Alterni

by Sunshine Somerville

  Lexi ignored this. Esme now noticed the woman was working hard not to react to the sight of her.

  Guess she’s met a few other me’s too.

  Lexi recovered and offered a stiff smile. “Nice to meet you.”

  “Likewise.” Esme tried not to feel like an awkward nerd.

  Hakim clapped his hands together. “Well, Lexi, let’s go see the big guy. When I called, they said Owen was in. Still here?”

  “Yes.” Lexi wasted no more time and stepped forward to activate the automatic doors. “He’s been taking calls all morning.”

  “Hmm…” Hakim frowned.

  They walked through the entrance into blessed air conditioning. If the front room was an accurate first impression, the station was clean, official, but not overly fancy. The officer behind the large counter looked up, but Lexi ignored the man and headed for a door leading farther into the station. Hakim and Esme followed, now walking down a tiled hall with offices on one side and a glass divide on the other. Through the glass, Esme saw a large room with multiple desks and cops busy at work.

  Esme whispered to Hakim, “The king’s been taking calls all morning? What does that mean?”

  He tilted his head to whisper. “We have people who scout the city and surrounding countryside for malevolenci. Whenever there’s a sighting, they report in. Owen’s been getting a lot of calls lately. It’s a big task to keep our cavali coordinated.”

  “Cavali?”

  “Our trained fighters who hunt and kill the malevolenci.”

  “Oh. You made it sound like it was the king’s job to do all the fighting.”

  Hakim chuckled. “Owen can’t be everywhere at once. Globally, the Order has millions of members. Throughout the ages, the kings have taken posts in the areas with the most malevolenci sightings. Over time, the malevolenci get smart about where they invade. In the old country, they aren’t seen much anymore because the first kings hunted them so well. The malevolenci then opened rifts more often in Western Europe, so the kings moved there. That was during the Dark Ages. Then the malevolenci concentrated their invasion on China. In the last hundred years, they’ve appeared mostly in the United States. Since Owen’s father’s time, they’ve been most prevalent in this region. That’s why Owen’s stationed here. We have squads of cavali in Europe and Asia and everywhere else, and malevolenci still show up everywhere around the globe. But…”

  “But they’re worst here, so the king’s here.”

  Hakim nodded with a smile. “Quick learner, like you claimed.”

  Lexi turned and led them through a glass door into the main section of the station. Police officers of every degree walked about on errands or else sat at desks working. Several lifted their heads from their work as Lexi led Hakim and Esme across the room, and Esme noticed double-takes aimed in her direction. A few stared. Esme soon kept her eyes forward, following Lexi.

  So the Order has members working here too. Not just the king and Lexi. Makes sense, I suppose… How many me’s have these cops met? I hate being the center of attention at the best of times, and this is downright unsettling. It’s like I’m my own ghost.

  Lexi looked back at Esme and offered a quick smile, possibly sensing her nerves. She motioned for Esme to walk beside her and said in a lower voice, “Don’t worry. Those in the Order know you’re an alterni, of course, but the uninitiated won’t recognize you because of the illuso Roman put on your aura.”

  Esme’s eyes widened. “Roman did what to my what?”

  Lexi saw Esme’s surprise and sighed, rolling her eyes. “Roman didn’t bother telling you? After an origini dies, the Order has to explain to average citizens why each of the next alterni looks slightly different from the origini.” She pointed to Esme’s hair. “Although, you look exactly like your origini would if she’d lived to thirty.”

  Esme chose to ignore this. “So Roman did something to disguise me?”

  “Well, it’d be stupid to pretend each of you was a new twin, so a long time ago the conjuri decided to use illuso spells on the alterni. That takes care of the problem right away. You won’t notice any change. People in the Order won’t see you any differently than you really are either. But if a non-Order person who knew a prior alt-Esme sees you, the spell will kick in. To those people, you’ll appear different enough that they won’t recognize you.”

  Esme huffed. “Good to know.” She glared back at Hakim.

  He shrugged. “Sorry. I assumed Roman told you.”

  “Hakim, we have a saying in our world about what happens when you assume. Do you say that here too?”

  He chuckled. “Yes. And again, I’m sorry. I’ll make sure Roman explains the next time you meet with him, since he’ll have to keep reinforcing the illuso to maintain the spell.”

  Esme took a breath and turned back to Lexi as they cleared the desks and reached a wide set of metal stairs leading to the next level. “I’m guessing it benefits the Order to work from within the police force?”

  “Yes. Owen’s father, King Daniel Lord, was stationed at a nearby military base and worked with cavali from there. However, like many kings before him, Daniel ran into the difficulty of hiding our work from the public. It’s hard for soldiers to blend in and not cause public alarm.”

  Esme nodded her understanding.

  “King Daniel came up with a solution and suggested Owen go into local law enforcement. It was a good move. Now the Order doesn’t have to worry about working covertly. We look like cops out on patrol, cops responding to calls… You get the idea. Being cops is a lot of work on top of our Order mission, but we’re trained for anything.”

  They reached the highest stair, and Esme saw an open room of desks that matched the one on the first floor. Lexi led them toward the far wall with a hallway opening.

  “How many Order members are here?”

  “Half our officers are cavali, so around one hundred and sixty. We try to team them up with the non-initiated to cover as much ground as possible. A few commissioners on the board are from the Order too, so they let us use the resources we need to hunt malevolenci.” She glanced at Esme as if she expected opposition. “The Order donates plenty of funds, so we’re not a drain on the department. We take all of our work seriously.”

  Esme nodded to indicate her support. “Hakim made it sound like you run the show around here. You conduct the day-to-day cop business while the king deals with malevolenci?”

  “Exactly. Owen and I have used this system since his coronation, and it’s worked well. We’re a team.” Lexi didn’t look at Esme, but there was a tone that hinted at putting Esme in her place.

  They walked along another long hall of offices. It was quieter here, away from the bustle of the main rooms, and Esme was glad for fewer eyes to widen in recognition.

  She took a breath and asked the aloof woman, “What’s the king like?”

  “Smart. Strong. Everything you’d want in a good leader.” Lexi glanced at Esme and added, “He’s also a perfect male specimen. Handsome. Well built. Tall.”

  “Although,” Hakim pitched in from behind, “I’m the tall, dark, and handsome one.”

  Esme chuckled.

  Lexi half-grinned. “Owen’s taller than you, Hakim.”

  He scoffed at this.

  Esme smirked back at him. “Well, even if the king is ten times prettier than you, I’m immune to pretty men.”

  Hakim laughed. “How so?”

  “Because of my days working with models.”

  “I thought you were a freelance artist?” Again, out came Hakim’s pen, and he made a note in the folder.

  Esme shrugged. “That’s the job I finally settled on, but I was a model scout when I first moved to Florida.”

  It was a weird job, but I needed a drastic change. After mom died, Florida was a good escape.

  They approached a closed office door at the end of the hall.

  Esme pushed away the memories and chuckled. “Besides, I’ve had enough bad experiences with tall men to turn me off
of that type forever. As far as the king is concerned, I’m quite safe from developing a crush.”

  Lexi eyed her sideways. “That’s refreshing.” She sounded bitter.

  “Lexi…” Hakim said from behind with a gentle note of warning in his voice.

  They stopped outside the door. Esme looked from Lexi to Hakim, wondering what this was about.

  Does Lexi have a thing for the king? No worries – I prefer to avoid love triangles. Besides, I have enough to focus on without getting a crush on an emo, underwear model monarch.

  Lexi held the door handle, ignored Hakim, and refocused on Esme. “Ready to meet the king?”

  Esme took a breath and again tried not to fidget.

  “Relax,” said Lexi. “You’ll do fine. You always do.”

  What an unsettling thing to say, thought Esme.

  Lexi opened the door to lead them inside. They stepped into a carpeted office with big, old-fashioned windows in the far wall. A desk stood in the sunlight from these windows, but the chair behind the desk was empty. So was the sofa in front of the right wall’s bookshelves. The two chairs facing the desk were empty too.

  “Damn it, Owen,” muttered Lexi. She turned back to the door. “I’ll find him. Have a seat.”

  Hakim chuckled as Lexi shut the door, and he motioned for Esme to pick a chair. She took the one to the left, and she felt the smooth leather as she sank into the seat. Hakim tossed Esme’s folder on the desk, unbuttoned his suit coat, and sat beside her, smoothing out a wrinkle in his crossed pant leg.

  I would’ve scouted Hakim back in the day, thought Esme with a smile. I like my abductor so far. Okay…

  “Any way in particular I should greet his royal lordship, coach?”

  Hakim smirked. “Don’t call him ‘his royal lordship,’ for starters. I told you, Owen’s not that kingly.”

  “Well, you’re the people who use the word ‘king,’ and where I come from-”

  “Owen only takes advantage of the title when there’s a big decision to be made and those within the Order try to argue with him. Don’t worry.”

  Esme was sick of trying to guess about this man who was responsible for keeping her alive…and who had a miserable track record of performing that task.

  With a sigh, she scrutinized the office for clues. The books on the side shelves looked official and boring. No knick-knacks. A few landscape paintings hung on the opposite wall, but they might’ve come with the room. As for the desk, it was neat and orderly, except for a pile of stacked papers in a bin. Even here, she saw no pictures or personal keepsakes.

  “Does the king not have family?”

  Hakim paused what he was doing and wouldn’t look at her.

  “Oh, shit.” Esme realized she’d hit upon something. “Did he lose someone to malevolenci? You said his father passed peacefully, but… His mother? A wife?”

  Hakim looked back at her and used the gentlest voice she’d heard from him. “He lost Esme.”

  “I know that, but…” Then she understood. “He loved one of us?”

  “Yes. Very much.”

  “Which one?”

  Hakim sighed. “The origini.”

  Esme paused. “What happened to her?”

  “That’s something Owen should tell you, in his own time.” Hakim looked at her with a sad smile. “Please, Esme.”

  She nodded, still thinking. “So that’s why all the Esme deaths have been especially hard on him. Hell, even meeting each new Esme must be…”

  “Yes.”

  Esme felt horrible now for thinking of the man as an emo king. “This is also why you picked me this time. You’re trying to make this as easy on him as possible?”

  Hakim looked sad and only nodded.

  “You really are a good friend, aren’t you?” Esme tried to ignore how weird this would make things for herself, and she smiled at Hakim. “If you hadn’t abducted me, I’d hug you.”

  At this, Hakim chuckled and regained his suave. “Well, I am sorry I didn’t tell you. I thought letting the truth come out in time – or else burying it entirely – might be best for both of you. We told a few of the others too soon, and it left things…awkward.”

  “I can imagine.” She made a face. “Is this why Lexi was so weird about me being attracted to the king?”

  Hakim rolled his eyes. “Well, Lexi’s a whole other thing.”

  Esme had her suspicions.

  And here I thought a love triangle would be complicated. I certainly don’t want to compete with a ghost…or eight…of myself. This is so-

  The door behind them opened. Hakim popped to his feet, turned, held his hands at his sides, and bowed deeply at the waist. Esme hurried to stand and copy Hakim’s deep bow. She almost fell over in her hurry.

  Hakim, still bowed, burst out laughing and grinned over at her.

  “Very funny, Hakim,” said a masculine voice. “Since when do you bow?”

  Hakim stood erect and covered his mouth. “Sorry, couldn’t help it. She was worried about acting proper when meeting the king, and I…” He kept chuckling at his prank.

  Esme stood and gave Hakim a look, then faced the king in embarrassment.

  The man who’d entered stopped dead in his tracks at the sight of her, his green eyes widening. Owen Lord was indeed well built, and his officer’s uniform was flattering. He had movie star good looks, but on the stubbly side instead of overly coiffed. His brown hair was closely cut but longer on top, elongating his face, which held a strong jaw. He was overall one of those men who’d probably look better and better as he aged, which Esme always thought was unfair.

  But he’s not that tall, she noted.

  The king turned to shut the door. For a moment, he kept his back to them and looked up to the ceiling, muttering something that didn’t sound happy. When he faced them again, he seemed to purposefully not look at Esme. Instead he shook his head at Hakim and walked around his desk. Once seated, he still didn’t look at Esme but rested his elbows on the desk and put his head in his hands, still muttering.

  Hakim sat back in his seat. “I told you the summono was today.”

  The king blew out his lips dramatically. This might’ve been an illustration of that whole not kingly thing Hakim had mentioned.

  “Owen, we couldn’t put off finding an alterni any longer. The malevolenci are-”

  “Yeah, yeah. I know.” The king finally faced Esme, wincing only slightly as he looked at her again. “If you’re here in my office, I assume Hakim already talked you into this?”

  Hakim gave Esme an encouraging nod.

  She tried not to squirm. “Yes, sire. Sir… My lord. King Lord? Mr. Lord?”

  “Owen is fine.” He wiped a hand down his face and opened the folder Hakim had placed on his desk. He scanned over the notes, then closed the folder, apparently not interested. Crossing his fingers, he looked at Hakim. “Have you given the poor woman anything to eat yet?”

  “No. Thought you might like the honor.”

  Owen seemed exasperated. “Of feeding another human being?”

  Esme almost laughed.

  Hakim sighed at his friend. “The honor of explaining further over lunch. Just the two of you, king and alterni. I’ve sat in before, and I don’t want to fake interest again as you explain the details of training and malevolenci movements, spells, etc. etc.”

  Esme met eyes with the king, and she guessed he was thinking of all the times before…

  “I could eat,” she said, trying to lighten the mood.

  And I have so many questions. Who better to answer than the king of this world?

  “Great.” Hakim slapped his armrests and lifted himself from the chair. “I have reports to analyze, so call if you need anything.”

  Esme lifted a finger. “Uh, I’ll need things. Where am I supposed to live? What do I do for money? I have literally only the clothes on my back, and they’re borrowed.”

  Hakim smiled, winked at her, and saluted the king before sauntering to the door.

  E
sme looked back at the king and raised a questioning eyebrow.

  “We’ve got you covered.” Owen pushed back and rose from his seat. He grabbed her folder and motioned toward the exit. “Where you wanna go for lunch, Esme?” Her name sounded like it stuck in his throat.

  Esme also stood and followed the king to the door. “I have no idea what restaurants your world even has.”

  “Right.” Owen stopped to look back at her. He hesitated. “I should warn you, people will treat you like you alterni are all…the same person. They’ll expect you to know stuff and assume things about you that aren’t true.”

  She frowned and thought back on those she’d interacted with so far, Lexi in particular. “Yeah…That’ll suck.”

  The king nodded. “I want you to know that, since I’m obviously the person who gets to know you alterni best, I understand you’re individuals. You’re each different, no matter being physically identical.” He blinked away from her face.

  My origini, thought Esme with an awkward shuffle. I look identical to the Esme he loved…and lost. It’s like Lexi said – if the origini had lived to thirty, she’d look like me. Seeing my face must be so weird for him.

  Owen recovered and continued. “I’ve read the Chronicles of Kings, and it seems to be the same with each cycle of alterni. Many in the Order don’t really understand you’re different, and I’m sorry if they…” He sighed. “But I’ll try my best not to treat you like that. So, if I act like I know you better than I actually do, you have my royal permission to smack me.”

  Esme took a breath and smiled. “Thank you. I appreciate that.”

  Owen opened the door to lead her into the hall. “Okay, so what do you want for lunch?”

  “Um…” She scrunched her face. “Vodka?”

  Owen snorted a laugh. “Good answer.”

  Esme exhaled once his back was to her. So far, so good.

  Owen had driven them in a fancy sports car to a local pizza restaurant, which was a dive compared to any place she’d expected the king to take her. Before going in, he’d left his uniform’s shirt in the car, and Esme thought he looked far more comfortable now, off duty, in a simple white undershirt. He sat at the high top table across from her, drinking a beer and reading through Hakim’s folder while they waited for their pizza.