My Familiar Stranger

by Victoria Danann

  Letting the sarcasm slide, Elora recited the events that occurred following her companions’ departure from the bistro in detail, including her rationale.

  Sol then asked if anyone else had anything to add, but nothing more was forthcoming. Without further comment and without visible fluctuation in his stern attitude, Sol declared the report concluded and said that he would let them know if he had further questions. Storm and Kay went off to share a whiskey without so much as a good night. Ram half-grudgingly walked Elora to her apartment, looking at the floor and not saying a word until they reached her door.

  “Will you be the death of me then?”

  Elora turned and was brought up short by the sorrowful, almost haunted look on Ram’s face. She had scared him. Again. “I didn’t do it to worry you, Ram. I did it because I was worried about you.”

  Before she could protest, he put both hands on her waist and pressed her back into the door with his body that was so perfectly aligned with her own. He buried his face in her neck, closed his eyes and filled his lungs with the deeply intoxicating scent of night blooming jasmine. His cock filled so fast it made him jerk in response. When he felt her tense beneath his hands he straightened, resolutely pushing away from her with a soft growl of frustration. Without another word, he walked on to his own door leaving her standing there in the hallway breathless, missing the warmth of his body against hers.

  Elora had tensed to strangle the moan that wanted to escape her throat. He didn’t know how close she had been to giving up the tenuous hold she had on her own impulses, how close she was to letting herself go soft and pliant, molding to his shape, and parting her lips to invite a kiss. She took a hot shower, washed the spray out of her hair, creamed the blood red lipstick off her mouth, dried her hair, pulled on a tank top and flannel pajama bottoms and climbed into bed.

  She had just turned off the light when her phone rang. Looking toward the bedside stand where she’d set her phone, she read the caller ID. “White Fang.” As tired as she was, she couldn’t help but find that funny.

  “Hello?” There was no response. “Hello?” No response. “Isn’t it bad enough to be a vampire? Now you want to be a heavy breathing pervert as well?”

  There was a quiet rumble that could have been soft laughter under his breath. “No. Just thinking I should hang up.”

  “Something wrong?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Okaaaaay. Soooooo…”

  There was a deep sigh on the other end of the phone and that's when it happened - the Baka epiphany.

  An epiphany is a surge of comprehension that pulls together loose ends of experience with tidbits of information and flashes of intuition, then rearranges them into a moment of perfect clarity. It only takes a heartbeat for the mind to grasp a new perspective and shift to accommodate a different way of thinking.

  Something about Baka’s sigh caused such an epiphany. He was her. He had reawakened to life in a strange new world. He was lost, with no family, no friends, and no clear imperative as to how to proceed. He was lonely. Who wouldn’t be?

  “You know I’ve wondered where you, ah, stay when you’re not working. I know it’s not here.”

  “Hotel. The Sherry Netherland.”

  “Oh. Is it nice?”

  There was a little snort of amusement on the other end of the phone while Baka stifled a laugh. “Yes. It’s nice.” After a slight pause he said, “Maybe you could sneak out of Swanville and come visit. We could share sparkling cider, conversation, and… other things.”

  Having never experienced the ordinary pleasures of being pursued as a teenager, Elora was a late bloomer who had been making up for lost time in the past few weeks with an advanced education on the nuances of flirting. Now she was learning that there is a super bonus thrill attached to late night, clandestine conversations with bad boys.

  “Maybe sometime I’ll say yes to the cider and conversation if we can agree that there will be no ‘other things’.”

  “Would it sound vain if I said that would be your loss?”

  She smiled. “Yes. It would sound vain. Nonetheless, I'm sure it's true. No doubt the loss is mine and shall remain so.” She was fading. “It’s been a long day. I’m going now.”

  “Good night gone wrong?”

  “Yeah,” she sighed. "Exactly."

  “It may not make you feel better, but it was really good for me. Adieu, Lady Knight. Don’t let bed bugs bite.”

  "You made a rhyme," she yawned, "add poet to the list."

  Baka called every night thereafter. He said he liked hearing her voice on the phone. Elora knew she’d be in big trouble with B Team if they discovered she was carrying on a phone flirtation with White Fang, but part of her felt sorry for him and part of her enjoyed his company, however bizarre that might seem... even to her.

  ***

  CHAPTER 15

  BLACK SWAN TRAINING MANUAL FIELD GUIDE, Chapter 11,#4.

  Silver, in contact with the vampire virus cells in the skin, is a fast-acting neutralizer and creates the effect of stunning vampire so that they may be dispatched with minimum risk to the operative. The preferred formula is silver soluble salt, AgNO3, dissolved in gel and delivered by splat gun.

  This method has several advantages, particularly when operating in areas with dense human populations. It is harmless to humans. It is silent. Close contact with the target is not necessary as range can be calibrated accurate to thirty feet at the time of this writing. It is quickly absorbed through the pores. The drawback to this method is that vampire, being aware of the risk to themselves, leave as little skin exposed as possible.

  At eleven o’clock Elora heard a knock on her door. She opened to see Ram smiling, holding out a peace offering of steamy hot chocolate in a to-go cup with a sleeve. “I have news.”

  Eyeing the cup she asked, “Is that a big?”

  His eyes lit up with a knowing smile that said, “There it is. I’m in.”

  Blackie pushed his head around Elora’s thigh to say hello and wagged his tail at Ram. She opened the door wider and took the cup.

  “You know he likes you.”

  “I like animals. They like me.” He bent down to give Blackie a pat, but Blackie immediately flopped onto his back demanding a tummy rub instead. Ram laughed at him like they shared a joke.

  “Well, there’s no accounting for taste.” She sat down at the dining desk. “It better be good news because that’s the only kind I want to hear today.”

  “'Tis. Today’s the day I report to the infirmary for clearance. In a couple of hours I should be officially off the D.L. Fit and ready to return to duty.” Elora took a swig from her cup and looked pensive. “What’s the matter? You do no' look happy.”

  “I have mixed feelings. After what happened last night, well, it punctuated what you’ve been saying: that those things are fast and strong and that they have big teeth. You lost a partner. The same thing could happen to you or Storm or Kay.”

  His features softened as he connected the dots. “And if that should happen you’d feel alone in this world.” He sat down next to her.

  She hadn’t thought about it like that, exactly, but hearing him say it out loud stirred emotions she didn’t even know she was suppressing. Tears welled even though she was trying to hold back. When two escaped down her face, he reached over, cupped her cheek, and used his thumb to wipe away the drops. “Ah, my darlin’ girl. You truly will be the death of me.”

  She dried her tears. “When do you go back to work? Officially?”

  “Right away. We’ve been slackin' long enough, makin' it hard on the others.” Elora nodded. “But, listen to my words and please hear me. Most knights die of old age, in comfy beds, with great grandchildren standin’ all ‘round. What happened to Lan will make us all the more careful.”

  Eager to lighten the mood, he invited Elora to lunch and was rewarded with the smile he loved.

  After teaching her early afternoon class she went by Sol’s office hoping to catch him i
n. She knocked on the open door, but stood on the other side of the threshold waiting for permission to enter.

  Sol wasn’t the sort of person you barge in on, especially not when he was struggling with the duty rotations program on his computer. When he looked up and saw her standing there, he didn’t seem surprised. Truthfully, surprise would have been surprising since his range of emotion seemed to run on only three speeds. Mad. Madder. Maddest.

  “Got a minute?”

  Without a word he motioned her inside. She stepped in and asked if she could close the door. That seemed to ratchet his interest up a notch. Sitting in front of his desk she clasped her hands in her lap and began carefully, like she was navigating a verbal mine field, anticipating that a poorly chosen word could sabotage her agenda.

  “I’d like to request that you hear me out completely before you respond.”

  Sol was not the sort to interrupt others or to make decisions prior to reviewing all data. He indicated his agreement with a nod.

  “I would like to be considered as a replacement for Sir Landsdowne. I’m the best candidate and I have several good reasons to support that claim.

  I have probationary security clearance. I’m reasonably intelligent. I’m not just trained in hand to hand, I’m the trainer. I also have experience with a variety of weapons. I’m familiar with policy and can recite most of the Field Training Manual on request. I am stronger than the strongest knight has ever been. I am faster than the fastest knight has ever been. I can’t be hypnotized. I have had my inoculations. I am resourceful in finding weapons when vampire are afoot and have successfully neutralized the enemy in the field. I’ve established a working relationship, of sorts, with the point per… uh, vampire. I have bonded with B Team. I know them. They know me. We’re comfortable together.

  Last and most important. In this world, those men are the closest thing I have to loved ones. I can’t stay behind while they go out nightly to possible mortal combat - possible fatality, knowing that I could be the lynch pin that keeps them alive. It would be cruel to ask that of me.”

  Sol had placed his elbows on the arms of his chair. With steepled hands he pressed his index finger to the indention above his upper lip while he examined Elora as if she was a smear on a microscope slide.

  She sat, holding her breath, waiting for him to give voice to the reason why he would refuse and hoping that she had a counter argument for whatever it might be. At length he raised his chin and leaned forward.

  “You make a compelling case, Ms. Laiken. I have a couple of concerns and a couple of conditions.”

  Elora sat up straighter. This reaction far exceeded the best outcome she had anticipated. “Please name them.”

  “My first concern has to do with the very memorable statement you made at the close of your hearing. You believe you have something to prove in regards to courage. People with something to prove tend to behave impetuously, precisely as you did in the case of your audience with Istvan Baka and again in your first encounter with a vampire in the field.”

  Elora opened her mouth to protest, but Sol raised his hand. “Undoubtedly the death by toothpick incident showed uncommon initiative, ingenuity, and mental flexibility; all being traits we prize. The question here is not whether or not you possess the assets necessary to perform the duties of a Black Swan knight, but whether or not you are willing to exercise control over your tendency toward impulsive behavior.”

  Elora rushed to supply a reassurance that she would do what was necessary to accomplish the mission while keeping the team safe.

  “My second concern has to do with The Order’s policy on ‘office romance’. Since there has never been a female operative in the department of hunters, it hasn’t been an issue. One of my conditions would be a formal acknowledgement that you and your teammates understand the rule and abide by it.”

  She nodded.

  “The last condition is that at least two members of B Team must agree and one of them must be Sir Hawking as you would be replacing his partner. This is a deal breaker. I will not override their votes.”

  Seeing that he was rising from his chair, Elora also stood. “I understand. How shall it be put to a vote?”

  “I’ll call them in for a meeting one hour from now in the conference room. You may be present. I suggest you wear your thickest skin because they may not react well to your proposition. But, I will tell you this, if they accept you as their fourth, you will make some enemies. There is one person who believes he is the heir apparent to Lan’s spot and there are bound to be others who may not be keen on the idea of a woman as vampire slayer. Sometimes camaraderie is your biggest asset. Acceptance is important.”

  “I thought of that, but, hopefully I’ve made some inroads through the training program.” Sol gave no response. “Well, one step at a time then. Back in an hour. Game face on. And thank you.”

  “Gratitude is completely inappropriate, Ms. Laiken. When you come dragging back in here one night with your teammates ripped to shreds and a desolate feeling in the pit of your stomach that we’re losing this war, you may curse me instead.

  By the way, if you put this over, your probation will begin with an informal preinduction ceremony that assumes knighthood. What would you like to be called? I assume Sir Laiken doesn’t work? In modern times, when women are knighted for achievement in arts or politics they are usually called ‘Dame’.”

  “Lady Laiken.”

  Sol cocked his head to one side, considering. “Isn’t that what Baka called you?”

  “Yes.” She opened the door and looked back over her shoulder. “And I like it.”

  There was just enough time to take Blackie out for a quick walk to relieve himself. She returned one hour and two minutes later. B Team was already assembled in the conference room. Storm was pouring himself a cup from the coffee service. All three seemed surprised to see her and gave her openly inquisitive looks. Apparently Sol had not yet revealed the purpose of the meeting.

  “Ms. Laiken is going to give a short presentation. Please give her the courtesy of hearing her out before expressing your opinions.” He nodded toward Elora. “You have the floor.”

  Nervousness was not something she had anticipated, but anxiety rippled through her when she realized that the next few minutes would have a profound impact on her future, regardless of the result. If they all said no, she would feel betrayed by the only people she cared about. In the world. If they said yes, she would be a knight on probation. Either way it was a pivotal moment.

  Standing at one end of the table she delivered basically the same speech that had proven successful with Sol. She carefully observed the changes in their facial expression as she talked. Storm went from curious to resolutely pissed. Ram went from curious to stunned. Kay went curious to thoughtful.

  On completion, she waited in silence for a verbal reaction. Sol filled that silence by repeating his concerns and conditions.

  Storm was first to speak. He turned to Sol and said, “You cannot be serious. No. Absolutely no. And that could not be more final.”

  “One vote no,” Sol said dispassionately.

  “Wrong! That would be three votes no.” Storm looked at Kay and Ram to make it unanimous.

  “Hold on.” Kay held up a hand. “I say it’s up to Ram. Partly because he’s the most senior member of B Team and partly because he’s the one most affected since she would be his partner. As far as I’m concerned, everything she said is true. Plus, unlike some of the guys who were on the short list, she’s actually killed a vamp. She did it by herself with no real training and no help of any kind. And another plus that she didn’t add is that, from a purely tactical perspective, she offers some unique benefits, as a woman, that could be useful.”

  Storm’s brows were drawn in so tight that deep lines had formed between them. All of a sudden he grasped Kay’s inference and drew in a sharp breath. “Decoy?” He spat. “You’re suggesting using Elora as bait?” He was outraged. “That’s the kind of half cocked idiocy I
’d expect from Ram! What is wrong with you, Kay?”

  “Look. I didn’t put her up to this. She volunteered. Apparently we’ve given her the mistaken impression that our collective asses are worth looking after. She wants to be…”

  “...Wendy,” Ram finished that sentence while absently looking out the window with a slightly off focus expression.

  “What?”

  “Tis a character in one of her stories. A responsible, nurturin' girl who takes care of lost boys.”

  Storm turned on Elora like a prosecutor and hit her with that laser beam streak of intensity. “Is that true? Is this about some kind of Savior Complex?”

  Elora spoke calmly and evenly. “Wanting to keep your friends alive is not a psychological aberration, Storm. How do you think I would feel if they brought one of you in on a gurney one night with me knowing I might have prevented that? My training and abilities should be used for a worthwhile purpose. You can’t really think I’m better suited to clerical work.

  I get it. You’re afraid I might get hurt. Now you need to understand that I feel exactly the same about the three of you.”

  Ram still stared out the window, looking dazed, half listening while trying to sort things out in his head.

  “As I see it, the only drawback is this,” Kay continued, “and I’m going to be completely honest because it’s just us here in this room. Right or wrong B Team is regarded as cream risen to the top. You know that Lan’s place would usually be seen as a reward for an outstanding record. The feeling might be that it isn’t fair to give the spot to someone who hasn’t earned it the usual way.”

  “I think that’s a very good point,” Storm concurred.

  Sol turned his attention to Kay. “So, is that a vote yes or a vote no?”