Lady's and Gentlemen I have a confession, I have yet to get over to the bookstore to check out the Dresden graphic novels… I am ashamed… SO if there's anyone who is willing to share their opinion of them, I'm all ears! Thanks again guys!
Also, Pepper the Dragon would like to thank you for making her job easy, but if you have anything to add/say or comment on let me know, I'm up for criticism so I can learn from my horrendous mistakes. That's all for now, role disclaimer!
Disclaimer: I own nothing but Jane and Talin… and Fred the cat. Other than that, I am just a poor retch who has a love obsession with dark chocolate and Pepsi.
PS- there are some shameless references to other works; I'll let you guess which ones. ^--^
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Chapter 6
The other side of the gate was more serene than it had any right to be. A well covered in rose vines drew her attention instantly and she faced it taking a deep breath.
"Harry, get out of the garden" she said over her shoulder.
Caught in the act he removed his hand from the gate. Leaving a woman to face the beast wasn't setting well with him, he looked over and thought he saw Murphy's trigger finger twitch in anticipation. Nothing would be taking her off guard again anytime soon.
"Then what should we do Miss Fae?"
"Don't call me that!" Jane whirled around. "Get away from the gate, the roses and me Harry. I mean it," she told him flecking her arms in frustration. Taking another breath, she shifted in the metal jerkin under her jacket. "You can do one thing. Hold your breath until I speak."
"Alright…" he said hesitantly. Talk about a do-it-yourself-er he thought backing away from the gate.
"It's something I learned from the old ones. Now get out of the gardens reach, then don't move."
The cop and wizard shared a look and slowly backed away and out of sight. Nothing moved or breathed as she collected herself and moved toward the well.
Here goes nothing…
Plucking a single rose from its perch, she quickly scanned her surroundings. Nothing. Carefully, as though it were a bomb she laid the fragile rose on the edge of the vine covered well and winced when it pricked her withdrawing hand. Somewhere between blinking and sudden disappointment her hand was cradled in his as he offered her the rose.
"Good evening Jane," said the fae lord.
"Lord Talin," she gasped backpedaling. He stopped her with a look.
"Where you expecting someone else?" he chided. She tried to find the right words but he continued. "I see you are still so formal. What's the matter Jane? Are we in trouble again or up to some mischief of your own?"
Gazing into his eyes was doing nothing to help her nerves; she looked down trying to focus. What was she here for? Why had she called him? He tilted her head back to meet his gaze and her breath stopped. Leaning in as close as a lovers embrace, she felt his arms go around her and felt him sigh against her. Tilting her head up, her lips were a breath against his cheek as she found the words that would break the spell and dash the hope.
"Tam Lyn Rosewood," she breathed. Suddenly his breath had stilled in anticipation. "Forgive me, but I need that favor you promised me," she finished blinking back misty eyes. This was much harder than she had imagined. She felt him still and draw back, but only just so. She chanced a look up, all the mischief of Shakespeare's Puck had left him in that instant. A regal calm invaded his features as he brought a hand absently up to trace her jaw line.
"An invocation, you must be in over your head little witch. Formalities indeed, one wonders why the breech however, a naming with no order," he said speaking down to her. They had yet to put any real distance between them. His sudden chill sparked her ire.
"I'm not here to command you, I came to ask for your help boy'o," she said putting her hands to his chest, readying to flee, but her words caused him to pause.
"Boy'o?"
"A lord you may be but my da taught you better manners all those years ago. Keep your promise or-"
"Or what? You'll use my name to take what you want anyway pretty mortal?" he now gripped her hands to his chest before she had realized he had moved.
On the other side of the fence, Murphy and Harry heard their raised voices.
"Looks like a lovers spat turned into a fight between preschoolers," said Harry.
"Yeah, reminds me of you. Now hush," Murphy whispered back brushing back some rose leaves in an attempt to see them.
"You made me a promise to help me if I ever asked, I'm asking," she told his tightly clenched hands. His demeanor changed with the wind that tugged at the trees branches.
"Ah, that promise indeed. Do you remember another promise then, one that you made to me?" he said giving her a kiss on the forehead, while pulling her close. His meaning showed on her blushing cheeks.
"We were children…" she said as he rested his head on hers.
"Then you were a very naughty child," he chided looping a stray curl around his finger.
"That was a life time ago, when you were mortal and I was… different," she insisted pulling back. She was losing this fight and as time went on, she wasn't sure she wanted to win.
"Time means little to the fae, you aught to know that Jane-girl." That put her to rights.
"Bollocks! Time is all you have. Will you help me or not?" she said stiffening.
"Keep your end of the bargain and I will do everything in my power to assist you," he told her calmly.
"You don't still mean to-"
"I would have it no other way little Jane," he said resting his arms on her shoulders. 'If he would just stop touching me and looking at me like that I could remember what my brilliant back up plan was…' she thought as he smirked down at her. He knew she was trapped; she was just now realizing how tangled she had become. Jane growled in frustration making a low rumble of laughter come from his damn handsome face. He looked entirely too pleased with himself.
"One debt for another," she whispered darkly.
"Who are you here for if not yourself?" said Talin with a touch of a frown. A shard of hope came in sight.
"Would you like to play a game of Answers for Answers my lord?" she asked sweetly.
"Hardly, but who has finally bested me in your regard and gained a favor? I may wish to see at what price they would be willing to part with it," he said smirking down at her. A shock of icy fear streaked through her. Harry could easily trade her freedom for what he needed. All he need do was speak up.
"The murderer of my father's murderer. Why are Summers allies all over this land and water?" she said daring him not to answer for what he had started.
"Clever, they are here to fight the Winter court as we always have. You know that better than most."
"Not all of them are fae, answer the question," she said trying not to look too concerned over the answer.
"Jealous of the children of the blood are we?" he asked playfully.
"Possibly, why them when you have others at your disposal?" she asked changing tactics.
"My, my aren't we rooting for free information. You know the price dear one, anything you want for what I was promised," he told her grinning at her frustration. He was just playing with her, if she wanted to get anywhere she had to make a deal before he lost interest in her, or she lost interest in her quest. The latter was more likely as he bent to nibble her ear. Damn him to hell and back she thought fuzzily.
"I need information on the Summer Court," she said biting her lip.
"For?"
"What does it matter to you, so long as you get what you want?" she asked back. Her eyes crinkled; once again, it was a game of questions for questions just like Harry said.
"Very little, but I ask all the same." At that she pulled away looking him in the eye, she was already acquainted with his soul.
"A little lad has been cursed by fae touch and a kelpie has been let off its leash. I will find and kill it and its owner if it will stop them in their hunt," she said straightening. 'Please let him have nothing to do with this…' she thought.
"I see, so naturally you come to me for a bargain. How do you know it hasn't gone rogue?" he asked offhandedly. She had him, they shared in their curiosity and now she got him wondering.
"No more sharing unless you agree to help us and that this is never told or hinted at to anyone or anything ever," she told him hoping she had covered all of her bases. She couldn't think of any loopholes to her statement but her analyzing was interrupted.
"Who is 'us'?"
"A wizard and knight, do we have an accord?"
"Say it out loud, what each of us will give and receive in return," he said raising an eyebrow.
"You will aid Wizard Dresden, the knight of Chicago and myself in their investigation as an informant and help us catch the culprit when we do find them," she told him plainly.
"And if I am the culprit?"
"Then you have nothing to gain from this bargain, it would be void if you were responsible," she told him watching his reaction carefully.
"Well said, and your end of our bargain?" he jibbed pulling her back to him, closer than ever. She went seven colors of scarlet. Anger, rage, embarrassment and worry crossed her mind as he waited for her to finish what she had started. As usual, she noticed, finishing something was always the most work.
"In return I bind myself to thee as affore promised, as thy mate," she spat out before she lost her resolve. It's only forever, it's not long at all… said the little voice in her head.
She dared not look up at Talin, he was sure to be grinning at his triumph. As it turned out she didn't have a choice in the matter, his smile nearly lit up the shadowed garden.
"Agreed," he purred in her ear just before he kissed her deeply to seal their pact. When he finally drew back she was reeling and almost giddy as he cradled her face in his hand.
"Till next we meet then my Jane, you know I will come should you call," and with that he disappeared as a new disappointment and sharp horror seeped into her soul. What have I done?
A sharp grunt from beyond the wall caused her to turn in a fighting stance. She had forgotten Harry and Murphy were there. Calming her shaking hands she deliberately walked past the well, brushing it off and crossed the bridge to find a wild tangle of rose vines attempting to subdue dark shapes. With the light of the nearby lamp she could make out Murphy hacking away at the vines on her legs, her bracers keeping the thorns at bay for the time being. Another grunt erupted from Harry who was much worse off, struggling for breath he cursed and growled "Fuego!" incinerating the vines on his arm and throat.
After all of the tension she still held on to from her encounter with Talin she couldn't help herself; she started to giggle as the vines slowly lost their vigor.
"Hey Murphy, you wouldn't think any less of me if I never got you roses, would you?" he said as he continued to burn away the vines nearest him.
"Not at all," came the reply as Murphy freed herself with a flick of her pocketknife.
"I can't leave you two alone for five minutes…" gasped Jane trying to get herself under control. It really wasn't that funny, but they looked so silly fighting the now limp thorn vines.
"Look Murph, she missed us!" said Harry standing up.
"What did you find out?" asked Murphy stepping over the burnt plants.
"Summer is making a move on Winter, likely with the Red Courts help. A lord and a his Queen are letting kelpies and their masters free around Chicago but, what I don't understand is why. The last thing they would want is for Winter to be aware that they are mobilizing in the area nearest to the link to their part of NeverNever."
Harry looked skeptical.
"And you got a fae lord to own up to that?"
"Not in so many words, he didn't seem to be aware of anything out of the ordinary. He'll most likely poke around the NeverNever to see what has been happening, but I can call on him if I have need," she told him straight faced.
"And how do you know it's not Talin that's pulling the strings?" asked Murphy.
"The girl ranted about a lady and lord in brown, aside from consorting with a Queen he would never wear autumn colors, that's not his style," said Jane confidently recalling the attire of the fae lackey that she had seen at Macs.
"And we are believing you because the guy has good fashion sense?"
"I'm sorry I wasn't aware you were the expert on the fae here, do tell what your theory is then," she said smartly.
"Harry she's just-" started Murphy, but Harry wasn't listening.
"What did you promise him? What did you trade?" Jane looked at the little cuts on his face and throat.
"You better not leave any blood or you'll regret it later," she answered instead.
"Speaking of regret, you're not having second thoughts on helping us are you?" asked Murphy as Harry's evident fury burned the splashes of his blood out of existence. 'The night staff will have a hell of a time explaining all of the scorch marks' she thought.
"It doesn't matter now, the deal is made and my promises will be kept," Jane told them solemnly.
Harry lost a bit of his edge at her comment. He was still a sucker for a damsel, deranged as she may be but chivalry aside, if she got them all killed it would be nice for a heads up.
"Jane. No more fae speeches. I won't ask again." Jane looked at his body language, it told her enough to stop the lie on her tongue. It was the same dark look he had worn when his brother had gotten involved.
"Don't worry, it's nothing of yours."
"But still valuable enough to get a fae's attention with few tricks or riddles. What was it?"
"The only thing I have left to give, me."
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The hike back had been a quiet one as they all piled in to Harry's beetle. Jane sat in the back and looked out the windows silently as the lights flashed past. Murphy kept glancing back to be sure that she was still there and Harry had been speeding gripping the steering wheel in frustration.
"How did you kill the Queen of Summer?" came a soft voice from the back seat. Harry took his foot off the accelerator as he rounded the corner.
"With help," he told her slowing down when her house came into sight. A soft huff came from behind him.
"I owe you nothing now, but thank you for the ride," she said straightening getting ready for Murphy to pull the seat forward to let her out. The hardened cop didn't move, her gaze was fixed on the front door that hung slightly ajar.
"Harry."
"I see it, keep your eyes open, I'll take the door," he said shifting down to park. His engine cutout and the stillness crept into the car.
"Murphy, move. I have to see if the old women-"
"Quiet, we spread out and make sure its safe first," said Murphy pulling herself out of the car and her gun off its strap in a practiced motion. A buzzing sound from the back shoved the seat completely forward as Jane stalked out of the car and on to the curb.
"Careful, you're no good to us dead," said Harry whipping our his blasting rod.
"Claíomh," she whispered pulling out an earring. The swords weight in her hand centered her and cooled her frustration.
Nimbly she leapt up the stairs behind Harry and checked the doors wards. The old women had opened the door or the frame and most of the deck would not still be intact. Granny had invited them in.
"Don't let the strangers into the house Snow White, all you'll get is the poisoned apple," she told the door sadly. Murphy pulled her back and lightly pushed the door open and scanned the room with well trained precision.
"Stick close," whispered the cop taking the lead.
Jane waited while she checked the front rooms, the cat was gone or in hiding, neither of which settled her nerves. The Iron Kitchen was next at the far end of the house, then they would have to check upstairs. Heartbeat racing she signaled to Murphy and back to Harry, they came up behind her as she stopped just outside of the doorway. The cast iron wood stove was still on and the faint fire light glistened off of the copper pots, hanging from their rack.
A sardonic look came across Janes composure, a red apple with fang marks was neatly displayed on the counter. Jane took the apple in her fist with a wild look in her eyes.
"Those undead bitches are going back in the ground," she growled breaking away from them and rounding the corner of the island and cupboards. The floor had cinnamon of all things on it, in a perfect circle. A slash broke through the ring ending at an overturned chair and a white haired body. The night froze her solid.
Murphy rushed over still looking around the room and checked for a pulse. A faint breath escaped from wizened lips causing her to start then gently turn her on her side. Jane came forward relief washing over her, but Harry's arm barred her. Pulling out a pentacle amulet he sent a bit of his will flowing through it to wash over the destroyed kitchen.
"That's a lot of blood," he said meaningfully. She looked at him as though he had finally gone crazy. A spell traced in blood and cinnamon was illuminated by Harry's shining pentacle. Jane felt her stomach drop away to nothing, this was old magic. It bound a persons spirit to their form effectively keeping them alive, but also well aware of all of the pain their body suffered. She bristled at the apple once again. The Snow White hussy had brought the apple to Granny, but old world fae magic was binding her in torment.
Suddenly the front door creaked as it swung, jammed, then groaned as it was forced against the wood to close. Her wards were back in place.
"Close your eyes," cried Harry tackling Murphy as the ceiling dropped down on her along with a Red Court Vampire. He spun above her and shut his eyes as his will went surging into his mothers pentacle. With the intensity of a small sun the vampire was temporarily blinded. Jane grabbed a piece of wood and charged the vampire Sasha only to be flung into the carefully hung pots and pans as the vamp backhanded her.
"What are thinking little girl? Going to stake me to death?" laughed Sasha spitting saliva in her general direction with unfocused eyes.
"Fuego!" cried Harry blasting her aside and scorching her shoulder reveling her true shapes' tattered fur and flesh. "Honestly, Jane just because Buffy can do it doesn't mean you should," he told her unleashing another blast from his rod. Fae weren't his cup of tea, but he was a pro at dealing with the Red Court. Shakily Sasha pulled herself up glaring. The wounded vamp's skin was smoldering trying to reform as it was burned over and over as she screamed. Murphy's shot at the girl as a much truer version of Buffy as they backed her into a tiled corner. Jane groaned.
"You didn't hire me for my vamp staking qualities," she retorted grabbing her sword out of the mess around her.
"Master!" Sasha squealed falling to the floor.
"Oh shi-" Jane cried as arms pulled her, pans and all off the counter top and twisted at her coats collar. A punch to the neck left her dazed for a moment until she realized that instead of a fist the vampires jaws had connected with her chain mail's links. The girls master pulled back hissing, and spitting more than a few of the metal links.
Harry and Murphy momentarily distracted by Jane's cry found that the little vamp still had some fight left in her as she sprang up laughing. Jane choked trying to summon Fred but her windpipe closed as the master thrust her against the wall taking his time while over his shoulder she saw Harry take a dive for his blasting rod that had been knocked away at some point. With precious little air she focused on her pebble trying to bind him in place.
"Looks like we have a spare Sasha. Would you like her my dear or should I take her for myself?"
Her spell wavered as the air thickened around him pressing him into place. His grip lessened in surprise and she gasped in the dusty air not caring about anything else for the moment.
"Whichever you would prefer master, but I want the big one. He got away from me last time," called Sasha and Jane heard a grunt and a thud not far away. Her vision was swaying, she couldn't hold the spell, she was spent from the fight with the kelpie, so she mumbled a name as black edges came in to her sight.
A white glove shot between them tapping the vampire on the nose just as her spell shattered. She knew it was important that she stay on her feet and away from the white glove and its hand but as she slid slowly down the wall she tried to remember why…
"You my Jane, live a most exciting existence," said an alluring voice.
A curse came from Murphy as the vampire girl shrieked again pouncing on someone. Laughter bubbled from somewhere behind the counter when Murphy's empty cartridge hit the floor.
"You should see me on a bad day," she told the floor as it came back into her sight. A mass of blood and fur lay within arms reach. A rewarding laugh almost brought a smile to her lips as she fought to stand up. A hand reached out to her but she shrank away from it, instead an arm scooped her up and set her on the island.
"Murphy?" she called wiping saliva off of her neck. "You two still alive?" she asked as her eyes began to droop. The vampires drug like saliva was numbing her from the bruises and most likely a mild concussion that she earned from the master vamp. She swayed and was held upright by arms that pulled her close. The smell of the deep woods and fresh air washed over her and she dreamily leaned into the comfort she found there.
"Fine, just fine," called Murphy picking her way through the rubble.
"Harry?"
"I'm just dandy down here, I think I'll even take a nap I'm so comfortable." Harry staggered to his feet and cursed when he saw his newly made blasting rod was broken into several pieces.
"It looks like the other one got away, Jane, are you alright?" asked Murphy peering at her. Jane grinned wolfishly, her arms were numb now and trying to focus was making her dizzy.
"I'm peachy," she said drunkenly.
"Good, cuz you look like hell," said Harry watching Talin carefully. He wasn't a light weight when it came to sheer power but there wasn't a whole lot he could do if the guy was so inclined to start smiting again.
"I think I should got to bed now, no more for me…" muttered Jane sighing and closing her eyes snuggling up against someone. Talin raised his eyebrow at them. A frown made its way through her features "What is she going to say about the mess we made, the old women's going to-" she jerked sharply the dead woman's face flashing behind her eyes. Talin followed her as she drunkenly tripped her way across the kitchen to where Granny Rose lay. Fae eyes watched as she took a breath and began to erase the blood spell that bound the old woman's spirit.
"She will die if you continue," he said in her ear. He stared openly at the rise and fall of the old woman's breathing. Perhaps it wasn't just the kelpies who were fascinated by death thought Jane bleakly. He was waiting for her to ask something of him.
"If her soul has the strength to stay then she may live, but it is not up to us to keep her here forever in this state of dying," she told him. In the loud silence that followed Murphy stepped out to call for an ambulance.
"I am sorry for your loss," said Talin putting a hand on her shoulder.
"She's not dead yet. I'm not going to stop her from dying, but I'm not going to make it easy for her either," she told him fiercely. "Stand back or get out, all of you," she said over her shoulder as she crouched down.
"Still going at things alone? Let me help if I can," he said coming forward. "You cane barely stand as is."
No sooner where the words out of his mouth when Harry felt the ground beneath him move and even saw the change take place as Jane made herself a conduit for the lay line's power. His hair stood on end as the room itself became charged with raw and unfocused magic. He would have liked to say that he would have never attempted such a reckless thing, but hanging around Jane, the walking lie detector made him admit to himself that he would have done the same. Jane turned towards him, eyes aglow with pure magic.
"LEAVE," commanded a voice coming from Jane's body. Talin lifted his chin remaining while Harry caught the returning Murphy and got the hell out of Dodge. Just as they made it off the porch a clap of thunder came and faded. They stood there for a moment and watched as time itself changed, chipped paint replaced by new, warped stairs were once more level and the windows were no longer rippled.
Inside the Iron Kitchen Jane knelt by a younger looking Granny Rose whose color was returning. Talin remained still watching as Jane shuddered and let the spell fall around them bending the house to a time when it was once whole. Shaking Jane felt the pull of the layline still but didn't have the strength to pull back as it continued to course through her.
"It's time to let go now dearie." Jane felt a tug on the power and let it slide away from her. Struggling to her feet she watched wrinkled hands tidy snow white hair as the old woman sat up on the clean floor. The image of the young elderly dancer flashed in her mind, Granny Rose was no good to them, she had no youth left to give… there was also the spell to bind a spirit. That warranted some investigation, now if only the room would stop spinning she could ask Talin about-
Harry was half in the kitchen when he saw Jane collapse, he was halfway to catching her when he felt the pull as a door to NeverNever began to form. The old women was standing with a caste iron pan and shaking it at Talin.
"You leave the girl, you here me? It's her turn to do the dishes," she said shaking the pan at him. Talins eyes watched the pan as though it were a gun.
"Mam, he's actually here to help," said Harry as the fae backed away from her. It must have been hard to maintain the door with all of the iron around because once she lowered the terrifying frying pan the door snapped shut on its own.
"That's very nice but I'm in no mood for more guests, kindly clear out of my house the lot of you," she said grouchily and to his surprise that's exactly what happened. Somehow the old women made the fae lord hand the unconscious Jane over to Harry and vanish like a gust of wind. He wished he had gotten off that easy when she had him carry Jane up to her room. He could just feel a maternal lecture coming on as he all but pulled the confused Murphy behind him.
"What just happened? Five minutes ago that place was trashed, now I have to explain to 911 why I made a prank phone call."
"Honestly? I feel like Alice in Wonderland in there, nothing makes a whole lot of sense but we keep on following Jane, the psychotic white rabbit," said Harry coming back to his parked Beetle.
"In a warped way she does seem to know what she's doing…" said Murphy hopping in the passenger seat. Making his way through the late night traffic he pulled within the general vicinity of Murphy's car.
"It's like she stepped out of a-" he paused. "That's it! Murphy, I'll meet you back at Jane's tomorrow at noon. Check on the cursed kid and let me know how its going, I think I just figured something out," he continued excitedly.
"Anything I can do until then?" she asked a wrinkle forming on her brow.
"Surf the net for fairytales, catch up on your reading get in touch with your inner child and I'll talk to you tomorrow, I have to check with Bob and my library but I think I'm on to something ," he said pulling up to her car and urging her out. This would be yet another long night, but if he was right he might have solved more than one of the riddles that had come his way.
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Shadow- Thanks for reading and till next time!