The man turned his laptop around so his brother could see the screen. His brother squinted as he skimmed the story.
“The Grenich Bank?” He straightened up again. “I passed by it late last night. Opened a couple months ago, right?”
The man nodded. “He’s getting bolder. Unfortunately, he can be. He’s got enough power and sway and he knows it.”
His brother tucked the flashdrive away in one of the pockets of his jacket. “You do know that once I go there, you won’t have any way to contact me.”
“I consider that a blessing,” the man responded. “I trust you remember what to do.”
“Yes.” His brother looked to the ground, rubbing his forehead. “They’re not going to believe a word I say. You do realize that, right?”
“Well then, you’ll have to figure out a way to convince them that you’re trustworthy,” the man said and scoffed. “Good luck with that.”
His brother gave him a look of annoyance and turned to leave, pausing at the door. He put a long hand on the frame.
“Swear to me that you know what you’re doing,” he muttered. “Tell me this plan is foolproof and it will work.”
The man hesitated, feeling a certain amount of sympathy toward his brother for the first time in ages. Truth be told, he didn’t know if what he had planned would work. Nothing was foolproof, especially when dealing with the monster they were fighting. However, looking at his brother, the man could tell he just wanted some kind of reassurance, even if it was false. Therefore, he granted his brother’s request.
“It will work,” he stated with conviction. Working in the Corporation as long as he had, the man knew how to lie and lie well. The Grenich Corporation was built on lies, and in order to survive, one had to become a master deceiver.
His brother nodded. “Thank you.”
And then he was gone, vanishing from the man’s life for the first time in a long while. The man looked back to his laptop, clicking on a link. He had work to do.
*~*~*~*~*
Isis walked into the mansion’s enormous kitchen, noticing Shae sitting at the small table, staring at her tablet screen. She glanced up at Isis’ entrance.
“Well if it isn’t Miss Scandalous,” she greeted, beaming from ear to ear. She looked completely surprised when Isis snickered softly. “Somebody’s in a pleasant mood and on Christmas Eve no less. Usually I have to talk you down from opening fire in the clock tower.”
“Shape shifters don’t celebrate Christmas,” Isis said, grinning as she sat across from her cousin. She lifted the Arts section of the paper that was on the table, folded it in half, and held it up so she could read it. She looked pointedly at Shae’s tablet.
“Give me a physical paper any day,” Isis commented.
“Update to this century, ice queen. I have access to almost every paper in the world on this modern marvel,” Shae responded as she tapped another link and Isis snickered.
“So where are the others?” Isis asked, turning a page in the paper.
“Alex is out having dinner with Remington and Jade’s off with her lover, so it looks like it’s going to be a quiet night again.”
“And the good news keeps coming,” Isis remarked with a larger smile. Shae switched off her tablet and laid it to the side.
“Hey, what’s been up with you lately?” she asked. Isis looked up from the paper.
“What do you mean?”
“You’ve been kind of . . . distracted,” Shae observed. “When we’re not out looking for the Key, you’re locked in your room. Do you have a secret lover scaling the walls or something?”
Isis smiled and shook her head. “No secret lovers scaling the walls, still Gray-A. Sorry to disappoint.”
“Then what is it?”
Isis looked back to her paper. “Just had a lot going on. Aneurin’s been calling meetings practically every other week. We’re still looking for the Key. It’s a lot on my plate and I relish in whatever little me-time I can manage.”
Isis tried to focus on a review of a play, which wasn’t terribly interesting. She had been rather closed off in the past few months, mostly because she was trying to lay low in order to avoid Aneurin’s attention. Her three teammates were able to have both social and professional lives but Isis had temporarily tabled her extracurricular activities, preferring instead to continue researching Coop. Once she had found the answers to a few mysteries, she fully intended on returning to a normal social life.
“Oh!” Shae snapped her fingers, briefly closing her eyes as she remembered something she almost forgot. “Did you know that Steve has a new partner?”
“That’s a bit out of nowhere. Wait, he met someone else?” Isis couldn’t help but be intrigued by this new bit of news. Shae smiled and nodded, taking out her smartphone.
“Yep, sometime last week when he was on shift,” she said.
“He didn’t tell me,” Isis said, her eyes sliding to the side for a minute. “Who is this mystery person? Is he good enough for our Stevie?”
Shae snickered and pulled out her cell phone, flipping through it. “Her name is Tracy Rose. Steve met her at the ER while on duty. He was getting a victim’s statement, some kind of domestic disturbance, and Tracy was visiting a friend. Apparently, he literally bumped into her. She works at that new bank in town. Oh, what’s it called?”
“Grenich,” Isis offered, frowning at Shae’s words. “Her? I thought Steve was more interested in men. I can’t even recall the last time he had a girlfriend.”
Shae shrugged as she continued flipping through pictures. “You know Steve, sometimes his tastes change. He has had a couple girlfriends in the past.”
“What does Justin think of this?” Isis asked, sipping her coffee. She had only met her best friend’s boyfriend a few times. They got along rather well, surprisingly.
“I imagine he’s fine with it. He and Steve have never been exclusive. Justin’s still overseas at the moment, investigating something or other for Jet and Lilly, saving the world in his own way,” Shae said, tapping on a picture on the phone to enlarge it. She handed the phone over to Isis, who looked at the screen. She chuckled and shook her head. Shae had obviously taken the photo while passing by the building.
“You are such a voyeur,” Isis teased as she flipped to the next picture. Steve and Tracy were aware of the picture being taken. Steve looked mildly annoyed but Tracy was grinning happily, enjoying being photographed. Tracy had cropped blonde hair, bleached from what Isis could tell. Her eyes were dark, but Isis couldn’t tell the exact shade due to the quality of the picture. Based on the picture, she looked friendly enough.
“She’s nice. I think even you will like her,” Shae commented. Isis gave her a look that said Gee thanks. Shae merely shrugged.
“He’s out with her right now. If you hang around, maybe you’ll get to meet her.”
“He’s going to bring her to this mad house?” Isis asked, pausing to think that over. “She’s a shape shifter, isn’t she?”
Shae nodded. “That she is. Shape shifters don’t often date humans. I have my own theories about why.”
Isis arched an eyebrow. “Such as?”
Shae grinned devilishly. “Our stamina. We’d ride the poor person to death.”
Isis shook her head, smiling. “You and that dirty mind of yours.”
The two turned when someone entered the kitchen. One of the Monroes’ sons entered the kitchen, Devlin or Declan. Isis was still trying to figure out how to tell the two apart. He smiled at them and made his way to the fridge.
“What’s going on?” he asked, opening the door.
“Same old, same old. Just having a pleasant chat with my cousin,” Shae replied. Isis turned her attention back to the Arts section of the paper.
Eventually, Shae and Isis wandered into the main entertainment room where they continued to enjoy the quiet evening.
“I think you should get laid.”
Isis looked up from her book to where Shae sat on the windowsill.
Her cousin was searching for any sign of Steve and his date. Isis sat on the opposite end of the room in a large chair next to a lamp, her legs folded underneath her. The comforting glow lit the book that she had been engrossed in. The mansion was pleasantly warm and it was a peaceful night. Jet was in his study with Lilly. Since she had come to live at the mansion, Isis rarely saw Jet without Lilly. Their children had gone out for the night, likely to a dance club. Hunter had dropped in earlier in the evening to ask if Isis or Shae were interested in going with them. They had both declined.
“Excuse me?” Isis asked, looking back to her book.
“You need to get laid, Isis,” Shae replied with a nonchalant shrug. “You are part shape shifter. That libido needs to be fed.”
“Okay, first off, Gray-A. I don’t have the same sort of libido shape shifters typically have. Secondly, in case you hadn’t noticed, I’ve been a little busy this past year. I promise you, once we solve the mystery of this Key, I will immediately go out and find a date or whatever,” Isis mumbled dryly, turning a page in her book.
Shae snorted. “That’s your excuse for everything: too busy or too ace. The three of us have just as many responsibilities as you and we still find time. Oh look, Jade’s back.”
Isis glanced over her shoulder when she heard the door to the garage open and footsteps enter the mansion. Jade strolled into the entertainment room. Her clothing was in slight disarray and her coat was draped over her arm.
“Were you in a fight?” Isis asked.
“Not exactly,” Jade responded with a suggestive smile.
“Seriously? In the freezing cold?”
Jade leaned over Isis’ chair. “Give me some credit. I went to the club my partner stays at during the cold months. Not that making love in the snow isn’t exhilarating, but only very occasionally. Making love outdoors comes with more than a few issues.”
Isis turned back to her book. “I’ll take your word for it.”
“Jade, doesn’t Isis need to get laid?” Shae asked without taking her eyes from the window. Jade glanced over at her other teammate.
“Isis can’t get laid. She’s technically a guardian,” Jade replied. That got Isis to look up from her book.
“Come again?” she asked. Jade smiled sympathetically, leaned down, and kissed her cheek.
“Why do you think I never hit on you before?” she teased, flopping down on the rocking chair near Isis, tossing her coat over to the couch. She pulled the tie out of her hair, allowing her dark hair to cascade down, and laid her hands over her toned stomach.
“Okay, I’m still a bit unclear on this whole ‘technically a guardian’ business,” Isis said. “I’m not even a full guardian. I don’t live in the Meadows and I’m one of four prophesized shape shifters.”
“Doesn’t matter, your mother is a full guardian and of the royal line. Plus you were born in the Meadows, which makes you a daughter of the Meadows,” Jade countered with a shake of her head.
“Secondly, could the guardians possibly be more archaic? Telling others whom they can and can’t have a relationship with. Humans are more lenient,” Isis continued. Jade laughed and even Shae chuckled a bit.
“Their rules aren’t perfect, but honestly, what cultures are? Hey, at least you’re on the ace spectrum. That should take the sting out of it a bit,” Jade responded. Isis turned back to the book. She was too distracted to get into it. Her thoughts frequently strayed to what the bartender, Phil, had told her about Coop and Dane. She was debating whether to try sneaking out in a week’s time to try to find the mysterious men. She wanted answers, and it seemed like this search would only yield more questions. Isis glanced over at Jade and considered asking for her advice. She didn’t want to be in the same hot water that she had found herself in after letting Coop go.
Shae’s cell phone ringing brought Jade’s and Isis’ attention to her. She answered it and moved out into the hall. The two remaining women sat in silence.
“So are we ever going to meet your girlfriend? Properly meet her, I mean,” Isis asked.
“Perhaps,” Jade replied. “I don’t think she’ll be making an appearance this winter.”
“Any reason why?” Isis asked, curiously. Jade looked over at her.
“Let’s just say she’s not overly pleased with some of the errands she’s been sent on recently. Are you trying to live vicariously through me or something?” she asked, smiling.
“Might as well, since I apparently have to live a life of celibacy,” Isis grumbled.
“Not celibacy, discretion. None of us is going to turn you in. Aneurin isn’t going to spy on you. Take as many lovers as you like, whenever you like, just make sure it doesn’t get back to him,” Jade explained. “It’s what your sister and mother have been doing for years.”
“Good to know.” Isis glanced up when Shae stepped back into the room.
“Steve’s staying at her place tonight, but he does want to have dinner with us tomorrow,” she said.
Isis looked over at Jade again. “Are there any missions or outings I could possibly volunteer to do tomorrow? Any duties of the Four that need attention?”
“No you don’t,” Shae quickly interjected. “Steve really likes this woman, Isis. You owe it to him to at least make an effort.”
“I know this is hard for you to believe, but I do know how to behave,” Isis replied. She did owe Steve quite a lot. Not only had he been protecting her since they were children, back when she had no idea of her heritage, but he had always been an extremely loyal friend. At different times in her life, he had sometimes been her only one.
“Good,” Shae said before turning to Jade. “Are we expecting anything tomorrow night?”
“Nothing expected, you two have fun. Alex and I will cover for you, but keep your phones on. Just in case,” Jade answered.
“Are things always this quiet during the winter time? Do our adversaries go into hibernation or something?”
Jade shrugged. “Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth. Enjoy the quiet. It’ll be over before you know it.”
*~*~*~*~*
Holidays weren’t celebrated in the Meadows. They were just regular days for almost all the guardians. They rushed around doing what they did best: keeping the world in order and on schedule.
Adonia passed Passion’s quarters and saw her door was opened, revealing an empty room. She knew exactly where her granddaughter would be. The wise leader of the guardian women continued down the hall, soon spotting Passion on the large balcony overlooking the entrance hall of the Pearl Castle. The first queen of the guardian women, Betha, used to stand on the balcony and watch the goings on in the castle. Adonia herself sometimes enjoyed standing there, watching the messengers and other guardians go about their business. It was a very peaceful place.
Passion was sitting with her back resting against one of the large balusters. She wasn’t watching the grand hall and the activity below. Instead, she looked toward the entrance of the balcony. Her eyes were blue, as they usually were during the colder seasons. One of her legs was folded under her while the other was folded at the knee and brought up to her chest so that she could rest her chin on it.
Adonia watched her granddaughter as she sat still as stone. Passion was often depressed come winter. It was the anniversary of Roan’s disappearance. It was when everything in her life had completely fallen apart.
Adonia approached the younger guardian, pausing when she stood next to her. “Would you mind if I joined you?”
Passion, without looking up at Adonia, just shook her head. Adonia sat down, resting her shoulder against one of the large balusters, her legs folded under her. She studied her granddaughter’s face, which remained expressionless. Her sun-colored hair was tied back loosely; a few stray strands framed her lovely face. Only yesterday, Passion had threatened to shave her head during an argument with her mother, Artemis. It was an empty threat thrown during an equally empty argument. It was anyone’s guess what the fight had been about on the surface, b
ut Adonia knew deep down it was about Passion’s past. It had been one of their more volatile fights — setting an old portrait ablaze before Adonia was able to split it up. Electra had been standing dangerously near it and narrowly escaped being burned.
“Sorry about the painting,” Passion murmured, her eyes never leaving the wall. The glisten of her skin was noticeably dimmer.
“That’s all right. I never liked it anyway,” Adonia reassured her. Passion smiled slightly, but it didn’t reach her haunted eyes.
“Might I inquire what you’re thinking about?” Adonia asked.
Passion sighed heavily and rubbed her forehead. “Mainly about how I would give anything for even a little bit of closure.”
“Roan?”
Passion nodded once. “Where did his body go? The protectors never found a trace of him. People don’t just disappear into thin air.”
“No, they don’t,” Adonia agreed.
“So where did he go?”
Adonia shrugged. It was anyone’s guess as to what had happened to Roan.
“Have you considered that maybe his past caught up with him? Roan was high up in the world of assassins, the leader of an important territory. There is no way of knowing exactly how many enemies he made,” she offered.
Passion shrugged. “That seems likely.” She was quiet for a moment, thinking. “But why take his body? And how would someone get it out of the apartment without leaving a trace?”
“There are some things that we may never have—”
Passion looked over at her grandmother when Adonia trailed off. Her eyes were wide as she stared at something in the entrance hall of the castle. It was one of the first times Passion had seen Adonia genuinely surprised.
An unnatural silence fell over the castle, as if the whole world stopped for just an instant. The heavier the silence became, the less Passion wanted to turn around and see what had brought it on. Some part of her heart already knew what she would see.
Through Storm and Night (The Shape Shifter Chronicles Book 2) Page 4
