Page 37 of Midnight in the Garden of Okay and Meh
“If we’re silent, it’s only because we’re awaiting orders,” Finch answered.
“Sorry,” Allie said, returning from the hall where she and Christian had slipped out to take a call. “The girls insisted on singing Christian the latest song they wrote, and you truly don’t want to hear that. For that matter, I don’t want you to hear it lest you ban me from the mates, etc. group.”
“Allegra,” Christian protested. “They wrote a song for me. What other children of that age can do such a thing?”
“It’s not their composition I object to. It’s the fact that they inherited my tin ear and even tinnier vocal cords, and yet insist on singing at the top of their voices.” Allie paused for a second before retaking her seat. “I apologize again. You didn’t need to hear any of this argument.”
“I find it fascinating,” Aisling said, tucking her legs under her. “It’s so nice to see how other beings raise their kids. I’m delighted to know that you go through the same crap we do.”
“Literally, in Baltic’s case,” Ysolde said with a blithe unconcern that always made me want to laugh. “Perhaps May could recap quickly for Sally?”
I could, and did, and three and a half minutes later, I finished somewhat exhausted.
“Much though I appreciate you thinkin’ of me for this caper, I feel obligated to tell you that I couldn’t possibly break into the Thirteenth Hour. It’s run by the Court, you know,” Sally said, giving a little shake of her head.
“We know, but we hoped that since you’re no longer Sovereign, you could see your way clear to helping get our party to Jim’s father,” Gabriel said.
“I couldn’t. I really couldn’t,” she said, giving another headshake. “The amount of trouble I’d get into if I tried—it fair boggles the brainmeats.”
“But—” Aisling started to say.
“Sugar, May will tell you that I am nothing if not devoted to you-all, but just because I was once one-half of the Sovereign doesn’t mean I can tamper with the Akasha. I do still have to uphold Court policy.” Sally stretched and did a few head bobs to the side. “Now, if that’s all you wanted, I have a goat yoga class, and today is my turn with the goat with horns, so I can’t be late.”
“You have always rejoiced in being obstreperous,” I couldn’t help but say, annoyed that she wouldn’t even hear us out before rejecting our request.
“Mayling,” Gabriel said in a tone meant to remind me that although Sally might no longer be Sovereign, she did still command respect.
“Well, I’m sorry, but she is,” I said, wanting to say a lot more, but managed to keep it behind my teeth.
“It’s not obstreperousness, darlin’ May—it’s just me being a little naughty,” Sally said, her smile filled with more teeth than looked normal. “I have always enjoyed being naughty. It’s satisfying on so many levels.”
“There’s nothing more naughty than going against millennia of old doctrine,” Jim said from where it was lying on the floor.
“Effrijim!” Sally said, blowing it a kiss and giving it another of her impossible smiles. “I didn’t see you there. As for the doctrine of the Court ... it’s beyond me to change it.”
“If I were in your shoes,” Jim said, idly scratching an ear, “and I wanted to indulge in my wild side, then I'd be the first in line to help break Desi out. I mean, something like that is going to make you famous throughout the Otherworld.”
Sally froze for a fraction of a second. It went so fast that I almost didn’t catch it. “Desi?” she asked, her eyes narrowing as she leaned forward. “As in Desislav the Destroyer?”
“Yes, that’s who we need your help to release,” Aisling said.
“We’re hoping that he’ll help us with our thane issue,” Allie added. “He’s really pivotal to our plan, so we kind of need him.”
A male voice rumbled in Ysolde’s square. She turned to the side, obviously listening to Baltic before she faced us again, and asked, “Baltic would like to know if you are acquainted with Desislav, Sally? Personally, that is?”
“Yes,” she said slowly. I had the feeling she was sorting through memories to find what she wanted. “I knew him back before he even thought of the idea of Abaddon. He was so handsome, and had an intriguing darkness within him that was almost impossible to resist. All us cherubim had crushes on him, so that whenever we crossed paths, he’d have a gaggle of us following him around like cats chasing a milkmaid.”
“Great,” Jim said, its head now on the floor. “Sally has the hots for my dad. Like this couldn’t get any more implausible?”
“Plausibility is overrated,” Ysolde said dismissively. “Does this mean you’ll help us, Sally?”
To my surprise, Sally didn’t hesitate. “Yes, I believe that now you’ve made the situation clear, I will be able to take you to the Hour. But it will cost you.”
“We will pay whatever sum you request,” Christian said in his plummy accent.
“So handsome. Really, I must look outside the Court for dating material,” Sally murmured to herself before saying, “The cost is not one that can be fulfilled by money. Instead, I would ask for a boon as compensation for taking you to the Thirteenth Hour.”
“What sort of boon?” I asked suspiciously, narrowing my eyes at her. She returned the gesture.
