Denied--A Novel of the Sazi

by Cathy Clamp

  “Oh. I am sorry for you. So—”

  He wasn’t really answering her question. He knew that but wasn’t sure what she wanted to hear. “I really don’t get involved in what other people want to do. It’s none of my business. I’ve mostly kept to myself for years, which is why I’m still alive. I have a certain reputation as a hunter and killer. I suppose it’s true, since that seems to be what I’ve always done and I’m good at it.”

  “So you are assassin?” Her voice and scent said she didn’t believe it. “I have met assassins. They are dangerous, and you know immediately. You do not seem like one.” She put her head down and snuffled the next print. “This boot does not smell like boot at Williams house. Did you notice?”

  He did notice it, and had already catalogued it in his head without really thinking about it. But scents could lie. “Did he appear as he did there? In the same clothing?”

  She shook her head. “No, he appeared as old man … white skin with gray hair. I felt like I recognized him, but I don’t know all people in town yet. It smelled like Lagash in air, so I ignore body appearance.” She tapped the ground. “But not same smell in print. It is odd.”

  “That part isn’t odd at all. Not to me. Appearance by magic is intended to change everything. You can’t just look like one person and smell like another. The disguise has to encompass all of the senses to work in the Sazi world. That is why I can do what I do.”

  She sat down and stared up at him again, those eyes far too big for a bear face. “So what I see in your head is true? Each name you are known has different face, scent … everything? Then this face is lie too?”

  It was digging too far inside now. She had seen things she shouldn’t have. Yet he answered before he could stop himself, “Yes … and no. I am Tristan Davies. There is no other Tristan Davies out in the world that I’m just appearing to be. I was also Justin Davies, who everyone believes is Tristan’s father. I lived for a dozen years as the father to establish myself before Justin sold his house to his only son and moved to Florida. I can slip into an identity like other people slip into a favorite shirt.”

  “I see.” And he could tell she did. But she didn’t like it. “So you lie for a living? Like spy? How can people trust you?”

  He started answering before he really thought. Something deep inside needed her to understand him. It was both terrifying and liberating to say it out loud after so long. “Not a spy. Not really, anyway … and I’ve never needed anyone to trust me. I’m the Council’s enforcer, or one of them. There are several of us who hunt the worst of the worst—the shifters who are serial killers or mass murderers. I’m not called up often, so I just live my life, moving from place to place and skin to skin, waiting for the next call to rid the world of another murderer. Either for the human government where I live, or for the Council. Each identity is important because it can get me close to a target. That’s why I didn’t want you to find my backpack. It had several passports inside, more identities than I normally carry with me. But I really had been heading back to Kansas from Canada when Ahmad called me.”

  “And Lagash is the same, changing people like shirts while he plots?”

  That was the best explanation he had at the moment. “I think so. I didn’t realize we were the same, but I suppose we are. I don’t, or didn’t, think Enheduanna had that gift. She was a late turn and not terribly powerful. Or so I thought. That’s why I was surprised she’s still alive.”

  Anica was staring into the distance. She lowered her voice to a harsh whisper. “Then how is she able to do that?” She pointed and Tristan spun. The smoke was thicker in that direction and the natural slope of the land created a small gully that likely funneled water to the lake during rains. Blinking repeatedly to push away the fine film that was protecting his eyes from stinging, he followed her finger to what looked very much like the head of a king cobra slithering along just below the rise, away from town and downwind enough that he couldn’t catch the scent. How indeed? It was full daylight and not close enough to the moon to let her change herself. So either Lagash forced her change, or she really was alphic, or that wasn’t Ahmad’s sister and there was another snake in town.

  He touched her arm, intending to follow the snake. Maybe it would lead back to Lagash’s lair. He leaned down next to her so-soft ear that twitched when he whispered, “You go stay with Bojan and Bobby at the house. I’m going to follow the snake.”

  Her furred nose lifted and brushed his lips. He didn’t move away as she replied, “Then I go with you. Amber say nobody searches alone. Yes?”

  “She didn’t mean me. She meant you.”

  Anica let out a small snort and the snake paused. Anica lowered to the ground while Tristan stepped behind a tree. She replied into his mind, her voice carrying a sarcasm that surprised him, She say it to five people. She does not say, “But no, only four of you must obey Charles.” He is great bear, yes? Bigger than Ahmad?

  Technically, that was true. An order from Charles did beat out an order from Ahmad. But he didn’t want to be the one to have explain that to the snake councilman.

  Their target flicked its tongue and looked around in a circle, which likely didn’t do it any good given the thickening smoke. It was becoming increasingly difficult for even Tristan to smell anything other than burnt wood. His pores felt so clogged that it was like he was blind and he hated even sticking out his tongue to taste the air. Finally, after a long moment when his muscles tensed and readied for a fight if necessary, the snake continued on.

  He put a hand on Anica’s shoulder and pressed down. Stay here. He let out a soft hiss to try to press home the point that he was in charge, but Anica wasn’t impressed. She just blinked and sniffed, and shook off his hand, then started to carefully pad through the trees after the snake, keeping just out of sight. He could put her in a hold, but she’d be defenseless unless he carried her along.

  He thought back to them talking earlier. How was it possible the snake didn’t know they were there? The woods were mostly silent except for the distant crackling of the fire. I think we’re being led into a trap.

  Anica tipped her head, an acknowledgment that was completely devoid of fear. He found that both refreshing and disturbing in someone so young. It reminded him a great deal of himself, as well as his grandniece, Asri. No wonder Bobby was enchanted by this little bear. And maybe not just Bobby.

  Possibly. But why bother to lure us somewhere more remote that could not be done here?

  It was a good point.

  By the time they walked to a point where they could remain hidden but still see into the gully, the snake had disappeared up into the rolling clouds of smoke that seemed to be settling here from higher up the mountain. It was getting harder to breathe shallowly enough that he didn’t cough.

  He shook his head and touched Anica’s shoulder to stop her from starting into the narrow water pathway. If we follow into the heavy smoke, we’ll start coughing and become an easy target for the cobra to spit poison before we can see it.

  Anica paused, considering. Then she sighed. It is good advice. But I hate getting so close and then walking away.

  He understood completely. Still, I would rather walk away than give away every advantage in a fight.

  She nodded and turned away from the gully while he watched the smoke carefully, looking for any movement in the swirling white wall. By extending his magic just a touch, he was able to tie himself to her so that she could watch forward and he could keep facing the gully to watch their backs until they got to clearer air.

  He stopped abruptly when she did, her body suddenly tense, nearly vibrating. Another snake. This one is not cobra. He turned, following where she was gesturing with her nose. He caught just the tail of a second snake heading into the smoke. This tail had circular rings and a row of rattles.

  We need to get back to town. Now. Two against one was decent odds with a snake. Two against two was not. He needed to talk to Bobby and possibly Ahmad. He didn’t know of any rattler
s who lived in Washington, so either this was one of the firefighters, or something Lagash had been planning was beginning.

  This time, she didn’t hesitate. I must clean my nose. My eyes are not as good. I should have smelled snake before I saw.

  He should have too and he wondered why even now he couldn’t smell it. Sazi rattlers had a very distinct odor, like cucumbers soaking in vinegar. He should be able to smell it over the smoke. That he couldn’t, even when he tried, bothered him.

  A lot.

  CHAPTER 21

  Anica was never so glad to get inside solid walls. After meeting up with Bobby and Bojan, they decided to go to the apartment building instead of the Petrovics’ home. Rachel had showed her the defenses the building had, and she made sure the bars were locked on the outside windows and doors before she went in. She took a sniff downstairs, toward the laundry room, but smelled no snakes. She even locked that door, just to be safe.

  Her own house didn’t have a basement, or many tools. But the apartment building did, and she supposed snakes would know how best to fight other snakes. Anica helped Bojan take Scott to finish his healing in his own apartment. She encouraged Bojan to try to get some sleep as well. Her exhausted brother could barely stand while giving her a warm hug and promising to rest. Then Anica had retreated to Rachel’s apartment. Thankfully, the key in her pocket hadn’t come out during her swim or when she’d shifted out of her clothes.

  Tristan had wanted to talk to Bobby privately, and while a part of her understood they were both police and had many things to discuss, they were also both snakes and having even more of them in town was making her increasingly uneasy.

  Too, she was worried about Papa and Rachel and the others, but her cell phone had no signal, so she could not check. Neither of the snakes had offered to let her use theirs and she was reluctant to draw attention to herself by asking.

  Walking through the town had felt very strange with nobody there. What remained of the diner smoldered, with only one partial wall still standing. The windows of the post office had shattered, leaving blackened glass in a wide arc around the building. Polar Pops was untouched, but Skew was nowhere to be found. Yet all the mousetraps and their projectiles had been removed. Paula and the cook remained at peace in the freezer in the basement, their skin a chalky white, with the dull red of her neck wounds.

  Why nothing else burned was a mystery, but Anica was glad most of the town had been spared.

  Her stomach growled audibly as she locked the door behind her. She leaned on the door for a moment, closed her eyes, and sighed. She was emotionally and physically wrung out and she stank of smoke. She tried to decide which need to fill first.

  The gurgling noises from her stomach made the decision for her. It had been hours since the light breakfast Rachel had made. She grabbed a tissue from a box on the kitchen counter and blew black goo from her nose as she walked to the refrigerator. It took two more blows before she could start to smell anything other than burnt wood and grass.

  A lower shelf held a package of sliced turkey and one of sliced cheese. A half loaf of bread sat in a clear plastic container next to the stove. The sight of her fingers, black with soot against the bright yellow of the meat package, forced her to stop.

  Streaks of black turned into gray bubbles under the running water from the sink as she soaped her fingers and nails and then her hands until there was a clean line to her wrists and she at least felt like she wouldn’t be eating ash.

  The first bite of sandwich dispelled that idea, reminding her that her nose wasn’t the only thing that was clogged. She spit out the gritty bread, then put the sandwich down on a paper towel. A glass of water helped clear her mouth, especially when she swirled it around and spit into the sink. She wondered about brushing her teeth as well, then decided to do that later. She drank a second glassful of water before returning to her sandwich.

  A knock on the door made her wary, but a quick sniff from her newly cleaned nose identified the visitors as Tristan and Bobby. She walked across the living room, sandwich in hand, and noticed a dark print on the white paint from her butt and shoulders when she’d leaned. She sighed and opened the door. After swallowing another amazingly tasty bite of the simple fare, she asked, “Is there any more sign of the snakes?”

  They both shook their heads. Bobby’s face was sour as he said, “Nothing. But I can’t smell for shit through all the smoke.”

  Standing back to let them pass, she closed and locked the door behind them. Noticing them staring longingly at her sandwich, Anica waved them toward the kitchen. Rachel’s apartment wasn’t her home, so she didn’t feel compelled to treat them as guests and prepare a meal. “Please. Eat. And thank Claire when you see her next. She filled the icebox just this morning.”

  She decided to sit down on the couch instead of the chairs, since it wouldn’t show the soot as badly. Closing her eyes, she relaxed to the homey sounds of running water, clinking cutlery and plates. A shaking, crunching sound made her open them. Tristan was holding out a bag of chips, offering her some. She had no plate but took a handful anyway. He sat down beside her and put a glass of milk on the table in front of her, which would be the perfect complement to the turkey once she had a free hand.

  They ate without speaking, the men each devouring two sandwiches to her one, along with a half-dozen pickles that she’d forgotten were in the door of the refrigerator.

  “Oh, man, I needed that. And I normally don’t even like turkey,” Bobby said, leaning back in the dark brown chair that seemed too small for his big frame.

  Tristan nodded. “I do like turkey, so my tongue is very happy.” He bumped her with his shoulder. “You look exhausted, Anica. Why don’t you get some sleep? We’ll keep watch. We all need some rest before we start hunting snakes.”

  She’d known one of the risks of stopping, after all the events of the day, would be that her body would refuse to move again. She could barely keep her eyes open, so she just nodded. “Shower first, then bed.”

  Tiredness showed in Bobby’s movements as he stood. “I’ll take first watch.” He grabbed a chair from the kitchen table and carried it to the door. “This should be uncomfortable enough to keep me awake in the hallway. Any chance there’s a phone charger around? I should probably call Asri and a few other people.”

  “I think there is charger in kitchen, but I do not know for what phone.” She tried to remember where she’d seen Rachel put the phone cord. After rummaging around in several drawers in the kitchen, she’d found several with different connector ends, and brought them out for Bobby. “Will one of these fit?”

  The third one did. “Now I just have to find an outlet in the hallway. I think there’s one by the stairs, which isn’t a bad spot to keep watch and talk.”

  “I had no signal, so I don’t know who you can talk to.”

  He held up his phone and smiled, confirming what Tristan had said. “Satellite phone. Doesn’t rely on towers. As long as our eye in the sky isn’t hit by a meteor, I’ll have a signal.” He waved the charger. “Reliable electricity is our real challenge.” Carrying the metal and vinyl-padded chair, he left. When the door shut, a tension she’d forgotten returned. Tristan was watching her—she could feel his gaze like pressure against her skin, smell the spice that seemed to intensify with desire.

  “Do you mind if I shower first? I am very … itchy.” Anica’s voice caught and she coughed, suddenly uncomfortable. She realized that she wanted to shower with him, to feel the pounding water against her skin as he touched her and she touched him. But the images in her mind were of looking down at her under the water. That was when she realized the door in her head had slipped open. She wasn’t sure whose thoughts she was thinking. Should I close the door or leave it open?

  She looked at Tristan. His hands were balled into fists and a fine trembling made his skin vibrate. His blue eyes were panicked. He didn’t look like a man who wanted to be thinking what he was. She turned away, walked down the hallway, and felt his eyes scan
ning her body as she did. He’d seen her nearly naked, yet had been a gentleman. Part of her wanted to tease him, but she didn’t wish to make his desire worse.

  Or did she? Choice. What happens next must be my choice. And his. But I have decided. He is a good man.

  That was part of what she’d talked to Tuli about earlier. Good men. “Ris can be good. Of course, I’ve only known him for bits and pieces of time. You have to realize he’s lived a long life, for many centuries. As have I. I’ve only run into him from time to time, in different eras.” The snake shifter had paused, seeming to really consider the question.

  “I’ve seen him be a warrior and a leader who has inspired people. The people he has chosen as underlings have had talent and brains. He has come to trust Ahmad and has supported and followed him even when that wasn’t easy. I’ve watched him protect lesser beings and be angry at injustice. But … like many warriors and leaders, my husband included, Ris can sometimes be an ass—thoughtless, impatient, callous.

  “He can be dangerous, and can kill without emotion. I’ve seen him relish the death of an enemy, but I’ve also seen pain in his eyes when an innocent suffers. He is not always kind, but he can be. Yes, very much like Ahmad, now that I think of it. I believe he has loved, but has never mated before. So I really don’t have any idea how he’ll manage being mated to someone so young.”

  “I’m not that young. I’m twenty-four.”

  Tuli had laughed, a light chuckle. “Once you’ve added a zero to the back of that, we’ll talk again.”

  Two hundred forty? Was that even possible? “Could I live that long? Truly?”

  “With Ris mated to you? Absolutely. You’ll gain a tremendous amount of power just from his magic and if you’re double mated—which you likely won’t find out until you have sex with him—you’ll gain even more. By the way, if you’re double mated you won’t be able to resist having sex. You’ll want him so badly, your skin will hurt. You won’t be able to stop thinking about it, even at times when you shouldn’t.”