Read Online Night's Deep Hush: Reveler Series 4 by Erin Kellison - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Erin Kellison
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world? What if Murs escaped in the meantime?
“You have passage,” Viv said. “When you’re done with whatever this is”—she waved her hand at him before turning and walking into the dark—“come back. We’ll speak more.”
***
“He could be taking advantage of you right now,” Vince said.
Jordan had thought the same thing when Darren opted to stay in the waking world. There were few public warnings about Rêves, but one that was omnipresent was to only dream with a reputable provider. Reports in the news—occasionally even substantiated—detailed abuses to revelers while they slept.
But she bet Darren was happily counting his money and delighting in the promise of more, should her friends show up. He didn’t want Chimera’s attention; he wanted the influx of cash. Had she come alone, maybe he would’ve tried something, but one look at Vince’s tortured mien and Darren had backed away.
He’d set them up to dream in the only room of his apartment, which had been sloppily painted black. He had blankets slung over curtain rods to block out the last of the sun. Jordan didn’t see anything moving on the floors, so she figured he wasn’t a total slob. The Rêve equipment seemed outdated, but it was clean. Vince had held one of the crowns up to her, saying, “You’re not serious.”
That crown was literally the key to meeting up with Maisie and starting a search for Malcolm. “I’m going in. You’re welcome to stay with Darren, but I’m taking the name you wanted—” that of his father’s killer “—with me.”
The plunge into sleep was rougher than usual, and fast. Too fast. When the waters settled and the surroundings became distinct, she and Vince were inside a hookup pad with an enormous circular bed covered with gold satin sheets. Dim lighting couldn’t disguise the thick faux animal fur rugs on the floor—also, she presumed, for rolling around upon. There were no chairs in this bedroom of champions, but three slender metal columns had been set at even intervals in the center of the room, and some kind of harness hung from the ceiling in one corner. It made her wonder if it was for Darren’s use or his visitors’.
Jordan gravitated to a balcony without railings and peered over the edge. An unconstructed abyss. Why bother with the details?
“I still think you should’ve opted for his flying dream,” Vince said.
“You want that guy suspending you in midair in an unregulated Rêve?” She didn’t think so.
“It appears we are suspended already.”
Vince looked much healthier Darkside than he had in the waking world. His face had lost its hollows, and his body had taken on its former muscle, which was strange because Jordan could perceive no under-manifestation of frailty with her darksight. However slowly he was recovering physically, he was stronger here. Further, his movements had a… quality that made her anxious, but she couldn’t place it.
“Who are we meeting?” Vince had been cooperative about the money and the Rêve, but she didn’t need to be Darkside to sense that he was very angry. He’d been sizzling with rage since she’d told him how his father had died.
“My sister,” Jordan said. She hoped Sera had picked up and understood the reservation message she had left at the restaurant, and wondered if Sera had relayed it to Harlen Fawkes and if he’d gotten word to Steve Coll, who then would have to find his way with Maisie into Darren’s Rêve.
“So we wait?”
“Yes.” And cross their fingers. It all depended on Sera getting that message. Already Maisie was late, which made Jordan mentally scan all the variables again, from the fact that Maisie was always late anyway to the possibility that her sister and Coll had been discovered and were being held by Lambert, too.
Vince must’ve sensed her unease, because he said, “I’m sure she’s fine. Even if she doesn’t show, she could be just fine.”
Yeah, but then Jordan would have to use
“You have passage,” Viv said. “When you’re done with whatever this is”—she waved her hand at him before turning and walking into the dark—“come back. We’ll speak more.”
***
“He could be taking advantage of you right now,” Vince said.
Jordan had thought the same thing when Darren opted to stay in the waking world. There were few public warnings about Rêves, but one that was omnipresent was to only dream with a reputable provider. Reports in the news—occasionally even substantiated—detailed abuses to revelers while they slept.
But she bet Darren was happily counting his money and delighting in the promise of more, should her friends show up. He didn’t want Chimera’s attention; he wanted the influx of cash. Had she come alone, maybe he would’ve tried something, but one look at Vince’s tortured mien and Darren had backed away.
He’d set them up to dream in the only room of his apartment, which had been sloppily painted black. He had blankets slung over curtain rods to block out the last of the sun. Jordan didn’t see anything moving on the floors, so she figured he wasn’t a total slob. The Rêve equipment seemed outdated, but it was clean. Vince had held one of the crowns up to her, saying, “You’re not serious.”
That crown was literally the key to meeting up with Maisie and starting a search for Malcolm. “I’m going in. You’re welcome to stay with Darren, but I’m taking the name you wanted—” that of his father’s killer “—with me.”
The plunge into sleep was rougher than usual, and fast. Too fast. When the waters settled and the surroundings became distinct, she and Vince were inside a hookup pad with an enormous circular bed covered with gold satin sheets. Dim lighting couldn’t disguise the thick faux animal fur rugs on the floor—also, she presumed, for rolling around upon. There were no chairs in this bedroom of champions, but three slender metal columns had been set at even intervals in the center of the room, and some kind of harness hung from the ceiling in one corner. It made her wonder if it was for Darren’s use or his visitors’.
Jordan gravitated to a balcony without railings and peered over the edge. An unconstructed abyss. Why bother with the details?
“I still think you should’ve opted for his flying dream,” Vince said.
“You want that guy suspending you in midair in an unregulated Rêve?” She didn’t think so.
“It appears we are suspended already.”
Vince looked much healthier Darkside than he had in the waking world. His face had lost its hollows, and his body had taken on its former muscle, which was strange because Jordan could perceive no under-manifestation of frailty with her darksight. However slowly he was recovering physically, he was stronger here. Further, his movements had a… quality that made her anxious, but she couldn’t place it.
“Who are we meeting?” Vince had been cooperative about the money and the Rêve, but she didn’t need to be Darkside to sense that he was very angry. He’d been sizzling with rage since she’d told him how his father had died.
“My sister,” Jordan said. She hoped Sera had picked up and understood the reservation message she had left at the restaurant, and wondered if Sera had relayed it to Harlen Fawkes and if he’d gotten word to Steve Coll, who then would have to find his way with Maisie into Darren’s Rêve.
“So we wait?”
“Yes.” And cross their fingers. It all depended on Sera getting that message. Already Maisie was late, which made Jordan mentally scan all the variables again, from the fact that Maisie was always late anyway to the possibility that her sister and Coll had been discovered and were being held by Lambert, too.
Vince must’ve sensed her unease, because he said, “I’m sure she’s fine. Even if she doesn’t show, she could be just fine.”
Yeah, but then Jordan would have to use
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