by P. S. Power
Which didn’t mean she wasn’t going to help him, if he needed it.
She also didn’t let him go, giving him a small hug first.
“If you need to talk, I’m here for you? Karen and Darrel as well, I bet, as soon as Karen can talk again.” She looked up at the metal being, then. “You should stay in this form for now. You probably can’t shift back yet, anyway, but just in case things aren’t done or go sideways on us, you need to be careful. I’ll get you back home.” Even if it meant staying with the metal being for another ten hours. She was a bit boring, but had done her bit for the day.
She really needed to learn to fight. She was a considerable force now. Even being made of metal, she’d nearly lost, against a single Vampire. A powerful one, but still. That would have been embarrassing for her, if it had taken place.
Leading them carefully, she opened a rift and took Bey and then Karen through the hole that no one else could see. Most of them couldn’t. Darrel fended for himself, being able to walk the lines. They didn’t all go back to the Vampire Council House. Bey did, but Karen was taken to the back of Yoghurt World, in Vancouver, Washington. Where she worked.
Clanking a bit, getting that going home wasn’t in the cards, the faceless metal person just sat. Not using the furniture, since that would probably destroy it, as large and heavy as she was in the moment. The noise, being strange, had a voice calling out, from the front.
“Who’s there?” It was Barbara. That she was working that day made sense, given most of the rest of her people had run off for some reason.
She hadn’t been needed to fight or take people around, so it was as good of a call as any, on the part of the Vampire Council. Plus, this way, if the ex-Greater Demons betrayed them, she might live to restart the Council and keep it together. Keeley picked that up from her mind before speaking. The words had come from Marissa directly. That the task of rebuilding would fall on her, Barbara the Line Walker, if the rest of them fell that day.
Keels sighed, smiling as she spoke.
“It’s Keeley and Karen, in her new combat form. Xei needs a place to hang out until she can shift back into herself. Or himself. Whichever.” There was a sound of movement, and a Vampire in the door three seconds later.
She glanced at Karen first, then nodded.
“All right. That’s… Slightly unexpected. Um, what’s going on?” There was a wave in the mirrored metal person’s direction. As if that was the important part of things.
Keeley moved a bit, and settled on the soft sofa they had there. The break room was nearly as big as the whole shop up front. Then, it was also a node room, so had been prioritized when Westfield Mall had been built in the first place. The Vampires had dedicated line walkers now, with at least one Human being working with them in that capacity, so it kind of worked. Early on it had been a good enough place to hang out. Now it actually made them money.
Keeley looked at the attractive Vampire then, and decided not to make her guess at it all.
“Bey is fine. The criminal Vampires all died. Karen was selected to act as the Champion for the Humans who were taken hostage. She defeated Chiang the Vampire in personal combat. He was executed after that, by me. Bey asked for it to be done. Chiang was his son, so…” She didn't want to say that the elder Vampire couldn’t have done it. He could have.
Her hope was that it would simply be simpler for him to take the loss, not having to put the man down himself.
Barbara went slightly wide eyed.
“That’s impressive. Chiang was a big deal, in the east. Pretty close to being in charge of about a third of the world. Karen beat him?” She didn’t really sound doubtful on the matter. Karen couldn’t say anything, so Keeley did for her.
“Right. It was hilarious and really close to being a loss, but she pulled it out, in the end. She gets to have three forms now, as a reward. The Wise Ones voted on it and granted her this power as a group. She can’t talk, or breath, in this form. She also has to take about twelve hours between shifts, so she won’t be too powerful. Just don’t wrestle with her in this particular shape and you can still kick her behind. She’s still working here, so keep that in mind. Really, we should get her a raise, given that. Or a second job that pays a bit more?”
Barbara grinned then, and teased.
“She could be a funhouse mirror in her spare time?”
Keeley nodded at the joke, even if it wasn’t that funny. The silver being could pull that off, given how distorted the reflections from her were. It wouldn’t earn much, but it was an option, if they were clever about it.
“I was thinking a model? That or a call girl?” She snapped her fingers then. “I know a man who’s hiring a secretary? Are you any good at answering phones and typing?”
The silver form lifted its hand, the right one and waggled it side to side.
Keeley got the idea.
“We can work on that? It’s an executive position, not just taking phone messages and being eye candy. You like men, right? Don isn’t hard on the eyes, but he’s a sex addict, so will need to be taken care of a few times a day. If you want the job, I mean? He won’t ask for sex really, but it’s part of the job, if we’re hooking you up with it.” As a woman, Karen put most of the actresses that would be coming into the office to shame.
It wouldn’t be fair to do that to Donald and not have her pay off.
Rather than acting offended, or throwing a fit, the metal person shrugged, which was a fluid movement that metal shouldn’t have been able to make. Then there was a nod. Reading her mind let Keeley know that the worry was mainly about being lazy and not able to answer the phones well enough, instead of being worried about taking some stranger’s advances to heart.
That part had been noticed, but wasn’t a shock to the being at all.
Keeley snorted then.
“Now I just need to find two other Wise Ones who are good with you learning to not sleep. I can get a talisman for that, actually. That will be easier and inside the current rules. That way you can work here as well. Evenings and weekends?” She glanced at Barbara then. “Unless you want her in here more? The other job will pay more, and has some sex involved. On the other hand, it would be a win for your people to have Karen here full time.” She was too powerful not to have someone watching her full time. Now at least.
Before Barbara could answer, people came into the room with them, walking out of the node, one by one. It looked, from the flash of a person being there, like Phillip Hart was the one doing the work on it, rather than one of the others. That was partially true, but as soon as Lenore, Edom and Crystal were delivered, the boy stepped through himself, followed by Tyler Gartner, who was being pulled through by Avery Rome.
Lenore, almost instantly, stepped forward, putting herself between her people and Keeley. She smiled, instead of acting like Keels was there to be a real threat.
“Mistress of Souls. Karen.” Barbara got a wave, showing that the woman wasn’t taking her that seriously. Except that wasn’t the real case.
It was simply that Barbara was her daughter. Plus, lower than she was in the Vampire structure. That meant she didn't have to actually bow and scrape in her direction. That the woman had added in Karen was interesting. Not needed, but polite of her.
Standing, Keeley passed out hugs. Even Philip got one, which was interesting. He was built to be impressive, physically. Also, she was looking cute enough at the moment that he didn’t hold back too much, when in contact with her. It wasn’t exactly her being molested, but it was close enough to that she probably should have barked at him over it.
At least if she wasn’t inviting him over for a threesome later, with Ravi. That could, she decided, be fun. Really, she needed to invite a woman or two over the first few times they did anything like that. Otherwise Ravi would think she didn’t really like him. Which wasn’t true. That part was interesting to note in herself. Phillip was better looking, but her boyfriend was hers.
She hadn’t really thought that they were ge
tting that close, yet. Really, she’d kind of assumed that they were going to break up in a few weeks, since he was basically a rebound guy. Except there it was, right inside of her. She had feelings for the man. After a moment, she nearly killed that off, using magic. After all, it could be used against her, if anyone wanted a hostage.
Then again, Ravi was already a powerful being, having real skills that could be used to protect himself. He didn’t really know how to fight, of course. That would need to be changed, and soon. Along with him learning to use his own magical abilities.
She let go of Phillip, getting him to stop grabbing her behind, and then glanced at Lenore.
“We need to arrange fighting lessons for Karen here. Ravi Pendar, the line walker, as well. I was just arranging a new job for Karen. She’ll be in here, during the evenings? If she gets the job, that is.”
The Vampire woman, the one in charge, brushed at her strawberry blonde hair. She looked young, even if she was wearing a business suit at the moment.
Instead of yelling no and attacking, she tilted her head.
“Doing what, if I might ask? She’s one of our workers here, as you mentioned.” There were nerves in the words, even if that had to be fake. Then again, the woman was an excellent actress. She’d have been in on Reality Wars, except that she was already acting in her own show. She was also a consultant for the same program, since it was about time travel and she’d lived through a lot of the past. Hundreds of years of it. They even had old movies to use, from when she was an actress, before speaking had been a thing in such shows.
Barb chuckled a bit.
“Secretary for a sleezy movie producer. Keeley is even getting her hooked up to do it from her knees, already. Karen hasn’t said no, yet, either.” She smiled at the silver person across the room. “She can’t speak in this shape, I guess?”
There was an interested glance from Edom. He was in a suit. A nice one that was definitely tailored to his body. It showcased it well, in fact. Given everything, Avery had probably made it. She was skilled that way.
Blinking, Keeley realized that almost everyone in the room, except for her and Karen, were wearing things made by her. Even Phillip, her ex-boyfriend. That kind of marked them all as her people. Keeley nearly grinned at the idea, since half of her own closet was filled with Rome originals. That she was being put into a group that wasn’t made up of insane Greater Demons or the new Wise Ones was… Actually, kind of nice.
Almost as if she had a real friend or something.
Influenced by that, a thing she allowed, Keeley shrugged.
“We don’t have to do that. Don Holmstrum needs a new secretary. His last one, Joan, is busy for now, shooting a movie. They both had some work done, so are looking cute now. I figured that we’d want to keep Karen busy for a while. I mean, I haven’t really mentioned the part to her where she’s pretty much immortal, now.” That got everyone to go a bit wide eyed, but she rolled her own at them, in return. “Which is everyone else in this room, too. Vampires, genetically altered people. Me. It’s all the same, don’t you think? Still, we might not want to leave the new kid on her own, until she gets her feet under her.”
She knew they didn’t think she was the same as them at all. They wouldn’t and couldn’t. Not really. Phillip, who’d also been changed by magic to be incredible in most ways, actually nodded anyway.
“Yep. That is so true. Is Holmstrum all right though? I’ve heard a few things. Not all of them were really that good.” He grimaced then, but Avery nodded, speaking up.
“He does like women a lot. I should take Kaitlyn down to see him soon. She mentioned him about a week ago. Not that she can’t go on her own. She just doesn’t have a reason to do it. Other than to have sex, I mean.”
Keeley nodded then.
“That’s a good call, actually. Karen, why don’t you set that up, instead? I think Don has tomorrow at four free. You’ll want to be in your female form for that one. Avery, what would it cost to get a new wardrobe for Karen? Kevin, too. That way there are clothing options.”
She was willing to pay. A lot, really.
The Dragon Shifter shrugged.
“I can start on it tonight? Would it be okay to get some measurements, after you change back, Karen? Also… We should get you into battle camp. I don’t know if that will work with her new position.” She glanced around, with no one else getting the idea.
Keeley understood it.
“Right. Because, Human or not, she’s a Shifter now. A three shape one, at that. No animal form. Still, as a Shifter, she’s obligated to serve as a mercenary, if they need her. We should probably get Ravi up on that one as well. Shape shifting?” She grinned. “Eve can do that one as well, now. I don’t know if we should mention that to them, yet. Or…”
No one spoke for a while, until Avery finally nodded.
“She should come, too. Phil… If Mr. Pendar is learning to change shape, you should, too. I can ask Mr. Hartley, the Human, to teach you that? If…” The word trailed off.
Keeley just looked at Edom, since they were in his embassy and he was the one in charge there. True, Lenore was his direct boss, but the rest of the people, except Ravi, worked for him directly. The man got that, and after a moment, made a face. It was a bit silly.
“That sounds good, if we can afford his hire? From what I can tell his time is considered incredibly valuable, in his own reality. How do we do that?”
Avery went still, for a moment, thinking. It was different when she did it than when the Vampires did. They were dead, so when they went still, it was an intense and incredible thing. They looked like statues, if you noticed them at all. Rome still took deep, even breaths. It got attention, from everyone there. Phillip stared at her chest, which was modest enough, while still being nice and firm seeming.
When she spoke, it was sudden, but pleasant.
“I can go now and ask about it? Then see about setting things up with President Hale, with our new people. I don’t know how we handle that, if we’re sharing? Who knows about that kind of thing?”
Keeley had that one, offering it when the others didn’t make the connection.
“Scotty Laird. He has a foot in both the Vampire and Shifter worlds. Really, he’s connected to enough Humans to have a line that way as well. Out of us here…” She stopped and then sighed. “I guess I’d be the one to ask him about it? He nearly even flirted with me, the last two times we met. Oh, Lenore, that reminds me. I’m dating Ravi and was wondering if you’d like to come and have sex with us, soon? He’s nice.” She didn't add any more, since her asking that was dicey as all get out.
Her boyfriend was Zack. They didn’t play by Human rules at all, so it wasn’t a real problem, except that, if the woman felt she was being forced or coerced into doing anything, the Line Walker would go after Keeley for it.
Phillip made a soft face, a considering one.
“That’s true. I’ve met him a few times now. He really does seem like a good guy. You should at least meet him, Lenore. See a movie or something.”
Keeley hadn’t been thinking of it as more than raw sex, feeling a little horny at the moment, but she nodded. That kind of thing, making friends, wasn’t a horrible idea.
Keeley grinned at the idea.
“That sounds fun. I haven’t seen a movie in years.” Which was true enough. She kept busy, but it was mainly about working.
Lenore made a face then, and seemed to be about to say no. That was fair, of course.
Instead she took a deep breath.
“I’d like that, of course. It’s a bit daunting, meeting with the new Human line walker like that, of course. Plus, the other elephant in the room.” She looked at Keeley then, who got it, naturally. The thought, the fear that the Vampire held for her, fairly poured from the woman.
It wasn’t over the sex or the movie.
No, she was worried about the invitation and why it had come in the first place. That there could be complicated plotting involved was something she si
mply had to consider. What she couldn’t understand was what it would really be about.
Keeley winked at her. The woman simply looked back. Blankly.
“It’s really about the sex. I want to introduce the idea that we get to have sex with other people to Ravi, as part of our relationship. It’s an open thing, but he’s a Human and of this culture. That means, to his way of thinking, that I’m going to be sleeping around, while he’s left alone, watching porn in the night. I want to reassure him that it isn’t the case. Not that he can’t get women for himself, but so far he hasn’t bothered trying. I don’t think he realizes just how popular a line walker can be in certain circles.” That was a bit too stark, probably.
Lenore actually relaxed, since it sounded real enough to her. Not strange at all. Then, she was a Vampire. One with a sex drive now, having that returned to her in a different world.
She grinned, in fact.
“In that case, yes? I’d love to meet your man friend, Keeley. When should we do that?”
The answer was soon, though she needed to get with her honey in order to pick a time that worked for both of them. She shrugged and explained the issue there.
“He works for Division Six, as both an Agent and a line walker. He also has a job at the local grocery store and another at the Coffee Hub. Part time he’s even in the mall here, down at Zack’s.” Doing line walking work, which would pay millions per week.
It was interesting. Everyone else that had heard about all the jobs, including the humble ones, that Ravi had, simply suggested the man quit some of them. The low paying ones, mainly. The Vampires all handled that differently, which Edom showed, with a smile.
“That’s ambitious, isn’t it? We should see if he wants to trade one of those positions for something with us. Maybe down in New Mexico? They only have four people on staff, right now.”