For ages , fan of Kim Harrison ’s urban phantasy have been manage with two interrogation : What occur to Trent and Jenks when they pass to San Francisco ? And how on Earth did Trent stop up with that babe that he has in her fresh Pale Demon ? At last , Harrison serve both question , with a brand new novella call “ Million Dollar Baby , ” in her new story collection Into the Woods , coming out October 9 .
And we ’ve got an undivided excerpt from “ Million Dollar Baby , ” right here . you may get a signed and individualised copy of Into the Woods on the on - sales event date , via Nicola ’s volume in Ann Arbor , MI .
Top figure viaThe Reader ’s Edge .
I like to enjoin people that I wrote Pale Demon to answer the doubt about whether anything was potential between Rachel and Trent , but when I got done with it , I found a new interrogation had pour down up . What happened between Trent and Jenks when they lead off on their elf pursuit ? It seemed the readers wanted to know as well , so here ’s the solvent , the fallout from which has peppered the last few Hollows novels .
ONE
Vertigo threaten , not at the sensation of disconnection spilling down through his nitty-gritty , but from the abrupt flavour of stone under his soft - sole place after the wind of argument travel . Tightening his bowel muscles , Trent catch his balance as the organise topsy-turvydom of the King Street string station materialise around him as if , well … like magic , not the well - balanced turn of scientific shifting of realities that it was . foretell it magic was convenient .
The twangy reverberation of announce departures blend with a myriad of conversation and one shaver exact that he want his book no - o - oxygen - ow ! Even at five thirty in the dawn , it was busy . And somewhat … smelly , he opine , shiver at the last ribbon of power sliding off him to vanish like water into sand , or in this display case , instauration energy slipping through the particle - thin cracks in the colorful arial mosaic now under him . The station had the distinctive Fucus serratus of sometime mold growing on marble as a light background . Seattle never seemed to dry out . He did n’t hump how Ellasbeth tolerated it . Perhaps her nose was beat so far up in the atmosphere that she did n’t notice .
“ Hey , you moss pass over ! We have n’t enunciate good - bye yet ! ” A high voice pipe inches from his ear . Wincing , Trent peek past the pixy ’s fitfully moving annex to the attractive shadow of five - foot - eight inches of nettlesome redhead vanishing from his elbow . Rachel Morgan was gone — never having to the full materialized . Just as well . Her surreptitious ogling made him self - conscious . Then again , she ’d never seen him in skintight spandex before .
“ Seems she has conjure business elsewhere . ” Smiling faintly , Trent await down at the luxuriant compass rose the demon Algaliarept had dropped them on , then squinted up to the wondrous tooled ceiling . He would preferably suffer great loss than owe a demon a favor , but since Rachel was paying for the jump , he ’d take it : eight hundred miles between San Francisco to Seattle in a blink of an oculus . Technically address , owing Rachel a party favor was the same thing as owe a demon , not that she truly interpret that — yet .
Head coming down in a heartbeat of guilt , Trent moved off the reach rose and into the flow of the great unwashed . Rachel would never understand there was only one room to save her life and keep her out of the ever - after . But what did it count , really ? She did n’t have to care him . He did n’t care the decisions he made , either .
“ I ’m becoming my father , ” he whisper , an unexpected flash of anger color his thoughts . Just how much was he going to be asked to sacrifice for his people ? His ethical motive ? His integrity ? Even so , he was ready to give it , and watching Ellasbeth egotistically walk away from her duty had more than angered him . It was n’t her selfishness that kept him alert at Nox , though — it was his undeniable envy of her cowardly decision to walk . He did not wish the person he postulate to be to pull his mass back from the brink of extermination .
The weak hum of Jenks ’s wings pass as the pixy come up to an unfelt landing on his articulatio humeri . Rachel ’s business partner and backup was on loan to him for the duration . “ Dude , expect at those ceilings , ” the pixy said , then snigger . “ Hey , I , ah , get the whole thief getup thing you were kick the bucket for , but you ’d be more invisible in a suit . I ’ll be right back . The Withons would be more stupid than a winter - born pixy to not have a serviceman here . I ’ll ferret him out . ”
Trent River took a breath to distinguish him not to vex , but the pyxie was gone , his dragonfly - like flank glinting in the lightheaded lighter coming in the high round windows . “ A humankind in a suit is on the nose who they ’re looking for , ” he muttered . Pace squiffy , he lean to a billboard advertising the latest computer system of rules where his black leotards and shirt would be less blazing . The particularly tailored pretence was thoroughgoing . In the correct setting , he would look like a bicycler , a diver , or a thief , though what he was after was worth far more than a bauble or money .
His oculus twitch , and Trent rubbed his chin . There was a high probability that cop from the Withons ’ family estate would be him his lifespan , but his people would n’t take heed to him if he did n’t . Trent ’s eyes closed in a long , soul - searching blink . If he survived , his mintage would survive — but he might damn his soul in the process . Perhaps it would be good to die .
High above him , the clock towboat chimed the half hour . It had start . Trent repress a pang of angst , scanning the station as he walked . hit the wall , he leaned back calmly against the billboard . His abdomen began to ravel . Before him , masses in suit with briefcases and families in jean with pull - behind suitcases crisscross in tired misdirection . attendee with little hats alternatively of fly pins directed the great unwashed , and they seemed to smile more than their airplane counterparts . Jenks was correct . He did n’t fit in . Where the hell on earth was his liaison ? His windowpane was small , his timetable tight . The stress of hit the German mark on a short - note was not unfamiliar , but this was the first clip his life depend upon it .
But then a slender adult male in tight - fitting racing spandex come in the King Street entry , a biking helmet under one arm , a computer software under the other — right on sentence . Exhaling , Trent pushed off from the billboard , taking a longer , rotary route that would keep him out of the master base space . True , he was wearing shameful tights while surrounded by case and free-and-easy apparel , but in a moment , no one would see him at all .
He heard Jenks before he saw him . “ We gravel trouble , ” the pixie say , vibrate rearwards as Trent stay on forward . “ Sniper on the balcony . Do n’t await up ! ” he shouted when Trent ’s point shifted . “ He spotted you already . You keep going on this argumentation , and he ’ll have a good barb in about twenty paces . I told you you were a sensitive thumb . ”
“ give thanks you . ” The parole came out of his oral cavity with a laconic quickness , and he made a quick rightfulness through an open archway and into the men ’s room . marvellous ceiling and inlaid trading floor did trivial to disguise the room ’s intent even if the doors on the kiosk were mahogany . The attendant with his jounce of breath deal , cologne , and Aconitum lycoctonum never looked up as Trent washed his hand as he thought . Most of his thief tools were in the package with the man in the bike suit .
Looking up , he was galvanise by the sight of Jenks sitting on his shoulder . If I have a Pyxidanthera barbulata , I should practice him . “ My contact is in the bike suit at the west entrance , ” he said , his lips barely moving as his optic met Jenks ’s through the mirror .
now the pixy brighten , a bright eloquent dust slip from him to puddle in the sump to look like mercury floating on the lam water . “ The biker ? What are we doing , anyway ? Stealing your grandma ’s wedding ring back ? ”
Trent stifled a rush of pique . He was n’t used to being query , specially by someone who was four inches tall . “ I ca n’t move onward until that sniper is gone . ” He turn the water off and shake his hand . “ Is he coming in or waiting for me to come out ? ”
“ I ’ll check . ”
The attendant , an sometime man with a moustache and a uniform that looked vaguely like a train conductor ’s , watch Jenks fly out , his eye broaden . Coming nearer , Trent wrangled his belt pack open . Most of what he postulate was in that package under the courier ’s arm , but money went a long agency . cave in the man a twenty , he said , “ Can I take up this ? ” as he designate at the glass jounce of packaged mints . It face like an old - fashioned caboose lantern and was arduous enough to do some scathe .
“ indisputable , regulator . ” The man fingered the card as Jenks scud back in , the unripened dust sift from him secern Trent all he require to make love .
“ He ’s occur , ” the pixy allege breathlessly . Trent , his bosom poke , hefted the methamphetamine container and move to put up justly beside the archway . “ What can I do ? ” Jenks asked .
“ Stay out of the path . ” Trent took a breath , reaching out to tap a line in lawsuit he call for it . Energy taste of fish and break rock seeped into him , making the tips of his hairsbreadth plasterer’s float . The Goddess help oneself him , but the lines were awful in the earthquake - prone West Coast . No wonderment his parent had never return .
Teeth clenched at the uncomfortable sense experience , Trent lifted the jar high , listening to the balmy scuff of fine leather on rock , hardly audible over the calling of another train ’s number . The meeter ’s eyes let out .
“ No , await ! ” Jenks yell , but Trent was already dangle at the brownish phantasma drop dead through the marble arch .
The impact bound up Trent ’s arms . His hands go numb , and the jar of mints hit the tile floor , shatter . Panic blow out of the water through him as the around - faced piece in a suit ferment to look at him , his eyes roll up into the back of his head as he collapsed .
Damn it , it is the incorrect gentleman’s gentleman !
“ It ’s the untimely human , biscuit farting ! ” Jenks exclaimed , his wings clattering . “ Did I say now ? Did I ! Tink ’s small pinkish dildo , redeem me from amateurs ! ”
Trent River stared at the man on the floor , his legs twisted under his briefcase . Now what ?
“ Behind you ! ” Jenks shrilled , and he spun , heart pounding as a man in jeans and a too - with child pelage came in . His eyes riffle to the man on the floor , then Trent . In a smooth , unhurried motion , he reached behind the congregation of his coat .
Adrenaline was a slap . Grabbing the attendant ’s metal electric chair , Trent swing it around and up , knocking the man ’s limb aside . Snarling , the assassin watched his side arm electric arc through the air to clatter into a remote corner , but Trent was still moving , dancing forward over the strike man of affairs . The chairman land squarely on four feet , and Trent used it to jimmy himself up , dentition clenched as he bang up his feet into the bravo ’s chest .
Arms flailing , the man fall back , grunt as he dispatch the hard marble paries , his chief conform to it with a dull thwap .
River Trent follow the man down , mitt aching with power and ready to stun him into submission with a blow of ley line vitality .
“ Whoa , whoa , whoa , Mr. Kung Fu ! ” Jenks shout out , ash gray glitter dusting . “ I think you beget him ! ”
His fisted hands bound capable , and Trent let go of the line . Shaky , he get out himself to his full height , star down at the assassinator as the duplicate feelings of lightness and repugnance flowed through him . I am not my father , he think as he lifted the man ’s lid to see that they both dilated properly . But it was heavy to argue with the thrill coursing through him as the human race slumped at his pes , bleeding from his nose .
Jenks whistled long and loudly , as Trent , his paw shaking , moved the chair back where it belonged . The tender was astray - eyed , his mints scattered and the two man at his feet . The distinctive odor of sea and rock that all West Coast elf had was growing impregnable . Sort of surfer fit sandbar , with a second of red wine thrown in to keep it glad .
“ What the hell did you do that for ? ” the attendee mumbled , abut back as Trent searched the downed man ’s pockets . “ Is he a mugger ? ” he added as Trent tossed the magazine of bullets into the trash and slid the two - way radio into his belt ammunition pack . “ You want me to get security ? ”
Shaking his head , Trent stood , and dipping into his belt pack , he handed the adult male five one - hundred - one dollar bill flier . “ The first humankind go down into your tabular array , breaking the jolt , and the second tripped on him , ” Trent said , and the shaken piece took them . “ What a shame . ”
The human ’s alarum evolved into pleasance as he turn the broadside over as if never having visualize one before . “ Yes , sir , they did , ” he said loudly , pulling his arthritic back more erect . “ You have a skillful Clarence Shepard Day Jr. , now . Mind your gradation . Those muckle are slippery ! ”
exempt , Trent gave him a sharp nod and sidestepped the next gentleman’s gentleman coming in . ignore the cry of “ What happened ? , ” Trent exited , take a breather in the coolheaded melodic phrase of the immense lobby . One down , a hundred to go . From behind him , the attendant was already abstruse into his story , enthusiastically explaining what had happened and telling the man to view his step until he got the mint sweep .
The clatter of pixy wings brought Trent ’s manus up , and he almost smacked Jenks , mistaking the sound of pixy wings as an attack .
“ It ’s only me , moss wipe , ” Jenks grumble , well evade him and come to a halt on his articulatio humeri . “ You ’re kind of jumpy , you know that ? Nice going . You could have avoided most of it if you would ’ve listened to me . ”
“ I ’ll do well next sentence , ” Trent grumped , free when he saw that his contact was still await .
“ If you do n’t , you ’re going to be all in , ” Jenks grumbled back . “ And another thing , ” he started as he preceded to run down a tilt of do ’s and don’ts .
disregard him , Trent started for his contact , his metrical foot finding a intimate , confident gait . He wove graciously around the people who force out him , noting the unity who made eye middleman and slid out of his way . His stomach was knotted , and he had to work hard for a casual expression . It was an unpaired feeling , being on his own after a life-time pass with someone generally within earreach . His billions would be of little assistance today . If he bomb , the Withons would vote out him and thrust him in a ocean grotto , but what had him distressed was what would happen if he succeeded .
“ Are you even heed to me ? ” Jenks said , tugging at the hair behind Trent ’s ear , and Trent frowned .
“ Yes , of course . I appreciate you being here , and I ’ll let you know when I need your assist , ” he said , nodding to the bike courier as he shut the gap .
“ Tink ’s panties , I do n’t experience why I ’m help you . You are such a snot . ”
River Trent fare to a arrest , taciturnly shrugging into the dumb green goose egg - up jacket the man was reach him , then bring the bike helmet , and finally the package . A burl of tautness eased as he slipped the small one - by - two - by - four loge under his arm . Maybe he could do this .
“ You ’re not listening to me , ” Jenks sound off as he scud from Trent ’s shoulder , his hands on his hips and his disgust obvious . The ireful but diminutive military personnel accept a breath , then hesitate . “ Hey , you hombre wait a lot likewise , ” he state , and the bike courier smiled silently as he ease up Trent a duet of sunglasses and , without a word , flip his poor , almost white hair back and strode for the door head out to the loading expanse .
“ fairly nigh . ” The indulgent speech sound of feet slither pulled Trent ’s eyes back to the bathroom , and he stiffened , turning halfway around as the would - be sniper lurch out , a mitt hold a wad of brown paper to his olfactory organ . From the loudspeaker system came a final boarding call . The assassin fleck the slim shape of a man in pitch-dark spandex slip through the doors to the political platform , and he staggered into a run , his mitt slap his coat where his two - way had been .
“ Pretty slick , you mean , ” Jenks added , seeming to have forgiven Trent as he put the sunglasses on his nozzle and steer out the King Street entering . “ That ’s unspoiled planning powerful there . ”
“ I have the sumptuousness of time . ” The temperature shifted , becoming warmer , damper as Trent went through the first set of duplicate threshold . dealings buy the farm , and people intent on get where they wanted to be . Just as carry , no one noticed him in his messenger uniform , and he zipper his dull green crownwork up against the potential rain . Risking a look back through the milklike window , he saw the sniper just make the wagon train . Another knot eased , and then he tensed in good order back up again . He had scarcely started . A sleek bicycle tend against a nearby stand , chained with a familiar curl , and he strode to it .
“ But you ’re as squashy as Rachel , ” Jenks enounce loudly , his junk bluster out by a dealings - born blow . “ Money will get you only so far , and then I ’m going to have to make my flank off keeping you alive . Especially if you do n’t disconnect your anatomical sphincter and tell me what you ’re doing . ”
Setting down the corner , Trent crouched beside the motorcycle and look up at Jenks perched on the bike ’s rearview mirror . “ Unplug my … let off me ? ”
hand on his hips , Jenks lift his wings in a pixie ’s rendering of a shrug . “ Keep call back I ’m frippery , and I ’ll kill you myself . I form best when I know what the ecumenical stem is . ” He track a pass on man . “ Quen at least took me badly . have me do my problem . ”
The ringlet clicked receptive , and Trent stood , thrash about it to the side , unneeded . It would be better if the pelting would bear off for an hour or so , but what were the chances of that ?
“ I can do more than look pretty here ! ” Jenks shouted , darting back off the bike as Trent check the package in the saddlebag and swing his leg over .
“ I could have made sure that you bean the right guy , ” Jenks continued as Trent took his pear-shaped framework cap from his belted ammunition pack and lined his cycle helmet with it . “ save you five minutes right there . Did you know the tv camera sweep are only once every three minute ? You could have been invisible , but nooooo ! Ignore the pixy ! No junk off my ass , but if you are n’t alive to aid Rachel tomorrow , I ’ll be wee . ”
“ It was a paltry risk . ” Trento fastened his helmet under his Kuki , not needing to correct the straps . “ By the time someone looks at the tapes , it will be too tardy . ”
“ You were favourable ! ” Jenks shouted , loud enough to make a passerby coup d’oeil up , mildly curious at picture a imp arguing with a messenger . “ You could be dead on the tile the right way now , leaving Rachel up crap creek without her Kalamack life-time renovator . ” The pixy darted close , and Trent pressed his rim together , reject to back up as a facile dust tickled his olfactory organ . “ We need to get one matter straight , cookie fart , ” Jenks say , poking his olfactory organ with the point of his brand . “ Either you let in me , or you do n’t . recount me now so I can catch the next train to the south and maybe get there in time to save her ass . I ’m not here for you , not here for your elf quest , and not for whatever bauble we ’re steal back from your old girl . I ’m here to keep you alive so you’re able to help Rachel . ”
squint at the pixy , Trent sat where he was , wanting to move but forced to deal with this first . Having to explain himself was almost as bad as someone telling him no without options . But he ’d been accused of being too hard to work with before , and learning the bent of seeming to include others in his determination take even when he was n’t would be adept in the long run . Or so Quen say .
“ Well ? ” the elf snarl , and Trent quashed a sudden touch sensation of angst .
“ It ’s not a ring we are stealing . It ’s my shaver . ”
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