by Vella Day
Missy polished off her glass of Sangria, more confused than ever. Before she did anything rash, she reminded herself that once Victor Muñez returned to work, Zane would head home to North Carolina. Not that they’d be all that far apart, but even a few hours separation would make dating difficult—and potentially heartbreaking.
Nope. It would be best to let him go before she became too attached.
Chapter Nine
‡
Tanner nudged Zane as soon as they entered the poolroom. “I think you impressed her,” Tanner said with a big grin.
“You think?” Zane’s heart had yet to calm. His bear was stomping and huffing, wanting to run free.
“Shit man. She couldn’t keep her eyes off you.”
It was Zane who couldn’t get Missy’s image out of his head. She’d never looked more beautiful. Her V-neck top showed off just enough of her cleavage for him to picture what her perfect breasts would look like, and that color green made her hair glow even redder. Maybe it had been the amber pendant that had his heart pumping way too fast. Zane ran a hand across his neck, forgetting that he’d lost his Clan’s stone—a stone he’d never been without. The burnt orange talisman had been his last connection to his world, and all he could think of was that it had to be in the cave, probably buried under an inch of silt. He refused to believe it had been lost when he’d tumbled through the portal.
Tanner touched his arm. “You okay?”
His friend stared at him, waiting for a response. “Ah sure. Do you think I should go back out there and talk to her?” Zane had never been at a loss about how to win over a woman. Now, when it counted, he was acting like a fumbling teenager.
“No. Don’t chase her.”
Zane wasn’t sure that was sound advice, but he didn’t want to interrupt her fun with her friends. For now, he’d have to be content to learn as much as he could about this type of pool and forget the distracting Missy Berta.
Good luck. I sure plan on focusing on her, his bear told him.
Shut up.
Zane used to play quite a lot of pool, but the number of balls and size of the table were different than where he lived. “Let’s rack ’em up.”
For the next ninety minutes, Tanner March showed him the finer points of playing pool. Making the transition to this type of play was rather easy, and Zane actually won the last game.
Tanner leaned his cue stick across the table. “I say that victory calls for a beer.”
“I’m game,” Zane said, happy he’d learned that idiom from Missy.
When they finally made it to the bar, Missy and her friends had left, dropping him into a funk. One positive note was that Missy did seem to find him attractive—or so Tanner claimed. While that was good, looks alone did not make a relationship.
After two beers, Zane said he wanted to head home, mostly because his bear needed to run.
“We’ll have to do this again,” Tanner said. “You’re a fast learner. You sure you don’t want me to give you a lift home? It’s not a problem.”
“I appreciate it, but I rode my bike.” Zane had borrowed a bicycle from Mr. McKinnon—a bike that used to belong to Rye when he was a kid. While it wasn’t as fast as a car, it beat walking.
Maybe he should ask Tanner to teach him to drive. On second thought, if twenty-four year olds on Earth were anything like those on Cargonia, Tanner would be hell behind the wheel.
All during the bike ride home, Zane questioned whether he should have tried to speak with Missy. Had he not been with his friend, he would have asked to have a word with her.
Before he’d figured out his next move, he was back on the McKinnon estate. Needing some release, Zane undressed then took off outside, not caring which direction he went.
While his bear seemed to enjoy the freedom of loping across fields, the run didn’t provide Zane with any answers to his current dilemma. Not paying attention to where he was going, he burst through the forested area and found himself at Silver Lake. Streams were more his style, but he’d take any kind of water tonight. Even though the evening was cool, a good swim might clear his head, especially since the rays of the full moon shimmered off the surface, making it rather magical.
Just as he was about to dive in, he sensed a presence nearby and stilled. It couldn’t be Raymolt, could it? Zane spun around and searched the nearby woods, but he didn’t detect anyone. The couple of beers he’d had must have messed with his head, because he refused to believe it could be someone from his world. The aura definitely didn’t belong to a shifter—that much he was certain—but it was highly improbable that it belonged to a demon either.
Convinced his imagination had run amuck, Zane dove into the refreshing lake. On Cargonia, the rivers were warm, and finding something this cool was a delight.
By the time he’d had his fill and climbed out, the odd sensation emanating from near the rocks was gone. Maybe it had been a sign that he should figure something out soon—or chance being killed.
*
Teagan had picked up an extra sandwich from the deli for Missy because Mom was out on a call and someone needed to mind the store. While Teagan took her turn manning the front, Missy ate her lunch in the break room. Halfway through her sandwich, a knock sounded on the door and then it opened.
She looked up. “Jackson! What are you doing here?” Missy didn’t remember Ainsley’s mate ever stepping foot in the store before.
Jackson came around and gave her a peck on the cheek. “Hey, sweetie”. He pulled up a chair at the small table. “Ainsley told me about Zane being from Cargonia.”
She laughed. “It was pure fiction, I can assure you.”
“I’m not so sure he wasn’t telling you the truth.” Jackson placed his backpack on the table and extracted a much worn looking book.
Missy chuckled. “Really?”
Jackson Murdoch was a fun loving guy, but when it came to history and research, he was deadly serious. She remembered the time when no one believed him about some treasure being buried under where their new office was now located. Jackson had insisted something was there—and he’d been right, but just because he’d been right once didn’t mean he was right a second time.
“Yes.” He flipped open to a marked page. “I know this claims to be part mythology and part folklore, and that scientists will say it is pure fiction, but I’m convinced it has merit. It makes a lot of sense.”
Missy was kind of nervous, but at the same time very interested in what Jackson had discovered. “What makes sense?”
“According to this ancient story in our shifter history, we came from another realm that originally was a separate world—if you will—from Earth.”
“A separate world?” Her pulse sped up.
“Yes. The gods and goddesses were at odds about how to protect the shifter secrets from the humans who inhabited Earth.”
Jackson acted too excited. “Where did you find this book? In a thrift store?” she asked.
“No. It was in my father’s library. I asked him where it came from, but he doesn’t remember, or maybe he’s afraid to reveal its origin.”
She supposed it didn’t matter where it came from. “Go on.”
He ran a finger across a well-worn page. “The gods fell into one of two camps about how to protect shifters. One group wanted to let the shifters and witches live on Earth, interacting with the humans as they saw fit, while the others wanted more control. This second group insisted the shifters be protected from the humans. That meant they wanted the shifters, witches, and demons to live in a completely different realm.”
Jackson had lost it. Having met the goddess Naliana, Missy believed in many deities, but she wasn’t buying into the idea that they would fight over what happened on Earth. “I’m confused. Are you saying there is a second realm?”
“Yes. The gods couldn’t decide which way was best—total control or merely overseeing the shifter world—so they broke it into two realms connected by a portal. It goes on to say that this portal ca
n be accessed on either side by the gods and goddesses or by someone of higher lineage that has been bestowed that power. This restricted access was designed to protect the shifters and demons from humans who accidentally entered.”
“Do you have any other proof of this? I have to say this sounds more fanciful than even Zane’s tale.”
“No additional proof, but it sounds logical. Think about it. We have Wendayans, shifters, Changelings, as well as immortals and gods. You believe in them, don’t you?”
He was being silly. “You know I do.”
“So why not add one more thing? A second realm.”
“I’ll bite. Go on about this other realm.”
Jackson smiled then refocused. “Naliana, and those she answers to, pretty much let the shifters and witches live among the humans as they see fit without too much interference—unless of course there is a serious danger to life. If the gods’ help is sought, they may offer guidance. They want to encourage the shifters and Wendayans to learn on their own.”
“It’s the way it’s always been.”
“Right, but this other realm runs on a stricter premise and must follow more of the ancient rules. Even though the shifters and witches are in a protected world, there are still dangers to them that come in many forms like demons and dark magic. Shifters and witches—many of whom are like our Wendayans—have to answer to and obey the gods and goddesses in their realm. There are many levels of hierarchy. Anyway, guess what their realm is called?”
“Don’t tell me it’s Cargonia?”
Jackson leaned back and smiled. “Yes. The place does exist.”
Jackson Murdoch was an extremely intelligent man. He could hack into anything and had even been able to figure out where Anna was being held captive by looking at a video a few seconds long. Despite his brilliance, she wanted to believe he was wrong. “Did it occur to you that Zane might have read the same book? You said it was folklore. Wouldn’t most shifters have heard the stories passed down by their ancestors?”
“Maybe, but you should ask Zane for more details.”
“He’ll think I’m a fool if I question him about being from a realm closely linked to Earth.”
Jackson closed the book. “Suit yourself. Oh, one last question. Do you know how he ended up here?”
“Besides arriving by portal?” She didn’t wait for his answer. “I have to assume he took a bus or hitched a ride.”
“And then what? He walked to the caves and shifted knowing his clothes would be destroyed, leaving him naked?”
Her theory sounded better than his though. “It’s possible, though not very practical. Someone could have knocked him unconscious and dumped him in the cave.”
Jackson snapped his fingers. “Or he was pushed through the portal unwillingly. He wouldn’t be able to get back without help from someone who held the power to access the portal from his realm. He would need to find shelter in order to survive. His best protection would be in his shifted bear form, which was why he went into hibernation. Find out what you can and let me know. I’m totally fascinated by this.” His escalated voice proved it.
“I’d rather have you ask him.”
“No, this is your story to learn.”
Figures he’d say that. “Did you show this to Rye?”
“Not yet.”
That was probably because Rye would have laughed at him. “You need to.”
Jackson stood and jammed the book back into his pack. “Just be open-minded,” he said. “It’s how I’ve solved a lot of crimes. As I always say, things are not always what they seem.”
Missy stood too. “What aren’t you telling me?”
“Nothing.” He grinned, gave her a wink, and left.
Well damn.
For the rest of the afternoon, Missy tried to ignore everything Jackson had told her, but she couldn’t. She replayed the folklore many times, but each time, it seemed to line up with what Zane had told her. Had she found the story online, she might have dismissed it as total fiction, but two things did seem to be true: one was the name Cargonia. Sure, Zane could have been aware of this book, but the probability of having read the same chapter seemed unlikely. The second was why there were two realms in the first place.
When Missy reentered the main room, Teagan was saying goodbye to a customer. Once Mrs. Adams left, Teagan strode up to her. “I saw Jackson leave. What did he want? Is Ainsley okay?”
“Yes. She’s fine.” Missy wasn’t sure she should bother telling her cousin the outrageous story, but since no one was in the store, it would help pass the time. “He told me Zane might really be from Cargonia.”
Teagan laughed as expected. “How did he figure that out?”
“Ainsley must have mentioned it to Jackson.” Missy explained his book’s claim. “If it is in their shifter history books like Jackson says, then maybe…”
“Just stop right there. Clearly, there’s only one thing to do,” Teagan said with a sparkle in her eyes.
Missy glanced to the ceiling then returned her gaze to Teagan. “What’s that? Ask Zane about it?”
“Yes! This is your chance to go out with him again.”
Missy smiled, but she had no such intention of doing any such thing. This was all so surreal. “I’ll think about it.”
“That’s a start.”
As soon as Teagan disappeared into the back for more soap, Missy let out a breath. Jackson’s visit had proved to her that something odd was going on with Zane, and she wanted nothing to do with him. Gods breaking the Earth into two realms was a far-fetched theory, but not an impossible one. Because scientists had extensive research to show how the Earth had been formed, and there never had been any mention of two sets of deities fighting over how it should be run, she tended to dismiss the double realm theory. On the other hand, scientists didn’t know about shifters, Wendayans or Changelings. So maybe another realm wasn’t so crazy after all.
Why am I even trying to make sense of this? This was probably a ploy by her sister to create more interest in Zane. But why would Izzy be so focused on a man she hardly knew? On rare occasions, Naliana spoke with Izzy, but if the goddess had contacted her sister, Izzy would have told her.
Trying to make sense out of all this was starting to give Missy a tension headache. She needed to clear her mind and not think about it for awhile.
Focusing on work for the next few hours helped ease her tension, and she made it to five o’clock without going crazy. Once the store closed, Missy wanted to go to the library. Mostly, she was hoping to find some other source that either proved or disproved these two realms of Earth theory so she could know for sure if Zane Barons came from the good ole US of A or from some similar realm.
Missy often did research on herbs and how they could heal a person, but she’d never spent time looking around the library to see what else it had to offer. Not wanting to take too much time searching, she asked the librarian where she might find the lore behind gods, magic, and shifters. “I read somewhere about the possibility of other realms.”
The librarian smiled. “That would be in the myths and folklore section. You’ll find tons of stuff on the gods. Come with me and I’ll show you that section.”
“Thanks.”
For the next two hours, Missy poured over the books on the Norse gods, but there wasn’t a mention of another realm being formed away from Earth, but that didn’t prove Cargonia didn’t exist. When her stomach growled, Missy decided to pack it in. While the information had been fun to read, it wouldn’t prove or disprove what Jackson had found.
Tonight she might have to crack open the laptop since it would be easier to search the topic that way. With better keywords, she might find what she was looking for.
As Missy headed home, the irony of her thoughts hit her once more. If she’d read on the Internet or in one of the books that someone could part water, make a vine grow ten feet in a few seconds, and create a storm of epic proportions—like her sister could—Missy would have tossed down the book
and called the information a load of crock. So why was she so skeptical that gods would fight over how the shifters should be ruled?
Hell if she knew. Right now, Missy wasn’t sure what to believe—or who to believe. What she did know was that she needed to find out more about the mysterious Zane Barons and what kind of game he was playing with her.
Chapter Ten
‡
Vinea wasn’t in the mood to talk to anyone. Her fellow gods and goddesses from the dark realm never shut up about their amazing feats, and of late, she had nothing to toss back at them. Prestige in the Ebony realm was gained by doing terrible deeds, and after her stupid sister decided to show off and blast her with light, Vinea’s ability to do evil was slowly waning.
Carnella’s voice drifted over the clouds, and her tinny tone set Vinea on edge. Oh how she hated that woman. Her newest brag was about how she’d seduced some poor human male right before he was to be mated to a werewolf. Apparently, Carnella had been able to transform herself to look like his sweet mate right before she bit him. Now, that was worthy of living well in the dark realm, because when the werewolf learned of her cheating mate-to-be, she ran off. Breaking up mates—particularly those arranged by Naliana—earned a god or goddess a lot of power down here.
What Vinea wouldn’t give to have the talent of transforming into another person and then performing unspeakable acts? But alas, so many of her abilities had been stripped when she’d been booted from the light realm. Through sheer determination though, Vinea had been able to hold her own, but she wasn’t convinced she could last much longer.
“Vinea!” The command made her whip around so fast she almost tore a muscle in her neck. Okay, that wasn’t possible, but something appeared to have snapped—her patience most likely.
“What do you want?” Being interrupted when she was in the middle of a pity party really pissed her off.
“Androf wants to see you now.” The messenger spun on his heels and floated off.