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Sorry! This is an emergency! Be back soon!
He rushes for the back door, and my vision recenters on where I am, on Mrs. Sherman at her desk. I hear Jeffrey make his own wish as he is on the move.
Odai, I wish to know where you are. Are you at Curves?
Yes, I echo in his mind.
I wish for you to not hurt Mrs. Sherman! Do not kill her! Do you understand me?
I do, but I can feel the compulsion growing, drawing me forward despite his dissent. I understand, I think to him, but you must understand too. I can only fulfill that wish for so long.
What?!
I ready my claws and step further into the office. Even if you wish for me not to, if Mrs. Sherman continues to stand in the way of your primary wish, I will not be able to stop myself.
Chapter sixteen
Jeffrey
Ihave never run so fast in my life.
In the alley, blowing past the back door to Sage, I reach the door to Curves and find it ajar, with the slash of claw marks through its lock. I fling the door open to go inside, trying to be stealthy, but focusing most on being fast.
I knew. Everything pointed to the dangers. Mattie’s entries. Odai’s warnings. All long before I read that he intentionally killed people.
And was going to kill for me.
Odai don’t! Please!
I am sorry, Jeffrey.
Where is he?! I’ve never been here before, and it’s a maze of narrow halls. I scan door after door, bypassing closed ones, assuming he must be somewhere with an open one, and then—there! Odai is hidden behind shelving, but I can see Mrs. Sherman further inside. Once Odai makes himself known, it’ll all be over, either with her dead, or him outed as a monster, and I can’t allow either.
I… I…
I wish for you to come back into the hallway right now and let me try talking to Mrs. Sherman first!
Odai freezes, hand starting to raise with his claws glinting. He looks back at me.
Then exits into the hallway. Thank Christ.
“Odai,” I hiss, pulling him from Mrs. Sherman’s door so she won’t hear us. Not that I can be sure someone won’t find us back here. “I get it, okay? I get it. I thought blinding that asshole would be the worst of it, and I was wrong, but I don’t need you to kill for me. It never needs to come to that.”
With claws still out, Odai cups my cheek, holding it gently despite their sharpness. “I have exhausted all opportunities that do not go against her nature. This is the only way.”
“No, it isn’t. She isn’t even much of a threat anymore. You saw to that once you turned St. Mary’s to our side.”
“But she could still be a threat. She works against your interests. I… have to.”
“No,” I choke on how desperate I sound, but I am desperate. I’m still getting everything wrong, even when I finally, finally got some things right. I glance back toward the office door. Since I pulled us away, I can’t see Mrs. Sherman, but now I wonder. “Odai, you said you’ve been researching her, that you found something out. What? Why has she been targeting Madame Mattie’s?”
“Her husband left her for a prostitute. She knows I know but pointing it out as her motivation did not sway her.”
Oh. Okay, now, I get it. But calling her out on it? With someone like Mrs. Sherman, that could only ever make things worse.
Then something else dawns on me, part of what I read from Mattie’s journal today before it got to the scary part.
“Odai.” I grip his arms, powerful arms that I only ever want to hold me, not defend me, and certainly never hurt someone else in my name. “I wish for you to let me handle this, okay? I’m going to try something.”
