Fortune was with me. Or maybe ‘twas Lan’s spirit. I swore I heard him laughin’. When the leech dropped, the young lady turned to look at me with a face that was probably cute when no’ lookin’ speechless terrified.
“Go on,” I said. “Run fast. Get far, far away from here. Stay in crowds of people. Do no’ be out alone late at night and do no’ tell anyone what you saw.”
I knew it was ridiculous to say that. They always told what they saw. Luckily nobody believed ‘em. But just in case, I needed to get the cleanup crew there fast.
Pullin’ my phone out of my pocket, I dialed the number marked AAAAA in my contacts.
“Hawking,” said the voice on the other end. “Aren’t you on leave?”
“No’ right this minute,” I said. “You got the location?”
“On our way.”
“Hurry up about it. We’ve got a victim on the loose.”
I did no’ go back to Jefferson Unit until the day they were expectin’ me back. I did touristy things in clean clothes that had been promptly delivered to my hotel room in exchange for a second fifty-pound note.
Over the next few days, I climbed to the top of the Empire State Building. Went to the Metropolitan Museum. Went to see AC/DC at Madison Square Garden and bought one of every tee shirt. Went to Bloomin’dales and bought myself a handsome pea coat.
I also took care of family business. Talked to my mother because I had no’ answered her calls for weeks. I knew ‘twas bad to keep her waitin’, but I had no’ been in a place to talk. She’s flighty, gets her feathers in a ruffle easily, but ‘tis also easy to calm her down once she knows all is well.
I’d also ignored several calls from Kay, which really was uncalled for, but I just was no’ ready to rejoin the livin’, as they say.
Three days after the incident that I think of as Pallet Stake, I passed a stack of New York Tells on a street corner. The headline read “Vampire Stalker in Midtown”. There was a grainy color photo of a slatherin’ bald nosferatu with yellow eyes and fangs in the wrong place, on smaller incisors instead of cuspids. Cripes.
Underneath that was another sightin’ of Big Foot in Central Park. Well, who knows? Maybe there is something akin to a large hairy primate livin’ in the park.
When the day came to report to Jefferson Unit, I took the elevator up to one of Black Swan’s rooftop whisterports. Emotionally I felt battered around the edges, dented in places, sore, sad, and still a little lost. But I was alive and more determined than ever to stay that way.
I dialed Kay’s number and he picked up on the first ring.
“Son of a bitch.”
“I guess that means you know ‘tis me callin’.”
“Did you lose your phone? For three months?”
I sighed, knowin’ that I deserved a punch in the nose. I was also touched, hearin’ the concern in his voice.
“I was in a bad spot. Sorry for the radio silence.”
There was a pause while Kay seemed to be comin’ to terms with my apology.
“Where are you?”
“On a whister.” I looked out the window. “About ten minutes from…” I realized I’d almost said home, “…J.U.”
“You owe me a drink and an explanation. I’ll be waiting in the lounge.”
“Aye. Missed you, too.”
“Shut it.”
I chuckled and ended the call.
No’ wantin’ to put any more strain on my relationship with my teammate, I did no’ bother to drop my duffel off at my apartment. I went straight to the lounge, let it fall to the floor next to Kay’s chair and flopped into the cushy chair opposite him. It curled ‘round me like a lover.
“When did you get back? You seen Storm?” I asked before he could start chewin’ on my ass.
“Came in last night. Yeah. I’ve seen him. And we’re on call for dinner tonight. Turns out that thing was a girl.”
“No way.”
“Exactly what I thought. He says she’s healed and cleans up real nice.”
“So… what? How did she materialize out of thin air? What’s the story?”
“He says she was forced into some kind of experimental device to escape assassination. Believe it or not, she’s from another dimension.”
“I do no’ believe it.”
“It’s true anyway. The machine that brought her here tore her up pretty bad. Well, we knew that part. Right?”
Now here’s the thing you may no’ know. You may think that vampire hunters who work for an outfit that specializes in paranormal investigation are open minded about stuff they’ve no’ previously heard of. But nothin’ could be further from the truth. Sometimes I think we’re the biggest skeptics of all.
So, naturally, I scoffed. “Another dimension.”
Kay just nodded with his eyebrows raised. “I know.”
It suddenly dawned on me. “Do no’ tell me he’s been here the whole time, still starin’ at that door.”
“He has been here the whole time, but he’s been doing a lot more than staring at a door. He’s been acting as Black Swan’s emissary, visiting her every day, gaining her confidence like he was some kind of spy. I gather she was held as a prisoner right up until today. They had a hearing and gave her probationary freedom of the building and grounds.”
Kay leaned forward and lowered his voice. “Word is that Monq is going to give her the potential employee evaluation.”
I stared at Kay. “I challenge anybody, right here and now, to find a world stranger than this one.”
“I cannot accept that challenge, Sir Hawking. This one is about as strange as I can handle.”
“Very well. Dinner it is.”
“Good. And, if you ever ignore my outreach again, I will beat down your worthless Irish ass.”
“Fair enough, brother.”
Kay’s face softened. “Guess you decided to come back.”
“Honestly, ‘twas touch and go right up until this week. But here I am.”
“I’m around if you ever need to talk.”
I managed a small smile, nodded, hoisted my bag, and gave a salute on my way out.
CHAPTER 7
Ram
Kay called at 7:00.
“We need to be early for dinner. Storm wants us to make a good impression.”
My response was a snort and a huff. “Then he should no’ be invitin’ me.”
“You can manage good behavior for an hour. Meet me at 7:30. We’ll have time for a drink before dinner.”
“I’m no’ havin’ drinks before dinner.”
There was a long pause. “I’m sure there’s a story there. And I’d like to hear it. So meet me for before dinner coffee.”
“Whoever heard of before dinner coffee?”
“Just do it.”
“I’m lettin’ you get by with the attitude only because I feel guilty about lettin’ your calls go to voicemail. But that only goes so far.”
“Understood. See you at 7:30.”
I was no’ especially interested in Project Good Impression, but I took a shower and pulled out clean clothes. Some faded jeans. One of the AC/DC tees I bought at the concert. And my scuffed up square-toed boots.
I sat down in my usual chair, next to Kay. Truthfully I was grateful that there would be four people at the first meal back at J.U. Three would have been really hard. It made my eyes sting just thinkin’ about it.
He ordered a sissy white wine. I ordered water.
“What’s up with that?”
I knew what he was talkin’ about. Let’s say ‘twas somewhat unusual for me to ask for water. I shrugged. “Had my fill of the nectar of gods. At least for the time bein’.”
Kay nodded thoughtfully and was just about to reply, when we heard Sol’s voice on the P.A. system. We turned to see him standin’ with a mic in his hand.
He cleared his throat and everyone got quiet.
“As you know, our job involves unusual events. Sometimes they challenge our understanding of reality. One such event ha
s taken place here at Jefferson Unit.
“For the past three months we’ve been hosting a visitor from another dimension. She’s spent her time here recovering from wounds received as a result of pioneering a scientific exploration that was heretofore thought impossible. I trust you will make her feel welcome, as she’ll be staying with us for a while. You’ll get that opportunity because she’ll be joining the Mess in about ten minutes. That is all.”
I turned to Kay and deadpanned, “Unicorns have been spotted in the Courtpark. Give them carrots, but do no’ ride. That is all.”
Kay laughed. “Well, everybody can’t be as entertaining as you, Ram.”
“Is that a compliment?”
“Not exactly.”
I looked around the room, drummin’ my fingers on the white tablecloth. I’d been asked to come to dinner early, which I had. Now I was ready for the next thing, which I hoped was dinner.
“I’m hungry. You hungry?”
“I could eat.”
“Well…”
“No. We’re waiting for Storm and his big surprise.”
I went back to lookin’ about. ‘Twas then I felt the air leave my lungs and my heart started beatin’ like I was in full-on chase.
Everybody stopped and stared when Storm entered the room with his hand on the small of her back. I watched her look around quickly and then smile at Krisp. She followed him, movin’ with a graceful roll of her hips that made my mouth water. My eyes locked on the way the silk skirt moved when she walked, her head up like royalty.
She was tall with rockin’ hair, worn down and fallin’ in curls over her breasts. I usually went for brunettes, but it only took a second for me to realize that I prefer a mix of red, brown, blonde, and was that pink? If I had no’ already been sittin’, she would have knocked me on my ass. I knew I had to get ahold of myself and get my breathing under control before she reached the table or she was goin’ to think I was a creeper.
Kay stood up when they reached the table. It was a good thing I had the prompt because I seemed to have forgotten who I was and what I was doin’.
I saw her eyes wander over Kay and then me, quick enough to make an assessment without appearin’ rude.
Storm said, “This is Elora Laiken.” He said it like she belonged to him, which made my blood heat up. Inexplicably. Even I knew that was an odd reaction. He nodded at us. “These are my teammates, Chaos Caelian and Rammel Hawking, a.k.a. Kay and Ram.”
Kay said, “Wow. You’ve changed a lot since the last time I saw you.”
She raised her chin, givin’ every impression that she thought herself the same height, and smiled at him. “Have we met then?” She extended her hand in a gracious and ladylike way. She had the sort of manners my mum would approve of.
Next she turned her attention to me, again holdin’ out her hand. I took it, feelin’ electric tingles run up my arm and continue to invade my entire body.
When I nodded slightly and said, “Hello,” she jerked her hand away like she’d been burned. The friendly look in her eyes was replaced with a glare.
Now I’m no’ one to get embarrassed easily, but I could feel a rush of blood to my face. Since when does sayin’ hello get that sort of reaction?
I settled on a simple and direct inquiry. “What’s wrong?”
If I had to choose a word to describe her posture and demeanor, I’d say she looked haughty. And pissed!
“Your voice is what’s wrong, Mr. Hawking. It sounds very much like one I’ve heard before saying, ‘Kill it. Kill it now.’”
Ah. The old chickens comin’ home to roost. She no’ only remembered what was said, but had put my voice to it as well. Great Paddy, I thought. I’m screwed.
I looked down at my feet tryin’ to decide on a way forward. When I glanced up, I could see that everybody in the Mess was starin’ like it was a show. I let the room know exactly how I felt about that.
“Hey!” I shouted. “Find something else to do, for Paddy’s sake!” Turnin’ back to my teammates, I lowered my voice and added, “Wankers,” so only they would hear.
It was gratifyin’ to see the spectators choose the prudent course of action and return to mindin’ their own fuckin’ business. Sometimes it pays to have a reputation for bein’ unpredictable.
I’m no’ much of a game player. I take life straight on. Saves everybody a whole lot of time and energy if you keep your cards above the table and act like you’re no’ afraid to play ‘em.
I leaned into her, smilin’ on the inside because I could see that it disarmed her and put her a little off balance. I looked straight into turquoise eyes that I could get lost in and lowered my voice to a level of intimacy.
“Naturally I regret that, my girl. Please accept my apology.”
I said it with sincerity and hoped she heard that because, in fact, I was sorry about what I’d said. No’ nearly as sorry as I would have been if I’d been taken up on my advice to kill her. I guess I have Storm to thank for the fact that termination was never really considered.
She did no’ answer at first, just stared at me like she’d never seen an act of contrition. The fact is, I felt I’d never wanted anything in my life as much as I wanted her forgiveness. I would have begged for it if it came to that, in front of everyone.
I leaned in even closer and whispered, “Do no’ be mad.”
I could tell the moment she decided to let the grudge go. She relaxed in a way that made me want to drag her close and make her body mold to mine. I could no’ help but smile. In fact I had to resist the urge to grin. But something told me it would be a mistake to let her see how much power she had over me. Already. Within a few minutes. That could only mean one thing. My mate had found me. And she’d crossed worlds to do it, at great expense to her beautiful self.
The other revelation, fast on the heels of the first, was that she was no’ elf, but human. ‘Tis rare, but it does happen. I never imagined that it would happen to me, but I’m no’ questionin’ the Fates.
I leaned in again. Wantin’ to impress her with the fact that I’m a bona fide knight of The Order of the Black Swan, I said, “If we’re goin’ formal, ‘tis Sir Hawking when we’re on these premises, but I’d like it if you’d call me Ram.”
She took a little step back from me which only served to excite my inner predator. I could feel Storm and Kay watchin’ the exchange and wished to Paddy they were doin’ something else, preferably somewhere far, far away.
She said, “Okay.”
‘Twas the sweetest acquiescence I could hope for. I had the urge to repeat it and savor the sound in my mouth. But I did no’. I forced myself to look away and sit down. As nonchalant as if she were any other female.
“Let’s eat,” I said.
Storm pulled out her chair, which made me grind my teeth. I should be the one doin’ that.
I sat in my usual spot, Kay on my left, the wall on my right. Elora Laiken was in the chair across from me that used to be occupied by Lan. Somehow havin’ her there kept me from crumblin’ into a mess.
I’d spent three months lookin’ for a distraction and, by Paddy, here she was. The grand lottery of all distractions in one heavenly body.
I brought my attention back to the conversation when I heard Kay say,
“So, welcome to Jefferson Unit.”
She gave him a friendly enough smile and said, “Thank you. Until today I haven’t really seen anything except the infirmary.” She looked down at the table, then quietly added, “And the Chamber room.”
An image of what she’d looked like when she was an indiscernible thing flashed into my mind and I wanted nothin’ more than to kick my own ass for no’ recognizin’ that the awful feelin’s were nature’s hard-wired empathy for the pain of a mate. ‘Twas when I first realized nothin’ would ever be the same again.
It also made me wonder how much of the pain and feelin’s of loss I’d suffered the past three months were from grief over Lan’s death and how much of ‘twas about walkin’ out on my ma
te when she was in unimaginable distress. Great Paddy. ‘Twas in that moment I knew I’d no’ ever deserve her if I did my utmost for a thousand years hence.
After the four of us gave Krisp our orders, Kay asked her, “So far what’s the biggest difference between your world and ours?”
Without a moment’s hesitation, she said, “Vampire. That’s plural.” She looked around the table. “The plural of vampire is vampire, right?”
So she’d been readin’ the manual.
Kay asked, “How do you know?”
“Black Swan Field Training Manual, Section One, Chapter One, Number One,” she said as matter of fact as if she had a photographic memory.
Kay shook his head. “I mean, how do you know there aren’t vampire in your dimension? Only a tiny fraction of our population knows that our world is crawling with them.”
“Crawling?” she asked.
“Okay. Maybe crawling is a bit much. I guess it just seems that way to us sometimes.”
Aye. ‘Crawling’ was an exaggeration, but it did seem that way to us sometimes. Honestly, I could no’ help but marvel at how the general population could be so clueless about what was goin’ on right ‘round them. It was almost like they purposefully fitted themselves with blinders.
As you can imagine, I had no’ been able to take my eyes away from Elora Laiken since she arrived in the Mess. I mean, there’s only one first time for meetin’ your mate. Right?
All of a sudden she was lookin’ straight at me, askin’ why I was starin’? My first thought was to say, “How could I no’?” But before I answered, Kay spoke up.
“Don’t let him bother you. Elves are not known for manners.”
Just what I needed. My own teammate, who was happily engaged to be married, was tryin’ to sabotage my only chance to make a memorable first impression. I was hopin’ to get the message across that he was out of line. So I said, “Oh. And berserkers are the essence of Miss Emily Post, I suppose?”
I was glarin’ at Kay when I heard her say, “What do you mean, elves?”
Knights of Black Swan, Books 7-9 (Knights of Black Swan Box Set Book 3) Page 39
