Kelly Gay: The Hour of Dust and Ashes

“Well, I think we both agree she wasn’t in her right mind,” Alessandra said. “If she is under their control, she’s in an excellent position to help the cult recover what they lost during your fight atop Helios Tower. Surely you have considered this.”

“Of course I have—that’s why I’m here. I need solid proof before I go pulling a spirit from her without being certain there’s one to pull.”

“Otherwise you’d take hers, and that would leave her quite dead, wouldn’t it?”

I rubbed a hand down my face, letting out a tired breath. White tendrils of smoke drifted my way again, and my head was starting to pound. “C’mon, Sandra, you’ve got to give me something. Anything. Please. ”

She regarded me for a long, thoughtful moment. “There is another in the city,” she said slowly. “Drawn by the darkness, can see inside and do many things …”

Relief swept through me. “Great. Who?”

“The sylph.”

I blinked, questioning with a look.

“Creatures of mist, smoke, earth …” She leaned precariously to one side and then swayed to the other, eyelids fluttering. “Left Elysia … branched off … evolved into shifters of a different kind.” Her voice went deeper, breathier. “Been here, part of Earth, tied to Earth so long. Yes, yes. A different kind altogether.”

I was only familiar with one kind of being that could alter its shape at will without the use of crafting— nymphs. The nature-loving beings from Elysia, and the inspiration for mch of Celtic mythology (along with the darkling and sidhé fae), were born with the ability to shift into an animal form. But a creature that shifted into mist? “Never heard of them.”

“And why would you? They prefer to stay hidden, unknown. Why should they reveal themselves when Elysia and Charbydon were discovered? The sylphs were already here, long before the nymphs and fae even. They did not see the need to enlighten mankind.” Her voice dropped to a mutter. “And they’re not the only ones …”

That was comforting. “Where do I find the sylph?”

She waved an impatient hand, glancing at the entrance to the club. “Here and there. Above. Below. I’m an oracle, Charlie Madigan. The oracle. Not a map. I do not keep track.” She paused, eyeing me with open calculation. “I can, however, get you an introduction. You want one?”

Alessandra being helpful was a recipe for some kind of disaster. Nothing was cut and dry when it came to her information or her idea of help, but … “An introduction would be great, thanks.”

“Mmm,” she said, nodding and closing her eyes for a few seconds. “No need to thank me. You’ll be charged extra.”

Figures. My bank account was about to take a major hit.

“And where’s your partner tonight?” she asked. “As I recall, last time he was here with you, Tuni broke his nose.” She cast an admiring glance at the rogue jinn warrior standing off to the side of the stage.

Tuni stood with both feet apart, large arms crossed over his chest, his gray skin a near match for the darkness behind him. Only the light reflecting off his violet irises, smooth bald head, and ear piercings saved Alessandra’s Goliath of a guard from blending completely into the shadows. I knew for a fact that the guy had a fist the size of a grapefruit. A grapefruit made of steel as Hank told it.

The last time we were here, inquiring about the new off-world drug, ash, Tuni had indeed broken my partner’s nose. A minor scuffle. My fault, really. Hank’s face just happened to be in the way when I opened my big mouth and insulted the oracle.

I sighed, wondering where the hell she was going with this, but knowing it was part of her game, her ritual. Her boredom. “I don’t keep tabs on my partner, Sandra.”

“Mmm. Maybe you should. Now that he has full use of his siren abilities once more, I wonder how many potential mates will be crawling out of the woodwork. New Year’s Eve is coming. Time for kisses. I’ll be kissed. Will you?”

“You’re the oracle. You tell me.”

A genuine laugh breezed through her painted lips. “I think I’ll keep that one to myself, Charlie.” She leaned forward with a conspiring gleam in her eyes. “You want me to tell you what your siren will be doing tonight?”

My teeth ground together. He’s not my siren. “I’ll pass.” Because I knew exactly what my partner was doing tonight. Sleeping. Just like he’d done yesterday and the day before and the day before that.

When Hank had usehis siren voice to issue a massive power word atop Helios Tower, it ended the battle between us and the war-obsessed cult Sons of Dawn. But there was a consequence for that kind of energy drain.

He’d held it together after the battle—long enough for us to find a hiding place for the cult’s most prized possession and to check on Aaron—but as soon as Hank had walked away from me at the station, he’d gone straight home, crawled into bed, and sunk into a near comatose state.

That was a week ago. He’d missed Christmas. And he might even miss New Year’s if he didn’t wake up soon.

“So certain you know, eh?” A smug grin crawled across the oracle’s face. “You of all people should know you can never truly know another. Trust. Faith. They are only hopes, not absolutes. Never absolutes. Thin hopes, at best, to ease the mind and heart.”

Me of all people. Nice. Hit me where it hurts, Sandra.

I gave her the most annoyed expression in my arsenal even though she spoke the truth. My ex-husband Will and I had been together for eleven years. I would’ve sat across from the devil himself and bet my life on Will’s faithfulness and honesty. And the devil would’ve collected my soul, leaving me completely blindsided. Alessandra was right. You can never truly know another or what they’re capable of. Will and his secret life of black crafting had taught me that. It was a lesson I’d never forget.

“There are limits on love and loyalty, Charlie. Everyone has a line, a truth, a sacrifice they are unwilling to make for another no matter how much devotion and love they have. Your siren has secrets just like you and everyone else. The only one who can truly know all is”—her white teeth flashed from within the darkness of her hood—“ me .”

My expression went flat. She might know the future as it was tonight, but I firmly believed the future was fluid, changeable, affected by constantly varying factors.

Whatever.

No matter what Alessandra saw or knew about Hank and me, she wouldn’t get to me. Not this time. I gave myself enough hell as it was. Every time I thought about losing control and blatantly falling under the siren spell like your average groupie, and then getting that damn truth mark, I could barely breathe let alone think about Hank’s last words to me. You don’t stand a chance.

And what the hell did that mean anyway?

Dating? A fling? Something more? The answer hinged on what happened next. Except the “next” had been put on hold while Hank recuperated.

“How long?” I asked tightly as her eerie green eyes laughed at me. “How long will it take to contact the sylph?”

Alessandra waved the smoke away as though just realizing it bothered her. “As long as it takes. Now leave your token at the altar.” Which was code for: We’re done; get the hell out of my temple . “And for Dione’s sake, get your Revenant out of my club.”

I turned, immediately finding the seat Rex had promised to stay in. “Shit,” I whispered through clenched teeth. Damned if he hadn’t gone int the club. I looked at my watch. Thirty minutes to gather Rex and get to the Mordecai House to pick up my kid from visiting with Bryn.