Shadow Reaper (Shadowlands Series) (17 page)

“What are Dream Eaters?”

“You need to chop. Slice thinly.”

I began to slice.

“Avery, Jiva and Daemon, they’re Dream Eaters. Chosen and altered, and since they lost their abilities, they wanted to help in any way they could. You see, the Shadowlands were once something completely different, and the Dream Eaters were responsible for keeping it safe for us all.”

“What happened to meld our worlds, how did the veil fall? I’ve asked but no one seems to know the answer.”

Viola was silent for a long time, so long that I couldn’t help but look up from my slicing. Her eyes were glazed over as if she was lost in memory.

“Viola?”

She sighed. “Being a Hob is sometimes a curse. My memories of that time are so vivid, too vivid. For you, the change happened a handful of years ago, but for us, it began a long time ago. We lost something beautiful, something powerful and essential. Our world fell into darkness. That’s when the Shadowlands were born. Many have forgotten, but not my kind, not the oldest.” She sighed again. “Anyway, where was I? Oh, yes. The Dream Eaters offered a haven and the leaders of the respective realms decided to accept. It would be a place for traders and travellers alike. It has become all that and more, but in order to keep the shroud of protection upon us, to keep the shadows out and to maintain peace within its walls, the Tri-realms must lend it an ounce of their power, channelled via an Ambassador into an Oath.”

I finished chopping the purple thing, and she handed me another one. I was beginning to get the idea.

“Shadows. I think that’s what attacked me and my friend.”

“And I’m glad to see you managed to outrun them.”

I paused in my chopping and met her eyes. “No, we didn’t. They caught us, me first, but my friend pulled me out, and then they caught her, and I . . . I scared them off.”

Her brows had climbed so high up onto her forehead that they’d vanished under her shaggy fringe. Then she burst into gales of laughter.

“What?”

She shook her head and flapped her hands in my direction. I waited patiently until she had her mirth under control.

“Oh, my, I am going to enjoy having you in my kitchen. You really are a hoot!”

I wanted to ask her what was so funny, but I think I’d figured it out. The Shadows should have killed us, should have killed Bernie. Whatever had happened out there, it had been far from the usual and Viola’s reaction highlighted just how unusual. My shoulder tingled, reminding me of the strange mark, and a question formed in my mind: could the Shadows and the mark on my shoulder be related?

Another purple thing appeared on my chopping board.

“Chop, chop, we have a stew to make,” Viola said.

***

Kitchen duty proved to be even more educational than working the bar. In fact, Viola was probably the most open, friendly, and interesting Shadowlander I’d met since coming to the Shadowlands. She told me about her ex-mistress: an old Hag she’d served for almost fifty years before the witch had granted her freedom. Apparently, this old Hag’s house could be in two places at the same time, and she’d set it to straddle both Enchansa and the human world. Viola told me that she’d been forced to cook up many small human children for the Hag’s consumption.

I couldn’t keep the horror off my face, and a pink flush had stained her cheeks. “I didn’t have a choice. Hag magic is a powerful thing. If she hadn’t released me, I’d still be in her kitchen, cooking her meals and taking her abuse.”

The stew was bubbling in a gigantic pot on the stove soon enough, and Viola sent me to the spice cupboard. “Green shaker with the purple stripe,” she instructed.

I opened the cupboard to an array of ceramic shakers in a variety of colours. How the heck did she remember what was in each one? Surely it would be easier to stick labels on them all. I scanned the shelves until I found the one she was looking for and handed it to her. She was about to sprinkle it in but stopped, yelped and held the shaker up to her nose for a sniff.

“What? Is it the wrong one?”

“No, no, it’s the right one, just past its use I’m afraid.” She chuckled. “Would have given everyone a nice case of the bum runs if I hadn’t caught a whiff.”

“Powerful nose you go there.”

“Another perk of being a Hob, or maybe it’s a curse. Not too sure on that one.” She held out the shaker. “Pop that in the bin by the sink and I’ll find another batch.”

I took the shaker and was about to drop it in the bin when the idea flared to life in my mind. I tucked it into the pocket of my apron and turned back into the room, feeling suddenly ten pounds lighter. I had a solution to my problem. Now all I needed was an opportunity to execute it.

After my shift, I left Viola to put the final touches on the Oath Renewal meal. I was making my way back down the corridor toward the blue door when I heard the voices.

“—the human shown any signs?”

“Nothing so far.”

I stopped and pressed myself to the wall, holding my breath.

I recognised those voices—Avery and Cal. They were in the medical room, and the door must have been ajar because I could hear them clearly.

“Keep her out of sight, Cal. We have no idea what she is, or what the others may pick up. Once the full moon is over and Daemon is sated, we’ll figure it out.”

“Do you honestly think she could be the answer?” Cal said.

“I don’t know, she’s an anomaly and she may be worthless to us, in which case she can go on her fool’s quest and get herself killed for all I care. But until I’m certain of that, she stays here and you will keep an eye on her.”

“As you wish.”

I sensed movement and glanced wildly about for a hiding spot. I leapt at the door opposite and tried the handle.

Locked.

Obviously!

Stupid, stupid, of course there was no hiding spot. It was a narrow corridor with locked doors. There was only one option.

I squared my shoulders and continued down the corridor just as Avery emerged from the medical room.

He blinked down in surprise at me, his eyes narrowing.

“Hi!” I said brightly. “Kitchen duty.” I jerked my thumb in the direction of the kitchen door.

“So I gather.” His gaze strayed to the blue door then back to me. “It’s busy out there. You can take the back stairs.”

He moved past, brushing up against me, his scent heavy in my nostrils as he reached for the locked door I’d just tried. It opened for him and he stepped aside, waiting for me to enter.

I can’t say I wasn’t a little wary, but I’d heard what he’d said to Cal, and I was pretty certain he was talking about me. I didn’t think he’d hurt me . . . not yet anyway, so I stepped through the door into a dim stairwell.

“Take the stairs to the second floor and remain there. I believe your shift is over.”

I met his eyes and inclined my head. Speech was difficult in such close proximity. He was so perfect. His skin was flawless, his features a blend of soft curves and harsh lines and that hair, I imagined, was as golden as they said the sun once was.

A bubble expanded in my chest, a tugging sensation in the pit of my belly. My hand lifted as if of its own volition, and I reached for a lock of that hair, caressing it before letting it slip through my fingers.

His sapphire eyes lit up in a slow burn, raking over my face and settling on my lips. Was he attracted to me? Could I use that to my advantage? A wave of empowerment washed over me at the possibility and then those luscious lips curled in amusement.

“Get going, little human. If I decide to play, you’ll be the first to know.” He stepped back and closed the door, leaving me in the dark stairway with a thundering heart.

***

I couldn’t believe I’d contemplated seducing one of them. Crazy stupid bitch! They didn’t play by the same rules. There was nothing human about them except the way some of them looked. Buried beneath those azure eyes was nothing but darkness. They didn’t care about humans. They fed us and clothed us because we provided a service. In my case, they were intrigued. I’m not entirely sure why, but it worked in my favour. It gave me an edge for now. But if the conversation I’d heard between Cal and Avery was anything to go by, my time would end in two days. They would come to some decision and then . . . I didn’t want to think what would happen if I turned out to be a dud. I just wished I knew what they thought they could get from me. Could it be something to do with the Shadows and how I’d made them release Bernie? I wish I had more answers. Everything was so uncertain. The only thing I had to hold on to was my new plan to get to Daemon and then to Bernadette.

I didn’t stop to think what would happen if Daemon told me to piss off, because if I did that I’d be taking away the only focus I had that was keeping me grounded.

Bernadette could be dead.

She could be alive.

You could get killed.

I may not.

Fine, I’ll shut up.

Yeah, you do that. I hated that inner voice. It was Clay’s voice—always his voice of reason ringing inside my head.

I locked myself in my room while I paced, trying to figure out how I was going to execute the first stage of my plan. I took the shaker out of my pocket where I’d stashed it, and turned it over in my hands. I needed to get one of Daemon’s girls to consume it, but staff meals were taken in the lounge, and it was stocked up for everyone to cook their own food. Freya had brought me that broth from Viola the first day, but I was pretty sure that was a one off.

How was I going to get this spice into one of the girls’ meals? What if they tasted what was in there? I had no idea how to disguise it.

Fuck!

I threw myself onto my bed and stared at the ceiling in annoyance.

So close, yet so far.

A tap at the door had me quickly stashing the shaker under my pillow. I sat up and called out, “Come in.”

The door opened and Freya slipped in, closed the door behind her and leaned against it, sliding down until she was sitting on the floor.

I was up and ready to cross the room when she waved me back, shaking her head. “I’m fine, sit.”

“Really? Then what’re you doing on the floor?”

“It’s called drama, hun. I like to throw some in now and then.”

I chuckled and sat back down. “Busy day on the door?”

“You could say that, but you’d be wrong. It’s been dead, no visitors at all. Well, except the bleedin’ Shadows. They’ve been circling over the ward like hungry vultures all day, swooping down and battering against it. Each time they do it, even though I know I’m safe, I duck.” She laughed dryly. “My nerves are shot. Look!” She held out her hand. “See? Check out the tremble.”

I leaned in, squinting to get a better look. Sure enough, her hands were trembling slightly.

“Do they do that often? I mean, it’s not normal, right?”

“Nothing about this place is normal, Ash, but yeah, you’re right. They don’t usually bother us. They know they can’t get in, but the kind of power the Ambassadors bring is too alluring for the Shadows. They’re desperate to get close, to feed.”

“On the Ambassadors?”

“On the power the Ambassadors carry, yeah.”

“In that case, I’m surprised the Ambassadors managed to get here without being attacked.”

“They have their own wards when travelling—powerful magic of some kind or other. Not sure how it works, but I saw one come in last night, beautiful woman, a Succubus I think. At first, I thought she was a Shadow, but she passed right through the wards, and I almost shat myself. Then she dropped the black smoke and stepped out all smuglike and gorgeous.”

Succubus . . . Caroline? I’d seen her at the bar yesterday. Was she an Ambassador? Was that why Avery had been so eager to please her?

Freya picked herself up off the floor and joined me on the bed. Drama was over, I guess. Her blue hair had escaped from its ponytail and she tucked it behind her ears and looked down at me with her winking piercings.

“Did they hurt?” I asked. “You got them done here, didn’t you?”

“A little, and yes. Can you imagine trying to pierce back home? I’d be dead of infection in a week.”

I smiled. “So who did them for you?” Was that a slight blush creeping up her neck?

“Um, Cal. He knows what he’s doing.”

I grinned. “Oh, really.”

Her eyes widened. “No! Nothing like that! I just . . . I asked and he said yes.”

“’Cos he’s got nothing better to do then to pierce humans, right?”

That flush again. There was definitely something going on there, but I knew better than to push it, but seriously, I’d like to know how that would work, man of stone and all that.

“Anyway, what about you?” Freya asked. “I heard you had kitchen duty. What do you think of Viola? A peach, isn’t she?”

I nodded, my mind straying to the shaker under my pillow. Could I trust Freya? Shit, she could help, I knew she could.

Fuck it.

I reached under the pillow and pulled out the shaker.

Freya stared at it in confusion. “What’s that?”

I turned it over in my hands. “This, my dear Freya, could be my ticket to Bernadette. But I’m going to need your help.”

Freya met my eyes, her own narrowing a fraction. “You’re going to try something crazy, aren’t you?”

“How’d you guess?”

“You have a crazy glint in your eyes. I knew you were a kindred spirit when I saw you sprinting your arse off toward the wards the other night.”

“So you’ll help me?”

“What do you need me to do?”

***

Pacing is exhausting, but I couldn’t stop. As I waited for Freya to return, I wore a little groove into the pile of the carpet in my room.

Oh, Mother, what if she’d been caught?

I was just about to go searching for her when she slipped into my room with wild eyes and flushed cheeks.

I stared at her and she nodded.

“Yes!” I did a little booty dance around my room and didn’t stop even when she burst into giggles.

“You’re evil, you know that?” she said.

I stopped dancing and fell back onto my bed. “She’ll be fine. It’s just the bum runs after all.”

Freya sat down next to me. “Actually, it’s a little more than that. I wanted to get one of the newer girls, but I couldn’t. I had to dose Gina. She’s been doing this the longest.”