by Sheryl Lee
Intrigued, Zora was about to ask what he meant when her attention was caught by an odd blurring in the garden directly in her line of vision. She squinted a little – it wasn’t blurring exactly, it looked more like mist or fog. But it was too small to be fog. Yet even as she watched it coalesced into a small cloud. Zora’s eyes widened and Axel followed her line of vision.
“Ah,” he said. “Immaculate timing.”
Zora glanced briefly at him, wondering what on earth he was talking about. She looked back and understood, kind of. The cloud had gone and a man now stood in the garden. Oddly, he did not seem to be damp at all, at least his gorgeous shoulder length blonde hair was dry and perfect. In fact the whole man was perfect, tall and handsome with glowing golden skin and impossibly blue eyes.
As she watched he smiled revealing perfect white teeth and a cute dimple in his left cheek. She knew if she had not already witnessed some pretty bizarre things that her eyes would be bugging out. However her other senses were working just fine. The hairs on her arms and the back of her neck were standing erect, and her pendant burned coldly against her skin. She clutched it reflexively as she stared at the newcomer, clearly a supernatural but which type?
Powers walked out onto the veranda as Axel stood, and both men went to greet the new arrival. Zora felt awkward and wondered what she should do. She decided she should at least stand; it made her feel less at a disadvantage. Moving away from the chairs she watched the ritual of handshaking that appeared to be the chosen form of greeting among the supernaturals as well as humans.
“Greetings Marcus, I trust you are well.” As she supposed was correct since he was a Prince, Axel greeted the man first, then Powers, who followed it up by offering coffee, accepted with alacrity by Marcus. Coffee too, was an interspecies passion. All three men walked up the steps and came towards her. Marcus was watching her very intently and Zora felt intensely uncomfortable under his gaze. There was something predatory about it, and she suddenly felt like she knew what a gazelle felt like when it became the focus of a lion.
She was only a little surprised when Axel introduced them formally. “Zora, this is Marcus, head of the vampire clan McDonald. Marcus, this is Zora.”
Zora took the beautiful smooth, cold, hand that was offered and shook it carefully.
“Pleased to meet you,” she murmured, grateful that she still remembered her manners and also grateful that the spurt of amusement she felt on being introduced – a vampire clan called McDonald?? – was easily squashed by the fear she felt at being introduced to another childhood bogeyman.
CHAPTER SIX
That her fear was not completely hidden was clear from the sharp look Powers shot her, and the amused expression that flitted across Marcus’ face. She swallowed hard and summoned a smile as Marcus said in a voice smooth as silk, “Very pleased to meet you Zora, I have been looking forward to this moment very much.”
Not a sibilant hiss in a single syllable. Not even noticing the alliteration in her thought, Zora relaxed a little - so long as he didn’t turn into a bat in front of her eyes maybe it would not be so bad. Powers snorted again, and she stole a glance at him to see him grinning like a fool. To her utter mortification he addressed Marcus cheerfully, “Don’t turn into a bat in front of Zora Marcus, it’ll freak her out.”
All three men laughed with far too much amusement and Zora began to steam indignantly. Marcus smiled at her. “I won’t turn into a bat Zora, that is entirely a human myth. Do not worry, vampires are nothing like your myths and legends, any more than any other supernatural.”
“So you obviously don’t combust in sunlight, do you bite people on the neck and drain them dry?”
Marcus stilled as he studied her neck and again she felt like a gazelle.
“Oh that part is true my dear, but we do try not to drain them dry, and we make the experience as enjoyable as possible. And of course we ensure that no-one remembers an encounter. You would taste delicious I am sure, but you do not need to worry, all defenders are off limits to vampires, although it is quite difficult to ignore the call - your blood is quite irresistible spiked as it is with a dash of fairy. As to sunlight, well new vampires need to be careful, but the older one gets the better one becomes at dealing with sunlight. I am quite old.”
Good to know, if rather unsettling. Zora decided that sitting would be quite ok if it looked like she was reaching for her coffee so she sank as gracefully as he shaking legs would allow into the nearest seat. Powers waved Marcus and Axel into the chairs and disappeared into the house to make more coffee. Zora really hoped it was lunch time because she was again ravenous. All the excitement of the day she supposed, that and the little gathering of supernatural beings in close proximity.
Hearing her name called she focused on Axel, her eyes skittering past the amused blue gaze of Marcus. He sat as still as a statue in the chair, almost as though he was not alive. Well he wasn’t was he? Vampires were dead weren’t they? Deciding now was not the time to dwell on it Zora plastered a smile on her face and pushed down her errant thoughts.
“Little Zora, I wonder could you tell us what you saw when Marcus arrived just now?”
Marcus glanced sharply at Axel who continued to smile serenely at Zora. Swallowing down a sudden lump in her throat Zora looked past him to where she had seen the cloud.
“There was a small cloud, or maybe it was a patch of fog, and then Marcus appeared.”
Marcus sat up from his relaxed position, the amused expression wiped from his face.
“You saw a cloud? You saw me materialise? No human has ever done that, not even a defender.”
Zora stared speechlessly at him, was this a bad thing? He looked like it was a BAD THING.
“She can see my aura too when I am using magic, and even the colour, and that was before I took away her block. But that I think is because I am the one who bespelled her family, there is a connection stretching back generations.” Axel’s voice was smooth as honey and unconcerned. “She is strong Marcus, I think the strongest defender we have ever had. We need this now, and we are all on the same side.”
Relaxing as suddenly as he had turned serious, Marcus sank back into his seat and the amused glint returned to his eyes. “You, little Zora, are the most interesting defender we have had in many generations. Clearly you were born for just these times. I wonder, if you can see the tells of the fairies and the vampires, can you see the tells of the other supernaturals as well?”
“Stands to reason she can,” Axel said cheerfully. “Ah here comes Powers, we’ll test it on him.”
“Test what on Powers?” the man in question asked. Powers was holding a tray on which sat a large pot of coffee, milk and sugar, and extra mugs. He placed it on the coffee table and began to collect the empty mugs already there. “There are sandwiches and salad also, I’ll bring them out. I bet you at least are hungry Zora.” He smiled at her as he spoke, his eyes resting on her face for a beat too long but Zora didn’t care. In this strange new world Powers had become the only thing familiar and she needed his support.
Axel held up a hand to stop Powers from going back into the house. “A moment please Powers, I would like to test something with you.” At Powers raised eyebrows he continued, “Zora can see my aura and Marcus’s fog. As you know only we the fairies can see the tells of all supernatural beings, and among yourselves only like can see like. Some defenders could see the aura of the fairies but not the tells of any other beings. Zora here is different. So we are wondering if she can see your tell?”
Powers stood staring at Zora, a stunned expression on his face. Marcus laughed good- naturedly. “Come on Powers, get a grip, stop looking like a stunned fish. Just begin the change and we will see if Zora can see your tell also.”
Powers closed his mouth and focused his gaze intently on Zora. She shifted uncomfortably, she hated being put on the spot. But she tried to focus, tried to see something. She had no idea what she was looking for of course, but she supposed it would be something on
or near Powers. As she watched his face she was distracted by a strange movement that seemed to be coming from under the skin. She stared in fascination. It was like his skin was softening. No that wasn’t it. Something was moving, no not something, lots of somethings. She pulled her gaze back, stared at all of him and not just his face. Ohhhhh, that was it. It was like there were multiple creatures moving around under his skin. It was fascinating, and a little creepy. As she watched one creature seemed to slide to the top of the others and sit just under his skin. She squinted a little and saw the faint outline of golden fur and black spots start to shimmer over his skin, like the creature was rising up out of him.
“Cheetah!” Zora realised she had shouted this rather triumphantly when all three men turned to her. The odd overlay on Powers faded instantly and the yellow tinge she had not noticed until then disappeared from his eyes.
“Zora?” he asked. “You could see?”
“Er, yes, I saw what looked like many different animals and then the cheetah seemed to rise up out of you and I realised which one you had chosen.”
Powers sank down into the nearest chair, looking shocked. Marcus stared at her wide eyed and Axel simply smiled and nodded his head.
“So little Zora, you are by far the strongest defender ever. You see the tells as I see them. You will know which creature the shapeshifters will turn into just before they change. It will give a slight advantage should you need it, but of course you won’t because the shapeshifters are our allies and always have been. Still, it is good to know, yes?”
Zora smiled back at him, because it was kind of cool. She felt it gave her a bit of an edge over Powers and she liked that. She shot a cheeky grin at him and he glared back at her. Impishly she winked, which earned her a large grin from Marcus and a frown of disapproval from Powers. Then she looked back at Axel.
“I don’t really understand why this is such a big deal Axel? I mean, seeing when a supernatural is using his or her abilities, how can that be a sign of strength?”
“Little Zora, your strength is measured by many things. Your ability to see these tells is simply one of them but it is the clearest indicator to me that you will be extraordinary. No other defender has had such enhanced senses that they could see this; for no other defender has the veil between our worlds been so thin. This means that all your powers and abilities will be enhanced. I find myself excited to see what you can do.”
He smiled a purely male smile at her and Zora felt the impact right down to her toes. This fairy man would be an amazing lover. No sooner had the thought crossed her mind than a feral growl came from beside her. She glanced across at Powers and felt a little faint at the raw animal anger in his expression as he stared aggressively at Axel. The fairy gazed back at him unconcerned and grinned at him cheerfully.
“Come on Powers, you know there is no danger from me, dial it down and drink some coffee.”
Zora picked up her own coffee, and as she did so her stomach rumbled noisily. Powers heard and snorted and the dangerous mood broke just like that. Without further words he turned on his heel and went back into the house – to get the promised food Zora fervently hoped. She was so hungry that she found it quite easy to tune out Marcus and Axel while she stared hopefully at the door, rather like a food oriented Labrador she realised, so with some effort she wrenched her attention back to the conversation. Immediately she wished she had not done so.
Axel and Marcus were deep in the discussion of blood stocks which she supposed was at least one myth about vampires proved true. But seriously, they could bring blood into the house in convenient baggies?
“Exactly so little Zora.” Correctly reading her curious expression Axel was smiling at her. Zora supposed someone – some fairy – as old as Axel was entitled to call her little Zora but it did make her feel like a child in plaits. Realising she had tuned out again she blushed faintly and hauled her attention back to his face. “There are suppliers of blood to the vampires, families of humans that have done so for many generations. It is, as you can imagine, far more convenient than having to hunt for every meal.”
“I am sure,” Zora replied gravely. She turned to Marcus and the question was out before she had time to consider whether it was wise to ask.
“Marcus, are you able to eat other food? Besides blood I mean?” Remembering belatedly the relish with which he had drunk the beverage offered to him earlier she tacked on hurriedly, “And coffee.”
Marcus smiled gently at her, which was a rather unsettling feeling. “Indeed we do eat normally Zora. We all need blood to satisfy our particular metabolisms, but we still eat. I love a good meal, and I adore chocolate cake.” His smile changed, became more wolfish, and Zora wondered dizzily if she was only imagining the hint of fangs she saw.
Her slight panic was interrupted by Powers coming out with a huge tray laden with food – sandwiches and salad and cake and fruit buns, and a plate of sliced fruit and cheese. Zora felt her stomach contract painfully and she had to swallow against the rush of saliva in her mouth as she smelled the heavenly aroma that rose from the tray. She watched as the tray was placed on the large outdoors table and was out of her seat and beside the table with a speed that made her slightly dizzy.
Powers frowned at her as she reflexively grabbed the edge of the table. “You need to get used to your abilities Zora. You’ll do yourself a damage.”
Repressing the urge to stick out her tongue at him, Zora instead reached decorously for a plate and began piling it high with food. Marcus and Axel joined her and there was silence as they each selected items to add to their plates. Returning to her seat and her coffee, Zora attacked the pile of food voraciously. She was sure she had never been so hungry, and food most definitely had never tasted so good.
As the food disappeared off the plate and the edge of her hunger was assuaged, an unwelcome thought occurred to her and she turned to Axel to ask the question – only to have her line of vision snagged by Powers who was looking at her with a knowing expression. Sighing as she realised he had again tapped into her thoughts Zora let her eyes be trapped by his and waited. Sure enough, he began to answer her unvoiced question.
“I’m afraid so Zora, just as your senses have increased to enjoy such pleasures as food and drink, so they will also be affected by less attractive things, such as death and decay. Your enhanced sense of smell will pick up everything, not just the nice things, and likewise your senses of taste, vision and hearing. There will be some very disturbing sensations for you in the time to come.”
Zora blanched as her active imagination obligingly conjured up all sorts of nasty things she might encounter, and she hoped fervently that should she do so she would not disgrace herself by throwing up in the nearest bush. Fortunately for her reeling senses, Axel commanded the attention of them all by clearing his throat.
“Once we have finished this excellent lunch, we should go to the site and allow Zora to test her new abilities. Marcus, I believe you have been filled in on what she has already discovered, and I am most curious to learn what her abilities will show her in a second viewing.”
Marcus flashed an unreadable glance at Zora before addressing Axel, a slight frown marring the perfection of his face. “Do you think she will be able to sense anything now? I believe it has been about 48 hours since the event, will there be any vibrations left?”
Axel leaned forward and said seriously, “I don’t know. Ordinarily I would say not. But this is a very strong werewolf, and Zora is the strongest ever defender. I am most anxious to find out.”
Right, no pressure then. Suddenly no longer hungry Zora placed her plate on the small table beside her and picked up her coffee to moisten the dry cavern her mouth had become. Feeling a hand on her arm she glanced up and met the serious gaze of Powers. “You will be fine, more than fine. Don’t worry, we are all on your side remember.”
Swallowing the lump that had formed in her throat, Zora nodded and smiled as brightly as she could at him. She was relieved and comforted when
he did not immediately remove his hand from her arm, somehow she could feel strength transferring from him to her. She wondered if it was this bond between them, but let that thought go as she didn’t really want to think at all about the bond.
Marcus and Axel began discussing the known details of the murders, and Zora picked up her plate again. Reasoning that the coming hours were going to drain her strength she decided she should finish eating and tuned them out. Something was nagging at her, something that she had forgotten. It wasn’t anything major but she just had a niggling feeling that she should have done something. Of course the events of the last day and a half were quite enough to drive everything else out of her head. She wondered vaguely about what was going on at work, relieved and still a little annoyed that Powers had called in for both of them, citing an article they were working on together.
She let her thoughts drift, trying to catch that annoying thread of something but it stayed just out of her reach. Zora shrugged, if it was important it would come to her. Which it did quite literally, as at that moment an aggrieved Sunny stomped around the side of the house. As soon as she saw her Zora remembered the arrangement to meet for coffee yesterday. Oops.
Seeing the amount of masculine perfection in various stages of relaxation on the back veranda brought Sunny to a halt. Her gaze flicked past Axel and Marcus, flicked back to Marcus and stayed there almost long enough to be considered a stare. Marcus smiled lazily, dimple on display, and Axel lifted an eyebrow. Neither looked surprised to see Sunny and Zora supposed that as fairy and predator their senses were much sharper than hers. Or maybe hers might have been sharper if she hadn’t been wool gathering. Powers stood and moved towards Sunny, and Sunny pulled her gaze from Marcus, past Powers and onto Zora. Her eyes narrowed and she flicked her blonde hair, today in a high ponytail, and started stomping directly at Zora.
“So ok you stood me up for coffee,” she began. “That was cool, I had coffee with myself instead, no biggie.” From the tone of her voice Zora felt that maybe it was at least a little bit of a biggie but before she could utter an apology Sunny continued. She was by now on the veranda and standing directly in front of Zora. “But when you didn’t answer my text, or the multiple calls and texts I’ve sent since, or the home phone, and you didn’t message me – well I became a little concerned. Oddly I never thought to call Powers. Malcolm told me you were here.” The word ‘oddly’ was delivered with a sledgehammer of sarcasm that brought grins to the faces of Axel and Marcus and a bewildered expression to Powers.