Every muscle in Plenty’s body was tense as he tried to calm down, but that damn cat wouldn’t even blink. The Fishers sat in silent, growing anxiety, looking at one another, unable to say anything.

  Plenty kept thinking about the sudden and intense panic he felt when Winchester smiled at him… What the hell was that? What did Brother Winchester know? What was his goal? What was he doing?

  Hinata began to communicate something, signs that began, ‘What does–’ but Gwen cut her off and signed to the cat.

  ‘Pretty kitty! Sing us a song,’ Gwen ordered.

  At once, the cat made a little Ehem noise and then broke into a crooning psalm. The effect shut Hinata up immediately. This cat understands sign language.

  So they just sat in resentful anxiety. The cat sang five songs while they pretended to listen, trying to not act guilty, not sure why.

  Gwen seemed less distressed than annoyed. She kept making disgusted faces at the wall. Plenty wanted to ask her what Raf was ‘hearing,’ but from the look on Gwen’s face, Plenty could only guess. But as long as Gwen stayed calm, Plenty could be calm.

  Hinata just glared at Plenty. No doubt, she was furious at him for leading keepers to their room. But she didn’t know why, and he couldn’t tell her with the familiar in the room.

  Finally, the door opened again, and Brother Winchester stepped in, looking flushed and exceedingly pleased with himself.

  “Winnie, would you accompany Keeper Darragh back to the boat? I’ll meet you there in a bit. I’ve given Darragh instructions. He’ll know what to do,” Winchester said to the cat. She blinked, hopped off the table and onto the floor, then strolled out toward a waiting Keeper Darragh, who looked dazed and amazed.

  Winchester slammed the door shut, grabbed a chair, and dragged it to the center of the room. Then he sat on it as if it were a throne.

  “I can sense you’re all quite alarmed,” he began. “But you can relax. If I wanted to turn you over to the cleaners, I would have done it long since.”

  “So what do you want?” Hinata said.

  “Ah, right to the quick,” he grinned. “I respect that. Should I take your reaction to mean you’re the leader of this little gang?”

  Hinata hesitated. “Yes.”

  Winchester narrowed his gaze like he knew she was lying. Then he looked over at Gwen.

  “You!” he exclaimed. “Oh, how charming! What are you, then?”

  Gwen looked as bewildered as Plenty felt, but she didn’t respond.

  “That’s okay,” Winchester shrugged playfully. “I love a good mystery.”

  Plenty stepped between Gwen and Winchester. “You never answered Hinata’s question. What do you want from us?”

  Winchester looked at his fingernails. “I was hoping we could help each other.”

  Hinata asked, “Help with what?”

  “Well, that depends,” Winchester sighed, not looking at any of them. He repositioned himself on his creaky throne. “Perhaps I’ve given the wrong impression. This is not an interrogation; this is an interview. You should be answering my questions gratefully. If I like your answers, maybe I open a few doors for you. I can do that. If I don’t like your answers, maybe I turn you over to the cleaners. Now do you better understand the situation we’re all sitting in?” Winchester crossed his fingers and looked through Plenty to where Gwen was sitting.

  The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

  Gwen rapped her knuckles against the bedpost. Plenty turned to see her, and she told him to sit next to her on the bed. He sat.

  Winchester looked at Gwen and spoke as if he were negotiating a simple transaction. “What are you and why have you come to Garden City?”

  Gwen signed, Plenty interpreted, ‘I’m mute. I have a magical affinity for light and illusions.’

  Winchester made a plain doubting expression. “A sailor on the Floating Library saw you drink blood from a man’s throat and then move at a terrifying speed. So I’ll ask again: what are you, and why have you come to Garden City?” The clip in his voice suggested his patience was nearing its limit.

  Gwen hesitated. She looked sadly over at Hinata, then back at Winchester. ‘I’m cursed. I don’t fully understand the nature of it, but I know it made me physically stronger, faster, and stopped my aging. But I need to drink blood, or else I lose my mind and become violent.’

  Winchester’s eyes were wide with excitement, darting back and forth, probably imagining ways to use Gwen’s affliction to his advantage. “Fascinating!”

  Gwen continued, ‘I came to Garden City so I could apply to the college. I want to learn to undo the curse.’

  Winchester looked almost convinced, “Hm. So what about you two?” Winchester finally addressed Plenty and Hinata directly, not inanimate objects in their vicinity. “Why are you here?”

  “I’m her sister,” Hinata said.

  “I’m with them,” said Plenty.

  “Hm.” Winchester narrowed his glare at Plenty. “No. You’re not human. I felt it earlier. What are you?”

  Plenty wanted to run. He wanted to hide. He wanted to tear the man apart with his bare hands. Instead, Plenty looked over at Gwen, who gave an encouraging little smile and nod, and Plenty felt at ease again.

  “I’m a selkie,” he said. “I need to swim every month under a full moon to restore myself.”

  “Ahh, that makes so much sense now,” Winchester seemed to relax into his chair. Then he sat up with a start and clapped his hands once. “Good. This is all wonderful news. I can work with this. You’re hired. You should all feel relieved.”

  As if on command, a sudden and pleasant calm fell over Plenty. Again, Plenty thought of the sudden and intense panic he felt before…

  Hinata stayed focused. “This feels awfully generous of you, mister Winchester, but just for instance, what if we weren’t looking for the kind of work you’re offering?”

  Winchester chuckled. “You’re welcome to try your luck without my protection, but I doubt you’d last long.”

  “That sounds like a threat,” Hinata said.

  “No, it sounds like a gift," Winchester condescended. "One you should take with a little more gratitude. Do you have any idea how lucky you are that I was the brother assigned to this detail? Anyone else would have put you in a cell by now. Nonhumans cannot survive in this city without help. I can be helpful to you.”

  “That is a tempting offer, but you still haven’t told us what’s in it for you,” Hinata said. “Why help us? What do you want from us?”

  Winchester crossed his legs and sighed with a great deal of drama. “How much do you know about Garden City politics?”

  Hinata looked at Gwen.

  Gwen signed, ‘Not much. I read a history book on the voyage, but I don’t know the first thing about local modern politics.’

  “Well, it’s a viper’s nest,” Winchester said with flourish. “Primiere families are grasping and petty. They’re protected, so long as they don’t embarrass themselves too publicly, but behind closed doors, most are heinous.”

  ‘How do you know?’ Gwen asked.

  “Oh, I’m one of them.”

  Gwen crossed her arms, then uncrossed them to sign, ‘So you want us to take out the competition, is that it?’

  Winchester laughed, “Something like that. Look, I’ll level with you; I’m young, on the rise, and I’m building my network. You asked me what I want. I want you. Each of you. For the rest of your lives. And I get what I want. But don’t worry, this won’t be a one-way exchange. You will be well provided for. You need blood? You’ll have it. As much as you need. You need privacy to swim on the full moon? I can make that happen. Whatever you need.”

  Plenty felt like throwing up. “And if we don't do as you order, you'll have us killed, is that it?”

  “Oh, don’t act like a martyr. You would kill me in an instant if you thought you could get away with it. Besides, you need my help. I’m offering. You’re welcome. And in case you missed it, I saved your lives tonight. Yes, I expect something for it.”

  Gwen signed, ‘Then help us. Consider it a gesture of good faith.’

  Winchester grinned. “Now we’re speaking the same language.” He looked up thoughtfully for a moment, then back at Gwen to say, “Tomorrow night, send one of your… parents… to Strangers. Tell them Win sent you.”

  “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have an investigation to close.” He stood up to look down on them with smug satisfaction. “I think this is the beginning of a long and fruitful relationship.” He turned to leave and said, "I'll be in touch soon."

  Winchester exited the room and closed the door behind him with a polite little nod in Gwen’s direction.