Page 2 of Tragic Ink
As I’d grown older, the fact that I’d chosen such a common symbol had irritated me, but I knew if I had to choose all over again, I would still pick it. The stars had always called to me, even as a little girl. In fact, when Ethan had sprung to life that first time, it had almost made sense to me that I’d conjured a creature with wings. My heart had always cravedflight.
Almost as if he knew I was thinking of him, the gray hawk inked on my arm seemed to twitch impatiently. “Easy, boy,” I muttered and shoved the truck into gear, rumbling out into the empty alley and from there to the outskirts oftown.
The drive wasn’t long, but it was just treacherous enough this time of year to slow me down evenmore.
Aelwyn had always been supportive of my tattoo business. She’d been the one to encourage my art and to help me discover what sort of magic I was capable of using with it. She’d also been there to see Ethan come to life. And because of her support, I knew, once a week, she willingly ate dinner late just so we could have this time together after my work was finished. Still, keeping her waiting was a good way to be greeted with a lecture. I wanted to avoid that part if possible. A hot meal settled better when it wasn’t preceded by a tongue-lashing.
My stomach twisted as I wondered if I would be the only dinner guest. Just as quickly as I thought it, I shoved it away. He hadn’t been there in months, thanks to the bar he’d bought last year taking up so much time. And even when he did show, we barely spoke. It had been like that for years now. What was one more awkwarddinner?
Nothing, I told myself. It was nothing.Hewasnothing.
* * *
It was utterly darkwhen I parked in front of the old Victorian where I’d grown up. Trees surrounded it, with only the winding drive ribboning in from the mountain road providing a view of the place. My headlights cast a narrow beam over the front entry, and I frowned as I pulled to a stop directly in front rather than off to the side where I usually parked. Something wasn’t right. Trying to figure it out, I looked around to check the solar-powered lanterns that led the way across the lawn to the front door. None of them were lit. The porch light wasn’t either. I looked closer and frowned. Even the lights inside wereoff.
Something anxious curled in mygut.
I left my headlights on and the engine running as I got out. Taking care to keep to the shadows, I crept around the shrubs as the gray hawk on my arm stirred and scratched. This time, I didn’t hold back. The darkness would shield any prying eyes, and besides, I might need him. Despite the cold, I peeled my jacket away, revealing my tank top and bare armunderneath.
With silent permission, I let the magic call him forth. On a sigh, he raised his beak, already on alert, and in the next blink, the hawk had peeled itself away from my skin, its body filling in with form and feathers until it was much more than the ink outline I’d drawn on myself yearsago.
With a sharp keening sound, my familiar took to the skies, soaring up and over the rooftop, doing a quick loop to investigate. I slid my jacket back into place and took a shallow breath, my eyes half-closed as I concentrated on the magic that allowed me to see the world through Ethan’s eyes. I rarely allowed him loose like this so close to town where humans might see, but the darkness and the slithering unease that raced up my spine left me too anxious toresist.
When Ethan had done a full loop and found nothing out of the ordinary, I blinked, clearing my sight and refocusing on the yard in front of me. Slowly, with a silent stealth inherent to fae, I crept toward the frontdoor.
I tried glancing in through the darkened window as I passed. Nothing movedinside.
My heart beatfaster.
Aelwyn had been old when I’d been brought to her as a baby. Even by fae standards, which was saying something, because of how slowly we aged compared to humans. If she’d lost her balance andfallen...
But that still didn’t explain the darkhouse.
With a steadying breath, I tried the knob, twisting it in my hand and shoving inside. The hinges creaked, and I waited, listening. The scent of mistletoe hit me first. Not unusual. Aelwyn had an affinity for the stuff, and her garden out back was covered in it. But something was off. I just didn’t knowwhat.
Somewhere in the back of the house, there was the tiniest creak of afloorboard.
I flew intomotion.
Racing for the kitchen, I tore down the narrow hall, skipping the living and dining rooms as I passed them on my right and left. It was dark as hell, but I knew my way around this house, lights orno.
When I reached the kitchen, I flipped the switch and was a little surprised to see the overhead light come on so easily. It washed the room in a yellowish tone, and I blinked at the sudden change. The back door stood wide open, the yawning darkness of the backyard beckoning me. I almost obeyed, but something out of the corner of my eye stoppedme.
I whirled,searching.
A pot stood simmering on the stove, red sauce bubbling up the sides. Another pot sat in the sink. Spaghetti. She’d been making my favorite. When I caught sight of a chunk of white hair peeking out from behind the stove, I closed the distance, curving around the pantry and pulling upshort.
My lips parted, but no soundcame.
I dropped to myknees.
My mother lay on the floor, her legs curled at an awkward angle. Her white hair was splayed around her face, fanning out around her so that the ends were mixing with the pool of blood that was leaking fast from her abdomen and chest onto the floor underneathher.
“Ma,” I choked out, my hands hovering over heruncertainly.
All I wanted to do was help her. But I had no ideahow.
At the sound of my voice, her lids fluttered and then her blue eyes opened, squinting as if in pain. They widened when she saw me. “Gwenllian.”
