The Trouble with time, Part 2.9 - Inside

"So let me see if I got this straight. You sent two humans to the Wilds."

"Yes."

"And they got caught."

"Yes."

"So you brought more humans to the Wilds to find a Heart that Oberon hid to make a game out of their short human lives?"

"Yes.

"You're an idiot."

The four of them are sitting in the back room of Alsebah's shop. Kevin has in a very short time explained their situation with a mind-boggling amount of efficiency and detail, and is now looking chastised for the first time Alice can remember. She wonders without much curiosity about a person who is be able to make Kevin look like that.

She sips her drink carefully, the warmth of it making her almost feel human again. She doesn't know what it is, but it's the best thing she's ever drunk. It tastes like all the best parts of cold weather hot drinks put together. Which doesn't sound like it would work at all, but somehow this drink does that and is more wonderful than any of the drinks alone could ever be.

"Alice had to come here, that was the deal," Sam jumps in to defend Kevin. "And I wanted to come. Kevin didn't bring me. Vanessa is my friend too, and so are Kevin and Alice, and I want to help. I chose to come here with them."

Alsebah simply shrugs it off.

"You being noble doesn't make him any less of an idiot."

"So can you help us?" Kevin asks. "Vanessa's hint suggested you could."

"Let me see that."

Kevin hands her the piece of paper he wrote the hint and his notes on. She eyes it for a moment, then nods.

"You're right. It is pointing you here," she agrees.

"So...?" Kevin makes it a question.

"You've been awfully quiet,"  Alsebah turns to Alice. "Why aren't you the head on the hunt for your girlfriend's heart?"

Alice simply looks at her for a moment. She has been quiet. Because she doesn't feel like talking. Because during last night and today the pain and longing and anger have settled into an empty coldness that weighs more than the universe. She knows she'll need to rekindle that anger. She's almost worse than useless like this. But as long as she can simply follow where Kevin's leads, she can't quite find the energy to do that.

She takes a sip of her drink and shrugs.

"Kevin's the Fae expert. And the one with the connections."

Alsebah laughs lightly at that.

"Yes, I daresay he is," she says, eyeing Kevin.

"Alsebah," Kevin says softly. It almost startles Alice, the tone is so out of place coming from him. "We need your help. We have nine days and..." he checks his pocket watch, "six hours left to find the heart. And I have no idea where to start."

Who is this woman?

"Of course you don't," Alsebah snorts. "You've been gone far too long."

She pauses again, looks over the three of them, then shakes her head. Then grins.

"This may be a mistake. The King probably won't appreciate anyone who helps you. But you brought me a Golden Orange. That's not exactly something anyone can turn down."

Sam and Kevin sigh with relief. A hope sparks in her. Just a little bit. But it feels good. She smiles to herself, a tiny smile behind her mug the others can't see.

"I thought I sensed some more fire in you," Alsebah is looking at her now. Looking deep into her eyes, seeing much more than she should. Alice gives the tiniest nod. Alsebah nods back.

"I know where he keeps the heart. Well. Depending on how you define where. What I do know is that he keeps it inside."

There's a pause, as if it should be clear what she's saying.

"Inside what?" Alice finally asks cautiously.

"Oh, that I don't know," Alsebah waves the question away. "But a heart won't stay alive except under the right conditions. And a dead heart is not only a breach of contract, it would also end the game."

"But he would also have to keep it somewhere both safe and tricky to find," Kevin's eyes are lighting up. He clearly has a much better idea of what Alsebah is saying than Alice does. Which, of course he does. She'd be worried if it was any other way.

"There you go," Alsebah is grinning lazily at Kevin. "It wasn't that hard, now was it? I can't believe it's come to this. That something that simple can somehow be a big revelation helping you forward. You used to know this stuff."

Kevin stiffens slightly, some of the light going out in his eyes.

"Yes. Well. It was a long time ago," he says. "Hearts aren't something that I've had a need to think about in a long while."

"I would imagine so," Alsebah agrees, her eyes amused. Kevin stands up, his eyes on her.

"Well, if that's all, then we should get going. I have a lot to think..."

"Sit down," Alsebah tells him, and he practically falls back into the chair. "I can't believe you thought that info was enough for the orange. No. Don't be an idiot. That's not even the least I can offer. Not to mention the lot of you aren't going anywhere wearing those. It's quite unbelievable the clothes alone haven't gotten you caught yet."

She grins as Kevin stares at the floor.

_______________________________________________________

This is what you get when I have literally three hours between the previous part being finished and me having to have my thing written if I want to have it done in time to put it out in the morning.

Apparently I can do anything if I simply have a deadline.

(I didn't say I can do it well.)

The topic for tomorrow is Packet.

~matleena