Dangerous Creatures (34 page)

It was like a popcorn wish-fulfillment movie of someone else’s life. Ridley wished it were real. She wished it were hers. But even if she was only playing the part for today, it was better than nothing.

Still, there were no Sirens.

The day might have been charmed, and the prince might have been charming, but there was no evidence of any other kind of Cast or Charm.

Still, she savored every minute of it.

By the time they ended up back at Les Avenues, Ridley let Nox come up to the apartment with her.

“Just for a minute,” she said.

He’s not half bad
, she thought,
as far as princes go.

“Just to watch the sunset,” he agreed.

He’s not half bad
, she thought,
as far as enemies go.

“Just to see the stars,” she conceded.

This isn’t half bad
, she thought,
as far as wars go.

“Just one day,” he said. “You promised.”

And just to take another look at one small photograph hanging on the wall
, she thought.

Lennox Gates, what is your Siren story?

 
CHAPTER 28 

Fear of the Dark

H
ow well do you know this guy?” Link was sweating. He shook his ringed hand. The whole thing felt like it was burning off.

“Who, Sampson? How well does anyone know a Darkborn?” Floyd was annoyed. They were stuck on the subway. Not the Underground, and not the Tunnels. The regular old subway. The one that smelled like stale cigarettes and adult diapers.

It was rush hour in New York City, which meant every time the subway doors opened, as many people got into the car as were already inside it.

The whole thing was a hopelessly broken puzzle.

Link and Floyd had been following the ring throughout the Underground, and as far as Link could tell, it was leading them both to nowhere and back again. Necro didn’t have time for either. And Ridley…

Link had a bad feeling Ridley was in a whole lot more trouble than even he realized.
That second marker
, he thought.
That second marker means she’s not in control. That second marker means Lennox Gates can make her do anything he needs her to. Even if that means hurting Necro.

He didn’t know what to think about Ridley, but any way you looked at it, he was worried.

Link tried not to think about it. He clung to the overhead pole, letting his long body sway with the motion of the car. Then he looked back at Floyd. “But for a Darkborn. You think he’s for real?”

Floyd stood firmly planted against the side of the rattling seat. “Look, Link. Are you asking me if I believe him that your girlfriend could hurt my best friend in the world? Not to mention our keyboard player? Of course I do.”

Link watched the tunnel pass by, through the flickering black windows of the subway car.
She’s not my girlfriend anymore. But that doesn’t mean I don’t know her. And it doesn’t mean she could do something like this. Not on her own.

His hand ached.

Floyd only watched him. “You don’t think she could?”

He made a face. “Don’t be stupid. Of course I don’t.”

She looked away, hurt. “All right, then. If I’m so stupid, then I guess there isn’t much left to talk about.”

“I guess not.” Link didn’t want to think about the gardening shears tucked in his back pocket.
If you’re so sure, why did you bring them? Who do you think you’re gonna fight? And what could she possibly have gotten herself involved in this time?

After that, Floyd and Link rode in silence. But the silence only lasted for a few minutes, because then Floyd looked up at him and started talking, out of the blue. “It’s none of my business.”

“What is?” Link wasn’t really paying attention. He was watching a guy at the end of the row of seats secretly pick his nose, which wasn’t all that easy to do on a crowded subway car during rush hour.

“You deserve better. That’s all I’m saying.” Floyd looked away.

Link rubbed his hand through his hair, confused. “Better what? What are you talkin’ about?” She wasn’t being all that specific. Plus, the guy had his finger halfway up his nose now. If he wasn’t careful, he was going to scratch his own brains.

“You know what I’m talking about.” Floyd was irritated. Link could tell.

She sounds kinda mad.

“I really don’t.” Now Link was irritated. He flexed his burning hand against the safety pole he was holding on to.

Seriously. Not a clue.

“It’s none of my business. I’m done.”

See? She’s ticked.

“Fine,” Link said. “Be done.”

Seein’ as I have no idea what you’re done with.

A man shoved between them. Floyd shoved back. She slid closer to Link. “Ridley treats you like garbage.”

Here we go
. “Rid treats everyone like garbage.”

“Why do you let her?”

“Nobody
lets
Ridley do anything. That’s just Rid. She’s a Siren. She’s…” He sighed. “Messed up.”

Floyd folded her arms. “You deserve better. That’s all I wanted to say.”

“I know.” He’d seen the kiss. There was nothing left to talk about. Not that Link wanted to talk about it with anyone, especially not Floyd. Ridley was done with him. You didn’t let a guy kiss you like that if you were in love with someone else.

If she ever was.

“You don’t understand. Any girl would be lucky to have a guy like you.” Floyd was still going.

“Any girl?” A shooting pain pulsed from the ring through his hand. “Sweet Chees—” The subway pole jerked off its moorings on the ceiling, coming loose in Link’s hand.

Link looked around in a panic, accidentally swinging the pole in a circle around his head. His neighbors in every direction ducked. “Sorry. No big deal. I’ll put this thing right back where it belongs.” He tried to shove the bar back up into the ceiling, but it didn’t work. “Everything’s fine.”

He gave up and tossed the bar to the floor, kicking it beneath the row of seats next to him. Only the guy in the headphones standing closest to him seemed to care. “Way to go, jerk.” The rest of the car didn’t so much as look in Link’s direction, now that the bar was out of his hands.

Link felt about as far away from Gatlin as he’d ever thought he could.

He felt a whole lot of things, actually.

His girlfriend had screwed him over, like everyone had always said she would. He’d watched her locking lips with another guy, who was—let’s face it—almost as good-looking as he was. Someone in his band was probably dying. He couldn’t eat. He couldn’t sleep. His best friend was gone. His family was nuts. He wasn’t even all that sure his music was any good, for some reason.

And I just broke the freaking subway.

As soon as he thought it, the car lurched to a stop.

The doors flung themselves open, and even more people flooded on.

Link’s hand was throbbing. He felt like he could almost hear his skin sizzling. He was considering ripping the entire car apart.

Then he looked down at Floyd.

“This is ridiculous.” Link grabbed her hand and closed his eyes.

She looked at him, confused. “Link? What are you—”

He pulled her closer.

Then it was silent, except for a familiar whirring sound, the sound of a Caster and an Incubus sliding out of a subway car, out of a crumbling tunnel, out of a rush hour crowd, even out of this dimension.

Ripping away.

Nobody else in the car even looked up.

 
CHAPTER 29 

We Are Stars

R
idley had never seen so many stars. Mortal constellations, as far as the eye could see. The Southern Star was nowhere in sight, but then, Ridley didn’t have her mind on anything to do with the Casters, with the possible exception of the one there with her right now.

And the one in the photograph on the wall.

She sat next to Nox, staring up at the darkness from the very center of the penthouse garden, lit only by the candlelight that surrounded their shared chaise.

From the roof of the hotel, the night seemed enormous.

I will always remember this
, she thought.
Prince or war. Good or bad.

This night. How this feels.

How I feel.

The city below was a crazy crowd of lights beneath the dark wash of sky.

I can look down on everyone
, she thought, thinking of the little girl who could never find heels high enough.

And it’s still too low.

Ridley’s jacket was long gone, and the evening breeze blew her hair off her bare shoulders. She shivered.

Nox slid his arm along the back of the softly upholstered chaise. An elaborate row of candles of every height flickered on the table in front of them.

“This is nice.” Ridley spoke the words out into the darkness, where things like the truth could be revealed under the cover of night.