by Amy Sumida
Chapter Twenty-Three
It took over an hour to calm Landry down and explain how it was that I was on a first-name basis with a bleiten. He wasn't pleased, but that was partly due to the arrival of the Market Police ten minutes into my explanation. Someone had reported gunfire, and MPD had been called in to investigate. Landry brought the officers up to my bedroom, and we provided them with statements about the ungaru corpse on my floor.
We weren't questioned too roughly or taken into custody. The medical examiner had to be called in to verify that the body was an ungaru; since the most obvious Ungaru trait was their sharp teeth, and this guy's teeth were embedded in my bedroom walls. But once his race had been confirmed, our story about Landry defending me against an assassin became plausible. My recent cooperation with the President, as well as both Landry and my standing in the community, also helped. Everything corroborated our version of events, and the Market Police weren't as restricted by procedure as the human police were; they determined it to be a case of self-defense and that was that. The body was taken away, and we were offered police protection—which we graciously refused.
By the time the Police left, Landry was near to bursting with unanswered questions. He fired one after another at me as soon as the door shut on the investigating officers of MPD. I answered each one patiently until Landry finally sat back in his seat and exhaled a half-annoyed and half-relieved breath.
“He offered to pay you?” Landry asked again. “What kind of Bleiten does that?”
“I don't know,” I murmured. “But Kyrian did say that the Bleiten King has a son who's been making changes in the Horde. Maybe this is one of those changes?”
“I don't like it.” Landry scowled. “I don't trust it.”
“Of course you don't; I don't either,” I assured him. “Which is why—despite the fact that he tried to save my life tonight—I'm going through with the plan to capture him.”
“Now, that; I approve of,” Landry said. “But be careful with that one, kid. He won't be easy to hold onto even if you manage to catch him.”
“You may be right,” I murmured as I stared at the blood on my walls. “At least we know the blaster works.”
Landry chuckled. “And it was a blast to use too. I've never seen a head explode before; it was something to behold.”
“And that was right after I made his mouth explode,” I noted. “Malik was right; that Ungaru should have listened to him and left me alone.”
“You made his mouth explode?”
“I hit him with blue,” I said. “Right in his pie-hole.”
“Ouch,” Landry grimaced.
I loved that I didn't have to explain the details of my ability to him. Landry had seen it all with me, and he knew the capabilities of every color nearly as well as I did. He knew that a certain shade of blue had a direct effect on the ears, throat, or mouth and that I could use it to heal or harm those areas.
“It's a shame that blue doesn't have an effect on the balls,” Landry muttered as he surveyed the damage with me. “I'd love to hear you say that you gave some guy blue balls.”
“You're all class, Landry,” I teased him.
He chuckled. “It's a good thing I sent you to that fancy school, or you'd be talkin' like me, kid.”
“Perish the thought,” I said dramatically as I smiled affectionately at him.
“I'll hire someone to clean this in the morning,” he said. “Maybe you should sleep in the guest room tonight.”
“Yes; the guest room's a bit more hospitable at the moment.” I made a face at a bit of bloody hair next to my foot.
“Plus, it's at the back of the building and doesn't have a window,” he added. “Anyone trying to reach you has to get past me and my blaster first.”
“It's going to be okay, Landry,” I said softly.
He stopped and looked back at me with a sigh. “I'm supposed to say that stuff to you, kid.”
“You looked as if you needed to hear it more than me.”
“I'm sorry I gave you hell over the Bleiten,” he said. “I know this has been hard on you.”
“I'm sorry I didn't warn you.” I shook my head. “I should have told you about him when I got home. But you were already in bed, and I was exhausted. The last thing I expected was to be attacked by an ungaru once I got to sleep myself.”
“There's been a lot of unexpected occurrences lately,” Landry noted. “We're going to have to learn to roll with the punches, Amaranthine.”
“Yes; that one was quite a blow, wasn't it?” I huffed.
“He seems to know a lot about you; this Malik.”
“I suppose it wasn't much of a leap to assume that my full name was the same as the elixir,” I mused.
“I suppose.” Landry shrugged.
But he looked unconvinced, and I felt the same way. Malik had been doing more than just watching me.
Chapter Twenty-Four
I slept in the next day and didn't get up until after eleven. When I did make it out of bed, I padded down the hallway and crept to my bedroom window to peer through the curtains. Malik was nowhere in sight. Maybe one of his soldiers had relieved him of his Amara duties, or maybe he was just keeping himself hidden. Whatever the case, I had a feeling that I wouldn't see the Bleiten warlord until that evening, which meant that our plan would have to wait until then as well.
Which was just as well because I was starting to have second thoughts. Every time I imagined capturing Malik and handing him over to the Government, I got a horrible quake in my stomach. It just didn't feel right. He hadn't offered me any harm. In fact, he had saved me last night. Was I really going to repay him like this?
I picked up my phone to call Davorin and tell him that I had changed my mind, and it rang. I stared down at it in surprise and then saw the number. It was SA Longchamp.
“Hello?”
“Ms. Madison, it's Special Agent Longchamp from Homeland Security,” she announced herself. “I have some recordings that I need you to listen to. May I play them for you now?”
“Yes, of course,” I said immediately. “Go ahead.”
The crackling of a recording replaced Longchamp's voice, and then came a hurried conversation between two men. As I listened, my body went cold and then erupted into shivers. I swallowed roughly as I grit my teeth. This was what I got for thinking that a bleiten might actually have some honor.
“Did you catch all that?” Longchamp came back on the line.
“Yes,” I whispered.
“What did they say?”
“They said that the Horde is preparing for war against the Triari; fifty Bleiten warships will soon be on their way to Earth. They intend to have their battle here, and they're going to use Devlin's bioweapon to win it,” I said in a tremulous voice. “Call the President and warn him; do it now.”
“Are you sure?” She asked in horror.
“I'm sure!”
“Yes, Ma'am!” She hung up.
I stared at the phone in terror for a moment, and then I rallied myself. If war with the Bleiten was on the horizon, then it was even more important that we capture Malik. We needed to know everything that Malik did, and with Veritas helping us, it wouldn't matter if Malik were willing to tell us or not. The truth would come out.
I called Davorin and told him what had happened the night before with Malik and the Ungaru. Dav swore a blue-streak, but when I pointed out that we didn't have the tracker to worry about anymore, he began to calm down and process it all. Then I told him about the translation I'd just done for DHS, and he started swearing again.
I gave Davorin a few minutes to let it out; speaking rationally to him while he ranted. When Dav finally got himself under control, he assured me that he'd have the team ready by dusk. He also said that he'd come by to pick me up. I told him that I wasn't getting on his motorcycle ever again; I'd take a cab. Davorin wasn't too happy about that, but I can be very stubborn, and he finally gave in. Regardless of the possibility of a Bleiten attack, Malik appeared
to be keeping his word. Which meant that I was safe from the Bleiten... at least until the following evening.
After I hung up with Davorin, I sent President Colton a quick text to let him know about our plan to trap a Bleiten and learn more about their war plans. I knew that Colton would be scrambling to gather his Joint Chiefs of Staff and prepare for war, but I wanted him to know that we might be able to help in a small way. Despite the looming threat, he called me back in just a few minutes.
“I've just heard that the Bleiten are planning on waging the next Triari-Bleiten war on Earth, and then you text me about catching a Bleiten lord?” He nearly shouted at me.
“We can interrogate him at the very least. He may have vital information about the bioweapon and the Bleiten war plans,” I said. “I had initially intended for you to use him as a bargaining chip on my behalf, but I think war takes precedence.”
“You think?” Colton huffed. Then he sighed. “I'm sorry, Amara; you're being very brave, and you're also right. We can use any intel we can gather and a high-ranking hostage doesn't hurt either. What do you need from me to make this happen?”
“All I need is for you to have a Bleiten-proof facility ready to hold the prisoner if I'm able to apprehend him,” I said.
“Text me before you begin your hunt, and I'll have a team ready to take him off your hands as soon as you call with confirmation of acquisition,” he promised me. “They'll meet you right outside the Market.”
“Thank you, Mr. President.”
“Thank you, Amara,” he said softly. “You're turning into quite the patriot.”
“I don't know about that,” I said and sighed. “I've required more help than I've given.”
“You've also had the sense to deny my help when you saw what it might cost America,” he said firmly. “That takes courage, intelligence, and integrity. I'm glad to have you on our side.”
“How are our angelic friends?” I asked to get him off the uncomfortable subject of my patriotism.
“Pissed as all hell.” President Colton said with a huffing sound that was nearly a laugh. “They couldn't hold us responsible for your escape since Arc Kyrian himself verified that you have a talent for disappearing. Does that mean what I think it means? Can you turn invisible, Amara?”
“In a way,” I admitted.
“I've always thought your supernatural ability was your knack for languages,” he said and chuckled. “How little I know about you.”
“Well, I'm only your translator, Mr. President.”
“My go-to translator who I've been working with since I took office,” he added. “But I suppose your invisibility power is something you'd want to keep secret.”
“It is,” I agreed. “And I'd appreciate if you could help me with that.”
“Not to be rude, Amara, but in light of imminent war, I don't think people will be gossiping about your supernatural talents.”
“Of course not,” I said in an embarrassed rush. “I'm sorry to be holding you up, Mr. President.”
“Don't get stuffy on me,” he said chidingly. “I'm about to have a meeting with those pissed off Triari and probably piss them off, even more, when I ask them to leave Earth.”
“You're asking them to leave?” I asked in shock.
“If the Triari aren't here, the Bleiten won't have their war,” he said simply.
I took a deep, relieved breath and let it out with a shaky laugh; what a beautifully simple solution.
“That's why you're running this country, and I'm running around after Bleiten,” I said. “You're brilliant.”
“Thank you, but I still have to convince the Triari to listen to me,” he said grimly. “So, don't applaud my genius just yet.”
“I have faith in you, Mr. President,” I said sincerely.
“Amara, is invisibility your only talent?” Colton asked suddenly.
“I'll call Agent Washburn as soon as I catch the Bleiten, Mr. President.”
Colton chuckled. “You realize that saying nothing is as good as saying yes?”
“Good afternoon, Mr. President.”
“Good afternoon, Ms. Madison,” he said gently. “And good luck.”
“Good luck to you as well, Sir.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
I waited until Malik made an appearance in the alley across the street from The Wilds before I called Davorin and told him Operation Monster Mash was a go. We were meeting in Market Park; a squarish lot in the middle of the Supermarket. It was large in relation to the Market itself; taking up around four blocks of the twenty block mini-city. It was made that way on purpose; to function not only as a green space for enjoyment but also as housing for several types of outdoorsy supernaturals. Landry might have lived there himself if he hadn't had the bar and me. Market Park's lush forest and serene lake were a sanctuary for several of our kind who would have otherwise been unable to live in a city. It also had a few paths that would make perfect locations for a Bleiten trap.
Davorin assured me that the entire team was already in the park with everything set up and ready to go. I was going to lure Malik down one of the park paths and then turn invisible. As he struggled to find me, Maestro would blast Malik with his sonic voice, and Veritas would drop a steel trap on the Bleiten. Then Tempest would use a blow dart to hit Malik with a huge dose of tranquilizer. And just in case all of that didn't work, Dav would turn Malik into stone; temporarily, of course. Lugging Malik's massive statue out of the park wouldn't be easy, but it would be a hell of a lot safer than trying to transport him in the flesh.
I told Landry all about the plan and the possibility of a Triari-Bleiten war on Earth. He cussed nearly as bad as Davorin had and then declared that not only would he be joining the hunt, he'd also be bringing his Bleiten Blaster with him. But I pointed out that I didn't want Malik dead, and also if Malik saw Landry lugging that thing out of the bar, the jig—as they say—would be up. So, Landry grudgingly decided to stay home.
“You call me if anything goes wrong,” Landry said as I headed to the door.
“I will,” I promised. “And I'll also call you if everything goes right.”
Landry huffed a snorting laugh. “All right, kid. Good luck. Break his legs.”
“It's 'break a leg' and that's something you say to actors, Land.”
“Freudian slip,” he said with a smirk.
I rolled my eyes and headed out to the street. Once there, I flagged down a cab and then narrowed my stare at Malik as if I didn't want him following me anywhere. He'd know something was up if I didn't at least look his way so I figured I'd use some reverse psychology on him while I was at it.
Malik was leaning against Mama's again; a cup of coffee in his hand as if he were just your average Joe enjoying his cup of Joe. Malik lifted his styrofoam cup to me in salute, and I gave him a salute back—one of the middle finger variety. That slimy bastard had been trying to seduce me while his people prepared to destroy my home planet with war; I didn't have to feign my fury toward him.
Malik chuckled but made no move to follow me as I got into the cab. I knew he would, though. He'd do it in some secret, Bleiten fashion so it would intimidate me more. That smug, demonic son of a bitch.
“We'll see who's intimidated in the end,” I muttered. Then, to the driver, I said, “Market Park, please.”
The man grunted and angled the cab away from the curb. He was wearing a baseball cap pulled low, and I couldn't see his face. I frowned at that, and then I noticed how bulky he was. Was he large enough to be a Bleiten? It was hard to tell with him sitting down. Had Malik let me leave because he knew that one of his men would be driving me?
I swallowed roughly as I tried to catch a glimpse of the driver's face in the rearview mirror. When that didn't work, I analyzed his aura; it was full of dark, deadly shades—not something I'd expect to find in an average cabbie. I didn't see any streaks of pure black, but Malik didn't have any in his aura either. Maybe I'd been mistaken, and not all Bleiten were evil. Maybe they were like ev
ery other race and had their fair share of both bad and good people. Regardless; just because someone wasn't evil, it didn't mean they were good.
“Is that you, Ted?” I asked the driver.
I knew all of the cabbies in the Market, and Ted was the only one with a large enough build to resemble a Bleiten. The cabby's response was to slide the window between us closed and hit a button that locked my doors. No; this wasn't Ted.
And this had not been factored into the plan.
“Who are you?” I demanded as I started pounding on the window. “Stop the car immediately or I will make you stop!”
The cabby kept his head down and kept driving. I was about to throw some color at him when I noticed a change in the air around me; both in scent and appearance. I focused my vision into the ultraviolet range and noticed a fine mist flowing into the backseat through the air vents. I had only a moment to panic before I passed out.
My last thoughts were for Davorin and his team. I hoped the Bleiten didn't know what we were planning for their leader. If they did, the others were probably being taken as well. And if that were the case, we were supremely screwed.
Chapter Twenty-Six
I woke up to explosive noise so loud that it threatened to give me a headache. I rubbed at my temples as I groaned into a sitting position and then squinted into the impenetrable darkness around me. I blinked my vision to infrared and crawled across a cold, cement floor to a door. It was steel and locked tight. Outside the door, I could hear shouting and then some faint screaming. More explosions went off; rocking the whole place. It was violent enough that I was tossed back onto the ground—knocking my head in the process—and I laid there stunned for a few seconds.
My vision went wonky but righted itself quickly as I healed, and I was able to see a sliver of light around the door that hadn't been there before. I switched my vision back to normal, got to my feet, and crept back to the door. The last explosion had been powerful enough to bust the lock open, or perhaps it was an electric lock that had malfunctioned when the system went down. Whatever had happened, it appeared that I had a shot of escaping, and I intended to take it.
