I awoke with my face to a wall. I lifted my hands to push away, but it felt surprisingly flesh-like. Merciful God, how could I have forgotten. Magnus had shared my bed last night. His arms were around me, leaving only a breath’s amount of room between us.
“You broke the bed-sharing rules,” I mumbled to his chest.
“Good morning to you too, my little sunbeam,” he whispered to the crown of my head.
I felt overly warm, and it wasn’t all due to body heat.
We lay in bed, basking in the rays coming through my window, but it was difficult to fully enjoy remembering what would happen tonight. That the hyena would be released … and my life would be on the line.
No. Death wasn’t an option for me. Besides, what could death do to me that life hadn’t already? This was performance anxiety. That’s all.
The sounds of a coach and horses outside sent me kicking off my blanket and leaping to my feet. I got dressed quickly, but by the time I got to the stairs Esjay had let himself in.
“Peggy?” he called, and my heart went immediately into my feet.
“She left,” I said, rushing down the stairs.
Esjay paused in putting on his coat. “What do you mean, left?”
As I approached, I could see he looked more tired than usual. More anxious. But I hadn’t really thought out the details to my lie, so I just shrugged. “She didn’t want to deal with the curse anymore, I suppose.”
Esjay looked at me like I had to have been a figment of his imagination. “She’s taken care of Magnus since he was a baby. How could she just leave?” And then his jaw dropped, his eyes wide. “Who did you find to volunteer?”
“U-um—”
“Peggy!” he called, poking his head in the dining room before rushing up the stairs. “Magnus!”
“Esjay, you’re back,” Magnus said, yawning as he came from my room. “You’re not here to pick up Kelela, are you?”
“Kelela?” Esjay stopped himself just short of looking at Magnus, not trusting his amulet. “She’s supposed to be with friends. Are you telling me she’s here?”
“We are her friends,” Magnus said, his tone indignant.
“She’s here,” I confirmed, chewing on my lip. To be honest, I was just glad his attention was away from asking about Peggy.
Esjay turned a sharp look on me—a strange change for him, but relatively tame compared to looks I’d seen on the street, and even from Jember. “Where?”
“Magnus’s room.”
He stormed up the rest of the stairs and down the short distance in the hall, barging into the room without knocking.
And then it was all yelling. “What the hell is wrong with you?” and “You can forget Paris, young lady!” and “What in God’s name happened to your arm?”
Magnus let out a weary sigh and held the back of my neck, pressing his lips to my forehead. “I’m going to get dressed. Don’t go far.”
“I won’t,” I said, every nerve in my body reaching for him as he left me in the hall. But there was no time for that. I needed to find Jember.
He’d designated the game room as his sleeping space, so I went there first and found him and Saba drinking coffee. Well, Jember was drinking coffee. I wasn’t exactly sure if people made of pottery could digest food.
“Saba got ahold of you, I see,” I said, gesturing to his neater beard by stroking my imaginary one. “It’s a sweet act of love, isn’t it?”
“More like a compulsion,” he said, raising his eyebrows at Saba as she innocently grinned and shrugged.
“You two must be getting along really well,” I said, and Saba returned my sly expression, confirming my hopes. “He’s letting you touch his face and everything.”
“Who was making all that fuss out there?” Jember asked—to ignore my comment, obviously, since he didn’t sound like he cared that much about Esjay.
“Kelela’s brother.”
As if on command, I heard banging footfalls down the stairs and Esjay’s argumentative voice. Jember’s brows lowered slightly, and he touched Saba’s arm to excuse himself as he led the way out.
Kelela rushed over to me as soon as she made it down the stairs, hugging me around the neck with her good arm. I froze for a moment before returning it, squeezing her around the waist.
“Kick that hyena’s ass,” she whispered, but Esjay dragged her away before I could respond.
“I will,” I called after her, while Esjay shot me a Why are you talking to my sister? look.
“I can’t believe you let Kelela do this,” he said, turning on Jember. “You’re the adult here. You should’ve stopped her.”
“She’s your kid,” Jember said, without any remorse.
Esjay released an angry huff through his nostrils, like a wild horse ready to charge. And then he simply ignored the instinct, instead grabbing Kelela’s good arm and dragging her outside.
“First thing we’re going to do is see a real doctor,” I heard him say. “Your bone is going to heal all wrong—”
Jember shoved the door shut and headed for the kitchen.
“Will the plan still work?” I asked, rushing up beside him. “With Kelela gone?”
“The important thing is that the Evil Eye has a target,” he said, “which she’s already provided. She doesn’t have to be in the vicinity for it to become active. The two of us will just have to construct some more shields to make up for it.”
We spent the morning constructing more shields, while Magnus lounged around in the room and drew, then took a break from each other after lunch. Not that working with Jember was unpleasant—some of my best memories were of us sitting on the bed, constructing amulets. It was as if the act of carving patterns was the only way we could connect. Therapy, in a way.
But he needed time to rest his fingers, so Magnus and I took a short nap and then headed to play some music. I think we’d both decided, without telling each other, that we wanted to spend the entire day together. Besides … part of me was terrified there’d be no tomorrow.
Nonsense, Andi. Everything will be fine.
For a moment, all I could hear was the creak of wood and our slow footsteps echoing off the old hollow halls as we walked.
But Magnus jolted and held me close, because there was something else echoing, too. Some sort of slapping sound coming from the game room.
“God, what was that?” he whispered. He grabbed my hand as I moved toward the questionable sound. “What are you doing?”
“Stay here,” I said, rushing to the door, but Jember’s laugh made me freeze before I could enter the room.
“Are you trying to break me?” I heard him say. “Your skin is hard enough without you using full force.”
Definitely questionable.
I peeked into the room and saw Jember and Saba standing on opposite sides of the billiards table, their hands flat against the fuzzy surface in front of them. I felt blessed to witness the full glory of him and Saba playing the slap game. Both at once, they each shot their right hand out, attempting to slap their opponent’s left hand. Jember won that round, managing to move his hand out of the way and slap Saba’s.
It didn’t have an official name, and as I grew older I wasn’t really convinced it was a game as much as a method Jember had invented to torture me. We’d played it when I was little, as something fun to pass the time between possible dinner and leaving to see a client. My left hand was usually red and sore by the end. I was fast, my reflexes good, but Jember’s slaps hurt.
To be honest, I was glad Saba was giving him a taste of his own medicine.
“Andi,” Magnus whined, and I waved him away.
Saba slapped Jember again and he laughed and swore, grabbing both her wrists. “Play fair. I need these hands for work.”
She gave him a flirty, teasing look, turning one of his palms faceup to trace his fingers with hers.
They were quiet for a moment. It was a sweet silence, that only the crackling fire dared interrupt.
“The first time we made love was on a table like this,” Jember murmured, and Saba’s smile was instantly uncontrollable, her gaze shy as she dropped it to the table. “Remember that?”
She bit her lip and nodded, searching his face. And then she climbed onto the table, crawling over and closing the gap between them as she kissed him. I had to press my palms over my mouth to keep from cheering.
I’d gotten them together, as stubborn as they both were. This had to be one of the most rewarding moments of my life.
I heard Magnus gasp over my shoulder, and turned around quickly to stifle him before he could say anything to ruin the moment. Hand pressed over his mouth, I walked him down the hall a bit before taking his hand.
“What the living hell was that?” Magnus hissed.
“I didn’t want you killing their romantic moment.”
“Romantic moment? That scoundrel was kissing my mother!”
I shushed him, dragging him into the music room. “It was beautiful.”
“It was horrifying.”
I grinned, raising an eyebrow at him. “I thought you were a fan of love?”
“I am,” he said, scowling at the doorway. “When the person is deserving of it.”
“Everyone’s deserving of love, Magnus. And if they aren’t, who are we to decide that?” I sat at the hopsicar and pressed a few keys, and he sat beside me. “Anyway, I think they’re cute together.”
Magnus grumbled.
“Let’s only think of nice things now. How about you teach me to play?”
He paused, glancing at the instrument. “Really?” His enthusiasm was palpable. He got up and went behind the back of the bench. “Sit in the center.”
I centered myself on the bench and scooted forward like I was told. And then I tensed slightly at the weight on the cushion as Magnus kneeled on it. I looked down to see his knees on the outside of each of my legs. He leaned his face over my shoulder, and I forced myself not to blush. I was wrapped in warmth. Human warmth. Better than any fire.
“This is Middle C,” he said, reaching around me to press a key. “That’s where both of your thumbs will start.”
I put both thumbs where he instructed, keeping my fingers out of the way, but was met with a short chuckle. “What?”
“You need your other fingers, too, you sweet little onion.”
If his arms were around my body it would’ve been a hug. Instead they were on my hands, gently guiding each finger to a key. His hands were so soft, and I suddenly felt self-conscious of my calloused ones.
“Relax, my love,” he whispered near my cheek, and it was the worst thing he could’ve done.
“You’re making me nervous,” I said, shoving him away with my back.
His grip tightened slightly on my hands as he regained his balance. “We both know you’re the scarier of the two of us.”
“I can’t tell if that’s a compliment.”
“So small yet so terrifying.” He kissed my cheek and lined my fingers up again. “Ready to play?”
I nodded, too content to speak. Magnus slipped his soft hands beneath mine until my palms were against the back of his, each of my fingers curved over his. And then, slowly, he began to play. Slow enough that my hand could stay with his without any effort. Slow, but not melancholy, the notes melding like hot silver into something beautiful, something substantial. It was as if his music was creating life.
And for a moment, I basked in the thought that everything would be okay.
His hand slipped, his fingers streaking the cream keys red. All at once his playing halted, the instrument echoing eerily, the lingering notes turning sour as they hovered.
He jerked his hands away with a gasp.
For a moment, neither of us said a word, silently watching the blood seep its way from every crack of the keys, like from a mouthful of bloody teeth.
It wasn’t until I heard liquid drip on the floor that I felt Magnus’s breath become heavy.
“Who was it, Andromeda?” he asked. His voice was trembling.
“Maybe this isn’t what you think it is,” I said quietly.
“The house bleeds after the Evil Eye takes a victim.” His hands were shaking as he gripped my arms. He was curled into me, his lips resting on my shoulder. “Tell me. Please. Was it Peggy?”
He said it as if he knew and was desperately hoping I’d deny it. I didn’t know what to say. But my silence was answer enough.
A loud sob broke our silence. He wrapped his arms around me, his body shaking erratically. My arms were pinned by his, so the only comfort I could give was holding his head against my neck and massaging his scalp with my fingers. It only made him cry harder.
“She was very brave,” I said, talking near his ear so he’d hear me over his crying. “She died fighting, protecting the people she cared about.” In other words, Kelela. But now wasn’t the time to talk badly about her.
“That—” gasp “doesn’t—” gasp “m-make me fe—” gasp “—el better.”
I jolted, gripping his hair in pained helplessness, lost on what to do.
His head felt like dead weight on my shoulder. It felt awkward to sit and wait for him to recover, but I couldn’t just leave him down here alone, either. My neck was warm and wet, my boney bottom beginning to hurt from sitting in one spot. Maybe this was why Jember had always threatened me with pillows. Crying took a long time. But I had never lost someone I loved. Who was I to rush his mourning?
But maybe I’d need to, because I heard rushed footsteps coming down the hall, and suddenly my adrenaline was running, my instincts knowing they meant me no good.
And a moment later Jember stormed in, looking ready to kill, with Saba’s expression full of panic as she followed.
I should’ve been on my feet immediately, reaching for my knife, but Magnus was leaning heavily on my shoulders.
“Why is the fireplace bleeding?” Jember said, shrugging off Saba’s comforting hand.
It never occurred to me that multiple rooms could bleed at once, that maybe the Evil Eye really only did it to show off its latest kill. But this was what I deserved for not telling Jember sooner. Because I was the next target, he had to construct the amulet, and that wasn’t something I could tell him minutes before—his mind and fingers needed to be rested enough for it.
But that wouldn’t stop him from knocking me unconscious beforehand.
I tapped Magnus’s knee frantically to make him get up, but instead he hugged me protectively, as if that would ever do any good. I was blocked in, front and back, and my heart began to pound for a way out.
“The hyena is being released again tonight,” Jember said, rounding the hopsicar. “Who’s the target, Andi?”
“Stay away from her,” Magnus commanded, “or I’ll—”
Between the hopsicar and the sweet boy at my back, the latter was arguably the easier obstacle to get through, and Jember grabbed him by the back of the collar and yanked him backward. And, God forgive me, I used those couple seconds to escape on top of the instrument. Magnus yelped and fussed as his back slammed on the floor and Saba rushed to his side.
Jember slammed his hands down, raising a muted scream of dissonance from the instrument. “Tell me you didn’t do what I think you did.”
What I’d initially thought was anger I now recognized as more. Something like panic. Fear. It shook my resolve a little.
“Jember,” I said, slowly reaching for my knife, “calm down—”
He shoved the instrument and I lost my footing, tumbling off. I caught myself—just barely, my hip would definitely bruise—and got back on my feet quickly, knife at the ready.
We both knew I was never going to use it, and so he had no problem storming toward me. I backed away just as quickly.
“Did you make eye contact?”
I hesitated. It was essentially a yes. “At least listen to my plan—”
“Have you lost your mind?” he yelled. His hands were in front of him, imploring, grasping in and out as if he didn’t know what else to do with them. “After everything I’ve done to keep you alive, you go and put yourself at the mercy of—” He yelled out in frustration and covered his face with his hands. His shoulders were shaking a little.
I put my knife away, just as slowly as I’d pulled it. Jember didn’t cry often. Sometimes, when he thought I was sleeping and he didn’t have any more pills, he would cry a little from the pain. But I’d never known him to show remorse. Tears were never shed over a human. Least of all me.
But when he removed his hands, tears were there, though he wiped the evidence away so quickly it felt almost like an illusion. He’d released the bit of humanity he allowed himself, his good survival habits taking over faster than I could summon the emotion to comfort him.
“You little idiot,” he said. “I might as well kill you myself—”
Saba planted herself in front of me. His momentum slowed the slightest bit. I couldn’t lie, I loved the power she held over him, as meager as it was.
“I swear to God, Saba, if you don’t move—”
“You can’t beat her, old man,” I said, waving my scarred fingers at him. “And we can fight if you want, but what good would it do? It won’t change what I’ve done.”
“Do you know what you’ve done?” he shot back. “Because I don’t think you do.”
“I’m protecting the people I care about—”
“At the expense of your own life?”
“It was the best way—”
“You know damn well it wasn’t—”
“Stop it!” Magnus said, rushing over to me. “Why are you threatening—?”
“I will kill you, little boy,” Jember said, and the look in his eye was animalistic. “This is between me and my daughter. Back away.”
I wasn’t sure which part to react more strongly to, the part where he said he’d kill Magnus … or the part where he said, clear as day, that I was his daughter.
Saba had put herself in front of Magnus, just in case Jember tried to carry out his promise right then. And Magnus looked terrified, but he backed up a few steps, thank God, quiet as death.
Jember pointed out to the door. “Game room,” he ordered, and I rushed out into the hall. I ran the whole way there, not wanting his rage so close to my back where I couldn’t keep track of it. Jember didn’t seem to be in a hurry, his uneven steps echoing the expanse of the hall like a still-beating heart trapped in the floorboards. I found a spot in the room where I couldn’t be cornered and faced the door, waiting for that foreboding heart to join me. He shut the door, locking us within the protection of the amulet, then leaned against it, arms folded across his chest.
For a moment we didn’t speak. He looked pensive, but in a dangerous, unpredictable way.
“How did you know it was me who looked at him and not Kelela again?” I asked.
“Because you lied about it.” Finally, he looked at me. “You’d better have a good reason.”
“I trust my ability to survive murderous attacks, for one thing.”
He paused, as if considering my sarcasm. “I would trust you, too … in any situation other than this.”
“I’m fast, and strong for my size. And you’re the best debtera I know—with you constructing the amulet, I won’t have to distract it for long. This is the most efficient way to do this, and you know it.”
“That’s if it goes smoothly. If Saba doesn’t give in to the Evil Eye’s commands. If it doesn’t break through all our shields. If you can—” He swallowed, scowling at the floor. “—avoid dying.”
“I kept Kelela alive, didn’t I? I’ll wear amulets like I gave her, so the hyena has one more barrier to fight through. We can do this, Jember.”
“You didn’t give us much of a choice.” He took a deep breath, then walked slowly to the chair and lowered himself into it, supporting himself with his hands on the chair arms. He leaned back in the chair, staring at the fire for a moment. “I should’ve told you I loved you when you were growing up. Maybe then you wouldn’t be throwing your life away for the first person to say it.”
“But you don’t love me,” I said, crossing my arms and looking at my feet. “You already admitted it.”
“I could’ve said it for your sake.”
I settled down on the couch across from him. “Then it would just be a word. As empty as most of your threats.”
“You’re right,” he said. That made me gape a little, and I sat silently, waiting for him to turn my point into an argument. Instead he shrugged. “Love is an action. It’s something you do.” He swore at the flames, then finally looked at me, his brows lowered as if fighting against pain. “I guess you’re justified in your sacrifice, then.”
I went to him, removed his peg leg, and placed it beside the chair. “It’s dangerous, but not a sacrifice. Because I’ll be okay. We’ll be okay.”
“Keep your optimism to yourself.”
Despite everything, I grinned, but it didn’t last long. “I’m sorry about you and Saba.”
“She’s dead, Andi.” It sounded so final when he said it. “Just a memory. The kindest thing I can do for her now is make sure her soul finds rest.”
“That sounds like an act of love to me.”
We were quiet for a moment.
He took a deep breath, wincing a little. “I suppose I should rest before tonight.”
“Okay.” I waited for him to say more. When he didn’t, I stood. “I’ll wake you for dinner.”