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Parties...they were the thing Sylos would spend most of his life attending if he could. Three Sirens passed by and blew kisses laced with magic love dust in his direction. I fanned it away before it could reach him, eyeing him knowingly.
"We are not here to be defiled by water nymphs. We're here on business. Try to keep that in mind."
Sylos scoffed, still watching them walk away. "I remember a time when defiling young maidens was your business.
When I glared at him he raised his hands. "Alright, alright, no defiling. You know, you used to be a lot more fun," he grumbled under his breath.
It was true. I used to be a lot of things, most of which I had never wanted to be in the first place and had no intention of being again. "Let's split up and see what we can find out."
Platters of curded cheese and bloated fruit lined the table. Freshly carved meat, ripe off the bone, was being passed around by a winged wraith. Her black tattered gown fluttered in the night air even without a breeze. Sap dripped from a tapped tree, running freely into a cauldron below, set ablaze over a roaring fire. I'd no idea what might be simmering inside, but the occasional shriek and wail that erupted from it turned me off the need to know what, or who, was on the menu.
A massive crow perched on a low-hanging bough, blood-red eyes watching the crowd with greedy expectancy. I would no doubt find him later with his own dinner in hand, as they were known for feeding upon fully grown Gnomes when hungry, pecking out their eyes to leave them unable to fight back.
I moved through the crowd, ducking past an animated Sylph with golden hair that burst into flames when she laughed. She circulated through the crowd, inordinately concerned with how much fun each guest was or was not having. Markings covered most of her pale skin, black inked symbols I did not recognize spooned more traditional images like feathered wings, a crown of thorns, and a serpent that coiled around her entire body from the look of it.
She was charismatic, although the wild gleam in her eyes was an invitation to something more carnal. I was relieved Sylos wasn’t nearby. There was far too much temptation for him in this gathering. While I found nothing tempting, I knew he was weak-willed and would wander into danger headfirst, with no more than a flirty smile.
Still, it made the landscape more interesting as I coursed through the crowd with one hand upon the hilt of my sword. Can't be too careful. Eyes could be everywhere.
A River Child raced past me, her small feet splashing me with mud. The crow watched with a careful eye, searching for its next meal. Cognizant of the comings and goings of each being, his keen gaze followed the River Child closely. Children were seldom seen at such events for most would not live through the night. They were far too easy a target for predators like the winged creature stalking her.
A protective surge for this child came over me as the crow tucked in and prepared to swoop down on her. Empathy for the young was not something I often felt, and yet I found myself drawing my dagger and lancing it at the bird mid-flight. It struck him full in the chest. He tumbled to the ground, morphed into a decrepit, feathered Ogre, and then collapsed in a pool of blackened blood. I retrieved my blade, wiped off the blood, and continued my search. A matronly house Brownie scooped up the child and hurried her into the nearest dwelling. The child might live through this night after all.
"I thought you were going to make me chase you all night long?" a female voice said.
The flaming-haired Sylph. Selkies, Sirens, Sylphs, Succubi—they were all alike with one trait in common. Luring males, females and beings, with their words, songs and smiles to their ultimate death. But their singular most powerful weapon had no effect on me.
"I'm Tesla," she said. "Want to dance?" Her voice oozed with sultry tones. They might have had some sway with Sylos. I was immune.
"I am not here for the dancing. I’m here for answers."
"It's a party," she bubbled. "Everyone is dancing."
Before I could refuse, she grabbed hold of my arm and pulled me deeper into the crowd. I stood still in the midst of it while she swayed in front of me, music filling the night.
"So, you're looking for information. I may be able to help with that." She rocked her hips.
"Is that so?"
"You're looking for a girl. The girl."
"Word travels fast."
She laughed, throwing off a spray of sparkling light. "In these parts it certainly does."
Waves of sexual energy were pouring off her. If I'd been mortal, I'd be so far under her spell by now I'd not be able to remember my own name. A lesser being would have difficulty resisting such a powerful lure. I saw the auras of pink and red stretch out and envelope me. Every male within mating radius was ready to pounce on her.
"You may want to dial that back," I said when a spikey-haired Goblin girl tried to lick her shoulder.
She shrugged her off, apparently not bothered by it. But her mouth dipped into a pout when she realized her charms had no effect on me.
"You said you’re looking for answers,” she said. "Do you have questions?"
"I do." I always did. I was sick of asking them. What I wanted were not more answers, I wanted the answer. I was in no mood to piece together a jigsaw of broken bits of information. I wanted to find Lorelei and to do it now. Time itself was slipping through my fingers with every question I needed to ask of every being I needed to ask it from. It would be far simpler to hold my sword to their throats and insist they begin talking, instead of placating them and pretending to be amicable.
I blew out another sigh, then taking hold of her hand, led her away from the dancers. A move she misread, given the way she brushed up against me as we walked.
"I think we can communicate better here," I said, putting some space between us.
I stared at a Selkie girl grinding hip to hip with a human male. I watched her slink down his leg, sliding her body against his as he moaned guttural sounds, bleeding away his soul. By the end of the song he'd be dead. His body an empty vessel. I turned away. Hedonism was not as enjoyable to watch as it once was to partake in.
"I'm in need of a guide. Any idea where can I find the girl without a tongue?" I hoped that was enough information to lead me to the correct being.
She tilted her head, her eyes filled with question before she smiled. "You won't find her. At least not alive. She was killed the night before last. Poisoned." She shrugged. "No one knows how it happened."
I could guess. This was not good. Perhaps fighting my way into Ciúin was the best way.
"Let me guess the cause of those pouting lips." She pressed a hot finger to my mouth. "You wanted entry into Ciúin, and you believed the silent girl was your one way in because Poe said you needed a guide. Am I right?" Her gaze dropped to my sword and she smiled. "Strength of arms would not get you anywhere. Trust me. Armies have tried and failed."
I blew out a sigh and ran a hand through my hair.
"Lucky for you, I know of another way."
I gripped her shoulders. "I'm in no mood to be toyed with, Tesla."
"Believe me, I've other games in mind for you." She laughed. "And it’s true, you can only get so far without a Ciúin guide, for they alone know the unspoken code. Unless you have a key."
I released her. "A key?"
"To unlock the gates." She lifted a shoulder and let it fall. "And I just happen to know where to find that key. Well, at least, I know who has it." Her eyebrows lifted in anticipation.
I could read this Sylph as effortlessly as reading a book, and as strong as their powers of persuasion might be, Faerie persuasion was stronger. With my most compelling smile, I released as much Fey charm as I could. "What would it take for you to tell who that being is?" I stroked her cheek gently, raising goose bumps on her flesh. Her eyes drifted closed and she leaned into the cold of my touch.
Lingering a moment longer than necessary, I lowered my hand and leaned in close to her pierced ear and whispered, sending shivers of cold through her body. "Tell me, Tesla. Who has the key?"