by T. G. Ayer
“Yes, I knew because I can see through his glamor. Most ancient fae can hide themselves from the rest of the mortal world, and even from other fae, but they cannot always hide themselves from other fae who possess equal or greater power.”
“So you’re saying you’re as powerful as Grampa Gramps?” I stared at her, eyes narrowed.
“I supposed I must be if I was able to see him so quickly. I’m also learning the nature of my powers so I can’t be certain. It’s possible he let me see him to allow me the opportunity to choose to go with him without resistance.”
“What are you not telling me, Grams?”
Her eyes sparkled as she said, “A whole heckuva lot, young lady. But in this particular subject, I’m being completely transparent. We can’t be holding our cards too close to our chests on this. Secrets can be deadly when this much danger lurks around us.”
I nodded, keeping my expression neutral. “And so how did you manage to stop the tornado? You made it go poof in an instant. That’s some skills you got going on there, Grams. Not too bad for someone of your…advanced years.”
Usually Grams would admonish me or give me a glare that could skin a deer, but today she simply shook her head and said, “The honest truth is, I really don’t know. Maybe it was my fury that he’d endangered my family? I must have channeled something because one moment I was bursting with anger and the next I was empty, and the tornado was gone. I wasn’t even sure I was the one responsible until after everything had settled.”
I nodded and then opened my mouth to voice the question, but I hesitated and fell silent. But Grams’ sharp eyes caught my hesitation. “Kai, dear. What is it?”
Giving a morose shrug, I replied, “I can understand why you’d be able to see through his glamor, but how come I was able to see him as well, even for a bit and only through my peripherals. Either way, I still spotted him, as well as his warrior guard. If I hadn’t seen them, your son would be toast.”
Grams’ eyes went wide, anger flaring in their depths. “What do you mean?”
“One of the fae warriors managed to sneak in quite close. He was cloaked in glamor and I don’t think Dad could see him. Even I didn’t spot the guy until the very last minute. I stopped the dagger just in time otherwise right now Dad would be dying, some vicious fae poison eating him up from the inside inch by inch.”
Jaw clenching in anger, Grams said, “I told him not to hurt my family.”
“Pfft. As though he was about to listen,” I said, rolling my eyes, “We’re his family too. One would assume he’d give two damns that he’d be killing his own bloodline.”
“He doesn’t really care. As far as he is concerned, we’re half-breeds and we don’t count as true progeny.”
“And you? Why demand you go back with him?”
“Because they want my knowledge. And who knows? Maybe they think having me as a captive may lure my mother out from wherever she’d disappeared to all those years ago?”
“I hardly think they’d be able to force Trieste out of hiding now. Though, I guess if she cared, she’d want to save her child.”
“I would hope she’d know better. Saving me may put the lives of the rest of her family in danger. I’m hoping she’s not as rash as you or I are.”
I grinned at my grandmother. “This is a lot to process. I think I need time to meditate on my new reality.” I got to my feet just as I heard the whoosh of the outer door alerting to me Cassie’s return. “Are you going to be okay?”
Grams nodded and looked over the door as Cass entered. “Don’t worry about me, dear. I think I will be fine. Although I won’t lie and say I won’t worry that they will still find me. You just do what you need to do and help free that handsome young djinn friend of yours. I think Aisha would be most glad when her son is safe.”
“I’ll do my best, Grams. I’ll send Mom back as soon as I can.”
Grams waved me off. “No need, Kai. Tell you mother that I am perfectly fine.”
“I don’t think I have much of a say, Grams. Besides, Cassie’s medical team could probably help get Mom well faster than any doctor can back home. I’m hoping she’s strong as an ox by the time you two get back home.”
My grandmother smiled, though her lips were thin and her eyes didn’t reflect the cheer. “I’m certain Celeste will be fully recovered. You, on the other hand, probably need the medical care more, in my opinion.” Her eyes glittered as though she knew something she wasn’t telling.
“No time for that now, Grams. But I promise, if I do come back here, I plan on asking Cass to hook me up.”
Cassie murmured her agreement while Grams raised a finger in the air, stopping me in my tracks. “Don’t forget that you still have the armband to protect you, Kai. Use it when you need to. I’m pretty sure it’s going to come in handy more and more in the next few weeks. The Ni’amh need you alive and kicking. So above all, please stay alive.”
I smiled and went to Grams to give her a warm hug. “I’ll try, Grandmother. I’ll try,” I said, chin in her shoulder as I soaked in her warmth and comfort.
Then I pulled away and took a breath, forcing a bright smile on my face as Cassie and I left the room. We strode across the living area to the exit, both walking with confidence. But I didn’t believe either of us was as strong in our projected emotions as we wanted to believe.
Cassie and I had one more conversation due, but that talk needed to be held with three other women we knew all too well. The Ni’amh was owed a solid debrief, but even that discussion would need to wait. First, we had to stay beyond the reach of the ancient, and very deadly fae.
And we had a certain djinn to save.
14
Returning home without Grams was harder than I’d expected. I kept thinking about how she’d cope alone in the vacuum of space, with not a familiar face in sight.
I had to remind myself that Ivy Odel was no weakling, and it was more likely that by the time Mom headed over to keep her company, my grandmother would have probably applied for a role as diplomatic representative on behalf of the Walker Council or something influential like that.
The woman wasn’t capable of sitting still for too long. Which to me could only spell trouble.
I was silent as Cassie led me to the room in which we’d arrived, where a number of uniformed people were already working, gazes intent on glass screens scrolling endless reports and diagrams. When we arrived, I hadn’t noticed much around me, which wasn’t unusual considering I was so focused on Grams and getting her to safety.
Now I understood we’d arrived in a causeway that appeared to be a hub of inbound and outbound travels. Smaller private rooms led off the main hall, and Cassie nodded at one of them as we passed by.
“We arrived in that room. Operatives and high-ranking officers use those secure rooms for private or confidential arrivals and departures. There are private exits leading off each room with corridors only specific people have access to.”
I nodded, pursing my lips, impressed at how detailed the fleet was in their organization. Of course, they ought to be considering they were more or less a navy floating around in the sea of the universe.
Cassie waved a hand ahead of us. “We’ll be leaving through a different departure room, still private, and our location will also be kept secure.”
Through curious as to the change of departure room, I didn’t question it, instead enjoying the unusual sights around me. The place resembled an airport or a train-station, with travelers, uniformed and civilians, hurrying in all directions, staring up at overhanging signs or glancing down at tablets or wrist devices. Nobody appeared interested in me and I knew I felt more aware here than anyone else would be of my presence.
Minutes later, we reached a room almost identical to the one we’d arrive in, except occupied by a single dour-faced officer standing at a terminal and tapping his nails on the screen impatiently.
The moment we entered, he glanced up, stood to attention and spoke to Cassie in their unfamiliar languag
e.
When the officer waved us to a pair of seats on the other end of the room, we obeyed and took our places. Satisfied, he exited the room without a word. Cassie leaned close and said, “I apologize. I meant to provide you with a communication device, so you’d understand our tongue, but I got a little distracted. I hope you didn’t think me rude.”
I frowned, then gave a soft laugh. “Of course not. You’ve done so much for us already.”
Cassie’s expression relaxed in relief and she sat back. “Thanks. Now we can head back and get this show on the road.”
I nodded, still worried about how we were meant to evade capture by the fae trackers, though I kept my expression serene and relaxed in preparation for the transport to the EarthRealm.
We arrived at the portal access point to our world and I was surprised and somewhat comforted by the knowledge that we were still located in Chicago. The transport module was situated behind a Chinese takeaway and the smell of fragrant rice and rich noodles filled the air. I wasn't even embarrassed when my stomach growled so loudly that Cassie gave me a sideways glance.
"You still hungry?" she said, smirking as she shouldered open a swinging door and entered a kitchen filled with barked orders and the clanging of pots and pans. Cassie sauntered through the kitchen without a care in the world and the only upside was the chefs and kitchen staff didn't even bat an eyelid at our presence.
We were almost all the way across the busy kitchen when one of the chef's yelled something over his shoulder then spun, colander filled with steaming noodles in one hand, dripping ladle in the other.
The colander streamed searing hot liquid from the holes while a handful of noodles escaped to fly through the air toward me. I flinched and gasped, attempting to duck both the missiles of noodles and the dangerously hot liquid, but sadly I wasn't fast enough.
The noodles flew straight at me and I spun away. Thrusting one shoulder backward, I swirled into a tight spin, an ice-skating move with my arms crossed and tucked close to my torso. Beyond the oncoming danger I spotted Cassie slowing down and glancing back at me. Her eyes went wide and she shook her head as though to warn me. For a fraction of a second, I was certain she wanted me to do nothing. Did she really want me to just stand there and allow the hot noodles and the scalding liquid to hit me?
Instead, I kept moving, knowing I'd suffer some injuries but preferring to avoid the dousing that was guaranteed if I slammed right into the chef and knocked the noodle bowl free from his hand.
What in Ailuros's name was the man thinking to be swirling around in a busy kitchen holding boiling water in such a dangerous way?
I sank to the floor and skimmed around in a low crouch, avoiding the chef's feet as he strode across the narrow aisle trailing a line of boiling noodle water as he went. I'd moved fast enough, my panther giving me a quick boost of adrenalin and speed, but I wasn't swift enough to escape entirely.
Noodle liquid splashed generously onto my leather pants and I winced in anticipation of the burns. I was an alpha, with strength that could compete with the average ogre, but I still felt pain enough to make me less stupid and less reckless.
Only this time, I felt nothing.
I blinked but kept moving, swirling full circle and surging out of my low stance as soon as I was clear of the knot of legs and arms and ladles and pots. Still holding my breath, unsure whether to gasp in shock or relief, I reached Cassie where she'd been standing frozen to the spot, eyes wide with something like shock.
But her blue eyes shone with amusement and apology as well as she shook her head and put her hand over her mouth, attempting, and failing, to stifle her laughter.
"What's funny?" I grunted as I reached out to swipe away the liquid which had landed on my thigh and shin.
But I found nothing there. My pants were dry, and I remained very much uninjured.
What the….
"Huh?" I said, stunned and confused as I studied my dry palm, before glancing up at Cassie. "What is going on?" I whispered, enough of a threat in my voice to elicit a low growl.
Cassie's amusement faded only a few degrees, though she did grab my arm and guide me through the outer doors to the front of the restaurant.
We narrowly missed a waitress who was too busy staring at her little notebook, probably working out the orders she'd just received. Then we swerved past another older man who was clearing a table and was in the process of walking off with a tray filled with dirty dishes.
I held my breath the entire way through the place and couldn't for the life of me figure out how we hadn't pissed anyone off with our presence in either the kitchen or the restaurant. Either the establishment was used to Cassie's comings and goings or I was losing my mind.
We scurried through the outer vestibule and surged out onto the sidewalk where I finally let go of my breath and said, "What the hell, Cassie? That's living way too close to the edge for me. I'm surprised the chefs aren't racing after us with knives and ladles right now. We almost destroyed their kitchen. And I almost got burned!" I sucked in a few breaths as my tirade came to an end but all the blonde agent could do was respond with giggles.
Damn the woman.
15
I glared at Cassie, my emotions somewhere between furious and exhausted. I sensed the feline elongation to my eyes; aware my frustration had allowed my panther to surface.
Cassies eyes widened and she raised her hand, her gesture almost defensive although she didn't appear to be afraid. "Sorry," Cassie replied between choked giggles. "I really should have told you we were protected by a shield. Nobody in the restaurant would have seen us. And we were also protected by a special field that would reject even a barrage of bullets."
I straightened then, eyes narrowing, panther eyes which I hadn't yet pushed away. "You're telling me I went all ninja-agent on flying noodles and boiling water when the entire time I was protected. And invisible? Seriously, Cassie! Don't you think that's something I should have known before we entered the kitchen?" I screeched, voice high-pitched now, revealing my frustration in full force.
Cassie tried hard to wipe the smile off her face but she failed miserably. "I'm sorry, Kai. I really am. It honestly slipped my mind,” she said earnestly, pulling her long ponytail over her shoulder before fiddling with the ends.
I stood there for a moment, staring at her, eyes hard, though the corner of my lips twitched. I held off the urge to join her laughter, because when I remembered my crazy antics in the kitchen I had to admit it was funny.
With a straight face, I said, “I’ll deal with you when we have more time. For now, explain this cloaking device of yours. I’m interested. I’m thinking my payback should be a set of this magic tech stuff for me.”
Cassie opened her mouth as though about to protest, but she fell silent and gave a defeated nod. “Agreed.” Then she reached out and slipped a hand into the crook of my elbow, gently turned me toward the crosswalk to our right, and said, “The cloaking system is now off so people can see us. And we’re no longer protected so we’re entirely in our naturally vulnerable state.”
“You don’t use it all the time?”
“Only when I need to. On missions or in situations just like this, coming and going through locations where it’s best not to alert people of our presence.”
“Guess you didn’t ask the owners of The Golden Dragon permission to use their property as an entry-point to the EarthRealm?”
Cassie shrugged. “These guys didn’t give us permission, no. But they receive added protection from us against the thugs around the area. They may not know it, but there is a reason none of the gangs operating in the vicinity have come to demand protection money.”
I nodded slowly, feeling slightly relieved at the unspoken bargain. It appeared the Syreen Federation possessed an admirable amount of integrity and respect. “Okay. That’s a pretty considerate thing to do.”
“It’s about all we can do without making our presence known, which we’re sworn to avoid at all costs.”
/> “I’m assuming the Supreme High Council is making every attempt to keep the existence of Av’rith secret?” I asked, knowing now how important it was their secret be kept.
We crossed the street and hailed a cab, then waited until it slid to a stop in front of us. Once inside and enveloped by the latest Metal Bhangra sounds, Cassie held her wrist out and made a show of pressing one of the glowing lights. “This is a sound dampener. This guy’s music should be enough to keep our conversation private, but I’d rather be careful.”
“Interesting. And impressive,” I said, smiling now, at last feeling a little relaxed. “You don’t happen to have some fae bourbon stashed in there by any chance? I could really do with a shot of the good stuff right about now.”
Cassie snickered and shook her head. “Sorry. But I do have a tranquilizer that I’m pretty sure will work on even a walker.” She paused to meet my eyes, waiting only for my eye-roll before she continued, “The SHC has been aware of our existence for centuries. Our people have walked among yours for much of that time. We’ve posed as supernaturals much of the time, but have tried our best to refrain from influencing the progress of the DarkWorld either in technology or in evolution.
“But sadly, the predictions of the Ni’amh have jeopardized that particular standpoint. Our council has been divided for years on whether or not we as a people should contribute to the power of the Ni'amh. But the SHC has stated their case and we believe the situation is drastic enough that our old methods need to be set aside for the safety of everyone in the DarkWorld.”
“So your people knew about the Ni’amh all along?”
“Not really. They knew as much as anyone else did until Ivy and Celeste figured the final bits out. That’s when the spotlight shifted to me.”
Startled, I turned to stare straight at Cassie now. “Do they know about the rest of us?”
She shook her head. “The SHC kept the identity of the rest of the Ni’amh secret. Even from the Av’rith High Council.”