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Blaine stared at the bizarre scene unfolding before him, struggling to process the fae, daemons, and a daemon summoner in Erin’s club. His shock quickly turned to concern for her safety, and he felt a gnawing need to help her, despite the potential consequences of his position as mayor. He clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white, as he tried to contain his mixed emotions.
“You’re handling it, Erin?” he called out over the thrumming beat of the music, trying to keep his voice steady. “We need to talk. Now.”
Erin looked up, and her eyes widened when she saw the determination in Blaine’s face. She nodded and guided him to a quieter corner of the club. The pulsing beat of the music and the kaleidoscope of colorful lights made it difficult for Blaine to focus, but he forced himself to push past the sensory overload.
“How the Sheol does this happen, Erin?” Blaine demanded, his voice a mixture of concern and anger. “Fae? Daemons? In your club? What am I saying? What are they doing in my city?”
“Blaine, I have no idea how the fae got here.” Erin’s voice was soft but determined as she recounted to Blaine the details of her findings. “But you should know, there’s been a murder,” she spoke in hushed tones. “I found one of the fae dead in the Temple gardens. I think someone is trying to frame me or the Temple staff for it. I called my friend, Meri, the daemon summoner, to help me out. The daemons are her friends.”
As soon as the words fell from her lips, he remembered the vandals Maria, Tom, and Daniel had been rallying earlier. If they were involved, then for better or worse, it was on Blaine to help clean up their mess. Blaine leaned in, his face contorted with concern, and asked, “Wait, what makes you think someone is trying to frame you?”
Erin continued. “The daemon Kobol misled everyone by hiding the fae’s death. Her departure just now that you witnessed, was under his power.” She looked directly at him, her emerald orbs assessing his reaction.
As Blaine listened to her explain the gravity of their situation, he noticed the fire in her eyes. He clenched his jaw and tried to ignore the desire that was stirring within him. But despite his better judgment, he couldn’t help but be moved by her courage and strength. His anger dissolved, replaced with a newfound admiration for her.
Blaine shook his head, clearing his thoughts. “That’s quite a feat, but I’m sure I don’t have to tell you this is still a precarious situation. You were right to hide the body,” he said. He took Erin’s hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Fae haven’t been seen in human lands in generations. For them to come here tonight, to your club, is concerning enough. For one to die by human hands is tantamount to a war declaration.”
Erin’s tone had grown gentler as she spoke. “Blaine, I know we barely know each other, and I understand that this might ask a lot. All I need to know is, are you here to help me or make things worse?”
Blaine hesitated for a moment, his mind racing as he considered the potential fallout from his decision. But as he looked into Erin’s eyes, he knew he couldn’t let her down. He nodded, his resolve hardening.
“I’m with you,” he said, his voice firm. “We’ll sort this out together.”
Erin smiled, relieved and grateful.
“What do you need me to do?” he asked.
“Now that the fae is gone, I need to clean up the scene of the crime before someone discovers the mess.”
It was clear she was determined to find out who framed her—if indeed someone was—and clear her name once and for all.
“Lead the way,” he replied.
Erin led Blaine outside to an area overgrown with shrubbery. With a flick of her wrist, the bushes parted, and she pulled him through after her. She brushed away a few branches and pulled Blaine behind her. His eyes widened, and he took a step backwards when he saw the statue of Dionysos, the ancient Greek god of wine and revelry, that had been the target of the council’s vandals earlier. A pool of blood was drying on the ground next to the statue, a gruesome reminder of the violent act that had just occurred.
Blaine frowned. “What happened here?” he asked Erin.
She didn’t answer right away, but examined it carefully before she finally spoke. Erin gestured toward the foot of the statue and then explained. “It looks like someone tore apart the base. No wonder it fell over. But why?”
“Perhaps they were run-of-the-mill vandals?” Blaine said, putting a voice to his concern.
Erin arched her brow. “You think the fae’s death was accidental?”
“It’s not like anyone expected the fae to show up here,” Blaine replied. “That doesn’t leave much opportunity for a motive. An accident is the next likely option.”
“So what, your theory is that vandals damaged the statue, which just then fell over on a fae who no one predicted would show up here?” Erin asked.
“Unless we can find something else, then yeah. It’s the simplest possibility,” Blaine replied.
Erin pursed her lips into a deep frown. “Let’s just go over everything again.”
With renewed determination, they began combing through the area surrounding the statue, looking for evidence that would help them uncover what had happened earlier that night. Together, they worked in sync and shared secret glances as their bond grew stronger.
“Anything?” she asked.
“Nothing new,” Blaine replied. “Maybe we should call it and clean up.”
Erin sighed. “All right. It was worth a check.”
