Chapter 28 | The Devil of Siren City

Adrian

Candy arches his brow at me as Skylar rushes down the hall.

“It’s not what it looks like,” I say, closing the door. “She’s sleepwalking.”

“Oh.” He squints. “Right now?”

“No, earlier. We…” I wave a hand. “It’s a long story.”

“And as much as I’m dying to hear more, I have to be quick,” Candy says, turning serious. “I give it about twenty minutes before my escorts realize I’m not actually in the beauty shop buying supplies for a very important assignation tomorrow night and maybe thirty before they realize I ran out the back.”

“That’s risky,” I scold.

“I know. But this needed to be done in person.”

“All right. What’s going on?”

“The network came back with what you wanted on…” Candy goes quiet, his eyes following Skylar’s trail down the hall.

My gut tightens, chased by the sharp memory of warmth on my skin. Her warmth.

You can call me Persephone.

I open the door, gesturing for him to follow me outside. We enter the elevator together, getting far enough out of earshot.

Candy holds up a hand as the doors slide closed. “But before you get too excited, I don’t have it. They wouldn’t release it to me.”

A familiar feeling pokes the back of my neck, one I haven’t experienced in quite some time. Doesn’t mean I enjoy it, though. A man never likes when people interfere with his business.

“Why not?” I ask.

“Because of my proximity to the current status quo, they’re refusing to release it without the approval of their boss.”

“I’m their boss,” I say from the depths of my throat. “I approve it.”

“No,” Candy says gently. “You’re not, Adrian. Not anymore. You died, remember?”

“Hard to forget,” I say, annoyed.

“They work for someone else now.”

“Who?”

Candy tilts his head, the act so gentle, so thoughtful.

Fuck.

I sigh. “Rackham.”

“I’ll go to him. See what I can do.”

“No.” I shake my head. “No, we’ll find another way.”

“There is no other way, Adrian,” he says. “Besides, it’s already done. He’s requested my company and Morgana approved it. I’m to go to him tomorrow night.”

I flex my jaw, feeling a wave of exhaustion already. Skylar was right. I really shouldn’t be moving around. I discreetly lean my shoulder against the wall, my ankles feeling increasing unsteady, my pulse quickening with a few sharp, painful beats.

“I’ll negotiate on our behalf,” Candy says. “I’ll convince him to put my name on their books. Then we’ll get the information on Skylar and find out what she’s really doing here.”

The warmth caressing my skin goes cold. “No,” I say.

“No?”

“I don’t need it anymore.”

“You don’t—” Candy exhales with frustration. “Right. And that wasn’t what it looked like in there.”

“Whatever is going on with her, she’ll tell me when she’s ready.”

“And if she doesn’t?” he asks. “You’re living with a time bomb, Adrian.”

“I don’t care.”

I really don’t.

“I do. This is too important.”

“Candy—”

“This isn’t just about her, Adrian!” he interrupts. “This is about your city. Your people. Without you, they are suffering. Without the network, without Raphael, you will never take back The Tower.”

I arch a brow. “Raphael?”

He blushes. “Without Captain Rackham,” he corrects before meeting my eyes again. “You need this, Adrian. Please tell me you at least understand that.”

“I understand,” I say, letting it go. “But—”

“I will not sit idly by and let you fuck this up because of… what is it? A crush on your nurse?”

“It’s not that.”

“Then, what is it?”

I close my mouth.

He scoffs. “You won’t tell me.”

“I will, Candy,” I say. “When I’m ready.”

Candy eyes me with renewed worry, but it’s overtaken by the frustration on his breath. “I’m done arguing about this,” he says. “Tomorrow night, I’m going to see Rackham. Give me your terms. I’ll be your envoy.”

I hesitate.

“This is what you trained me for,” he says, so gentle. “Trust me.”

He’s right. This is exactly the type of thing I trained him to do.

Listen. Observe. Report.

But things are different now. I’m not eager to send him somewhere that I can’t follow.

“I trust you,” I remind him. “It’s him I don’t trust.”

Candy grins. “He says the same about you, too, you know.”

I take a breath, fighting the urge to grimace as the movement stretches my stitches. “Full access to the network and their contacts. For you, me, and Skylar.”

He makes a face.

“Trust me,” I say.

“I trust you,” he says with a snort. “It’s her I don’t trust.”

“She really likes you, though.”

“Of course. Who doesn’t? I’m delightful.” He releases a harsh breath, then nods. “All right. Full access. For you and… your team.” He tuts his tongue. “He’ll want something in return. Probably more than I can give in one night.”

“I trust you’ll work something out with the Captain,” I say, diplomatically.

“Gonna have to bring the good lube,” he murmurs as he reaches out and taps L on the wall. “I should get back.”

“Thank you, Candy.”

He nods, giving me a once over, his eyes lingering for a moment on my right side. “You’re all right?” he asks. “The alley...”

“It was rough,” I merely say.

“Rest up,” he says. “I’ll take care of this, Adrian.”

I nod.

His face softens. “Miller,” he says.

“He died so I could live,” I answer.

“I’d like to hear that story.”

“I’ll tell it someday soon.” I look at Candy, the closest thing I’ll ever have to a child of my own. He’s long grown up now. Old enough to choose the life he desires. “Candy, if he asks…”

“Oh, he will. He always does.” His lips quirk. “I’ll decline.”

I nod, secretly relieved. Someday, sooner or later, he’ll answer differently. But that day isn’t today, thankfully.

The elevator stops in the lobby and the old doors slide open.

Candy steps off, then turns back. “Oh, and… pomegranates.”

I nearly flinch. “What?”

“For sleepwalking,” he says. “Ava used to make me pomegranate tea to keep me anchored. I don’t know how severe Skylar’s is, but it might help.”

“Right,” I say, taking a subtle breath. “I’ll let her know.”

With a nod, he leaves, making his way toward Market Street at a fast pace.

I return to the apartment. I find Skylar on the couch in the living room wearing a thick sweater and long flannel slacks, her half-eaten omelet balanced on a plate on her lap.

She wipes her mouth as I approach. “This is delicious,” she says, chewing softly.

“Thanks,” I say.

“We should have night eggs more often.”

I chuckle. “Sure.”

“Did Candy leave?”

“Yeah.” Retrieving my plate from the kitchen, I grab a fork and move to join her on the couch. I sit slowly, carefully, the ache in my side quickly becoming a constant, dull throb. “He had to get back uptown.”

Skylar nods, satisfied with the vague response, but she’s used to being kept in the dark by now. She sets her plate on the table. “Untuck your shirt,” she says.

I obey, but I’m used to being bossed around by her by now. As I lean forward, she sees my pain and takes my plate from my hand before it slips from my fingers.

“Easy,” she says.

“Yeah,” I say, pulling my shirt free of my belt. “I’m learning that.”

She laughs as she gently pulls at my bandage. “Should have stayed in bed.”

“I know. I shouldn’t have argued with you about it.”

“Yeah, and… I shouldn’t have flicked you so hard.” She peeks at me. “Sorry about that,“ she says out of the corner of her mouth.

I breathe a soft laugh. “It’s all right. I deserved it.”

Skylar lowers my shirt and sits back. “It looks fine,” she says. “I’ll check it again in the morning.”

She offers me my plate. I take it, happy to finally eat something, as she shifts to stand.

“Where are you going?” I ask.

“Oh, I was just gonna unattractively shovel the rest of this thing into my mouth and clean up the kitchen,” she says. “Maybe take a shower.”

“Stay.”

She blinks.

My chest tightens with sharp pain. I ignore it. “Have dinner with me,” I say. “Or have night eggs with me, I guess.”

“Okay,” she says. “If you want me to.”

I don’t want to be alone tonight. 

I don’t want to dwell on who I used to be.

Somehow, I suspect, neither does Skylar Jean Green.

“I do,” I say.

She sits back down with care, making sure not to jolt my side of the couch too much. “Then, I’ll stay,” she says.

We sit quietly together, comfortably watching the lights on the harbor as we finish our meal.

At some point, I succumb to my exhaustion. Unable to keep my eyes open, I close them on the horizon and drift off to sleep.

I awaken to a song.

Skylar hums beside me. Just a few notes repeated over and over again, but it’s enough to turn my blood cold. I’ve heard it before. I never thought I’d hear it again, and yet, here it is on the lips of a woman who shouldn’t know it. How does Skylar know it?

No. Not Skylar.

“Persephone,” I say.

She stops, her lips curling to one side. “It really is beautiful,” she says, her eyes on the sea, partially covered by locks of crimson hair. “This view never gets old, does it?”

I don’t answer. She hums again, the same few damned notes. I watch her for a long time, the shadowy hues of her eyes like waves crashing down around me.

“Persephone,” I say.

“Yes?”

“Where did Skylar really come from?”

Persephone grins.