by T. G. Ayer
I frowned. Last I saw Drake was when we'd returned from Mithras. "Where is he anyway?"
Steph sniffed. "He said he had some errands and he'd be back as soon as he could."
"That's really vague, Steph. What errands? And what if soon means weeks or months?"
Steph's eyes widened. "You think something’s wrong?"
"I really don't know. He has had a few issues with a particular gargoyle stalker from after he got back from his trip home to see his dad."
"Stalker? Though she was more like an assassin. Didn't she try to kill him?"
"Yeah. Talk about a woman scorned," I muttered.
"What?" Steph shrieked. "The assassin chick is Drake's ex?"
I groaned. "Yeah. Thought he told you."
She snorted. "Drake Darvon has been totally focused on some mysterious project for weeks now. The only time he's actually here is when he has to help you out on a mission."
I frowned. "So Drake's been holding out on us, eh?"
"That about sums it up. We're going to have to talk to him as soon as we get the chance."
I was already nodding as she fell silent. The thought that Drake had something going on that he hadn't talked to me about didn't sit well at all. He'd never been much of a sharer, but he did talk to me when he was having a rough time. And I'd been so focused on Mithras and Ari and Samuel that I'd pushed his needs aside. Was that why he hadn't confided in me?
I shook the thoughts away and tapped the table. "We can talk to Drake when he gets back. I just need to know that you're okay."
Steph sniffed again then nodded. "I'm okay. But I do have a question."
"Shoot," I replied, thinking I would kill for a cup of tea but also thinking that the last thing I wanted was to stand up. I was sudden;y just too exhausted to move.
"So, What's this black hole thing that took my car?"
I blinked and took a breath. "It's called Axiat and it's legit the hell of the Ethereal planes. Few people even know it exists, and nobody knows how to access it without permission."
"And you just summoned a portal out of thin air?" She was studying my face with a particular focus even though her voice had sounded conversational and untroubled.
I shrugged one shoulder, lips twisted wryly as I said, "I was desperate. Terrified. And then poof, the road disappeared and this portal was there and I crashed into it and the rest, well, it's a long and dangerous story."
Steph was about to reply when the doorbell sang loudly. I winced at the noise, aware I now had a pounding headache that seemed to have appeared out of nowhere.
Steph got to her feet. "I'll get it. It's probably Vanessa."
"Who's Vanessa?" I asked as Steph headed out into the hall.
"A friend," she replied before disappearing to the front door.
I scowled at the empty threshold. Steph had a friend, and one who I didn't know? Now who’s been keeping secrets?
21
I was about to make my escape and jump up to my bedroom when Steph entered the kitchen with her friend.
Steph was smiling widely and pointing at me as though I was on display or something. The black-haired girl at her side simply studied me with cool, almost expressionless eyes the color of metal. Oddly enough, her gray peepers were similar to mine, but eye colors were flexible in this day and age, especially with contact lenses and surgical procedures for the more permanent changes.
The girl held her head high, button nose slightly in the air, expression a tad scowling, as though she was expecting to smell something had gone off or something. I forced a smile, shoving my judgy thoughts away as I stepped toward them.
Steph grinned and said, "Mel, I want you to meet Vanessa Dearborn. She's in my Engineering class. We've buddied up to get this study stuff over and done with once and for all."
I nodded and smiled at Vanessa. "That's so cool. Are you in the accelerated program as well?"
Her dark eyebrows curved, expression cool. "Why would you think that?" She studied me for a long moment, and I had to admit I was caught off guard by her energy.
Something family within the strands of her lifethreads flicked against me, like a warning bell. But again I pushed away the thoughts, admonishing myself for what was probably jealousy that Steph had people outside of my circle who she spent a lot of time with.
I nodded, hoping my expression was as civil as I tried to make it. "Well, you look pretty young for the program, so I'm assuming you're doing the same pathway as Steph."
The girl shrugged, the light glancing off the shoulders of her silver jacket. The little cropped blazer ended just beneath her boobs leaving her entire midriff bare and showing off her navel jewelry and her waist chains which sat on her hips. Her pale-pink cord jeans sat low, revealing her hip bones and I felt a little worried for her in case they slid off as she walked.
I blinked again, wondering why I kept getting distracted about this girl. Maybe it was the way she studied the kitchen, her cool gaze drifting around the room, taking the decor and furniture in with an expression of bland disinterest.
Which was all an act of course.
She studied everything, and I got the feeling she was filing it all away. Perhaps she was simply a very observant type. I glanced over at Steph, raising my eyebrows in question as Vanessa was yet to answer me. I wasn't going to prompt her but her ignoring my question set me on edge.
Steph shrugged though she did look a little disappointed, clearly having not expected this behaviour from her study-buddy. She cleared her throat. "Yeah, Vanessa is also in the accelerated program. She transferred in from New York a week ago so I'm showing her around."
I pursed my lips, feeling a little sorry for the girl now. "The timing sucks. Hope you manage to get all organised and studied up before the exams," I said, offering a verbal olive branch.
Vanessa turned her head slowly, met my eyes and said, "It won't be a problem. I have a very good memory. I have no concerns about failing."
The superior tone got my hackles up, and it didn't help that my gut was twisting, my senses again pinging something at me. I met Steph's worried gaze again but said nothing.
Steph shifted on her feet and looked over at Vanessa. "I hate to waste your time, Vanessa. But I've got a few chores I have to do before I leave. Can I meet you at the library? Our usual table?"
Vaness swiveled her hips, jutting one out in a skinny-model stance, and murmured, "Fine. But you could have told me that before I came all the way here."
Steph's shoulders tightened but she only replied lightly, "Yeah. Sorry about that. I work for a tech firm and they just messaged about a suspected hack. I need to check it out before I meet you. Sadly, thems the breaks when you have to pay the bills."
Vanessa's eyes narrowed, as if she'd caught on that Steph wasn't pleased with her. Then she stepped toward Steph and reached out to stroke her cheek with one long pink-tipped finger. "That's alright, hun. I'm all good. I'll keep your seat warm for you." Then she turned and sauntered out of the kitchen, her pink leather boots clattering on the bare wood until she reached the front hall.
Steph raised her eyebrows at me and shrugged before she walked after Vanessa to let her out. When she returned to the kitchen I was still standing before the doorway, frowning as I ran through my observations about Vanessa.
Steph held out a small box wrapped in brown paper. “This was on the front steps.”
“Who for?” I asked, wondering if Drake had ordered something.
“Has your name on it.” Her tone was short and I knew she was a little off balance as well after Vanessa’s strange behavior.
I took the package and ripped at the paper, unwrapping it to find a long narrow black box. I flipped open the lid and frowned at the contents.
“What is that thing?” Steph asked, smirking as she peered over my shoulder and gawked.
I raised my eyebrows. “I know what you think but not everything phallic in shape is associated with where your mind is at.”
She rolled her eyes. “Wel
l, other than that, what could it be?”
We both stared at the fat marble baton-like object with its strange carvings and its pointy top. “Could be some kind of relic? I dunno. I’ll have to research it.”
“No note I take it?”
“Of course not. That would be too easy,” I muttered before closing the box and setting it on the table. I took a deep breath as my worries returned to the snooty Vanessa, but then I hesitated.
"What's that look?" Steph asked, a little too sharply now that her attention had shifted from the phallic object inside the box to my clear discomfort in the wake of her friend’s departure.
I ignored her tone and said, "Something about Vanessa that I just can't quite put my finger one."
Steph snorted. "Really, Mel. She's just a college friend and a study pal. She’s harmless."
I shook my head briskly, then reached for her arm. "Look, just be careful, okay? I have a strange feeling about her."
Steph shrugged my hand off her arm and glared at me fiercely. "What? Are you suddenly my mother or something? Since when do you get to police my friendships?"
I sighed. "Come on, Steph. I'm just worried. Please don't take it the wrong way."
"How else do you expect me to take it? Now you're telling me who I can be friends with? You really have to stop with this, Mel."
I frowned, hurt and worried now at her reaction. I took a step toward her but she held her arms away and backed out of the kitchen. "Just stay out of my business, okay?" Then she stalked off and ran up the stairs, taking them two at a time. I listened to her stomping all the way to her bedroom, then flinched as her door slammed loudly.
How had we gotten from I-love-you-like-a-sister to mind-your-own-freaking-business so fast?
I took a shuddering breath and headed upstairs to check in on Saleem. There was too much going on and Steph back to being angry with me kinda kicked my legs out from under me.
22
My heart was heavy as I walked down the hall to my bedroom. The door was ajar though the interior of the room remained shadowed, lit only by a thin strip of sunlight that managed to slip through the narrow gap in the drapes.
I was glad to see that Saleem had been serious about getting rest. I tiptoed inside and shut the door carefully, but when I turned to face the bed I found Saleem sitting on the edge of the mattress, his expression as far from sleepy as a person could get.
He frowned as I went to sit beside him. "What was all that ruckus about?"
"Sorry if we woke you," I said, twisting my lips in a sad grimace.
Saleem shook his head. "No, you didn't wake me. So? What's going on with Steph? She sounded pissed? Did you tell her about the car yet?"
I groaned and sank back onto the mattress, tempted to just crawl under the covers and sleep away the rest of my life.
"That bad huh?"
"No. Worse." I sighed and rubbed my forehead. "I told her about the car and she was fine. Well, no, she wasn't fine. She was pissed off that I even thought she'd be angry with me. Said my life is more important to her than her car no matter how much she loved the damned thing."
Saleem shifted to look at me. "So? That doesn't sound so bad."
"It isn't. It wasn't. Until Vanessa pitched up."
"Who is Vanessa?"
"Steph's college study-buddy. The girl was just...off. Something about her just got me all suspicious and anxious."
He cleared his throat. "Don't tell me. You warned Steph to be careful and she lost it and told you to mind your own business?"
I squinted at him. "That about sums it up."
"Oh, man. So, what? You two were at peace with each other for all of five minutes?"
"Pretty much. Now I don't know what to do. Do I leave her to cool off or do I go and talk her out of her fury?"
Saleem lay down beside me, propping her head on his hand. "I'd say leave her be for now. If she's angry she's not going to hear anything you say."
"Yeah. I figured as much. And besides, I have too much to worry about right now." I turned onto my side and mimicked his position so our faces with a mere hand’s-breadth from each other. "So what did Fathima have to say?" I asked changing the subject and also eager to know.
Saleem gave a short nod. "She's gone to see what she can dig up. I told her what I needed and then caught a few minutes of shut-eye, although it feels like I didn't even close my eyes."
I pursed my lips. "You still tired?"
"A little. But I'm feeling better now."
I sighed as I studied his face. He shouldn't have left the bed, shouldn't' have taxed himself traveling to Axiat to save my ass. But it was a waste of time exercising hindsight which wasn't even going to help me with my next problem.
Or anything else after that.
I cleared my throat. "I spoke to Horner but I didn’t ask him about Axiat. There is something else of more immediate concern."
"Which is?" His eyes were questioning and curious.
"Gilfillan." Saleem's brow furrowed but he didn't say anything so I explained. "Gilfillan and his team went to Mithras around the time we left. They were supposed to be assigned to a different location, assist the rebels wherever they were needed. But Horner just asked me what happened to them because they haven't returned to the EarthWorld yet."
Saleem grunted. "So we lost the Director of Sentinel?"
"Something like that." I flipped over onto my stomach and groaned into the mattress. "Horner's heard nothing from them since they left for Mithras."
"Maybe Fathima will have some info on their whereabouts, though I'm confused as to why they didn't return to base like the rest of us did."
I scowled, which he couldn't see since I was still face down on the bed. I raised myself up onto my elbows and shook my head. "Pointless wondering. Fathima can probably let us know. I need to find them and get them back asap. Plus, Horner was acting all weird and I'm worried about him too."
"Weird?" Saleem asked. “Enough for you to avoid asking about Axiat?”
"Yeah. I'm not sure if he slipped up or what, but he revealed that Gilfillan and his team waited until we transitioned through the Veil into Mithras. Their only way to enter was in the wake of our entry."
"So they used us to cover their presence. Makes sense if they didn't have something like the Sharaita, or previous experience with creating such magic."
"It makes sense, there's no denying that. But why not let us know about it? So we could warn the rebels or something. What if they were shot down the moment they stepped through? Seems a little reckless to me."
"Maybe you're right. But let's wait and see what Fathima says."
"See what Fathima says about what?" asked the rebel warrior as she materialised in front of us.
I smiled and got off the bed to go give her a hug. The woman was a godsend, a strong, proud badass warrior who was now a trusted friend.
"We're looking for someone in Mithras and we think you may be able to help locate them for us."
Fathima grinned. "Sure. Who exactly have you lost?"
"Sentinel Director Gilfillan and his team. They were our second squad--sort of. They were acting under their own steam but we knew they were coming to Mithras. Only problem is, they haven't reported in or given a debrief yet. Got a few people worried about their absence. Plus, it makes me look like an amateur considering I totally forgot about them."
Fathima shrugged. "You can't be responsible for all the teams, especially if this Gilfillan guy is an actual head of an investigative agency."
"I suppose you have a point. Still, I have to locate them and have them report in to the SHC. Gilfillan is too high-profile to be missing for this long without important people taking notice."
She nodded. "Of course. I'll go check it out and get back to you." I smiled my thanks as she looked at Saleem who was still sprawled on the bed as though posing for some sexy perfume ad or something. "I have some info on Axiat you're probably not going to like." Fathima's expression was a worry and I knew already that I didn't w
ant to hear what she had to say.
23
Saleem and I stared at Fathima in silence, waiting, not wanting to rush her considering it was going to be bad news anyway.
Fathima offered Saleem an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, Saleem. What I've managed to unearth about the effect the Axiat has on us only makes things worse I'm afraid." She paused to meet my eyes for a second before looking back at Saleem.
I wasn't sure I liked where this was going. Lives were already hanging in the balance with the Sharaita wanting its price, so I suppose if one of us were to be dying anyway, it wouldn't be all that big a deal in the end, would it? Someone was going to die. Only thing I'd prefer it to not be Saleem. But that didn't solve anything. I didn't want anyone to sacrifice their lives, and to be honest I'd volunteer if it came to that.
But, then again, I had a responsibility to the Ni'amh. Talk about a rock and a hard place.
I shook my head slightly and focused on Fathima who was saying, "All the books in the archives claim that the Axiat is deadly to a djinn. But, I couldn't find anything to explain how to help, or what exactly happens to kill the djinn in the first place. And of course most of the information is written as though it were a fable, because there just wasn't anyone who came back alive."
"You've got to wonder though. If nobody ever came back alive, how were those stories written, where did they get their details from?" I asked more to myself than anyone.
But Fathima replied, "You're right, of course. I'm sure someone has gone there before and returned. There have been enough warlocks, witches, mages and necromancers with the kind of power that would give them safe passage there and back."
Saleem and I nodded but neither said a word.
"Oh and I also found a small book about Axiat but I wasn't sure how to read it. The pages looked blank so I'm sure there must be a spell or something that's keeping the writing invisible."
I nodded. "I've seen that kind of thing before. Do you have the book? I could ask Natasha to have a look at it for us. She could probably get the words revealed in no time."