by Kiersten Fay
Chapter 5
Another humanoid stood in the doorway. He was similar to the first, yet distinctly different. Protruding forehead, white eyes, tight skin. This one was shorter, a bit rounder in the middle.
As Kyra entered from the back room, his eyes moved from an increasingly hysterical Zoey to her, and then back to Zoey, as if unsure which one of them deserved his attention more. He decided on Kyra.
Zoey noticed her then and her features became even more frightened. Kyra mentally shuffled through her many cuts and scrapes, realizing what she must look like.
She placed herself in front of Zoey.
The alien tilted his head. Without taking her eyes off him, Kyra scanned her memory for something that could be used as a weapon. The counter was clean, nearly everything put away. In the opposite corner of the room, a mop leaned out from a bucket of grey water.
At her back, Zoey was screeching incoherently.
“Your companion will be spared, Princess,” the humanoid offered. There was an if that had been left out of the statement.
He lifted his hand and a sparkle of light glinted off another one of those strange weapons. Her memory flashed to the one she’d left outside, thinking she should have grabbed it, but something about the foreign object had repelled her.
The door chimed again. Kyra knew exactly who it would be without looking. When the alien turned, she pushed Zoey into the back room and then darted toward the mop. Gripping the handle in both hands, she used her knee to break it in half. It splintered unevenly, giving her a sharp wooden dagger.
Her actions brought the alien’s attention back on her, leaving him open to attack from behind. She was counting on her new, temporary ally not to hesitate.
He didn’t disappoint.
He charged, bashing his shoulder into the alien full force. On impact, the weapon fell from his grasp and they both went to the ground, grappling for dominance.
She catapulted over the counter and plunged the makeshift weapon into the alien’s back. His scream was terrible, but it didn’t last long. The man reached for the alien’s head and, with a quick twist, snapped its neck.
When the body went limp, he kicked it away. Kyra backed up, gripping her weapon, unsure if a new battle was about to start. Their eyes met for only a second before the screaming started—Zoey had been watching from the back room.
Kyra’s heart lurched when Zo disappeared once more into the back. “Zo! Don’t go out there!” She’d forced authority into her tone, but wasn’t sure if Zo had even heard her. She didn’t feel comfortable turning her back on the man who had just demonstrated such power. However, it was very possible that there were more of those things closing in, ready to rip apart the first sign of life.
When she heard a panic-stricken pull at the backdoor, her choice was made.
It was a weird feeling to be thankful that Zoey was so deeply in shock that she couldn’t comprehend that the door was locked.
Kyra yanked her back and then made herself a barricade in front of the exit. “You can’t go out there!”
That did nothing to lessen Zoey’s hysteria. She dropped to the floor, screaming uncontrollably. A part of Kyra was tempted to join her. She was having a hard time making sense of everything that just happened.
The door chimed.
Worry raked through her. “Zo.” She made her voice as comforting as possible and bent to place her hands on Zoey’s shoulders.
Zoey’s panic turned into harsh pants, and she grabbed Kyra’s wrists like a lifeline.
“Breathe,” Kyra ordered. “Pull it together.”
“What the fuck is happening?”
“I don’t know, hun. Stay here, don’t move, and do not go out that door.”
“Where are you going?” Zoey’s fingernails nearly took root in her skin.
“I’m not going to go far. I’m just going to peek through the door.”
Zoey nodded and let her go. Kyra stood slowly, making sure Zo wasn’t about to freak out again, and then moved to peer into the front room. It was quiet and appeared to be empty. She moved in a little farther for a better look.
A chilled palm on her arm forced her attention back. Zoey had followed, and was now attached—possibly permanently—to her upper arm.
Relenting, she pulled Zoey along till they reached the middle of the room. The man was gone, and so was the alien body.
“Zo,” Kyra whispered.
“Yeah?”
“I think we should make a run for it.”
“Shouldn’t we call the cops or something?”
Kyra hesitated. “I can’t…get involved with the authorities.”
Zoey didn’t say anything, and Kyra didn’t want to look to see the total bewilderment on her friend’s face.
“We’re going to run out of here as fast as we can and then catch a cab for you. Go straight home, and if anyone asks you about tonight, tell them I sent you home early and you know nothing. Okay? You. Saw. Nothing.”
“W-What?”
“Don’t call the cops. Don’t talk to anyone about tonight. Ever.”
“Ky?” Zo’s voice sounded confused, shaky.
When the door chimed yet again, Zoey screeched.
Kyra maneuvered into a protective position.
Same as the night before, the man put his palms in the air, a reassuring gesture, as the door eased to a close behind him. She found it strange that the gangster hat was back in place.
Zoey’s grip began to cut into her circulation, but Kyra ignored it. The room went still as she watched the man with bated anticipation.
A few breaths passed in silence, and the man’s stance remained nonthreatening. Kyra wanted to blurt out a million questions: Who was he? Where did he come from? Who were those aliens?
And to have him verify if he was truly, as he’d said the night before, here to protect her. But the shaking human beside her needed to be safely away before she delved into any of that.
“Let me send her home,” Kyra pleaded. “She doesn’t need to be involved.”
“Involved in what?” Zoey shrieked.
“Nothing,” she insisted, still waiting for the man to say something.
The man replied in a reasonable tone, “They may not leave her be.”
“Who?” Zoey’s voice went up an octave.
Kyra wanted to know who as well, but more, she wanted Zo out of the line of fire, if it were even possible. “Let her go home and then you and I can...talk.”
“Last time I tried talking to you, you shot me.” He held up three fingers in a silent accusation.
“Correction. Last time I saw you, you had broken into my apartment and snuck into my room while I was sleeping.” She left out the naked part. “My reaction was justifiable.”
She expected an objection, but he just shrugged and said, “It was.”
Zoey’s kung-fu grip let up a bit. “You’re…you’re that guy, from the other night.”
They both ignored her. Kyra asked, “Are there any more of them nearby? Is it safe for her to leave?”
He nodded. “They were alone.”
“I’m not going anywhere. Tell me what’s going on!”
“Zo, please. I’ll call you later and explain everything,” she lied. “But now you have to go.”
Kyra didn’t wait for her to agree or object. Passing by the man, she pulled Zoey outside into the cool night and headed for the closest main street. Almost as soon as she raised her hand in the air, a cab pulled to a stop.
“Go home, Zo. I’ll call you later tonight. Okay?”
Zoey gave a tired nod. The expression on her face clearly said she was still in shock. Kyra held her guilt at bay as the cab pulled into traffic.
Turning back to Little Jitters, she spotted a couple of people heading for the door. Her pace increased, and she arrived in time to curtain her body against the entrance. “We’re closed!” Her voice sounded strained.
The two women gave her a snide look, and then glanced around as if expecting to s
ee more Little Jitters’ employees race out of the darkness. “Your sign says you close at ten. It’s only nine-fifty,” one of the women announced.
“Sorry, but everything is shut down, and we are closed.”
“But he’s in there,” the other accused. The man behind the glass was now perched at the solitary table, perfectly at ease.
“He works here.”
“We just want a simple coffee.”
“Oh, shoot! We just ran out.”
The first lady gawked. “Do I need to contact your manager?”
Patience gone, Kyra leveled the woman with a hard stare. “Let me give you a really great reason to do just that. Get the fuck out of here!”
Both women’s jaws fell. Kyra backed inside, ass first, and then twisted the lock into place.
She smiled and waved to the women through the glass. “Thanks for coming!”
Oh yes, her manager was going to get a call in the morning. Didn’t matter. She wouldn’t be coming back.
As a string of dampened curses faded down the street, she whirled to face the room. The expression on the man’s handsome face was misleading, or so she believed. No way he could be so utterly composed and blasé after the violence that just occurred.
Leaning back, he claimed an adjacent chair as a footstool with his legs propped and crossed. One arm rested on the tabletop. His hat tilted slightly forward, shading his eyes from the overhead light.
Her mind went to work, trying to figure him out. At the moment, he wasn’t a threat. But that didn’t mean she could trust him, or that he wouldn’t turn on her at the first opportunity. She was positive he was alien to this world, same as her, but what race he hailed from escaped her. He could be a dragonshifter. That would explain his speed and strength, and even his presence here—if he was, in fact, to be her protector. The dragons had been trusted allies to her people. Though, she had to wonder if that was still the case.
“Who are you?” She finally demanded.
“Cale.”
When he said no more, she raised a brow. “That’s it? Just Cale?”
“The full name’s Calic Uthair, but Cale is fine.”
“And you know who I am?”
“I hope so, or I’ve been following around the wrong girl all this time.”
“Following me? Since when? Your idiotic B-and-E stunt?”
“No, I’d say for about three weeks.”
Her breath caught painfully. She wheezed, “Three weeks?”
“That’s when I found you. Too easy, too. Honestly, I’m surprised the Kayadon hadn’t discovered you before tonight.” He paused. “They hadn’t, had they?”
She reigned in her chagrin. “Kayadon? Is that what those things are?”
“Mm, were.”
“Okay. Yeah, I’ve definitely never seen one before. Where is the body, by the way?”
“Out back with the others, burning.”
She smelled it then, a sour, hot stench. “Are you nuts? You can’t light bodies on fire in the city!”
“Outside the city’s better?”
“Someone will call the police, the fire department. They’re probably already on the way.”
“So, we should go then.” He showed no signs of moving.
A sudden thrill of nerves fluttered through her. “Where is it you think we should go?”
“I’ll take suggestions, but we should probably think about getting out of the city.”
Kyra ran her hands through her hair. “Look, if I’m going to run off with you, you’re going to have to do a lot better than, ‘Hi, I’m Cale. Come with me if you want to live.’ Who are you? Why are you here? Those aliens knew me…how? Do you know of my family? Are they alive? Have you spoken to them?”
He dropped his feet to the floor and leaned forward. “What was the first question again?”
“Are you screwing with me?”
His mouth turned up on one side, “A little.” He eased back into the chair and winced, grabbing his shoulder.
“Are you hurt?” Right away, she felt stupid for asking. Of course he was hurt. And, now that she was thinking a little more clearly, so was she. Her back felt like she’d been dragged across cement. Probably because she had been.
“It’s nothing,” he said dismissively.
Sirens in the distance moved her into action. “Shit, they’re coming.” She hurried to grab her things from behind the register. “Oh, double shit! Zoey forgot to take her mother! Dammit!” The story she’d fed Zoey wouldn’t hold up if she’d forgotten to take her mother’s ashes. Maybe no one would question it, but there was that small chance. “We’ll have to take her with us.” She tucked the urn under her arm. It was lighter than she expected.
Incredulous, Cale eyed the silver container. “She’s imprisoned her mother in there?”
Kyra raised a brow. “Are you serious?”
“Uh. No?”
“Man, you are new to this planet. Where are you from, the dragon clans?” She recalled that the witches who resided on the outskirts of the dragon clans could cast such a binding spell.
“Mm.” His gaze darted toward the front window. “Is there some place we could go where I can grab a bite to eat and catch up on some sleep? We have plenty of time to get into the details later.”
She agreed, leading the way out to the street. They walked at a leisurely pace, so as not to draw attention. The moon was bright tonight, and looked to be nearly full.
Passing a few bars, Kyra stopped in front of a small pizza shop where the line to order wasn’t too long. “Feel like a slice?”
“If it’s edible, I’ll take it.”
A bell announced their entrance. “I suppose you don’t have any cash, do you?”
Cale dug through his pockets and produced a few wallets. One plain looking and black, one brown and fat, and the other—
“Oh, god, is that Gucci?” She flipped it open and read the name on the license to herself. Paula Cellino. “Put these away,” she growled. “Did you steal these?”
“No. I asked for them politely.”
She scanned his urban biker-gangster image. “Did they hand them right over, or did they throw them at you and run?”
He shrugged.
“Just get rid of them, and no more stealing. I’ve got plenty of money. If you need anything, just ask me.”
By his expression, he didn’t like the sound of that, but the wallets disappeared into the trash. She cringed. Gucci lovers everywhere were crying out in pain.
After ordering four slices—one for her, three for him—they claimed a corner table. As she always did, she bit off a piece of the too hot pizza and blew in her mouth, trying to cool it fast. Cale had already downed half of his without even a flinch.
Three police cars and a fire truck barreled past.
“So I guess we can go back to my place if you need some sleep,” she said, ignoring the sirens. “Where’ve you been staying anyway?”
“The park.”
She paused, mid bite. “The park? Like a bum?”
He took another huge bite, not answering at first. “Like I said before, I’m here to protect you. The park provided adequate cover.”
“So you were just camping out, watching me?”
“Pretty much.”
“First of all, creepy. Second, why?”
“Did you miss that part about protecting—”
“I mean, why didn’t you ever approach me? Let me know you were here and tell me what’s going on?” She paused. “What is going on, exactly? I’ve been here for so long with no word from home. This whole time thinking—” She couldn’t say it out loud. That she’d been thinking her family had been destroyed. Then she realized he hadn’t said a word about her family, she’d just assumed. Sitting back, she said in a guarded voice, “Please tell me my father sent you.”
He shrugged, starting on a new slice. “In a roundabout way, I guess he did.”
“You guess?”
“Just so you know, you repeating everything
I say is getting annoying.”
“Maybe if you said something that made sense,” she spat.
“Well, I’d rather not get into it here.” He gestured to the humans dining around them.
Taking a calming breath, she lowered her voice. “I’m not a trusting person by nature, and before I take you back to my home I’d like a little explanation as to why you”—she flung her hand toward the direction of Little Jitters—“and they are here.”
He cocked his head. “I thought it would be obvious.”
“I am about two seconds away from shoving the rest of this pizza in your face.”
He smiled, amused by her threat, but answered, “The Kayadon are here for you, sweetheart.”
“Why?”
He frowned. “You really don’t know?”
“I don’t play stupid for fun, Cale.”
He cocked his head and something unfathomable passed behind his eyes. Finally, he replied in a hushed tone, “Four hundred years ago, the Kayadon attacked your home. I assumed you knew…” He trailed off at her expression. She figured she must look like she was about to be sick.
“It was them?” The sudden tightness in her throat made her voice sound wrong. After all these years of not knowing, she finally had a name to hate, a face to replace the shadow of her nightmares. The memory of that day brought with it all the feelings she’d tried to bury. She covered her face mostly to hide the pain, but also to hide the guilt.
She wished Cale would say more but he remained quiet. Like a typical male, he became uncomfortable when tears threatened, but she didn’t try to hold them in. And at this point, with her frayed emotions, it would be dangerous to do so.
“What happened?” she managed to say.
“I, uh, don’t really know.”
“Huh? I don’t understand.”
“There’s a lot of stuff I need to tell you, but…” He gazed around the room in an exaggerated move.
She grabbed a napkin and wiped away the dampness around her eyes. He was right, of course. This didn’t need to be done here. “Alright, let’s go.”
Cale pointed to her half-eaten pizza. “You gonna eat that?”
Chapter 6