Shadowed Magic (The Enlightened Species Novella)

by Wendy S. Hales

  Eros replaced the book. The middle shelves held fiction of every genre. Romance, historical, science fiction, mystery, poetry and horror were all represented.

  “Eros.” Irsu called from a room he hadn’t been in. He followed her voice stepping into Aymee’s bedroom. An average sized bed with a child-like canopy declared Aymee’s softer side. A suitcase overflowed in the center of the peach colored coverlet. Irsu stood in front of several open drawers. “I think a panty burglar has been here.” She snort-laughed.

  Eros grinned. “I erroneously sent Jacob to gather items for Aymee. As you can see, he was slightly inept at the task.”

  “Ya think?” Irsu opened a few other drawers and tossed brassieres and socks into the open bag. “Look around and see if there’s anything I might have missed. I packed clothes, shoes and toiletries for her, but if you see anything personal you want to add, be my guest.”

  His eyes were drawn to the framed pictures at Aymee’s beside. In one, a young Aymee stood between an Asian man and blonde blue-eyed woman, probably her parents. He’d heard her father had died of cancer when she was young and her mother resided in Florida now. Another picture had Aymee, Jess and Jess’s foster-brother Eric, the officer from the night before. They were all laughing on a beach somewhere. The last picture was in a metal frame with dragons etched into it. Eros picked it up, his chest clenched with emotion. It showed a silhouette of Aymee performing a perfect jump spin kick. One leg extended straight, the other bent in a sharp forty-five degree angle to infuse power. Her fists in fighting position, the photo captured her spirit, as did the phrase written into the photo’s base. Live with strength, worth and integrity. Die with honor.

  Eros added the three photos to the pile. A worn stuffed penguin resting against her pillows went into the bag also. Then he opened the drawer to her bedside table and pushed aside her personal pleasuring apparatuses. His eye caught on another photo. It was of him. He was leaning against a counter, bare chest, with his arms folded smiling at something off camera. He hadn’t been aware she’d taken his photo. It pleased him to find it nestled with her belongings and gave pause to the other items in the same draw. Did she think of him when alone?

  Irsu stepped behind him and peered into the drawer, then reached over and closed it. “She doesn’t need those.” She handed him a couple of fashion magazines. “I think that should do it.” Irsu struggled to zip the suitcase. Eros finished it for her, thanked her and watched her port away. The bag held too much metal for him to shadow and fly with it. Rather than port he called Daniel telepathically to pick him up in a car and spent the next twenty minutes going through her photo albums. He would be home before Aymee needed more medication.

  Chapter Five

  Aymee woke to the smell of bacon and coffee. Her stomach rumbled as she struggled to her feet. Every inch of her body resisted her efforts. Stiff and sore, she made her way to the bathroom. Her black eye and nicked cheek glared at her from the mirror. Going pee nearly exhausted her. Halfway toward the scrumptious smell of breakfast, Eros met her. Without a word he offered his arm and Aymee took it. He led her to a chair tucked into a bar overlooking the amazing cooking area, and then raced to a pan, swirled it and flipped an egg like a chef.

  “How do you take your eggs?” Eros's deep voice in the silence sent a shiver down her spine.

  “I like them every way.” She answered. He pushed a glass of juice toward her and handed her more pills. “I don’t want any pain killers. They screw with my head.”

  “It is only the minimum the doctor prescribed. Take them.” He nudged the pills into her hand. Aymee sighed, popped the four tablets into her mouth and swallowed them down with the juice. Eros nodded approval. “If that doesn’t give you relief, I will give you the second pill.”

  Aymee grinned. In other words, don’t let Eros know if she hurt. Got it. “I didn’t know you could cook.”

  Eros loaded them both a plate, setting hers in front of her along with a cup of coffee before grabbing his and taking the bar seat next to her. “There is much we don’t know of each other. Cooking is a passion of mine. One my sons reaped the benefit of.”

  Aymee took a bite of potatoes and the flavor of sage and garlic danced across her tongue. “Mmmm. Oh my god. These are amazing.” Eros grinned and dove into his plate.

  He raised his head and met her gaze. “Jess and Shane are arriving.” A minute later, there was a knock on the door. How did he do that? He was already opening the door.

  Jess stopped short of hugging her. Thank goodness. “I came by to help you with your hair.”

  With Jess’s assistance, she took a shower and got dressed. Jess carefully put two French braids in her hair that looked a bit like redneck pigtails but at least her hair would stay out of her face and leave the stitches in her scalp open to the air.

  Voices from the living room reached her ears as they approached the end of the hallway. Eros sounded angry. She could hear Eric trying to explain.

  “What’s going on?” She asked as Jess helped her sit in a luxurious oversized chair next to Eros. He drew her against his side protectively.

  Eric and Jerika, in uniform, sat on the couch next to one of the detectives from last night. Eric sighed. “We identified the fourth assailant. He has a minor record and we have an APB out on him. He should be in custody soon.” Aymee nodded. That was good news … right? “The problem is one of the men, Kade Sinclair, died last night. It’s obviously a case of self-defense, however, the other two pieces of shit say you never told them you're a black belt.”

  “I didn’t, so what?”

  Eros’s frown deepened. Eric’s nervous gaze glanced at Eros then back to her with resignation and regret. “The city has a new Assistant District Attorney who's trying to make a name for himself. He opened an investigation about whether or not you used excessive force last night.” It was obvious by the disgusted look on Eric’s face what her friend thought of the ADA.

  “What? Eric, that's bullshit.” Jess jumped to her defense.

  Aymee held her hand up at Jess. “So what exactly is this guy charging me with?” Aymee had learned a lot about the legal system when Jess had been incarcerated in a youth detention facility after killing a man that tried to molest her. Jess had been cleared of the charges … after eighteen months of being locked up.

  The detective leaned forward. “He’s not charging you with anything … yet, though he’s labeled the request for inquiry as assault with a deadly weapon and manslaughter. We need to take you to the station. You won’t be held, but we have to book you and question you formally. It shouldn’t take more than a couple of hours of your time.”

  Aymee dropped her forehead to Eros's shoulder. Why she needed his comfort she didn’t understand, but the harsh feeling of incredulous unreality of the situation brought tears to her eyes. Eros lifted her into his lap. His breath warm against her ear, he whispered, “Go with them and know that I am right beside you every minute.”

  She nodded. Eros would accompany her, shadowed. Eric and Jerika would be there too. She could get through this. She didn’t do anything wrong, damn it. Jess had stomped out of the room with Shane trailing her. Aymee could hear her on the phone in the kitchen.

  “… Thank you Mr. Johnson. I’ll let her know.” Jess squatted down to meet Aymee at eye level. “I called Mark Johnson. He’s the attorney that’s helped me in the past. He’s going to meet you at the station.”

  “Jess, it’s never good to bring an attorney to an initial inquiry, it’s looked upon like something a guilty person would do.” Eric snapped at his sister.

  Jess flipped him off. “If they're stupid enough to charge her, then I could give a fuck less what they think. She has rights. One of which is to defend herself. I trust Mark to defend her rights. He says unless you formally arrest her, Aymee is free to transport herself and arrive at her convenience.”

  The detective looked accusingly at Eric. “That's correct.”

  “In that case, I will ask you to leave my home
. Inform you’re station that Miss Yamamoto and her attorney will be there before the day’s out. Let them know if she weakens or becomes stressed in any way during her time there, I will use every resource I have to sue the city into bankruptcy … or worse. Shane, if you could please escort them out.” Eros must have been looking at more than the detective when he spoke. Eric and Jerika rose too.

  Jerika leaned over to Aymee. “Don’t worry, Aym. I know the DA personally. He’ll smash the ADA's investigation as soon as he hears about it.”

  Aymee thanked her friend and let out a sigh of relief when Shane closed the door behind them. The detective might not realize the full extent of Eros’s threat, but Eric and Jerika sure as hell did.

  Eros met Shane’s gaze. “Can you and Jess drive us to the station? I wish to remain shadowed and I don’t want Aymee walking any more than necessary.” The menace Eros radiated felt vindicating. It was how she would normally feel if she weren't so utterly defeated at this point.

  “I can walk for hell's sake,” Aymee protested. Eros had just told Shane to be a wheelchair for her.

  Eros lifted her chin till her eyes met his. “Aymee, I am not sorry for killing that man. I wish I had killed them all. I am however, sorry that you are facing the consequences of my actions. I cannot bear you enduring physical pain in addition to emotional stress. This is not negotiable, Aymee. Either I shadow and accompany you into the interview room and you allow Shane to assist your movements … or I remain visible and carry you myself. Which is it going to be?”

  Aymee could feel his erection pressing against her bottom nestled into his lap. His gaze held an unnecessary apology mixed with stubborn determination and … desire. The independent side of her wanted to argue, while her feminine side liked his taking charge. Liked being cared for. The two sides battled within her. “Fine. Shane can be my damn crutch if it will make you feel better, but I’m not going to be question hopped up on painkillers.” He opened his mouth to argue. Aymee set her finger to the velvety soft skin of his lips. “This is not negotiable either.” He narrowed his eyes, let out a breath of surrender and nodded.

  “Then we must leave now so you will not endure pain longer than necessary. As soon as we return, you will resume your medication regime per the doctor's orders.” Eros declared.

  Aymee cupped his cheek the way she’d dreamed of last night. It had to be a dream. He sucked in a breath and the silver of his eyes rippled. “Eros, you’re bossy and you have the whole mysterious bad boy thing going for you, plus you're hot as hell, but I’m not a child. I appreciate you taking care of me and I will put up with your shit to a degree … don’t push it.” She pressed her lips to his and ground her tender derriere against his erection pointedly. He groaned softly nibbling at her lips. Maybe it wasn't a dream.

  “We will be … err … in the kitchen. Call when you’re ready to go.” Shane chuckled. Aymee glanced over to see Shane herding a gawking Jess out of the room.

  Eros’s surprised wide-eyed expression clashed with hers. “Are you a witch?”

  “What?” Aymee grinned. She’d been called other thing that rhymed with witch before. It wasn’t like he was calling her a name more like he truly thought she might be a witch. Holy shit. Did witches exist too?

  “You enchant me, Aymee.” He whispered pressing his forehead to hers. What a romantic thing to say. She felt a lump of tears fill her throat. Eros was so much more than she’d ever dreamed or fantasized him to be. “There is something magical about you.” His lips touched her gently, tenderly, curiously. “You’ve put a spell on me. One I wish to explore if you will allow me to.”

  Last night he told her he didn’t understand her meaning when she spoke. Now it was her trying to decipher him. “Are you asking if you can date me?” Her heart leapt in her chest. Please say yes. She silently pleaded.

  Eros grinned. “I cannot. You are hurt. Taking you out would be premature, though I would like that very much. I’m asking you to allow me to know you … and you me.”

  Know him like in a biblical sense? Of course she wanted to sleep with him. Every woman with eyes in her head would want to sleep with him. Oh fricken’ DUH Aymee. He might think dating meant going out only. “Getting to know each other is a part of dating. It’s the whole point, usually.”

  “Really?” Eros looked confused. “That is not what I thought. My sons date often. I sometimes wonder if they know the females' names by the end of the dates.”

  Aymee laughed. “I call that recreational sexathons or grunt-fests. Your boys are casual daters. Spending time with another person to really get to know them is considered serious dating.”

  Eros crinkled his brow. “Then Aymee, will you seriously date me?”

  That sounded so afuckingdorable coming out of his mouth and in his deep voice. “Shut up, right!” His crestfallen face clued her in before a misunderstanding happened. “That means yes in the Aymee dictionary.”

  He smiled. “I’ll make a note of it. Now we must go and resume this conversation later.” He stood effortlessly with her clutched to his chest. “Shane … we are ready.”

  Aymee nuzzled his neck grinning like a schoolgirl. “You know this makes you my boyfriend, right?” she whispered kissing the curve between his neck and shoulder.

  “Witch.” He muttered with a groan.

  ****

  It hadn’t been difficult to find out Aymee lived in a loft apartment above her business, or to break into it. Zack had simply ridden his skateboard in front of the place then asked the first kid he ran saw walk out of the building. The stairs were right inside the open door. The empty drawers in her bedroom told him she had bailed to stay somewhere else. Frustrated, he’d pounded his dad’s gun on her bed. Kade was dead. His shoulder burned like a motherfucker. The bitch would pay.

  Then he’d remembered her telling the cops she’d be in to check mug books today. Hanging out in front of a police station might be dangerous. Still, it was the only chance he had to find her. He’d borrowed Jake’s motorcycle. Not like his friend would be able to ride it for a while with a busted pelvis. The parking structure across from the station gave him the cover he needed. He stuck to the shadows and chain-smoked a full pack of Lucky’s. The only guy he saw stood at the front door wearing a suit and holding a briefcase checking his watch every thirty five seconds.

  Just when he thought he’d missed her or that she wouldn’t show, a Black Escalade pulled up at the station doors. The short blonde he’d seen when he left the hospital got out of the driver's seat. A tall dark haired man exited the passenger door, opened the back door and lifted that bitch, Aymee, into his arms and carried her like a doll. The three from the SUV spoke to the suit with the briefcase and they all went inside. Zack slid his ass down the wall to get comfy and wait. He wished he’d brought another pack of smokes with him.

  Chapter Six

  Eros walked, fully shielded and shadowed, behind Shane mirroring his movements the way he'd perfected over the eons. Jess, Shane and Mark walked three wide forming a barrier that forced the mulling officers to detour around them. The two detectives from the night before met them.

  “Aymee are you able to stand for pictures and fingerprints?” The detective asked.

  “Ahemm.” Mark stepped partially in front of Shane with Aymee in his arms. “Unless you officially charge my client you are not booking her. Quit overstepping your bounds detectives or we leave now. We have come as a courtesy to answer questions. Nothing more.”

  Eros liked Mark already. Aymee's expression held such a level of relief that Eros thought she would hug the attorney if she could. Hell, he wanted to hug the man.

  “All right. We're set up in interview one. This way.” One officer led the way through a hallway while the other took position behind Jess who trailed Shane and Eros. Mark stepped through the door held open by the lead detective. When Shane began to enter, he said, “I'm sorry, sir, you're not permitted in the interview.”

  Shane nudged shoulders with the detective. “I will get he
r seated.” Shane gave the detective no chance to argue. Jess blocked the second officer from the doorway while Eros took position in the corner beside the seat Shane set Aymee in next to Mark. Eros could imagine the glare the door-holding detective got from Shane by the widening of the detective's eyes as Shane exited. Shane had been pretty reserved … for a warrior. Eros quickly brushed the hair at Aymee's neck so she would know of his presence. She sighed softly.

  The two detectives sat opposite the small rickety table from them. One man opened a file while the other flipped on the microphone anchored to the table. Cameras were located in each corner overlooking the room from every angle.

  “For the record, could you please state and spell your name.”

  Mark gave Aymee a nod when she glanced at him. “Aymee Lynn Yamamoto,” followed by her enunciating each letter.

  “Attorney representing Miss Yamamoto, Mark Johnson.” The attorney stated without prompt.

  “Detective Andy Cleveland.”

  “Detective Jay Newman.”

  “Miss Yamamoto, the ADA is satisfied with the details of your statement last night regarding the details of the incident. You shouldn’t have to reiterate those.” Detective Cleveland gave her a grin. “Did you disclose your training to the assailants at any time?”

  Mark gave Aymee a nod. “No,” Aymee answered crisply.

  “Why not?”

  Mark nodded at her.