The Seeker's Revenge Read online

  The Seeker’s Revenge

  Shadows of Wonderland, Book 5

  Isadora Brown

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  7. Rumple

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  18. Rumple

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  25. Epilogue: Rumple

  Newsletter Information

  Did You Like The Seeker’s Revenge?

  Acknowledgments

  1

  Rumple was furious. I had never seen him so angry before. In fact, looking at him now, it was difficult to tell that he was in the first place. His black suit was polished and form-fitting, clinging to his tall, lean frame like a second skin. His face was free from any wrinkles, nothing that would mar the smooth skin. Everything about him looked passive.

  It was the eyes that gave him away, those dark orbs that burned fire everywhere they looked.

  Not only that, I could feel the tension radiating off of him in waves. I didn’t have to touch him to feel it either.

  Currently, the two of us were sitting in a familiar interrogation room at Wonderland PD. We had both been brought in through the back, though the detective didn’t book me. I was pretty sure he could have, but he didn’t. Whether that was because I was the daughter of the chief of police or because they were trying to keep my crime under wraps, I didn’t know. I didn’t even know how long we had been here for, sitting at the table, looking at the four walls that boxed us in. Because Wonderland was a small town, there was no special double glass they could stare at us through, but there were cameras placed in every corner on the ceiling in the room.

  “You don’t have to be here,” I told Rumple again, tracing my finger in a crack on the surface of the table. “You could leave.”

  “I’m not leaving you here, darling,” he said in a low, English voice. We weren’t touching, but we might as well be, with his emotions coming out in waves and his voice as soft as silk. “Just don’t say anything. Ask to speak to your father. I’m sure that’ll get you out -”

  “I don’t want to namedrop my father,” I said. I knew it was petty, especially if it could get me out of here.

  “I know the two of you aren’t exactly on speaking terms -”

  “He’s lied about so many things,” I snapped in a low voice. For the life of me, I couldn’t remember if the video cameras actually picked up sound or not. I knew detectives recorded their interviews with old school tape recorders but I wasn’t sure footage had the sound or not, and the last thing I needed was any information I knew to be caught on camera. “He’s kept so many things from me. I’m not going to call him.”

  There was a moment of silence between us until Rumple took my hand in his. “You’re afraid he won’t come,” he stated. “Or, if he does, you’re worried he won’t help.”

  His thumb brushed against the backs of my fingers, and I sucked in a breath. I had no idea how it was possible that he could see through me so easily. How could he even know that? I barely knew that.

  “You need to give him a chance, darling,” he continued, murmuring in a low, hypnotizing voice. “You need to trust him.”

  “He doesn’t trust me,” I pointed out. It sounded petty, even to my own ears. “He’s kept so many things from me.”

  “Maybe he’s trying to protect you.”

  “From what?” I threw my free arm out in frustration. “That’s what I don’t understand. What could he possibly want to protect me from?”

  “There are plenty of things in this world you need protection from,” he pointed out in a gentle voice. “Perhaps you should give him the benefit of the doubt. I understand he’s let you down, but maybe there’s a reason for that.”

  I huffed out a breath. I was sure Rumple wouldn’t tell me this unless he knew something specific that made his words true without telling me everything. Part of me was annoyed that he just didn’t tell me everything he knew. Why hide it? But there was nothing I could do about it. There were some things Rumple chose not to say and others he couldn’t because of deals or bonds that didn’t allow such things. What happened to Mary Stone was a prime example of that. Rumple seemed to know the truth behind it but couldn’t actually say anything because of the deal he engaged in. If he did, he risked exposing his weakness - whatever that was. I was sure it had to do with his family or his home in the Fae realm, and considering there was tentative peace between there and Wonderland, I understood why he didn’t want to say anything.

  Still, when it came to my father, I wished he would just tell me. I adored my father more than anything in the world. I looked up to him. After I discovered that he was a poignant figure in the coverup of who really killed Anna, I left, moving in with Peter. I couldn’t even look at my father at that point. But if there was a reason behind it…

  If there was, he had every opportunity to say something even without explaining. He could have told me to trust him.

  “Just think about it,” Rumple said.

  “No,” I said. “I’m not going to hold out hope that my father acted this way because he wanted to protect me. Look at the mess it made. Some things are black and white.”

  “Nothing is black and white,” Rumple said.

  “How is that possible?” I asked, using my free hand to gesture in front of me. I shifted in the uncomfortable seat, trying to straighten my back. “How can anyone live like that? So, it’s okay to rape someone? There’s a scenario where rape is okay?”

  Rumple didn’t answer right away. Despite my impassioned point, I appreciated the fact that he at least was calm and had the good sense to really think about his answer before diving in and giving one.

  “What if a husband was forced to take his wife?” Rumple asked. “If there was a home invasion, and a gun was put to his head that insisted copulation happened right this second even though it’s clear neither party wants to do it, would you do it? Clearly, consent is not being given because a weapon is introduced to the situation, but you could choose to participate or choose to die.”

  “Yes, but who would do such a thing?” I asked, even though the scenario he gave me made me squicky with discomfort. Because I already knew my answer to that question.

  “There is darkness everywhere, darling,” Rumple pointed out. “This is what your father is protecting you from.”

  “So, you know he’s protecting me from something,” I said quickly, narrowing my eyes at his chiseled profile.

  “I know he is.”

  Before I could stop myself, my mind began to wander back to the time Rumple had gotten me an interview with Russell Charming when I was investigating Rory Rose’s true parentage and discovered a lot more than I bargained for with Mary Stone. Russell not only implied that my father knew more than what he was saying, than what the truth was about what happened to Mary Stone and who truly killed her, but that Rumple knew things as well but was bound by a deal not to expose the truth. Maybe this was wrapped up in that. Maybe he was protecting me. Even so, I didn’t think it was right, not if it hid away the truth and put an innocent man in prison. But I realized I would probably do everything in my power to protect my dad, to protect Rumple, though I wasn’t sure if I could live with myself knowing someone was locked away for a crime they didn’t commit.

  Befor
e I could say anything else, the door to the interview room opened and in walked a detective. I knew it wasn’t a patrol officer because he was in plain clothes and there was a look detectives seemed to carry with them that implied, he did a lot more paperwork than routine traffic stops and other basic reports. He was relatively fit, with a receding hairline, dull, blue eyes, a crooked nose, and scruff that covered the lower half of his face. I didn’t recognize him.

  “Good evening,” he murmured, his words articulate, his tone slow. “Good morning, I guess, technically. I’m Detective Harrison, and I’ll be questioning you about the events that took place tonight, last night, whatever.”

  “What do you think happened tonight?” Rumple asked. He released my hand to place both of his on the surface of the desk, leaning forward in the direction of the detective.

  My eyes widened slightly. I always forgot the way he was, the reason Wonderland feared him. It wasn’t because he came from the Fae realm, though there was something intimidating about the mysterious Fae. It was just how dangerous he could be. And I always forgot that about him because I didn’t see that Rumple. I saw the charmer, the flirt, and, at rare moments, the romantic. Never had I seen him this way, protective, except that one time when Beast threatened me. It was easy for me to forget who he really was, what he was really capable of doing should he decide to.

  “Magic was used against a local private investigator,” Detective Harrison said. He seemed wary of Rumple, eyes carefully on the Imp, though I wouldn’t say he looked scared. More like he was aware of Rumple, aware of what this could turn into, and wanted to be careful before things got out of hand. “And not just any magic, but ShadowMagic.”

  “My magic,” Rumple said casually, leaning back in his chair. “The magic came from me.”

  Harrison opened his mouth and then shut it. Clearly, he didn’t believe Rumple, but he must also know who Rumple was and wanted to be very careful before he outwardly questioned him. It wasn’t that Rumple was this powerful being, though he was, but he also came from the Fae realm, and the last I heard, the relationship between Wonderland and the Fae realm was tentative at best. There was a reason the Red Queen allowed Rumple - and Pan, for that matter - to roam around Wonderland and use ShadowMagic, and it wasn’t because she wanted to.

  “The witnesses said the magic came from her.” He rested his gaze on me.

  It took everything in me not to shift under his penetrating stare. I wanted to, but doing so would practically shout out loud that I was guilty, that the magic had come from me. This was the look he had that got him confessions, hidden truths, and dark secrets. It probably worked on everyone he used it on. Hell, it should have worked on me, but with Rumple sitting next to me, I was much more confident than I otherwise would have been.

  “Me?” I forced myself to say, hoping my disbelief sounded believable.

  “Her?” Rumple furrowed his brow and looked back at Harrison. “You do know who she is, right? She’s your boss’s daughter.”

  “I’m well-aware of who her father is,” Harrison said.

  “No, I’m not telling you that in order to take advantage of it,” Rumple said slowly, as though he was speaking to someone who had trouble keeping up with everything that went on around him. “I’m telling you that to remind you that Alice Winter is human.”

  I flinched when he said the word. I knew he made it sound terrible on purpose. I knew it wasn’t meant to be personal. At the same time, I couldn’t help but be hurt by it. I couldn’t help but react.

  “You understand that that means she’s incapable of doing magic,” Rumple went on. “I mean, out of anyone to blame for the misuse of forbidden magic, you picked the one girl everyone in this town knows can’t do magic.”

  I doubted he even knew the inner workings of what was going on in my head, which was a good thing. The last thing I wanted was for him to think I was feeling sorry for myself when we both knew I was something more than human. He had yet to tell me what that was, though I wasn’t sure if even he knew. Was I still a Seeker, capable of finding the Mad Mage’s magic? I didn’t know, and now wasn’t the best time to figure that out.

  “The witnesses -”

  “What witnesses do you speak of?” Rumple went on.

  Harrison frowned. “I don’t answer to you, Imp,” he said. His voice was still professional, but there was an edge to it I didn’t expect. “The Red Queen might let you get away with not following the rules here, but that doesn’t mean you can talk to me this way.”

  “I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings,” Rumple said. “I expected, as a detective, especially in Wonderland, you’d have a thicker skin.”

  Harrison frowned. “Why are you even here, Imp?” he asked in a low voice. He placed both hands on the surface of the table, hunching over so he could appear intimidating to me and Rumple. It didn’t work. With Rumple by my side, no one was intimidating the way he was. “Why are you protecting this supposed human? Has she engaged you in some kind of bargain? Or is there something more intimate going on between the two of you?”

  Rumple tensed at the mention of the nature of our relationship.

  “That’s none of your business,” I said quickly. The last thing we needed was Rumple losing his temper and lashing out. Harrison was looking for any reason to arrest us, and if he could do that to the all-powerful Imp, he would no doubt get a power trip about it. I couldn’t let Rumple fall into that trap, even if he was defending me.

  “I would carefully consider any words you might have about Ms. Winter and I,” Rumple warned, each word articulate and slow. I could feel the heat of Rumple’s stare even though it wasn’t directed at me. Rather, Rumple was focused on the man ahead of him, watching him as carefully as a jungle cat watched its prey. “Words have powerful connotations. You may not have your magic any longer, but speaking still invokes a spell. You still create your reality with your words. I would consider the sort of reality you want to create for yourself.”

  Harrison gave Rumple a long look. He wanted to contradict Rumple, to fight with him. But Rumple was no longer casual. He was all predator, waiting for the detective to take the wrong step, to do more damage to himself, before taking advantage of the situation. I didn’t want Rumple to do anything that could get him into trouble; he was already rejecting the laws as it was. If he did something to a detective, I didn’t think he’d be as protected as he already was.

  “You care for her,” Harrison said. Awe touched his features, like he couldn’t possibly believe something as that.

  Before Rumple could react, the door to the interview room opened, and in walked the last person I ever expected to see here: my father.

  2

  “Sir.” Detective Harrison stood up abruptly, posture perfect as he rolled his shoulders back to regard my father with respect. “I apologize, but we had no choice but to arrest her. She broke the First Law.”

  “What?” my father snapped, brown eyes narrowed at his employee. “That’s impossible. She’s human. Unmagicked. Everyone knows that.”

  “Sir, we have witnesses -”

  “Did you bag the magic that was used in the event tonight?” my father demanded, crossing his arms over his burly chest.

  I had never seen my father at work before. Well, I had, sitting at his desk, taking calls about missing cats, dealing with his annoying secretary whom I had to ask permission from to see him at all. But I had never seen him as the chief of police, telling his employees what to do. It was more fascinating than I believed it could be.

  “We could run the trace through the Spark System and actually track the person who the magic belongs to,” my father said. “Instead, you arrest the only unmagicked human in Wonderland based on what a couple of witnesses say? Certainly, I’m missing something, some piece of the equation, Harrison? Certainly, you’re smarter than that?”

  “Sir,” Harrison said slowly, fingerprints pressing down on the surface of the table. “I understand she’s your daughter, but we have multiple witnesses -”


  “And just who are these witnesses?” my father said, waving a dismissive hand in front of him as he finally stepped through the doorway and into the room. “Please tell me they aren’t criminals who would say just about anything to free themselves of suspicion?”

  Detective Harrison opened his mouth slightly, then glanced away. I couldn’t help the way the corners of my lips quirked up. I wasn’t exactly sure who Harrison pulled his information from, but I was pretty sure they wouldn’t be good witnesses if the charges against me stuck.

  “You can’t be serious.” My father shook his head. “Well, go on, then. Write up your report. Make sure to list there’s no actual evidence, that we can’t actually keep her here, and that the witnesses have character that isn’t exactly the most upstanding, would you?”

  “Sir, you can’t release her,” Harrison said. “She’s...she’s dangerous.”

  My father chuckled lowly. “Maybe the company she keeps, sure,” he said, shooting a glare at Rumple. “But Alice wouldn’t hurt a fly. She can’t, and if she could, she wouldn’t. As I said before, son; you have nothing to hold her on. Trust me, if I could punish her for the guys she dated, I would have, but she’s an adult and I can’t control her, even if I might want to.”

  Harrison clenched his teeth together before nodding once. He didn’t look happy about it.

  “You know the report will be sent to the Red Queen,” Harrison said just as he reached the door. “All reports that mention use of magic are automatically emailed to her.”

  “I know,” my father said. “That sounds more like a you-problem than a me-problem. Now, her time will be wasted because of your incompetence, and that will reflect poorly on me. So, maybe it is a me-problem after all. Maybe you should come to my office Monday morning so we can chat about it, hmm?”