Lycans and Legends

Chapter 8: Nothing, No One, it’s Nothing

I drove the steamauto across town to Harper’s flat in Piccadilly. I had thought to leave a note with the doorman to inform Harper the auto was hers to take to Willowbrook, but as it turned out, Harper was home. Somehow, I imagined her perpetually in the office buried in paperwork when she wasn’t with me.

When I reached her door, I heard Harper singing inside. Loudly. And giddily.

Grinning, I shook my head then knocked on the door.

“Coming,” Harper called.

A moment later, she opened the door with a wide smile. “You’re early. I thought you said eight—” Harper stopped cold when she saw me standing there.

I eyed her over. She was wearing a decidedly feminine dress, jewelry, and lip coloring. My eyes flicked to the room inside. She had laid out a fancy cape and reticule.

“Clemeny,” she said, her voice filled with dismay. Behind her painted cheeks, I saw the color drain from her face. “What are you doing here?”

“Good evening, Elaine.”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” she said, a guilty expression crossing her face. “I was just…surprised.”

“Why are you dressed like that?”

“I’m going…out.”

“Out. Right. I guess I’ve come just in time. I’m headed out of town in the morning. I thought to leave you the steamauto in case you want to drive it to Willowbrook. It’s parked outside.”

“Oh, okay.”

“So, you’re going out?”

“Um. Yes. The theater.”

I smiled. “What, Cabell finally convince you to give him a chance?”

Harper snort-laughed. “God no.”

“Quartermain?”

“Oh. No. He’s…no.”

Harper and I stood staring at one another.

“I thought you’d be getting ready to go to Willowbrook,” I said.

“I am ready,” Harper said, a slight tone of indignation in her voice. Harper cleared her throat. “Thank you for bringing the steamauto. That was thoughtful of you. You aren’t going to need it?”

“No. Lionheart is going to drive.”

“Good. Good. I’m glad he’s going. The druids…you just never know,” Harper said as she fiddled with the door handle.

“You’re right about that,” I agreed.

“Yep,” Harper said then cast a glance toward the stairwell behind me.

“Yep.”

We stood there in silence for a long moment.

“All right, partner. See you when you get back,” I said.

Harper nodded.

“I’ll…I should go,” I said, pointing behind me.

“Okay. Be safe.”

“You too,” I replied. I turned to leave, only pausing a moment to look back at Harper. She had a strange expression on her face. “You look pretty,” I told her.

She let out a strangled half-yelp, half-something that sounded like a hiccup. “Thank you. You too. I mean, thank you. Not that you aren’t pretty too—”

“Good night, Harper.”

“Good night, Clemeny.”

I gave her a little wave then headed back out into the night air. It was cool but not cold. It wasn’t a far walk to Vesta’s Grotto from here. Pulling up my hood, I headed back across town.

All right, so Harper had a gentleman caller.

That was perfectly fine. That was her business. But she didn’t need to act so weird about it.

I frowned then shook my head.

Harper could do whatever she liked. I had a case to worry about anyway. And a glowing dagger. Why in the hell did the dagger glow when I touched it? A sharp wind blew off the Thames. On it, I heard a soft voice.

Clemeny.

Clemeny Louvel.

“Yes, yes. I’m coming. I’m coming.”