I’m out of time.
25
Tying Up Loose Ends
ERIK
My translator’s name is Zephyr. He informs me over a delicious fried lamb and quinoa meal that Jasper, the Vampire, is not his birth father.
I think I could have figured that out on my own. They look nothing alike. However, to avoid upsetting my hosts, I bite my tongue.
In between bites of food, Zephyr takes the mantle of conversationalist upon his shoulders. He tells me he and his mother, Calista, immigrated to the Gates of Hell four years ago, escaping a difficult situation in the Autumn Court. When they arrived in Lethe, the Vampire had taken them both under his protection.
“Jasper is very kind,” Zephyr continues before launching into a story about how they first met the Vampire.
As the boy speaks, I take in my surroundings. We are eating around a small circular kitchen table, the prevalent theme of the retro kitchen causing me to be thrown back to a time I had no desire to visit. The cabinets, the fridge, and even the stove are all varying shades of orange, speaking of a time in the past when, apparently, people didn’t have any aesthetic taste at all.
I nod as the Fae boy speaks, sipping my water as I try to figure out how to get out of here.
“It was kind of Jasper to help you,” I say absentmindedly. My damp hair drips onto the collar of my new black sweater. It’s an indefinite loan from Jasper. I asked for my shirt back, but Calista told me, and Zephyr translated, that it had been completely destroyed after the Daemon attacked me.
Zephyr smiles, continuing to speak. “Especially since—”
Before Zephyr can continue, a quick spurt of what I’ve decided must be some dialect of Ancient Fae comes from Calista. Her face is hard as she glares at her son. Zephyr slams his mouth shut and sends me an apologetic glance.
“Sorry, Erik,” he mutters around a mouthful of lamb. “Mama says I can’t tell you anymore.”
“It’s okay,” I say. The food is fantastic, and I feel more alive now than I have since Helena leaped off the ship. “Please tell your parents thank you.”
Pushing back my plate, I stand and bow deeply at the waist. It’s probably an overreaction since, judging by their living conditions, this family is middle-class at most, but the last thing I want to do is step on any more toes.
At this point, I just want to make sure I get out of here before the Elite find me. I wish I had already left. More than that, I wish Zephyr hadn’t given me their names. I’ll be damned if they get killed because of me.
I take a step towards the door, but before I get any further, Calista’s voice reaches my ear. A stream of language erupts out of her, and Zephyr hurries to grab onto my hand.
“Mama says it’s not safe,” he translates quickly. “The DaePolice are looking for you. Because of...” Zephyr swallows, his eyes growing wide as he whispers, “The murder.”
I groan. I had forgotten about that. But even so, my clock is ticking.
It can’t be helped. Crouching, I look Zephyr in the eye. “I’m sorry. Tell your parents I am very grateful that they helped me. But I don’t want to put them in danger. I must leave.”
I wait as the boy tells his parents what I said. His mother looks worried, but Jasper pushes back his seat. It groans as it moves, and the sound echoes through the tight space. He comes over to me and shakes my hand. His voice is low as he speaks.
“He says he understands,” Zephyr says after a moment. Then, waiting for the Vampire to speak again, Zephyr translates as Jasper walks out of the small kitchen. “Follow me. Your things are in the other room.”
A sigh of relief escapes my lips as I hurry out the door. I follow the Vampire into a small living room with a ratty couch on one end and a tiny flatscreen TV on the other. The large male bends down, and the sound of metal opening reaches my ears. I shift on my feet, catching a glimpse of a metallic door.
Moments later, he turns around. My satchel looks laughably small in his hands. My gun and knife are lying on top of the bag.
The Vampire steps forward, extending my bag towards me as his brows furrow. “Here,” he says in broken Common Tongue. “Thank... you... save... wife.”
My lips turn up as I bow my head. “It was nothing.”
Zephyr translates, and Jasper shakes his head. He shoves my bag in my direction. “Not... nothing.” Once his hands are free, Jasper launches into a loud stream of Ancient Fae. Unable to do anything else, I wait for Zephyr to translate.
“He says he owes you a great debt. If you need anything, please let him help you. You have saved my mother, and for that, he is eternally grateful.”
Nodding, I bite my lip. After a moment, I reach a decision.