“What?” I want to appear as in control as this monster man in front of me, but there is no chance. And even though all I did was utter a single word, my voice trembles and I suddenly have a stomach ache. “What do you mean? When I’d show up?”
“Oh.” Tarq glances at Luciano. “She doesn’t…”
“Yeah,” Luciano says. “Yep. Nope. She’s got no clue.”
“Wait.” I put up a shaky hand. “What are we talking about here?”
“How did you get here?” Tarq is studying me again. God, I wish he would stop doing that. “Hmm? Do you remember?”
“Yes.” I squint at him. Because I feel like I’m just about to fall into a trap. But I’m here. There’s no going back. I might as well just get what I need as quickly as possible and go the hell back where I belong. “Pell and I made—well, he mostly did all the work. But I did help him get the dragon’s scales from Tomas—”
“Pell!” Tarq’s entire face lights up at the mention of my new better half. “Pell!” He’s even more delighted the second time he says the name. Then it’s like I caught him off guard. Of all the things I could’ve came here to say, the name of his old friend wasn’t in the top billion. His mouth actually drops open.
“So, we got the scales, the blood… blood… what the fuck was it called again? Oh.” I snap my fingers. “Bloodhorn. We got that flower, and then Pell did some magic shit. And, well”—I look down, look back up while pointing to my chest—“my lucky charm dragon’s bloodhorn scale is supposed to be right here. But it’s not, so… I don’t know what to tell you. I walked into your tomb and boom.” I look around and sigh. “I feel like I just fell into that old Michael Douglas movie. You know that one where he’s playing a game and shit goes all crazy?”
Tarq points at me, chuckling. “You are delightful.”
“Thank you. So. I’m just gonna get to the point because I’m feeling uncomfortable here. I don’t really look like this.” I pan my hand down my body. “I’m just a human on the other side of that tomb door. Though I’ve been told I’m a cute human. I don’t normally walk around naked except for my fur. And I never—almost never—have hooves and horns. So. I would just like to make that clear so we’re all on the same page. I am not actually a wood nymph chimera. I’m just a girl with an imaginary friend who spent a lot of time with crazy people until I learned how to lie.”
Why did I just say that?
Tarq looks at Luciano, who is once again beaming a smile, hands clasped behind his back, rocking on his feet. Tarq points at him and laughs. “You did well, my friend.”
“What? What did he do? I’m so confused.”
“What did I tell you?” Luciano says. Then he and Tarq high-five each other.
Tarq turns his attention to me. “You answered the ad.”
I cock my head in confusion. “Well.” Then I hold up a finger. “I answered an ad. Yes. But, it has nothing to do with here.” I make a little circle in front of me with my pointer finger.
Once again, Tarq looks back at Luciano. “She really doesn’t know anything, does she?”
“It’s amazing, isn’t it.”
“OK, that’s enough!” I yell this. “Stop talking about me like I’m not here. I have a purpose, OK?” I clap my hands for each of those syllables. “I’m here to get the book. Pell said you would know which one I was talking about. It’s a super-powerful, fucking whatever book. And I need it to banish the sheriff of Granite Springs because he’s a cupid, or a bloodline person. I don’t know what the hell his problem is, but he’s suddenly gained the ability to enter our sanctuary and this will not do. I will get you out of here. Or something. Pell’s real sorry you got stuck inside the tomb and he was on the outside, so he said to…”
Tarq is staring at me so hard, I swallow down my words and shut up.
“Luciano,” Tarq says. But he’s not looking at Luciano, he’s looking at me. “I’ll take it from here. I’ll send her down when I’m done with her.”
“What? Done with me? What… what are we doing, exactly?”
“Yes, sir,” Luciano croons. Then he turns and walks out of the office. I watch him through the glass walls until he’s out of my sight.
Tarq clears his throat. “So. You’re here for the book?”
I force myself to turn and look up at the sleek, jet-black monster in front of me. I try not to look him in the eyes. It’s too much. And I can’t look down at his feet or I might accidentally see his package. So I concentrate on his horns. “I’m here for the book. We need a banishing spell.”