You Let Me In - Camilla Bruce Page 0,29

to be suspicious. It was awfully convenient that the water nymphs were there right then, ready and hungry for fresh meat. One could almost think that it was planned, that Pepper-Man had it all set up. One of the water girls carried Tommy’s eyes as diamonds for a long time after. I would cringe every time I saw them twinkling at me, dangling from a string between her breasts. I suppose she thought them as pretty as I did, once upon a time. I don’t know what happened to rest of him, but his heart.

I do know what happened to his heart.

After Tommy was gone, Pepper-Man and I sat down by the brook, watching the water rush by.

“He was supposed to take me away,” I said. “He was supposed to be my way out of that house, away from the white room and Mother.”

“I know.” Pepper-Man’s arm was looped around my shoulders.

“What am I to do now?”

“Wait for a new one.”

“That can take time. I’m not most men’s first choice, you know.”

“Then most men are fools,” snorted Pepper-Man.

“I still need one, though, unless I leave for school.”

“You would leave us behind, then.” It was not a question.

“Not willingly.” My mind was racing through the options left for me: I could ignore people’s talk and move out on my own, but work in S— was scarce, and it would take a great amount of time and patience to build enough experience to gain a decent income. I had been hoping that Tommy would take care of the money. Although how I had envisioned he would do that, I don’t know. In my lust-fueled haze I suppose I’d just figured it would work itself out. I had never thought to ask if I was even in his plans.

I learned many a harsh lesson that summer.

“There might be another way,” said Pepper-Man, “if you are willing to try.”

“What way?” My eyes were still on the water.

“You could bring Tommy back.”

I turned my head and looked at him. His icy beauty was stark in the sunlight. Flecks of green played on his skin where the light filtered through the branches above us.

“We could make another Tommy,” he explained. “He would not be quite the same, but he would serve you well for a while.”

“Different how?”

“He would look the same, which would be the most important thing if we are to fool his family and friends, but we would bind him to you, like a servant. He would never leave you, and he would never touch another. We can keep as much of his personality as you like, but I would remove everything but his memories, and give him some new skills, too. Make him take proper care of you.”

“When can we do this?” I was already on my feet, eager to undo what I’d just done.

Pepper-Man chuckled. “Not so fast, my sweet. The work is hard and can easily fail. I will not promise that we succeed, but I do think we should try. None of us want to see you wither in that room.”

“What do you want in return?” I knew very well that no faerie favors came for free.

“Besides your happiness?” His toes were wriggling on the ground, nearly touching the water. “We will discuss that if we succeed. One more thing,” he added after I’d nodded in agreement, eager to get it done with. Eager to get on. “He will not last forever … Work like this is fickle. Sooner or later the seams will burst.”

I nodded again, barely hearing a word he said. I wanted to make a new Tommy—make a new boyfriend and move on with my life.

“To the mound, then?” I asked, assuming that was where this work would happen.

“To the mound,” Pepper-Man confirmed, coming up close behind me.

* * *

Pepper-Man certainly didn’t lie when he said the work was hard and fickle, littered with mistakes and setbacks.

When we arrived at the mound, an old faerie woman I’d named Harriet met us at the opening, carrying milk and honey cakes for me. She chuckled quietly in a way that let me know the whole mound was already buzzing with the news of what had happened.

“You are a dangerous girl to love, Cassie.” Her nose was wriggling, whiskers shivering.

“I think it was the lack of love that did him in.” Gwen came up behind her. She wore an old-fashioned headscarf to hide her ears, but the golden eyes and the fur coating on her naked breasts still gave her