Sirenz (14 page)

And landed in the supply closet again, in my own clothes and with talons digging into my transvestite shoes. With ragged breath, I s
at back down on the carton. Hades didn't follow. I had to calm myself before anyone saw me. I looked at my watch; fifteen minutes had gone by. I stood, put my glasses back on, smoothed out the wrinkles in my pants, and peeked down the corridor. Cautiously, I scooted out while it was clear and snuck back to the Yellow Salon. There was no light under the door now, and it was very quiet. First, I put my ear to the door, and when I heard nothing, I carefully opened it. It looked like Persephone was gone. Wearily, I made my way to the copy room. Meg stood there, attacking a stack of paper almost as tall as she was. She looked me over.

“What happened to you? Luckily Reynaldo came in before she could really start interrogating me and whisked her off somewhere.”

“I was hiding in the supply closet. It was only supposed to be for a minute. Meeting Persephone really rattled me. But then Hades found me and took me to Ferragamo's. Trie
d to buy my body with shoes.”

Meg inhaled sharply, although she barely looked alarmed. “What did you do?”

I started to rub my face, then thought about smeared makeup. My hands dropped. “I'm still here, so obviously I refused. Even though he dangled custom-made alligator pumps in front of my nose. By Ferragamo. In
Milan
.”

“Italy?! No!” She slapped a hand over her mouth.

I bobbed my head.

Fear crossed her face. “Persephone will kill you. You didn't …”

“Over shoes? Please.” I laughed bitterly. “Nothing happened. If anything, I told Hades I was afraid of her and wanted no part of his offer. He said he could guarantee my safety. I didn't buy it, and I'm not interested. Even if he dangles the most darling alligator pumps, with real gold and onyx button buckles!”

Meg looked doubtful. “You and your shoes. It's an unholy obsession.”

“Trust me, not even I love shoes that much. He's really starting to make me nervous.”

“Good.” Meg scratched and a pin feather popped out. I sneezed.

“Come on,” she sighed, tucking it back in. “Let's grab our lunch and sneak out. You need some antihistamines.”

My bird feet took me out the door behind her.

Stairwell to Heaven

S
har sat across from me at the vast obsidian-topped dining table that was positioned in front of the glass wall in the apartment. Outside, the morning was clear
and probably cold. If we didn't have a deadline to deliver Arkady to Hades, I might have enjoyed the view a bit more.

She took a sip of chai out of a huge mug. We'd stopped going out for food or anything else; the apartment had everything we could need, including an industrial espresso machine. It didn't take us long to figure out how to operate the milk steamer. Soon we were pumping out hot chocolate and chai tea lattes like professionals.

“I'm so sick of all of this,” Shar said, running a talon around the rim of her cup.

“Agreed.” I put down my spoon. I'd developed a taste for cereal with nuts and berries, yet another sign that the Siren persona was taking hold. It crossed my mind that if my new look became permanent, I might be able to get a job handing out flyers for a greasy chicken restaurant. But it didn't matter. If I turned into a Siren, it would mean we'd failed the mission—and I could be the mascot for team Underworld. Go Cerberus! Rah!

“The thought that he can whisk you off anytime frightens me,” I added.

“Try being on the receiving end,” Shar muttered.

“You need to make him clearly understand the meaning of ‘leave me alone.' ”

“Hello? Him, all-powerful
god
. Me, mere
mortal
. I read in the mythology book that the gods pull pranks like this all the time, and it's not like I can call up his wife to complain. She's after me too.”

Anxiety lined Shar's face as she pushed her tea away. She could say no as much as she wanted; it wouldn't matter if Hades was that determined.

“I know you're in a bad place,” I soothed her, trying to offer what comfort I could. “Let's concentrate on our next move. It might help you get your mind off
him
.”

Shar looked up and nodded morosely, then stared at me.

“Are you all right?”

She didn't answer, but flicked her gaze back and forth, from my face to my cereal bowl and back, her lower lip starting to quiver.

“Hey, it's not that bad, not yet,” I said, getting up and moving closer to her. “We can still do this.”

“It's not that,” she started. “Well, it's that, but there's something else.”

“You didn't—”

“No way! No, nothing like that. This has nothing to do with Hades. It has to do with … Jeremy.”

My stomach did a flip. “What do you mean, with Jeremy? Did you use … it … on him?”

She shook her head. “No, no … its just that, well, I admit it, I tried to get him to talk to me, I wanted him to, you know, like me
. But instead—”

“He liked me.” I finished the thought for her. “Shar, I didn't try—”

“I realize that. It was a shock. I mean—” Shar faltered. “When it comes to that, I … usually win.”

“This wasn't a contest.”

“I know, and everything that's been going on with Hades, I can accept it, sort of. But still, I'm confused.”

I stiffened. “Why, because someone like Jeremy would want someone like me?”

“No!” she protested. “You two seem made for each other. You have the same interests …” She trailed off.

“But you don't understand how he could be attracted to someone like me,” I pressed.

Shar looked at me intently. “Meg, I don't know why you're so down on yourself. You look amazing, at least when you'r
e not half bird.” She patted my feathers, then sneezed. “Ugh! I thought I could go five minutes without doing that! Anyway, you turned lots of heads the night at the Met. Didn't you notice?”

I laughed and shook my head. “No.”

“You should pay more attention.”

“I guess I'll take your word for it,” I said. “But Jeremy can't get between us, not now. Are you mad? Tell me the truth.”

“I was at first, not so much anymore. Only—” Shar turned away.

I touched her shoulder. “Tell me what's bothering you, get it off your conscience. I'm sure it's not that bad.”

She heaved a sob. “I'm sorry, Meg!”

“For what? You said you didn't do anything!”

“Well, I did. I got you all made up and everything, but it wasn't for you. It was … for me. I hoped maybe you'd hook up with someone else and that I would get a chance with Jeremy. It wasn't because I was being nice.”

“But it was nice.” I put a hand over her talons. “And I understand. I knew you liked him too.” I laughed, low and mirthlessly. “That day when we went to the office to actually start working, I just figured he would go after you. When he started talking to
me
, well, I was waiting for him to start asking me where you were and how you were doing.”

“Like he did with me about you.”

“He did?” I brightened.

“Oh yes,” Shar huffed. “Then he moved away like I was contagious. Are you mad at me?”

“Not in this lifetime.” I grinned at her. “Sirens have to stick together.”

“Good.” She took a deep breath and wiped her eyes. “That was bothering me more than anything, except for maybe getting Arkady to the portal.”

“And the wrath of Persephone and her mother, and Hades stalking you.”

“Thanks for reminding me. All right. Our next move—what is it, getting to work early?”

“Yes, we should get a look at Arkady's schedule. When he has appointments out of the office, Jeremy goes with him. When they're out, we can slip into his office or maybe Jeremy's.”

“Sounds like you're on a roll.” Shar waved a hand for me to continue.

“We'll look for his schedule, then figure out where he's going to be and where the nearest portals are. There are lots of them all over the city. I figured out how to map them out on the iPhone.”

“Impressive, young padawan!” Then Shar's face sobered. “You do remember that the next time we try to get Arkad
y to a portal, we'll have to use the Siren gifts. On
other
people. Maybe lots of them, including Jeremy.”

“I know.” I didn't want to use the gift on Jeremy, but there would be no choice if he was at Arkady's side, and that looked like the one thing we could count on. Or else I could try to explain what was going on:
Jeremy, I realize this might sound … odd, but, Mr. Romanov? He made a deal with Hades, the Greek god of the Underworld. No, it's not a myth. No, I'm not on any kind of medication
… No. And I couldn't do it anyway due to the nondisclosure thing. So Jeremy would hear my Siren voice, then hopefully, after I released him, we could both return to being absolutely human.

I went to my bedroom suite to get ready. I dressed as quickly as I could, but it wasn't easy. My thighs, torso, and upper arms were completely covered in feathers, and dressing usually resulted in them getting ruffled and tangled. Pulling on them smarted.

So far, the gift had left my feet, hands, and face alone, which was pretty much the opposite of what was happening to Shar. Our transformations had to halt here, or Shar wouldn't be able to be in the same room with me, and she might sprout a beak. I wound a long scarf around my neck. I'd keep it on all day and say I was in the midst of a relapse. That would keep Reynaldo away, and with any luck, Jeremy wouldn't mind playing text messenger a bit longer.

When we clocked in, Reynaldo put us to work finishing the thank-you notes for the runway show.

“How long does it take you?” He poked at a towering stack of envelopes. “You don't want Mr. Arkady to look ungracious! You could have been working on these before the show started, and then at the show!”

You mean, while we were busy redesigning the star dress, then trying to send Mr. Arkady down a rabbit hole?

Reynaldo shook his head and clucked his tongue as he cat-walked away. I picked up a pen and started to address an envelope when my phone vibrated. I flipped it open and read:

What r u doing now?

Jeremy.
I texted back:

T-Y's for the show, Reynaldo cracks whip!

I kept the phone open and set it to silent. Another message popped up two seconds later:

Haha. Feeling better?

I looked at Shar, who was busy addressing envelopes. I typed:

Still no voice. But not contagious.

His next message came up almost instantly.

Cool. Think u can get away 4 a sec?

I snuck another peek at Shar. Was it fair to leave her? It would only be for a couple of minutes. I told him yes.

Come 2 the exit stairs 2 left of elevators :)

I snapped the phone shut and jumped up, startling Shar.

“Bathroom!” I yelped, and dashed out without looking at her; the guilt might make me reconsider.

I could feel my heartbeat speeding up as I walked past the fake Faberg
é
eggs and into the beige reception area. Out the double doors. Down the hall. Past the elevators. No one was there to hinder me.

As I grasped the cool metallic handle of the stairwell door, visions of Jeremy and me on Coney Island zipped through my mind like a flickering slideshow. I'd been robbed of my moment—there had been no kiss, only the brush of his lips on my cheek, his breath in my ear, but no more. I had no idea what his experience had been; we'd never talked about it.

I pushed the stairwell door open with resolve and burst through. It was empty. I stepped into the stairs, my breathing shallow, my heart still racing. I closed my eyes as the door swung shut. Hearing the soft click of the latch, I shook my head; this was a Hades trick.
He's furious that I won't deliver Shar to him, and now he's going to mock me.

Behind me, someone cleared their throat.
He's here; he actually had the nerve to come to confront me.
I spun around, ready for a fight.

“You—” I started, then stopped.

It wasn't Hades.

It was Jeremy.

In the half second that I turned to face him, his expression changed from a soft stubbly grin to wide-eyed confusion. I must've looked deranged.

“I'm sorry,” he began to apologize, but I strode over to him, shaking my head. I put a finger to his mouth. His lips parted, letting out a short breath that tickled my finger. I moved my hand to his cheek; he felt real, warm.

“It's really you,” I mouthed.

He quirked an eyebrow. “Expecting someone else?”

I blushed—nowadays I could never be sure.

“No.” The word came out in a whisper.

He pushed himself away from the wall and, slipping an arm around my waist, spun me around so our positions were reversed. Brushing the hair away from my face with a finger, he bent down so that his face was mere inches from mine.

“I like your hair,” he said. “I like your eyes. No, I think I love your eyes.” His lips brushed my forehead, nose, then hovered above my mouth.

Here we were again—the moment, the
exquisite anticipation.
Never taking my eyes off his lips, mine parted.
No interruptions.

Gently, he pressed me against the wall, his warm palms guiding my face closer. I could feel the feathers prickling against the skin of my back. He was still holding my face in his hands, but he pulled away slightly and stared at me for a long moment.
So close …

“Is something wrong?” I whispered.

“No,” he said, resting his forehead against mine. I inhaled deeply, losing myself in the mingled, spicy scents of patchouli and sandalwood—his scent. “It's just that … I feel like we've done this before … haven't we? I try to remember”—he squeezed his eyes shut—“but I can't.”

I raised my right hand and smoothed his brow. His eyes fluttered open.

“We're here now,” I said, my voice neutral. I lifted my face closer to his and he descended toward mine. His lips were warm and soft, and his teeth tugged gently, teasingly, on my bottom lip. I closed my eyes. As the kiss deepened, he started to move his hands down to my neck, my shoulders. I shrank back, but not before he felt the weird padding on my arms. He didn't seem to notice. His hands moved up into my hair, drawing me closer to him.

The phone on his belt buzzed. Reluctantly, we parted. He closed his eyes and threw his head back in exasperation before looking at it.

“Reynaldo. I have to get back,” he said morosely. “And Mr. Romanov changed his plans. I'll probably be gone the rest of the day. I'll text you as soon as I can.”

I nodded, and reached up a hand to run it through his hair. He gazed at me for a moment before his lips reclaimed mine. I was torn between not wanting it to end and hustling him back to Arkady so Shar and I could ransack his office.

“I'll leave first,” he said, pulling away reluctantly. “We really need to do this again.”

I gave a little wave as he pushed through the stairwell door. Then I counted to sixty, replaying the last five or so minutes in my head, before leaving as well.