Wish Bound by J. C. Nelson

Author:J. C. Nelson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2015-08-10T00:00:00+00:00

Eighteen

THE NEXT MORNING I went shopping before going to work. Forget underwire—I went with under-girder, and found a set of black blouses that didn’t strain to restrain me. I made it into the Agency, rode up to the front door, and walked into a mutiny.

In the lobby, on crutches, stood Rosa, surrounded by our cargo workers and most of the Agency temp staff. Grimm stood in the lobby mirror, his hands folded behind his back, a look of concern knitting his brows together.

Rosa looked at me, and her eyes widened. “Out.” Rosa swore at me in Spanish, her face turning red along with the normal brown. “Get her out.”

“Do we have a problem?” I took a few steps toward Rosa, suddenly appreciating how the sway of my hips kept eyes focused on me.

Rosa couldn’t hide the fear on her face. The tremble in her hands or the way she glanced to Grimm as if he’d help her. “I won’t work with her anymore.”

Grimm spoke quickly in fluent Spanish, his Rs rolling like the purr of a cat.

I’d taken Spanish lessons for the last four years for a reason. I kept my gaze on Rosa. “Of course I’m not dangerous. You trust the Fairy Godfather’s judgment, right?” The thought of finally slapping her rude face made me smile. The thought of what my nails might do made my smile a grin.

The look of fear on Rosa’s face spread, like a contagion, through our staff, faster than the flu. Rosa always treated me like rotten fish, but the others—I signed their payroll checks on time and we got along. The staff door opened, and Mikey emerged from the back, standing a head taller than everyone else.

He walked around the crew, sniffing the air. “I knew I smelled fear. That or too much cardamom in my stew. What’s everyone afraid of? Marissa’s fine by me.” He leaned down and sniffed me. “You smell different. You get a haircut?”

Before I could berate him for not noticing that my hair was the least of my changes, someone else spoke. “Working with a handmaiden of the Black Queen is suicide. I’m off the job while she’s on.” Big Bill, our head hostage negotiator. And a chorus of other echoes as the people I’d taken care of turned on me like a pack of wolves. I could deal with wolves, with only a flamethrower and a clip of silver bullets. The clamor rose until Grimm reached forward, clawing his nails along the mirror.

The shriek that came out made me wince and grind my teeth, and I took it better than most of them. “That is enough.” Grimm crossed his arms before him, his eyes flashing with rage. I waited for him to start transforming dockworkers into frogs. And waited. He glanced to me and nodded. “Marissa, would you mind going to Arianna’s house and checking on her?”

“Yes. I’d mind a lot.” I put my hands on my hips. “Rosa, I’m sick of your attitude. I’m sick of you treating me like elf-droppings, and I’m sick of you threatening me.

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