Four
Valerie sat in her apartment, staring into a mirror. It wasn’t something she did often. Vanity wasn’t one of her main drives. In fact, the only mirror in the place was in the tiny bathroom. She shifted uncomfortably, leaned on the edge of the sink, and stared into her own eyes.
A soft knock at her door was still loud enough to startle her out of her reverie. Val bent at the sink and splashed a little water in her face. Another quick glance in the mirror showed her face calm, if a little too serious. Nodding to herself, she went to the front door and opened it.
“May I come in?” Mai asked.
The smaller woman poked her head into Val’s apartment, looking around. Val shrugged a bit, unsure what she was looking for. Griffen had never mentioned Mai to Val while they were in college, but since meeting in New Orleans, she and Mai were fast becoming friends.
In fact, Mai had seemed to go out of her way to befriend Valerie, to open up with her more than she seemed to with Griffen. It had given Valerie something she didn’t really realize she was missing: a girlfriend, someone she could let her hair down with and trade dirty jokes and warm comfort. Val had come to appreciate Mai’s perspective and knowledge. Even with that, she had to admit she still didn’t really understand Mai.
“Sure thing,” Val said.
Val opened the door and waved Mai inside. After she closed the door, she noticed Mai still looking around. Well, if you don’t know, ask.
“What are you looking for?”
“Nothing, privacy mostly. I never knew Valkyries were such slobs.”
Mai grinned as she said it and waved a small hand at scattered clothing over Val’s couch and a small pile of take-out containers on the table. Val rolled her eyes. She knew that she was nowhere near as messy as some. Mai, though, seemed to keep herself, and her surroundings, bordering on immaculate. Sometimes Val just wanted to throttle her.
“Sorry, we can’t all have wrought-iron shafts shoved up our rears, Flower Drum. At least I can eat without the area being declared a disaster zone,” Val teased.
Though if truth be known, the two together was a disaster worse than the sum of its parts. Valerie and Mai attacking a full dinner could give waiters heart attacks the Quarter over.
“You just don’t know how to enjoy your food properly. Amazing, considering how big you are.”
Val grinned at the familiar banter, but there was a slight flash in her eye. One hand idly touched her stomach. Mai noticed it, and her expression softened and went a touch more serious.
“Relax, it’s not showing yet,” Mai said.
“Wh- What do you mean?”
“Oh, please, Valerie. You’ve been out of sorts, far too serious, and there are other signs.”
“Everyone has been out of sorts and serious lately. Silly, isn’t it? I mean, after all, no one’s tried to kill any of us in a few weeks. Things should be springtime and light.”
“Yes. Silly,” said Mai.
The two stared at each other. Val, tall and strong. Mai, small and delicate. Mai’s expression was absolutely unreadable, as blank and lovely as a doll’s. Val tried, but something leaked past. A touch of spark in her eyes, as if daring Mai, or the world, to react first.
“Is it Nathaniel’s?” Mai inquired, face still unreadable.
Val’s face broke in a mixture of surprise, sadness, and, above all, relief. She sank into a chair, holding her face in her hands. Not crying, but showing signs close to exhaustion. Mai approached slowly, almost cautiously, and wrapped her arms around Val, hugging her.
“Yes,” Val said, then more angrily, “Yes! That son of a bitch.”
“Literally, from the rumors I’ve heard from Melinda.”
Mai tried a gentle smile, but Val was still angry as she looked up. Weeks later, and she was still furious at the dragon, Nathaniel, who had come to New Orleans specifically for the purpose of trapping her. Using seduction and magic to affect her will and defenses.
“Was it the glamour? Normally I’m safe, careful. Did that bastard magic me into forgetting myself?” Val asked, and pulled herself away from Mai.
Letting her arms drop to her sides, Mai took a step back. She thought for a few moments and gave a bare nod.
“Most likely. The glamour probably added to the excitement, the rush, and we know your judgment was affected.”
“Then he wanted this to happen.”
“No… well… maybe, but I doubt it. He wanted you, wanted to bed you. He pushed with his glamour for that. That is what you got caught up in. To think much past that might be his mother’s style, but as calculating and manipulative as he can be, he tends to focus on the short-term goal.”
Val stood and started to pace the room. She seemed so full of bound energy that it was surprising the small apartment could contain her. Mai took a seat, giving her more room and watching her.
“How did you know?” Val said.
“Besides the personality changes? Well, one big clue, it’s the French Quarter. You’ve stopped drinking,” Mai said.
“Then others have noticed.”
“Val, you have a bad habit of making statements of things that should be questions. No, I don’t think anyone else has noticed. One, most of them don’t know what to look for. Two, everyone has been wrapped up in their own business.”
“But not you?”
Mai shrugged and clasped her hands in her lap.
“For the most part, I’ve been feeling a little lost. As much as I enjoy the area, and the company, I haven’t really heard anything from back home lately. Not even a request for updates. My days are my own and really beginning to drag.”
“Must not be easy, being a spy,” Val said.
Val’s tone was sarcastic, but some of the teasing was creeping back in.
“I prefer to think of myself as a double agent, or at least a double entendre. I mean how much of a spy can I be when I told Griffen that’s why I’m here?” Mai said.
“One of the reasons you are here, and you didn’t really tell him much of that.”
“Hey, if I’m bored, maybe I should get a job like you! Need another relief bartender?”
“Nice change of subject, but with the fortune-cookie mystique, you could probably make more as a fortune- teller.”
Val grinned, and Mai smiled secretively. With dramatic motions, Mai draped the back of one hand over her forehead and held the other out toward Val, fingers spread. Val tensed as the motions were aimed at her stomach.
“The wise one sees all and knows all. What lurks in your secret heart! Hear her words and tremble,” Mai said.
“Get on with it.”
“Don’t tell Griffen.”
Val stopped in her tracks and stared at Mai.
“I have to tell him. He’s my brother, and the last thing he needs after he starts to get everything under control is me surprising him with this.”
“Exactly; right now he’s struggling. He has just started to gain proper confidence, and already burdens are being heaped onto him. This could be the very thing that overwhelms him completely,” Mai said.
“If I don’t tell him, it leaves him in danger. If Nathaniel comes back because of this, Griffen won’t have any time to prepare.”
“Why would Nathaniel come back? Even if he planned this, which I doubt, how could he know? You will
