6. Pike

Chapter 6

Pike

I've never seen a Fae glow, but it's brilliant. Now Trick is in my arms and he's freezing cold. It takes everything in me not to charge at Drake to demand he free Trick of the soul tether. Drake can't know we know. Can't know I have a plan.

I chuckle. "Seems we've exhausted the poor boy."

"That's because he's weak," Drake says.

"How unfortunate." My tail twitches behind me. I'm sure Trick isn't weak. What he is, is exhausted, and hasn't had enough sunlight. Everyone knows Fae need the sun every day. It's part of their magic. I'd ask for a sunlamp, but they don't work for Fae. Trick needs real sunlight and soon. "When was the last time he had sun?"

The entire crowd looks at Drake. I'd already forgotten I was on stage. He fists a hand as he stomps towards me. "He gets enough sun."

"Not if you have him perform nightly. Don't you know how to take care of your pet Fae?"

Drake snarls. We're toe to toe and he's not my type. Frankie growls.

"Don't get too close. Frankie will think you're trying to flirt with me. She gets jealous."

"Who the fuck do you think you are?" Drake demands.

I gently place Trick on the floor of the stage and gesture for Frankie to join me. Drake backs off until he realizes I want Frankie's body heat for Trick. "Be a good girl and keep our new Fae friend warm." I rub her ears and give her a few pats.

Drake's eyes nearly bug out of their sockets when I face him again. Probably because red flames lick at my horns and the tip of my tail. "Ever heard of the Soul Catcher?" I ask.

He stumbles back a few feet. That name always scares people that don't understand the truth. A few of our audience gasps. More push to their feet to scurry away like scared mice. My fellow demons stay put. They know I'm not actually the threat everyone else thinks I am.

One soul and I get a whole ridiculous nickname, but it does the trick. We're down to an audience of my two friends and about a handful of various other demons.

"What do you want?" Drake crosses his arms, no doubt in an effort to look less terrified, but his fear clouds the air. I breathe it in, savoring the taste.

"To talk." I shrug as if it's no big deal. "I'm in the market to invest in a business, and I've been watching you." I drag my eyes over him. "I think we can be good business partners." I glance around as if contemplating ideas. "We can change up a few things to make this place actually a full house every night, and it won't depend on forcing a single pathetic Fae to glow." Not that I think Trick is pathetic in any way, but I'm trying to sell myself to Drake.

He strokes his chin. "Come back at noon tomorrow and we'll talk. Bring bank statements."

"Perfect. Now, direct me where to dump the boy and I'll be on my way."

"Leave him," Drake says.

"It's no trouble." I bend to pick Trick up again. He's still freezing, which concerns me. Frankie whines and noses at Trick's hand. "He'll be okay, girl." I'll make sure of it.

"Ava!" Drake bellows out and Frankie growls again.

The person who helped clear the stage between performers rushes from behind the glitter curtain. "Yes, Drake."

"Show… I never got your name," Drake says.

"You can call me Pike."

"Show Pike where to dump Trick, then get Trick cleaned up."

"Is he okay?" Ava asks as they smooth the hair from Trick's face.

"He will be," I answer. "He needs?—"

"Sunlight," Ava says.

I nod as Ava glares at Drake.

"Get!" Drake bellows as he shoos Ava away.

Frankie comes with me as I follow Ava through the curtain and down a back hall. Ava's fast, but they have the knowledge of where they're going. It's dim and dank and I hate leaving Trick.

Ava unlocks a door and I'm glad the stairs are concrete. The further we get into the basement, the less I want Trick to stay. He doesn't deserve it, no one does.

"Lay him down here." Ava pulls a blanket from atop what appears to be a nest of dozens of pillows and thin blankets.

"You're kidding, right?" I look around, hoping there's some place more comfortable, but the space is bare. Frankie doesn't care and climbs right into the nest and snuggles in.

Ava gives me a dull glare. "Sorry, this isn't a fancy hotel. This is our prison."

I swallow. "You're his captive, too?"

"I made the mistake of trusting Drake when I was a young woman."

"Are there more of you captives?"

"No, the other performers and workers are all paid and have no idea what Trick and I go through. They all, however, have made different deals with Drake. I don't know the half of them, most of them aren't allowed to talk about the deals per the stipulations of the agreement."

"Curious. A witch acting like he's a demon."

Ava nods. "He's been doing very well for himself for the last decade."

Curious indeed. "Can you keep a secret?" I whisper. I probably shouldn't trust this woman, but now I can't bear to have them both as Drake's captives.

"I'd be dead by now if I couldn't." She grins and motions for me to put Trick down. "Trick actually likes the nest. Drake tried a bed, but Trick never slept in it, taking all the sheets and pillows to make a nest."

"If you're sure?"

"Very sure. And see, the Hellhound likes it, so it must be comfortable."

"Frankie. And she'll sleep anywhere." But I settle Trick into the nest where Frankie snuggles close to him again. "How often does Trick pass out?"

Ava sighs. "I don't know if you saved him or not. Usually, Drake flogs or whips him until he glows. But this… he already didn't have enough sun to perform properly, and he over exerted himself now."

"Drake won't let him die."

"Are you sure? Because Drake keeps pushing Trick too far. I'm afraid for him." Ava's voice wobbles before she wipes at her eyes.

"Drake needs him. He's tethered Trick's soul to his."

"No." Ava's hands fly to her mouth as she shakes her head. "Oh, Trick."

The gravity of the situation hits me. Drake has been using Trick's magic for more than just longevity. "Fuck. It's more than that." I swipe a hand through my hair as I look at the Fae in front of me. He's not absorbing the sunlight he needs when he's in the sun because Drake is leeching Trick's magic off him. "Shit. Shit."

Frankie's tail thumps against the wall as she watches me. She knows I'm upset, but now she's torn between Trick and me. When she moves to leave the nest, I stop her. "Stay with Trick a little longer. You can do that for me, right?" I squat to scratch her head as she practically wraps herself around Trick again.

"What do we do?" Ava asks.

We're both pacing, as I think. "I have a plan." I can't tell her my original plan didn't include her, but now how can it not? I'm sure she's the reason Trick is still functioning. "Trust me."

"I…"

"Please. Hex is supposed to be a utopia for people like us. That was the entire point of the place when it started, but Drake… he destroyed the ideals of the town." And his coven just let him. Hex is supposed to be perfect for witches and demons and shifters and anyone not plain ol human to live in harmony. Anyone tired of their own realm. Anyone ready to live with and study others not of their own. "Demons and witches created the veils of Hex to keep outsiders away. I have claim to this town just as much as Drake does, and I want to help. Will you trust me?"

Slowly, Ava nods. "If you'll help Trick, I'll do whatever you need me to."

"Perfect." I don't promise her freedom, but if everything goes according to plan, Trick won't be the only one free from Drake.