by Lee, Nadia
“I guess…” Except Ramiel had called me a dragonlady, not a slayer. I had no idea why that would be unless I was a dragonlord’s daughter.
But was I?
The lack of hard information was beginning to irritate me. Nobody in the supernatural world had wanted to tell me much except for two things: my mother was the last slayer and I wasn’t the Triumvirate of Madainsair’s favorite person. I wanted a little more biographical data than that if it turned out that I wasn’t who I thought I was all this time.
But Ramiel’s lies had forced me to go along with him instead of getting the answers I’d wanted so dearly. Every time I’d been tempted to make him explain himself, I’d had to consider whether it would be worth delaying getting the antidote for Valerie. His deception had forced me to agree to Nahemah’s offer—which I would’ve never done under other circumstances—and then when I’d finally managed to see my mother, all too soon I’d had to leave instead of spending more time with her.
He’d played me brilliantly. And I was the idiot who’d been played. If what I’d done so far hadn’t been enough for his mysterious vow, he was shit out of luck. I wasn’t jumping through any more of his hoops.
Valerie took a sip of her wine. “It’s so strange seeing you blonde. And supernaturally gorgeous. And pale.” She glanced at her hand. “Ugh, look at how disgustingly pasty I am. We should go to the beach. Get some sun. We totally deserve it after what we’ve been through.”
“I couldn’t agree more.”
“And tonight, we should hit some karaoke bars. Stir up a little trouble.”
I nodded.
Valerie grinned at me, but then the grin faded and an awkward silence descended. After a few moments I started feeling sad. We used to be able to talk about anything, but I was afraid we were different now. I was different.
Finally Valerie sighed. “Well, I guess we need to go in.”
“I know.”
“You think Andersen’s going to be upset?”
“Uh…probably not.” I took a deep breath. “I have a feeling he’s in league with some of the dragonlords.”
Valerie cocked an eyebrow.
I shrugged. “Just a feeling.”
“I didn’t know you could tell things like that.”
“Seem to be sharper since visiting Besade. You know, my super sixth sense.”
Since the acquisition of the heartstone, all my senses seemed to be keener, more immediately accessible. Physically I was quicker and more precise in my movements, with a degree of control that hadn’t been there before. I was also getting very strong feelings about certain things, most of which were turning out to be true. I’d known about the fake Ramiel, of course, but there were other things as well. What would happen if I got a second stone? Could I become a full-time day trader? That would be amusing. The SEC would accuse me of insider trading—there were laws against using magic for that kind of thing. But they forbade seers, not demigods.
“What’s so funny?” Valerie said.
“Nothing.”
“Are you going to go in dressed like that?” Valerie looked at my dirty suit meaningfully.
“Do I have a choice?”
“I can give you something.” A faint smile curved her lips. “Everyone’s going to want to know your plastic surgeon’s name. And your hair stylist’s.”
I laughed in spite of myself. Count on Valerie to cheer me up.
She dragged me to her walk-in closet and lent me a pink Armani pantsuit, which fit perfectly. It was a little eerie to think my proportions were now the same as hers, the buxom man-killer. Even her CFM stilettos fit. Damn. I twisted my long blond hair into a simple updo and plunged a stick through it. Living with Valerie had taught me how to manage a few styles I’d never had any use for before.
Valerie appeared in a skirt suit. “Well! Aren’t you the stylish one?”
I rolled my eyes. It had been her longtime goal to reform my “frumpy looks.” Apparently, unless you owned suits that cost at least a thousand dollars apiece, you were frumpy.
We called a cab and took it to the office. Her convertible was still in the parking lot, sparkling like a giant ruby in the sun.
The security guard stared as we walked up. I swear to god he’s secretly in love with Valerie, although she never seems to notice.
“Morning, Edward,” she said.
“Good morning, Valerie. Some great weather to start the workweek off right, huh?” He smiled, but it was the expression of a guy who knows he doesn’t stand a chance. The man was sad. Then he noticed me and his weak-chinned jaw hung open.
“Good morning, Edward,” I said with a nod like always.
“Good ah.” He swallowed. “Good morning. You need to sign in.” He pushed the visitor’s log toward me. “I’m guessing, uh—” he glanced at Valerie, “—you’re visiting Valerie?”
“No. I work here.”
He blinked. “I’m sorry?”
Valerie put an arm around my shoulder and winked at him. “It’s Ashera. Doesn’t she look absolutely wonderful?”
He swayed a bit, and I felt a twinge of pity for him. Valerie laughed as we walked away, the sound trilling like small marbles rolling on a silver tray. I sighed.
We walked through the lobby doors and into the waiting elevator. “You’re getting popular now. How does it feel to strike a man dumb?” Valerie said with a smirk.
“Irritating.” I huffed, although a teeny little part of me was thrilled. “I haven’t changed at all inside. I’m still me. It’s stupid that he acted that way just because I’m blonde or whatever now. How freaking shallow.” The thrilled part really was teeny. I swear.
“Oh, puhleese. You’re not the you from the day before yesterday. Trust me.”
I had a feeling that she was right.
Sandy gave us a concerned smile when we reached her desk on the ninth floor. “Valerie! Are you okay? We heard you were hurt, and I was so worried! Well, we all were.”
What an ass-kisser.
“I’m fine, thanks to Ashera.” Valerie tilted her head in my direction.
Sandy looked at me, her green eyes curious. The angle of her head exposed her neck and allowed a small tendril of red hair to escape from behind her ear. “Ashera? That’s an unusual name. One of our partners is—”
“It’s me, Sandy.” My voice hadn’t changed with my appearance, and certainly the tone was the same as before.
She glanced at Valerie, then back at me. “Ashera?”
“The one and only.”
Her mouth opened and closed but no sound came out. She blinked. It gave me a great deal of satisfaction.
“How…?”
“A long story,” I said. “Stop staring. It’s rude.”
She snapped her mouth shut and quickly looked away. “I just—”
“Is Jack in?”
“No. He’s in London on business. He’s due back on Friday.”
Classic Jack. Nothing he could do about his daughter’s situation, so he flew off to make the firm some money. I guess it also showed how much he trusted me—a realization that always brought me up short and made me feel warm inside.
Then again, maybe he just thought it would take me at least a week to sort things out. Who knew what went on in his head?
“Valerie!”
The voice was familiar, and I cursed silently. It belonged to a Federation of Mageship enforcer, Jim Haddock. Tall, lean and with a golden choirboy handsomeness, all the nice packaging still couldn’t hide the fact that he was a fricking weasel. I guess the Federation hadn’t wasted any time in sending someone to investigate the psyche death of “Selena” the demon. But why did it have to be Jim? He and I…well, let’s just say that we had our history. It warmed my heart to see that his hairline was receding.
“Hey.” He beamed at me. “Are you new?”
“Go away, Jim.” He was bisexual—an equal opportunity man-slut.
“Uh, have we met?”
“You stole a boyfriend from me once.”
His smile faltered, and he frowned. Guess that didn’t narrow it down much for him.
“Can’t talk to you,” I said. “Not until our lawyer gets here.”
“Huh?”
Valerie tugged at his sleeve. “It’s Ashera,” she said in a stage whisper.
“And?”
Note to self: never overestimate the enforcers’ intelligence. If they’d been smart enough to make it in the private sector, they wouldn’t be low-level bureaucrats.
“Ashera. Del Cid. Do you know any other Ashera working for the firm?” I said.
“Ashera del Cid…that skinny neurotic hunter you got?” He laughed, actually slapping his hand on Sandy’s desk. “That’s funny. Really funny. And it’s gonna get funnier when I recommend that the Federation revoke her license.”
“Be nice, Jim,” Valerie said.
I turned to her. “Mind if I pulverize him?”
“I don’t think our lawyer would like that.”
Jim straightened. “No more jokes. We’ve got some serious business to attend to here.” He paused and looked at me hard. “Say…you have an interesting aura. What’s your specialty?”
The elevator chimed and the firm’s lawyer stepped out of it. Talk about being saved by the bell; it was the only thing that stopped me from turning Jim into a rabbit…or a cockroach. I’d never studied spells like that, but I knew if I willed it now, I could make it happen.
The thought of watching a little blond roach scuttle around was so sweet I could almost taste it. I took a breath and slowly let it out.
Our trusty counsel Shark lumbered over. That wasn’t his real name, of course. But it was all anyone ever called him. A big beefy guy, dark skin, not a strand of hair on his bullet-shaped head, soulless black eyes and a grin that could give you nightmares. The fancy Italian suit and wingtips did nothing to disguise the fact that this man was a latter-day barbarian, totally unconcerned with right or wrong. He crushed the other side because he could. And because we paid him to.
“Stay away from my clients. It’s illegal for you to hassle them when I’m not present,” Shark said, his voice as smooth and dangerous as my katana blade. I smiled inwardly. He was going to make Jim pay. Dearly.
Jim glared at him. “They didn’t ask for you.”
“Not what I heard.” Shark turned to Valerie and me. “Good morning, Valerie. And you are…?”
“Ashera del Cid. Good to see you.”
Shark blinked once. Then again. He leaned in and sniffed. “Valerie, you can do glamour like this?”
“Nope. Not my magic,” she said. “Come on, people. Let’s go inside.”
***
It wasn’t too bad. As those meetings go.
The conference room dripped with old money. A lot of dark wood and leather, just like all the other conference rooms on the floor. I leaned back in my chair and did my best to look bored. It was Shark’s show.
As always, he was awesome. It began with some verbal sparring. A slow circling, waiting for the opponent to slip. Then the attack. He made Jim sweat a lot and back off. Maneuvered him into acknowledging that the astral death hadn’t been my fault. Self-defense, exceptional circumstances, yada yada. Jim ended up signing a bunch of legal documents Shark had prepared. I bet that Federation weasel wouldn’t be coming back anytime soon.
Jim left with his tail between his legs, and a warm fuzzy feeling washed over me. Moments like this made me appreciate the firm’s deep pockets. Because money really did buy a lot of things. Including humiliating the guy who’d mocked you and stolen your boyfriend, and establishing once and for all that you did nothing wrong.
Valerie walked out to attend another meeting, and I stayed behind to sign forms. Shark leaned back in his chair, watching me with those enigmatic eyes. “You doing anything this evening?”
“Uh…not sure. Why?”
He just looked at me. I stared back. Maybe he didn’t know, but hunters can’t read people’s minds. Having a heartstone didn’t change that.
Then it hit me. He was asking me out.
I was completely thrown. Shark was—no pun intended—a real catch. He was rich, handsome in his own way, very compelling. And normal…at least compared to someone like Ramiel. I couldn’t figure it.
“Uh…actually, I have…plans.”
“Unfortunate.” Shark’s eyes remained steady. “I was thinking of dinner at Morton’s, maybe buying you a rock afterwards.”
My jaw dropped so fast it was a miracle that it didn’t hit the table.
“Maybe next time.” He smiled, showing me more teeth than Toshi had. “Catch you on the flip side.” He took the signed papers from my numb hands and left.
A few minutes later, Valerie peered inside at me. “You all right?”
“Huh?”
“You’ve been in here for half an hour. What happened?”
Half an hour? “Uh, nothing. Well, maybe something. I think Shark just asked me out.”
She stepped inside and closed the door behind her. “No way.”
“Way.”
“This is Shark? Mr. I-don’t-give-a-shit-about-anybody-but-me-and-my-paying-clients?”
I nodded.
“You’ve got to be kidding. He’s gay.”
Now that was news. He seemed as heterosexual as they came. “How do you know?
“What do you mean, how do I know? I know.” I must have looked confused, because she sighed and said, “I asked him out once.”
“You? You asked him out?”
“Why not? He doesn’t try to come on to me all the time, he’s smart, aaand—” her voice dropped a register, “—he’s got that intriguing corporate hatchetman thing going on.”
“And he said no?” The world order as I knew it was over.
She waved a hand. “Something about keeping business and pleasure separate.”
“And that makes him gay?”
“What else could it be?” Valerie said it like she was telling me what color the sky was. “Anyway, I came in to remind you about your appointment with Mary Spencer.”
“Oh, that’s right.” I’d almost forgotten. “Need to get a rental before I go.”
Valerie frowned. “A rental?”
“You know, a car? A wyrm ate my Audi.”
“Ah.” She pursed her lips.
“What?”
“Maybe that’s not such a good idea.”
“Why not?”
“Well…for one thing, the picture on your driver’s license doesn’t look like you anymore.”
Trust Valerie to immediately see the paperwork angle, but she was right. I wanted to bang my head against the desk. I needed wheels.
“Take my car,” she said. “Just bring it back in one piece.”
“Keys?”
“Get your stuff. I’ll meet you at the elevator.”
I went to grab my hunting gear. I had the sword that I could draw from my body, but it was a bit awkward to do it, despite the cool effect. Plus, I was just comfortable with my katana. I went to my office, changed into black Under Armour—I needed to buy some new stuff that wouldn’t squish my breasts so much—and picked up my hunting bag. That and the keys to Valerie’s Ferrari were all I needed to be back in business. I went out the door and walked down the hall toward Sandy’s desk.
“Hi. Are you new?”
My head jerked up. “Blake.” It was oddly good to see him. At least someone had come out of the Swain fiasco unscathed.
He smiled. “Have we met?”
Okay, this was starting to get old. “Yes.”
“Uh…” He blinked several times, tapping his foot. “Was it during orientation? Maybe training?”
Surprising that Sandy hadn’t spread the word. She saw everyone going in or out. Oh wait, she didn’t like Blake. “No. You worked for me on the TriMedica job.”
“I did?”
“You have to break that habit of tapping your foot.” His eyes bugged out. I felt a tiny measure of satisfaction at that. “It makes the clients ner
vous.”
Blake’s jaw worked, but his speech function seemed to have been temporarily disabled. Well, he’d figure it out. I started to resume walking, but he put his arm out, stopping me.
“Who the hell are you?”
Patience isn’t my best virtue. “Who else has told you to stop tapping your foot?”
“You’re not Ashera. You’re not even mortal.”
“What?”
His eyes roamed my face, a frown deepening. “You’re like…a high-grade supernatural. How did you get in? Who invited you?” There was a tiny bit of fear his voice, but he held his ground. “No, no. You’re not…oh damn, are you a dragonlady or something?”
Ice was forming in the pit of my stomach. “What are you talking about?”
“I’ve seen your kind. You have this aura. How…what are you doing here?”
“Blake, get out of my way.”
He shook his head, stood his ground. “What have you done to Ashera?”
“Damn it, I am Ashera.” I pushed him out of the way, not wanting to hear any more. He landed hard on his butt. I stepped over him, continuing on to the elevator.
“Hey, here’s your cell.” Valerie tossed me one of the firm’s tiny black units. We had several on hand in case hunters had theirs destroyed while working. “And the keys.”
I caught them both in air. “Thanks.”
In the reflection of the glass panels on the receptionist’s station I saw Blake behind me, still on his ass and staring. Oh well. He was young, he’d adapt.
Sandy placed a datasheet on her desk. “Here’s the client info, Ashera.”
I nodded and snapped it up as I walked past her. The job should be easy, especially now that I had a heartstone. I was brimming with aggression and power, and couldn’t wait to prove Ramiel wrong. My life was here. In the mortal world.
I went over the case facts inside the elevator. Mary Spencer, 21, SWF, the only daughter of a Virginia state senator. Wanted the job done in the afternoon so no one would know she was seeing a hunter. We don’t get much work during the day since people usually aren’t sleeping. She would have been told to either drink a special sleeping potion we’d prepared for her or stay up the night before the job. The potions work better, but sometimes you get a granola type who wants to go all natural.
