Josephine felt like arguing, but she remembered what her mother said. ‘Castor Mayhew and Kuko Kiena... Josie, all I can say is never lose your focus, and never underestimate them for a second, ‘cause they’ll lead you down the rabbit hole so fast…’ Clearly, right now, Castor was trying to lure her ever deeper into that hole.
“So why don’t you tell me about this Planetary Princess thing?” Josephine asked. “What happened to Rahu? Did some Nazz finally kill him? Kuko herself perhaps? After seducing him?”
“Well, to be successful, every assassin must be willing to occasionally do terribly distasteful things,” Salecia said with an elegant Caligastian accent. “But being with Rahu wouldn’t be worth any prize, even if the prize was being crowned Eden’s Planetary Princess.”
Josephine knew Salecia was trying to manipulate her into defensiveness by saying, ‘crowned’ Eden’s Planetary Princess. “It’s good to hear I’m not the only woman who finds him disgusting,” Josephine replied.
“And I’m not the only man either who finds Rahu remarkably impotent,” Castor said to no one in particular, his face still staring straight ahead. “Disgusted is what I would call the expression Lord Smigyl wore on his face when he slapped Rahu to the floor and renounced him.”
“Should I even ask what Rahu did this time?” Josephine replied.
“The details surrounding the circumstances are not particularly interesting,” Castor continued, knowing quite well the capture of a Lanonandek transport ship for the purpose of duplication would be something the Theatre Valkyrie commander would find very interesting. “Jealousy again.”
“But how do we get from that to Patanjali’s manhood?”
“That is a long and sordid story, one more appropriately told to you by my sister.”
It suddenly struck Josephine she was sitting, unprotected, in the company of one of the most dangerous creatures in Satania. Salecia was tough, but Castor Mayhew was in a league that contained only two individuals. Considering Josephine wore nothing beyond a light dress, and they wore active armor under their uniforms, if he decided to attack, she would not have a chance. She had seen Castor wade through dozens of Valkyrie guards to kill a target, seemingly apathetic to his own death as long as his dying breath was spent chopping the enemy’s head off.
Josephine thought of the famous Valkyrie saying: ‘When death stands beside you, a death you have no power to resist, and a death directed to you and no other, then just relax, take death lightly by the hand, and go for a walk to someplace nice.’
Josephine stood, looked at Salecia, and gave her a follow-me twist of her head. Josephine walked over to Castor, took him lightly by the hand, and pulled him to his feet. “Come on, Death. Let’s go up to my bedroom for a drink.”
Castor looked across the heavens as they walked out of her office, waiting until Josephine was a couple of steps ahead and out of earshot. “Hmmm,” he projected his voice directly into Salecia’s left ear, but muttered as if he were speaking to no one in particular. “It seems King Joshua answers prayers after all.”
“Yeah? Which one?” Salecia asked sarcastically, agitated at hearing The Blind King referred to by his real name.
“The prayer that one day Josephine Doulmahel would invite me to her bedroom, of course.”
When they reached the doorway to her upstairs apartment, Josephine turned to Castor Mayhew. “Excuse me, General Mayhew. I’m just not that kind of a girl.” Then she stuck her nose in the air as she pointed him upstairs.
“What’s that all about?” Josephine asked quietly as Salecia walked toward her. Josephine looked up the stairs and called out to Castor’s back, “And, don’t you steal anything up there.”
“Don’t you know? Castor has a crush on you,” Salecia replied.
As Josephine walked toward the back door on her way to Frank’s, she forced herself to generate a grocery list for her guests, which was better than the unsettling images of her and Castor Mayhew together. Maedulia has a nice light white wine. Some cheese and crackers. And I just saw Pegasus in the brig with a nice Soma…
“Oh, sorry,” Fran said as Josephine ran into her and the box she carried. Suddenly, Fran was gone, and the box was in Josephine’s arms.
She ascended the stairs and placed the box on her bed. As she sorted through the contents, she called out the names of the items as she handed them alternately to Castor and Salecia. “A Maedulia white, assortment of cheeses and crackers, some olives, hummus. And of course, a nice assortment of Soma, and...”
“How did you do this so quickly?” Salecia asked.
“I bumped into Fran.”
“Oh yes. Fran’s been working for Frank for many years now, hasn’t she?” Castor commented as he opened the bottle of wine. He found three glasses and poured a small amount into his own. He swirled the wine, held it up to the light, and studied it carefully. He stuck his nose into the glass and inhaled heavily.
“It’s such a tragic story, isn’t it?” he said, taking a sip. He swirled it in his mouth, savoring the flavor before swallowing. “Quite excellent,” he said and poured three glasses. “I must ask Frank where I can purchase a case for Lord Indra. He loves a good wine.”
“To Eden’s new Planetary Princess,” Josephine said as they touched glasses.
After a sip, Salecia toasted. “Appreciation for greeting one’s past enemies as friends.” They touched glasses and drank again.
Castor turned toward Josephine and looked directly into her eyes. He held up his glass. “For the ability to fully enjoy a perfect moment when it finally arrives.” He did not attempt to mask his feelings for her as they touched glasses and drank again.
“Now that’s wisdom, Castor,” Josephine countered. “Saying exactly what you feel like saying and forgetting the consequences.”
They drank in silence, all three having the same thought: Here I am, standing in my/Josephine’s bedroom. Only us three.
“It does bring up some good questions,” Salecia said cautiously. Josephine looked up from her glass, and Salecia continued. “This moment brings such an amazing opportunity to wield influence, doesn’t it?”
Salecia saw a glint come to Josephine’s deep green eyes. “How would you council me?” Josephine asked.
“Always be careful to evaluate who you are, what your sworn role is, where you are, and who you are with,” Salecia said with the precision of a wise Khalifah. “An enemy must at every second remain your enemy. To not do so is to say they are not an enemy. And I said ‘greet as a friend’. Which is to say I am enjoying your polite company.”
Josephine looked over to Castor as he enjoyed another sip of wine. “Are you my enemy, Castor Mayhew?”
“It is always the prime question, isn’t it?” he replied after taking another sip of wine. “Before engaging in war, a good warrior must know against whom he fights. Priding myself as a good warrior, I have studied the Valkyrie more than any other group. And of course, you must know I have physically incarnated many times with the Azakamani.”
His countenance softened. “Still, I’m compelled to say, that right now because of this pleasant moment, and because you are Eden’s Theatre commander, and I am Lord Indra’s primary bodyguard, it makes me sad to say that yes, Colonel Josephine P. Doulmahel, you are my enemy.”
Josephine felt elevated by his honesty. Still, she could feel the change in his heart. She gave them each a small, elegantly decorated porcelain dish and invited them to have some appetizers.
Castor Mayhew sat at Josephine’s desk, opened up each bag of the different Soma strains, and gave each a sniff. He decided upon one, ground up a bud, pulled a package of cigarette papers from his pocket, and rolled one up. He lit it and handed it to Josephine.
And as the Soma herb does, a few minutes later it became easier to speak.
Captain Brigettie Sachiel, in full camouflage, marched into Bill’s Clear Creek Grill, scanned the room, and located Michelle and Skillit sitting in a booth in the back corner. “Salecia and Castor Mayhew a
re in Josephine’s bedroom. We don’t know why.”
Hearing a voice out of nowhere was common for Michelle, but when she heard the words, ‘We don’t know why,’ a chill ran up her spine.
Michelle threw herself out Bill’s front door and sprinted down Main Street toward Josephine’s store, kicking herself for taking such a long brunch before reporting for duty after her survey mission in Northern Venom. There was no way she could have known Salecia and Castor Mayhew would just pop over and pay Josephine a visit. She kicked herself for ignoring that little nagging feeling while she had a drink with Skillit.
You need to check in with Josie.
That’s all the feeling said. There was no rush, urgency, or sense of danger. Just a little pulse that was not quite yet a thought. You need to check in with Josie.
The two Valkyrie guards saw her coming and held open the door to Josie’s shop. They jumped out of the way with hands at salute. She blasted past them. Seconds later, they felt a subtle wisp of air, obviously someone in camouflage.
Michelle jerked her head into Josephine’s office, but it was empty. There were no signs of a struggle.
“They’re upstairs,” Rachmiel said calmly, pointing upward, knowing there was no need to even attempt to explain anything to Michelle.
She bounded up four steps at a time. A second later, she reached the top stair with a shuriken on each finger of her right hand. She gave the door two quick knocks, and then threw it open, sword in her left hand. Two slices of brilliant yellow light instantly found her targets — enemy to the left — enemy to the right. Michelle allowed a small fraction of her eyes to scan the remainder of the room — behind her — bathroom — closet — the open door to the balcony — beyond the two primaries, no other enemy in sight.
Josephine’s posture indicated intoxication. Bad. The enemy was verified as Castor Mayhew and Salecia. Enemy’s skin is deep green. If there was even the slightest bandwidth of silver, Michelle would thrust her swords to their throats.
Michelle took two threatening steps forward. Mayhew also appeared a touch intoxicated. Irrelevant. Unfortunately, an assassin like Mayhew could appear to be intoxicated to the point of incapacitation, then with nothing more than a reflex, he could slice you down an instant later.
Josephine slowly turned toward Michelle. As soon as their eyes met, Michelle took two more threatening steps forward. Josephine’s eyes gave no hint of alarm. ‘I am being a polite diplomat. No threats so far.’
Michelle watched as Salecia first, then ten seconds later Castor, politely turned counterclockwise. Salecia was already bowing low by the time they were facing each other. Michelle fixed on Castor. The meanings behind the movements that passed between Castor and Salecia were indecipherable. Still, Michelle was certain they had just communicated something. Castor bowed at an exacting angle. With a minute shift of his eyes, he suggested he and Salecia stand over in that direction.
Michelle’s razor-sharp wings were parallel to the floor and 45 degrees to the front. If they started to click forward, that meant Castor and Salecia just got one step closer to death.
Had Castor been anything other than the bodyguard for the Overlord of War, he might have missed her gesture. But to him, it clearly said, ‘That’s okay for now’, so he and Salecia walked humbly with their eyes focused exactly to the spot Castor suggested. Michelle kept her eyes primarily on Josephine, offering her enemy a gesture that said, ‘If you are still alive, that means you’re doing well.’
When they reached the agreed upon location, they stopped and bowed lowly. With that much distance between the enemy and Josephine, Michelle checked in with Josephine’s camouflaged primary protective guard detail. The camouflaged guard who was communicating, Commander Vegu-Aniel Odinero, did so by rotating the color frequency on his hand to an agreed upon frequency. He identified himself with a gesture only Michelle and he knew.
“So far enemy’s intentions appear genuine.” She glanced in the direction of Castor and Salecia where she approximated the location of the head of that guard detail. Major Butler Metcalf identified himself but said nothing.
Michelle straightened, took a deep breath, and puffed it out with relief. She sheathed her sword, laid her wings straight down, then quickly stepped forward, and put her ear to Josephine’s mouth. “No one told you Salecia and Castor Mayhew were here on a diplomatic mission?”
“No Ma’am.”
Real anger rippled across Josephine’s face. “They better hope I don’t find them first, because I won’t send them away. I’ll send them to the hospital.”
“I just had lunch with Skillit. She told me about the Marije thing. I’m having it checked into.” Michelle gave a little nudge of her head toward Mayhew and Salecia. “Now these two show up? Strange.”
Josephine and Michelle straightened and faced forward.
“Castor Mayhew,” Josephine said politely. “Please allow me to introduce to you Michelle, my primary bodyguard.”
“Oh yes. Of course,” Castor said flatly. He took another puff of the cigarette hanging in his mouth, and then handed it to Salecia. Salecia looked at the Soma cigarette, looked back at Castor, and then rolled her eyes.
“Michelle.” Castor stepped toward her politely. He reached forward, took her right hand gently into his, raised it, and kissed its back. “Enchanté, Madame warrior,” he said softly while looking at her hand. He raised his head and looked into her eyes — his cool and green — hers sparkling like yellow diamonds. “Finally Michelle, I have the honor of meeting you in person.”
He raised his left elbow to the side, placed her right palm on his forearm, and gently rested three fingers of his right hand on top of hers. Michelle appeared to relax. He stepped forward as if he were escorting a princess into a grand ball.
“Michelle,” he said, as he looked her in the eyes again. “Please allow me to introduce my best friend, Salecia.” He turned his attention to Salecia and everyone in the room saw her eyes melt. It had been a long time since he had introduced her as his best friend.
A genuine smile came to Salecia’s face as she stepped forward. Castor slipped away to a polite distance. “Michelle. I am so delighted to see you again,” she said. She kissed her delicately on each cheek. Michelle smiled skeptically. Mayhew and Salecia were making it perfectly clear they considered this a grand party.
Michelle looked from Salecia to Mayhew to Josephine. “You’re, kidding me? Right?” she said. “You guys set up a little surprise for me? Have Brigettie come running into Bill’s and tell me Castor Mayhew and Salecia just happen to be alone with Josephine, up in her bedroom? And ‘We don’t know why’.
“Don’t I look old enough already?”
“She did not just say that,” Salecia said, knowing exactly how she would have reacted if she had been in the same position. Michelle only nodded, still on alert.
“Castor Mayhew,” Josephine called politely. “What would your sister do right now if she were in my position?”
“She certainly would not give them a chance to escape,” he said, as if this idea was so unexpected he was having difficulty resetting his synapses. “She would immediately have the guilty party tracked down…”
“Or parties,” Salecia added.
“…and brought to her, even if she was in the middle of a banquet. She would invite her guests to watch her execute them. Then while their mothers cleaned up the blood of their disgraced children, she would resume the party as if nothing had happened.”
“I knew I liked her. Now that’s just the way I think.” Michelle nodded. She walked back to Josephine with a gesture that conveyed she was sorry for the interruption and would now allow the highest levels of Valkyrie and Nazz command within the Eden Theatre of war to continue to speak in private.
“Now, if you don’t mind, I’ll station myself outside your door,” Michelle said.
As they turned away from each other, Michelle and Josephine locked eyes to see if there was a renege message.
Michelle was somewhat st
unned when she received an all-clear message. She turned smartly, faced Castor Mayhew, and gave a small bow at the exact Dek angle, keeping her eyes fixed on his. “General.”
Castor appreciated the next clear Dek statement Michelle gave as she allowed her eyes to dwell upon him, a gesture that was just as obvious as if she had said it out loud. ‘You just watch your ass, cause I’ll chop your head off in an instant.’
She kept her eyes fixed on Castor until exactly one-quarter of the way into her bow to Salecia, at which point she switched them squarely into hers. “Colonel.”
Translated as, ‘And I’ll kill you right after I kill him.’
Salecia’s eyes were filled with a carefully crafted passivity as she bowed respectfully.
Michelle turned and counted her steps as she strode toward the door. Her left hand was hanging straight down where her body blocked it from both Castor and Salecia’s view. She moved three fingers. ‘At the ready. Attack when I say.’
“Oh, this is all rubbish,” Castor called out. Michelle froze her fingers in place. “From one bodyguard to another, I won’t hear of it. You shall join our little impromptu party,” Castor said with more enthusiasm than Salecia had heard in many years. “Salecia, don’t just stand there like you can’t remember your manners. Pour the beautiful young lady a drink.”
Michelle stopped and with well-practiced gestures of relaxation, turned to Josephine. This was Colonel Doulmahel’s decision and no other. Out of the corner of her eye, she watched Salecia obey, projecting the exact textbook, school of Dek culture, servant-to-warrior expression that said, ‘How stupid of me.’ She quickly obtained a glass and poured her some wine.
Josephine fractionally changed the tone of her eyes and gave two imperceptible nods. At that, Michelle took her hand off the hilt of her sword and casually walked to where she knew Salecia would produce a glass of wine at that exact second.
“Wonderful,” Castor said as his eyes followed Michelle across the floor. “The intimate commanding officer-bodyguard relationship. Such subtle things can only come after many years of love and mutual respect. It is such a powerful thing to see.”
Lilith: Eden's Planetary Princess (The Michael Archives Book 1) Page 67