Chapter Twenty

Jasper

I walk into the lobby of The Marquis and wince at the changes in decor since I was there last. It looks like Santa Claus threw up – or maybe just blew up – all over the place. I enjoy Christmas and all for holiday cheer and all, but the lobby of the hotel is an explosion of Christmas. Whereas, most of the business around town are pretty tasteful in how they decorate – The Marquis took the phrase “going overboard” to a whole new level.

I text message Winter, letting her know I'm downstairs waiting for her and lean against a column in the lobby to wait. I happen to glance over to the side entrance and notice Frost standing there with none other than Brooks Green. And it looks like they're in the middle of a very animated discussion. Perhaps, even an argument.

My curiosity piqued, I try to unobtrusively stroll over that way, wanting to get closer to see if I can overhear anything. I didn't know that Frost and Green even knew each other.

I get close enough that I can hear them. They're definitely arguing about something, but I can't get close enough to make out what about. Frost notices me standing there and I see a look of near panic cross his face. With the jig up, I give up all pretense and just walk over to them. By the time I'm standing in front of them, Frost has regained his composure and looks at me with cool indifference. Which is about all I ever get from him.

Green looks at me and his eyes narrow, the look of disgust on his face more than clear. Judging by the only expressions I've seen him make, I suspect that Green has about as much emotional depth and variety as Sheriff Richards.

“Well, I have to say that this is an unusual meeting of the minds,” I say. “A member of our esteemed shifter community and the man who's vowed to wipe the shifter community off the face of the Earth. What could you two possibly be talking about? Trading Christmas cookie recipes maybe?”

Frost clears his throat and looks at me. “This man was just peddling his anti-shifter propaganda here in the lobby, and I was telling him that he's not welcome here and should go.”

It sounded plausible. I can see Green accosting the Phayngo in the lobby, spewing his vile rhetoric. But, the more I think about it, the more I'm not buying it. Green needs a crowd to perform. He likes to incite people with his hate-filled speeches. He's not a one-on-one guy. And there's no crowd of his supporters here in the lobby for him to preach to.

No, I'm almost certain that something else is going on here. I can feel it in my gut. But rather than tip my hand, I decide it's probably better to play it cool until I have more information. Until I have a better idea what's going on.

“Like I told you,” Green hisses. “Your kind ain't welcome here anymore. As soon as I win –”

“If you win,” I correct him.

He guffaws. “Have you seen the polling?” he says. “There's no way I'm going to lose. Your lackey Richards is done.”

“I guess we'll see about that,” I say. “I still have faith in the people to make the smart choice.”

Frost stands there, silent. But, I can feel the tension radiating off of him. I can smell it. He's nervous about something. I most definitely caught him in the middle of something with Green. I just don't know what it is.

Though he tries to maintain his veneer of cool indifference, he's fidgeting with the ring on his finger and it triggers something in me. A memory, or at least the fragment of a memory, that I can't quite grab hold of. It's there, at the fringes of my memory, but I can't quite reel it in.

I don't know why, but I feel compelled to look at Green's hand and when I do, my eyes widen in surprise slightly when I see a matching ring on his finger. A plain silver band with a blue stone in the center. Coincidence? Possibly, but something in my gut is arguing against the notion.

I clear my throat and look up, not wanting to give away what I'd just noticed.

“This is why I prefer staying in the north,” Frost says, looking at me. “We don't have to deal with bigoted – provincials.”

“Well, maybe you should take your ass back up north then,” Green sneers. “Because I promise you one thing, when I win this election, I'm gonna have me some new bear skin rugs in front of my fireplace.”

Frost rolls his eyes and walks away, leaving me there with Green. A small smirk tugs at the corner of my mouth as I stare at him.

“You know,” I say. “I've known guys like you. Full of bluster and bravado. But, when the chips are down and shit gets real, guys like that are usually the first to piss their pants and run away like a scared little bitch.”

“Oh, I'm gonna be standing right here, looking you in the eye when I pull the trigger and blow your head off,” he growls. “Dry pants and all.”

“Whenever you want to dance, just say the word,” I say, feeling my temper rising.

“Sorry,” Winter says, stepping between us. “Your dance card is full.”

Green chuckles. “Here she is saving your ass again,” he says. “Didn't your daddy ever teach you to fight your own battles?”

“Oh, you bet your ass he did,” I say, my anger finally boiling over.

I take a step toward him, my hands balled into fists, ready to cave his face in. But an iron hand clamps around each of my arms, holding me back. Seeing red, I turn around, ready to fight whoever is holding me, and find myself staring into the faces of Holly and Merry.

“Peace, brother,” Merry says, a warm smile on her face.

“Merry Christmas, Jasper,” Holly chimes in.

Winter turns to Green and sneers at him. “It's time for you to go,” she says. “Otherwise, I'll show you what my daddy taught me. And I guarantee you won't like it. If you survive it, that is.”

With one last glare at us all, Green turns and walks out through the side door. And only when he's gone, do Holly and Merry release me. I turn to them and give them a courteous bow. I'm not a complete heathen when it comes to proper decorum. At least, not usually.

“Merry Christmas,” I say. “I'm honored to –”

“Oh, enough with the formal niceties,” Merry says, laughing.

“Yes, you're among friends, Jasper,” Holly says.

It's odd to me and leaves me feeling a little confused. Going by everything I've learned, the Phayngo are sticklers when it comes to protocols and ceremony. It's why the annual Renewal of Friendship ceremony is so important.

“We are not our parents,” Holly says, as if answering my unasked question.

“Or our grandparents, or our great-grandparents, and on and on,” Merry says.

“They were very much about formalities and ceremony,” Holly says. “We're a little more lax about such things.”

“Though, we do enjoy all of the wonderful hospitality we receive here,” Merry says.

“The truth of the matter is that we just enjoy spending time with your clans,” Holly adds. “Your people are a lot more fun than our people.”

“They know how to have a good time,” Merry says. “And the week or so we spend down here is a nice reprieve from life up north. But truly, we don't need all of the pomp and circumstance.”

I'm more than a little taken aback by the confessions. “Does Asher know you feel this way?”

“Well, he should,” Merry says. “Especially after last night. He and his wife Rose are an adorable couple.”

“Yeah, but they can drink, let me tell you,” Holly says. “I woke up with the worst hangover I've ever had in my life.”

I chuckle to myself and shake my head. These two are just full of surprises.

“But,” Merry says, her face growing serious. “I understand we have business to discuss.”

“Very serious business,” Holly says.

I cut a glance at Winter and she nods. “It would appear that we do,” I say. “Unfortunately.”

“Come,” Holly says. “Let's discuss this over some coffee.”

I let them lead me to a small room off of the lobby. They position two of their bodyguards at the door to deter anybody from trying to enter or listen in. There is a table set off to the side that has coffee and pastries. I decline, but wait for them to gather their plates and cups.

Once they're seated, I take a seat at a long conference table and Winter sits beside me. Holly and Merry sit across from us, their faces suddenly grim. Turning, I look through the glass doors of the conference room and see Frost crossing the lobby, heading for the front doors. He sees me watching him and shoots me a haughty glare.

I can't help but wonder though, if he's going to meet with Green and finish discussing the business I'd obviously interrupted.

“Winter tells us that there is a Wendigo running around your town,” Holly says. “Murdering people?”

“Five so far,” I confirm.

“Nasty business, that,” Merry says.

“Forgive my ignorance, but what is a Wendigo exactly?” I ask. “I'm not familiar with them.”

Holly shrugs. “Different cultures have different beliefs,” she says. “But, a Wendigo is an evil spirit. Cannibalistic. It can be summoned through dark magic.”

“Summoned and enslaved,” Merry says. “Forced to do its master's bidding.”

“Even if that bidding is murder?” I ask.

“Especially if that bidding is murder,” Holly says. “They are dark, violent, malevolent beings.”

“But, once it has been summoned, how is it controlled?” I ask. “How is this dark spirit compelled to do anything?”

“A touchstone,” Winter finally chimes in. “Some sort of talisman that connects the Wendigo to its master.”

I lean back in my seat, trying to process everything they've told me. I'm having a hard time wrapping my mind around it all, to be honest.

“Think back,” Winter says. “What stood out to you most when we saw the Wendigo in the clearing?”

I shrug. “I don't know,” I say. “I was pretty shocked. I've never seen anything like it before. And that, on top of Emily – I wasn't exactly in the best, most clear-headed frame of mind.”

“Do you recall the collar the Wendigo was wearing?” Winter asks.

I scroll through the images of the encounter in my head and feel the light of comprehension comes on suddenly. I turn to Winter and nod.

“Yeah,” I say and feel my eyes grow wide. “Silver collar with a bright blue stone –”

Winter looks at me, cocking her head. “What is it?”

“I remember it,” I say. “But, that's not the only place I've seen something like that.”

“What do you mean?” Holly asks.

“Frost,” I say. “He has a ring that looks exactly like the collar we saw on that Wendigo. Green has a matching one too. Could those be these – touchstones you’re talking about?”

“Frost and Green?” Merry asks. “That loud, obnoxious man in the lobby?”

I nod. “One and the same.”

Merry and Holly exchange a look, a dark cloud passing over their faces at the same moment. But, when they turn back to me, they are once again perfectly composed.

“That's quite the striking coincidence,” Merry says.

“Indeed, it is,” I say.

“You can be open,” Winter says. “Jasper can be trusted.”

I look from her to the co-Chiefs, feeling a little perplexed. They share another look and seem to have some sort of silent communication that passes through them. They give each other a brief nod and then turn back to me, their silver crystalline eyes boring into mine.

“Frost is not happy with his role in our clan,” Merry says. “He hasn't been since my sister and I ascended to the throne.”

“Frankly, Frost feels he would do a better job as the head of the Phayngo,” Holly says.

“We've heard rumors of plots against us,” Merry says. “Whispers of Frost planning to remove us and install himself as the new Clan Chief.”

“Nothing ever substantiated, mind you,” Holly adds. “Nothing we can take action against, of course.”

“Which means,” Winter chimes in, “that this might be his big play. Summon the Wendigo, align with Green, and then using the Wendigo, take out Holly and Merry.”

I run my hand through my hair. “It doesn't all line up though,” I say. “If he can summon a Wendigo, why not just turn it loose on Holly and Merry directly? Why the need for Green at all?”

“We're also making a large assumption that it was Frost who summoned the Wendigo,” Winter says.

“Green?” I ask. “Do you really think he could summon a Wendigo?”

Winter shrugs. “I don't know how all of the puzzle pieces fit together just yet, but somehow, they're both involved,” she says. “They both wear the same touchstone the Wendigo is wearing. Which means, they both hold power over it.”

“I think we're making an even bigger assumption here,” Holly says. “And that assumption is that we're dealing with a Wendigo.”

“Not that we doubt you in the least, Winter, dear,” Merry says. “But, we like to have concrete proof before we act.”

“Of course,” Winter says. “No offense taken.”

“Okay, so how do we verify that this thing is a Wendigo?”

“There's but one way I know of,” Merry says. “A Wendigo consumes human flesh, this is true.”

“But to truly sustain its corporeal form, it must ingest the human heart,” Holly says.

“Like, tears it out and eats it?” I ask.

“Not exactly. Think more like a juice box,” Winter says. “It leaves the heart in place, still beating, and sucks it completely dry.”

“Oh, that's pleasant,” I say.

“Indeed,” Merry says. “Wendigos are always a joy to deal with.”

“We are given to understand that you have a friend within the medical examiner's office?” Holly asks.

I nod. “That's true.”

“Then, we would ask you to go visit your friend,” Merry says. “And verify that we are in fact, dealing with a Wendigo.”

“And after that?” I ask.

“After that, we'll deal with it,” Holly says. “And we'll deal with Frost as well as your friend, Mr. Green.”

“Sounds like a party I don't want to miss,” I say.

“We'll be sure to save you a seat,” Merry says.

I stand up and Winter gets to her feet beside me. I look over at her and raise an eyebrow.

“Rolling with me?”

She shrugs. “Gets me out of the office for the day.”

I laugh as we head for the door, on our way to find out what we're dealing with.