Kelly Gay - The Better Part of Darkness

I had to fight my way to the elevator, blasting two more jinn who guarded the hallway, and clocking Andy in the jaw as he stood, terrified, by the elevator. Payback for leading me into this mess. The kid dropped like a rock.

It was dark by the time I got out of Mott Tech. Once I was topside, nothing stood in my way. Apparently Mynogan and his goons thought so well of themselves, they didn’t have a backup plan in case I escaped. Dumbasses. The only one in my way was the limo driver, and he watched me dart by his windshield without so much as a blink. And lucky for me, someone had driven the Mustang back to the parking lot.

My emotions ruled as I drove like a madwoman toward the gatehouse. The guards were just about to run from the structure with guns drawn, but I was too close and going way too fast. They ducked back in as the car blurred by them, splintering the barrier. I hit the brakes, turned the wheel, and swerved onto the side road that led to the Interstate.

I took the exit onto I-85 and headed back to Underground. Mynogan’s threat to my family burned in my mind and my heart. If anything happened to them he’d suffer in the worst way possible. And Hank. How could I have left him? I slammed my palms against the steering wheel and let out a frustrated groan. What if Carreg failed to help him? What if Mynogan figured out Carreg was working against him? If Hank got hurt … But there was no one, no one, more important than my kid, and getting back to her was first priority.

I dialed Bryn’s and Will’s cell phones. No answer.

It was the longest thirty-minute ride of my life.

Underground was bustling with activity. The bars, eateries, and pubs had thrown open their doors. Techno music wafted toward me as I bolted down the street to Bryn’s door. Dried blood clung to crevices between my fingers and to my neck and collarbone. The black V-neck was slashed diagonally across the abdomen, and healed bloody cuts and scratches peeked from rips in the jeans. The sound of my pulse, driven by panic and dread, drowned out most of the sound. I nodded to the undercover cop nearby and then pressed Bryn’s buzzer. When she answered, I said between pants, “It’s me, let me in.”

I took the stairs two at a time. At the landing, I drew my gun and held it down behind my thigh as the door opened to reveal my sister looking none the worse for wear in jeans and an oversize Braves T-shirt.

Relief burst inside me, and I threw my arms around her, hugging her astonished form. “Thank God. Why the hell didn’t you answer your phone?” I marched into the apartment for Emma, not waiting for an answer.

She wasn’t in the living room or kitchen. Trying not to panic, I threw the bedroom door open. Empty. I returned to the living room.

“Where’s Em?”

“At Will’s. I just talked to him. They’re going to get online and figure out where to stay at Disney. They’re planning to leave tonight.” Her face had turned pale. “What the hell happened, Charlie? Put the gun down.”

I lowered the gun. “It’s Mynogan.”

“The noble?”

“Yeah. He’s …” How did I explain? “I think he’s behind the ash, and for making me the Jinn’s Most Wanted.” I didn’t even want to mention the gene manipulation.

Spurred by adrenaline, I holstered my gun, hurried to Bryn’s bedroom, and rooted around her jewelry box for another hair band. She watched me from the door as I tied my hair back and then jerked the shirt over my head. Her gasp informed me that the slash across the shirt had cut my torso as well. But it was healing slowly. I didn’t care.

A cat hissed from under her bed. I glanced over to see Gizmo down on his front legs, his butt and forked tail in the air, antagonizing poor Spooky. A faded rose-colored cotton T hit me in the face. As it slid down into my hands, I saw Bryn closing her dresser drawer. “Sorry, I know you hate pink, but it’s the only clean one I have left.”

It really didn’t matter. Quickly, I pulled on the tee, leaving the jeans.

“You want a towel,” she asked quietly, motioning to the blood, “to clean up?”

She was scared. And I would have like nothing better than to reassure her, but there wasn’t time. “Yeah, thanks.” I swept by her and into the living room, where I pulled out the extra ammo I kept stashed in the back of Bryn’s coat closet. After reloading and tucking some extra clips in the waistband of the jeans and inside each boot, I straightened to take a wet towel from Bryn.

I nodded my thanks, holding it in one hand while dialing Will’s cell phone number. Voice mail. Again.

“Damn it!” I threw the phone onto the couch and stomped into the bathroom.

I stared at my reflection, wondering how my life could have done a one-eighty so quickly. Always looking for trouble, Connor would say. Why isn’t a normal life good enough for you? both Mom and Dad had repeatedly asked after I’d joined the ITF. Why risk your life?

Only Bryn had remained silent and unjudging.

My parents didn’t understand, even after I explained my need to protect them and myself after Connor’s murder. I’d vowed to never be in a situation where I couldn’t defend myself. And once I had Emma, the desire to protect and defend became even stronger. It seemed the only other women I knew who completely understood my motivation were others in law enforcement or the military, or those who’d been victims of trauma. My parents’ friends and extended family certainly couldn’t understand it. And it always made me feel like the renegade/loser of the family. At least in their eyes.

I removed my charm and washed the bloodstained crystal disk and chain, then splashed cold water on my face, using a clean towel to wipe off the excess and dry the necklace, realizing that my sister understood me more than anyone. And I hadn’t even given her credit for that, along with everything else.

Finished with the towel, I inspected the scratches and a few deep cuts from my trip through the lab mir ror. My bottom lip was still swollen from the deep slice down the middle. Lacerations were healing on my chin and left temple.

Bryn was banging around in the kitchen when I exited the bathroom. “I’m going to make sure Emma and Will get off okay and then I’ll be back.”

“One sec,” she said, her head popping over the cabinet door and then disappearing again. A second later, she came to the counter and handed me a bag of Doritos and a can of Diet Pepsi. “Here, it’s all I’ve got at the moment. Not only do I need to do laundry, but I’ve got to grocery shop, too.”

I hardly ever cried in front of my family. But seeing her standing there, eyes wide and supportive, made my throat close. I couldn’t speak, so I nodded my thanks. A small smile tugged on her pale lips.

“Oh, and take this. It’s a cloaking charm.” She placed a small rectangular silver piece in my hand. It was hammered and irregular. “This took me five months to make. Read the inscription clockwise and you’ll go completely unnoticed by those who wish you harm. Say the last word three times to deactivate it once you get to the car.” I turned it over and saw inscriptions written around the edge. None of the words made sense, just a jumble of consonants and vowels.

“I don’t know how … Here, you keep it.” I shoved it at her, uncomfortable with magic as I’d always been.

She shoved it back to me. “Trust me, you need it. There are two black mages across the street. I saw them from the bedroom window, and they’re not here to window-shop. They had to have seen you come in, so they’ll be waiting. Sound out the words exactly as they’re written. It’s easy. Just say the words and then get the hell out of Underground.”

“What about you?”