for Doo and Shivaun to walk through. He pulled Shivaun back for a minute. “You bored?”
“No’ a bit. Are you about to bore me?”
He grinned. “A definite possibility. Non-musicians don’t usually get off on gear browsing, especially not in pawn shops.”
“I see your point. ‘Tis no’ likely to be as much fun as the fair we just saw.”
“The fair?”
“Well, what would you call it?”
“A happening.”
“Okay.” She acquiesced in a way that said debating what to call whatever was happening in Haight-Ashbury was not on her agenda. “I think I’m needed at the Abbey later for trainin’. Perhaps I’ll go that way now?”
Lyric knew that Doo had descended three flights of stairs while they were talking and was waiting at the bottom.
“Let me tell the kid that I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
“I think I can find my way.”
“Even if I knew for sure you could find your way, I’d want to see you home. Yes. You can protect yourself from a nineteen-year-old human weirded out on LSD, but…”
“But what?” Lyric didn’t answer. “’Tis the second time you’ve suggested danger. ‘Tis no’ a mystery, right? At least no’ to you. So spit it out. What is the danger? How do I avoid it or feel it or fight it? You can no’ follow me around everywhere I go forever.”
Lyric cocked his head. “I wouldn’t mind.”
“I would,” she said defiantly.
“Alright. I get your point. Let me get Darby squared away and we’ll have a serious talk. When we’re not distracted with birthing a new classic rock history.”
“This better no’ be a slither.”
“What is that?”
“You tryin’ to get out of tellin’ me what I want to know.”
He chuckled. “I don’t think you’re the kind of female who lets things go.”
“If you mean titterheaded, then no. I’m no’ the sort of female who forgets to ask after what I’m needin’ to know to survive.”
“Uh-huh. Like I said.” He gestured toward the stairs. “You free tomorrow sometime?”
Her coquettish smile returned quickly. “I might be. If you’re askin’ me out for a serious talk.”
“Three o’clock Scotia time? I’ll be in the Abbey courtyard, probably suffering glares from those crypt keeper caretakers.” He chuckled. “Say that three times fast.”
“Three o’clock. Three o’clock. Three o’clock,” she said in rapid succession.
“No. I meant… Never mind.” He reached out and pulled the length of a fiery red lock through his fingers. “Did I say how beautiful you look today?”
“Come ahead. There’s no sense keepin’ the lad waitin’ with empty flattery.”
“My flattery isn’t empty. It’s plump as a holiday bird.”
She turned and proceeded to descend a flight of stairs hovering above the steps, never touching foot to wood. Stopping on the first landing, she turned to Lyric wide-eyed and animated. “Did you see that?” she whispered. He nodded. “Last night I dreamed I could do it and I do no’ know what got into me. I just had a, em, compulsion? To try?” Lyric nodded, but his smile seemed less than enthusiastic. “Why are ye no’ pleased?”
“I am pleased. You just need to be careful to avoid drawing unnecessary attention. It’s something natural-born demons understand innately. You’re going to have to learn it. Apparently. What if one of the third-floor tenants had opened a door and witnessed you floating by?”
With a little frown, she said, “You’re right. ‘Twould have caused a stir. ‘Twas dumb of me. I need to pay less attention to dreams and more attention to the art of no’ bein’ human.”
Lyric hated taking her joy away. She was like a kid learning what her body could do. Somersault. Swim in the pool. Ride a bike. It was the most natural thing in the world to be excited about new things.
“You have so much to learn about what you can do. Just try to be a little aware that we’re sharing realities with other species.”
“Who do no’ know about us.”
“Therein lies the rub.”
“What?”
Ignoring her question, he said, “There is a way for you to get to street level without touching the stairs and without anyone ever suspecting special anything.”
“How?”
In a flash he gathered her up into a bridegroom’s carry and trotted down the stairs. The whole way Shivaun giggled when she wasn’t squealing in delight.
And Lyric was sure he’d never had so much fun.
Until she said, “Since you’re comin’ by the Abbey tomorrow at three, could ye stop in to have a wee chat with Commander Storm?”
He blinked slowly. “You mean Rosie?”
“Oh aye. One and the same.”
CHAPTER TEN Sympathy for the Devil
Like most elementals the demon, Quicksilver, spent