by Gail Koger
Six Remington .308 shell casings littered the ground. I smiled grimly. The killer hadn’t cleaned up his brass. Which meant he wasn’t military trained. With any luck, he would think we were both dead. Until his partner didn’t show up.
Jake scanned the area with his warrior’s bracelet. “He’s long gone.”
“He can’t have gotten far. He’s on horseback.”
“Did your shaman magic tell you that?”
I rolled my eyes and pointed to a pile of steaming manure. “No. That did.”
“What a load of shit,” Jake quipped.
I had the flies buzz him.
Jake narrowed his eyes. “Knock it off, buttercup.”
With a grimace, I obeyed.
He gestured at some footprints. “The suspect is about my size.”
“His essence is full of hate and rage,” I said.
“How do you know that?”
I held up a shell casing. “He left some of himself behind.”
“Can you track him with that?”
“Maybe.” I focused on it. A flurry of images flashed across my mind. A hogan built of stone. A woman’s terrified screams as the Chupacabra attacked her. A Coletti warrior in full battle armor running toward the hogan. Zap! A sizzling red energy beam struck him, hurling him into the side of an old rusted-out truck. Maniacal laughter echoed off the canyon walls. “And it begins.” The visions vanished. “Whoa!”
Jake demanded. “Do you know where that hogan is located?”
“It belongs to Aiyana Chee. Her family has a peach orchard in Chaol canyon. There’s a ridge above the hogan that’ll give us a good view of the area.”
“Show me.”
I focused on a wind scoured ledge with two large, precariously balanced rocks.
“Got it.” Jake clamped me to his chest. Presto! We were standing beside the rocks.
The hogan was surrounded by sagebrush tufted sand, and a shitload of old, wrecked cars.
I staggered back as the cries of the dead hit me. “That bastard slaughtered the entire family.” Tears ran down my cheeks. “The baby was only two years old.”
“Do you need to cross them over?” Jake stroked my back.
I stared up at him in surprise. “How long have you known I can talk to the dead?”
“I had a hunch when you said Jivo’s soul had passed. Once you crossed over the female murder victim, I knew you were a ghost whisperer. You’re sure the Chee family is stuck on this plane of existence?”
“I am.”
Jake scanned the area with his warrior’s bracelet. “Do your thing, I’m not picking up any enemy life signs.”
Sucking in a calming breath, I connected with the esoteric plane and chanted, “Miraculin sepulcrum ibidem solus novum. Domum rotundam vivtorie construxit!”
A glowing portal appeared over the canyon.
“Sun my ass,” Jake groused.
The doorway’s iridescent glow drew the Chee family like a magnet. Once the five souls had passed through the portal, I closed it. “We need to process the scene.”
Jake nodded grimly and teleported us down to the hogan.
A cry broke from me when I spotted a stuffed blue elephant lying in a pool of blood. “That bastard’s going to pay for this.”
“Yes, he is.” Jake raised his bracelet and started documenting the scene.
The crawlies hit me. “Do you sense that?”
Jake pulled his laser pistol. “I do.”
“It feels like the Chupacabra, but that’s impossible.”
A coyote trotted out of the hogan. Its muzzle was blood-soaked.
“Coyote.” Jake lowered his pistol.
My senses went on red alert. “No. It’s not.”
The coyote suddenly warped into a monstrous, gray bipedal creature with large yellow eyes and spikes running down its spine. Grisly hair sprouted from its misshapen skull. It bared a mouthful of serrated teeth and with a ferocious roar, it sprang at us.
Jake fired repeatedly but its thick gray skin seemed to absorb the laser bolts.
I hurled several lightning bolts at the creature, but they didn’t even slow it down.
At the last moment, Jake teleported us behind a wrecked truck.
The Chupacabra uttered a furious growl and moving with incredible speed, it came at us again.
“There’s two ways to stop it,” I said.
“I’m listening.”
“I need time to summon a storm or I can try to morph into a Skinwalker.”
“Skinwalker?” Jake’s eyebrows crawled up his forehead.
“Full-blooded Navajo shamans can shapeshift, but since I’m not actually Navajo, I’ve only been able to hold the form for about sixty seconds.”
“How about I call in a tactical laser strike on the Chupacabra.”
“That’ll work,” I agreed.
The Chupacabra jumped over the truck and its huge paw swatted Jake, knocking him into the side of the hogan. He slid to the ground and didn’t move.
Rolling under the truck, I dodged the creature’s deadly claws, and fired my laser pistol at its right eye.
The monster let out a high-pitched bellowing scream and backed away.
“Jake! Are you hurt? Jake! Dammit answer me. I thought you were a big, tough warlord.” Crap. I scooted behind the remains of a Rambler. “C’mon, big guy, get up and fight.”
Jake groaned and struggled to rise.
The creature padded over to Jake and sparks flew as the creature raked its claws down his armor.
Fuck! If this didn’t work, we were so screwed. I gathered every ounce of power I had and chanted the spell Father had taught me. “Tibi se cor visus dixit Deitas.” A cry of agony tore from me as my body twisted and contorted. Fur sprouted from my skin and Shazam! I became a gigantic werewolf. Power thrummed through my body and everything was suddenly sharper and clearer.
The Chupacabra spun to face me.
“Surprise. You’re not the only monster in town.” I circled the creature.
“You killed my mate.”
Well, color me surprised. It was a girl and intelligent. “Your mate killed my people and had to be put down like the rabid animal it was.”
“We are Testavorr! Your kind are prey to be hunted.”
I vaulted on top of the Rambler “Newsflash. Your killing spree ends today.”
The Testavorr rushed me.
At the last moment, I jumped to the hogan’s roof.
The monster slammed into the Rambler, reducing it to scrap metal.
“Gotta be faster than that, bitch.” Launching myself off the roof, I landed on the Testavorr’s back and sank my fangs into her neck.
With a shriek of rage, she tried to dislodge me.
I dug my claws in and hung on.
The Testavorr fell into the creek and rolled, trapping me beneath her. I bucked and thrashed in a desperate attempt to free myself.
“You, I will eat slowly,” the Testavorr gloated.
A tendril of fear crawled along my gut as my lungs began to burn, and black spots danced in my vision. Holding on to consciousness with a grim determination, I reverted to my human form and managed to slip away. My head broke free of the water and I sucked in a lungful of air.
“What are you?” The Testavorr lunged at me.
I dove to one side and her lethal teeth missed my right foot by an inch. “A shaman.” I hurled a lightning bolt at the gaping wound on her neck.
The creature screeched in agony.
Poof! Jake materialized in the water, grabbed me, and teleported. We appeared on the ledge above the Chee’s hogan.
Crack! A blinding red energy bolt incinerated the Testavorr.
I mentally scanned the area. “God, I hope that was the last one.”
“Me too. We need to get you some battle armor and proper weapons,” Jake said.
“Armor like yours?”
“Yep, only the best for my part
ner.”
I eyed him suspiciously. “You have battle armor in my size?”
“We do. After you’re outfitted, we can check on your father.” He opened his arms. “Let’s go, buttercup, we have a murdering bastard to catch.”
The need to see my father outweighed my reluctance to visit a Coletti warbird. I stepped into his arms.
Chapter Four
There was a flash of black and we were standing in the Coletti version of a conference room. One wall was covered with instruments of death. Swords, knives, laser pistols, rifles, war hammers and what looked like a variety of thermite grenades. The opposite wall held a huge view screen and an assortment of scanners.
My skin prickled as tremendous power crawled over me. Two men occupied the long platinum conference table. My gaze fell on a menacing looking Coletti warrior sitting next to General Jones. Man, he gave Jake a run for his money in the sexy as hell department. He also looked like someone you never wanted to piss off. His black battle suit emphasized his massive frame, and, on his right arm, he wore a large gold warrior’s bracelet with an elaborate design. An etched gold headband held back his gray warriors’ braids. Holy hell! That was Zarek, the Coletti Overlord! For a split second, I was tempted to zap him with a lightning bolt.
Zarek smiled at me.
It was as if he could read my mind.
Zarek’s smile got bigger.
Shit! He could. “Thank you for helping my father,” I said diplomatically.
“The Coletti Empire takes care of its people.” Zarek’s gaze roved over me. “Take your partner to sick bay, Jake, and have Shrek check her over.”
Jake did the fist-to-chest salute. “Yes, my lord.”
“Will I be able to see my father?”
Zarek nodded. “You will. After you have been cleared by Shrek, we need to talk about your bloodline.”
Fuck. “Not much to tell.”
The General snorted.
Poof! One second we were in the conference room, the next we were in sick bay. “Whoa! Can you give me a little warning next time?”
“Never argue with or contradict the Overlord,” Jake countered.
“But…”
“He knows everything,” Jake stated emphatically.
“Seriously?”
“He knows your birth father is Aldo Dragos and all about your unique talents.”
“But he’s never met me,” I protested, then it hit me. “He was either in my father’s head or you snitched on me.”
“Both. Navajo shamans fascinate Zarek.”
“So, he took a peek?”
Jake shrugged. “I would have.”
If Jake wasn’t so tall, I’d punch him in the face. I looked around the spotless room. Six top-of-the-line regen tubes lined the back wall. There were four examining tables with all sorts of gadgets to ensure a sterile operating field and enhanced diagnostics. I could sense my father’s essence in the first tube, but all I could see was a thick white fog. “Do you know how’s he doing?”
“Elder Tsosie will make a complete recovery,” a gentle voice said.
My shoulders sagged in relief.
“I told you Shrek’s the best medic in the galaxy.”
“You did.” I turned and my jaw dropped. Shrek had green skin, tubular ears and exotic features.
Shrek smiled. “I know. I look like the ogre in that vid.”
“That you do.”
“I sent you CeeCee’s scans,” Jake said.
Shrek checked his scanner. “A badly bruised sternum, a concussion and a cut on her forehead. How much of your blood did your mate drink?”
“I’m not his mate. I’m his partner,” I growled.
Shrek turned a surprised gaze on Jake.
“CeeCee’s my partner. We’re investigating a series of murders,” Jake stated.
“I see.” The medic scanned me. “Your injuries are completely healed.”
“Good. When will I be able to talk with my father?”
“In eight hours,” Shrek replied.
“That long?” To say I was disappointed would be an understatement. I really needed my father’s advice.
“I placed a change of clothing for your partner next to the decontamination shower,” Shrek added.
“Decontamination shower? Do I have alien cooties?”
“No, it’s just convenient.” Jake urged me toward the door. “It’s just down the hallway. You’ll feel better once you get a shower, clean clothes and food.”
A shower did sound good. “And the battle armor too?”
“And your battle armor.”
My internal radar screamed a warning. I ran out the door and scanned the area.
Jake followed me. “What’s wrong?”
“Someone’s intent on murder. My gaze locked on a Coletti warrior walking down the corridor. I’d seen the same muddy aura on a homicide suspect. “Him.” I hit him with my freeze ray.
The warrior’s eyes bulged in shock as he struggled to move.
Jake shot me a startled glance. “I don’t sense anything. Are you sure?”
“Yes, and he has friends,” I warned.
An instant later another warrior wearing red coveralls, appeared with a sword in one hand. He swung at Jake.
Jake dodged the blow, pulled his sword and with a deadly upward arc, beheaded the warrior.
The head rolled to a stop at my feet. Ugh. “That’s gotta be the shortest sword fight in history.”
“I am a warlord.” Jake scanned both warriors. “They don’t belong on this ship.”
“Today. You. All. Die,” the immobilized warrior mumbled.
“Yeah, I don’t think that’s gonna happen.” I jabbed my stun gun into his back and triggered it. He did a nice face plant on the floor. “You’re piss-poor warriors.” I handcuffed him.
Tremendous power filled the corridor as Zarek and the General teleported in.
“Do you sense any more threats?” Zarek demanded.
I quickly scanned the ship. “There’s another one in engineering.”
Zarek grabbed me and poof! We were in the engine room. “Who?”
I pointed to a little dude with an odd-looking device in his hand. “Him.”
The dude laughed. “You can’t stop me. Your psychic powers are useless. We’re taking back our world.”
General Jones and Jake appeared behind the little dude.
“Freeze him,” Jake barked.
I obeyed him.
The little dude’s eyes rolled wildly.
The General hurried over to the little terrorist and carefully removed the device from his hand. “He rigged the warp drive to explode.”
I wiggled in Zarek’s hold. Being this up close and personal with the Overlord was freaking me out. His body thrummed with power.”
Zarek slanted me an amused look and released me.
I pulled my stun gun. “Want me to zap him?”
“That will not be necessary.” Zarek tapped his warrior’s bracelet. “His ring is a cleverly disguised energy nullifying field generator.”
Frowning, I linked with Jake. “What does an energy nullifying field generator do?”
“It keeps us from using our psychic abilities,” Jake answered.
“Huh? It didn’t work on me.”
“Your shaman powers must cancel out its effects,” Zarek said and removed the little dude’s ring. “Hopefully, it’s something Elder Tsosie and you can teach us.”
Relief flooded me. I knew in that moment Zarek wouldn’t harm my father.
“Neither of you were ever in any danger of being harmed. You and your father are part of the Coletti family now. We take care of our own,” Zarek stated.
Alarm flared to life. “But, we’re not Coletti.”
“You soon will be,” Zarek replied and vanished.
A squawk of horror broke from me. “No!”
“It’s time you explained the facts of life to her, J
ake.” General Jones picked up the little dude and teleported.
I stomped over to Jake. “You bastard! Your blood did change me.”
“It makes you stronger, harder to kill, and if you’re injured, you’ll heal faster.”
Little bolts of lightning crackled around me. “Does it make me your unwilling mate?”
“It makes you my partner,” Jake responded cautiously.
I bared my teeth in a snarl. “With benefits?”
“Maybe. Down the road. We’ll see how it goes.”
“Touch me and I’ll fry your ass.”
Jake held up his hands. “I think you need some chocolate.”
“Arrrgh! You’re such a jackass.” A tiny lightning bolt zapped his boot.
“Yeow!” Jake jumped back. “The only way we catch the murderer is by working together, or had you forgotten that?”
“It’s the only reason I haven’t incinerated you.”
Father’s voice echoed in my head. “Do not allow your anger to control you.”
I closed my eyes and fought for control. Whether I liked it or not, Jake was now a permanent part of my life and being a raging bitch wasn’t going to help matters. I’d make nice until I figured out a way to stop the bonding process.
Jake let out a martyred sigh. “Still want that shower and some clean clothes?”
“I do, and chocolate would be nice too.”
“Would it now?” Jake eyed me warily and held out his hand. “Truce?”
“Truce.” I placed my hand on his callused palm.
Chapter Five
Poof! We were standing in a room with a large glass shower. Jake pointed to a black tunic, leggings and underwear on a narrow mental bench. “Those are for you to wear. When you’re done, holler and I’ll come get you.”
I nodded.
Jake teleported away.
I stripped down, stepped into the shower and fiddle with the controls.
“Blue to start. Red to stop. Yellow is air dry.” Jake advised.
“Thanks.” I unpinned my bun and allowed my long black hair to tumbled down my back. I tossed the pins in the corner. Hitting the blue button, I sighed in pleasure as jets of hot, pulsating water pounded my stiff muscles. I closed my eyes. It was better than a massage.
“Don’t fall asleep on me. We still have a lot to do.”