Dragon's Eye (Avery Rome Book 2)

by P. S. Power

  No one had any numbers for that directly. Not that she knew to call on. Finally, she dialed the number that had come in when Bey called. That got her in touch with Marissa, since it was probably her phone.

  “Hello? This is the Council of the Vampires.” Her voice was harsh sounding, as if she’d been crying.

  “Avery Rome, here. We need to get in contact with the President of the Humans.” Next to her, about five feet away, Calley looked at her, shook her head and then rolled her eyes.

  “No shit. Sorry, I should have done that already. Where is Jahn? I saw him here. Still a Stag, probably. He’s a little slow on changing times.” She was just speaking, but the point was that you needed a Human mouth for English to work properly, most of the time. At least if you were a Shifter. Some birds could manage it, actually, but most of the mammals couldn’t really do that.

  There was an intake of air from the Vamp on the line, then a gentle sigh.

  “So you don’t think this is a concentrated attack on all of us?”

  “No. It’s almost certainly a small group trying to start a war between us, for their own ends. The Greater Demons think so anyway, which means it’s probably right. We should go with that for now. Vaughn is the Vampire liaison with them, isn’t he? I don’t have his number.” She felt silly, saying that, but it was possible she was wrong. That was the name of the right man, but the job might have shifted in the last weeks.

  “I do have that. It will be handled. Thank you, Miss Rome. Are you in a safe location? You can come here, at need.”

  “I’m safe, for now. I need to get back to the book store soon. I think that’s where I’m supposed to be, if I’m not needed here. The mall, anyway. Westfield.” She wasn’t a government official, though it was possible that people would be activated, for missions, if a war on their people was going on. If so, she was in.

  “That’s fine, Dear. May we call upon you if the need arises? We have line walkers of our own, but very few Dragons, for some reason. A bit of a mistake on our part, it seems.”

  She disconnected from Avery after that. Suddenly. Not waiting to see if it was all right to call. Even though it clearly was. Possibly because of that factor.

  Interestingly, the name that came up for her to call after that, along with the number, was Commander Hart. He ran the main stateside battle camp. That was the largest collection of fighters the Shifters had unless people were already activated. It was late, but she stayed on the line, until about two minutes later, a rather groggy voice hit her ear. A familiar one.

  “Hart. Is there an emergency?”

  “Yes. This is Avery. Rome. There was a meeting in Nebraska tonight with a lot of different groups, including us. It was attacked. Military ordinance, jets and attack copters. Estimated twenty percent dead. Kidnapped victims were killed and dumped first. It was the reason for the meeting in the first place, to figure out who had them. It’s Humans, but we don’t suspect any national governments just now. We need to get everyone ready to move. Can we have a battle group prepared by… Call it four, your time?” Her watch said it was only approaching two, but there was a cough, and then a dark sound. A chuckle, she thought.

  “We can. A misfit bunch picked at random, but we’ll have bodies with weapons, ready to go. Are you on pickup for that? I’ve been keeping an ear out about you. I hear good things.”

  That was good to know. It actually made her feel warm inside for about half a moment, until she realized what else was going on in her world.

  “Yes. I need to eat soon. You need this number, so you can call me. I was going to do that tomorrow, actually. Just to check in and report. I’m at the HQ right now. What kind of numbers can we have ready?”

  They talked for a few more minutes, after which, when she looked up, Calley got off her own phone and nodded.

  “That’s a bit advanced. Setting that up from here right now… Then, you just asked if we could have people ready, not deployed. We should probably activate the calling tree… Honestly, we need to… Everyone. Alert everyone.”

  Calley had to run off then, since she actually was the person for the Shifter Nation that dealt with Humans. Personally. It was the main reason for the Sparks office to exist. Thinking of that, Avery nodded to herself. Instead of calling, she jogged to the node, to find that the room was filled with people, a few of them having changed back, all of them shoving packaged food into their faces. Where they couldn’t manage to open packages, thanks to flippers or wings being in the way, Debbie was there, with a pair of scissors, handling that for them.

  Avery saw what was going on then, and nodded. Then she ran out of the room, going the other way. Her plan had been to go to Tyler and Rebekah’s house, directly. Which was two miles from the Sparks Embassy. Where Calley Hale needed to go. She, it turned out, had run off to find Wendel Little, who at present was in control of their entire government. He didn’t live far, and had a phone, thankfully, since it meant that after a bit of pacing and agitation, one of the secretaries who’d rushed into work when called, got in touch with him.

  Then, after reporting, Calley looked around, seeming like she was about to punch someone in the throat. Avery nodded at her, understanding that one. People had slaughtered her friends. Other innocent people as well. They were going to die for that. Even if she had to hunt them all down and do it herself.

  “Sparks. I’m going there now. Debbie is needed here.” That was risky, but she was actually doing real work, making sure people, starving ones that might need to be battle ready in a few hours, had what they needed.

  Calley looked puzzled, until Avery waved at the Human girl.

  “Right. I don’t know her. A… An Otter?” It was a guess, and from the face shape and body type, that seemed likely. She smelled of blood to Avery, but a lot of people there did. Smoke and burning chemicals was in the mix of the room as well. Modern battlefields always reeked of all those things.

  Avery shook her head, and simply spoke, instead of thinking first. She wasn’t a bigot. Not any longer. That was, she thought, finally gone from her totally. That didn't mean no one else in the room didn’t have issues that way.

  “She’s one of the kidnapping victims. One… A friend of mine, Link… He hid her under him, as he was dying. She goes to school with me. A Human.”

  A few people that heard looked annoyed or even afraid, but, strangely, Rutha Samson hopped over, then moved to Debbie, her nose touching the Human girl’s side. That got her neck hugged, being she was about the size of a large dog.

  Calley saw it, and nodded.

  “I get that. She’s needed here for now. We’ll get her…” The Bat stopped, not knowing what to say.

  Avery didn’t either. The only thing they had for her at the moment, was to stay with her and help her keep busy. Then, possibly, find the people that had hurt her and make them pay.

  Calley went with Avery, just walking right into the mansion when they sprinted up the porch. Yelling, at the top of her lungs.

  “Emergency. Everyone… Attack!”

  The screaming was loud and had everyone there coming at a run.

  Then, before Avery could even see them all, Calley started to tell them the whole thing. That had Tyler, who was dressed already, just vanishing. Running away with speed that reminded her of what Eve could do. Scotty and Ginger Harris did the same, but Rebekah shrugged.

  “Calley, can I catch a ride? I’m not that fast.”

  “Come! Everyone. Avery…” She stopped then, since there was a head shake, rather than her running with them.

  “I’m going to be in Vancouver. I don’t think this gets me out of school tomorrow, unless we’re at war.”

  The Bat Shifter, instead of looking at her like she was stupid and insane, which were both probably fair to assume at the moment, given what she’d said, just nodded.

  “Get sleep and be ready to move. Keep your phone with you. Charged. Don’t forget that.” Then she ran.

  That all made sense. Especially the rest part. It f
elt funny, leaving Debbie at the HQ while she went home, but she wasn’t really doing that. Though, looking down, she decided to actually do that part. She’d been naked since the attack. No one had mentioned it, since she wasn’t the only one. Calley could have used some clothing as well, for instance.

  She passed through the mall, using the Alede node, which was fine, since, even though there were people there, having gotten an alert and come in, they were all fine with a naked girl suddenly being present. From there she moved to her back yard, ran to dress, in the clothing that she’d had on for school the day before, then went back a minute later.

  Val hugged her as soon as she got in.

  “We got a call, from the Mages… All those people, our friends, killed?” She seemed bleak, but also very serious, which was odd for the woman. She was always flirting a little bit, only at that moment it wasn’t happening.

  “Uncertain, but… Probably dead. We need to identify everyone before we say anything though. There were only about eighty bodies there. Maybe some of them will be alive, just held elsewhere. I found one that survived there.”

  That got a tense nod, as Robert moved in and hugged her. She was nearly shocked at first, since the man was very good looking, and not anyone she knew, but the scent was familiar.

  “We don’t really know what to do.”

  Avery didn’t either, but Tarsus helped out, since it was kind of obvious to the Greater Demon inside of her mind.

  “Get in touch with any Alede that’s out to the public. They’re probably safe, but… We can’t risk that. I’ll go and get them. In… Two hours. I need to sleep first, if possible, in case I have to keep going all day tomorrow. Can I do that here? Just, under the table or something.” She’d slept on battlefields, with shooting going on, so she could probably handle doing it there. That had only been practice, but it had conditioned her for this kind of situation well enough. Val just hugged her again.

  “Thank you! I’ll set that up now. We’ll move to my office. Let’s…”

  She grabbed some loose fabric to use as a pillow, and focused so intently that the world and all of the cares there, faded for her. Enough to sleep, even though it seemed strange for her not to simply stay awake. It was part of her training. If you got a chance to rest, eat or take care of equipment, you used it, in an emergency. Even if it felt useless at the moment. Anything that allowed you to be ready when the fight came was the right thing to prioritize.

  A while later she woke, a hand on her arm. Looking up she nodded, since it wasn’t an enemy, or an Alede, looking for a bit of cuddly comfort. They’d need that, she didn’t doubt, but it was Catherine Peterson. The Shifter Ambassador there at Westfield.

  “Rome? I heard you were here and about to get up. I got a call from Sparks. The Human government here is claiming that they didn’t do it. Which we already knew. They’re also promising to work with us on this. So, there’s that. We have pickups for you. Alede, Shifter, Vampire, Mages and about ten other groups. Protected individuals and diplomates that need to be moved without being attacked, if possible. Are you up for that?”

  She was, except that didn’t allow for her to go to school that day.

  “I need to call in at school. I don’t know how that’s handled, but it’s my duty station.”

  “I’ll be on that one. I have the contact numbers for that. Valerie has a list for you…”

  Standing up, she felt better than before. Rested and prepared to fight, if she had to. Wrinkled, in places, from sleeping on the floor with bundled fabric under her face, but that was fine. Unlike Humans, she wouldn’t have morning breath. It wasn’t a part of who she was.

  First she needed food, which she found just sitting on a table in the main hallway, having been placed at the very front of the food court area. There was a sign that said it was free to all, so she ate as much as she could in fifteen minutes, then ran back to the Alede node, moving from place to place, not being kind or gentle at all. Five hours later, she got to stop, the list being finished.

  The break lasted for more than ten minutes, to her great shock.

  She went and got herself more food, then, not knowing what she was supposed to be doing next, Avery went to the Shifter embassy. She was a Shifter, and the book store was fine, since the manager was there, working it along with several Alede. Zack was in and out, so it was probably safe enough. No one sane was going to come and create a problem that day. Trying was a good way to suddenly die, after all.

  Ambassador Peterson was at the clothing store, speaking on the phone, along with Ang the Dragon and Keeber the Bear. That was all. Interestingly, the Cat Shifter waved at her, even as she talked, sitting behind the front counter at the clothing store, not back in her office.

  “That’s right. Avery Rome has been running that out of Westfield. A joint project, but she did the heavy lifting for it. This seems to be state side for now. Thanks, Bane. We’ll keep that in mind.” She hung up then, her lips curling up. “The Australian Ambassador. He offered to arrange safe haven for our people there, if needed. We might have to. There has been some action while you worked, but nothing all that helpful.”

  She looked tired, which Avery understood. Not that she was going to be doing that kind of thing for herself. Being sleepy wasn’t needed for her for the moment.

  “I have a meeting… At four in the afternoon. For work. It’s just a television show, but I think someone told me I needed to be there. I can’t remember who said it now.” It was in her head, but looking for it seemed like too much work at the moment.

  The Ambassador nodded, as if she weren’t being silly.

  “This will probably go on for days, if not months. Your job isn’t to sit here and worry each day. That’s mine. Get to your job on time. Keep your cell with you, if possible? We got the reports about the attack. The only thing that stopped it was a Dragon showing up and kicking ass. If we need that again there might not be anyone else to turn to.” She grinned, then winked toward Ang. “We’ll try to handle things though, without you. It’s nice to have the option though, if it comes up.”

  “I can do that. I should get home then. I have things to work on first. Just for tonight.”

  There was also a dress needed for Sunday. For some reason Avery had to think that Bente The Fashion Demon wasn’t going to let a small thing like war count as a good excuse for being poorly dressed. Especially since it was being considered a terror attack, not anything more than that. The main part was that people didn’t know exactly who was guilty yet.

  That was coming, she didn’t doubt. Everyone was working on it.

  Before she got back home, she headed over to Yoghurt World. A lot of her friends worked there, after all. Eve was in the front, making treats for several people that had come in. They were Humans, but seemed to be familiar, for some reason. One of them was Phillip, after all, so that helped her get the idea. Steve was there as well, sitting at a table, along with Lenore Hawthorne. She was talking on a cell phone, her eyes blood red. The Humans were all sitting well away from her, being wise and clever, like they were.

  Edom came out of his office, his face stern seeming. It was actually the first time she recalled him looking that way. Instead of having bad news, he managed a smile after a moment.

  “Thanks for coming in. Not all of the Vampires called will bother, but half of the trainees showed up. That’s impressive. I was just on with the Council, right now it seems like we’re supposed to be watchful, but not take any action on our own. That seems to be everyone. We have teams being built, to handle this. There was a suggestion that we cut all of you loose, for your own protection.” His eyes found the Humans then, his face looking strange. “You have the option to do that. If you do, you’ll be allowed back in as soon as it’s safe. Even if we have to kick others from the program to make room for that.”

  Eve made a face, but smiled when Phillip spoke.

  “I’m in. Do we… I don’t know, set up a watch or something?”

  Eve, still holdin
g a phone to the side of her head, rolled her eyes. That could be about anything, but Avery could hear the person on the phone. They were complaining about blood shipments being interrupted. Finally, Eve spoke. She sounded bemused.

  “Right now the blood will flow. We have farms for that, and no one has even hinted at slowing the shipments down. Besides, if worse comes to worse, you can always do a live feeding. Not that I said you should. Not with high quality blood being so cheap and tasty these days. Especially the animal blood. Ten links in every bottle. Thirst quenching and filled with all the life energy you need in these hard times.”

  What was said wasn’t exactly understandable after that, but didn’t sound mean or anything. The response was clear though.

  “That’s right. I do own the business that makes it. Which does mean that I know for certain that the product and shipments haven’t been affected at all yet. Trust me, it’s a concern, but so far so good… We’re keeping watch on that. No problem… Bye.”

  Hanging up the white device, she growled a bit, but smiled at the same time.

  “Finally. Now, food for the good Humans who came in to help? It’s an eating day, so you all earned it. You too, Avery?”

  She shook her head.

  “No. I’ll get something at home. I just wanted to check in here first. I was going to call Phillip next, but this is easier. I have to make a new outfit for tonight, then… I think come back here and get Judy Swan for our meeting at Krista Hall’s tonight. That’s still on, I hear. I need to run.”

  Avery kissed her boyfriend on the lips, which got the girl next to him, who was in her early twenties, to pout a little bit. It was a playful seeming action.

  “Wait, so the new guy gets a hot girlfriend, special teleportation powers and super strength already? Why don’t I get that kind of thing?”

  It was a joke, she thought, though it wasn’t all that clear really. Lenore turned around and glared a little, but Steve laughed, clearly being up on things. For some reason. Probably due to talking with Eve or Ginger. They were all friends, after all.