Fragile Destiny (The Aether Chronicles) (2 page)

It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll,

I am the master of my fate;

I am the captain of my soul.

—William Ernest Henley, “Invictus”

One

Return to Los Angeles

Noli glanced from her dilapidated house to the neatly kept Darrow residence next door. Her belly rolled with a million different emotions. Between her mother moving to Boston and the shock of finding V and James’ father murdered in his own home by earth court guards, she thought they’d never return to Los Angeles again.

Yet here they were.

“I still can’t believe Uncle Brogan wasn’t home,” James Darrow said, pouting as they stood in front of their houses, the winter sun streaming down onto their backs.

Steven Darrow, whom Noli always called “V,” put his fist to his chest. “Believe me. Father will be avenged.
And thus the whirligig of time brings in his revenges
.”

“I know. Though I really wish you would stop quoting Chaucer.” James ran a hand through his messy, dark blond curls. Even though he was younger than V, he was taller and broader. But V was catching up.

“It’s
Shakespeare
,” V grumbled, taking Noli’s hand. “Truly, I should get you his complete works for Christmas.”

Noli had a feeling that James knew very well it was Shakespeare. Riling V could be amusing.

They’d come straight from the earth court palace, after failing to find Brogan to challenge him to a duel. As luck would have it, their uncle was away on earth court business, so V had suggested they return to the Darrow house in Los Angeles to see if any of Quinn’s journals and research materials were still there. They’d already buried Mr. Darrow at the big house, the family’s home in the Otherworld, and now their main task was to find information about the mysterious artifact Brogan was trying to assemble.

All three were still in Otherworld dress. The boys’ green and brown velvet outfits were heavy with embroidery, their swords on their backs. They both looked so handsome. So … adult. Even Noli still wore an embroidered, green velvet gown with a drop waist and a brown corset on top, with no bustle or crinoline, and her green cloak instead of a cape.

“I think I should sleep at my house.” She shot another sidelong glance at V’s house as a car flew overhead. The idea of staying overnight in the place where V and James’ father had been murdered sent chills up her spine.

“I think we should
all
sleep at your house, Noli.” James shivered a little, as if echoing her own thoughts. “The last thing I want is to be haunted by Father. I’m sure he’ll find some reason to scold us in our sleep.”

V shoved his brother, a frown tugging at his lips. “How could you say something so disrespectful?”

James shoved him back, his jaw set. “It’s true.”

Actually, Noli
could
see the dour Mr. Darrow doing just that. However, V had a point about disrespecting the dead.

“I’ll go to the market and buy a few things so we have something to eat. I have a little money,” she told them, partially to escape having to enter the house, partially out of practicality. There’d be nothing edible in either house, she was sure.

Cake, I want cake!
the sprite interjected mentally.

Thanks to an ill-worded bargain with High Queen Tiana, Noli currently shared head-space with an earth sprite, and every day it got increasingly difficult to keep her from taking over. V promised to help her fix it. Somehow.

Cake? Perhaps.
Actually, Noli liked that idea.

Also, she still felt odd, like she hadn’t fully recovered from the illness Brogan had given her back on her brother’s airship, the Vixen’s Revenge, when she’d refused to hand over the piece of artifact that she’d kept. Her brother Jeff’s crew, hired by Brogan, had stolen fragments of the artifact from museums across the country. But instead of letting Jeff deliver the pieces to Brogan—since Noli knew Brogan was up to no good—she’d given them to Kevighn Silver, who’d promised to hide them once again.

Yet, on an impulse, she’d kept a piece of the artifact for herself. As insurance.

This she hadn’t mentioned to V, since he had other things to deal with—like Brogan, his father’s death, and the fact that Quinn, their tutor, and Elise, their little sister, had gone missing and had yet to be found.

The artifact. All the pieces made up one single, powerful artifact so dangerous it had been expelled to the mortal realm long ago. However, she had a feeling there was something else she was supposed to remember about it. But every time she almost did, it slipped away like a will-o’-the-wisp.

V’s voice cut through her thoughts, bringing her back to the present. “You don’t wish to stay and help us look through journals?” His green eyes went wide with disappointment.

No. Not particularly. Really she should assist him, since he was trying to figure out what the artifact
was.
If only she could remember.

You think too much,
the sprite chided.

“I don’t blame you. The house is creepy now.” James’ face screwed up in distaste. “We need to eat. Besides, while Noli’s out she can check and see if we’ve received any aethergraphs. Perhaps Quinn’s trying to get in touch with us.”

“That’s a good idea. I’m very worried about them since we haven’t gotten word.” V looked from his brother to his house and back again, his lips pressing tight, then releasing. His blond hair didn’t quite lie flat, a lock hanging in eyes, which were green like oak leaves. “You know where to find us. James and I should get started.”

James made a barf-face. “Could you get us something good for supper? Please?”

Noli laughed. “Like what, cake?”

His green eyes lit up like a basket of wood faeries. “Yes, chocolate cake.”

“We can’t—” Wait. Why
couldn’t
they have cake for supper? There were no parents here. Not anymore. It would also make the sprite happy.

Cake, cake, cake, cake,
the sprite chanted.

Fine, we’ll have cake for supper,
she laughed. “We can’t have cake without tea, so if I’m to make it to the shops before they close, I should be going.” Not that she wanted to go back into town, to have to explain her reappearance, but James was right, they needed to eat.

Crossing the space between them, V straightened her hat. “Could you please get us more than cake and tea, please? I’ll give you money. Will you be all right shopping by yourself?”

“Why wouldn’t I? I’ve spent my entire life running around this town alone.” Well, not quite, but she was used to being independent and his lack of confidence in her made her bristle.

“I know.” He gave her a lopsided grin in apology. “See you soon.”

Before she could answer, his lips met hers. His arm snaked around her waist, bringing her chest to his. She deepened their kiss, holding on to him as if any moment he might float away.

“I’ll be inside,” James muttered behind them.

V touched his forehead to hers as he broke off their kiss. “Hurry back.”

“I’ll probably be at my house, cleaning up so we have places to sleep.” Her finger traced his cheekbone. She let go of him and watched as V entered his house, then climbed up the familiar front stairs of her own home and turned the doorknob. Locked.

Walking around the house, she tried the back door, which was never locked. But the door didn’t open.
Hmm
. Grandfather Montgomery must have locked it when he’d helped her mother move to Boston. Noli hoped her mother was finding happiness there, since she hadn’t found much in Los Angeles after her husband vanished.

Seven years ago, Noli’s father had disappeared while in San Francisco, helping to rebuild the city after a devastating earthquake. Even though there’d been no word all these years, Noli still clung to the idea that her father was alive and would someday return to them.

She gazed up at her bedroom window, which was on the second floor. She’d scaled it before.

Why don’t we use magic?
the sprite supplied.

Oh, I could do that, couldn’t I? I just put my hand on it and ask it to open?
That’s what V always did. The idea of using magic was still so strange to her.

I think so,
the sprite replied.

Noli put her hand on the metal knob. She envisioned an invisible key turning inside the mechanism.
Open.
The lock clicked. When she turned the knob, the door opened without resistance.

She entered the dark kitchen and put her valise on the table. On a scrap of paper she jotted down what they needed:
Food. Tea. Cake. Milk. Sugar. Candles.

Then she gazed around the sparkling clean kitchen. It hadn’t been this way when she’d left. She opened the
cupboards—the everyday dishes were there, but the china and silver were gone. Startled, she ran into her mother’s sewing room. The only thing that remained was a box half-filled with odds and ends and the steam-powered sewing machine she’d built. The sitting room, also clean, lacked the portraits on the walls and Mama’s special keepsakes—and the piano.

Noli plopped down in a worn floral chair, the familiar musty scent wafting around her. Oh. Grandfather probably had someone pack up Mama’s things and take them to Boston. The clock struck and she stood. She should get the market basket and be off. There’d be time to explore the house later.

Pulling her green cloak closer, Noli hurried down the street, basket on her arm. She wished she could hoverboard, since it would be much faster. It was probably early December by now … she’d lost track of time. V and James had put her in a tree for a while, to heal her from the illness Brogan had given her, and time between the mortal realm and the faerie realm ran a little differently in general—and not in a way that made sense. At least to her.

A display of gloves caught her eye as she walked past the milliner’s shop.

Can we go inside? Please?
the sprite pleaded. She liked pretty gloves.

We can—but only for a few moments.
Perhaps they had net gloves, like the ones she’d gotten on the Vixen’s Revenge. She’d like to get some in colors other than black to match her different dresses.

A bell tinkled when she entered. The store wasn’t empty and the shop girl seemed busy. Noli looked at the gloves on display—silk, kidskin, lace, ones covered in pearls or embroidery. None were net. Pity.

“Noli, is that you? Noli Braddock?” a voice screeched from behind her.

Noli winced. Of course
she’d
be here. Turning around, Noli plastered on a fake smile, greeting the two women she least wanted to see. “Why hello, Missy, Mrs. Sassafras.”

Missy Sassafras’ dull brown eyes widened and a smirk twitched on her lips. “My, what an unusual dress you have on.”

“I think it’s rather lovely. Your mother’s work? It looks quite comfortable. Green looks so nice on you.” Mrs. Sassafras smiled kindly at Noli. She always reminded Noli of an apple dumpling—round and ordinary. The fact that Mrs. Sassafras preferred to dress in mousy brown to match her hair and eyes never helped. Missy, on the other hand, always reminded Noli of a peacock. Loud, proud, and full of bright colors. Also, some girls weren’t meant to wear bustles. Missy was one of them.

“I think it looks like a peasant’s dress,” Missy continued. “But isn’t that what you are, really? Is that a
corset
on the
outside
of your dress?” Her thin lips curved into a sneer.

Peasant?
What century was Missy living in? Noli looked at Mrs. Sassafras, who turned pink but didn’t scold her daughter. She never did.

Bristling, Noli placed her hands on the corset. “It’s a popular fashion in court.”

“Court where?” Missy tossed her head as if she were a horse.

Noli stopped mid-breath. It wasn’t as if she could tell Missy it was all the rage in the Otherworld, since most mortals had no idea that faeries—and the realm of Faerie—existed. Or that what they called
aether
was actually magic leaking into their realm from the Otherworld.

“France,” Noli replied instead. That’s what her mother always said when trying to coerce a customer at her dress shop into trying something new. She itched to get away from Missy.

Missy rolled her eyes. “I haven’t seen it in any magazines.”

“It’s too new,” Noli returned, feeling as if she were playing verbal Mintonette. “V’s aunt was telling me all about it when we had tea with her earlier today.” Lies. Aunt Dinessa had been telling them about gardening. Even though Brogan hadn’t been home when they’d gone to the earth palace, his sister had insisted they stay for tea.

“Oh, Steven Darrow is back in town?” Missy took out her fan and fluttered it. The sparkle in her eyes turned accusing as her fan snapped shut. “Aren’t you supposed to be in Boston with your mother?”

Mrs. Sassafras waved her gloved hand. “Oh, are you in town for the ball? Do you think your mother would have time to make some alterations to Missy’s dress? Perhaps you should come to call; Missy has developed a new recipe for scones.”

Missy and her blasted perfect scones. Did she have no other hobbies?

“The Christmas ball?” Noli blinked. Surely that much time hadn’t passed.

Ball? I want to go. We’re supposed to go, right?
The sprite bounced around the inside of her head.

“I don’t think Noli would be invited to the museum’s ball,” Missy simpered before she had a chance to silently answer the sprite.

I don’t like her, she’s mean,
the sprite replied.

That Missy was. The Sassafrases weren’t
that
rich and the money they had was recent. In Boston they’d be looked down upon as
nouveau riche.

Missy, however, enjoyed putting on airs. Yes, Boston society would eat her alive. If Noli were a lesser person, she’d get Missy sponsored for the season there, just so she could watch her squirm. However, that would mean enduring it herself. She’d rather eat gears.

“I’m sure your Steven has an invitation.” Mrs. Sassafras patted her arm. “Besides, you look as if you’re doing well.”