Marjorie Liu - Within the Flames

Too much shock. The first time Eddie had ever watched a shifter change shape from human to animal, he had felt a similar astonishment. No doubt his expression had appeared the same.

She can see through the illusion, he thought, followed by another realization:

She looks like the girl in the photograph. The resemblance was uncanny: in the set of her mouth and the tilt of her eyes.

Eddie ran halfway across Columbus Circle before realizing he had moved. He heard his name called. Lannes. Eddie did not look back to explain but instead watched the woman turn her head, slowly — to stare at him.

His world stopped. Everything inside him, around him, suspended in a wash of a terrible heat. Even from across the street, he could see the color of her eyes: golden as the sunrise. Fire licked beneath his skin, inside his heart, in his bones — but it felt transcendent, made of light instead of flame. Light, burning inside him.

It was her. Lyssa Andreanos. No mistake. No doubt. He was staring into the face of a little girl who had grown into a woman.

Strands of hair floated around her face. Her golden eyes were large and sharp with intelligence — tempered with the vulnerability that had haunted him from the first moment he had seen her.

Fate, he thought, stunned she was here. Fate and magic.

But his wonderment was smashed to a thousand pieces as her expression turned stark with fear. It cut him, so cold his first instinct was to retreat. Instead, he stayed rooted in place, startled and numb as she fumbled for the boy’s arm, frantically pulling him with her as she backpedaled, nearly tripping over the curb.

He fought for his voice, but his throat was so dry. “Wait!”

She ran, pulling the boy after her.

The light at the crosswalk was green. Cabs roared past. He glanced at the road, saw an opening, and plunged forward. He heard honking, felt the rush of oncoming traffic — but he didn’t look. He focused forward — blood roaring in his ears, heart pounding, skin hot.

“Lyssa!” he shouted again, his voice breaking on her name. “Estefan sent us!”

She stumbled, turning to give him another shocked look.

But it didn’t last. Lyssa tugged hard on the boy, and they disappeared into the entrance of the Fifty-ninth Street subway station.

Eddie followed, desperate not to let her get away. Fire flowed beneath his skin.

You’re out of control, he told himself — but he didn’t slow. His feet hit the station-entrance stairs, and he flew, down and down, trying not to knock anyone aside.

At the bottom, he hit a wall. No MetroCard. Long lines at the vending machines to buy one. And there were police everywhere, near the turnstiles. Some with dogs. No way for him to just break through. He couldn’t afford to be arrested.

The woman and boy were nowhere in sight.

No green sweater covered in patchwork hearts and stars. No boy with a dog. No grace, anywhere. Just tired-looking people in black clothing who kept their gazes down, rushing, lost in the pulsing crowd.

Eddie stood there, staring at everything, and nothing. Disgusted, disappointed, utterly heartsore. He had failed. Fate had given him exactly what he needed — and he had let her slip away.

Police were watching him, but he ignored them and stood a moment longer, making certain she would not reappear — or that he wasn’t simply hallucinating.

Lannes was waiting for him up top, standing in front of the display window for the Coach store.

“What happened?” he asked. “Was that her?”

Eddie rubbed his face. His heart still pounded, and his legs felt weak. Heat rolled through him, around him. Losing her should not have upset him so much. Every job had a hiccup, but this one. .

It felt strangely personal. And he couldn’t help but think again about that overwhelming feeling of connection that had flooded him when he first laid eyes on her. It made him homesick for something. . unnameable.

He took a slow, deep breath, searching for calm. “Yes. Her friend said she liked this area, but I didn’t expect to see her here. I screwed up.”

“From what little I saw, you never had a chance. I’ve never seen anyone run that fast.” Lannes hesitated. “She seemed to recognize you.”

“No.” Eddie thought about the way she had stared at him, with so much fear. It made him sick. “You’re the one she focused on. She saw through your illusion.”

“You’re certain?”

“She saw you before me. She seemed stunned.”

“A shape-shifter shouldn’t be able to see what I really am. Only a. .” He stopped, shaking his head. “We frightened her.”

Or maybe it was me, thought Eddie, uneasy. Lyssa hadn’t run from Lannes. Just him.

But why? He had never met her. Was it because he was a man? A stranger, looking at her? Had she been hurt so badly that even that much attention was frightening? The idea made him furious and scared for her. . but it also didn’t feel right. There had to be more to it.

She knows she’s being hunted. She doesn’t trust anyone.

“We don’t have much time.” Eddie gave the subway entrance another reluctant look. “She may leave the city after this.”

“You won’t find her down there. Not now.”

“I know.” She had been so close. Right in front of him. Staring at him with those golden eyes.

Beautiful eyes. Fearful eyes.

He had seen that expression on other women. His sister. Girls on the street. Fear was a bitter disease. Having a woman look at him like that. .

I will never make you afraid of me, he promised silently. When I find you again, whatever it takes, you’re not going to be scared.

Ever again.

Lyssa did not make Jimmy go to school, after all.

They took a roundabout path to his home, first on the A train, heading south. But at Forty-second, she yanked the boy off his seat and forced him onto the crowded platform — timing it so the doors almost closed on them.

Lyssa made Jimmy hustle up to the street, where they caught a cab outside the Port Authority. She had never ridden in a cab with him because those were expensive. Even though she had the money, money and the tunnels didn’t mix. She hadn’t wanted him, or his mother, to ask questions.

It didn’t matter so much, now. It was more important to make certain they weren’t followed.

They exited the cab after ten minutes and walked three blocks to another subway station, where they boarded a second train. She didn’t look to see where it was going, but after three stops, she pushed Jimmy off. He didn’t protest until they reached the street, and she hailed another cab.

He had not said a word the entire time. He had barely looked at her. But he settled his clear, unflinching gaze on her face, and his expression was older than his years, and sharp.

“You knew that man,” he said.

“What man?” she asked dully, stepping back onto the sidewalk as a cab slowed.

Jimmy gave her a dirty look. “My mom does the same thing. She sees men that remind her of my dad, and she runs. When I ask her why, she plays dumb.”

Lyssa frowned and opened the cab door. “Okay, fine. He reminded me of someone.”

“He called you Lyssa,” said the boy accusingly. “You told us your name is Liz.”

She stilled and looked at him. “I’m sorry I lied to you. But don’t ever say that name again. I’m Liz to you. If anyone ever asks, I’m Liz.”

No twelve-year-old should have been capable of the look that Jimmy gave her. “He hurt you, so you ran away and changed your name.”

“ No. It’s more complicated than that.”

“That’s what Mom always says when I ask why she didn’t leave my dad right away.” Jimmy crawled inside the cab. His voice was muffled as he added, “Don’t worry. I’ll protect you.”