"He's human," I pointed out.
"Hmmph," Chloe expressed her displeasure. "We could at least try to meet him."
"Chloe likes gingers," Georgia teased.
"Somebody wants an eye full of feathers," Chloe retorted.
"That's enough," Jim growled at his daughters. His other two children, Tim and Sarah, were glancing at the stranger across the way, but hadn't joined the argument with their siblings. Their cousins, Jessica, Ellie and Hayley, had watched the teasing with interested enthusiasm, wondering who'd win.
Jim put a stop to it, thank goodness, before the waiter arrived at our table.
* * *
Morwin
"They're wondering where you're from, and the grandmother says you're human. At least for now."
I hadn't failed to notice the interest from the table across the way—the sixteen Zaria had promised to protect along with me. Zaria was now explaining what she saw in them. I couldn't stop my curiosity about Zaria's gifts—they appeared formidable.
I wasn't familiar with Larentii, however. Perhaps they could all do what she did. "What do you mean, at least for now?" I thought to ask.
"They're not human," Zaria informed me. "No, they were born here," she held up a hand before I could ask. "They're a family of shifters. Owls, actually. The grandmother will know you're not human either, if she gets close enough to you. She has a sense about these things."
"Should I be concerned?" I asked.
"I doubt it," she shrugged. "What we should do, beginning tomorrow, is go through all the information your father sent you. I imagine he withheld vital information until payment was made, and payment was never made."
"That was his habit—in cases where the client was new and unfamiliar," I agreed. "It's expected of the best scholars on Amterea."
"It's my hope that the killer didn't get that last bit of information, and didn't know he didn't get it," Zaria said. "I worry that he may learn what he doesn't have, however, and come looking for anyone connected to your father, to see if they have it."
"Which will lead them in my direction." I couldn't help but turn my head toward the family of sixteen across the dining room. They were laughing, talking and enjoying themselves, even if a few eyes were occasionally turned in my direction.
"I will do research on owls native to this continent," I said aloud.
"Good idea," Klancy smiled. "I hear one of them likes gingers."
* * *
Lexsi
It took two days for the ship to reach Picton, New Zealand, our first stop. It rained the entire day. Kory and I would have stayed in our cabin, but Anita and Watson came looking for us.
"You've been hiding for two days; time to poke your head out of this cabin," Anita said the moment she and Watson walked in after Kory answered their knock on the door.
"Their cabin is a lot bigger and nicer than ours," Watson gazed about the room.
"Because they're on their honeymoon, furball," Anita grumped. "Come on," she turned back to me, "Come to Picton with us. It's time to put your feet back on solid ground."
"It's raining," Kory pointed out.
"You think your ass will melt off?" Anita's fists went to her hips.
"It could," Kory grinned.
"Not likely," Watson snickered.
"Fine. We'll go. How should we dress?"
"It's in the fifties right now, unless you're measuring in Celsius," Anita struggled to hide her smile.
"I'll bring a jacket and my favorite High Demon," I said. "Give us a minute, okay. We haven't had coffee, yet."
"Have you found the coffee shop on deck five?" Anita asked.
"There's a coffee shop?" Kory was interested already.
"Dude, you really have shut yourself in the hen house," Watson huffed. Anita elbowed him in the ribs for the inappropriate comment.
"You know how fast fur burns?" Kory blew a curl of smoke at Watson.
"Just teasing," Watson held up a hand. "Get your shirt and shoes on, man. Let's get coffee and get off the boat."
"Let me find my shoes and a jacket," I said when Kory went to the small closet to find a shirt. At least I was dressed in jeans and a pullover already; Kory's muscles bulged as he sorted through what I'd hung in the closet.
"Jacket, baby," Kory flung a zippered hoodie over his shoulder in my direction. I caught it before kneeling beside the bed to look for my athletic shoes.
It embarrassed me that one shoe was under the bed, the other across the room. I didn't recall whether I'd done that or Kory had, we'd been so anxious to remove clothing the night before. When the linking overtook us, the elimination of barriers between our bodies became a top priority.
At least Anita was polite enough to duck her head as I stuffed the second shoe on my foot. Grinning at your best friend who'd unmistakably been engaged in several rounds of hot sex the night before can be embarrassing for the recipient.
"Ready?" Kory now had a suitable shirt pulled on and shoes on his feet. He hadn't been forced to hunt for his shoes—they were together near the closet. Maybe it was his military training that did that—teaching him to place his clothes and shoes where he could find them easily enough.
My lower lip extended in a pretend pout; he grinned, reached for my hand and we followed Watson and Anita out the door.
* * *
Zaria
"The others are going out; we can go with them," I told Morwin. He'd figured out how to use the outdated phone system aboard ship and had called my room. I considered giving him mindspeech, but that could wait.
He wanted to see as much as he could of our destinations—the curious scholar in him demanded it. So far, at least the enemy hadn't breached the invisible barriers I'd placed in his father's home and his former quarters.
That could change soon enough, but for now, they probably didn't know he'd come to Earth to hunt them.
I hadn't told him exactly what we were up against, either—I disliked frightening people unless there was no other choice. Morwin deserved more than a break—his father had died a horrible death, at the mercy of Deris' Fifth-level warlock's powers. If seeing the beauty of Picton helped put that out of his mind, so much the better.
"It's a bit chilly outside," I said. "Dress accordingly."
"I have already checked this ancient thing called a television monitor," Morwin teased. "It has given me the temperature in both Celsius and Fahrenheit."
"Then get your pants on and let's go," I teased back. He chuckled.
"I'll be knocking on your door soon," he replied.
* * *
Amterea
V'ili
I sat at a table outside the tea shop, drinking the richly-flavored, milk-and-sugar-and-cinnamon tea so many Amtereans favored.
Across the street lay the lane entrance that would lead me to Mardin Quiffilis' home. If there was hidden information there, I intended to find it. If the local constabulary had confiscated it, I would take it from them. Lastly, if Mardin had given the information to his only son, who, according to records was in the Amterean military, well, I'd have it from him quickly enough.
Unlike Deris, I'd done my homework, rather than blundering along blindly and accepting incomplete information before torturing the scholar to death.
The fool.
He and Daris were Morgett's kin before he became Ra'Ak and his commands prevented me from placing obsession on either. Morgett held my life in his hands, after all. He was Ra'Ak, extremely powerful, and could kill me with barely a thought.
He was also well-placed in the Ra'Ak hierarchy, and had the favor of the Prince. I didn't need or want the enmity of that entire race, merely because I wanted to follow my own whims where Morgett's nephew and niece were concerned.
All Ra'Ak were immune to my obsessions, and I'd cursed that fact many, many times. Serving Morgett—at least for now—fell in with my plans, so I was forced to do his bidding. I would find a way to extract myself from his clutches eventually, when a more suitable master appeared.
/> "A refill?" The half-tall Amterean server approached my table with a teapot.
"Of course." I pushed my cup toward him, so he wouldn't spill anything on me. Mardin's home wasn't going anywhere. I'd have more tea.
* * *
Picton, New Zealand
Morwin
"Hat." Zaria stuffed the felt-based contraption on my head to keep the rain off. It had a wide brim, worked well enough and probably made me look like an idiot.
The tender boat ride from the ship had been wet enough, but now rain was pouring on the town of Picton. At least my military-issued boots kept my feet dry, and the jacket I'd brought kept my shoulders and body dry, but my head and hair were drenched.
A souvenir shop was Zaria's first stop after we'd left the tender boat. The walk to that shop ensured we were all wet. I imagine Zaria could dry us off well enough with power, but to do so would make us stand out among the other passengers who'd come to visit Picton.
Many had plastic rain sheaths draped over them; others had umbrellas, but those blocked out the view of the sky and hills surrounding the town, so that wasn't an option, in my opinion.
The family of sixteen had gotten off the boat, too, although I only saw fifteen of them inside the shop.
When we walked outside, I saw the reason.
Against the odds, an owl flew overhead, his wings graceful as they dipped and rose expertly in the rain. Only a few noticed the creature; certainly not the man who was the recipient of the raptor mute—or defecation—of the owl.
The man stood in the street, cursing as the mute splattered his head and shoulders, although the rain washed it away quickly enough.
The owl, finished with his business, flew over a nearby building and disappeared. Zaria, who stood beside me, struggled to quell laughter.
When I opened my mouth to question, she explained in a soft voice that the man had insulted the family when they first boarded the ship. He'd just gotten payback for his short-sightedness, and the pun was most certainly intended.
Soon enough, I saw the family of sixteen again, all intact and laughing at their private joke. I wanted to give a nod to their ingenuity, but that would be too much, I think. No need to worry them with the knowledge that I knew their secret.
Shifters are generally secretive on worlds where they aren't able to reveal themselves. Here, they'd be seen as something dangerous, I think, and some would actually believe them to be abominations.
Earth was far, far behind the Alliance in these matters. In the Alliance, shifters, power wielders and all sorts were accepted and protected by Alliance laws. It was a stipulation each world agreed to upon joining the Alliance. My shoulders drooped when I considered how much time it would take before Earth saw shifters and others as their fellows instead of curiosities or something to distrust.
"They have a long way to go." Zaria, who understood my thoughts, rubbed my shoulders to comfort me. Klancy, standing beside her, nodded his agreement. He, as a modified vampire, understood that as well as anyone.
"Excuse me," someone walked up to me. I almost jumped at the interruption.
"Hello." I turned toward her. An impish smile rewarded my greeting.
"Hi. I'm Chloe," she held out a hand. "Grandmother asked me to invite you to dinner with us tonight, at eight in the deck six dining room."
Blonde curls, damp from the rain, framed a lovely face. I took the offered hand and smiled at her.
Go ahead, Zaria sent mindspeech.
"I would be happy to join you," I smiled at her. "Shall I meet you there?"
"Sure. Just ask for the Hiboux table. They'll know where we are."
"I look forward to it," I bowed slightly over her hand, which caused her to giggle.
"You have a dinner date," Zaria said as Chloe walked away from me to rejoin her family.
"I have a dinner date," I breathed.
* * *
Lexsi
We'd walked through a large portion of Picton before lunchtime. We stopped at a restaurant along Wellington Street to eat, all of us soaked to the skin by the unrelenting rain. That's where we caught up with Morwin, Zaria and Klancy; they wanted lunch, too.
I could tell Watson wanted to change to wolf and shake off the dampness—mostly on Anita, who wanted to keep slogging through the rain. We'd seen the maritime museum she wanted to visit, along with other things that Kory could read about someplace dry, but I didn't share that mindspeech with Anita.
"Esme, Yoff, Tibby and Farin went back to the ship," Anita informed Klancy, who asked about them while servers pulled another table up to make room for us. "Opal and Kell never got off."
"They wanted some time alone," Zaria said. "Besides, neither are fond of heavy rain."
I noticed she, Morwin and Klancy looked quite dry and warm. Hold on, she informed me, I'll do something about your cold, wet clothing after the servers take our order.
Probably a good idea, but I was shivering already.
Soon enough, our orders were placed, and that's when the warmth and dryness came, courtesy of Zaria's power. I was so grateful I leaned against Kory's shoulder and sighed in blissful relief.
"Thank you," Watson mumbled.
"Oh, no," Zaria whispered.
I pulled away from Kory immediately.
Someone just entered Mardin's study, Zaria sent to all of us.
Chapter 4
Amterea
V'ili
No scrap of evidence to be found anywhere. I began to wonder if the scholar had merely pretended to have complete information for Deris.
I sent mindspeech to Morgett, telling him as much.
Find his son, Morgett replied. I've searched the comp-vid. There may be evidence that information was sent along with regular communications to his son, Morwin Quiffilis. I've discovered a military address there, and plenty of messages.
Smart, to send information to a family member hidden inside a normal message. Perhaps the scholar was craftier than I thought, although it wouldn't take much to outmaneuver Deris.
Give me the address, I replied. I will pay a visit to the Master Scholar's son.
* * *
New Zealand Waters
Zaria
"There's been a hit on Morwin's information," I told Opal and Kell. "It won't take much brain power to follow Morwin's trail. I think the smugglers who brought him here will be tracked soon enough."
"How much interference will happen if we intervene?" Opal asked. "Are those smugglers' lives worth saving?"
"Too much interference, I'm afraid. Lives are lives, but these," I shrugged. There really wasn't a good reason to save them, and Opal was just as unhappy as I was at that news. Plus, in this case, V'ili's survival was essential to the future, to keep it on track. Opal was aware of that, too. Morgett, on the other hand—we'd wait and see about him.
"So Kory and Lexsi will have to carry the load this time," Opal sighed. She and Kell had come to my cabin when I sent mindspeech—after Klancy and I were back onboard.
"With Anita, Watson and the others," I agreed. "We can keep them safe enough, but beyond that, we may be hauled in front of a few folks."
"Not a good thing, either," Opal said. "I know what happened when they let Jayson have it."
"Jamie's brother?" Kell asked. "I've heard Jamie mention him several times," Kell held up a hand.
"Only Jayson's drubbing wasn't for interference—it was for not doing his job. He's still in the dog house over it, too," Opal informed her mate.
Kell's love for her shone in his eyes, although he kept his expression neutral. I wondered how long it would take for Kell to propose, but decided that wasn't any of my business.
"We wait and watch, then," Opal sighed. Kell placed an arm about her shoulders and pulled her against him. I understood what it felt like to be attacked and close to death as a result, with no promise of help coming.
It is a terrible and lonely way to die—even for smugglers.
My love, Klancy send mindspeech, let us leave these two alone
.
Yeah. I took Klancy's hand and folded us to an empty corner of a bar near one of the ship's swimming pools. The area was shaded and cool as we made our way to the bar and ordered drinks.
* * *
Morwin
"You look fine—stop fidgeting," Kory said, dropping a hand on my shoulder. He'd accompanied me to the deck six dining room, where I was to meet the shifter family for dinner.
The clothing was Earth-style—a knit shirt and slacks, as Zaria called them. It was a far cry from the monochromatic clothing I'd worn as recent ex-military from Amterea.
The shirt was pale yellow, the slacks dark brown. Zaria said the colors suited me. Until now, I'd never worried about the colors I wore. Suddenly, all of it became important.
"Hello." Blue eyes met mine. I couldn't stop the smile; it insisted on spreading across my face and likely obliterated my other features.
"Good evening, Chloe," I took her hand and lifted it to my lips.
She giggled.
Her grandmother approached me, then, cane in hand as she stepped deliberately in my direction. I went still, recalling Zaria's words. She could tell I wasn't human. I tensed for a moment.
My eyes widened as her cane lifted, but instead of poking me with it, the tip went straight to Kory's midsection.
"Not human," she hissed at him.
Kory's low chuckle surprised me. "Not human," he nodded, agreeing with her. "Certainly not human, Mother Owl."
"Are you winged, fanged or scaled?" she asked.
"Yes," Kory chuckled.
Lowering her cane, she lifted an eyebrow at him. "Are you joining us for dinner?"
"Not tonight," Kory said. "My new bride is waiting for me at a restaurant upstairs."
"Is she human?" the grandmother asked.
"She is what I am," Kory dipped his head respectfully.
"If trouble comes," the words tumbled from my lips, "Stay close to Kory."
"My name is Rose," she held out her hand to Kory, who went to one knee to accept it.
"I am most pleased to meet you, Mother Rose," Kory said.
"Good. You and I will talk later," Rose said. "Now, you," she turned in my direction. "I'm still wondering what it is you are, but you can explain that over dinner."
"Of course, Mother Rose," I bowed formally to her.
A Demon's Due: Latter Day Demons, Book 3 Page 4