Lost in Time (Blue Bloods 6)

Mimi thought about it. “I was… born here. Angels of Darkness were made from the clay that made the underworld.

So I knew it was just a fake. I know their tricks, which gave me an advantage.” There were other signs, too, she thought. The real Kingsley was always unshaven, and the one at the wedding had skin that was smooth and soft to the touch. Too soft.

Kingsley was a glittering knife with a diamond edge, and his skin was rough like sandpaper. Even so, resisting the siren had not been as easy as she made it seem, remembering that when she had first spotted the doppelganger under the trees, she had been convinced that her love had returned to her at last.

“I’m sorry,” Oliver said thickly. “I didn’t know where I was for a moment. It won’t happen again.”

“Good, because you sure as hell don’t want to get stuck down here. Besides, she’s not worth it, you know. She left you,” Mimi said. She hadn’t meant it unkindly; she was only stating a fact. Truly, Schuyler and Jack deserved each other.

They were both disloyal and worthless.

Oliver decided to ignore the dis, and changed the subject.

“What would have happened?” he asked. “If I’d stayed with that… thing.”

“I’m not sure, but it wouldn’t have been pretty.”

Oliver could imagine it. He would have married the siren under the belief that he was living a real life with Schuyler by his side. But little by little, the illusion would fade—not in one quick shot like today, but slowly, over time, the wraith would tire of the charade, and the mask would begin to slip. He would discover he was bound to a harpy, to a monster, that he had shackled himself to a soulless creature who would taunt him day and night, mock him for his doomed love. Thank god Mimi had interrupted when she did.

Besides, he did not want to think of Schuyler in that way.

He did not want to admit that even if he had been cured of the familiar’s kiss, he still loved her. He had loved her before she’d taken his blood, and so that love would always be part of him, whether he was her familiar or not. He strove to hold on to the memory of his happiness for his friend at her bonding, when he had felt strong and brave and generous. He had been able to be truly happy for her then, and the doppelganger had taken that feeling away from him. He wasn’t proud of himself, and he hated himself for succumbing to his dark fantasies. He wasn’t that guy. He had given Schuyler away, had shaken Jack’s hand. Oliver felt as if he had betrayed everyone by giving in to his deepest and most secret desire. Worse, he had betrayed himself. He was better than that.

“You don’t have to apologize or explain,” Mimi said gently. “That test, what you just went through… it was cruel.”

She tried not to think too hard about it, especially since she planned to leave him down here, which meant he was doomed to live exactly that sort of misery for all eternity.

“It doesn’t matter now,” he said, shrugging. “Let’s just find Kingsley and get out of here. Hell isn’t as fun as I thought.

Let’s get this over with.”

FIFTEEN

The Bendix Diamond

Thegianttoweringredwoodswereamarvel,somethemost beautiful and majestic beings ever to grace the earth. Allegra remembered when they were planted, at the dawn of the universe, and once in every few cycles she strove to visit them, to smell the air that was the closest earth came to Paradise.

Hence the Redwood Room was one of her favorite bars in San Francisco. She was happy to find it was still the same, still a soaring space with that long, enormous bar. Legend said that it was made from the trunk of one redwood tree. The bar had been through many different owners, but since it was now housed in the hip Clift hotel, it was considered young and trendy enough that Charles would never think to step inside.

Her twin was a staunch traditionalist, and loathed such things as Louis Quatorze furniture rendered in plastic, which could be found at the Redwood Room in great abundance.

Allegra found Ben sitting at a back table, and she slipped into the banquette, feeling sheepish. Twice now she had run from him, and twice now she had returned. “I’m sorry about this morning. I didn’t mean to leave so abruptly,” she said.

“I seem to bring that out in you,” Ben said, sounding amused. He appeared to have recovered from his earlier embarrassment. The preppie façade was back in place, along with his lopsided grin. “What are you having?” he asked.

“Martini.”

“Old-school.” He smiled and motioned to the waitress, then placed their orders.

They looked at each other across the table, a heavy silence hanging between them until Allegra could bear it no longer.

“Ben…”

“Legs, hold on. Before you say anything, let me explain. I wanted you to see the paintings because they were of you. But I did those years ago, right when you left me.” He leaned over and was about to say more, when a girl joined their table. It was the pretty brunette from the gallery.

“Hi sweetie,” she said, kissing Ben on the lips. She smiled at Allegra.

“Allegra, this is Renny. Renny, you’ve met Allegra,” Ben said, raising his eyebrows.