by Amy Sumida
I strode up to the glass door and peered inside. No one manned the front desk but lights were on. Police stations are 24/7 businesses; someone would be there but it wasn't likely to be a lot of someones. I'd lucked out and chosen the perfect time to infiltrate the Lexington Police.
I opened the door slowly, as little as I had to, and eased inside. After shutting the door just as carefully as I'd opened it, I crept up to the counter that barricaded the waiting room from the rest of the station and leaned over it to get a good look around. The front room was mostly empty. A man with a beer belly sprawled across a metal desk, head on his crossed arms, fast asleep. Clicking echoed down the hall to the right of him.
A door to the side of the counter would have let me in back if it hadn't been locked. Instead, I had to crawl over the counter, grateful that no one could see the ungraceful way I scrambled, then I followed the irregular tapping sound down a corridor to a tiny office. Lieutenant Austin Wright was painted on the glass door in black letters. I made a face even though no one—especially not the cowboy-cop at the desk inside the microscopic office—could see it. Go figure that Wright would be a lieutenant and that he'd be the only one still awake in the station.
If Kirill had come with me, he would have been rumbling at me then. Not because of what Wright had said about me and his balls but because of the look I'd given Cowboy-Cop when I heard him drawl “ma'am.” A lot of women I know don't like to be called ma'am. I don't mind. Especially not when it's said like that. However, I had no interest in this human, be he cowboy-cop or cowboy-lieutenant. Kirill had overreacted, Although I guess I couldn't blame him; everyone—including me—had thought I was done as far as falling in love went. And then I'd brought home Viper. So, yeah, maybe he was entitled to a little concern.
I peered through the glass at Wright. He was hunched over a computer, tapping the keys with his pointer fingers and scowling at the screen. His cowboy hat perched atop a pile of folders as if waiting for him to give up this crazy dream about being a cop and get on with herding cattle as he should. Wright ignored it, too busy trying to type.
Even scowling, I had to admit that he was attractive. Nothing like the gods I'm used to, but there's something to be said for a normal human with normal good looks. Whatever was said, though, and however I had grinned at a drawling cowboy, looks and sweet talk don't sway me anymore. I could appreciate them, but I had a whole palace full of sweet-talkin' eye candy and when it comes down to it; good looks and a deep voice mean very little. It's the man beneath the muscles and sexy accent that matters, and I'm lucky enough to be loved by some of the best men around. The last thing I was interested in was adding to their number. Frankly, my life is complicated enough as it is.
I used the Lieutenant's distraction to enter his office. He didn't even glance up when the door opened. I grinned and tip-toed behind him. Yes, it was risky, but I was betting that it was the shooting that was keeping him at work so late. Which meant that he was likely looking at the very information I was after. Leaning over his shoulder, I spied on his work. And no, the irony of me spying didn't escape me.
As chance would have it, the Lieutenant had a picture of me on his screen. Well, not a picture but a sketch. He'd been typing a description into a form beside it, listing everything he could remember about me. Which was a lot. He even got my height correct; as in to the half inch. Yeah, I guess it was his job to pay attention to details and, judging from the glimpse I'd had of Lexington, I doubted there was much in the way of action beyond the occasional drunk driver, but still, I was impressed.
“Who are you?” Wright whispered to the picture. “You gave me a false name so that means you have something to hide. What were you doing at Snow's of all places?” He shook his head then ran a hand through his rumpled hair. “Darlin', you are getting me all kinds of riled up here.”
Oh, yeah; I was really glad I hadn't brought Kirill.
“Latvia,” Lieutenant Wright growled. “Why the fuck are Latvians in Lexington?”
I pressed my lips together to keep from laughing at the alliteration but I must have made a sound. Cowboy-Cop swung around like a startled horse, knocking into me as he did. With the impact, his eyes went wide and his hands reached out blindly. He slapped into my upper arms.
“Son of a selkie!” I hissed and jerked away, preparing to trace.
Cowboy-Cop's hands followed my movement and grabbed my upper arms. When I traced, he came with me. We came out of the Aether on the brick courtyard before the cabin Kirill had rented. Cowboy-Cop let go of me with a gasp then stumbled to the edge of the courtyard, dropped to his knees, and lost his dinner in the dirt. Not a good look for him, by the way. I squished up my nose as he spat. When he swung his head to look at me, his eyes so wide that I could see the whites around the irises.
“Oh, floppy french fries,” I cursed.
“What the fuck?” Wright growled as he shot to his feet and pulled his gun. He leveled it at me. “Where are we? What did you do? How did we get here?”
“That's a lot of questions, Lieutenant.” I didn't bother to hold up my hands. “Why don't you lower your gun and then I can answer them? It won't do any good against me anyway.”
“What the fuck does that mean?”
“Watch your language.” I pointed at him chidingly. “And it means that you aren't in Texas anymore, Toto, and I'm not human. At least, not entirely. You just blundered your way into the supernatural. Yay, you!”
Yeah, it was a lot to unload on him at once, but I'd just brought him through the Aether; the supernatural cat, as it were, was out of the bag. And howling.
He kept his gun leveled at my face.
“You dare to threaten me, the Godhunter, with so puny a weapon?” I tried for some levity, dishing out the Thor quote—the movie, not the man—with a personal twist.
Cowboy-Cop looked baffled.
“No? Nothing?” I rolled my eyes. “I can't even get a proper response from a human. Don't you watch movies?”
“What are you if not human?” Wright demanded.
“A lot of things,” I growled, letting my dragon fire-up my eyes.
“Dear fucking god,” he whispered.
“Yes, that too.” I grinned and let my fangs grow pointed.
Yeah, I might have been enjoying myself a little more than I should have. At his expense. But come on, it's not every day that I get to mess with a human. And this guy was practically handing me the lines.
“Vhat have you done?!” Kirill growled from the cabin's door.
“Mommy?” Lesya peered around her father's legs.
“Go to your room, honey,” I said gently to Lesya. “I've got to take care of something.”
Lesya frowned. “Who's that man?”
“Go.” Kirill pushed her toward the stairs then stepped outside and shut the door behind him. “Vhy is he here?”
“He grabbed me when I traced.”
“Vhy vas he able to grab you, Ver... onica?”
“I screwed up.” I shrugged and grinned. “He made me laugh.”
Kirill groaned. “It's always a joke to you.”
“Hey, I can't help it if I have a great sense of humor.”
Kirill grimaced.
“You think I'm funny. Come on, admit it.”
“Can one of you please tell me where I am and how I got here?!” Wright was on the verge of hysteria.
I considered Wright. It had been awhile since I'd had to convince a human that the Gods existed. I'd forgotten what a shock it could be for them. It had been a shock for me, back when I'd first learned about them, and I was raised as a witch.
“You're in Latvia. I brought you here—accidentally—using god magic. It's called tracing. We magically journeyed here through a place called the Aether. It's not so bad once you get used to it.”
“That was a lot of words that made no sense.”
“Lower your gun,” Kirill growled, not just his words but also an actual growl.
Wright eyed him. “What the fuck are
you?”
“He's a werelion. Care for a demonstration?” I offered sweetly.
“A werelion,” Wright repeated the word as if it were made up.
“A shapeshifter,” I went on. “He can transform into a lion, and I'm his goddess. I can do it too. Among other things.”
“You're a goddess?” Wright made a dismissive huff.
“No need to be rude about it,” I grumbled.
Kirill bared his teeth and let out a low, rumbling sound that raised the hairs on Wright's forearms. I watched them lift. Kinda amusing actually.
“You just don't act like a goddess,” Wright offered lamely.
“Cause you've met so many of them that you can judge?” I shot back.
A little huff of amusement snorted out his nose.
“See?” I waved a hand at him but looked at Kirill. “I'm funny. He's scared out of his wits and he still snorted.”
“I'm not scared and I didn't snort,” Wright protested.
“Yes, you are; I can smell it. And yes, you did; as a fellow snorter, I can recognize the sound.”
“Tima, vhat are ve going to do vith him?” Kirill ground out.
“Ain't no one doin' nothin' with me,” Wright snapped. “Nothin' besides taking me back to Texas right the fuck now.”
“That was a lot of double negatives and dropping of Gs. I'm not sure that you said what you think you said,” I mused. Then I added, “And watch your damn mouth. My daughter is right upstairs, you heathen.”
“Sorry, Ma'am,” Wright mumbled then blinked.
I sighed deeply before I declared, “I'm going to take a chance on you, Lieutenant.”
“Nyet!” Kirill snarled and strode up to me furiously. “Take him back and leave him zere. Tell him no more. You risk us and him.”
“How do I risk us? He can't hurt us. Plus, we're on his side, he just doesn't know it; none of them do. Don't you ever get the urge to tell them? They should know, honey. This is their fight too.”
“What fight?” Wright whispered.
Kirill scowled then glanced at Wright, still holding his gun on us. “Put your gun down now or I vill take it from you and crush it into scrap.”
“You can try.” Wright settled his shoulders.
“See?” Kirill waved a hand toward him. “Zey only know one vay to react to zings zey don't understand; with stupidity, stubbornness, and violence.”
“We were them once,” I said gently. “And in his defense, you're rather intimidating, especially when you get growly.” I let out an aroused purr to show him what I thought of his growling.
Kirill's expression softened as a smile flashed across his lips and he shook his head. “It's against God Laws.”
“As if we care?” I rolled my eyes. “He's a cop; seems like a good one. I think we may be able to trust him.”
“And if he's not vorthy of trust?”
“We kill him,” I said flippantly with a shrug.
“I'm not liking this conversation,” Wright ground out.
“Look, why don't you just shoot me in the leg and see what good it does you. Just, get it out of your system.” I waved my hands out expressively.
“Are you serious?” He gaped at me.
“Unfortunately,” Kirill grumbled.
“Go on; do it. I dare you.” I grinned at him. “I double-dog dare you.”
“Lady, this had better not be a bluff.”
“Lieutenant, I give you full permission to shoot me. Just not in the head, okay? I have a feeling that might sting.”
“It probably von't even penetrate,” Kirill said dryly. “And not because you have zick skull.”
“I have a sick skull?”
“Zick,” Kirill repeated.
“Zic?”
“Zick; opposite of zin!” Kirill snapped.
“Zin? As in zinfandel?” I snickered. “I'm sorry; I don't understand; are we talking about my head or having a cocktail?”
“Please.” Kirill stepped away from me while he waved his hand in my direction. “Shoot her.”
“What the fuck is happening right now?” Wright whispered.
I laughed my ass off. “Sorry, baby, but you started it with that insult.”
“You're not funny.” Kirill crossed his arms and looked stern. “Making fun of my accent is cheap shot.”
Wright's eyes flicked back and forth between Kirill and me. He started to pull the trigger.
“Don't shoot my mommy!” Lesya shouted out an upstairs window.
Her voice had the opposite effect than she'd intended, startling the Lieutenant into firing. The shot echoed. Something hit me then ricocheted. An innocent tree caught the bullet. I blinked down at my thigh; there was a hole in my jeans that hadn't been there before.
“Great Scott!” I shouted. “I'm Superman! Or Supergirl. Wait; why is there a Superman but not a Superwoman? There's Wonder Woman. I think I'll be her; she has jewelry,” I mused as I poked a finger through the hole in my jeans. “Huh. I didn't think about the fabric. Good thing it's the style.”
“Mommy!” Lesya suddenly shrieked as if she'd just found her voice.
“I'm fine!” I shouted back. “Now get away from that window or no princess bed!”
“Aw! Mommy!”
“Now!”
Lesya pouted away from the window, and I looked back at the human. His gun was hanging at his side, his jaw just as limp as his arm.
“Kids.” I shrugged.
“He's amazed by bullet, not Lesya,” Kirill reminded me.
“Oh, yeah. Pretty cool, huh?” I angled my leg out for his inspection.
“Now, put useless gun away,” Kirill said.
Lieutenant Wright holstered his gun.
“Good; I'm glad we've gotten past that.” I cocked my head at Wright. “Care to sit down?” I waved a hand at the deck chairs.
He just stared at me.
“Okay; not there yet.”
Kirill rolled his eyes. “Zis is bad idea.”
“If I take him back now, he'll have nightmares for the rest of his life. And, as a representative of the Dream Realm, I can't have that on my conscious.”
“You are not a representative of anything, and if you tell him about us, he'll have vorse nightmares.” Kirill gave me a stoic look.
“Fine. We'll leave it up to him.”
“You can't leave it up to him,” Kirill huffed and tossed his arm out in irritation. “Humans are curious beasts; he'll vant to know even if he doesn't.”
I grimaced.
“You remember zat movie Ze Vanishing?” Kirill tried to speak my language. “How boyfriend allows killer to do to him vhat killer did to girlfriend, just so he could know vhat happened? Zat's how humans are; curious to point of self-destruction.”
“Yeah, that was twisted,” I murmured. Then I frowned. “I think that was a remake.”
“Can you please stop calling me human?” Wright asked with a hint of annoyance. “I'm fixin' to lose my damn mind.”
“Hey, I'm part human and Kirill was once fully human before a goddess changed him. It's okay, it's not as if we're Gods from Atlantis.”
Kirill groaned as Wright's eyes went wide again.
“Atlantis?”
“Tima, stop,” Kirill implored.
“Your name is Tima?” Wright asked. “Is that Spanish?”
“I'm not Spanish or Mexican or Latvian, and that's not my name, it's a title. I don't trust you enough to tell you my name yet.”
“No, only enough to tell me 'bout your godliness.” He grimaced.
I chuckled. “It's nice to talk to a human about this. I don't see my human friends enough. I should call them. I need to check on Jackson.”
“You have human friends?” Wright shook his head. “Now I'm doing it. Dagnabbit.”
“Oooh good one. I gotta remember that.” I grinned at Kirill. “Dagnabbit.”
Kirill sighed. “You sound like Elmer Fudd.”
“No, Elmer Fudd says 'rascally rabbit,' not dagnabbit.”
&n
bsp; “I know vhat he says; I vatch cartoons vith Lesya. Elmer Fudd created vord as combination of dang and rabbit; dagnabbit. He not only says it but vas first to say it ever.”
I made an explosive sound and flicked my hands away from my temples. “Point to you, baby. Hell, you get ten points for that brilliance.”