Fae in L.A. – Chapter 2

Chapter Two

This neighborhood was avoided by humans at all costs. It was even avoided by some Fae. Because this neighborhood is where all the rejected Fae live.

Fae lives in five different societies known as courts. Those without a court are rejects, banished from the court they were born in. Criminals, the unlucky, and the insane. This neighborhood was mostly rejected Summer Court Fae, but there are some notable exceptions. The building in front of me was one of them.

On the edge of the neighborhood, close to the historic district, is a building that looks like it was built when the city was founded. No Fae glamour to pretty it up either, a crumbling brick façade that looked like it violated every health code imaginable. I was standing in front of it now, thanking my driver, who peeled out of there the second he could.

Yeah. It was that kind of neighborhood.

I looked up at the building I spent most of my teenage years in, hoping he’d still be here. That way I didn’t have to talk to the building supervisor. They were uber creepy.

I tugged my carry-on over the steps until I reached the buzzers. I didn’t have his number, so this would have to do. I pushed the button for 203. Then I pushed it again. Then, when that got no response, I held it down.

Finally, an answer.

“Excuse me, is there a reason your calling?” The voice that garbled through the speaker was female and very, very human. I guess his tastes haven’t changed then. Or some human grew enough balls and lost enough brain cells to live in a Fae neighborhood.

“Yeah, can you tell Kasten that Samantha has come for a visit?” Moment of truth.

“Samantha? Kasten! Who’s—” The speaker cut out, but I’d caught enough to guess at the conversation being held on the other side.

A few minutes later, I heard the squeaky sound of a window being opened on the side of the building. I walked around and saw the Fae I was looking for trying to shoo an older woman down the fire escape.

“Your daughter huh? Yeah, right like I’d believe that. You’re moving onto a younger woman now aren’t you!?” The woman was incensed while Kasten just looked tired.

“No, she’s my daughter, and she hasn’t come to visit for a long time, so I’d appreciate if you gave us some space.”

The woman looked down and saw me in the alleyway. “Bullshit! She looks nothing like you, and you look far too young to have a daughter anyway. If you’re replacing me with a younger woman, you should just say so you bastard! We’re over!” The woman tried her best to walk away dignified, but that’s kind of hard to do when you’re climbing down a fire escape. But she managed pull herself together as she walked out of the alleyway.

I looked up at Kasten. “Can I come up now?”

He nodded, looking excited now. “Yes please! I’ll prepare some tea. Mind the third rung there—oh! You got it. I guess you still remember huh?”

Once I climbed up the fire escape with the practiced ease of someone who’s done it more times than they can count, Kasten pulled up the ladder and helped me through the window.

“I’ve got some of your favorite peppermint tea in the cupboard. Just let me put on the kettle… there we go. Now, to what do I owe the pleasure of a visit from my only daughter?”

I took my time to study Kasten. He looked the same as the day I left. So did the apartment. Well, I guess it was only a few years ago. Raven black hair, deep brown eyes that could make any woman swoon. A handsome face with sleek arched eyebrows.

To the uninformed observer, we might appear to be the same age. But to anyone who could spot Fae, they’d realize the truth is a lot different. Kasten wore a simple collared shirt, rolled up at the sleeves in a pair of dress pants. It was over a hundred degrees outside. Then he’s making a hot beverage to serve a guest.

Anyone could tell Kasten was older than he initially appeared. He just like to appear young, like most Fae do. In fact, he might even look a little younger than me.

Huh. I flashed back to my childhood when I asked Kasten how old he was. My jaw dropped when he told me, and I said he was positively ancient. Which, compared to a regular human, he was. Born in the nineteenth century, he’s kept quite a few of his old habits over the years. Like serving hot tea in an apartment with failing air conditioning.

“I need some information. Do you still have your old connections?” The tea pot began whistling and Kasten moved to pour it into my favorite mug. It had little stars on it, and a new chip that hadn’t been there before.

“Yes, you know information is my business. But what do you need information for?” He sat down across from me and sipped on his special teacup.

I stayed quiet. How much should I tell him? Not the whole story, but maybe just enough to let him know my current situation. “It’s my job now. I’m a detective. I’m looking for a girl kidnapped by the Summer Court right now.”

“Really?” His eyebrows shoot up. “A detective? What happened to, ah, what was it called… oh! The dental assistant idea?”

Ah yes. Another piece of the story I didn’t want to tell him. No family, plus no money equals no education. This whole detective business was supposed to be temporary. But now that I was established as an expert on the Fae, the money was too good to walk away.

Besides, I did some online schooling and learned that dental education was soul-sucking boring. My current profession suited me just fine.

“It didn’t pan out. I like this more anyway.” I took another sip of my tea, but when I set it down, Kasten was studying me carefully. Shit. Did he suspect something? Maybe it was a bit suspicious I was doing such dangerous work.

“I see…” He smiled again. “Well, tell me what information you need! I’m happy to help my favorite daughter.”

“I’m your only daughter.” I slipped back into our old joke far too easily.

His smile got even brighter and he chuckled. “Indeed you are.”

Crap. I was angry with him. That’s why I left the second I turned eighteen. It’s why I made him move to the human realm. It’s why I was loathe to see him again.

But it was hard to stay angry with him when I knew he really was the only family I had.

“I’m looking for an eighteen-year-old girl. Five-seven, blonde hair, brown eyes. Her name is Marilyn Goodwin, and she can sing. Last seen at the The Talented Wing, leaving with a high-ranking Summer Fae with red hair, green eyes, and a lily tattoo on her neck.”

Kasten hummed. He tapped his finger on the table. “It will take some time. I’ll make the right calls. Why don’t I take you out on the town? Down to that little park we always went to. The hot dog stand there has something called a ‘chicken dog’ now, and I’m sure you’d love it.”

To a regular human, it’d sound like he was getting me the information for free, and it would take some time to get the info. But I knew better. Although Kasten was a lot more mellow than most Fae, he was still Fae, through and through.

His price for finding me the information was to spend the afternoon with him down at the park. Which, in a kidnapping investigation, wouldn’t work. Every second counted now.

“I’m sorry, but this is an urgent job. Why don’t I come back when it’s finished? We can spend the whole day together.”

His face fell. He probably didn’t expect to see me again once I walked out that door.

“I promise. I’ll come see you once I finish this job.”

His eyes lit up. I took my promises seriously. “Then just let me make the calls. And can we chat while you wait for a ride? It will take a while.”

“Yeah. No problem. He walked out of the small dinette table and walked into his bedroom to make the calls.

I resisted the urge to check the other bedroom. I’m sure all my old things were still there. I could see my old things kept in the living room from here.

This was harder than I thought. To see Kasten and not immediately cry in his arms. Cry about how unfair life is and how family should love you no matter what.

I wrestled the sudden lump in my throat and chased it down with the rest of my tea. Now wasn’t the time. I had a job to do. And hopefully, I could prevent another sob story like mine from being told.

A few minutes later, he walked back though the door, a grim expression lining his face. “I’ve learned where they took your missing girl. But it’s not good. You’ll have to be careful.”

“You know I can handle myself. Where?”

“The Summer Breeze. The premier Summer Court nightclub in the city. Lots of high-ranking Fae, and lots of kidnapped people.”

I whipped out my phone and Googled it. Yep. Minimal online presence. Just what I’d expect from a Fae club. But it had an address, so I plugged it into the rideshare app. Ugh, it’d be a miracle if anyone took my offer.

“You need to be careful Sammy. These people are dangerous. More dangerous than regular Fae.”

“I know Kasten. I’ll be careful. You’re the one who taught me how to be careful.”

“Sammy…” He drifted off. “How are you?”

“Well, my clients are going to give a me a small fortune if I manage to bring her back alive.”

“That’s not what I’m asking.” Kasten stared deeply into my eyes, and I could feel myself tearing up.

“I-I’m fine.” I couldn’t look at him anymore. I got up and went to pour more peppermint tea. It always helped calm me down when I was upset.

Kasten silently moved up behind me and wrapped me in a hug. “My baby. I know you’re not fine. What happened?”

The waterworks started in full. I whipped around and cried into his shoulder. “They didn’t even know I was replaced. They thought she was their real daughter. They didn’t want me. I messed up my whole family.”

He shushed me as I continued sobbing. “Then they’re fools. I’ll always want you, Sammy. You know how much I love you.”

I stayed like that for a while. Until my phone dinged, signaling someone finally decided to drive me. Then I wiped away my tears and I took a deep breath.

“Thanks, Kasten.” He pulled away and gave me another comforting smile.

“It’s still Kasten huh?”

I gave him a look that could curdle milk.

He threw his hands up in surrender. “Alright! I deserve that still. Maybe one day I’ll earn Daddy back.”

“Not likely.” However crushed I was, I wouldn’t forget he was the reason I was in this mess in the first place. No matter how loving or comforting he was.

My phone dinged again. My ride was getting close. “I should go out to meet them. You coming?”

Kasten seemed unsure for a moment but shook his head. “As much as I’d love to, the owner’s been waiting for me in the lobby. If I come out, he’ll spot me and challenge me for my position again.”

“Fair enough.” I opened the window and hopped onto the fire escape. As I started my descent, Kasten offered me one final piece of advice.

“Remember to watch your words! Summer Court Fae love to twist meanings! And be careful!”