Dark Desire After Dark

—but now he understood.

The ne'er-do-well had finally done well.

And he'd never felt more like a failure.

Because of him, Holly was in constant danger, no doubt afraid and confused. Yes, she was stronger, but she was still so young and had hardly ever left New Orleans, much less hitched across the Territories in the winter.

The worry for her was punishing. In his lifetime, Cade had been tortured many times. He'd been a sinew away from being beheaded. None of those ordeals came close to the constant ache in his chest…

Cade was in love with her. Damn it, he wanted his halfling back.

Holly huddled down in a side alley, sitting on a mound of dirty snow. More of the vile stuff was coming down wetly. If she never saw snow again…

She had no idea where she was. Yet another barren mining town. They were beginning to blur together.

Unable to sleep for the last four days, she was nearing mental and physical exhaustion. The hunger she hadn't felt in weeks now redoubled, making her dizzy.

She was out of money, her watch long since sold, and there were no banks for wiring funds here. There wasn't even a regular post. Not that she had anyone to contact for help.

I am utterly alone—

The pay phone at the corner began to ring. As a girl who worshipped technology, Holly didn't want to be in a place where there were still pay phones about. Pay phones equaled somewhere she oughtn't ever be.

Eventually it stopped ringing.

So what to do now? I can keep moving, or I can sit in the dirty snow till I freeze.

She actually could sit in the dirt. No longer was it incapacitating for her. Of late, fate had enrolled Holly in a comprehensive immersion therapy. She hadn't showered for days, had no way to brush her teeth. She'd slept in unwashed sheets, bunking in portages that smelled of men's feet and cooked onions.

What is my next move? She could only hope to hitch another ride—

The ringing began again, and this time the sound grated on her frayed nerves. She shakily rose, then crossed to the phone, intending to take it off the hook. But once she picked it up, curiosity compelled her to answer.

'Hello?' Her voice was hoarse.

'Look for us!' Nïx yelled over blaring music. 'We're vibrating with bass.' Click.

What—the—hell? Holly hung up the phone, staring at it for long moments, as if it held the answers as to how and why Nïx had just called her.

Minutes later, a red thumping SUV skidded to a stop in front of her. A Valkyrie with a glowing face and a wry expression was behind the wheel. Nïx was in the passenger seat, waving for Holly to get in.

Holly flipped her off, returning to burrow in her dirty snow.

The two women followed her.

'Wow, you look like a bucket-o-fuck,' the glowing one told Holly.

In a cheery tone, Nïx said, 'This is your aunt, Regin the Radiant. We don't believe she possesses verbal governors of any kind. Now, come along, dearling. We're late for the airport.'

Holly's brows rose. 'I'm not going anywhere with you.'

Nïx blinked in confusion. 'Why ever not?'

Holly gaped before she could finally find words. 'Maybe because you lied to me, tricking me to go off with an evil demon? One who turned me over to a sorcerer who planned to impregnate me with the ultimate evil!'

Nïx tapped her gloved finger against her chin. 'I guess you couldn't throw Cade very far.'

I'm going to sack her. I'm going to shove her face into the yellow snow over there.

Nïx chided, 'Now, dearling, that's not nice….'

'I want to talk to Holly alone,' Regin said.

With a shrug, Nïx turned for the car. Once she and Holly were alone, Regin said, 'There are four reasons why you should come with me now. Firstly, there's food in the car, and apparently, you're still a masticator. Second, a warm shower and a clean bed can be had in less than two hours. Thirdly, Nïx is bat-shit crazy, and you're not the first one of us that she's sent on a freaky vision quest. And the last reason you should come with me? I didn't fuck you over.'

Holly kind of liked this Regin. After all the duplicity she'd dealt with, a straight shooter might be nice to be around.

Yet then, even Regin resorted to trickery. 'Very well. I didn't want to have to do this, Holly.' She sighed. 'But you're leaving me no choice.' From her pocket, she pulled out a cache of antibacterial wipes, waving them enticingly. 'Look what Auntie Reege has. Who's your buddy? Who's your favorite Valkyrie?'

When Holly somehow resisted, Regin sighed, 'Fuck this noiseage,' then swooped Holly up under her arm, pinning her to her side. Though Holly fought, she carried her to the truck. Once Nïx reached back to open the door, Regin tossed Holly in the backseat.

Holly was still sputtering, dragging her matted hair from her eyes when the truck took off, heading out of the city.

Nïx turned to face her. 'Well, did you have fun on your adventure?'

I'm delirious. This is what it feels like to be in delirium. 'Oodles of.'

'Good.' Nïx handed her granola bars. Holly gorged on them without even taking off her filthy gloves.

'Soon we'll be in New Orleans, where you can meet your coven. We have your room all set up—you're to live with us at Val Hall now.'

'New Orleans?' Holly sputtered, choking on granola. 'You sent me across the entire continent when I'd been in the same city as my own kind?'

At her nod, Holly gave a weird, high giggle. She started laughing outright and couldn't seem to stop, even after she'd also begun crying.

'There, there,' Nïx said. 'If I hadn't sent you on this trip, then you wouldn't have your own page in The Book of Warriors!'

'We're here,' Regin said, turning into what looked like an airfield.

'Seriously, dearling, you need to chillax.'

'Why, Auntie Nïx? Why do I need to do anything?'

'Because in minutes, you're going to see the demon at the chopper pad.'

Two things registered in Holly's addled brain. She was about to ride in a helicopter.

And she'd be damned before Cadeon saw her crying. She ran her crusty sleeve over her face.

'Why is he coming here?' she asked as they parked next to a sleek, silver helicopter with blackened windows.

'Because he's after you,' Nïx said, hopping out of the car.

When her aunts jogged toward the chopper, Holly followed. 'Why is he after me?' she asked Nïx, having to yell over the rotors.

Regin got there first and slid open the door. 'I love the smell of napalm in the morning!' She ushered Nïx in, shoved Holly up, then climbed inside behind her. A female pilot began pressing buttons and flipping switches. The rotors sped up, growing louder.

Holly cried, 'Nïx!'

'Oh, yes, of course. What was I thinking? Holly, this is your aunt Cara the Fair.'

The pilot gave her a two-finger salute against a helmet that read Fly Me Friendly.

Nïx continued, 'She's part Fury, as well. She's flying us all legs on the way home, and then she's off to…'

'Colombia,' Cara finished for her.

'Nïx, damn it! Tell me!'