covencraft 04 - dry spells (37 page)

“While I’m not at liberty to name names or species, I once had to procure several tons of manure, some gold spray paint and four bottles of luxury lubricant. I didn’t ask why and they didn’t tell. Their contract specified no living or dead creature would be coerced or injured. Even so, I still prefer not knowing.”

Jade exhaled, feeling a laugh almost escape her. She nodded and looked down at her hands on her lap. She had blood leaking from the bandage on her arm. He leg wound was still bleeding as well. “I think I agree with you on that one. Ignorance is bliss.”

“Yes, it is.” Yvonne’s voice matched Jade’s tone - somewhat melancholy and sad.

Jade absently rolled her neck, hearing and feeling it crack in a few places, but not the ones she was trying to reach.

“I can arrange for a chiropractor and a masseuse to come visit you, if you like,” Yvonne offered. Her tone was completely neutral - the practiced, polished tone of a professional. Jade briefly wondered at all the services Yvonne could offer. Her calm, matter-of-fact tone made Jade feel at ease. Yvonne wasn’t perturbed in the least at Jade’s appearance.

“No thanks.” She had a brief surge of panic as she thought of someone touching her and she pushed it hard and far out of her brain. “Um, how do you know Paris? Or the Coven?”

“I used to be a part of the Coven. A long time ago.”

“I thought… I mean, I thought witches had to stay in the Coven.”

“Most,” answered Yvonne unhelpfully.

Jade didn’t ask any more questions. She knew all too well what it was like to be on the receiving end. She turned away from Yvonne and gazed out the window. The tint of the glass made it more reflective. Her reflection ghostly as it stared back at her. It reminded her of Lily. Of being in the car with Sakkara before she and Lily separated. Jade crossed her eyes slightly, letting her vision blur. The passing cityscape became nothing more than soft shapes and odd angles as it soared by. Her head thrummed with a low, achy pain where she’d felt the lightening bolt of pain from connecting with Lily. She finally settled her skull against the back seat, her eyes slit open, staring at the yellow divider line on the asphalt. She tried to close her eyes once, but ensuing panic rose up in her chest and caused her to snap them open again.

After a short drive, the car slowed. A large grey building rose up in front of them - stark and austere.

“I’ve had the car brought around to the service entrance,” Yvonne smoothly explained. “It affords more privacy than crossing the main foyer.”

Yvonne opened her door, not bothering to wait for the driver to come around. Jade wasn’t sure what to do. Should she let herself out? Wait for the driver? Curl into small ball on the floor of the car and have a nervous breakdown? It seemed a long time before Yvonne came to her door, opening it smoothly and holding a pair of nondescript grey flip flops.

“Courtesy of the spa.”

Jade hadn’t seen anyone come out of the building, but they must have. She nodded, taking them gingerly and slipping them on her feet, still clutching the Osiris box. She was now one of those people who wore socks and flip-flops; the plastic wedge of them fought against the knit fabric of her sport socks. The set of double service doors seemed impossibly far away. She’d be so exposed. She curled further back into the limo.

Her eyes darted down the long concrete corridor. It was a typical high-rise back alley. Tall, impersonal buildings loomed over them. The smell of garbage and exhaust was infused into the pavement. No light except a service light glaring sharp and harsh from the door - a beacon in case of emergency. It was nothing like the Dearth. But it wasn’t anything like the Coven either.

“If you will follow me?”

Yvonne patiently waited as Jade worked up the
hutzpah
to get out of the limo. Her legs had stiffened on the short ride and protested with aches and creaks as she stood. Yvonne walked in front of Jade, her steps brisk. Jade got the impression if she stopped, Yvonne would somehow know and stop as well, although she wouldn’t have to glance back to do it.

“Generally speaking, the staff don’t interact with hotel guests unless contact is initiated by the guest. Should you need anything at any time, please ask.”

Jade followed Yvonne through the double doors and into the industrial kitchen. A long bank of stainless steel cabinetry stretched the length of the room. Sinks, stoves, fridges. True to Yvonne’s words, no one looked up from their task. They continued chopping vegetables, plating food, moving amongst each other with a casual grace. They chatted with one other, made references to tonight’s meal and tomorrow morning’s breakfast. Jade heard something about last week’s staff barbecue. No one glanced her way. It was as if she were perfectly invisible. She breathed a sigh of relief.

Yvonne pushed her way through a swinging door, holding it open for Jade to follow. They had left the kitchen and entered a wide, bleak hallway. No windows, no decorations. At the end of the hallway was a large elevator, its somber, brushed steel doors polished to perfection. Yvonne pressed the ‘UP’ button and waited.

After a few moments the elevator dinged and the doors slid open almost soundlessly. The elevator was the kind with two sets of doors - a service elevator. Yvonne swiped her key-card against a panel and hit the button for the 19th floor. Jade hardly felt the elevator start its ascent. It was fast. Quiet. Given the state of the kitchen, the speed and efficiency of the elevator, the perfectly tailored suit Yvonne wore, Jade guessed this was a little fancier than the local Holiday Inn.

She felt the elevator come to a soft, gentle stop. The doors slid open to reveal plush beige carpet running the length of the luxurious hallway. Jade wondered how often it had to be cleaned to keep it that spotless. Perfectly spaced and symmetrical vacuum marks ran the width of the carpet. There was no sound: no chatter from guests, no TVs running in other rooms, no bustle of things moving and shifting. The building was insulated well. For all Jade knew, she could be the only person on the floor.

Yvonne halted at one of the rooms, pulling a shiny black key card out of her inner jacket pocket. It made the slightest
whoosh
sound as she slid it efficiently through the lock. The handle gave a muted click and when the small light on the knob flashed green, Yvonne pushed the door open, standing aside for Jade to enter the room while Yvonne waited outside.

What greeted Jade on the other side of the door was a suite. One large room opened off the main door, with a creamy sofa, love-seat and ottoman. A set of French doors had been left ajar to show a glimpse of the bedroom - pillowy soft duvet and large, overly stuffed pillows - all white with grey and red accents. The room had a large central light fixture, but the bulbs had been dimmed, giving the room a soft glow. The walls were a refined grey mocha, the carpet a silky champagne. The whole room screamed tasteful style and gads of cash. It was by far the nicest room Jade had ever been in. She was stuck at the doorway. Her feet knew the room was too nice for them.

“Is it acceptable?” Yvonne questioned.

“Um, sure.”

Yvonne gestured with an arm and Jade took a hesitant step further into the room. She almost expected some sort of blaring klaxon to go off or lights to flash - as if the room would know she wasn’t worthy.

“I have a yoga suit on order for you. It should arrive shortly.”

Jade nodded, remembering Yvonne ordering it in the car. “You’re a good judge of size.”

Yvonne smiled briskly. “It’s part of my job. Would you like anything else? Beverages? Food?”

Thinking of how she’d just tossed her guts out and could still feel the oily slick of the demon shooter in her throat, Jade shake her head. “Nope.”

Yvonne held the keycard out for her and Jade stared at it for a moment, uncomprehendingly. She finally reached up and took it with her free hand. Her other hand still cradled the Osiris box close to her chest. She’d gone so far to get it, she wasn’t about to let it go now.

“I guess you’ll give Paris a card when he gets here.”

“Unless you ask me not to.” Yvonne’s face was perfectly empty.

Jade’s eyebrow twitched. “But he called you. And the Coven is probably paying for everything.”

“Yes, but you’re my client.” She paused waiting for that to sink in. “Would you like me to give Paris a key?”

Of course
, she thought, but the words didn’t come to her lips immediately. “Yes, give him a key.”

“Would you like me to call when I do so you know when to expect him?”

Jade stared down at the keycard in her hand and started mutely shaking her head. “No,” she finally said. “It’s fine.”

“If you change your mind about needing something, I can be reached anytime by calling the front desk. Simply ask for me and they will transfer you to my phone.”

Jade nodded. “All right.”

“I’ll have the clothing sent up shortly.”

“Sure.”

Yvonne inclined her head slightly and pulled the door shut as she left. Jade slowly turned around. She looked again at the sofa, then the chair and the small eating area. She stepped out of the flip flops and pulled her socks off, balling them up and setting them on top of the flip-flops. She took a tentative step onto the plush carpet. It was decadently soft, her feet sinking in slightly. The fibers were cool against her toes. She made her way to the bedroom. The large king size bed had far too many pillows. What did hoteliers think you need with all those decorative pillows anyway? What you needed were good, solid pillows. Not bolsters or shams or frilly throw pillows. You could hardly sleep on those anyway.

Sleep.

She made a move toward the bed. She was desperately tired. But then, she looked down at herself. She was filthy: covered in dust from the Dearth, her leg wound bleeding sluggishly, her arm still oozing. A fine layer of grime was adhered to her.

Jade turned toward the bathroom, flicking on the light as she entered. It was a pristine, white-tiled, spacious room with both a shower and a soaker tub. The chrome fixtures were polished so well they seemed to glow. Tiny little bottles were lined up in a basket next to each of the double sinks. She picked one up, read the label and then unscrewed the top for a sniff. Pricey stuff. She grabbed a bunch of them and set them on the little shelf in the shower. When she turned back to close the door, she caught sight of herself in the mirror and sighed. She looked like she felt - tired and worn out. Her skin was ashy grey. Pale.. And not in the beautiful way that romance novels talked about with milky skin and alabaster beauty. She looked like old mold on bread - grayish green and washed out. She saw something on her neck and tipped her head slightly to the side.

Marble.

She reached up and touched her fingertips to it. It only barely felt like flesh. It seemed she didn’t escape the Gorgon unscathed. She prodded at the area, finding it hard in the center, like stone. It got softer as she moved out from the center, until she finally crossed an edge and reached unmarked skin. It was unevenly shaped, like a blotch or a coffee stain. It was pale, porcelain marble with red and blue veining. Her actual veins, she realized. She turned her head from side to side and then rotated her neck - feeling the edges of the markings stretch and strain as she did. It didn’t hurt, but it felt tight. Like an area badly burned and still healing. She dropped her hands on the vanity, and leaned forward, considering herself in the mirror. Medusa could have turned her to stone, but she’d survived. She’d survived because she’d been able to see beyond the monster. See what Medusa really was: a woman hurt long ago and unable to move beyond it.

A woman painfully close to herself. Maybe Jade could move on, but how?

Jade turned her attention to the Osiris box. It was a lovely dark wood, smooth under her hands. It had an intricate golden latch. Dare she open it? Curiosity thrummed through her veins, but she couldn’t bring herself to open it. Jade wrinkled her nose. She didn’t think she’d like what she’d see, although morbid curiosity kept scratching at her brain.

A knock at the door of the hotel room made her jump. She made her way back to the door and found Yvonne waiting outside with a nondescript brown shopping bag in her hand. She held it out to Jade.

“Your clothes. I added some basic toiletries you won’t find already stocked in the bathroom - deodorant, toothpaste and brush. I also added some moisturizer, a basic makeup kit and a hairbrush.”

“Thanks.” Jade was surprised and touched by the attention to detail. She liked to think she wasn’t overly vain, but it sure would be nice to have some basic makeup and cream. Little things to make her feel normal.

Yvonne tipped her head once in acknowledgement. “Call the front desk if you need anything else.”

Yvonne left and Jade made her way back to the bathroom. She set the clothes down on the vanity and eyed the shower, then the door. She desperately wanted a shower, but the thought of getting in and not being able to hear the outer room, of being naked and vulnerable made her heart pound.

But if she crawled into bed as she was, she’d muck up the sheets and be all grimy. From where she stood in the bathroom, she could just make out the closet. She tapped her fingers against her thigh. It was a good closet. Carpeted. With doors that you could slide shut from the inside. She would be able see out of the slats in the door and have a good view of the entire bedroom and part of the sitting room. Decision made, she turned off all the lights in the room and grabbled one of the pillows from the bed, along with the duvet. They’d get dirty, but they could easily be cleaned. The only thing missing was Bruce. Though it tended to make sleeping in the closet cramped, she liked being able to hear his even and deep breathing. Without him, even though the closet wasn’t large enough for her to stretch out, it was too big. She’d grown used to stuffing herself into the space and making room for Bruce. She curled up with the pillow and put her head down.

When she closed her eyes, she saw the expanse of the Dearth, laid before her. She saw Medusa. Seth. She hugged the Osiris box close to her. She could only imagine Sakkara wouldn’t take too kindly to Jade losing the box on this side. She needed to keep it safe.