by K J Carr
“Are you okay?” Inias asked. I lowered the dagger and shook my head.
He opened the door and put out his hand. I grabbed it and he pulled me into him. I tried to make sure the bloody dagger didn’t touch him, but he didn’t seem to care.
Inias hugged me. I don’t recall anytime during our five years of training when he had actually hugged me. I tucked my nose into his shirt and breathed in deep, my arms around him as tight as I could, despite the fact I was holding a sharp weapon. He put his chin on the top of my head. I could smell the ocean on him, mixed with sage. A strange combination that fit him perfectly. His arms were solid, and I felt safe for the moment.
Until I remembered I was holding a bloody dagger and he was in one of my favorite shirts – a black silk one. Inias didn’t wear black often, but when he did, it contrasted amazingly with his white-blond hair and his pale blue eyes.
I let go slowly, pulling my arms wide.
As my arms went out straight at my sides, he smoothly slid his hand down from my elbow to my wrist, and then over my hand to pull the dagger out of mine. With his other hand, he grasped my hand and pulled me from the stall.
It was a dance. A graceful dance. One where Inias disarmed me and moved me to where he wanted me. Being somewhat in shock, I was willing to go with him.
I was amazed no one else had come in here. Inias moved us toward the sinks and got a paper towel, wetting it in order to wipe down the blade. Once that was done, he handed it back to me.
I silently put it into my boot sheath. It meant pulling up my skirt a little, but I wasn’t thinking about the fact I was flashing the man. On his part, he was all professional, turning to grab more towels and wetting them. Once I stood straight again, he handed them to me, indicating that I should clean my face.
Looking to the right of his shoulder, I stared at my face in the mirror. I didn’t recognize myself. My eyes were too large, too dark. My skin looked pulled tight across my cheekbones. There were a few dots of red on one side of my face that didn’t belong.
Inias gently took the towels from my limp fingers and wiped the spots away. They were wet and cold, but the coldness snapped me out of my shock.
“Thanks.” My voice was soft. I took one last look in the mirror, grimaced, and then turned towards him.
He checked my sweater for blood. Somehow, I didn’t get any on me. Given my skirt was black, I couldn’t tell if there were any drops there.
I glance around. “The body?” My stomach rolled.
“Already taken care of.” He turned me towards the door, his hand on my lower back. I wondered about the head, but when I glanced towards the stall, I didn’t see it. I must have seriously been out of it since I hadn’t been aware that someone had entered the bathroom and had cleaned it up for us.
I could only guess that they had teleported in and then back out with the body. That would have been the fastest way to get rid of it.
I stopped, halfway out the door, turning my head towards him. “Blood?” My voice was faint.
“Gone as well.”
I wondered briefly at how they had done that so quickly, but then decided I just didn’t care.
Inias touched my forehead gently.
“This is only to ease the memories for now, Nica. So we can get through dinner.”
I knew he had fuzzed what had happened. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I raged. Here and now, though, I just calmly thanked him.
He guided me back to our table. Enoch stood, studying me intently. I suspected that Inias had mentally told both men what had happened.
“Here, Nica.” Enoch pulled out a chair next to him for me. I sat, and he pushed me in slightly, before sitting once more. Inias sat on the other side of me, with Ridwan facing me.
“Not quite how I thought dinner would go.” Ridwan mumbled. Enoch shot him an irritated glance.
I saw a glass of scotch in front of me. I picked it up, smelling it. Nectar d’Or. My favorite and just what I needed now. I took a large sip, feeling the burn as it went down, the aftertaste lingering on my tongue. Lemon zest, white chocolate and spices. I started to feel more in my body, as I took another smaller sip.
Enoch nodded. I must have started to look better.
Except he didn’t know that as I felt more, the rage burned hotter.
The waiter came by and we placed our orders. Once he left, Enoch started speaking, talking about seemingly random topics.
“I was talking with the team up North. It appears they communicate with Chlarms regularly and the little daemons are a good source of information.” He paused to take a bite of buttered bread.
Well, duh. T’Koran has helped me many a time. Enoch knew this, as well. I wasn’t sure where he was going with this.
He continued. “While none communicate with them like our dear Nica does, they have figured out how to speak to them a little in their own language. I have been learning some of the words.”
Ridwan and Inias sat up a little straighter.
“Interesting.” Ridwan took a sip of his beer.
“It has been. Unfortunately, those Chlarm appear to be too far away from the high daemon activity. Achilah or his cronies haven’t interacted with them directly at all. They hear whispers, but nothing of substance.”
I looked down at my plate, not wanting Enoch to read my face. I was betting those daemons knew more than they were telling. But what incentive did they have to help the Tennins? They could probably feel the disgust the Tennins felt for them from a mile away.
I also had a feeling I knew where this was going. I wasn’t going to be the one to bring it up, though, so I waited. Enoch didn’t keep me waiting long, bless his little heart.
“Nica, I would like to talk with T’Koran. See what he may know. He has run into Achilah and probably knows a lot more about what is going on.” If his tone was as arrogant when he talked to TK as it was now, I knew he would get nowhere.
I decided to make my position known right from the start. “T’Koran is his own person. I suggest you ask for his help, not demand it. Do not threaten him, either. He can decide to help you, or he may not. I cannot tell you what he will do or say.”
Ridwan looked worried, but Inias had on his typical poker face. Enoch, though, flashed a look of extreme irritation at me before covering it up with his mask of indifference. Once seen, though, it couldn’t be unseen.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t going to back down on this. I was not going to betray the little guy.
“You cannot convince him, even if it is your life that might be in danger?”
I leaned back in my chair and gave him my look of indifference. My rage turned instantly to icy calm.
“I guess I could convince him, if I asked,” I stated with emphasis. “He would probably tell me because he likes me, since I am not trying to use him like a piece of fluff. But I am not asking him, you are. I don’t speak daemon.”
Luckily, the waiter chose that moment to bring our plates. My steak looked wonderful, except I had lost my appetite. I did take a small bite of it, to make sure he saw how much I appreciated it.
The bastard was playing a game I didn’t like, and I wasn’t yet sure how this would end.
He looked down at his seafood pasta and started with a mussel. Ridwan had also gotten steak, while Inias was, interestingly enough, eating meatloaf.
Before Enoch could start up again, I turned to the blond Tennin. “Meatloaf? I wouldn’t have thought you a meatloaf kind of guy, Inias. How is it?”
He took a bite, chewing slowly, savoring. “Meatloaf is basic food, Nica. It is a food of the people. What someone might make if they have lots of meat and few vegetables…with something to bind it all together. I grew up on meatloaf. This one always reminds me of my mother’s.” He went back to eating.
Ridwan reached across the table and tapped my chin. “Close your mouth. Better yet, fill it with some of this excellent meat.” He smirked, lifting his fork, the juices from his steak dripping back down onto his plate.
Inias was common? I would have bet he had been royalty! I started to ask, but Ridwan interrupted me.
“Don’t. You should know by now that not everything is like it appears.” He pointed his fork at Inias. “Common peasant.” Now it pointed back at his own chest. “Bastard son of someone who was basically royalty. Or at least very, very rich.” He paused for a minute and then shrugged, pointing at Enoch. “Eldest son of a Viking.” He then used that fork to eat a heaping forkful of his baked potato.
I shook my head. “From pirate heathen to General Bastard.” I mumbled, knowing the general could hear me.
Ridwan choked, seizing his glass of water. He swallowed and then chased the food with a gulp of water. “Good one, Nica.” He chuckled.
Enoch just ignored us, eating his way through scallops, shrimp, mussels and a lobster tail.
I twitched my lips into a slight smile, putting down my fork. I was done for now. This steak, though, would make a nice addition to eggs in the morning. Or perhaps I would put it on a salad for lunch.
Enoch did notice that I hadn’t eaten much, even though he wasn’t looking at me. “Done?”
“Tonight has sort of been an appetite-killing night, Enoch.” I stated dryly, while giving him the fish-eye. I mean seriously? It’s not every night one gets attacked in the bathroom, sees the attacker killed in said bathroom, and then get pressured to turn on one of their best friends.
I was wondering why I had decided to transition again.
Wait! Of course, I had little choice, given that Achilah was hunting for me.
Okay, so I was also hoping to be the voice for true Justice, but I wasn’t quite sure how I would do that. I leaned back and sighed, pushing my hair out of my face. My anger had died down, but the angst was still there.
“Gentlemen, I am tired and need some sleep. This working full time, then training for hours, followed by trying to see my best friend and my brother sometime in between it all has been grueling.”
Inias put his fork down. His plate was basically clean, outside of a few pieces of broccoli. “I have been meaning to talk to you about that, Nica.”
I raised my eyebrows. I had always wanted to be able to raise just one, like all the cool guys do, but for some reason the other one always comes along for the ride. “Yes?”
He turned to me slightly. “We need to up your training. We think Achilah is going to come after you again soon. There has been increased activity in the daemon world.” He paused, knowing I wouldn’t like what he had to say next. “You are sixty-five and can easily retire. Perhaps it’s time you did so.”
And yet, there it was. He just had to say it. It didn’t seem to matter that I wouldn’t like it. I glared at him. This was just the cherry on the shit sundae.
“Dessert?” Ridwan interrupted.
The waiter showed up then and I pointed to my plate. “To go, please.”
No one else had anything left, so he cleared the rest and left to box up my dinner.
“You are going to dictate another aspect of my life?” I wasn’t yelling yet, but I was obviously pissed. This transition thing has taken all control away from my life. I had to train, had to transition, and now must retire early as well? I always saw myself as working into my seventies.
The men all looked warily at each other and then me.
“This is a problem…why?” Ridwan said quietly.
“Because this is another piece of my life which I have lost control over!” Okay, I was officially shouting. Luckily, we were in a private room, with a privacy ward around it.
I so wanted to walk out, but after the bathroom incident, I was just a tad afraid of leaving by myself.
“Aren’t you being a bit emotional here, Nica?” Enoch calmly wiped his mouth with his cloth napkin before placing it on the table.
With those words, my temper ignited.
Ridwan’s eyes widened and he started to stand. Unfortunately, they forgot I could teleport.
I decided it was the better option than punching Enoch in the face. I went home.
∞∞∞
“I swear I am going to punch him one of these days!” I fumed to TK as I got ready for bed.
He was curled up on my bed, on a pillow that had become his pillow since he had followed me home.
I continued. “I wish there was a ward I could put up to keep him and the twins out of my house right now.”
There is. T’Koran raised his head, studied me for a minute, and then put his head back down. But you cannot place it yet.
“Yet?” That stopped me for a minute, contemplating about what he said.
Not yet, Nica. Wait perhaps six more months. He yawned, showing a mouth full of sharp teeth. He closed his eyes.
“Huh.” I went into my bathroom to brush my teeth.
I didn’t know what he did all day, but he appeared to be busy. I know he made regular trips back to the daemon world, but he also disappeared here on Earth. I wondered if there was a community of Earth Chlarm daemons living nearby.
I walked back into my bedroom to ask him, but he was snoring softly.
I hoped that El wouldn’t want to talk today. I was all talked out.
El did call me, trying to get me to come over. For the first time, I found I could shut that door in my mind and then ignore her. And I proceeded to do just that. I knew I would have to apologize later, but tonight, I was staying in my bed and getting some well-earned rest.
Chapter 9
Nothing like a “Hey, take tomorrow off from training” to start the day off right. I guess my tantrum the other night made them realize that I was walking a very narrow line right now.
The fact I could go home, make dinner, and watch a movie with TK was a relief. It was about as normal a night I could have, and yet, it didn’t feel like my life any more. I guess what was normal had changed over the last few years.
I was getting ready for bed when my phone rang. Picking it up, I glance at TK, who had sat up suddenly, somehow projecting a worried look on his face. Concentrating more on him, I greeted the caller.
“Hello?”
“Is this Jennica Maykis?” The voice was deep, but harsh. Not someone I knew, in any case.
“Speaking.” I watched TK jump off the bed and disappear downstairs. I frowned.
“My name is Thomas Price. I work for the New Hampshire State Police. There has been an accident, a car accident, and your brother has been taken to the hospital.”
My legs gave out underneath me and I slid to the floor beside my bed.
“Marcus?” My voice was quiet.
“Yes, I’m sorry. He is in critical condition, I have been told.” The voice – the man – was now filled with empathy. I am sure this was a call they hated to make. I know I hated to receive it.
My brain suddenly focused. “Thank you. Can you tell me what happened?”
“As far as we can tell, he was driving along the highway and swerved, probably to miss a deer or some animal. He went over an incline and the car rolled at least once.”
My hand went over my mouth. I couldn’t speak, but I didn’t need to.
“He had a young dog with him. We could have taken him to Animal Control, but right now my partner has him in his car. Can you come get him?”
“No. No, I need to get to the hospital. But I will send my best friend to pick him up. Kaitie Liddle. Where is he?”
“We have him at the State Police barracks on Highway Forty-Two. Again, I am sorry.” He hung up the phone.
Kaitie.
I quickly dialed her number, my mind racing.
“Hello.” It sounded like I had woken her up.
“Kaitie, there’s an emergency.” My words were rushed. “Marcus had an accident and is in the hospital. I am going there now. Vern was in the car with him and is at the State Police barracks. Can you go and get him, please? Marcus will want to know he is safe.”
I stood and started pulling my clothes back on. I couldn’t find my bra so I made the command decision to just go without
. Who would care?
“Yes, I will, Nica.” Kaitie sounded much more awake, and it sounded like she was getting dressed as well.
“Thanks. This means a lot.”
“Anything! Once I get Vern settled at my house, I will meet you at the hospital.”
I found one shoe next to my bed. TK scampered back up the stairs and slipped under the bed. He reappeared, pushing out my other shoe. I smiled briefly at him as thanks.
“You don’t need to, Kaitie. I know you need your sleep.” I wasn’t really thinking clearly when I said that.
“No, Nica. He is my family as well. I will meet you there.” Kaitie’s voice was firm.
“Thank you.” I whispered, glad she was going to be there.
“Go. Go see how he is. I am leaving now for Vern.” Kaitie hung up the phone.
I paused for a moment, trembling. Marcus! He was my rock. Shaking myself, I realized that now I needed to be his. I ran out the door for my car, TK on my heels.
∞∞∞
Kaitie rushed from the elevator and straight into the waiting room. She enveloped me in a huge hug as I sat, unmoving.
I was in shock. No one had really said anything. All they would say is that Marcus was in surgery and the doctor would come talk to me when he knew more. I knew that when they were vague, things were bad.
I hated hospitals and I had been in them way too often over the last five years. First with Kaitie and her tumor, and now with Marcus. I swear some of the nurses recognized me, even though we were on a different floor. Or maybe they just recognized that this was yet another family member in distress, waiting for news. I imagined we all had a similar look.
Kaitie pulled back and regarded me, studying my face intently. “You are in shock, Nica.”
I blinked.
She got up and went to the nurse’s station. I watched, detached, as they talked, the nurse glancing over to me occasionally, a frown appearing on her face. She pointed down the hallway and spoke urgently to Kaitie, who then nodded and turned to go there. The woman started to come around her desk when the phone started ringing. She stopped to answer it, at first still looking at me and then turning to write something down.