She nodded in understanding. “Then we need to research Atlantis. Maybe there’s a clue somewhere.”
“No, you can’t go searching for intel on Atlantis, or Erebus. He’s already threatened the lives of everyone I love, which is why you need to listen this time and keep away from the missions he’s got me on,” I urged, my heart sinking. “It’s bad enough that Ryann is involved, and I didn’t know about that until it was too late. But as long as I keep toeing the line and everyone keeps their heads down, Erebus won’t have a reason to hurt her. I’m not planning on giving him one. However, if Erebus found out that you—the Great and Powerful Oz—were looking into him and his plans, and he thought you were trying to thwart him, he’d kill Ryann without batting an eyelid. That would give him a reason to get trigger-happy.”
“Let me get this straight—if Erebus thought I was trying to ruin his plans, and thought you were somehow involved in it because you’re my brother, he’d kill Ryann to punish you?”
“Got it in one, sis.”
Her expression shifted toward the curious. “Because she means a lot to you?”
“We’re not getting into this again,” I replied, with a subtle warning in my voice. “But that’s what he thinks, and he’s not going to change his mind about it. Right now, she’s leverage, and I don’t want her getting used against me for any reason.”
Harley’s shoulders sagged. “I’m guessing he’s not bluffing?”
“When has a Child of Chaos ever bluffed? Like I said, this job feels personal, and he’ll take it personally if he thinks someone is trying to get in his way. It’s safer for everyone if you stay out of it.” I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. “I wish you could help. But you can’t. All I can offer you is the truth so you can see the danger we’re all in.”
“We know what the wrath of a Child of Chaos feels like better than anyone, right?” She gave a wry laugh, but her face hardened with worry.
“Oh yeah, and I doubt either of us wants a repeat.”
She held my gaze. “You’re sure it’s not going to affect humanity?”
“As sure as I can be, but I promise you, you’ll be the first to know if that changes. The first whiff of global domination, and I’ll be speed-dialing you.”
Her eyes glistened. “You’ve really been through the wringer, haven’t you?”
“About a hundred times, yeah.” I choked out a laugh. “I should be flat as a pancake by now.”
“For what it’s worth, I’m glad you told me everything. Even if I can’t help, at least I can understand why.” She chuckled sadly. “Let’s face it, if I were in your shoes, I’d run off trying to do it all solo too.”
“You did try to do that, remember?” I managed a smirk, but it felt off. All of me felt off. This tall glass of milk had soured. It made me glad that Harley couldn’t use her Empath mojo on me, or she’d have been able to tell that I was on the edge and struggling to keep up appearances.
“Yes, and now I’m getting major déjà vu. I’ll be honest, I don’t like it one bit, but you’ve made a heck of a case.” She sighed and shook her head. “I hate that you’re going through this. Erebus should’ve let you go by now, but he was always a snake. And I’m worried about you, still tied to him like this. I’m worried about Ryann, I’m worried about the rest of us, but you’re the one with the ax hanging over your head. I hate it. And I hate it even more because it should’ve been me.”
“Then we’d be having this conversation on opposite stools,” I reminded her. “And I’m friggin’ thrilled you’re not sitting where I am. I don’t have the willpower that you do. I’d have wound up dead a long time ago by sticking my nose in, if you’d been tied to Erebus instead.”
“Still…”
“Or I’d have offed myself for having to deal with a mopey Wade. He’d have had all this separation anxiety and jealousy, wondering if you were having a wild fling with some Polynesian beefcake while picking up an Ephemera for the Prince of Darkness.” I forced myself to lighten the mood, and it seemed to work.
She chuckled. “I suppose I wouldn’t have been able to tell him, would I?”
“Not unless you wanted Erebus dangling him over a sea of Purge beasts or threatening his life at literally every possible opportunity. He just loves to whip that one out. I think it might be his party trick.”
“Why Polynesian?” She raised an eyebrow.
“Why not Polynesian?” I shot back, with a grin. “They are some beautiful people. I nearly got a tattoo during my stay, but it wouldn’t have had the same impact as the guys out there. No one wants to see me roaming around with my top off.”
She flashed a genuine smile. “You didn’t nearly get a tattoo!”
“You’re right, I’ve already got two I don’t want. If only they were drunken mistakes I could laser away.”
“You know, I used to hate this thing.” She pulled up her sleeve to reveal her golden Apple of Discord. “But now, I look at it and I remember everything we did. I remember that we finally killed Katherine. And it doesn’t feel like her symbol anymore—it feels like ours. Yours and mine, bonding us together.”
“Has Wade been reading self-help books to you again? How to turn a negative into a positive—that sort of fluff?”
She gave me a despairing look. “He doesn’t read self-help books.”
“He does. I’ve heard him rattle off philosophical garbage like he’s center stage at his very own TED Talk.”
She stifled a snort. “I’ve missed having you around.”
“I’ve missed being around.” I lowered my gaze. “And I like what you said about the apples. You know me, I struggle with the warm and fuzzies, so I say something snarky instead.”
“I love you, bro.” She put her hand over my tattoo.
“I love you, too, sis.”
“You’re going to get through this. You know that, don’t you?”
I shrugged. “Some days, yes. Some days, no.”
“If Erebus tries to screw you over, or he hurts you, then I’m sorry, but I’ll break my promise not to get involved. He’ll learn what human wrath can feel like if he does anything to you.”
“Hell hath no fury, right?”
She nodded. “Exactly.”
“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”
A tense silence stretched between us, both of us waiting for the other to break it. In the end, Harley took the leap.
“We should probably go see O’Halloran. He’ll know you’re here by now, since you came through the front door, and he’ll be eager to see you.” Harley got up, and I had no choice but to follow. Even if every step felt like trudging through that proverbial mud pool. Only it wasn’t Satan and his pitchfork waiting to jab at me—it was my mind gremlins.
We hadn’t gotten too far through the coven, when the man himself appeared around a corner. Diarmuid the leprechaun sat on his shoulder, the two of them dressed in identical black suits. Ugh… I’d forgotten about you. The angriest, scariest creature under ten inches.