“You’d win that bet. But for me it will be a tossup of what I’m likely to remember most. The great vampire reveal or that kiss.” Gretchen felt her face heat up at his brazen vocalization. She hesitated, not knowing what to say. “If you feel the same way, nod your head. If you don’t, you can just tell me the feeling isn’t mutual.”
He took the ensuing silence to mean she was nodding her head. “Okay. Good night.”
“Wait!”
“Yeah?”
“Will you call me tomorrow night? After?”
“After the meeting? It could be three o’clock.”
“I don’t care.”
“Okay. You sure?”
“Yes.”
“You got it.”
When he ended the call, Gretchen lay back on her pillow and looked at the clock. Normally she’d turn off the bedside lamp, but every time she reached for it, she hesitated to plunge the room into darkness. She tried it once, leaving her fingers on the switch, but turned it right back on.
Elora said goodnight to Storm and Kay and went home to the family unit apartment at the end of the fifth floor east wing while Ram went down to Glen’s office to find out what couldn’t wait on a Sunday morning just as the sun was coming up.
Rammel threw himself onto the end of the sofa next to Glen’s desk, the space that had been his perch for a decade of being called out and called down by whoever was the sitting Sovereign. He slouched like a teenager and waited.
“What’s up?”
Glen, who had not acknowledged his entry, looked away from his monitor, turned his chair toward Ram, and smiled.
“You do no’ have any idea what you’re askin’. She’s a bigger draw than Princess Diana. When she goes out, ‘tis a circus. We’re talkin’ no less than three rings kind of circus. If you think you can sneak her into a New York pub without anyone noticin’, you’re daft.”
“What about a disguise?”
“It would have to be one hel of a disguise.”
“Well, who’s more creative than Black Swan?”
“Andy Warhol. Metallica. Quentin Tarantino.”
“Stop. That was rhetorical.”
Ram shrugged. “Whatever.”
“Seriously. Short black wig. Brown contacts. Slutty clothes. Your own mother wouldn’t recognize her.”
Ram looked uncertain. “Glendennon. She’s no’ in the bloody fortune tellin’ business anymore.”
Glen gaped at that characterization of Song’s gifts. “She’s not a fortune teller. She’s a psychic! There’s a difference.”
“What is it?”
“For one thing, calling her a ‘fortune teller’ is demeaning. It makes it sound like she does parlor tricks.”
“She does. Or at least she used to.”
Glen looked exasperated. “Just lay it out, confidentially of course, and ask her. Let her decide.”
Ram looked at his watch, pulled his phone out of his jeans pocket, and touched her contact. While it rang, he looked up at Glen. “She’s busy you know. No’ just sittin’ ‘round waitin’ for you to call. It could be days before she…”
“What’s wrong?” That was the way she answered the call.
“What makes you think something’s wrong?”
“You called.”
“Aye. Ever the drama, Song. I call.”
“Nooooooo.”
“I do.”
“Look back through your phone records for the last time you called me. Maybe to congratulate me on gettin’ my braces off? That would have been, um, twelve years ago?”
Ram sighed. “Nothin’ is wrong, Song.”
“That was a terrible rhyme.”
“Maybe. But I’m goin’ to remember it.”
“Will you ever grow up?”
“Sincerely hope no’.”
“Just a minute.”
He heard her telling someone that she was talking to her lame ass brother. No. She couldn’t hurry the call because, when talking to Ram, she had to speak very, very slowly. He couldn’t help but chuckle when he overheard that. There was enormous satisfaction in seeing the harvest of the seeds of torment he’d planted when they were growing up.
Ram glanced up at Glen who seemed to be curious about why Ram was laughing softly. Ram just shook his head to indicate that he was insane and laughed inexplicably, or it wasn’t any of Glen’s business, or she’d said something funny that didn’t pertain to Black Swan, and therefore, Glen.
“Okay. I’m back,” she said.
“Could you repeat that? You went way too fast.”
Her laughter made that wind chimes sound that was so unique to her. “I have a reputation to maintain. Now get to it. To what supernatural occurrence do I owe a phone call from my brother?”
“Well, you may be jokin’, but it just so happens that ‘tis a supernatural occurrence of sorts. I’m sittin’ here with my Sovereign.”
“Glen? Oh! Put me on speaker.”
Ram looked at Glen. “She wants to be put on speaker.” Glen nodded and made a twirly motion with his hand that looked like a mannerism straight out of Sol’s handbook of mannerisms. “Okay. You’re on speaker.”
“Glen! Hi! Have no’ seen you since the weddin’. How is married life?”
Glen grinned. Her effervescence climbed right out of the phone. “Oh, you know. It’s ball and chain stuff.”
“Do no’ be sharin’ about your sex toys with Ram. He has the biggest mouth in the known universe.”
“I do no’.” Ram rushed to defend his honor. “But I would like to hear more.”
“It’s not sex toys. It’s an expression.”
“Expression?” she said. “I ask you about married life and you start talkin’ about balls and chains.”
“No. Not balls and chains. Ball and chain. You know what? Never mind. Married life couldn’t be better. I love her. She loves me. We’re two little lovebirds sitting in a tree.”
There was dead silence for a few seconds before Ram and Song simultaneously burst into laughter.
“If I was there, I’d be givin’ you a high five, brother.”
“Aye,” Ram said. “He’s easy to take down.”
“Song,” Glen said. “I appreciate the levity, but this is a serious call asking a serious favor. I got Ram to get you on the phone, hoping the relationship would grease the way.”
“Wait a minute. You thought I’d be more likely to grant a favor if Ram called? Wow. His portrayal of family culture must be different from my understanding.”
“Seriously,” Glen said, using his grown up tone.
“Alright. Alright. You have my attention. Go.”
After hearing the secondhand story of Falcon’s encounter with Jaxon Kell, she said, “I’ll have to upend my schedule, but o’ course I’ll do it. I’ll talk to Litha and get her to gather up some stuff for the disguise. I’ll be there tomorrow night by…” Pause. “Nine o’clock. You’ll get clearance for my plane to land? If you meet me personally, it could cut down on the chances of people finding out I’m on that side of the ocean.”
“Somebody who knows you will be sitting on the tarmac waiting for you to land.”
“Perfect. Sounds like fun. It’s been a while since I did an evaluation. And I’ve ne’er done one on somebody purportin’ to be a vampire. Also ne’er did one undercover. ‘Tis an excitin’ proposition.”
“I appreciate your enthusiasm, Song. Thank you. Just remember it is important save-the-world stuff.”
“Aye. Save the world. See you tomorrow night. ‘Tis the new moon by the way. Primed for new adventures and such.”
The sound of three successive tones let them know she’d hung up.
Ram picked his phone up, shaking his head. “Hope you know what you’re doin’.”
“I’ve been telling myself that ever since the first day I sat in this chair.”
“Right. On that note, better you than me.”
Glen sighed. “Thanks for your help.”
“She would’ve done it wit
h or without me callin’.”
“Yes, maybe, but this way it seems more like…”
“Family?”
“Yes.”
CHAPTER NINE
Ram’s swagger looked a little wilted as he found Storm and Kay having a quiet drink and flopped into one of the bar’s cushy lounge chairs next to them.
“You in shock?” Kay said. “Do we need to order whiskey and a blanket?”
“Aye. Shock. Those women…”
Storm smirked. “How many?”
“All of them. They’re all in the space that used to be my temporary home. Elora. Litha. Rosie. They’re actin’ like ‘tis the event of the century. Dressin’ my sister up like she’s auditionin’ to dance at the Moulin Rouge.”
“They having fun?”
“Aye. That’s what’s so scary about it all. And the noise level…”
“Mr. Heavy Metal is complaining about noise?” Kay asked.
“Well, I would no’ want to say they’re screechin’ exactly. But when they get excited, their voices get high pitched and they do this thing where they… I can no’ even explain it.”
“Squeee?” Kay asked.
Ram’s eyes got big. “Aye. ‘Tis exactly that. Squeee. Sounds more like a banshee than anythin’ else.”
“Did you leave your children with them?” Kay asked.
Ram screwed up his face. “They’re with Nanny, but you are guiltin’ me for leavin’ them in the apartment. Great Paddy. They may develop psychosis. I should get them out of there while they’re still sane.”
“What makes you think your children are sane?” Storm teased.
“Ho now. You can chide me all ye wish, but do no’ be disparagin’ the fruit of my loins.”
The waiter arrived at the arm of Ram’s chair. “Triple whiskey,” he said. The waiter raised an eyebrow. “’Tis no’ your place to judge. ‘Tis my night off and I’ve been forced to flee my humble home.”
Ram didn’t wait for an answer before turning back to his teammates.
“So what’s this all about anyway?”
“No’ sure I’m at liberty to say.”
His teammates held a silent conversation with each other. Kay cleared his throat. “In that case, it would be wrong for us to press. So we won’t ask.”
Ram gaped at Kay. “Seriously? You’re no’ puttin’ up more of a fight than that?”
“Well, if you’re not at liberty to say…”
“On second thought, I’m sure Glen would want me to advise my trusted friends and teammates.”
“Only if you’re sure…” Kay said.
Ram proceeded to tell the story, which was fairly accurate for being third hand at that point. “So I’m gettin’ Rev to go out with you tonight. If it turns out this Jazz Man is what he says he is, I’m no’ takin’ any chances with my sister. That prancin’ poofer she’s married to would be sendin’ an army to join my da’s own army and all of them would be after my head. I’m very fond of these beautiful blonde locks, as you both know.” Storm and Kay both nodded thoughtfully. “So I’ll be playin’ bodyguard to her highness tonight.”
“You know we’ll be patrolling the neighborhood around midnight. We could maybe swing by Dublin Down. Just say hi. Make sure everything’s going okay.”
Ram grinned. “You fuckers are dyin’ to get a look at him.”
Kay shrugged.
Storm wanted to appear nonchalant, but couldn’t help sneaking a glance at Ram when he said, “I’ll bet Elora would like to sashay by there tonight. We know she has a thing for talking vampire.”
Ram caught the mischievous gleam in Storm’s eye and knew Storm was teasing, but it was also a dig that didn’t go down easy. After three children and years of married life, the way Baka and Elora had interacted, back in the day, still bothered Ram. And Storm knew it.
Rammel carefully set his whiskey tumbler down on the table beside him before launching himself out of his chair so fast it looked like he’d been sitting on an eject mechanism. He flew across the space that separated them and attempted to get Storm in a headlock.
“What are you doing?!?” Storm wheezed, turning red and trying to get his breath while Ram’s forearm squeezed his windpipe. “It was a joke!”
Ram didn’t respond to that protest because he didn’t care if it was a joke. He jerked Storm out of the chair by his neck, which was a testament to Ram’s strength because Storm was still a big well-muscled guy. As soon as they fell to the floor together, Ram hauled back and launched a fist that caught Storm in the side. Storm reacted by rolling over so that he could get enough room to clip Ram on the side of the face. Kay, of course, was yelling and doing his best to break it up, but in the process took punishing hits from both of them.
Several of the other knights came to assist Kay and fifteen minutes later, the three veteran members of B Team were standing in the Sovereign’s office, being called on the carpet like they were kids.
“The. Hel.” said Glen, clearly furious. “Every trainee in Jefferson Unit has already heard that B Team were brawling in our own club lounge, rolling around on the floor like… like…”
“Brawlers?” Kay suggested.
“Famous legendary elite vampire hunters indeed.” The sarcasm was dripping from every word Glen uttered. “A fine example you set for the next generation tonight.”
“He started it,” Storm mumbled.
“You did not say what I think you just said.” Glen looked incredulous. “Is this some kind of midlife crisis?”
That hit a mark. All three men looked horrified. “We’re no’ yet even thirty-five,” Ram protested.
“You’re acting like you’re not yet five.”
Ram glared at Storm. “There are just some things you do no’ say about an elf’s mate.”
Glen pulled back and studied Ram for a minute. “I don’t believe there is any power in heaven or hel that could make me believe Engel Storm insulted Elora Laiken.”
“Well,” Ram hedged, “he did no’ insult her per se.”
“Per se,” Glen repeated.
“Aye. Per se.”
Glen threw up his hands. “You know, I don’t really care what happened. If you were Z Team, I’d just roll my eyes and say, ‘What else is new?’ The three of you are going to be guest speakers at one ethics and decorum class per grade during this term.”
“Oh, for…” Kay started.
“Not. Another. Word.” Glen walked over and opened the door to his office. “Get out. And shame on you.”
Standing in the outer offices, Kay looked at the door that had been shut in his face and said, “I didn’t do anything! In fact I tried to stop it.”
Ram and Storm started walking down the hall toward the elevator. Storm turned to Ram and said, “Look what you did now.”
“You want me to? Pull your shirt up so I can see.”
“There’s nothing to see. You on the other hand are going to need some ice soon if you don’t want that eye to swell shut.”
Ram reached up and touched it. “You got me good.” He smiled.
Storm’s face split into a proud smile. “You’re gonna be wearing my mark for a while. Elora’s gonna chew your royal rear end when she hears about this.”
By that time Kay had caught up. From behind them he said, “Maybe you two are having a midlife crisis.”
At eleven o’clock Ram stood staring at Aelsong. She was wearing a jet black wig with severe bangs and a straight cut bob at her jawline. As if the brown contacts weren’t enough, she was also wearing fake eyelashes so thick and long they looked like it would require training to raise and lower her eyelids.
She wore black knee-high boots, black leggings, a black knit shirt with a deep cut vee neck and a red micro mini. For the finishing touch she wore the black patent leather jacket Elora had bought as part of her undercover guise when she worked at Notte Fuoco.
Song’s own mother, the queen mum of Ireland, wouldn’t recognize her.
“Wow,” Ram said.
L
itha clapped her hands. “Exactly. That sums it up eloquently. Our work here is done.”
“Ooh. Take a picture.” Song pranced in a circle, clearly enjoying pretending to be someone else. “I have to send it to Duff.” Her eyes went wide when she had an even better idea. “I need to do this at home and go out with him. It’d be fun to see the tabloids go looney over him steppin’ out on me.”
“I would no’ if I were you,” said Ram. “If he sees what they’ve done to you, he’ll order you home right now.”
She laughed her deep throaty laugh instead of her tinkling wind chimes laugh. “And you think I take orders from him?”
Litha and Rosie both looked at Ram and chuckled. Rosie snapped a few salacious poses and Song sent them to Duff right away.
“Alright,” he said. “Time to go.”
“Lead the way,” she said imperiously.
“You can play Prissy Princess all the way down the hall if you want, but when we get on that whister, I’m goin’ to give you instructions about what you will and will no’ do tonight and you’re goin’ to do what I say.”
She started to scoff, but something in her brother’s eyes made her think twice. His face said, “’Tis no’ a game.”
“Okay.”
Visibly relieved that she wasn’t going to protest, he nodded to indicate that there was concurrence and both agreed that an understanding between siblings was not a trifle.
Elora had left hours before to take her place on B Team patrol. Ram and Song climbed the stairs to the whister pad. Glen and Falcon were already waiting. Glen grinned when he saw her. “Identification would require a blood test.”
“’Tis great. Right?”
“It’s perfect. Thank you for doing this.”
FALCON: Resistance (KBS Next Generation Book 1) Page 12
