An Unhuman Journey

by Candace Blevins

  “Please let me? Apparently you’re due for some kind of big meeting when you leave the bathroom, and Bran said I should get as much food into you as possible, and pamper you some so you’re up for the meeting.”

  She motioned to a platter with fried cheese sticks, potato skins with a fancy bowl of sour cream to dip them into, onion rings beside a bowl of ketchup, and a bowl of what looked like broccoli cheese soup.

  “Sold,” I said as I sat on the bench in front of the mirrored vanity. Madeline sprayed stuff in my hair and then brushed it as if she were a hair stylist. Her hair was long and straight, and most people with straight hair don’t know how to handle naturally curly hair, but she knew what she was doing.

  While she worked, I ate, and ate, and then ate some more. Someone had brought a pitcher of sweet tea and a pitcher of orange juice, and I drank most of the sweet tea.

  When Madeline finally turned the hair dryer off she said, “They were working on the contents of your purse when I came in, trying to de-Hell and de-sulfur them, but I’m betting they just toss your make-up. You’ll find about fifteen shades of powder in the drawer to your left, as well as cotton balls and swabs. I use the darkest for eye shadow, and you’re about as pale as me so it should work for you, too.”

  Five minutes later I’d powdered my face, contoured my cheeks, and faked eyeshadow with the darkest powder as Madeline suggested. She ran the straightener over my hair to tame it, and I told her, “I think I might love you.”

  Her laugh was pure joy, and I said, “Seriously, I know Bran ordered you to help, but I get the feeling you’d have done so even if he hadn’t told you to. I feel like a new person.”

  “Unless you have plans with one of the men, when the big meeting is over you’re more than welcome to come to my room for the night.” She smiled at me in the mirror. “I don’t swing both ways unless Bran wants me too, so it isn’t about that.”

  It felt like she was being friendly because she wanted to, but I needed to check in with Bran before I gave Madeline an answer. “Thanks for the offer. I’m not certain of my security situation and I don’t want to put you in danger. I’ll have to wait to see what they tell me at the meeting.”

  She nodded and walked towards the door, and smiled again as she opened it. “I’ll let you finish up in here, and then I’m guessing His Majesty will walk you to the meeting, since he’s still right outside the door.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Close the door for me, please? I’ll be out in a few minutes.” The latter was for Nathan, which was who I was sure she was referring to as His Majesty. Usually, only the cat shapeshifters and occasionally some other animal groups address him as royalty, but Madeline had said she’d been raised in a royal household, which meant doing so was probably deeply ingrained into her psyche. I’d called him Your Majesty once, when in a group where everyone else was showing respect, and he’d gotten upset with me. Apparently, he wanted to keep me firmly in the ‘friend’ box, which meant I was never to address him as royalty.

  I used the toilet and finally left the bathroom. Nathan was leaned against a wall, waiting patiently.

  “Thanks for waiting for me. I’d have hurried her along if I’d known you were out here.”

  He shook his head. “No, you needed some down time before the meeting, and we both needed a shower.”

  “I won’t feel completely human until I’ve had a bath, but the shower helped,” I told him as I followed him out of the dungeon and walked beside him down a hallway. “Madeline called you His Majesty. What’s her story?”

  “She’s human, but was raised in the Swan King’s household. If she wants you to know more, she’ll tell you. I’ve known her since she was young, though mainly through Aaron.

  Chapter 11

  We went to the top floor and I followed Nathan into a room so well lit, it hurt my eyes.

  “Do I need to borrow sunglasses? What’s up with the lights?”

  “We want to make sure there aren’t any shadows,” Mordecai explained. “Time moves slower there, and they’ll regroup and come after you and Nathan at some point. Until we resolve a few things, you’ll both have to stay in here.”

  I looked around and realized there were lights on all four walls, and in each corner – up high and down low. There wasn’t a single shadow in the room.

  “Why are they going to come after us?”

  He sighed. “Have a seat, say hello to everyone, and we’ll get into it.”

  I looked at Bran and saw Madeline on the floor, leaning against his legs. “Thanks for the hospitality,” I told Bran. “Can I speak to her?” It didn’t matter that Madeline and I had just talked. There are times in the lifestyle when it’s polite to ask the Dom if you can speak to his slave, and this was one of those times.

  He nodded as he stroked her hair. “Only because I know you understand the relationship and won’t say anything negative.”

  “You’re beautiful, Madeline, and I’m a little jealous. Not that I want to submit to Bran, but…” I grinned. “I don’t have to explain. You know what I mean.” I looked back up to Bran. “I do want to talk to you alone at some point, but it doesn’t have to be tonight.”

  He nodded and I looked towards a beautiful man I didn’t recognize. His shoulder length hair was closer to white than blonde, and the soft curls did nothing to soften his chiseled cheekbones and sharp eyes. The man was leaned against a wall and looked regal — and a bit snobbish. However, he had the same stance as Nathan when he’s in full bodyguard mode, and I was curious. “I’m Kirsten O’Shea. I don’t believe we’ve met.”

  He looked to Mordecai, waited for a nod, and looked back to me. “You may call me Rafe. At Mordecai’s request, I’ll be bodyguard to you and the lion until we find a resolution to the current situation.”

  Which brought me back to needing to know what was going on. I looked to Mordecai and used my nicest voice to ask, “Please tell us what’s going on?”

  “What’s the only true law in Hell?” Bran asked.

  “Don’t kill,” I answered.

  I looked to Mordecai again and saw a look I didn’t like, as if he were accusing me of killing. “The Celrau don’t die when I cut them in two!” I protested. “I was told it was legal, and I could do it when they threatened me!”

  Mordecai looked to Nathan and back to me. “They brought some humans to the fight near the gateway. Both you and the Amakhosi killed multiple humans.”

  “Then they did it to trick us,” said Nathan, his voice calm, his speech slow and unwavering, “because I know my nose doesn’t work as well with all the sulfur, but they all smelled of Celrau.”

  Mordecai nodded. “It’s likely they had mostly Celrau blood in them but hadn’t been changed yet, and thus were still human enough to die. Unfortunately, the rules in Hell don’t have a clause that says, ‘Unless you get tricked into killing, and then it’s okay.’

  I looked around the room and deduced, “Doorways to Hell are made in the shadows, so you’re making sure they can’t grab us and take us back to face consequences.” I gave Rafe a wry smile. “My guess is you’re Raphael? An angel sent to keep the demons from getting us?”

  No one said anything and I looked back to Mordecai. “I understand you went through my purse and cleaned what could be cleaned. I received a gift from someone during my travels. I’d like some privacy so I can use it.”

  He nodded to a box on a table not far from where I was sitting. “It’s inside the box. You don’t need privacy, as we won’t be able to hear the other side of the conversation and you don’t have to speak aloud to be heard through the device.” He glanced around and then back to me. “People who don’t already know who you’ll be talking to, don’t need to know. As agreed before, we’ll refer to him as Ex.”

  I walked to the box and brought it back to the sofa. “Is there a way for me to bring Nathan into the conversation? I respect his counsel.”

  “If you’re touching, he’ll be in on the call, also. The two of you can’t talk privately,
though. All three of you will hear one other.”

  I opened the box and looked at the device. Xaephan had said it wasn’t glass or metal, but something in between. The material doesn’t exist in our realm, so it was important it be kept out of the hands of scientists and government authorities. It was keyed so only I could use it, and it would only contact Xaephan.

  I reached for it and Nathan said, “If you want me in on the conversation, it’ll be easier if you’re sitting in my lap.”

  Mordecai nodded his agreement. “Be very careful of what you say. Don’t let Ex convince you to agree to anything — no matter how trivial it seems.”

  “He’s going to want something in return if he’s going to fix the situation,” I pointed out.

  “You may agree to having another lengthy conversation with him at a later date, and you may agree to call him to this realm for one Earth-hour, with the stipulation the two of you stay in the room you call him into — a room of your choosing — the entire time he’s in this realm.”

  I looked at Nathan. “If I head down a dangerous path then hit me, or thump me on the head — something to get my attention and let me know I’m being stupid.”

  “You’ll be fine, but I’ll gladly thump you on the head,” he said with a grin.

  He turned sideways on the sofa and I sat in his lap facing away from him, my legs crossed and my elbows on my knees as Xaephan had instructed. I held the small, disc-shaped, shiny, alien-looking communication device in both hands, and pierced my thumbs on the two sharp points. I wiped some blood on the glassy smooth front, and heard static.

  Several moments later the static faded and I heard Xaephan’s voice in my head. You’ve fallen into quite a predicament, Chère. Who’s in the conversation with us?

  The Amakhosi, Nathan said mentally. Since this affects both of us, it’s reasonable I be involved in this discussion.

  What are our options? I asked, hoping we wouldn’t get caught up on whether Nathan should be in the call or not.

  You don’t have a lot of options, Chère.

  But there are some?

  I heard Xaephan’s mental sigh through the connection, and Nathan said. You were honest about making her yours if you get the chance. If she’s brought to Hell as a prisoner of the Realm, the Prince of Hell will own her, not you.

  Xaephan was quiet, so I suggested, I understand it’s possible for me to call you to this realm. I’d be willing to call you here for an hour, with the stipulation I choose the location I call you to, and you don’t exit the room I bring you to for any reason other than to return to your realm.

  Your first offer, Chère, is bullshit. How about if you agree you’ll owe me — at some point in the future I’ll want a favor, and you’ll give it.

  Nathan’s hand tightened on my leg and I nodded my head. Common sense told me Mordecai’s suggestions weren’t going to work, but I needed to find a middle ground. I’m not offering this just yet, I’m merely thinking out loud at this point, but I might be willing to agree to owing you a favor that I have no moral, ethical, emotional, or physical issues with.

  And now your second offer is bullshit as well, Chère.

  Okay then, two favors that I don’t mind doing for you.

  Chapter 12

  Work with me, Chère.

  I like you. I mean, I liked the you I spent time with. I don’t like not being able to trust you. I don’t like having to treat you as the enemy. I’m honestly trying to work with you.

  You break my heart, tiny human.

  Three favors I don’t mind doing for you.

  Plus three from the cat.

  Two from each of us, Nathan stipulated, and we both have veto over any favor you request, with no repercussions whatsoever other than we’ll still owe you the favor.

  Two from the cat and three from the lovely redhead.

  I opened my eyes and looked over my shoulder at Nathan, and he nodded.

  Agreed, but only favors requested by you, for which we don’t mind doing, with no repercussions should we refuse, whether you agree with our reason or not. And only if you make it so we are no longer held responsible for the deaths of anyone who may have died or been killed, whether by our hand or not.

  Agreed.

  I felt a pop in my psyche as Nathan also agreed, and I jumped.

  It’s okay, Nathan told me. It’s part of the process of making the bargain real.

  I aimed my thoughts at Xaephan. So what happens now?

  I’ll see what kind of bargain I can reach on your behalf, and will get word of whether I’m successful or not to someone in the room with you. In your time, it should happen in under an hour. Please don’t attempt to contact me in this manner again for at least twenty-four of your hours.

  * * *

  I washed my hands as well as the communication device with soap and water, and put it back into the box Mordecai had provided. He told me to keep it stored in there when not in use, and told me we’d discuss the reasons later.

  He wasn’t thrilled with our deal, but said it was probably about as good as we were likely to get, and let it drop.

  When I asked Mordecai how we’d know if Ex were successful or not, his look clearly said further questions about how it worked wouldn’t be welcome.

  I rolled my eyes at Mordecai and looked at Bran. “Thanks again for giving me refuge when I apparently have the hounds of Hell after me.”

  He shrugged. “Because I’m not magical, I’m not bothered by whatever energies the two of you brought back with you.” His gaze shifted to Nathan. “Though, I have to say, I wouldn’t mind taking on a loaner from you, if you’d like to even things up.”

  Nathan glanced at me, then looked back to Bran. “We’ll discuss settling up at a later date. This is the second time you’ve helped me out and some thanks are probably in order.”

  I looked back and forth between the two of them and finally told Nathan, “You can’t just give him someone!”

  “My people belong to me in a way you can’t understand. They’re my subjects and not my slaves, and I don’t abuse my position, but…” Nathan shrugged. “Maybe we can get into this later? Surely you have a high enough opinion of me by this point, you can give me the benefit of the doubt?”

  I was sitting on the opposite end of the sofa from him now, and I pulled a pillow into my lap and hugged it. I was so damned tired, and he had a point. I nodded. “Yeah, you’ve earned the benefit of the doubt. We’ll pick this up later.”

  Bran ruffled Madeline’s hair and told her, “Please refresh our guest’s drinks, and call down to the kitchen to request they send up more snacks for both the carnivores and the herbivores. Also, have them send Connor up — I think Kirsten needs a foot massage to help her sleep without nightmares.”

  I shook my head. “You know I’m not a top, and I’ve been told all of your people are bottoms.”

  “Connor’s a skilled massage therapist. He’ll be neither top nor bottom to you.” He looked at Nathan, then Mordecai and Rafe. “If any of you wish for a bedmate, let me know your preferences in private.”

  I shook my head and rubbed my forehead. “And if I want a bedmate?”

  Bran smiled. “I’ll offer my services.”

  I couldn’t help but grin at the mischievous glint in his eye. I’d walked right into it, and I rolled my eyes at him and said, “Well, thankfully for all of us, I doubt I’ll stay awake through five minutes of a foot massage. No sense in trying for anything more.”

  “I understand Madeline offered to host you in her room. For security reasons you can’t stay in her room tonight, but if she wants to sleep in here with you and the Amakhosi, she has my blessing.”

  “She offered? You didn’t tell her to?”

  He shook his head. “I did not, though I’m not upset at her offer. She’s been with me long enough she knows what she can do without needing to check with me first. Once we’re sure you’re safe from a denizen of Helheim opening a portal and dragging you through, you’re more than welcome to stay
in her room with her.”

  Madeline refreshed our drinks and then directed the four people who entered carrying huge trays of food, so the food was placed in convenient locations. We were all eating when Rafe got a far off look in his eyes and then stood and walked to me. He bent before me without touching me and said, “You and the Amakhosi will feel the rest of the bargain sliding into place in a moment. Once the bargain is sealed, the two of you will be safe.” He took a breath and looked almost apologetic as he told me, “I can’t touch you yet without risking injury to us both, so I can’t help you through the pain. The Amakhosi will be okay without help, but you may need someone, as humans often don’t deal well, especially the first time. I’m afraid the vampire may be the only one in the room with the strength and knowledge to hold you and talk you through it, and who can safely touch you.”

  I shook my head. “I’m not afraid of pain.”

  “Kirsten,” said Mordecai, “listen to my general and let Bran help. I know what you’re capable of taking, and you’re going to need someone to help you.”

  I felt another slight pop inside of me and I said, “I felt… something. It didn’t hurt, though.”

  “Come get in my lap, Kirsten,” said Bran. “Face away from me and let me hold you.” He looked at Madeline. “Stand behind His Majesty and put your right hand on the right side of his neck. Don’t try to hold him, just rest your hand there. If he moves away, don’t follow. If he needs the connection he’ll move back, and then you can rest your hand on him again.”

  Madeline stepped behind the sofa, and I walked to Bran and let him situate me in his lap.

  Rafe knelt in front of me again and said, “I’m going to tell him you’re ready. You will survive this, though you may not believe it while it’s happening.”

  “She has three. I have two.” Nathan sounded sad, and I looked up, unsure of why things would be different because I’d agreed to three favors.

  Rafe met Bran’s gaze behind me, his face sad, and he nodded and stepped away.