Savannah Sacrifice (7 page)

Starling leaned back, forcing Devon to loosen his grasp. “Did it ever cross your mind that maybe I don't care about you?”

“Come on now, Starling. You can lie about a lot of things, but you can't tell me you don't think of me at least as a friend.”

“A
friend
,” she spat the word, “wouldn't throw another friend under the bus the first chance he got. A
friend
wouldn't blab a secret.”

“What in the hell are you talking about?” All he'd ever done for this girl was give, give, give. He'd voluntarily given up almost the entire last year of his life taking care of her and watching out for her. Hell, if put in a bad spot, he'd have taken a bullet for her. And now she was going to accuse him of being incapable of keeping a secret?

“I told you something … something you promised to not tell anyone …” She glanced at Devon. “And then I was given this.” She thrust an envelope into Jasper's hand.

Taking out the note, he read the words. “Who in the hell gave you this?”

“I did,” Devon growled. “Some chick gave it to me, told me to give it to Starling. I thought it was her friend or something.”

“We aren't from here. We know no one. What makes you think the woman was Starling's friend? You didn't think to ask who she was?” Jasper's fingers tightened around the paper until it crunched in his hand.

“Hey, I'm not the one who is supposed to be her bodyguard,” Devon said, twisting the knife.

“What exactly did you tell him?” he demanded of Starling.

Don't get angry at me. You are the one who told someone my secret.”

“I didn't tell anyone anything. I've been following you around and trying, once again, to keep you from getting your ass in trouble.”

“You haven't talked to anyone?”

“I don't know anyone here, and the only person I've spoken to other than you is the cabby who brought me here.” But that wasn't entirely true. There was the phone call with Ariadne. He couldn't remember telling her anything that would have compromised the promise he made to Starling. Was it possible Ariadne sent the messenger? She knew about Starling's ability to speak to the dead, but she couldn't possibly have known about the secret books. Yet, someone out there knew. Someone who wanted to help. But why?

He had a hard time believing it was just for Starling. Maybe he was a cynic, but nobody helped someone else without some kind of selfish motive. They needed to get out of Savannah before anyone else came out of the woodwork. It seemed like every passing minute Starling fell further into danger.

“Why don't you get the hell out of here?” Devon drunkenly motioned toward the door. “She clearly doesn't need a shitty bodyguard. What she really needs is a good time and frankly, man, you're ruining it.”

“Shut up, Devon.” Starling pried herself loose from his grasp and stood up. “I couldn't have a good time with you even if you vibrated.”

• • •

“Let me see the letter again,” Jasper said. He read through it one more time. “Cabby, what's the best place here in Savannah?”

“What, sir?” the cabby asked, looking back at them.

“What would you say is a place where memories are made?” he tried again.

“I don't know about memories, but Savannah is known as the city of parks and squares. And Forsyth Park is a real popular place for weddings,” the cabby answered, but his voice made it sound like more of a question.

“Is there something round there?” Starling asked, breaking the tense silent treatment she had been giving ever since they had left Devon alone at the bar. Jasper handed back her letter, and folding it, she put it back into her purse.

“There's a pretty nice fountain at its center. I guess that would be round,” the cabby continued.

“Take us there,” Starling ordered.

The cabby looked toward Jasper and he gave the man a nod.

“All right,” the cabby said, turning to the wheel.

“You really didn't tell anyone what I told you?” Starling finally looked at him; the anger in her eyes had been replaced by a look of pain.

“No. I really didn't tell anyone.”

Starling nodded.

“I'm glad you weren't really into Devon,” Jasper said, trying to find anything to say that could keep her talking to him. “Tell me the truth. Did you go out with him just to piss me off?”

She looked away, but not before he noticed a smile flicker over her lips.

A wave of excitement shot through him, making him smile. “So you did?”

“I did no such thing.” Starling's voice was flecked with laughter. “I told you, I went out with him because I made a deal. I'm nothing if not good to my word.”

She couldn't have been more wrong. She had so much to give. Starling was smart, stubborn, headstrong, and unarguably one of the sexiest women he had ever had the chance to work with. Yet, he couldn't tell her what he really thought. They were already crossing the line between a professional relationship and something more; he didn't need to push things any further.

“You never told me what you found in the vault.”

“The books weren't there,” Starling said, shifting uncomfortably in her seat.

“But?”

“But what?” she asked, clearly avoiding his question.

“There was something else in the box, wasn't there?”

She reached into her purse and pulled out a black feather. “There was only this. I think it was a threat. I think the Catharterians may have taken the books and left me this.” She spun the feather around. “They know my weakness. They know that if they pull one of my hairs, or take a feather when I shape-shift, I can be killed.”

“Son of a bitch.” Jasper took the feather and turned it in his fingers. The feather was so black and rich that it reminded him of Starling's long hair. He ran his finger down the barbs, letting them come apart under his touch. “When you were inside I got a call. The Sisterhood. Apparently, they think we're in a Catharterian hot bed.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“Ariadne said they have reason to believe that Savannah is the headquarters of their leadership. Before they get to you again, we need to get these books and get out.”

“If we leave, would we go back to Vegas?”

“Trina and Kaden have gone into hiding. I think that would be a good idea for you, too.”

“You really want me to go into hiding?” Starling sat up straighter, readying herself for a fight.

“I just want to keep you safe. You know that. If that means that you have to go to Vegas, or Crete, or wherever, so be it. I just can't have you getting hurt.”

Her shoulder drooped and she slumped in the seat. “Let's just worry about getting the books. Once we do, I promise I'll do whatever or go wherever you want.”

Her reaction surprised him. She'd fought him every step of the way, and now she was resigning herself to the fact that she would be tucked away from the world until the Sisterhood's enemies were under control. It seemed so unlike her.

The car pulled to a stop at the north end of a large tree-filled park, and Starling hopped out onto the curb.

“Wait here,” Jasper said to the cabby.

He followed Starling as she strode down the sidewalk toward a fenced large, white, Parisian-style fountain that sat at the center of the north end. A statue of a classic woman was perched at the top. She held her dress at her knee, but the iron skirt flowed as if a light breeze could flex the metal in which she was cast. The woman held a staff in her hand, in a way reminding him of the frescoes he had seen of Epione when he'd been in Crete with Ariadne.

Starling walked around the fountain, running her fingers over the black fence that surrounded it. After making a full circle, she sat down on a waiting bench. She dropped her head into her hands.

“What's wrong?”

“The books aren't here.” Her shoulders trembled. “I'm never going to find them. I'm never going to be able to stop the voices or protect my mind.”

He sat down next to her and took her hand. “There are other answers, Starling. We just need to look harder.”

Uncertain of what he could say to make her feel better, he sat in silence and stroked the back of her hand with his thumb. The trickling water and the sounds of kids playing filled the air as Jasper watched the water spray. At the bottom of the fountain were four half-man, half-fish—Tritons—and in between them were four swans. Their white beaks were open, letting the water shoot upward, filling the air with mist.

“Take a moment to remember …” Jasper quoted the line from the mysterious letter. “What is there to remember here?”

“I don't know,” Starling said as she looked up. She dabbed away the tears that rested on her cheeks. “Why didn't the person who sent us the letter just tell us where to go? And if they have the books, why didn't they just give them to me? Why does everything have to be so goddamned hard?”

Jasper smiled, masking his pity. No matter how tough she acted sometimes, she was young. So many tough moments were going to come her way. His stomach lurched—tough moments like the secret he had to keep from Starling about his past.

“Life is hard, Starling. It never gets easier.” He looked down at their entwined hands. “I've learned that the moment you think you are okay is the moment that everything goes wrong. At least for you, and this quest, there's nowhere to go but up.”

“That's fucked up. You know that, right?” Starling smiled, but there were still tears in her eyes.

His laughter spread out into the evening air. “Maybe you're right. I guess I'm a little fucked up.”

In more ways than one.

She slid closer to him on the bench and lifting his arm, put it around her. He moved to take it away, but she held it against her body. Everything in him told him to pull away, that they were too close. That he was putting not only her, but everything in danger.

“I'm sorry about going after Devon.” She leaned her head against his chest, as if she was trying to listen to his heart. If she could hear it, he had no doubt she would have been able to guess how nervous she and her little red dress made him.

“It's fine. It shouldn't have mattered.” Jasper reached up with his free hand and moved a strand of her hair out of his face.

“But it did. I know it bothered you.”

“Did you see the swans?” Jasper asked, trying anything to get away from the subject.

Starling laughed. “You don't have to act all tough all the time. I know you like me.”

“I … I do like you, Starling. But you have to know it's only as a friend. Nothing more.”

She nodded. “Right now, I'm happy to have that.”

The water trickle filled the tense silence between them. He tried to measure the time by counting her breaths. In and out. Her body warmed against his, creating a layer of wetness between them, but he didn't mind. Something about holding her like this, her body against his, just felt right. Almost as if he could make amends for his mistakes by being here for her in her lowest moment.

“Starling, I need to tell you the truth about something …”

“Excuse me?” a woman behind them asked, interrupting.

Starling pulled away as Jasper turned. “Yes?”

Standing behind them, in a long white sundress, was a woman whose face was familiar and, as she smiled, a faint glow seeped from her skin and enveloped him, making his heart slow and making him feel as if he didn't have a care in the world.

“Hello, love,” the woman said, her voice soft and melodic, like a bird's song. “I'm Epione.”

“Epione?” Starling said, stunned. “What're you doing here?”

“You need me …”

“Can you make the ghosts stop?” Starling asked, her voice cracking with emotion.

Epione stepped closer and rested her hand on Starling's shoulder. “No matter what you do, the spirits of those who have passed will never leave you. You need to come to terms with your gift. You may not like it now, but with time, I know you will come to see the value in having those from the past in your life.”

“I just want them to stop … I can't do this anymore.”

Epione ran her hand over Starling's forehead, down her cheek, and lifted her chin like a mother to a child. “Sometimes the best gift we can give ourselves is a change of perspective. You are a strong woman. You have a strong heart and a strong mind. Sometimes it works against you.” Epione let go of her chin and rested her hand lovingly again on Starling's shoulder. “Until you find the books, you must change your thoughts and think of what a wonderful gift you have been given instead of how hard your life has become. Remember, things could be worse.”

“I know,” Starling said.

“And remember, you have Jasper.” Epione glanced over at him. “He may be as soft as a porcupine sometimes, but he is here because he has chosen to be. You must consider it an honor that he has chosen to give his friendship and alliance.”

Starling sent him a soft, appreciative smile. “He can be a porcupine.”

Epione's laughter whispered through the trees.

“What should we do next? Do you know where we can find the books?” Jasper asked, annoyed and wanting to get down to business while they had the goddess's attention.

Epione's smile disappeared. “After Starling prayed to me for help, I've been trying to locate the books.”

“Have you had any luck?” He couldn't help his growing excitement. With the goddess's help, they would be out of Savannah and out of danger in no time.

“Unfortunately, I have.”

“Unfortunately?” he asked.

“Well, I have found a clue. I've been told Gracie knows exactly where they may be located. However, she resides in a place I cannot enter.”

He had never heard of such a thing. In fact, it was almost comical to think that a goddess would be unable to travel wherever her heart desired.