Granny May, back in her outdoor sewing chair, stabbed her needle into the material like she wanted to draw blood.
He already knows you’re dangling off the bottom rung of a helicopter’s rescue ladder, girl. The way you two parted—
what else could he think? All you have to decide is how much pride you can swallow before you’ve met your limit.
I said, “What else do you want?”
He smiled, ducking his head so we could stare straight into each other’s eyes. “You know.” Aw, fuck.
“How long?”
“Twenty-four hours.”
“Are you out of your goddamn mind? How am I gonna
—”
He backed away, his hips twisting slightly, as if he was moving to tango music played too low for uninitiated ears like mine. He said, “Not my problem. You want my help, those are my terms. Your move, Chil .”
Monique’s eyes moved from Sterling to me as if she was watching a slow-motion Ping-Pong match. Her hand had stolen to her lips, where she gnawed a fingernail, waiting for my reply. Geez, what would she have been chewing on if she’d actual y known what was at stake?
I closed my eyes. What sucked more than anything had so far was that I hadn’t even approached the pride line yet.
What did that say about the lengths I’d go to for Vayl? In a word—terrifying.
I said, “Done.” Patter of applause as Monique clapped her hands. I glared at her. “I wonder if you could give us a moment.”
Sterling shook his head. “You know this kind of deal needs a neutral witness. Now seal it,” Sterling demanded.
“Oh, for—okay.” I crossed my hands, one over the other, and pressed them against my chest. “I swear on my heart’s blood that I wil give you a guitar and twenty-four hours of uninterrupted time with you and your Wii playing any damn game you want—”
“I’m going to kick your ass in tennis—”
I gave him my like-hel -you-wil stare as I finished. “—in return for your help in solving my partner’s current problem.” He’d made the same gesture. Now he said, “I swear on my heart’s blood I wil aid you to the end of my abilities until”—he hesitated, glancing at Monique, so I put in
—“Vasil Brâncoveanu”—since Vayl no longer answered to his modern name and Sterling didn’t know him by any other.
The
warlock
nodded
grateful y.
“Until
Vasil
Brâncoveanu is restored or until you release me of my duties.” We clasped hands, my right in his left, his right engulfing my left. I felt, not a zap exactly. More of a slow-dizzy, the kind that fal s over you when you’ve looked in a fun house mirror way too long. It came from his bracelets, making our agreement official. And from his pull.
Warlocks borrowed energy from other people to fuel their powers so they didn’t have to sleep sixteen hours a day. Sterling was so good that his was mostly reflex, as much a part of his character as his eye color. I also knew he could crank it up when he wanted to, which was why I enjoyed touching him about as much as I liked slapping skin with psychics. I took my hands back as soon as I could.
His eyes dropped to Cirilai. “Your ring…”
“Is none of your business.”
He let it drop. But I could see the regret in his eyes. His look said, If only I’d known it wasn’t just a hunk of metal when I was wheeling and dealing.
I slipped my hands into my pockets. What have I done?
I watched Sterling touch Monique between the eyes, saw the jolt of blue move from his ring down his finger into our hostess’s skul , and knew the memory of our contract would now be locked away where she could only access it if either of us welshed. Her foggy expression, fol owed by a trip to the buffet to fix the same flowers she’d been working on when I’d entered the courtyard, convinced me it had worked. And brought on the guilt.
We shouldn’t be here. Monique’s place should be full of vacationing families. Moms and dads planning shopping excursions or trips to see the Koutoubia Mosque and the Bahia Palace. We belong in an empty plain, surrounded by the ruins of long-dead buildings where we can’t destroy anything that isn’t already rubble.
I felt something trickle down my lip.
Sterling frowned. “Your nose is bleeding.”
“Oh.” I looked around, but Monique was already beside me holding a tissue, her kind brown eyes big with concern.
“Thanks.” I took it and shoved it against my nostrils.
“Don’t worry, I’m fine.” I glanced around the courtyard so I wouldn’t have to deal with her sympathy or Sterling’s curiosity. I said, “You know what? I think Sterling and I wil eat in the gazebo this morning. We have some business to discuss.”
“Of course. I’l find Shada and tel her you’re ready for her to clean your room.”
I nodded, reminding myself to leave the quiet little maid a big tip before we left for keeping her mouth shut about al my hand-rinsed bedclothes. “Thanks.”
“I’l be working on accounts most of the morning, so if you need me please feel free to knock on my office door.” Monique nodded to Sterling. “Nice to have met you,” she said, then she left through the kitchen doors.
Sterling waved her away, the twist of his wrist and curve of his last three fingers making me wonder if he’d just hexed our hostess until he said, “A smal blessing to fol ow our witness for the rest of the day. It’s the least I can do, don’t you think?” While he tore a generous piece of bread off the loaf and scooped a spoonful of butter onto his plate, I mopped myself up. Again. Fearing that chewing motions would just reconvene the bleeder’s convention, I settled for a glass of juice and fol owed him into the gazebo. I spent as much time as I could arranging myself on the couch, the cushions at my back, my cup just so on the table. Sterling watched me for what seemed like hours. Final y he’d had enough.
“Chil . I’m not gonna jump you,” Sterling said, his voice as smooth as icing.
“Oh. Good.”
“Although an apology would be cool.”
I stared.
He said, “You know, there’s nothing wrong with wanting to be black.”
“I never said there was!”
“You said—”
“I’m sorry, okay?” I pressed my lips together before they spat out something that would aggravate him al over again.
“I need you on this mission. I need you to concentrate on what’s happening now, not on the past. Is that possible?”
“I’m here.” Some irritation in the way his teeth ripped into the khobz. But I’d take it.
“You got here quick. I appreciate that.”
His eyebrows went up. “You have changed. Wel , me too.” He leaned toward me. “I’m better. At magic. At music.
You want to know why?”
“Um—”
“Because at their core they’re the same. I’m making my way to the source now. And when I get there?” He paused, his amulet swinging hypnotical y, his eyes glittering like I should prepare for hefty news. “I’l be a Bard.” I sat back. “Dude. There hasn’t been a Bard roaming since…” I thought back. What had my History professor since…” I thought back. What had my History professor said? “I dunno, 1715?”