The dark-haired girl’s gray eyes narrowed at James. “Next time be properly dressed. I’ll allow you to keep your coats. This way.” Brusquely, she hustled them through the red velvet curtain, down a hallway, then past a second curtain and another doorman. Lively music greeted them as they approached.
Steven stood rooted to the ground as they entered. The place was
much
larger than he’d expected from the modest storefront, especially when considering the dining room. The room they were in resembled a cross between a dancing hall and an opera house. Around them, sloped like a theatre, sat tables of men, drinking and watching the show. Wall boxes with red curtains held tables of more elegantly dressed men. Giant chandeliers illuminated the place.
“Stop gawking. It’s a burlesque hall not a bawdy house.” James smirked. “Although some of the girls do make
personal visits
.”
Steven’s jaw dropped. “You’ve brought us
where
?”
James laughed and turned to the hostess. “You’ll have to excuse my brother, he’s a prude.”
This from the man with the cat in his coat?
She giggled, waggling her bottom, showing off red drawers under her many ruffled, far-too-brief skirts. “This way,
boys
.”
The girl brought them to a table in the corner. He shrugged off his overcoat, though James left his on. On stage, girls pranced to music, wearing what resembled corsets, drawers, and garters. Some had bustles feathers, with more feathers in their hair, making them look like deranged, colorful birds. They kicked their legs high, arms wrapped around each other. Some danced on platforms both on stage and around the hall, wearing longer ruffled skirts they held up and swished around revealing even more leg and garters. He looked away, uninterested.
James ordered drinks from an exotic-looking girl in a blue dress. She had a blue flower in her hair and blew James a kiss as she left. The girl looked Noli’s age.
“You are such a fussy old bodger,” James teased.
“So what if I am?” Sure, in the Otherworld women wore less and acted freer than their mortal counterparts, but it wasn’t quite like … all this. At least not in his experience.
“This is a perfectly legitimate gentleman’s club,” James replied. “They pay taxes and follow all the rules. The girls—mortal and not—are here of their own free will and are compensated.”
“Well, that’s a plus.” Even in this day and age, girls sometimes were stolen or lured from their homes then forced to work in bawdy houses or places such as this.
A fluffy black head peeked out of the top of James’ coat. He gently tucked the kitten back underneath. “You get back in there.”
With a sigh, Steven shook his head in resignation.
The girl in blue returned, setting two drinks on the table, winking again at James and waggling her bottom at him before she flounced off to the next table.
Absently, Steven took a sip of amber liquid. He nearly spit it out as it burned his mouth and throat. “What is this?”
“Whiskey.” James’ eyes twinkled. The kitten worked his way up to the top of his coat again.
Steven’s forehead furrowed. “How exactly are we going to pay for whiskey?”
He shrugged, tucking the kitten back into the coat, and taking a drink. “You know what your problem is? You worry too much.”
James’ problem was that he didn’t often care at all.
The music, provided by a live band of scantily clad women, changed. The colorful bird girls wandered among the rows of tables, taking men by the hand and escorting them onto the floor to dance with them. Hopefully Mathias would come soon.
A girl with blonde hair, wearing a yellow outfit that made her look like an elegant, busty canary, headed toward him. Suddenly, his cup became
very
interesting.
“Dance with me.” She grabbed Steven’s hand and pulled him up.
Startled by her forwardness, he stood. The only girls he’d ever been around who’d demand to be danced with were Noli, his little sister, and sprites.
This girl was no sprite. She was mortal, but plenty of Fae lurked in this place.
“Come on.” She smiled at him, her hips swaying to the music, making the feathers on her bottom shake.
“I … ” He got a good look at exactly how little she wore. Yes, she was probably Noli’s age, if that. “I don’t know how to dance.”
“Balderdash,” James snorted. “My brother is an accomplished dancer.”
“Not that kind,” he sputtered. If James didn’t watch out …
She tugged on his hand again. “It’s easy.”
James laughed. “Have fun.”
Not wanting to be rude, Steven allowed the girl to lead him to the floor. She put his hands on her and talked him through the most scandalous version of the waltz he’d ever seen. His insides squirmed as her hands kept … roving and he saw quite enough of her garters, milky white thighs, and yellow drawers.
When she pressed him to her in a highly inappropriate way he jumped back as if burned.
“What’s wrong?” she laughed, tossing her blonde hair over her shoulder. It wasn’t nearly as pretty as Noli’s hair.
“I … I should return to my brother.” He couldn’t even look at her. It didn’t feel … right.
She got very close to him, her décolletage practically in his face. “Aww, stay with me,” her lower lip jutted out in a fake-pout. “We could go someplace more … private if you wish.”
James’ mention of
personal visits
came back to him. Steven retreated hastily, bumping right into another couple. “Sorry,” he muttered. “I … appreciate the dance, miss, but I need to go.” He turned and hurried away.
When he arrived at their table he found James chatting with an elegant man. He had blond hair nearly as pale as Quinn’s and piercing blue eyes the color of the sky after a rain. James said something and the two of them laughed. The man held the kitten in his arms.
Steven gritted his teeth. Of course James thought this was all fun and games—it wasn’t
his
quest. He could return to Los Angeles any time he wished.
“Did you enjoy yourself?” James smirked.
Without a reply, Steven sank into his chair, seething.
“Mathias, this is my brother, Stiofán.” James seemed oblivious to Steven’s anger. “V, this is Mathias, he owns the place. He helped me a lot, and he’s a friend of Quinn’s.”
Steven had trouble believing this elegant man in the expensive suit, who was affiliated with an establishment full of mostly-naked girls, would be friends with the studious Quinn.
“Stiofán, it’s a pleasure to meet you. Not only has Séamus spoken highly of you, but Quinn has as well.” Mathias smile reached all the way to his eyes. His rings gleamed in the light of the crystal chandeliers, making little rainbows dance across the table.
If Quinn truly
has
told this man about him, how could he be rude? Steven pushed back his anger and returned the smile. “The pleasure is mine. This establishment is yours?”
The music changed again. Girls with longer skirts danced around the main floor like mad tops, kicking and spinning, showing off their legs, garters, and drawers.
If only the music weren’t so loud.
“Yes, this place is mine. Are you hungry?” Mathias signaled the girl in blue.
Steven eyed the kitten. “Do I want to know what happens to the cat?”
There were some denizens of the Otherworld who’d eat such a thing.
Mathias grinned. “It’s a snack for my hound.”
The only hounds Steven knew of that would snack on a cat where the huge hunting beats favored by the wild hunt and many royals.
“Wait, I thought those sorts of hounds weren’t allowed here.” How bitter he sounded. But his father had made him leave his at the palace when they’d left. He’d only been a pup.
He leaned in toward him and lowered his voice, eyes twinkling. “They’re not.”
The cat purred and stretched out on Mathias’ lap, unaware of her fate. If that was even it. For all he knew Mathias fabricated the entire thing.
“Séamus tells me it’s your turn to go questing. It’s my pleasure to assist, and I don’t mean that in any sort of devious way. I promise.” His fisted hand went to his heart.
Steven raised his eyebrows at his brother. He’d heard little of his brother’s escapades between leaving Findlay House and returning to the Otherworld, most of which involved Charlotte. Exactly what sort of adventures had James had? And calling it a
quest
? It hadn’t been a true quest, but he wasn’t going to call his brother out, even if he was vexed with him.
Mathias’ promise
did
make Steven’s belly unknot a little. But only a little.
The exotic serving girl in the blue dress took their order. James requested grouse. Steven hesitated as he scanned the menu with its multi-course meals featuring dishes like pigeon pie, scalloped chicken, and veal. They couldn’t pay these prices e and one paid their checks at establishments owned by the Fae.
“Get what you’d like,” Mathias whispered, petting the kitten’s head as she purred.
Steven ordered, the girl hustled away, and he realized that Mathias still waited for his answer regarding how he could help with the quest.
“Tell him,” James urged. “He’s safe. He’ll help—really help, not like those air pirates.”
Steven clutched his glass as if he could gain strength from it, but didn’t drink. “We’re trying to get to Raleigh, but some air pirates decided to
help
us in Chicago by relieving us of our clothes and belongings and leaving us on top of a building here in New York City.”
Mathias nodded, steepling his fingers on the table in a thoughtful gesture. “Her Majesty has told everyone in both realms to be as
helpful
as possible.”
His stomach heaved. No good could come of this.
“Exactly what are you seeking?” Mathias took a drink, the facets in the lead crystal catching in the light sending little rainbows dancing across the white linen tablecloth.
Steven paused, toying with his glass, still not ready to completely trust this man.
“We’re looking for a mechanical peacock … or any unusual mechanical toy,” James replied when Steven didn’t speak. “We thought we might find one in New Bern, since the best mechanical toys come from there. Perhaps you know of someplace closer?”
He suppressed a groan. Of course James had to go and tell him. The thoughtful look on Mathias’ face caused Steven’s anger to ebb.
“Unusual mechanical toys?” Mathias rubbed his bare chin. “Must it be an animal?”
“No, just an amusement,” Steven replied. “An incredibly
unique
amusement.”
His forehead furrowed in thought. “Have you considered an automaton?”
“An automaton? Are those even a reality yet?” He’d been reading about the possibility of intelligent mechanical beings for years but had yet to actually hear of a truly successful creation. Then again, LuLu, his mother’s little dog seemed fairly intelligent for something made of metal. However, who knew how much was magic?
“It all depends on who you ask and what you consider to be an automaton.” Mathias’ eyes gleamed. “There’s a scientist upstate who is rumored to have created
actual
automatons—as in mechanical people with a small level of intelligence.”
James whistled. “Flying figs. Truly?”
“I don’t have time to chase rumors,” Steven snapped, more frustrated than intended. A true automaton—all mechanics, no magic? The scholar in him was intrigued. However, the implications of rational, intelligent machines appalled his inner philosopher a little.
But only a little.
Mathias leaned in further and lowered his voice. “It’s not a rumor. Some people are … unhappy about the scientific ramifications of such creations. But if you’re looking for something unique, something no one else has, well, he’s your man.”
“An automaton would be
much
better than a peacock,” James added.
“True.” Steven mulled the idea over for a moment. An automaton. She had nothing even close to that, other than LuLu and a tiny mechanical dancer.
The girl in the blue dress brought their food. Mathias nodded, the cat now asleep on his lap. Polishing off his drink, he handed his cup to the girl for a refill. “Eat, then we’ll discuss maps, provisions, and transportation.”
“That’s quite generous of you.” Steven took a bite of meat, trying to understand this enigma of a man. “Quinn helped me considerably over the years and you two mean quite a lot to him,” Matthias replied. “Truly, it’s my pleasure.”
Steven prayed to the Bright Lady that this wasn’t too good to be true. An automaton. Yes, that could be exactly what they needed—and much better than a mechanical peacock.
Why, oh why, wouldn’t the engine tell her its secrets? Noli sighed as she repaired one of the fans in the engine’s cooling system.
The door opened and Thad entered, an impish look etched on his weathered face. Right now they were the only ones onboard. Thad literally drew the short straw and had to stay onboard with her.
“Your socks are in the out box.” She tightened a screw, securing the replacement blade.
“Thanks.” He strode over to the far wall and tacked something to it. “Don’t mind me.”
Not even looking up, she tightened another screw. The cooling system was what prevented the engine from overheating. Should she replace all the fans while she had the chance? It would be a good preventative measure. But she still hadn’t figured out the underlying problem with the engine. If she had time she’d replace them. Yes, that’s what she’d do.
What we should do is cover it with flowers, then it will be prettier,
the sprite perked.
We will do no such thing
, Noli sighed.
The sound of something going
thunk
drew her from her ruminations. Looking up, she saw a knife sail through the air and land in the center of the paper target.
Noli sat back on her heels. “What are you doing?”
“Oh, nothing.” Thad’s one eye gleamed as threw two more, each smooth and perfect. He walked over to the target and plucked them from the wall.
“I thought knives spin when you throw them. I saw them once when my father took us to the circus.”
“Do I look like circus folk?” He threw them again.