by Lisa Daniels
Summer automatically turned to watch how her companion would respond. His expression was one of deep regret. “And I would love to join you. Really, I want nothing more than to kick some demon ass, but as you can see,” he held up Summer, “I have my hands full.”
Calixto sighed, “Seriously, think outside of your pants for one day. We need help and Cyprian is quite insistent on you being there.”
Summer was the only one who noticed the dark cloud pass over his face. As quickly as it appeared, the look moved on. Instead, her companion said, “Well, you can tell him that it is the thought that counts. He is overestimating me, my abilities, and my value.”
Bree smiled, “He thought you might say that, and in response, he wanted you to know that you are being an idiot. That the years have addled your brain and that you are letting the past cloud your judgment. He followed that up by threatening to come get you himself.”
Summer felt her body jiggle as the man laughed, “Oh, yes, that is quite the threat. Tell me, Calixto, what do you think of his words?”
“I want to trust him.”
“Of course you do, everyone wants to trust him, that is where he derives his power. He is not infallible, and up until Noely came into the picture, I lost a decade fighting to keep him from getting himself killed. If this is his way of saying thank you, I’m going to let him go through with it the next time.”
Bree frowned, “Now listen here, H–”
The man held a finger up and waved her off. “Not here, not now.”
Bree’s expression was far less friendly now. “I know Cyprian and I would trust him with my life. Put the girl down and let’s go before anything more serious happens. Or better yet, bring her along. Anyone who can put up that kind of a shield has got to be well worth having in a fight.”
Summer felt the man tense beneath her. “First, you are welcome for making sure you had another ally for the fight. Let him serve in my place. As for the fight, I have not been a part of any of what you guys have been planning. As I told you before, it is not my fight, and I will not be dragged into it. As for the woman in my arms, it isn’t her shield but mine that is blocking your ability to read her. Finally, Cyprian didn’t bother to wait and it isn’t me that he wanted you to find. He gave you a few hours before taking off himself. You are the distraction that he is using to catch up with me, probably only waiting that long because Noely insisted on ensuring that the tense situation between Phelan and the rest of you reds was calm enough to leave.”
Calixto’s eyes widened then narrowed as he scanned the skies. Elian frowned as he said, “There is no way you can know any of that.”
Bree scowled, all flirting aside. “No, he is right. He just passed through one of my detectors. Noely is with him.”
Calixto scowled, “He dares to come here, tells us how to operate, and then will not even entrust something this simple to us? Of all the–”
A hand on his chest quelled his anger. “You forget that we have not been party to whatever is going on here.”
Annora had never taken her eyes off of the couple. As if she had finished her assessment, she spoke, “Hisa, don’t take the water.”
The name was like a bolt of lightning. Images began flashing in Summer’s mind, causing her to grip the man tighter.
He responded by holding her tighter. “Thank you, Annora. Your tact and understanding of the situation is as irritating as ever.”
Elian stepped forward. “Leave her out of this, Hisa. We do not have to play along with your games and conquests. We have a fight brewing, and we need everyone we can get.”
Calixto was still looking at the skies, his mind clearly not on the conversation. Bree tried to get his attention as Hisa finally dropped his mask.
“Oh, yes, all of us running in together. Banded together by love and brotherhood. And why don’t you ask Cyprian how well that worked out last time? Surely you little reds have heard the stories and know enough about the history to understand a miniscule fraction of what you are in for. But let me tell you something that I doubt anyone has mentioned before. When I said demon, no one batted an eye, so that tells me that you really don’t know the truth and have not been enlightened about your foe. You are not going in against a demon – you are facing Chesed. Over 500 years ago he killed over half of our kind, but only 10% of the reds. You guys cowered in your mountains telling us that it wasn’t your fight. Every single one of the reds who joined the fight died, so of course your history is inaccurate, you backward, inbreeding fools.”
Summer watched as Calixto’s eyes moved down from the skies and onto Hisa. “How quickly you and Cyprian have reminded me why we have been separated for so long. Get out of here before I–”
“Calixto,” the voice was firm but pleading, “we cannot afford to be divided now. He is just trying to get a rise out of you.” Her eyes moved to Hisa. “As much as he deserves an ass-kicking, I think that will have to wait until a later time. We are needed elsewhere if he is not willing to join us.”
Elian spat at the group, “Let him and Cyprian fight it out. We should never have agreed to come here when it is our clan member who needs us.”
Hisa took a step forward. “Yes, your clan member, the one you kicked out to save face. The one who was left alone with a pregnant mixed pixie. What a fantastic job you do of taking care of each other.”
Elian stepped forward, his teeth bared. Before he could say or do anything, Annora stepped in front of him. “Hisa, how old are you?”
His eyes drifted from the men to the Fiend. “What difference does it make?”
“How many friends did you lose in the battle that others shunned?”
Summer watched as Hisa bit his lip, clearly not wanting to talk about his past with the people in front of him. Faced with the question, it was obvious he was not going to lie about the people who had died bravely – that would have been like sacrificing them all over again. Somewhere in her thoughts, Summer realized that she was a part of his answer, “Too many.”
Annora nodded, then turned away from him. “You have no right to judge him. He wears a mask to make people comfortable, but he is hurt far more than any of you ever cared to acknowledge.”
“Annora!” Elian stepped forward and grabbed her arm. “You cannot side with him. Did you not hear how he slandered us?”
The woman turned her startling eyes to her lover. “I heard him state facts. I lost both of my parents and a close friend to dragons. You know what it took to change my mind. I learned that you tried to stop them, that those attacks were condemned and the dragons hunted by their own kind, and that helped me to heal. If you had chosen to sit by and let the dragons kill, I would have hunted you down, too.”
Elian’s mouth opened and closed at her words.
Annora looked at Bree. “I am ashamed that you have become so callous toward anyone you feel has slighted your lover that you will lash out. You are not the girl I protected all of those years ago. She wanted to do what was right, not what would please her friends.” Her eyes moved over her fellow travelers. “You are so proud and condescending that you lose sight of your own flaws and imperfections. At least the majority of us humans do not suffer from such foolishness and delusions.” Annora then looked at Hisa. “I am sorry, Hisa, but there is no need for the charade. You cannot heal if you refuse to bind the wound.” With that, the woman walked away.
Summer watched the stunned faces of the three remaining people. The longer they stayed, the more she feared they would attack. Finally, Calixto sighed and looked to the skies. “And you wanted to leave her behind.” He punched Elian in the arm, causing the man to flinch and hold the spot. “You had better take good care of her or so help our clan, we are going to be lost. That doesn’t mean that I appreciate the provocation,” his eyes met Hisa’s, “but I can at least understand it now. We cannot ask you to relive a war that our kind largely refused to join.” With a slight tilt of his head, Calixto showed unexpected respect to Hisa. A thin smile crossed his lips. “A
nd here I thought you were just a fop. Be safe.”
He grabbed Bree’s hand and dragged her toward the woods, following the same path Annora had taken. Bree kept looking back at him, a mixed expression on her face. Right before they disappeared, she called out, “I will find a way to slow him, so you had better run fast.” Hisa let out a little laugh at the parting words.
Elian watched them leave, then turned toward Hisa. “I want to apologize.”
Summer turned to look at Hisa, who wore a lopsided smile. “But right now your pride won’t let you. If you survive this, I look forward to it. If you die…” He shrugged, causing Summer to shift in his arms.
Elian let out a little laugh. “Be safe and may you find peace in this life or the next.” With that, he turned toward the forest.
Once Elian’s outline was no longer visible, Summer turned toward Hisa. “What is all of this talk of dragons?”
Shifting her in his arms, Hisa’s expression looked worn. “It’s nothing for you to worry about.”
“It is something for me to worry about.”
“Then can we talk about it tonight? You heard the sorceress, we have to get moving.”
“You are Hisa.”
Despite his obvious weariness, Hisa tensed. “Yes, one of the many revelations that Annora exposed that I had wanted to keep buried.”
“I like her.”
“Of course you do. You are honest to a fault and always want to be on the right side.”
“You know that because we fought together.” Summer was trying to remember the name, which was hammering on her mind like a battering ram. He was incredibly important to her history, but she had no recollection of him. Unlike Cyprian, the name Hisa did not conjure any images.
“Again, we need to get moving. So you must forgive me for not wanting to discuss this right now.” He took several faltering steps forward, stumbling once and nearly dropping Summer.
“I can walk.”
Hisa ignored her and picked up his speed. Summer noticed that their direction had changed, and she knew that their destination was no longer the port. Holding her tongue, she tried to settle her thoughts as the world moved around them much faster than it had all day.
Chapter 7
Embracing the Consequences
By the time they reached a little inn at an obscure crossroads, Hisa was barely able to stand. Placing Summer down as gently as he could, he waved at an inn. “We will stay there for a couple of hours.”
“Will that be enough?” Summer looked at him as he staggered toward the door.
“Don’t worry, I can carry you again if you are still tired.”
“I’m not worried about me.”
“There is no reason to worry as long as we stay ahead of Cyprian. If he catches up, then you can worry.”
They entered the inn and a little old woman hurried forward. “Oh, you poor dears, you look very tired. Here,” she said, handing them a key. “It’s your usual room, Hisa. I won’t even scold you about the young woman this time because I very much doubt there will be any of that business going on in your current state.”
“My dear Molly, you are a precious doll whom I would take home with me if your husband would allow it.” His expression was charming, even as Hisa looked like he was about to topple over.
The woman giggled. Behind her a large, burly man appeared, his white hair thin and waving like a flag in the slight breeze. “Hisa!” he stretched his arms wide, “I hope we can expect some entertainment tonight once you are rested!”
Placing a hand over his heart, Summer’s companion bowed, “I would love to, but unfortunately, we are in an impossible hurry to be elsewhere.”
The man laughed, “Stole another man’s bride again, did you? I look forward to hearing the tale the next time you come back. Rest well.”
Summer inclined her head as Hisa tried to give them a grand bow. He stumbled, and Summer quickly moved to his side. Sliding his arm around her neck, she nodded to the couple again and guided Hisa to a room. As soon as the door was closed, Hisa pulled away. Swaying, he fell onto the bed. Summer moved to the dresser where a little dancing figure rested. Picking it up, Summer ran her hand over the intricate details. It was unexpected in such a small place in the middle of nowhere. Turning her eyes back to Hisa, Summer considered what she had learned. Clearly, he was the same kind of creature as most of the people he had associated with since she had encountered Hisa. They had something to do with dragons, and the red ones were insular. But it was obvious that the people here were very familiar with Hisa. Either he had been sneaking around the reds’ territory for forever, or the people running the inn were a lot older than they appeared.
Stepping out of the room, she headed back to the front. The woman looked up. Her smile was clearly the one used for the rare guest; it didn’t shine nearly as brightly as the one she gave Hisa. Returning the smile with something more sincere, Summer stepped forward. “I would like to get some food for him, something that will give him a lot of energy. And a sponge bath. He’s too tired for the bathroom.”
“Look, dear, it isn’t going to last. I will do it for his sake, but don’t think it will change him. Hisa is who he is, and you aren’t going to fix his ways, so don’t get your hopes up.”
Summer opened her mouth ready to be offended, then thought better of it. The smile emerged. “Don’t worry. I’m his cousin.”
The woman frowned, “I was under the impression he had no family.”
Summer laughed, “Of course he does. He’s been disowned. I agreed with him recently, so I have suffered the same fate. As soon as I was free, I hunted him down because we were always close growing up.”
The woman beamed, “Well, it is good to hear he has someone to take care of him. I will get you what you need, just leave it with me.” She hurried through the door behind the counter.
Summer looked around the tidy little inn. At least the woman was human, with some traces of something else far back in her lineage. Stepping toward the wind, Summer looked for the husband. He was out whistling as he worked on cleaning up the area near the stable. Without a doubt, he was human. That solved one question about Hisa – clearly he was very good at hiding his presence, not just who he was.
When the woman returned, Summer took the stuff and headed back to the room. Balancing the food on her head, she managed to get the door open. Slipping into the room silently, she placed the food next to the bed. Noticing that Hisa had shifted a bit, she moved a chair over beside the bed. The water was still very warm, a fact that she hoped to use to clean him without waking him.
Undoing his shirt, she slipped it off of him. For a moment she was stunned by an elaborate dragon that seemed to move along his body. It looked up at her and moved in a way that reminded her of a dog. With a little giggle, she took a sponge and began to clean him. Next, she removed his pants, leaving only his underclothing to cover him. Relieved that he was sleeping on his stomach, Summer finished cleaning his legs. Taking his clothes out of the room with the bath water, she headed back to the common area. “Excuse me, but I need to wash these.”
The man looked up at her. “Oh, you needn’t worry about that. He keeps plenty of clothes in the room.”
“Oh, well, thank you.” Summer turned and began heading toward her room.
“You can still leave those with us. The missus will clean them up for next time.”
Summer smiled, “Thank you again.” Following his pointed finger to a small room on the side of the hallway, Summer noticed the washer. There was a small stack of laundry, and she dropped the clothing on top.
As she walked back to the room, she considered the fact that Hisa was traveling without any luggage or bags. The fish he had prepared earlier was the only item that she knew he had. She placed it on the table beside the meal. Closing the door quietly, Summer moved over to the food and picked up one of the fish. She began eating as she opened the door to the wardrobe. At the sight of the clothing, she nearly dropped the fish. It was packed full
of both men’s and women’s clothing. This was probably the way he stocked everywhere that he stayed. Looking down at her dress, Summer couldn’t help but wonder how many other women had worn the dress.
“No one else has worn it. When Hisa tries to hide a woman, he never uses clothing that others have worn. It means there is something special about you, and his interest in you is not like that of the other women he brings here.”
This time she did drop her fish as a familiar voice came from the window. Placing her hand on her chest, Summer slowly turned around.
Sitting on the window was a man with a familiar face. As soon as she looked at him, he rocked back, nearly falling out of the window. His eyes widened, and a single word was nearly lost on the wind: “Summer?”
Blinking at him, she felt a smile forcing itself onto her face. The man’s name appeared without her having to try. “Anani?” She hurried over to him, feeling as if the world had just shifted out from under her. “My gods, Anani, you don’t look like you have aged a day.”
He stared up at her, his expression frozen. Shaking his head, he muttered, “Shiiiiiiiiiit. I am not up for this. This is… shit.” With a heavy sigh, he stood up. He wrapped his arms around her, and Summer buried her face in his chest. “My gods, but we have missed you. I can’t... I see what he was doing now, and I no longer blame him. When I see Cyprian, I am going to….”
Summer pulled back and beamed up at the face of a man she had not remembered before his appearance. A small part of her was bothered by the fact that she had not yet placed Hisa, but that did not matter at the moment.
She gave him a playful push. “Are you in the habit of peeping into windows and trying to scare women away from him?”
Anani was silent for a bit before finally saying, “You mean you are alright with all of this?”
“You mean the rather impressive number of women Hisa has bedded since I died? Why would it bother me?”