The Whimsy Witch Who Wasn't (Tales of Xest Book 1) Page 16

  “But you can. We just don’t know how yet.”

  “I can’t.” I got up and stretched my legs. I’d never met someone more stubborn in my life. Even now, as I wanted to beat some sense into him, he remained calm, so sure in his rightness.

  He leaned against the arm of the couch, watching me but digging into his position with an excavator.

  “So that’s it. You’re not going to accept that I’m not your woman?”

  “Interesting choice of words, but no, I’m not going to accept that because you, Tippi, are my woman.”

  He was looking at me with such confidence that I suddenly realized what my issue with him was. He believed in me like no one ever had in my entire life. It made me hate him and want him all at once.

  I wanted him because, on some deep level, I wanted to be the person he thought I was. I basked in his belief.

  And I hated him for it, too. I wasn’t the person he thought I was. If he thought I could help him with whatever was growing out there, the only thing that was going to happen was us both dead. And how dare he put that on me?

  Instead of basking or raging, I walked out of the room, stunned over just how screwed I was at the moment. Worst was that he held all the power. I couldn’t get out of here without him.

  Or could I? It might be time to keep all my options open.

  24

  Rabbit brought me another cup of tea. She brought everyone tea, even Belinda, who might’ve been warming to her. I didn’t blame Rabbit. She didn’t know what else to do now that the books were sorted and Zab was out running errands. If I could’ve, I would’ve given her something else to do so I could stop drinking tea but not hurt her feelings. I was on my fourth cup, and the caffeine wasn’t helping the nerves at all. Tonight’s meeting with Raydam was going to be nerve-racking enough without having hand tremors and an eye tic.

  Hawk walked into the office, and Rabbit sloshed the tea in her hands and then pretended she hadn’t, even as her face turned a bright, rosy red. She faded back against the wall as he walked through the office, as if afraid he’d send her back if he noticed her.

  If he did see her, it was hard to tell. He nodded at Belinda, who was with a client. She looked pleased enough until he continued to me.

  “Come on. We’re going out today,” he said, stopping in front of my table.

  “We are?” I was afraid to look in Belinda’s direction because she might’ve turned into Medusa for the sole purpose of killing me.

  I grabbed my jacket, while Belinda glared, hoping we could stop and get a cocoa on the way back. I’d already had one and needed another in a bad way. It was definitely a two-cocoa day.

  “You need to tell Rabbit she doesn’t have to leave,” I said as soon as we hit the street.

  “Why would I do that when she might?”

  “You’d kick her out if I can’t do what you need? It’s not like I haven’t been trying.”

  “I’m allowing her to stay for you. If you go, she goes.”

  I stopped walking. “Are you making me go?”

  He stopped in the middle of the street. Luckily, Hawk had a way of clearing the path around us so we were in no danger of being bumped into or cursed at. “If you decide to go to Raydam’s camp, you can’t think I’d leave a spy here for you.”

  “You mean I’d have to leave the broker building? My room?”

  “I won’t fight you on going to that dinner alone. It’s your choice. But there are other choices you’ll have to make as well. If you’re here, I have your loyalty. I can’t have someone I don’t trust staying in my place.”

  “But you already do have someone you don’t trust staying with you.”

  “How so?”

  “You don’t trust me. You tell me the barest minimum you can. Even last night, you showed me, but how long did that take?”

  “You’re wrong. I trust the person in front of me. I’m just not sure I’ll trust the person you are tomorrow. Sometimes knowledge and power corrupts. Sometimes it strengthens. I know who you are today. I’m just not sure who you’ll become.”

  “I’ll be the same person I’ve always been.”

  He smiled slightly. “That’s an impossibility. Challenging times strengthen the strong and break the weak. You might be a better version after this is all over, but you won’t be the same. That I can guarantee.”

  He began walking again.

  I ran after him, realizing how often I had to do that and getting more annoyed by the step. “Look, let’s go on the pretense that I won’t be going anywhere until I leave for Salem. You need to tell Rabbit that she doesn’t have to live in constant fear of being thrown out or ending up back at the factory.”

  “I had to pay twenty coins to smooth things over at the factory after your newsflash demanded her release. She might not be welcome with me if you switch sides, but after the scene you made, the factory won’t want her either.”

  “Twenty? You paid twenty for her when you only paid fifteen for me. You didn’t even want her and you paid five more?”

  “She had a record of performance, and Marvin was unaware that she was about spent.”

  “I’m done with this little venture. I’m going back to the shop.”

  “Tippi.”

  I ignored him and continued to walk.

  Unlike when Belinda and him fought, Hawk followed me. He needed me, but still, he followed me. He knew I was going back to the shop and he followed me anyway.

  Then the big pain in the ass got in my way, and it wasn’t so cute and nice anymore. When he seemed intent on blocking me, I wanted to rip his head off his shoulders.

  “Can you move?”

  “No.” He didn’t continue talking, either. He waited for some acknowledgment I’d actually listen, which made me want to kick him.

  Since he wasn’t moving, listening seemed the only alternative.

  “What do you have to say? Go ahead.” It seemed there was no choice in the matter but to listen to him. Listen, listen, listen. Do this, do that.

  “I had to negotiate for you. If I’d given in easily, if Marvin had any idea what I really would’ve paid to get you, I would’ve bled coin.”

  I stood before him, letting his words flow over me. Had to say, if I was going to be bought, it was nice to know he’d have bled. That had a really nice ring to it, if it were true.

  “Really?” I watched, waiting for his reply.

  “Yes.” He tilted his chin down and made a point of meeting my gaze straight on, not that he’d ever shirked from eye contact.

  I’d never been a good liar, but I’d been a decent lie detector. So far, he was passing with flying colors.

  I turned a little bit, looking over my shoulder in the direction we’d been walking, debating if I could perhaps continue with our little field trip.

  “I would’ve sold Helen to get you,” he said.

  I was glad I was still turned away from him so he couldn’t see my cheeks warm. Helen, more formally known as the Helexorgomay that took up the entire back wall of the office, was the heart of his business. She had to have cost a pretty penny.

  That all sounded good and well, except maybe my lie-detecting skills weren’t so adept, because there was a huge flaw with what he’d just said. Now I had zero problems turning around and staring him down.

  “If that’s true, why are you so willing to step aside if I want to go work for Raydam?” I crossed my arms, tilted my head, and gave him my best skeptical look.

  “Because if you did make that choice, which I don’t think you will, you’re not the person I need anyway. And you’d have been right. This was a mistake.” Neither his words nor his attitude were meant to be biting. He was telling me his beliefs, plain and simple.

  And yet to hear him say it was a mistake, even when I believed it myself, seemed to feel like someone gutting me. He was the one who believed in me, no matter what, right? Maybe not so much.

  Although he had said he didn’t believe I’d make that choice…

 
“So, where are we going?” I asked, turning and walking again.

  “There,” he said, pointing down the way to a shop I’d never been in, not that I’d been in many. The sign Potions, Powders and Perfumes hung on the shingle.

  He took the lead again but was only walking slightly ahead, maybe less than a foot. It was progress.

  “You don’t make your own stuff? I don’t know why, but I figured you did. Or at least had a hookup with all the people that come in and out of the brokerage house. You do get a ton of traffic, after all.”

  “We aren’t shopping there.”

  My pace slowed for a second before I caught back up. “Then why are we going?”

  “Introductions. It’s time you met some people,” he said, walking with determination even as I faltered.

  What? No wonder I was constantly confused. The man had lost his mind. Did he have any idea what he was doing? Was there no plan at all? Was he winging it on a day-to-day basis?

  “I thought I wasn’t supposed to meet anyone? Wasn’t that the deal?”

  “Yes, but that was before your coming-out party tonight.”

  Before I could ask more questions, he had the door open, waiting for me, and damned if he hadn’t done that on purpose.

  There was a nice-looking older lady standing behind the counter with a tuft of white hair piled a good three feet high on her head.

  “Hawk, what a surprise.” The woman could’ve been an opera singer or a pop star with a voice that beautiful. Still, even with the beautiful tone, the dropped “nice” from that sentence and the way she stared at him and then me, made it all clear.

  I stood still, not quite sure I should bother getting comfortable, since we might be kicked out in the next second. What kind of visit was this? Why introduce me to someone who clearly hated him? And would now hate me by association. Her sneer made me think I’d already been added to her shit list. Like I didn’t have enough problems.

  “Varima, thought I’d stop by and introduce you to my friend Tippi. Not sure if you’ve met.” He put a hand on my back, pushing me forward as if he didn’t understand my hesitance. Was this a Hawk problem? Had he not given a shit for so long that his social skills were so far gone he didn’t know when people hated him?

  “No. We haven’t,” she said.

  I smiled, having a harder time figuring out what fake formalities were needed. When the person you were introduced to was staring at you like you were vermin they’d discovered crawling out from behind a basket, did you smile and continue as if nothing were amiss here?

  “Nice to meet you.” Reflex made me lift my hand and then yank it back, because the moment hadn’t been awkward enough.

  She tipped her head, clearly out of fake formalities as well. As she did, a chirping noise exploded from her hair and a tiny pink bird burst out of the strands and flew across the room to perch on top of the shelving.

  “Dammit, you made me lose my songbird!” Varima screeched.

  “Well, we’ll be seeing you,” Hawk replied, going to the door and holding it open for me, which was much longer than the bird needed to escape.

  Screams filled our ears until the door swung shut again.

  “Why would you bring me to meet someone who hates you?” I asked, and as we walked away I watched the songbird disappear into the distance.

  “She doesn’t really hate me. She simply dislikes me,” he said. “There’s a vast difference between the two.” He pointed up ahead. “Let’s stop there before we continue. I could use a drink.”

  That I wouldn’t argue about. I might need a few drinks if the day’s agenda continued in this way.

  The door was wood with a marble surround, and the restaurant looked inviting, with white tablecloths and little flowers in the center. The place could’ve been in Salem, if the people didn’t look so odd.

  We walked in and took a seat in the corner, and it was immediately clear something was amiss here too. Everyone in the place looked at us and were clearly wondering why we were there. They whispered behind their hands. Some just whispered. Some spoke loud enough to hear.

  A man a booth over leaned closer to his companion. “That’s the Whimsy witch who wasn’t. I’m not sure why they’re here.”

  I was wondering the same. My anger grew stronger as the voices grew louder.

  The waiter came to the table, stuttering as he took our order. He kept looking around the room, as if he thought he’d get stabbed for serving us.

  As soon as he walked away, I leaned forward and grabbed Hawk’s arm to get his undivided attention. That gesture sent a hush through the room, and I let go of him immediately, forgetting that these people didn’t touch. I’d probably just made it worse, just as Hawk must’ve in the shop before. I’d definitely made it worse from the way they were staring at me. Now they didn’t think I was an associate of his but with him.

  If that wasn’t bad enough, I was sure the story would get back to Belinda somehow. Now I really needed to take Raydam’s invitation seriously or my daily life was going to be hell. This all compounded to make me shoot past anger to fury.

  “Did you want to say something?” Hawk asked, as if he didn’t have a clue how mad I was.

  With the entire restaurant openly staring, I sat back and said, “No.”

  I wasn’t giving them more of a show. I’d get him out of here first and then kill him.

  Turned out that was going to be a good long while, as he ordered another round of drinks, then appetizers, main courses, and desserts. By the time we left three hours later, I was looking forward to meeting Raydam. Maybe it was time for a change. Maybe I was too flat and needed some folds.

  I kept it together long enough to get out of sight of the restaurant.

  “We’re done. I’m not going anywhere else.” That needed to be cleared up before he tried to ambush me anywhere else.

  “That was probably enough,” he said, walking behind me for once.

  “I don’t understand why you’re doing this. The people here clearly aren’t happy with you, and now they’ve all labeled me as an enemy. You might not care what people think of you, but you know this place. I’m new here. Are you trying to make me feel isolated and horrible?”

  “Just thought you should know where the lines are drawn.”

  “You don’t know where they all are because you walked right over mine.”

  I kept my pace brisk, not caring if he was behind me or not.

  After three hours of meeting people who instantly disliked me because of the company I kept, I was ready to fly solo for a little bit. If I was going to be hated, I’d rather be condemned on my own merit.

  The last thing I wanted to do was go for drinks at Raydam’s, but I didn’t have the luxury of having any more people hate me after what Hawk had just done.

  I got to the office and flung the door open.

  “Raydam’s place is the large black house set off from the other buildings in the center of Xest.”

  I turned just in time to see Hawk walk off.

  25

  Rabbit’s door was closed, lights out. It was probably better, since I was running short on time anyway. I’d need to go through my pile of hand-me-downs and find the least ugly thing.

  Rabbit might’ve fallen asleep, but she and Zab had left me some gifts on my bed. It was a cute little black dress and woolen leggings, along with some snazzy black boots. As far as what I’d seen fashion-wise in Xest, this was straight off the runway.

  There was a little card beside it.

  Can’t have an employee of the broker looking shabby!

  Zab and Rabbit

  I dressed quickly before dragging a brush through my hair, letting it hang free for a change. There wasn’t much sense in hiding when I’d already been found. I made my way out, rushing because I only had ten or so minutes to get there.

  When I first saw Raydam’s house, I’d assumed it was a museum. It sat back from the center of Xest and yet still seemed to anchor the area. The iron gate swung open as I
made my way up the walk to the sprawling house. Two large trees with black leaves framed a blood-red door. The windows were lit and there were a lot of bodies moving around inside. This wasn’t drinks but more of a party of sorts. I’d have to fetch Zab and Rabbit a few cocoas tomorrow to thank them for making sure I didn’t show up looking like a vagabond.

  Knowing that some of the people inside must have noticed my approach, I took only a second to pause and catch my breath before I banged on the large iron knocker.

  A gentleman in livery opened the door.

  “Hello. I’m Tippi…” I stopped short of my last name. If he didn’t know it yet, did I really want to hand over the information? Probably not. “I was invited by Raydam.”

  “Of course, madam.” He stepped aside. “May I take your jacket?”

  I shrugged it off quickly, hoping the frayed hem hadn’t been noticed, and feeling that much more grateful to Zab and Rabbit.

  “If you’ll wait here,” the servant said, and then disappeared.

  Even though it was Xest, and therefore had a different bent to its aesthetic, grand was still grand in any flavor. It was dark, with blue and grey walls and accents of silver and gold everywhere. Stones dangled from a candelabra that sparkled like diamonds, nearly mesmerizing.

  Other guests were peeking through the doorway into the foyer, where I stood, taking me in. More than one face was recognizable from the restaurant earlier. Pretending not to notice, I stared at the grand staircase, the walls, the mirror on the wall, and the gems—everywhere but them. It didn’t mean anything if they already hated me. None of it mattered. I wouldn’t be here long enough for it to.

  A man walked into the foyer, his smile warm and his eyes direct. He had a full head of dark brown hair and amber eyes that suited a sculpted face of someone in their late twenties. His dark blue velvet suit seemed pretty fashionable for Xest, and he smelled amazing. Nothing about him screamed monster. Honestly, if I’d met him standing beside Hawk, I would’ve asked him for help first.

  “Tippi, I’m Raydam. It’s so nice to finally meet you.” He gave me a once-over that wasn’t creepy or weird or anything that made my skin crawl. “You’re even prettier than they said.”