by Nikki Frank
“Guarding is not always this hard. Usually it’s boring. I would assume life as an assassin is far more interesting than life as a bodyguard, under normal circumstances. This job is special.”
“Lucky me.” I snorted. I stood and started back toward the cabins. “Thanks for listening.”
“I wish I could do something to alleviate your tension.”
I gave him a smile. “Don’t go anywhere. I can’t imagine trying to do this job without you.”
We arrived in Belize the evening of the third day. Foreboding had settled over me, stronger than ever and I couldn’t rest. Talon caught me pacing the stern of the boat.
“Want to fill me in on what’s got your panties in a knot?”
“I can’t really say. I have this nagging feeling something isn’t right.”
“Pick a number off the list. There’s dozens of things wrong.”
“No. I feel like we’re sitting on the edge of a precipice. Something bad is at our feet and I can’t see what. I told Omri I felt uneasy after the mermaid attack but today it’s stronger.”
“Don’t tell Omri.” Talon crossed his arms. “Tell me. Remember who has the training. He may be a tough breed but he’s the domestic help. If you don’t trust me tell Yumiko.”
“I didn’t tell Omri because I trust him more, Omri is . . . calmer. Or maybe more worldly is a better way to explain.” I didn’t want to admit I was avoiding being alone with Talon, too.
He started to reach for my face and let his hand fall before it got there. “We can do shifts tonight. If we put Omri and Yumiko in the rounds no one has to do more than two and half hours of lookout during the sleeping time. Then we’ll all be rested for tomorrow. Speaking of which.” He gripped my arm. “What do you know? Omri didn’t take you on the bike for a date. If we’re going to be partners, you need to fill me in.”
“Partners?” The word came out in a gasp.
He heaved a sigh. “Not for good. For this mission. But seriously, would having me for a partner be so bad? We both need one. If we get through this mission, we could team up. We’ll already know each other’s style.” He gave me an exasperated look, probably because I’d begun backing away. “Never mind. Just fill me in.”
I told Talon what Omri had told me. Omri’s silence raised suspicion. Why wasn’t he filling Talon in? I’d have to figure that out later. For now, I’d be the bridge between Talon and Omri. When I finished explaining, Talon didn’t look as surprised as I’d been at being told we were going back to the Borderlands.
“Are you sure you’re ready for this?” He looked me in the eye. “You and Emmett are the only ones who’ve never been to the Borderlands. Nothing will prepare a human for it, but you . . . never having been there makes you basically human mentally. Are you going to be all right?”
“I’m always all right. Omri told me the Borderlands aren’t so different. Aside from the fact I’ll look like an imp all the time.”
“Omri’s a little blasé about this. The differences aren’t just in the way we’ll look. Things smell different. The food’s different. The government is different. No one will look human and no one will hold back on their true nature. No one’s trying to assimilate there. So, you have to know how to tread or how to hold your own, or both.”
“Oh.”
“Oh, is right. Have you even been in a fully released imp form?”
“A couple times I’ve lost control and sprouted my tail.”
He sighed and ran a hand through his blue hair. “That’s a big no. On Earth, your magic is set up to keep you as close to a human as possible. Think of it like a default setting. If you let go of the default, all sorts of things change. For example: I have green skin and white hair. I have cat eyes which see perfectly at night as well as the day. I prefer my meat raw and I have a tail, too. Exactly what you get depends a little on you personally, but your looks are going to be way different than what you’re used to.” He leaned back against the boat rail, crossing his legs and arms. “There’s really not time to run you through the finer points of not pissing magic folk off, so let Omri or I do the talking and follow my lead.”
“But―”
He raised a hand, cutting me off. “I know you’re a take charge kinda girl, but you’re gonna have to let go of the reins on this one.”
“I’ll try.”
“Good girl.”
I stuck my tongue out at him.
Chapter 9
Nothing happened that night, despite our vigilance. Nothing happened the next morning when our guide took us into the jungle and downriver to the ruins. Monkeys howled at us from somewhere deep within the vegetation. Humidity hung so heavy in the forest we might as well have been breathing underwater. And from the moment I set foot in the jungle mosquitoes buzzed at my ears.
I slapped one against my neck and Talon made a face at me. “Gross. The bug popped and now you have a blood spatter on your neck.”
“Hah. Better a little blood then the way you look. They bit all over your face and you look like you’ve got zits.”
Omri used a magic geyser to shrink Elita’s stack of luggage into something pocket sized while the rest of us lounged and waited. Except Elita. She buzzed around us making a constant and irritating whining, like a giant mosquito. Though I doubted I’d get away with slapping her.
Once Omri had packed Elita’s bags in his pockets, we headed off into the jungle in the direction of the unicorn. Omri kept checking a compass and a map which no doubt led straight to the gateway rather than a unicorn.
The further into the jungle we went the worse the heat got since the trees blocked any breeze. The air stood completely still and almost vibrated with life. I would have given anything to be back on the boat with a breeze.
I’d nearly reached needing to scream at someone about the atmosphere when we finally emerged into a partial clearing. In the center, a huge stone step pyramid reached above the tops of the trees. Moss covered the sides of the ruin and dirt had built up around the base. The temple remains oozed creepiness. In fact, the whole clearing made my skin crawl. I sidled up to Talon and gave his arm a poke.
“Do you feel that?”
He nodded and the tight expression he wore let me know we were on the same page. Yumiko as well, for though she never said a word she stood tense and ready. I smelled them before they came into view. The stench almost made me lose my lunch: dead things.
When the first one lurched into the clearing I gulped down rising bile. The creature resembled a body which had been completely charred, black with flesh hanging from exposed bones in strips. Random clumps of stiff hair clung to his head and he stared at us with empty eye sockets. I would have screamed for Omri, but Elita beat me to it.
Omri turned from studying the temple and let out a hiss. “Draugr.”
My lack of understanding must have shown on my face.
“Zombies,” Talon explained as he pulled blades from beneath his clothes.
“Zaemon must be practicing necromancy,” Omri added, tossing a wicked looking sword to me. “Hack the heads off and cut out the heart and brain. If those are destroyed they’ll die again.”
“This is against all laws,” Yumiko said, herding Emmett and Elita into the loose circle we’d formed. “We need to report to the Lord. Action must be taken.”
At this point I counted ten of the draugr in the clearing.
Talon grunted. “Let’s save ourselves first.”
Omri held two short swords and attacked first. He dashed out bringing both blades across the neck of one of the draugr, hacking the head off with a scissor slice. As the skull hit the ground a dark purple gas issued from the still standing body.
Omri’s face swiftly turned a strange shade of orange. “Poison,” he gasped out. “Don’t cut. Burn.”
Omri crumpled
to the ground as Elita screamed and clung to Emmett who swayed, ready to pass out. Yumiko had switched out her blades for a torch. I assumed she made the weapon with magic, but she took a huge risk since we still had nine draugr and the guts of one to deal with. Evidently a weapon would be a worthwhile expenditure of power because Talon had done the same. Yumiko ignited the first of the remaining draugr. The creature went up like dry grass. His mouth gaped in a silent scream, rotten teeth hanging from his jaw.
Talon took down a second as I switched my blade for a torch, too. I took out the third. The draugr were hanging back, obviously unwilling to come near but unable to go against their orders. Yumiko went for one of the remaining six and screamed. As soon as she lit the draugr on fire, the mouth opened, and the same poison gas billowed out.
Talon and I were alone now. We backed Elita and Emmett against the wall of the temple in the hopes of protecting them, but I doubted we stood much chance.
“Now what?” I asked Talon.
“Try these.” He tossed me a handgun.
“What are they?”
“Something nasty my dad concocted. They lodge in the body scattering shrapnel and poison. Head shots, let’s scramble some draugr brains.”
I gave a quick nod and took a shot. The draugr fell to the ground with a sick thud.
“They work.”
“Don’t get cocky,” he gritted out, taking a shot of his own. “There’s three more of them and only two of us and they’re adapting.”
The body of the draugr he’d shot leaked gas from the bullet hole. He aimed at the draugr who stood furthest from us and shot him through the center of the forehead. This time the head exploded, and the fallen corpse disappeared, shrouded in a cloud of gas.
“What about the last two?” At least the adrenaline kept my voice steady.
“Do you trust me?”
Ready to trust or not I had no choice. “Yes.”
“Were going to have to move quick. I’ll hold, you drive your dagger through his ear. Make the smallest hole possible.”
I nodded, ignoring a whimper from Emmett. A point-blank attack left no margin of error. If this didn’t work, I would be mauled or worse.
Talon started his count. On three we leapt. Talon slammed the draugr to the ground and pinned his body. I rammed a dagger through his ear and twisted for good measure. When the draugr stopped moving we both jumped clear as I jerked my blade free. The blade came out covered in thick, black sludge.
Elita screamed. The last draugr had a hand on her arm. Talon ran, tackling the creature and knocking it to the ground. Before I got to him the draugr had raked dirty nails, like claws, across his neck and back. The skin around the wound started to turn a sickly green even before the blood welled up.
“Talon.”
I ran for him, driving the dagger into the skull of the draugr. At least Talon had kept him pinned. The last things I remember were the bang, like the popping of a balloon, and a stench which stung my nose, sweet and deadly at the same time.
Then blackness.
~ ~ ~
Somewhere a monkey shrieked and light flashed in blotches. Why was I so hot?
Zombies.
I sat bolt upright and blinked in confusion. At the same time, Emmett tackled me. He sobbed joyfully over my head, smoothing my hair and hugging me by turns.
“You’re alive. Can you talk? Are you all right?”
“I can talk if you’d stop strangling me.”
Emmett immediately backed off, bouncing happily on his heels beside me.
I rubbed my temples. My head throbbed. “What happened? Are the draugr gone? Is Elita safe, too?” Not that I really cared.
“You guys were amazing. You got all the draugr. I thought you were all going to die. You probably would have but Elita . . . Well, Talon made her a gas mask just before he collapsed. I never had a problem with the gas. Elita said the draugr were supposed to collect me so the demon lord must have made the gas nontoxic to humans. But seeing you all on the ground, dying, Elita snapped. She sent all the fallen draugr up in a blaze at once and then healed all of you. She’s been fretting over Omri and Yumiko since yesterday. She’s been sobbing about them being her only real family.”
“You’re kidding? The snooty ice queen?”
“Yesterday I would have agreed. But she’s pretty capable if forced, and I guess fairies are talented at healing. She took care of you, too. I didn’t even have to say anything. She said she didn’t want to owe you for saving her life . . .” He paused a moment. “But I’m not sure that’s the only reason. She treated you very gently. I don’t think she’s really a bad person. I think maybe she’s just never needed to be good. If that makes any sense.”
I nodded. After what Omri had told me Emmett’s theory made perfect sense. “What about the others? How are they?” Emmett frowned, and my stomach clenched.
“Omri and Yumiko are both up. Omri is all right. Yumiko fell with her face in the jet of poison. The purple gas seems to have damaged her voice. She can’t speak.”
“How can you tell?” I muttered.
“She tried to thank Elita, no words. Elita isn’t sure she can fix the damage.”
“Talon?” My heart gave a funny lurch as I said his name.
“Still asleep. How about you? Anything we can fix?”
“My headache?”
“You need magic.” Omri stood over me. “Drink.” He handed me a cup.
The stuff inside tasted like the magic from the fire hydrant. Omri must have had time to find another geyser. A few sips and I felt like myself again.
“Thanks.”
He shooed Emmett away and crouched in front of me. “Without your friend near. Are you truly okay? No need to hold back. Zaemon has pulled off his gloves, you’ll need to be working at 100 percent to fend off his minions.”
I gave myself a thorough assessment. “Really. I’m fine. I’ll let you know if I find anything once we’re up and moving.”
“Good. You worried me, you slept so long. Can you―”
Talon let out a groan and I went hurrying over. “Talon, Talon. Are you okay?”
He held his head. “I’m so drained I could kiss the source.” His voice came out so deep and raw, talking must have been painful.
Omri handed him the cup. “No need for kissing. Drink. Olivia saved plenty for you.”
He wrinkled his nose at the cup and looked up at me. “Maybe I should go with Emmett. I’ll get less spit. You backwashed, didn’t you?”
I stood with a huff. “He’s fine. He’s far too feisty for a little poison gas to do him in.”
Turning to go, I nearly bumped noses with Elita. I blushed and tried to run off. I didn’t care what Emmett said. I couldn’t promise to be nice, so I’d be better off leaving. She stepped back in front of me and I worked to bite my tongue.
“Th . . .” She was turning pink with the effort of trying to speak with a peasant, evidently. “Thank you. Even if you kept going just for Emmett, you saved me, too.”
Huh? I froze in place. After being one step shy of a snake all week, now she wanted to be nice? My head started spinning again. Hands steadied me from behind.
“Acknowledge her,” Omri hissed in my ear.
“You’re welcome.” I gaped, goldfish style. Before I said another word, she’d flounced away. “Wha—”
“She’s moving toward the polish we talked about.” Omri kept his voice low and right in my ear. “Her new behaviors should be encouraged. The transformation won’t happen all at once but if you encourage the change she will blossom, and life will become easier for everyone.”
“Hey, doctor,” Talon croaked. “Stop examining Olivia. She’s fine. I’ve got these scratches the draugr left. They’re throbbing like a mother―”
“I’m
not the doctor,” Omri snapped cutting across Talon’s language. “Elita fixed us all up. If you need something further, you’ll have to ask her.”
Omri finally let go of my arms from where he’d steadied me. For some reason, I wished he’d stay. Omri called Elita over and she started tending to Talon’s wounds. I watched, fascinated. Omri was right. She treated him quite kindly.
“You’re gonna have to do something about them.” Emmett stood next to me speaking quietly.
“About what?”
Emmett sighed. “You we’re this oblivious at home, too. You may have super cool skills in other things, but you never noticed boys. Talon and Omri both like you. It’s gonna get weird trying to work together if their crushes get out of hand.”
“No,” I said slowly. “Talon likes me. Omri, well, I kinda feel about him the way I felt about you when we met.”
“I’m not completely sold he feels the same way in return.” He stared after Omri. “Maybe I got the idea because Elita seems to think Omri has his eye on you. She ought to know.”
“Weird.” I shook my head. “You talk about her like she’s normal. Even Talon’s a picnic compared to her,” I griped.
Emmett shrugged.
“Oh, dear Lord. What happened while I was asleep? You’re crossing over to the dark side, aren’t you?”
“We’ll see. I’m clinging to the silver lining that maybe she’s not all bad.” He gave me a nudge with his elbow. “I’m not going to harp since I can’t be sure. Just be aware and don’t let things get uncomfortable.”
I nodded, looking away. This conversation made me want to squirm and it couldn’t be over fast enough for my taste. Thankfully, Omri and Elita worked fast. Talon was already up, flexing his arm and thanking Elita. She pranced around, pleased as a cat who’s left a mouse on its owner’s doorstep. Whether she was basking in her own accomplishments or soaking in the genuine thanks I couldn’t tell.