine Davood carefully while he led me to the basement studio. But it seemed my third encounter of the day was to be a human one at last. Davood had told me about the studio set-up but I was impressed when I saw it. Very posh. Very
East meets West
. I was tempted to question him about it, even record a few songs myself, but I had other things to worry about.

"Where can I find Nakissa?" I asked.

"Why?"

"I need to find her. It's complicated."

He shook his head slowly and clucked his tongue at me. He took his phone out of his pocket and pressed a few things. He furrowed his brow. "I don't have her number. Here, let me give you Roxana's number. She's the lead singer of the band. I'm sure she'll be able to put you in touch with the harpist girl."

I entered the girl’s number in my phone and thanked Davood. As I was about to leave, he put his hand on my arm.

"Roxana is going through some things right now."

I raised my eyebrow at him.

"I just mean..." he sighed." Well, she's a bit of a mess, and might not be easy to talk to. But if you can help her somehow, I’d be grateful."

I nodded and let myself out.

Once outside, I leaned back against the wall and stared at my cell phone. The Jinn wanted me to fight Ramtin, Davood wanted me to help Roxana, and more and more I just wanted to find whatever clue I could about Aude and go back home. Things here were too complicated.

I sighed and called Roxana.

"Yeah?" She answered in Persian.

"Hey, my name is Garnier. Davood gave me your number. I'm trying to get a hold of Nakissa and…"

"Garnier? I'm sorry Garnier but I can't talk to you. I'm sure they are listening."

"Who is listening?"

"Stop it. We've already said too much.  I'll meet you. Tonight. At your place."

"Ooo-kay. I'm staying at –"

"No. Don't tell me. They'll know. I'll find you. If we have friends in common as you claim it should be easy enough. Tonight nine o'clock."

She hung up.

She’d seemed panicked. Who was she so worried about? The government? The Jinn? Ramtin? Maybe Roxana had more answers for me than I had expected.

At nine o'clock, Roxana had yet to show up. I sat at a little table and sipped on a fruit juice concoction that was this bar's non-alcoholic version of a cocktail. Though I was normally quite fond of my Tom Collins and my Gin and Tonics, I simply wasn't fond enough to jump through the necessary hoops to indulge in this country.

Once Roxana arrived, however, it became quite obvious that she did go through the necessary means, and probably not just for alcohol.

She walked in covered from head to toe in a black chador. Though the moment she spotted me she threw it off, revealing a barely-there thin material head scarf and a too-tight fitting manteau. Her bleached-blonde hair looked dirty and her make-up was heavy and slightly smudged. Her hands trembled and she kept looking behind her as if she feared she would be followed.

"What's wrong? Who’s after you?"

She looked at me blankly. "How do you know someone is after me?" She remained standing across the small bistro table. Ready to bolt at any instant. "Who told you? Who are you with?" She clutched the large piece of black fabric that had previously covered her with both hands, her knuckles white from the pressure.

"Please, won't you sit down? I don't mean you any harm. Maybe I could even help you."

"Help me? How could you, a foreigner, help me? You have no idea what he'll do to me."

"Who? Is it Ramtin?"

"Ramtin?"

"From Fetid Crimson."

"Oh. Why would I have contact with him? He's a god. You believe me to be a much bigger star than I am, azizam. Is this why you sought me out? Did you expect a famous star? I’m sorry to disappoint you, but you are just meeting a washed up junkie at your fancy hotel." Her voice escalated with every word. "How embarrassing this must be for you."

"Please calm down. I just need to get in contact with your harpist. With Nakissa." I had thought maybe I could help her with whatever it was that she was dealing with but her kind of crazy seemed to be really strong.

"Of course. Nakissa this and Nakissa that. I don't get what everyone's obsession is. She's just a harp player."

"I need to talk to her about a friend of mine from back home. A friend that’s missing."

"Listen, lots of people go missing these days. Especially the artist types. The way I figure it, 
they
 get to them."

"They? Who is they?"

"Never mind that. So the harpist girl. I have her contact information but what is it worth to you?"

I opened my wallet and took all the money I had. A few traveler's checks and some bank notes. She eyed them but then shook her head. "No, I need more. I owe three million tomans. You give me the money, and we can both help each other out." Her eyes lingered on the money but she shook her head. "I need more."

Three million tomans was a complete rip off for a girl's phone number. I looked at Roxana carefully. She really was a mess. Maybe three million tomans could help turn her life around. Maybe I could do a good thing for her and help myself at the same time. And after the day I'd had, I was more than ready to get the information without more delay.

"Stay here," I said. "I have some more traveler's checks in my room."

She nodded with wide eyes.

I took the elevator up to my room, grabbed a few more traveler's checks to total the amount she requested. I couldn't believe I was paying nearly twenty-five hundred dollars for a girl's phone number. But I was doing more than that. I was helping out someone. Maybe, once this whole mess had blown over, I could become more of a philanthropist. I could help people in need.

I came back to the hotel lobby full of optimism, but it didn’t last. The girl was no longer where I had left her. I was hurrying to the front desk to ask if they had seen her when I spotted her, by the doors, having a heated conversation with hotel security. I waved at her and she jutted her chin in my direction. The security guard looked at me and frowned.

"You should keep better company sir," he told me.

"Whose company I keep is entirely my own business."

"You forget where you are, sir. Nothing here is just our own business." He shook his head as he walked away.

I gave Roxana the money. "I hope you can find a way to fix your life with this. You should visit one of the addiction clinics. They’ll be able to help you."

"Sure," she said. She pocketed the money and gave me a piece of paper on which was scrawled a phone number. "You must really like her to spend so much money on her phone number."

I smiled. I did really like her, but it wasn't why I needed to talk to her.

I didn't wait for Roxana to leave the building before I dialed Nakissa. There was no answer. Of course, nothing could go as I planned. I sent her a text and hoped she would get back to me as soon as possible. This whole adventure was starting to feel like a waste of time.

There is nothing to do. When I got back from trying to find Leyli, Bijan took away my laptop and mobile. He said it’s just until he and Maman get a chance to discuss how to handle my situation.