Suzanne Lazear - Charmed Vengeance

“Good.” Ciarán stood and embraced him. “Do you have time for a drink so I may tell you what has happened and what I need you so do?”

“I actually need to deliver the money first—after that, your wish is my command.” Kevighn bowed, grateful Ciarán forgave him. Could he convince Magnolia to come with him? She was as wasted on that ship as much as she was with that whelp of an earth court prince.

Ciarán clapped him on the shoulder. “Anything for you, Kevighn. Anything for you.”

Elation increased with every step as Steven made his way down the wooden dock of the San Francisco Air Terminal with James, Hittie, and Hattie. They’d arrived in one piece. The Vixen’s Revenge was in port. The end of this blasted quest lay in sight. Finally.

“What now?” Hattie asked James. The airship captain seemed to have a soft spot for his younger brother. For some reason the ladies always seemed to like him.

“We get Rahel and take her home,” Steven replied. And get their automaton. Then people would stop trying to help them, kill them, and kill them by helping them. Hopefully.

They stopped in front of a ship bigger than Hayden’s Follies but smaller than the larger passenger ships. It had gleaming brass and several balloons keeping it aloft, a crow’s nest peaking between them. A very large dark man stood on a ladder, making repairs to the hull.

“Run into trouble, Asa?” Hittie called.

The dark man waved. “Hittie, Hattie, you made it. The captain will be happy to see you. We were all worried.”

“We’re fine, as always,” Hattie replied. “Takes more than MoBatts to keep us down.”

Asa laughed. “That it does. Captain!” he bellowed. “Look who blew into town.”

A boy appeared on the top of the ship. He was in need of a haircut, a lock of blue hanging in his eyes. His face broke out into a wide grin. “You’re here!” It took Steven a moment to realize the boy was actually a woman. The woman slid down a ladder and landed gracefully on the dock. She and the other women embraced.

“Vix, how can we help?” Hittie asked.

Captain Vix smiled. “Do you have your own repairs? I hope they didn’t get you too badly.”

“Surprisingly enough, our passengers helped.” Hittie gave them a less-than-tart look. “We still have work to do, but we can always lend a hand.”

“Passengers?” Vix focused on him and James in a way that made him feel as if he were in trouble.

“Bounty hunters,” Hattie replied. “Hired to find one of the little girls you took from those nasty rascals. Are they still onboard?”

By the Bright Lady he hoped so.

“Actually they are; I was waiting for Jeff to get back before I took them over. But if you’re willing to help, I’d appreciate it. I don’t like having them onboard longer than necessary,” Vix replied.

Jeff wasn’t onboard? Relief shuddered through him.

“Always happy to help,” Hattie replied. “Which one are you here for?” she asked them.

“Rahel Heinz, she’s small, blonde, and five. Her father, Dr. Heinz, contracted us to bring her home,” Steven replied.

“Rahel?” Vix’s brow furrowed. “I know who she is.” She looked at James and squinted in the sun. “Have we met?”

“Captain, it’s a pleasure to see you again, I’m James Darrow, we met a few months ago.” James gave a little bow. “I’d been looking for Jeff. May I introduce my brother Steven?”

“Steven Darrow?” Vix’s eyes narrowed. Without warning her fist shot out and hit Steven squarely on the jaw.

His hand went to his jaw as he stared up that the very tall woman. For a girl, she could punch pretty well.

“I guess Jeff told her all about you,” James said softly, expression halfway between compassion and amusement.

Her hands went to her hips. “I’ll give you the girl if you depart immediately. You should be lucky Jeff isn’t here right now.”

Steven didn’t wish to see Jeff anyway. His jaw throbbed. “I’d be grateful if you’d give us Rahel. We have far to go and need to be on our way.”

“You stay here,” Vix told them. “Hittie, Hattie, will you help?”

The sisters smiled. “Of course,” Hattie replied.

A few moments later Hattie reappeared with a little blond girl wearing an odd red dress, a doll clutched to her chest.

“Rahel, this is Steven and James, they’re taking you home to your daddy,” Hattie explained.

Her lower lip quivered. “You’re bringing me to my popi?”

“We are; he misses you so much.” Steven looked right at the cute little blonde with her curls and big blue eyes.

A smile broke out on her face and she did a little dance right there on the dock. “I’m going home, I’m going home.” She looked around and frowned. “I don’t get to say goodbye?”

“It’s time for you to go home, sweetie.” Hattie pushed her toward them. “How do you plan on getting back … where are you going?”

“Upstate New York,” James replied. “And I’m not actually sure.”

She looked at the little girl and back at them. “Let me see if I can find you a ride.” Hattie glanced back at the ship. “In fact, let’s all go. Believe me, you don’t want to be here when Jeff returns. Did you really break his sister’s heart?”

Steven sighed heavily, a piece of his own heart breaking. “Unfortunately, I did. I’ll fix it as soon as I can. I promise.”

Oh, Noli. He hoped she wasn’t holed up in her tree house, refusing to come out like she had after her father disappeared.

Hattie’s eyes met his. “You should do that. Soon.”

If only it were that easy. First things first.

Steven put an arm around Rahel. “Let’s get you home.”

By some stroke of luck, Hattie got Steven, James, and Rahel aboard The Indefatigable, an eagle-class streamliner headed to New York City. From there they were on their own. But this would be a huge help considering they were on the opposite end of the United States and didn’t dare cut through the Otherworld with an innocent little girl in tow.

Both he and James would have to work for their passage, but they had their own tiny cabin and food. Most of the women aboard seemed absolutely enchanted by little Rahel, who they said was their cousin that they were accompanying home after a visit to see relatives.

Rahel played with her redheaded dolly, and the rag doll they’d used to track her, in the corner of the cabin.

Steven sat on the bed reading the book Dr. Heinz had lent him so that he could return it. Bright Lady bless, he was grateful that Vix had handed over Rahel without a problem. His hand went to his jaw which still ached. It could have been worse.

“Rahel, what’s your dolly’s name?” James flopped down on the bed.

“Charlotte, Charlotte, Charlotte,” Rahel sang.

All the color drained from James’ face as he sat straight up. “Charlotte? You doll’s name is Charlotte?” His voice shook. “Which one?”

She held up the redheaded one she’d had when they’d taken her off Vix’s ship.

“Relax, James. It’s a coincidence,” Steven soothed, looking up from the pages of The Prince.

“But Charlotte is her name, Noli said so,” Rahel pouted, lower lip quivering, as she clutched both dolls to her chest.

“Noli?” Steven nearly dropped the book.

Rahel nodded. “Noli gave me the dolly. She told me her name is Charlotte. I miss her.” The last part came out as a baby wail and her face scrunched.

“Wait, Noli’s aboard the ship?” The news felt like a blow to the chest.

“Noli’s my friend,” Rahel replied. “She took care of me.”

It all made sense. Vix didn’t know about him from Jeff. She knew because after he’d left Noli heartbroken in Los Angeles, Jeff had taken her aboard.

“Noli’s on the ship.” The words shook as they left his lips. “She’s not in Los Angeles. She’s on the ship with Jeff.”

Noli must have been with Jeff. That was why Vix had been in such a hurry for them to depart. She hadn’t wanted Noli to know—or him to see her.

“Flying figs,” James muttered, upside down on the bed.

“Language, James. But I can’t believe Noli’s on the ship.” And he hadn’t known.

Jeff punched him in the arm. “Focus, V. She can’t come with us. Now we know where she is. We take Rahel home, we get the automaton, take it to Tiana, then we’ll find her.”

“Yes, that would be prudent.” He put the book on his lap and looked over at Rahel and the doll. Of course Noli would name a redheaded doll Charlotte.

Rahel looked up at him, both dolls clutched to her chest. “Do you know Noli?”

He smiled. “I do, and I miss her quite a bit.”

“You should tell her that. She’s sad a lot.” Rahel made the doll dance.

The idea of Noli being upset because of him hurt his heart. He picked the book back up. “I will do just that, very, very soon.”

Noli sat in a plump floral chair sipping hot tea from a dainty teacup and eating chocolate cake in Miss Molly’s Teahouse. It was a bit like taking tea in a giant dollhouse, but pleasant nevertheless. She’d only known about the place because when she was at Findlay House Miss Gregory came here every Thursday to meet with her friends, leaving the girls with extra chores and lessons to keep busy.

Too bad we didn’t bring the key to the faery garden , the sprite replied. I want to visit the wood faeries.

Right. The secret faery garden at Findlay. The brass key was on the ship.

We’re not going to Findlay. It’s a dreadful place. Just the thought made her shudder, though she had to admit, sometimes she did miss that wondrous garden. Hopefully it had stayed locked and no other girls had fallen through the wild portal in the old oak.

With a bit of luck, Kevighn would arrive soon. She didn’t actually have money to pay for her tea and cake. Oh, it was nice to have real tea. Perhaps she’d bring some back with her.

And more cake, the sprite piped.

Kevighn sauntered through the door holding the black attaché case. She waved. He wove through the tables filled with ladies and joined her.

“I trust you brought it.” She took another sip of tea.

“Of course I did. You didn’t doubt me, did you?” He set the case next to her. “You may check it if you like.”

Sitting her teacup in the matching saucer, she picked up the case and opened it. It brimmed with green bills. Closing it quickly, she returned it to the ground next to her feet.

“I trust you—and I’m trusting that this is real, because I don’t know how to check.” Pity Jeff wasn’t here, he’d know.

Actually, the fact that he wasn’t saddened her. However, her having the money did gain her leverage with Vix. “You’ll scatter the pieces?” Noli’s eyes met his.

“I’ll make sure they don’t end up in Brogan’s hands,” Kevighn assured.

She sighed with relief. “Good, because he doesn’t need any more power.”

“It’s what I thought, and yes, no good can come from him having it. He’ll need all the pieces for it to work properly.” Kevighn helped himself to her pot of tea and she picked up her teacup.

Noli’s free hand went to her pocket where the piece hid. “Then he won’t have it.”

“Come with me.” Kevighn’s voice became a caress as he gazed at her over his teacup, yellow eyes compelling. “I’m returning to the Otherworld and I want you to come with me. I can take care of you so much better than Jeff.”

“The Otherworld.” Tea sloshed out of the cup onto the pristine white tablecloth. “But you were exiled.”

“From the five main courts. I don’t think Tiana realized that once, long ago, I was affiliated with the dark court and they would welcome me back.” He took a sip of tea.

Noli sucked in a breath as she remembered Ciarán and his ruffians. “Yes, you would be, wouldn’t you?”

“Are you insulting me?” He recoiled as if slapped.

“Not at all. I met Ciarán once. He seems more … your people … than the high court.” She’d learned quite a bit about the high court and wondered how someone like Kevighn had stood it.

He took a sip of tea and nodded, visibly relaxing. “Yes, they are far more my people—and they could be yours. They loved Creideamh and they’ll love you. If anyone could reverse what the queen did to you, it would be Ciarán.”

She hadn’t thought of that. As tempting as getting her old self back might be …

“I can’t go with you.” She met his eyes as she said that. “You’re still not good for me and you never will be.”