Star-Crossed

by Cyndi Friberg

  “How receptive?”

  “As receptive as you like.” He let a knowing smile part his lips. “Take your partner for instance. I suspect that working so closely with such a vivacious female has left you with certain desires, perhaps fueled your fantasies.”

  Grat licked his lips and looked beyond Malos, doubtlessly staring at the holodancer. “Would she be aware of what you were doing?”

  “I could introduce a subtle longing and gradually increase it to the sort of passion that forges life long commitments. She would be so besotted, so needful of your attention that she would never look at another man.”

  Shifting on the chair, Grat adjusted the crotch of his pants before dragging his gaze back to Malos. “All right. I’ll tell you where she went but you have to assure me she won’t be harmed. If you can’t promise me that, I want nothing --”

  “Oh no.” Malos waved away his response. “I require much more from you than information. I’m offering you the fulfillment of your wildest fantasy.”

  A long pause followed. Grat looked at the holodancer again and again, his hands rubbing up and down his thighs. “What do you want me to do?”

  “Her companion can sense if one of his kind comes near him, which creates certain complications for me.”

  “You want me to go after them?”

  “I know how you met your partner.” He waited for understanding to ignite within Grat’s eyes. “You will find them, retrieve the missing device, and neutralize your partner’s companion. I will give you a crystal that will enable you to signal me when you have accomplished these things. Upon our return, I will condition your partner in the manner I described.”

  “I haven’t utilized those skills in ... I swore I’d never hunt again.”

  Malos shrugged. “The decision is yours. I can find another hunter.” He folded his hands on the tabletop and leaned forward. “In fact, I’ll simply dispatch the hunter who is stalking your brother right now. His orders are to observe at the moment, but I can change that with a thought.”

  “You son of a bitch!” Grat shoved his chair back so forcefully it slammed against the wall. Frantically searching for something in his pocket, he pulled out a slim comport. “Person to person, Gine Farlay.” Terror eased from his expression when his brother’s image materialized on screen.

  “I’m not even late yet. What’s with you?” the boy asked with obvious impatience.

  “Are you headed home?”

  “We were going to tram over to Simworld. Thought we’d check out your latest offering.”

  Grat glanced at Malos, but his expression remained calm. “Looks like I have to shuttle offworld for a couple days. Can you stay with Bender?”

  “Done. Are you going to do hands on research for you next sim?” A mixture of laughter and enthusiastic whistles came across the link.

  “Something like that. Behave.” Grat slipped the comport back into his pocket. “Call off the hunter now.”

  “That would be rather foolish.” Malos stood and smiled, pleased by the outcome of the meeting. “You have two hours to prepare for the mission. I’ll meet you at your lab.”

  Chapter Four

  “That is the third person who laughed at the wording on this shirt,” Evan said as they crossed the casino. “Tell me what it says.”

  Dro Tar grinned and kept right on walking. “It’s nothing too obscene. Lighten up.” She wheeled her suitcase behind her like a pet. Lights blinked and musical clanking greeted them from every direction. Excitement zinged through her bloodstream. She refused to let her grumpy companion spoil her good mood.

  “We’re trying to be inconspicuous.” He moved up beside her, his voice hushed and urgent. They spoke in Ontarian, so the precaution was unnecessary. Why were Mystics always so uptight? His new outfit accented his athletic build. They must have one hell of a gym at the Conservatory. He’d tucked the mystery tee shirt into faded blue jeans and green contacts now altered the appearance of his eyes. Dressed as an Ontarian Mystic or an American tourist, Evan was destined to turn heads. “We will purchase an appropriate shirt before we go any further.”

  “Oh, we will, will we?” She faced him, her brow raised in challenge. “Go buy another shirt, then. What’s stopping you?”

  He folded his arms across his chest and glared at her. His fierce expression only made her want to run her fingers through his wavy hair and rub against his lean body until they both purred. The next five days could be interesting.

  “You know I have no currency.”

  “Lack of planning on your part doesn’t constitute an emergency on my part.” She shrugged and continued her trek across the noisy room. His tee shirt read: If you’re happy and you know it, drop your pants. She wasn’t sure he’d get the innuendo even if she told him what it said. “I like the shirt. Besides I’m not convinced we need to be inconspicuous.”

  They passed through a set of double doors and exited the building. Balmy night wind caressed her face. The soothing touch was ruined by honking horns and the continual drone of automobile engines. Manicured gardens and decorative foliage lined the wide concrete path. A section angled off toward the multi-level parking garage, while the main walkway continued toward the street.

  “Why would we no longer need to be inconspicuous?” he asked.

  “Think about it. Vee’s entire life’s work revolved around helping Mystics reach their true potential. He trained the trainers, so to speak. The journal itself is proof that he intended to share his knowledge with as many as possible. The Wisdom of the Ages is an über-sophisticated version of Earth’s Internet. Even if he had some deep dark secret, why would he have you transmit it to Lord Drakkin?”

  “I agree. Malos’ explanation doesn’t make sense, but I assure you he was trying to steal the journal.” They paused at a street corner, waiting for the traffic signal to halt the sea of taxis, cars, and limousines.

  “I don’t doubt what you saw.” She shot him a sidelong glance. “Do you think Tal is incompetent?”

  “Of course not.” He sounded insulted, which was exactly what she’d intended. “I hold Master Tal in the highest regard.”

  “I like him too, and I trust Trey with my life, which is why I think the brothers dar Aune are amusing themselves at our expense.”

  The woman next to Evan nodded toward his shirt. Her male companion read the slogan and chuckled. Evan clenched his jaw, not bothering to comment on the exchange. “You think they’re ...”

  “Playing matchmaker.” The light changed, signaling them across the street.

  “Master Tal is unaware of what I sensed when I touched Malos and the images that erupted in the vortex. Even if this mission is meant to throw us together, we are still at risk.”

  “If you say so.” She swept her hand toward the towering structures surrounding them. “Pick a city. Venice, Paris, Rome, New York?”

  He stepped to one side of the sidewalk, allowing the steady stream of pedestrians to move past them. “Malos will pursue us. It’s only a matter of how long it takes for him to determine my destination.”

  “Then let’s get the hell out of Dodge. You can Summon the Storm. Why are we waiting around for him to find us?”

  “My vision brought me here.” He pointed in the direction they’d just come. “To that hotel. I need to know why.”

  “Then we’re back where we started. Pick a city.”

  He shrugged his broad shoulders and nodded a short distance down the street. “That one is closest. Was it one of the three revealed by the Seeker Circle?”

  “Nope.” They followed the sidewalk toward the main entrance of the hotel. “Can you describe anything you saw in the vortex? I know you said it’s still jumbled.”

  “Once we get settled, I’ll share the images with you.” Her steps faltered and she pretended to struggle with her suitcase. The last time he’d touched her mind had been at the beginning of their torrid affair. “Let me take that for you. It makes me appear rude otherwise.”

  She passed
the handle to him and turned her face away. His boyish smile and the innocence they’d both left behind rolled through her memory. Their joint mission was only scheduled to last a few weeks, but unexpected complications had stranded them offworld together for nearly a cycle.

  “Are you here for the convention?” A perky female voice intruded on Dro Tar’s melancholy. Evan held the door open as the busty redhead smiled up at him.

  “He doesn’t speak English and he’s with me.”

  “Oh,” she giggled, “I didn’t see you there.” She shot Evan her best come hither look and entered the hotel lobby, melting away into the crowd. Why were there so many people in the registration area? It was almost nine o’clock.

  “What was she talking about? Her expression was rather provocative.”

  “She wanted to know how much you charge.”

  “Charge for what?”

  “Sexual favors.” She fought to keep a straight face. “I told her I’d engaged your services for the next several days.” His jaw dropped and she laughed. God, he was fun to rattle. She moved to the end of the considerable line, Evan trailing in her wake.

  “Those were not her words.”

  “Then why did you ask?”

  “If I concentrate on each separate word, I’m able to comprehend what they say, but it’s tedious.” He paused, then met her gaze. “I would never expect compensation. You realize that, don’t you?”

  “Compensation for what?”

  “My sexual favors.”

  She choked on her reply as laughter rumbled in her chest. He’d turned the tables on her. This dour Mystic had trumped her smartass remark. She looked at Evan with new interest, her mind calling her back in time. Physical attraction had sparked between them from the first moment they met. He’d laughed more often then, been less reserved. She found herself longing for things she’d sworn never to feel again. They moved through the line in tense silence, Dro Tar lost in yesteryear.

  “I can help the next person in line.” A young man motioned them toward his station. “What name is your reservation under?”

  Dro Tar swallowed hard, then forced a smile. “We don’t exactly have a reservation. We made reservations at one of the other hotels, but the obnoxious young woman swears we aren’t in their system. Her attitude pissed me off so badly we brought our business to you. We’ll take whatever you have available.”

  He entered several commands into his keyboard and stroked his chin as he stared at his display screen. Without looking at them, he entered more commands. “There’s a convention going on. I’m afraid all our rooms are booked. Wait just a moment please.” He left the counter and slipped into an office behind him.

  “Can you zap his computer or something?” She glanced at Evan. “We really need a room.”

  “My abilities don’t work that way and you know it.”

  The man returned; his expression cautious. “Is price an issue? We have a suite on hold, but my supervisor has given me permission to release it at eleven if the couple hasn’t checked in by then. Between you and me, I’m sure they’re a no-show, but we have to wait until eleven.”

  “What would the cost be if we stayed for the next four nights?” He stated the amount and Dro Tar blanched. The other hotel had insisted she pay in advance because she didn’t have a credit card for them to scan. “That’s more than we’d hoped to spend.”

  “I can put you in the suite for tonight and do my best to move you to something more affordable for the other three nights.” He looked at the restless queue and added, “You can always take your chances at another hotel, but the whole Strip is booked solid. Three major conventions landed on the same weekend. It’s been chaos all day.”

  “We will accept the suite for our entire stay,” Evan said, his words heavily accented.

  “Very good. Come back at eleven and I’ll have everything ready for you. You can leave your luggage here if you like. Enjoy the casino or wander through the convention’s vendor showcase; it’s in the grand ballroom one level down.”

  After checking in Dro Tar’s bag, Evan led her away from the front desk. She scrubbed her hair with both hands. “For someone with no currency, you’re certainly willing to volunteer mine.”

  “These are games of chance, correct?” She nodded. “Which requires the least amount of skill?”

  She stared at him, dumbfounded. Why hadn’t she thought of this? He was a frigging Mystic. “The slots are a no-brainer, but we’re back to machinery.”

  “I believe my clairvoyance would be most valuable in accomplishing our goal.”

  Taking him by the sleeve she led him toward the nearest roulette table. “Can you see which number the ball will land on before the wheel stops?”

  He clasped his hands before him as if he were about to pray. Her arms tingled and he whispered, “Twenty-four.”

  The wheel slowed and the ball dropped into the small compartment below the number twenty-four. Dro Tar grinned and reached for her wallet. “Roulette it is!”

  * * * * *

  “I faultlessly predicted the outcome of each spin.” Evan walked beside Dro Tar, who cradled four trays of striped casino chips against her chest, beaming at their recent victory over the roulette table. “Why did you disregard my predictions at times? Other times you only bet on the corresponding color. Wouldn’t our winnings have been greater if you bet on the specific number each time the wheel was spun?”

  “All of the tables are under surveillance. We needed them to believe we were just lucky. If we’d pushed it too far too fast, we’d have drawn the wrong kind of attention.” She nodded toward a caged area along a perimeter wall. “Let’s cash these in and grab a drink or something. We still have almost an hour to kill.”

  “This waiting doesn’t sit well with me,” he grumbled. “We should find somewhere private enough for me to open the journal.”

  “Unfortunately the only place fitting that description won’t be available until eleven o’clock.” Knowing she was right didn’t ease his restlessness. The fragments of his vision refused to clarify within his mind. He needed time and a quiet place to meditate. Dro Tar exchanged the chips for currency and divided the money in half. “Don’t carry all your eggs in one basket. It’s always safer that way.”

  “You mentioned a beverage.” Tuning out the musical hum of the slot machines, Evan swept his surroundings with a curious gaze, trying to locate a restaurant. “Did you have something specific in mind?”

  “Let’s find a coffee bar. I’m dying for something utterly froufrou.”

  He stuffed his half of the money into the front pocket of his jeans. “That is not a legitimate word.”

  She chuckled. “Sure it is.” Reaching for his hand, she led him through the bustling casino. He should resent being dragged around like a child, but he enjoyed her touch too much to object. Besides, she clearly knew more about their current environment than he did. Content to watch the sway of her hips, he followed silently. A rich aroma reached his nose and he inhaled deeply. “Oh, yes.” She sighed. “Fresh-ground coffee.”

  A youthful attendant hopped down from a stool and hurriedly straightened his hat. “What can I get you?”

  Dro Tar looked over the rectangular shaped board hanging behind the attendant. A menu, no doubt. Shifting his weight from one foot to the other, Evan studied the board as well. None of the words were familiar. Illiteracy was so frustrating. He would have to augment his knowledge of English as soon as they were alone.

  “I’m not sure what my friend would enjoy,” she told the attendant. “Let’s do a taste test sort of thing. Give me a small double espresso, small hazelnut latté, and small mocha.”

  “You got it.” The lad moved behind a metal machine that hissed and gurgled. The pleasant aroma intensified as he worked.

  “You forgot to order a froufrou,” Evan said and she laughed.

  “Froufrou is an adjective. Two of the three drinks would be considered froufrou. We’ll see what you think.”

  They sat on
high stools at a tiny round table. A half-wall separated the seating area from the main walkway wending its way through the casino. He tasted each beverage before delivering his opinion. “The espresso is bitter and unappealing, the latté is too sweet, but I rather like the mocha.”

  “We’ll have to get you some chocolate before we head back to Ontariese.” Dro Tar pushed the espresso aside, took the latté for herself, and left him the mocha. “The combination of chocolate and coffee is very popular here on Earth.”

  Before he could reply, a small group of females approached on the other side of the half-wall. Two were laughing merrily as they listened to the impassioned debate of the other two.

  “You are such a prude,” the dark-haired woman said to her blonde companion.

  “It’s indecent, I tell you,” the blonde insisted. “That entire ... display should be shut down. There are children in this hotel. What if one of them wandered into --”

  “Why do you think the models were at the door? No children are going to go wandering into the ballroom. Haven’t you ever used a vibrator or watched --”

  The blonde covered the other woman’s mouth with her hand, glancing around with owlish eyes. “You’re being purposely vulgar because I was shocked by that ... It was disgusting.” She paused to glare at the two making no effort to disguise their laughter. “You should all be ashamed of yourselves.” She stomped off in a fit of indignation, leaving her friends to follow at a more leisurely pace.

  “What was that about?” He looked at Dro Tar, a muscle near his jaw twitching. The sooner they melded for a language transfer the better. This communication barrier was beyond annoying.

  She flashed an impish smile. “I say we find out.” Leaving the partially empty cups on the table, they found the break in the half-wall and headed across the casino. “One of them said something about a ballroom. I’m betting this has something to do with the vendor show.”

  “If a human was upset by this display, perhaps we should just wait for our room. Surely we have ‘killed’ enough time.”