She waited a minute before going through the stall door, not wanting to bump into Lorcan on the other side.
Going through the portal was like floating in a river with a strong current. Once you stepped in, you were powerless against the pull. Humans couldn’t use it. The new portal regulation stipulated they didn’t recognize them as a race and were closed to them. It was just as well. More than a few vampires had tried to bring humans across. Every human died within minutes. Regia couldn’t support human life. Yet that didn’t stop human blood from being smuggled in.
As soon as Forest’s feet landed in Regia, she felt healthier. Living on Earth full time had a physical price. Everything inside her buzzed, and she felt stronger as she breathed the fragrant air of home. The Portal had dumped her in the gardens next to the Fortress castle.
Time kept a different pace in Regia. It was still midday, Forest judged, looking at the sun. Her eyes stung as they readjusted to the change. Regia’s sun was larger than Earth’s, but it gave less warmth, and a different kind of light, paler and iridescent.
Regardless of how far you traveled and what wonderful sights you encountered, home was home.
She looked up at the castle. It was much the same as castles on Earth. To a human, Regia would have seemed positively medieval, Arthurian, or the landscape of a fairy tale. Most of Earth’s fairy tales were a product of Regians passing through the portals.
Forest’s eyes swept over the sprawling capital city of Paradigm that fanned out around Fortress Castle. It was exactly the same as the last time she’d seen it. Regians of every race buzzed around in the late afternoon light, preparing for the coming evening. An involuntary sneer curled Forest’s lips as she watched. Paradigm, what a joke. It was the only place in Regia where your race or status didn’t shut you out. All were welcome and equal, supposedly. A place for everyone, and everyone in their place. Excepting her and any other Halflings. Experience taught Forest that a place with vast cultural diversity had more racial trouble than anywhere else. She never voiced such politically incorrect opinions aloud, but she gave herself an unchecked license to be jaded. Being a Halfling made her a minority’s minority.
She walked toward the castle at a brisk pace. She was supposed to meet Kendel in the courtyard, and she was overdue. He would be annoyed.
A tall rock wall surrounded the courtyard, and the whole place was protected by enchantment. She wouldn’t have been able to enter if she wasn’t recognized by the magic. It was a necessary protection in a world full of shape shifters and elves that could become invisible at will.
As soon as she crossed through the stone archway, she spotted Kendel at the far end, pacing back and forth. She could tell he was tired, and agitation pulsed in the air around him. Once he spotted her, he quit pacing and crossed his arms over his chest. “You’re late,” he scolded. “I told you to hurry.”
“Sorry, Kendel, I ran into Lorcan on the other side of the portal. I had to deal with it. And you really need to get the construction crew to move that portal.”
“Why? It’s in a women’s restroom, is it not?” Kendel raised one thin eyebrow. “Are not all the women in there asleep?”
Forest laughed. “No! In the human world a restroom is where they relieve themselves.”
“Oh? Relieve…oh.” Kendel’s high cheekbones turned slightly pink. “I’ll get the ogres to fix that.”
“Thanks. Now tell me what is going on.”
“Hand it over first.”
Forest placed her pistol in Kendel’s outstretched hand. It hovered an inch over his skin before disappearing. He would keep it safe, and she was happy to be rid of it for a while.
“Check your phone,” he ordered.
Forest pulled her cell phone out of her pocket. “It’s working fine.”
“Good. Switch to channel three and punch in your security code.”
“Why am I doing this?” she asked as she tapped in the numbers.
“Devonte created a new secure line for Fortress. I swear, enchanting the phones is the only useful work that wizard does.”
Kindel took her smart phone and scrolled through the menu. “Yours is nicer than mine.” He complained.
“Latest model. Came out last week.”
Kindel smirked and handed her phone back. “It was originally your idea for Fortress to embrace the technology Earth provided, wasn’t it?”
“Yeah, like five years ago. Not that I got any credit for it.”
“I’m not sure you’d want credit now. Cell phones have flooded our black market ever since.”
“So? They don’t work. The unfortunate buyer gets to play Angry Birds until the battery runs out. Now tell me what’s going on.”
“What the devil are you wearing?” he asked, surveying her multicolored tie-dyed shirt.
She smiled. “I don’t keep proper Regian attire in my Austin closet, Kendel. I didn’t wear this to piss you off, at least not specifically. I just didn’t have what I needed.”
He waved her excuse away, haughtily, with his long spindly hand. “It doesn’t really matter at the moment. You won’t be going before the council anyway.”
Her heart sank. Did that mean that she didn’t have the job after all?
“They agreed that time is too short and have placed enough trust in me to do the briefing, seeing as my ass is on the line here as well. Let’s sit down.”
They sat on a stone bench, and for a moment, all Kendel did was look at her. Forest forced herself to hold his gaze and not show the awkwardness she felt. For all intents and purposes, he was her boss, and it was unfortunate that Regia had no sexual harassment laws. He had no idea that she knew how he felt, but it was obvious when he looked in her eyes. He was not the first, nor would he be the last, to be beguiled by her eyes.
Kendel sighed and turned his gaze to the ground in front of him. “Civil war will commence within days.”
“Not again,” Forest whined.
“The Ogres have sided with the Vampires, naturally. Likewise, the Shape-Shifters will join the Werewolves.”
“And the Elves?” Forest asked.
“Neutral…For now.”
Forest snorted. The Elves were on no side but their own, and they never made alliances unless they were the ones who benefitted.
“What about the Wizards? Where do they stand?”
“Officially, they don’t stand anywhere on the matter. Devonte supports the vampires, but he has about as much care for this war as he does for the lint in his navel. The council has yet to hear an official response from them. I don’t know if they will respond at all. As their numbers continue to diminish, so does their taste for involvement in anything outside of their own survival.”
“I suppose it’s better that way,” she said. “Evens the playing field. Just one wizard taking a side can change the outcome of war. How many do you think are left?”
“Maybe nine or ten.”
“So, what does the council want with a lowly, level six operative like me?” False modesty rang thick in her voice.
Kendel snorted. “By rights you should be a level eight, at least. Successful completion of this mission would secure your promotion…uh…among other…things.”
Forest began to feel uneasy. She didn’t like the way Kendel was speaking. He was looking uncomfortable too.
“What does the council want?”
Kendel shifted in his seat and grimaced. “Please don’t take offense. I’ll tell you now that the council does not want to offer you this mission. It is because of time and desperation that they do so. They have agreed, but they say it is against their better judgment.”
Forest was used to this kind of crap. She didn’t have the energy to be bothered. “Because of my parentage?”
“Yes, however, more because of your own prejudice. They are unsure if you can be trusted to fulfill your duty when it goes against personal loyalty. I have assured them of you. I vouched.”
Forest’s eyes narrowed. Kendel vouching for her? Suspicio
us indeed. “If they don’t trust me, why are they offering me the mission? Why can’t they find someone else?”
“Because you are the only operative Fortress has who can execute it. Because you have the needed stealth of being a shifter, coupled with your elfin gift of invisibility, and because of your shady connections with the Werewolves. But lastly, because no one knows the Wolf’s Wood the way you do, and that is the path you must take while protecting a, ah, most…important person.”
Forest just stared at him for a moment. “Oh, no way. How could you do this to me, Kendel?” she demanded.
He said nothing, looking shamefaced.
Forest stood up abruptly, outrage bursting in her head. “You want me to transport a vampire through werewolf territory in a time of war, don’t you?”
Kendel sighed. “Yes.”
“You’ve cracked your cabbage. Shifters always side with the Wolves, you know that. This, this person and I are enemies in a pending war. This is a suicide mission! I’ll lose my temper; I’ll make a mess of it. I can’t do it! I’ll kill them or they’ll kill me. Let the suckers take care of their own!”
“This is your job,” he said flatly.
“I hate all vampires on principal! The council is right not to trust me. I can’t do it!”
“Your success would promote you to level eight, give you the respect of the council, and grant you a royal favor. How can you decline?” he demanded.
Forest paused, rolling his words around in her head until they clicked. “Royal favor? Who am I supposed to be protecting anyway?”
Kendel looked apologetic as he handed her a black leather bound file. “This is level ten classified.”
Her eyebrows shot up, and she blinked a few times before flipping it open. A slur of obscenities came tumbling out of her mouth. Kindel didn’t react to her rage of almost incoherent swearing. She quieted abruptly, eyeing Kendel with a small sneer. “I’ve never known you to pull pranks, Kendel. Good one. You had me there for a moment.”
“Forest, it’s not a joke.”
“Really?” she mocked. “Prince Syrus?”
“That’s right.”
“Heir to the throne?”
“Yep,” he said.
“I’ve been on Earth too long and out of Regia’s current events, but I did just happen to remember that he’s dead!”
Kendel gave her a severe, piercing look and shook his head. “It is not a joke.”
Forest paced angrily in front of him. “I thought he was dead. All of Regia believes he’s dead, since that attack five years ago.”
“The fact that most believe him to be dead is in your favor. The attack five years ago crippled him.”
“Oh this just keeps getting better and better. What do you mean by crippled?”
“He’s blind.”
Chapter Four
DEEP IN Fortress Castle, prince Syrus was sitting in a dimly lit room, listening to Redge, his personal guard, read aloud from Forest’s file. The longer he listened, the more confused he became. The information about her was compiled in a choppy way, and Syrus was having a hard time forming a clear idea about who she was. He was becoming increasingly uncomfortable with the position Fortress had put him in and the solution the council had devised. His father believed it to be the time for him to come out of hiding and take his place as commander of the Vampire army. Syrus couldn’t do that until his sight was restored, so this secret little excursion through the Wolf’s Wood to the rouge wizard, Maxcarion, became necessary.
“Her regular occupation is as a traffic controller in the human world, and she has the highest arrest and kill record in that department. Her average last year alone was…”
Syrus held up his hand for Redge to stop reading. “What does that mean? Traffic controller?”
“Well, it means that she acts as a custodian to one of the portals. Regulating the going and coming. The new amendment of Regia’s law only allows Shape-shifters to cross the portals to Earth. No one else is supposed to go there, especially our kind. Those caught on the other side are subject to arrest. Those who resist are killed on sight. From her file, it looks like your new guardian is quite fond of killing vampires.”
“Why is she allowed to keep her job?” Syrus asked.
“Fortress is not overly concerned with those she kills. Vampires who cross over tend to run amuck on the other side, due to the addictive nature of human blood. Some lose themselves completely. Some just can’t handle… “
“I know.” Syrus hissed.
“Forgive me,” Redge said, “Of course you do. Shall I continue reading?”
“No. Tell me what you know of Forest—word of mouth, gossip.”
“I’ve yet to see her, but I hear she is a creature of astounding beauty.”
Syrus snorted. “She’s a shifter. Does anyone know what she really looks like?”
“Is it really true a shifter can only show their true form to their destined life mate and no one else?” Redge asked.
“Yes, that’s true. Has she found her life mate yet?”
“No, my lord. They say every form she takes is beautiful and that she cannot help it. Her eyes are the only thing she cannot change about her appearance. I asked around court about her. Apparently, your cousin Leith knows her. He said that looking in her eyes is like getting lost, that you can see an entire forest in her eyes.”
“Leith said that? Really?” Syrus was incredulous.
“Yes, my lord.”
“Hm…It’s too bad I can’t see her.” Syrus sighed.
“You could.”
“Yes, but I doubt it would be worth the price I’d have to pay. Anyway, what else do you know?”
“No one I talked to knows who her elf father is. She carries a katana made of folded silver and wears silver jewelry about her body. It’s well known that she hates vampires. I’d watch my step if I were you—they say she fights dirty.”
Syrus smirked. “And I thought this trip wasn’t going to be any fun.”
****
Out in the courtyard, Forest was still sitting next to Kendel, perusing Syrus’ file. Her mind was already formulating a plan for the best, and more importantly, fastest route. Travel through the Wolf’s Wood would only take three days, maybe four if Syrus was slow. Kendel’s voice faded into the background, as he kept up a running commentary about Prince Syrus. She wasn’t listening, just nodding and grunting periodically. A blip of information about Syrus’ tactical background caught her eye. It took her a few moments to notice Kendel’s droning had stopped. She looked into his angry face.
“It’s so nice to know how much you value what I have to say.” Acid dripped in Kendel’s tone. “Or how much you appreciate the sacrifices I’ve made for you throughout the years, not to mention the one today.”
“You’re right, Kendel. I’m sorry. I just noticed that the file says he’s a master of the Blood Kata.”
“Yeah. I’ve heard he’s a great fighter.”
“But is he still ranked that high, given the fact he can’t see?” she asked.
Kendel huffed, “I don’t know how they work their ranking system, and I don’t care. Syrus, blind or not, can hold his own, so you don’t have to worry about that.”
“Okay. Fine. I was just asking. Sheesh. Tell me what I need to be worried about then.”
“Be on your guard, Forest. Don’t start any friendly sparing matches with him.”
“Why not?” she asked innocently.
“Because your usual advantage of invisibility won’t help you against a blind vampire. And you tend to bring out the worst in people. I would hate for him to kill you in the heat of the moment. “
“Whatever.” Forest shrugged, rising to her feet again.
Regardless of what she might say, her interest piqued. She was impressed that the prince was a master of the vampire marshal art. Most vampires were no problem for her, but this one might actually pose a challenge. If possible, Forest would pick a fight with him at the first chance. He wouldn’t
kill her. She was more likely to be the one who lost control and hacked his head off before she remembered what she was doing.
Kendel continued his tirade. “You’ve got to be in charge. Syrus is rumored to be quite the ladies’ man. Don’t let him charm you, and most certainly don’t let him bite you.”
Forest stopped in her tracks and just blinked at Kendel. Then she burst out laughing.
“I’m not kidding, Forest!”
She continued to laugh, her arms wrapped around her torso.
“Forest!” he said loudly over her mirth. “If you allow a vampire to bite you, they will have the power of persuasion over you.”
Forest’s laughter died in the air, and her eyes snapped to Kendel’s. When she spoke, it was very slowly and through her teeth. “I might be considered one of the lowest life forms in all of Regia, but I know about suckers and their nasty habits. Syrus is charming, you say? I’d like to see how charmed I could be by the thing I find most disgusting. Why do you think I wear all of this?” She held out her hands for him to see all the silver she wore.
Kendel held up his hands in surrender. “I’m sorry. I guess I underestimated your prejudice.”
They stared at each other one long moment. Forest sighed, letting her anger fizzle. She wished she hadn’t lost her temper. Kendel only said what he had because he didn’t know about her and Leith. For that, she was thankful. Leith didn’t want anyone to know either, and that was the only thing they had in common. As far as she knew, only his stinking brother, Lorcan, knew about them. She was Leith’s dirty little secret. And he was her what? Master? Owner? Lover? No, definitely not lover. She tried not to think about it. It was just too ugly.
“Please sit back down, Forest. I’m sorry for my insensitivity. I know I sprang this on you, and it’s not a small thing. But I know you can do this. I might grouse at you from time to time, but I have the utmost faith in you.”
Forbidden Forest (The Legends of Regia) Page 3
