"Talk to me, honey. What happened?" She rubbed my sides, before pulling me to her to hug me around the waist.
A soft sigh left me as I let myself melt into her. "I want you to tell me…" I gulped before continuing. "What you learned about my background. I want to know more about myself."
"Okay. We can do that. What happened to change your mind?"
"Those two Offlander boys terrorized that girl. She's an Offlander, too. They're all from Triangulum Galaxy, but their planets didn't get along. The boys have never left Earth. Their parents are refugees, and yet, they turned their indoctrinated bias against Cressida. She and her parents came here as refugees. Those boys don't know anything about Triangulum. They've never been there and yet they carried on their family's hate."
"A lot of that happens here, unfortunately, honey. Interplanetary wars lead to refugees on other plants and sometimes those conflicts follow them."
"Yeah." I swiped at my eyes. "I need to know about Praxar and Jukara. Why my mother fled. I looked into the faces of those two angry kids and…I need to be able to identify these issues if I'm going to be out there. The police thought Cressida tried to kill herself. It was a whole mess."
"I saw that part on the news." She rested her chin on my abdomen and gazed up at me.
"I met her before." I stroked my thumbs over her cheeks. "The first time I went to see you as myself. She was at the museum on a class trip. She could see my colors, as she says, and knew where I was from. She just looked at me and knew. She's a telepath so she just inserted herself into my head. I don't want these conflicts, Harlow. I want to stop everyone from hurting each other." I choked on a sob, and she pulled me into her lap when she leaned back to sit against the headboard.
I'd never sat on anyone this way and it shocked me out of a portion of my meltdown.
"New position for you?" She smiled and tapped my bottom lip. "I see your anxiously wrinkled brow."
I chuckled and draped my arms over her shoulders. "Definitely new."
"I know it feels like you need to save the world at every turn and stop every conflict before it starts, but Veyda, you do amazing things every day. Smaller steps really do make a difference."
I nodded, inhaling slowly to temper my emotions some. "It doesn't feel like I've helped much lately. I want to protect people before things happen. Instead, I let that Hybridian go and traumatized those casino workers, upset and scared you, had to rescue Cressida instead of preventing what happened to her. I just want…those things to not happen."
"Me too, honey." She rubbed my arms as a soft smile parted her lips. "Me too. We all do. Nalea, Audra, I.P.P.A., the Seattle P.D. We all want to prevent bad things from happening, but unless you manifest some psychic abilities immediately, I don't think that can happen in the way you want. Or the way any of us want."
"I definitely don't need to be psychic." I chuckled and pulled my boots off one after the other. "Cressida and her mom are Telekins. They're abilities tend to be telekinetic and telepathy. Super rare, but she's not developed enough to do more than the telepathy part."
"How did the boys get her up there?"
"They're from Reptalon. They can scale tall heights and have spit that is like an adhesive." I exhaled slowly. "It's too much…all of this. I know what I'm up against when it comes to humans, but Offlanders and Hybridians?" I shook my head. "They're all as unpredictable as me."
"Well, baby." Harlow smiled, tilting her head to the side while stroking my hair. "Good thing you have me, because I can help. Studying civilizations and all makes for a good girlfriend to a superhero."
"The best." I cupped her face in my palms. "First, we start with me…"
Her gaze flickered down then back to me again. "I might've already started that…"
"Are you withholding information from me?" I narrowed my eyes at her, and she laughed.
"Just a little. Tomorrow, if you like, before all the furniture gets here, we can head to my office and I can show you what I've got."
"I'd like that a lot."
"Me too." She tickled her fingers over the sleeves of my suit, and I focused on willing it away from me. It slithered off my skin, swirling in a shadow before encircling my wrist. "Wow," she said, her eyes wide.
"It's so cool when it comes and goes."
"It's amazing to think an entire species can create something that connects to your innate biology."
"I know. I'm so grateful for it…and for you."
"I'd do it again, and again after that if it meant keeping you safe." She snapped the strap of my bra. "How about we order some junk food to be delivered to your window by drone then snuggle in bed together until we can't stand the silence or the darkness anymore?"
"With you, I think I could stand it forever." I smiled and scuttled around to settle in bed with her. "Let's get McDonald's."
"You like McDonald's?" She scrunched up her face and I laughed hard.
"Just their ice cream and fries."
"I am shocked and simultaneously stunned." She bounced the bed on purpose while getting comfortable.
I cracked up and settled in with her. "I love you so much."
"I love you, too." She kissed the back of my hand, then held it in the air between us while playing with my fingers. "You make me feel calm, even when things are stressful."
"Right back at you. Maybe you're my security blanket."
"I will happily sign on for that job," she said, wrapping me up in a grand hug. "Duty status active."
I laughed my head off then shrieked under the assault of her sweet kisses all over my face.
***
"You're sure you want to do this?" Nalea asked me as we rode together in her SUV.
Screens lit up the dashboard as information rolled in and the radio squawked every so often. I nodded while holding my breath.
"Okay, Vey. Maybe I shouldn't go in. You said the family is very anxious."
"Because Cressida's father is unregistered, but you're there to follow up. I think it'll be okay."
"How'd it go with Harlow yesterday?" She smiled when she asked. "Has she been keeping her extreme nerdiness under wraps and only showing us the cute, sexy, smart parts?"
"Yes." I laughed and dropped my head back against the seat. "She's been doing research on Offlanders for years. A decade even. We talked mostly about Offlanders from Triangulum Galaxy and how most of them seem to have the most unique qualities. Like the Telekins and Reptalons. Very few species from there can survive on Earth."
"How does it feel learning about all of this? I know it's always been hard for you…"
"It's still hard, but…" I shrugged. "Harlow makes it feel safe."
"I noticed the two of you are heavy into the I love you stage of this romance. I've never heard you say that to anyone before save for me and Audra. And Elara, of course."
"I've only ever loved you three, besides my parents. I've never been in love before." I chewed the inside of my cheek.
"How does it feel?"
"Like…the best thing I've ever felt." I couldn't fight the smile that lifted my cheeks. "Harlow is…everything, Nae. Just…everything."
"I love seeing you happy." She reached over to nudge my chin. "When you're with her, you're so happy."
"I am. I'm also not hating having my own space to spend time with her. Just like you said. You were right about that." The admission left me while I scrunched my nose. "Sorry for being a ass about it."
"You needed time, Vey. That's all."
"Yeah. Maybe." I propped my feet on her dashboard and stared at the everlasting scuff on my boot. "Everything else feels messy though."
"I noticed you've been more overwhelmed lately."
"It's like suddenly, the people I'm picking up are all Hybridians, Offlanders. What happened to good ol' human bad guys?"
"The world is changing, girl." Nalea laughed and shook her head. "Why do you think I.P.P.A. is as popular as the FBI? And now the FBI has a BioTech unit."
"It just changed so fast. Eve
rything did."
"It feels that way, doesn't it? Baby. Moving. Harlow. Aliens on planet Earth." She gasped, pretending to clutch her pearls.
I swatted her arm and laughed. "Jerk."
"Hundreds of years, Little Boo. Aliens are here to stay. And considering you're half alien, it's time to embrace it."
"It'll help me be a better Protector."
"It will."
"I need to learn more about myself first, I guess…"
She glanced at me, and I noted she gripped the steering wheel tighter. "Something you've always avoided."
I nodded and dropped my head back against the seat. "Yeah."
"How come?"
"If my mom wanted me to know, she would've told me."
"You were so little, Vey… So little. Imagine telling a seven-year-old Elara all about a planet you escaped because of something terrible, then joining an Earth Army to fight a war that wasn't meant for you just to survive. Seems like a lot for a kid."
"Then why didn't she tell my dad? Tell him anything just to tell me later?"
"I'm not sure, honey. But I think a part of you wants to find out."
"I never did before, but maybe now…"
"When the time is right, the time is right." She glanced at me as we rolled to a stop in front of Cressida's apartment building.
"I know I'll find something unpleasant, but it's probably not worse than what I've made up in my head."
"Probably not."
We exited her car after I settled my mask in place, then vanished into the shadows as we headed up the stairs. She glanced around me, a scowl ever-present on her face.
"Creeper. I can literally feel you."
"But you can't see me." I laughed and the robotic voice made me sound more maniacal than usual.
"Ugh. That mask is horribly creepy, you creeper."
"Get used to it. Is James showing up?"
"Probably not. She's focused on the swarm of refugees that arrived today in Seattle. A group of twenty or so from Triangulum Galaxy. She's trying to get them settled. They were in bad shape," she said.
"Triangulum seems like it's in bad shape all together."
"I'm sure The Curator knows." A broad grin spread across her lips.
"Is that her superhero name?"
"Yup." She nodded, clapping once.
"What's yours?"
"Quit blowing on my neck, psycho." Nalea swatted at me, and I cracked up. "Girl. I'm about to murder you."
I tickled the back of her neck and she nearly punched me when she made it to the landing.
"C'mon, what's your superhero name?"
"Detective Spooner."
"Yeah." I smiled when she said it and poked her cheek quickly before pulling open the door. "Good name."
"Better agree." She scowled in the wrong direction, and I laughed.
"I'm over here."
"Your girlfriend would notice."
"Yeah." I smiled at the thought of her. "She would."
"Interesting, don't you think?" Nalea led me down the hall, and immediately the sounds of the chaotic apartment building made it to my ears.
Kids shouted while playing, televisions played in overlapping monotony, voices clamored, and dishes clattered. I drew in a slow breath and focused on the way Nalea's braids hung down her back while gathered in a thick wrap.
"What's interesting?"
"That she can see you, or sense you. Whatever it is," she said, nodding to our right when we turned the corner.
"Maybe she pays attention to me more."
"Maybe. You gonna go corporeal for this or keep hiding?"
I stepped out from the shadows and appeared at her side. "Here's good. Didn't want to draw attention in case anyone was around. But I think this entire building eats dinner at the same time. I can hardly breathe."
"What do you smell?"
"Every kind of food in the world."
"I'm starving." She groaned and dropped her head back.
I laughed at her. "Just knock on the door already."
Nalea knocked softly while narrowing her eyes at me.
Tentative footsteps headed to the door, and Cressida's mother cracked it open only the slightest bit. Her eyes widened when she saw Nalea, but when she noticed me beside her, a small smile tugged her mouth.
"Can I help you, officer?" Cyriah asked, her voice soft. Hi, Veyda. Her gazed flickered to me when she projected her thoughts into my mind.
Hi. We're just coming to check on Cressida and make sure she's okay after going back to school.
"We're here to follow up on the incident that happened earlier this week, ma'am. Would you mind if we spoke to your daughter?" Nalea's gentler tone seemed to settle Cyriah's worry some.
She's doing just fine. Happy to have a new Protector friend. She's never been so confident, Cyriah said to me, but to Nalea she said, "All right. She's in her room. I'll get her."
"Thank you, ma'am."
Cyriah ushered us inside, then locked up behind us. "My husband is still at work, so it's just us."
"That's all right. We won't be long."
"Come sit. Can I get you anything to drink?" She motioned to the little round table perched at the edge of the kitchen where it met the living room.
In the small, quaint space kept tidy, Cressida's living situation shared no reference to the way my dad and I kept our apartment growing up. The two of us, twin tornadoes, as my mother used to call us, left a trail of debris in our wake. None of that appeared to happen here. I noticed right away, however, the trinkets perched on a shelf in the corner. A silvery glow wrapped around each when I focused on them, and I took a few steps closer.
What are these? I asked Cyriah.
Our Starseeds. She smiled at me, then plucked one from the shelf. My heart skipped a beat and she followed with, They're not really, but they're stones from our planet. All we have left, really. She held one out to me and I extended my palm.
As soon as she placed it in my hand, I started at the weight of it. "Whoa."
"What's happening?" Nalea swung around, her brow furrowed when she looked at us.
"Nothing special." Cyriah chuckled then called, "Cress, you have company."
"What?" A distant voice questioned. The click of a doorhandle followed, and hurried feet bolted down the hall.
"This is so heavy." I gazed down, wide-eyed at the stone in my palm.
"It's a pebble." Nalea looked at it, confusion warring with interest as she wore it all over her face.
Cressida giggled when she appeared and accepted her mother's embrace. Hi, Veyda.
Hey, kiddo. I'm holding your planet rock.
Give it to the cop. She bounced on her tiptoes, and Cyriah hugged her tighter. I want to see what she does.
"You can hold it, Detective Spooner," I said, glad my mask hid my smirk.
With caution, Nalea held out her hand. "I'm being punked, aren't I?"
"Yep." Cressida giggled her head off.
As soon as I set the rock in her hand, Nalea jolted forward, but managed heave it up as if performing a perfect bicep curl. "Holy balls of crap. What is this?"
Cressida's hysterics set off mine, and Cyriah managed to restrain her chuckle.
"It's a stone from Ickmanthias. Our home planet. Gravity affects us differently here," explained Cyriah.
"I'll say. Take this back before I fall over." Nalea grumbled, but laughed a bit as well.
I scooped the rock out of her hand and carefully placed it back on the shelf. "That was fun. Do you have any other tricks we can play on this detective, Cressida?"
"Uh huh." She smiled and bounced over to hug me. "I'm happy to see you."
"I'm happy to see you, too." I smiled down at her and her full-on mercury eyes gazed up at me. I saw myself reflected back in them for a moment and it startled me. Your eyes are super cool.
So are yours. They match your colors. My mom said you're from Praxar in Andromeda Galaxy.
How does she know that?
She can see your colors
, too. She knows all colors of people and where they come from. Cressida tugged me to the sofa, and I sat with her. She used to fly all over the universe doing research in her ship. Cressida pointed to a glass orb that looked like a crystal ball on the bottom corner of the side table. That's it.
Her ship?
Yup.
I nearly choked on my reaction to learning a spaceship accompanied us in the room.
"Cressida," scolded her mother. She flicked her wrist and the ball soared across the room to land in Cyriah's palm. "None of that now."
"Aw, Mom. C'mon."
"What is happening here? I feel like I'm reading a book with pages missing in the middle." Nalea propped her hands on her hips.
"They're telepaths, Detective, and we're all talking behind your back," I said, which brought a bit of levity to the moment.
"Ah." Nalea scowled, her eyes playfully narrowed at Cressida. "Keeping me out of it, I see."
"I can fix that," Cressida said, then snickered while watching Nalea.
"What do you mean colors?" asked Nalea.
"No, no. Answer me in your head." Cressida rolled her finger over in the air. "Think about what you want to say."
My daughter is giving telepathy lessons to a Seattle Police Detective. What's happening here? Cyriah asked in my mind, though a surprised laugh escaped her.
Lots of show and tell, it seems. We really just came here to check on Cressida. Detective Spooner is my actual friend, not colleague.
Ah. Makes sense as to why you trust her.
How can you tell?
Your colors touch hers.
I've learned a lot from you and your daughter in a very short period of time…
We've learned a lot about you, too. Cyriah chuckled then tossed me a wink.
"Like this? Dammit, I heard myself." Nalea sat beside Cressida now. "Try again."
The girl laughed so hard, her voice became gravelly. "You're funny. Just think about the words and keep your mouth closed."
"Like—" Nalea's voice cut out and Cressida clapped once while nodding.
Nalea gestured as if she spoke aloud, but the kid just kept on laughing.
She's such a good kid, I said to Cyriah.
She's been through a lot. I didn't expect those Reptalon boys to bother her here. None of these kids know anything about our interplanetary conflict and yet…
Jawbreaker (Four Point Universe Book 14) Page 30
