by Elin Wyn
I could hear her whisper but, even though I couldn’t make out the words, I knew she was talking with the Puppet Master.
Dottie acted with zealous professionalism around me at all times, but the way she talked to the Puppet Master suggested more than a professional relationship. Somehow, she had become friends with one of the most powerful—if not the most powerful—beings on the planet.
And maybe I was feeling just a touch jealous of that.
“Alright, I’m ready.” Standing up, she wiped the dust off her hands against her trousers. Smiling, she pressed her briefcase against my chest and started walking out of the cavern. I looked down at the briefcase and pursed my lips.
I was her bodyguard, not her mule.
“Wait for me,” I grumbled, hurrying after her as the briefcase dangled from my left hand. She just threw me an amused glance, looking back at me over her shoulder, and kept on walking at the exact same pace.
Outside, the baby-blue of an afternoon sky had been replaced by a dark canvas, thousands of tiny stars dotting the night.
The comfortable warmth had also given way to a chilly breeze, and I felt some relief as I thought of the hovercraft I had borrowed from the motor pool.
Since most regular transport units had been in use when Dottie disappeared, I had to borrow one of the hovercrafts meant for diplomatic missions. That meant heated-seats, a noiseless engine, and engines that could put us in Kaster in half the time a regular transport shuttle could manage.
All in all, things could be worse.
“That’s fancy,” Dottie whistled as she found the hovercraft. “You sure know how to travel in style, Jalok.”
“I didn’t choose it,” I merely said. “Now get in and let’s get out of here.”
“I’m not leaving in that.” Turning on her heels to face, she threw me a glance that I knew meant trouble. “I came here in a WindJet.” With that, she pointed beyond the diplomatic hovercraft. Right by the entrance of the tunnel sat a single-person transport unit.
WindJets were popular in Kaster, as they offered people the most bang for their buck, but they were subpar transport units.
“I don’t care. You’re leaving in that.” I pointed toward my hovercraft. No way was Dottie driving that WindJet piece of crap back to Kaster. She’d freeze herself to death. “I’ll send someone to pick that up in the morning.”
“That’s not happening,” she said, slightly narrowing her eyes. “I borrowed it from a friend, and I’m not leaving it out here.”
“I don’t care what—”
“I’m not leaving it out there,” she repeated, crossing her arms over her chest. She stared at me, almost as if she was daring me to do something about it. Gritting my teeth, I glanced at the WindJet and tried to measure it. The damn thing was too large for me to fit inside my hovercraft.
“Fine,” I said through gritted teeth. “You take the hovercraft, and I’ll drive that damn thing back.”
“Are you sure?” She arched one eyebrow, a suspicious expression on her face. “It’s going to be a cold ride, you know?”
“That’s exactly why I’ll take it,” I said. “I have to keep you safe. Now get inside the damn hovercraft.”
Reaching inside one of her pockets, she grabbed a set of keys and threw them toward me. I caught them mid-air and, without saying a word, went toward the WindJet.
“Enjoy,” she laughed as she climbed aboard the hovercraft, sounding more enthusiastic about the whole thing than she should.
“I’ll drive in front of you to set the pace,” I told her as I climbed onto the WindJet. It was a clumsy thing, one size too small for me, and I wondered if the chassis wouldn’t give under my weight.
I started the engine, holding my breath as it pushed itself off the ground, and placed both hands on the handle.
Engaging the thrusters, I started heading toward the hovercraft when a cloud of dust hit me like a brick.
Dottie had pushed the hovercraft off the ground hastily, and it looked like she had no intention of allowing me to set the pace.
When the dust finally settled around me, the hovercraft’s tail lights were nothing but a faint speck of light in the distance.
“That damned woman,” I growled, pushing the WindJet to its absolute limits. The metal creaked as the engines worked up a frenzy, and I could almost feel the bolts in the chassis rattling in place.
I was going as fast as I could, and it was absolutely useless. It was impossible to catch up to Dottie. Cursing under my breath, the cold biting into my skin, I clenched my jaw and braced myself for the long journey ahead.
By the time I arrived in Kaster, the city was already in a deep slumber. The traffic was almost non-existent, and the WindJet howled through the streets almost as angrily as I felt.
When I got to Dottie’s apartment building, the hovercraft was neatly tucked in a vacant parking spot. I pulled up next to it and, after climbing down from the WindJet, I inspected it for any scratches. I would have my ass chewed if I returned a diplomatic transport unit with a dent.
“At least that went well,” I muttered once I was sure that the only problem with the hovercraft was the thin layer of dust that covered it. Pushing the WindJet’s keys into one pocket, I stepped inside the building and climbed the stairs until I stood in front of Dottie’s apartment door.
I banged my fist against it, and from the adjoining apartment came a tirade of threats from an elderly voice.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Dottie asked me as she got the door. “Come in. You’re gonna wake up the entire building.”
“You shouldn’t have ran away,” I told her, ignoring her annoyed stare.
“I didn’t run away,” she protested. “You told me to take the hovercraft, and that’s exactly what I did.”
“I also told her I’d set the pace.”
“I must’ve missed that part,” she said, a devious glint in her eyes. She was enjoying this. “Well, now that you’ve checked up on me and seen that I’m safe, you’re free to go.”
“What are you talking about?”
“It’s late and I still haven’t gotten dinner,” she sighed, and her enjoyment was slowly being replaced by frustration. “Go home and let me rest. We’ll see each other in the morning, alright? I promise I won’t run away.”
“I don’t think you understand.”
“Understand what?”
“I’m in charge of your protection,” I said and, as she narrowed her eyes into slits, I realized I would have to spell it out for her. “This is a round-the-clock job.”
“You’ve gotta be kidding,” she breathed out, raking one hand over her face. “You’re telling me you’re going to sleep here? In my apartment?”
“I can arrange for you to spend the night at a government’s facility, if that’s more to your liking.”
“Alright, fine,” she muttered, already turning away from me. She went across the apartment, disappeared into the bedroom, and returned a couple of seconds later with a pillow and blanket.
She threw them on top of the battered old couch in her living room, almost as if she was getting rid of a pile of rubble, and then pointed toward it all. “You can sleep here.”
“Thank you.” I wasn’t looking forward to spending the night here, but I figured it wouldn’t hurt to be polite.
Maybe that would mellow Dottie out.
She just rolled her eyes at me, one of those annoying things human insisted on doing, and went towards the ensuite kitchen. She was rummaging through her fridge when someone knocked at the door.
Dottie tensed up immediately. I hated the wave of fear that had swept that confident woman away. Instead of saying anything, I just gave her a little smile.
“I got it.” Pushing myself off the couch, I got the door and greeted the delivery man standing there. He pushed a couple of bags into my hands, and the smell of greasy take-away immediately took over Dottie’s little apartment.
“You’re kidding.”
“I ordered dinner for us on my way here,” I told her, pleased with the fact that this time I was the one surprising her.
Setting the bags on the kitchen counter, I started removing the little plastic containers from the inside. Frowning, she perched herself on the stools lining the counter, right beside me. I didn’t wait for her as I dove in the food. After spending the whole day holed up in a cave in the middle of nowhere, I was ravenous.
We ate in silence, and that suited me just fine.
“You’re not very talkative, are you?” Dottie finally said, her voice cutting through the silence.
“Don’t have much to talk about with you.”
“You must be a lot of fun.”
“Sometimes.”
“You’re impossible,” she sighed, rolling her eyes again. “You’re one of those military guys that doesn’t have a life, aren’t you?”
“I guess you could say that.” I wasn’t feeling particularly inclined to share my life story with her, and I hoped my vague answers were enough to silence her.
They weren’t, of course. Dottie’s curiosity seemed to know no bounds.
I wondered how the Puppet Master could deal with all her questions without going insane.
“There must be something you like doing outside your job,” she insisted, and I finally raised my eyes from the food. “C’mon, give me something. If you’re going to stay here, it’s only fair I get to know you.”
“It’s just like you said,” I shrugged. “The military’s my life.”
“That’s so interesting.” She was being sarcastic, and her eyes rolled once more. If she kept on doing that, I wouldn’t be too surprised if they popped out of her sockets.
“Fine,” I relented. I would have to give her something or she would never shut up. “I grew up in a military family. My grandfather fought in the Uther wars, and my father was part of the assault on Azan’s moons. He was in charge of a Skotan squad, and he was part of the first wave landing there, right behind enemy lines.”
She looked at me with a surprised expression, and I could tell she had no idea what I was talking about. I didn’t care. “I studied in a military school, and I put a lot of sweat and blood into it. The training is rigorous, and only a few make it.”
“But you graduated.”
“Yes,” I nodded, and felt my heart tighten as I remembered graduation day. The smoke billowing out from crumbling buildings, the screams of agony, and the explosions. “The Xathi attacked on the first day I donned my uniform. My father, a battle hardened veteran, died that day. I’ve been fighting ever since.”
I held her gaze for a moment, but then looked away. I had no idea why I had told her all this. I tried to avoid remembering that day whenever I could, but here I was now...spilling my guts to a tiny little human woman just because she was pretty.
“I had no idea,” she whispered softly. Climbing down from her stool, she turned to me and wrapped her delicate arms around my torso.
And my brain short circuited.
“What are you doing?”
“It’s a hug, you idiot,” she snapped at me. “Just roll with it.”
Hesitantly, I put my arms around her, her tiny frame so frail against my chest that I was almost afraid of hurting her. Her scent was like a drug, something I never even knew existed, and now would kill to keep a steady supply of it.
“You’re not so bad, are you?” She whispered, her voice smooth and tender. Then, before I could do anything about it, she went on tiptoes and kissed my cheek. I looked straight into her eyes as she pulled back, so surprised that I didn’t even know how to react.
Her lips were slightly parted, and there was something about her that was short-circuiting my brain. My mind became like a hollow cavern, not a single thought floating in there.
She smiled then.
Going on her tiptoes again, she looked as if she was about to kiss my forehead. I moved down so that she could do it, but I did it in such an awkward way that my mouth crashed against hers.
The touch of her lips was electric, and my heart rate shot up in an instant.
It was an accident, and yet...we took our time before pulling back.
Clearing her throat, her cheeks turning red, she looked down at her feet. “I think I’m gonna hit the bed right now.” She padded her way to the bedroom but, before stepping inside, she looked back at me over her shoulder. “Have a good night, Jalok.”
“You too, Dottie.”
It was hard to fall asleep that night, and the couch had little to do with it.
Dottie
I tiptoed out of my room the next morning. Jalok was asleep on the couch. He was so broad and tall that not all of his body could fit on the couch at one time. The blanket I’d loaned him looked like a doily now.
I felt guilty for not giving up the bed for him.
But only a little.
I moved silently around him, avoiding all the spots in the floor I knew to be creaky. I can’t believe we kissed last night. Kind of. Honestly, I wasn’t sure what that was.
Jalok made my blood boil. I wanted nothing more than to be rid of him forever and never think of him again. Yet, I enjoyed talking to him last night.
And when we touched… something in my brain must have just turned off. I couldn’t explain it any other way.
He was still the aggressive rage-titan I’d met during the riots, but now I understood his rage a little better.
It must be horrible for him to be stuck here when he wanted to fight where he felt like he could make a difference.
He must feel the way I felt yesterday when I wasn’t allowed to work with the Puppet Master.
Restless. Irritable. Short tempered.
I crept into my kitchen and slowly opened my refrigeration unit. It was empty save for two end pieces of bread I’d been avoiding, a tin of leftover noodles and an empty carton of orange juice I’d forgotten to throw away.
I didn’t spend much time in my kitchen. I either ate at the lab cafeteria or picked up something in the market.
The fishermen of Kaster worked hard. I liked supporting them, and it made everything easier for me.
Jalok took care of dinner last night. I was hoping to take care of breakfast to return the favor but it looked like I’d have to go out and grab something unless he wanted to eat noodles on a toasted end piece of bread.
Not even I wanted to eat that.
“What time is it?” A groggy voice came from the couch.
“A little after seven,” I guessed by the way the light came in. “How’d you sleep?”
“I’m bigger than your couch,” Jalok laughed. “How do you think I slept?”
“I’m sorry. I should’ve offered my bed.”
“I’ve slept in far more uncomfortable places. Though, you really ought to get a new couch.”
“I’ll put that on the list,” I snorted.
Jalok stood up from the couch to fold the blanket I’d lent him. At some point, after I’d retired to my room, he’d removed his shirt. I found myself unable to look away from his broad shoulders. His muscles worked as he arranged the blanket in a neat square and set it on the back of the couch.
Our eyes locked when he turned around to face me.
“Is something the matter?” He asked.
“I, uh,” I scrambled to come up with something to say. “I wanted to thank you for telling me what you told me last night. You seem a little more human to me now.”
“There’s no need to insult me,” he teased.
“Very funny.” I rolled my eyes. “Seriously, thanks. I feel like I should tell you something personal too. I don’t want you to have an advantage over me.”
“Militaristically speaking, you hold the advantage over me. You could use the personal information I divulged last night for leverage.”
“You’re a dedicated soldier at heart. Give me all your money before I tell everyone.”
“You’re horrible at using information for leverage,” he laughed.
“I
take pride in not knowing how to blackmail someone.”
“You really think I’m dedicated?” Jalok tilted his head to one side.
“I do. You remind me of my brother actually.”
Jalok took a seat on the couch and gestured to the empty space next to him.
I nudged his shoulder as I took a seat. The whole couch smelled like him. Warm, spicy. Intriguing.
“Ankou doesn’t have a formal military,” I began.
“I’ve noticed.”
“Aside from the city guards that handle petty crimes, there’s a Search and Rescue team that has divisions in every city. For as long as I can remember, that’s all my brother wanted to do. He had all these crazy dreams about rushing into burning buildings or throwing himself into ravines to save people. He worked really hard to earn his spot even though he had to leave Kaster to keep it.”
“Where did he end up?”
“Fraga, the only city smaller than Kaster. I didn’t think he should go. It was insulting to send him to such a small place. Of course, I kept that thought to myself. He didn’t need his little sister ruining his happiness.”
I lightly raked my nails over my wrist. It was an anxious habit of mine that I’d never managed to shake.
“I shouldn’t have held back. I should’ve told him what I thought about Fraga. I knew he wouldn’t be happy there even if he was on the Search and Rescue team.”
“He wasn’t happy?”
“No. Nothing bad happened in Fraga, ever. Mayor Vidia was on top of local crime. The economy of the little city was booming. Everyone was content. Every once in a while, my brother would get called to help someone find their keys or their car. One time he had to perform the Heimlich maneuver on an elderly woman who choked on her food one table over from where he was having lunch.”
“That sounds horrible,” Jalok frowned.
“It was for him. He never complained. Not once. Even if he wasn’t happy about it, he swore to do his duty. He was so sure that once the higher-ups saw how dedicated he was, they’d move him somewhere where he could do some real good. He rationalized that his time in Fraga was some kind of test.”