Fragile Destiny (The Aether Chronicles) (3 page)

“Mama’s fine. She’s remaining in Boston; I’m still here to take care of some … unfinished business.” Yes, that sounded acceptable. Noli tried to capture the shop girl’s attention so she could
leave
.

Missy touched the tip of Noli’s ear and giggled. “You really should visit that doctor in Europe.”

Noli flinched as if burned. Being a sprite had given her ears a slight point. Usually she was able to cover them with her hair.

“May I help you?” The shop girl finally hustled over.

Thank goodness. One more moment and she’d smack Missy with her market basket. “Yes, do you have any net gloves?”

“Do you mean lace, miss?” The shop girl’s face contorted in confusion.

“No, I mean net, like, well … a net, only it’s finer and softer.” She should have brought a pair so she could show the shop girl what she meant.

The shop girl shook her head, lips puckering. “No, miss. We have nothing like that here. I’m not even sure where you’d look … ”

Missy tittered in the background as she tried on a hat with a birdhouse on it. “Net gloves, truly?”

“Well, I do appreciate your help.” Noli smiled at the girl. She gave the other ladies a curt nod. “Mrs. Sassafras, Missy,” and left the shop and hustled down the street, waving at a car flying overhead, simply because.

Ugh. Missy was such a social-climbing dollymop.

Noli strode into the bakery. “I need a really large chocolate cake.”

Mr. Benson, the baker, smiled at her from behind the glass counter as he wiped his hands on his white apron. “Did you have that bad of a day, Noli?”

“I just ran into Missy Sassafras.” She eyed the trays of colorful confections. “I’d like the big chocolate cake in the front, the one with the candied cherries on top.”

Yes, that one,
the sprite agreed.

Noli’s favorite cake wasn’t found here in the mortal realm, but chocolate was just fine with her—and the sprite.

Her eyes traveled from the cakes and pastries to the cookies. “I’d also like a dozen—”

“Cookies with chocolate on top, of course.” He laughed. “For your mother?”

Mama had always kept them in her dress shop for her customers. The shop wasn’t far. Noli should check on it—if it was even still there.

“Mama’s in Boston, I’m going to eat these all by myself.” Noli’s mouth watered at the thought as he packaged up the cookies and cake.

Cake, cake, cake,
the sprite got excited.

Yes, cake.
Noli did like cake, but those cookies were her favorites and had been such a rare indulgence. She couldn’t wait to eat every single one herself. Perhaps she’d share with the boys. Maybe.

“I’d heard you’d moved back east,” the baker replied as he packed up the pastries. “Are you here getting the last few things out of your house before the new owners take over?”

Noli nearly dropped her basket in shock. “Yes, of course,” she lied.

Her heart thumped in her chest. Grandfather had sold their house?

The bag of cookies went in the basket, but the cake box didn’t quite fit. Perhaps she should have gone there last. A hoverboard would be useful—or asking James to drive her, since Mr. Darrow owned an auto. Oh well. She’d just have to balance carefully.

As she bought tea, tinned milk, sugar, crackers, and tins of food at the greengrocer, all she could think of was that soon some other family would move into
her
house. Other children would play in her tree house. Sleep in her room.

When Papa finally came home, he’d find some other family living there.

She walked past her mother’s dress shop, which was closed and dusty, as if no one had been inside in ages. A faded note said
closed until further notice
.

Sniffing, Noli made her final stop at Mr. Thompson’s General Store.

“Are there any aethergraphs for Magnolia Braddock, or Steven or James Darrow?” she asked Mr. Thompson as she bought some candles.

He shook his head and handed her the parcel. “No, I’m sorry, Noli.”

“Oh.” She stuffed it in the basket and shuffled back to the house, shoulders rounded in defeat.

Are we going to the ball?
the sprite asked.
We should go and be prettier than Missy. We’re always prettier than Missy, but now we can be especially prettier.

Part of her wanted to, even though she’d normally rather do homework than attend a ball.
I don’t think we’ll have time
she answered. The sprite pouted, but didn’t reply.

Noli walked through the back door into the kitchen, set the cake on the counter, and unpacked her basket. Through the window over the sink she could see pinks and oranges streaking the sky as darkness fell.

Sold. The house had been
sold
. Had her mother packed up her room? Noli put the kettle on to boil, took down the old teapot since the nice one was gone, grabbed her valise, and trudged upstairs to see what state the rest of the house was in.

Her room looked exactly the same as when she’d left, complete with the discarded pile of clothes on the bed. She set her valise on the desk and fingered the half-finished ball gown her mother had been making for her to wear to the Christmas Ball.

We could wear that,
the sprite said.
I think we can finish it.

Perhaps, if we were going, but I don’t think we are. Right now we have work to do.
She needed to tidy up so everyone had a place to sleep. Noli put away the dresses and everything else she’d left behind the night she’d fled with Jeff. She had joined the crew of the Vixen’s Revenge instead of going to Boston with her mother and grandfather like a good little society girl. Really, she had everything she needed from here. Perhaps. At least her valise was magic and she could tuck plenty inside if necessary.

She changed the linens on her bed, then went into Jeff’s room to freshen those. James could stay in there. The room was barren of personality, more a guest room than her brother’s, though they had a guest room too. One day after Jeff had left to become an aeronaut—well, an air pirate—their mother had stormed in and thrown out most of his things, leaving only the furniture and a few books.

Had her mother’s things all been packed up? Noli
peeked into her mother’s room. That, too, seemed empty of everything personal. Her forehead furrowed as she spied an open suitcase lying on the inexpertly made bed. A suitcase
filled with clothes that didn’t look like her mother’s. A cup sat on the nightstand. Was someone
here
?

A hand touched her shoulder and she jumped.

“Noli, I’m so glad you haven’t left yet. When we arrived this morning, we thought we’d missed you and you’d already returned to fairyland.” Jeff stood behind her, a large grin on his face, chin scraggly with whiskers as usual. Her older brother looked even more like her father than he did just a few days—or was that weeks—ago, right down to the cleft in his chin.

“Vix needs to make you shave. Air pirates don’t need to be unkempt.” Standing on tiptoe, she gave her brother a kiss on the cheek, wrapping her arms around him. Vix was Jeff’s fiancée. She was also a fearsome air pirate and captain of the Vixen’s Revenge. Jeff was her pilot.

“What fun is that?” Jeff teased.

“You must have received my aethergraph,” Noli said. The last time they’d come to the mortal realm—when they’d found Mr. Darrow’s body—she’d aethergraphed her mother and brother to let them know she was all right.

“I did. I’m glad it’s you knocking about the house and not some very polite burglars. Tea and cake for supper?” Jeff grinned, goggles still on his forehead.

“Why not?” She grinned back. “It’s not as if Mama’s here to tell us we can’t. Oh.” The smile slid off her face. “Did Grandfather really sell the house?”

“He did—to us. You were ill when we discussed it, so we didn’t have the chance to tell you.” Vix joined them in the hallway. “We … ” Her cheeks pinked. “We thought it might be nice to have a place to call home besides the ship.”

“Hello, Vix.” Noli gave her sister-in-law-to-be a hug, her heart lightening at the idea that strange children
wouldn’t
be playing in her tree house. “I think that’s a wonderful idea. I’m glad he sold it to you. Now when Papa returns, you can tell him where Mama is.”

A sad look flitted through Jeff’s blue eyes as he patted her on the shoulder. “Of course, Noli. We won’t be home most of the time, but we’ll leave him a note.”

“You’re the best. You’re staying in there?” Noli glanced at their mother’s bedroom.

“Is that all right?” Vix shifted from foot to foot. Tall, thin, and built like a boy, she often wore men’s clothes, which clashed slightly with her Southern drawl. Today she wore the same sort of trousers and loose shirt Jeff did, only he also wore his usual vest, filled with pockets and loops, while hers resembled a waistcoat. Her black hair was boyishly short and a blue lock hung in her slightly angled dark eyes.

“That’s fine. It’s just that … well,” Noli tried not to fidget, since their presence actually presented a different dilemma. “I told James and V they could stay here too. They weren’t fond of the idea of sleeping at their house.”

Jeff’s brow furrowed in dismay. “They
live
there.”

Noli took a deep breath, chest shuddering slightly. “Someone murdered Mr. Darrow. We’re pretty sure Brogan did it … he said he’d get V and me for not giving him the artifacts.”

“Someone did
what
?” Horror streaked Jeff’s face and Vix let out a gasp, probably remembering how Brogan had attacked them on the ship back in San Francisco.

“Did you summon the police? What did they say? Mr. Darrow was such a quiet chap.” Jeff’s look went solemn.

“Why would we contact the police? This is Otherworld business,” Noli replied, trying to understand what the police had to do with any of this. “We already took care of the body. We’ll take care of Brogan later. But that’s not why we’re here.”

“Why are you here?” Jeff pulled her to him, concern dancing in his eyes. “Though you’re welcome here
anytime
; we’ll even keep your room for you.”

Vix nodded in agreement. “If you’re … coming and going … you might need a base, too.”

“I appreciate that.” That might have its uses. Also, Vix and Jeff were far more understanding than her mother, not to mention they knew about the Otherworld. “Do you remember the artifact? We’re doing some research on it.” Well, trying.

“If you need help, I might be able to put you in touch with some people.” Vix’s voice went soft. “People I trust with my life. We did a little asking around, and Kyran has hired more people than us to steal strange things.”

Noli’s eyes opened and she nodded. “I appreciate that. I’ll let you know.”

Kyran
was the alias Brogan had used when hiring Jeff, Vix, and their crew to steal the artifact pieces. It was also the name of someone else in the Otherworld, but she wasn’t sure who.

“How are you feeling?” Jeff ushered her down the back stairs. “You weren’t in good sorts when you left us.”

“I’m fine,” she replied, though that wasn’t the entire truth. She didn’t want him fussing over her—or sending her back to their mother. They entered the kitchen and her eyes fell on the pot. “Oh, I forgot about the water.” Noli rushed over and saw that someone had already put the tea to steep. Two hoverboards, one brown, one blue, sat propped up by the back door. A pair of goggles hung from the blue board.

Jeff flipped a switch on the wall near the door and the gaslights flickered on. She blinked. It had been a long time since they’d used the gaslights in the kitchen, since they were so expensive. Would they fire up the boiler next?

Noli retrieved some cups from the cupboard. They didn’t match, but it would do. “I suppose Mama had her things sent over?”

“Yes. Grandfather hired someone to take away what she wanted; she told me while we were in Boston. She wasn’t sure whether or not to bring your things, so she’d left them here for now. Since we own the place, it doesn’t matter.” He took a seat at the wooden kitchen table, clean and clear of its usual clutter but the surface still marred with wax. Jeff didn’t remove his goggles from his forehead; he’d probably forgotten they were there.

Noli brought over cups of tea, fixed the way everyone liked, and set them on the table.

“Thank you.” Vix took a seat next to Jeff. “We’ll be staying here a few days then taking off again. Will you come with us?”

Noli took down some plates and sliced the cake. She was glad she’d gotten chocolate since it was Vix’s favorite. “You
want
me to come aboard?” She and Vix hadn’t been the best of friends in the brief time she’d been the ship’s engineer, but she respected Vix immensely.

“You’re an ace engineer,” Vix replied, sipping her tea. “Odd, but an ace engineer. If you’d like your place back aboard the Vixen’s Revenge, it’s yours.”

“I … I can’t tell you how good that makes me feel.” It was high praise, coming from the likes of Vix. Noli set slices of cake in front of Jeff and Vix. She returned to the counter to get her own tea and cake, then took a seat on Jeff’s other side. “I appreciate it. However, right now I’m going to help V and James.”

“And then what?” Jeff took a bite of chocolate cake.

“We’ll take back the earth court and live happily ever after.” Her mouth snapped shut as words she hadn’t meant to say slipped out. She’d be so relieved when V finally found a way to get rid of the sprite so she’d have full control of her body again.

Don’t you like me?
Hurt dripped through the sprite’s mental voice.

I do. It’s just very difficult sharing the body,
Noli assured her.

Oh. It is hard, especially since you never let me have a turn. I think I’d like my own body. Then I
can pick what we wear every day and have the body whenever I want.
The sprite preened.

Noli had no idea what would happen to the sprite when they finally found a way to make her normal again. In fact, she hadn’t thought of anything but simply getting rid of her, so she could have full control of her being again. Now that the sprite, of all people, had brought it up, it made sense.