Caspian

Maddie was safely at the bar, enjoying some concoction of chocolate cake and wine while our contact approached. His shaggy orange hair and matching beard stood out against his green and black flannel shirt. His eyes looked as though they had seen a great number of years beyond what his physical appearance would assume, and he carried himself with an all-encompassing air of confidence. He strode through the Port and Mast without a care to anyone looking his way, heading straight for our table with a knowing stare.

He stopped at the end of our table, looking between me and my cousin for a long moment before pulling a chair out with one booted foot and sitting down.

"You lads are persistent, you know that?" he asked.

Nikkos exchanged a look of worry with me and I poured our guest a glass of the wine, scooting it to the mercenary while keeping my eyes on him.

"If we came off as persistent it's only because of how notable your skills are, Gavin," I offered. "When I heard you were in North America I knew we had to reach you."

Gavin nodded, eyeing the wine for a moment before knocking it back in one go. Nikkos made a choking sound, probably internally screaming at the treatment of an expensive vintage, but Gavin just set the empty glass aside and stared me down. "I was here visiting a friend. You're lucky the witching network could get ahold of me at all. I don't pay them much mind as they aren't on good terms with someone I care about."

"Then it's fortunate for us the message got through," I said. "You have an impressive record of finishing difficult jobs, and what we ask might be very difficult."

He scratched his chin under his thick beard, eyes narrowing on me as he was clearly assessing both me and my cousin. "You've got me here now," Gavin said as he leaned forward. "I suggest you get to the point."

I could feel Nikkos's foot bobbing up and down under the table, only his toes connected to the floor in a nervous tick of his. I couldn't blame him, this man radiated intent and skill. In all the political and mental games Dimitris played that made him dangerous, Gavin was dangerous in a very physical way.

"I'll get straight to it then. My people are seeking an artifact, and I believe it's a vampire relic of power."

Gavin raised one thick eyebrow, crossing his arms as he leaned back in his chair. "I don't know what you've heard about me, but those cunts don't like me much. There'll be no waltzin' in and borrowing great-granny's teacups or whatever the fuck you're after."

"They don't like anyone, and your chances are much better than mine to locate such an item," I answered.

Gavin nodded slowly, a smile spreading across his face that was both eager and unsettling. "Aye, so they don't. Tell me one thing first. When you say your people need this item . . ." he trailed off, leaving me to fill in the blank.

And it was a risk to tell him anything. Few in the supernatural world still knew of Atlantis as more than a legend, and if I had my way I'd keep it that way. But it was a calculated risk from Dimitris himself, and there was no arguing with him once he'd made up his mind.

"My people, in Atlantis." I kept my eyes on the mercenary's face, watching carefully for any tells of surprise, greed, suspicion, anything. But he kept his expression too well trained because it revealed nothing. My heart was in my throat with the gamble, but now that it was out in the world there was nothing I could do about it.

"So, you bastards really are out there. I wondered as much," he murmured. "And what relic could you possibly want from the leeches?"

I shared a look with Nikkos, who pulled out a scrap of paper from his coat. It was a copy, exact as we could make it, from an old tome in Atlantis. Intel that our ancestors kept on other kingdoms in the lost worlds millennia ago. Possibly forgotten by all but ourselves, and the owners of the relic.

Nikkos slid the paper to Gavin, and the mercenary studied the drawing of the three-jeweled amulet. The drawing itself depicted a structure built to house the artifact, and the description read out the purpose of magical amplification. Dimitris's hope, our hope, was that we could finally free Atlantis from the sea that fights tirelessly to swallow us whole. The gods our ancestors once angered long ago with our pride and arrogance haven't been heard from in lifetimes, but their ancient curse still hungers for our watery grave.

"With the help of this relic, we hope to push back the sea once and for all," I said as his eyes scrolled over every inch of the page.

"And what magic is it you possess that could perform that kind of feat? Even with this thing in your hands."

Shaking my head, I resisted the urge to glance over to Madeline. Above all else, any Atlantean would die before revealing our Sirens. Our demi-goddesses that walk the earth.

"I'm afraid that will have to remain a secret."

Gavin grunted, his eyes falling back on the paper. "It won't be cheap. I'm not even sure where the damn thing is, if it still exists."

"But you know how to look," I pressed. "You have your ways, don't you?"

That smile crept back onto his face, an expression that had seen many dark and cruel twists of time and knew how to survive them. "I might. So, what's your offer?"

My shoulders sagged a fraction, relief at him being open to negotiation.

"With the deal comes an agreement of secrecy," I said. "If you'd be willing to be wordbound to never speak of Atlantis in front of anyone who isn't one of our people."

He nodded. "I'm worth little if I'm not worth my word," he said. "But I understand. I'll bind my words, if your price is right."

In this, Nikkos was able to stop the shaking of his foot as the ghost of a smile lifted his expression. He was ready to answer this one. After all, much of the research and acquisition on this end had been his doing. "We are prepared to offer you two golden statues, each guaranteed to weigh more than your weight in pure Atlantean gold."

At that, Gavin's eyebrows shot up, his interest clearly piqued.

"And," I continued. "A boon from our superior and senator, Dimitris."

Gavin chuckled. "I'm no fae, Atlantean, but I'll take the boon all the same.

I shrugged. There was a lot of speculation as to what Gavin actually was, and we decided the boon would be temptation enough for most creatures, even non-fae.

"So, do we have a deal?" Nikkos asked.

Gavin scratched his chin again, eyeing the page with the relic on it. "Give me a down payment, and you've got yourself a deal."

Grinning, Nikkos removed a small box from his coat pocket and slid it to Gavin. The mercenary opened it, revealing three solid gold bars with the Atlantean crest stamped into it. Not that he'd recognize the symbol for what it was, nor would anyone he tried to sell it to, but gold spoke volumes and this gold was as pure as it came.

Closing the box with a slow whistle, Gavin's eyes gleamed with greed as he reached out a hand. "Alright, island boys, you've got yourselves a deal."

~

Madeline

I stayed in my own head for the rest of our time in the Port and Mast. My head was spinning with the events of the evening, and I kept glancing at Caspian and their mystery guest while I polished off my cake and wine. When the guest left, leaving the same way he had come in, goosebumps shot down my back. But that also meant Caspian and Nikkos were done with their business, so I decided to get some fresh air before Caspian's presence could overwhelm me again. My thoughts were dangerous enough around him as it was.

My shoes clicked lightly as I walked away from the bar. Breathe in through the nose, out through the mouth. Across the deck and around to the front of the building, I walked over the fencing by the pond and stared down into the water.

Movement under the surface told me they stocked the pond with some kind of fish, though they also grew quite a few aquatic plants so it was hard to see through everything when patches of lily pads and tall reeds blocked the view through the water.

I sighed, laying my head down in my arms on the rail, unsure how to feel about the evening. I loved it, and yet I couldn't stop thinking about their boat sailing away. But... I was able to spend time with Caspian and Nikkos, and that was pretty cool. I smiled at the thought. I'd never met anyone like them before, especially Caspian.

Atlantis, huh?

A ripple over the pond. A bug had landed on the water, only to be gobbled up right away by a big goldfish. Or maybe a koi fish. I could probably have seen better in the daylight, but right now it was all a murky blur.

"Hey, are you alright?" The voice was low and warm, and I lifted my head to face Caspian.

"I was just getting some fresh air. But you look pleased after your meeting. Shouldn't you be in there celebrating?" I asked.

He breathed out a laugh. "It went well, but I'm more worried about you."

I stood up straight and turned to face him. He had undone his tie, letting the top buttons of his shirt open and show off a golden hint of his chest underneath. His aftershave still clinging lightly to him under the musk of wine and salt air.

My eyes made their way up to his. Even in the low light from the Port and Mast behind us I could see how blue they were. They reminded me of the sea. They reminded me of how I wanted the sea.

I wanted Caspian.

Which just dejected me to think about when I knew he was going to leave so soon. And I might not have a problem moving fast, but I'm not a one-night stand kind of girl.

"I'm fine. I guess I'm having mixed feelings on this sway thing," I admitted.

He frowned, reaching out to tuck a strand of loose hair behind my ear. He seemed to realize what he was doing and pulled his hand back. "Sorry."

I reached up and finished getting the hair out of my face myself, giving a small defeated smile.

"It's okay."

I would have liked your touch.

We fell into silence as we both looked out over the pond and to the ocean beyond it. The stars overhead were nearly visible. I hated how I couldn't see them properly out here. At least back in Michigan I had a clear view from the middle-of-nowhere foster houses I grew up in. It was the one thing I really missed about that place.

I sighed, a crooked smile on my lips as I looked at him. "I was just thinking. You've done so much for me and I've only known you a few days."

Caspian laughed, the bob of his throat distracting me. His loose tie moving gently in the evening breeze. "Believe me when I say that I feel strongly about helping you. As a fellow Atlantean."

Fellow Atlantean. He was so sure. So sure that I was one of them. And Nikkos was too. But what were the chances really? That you can pick out one of your countrymen on sight like that? Then again, they are the only ones who have ever acknowledged this sway thing, and they even taught me how to handle it properly.

I chewed my bottom lip, thinking. What other things would click if I did go to Atlantis? Would more people understand me? Would my string of lovers who don't understand and blame me for teasing them end?

"Caspian... listen-"

"There you two are!" Nikkos came from behind us, loosening his own tie as he walked over.

"Madeline, what were you about to say?" Caspian asked, moving a hand to rest on my arm.

How ridiculous. I flushed and looked away. I had enough problems as it was staying afloat in Florida. Why would I move to a new place where I really had no assets? At least here I could live in my car if I needed to. I knew what a food pantry line was, I knew how to find a shelter if I had to. Besides, how serious could Caspian's offer have been? Bring a strange girl back home with him? And then what, sleep with me and toss me out the door?

Well, that didn't exactly sound like Caspian, but still.

I shook my head. "No, it's nothing. I just need to grab my bag from the coat check."

"I can take care of that," Nikkos offered. "Do you have your ticket?"

I pulled it out from the top band of my dress and handed it over.

"I'll be right back." Nikkos took the ticket and went over by the host's desk to retrieve my things.

"Madeline..." Caspian drew my attention again. His warm hand still on my arm but I moved and it fell away.

I took a slight step back. "I'm fine, really," I lied. "Just tired. I want to go home."

He studied my eyes for a moment. I wasn't using the sway on him. I wouldn't use the sway on him. No tricks, just backing off slowly and calmly until I had to watch him leave in a couple of days. Maybe... maybe I'd see him again in a few months. He was here on business once, who's to say he won't have to come back again?

"Here you are," Nikkos announced, handing me my bag from the coat check. "Is that everything? I've called a taxi and it should be here any moment now."

"Madeline-"

"Yes, that's everything. Thank you for dinner, guys. I really appreciate it." I stepped away, not letting Caspian see my face as I walked over the bridge and toward the parking lot.