“Are you alright to keep running?” he asked as they heard the far-off cries of the mutant rock monsters shrieking through the mountainside.
“We either keep running, or die. Those are our only options. I’m not ready to die yet.”
Kaia
One thing after another and it felt like the kingdom had been collapsing in on itself. Kaia had been doing her best to field the royals of the court, but they were getting restless. Any word on Prince Sebastian? Where was the king and his so-called mate? When was their mating ceremony? When would they get a new heir? Was it true that the king’s mate could lift the curse?
Kaia had anything but answers and the fact that Vareck had been missing and out of contact made her skin crawl. But of course, his cat was around to tell her that the king was stuck in some random realm of hell. She was glad he had a mate and all, but why would it be Vareck’s fortune that he found someone that caused so much trouble?
“There ya’ are, my beautiful lady.” Her fortune would have it that her saving grace wore trench coats and embroidered vests. Kaia glanced up from where she stood at the human street corner. Just a little out of place, she hadn’t abandoned her bow or sword this time. Just a little bit of glamor kept her out of the eyes of the humans as she wrapped her arms around herself.
“Lou,” she said, her greeting short and informal. Everything was always business with Kaia, but she didn’t owe him the formalities she used in Faerie. The Leprechaun extended his elbow toward her. She curiously gazed over at it. Was it custom in the human realm to link arms as they walked? She may as well blend in. Kaia took his arm as the two strolled down the street, Corvo quietly following at her heels.
“Are ya’ sure ya’ want to do this? Pilin’ a debt with a witch is no small thing,” Lou said. His lips spread into a grin, stealing a glance at their locked arms.
“Aye. It is my duty to protect the king. Our castle mage isn’t capable of conjuring the type of portal I need.” Should she have brought more backup than just herself and a cat? Probably. But Dorian was elusive, as always. If only he would sit still long enough for Kaia to pin him down. Not like that, though. Kaia lightly flushed at the sudden thought, Lou laughing at her side.
“No need to be shy about it. Just a simple question.” How had Lou picked up such a subtle nuance in her expression? It seemed she ought to give him more credit. He had such an odd aura about him whenever he was in her presence. While he seemed to read her like a book, Kaia could never get anything of use from him. The compliments and flattery were surely tactics he used with any woman he approached.
“How did your king even manage to get himself in such a spot that his own witch can’t get to him?” Lou asked.
“He’s your king as well,” Kaia gently reminded. “Now that you are a citizen of Faerie once more.”
“Aye, so he is.”
“I’m . . . not sure.” Kaia didn’t need to be revealing Corvo as the king’s familiar to every fae that got involved in this mess.
Lou unlinked their arms, stepping forward to open the front door of the Witching Hour. Of all the places within the human realm, Kaia was growing to like this one the least. Amelia stood on the front stage, clapping her hands as tiny creatures hustled to move the set about. A pair of gargoyles struggled with a heavy piece of lighting, while another goblin chased after a rogue crystal ball.
“Careful with that,” Amelia scolded, walking forward out of the shadows of the stage and into the light. She shielded her eyes from the spotlight as she tried to spot what guests were visiting her bar during off-hours.
“Good afternoon, Ami.” Lou placed his hat over his chest after he greeted the witch, leading Kaia in by the small of her back. The guard bit the inside of her cheek but didn’t object, keeping her focus forward on Amelia.
“Well if it isn’t Lou and my new friend. Kaia, was it?” the witch mused, heels clacking on the polished wooden stage. The witch adorned herself this afternoon in a skin-tight black body suit, her long dark curls draping down her back. She moved toward the front of the stage, sitting on the edge in-between some of the lighting.
Kaia nodded. “You have my greetings, Amelia.”
“Always so formal, that one,” the witch teased. “You have your work cut out for you, Loulou.” Kaia kept her expression neutral, her nose only scrunching the slightest. What did Amelia mean by that? Of course she was formal; she was on the job.
“Aye,” Lou laughed, shaking his head. “You could say that.” Whatever inside joke was floating between the two would have to wait. She needed to find answers.
“I need a portal to a hell realm. Thyam, to be exact. I was told that this would be within your power. Would you be able to get me there and back?” Kaia asked.
Amelia’s bright, crimson-coated lips quirked to the side. “Everyone’s always so quick to ask for favors. Doesn’t anyone ever come in to just say hello?”
“My apologies. This is official and urgent business of the kingdom.”
“Apology accepted.” Amelia tilted her head, curiously eyeing Kaia from head to toe. Kaia swallowed dryly, almost feeling a chill creep up her spine. “Yes, demon realms are often within my reach, depending on the phase of the moon, naturally. Sadly, I’ve been quite tapped lately. I would be happy to help you, if you wouldn’t mind doing me a simple favor, of course.”
“Yes, I ca—” Kaia began as Lou stepped forward to stop her.
“Ah, hold on there. A moment for me and the lass, if ya’ don’t mind, Ami.”
“Take your time.” The witch pushed herself back up to stand, turning toward her underlings with a smirk as Lou grabbed Kaia by the shoulder. He wrapped his arm around her and turned her away from Amelia to whisper into her ear.
“I know you’re one of the king’s most competent, but ya’ need to ask more questions before ya’ start agreein’ to things. Ya’ never know what to expect. Payment is one thing, but not a favor. It is beyond a terrible idea to owe a favor to a witch. You’re basically offerin’ yourself up to someone that is part demon.”
“We don’t exactly have another way. I know of no other witches openly offering their services since the fall of Faerie, and even you said she was the only one you knew that could do this. Besides, Amelia is your partner. Is she not?”
“Aye, she is,” said Lou. “That’s why I worry.”
Kaia took in a deep breath, rolling her shoulders back. “There is nothing she could do that I fear.” She pulled away from Lou, turning toward the witch. “Amelia, about your favor. What is it?”
Amelia paused from where she was on the stage, turning toward Kaia with a cheerful smile. “Oh, I’m afraid I don’t have one in mind yet. Just a favor to call upon you in the future. It’s always nice to have someone to help when I need something done. I’m sure you understand. My offer is only good for twenty-four hours.” She took a step forward, innocently clasping her hands behind her back. “After that, I’m afraid there won’t be much to find of your king and his mate.”
Vareck