Chapter 6

I don’t know why Cupid chose to imbue the bow of destiny with the ability to play music. Maybe, in the days before everyone carried a cell phone equipped with streaming radio in their pockets, he just wanted something to listen to while he prowled around lofting arrows toward the hearts of lonely humans. Maybe he used the weapon’s tunes to help clue himself in to the emotions of each target, though why he would need to do so is a mystery, since the little blinking symbols above their heads indicates a heart open to new love. Or maybe, he figured the cacophony would drive mad any other poor soul who attempted to steal and wield the weapon.

I’m betting on some combination of the latter two, because if I had to listen to the lilting notes of another sappy love song, I might hurl myself off the tallest building in Port Harbor. It’s more than half the reason why I waste little time drawing the bow and loosing an arrow whenever a twinkling heart catches my eye.

No hesitation, no remorse, and no hanging around in the visions of sugar plums and happily ever afters that flood my consciousness whenever two hearts become inextricably linked.

That’s because you’re a cold-hearted—

Shut up. I cut Lexi off before she could finish the observation. I’m not saying it wasn’t partially true, but no one likes being called names. Especially not by someone who whines.

I can hear what you’re thinking, you know, and I was not whining, I was merely pointing out that you’re an idiot for not appreciating the uplifting parts of the job.

Suddenly I wasn’t cursing the bowsong anymore. Anything would be better than this.

As if you have any room to talk. I was referring to her mocking retreat from the effects of Kaine’s magic, and received only a grunt in response before Lexi fell quiet again.

On the weekends, when all the bars are open and the downtown district is filled with hopeful singles, my job is a lot easier. Weeknights are when said hopefuls go on dates with the people they met over the weekend, and that means they’re tucked away inside dimly-lit restaurants where I can’t blend into the crowd as easily.

Half my job involves being a glorified stalker.

Fortunately, the thrill of the hunt is part of the fun. Knowing it would lead me where I needed to go, I followed the pull in my belly and hit the jackpot outside a small tavern with a folding sign out front that advertised the night’s event: speed dating.

Some trends simply refuse to die.

Two blinking hearts flashed in my peripheral vision as I entered and casually sauntered toward the restroom. When a timer buzzed loudly, the men stood and moved in a clockwise pattern, sitting back down across from the next eager woman. If my calculations were correct, the blond man with the thick eyelashes had already spoken to his intended, a shy-looking woman dressed in basic black. I didn’t stop to wonder whether their conversation had gone well enough for them to choose one another at the end of the session, and pulled out my bow to ensure their connection would stick.

See, that’s what I’m talking about. There’s more to this gig than point and shoot.

The arrows squarely hit their marks while I ignored my inner Lexi voice, and then I got the heck out of there with a smile on my face. One match down, and I was just warming up for the night.

Exiting the tavern, I circled around the corner and into an older section of Port Harbor. Blocks of attached townhouses marched down the edges of the road, like soldiers in a line, gabled hats perched atop their heads. Between every third of fourth unit, wrought iron gates in various states of repair restricted access to an expanse of fenced-in lawn that stretched across the block to meet up with an identical backyard on the opposite side.

My LPS—my Love Positioning System is a fluttery feeling in my gut—instructed me to veer north toward another lonely heart, and I took a quick glance around before touching a finger to one of the gate locks and easing quickly through the opening. Keeping to the shadows, I made it halfway across the lawn before I felt a whoosh and a tingle that made the hairs on my neck feel like they were marching in circles.

From somewhere nearby, the stench of dark magic and Chanel No. 5 made me want to gag. I broke into a full-on run and exited the other side of the courtyard a few yards behind the man whose heart had called me to this place.

I scanned the area for a matching symbol. Shooting the guy by himself could have serious repercussions. Or I assumed they did because the only times I’d ever tried it, the bow blasted me with You Give Love a Bad Name, and I had to give the bow credit for nailing the song. Still, the message was clear. Don’t shoot. Just don’t.

The man continued walking toward the spot where, at the far edge of my vision, I saw a glimmer of a matching symbol. I whipped out the bow in an attempt to gain the upper hand, knowing Diana Diamond was bearing down on me and that I had mere seconds to spare our unsuspecting quarry from the sting of one of her cards.

Engaging my targeting sight, I double-checked the symbols, calculated the odds, and decided the shooting order. Man first, long shot after.

“You’re out of your league, Balefire.” As opening lines went, that one was uninspired. I let my arrows fly and swallowed the giggle that had been bubbling into my throat when I realized Diana’s weapon had made contact a split second ahead of mine. The split second I’d taken to decide cost me. Or rather, the man.

The target stopped walking, and I held my breath as the symbol above his head changed from a pink heart to a red diamond that shuddered and morphed into the black heart that marked him as one of Diana’s conquests.

Enraged, I sheathed the bow as I whipped around and came face-to-face with her. Lexi lit up my thoughts with a stream of words unbecoming of a good witch and I fought the urge to lunge at Diana and scratch her eyes out with my bare hands.

“See, I warned you.” I wanted to wipe the smug smile off her face with something sharp and pointy, but the damage had already been done, and getting into a hair-pulling fight with a psycho half-goddess didn’t seem like the best plan.

My stomach knotted and turned over on itself when Diana approached the section of sidewalk where the man had been standing, picked up the card she’d used on him, and slurped up the blackness left behind by his poor, darkened soul. There was nothing I could do for him now, at least not until I figured out how to reverse her magic. Suddenly I felt no closer to that goal than I had been months before. I needed to find a way to either fully defeat her or banish her back to the Nexus, and even if the act tarnished my own soul, it would be well worth the price.

“You’re fighting a losing battle, Diana.” I retorted, as calmly as I possibly could. “Don’t you understand that the gods don’t want you counted among their numbers? You’re not welcome in Olympus, so why don’t you just give up now and find someone else to harass?”

She shot me a look of contempt. “What would be the fun in that? You’re not fooling anyone with this tough girl act. I know deep down you’re still feeling the loss of your precious lover boy.” Diana licked her lips slowly, sensuously, “I can taste your pain, and it’s the most potent, purest kind. The kind that knows all hope is lost.”

Her words stung with truth, and I felt Lexi recoil, heard the hiss of her reaction, and this time anticipated the swell of witchfire in our palm.

“Don’t you dare say his name!” Lexi swam to the surface and it was her words that echoed into the night. Together, we hurled the ball of witchfire in Diana’s direction, unsurprised when she lithely sidestepped the flame as though we were playing a friendly game of dodge ball.

“Kin Clark is still mine. There’s no hope for you, Balefire.” Diana’s words and her evil laugh trilled through the air even after she’d disappeared back to whatever hole she’d climbed out of in the first place.

Lexi’s emotion threatened to pull me into its undertow, so I slammed shut the barrier between us, heard it whoosh into place complete with sci-fi sound effect, and used the silence left behind to gather myself together while Lexi fumed and sputtered. Feelings don’t win battles, strategy does. Emotions only get in the way. Since I was the one with the mad logic skills, maybe I should be the one in charge of things. The only one.

Fat chance. Wretched witch put the taste of pickles in my mouth. Sour pickles. It was a sign.

My spirits lower than low, I trudged back toward the city proper, all the way imagining what tearing Diana limb-from-limb would look like. Two blocks from where I’d parked, I felt a tingle of magic and braced myself for another encounter with my nemesis. But when I looked around, it wasn’t Diana Diamond leaning up against a frost-covered lamppost—it was Delta the Fiach, and she had her right eyebrow raised as she appraised my outfit.

“I came here to talk to Lexi Balefire, but it looks like I found Catwoman instead.” Delta let out a husky chuckle.

“It’s cold, and the leather keeps me warm.” I staunchly defended my fashion choice. What did a supernatural bounty hunter from Olympus know about current styles, anyway? Delta’s six-foot rapier peeked out from behind the fur-lined cloak fastened around her neck. “And darling, who are you to talk? You look like an escapee from Narnia.”

Delta grimaced in surprise, looked at her own outfit, looked back at me, and nodded with resignation. “Fair point.” We traded smiles that turned into a fit of laughter. I’d forgotten how much fun it could be to trade insults with a good friend, especially since everyone else in my life was either annoyed by my strength or unwilling to accept I wasn’t as fragile as their precious Lexi.

“I go by Alexis now, by the way.” I explained once we’d sobered up a bit. Delta nodded once and didn’t reply, but I squirmed under the heat of her searching gaze. A woman of few words, she saw more than she let on, but allowed the awkward moment to pass.

“So, Alexis, you want to tell me what’s going on?” she asked. “The stench of dark magic drew me here, though right now, all I’m getting is the distinct scent of recently-flung arrows. What kind of trouble are you in this time?”

She pushed off the lamppost to circle me like a sleek jungle cat stalking prey. We’d been in this position before, and I didn’t like it any better now than I did the first time. I don’t know if Cupid meant for his bow to be used as a weapon against enemies, and Delta certainly qualified as friend, but I pulled it without thinking.

“Put that away. I’m not here to fight.” From behind me, Delta’s voice sounded amused. “And then tell me why you smell like brimstone.”

“Forgot to put on my deodorant before I left the house.”

Deadpanning, Delta replied. “Ha ha.”

“I just had a run in with Diana Diamond.”

“No, it’s not her. She carries a different scent. A cross between dirty motor oil and rotten cheese.” Instead, she leaned sideways and sniffed at me again.

Even though it seemed the mark on my shoulder had summoned Delta, I paused for a moment to decide how much to tell her, and then realized it was a moot point since whatever I held back she’d wrangle out of me somehow. “You’re right. Come on, I’ll show you.” I led Delta down a darkened alley, shrugged out of my coat, and moved to strip off my top.

“Honey, if you’re that hard up, go back to one of those clubs and find a man who will do for an evening.” She planted her tongue firmly in her cheek.

“Get your head out of the gutter, and don’t act like you can’t sense the magic rolling off my back. Literally.” I replied impatiently.

Delta did as she was told while I told her about the dream. She let out a whistle when she saw the symbol marring my shoulder. “How much trouble are you in?”

“If I knew, you probably wouldn’t be here. Do you recognize it?” She touched a finger to the mark, and I felt a sharp pinprick, then the usual itch and burn.

“No, not exactly. The symbolism isn’t from this time, that I can tell you. Old. Ancient even. A mixture of some kind.” Delta muttered as she poked and prodded. “There aren’t many beings powerful enough to penetrate the veil and make contact through a dream.”

“Well, it definitely wasn’t Freddie Kruger, so what are the other options?”

She sighed, “Look, don’t freak out, okay? Just stand still.” I heard the whisper of her sword being pulled, and when she laid the cold steel against my already chilled flesh, I flinched.

“I said stay still.” A hand came up to clamp on my other shoulder like a vise.

Between gritted teeth, I said, “Just get it over with if you’re going to cut me.”

The sting hurt less than a paper cut.

Maybe you should ask her for a lollipop, said the sarcastic witch.

“Put your shirt back on before you freeze to death.” I’d have preferred sarcasm from Delta rather than gruff resignation. “I don’t like this.”

She hesitated and I prodded, “What?”

“It’s essential blood magic.” Emphasis on essential.

Blood magic is almost always dark magic, and that the mark carried darkness was not new information. “Okay, what do you mean by essential?”

“Whatever you saw in your dream marked the essential components that make up your blood.”

Still not clear. “You mean like the red and white blood cells and platelets?”

Delta huffed out a breath. “No, those are the elements, I’m talking about the essentials, the essences that make up your heritage. Witch and god. Whoever, or whatever did this, they marked you for being a Fate Weaver.”

“Then that’s one more reason I need to talk to one of my kind, and you’re just the person to locate one for me.” I launched into yet another explanation, this one regarding Kaine, and noticed that Delta’s eyes didn’t quite meet mine. “What?” I asked with a raised eyebrow.

“It won’t be as easy as you think.”

“For crying out loud, Delta. It’s your job to find people. Weren’t you the one who told me there were more of us out there? Was that a lie?”

“Let’s call it speculation based on a small amount of information.”

“I’m calling it bull, thank you very much.” I shot back.

Delta sighed again and pulled her cloak tighter around her body. “Look, I’ve heard rumors here and there of Fate Weavers who went into hiding. It’s not like I sit around all day keeping tabs. Take it up with the gods if you’re ticked off. What I can do is promise to tap my sources and see if I can run down a solid lead, and you know my word is my bond.”

She stuck out her hand, and I shook it. She might have glossed over a detail or two, but Delta had never told me a flat-out lie, and I knew she wouldn’t let me down.