Special Rewards (The Coursodon Dimension Book 2)

by M. L. Ryan

  “The bigger question is why someone sent a venomous snake to me,” Alex interjected. “Whoever did it must have known I could heal the bite, so what was the purpose?”

  Sebastian glanced at the upside-down basket. “Have you ascertained how it arrived at your door?”

  “The manager said that a young woman brought it to the front desk earlier this afternoon. She claimed she worked for one of those stores that specialize in gourmet gifts and the basket was to be delivered to my room. Of course, he couldn’t recall the name of the store and he couldn’t provide a good description of the girl, except for one detail.”

  “Let me guess, she had large breasts and was wearing a very tight sweater,” Sebastian said with a smirk.

  Alex returned the sly smile. “Close. She had very large breasts and wore a low-cut, tight sweater. And the only other characteristic he remembered was that she had long, auburn hair.”

  What was it with men and mammaries? Shove some humongous hooters in front of them and they lose 50 IQ points. “Let me get this straight,” I began, shaking my head slowly in disbelief. “He can’t recall anything important because he was mesmerized by her cleavage?”

  “One should never underestimate the befuddling power of boobs,” Sebastian replied.

  Alex nodded in agreement. “I hate to admit that my gender can be so easily distracted, but it’s the oldest trick in the book for a reason. One of the first lessons a Xyzok learns is to never be swayed by a pretty face. And keep in mind that the manager just thought she was a delivery girl, not someone who was a party to criminal activity.”

  Are you kidding me? It wouldn’t need to be a lesson at all if men didn’t think with their dicks. Wanting to change the subject, I asked Alex, “So what happens now?”

  “I’ve notified the local authorities. And there will be a Xyzok presence while we are here to ensure nothing like this happens again.” He cupped my face in his hands. “Between the fire in Tucson and the Coulubrix, I don’t want you getting hurt because someone is trying to mess with me.”

  Frowning, I muttered, “I don’t like the idea of bodyguards.”

  “The Xyzok will be stationed only in the lobby and the hallway. I am the only one who will guard your body carisa,” he purred.

  This time, it was Sebastian who rolled his eyes. “Good lord, Alexander. In the future, please warn me when you are about to express such insipid innuendo. All those years under my tutelage and that is the best you can come up with?”

  ~16~

  For some reason, I formed some sort of bond with my scaly, would-be attacker. Maybe it was because he was so docile around me. Maybe it was because he looked so cute curled up asleep on my leg. Whatever the explanation, I felt somehow responsible for the little slitherer. The local constabulary offered to “dispose of it” when they finished their investigation, but I insisted we find a serpentologist, or whatever a snake collector is called, to come and give him a home. Alex placated me by contacting a nearby zoo, and when the head of the reptile house came to get Sparky – that’s what I named him – I was a little sad. After all, I taught him to fetch.

  With all the hubbub surrounding the gift basket gone bad, the start of Sebastian’s trial kind of snuck up on me. As promised, Tannis delivered a lovely dark grey suit and stylish matching pumps for me to wear to court and while I got ready, she prepped me for what was to come.

  “Our court system is somewhat different than yours. The prosecutor has much more leeway with regard to the type of questions that can be asked and the three-judge panel will only intercede if they think things are getting too off-topic, or if the defense attorney objects strenuously. But for the most part, they will expect you to answer questions that would not be allowed in trials to which you are accustomed. Just answer the questions as best you can and don’t let them rattle you,” she advised. “They try to get a rise out of witnesses in hopes their agitation will loosen their tongues.”

  “Not unlike hokey courtroom dramas on human TV,” I replied. “I’ve often wondered if that ever really works; you know, goading someone on the stand into confessing some heinous deed.”

  Tannis noted that perhaps the Courso were more susceptible to such tactics. “If it wasn’t successful at least occasionally, I suspect it wouldn’t be allowed.”

  “I hope they don’t try that with me. I’m not sure what Alex told you, but when I get riled, things tend to go to pieces. Literally.”

  “And you are worried that you might fry the attorney. That would certainly spice up the usual boring proceedings,” she stated, grinning. When she saw the dread in my expression, however, her tone of voice turned softer. “Alexander said you have made great strides in harnessing your destructiveness. While your magical abilities are stronger in this dimension, your control should be proportionately robust. There’s no reason to think you will lose control.”

  My eyes grew wide. “I’m more powerful here?”

  “Everyone is,” she nodded. “Once the courtroom drama is over, we will have to see what you can do here that you can’t do there.”

  This was news to me. Alex and Sebastian seemed pretty damn formidable in the human world. If that was the diluted version, it was hard to imagine what “stronger” meant. I was starting to be acutely aware of just how much I didn’t understand.

  “Anything else I should know?” I asked.

  “Everything will be conducted in Courso, but you will be provided with an interpreter. I think that’s about it,” she said after a moment of thought. Snapping her perfectly manicured fingers, she added, “Oh, and Sebastian will be able to question you directly as well. I don’t believe that is allowed in American courts of law.”

  Tannis interpreted my question in terms of what I might expect at Sebastian’s hearing, rather than the more global context I had intended. I decided to let it go for now, because I was starting to get nervous and didn’t want to have to process any more information at the moment. With one final glance in the mirror, I straightened my hip-length tailored jacket and took a deep breath.

  “Ready?” Tannis asked as she made her way to the door.

  I wasn’t, but additional procrastination wouldn’t make me more prepared. We stepped into the hallway and the two burly, wrestler-type Xyzok were waiting for us near the stairs. Kevin and Colin — I finally learned their names, at least their chosen human ones — escorted us out of the Inn and handed us off to two other overly-pumped enforcers when we reached the nearby marqizobaz. The Courso that were waiting to use the enchanted subway system seemed more curious than annoyed that we were accompanied by muscle, but I wasn’t comfortable with the arrangement. Tannis wasn’t thrilled either, but she assured me it was necessary.

  “My brother won’t risk anything happening to you because some psycho with a grudge is after him,” she noted as we stepped into the marqizobaz. “You are much too important.”

  I tried not to, but my cheeks flushed anyway. You’d think by the time a person hits 30, they’d stop blushing. Of course, you’d think someone my age would be too old to get pimples too, but I had as many breakouts now as I did when I was a teen. Not that I had a lot back in the day, but honestly, it was humiliating having to still buy zit-cream.

  In the same way that Alex expressed skepticism, Tannis raised one eyebrow and tilted her head to one side. “Do you doubt his feelings?”

  Before I had a chance to answer, we were transcommuted across town. In the ensuing seconds between de- and re-materializing, I had a chance to contemplate her query. I knew Alex cared for me. But we hadn’t been together that long, and we definitely hadn’t had “the talk” concerning exclusivity, although we were together pretty much all the time. He also moved in sort of by default. If I hadn’t needed the fast-track course in magical control, I suppose he would have gotten his own place. Or maybe not even stayed in Tucson.

  Fortunately, when we exited the marqizobaz, the entrance to the courthouse was just across the street. Tannis did not continue the thorny line of inquiry
and I avoided a potentially awkward conversation.

  The building where the trial was to be held looked nothing like I expected. No stark, looming edifice this; it was more like an English Tudor-style house, timber framed, with a steeply pitched roof and mullioned windows. Tannis and I were escorted inside and directed to a room on the second floor. Alex and Karttyx were sitting on a wooden bench outside a large, arched door at the end of the hallway.

  Alex stood up as soon as he saw me. “You look very professional,” he commented as he gave me a once over. He was decked out in a knee-length, fitted-at-the-waist jacket similar to what the male Xyzok contingent had worn when they visited Tucson. All he needed was a top hat to complete the look of a man who had just dropped out of another century. Which, given his age, wasn’t far off the mark. “I believe they are almost ready to begin. Sebastian, of course, has not yet arrived.”

  “Oh, yes he has,” a familiar voice boomed from the stairwell. Sebastian swept into the corridor and completed his theatrical entrance with a small bow to me and Karttyx. His attire was almost identical to Alex’s, but his dark hair was pulled back into a short ponytail tied with a thin, black ribbon.

  “Fashionably late as always,” Karttyx quipped, an I-am-not-amused expression clearly conveying her disapproval. “You try my patience, Kess.”

  Sebastian smirked, but I noticed he didn’t offer his usual imperious repartee. Obviously, Karttyx was no one to sass.

  “I am pleased to see you again,” Karttyx directed to me, “although I wish it was under more pleasant circumstances. I am delighted that you are able to cross dimensions, and I’m sure you will like it here. There is much to recommend.”

  “Everything except the Congealed Oxyntberry Pie,” I murmured under my breath to Alex.

  “I completely agree, Hailey,” Karttyx remarked. “I know it is the official dessert of this region, but it is quite repulsive. No one should eat a gelatinous porridge of over-ripe berries baked in a spongy, bland crust.”

  I always forgot that the Coursodon have heightened sense of hearing and one of these days, my loose tongue was going to get me in trouble. Note to self: Remember to shut the fuck up when hanging with the über-auditory. As for the pie, at the bistro I passed on the dessert because the name was unappealing. Sounds like I didn’t miss much.

  Alex and Sebastian briefed me on what to expect during my testimony. It was basically everything Tannis told me, but I was happy to have it all repeated. There’s something rather intimidating about giving evidence in a formal court hearing. Alex sensed my unease, and reassured me that everything would be fine. I was about to question him about the whole what-if-I-lose-my temper scenario when the door to the courtroom opened and we were beckoned inside.

  The room was nothing like any courtroom I’d ever seen. It was sort of a cross between a conference room and a church, with a long, rectangular table in the center surrounded by leather-covered chairs. At the far end of the space, arched, multi-paned windows stretched from the floor to the extra-tall ceiling. All it needed was a white board and some religious icons to complete the odd mix of business-meets-Sunday mass. In front of the windows, at a short end of the table, a man, flanked by a woman on each side, was already seated. All three were garbed in reddish-brown robes and studied us with identical, impassive expressions as we entered.

  Standing off to the side was a white-haired man dressed similarly to Alex and Sebastian, except his jacket looked more like a uniform – dark blue and belted with lighter, fringed epaulettes on each shoulder. Tannis took a seat along the wall next to Captain Kangaroo and Sebastian sat in the lone chair placed directly opposite the titian trio. Alex, Karttyx and I sat together on the left side of the table.

  A few moments later, two additional people arrived. The first, a handsome man with short, jet-black hair, sat across from us. I smiled politely, but he eyed me with such intensity I felt compelled to make certain that I didn’t have something stuck between my teeth. Satisfied that my dental hygiene was up-to-snuff, I noticed he was still staring. I surreptitiously gave myself a quick once-over. No wardrobe malfunctions that I could see. Perhaps he hadn’t ever seen a human before. Bewildered, I started to say something when the other arrival plunked down in a chair next to me.

  “I am Franklin, your appointed translator,” he announced. “During the proceedings, I will enchant my voice so that only you can hear it so as not to disturb the others. When you give testimony, however, all will be able to hear what I translate to you.”

  Whatever motivation he had for choosing that particular name, I couldn’t help but think he did so because of his uncanny resemblance to the eponymous children’s book turtle. He didn’t have a shell, of course, but his nose was very small and thin and his chin sort of blended into his neck in such a way that he looked rather reptilian. Once I made the observation, all I could think about was whether he liked shoofly pie and was afraid of thunder. Which, given my heightened level of anxiety, amused me immensely.

  “Glad to meet you,” I muttered as I tried my best to suppress a laugh. One of the robed women scowled at my lack of somber deportment, while Mr. Gapes-A-Lot continued to gawk. I attempted to compose myself by counting slowly to 50; a la Franklin, by twos.

  As I reached 34, the robed guy in the middle began to speak. Franklin leaned close, and just as he described, his rephrasing of Coursodon to English was loud and clear; the original words seemed like a television with the sound turned down. It took many minutes to introduce the numerous charges — all of which boiled down to various forms of causing harm to a human — and the people in the room. As I surmised, the robed folks at the head of the table were the ones who would ultimately pass judgment. The dude who couldn’t take his eyes off me was the head of the Department of Trans-Dimensional Affairs. The guy in the dress-blue getup was a liaison to the royal court. It was also explained that for security purposes, the number of people privy to the proceedings was limited, and the usual attendance by the public would be bypassed.

  Once the preliminaries were completed, the judges jumped right in and began to question Sebastian. He explained how he elected to implement his theory of spiritual deconvergence as a last-ditch effort to stay alive and the shock when he realized he had deconverged into me.

  “You had no intention of avoiding death by taking up residence in an unsuspecting human?” the judge on the right queried.

  “Of course not. I expected my essence to be transferred to my laptop. It was serendipitous that I ended up in the Kindle that ultimately was purchased by Ms. Parrish, but never did I plan to exploit another, human or Courso, with these experiments.”

  Center judge piped in at that point. “When you discovered that you were ensconced in a human, what did you do then?”

  “I compelled her to contact Prince Alexander. He knew the basics of my work and I felt he could aid in the removal of my essence from Ms. Parrish. And, ultimately, he was successful in doing so, as is evident from my appearance here today.”

  Karttyx frowned at his sarcasm, and Alex shook his head. No matter what the circumstances or the stakes involved, Sebastian was always Sebastian. I knew he was trying to be as detached and professional as possible, but there was no way he could go completely snark-free.

  “Compelled?” The judge repeated with narrowed eyes. “You forced her to do something against her will?”

  “I had her phone Alexander and say my name. That was all. If I had not, I would have inhabited her body permanently, which would have been much more intrusive.”

  Center didn’t look convinced, and made a note on a stack of papers on the table before him.

  Sebastian continued to describe how we determined where his body was located and what occurred when we found it.

  “Commander,” Lefty began, “did you not feel you were putting Ms. Parrish at risk by having her accompany you to find your corporeal self?”

  “Yes, I did. But she insisted.” Sebastian glanced at me. “She wanted me to be whole.”

>   Lefty turned her attention to me. “Is this true?”

  I wasn’t ready to be asked anything; shouldn’t they finish with one witness before engaging another? I stammered out a curt, “Completely.”

  A long silence followed. I looked around the room and everyone was waiting expectantly for me to go on. Apparently, I was not supposed to give short, very focused responses only to the question asked. This really wasn’t anything like Law and Order. “I was never forced to do anything at any time.”

  “There was no coercion?” Righty interrupted.

  What part of “never forced” did the judge not understand? I peered at Franklin, hoping he might retranslate in words they might comprehend, but he just stared, waiting for me to expound so he could continue doing his job.

  “No,” I said with confidence. “None at all.”

  Alex nudged me with his foot under the table. He must have sensed I was thinking about some snippy retort, and I knew he was telling me to dial it down. But really, do people think by repeating the question, they’ll get a different answer? Oh yes, now that you’ve so cleverly restated it using slightly different words, I realize that my first answer was wrong. Thank you so much for allowing me to correct myself. I wanted to roll my eyes, but I did understand the seriousness of the situation. Instead, I nodded slightly to let Alex know I got the message and would do my best to behave.

  The three judges leaned together and conferred quietly for a moment. When they parted, Center announced, “This seems like an excellent time to hear your perspective on the events in question. When you first realized you were inhabited, how did you react?”

  “At first, I was pretty freaked out.”

  I intended to go on, but Franklin wasn’t translating. His brow was creased and he was looking up as if he was thinking really hard. Alex reached around me, tapped him on the shoulder and murmured something in Courso. Franklin let out a sigh of relief and continued, repeating the words Alex told him.