"What did Esme have to say?" Zaria sat on the chair Klancy pulled out for her.
"She says that the assholes in Peru have a hostage."
"Who?" Opal went still.
"Crown Princess Amalthea," Anita's shoulders sagged.
"Tell me," Opal said.
"Amalthea and a few others were out patrolling their area, when three Sirenali showed up," Anita began. "There was a skirmish. Two of Amalthea's guards were killed and Amalthea was folded out of the water. We figure she's at their compound in Peru, now. If she's smart, she won't turn back to human while they have her. She's a novelty for now, but that may not last."
"Who is Amalthea?" I asked.
"Phineas' daughter. Phineas, as you won't know who he is, either, is King of the Merfolk."
"She's a mermaid?" I blinked stupidly at Opal.
"Yes. Phineas is one of the old-school holdouts against organizing the shifters and forming a council. He says there's no need for it. I hope this changes his mind."
"There are mermaids." I turned my gaze on Zaria.
"I've never met one personally," she shrugged. "I do know about them. There are extensive files in the Larentii Archives."
"You know Nefrigar?" I whispered.
"I do."
"Small universe," I muttered, staring at my hands. For me, Nefrigar, Chief Archivist of the Larentii Archives, was Uncle Nefrigar. He was my mother's Larentii mate, although I seldom saw him.
"Not everybody has a Larentii in their family," Opal smiled.
"I'd like to be able to introduce a Larentii to Watson," Anita said. "Like, Watson, meet my really tall, really blue friend, and then watch Watson piss himself," she giggled.
"Still in the realm of possibilities," Zaria said. "You never know. Stranger things have probably happened."
"What can we do to help Amalthea?" I asked. "Is Esme all right?"
"Esme is fine for the moment, but she and a few others are contemplating a trek into Peru. I don't think that's a good idea," Anita said.
"I think it's a death trap," Zaria stated bluntly. "If they have any sense at all, they'll hold back until we can send help. A mister may be able to get across the border, but once across, you'd have to look for blank spots that aren't guarded by N'il Mo'erti or covered in spells before you became corporeal. If you hauled others in, same thing." She hunched her shoulders.
"N'il Mo'erti?"
"Death machines. Created on Tiralia."
Every Alliance schoolchild knew about Tiralia. How it had destroyed itself with dangerous chemicals and weapons. I was now learning what they'd called those weapons that had effectively killed an entire planet.
"It's what caused the hole in those vineyards east of here," Opal explained. "Just one of them, not operating at its full capacity."
"You didn't have anything to do with these, did you?" Opal turned to Zaria.
"No. Just the ones in the future."
"Huh?" Anita and I said at the same time.
"Nothing to worry about. It's just that Zaria has seen these things before. It's a long story and sort of irrelevant at the moment."
"If you say so." Opal's answer didn't satisfy me in the least, and I was determined to find out what the long story actually was.
"It involves a doubling back on the timeline. What happens the second time around that didn't happen the first time, and vice versa," Zaria explained.
"That doesn't make any sense," I countered.
"Ah. It doesn't make sense to you now, but it could have made sense before—or after."
"You're making my brain hurt," I complained.
"Sometimes, time looks like spaghetti," Zaria sighed.
"Cooked or uncooked?"
"All right, now we're getting somewhere," she smiled. "Cooked."
"In other words, I should stop worrying about it."
"Exactly," Opal and Zaria chorused.
"Okay. What can we do to help Esme and Amalthea?" I asked.
"A trip to Ecuador may be in our future," Opal said. "We just have to pack up our little army and move into suitable quarters down there. I warn you, they're completely patriarchal. We'll need the men to do the talking for us, so we'll fit in."
"I sort of hate that," Zaria blinked at Opal.
"Sort of?"
"Okay, I really hate it. If I set some pants on fire, you think they'll listen to me, then?"
"Kell and Klancy speak fluent Spanish," Opal ignored Zaria. "I think Kory speaks enough to get by. Tibby, if I can convince him to come, will be a big help."
"Farin won't let him leave without her," Anita pointed out.
"Then Farin will come. I hope she understands how important this is. Besides, he got paid for that fight, so he owes Kory and the rest of us for that."
"He still got paid?" Anita's eyes widened.
"In the contract. Lover Boy Landon didn't show. Tibby won by default."
"Wow," I breathed.
"We received a letter from State Senator Maria Riveras, pledging her help in our endeavors since we saved Tibby and Farin," Opal said. "I think a trip to Ecuador isn't too much to ask."
"Nice," Anita grinned.
"I think Diego and Tibby's cousins could help out too," I suggested.
"I'd think so," Opal agreed. "They're on standby. If Tibby goes, they can go. Just remember, we'll be right on top of the equator, so pack lighter clothing."
"Can animals go back and forth across Peru's boundary without getting dead?" Anita asked.
"Good question. Let's find out," Zaria laughed.
* * *
Kordevik
"I believe a trip to Ecuador is in our near future," Kell lifted the barbell from my hands and placed it on the floor. "I hope you speak Spanish."
"I have enough to get by," I said, lifting my towel from a nearby chair and wiping my face with it. "Languages have always been easy for me."
"Good. It will be required where we're going," he said.
"What's this?" Watson rolled off the weight bench and stretched. He'd worked out shirtless. As a result, two women and at least one man were staring.
At all of us.
"Hablas Espanol?" Kell asked.
"Not much," Watson rubbed the back of his neck. "Shower here or at home?"
"I suggest going home. The scent coming from the men's shower isn't pleasant. I detect fungus," Kell said.
"I'm anti-fungus. How about you?" I swatted Watson with my towel.
"All the way, dude. You providing transportation?"
"The minute we're out of sight."
"Good. Shall we?" Watson gestured toward the door.
"He does possess manners." Kell lifted an eyebrow at me.
"You have a cool accent, man," Watson pulled my towel away and swatted at Kell. "If I had an accent like that, I'd never shut up."
"And just as swiftly, the manners have departed," Kell moaned. "Shall we ever survive this dearth of civility?"
Watson snickered as we walked out of the gym.
* * *
Peru
Laurel Rome
"I don't like her." Granted, the swimming pool was a saltwater pool to start with, but now it held—her. "She's half naked, for Christ's sake," I gestured at the mermaid, who was glaring at me from beneath the surface.
"She's half fish. Leave her alone." Hannah, still looking like Granger, was half-dressed, too. At least she could avoid the tan lines from a bikini top, although the bottoms didn't hide much. I'd caught a flash of knob and balls at least once.
The whole thing was disgusting—she hadn't bothered to shave.
"You're just jealous because she has perfect breasts," Hannah went on. "If you're so offended, toss her a top."
"V'ili said we couldn't interfere," I snipped.
"Then shut up," Hannah retorted. "Some of us like peace and quiet while we're tanning. Just look at this body—as pale as a peeled potato."
"Granger's a vampire. The whole sun thing is a bit extreme," I hissed at her.
"He's not a v
ampire now—well, I'm not a vampire. I just look like a vampire. Him. Granger. Get out of the way, bitch, you're blocking my light."
"You little, two-faced trollop." I went after her.
"Stop now."
V'ili's voice halted me just as I was ready to jab my fingernails into Hannah's eyes. "Leave. I wish to enjoy my prize without your, ah, noisy discussion."
"She's a prize?" My voice betrayed the disgust I felt. "She's half of a fucking fish."
"And you, my dear, are half of a fucking moron. Leave. Now." Power invaded his words. "Do not wander far. My men will be convinced to shoot you if you do."
I wanted to gouge out his eyes. Peel off his toenails until he screamed. I couldn't. He smiled at me with the pointed teeth he often displayed. It let me know he wasn't happy with me at the moment.
I reminded myself that it was wiser to play his game. Someday, he wouldn't be looking.
Someday.
* * *
Lexsi
Wow, Anita's voice sounded in my head. With Kory in the lead, he, Kell and Watson traipsed through the kitchen, all of them half-dressed and sweaty from working out.
I'm surprised they weren't kidnapped by desperate women, Opal's voice sounded in our heads.
Or desperate men, Zaria added. Just as well, I'd be forced to go looking for them, and I really don't have time for that.
Anita snickered.
Watson stopped in his tracks, turned around, walked straight back to Anita and pulled her up for a kiss. It lasted a long time, too.
Damn.
I wanted a kiss like that.
* * *
Peru
Vic Malone
Loftin Qualls paced the floor of our shared bungalow like a caged tiger. The one called V'ili told us that from now on, we would only kill at his command. It chafed, but we found we had no choice but to bow to his wishes.
What did V'ili have that nobody else did?
He'd taken our phones, television and everything else away; we only had a tablet each with books and prerecorded movies on it.
Nothing from the outside world came to us. I may as well have been back in prison. Loftin, though, at times the crazy came through in his eyes. I worried about that. Crazy was something that maybe V'ili couldn't control.
I still didn't know what V'ili was, and he didn't understand the need I had—the need to see the blood flow. To witness the pain before death.
The pain shot through my head from just thinking about it.
V'ili had done this to us. If my head hurt, Loftin's had to hurt ten times as bad.
Fuck. I wanted to kill V'ili with my bare hands. The pain in my head was so bad after that thought, I believed I was going to die.
* * *
Lexsi
"León and Diego will come with Tibby and me," Farin dumped fresh tomatoes onto the salad. "He says Ecuador is nice, and we'll be close to the beach."
"Farin," I caught her arm. "You know this is dangerous, don't you?"
"Yeah." She dropped her eyes to the salad bowl. The bowl was huge—we had many people to feed.
"Look who I found." Zaria walked into the kitchen, followed by a sheepish Jamie Rome.
"Where have you been?" I demanded, waving the wooden spoon I'd used to stir the broccoli-cheddar soup I was making.
"I ah, went to visit my mother and brother—with Zaria's help," he sighed.
I studied him for a moment. He looked better. Not nearly as thin. Somebody had bent time with him.
I refused to ask how long the visit was. Had to be a few weeks, at least.
"He feels better, now. I found him a shrink," Zaria said. "Need help?"
"It's almost ready," I said. "Table's set, drinks are made, all you have to do is sit down and enjoy."
"I'm sorry I made you worry," Jamie pulled me into a hug. "It won't happen again, I promise."
"Tell that to Anita," I said pulling away and going back to the soup.
"She's going to kick my ass," he said.
"I won't, but I'll think about it," Anita arrived and pulled him into a tight hug. "We missed you."
"Yeah," he said. I noticed his eyes were misty when he pulled away.
Chapter 12
Lexsi
"We have Zaria to thank for this," Opal said beside me. She'd left her dark hair loose; it clouded about her face in the breeze off the ocean below us. I leaned my arms on the half-wall surrounding the patio of our borrowed housing, while Opal stood straight and tall beside me.
Our temporary home in Ecuador was in Punta Blanca, half an hour north of Salinas. The ocean view from our extensive compound was breathtaking, although the breeze off the water at this time of year called for a light sweater.
We had two vehicles in the garage if we needed them—since Punta Blanca was mostly residential with no markets or stores in easy walking distance, we needed a vehicle to get around. Or at least to keep up appearances.
"Anita says Esme will join us for dinner tonight," Opal went on. "She's made several trips to the Galapagos, trying to contact Phineas. He isn't answering."
"That doesn't sound good."
"I'm worried he'll attempt to get into Peru himself, and that could be fatal."
"I hear you."
The water near the shore turned a deep turquoise as clouds moved across it. Farther out, the sun glinted off the South Pacific so brightly I almost couldn't look at it. For me, it was difficult to imagine shapeshifters who spent most of their time in the water.
"Do they come out for, ah," I floundered.
"Yes. Sex is, by nature, safer and much more pleasurable when they're humanoid. It's standard practice among shifters. Before you ask," she said, folding her arms over her breasts and lowering her eyes for a moment, "I'm a rare breed. There are no others like me, now. I'm an overly tall, overly fast velociraptor. I was young when I watched Europeans crowd into these lands and take them by force, in many cases. My family of shifters was revered by our tribe. Most of them died protecting that tribe. I'm the only one left."
"I'm sorry about your family." I wanted to hug her but held back. Opal was such a private person, and I felt as if I were eavesdropping on a precious, painful memory.
"It was a long time ago," she said. "And so you know, I appreciate hugs just as much as anybody."
I did hug her, then. I couldn't begin to imagine what it was like, watching your family and friends die in front of you. It must have been horrible.
"Thanks," Opal wiped moisture from her cheeks when I stepped back. "I don't tell many that story."
"I'm glad you told me. It helps," I said, "to know what you're fighting for. Who you're fighting for."
Gran always said that everybody had a story. We needed to learn as many stories as we could, to add to our own. It makes us better people, she'd say, because we know their pain. At times, it coincides with ours. At other times, we can only shake our heads at the strength it must have taken for them to endure the hardships and adversities of their lives.
I knew Gran was one of those people. She'd fought hard for herself and those around her. I was only beginning to earn a place for myself in the universe.
"You do well enough," Opal smiled at me.
"Save that for when we get rid of the mess in Peru," I whispered.
"Agreed."
* * *
Kordevik
"I prefer tea," Klancy refused my offer of coffee.
"I think we can make a cup of tea," Anita said. She and I stood in the kitchen at the compound in Punta Blanca, digging through supplies for something to snack on for lunch.
The kitchen wasn't as nice as the one in San Rafael, but we could make do. Instead of an island, we had counter space and a large table set near a window for a view of the ocean. Klancy sat there, watching Anita and me as we prowled the new space.
"Esme's coming for dinner," Anita informed me as she sifted through a box to find tea bags. "Earl Grey?" Anita turned to ask Klancy.
"That should be fine. Thank you." Somehow,
Klancy was less grave and serious, after—well, after he'd met Zaria, and she'd made it possible for him to walk in daylight and eat normal food.
I almost asked him where Zaria was, but held back. Maybe it was none of my business. "We get hot water the traditional way," Anita turned a stove burner on and filled the teakettle with water.
"Want me to do it?" I asked.
"You'll just melt the teakettle."
"Probably." I put coffee in the coffee maker. "I tried to fire ceramics, once. Broke everything. Too hot too fast," I explained.
"Seriously? That's funny."
"It's a part of army training on Kifirin," I said. "How to control your heat levels."
"Now, that I didn't expect," Anita handed me a coffee cup. "There I was, imagining that you'd taken time to explore your artistic side. I should have known better."
"Dude, you have an artistic side?" Watson shuffled in and began opening cabinet doors, no doubt searching for something to eat.
"Doubt it," I said, watching the coffeemaker do its work, steaming and sputtering as it filled the pot with dark liquid. "Although I might be able to shave an important message in your fur come the full moon."
"What message would that be?"
"I'm a difik?"
"Don't fall for it." Anita's whisper was loud enough for the neighbors to hear.
Klancy laughed.
I had to admit, I'd never heard him laugh until that moment. Even Watson grinned at the sound.
* * *
Lexsi
"Dinner will be better, I promise," I told Watson, who'd grumbled over ham sandwiches for lunch. "I need to find a local market, to buy fish or whatever is fresh."
"Thank you," he mouthed at me before grinning.
"I'll come with you, as protection," Anita offered.
"I'm coming," Kory insisted.
"Will the market hold all of us?" I asked.
"It'll be fine. Have money? Let's go," Zaria arrived with Klancy not far behind her. "Want to go to the market, honey?" she turned to ask him.
I learned Klancy had a dimple, then, because he smiled at Zaria.
"I will go wherever you go," he said.
The market was more than a mile away, so Klancy drove the SUV we found in the garage.
"Are you kidding?" Anita disagreed with Kory's choice of cookies. "That's all sugar."
"Are you saying I don't need sugar?"
A Demon's Work Is Never Done: Latter Day Demons, Book 2 Page 17
