by J. B. Garner
I clenched my fists, about to show Blythe what roughing up really meant, but Bunny raised her voice, her eyes blazing red. “You two idiots keep your hands off the Dwarf, whatever she does.” She pointed a cute, fluffy finger at the two goons. “Get the Elf to Dr. Klabbaski and I’ll escort the lady to Master Sinclair.”
A seven-foot tall wererabbit was all it took to make the pair behave. Even so, I only completely relinquished my position over Aelfread when he gave me a weak smile, an infectious thing I couldn’t help but return.
Flashing him a thumbs-up, I complied and slowly crawled out of the Kia. Backing up towards Bunny, I looked up to give her a hard eye. In Truespeech, I said, “I am not going to resist but if something untoward happens to Aelfread, any deal your Master Sinclair wants to make is undone.”
One of her big floppy ears twitched as I think she smiled maybe. “That is fine by me. By my reckoning, once I show you to him, my contract is fulfilled. You will be free to do what you wish without any malice from me.”
As Beaks and Blythe hauled Aelfie out of the car with at least a modicum of care and gentility, I nodded and let Bunny lead me towards the elevators.
10
THE ELEVATOR RIDE was silent. There wasn’t even tinny muzak to keep us company. Now I do appreciate an occasional moment of silence but I much preferred noise, company, and social interaction. It was one of the few things I found enjoyable about my job, after all. The silence didn’t do my nerves any good.
For my own well-being, I had to try to strike up some conversation. Rocking back and forth on my heels, I glanced up at the wererabbit. “So … I noticed the moon wasn’t full out there.”
One of Bunny’s side-mounted eyes swiveled down at me. “Yes. That is correct.” It took a moment for what I mentioned to sink in. “Oh, right. You see Garou and you think movie werewolf rules.”
“See what now?” Switching from a quick glance, I turned to face the giant bunny.
Those red eyes rolled as she turned herself and leaned against the side of the elevator. “What you would call ‘weres’ are formally called Garou. It’s French before you even ask.” Her left ear flopped over without cause. “More specifically, I am a Lapin Garou. You can figure out what that means on your own, I believe.”
I frowned, tugging on my beard self-consciously. While Aelfread hadn’t been the best at focusing on the right answers, I was about to walk into a critical encounter with a type of Figment I had no experience with. Let’s not dwell on the fact that I was still at less than five hours total experience with this sort of thing and hadn’t had a wink of sleep. At least when Aelfie had been there, I had someone who could provide some answers.
Maybe that’s why I pressed the alternatingly cute and terrifying bounty hunter for more information. “Right. You’re a person that takes on the form of a rabbit and otherwise not like a movie monster.” The LED readout above the door pinged to the third floor. We wouldn’t have much longer before we reached the top. “So, I understand Mr. Sinclair is a snake … or is it a Drake?”
I knew which was correct the moment I said it. Whatever part of my brain knew this Truespeech could divine that much. There were different words for the two and there were also different words for ‘drake’ and capital-D ‘Drake’, much like ‘dwarf’ and ‘Dwarf’. It was a funny thing but not half as funny as the fact this was coming so easily to me.
“I would suggest that you do not utter the first in his presence unless you are pointing at a cobra about to bite him.” Unlike her voice, Bunny’s laugh was quite a bit different in her animal form, coming out as a high-pitched chuff. “Let us say that it is a racial slur and leave it at that.
“Otherwise, all you need to know in this situation is that Drakes are reptilian in nature and fancy themselves distant relatives of True Dragons.” As we dinged through the fourth floor, Bunny popped back off the wall, moving with a strange grace for how unwieldy the combination of woman and rabbit seemed. “Whether you buy that or not, they have a lot of wealth and power. In fact, they administer most of the Drachenreich for the actual rulers.”
We only had a few more moments. “That is as much help as a headless pick.” No idea where that came from; it certainly wasn’t what I meant to say. At least it conveyed the right intention.
The cool, professional demeanor she had in the car fell back over her. “Until I receive my payment, I am still under Master Sinclair’s authority. I am afraid that is all I feel free to convey.” The elevator dinged one last time as the car settled on the fifth floor. “I would be ready, Dwarf.”
I took a deep breath and let it out slowly, fixing my gaze on the crack of the elevator doors. Maybe it was the fatigue but it felt like there was a heavy weight on my shoulders. It took some effort to keep my back straight. More likely, it was the crushing feeling of responsibility.
Aelfread had seemed genuinely afraid of what Sinclair wanted to do. I knew I shouldn’t put that much stock in what the Elf said. From the start, I knew his type but at the same time, I felt a kinship with him that went beyond the obvious sex appeal he had. Ultimately, I realized that I believed him when he said he was a screw-up and I believed his fears here.
The big question was more whether those fears were justified. I’d just have to figure that out on my own.
The elevator doors hissed and slid open out onto a large foyer. While the building had looked utterly plain from the outside, this part of the interior was strikingly opulent. The walls were paneled in dark, varnished oak and the metal fixtures were polished steel and gold. The floor was covered in a lush, royal purple carpet with a circular, red rug embroidered with elaborate patterns in gold thread on top of that. That pattern glimmered with an unnatural light and while I knew in an instant it didn’t form runes, I knew there was magic in the thing.
There were several wooden doors leading off the foyer but at the far end, standing before glass double doors, was a gentleman that I took immediately to be Thyvian Dragonsong a.k.a. Master Sinclair. With how he had been talked up, most people would have likely expected a giant of a man looming in the distance. Me, well, I didn’t put nearly as much stock into height so I wasn’t disappointed by his modest five-foot-eight-inch height. That didn’t stop him from being impressive, though.
Sinclair was brawny, the kind of physique you could liken to a shaved ape, but he was dressed in an immaculate business suit. Unlike many larger framed folks, the suit was perfectly tailored for him, right down to the tail hole. Oh, right, the man had a long, whip-like reptilian tail and that wasn’t all. His skin was covered in rough scales I likened to an alligator’s, with finer ones around the throat, colored a deep forest green. Naturally, his head was hairless with two horn-like ridges along the scalp. Much like Bunny in her, uh, bunny shape, he had no shoes as each scaly foot ended in three long, taloned toes. His hands, while folded behind his back, were probably just as claw-y.
I only realized I was staring when he started to walk forward, his voice echoing sibilantly in the large, empty room. “My apologies, Lady Stone, but I did not want to start our relationship under the pretense of lies.” He arched one ridged eyebrow as his golden, slit-pupil eyes focused on Bunny. “Huntress, you should have seen that my guest was properly cleaned up before presenting her to me.”
I stopped my gaping, something that was getting easier and easier with each new revelation this night, as the bounty hunter replied, “Considering she had been with Aelfson alone for some time, I thought you would want to at least introduce yourself and lend your hospitality personally.” She set one paw-hand on her hip. “That and I cannot consider the hunt concluded until you give your agreement and payment.”
Sinclair smiled, showing two rows of needle-like teeth in the process. “Ah, dear Reba, always focused on business.” His hands came out from behind his back as he closed the last few yards to us, one hand grasped around a clinking velvet sack. “Five thousand gold Drake’s Marks.”
Her cuddly pink nose twitched. “That’s a thousand
more than the bounty was posted for.” Despite that statement, she didn’t hesitate in the least to take the offered payment.
“A bonus for finding our orphaned Dwarf.”
That shark smile turned to me now. I wasn’t sure how to read this guy at all. His manner of talking was educated, something I could feel even through Truespeech, and his reptilian appearance wasn’t that hard to come to terms with. There weren’t any immediate warning signs or tells like I had been hoping for, outside of the obvious notion that I didn’t want to be on the bad side of those claws and teeth. Not without a nice, big hammer at least.
“I would like to say it’s a pleasure to meet you,” I said, trying to keep my tone diplomatic at the least, “but I am honestly still trying to figure that out. I mean, your employees blew up the store I was working in as well as the front door of my apartment.” I know it sounds stupid, but I settled on the tact of being utterly honest. Chalk it up to principal and my disgust for all the innuendo up to this point.
Bunny had taken a few steps to the side, counting her payment, as the Drake sighed, a sound that was more of a snake’s hiss than anything else. “Masters Beaks and Blythe are operatives better suited for tasks that require their blunt natures. I had thought them capable of more, well, subtle jobs such as bringing in Prince Aelfson but I judged incorrectly.” He made a sweeping bow in the same style and form of Aelfie’s. “I will ensure that proper financial reparations are made for all the damage they caused to you and the mundane businesses involved.”
I hadn’t quite been expecting that. Blinking up at him, I tried not to sound as surprised as I was. “Well, thank you for that much, at least.” Certain death threats echoed in my mind and got me back on task. “Now I told Bunny this downstairs but I think it’s best we start with this before you say anything else.”
Those dragon-eyes glittered and I couldn’t tell if I should be worried or comforted by that. “Of course. Please, tell me what is on your mind, milady.”
“There isn’t another word to pass between us if you don’t swear on whatever you hold most holy that Aelfread comes to no harm in your custody.” I planted my fists on my hips and tried to look as impressive as I could manage in my generally mussed-up state. That was more impressive than you’d think after all my years on the carnival stage. “If he is the least bit hurt and I hear of it, I leave and you’ll never hear about me or about runes again.”
I thought about adding a witty sting that I’d take Aelfread with me but that would be bloody stupid to say to the person I’d be potentially screwing with.
The mention of runes was what did it, I think. The smile went tight and his eyes lit up. I don’t mean that this time as a figure of speech, no, they literally blazed with light. “You have me, as they say in English, ‘over a barrel’ then. You have no idea how rare the Dwarven race is these days.”
I nodded slowly. “You are correct but I do know you and everyone else in the damn world wants what I have.” I fluffed my beard with one hand, feeling for the moment a little proud of it sitting on my chin. “So, do we have an understanding, Mr. Sinclair?”
Maybe I was imagining it but I swear up and down to this day that Bunny had a smirk on her fuzzy-wuzzy muzzle as the Drake lowered himself down on one knee, putting us eye-to-eye. “Of course, Lady Stone.” He extended his hand out towards me and I could see it had three long, thick fingers and a thumb, each ending in a polished, sharpened black claw. “I swear by the Dragon’s blood in my veins that Prince Aelfson will come to no harm in my custody.”
Oh, there were so many possible loopholes in what he said but it was enough of an assurance that I thought I could risk it for the moment. After all, there was still a considerable chance that what Sinclair wanted wasn’t any big deal, something blown out of proportion by the obvious prejudice Aelfie had for Drakes in general.
Besides, I was too damn tired to haggle more right then.
I took hold of his claw and gave it a firm shake. His grip was strong and hot, like a rock that had been out in the sun for too long, but I figured mine was stronger. “Fine then. I’ll hear you out then … once you’ve given me a chance to get a good night’s sleep.”
Mr. Sinclair nodded slowly as he rose to his full height, folding his arms back behind his back. “Very wise. A tired wise man is little better than a rested fool.” He turned to Bunny, her smirk long gone, replaced by her typical serious look. “Huntress Kincaid, could you show Lady Stone to a room on your way out?”
Bunny smiled. “Of course, Master Sinclair, and I won’t even charge for it.”
11
BUNNY SHIFTED AND SHRUNK back down to her human form the moment we were back in the elevator. Try as I might, I wasn’t fast enough to see how her boots got back on her feet. “I’m a bit shocked he talked to you like that,” she said, dropping into English as she seemed to relax.
I stifled a yawn as she punched the button for the second floor. “Eh? Sinclair was awfully polite. Did I miss something?” I was exhausted enough that I could have missed a freight train rolling through the room.
Adjusting the cuffs of her poet’s blouse, her lips quirked into a smirk. “Some people aren’t happy with the skin they’re born in.” There was the slimmest hint of sadness in her voice, well-masked behind her measured façade. “There’s a reason he doesn’t like to be called by his true name and it isn’t because of some magical nonsense.”
My right hand was already running through my beard of its own accord as I pursed my lips. “Oh yes, I can understand that. I can understand that a lot.” Realizing what I was doing, I forced my hands to behave and go to my sides. “Is that why you defluffed so quickly?”
I must have hit a bit of a nerve as she stiffened her stance a little. The delicate lashes on her big, blue eyes fluttered as she spoke, “My job’s done. No need to wear the business clothes once it’s over, especially heading out into the mundane streets.”
“I didn’t mean anything – “
My protest was cut off quickly. “I get that.” Bunny’s normally cool tone was dull now. “Hell, you’re one of the few people to actually apologize after laughing at my other self but that doesn’t mean I want to chat with you about it.”
I sighed and nodded, looking down the relatively short distance to the mat floor of the elevator. “I’m sorry.” Cocking my head back up, I gave the blonde a sidelong glance. “I’m normally not the prying type but I’m in way over my head here. I’m flailing around a bit, you could say.”
She let out that vapid, valley-girl laugh as the elevator came to a rest on the second floor. “It’s okay, it really is.” Walking past me as the doors slid open, she turned back towards me, standing in the door frame. “After all, I kind of like you, Mary. You’ve got guts and that’s a lot more than most people I wind up collaring.
“Thanks, I think.” I took a step forward and realizing she wasn’t going to immediately step aside, I frowned up her hourglass body to her big eyes. Despite what she had said, I could understand why Bunny might not like being a literal bunny. The Playboy jokes enough would fill a knuckle-dragging asshole’s joke book. “Am I missing something?”
Bunny blinked and shook her head slightly. “Sorry. To be fair, there’s a part of me that wants to shoo you right out of the building. You are in way too deep, especially for an orphan, and you’re growing on me.” She did a step-turn out into the small foyer beyond the elevator, gesturing out of the car. “But that would be even stupider than sticking this out.”
I shook my head, more to keep myself awake than from disagreement, as I followed after her. “You’re surprisingly thoughtful for a bounty hunter, you know that?”
This foyer was much simpler than the other way, looking like any well-kept office building’s might with a hallway cutting through it. Bunny started down the right-hand hall with a slow strut. “Don’t tell anyone; I have a reputation to keep up. You can imagine how hard that can be, I’m sure.”
I was the one to laugh this time. “Oh, I don�
�t doubt it.” In either form (prom queen or fluffy wabbit), Bunny wasn’t my first thought of what a rough-and-tumble bounty hunter should look like.
While the foyer had been that of an office building, the layout and feel as we moved in deeper was more like a decent hotel. Wood doors with gold numbers attached were spaced evenly along the length of the hall, each with keycard locks. A few even had plastic ‘Do Not Disturb’ hangers on them. There weren’t any passerby’s in the hallways yet but there were sounds of stirring and moving from some of the rooms as we passed by.
It wasn’t a surprise to me at that point that there was a constant, low tingle in my spine. I was getting used to that feeling. It didn’t make me gasp but it certainly made me curious.
Maybe Bunny noticed my constant glances around because she answered my unspoken question. Keeping her voice low and soft, she said, “Some Figs can’t blend in like you, me or Master Sinclair so he keeps some discrete housing on-site. Most of us who own businesses like to hire in the community, you know?”
I nodded slowly as what I could easily mistake as a hotel lobby came into view at the end of the hall. I kept my voice down as well as I noted, “That’s generous of them.” It was getting harder to buy into Aelfie’s warnings with each fact slipping out. “But how does he blend in? He didn’t exactly seem very, well, mundane to me.”
She glanced back over her shoulder at me. “Ah, well, I didn’t know how much Aelfson told you. Drakes have an innate talent for magical illusions. You know, making things look like other things.”
I rolled my eyes. “I do know what the word ‘illusion’ means.”
“Hey, I’m not trying to make assumptions,” she smirked as we entered the ‘lobby’. “You’re the orphan, not me.”
My answer was only a grumble as we came up to what essentially was a front desk. It was tall enough that I could barely see over it, but there was a sturdy set of metal steps set against it. I guessed there were more short Figments like Dwarves out there.