"It came up for sale. It's a good investment," Winkler laughed. "Your mother will be managing two for me, when all's said and done. She's proven that she can manage a business and turn a good profit. It'll be fun and I don't have to pay for my meals if I show up in either place," he added.
"But there's COG to think about," Ashe waggled a finger at his employer.
"Ashe, I'm not surprised you know what Cost of Goods is," Winkler grinned. "Go home. We'll talk tomorrow."
* * *
"Sali, I didn't think you remembered who I was," Ashe grumped when he let Sali in the door fifteen minutes later. He'd just settled down to watch his mother prepare spaghetti sauce for dinner.
"I remember," Sali said.
"But what do you remember?" Ashe muttered despondently.
"Ashe," Adele gave the warning without turning away from stirring the sauce. Ashe figured she was cooking for Mr. Winkler and the others—the pot was huge.
"Who do you think we'll get as Principal this time?" Sali accepted the soft drink Ashe offered and took a seat at the island.
"You heard what Trace said this morning. The shapeshifter probably doesn't have a chance," Ashe said. "That's too bad. I think I'd like to see a shifter in charge of the school."
"What do you mean; the shifter probably doesn't have a chance?" Adele placed a lid on the pot and turned the heat down.
"Trace said a shifter would have to be capable of staring down the werewolves," Sali answered. "Can't see a bat doing that," he snickered. Ashe sighed helplessly at Sali's statement. He now had solid evidence that Sali remembered the bat—and nothing else.
"It may interest you to know that the Grand Master recommended this particular shifter," Adele informed Sali, who straightened up right away. "The letter was with his application."
"The Grand Master recommended him?" Ashe stared at Sali. Sali shrugged. "Mom, what is his animal?"
"We don't know, hon. How about setting the table for Mr. Winkler and the others?"
* * *
"Sali, things may be different this school year," Ashe said. He and Sali sat on the deck behind the house, eating plates of spaghetti and garlic bread. The others were eating and talking in the dining room inside.
"How?" Sali swiped the last of his sauce with a piece of bread and stuffed it in his mouth.
"Mr. Winkler wants to keep me on part-time and asked me to take online college courses. That means taking the GED and skipping the rest of high school."
"What?" Sali swallowed his food and stared at Ashe.
"What I said," Ashe blew out a breath. "He likes my work, I guess. Enough to keep me on."
"Dude, that's just, that's just—wow. No more high school homework? That's outstanding."
"But there's no graduation, either. Not from high school. College maybe, somewhere down the road."
"I'd be happy to give that up," Sali insisted.
"You can do me a favor, though," Ashe said.
"What's that?"
"Drive me to the bookstore in Corpus, so I can buy a GED study guide."
"I'll go with them," Trace volunteered when Ashe walked inside to get permission from his mother. Marco went as well, and since Sali's car wasn't large enough, Adele allowed Ashe to drive Aedan's SUV. Ashe weighed different versions of the study guides later in Corpus Christi's largest bookstore.
"Here," Marco handed a frozen coffee drink to Ashe. "It's decaf."
"This is good—now I know why everybody gets addicted to these things," Ashe slurped at the caramel mocha concoction.
"Dude, aren't you done yet?" Sali walked up with an identical drink in his hand.
"I can't decide which one to get," Ashe said, tapping the books under consideration.
"Get both, Winkler's buying," Trace said, holding up a company credit card.
"Good. I can get the new book in my favorite series, too," Ashe laughed. "Winkler can get these," he handed both guides to Trace, "and I'll buy what I want."
"You read entirely too much," Sali grumped.
"Wait till you get in college," Marco teased.
"Dad won't let me out of it?" Sali begged.
"Don't give me pitiful puppy eyes. You're going," Marco said.
"Winkler won't hire you without college credit," Trace whispered beside Sali's ear.
"Really?" Sali sucked on his frozen drink.
"Yep. So get to work, slacker." Marco slapped Sali's back.
"Sal, your grades are decent so far," Ashe pointed out. "And if you worked at it, they'd be even better. That could get you into any school you want. Think of the girls."
"Yeah," Sali sounded bitter.
"Ixnay on the irls-gay," Marco made a cutting off motion with his hand.
"Huh?" Ashe stared at Marco.
"Let's go find that book you wanted," Marco hauled Ashe away from the reference section. "Sali and Wynn broke up this afternoon," Marco hissed when they arrived in the sci-fi section. Ashe pulled the new hardcover he wanted off the shelf as he listened to Marco. "You saw the bracelet Wynn bought Sali for his birthday? He didn't want to wear it all the time. She got upset and now they're history."
"Well, Dori might get what she wants after all," Ashe muttered bitterly.
"Ashe, you can't let this bother you. I had at least eight girlfriends before graduating from high school. And in a small paranormal school, that's a lot."
"But you were cool. Sali's cool. Ashe Evans?" Ashe pointed to his chest. "Definitely not cool. And I don't have wheels, so I'm doubly not cool."
"I wish you'd stop looking at yourself in that light. Coolness isn't measured by what you have or drive. Anybody who looks at someone else that way is too shallow to waste time on."
"I know. But you see where we are and all? I can't go anywhere without a bodyguard. What if I want to go on a date, Marco? Is Trace coming along for that?"
"That does present a problem," Marco rubbed the back of his neck uncomfortably. "But you could always flash that tattoo you have and your girl might not mind going on a double date."
"It's all moot at this point, I don't have a girl," Ashe pointed out the obvious. "And not likely to get one, either."
"Chad and Jeremy don't have any either. And not likely to get any," Marco chuckled.
"Where are they?" Ashe asked. "I haven't seen them around."
"On vacation. Jeremy's parents went to Florida and took Chad and Jeremy with them. Those two won't head back to school until the end of August."
"And Mr. and Mrs. Booth are such nice people," Ashe said.
"You think somebody dropped a cuckoo's egg in their nest?" Marco grinned widely.
"It can happen," Ashe agreed.
"Yeah, you'd know, all right. Let's go; Trace is probably seeing double, surrounded by so many books."
* * *
"Dude, you don't like to read?" Ashe asked Trace as they loaded into the SUV.
"I'm a little dyslexic," Trace admitted. "I had a tough time getting through school."
"But you're a smart person," Ashe said.
"Yeah, but the words on the page? They just scramble when I try to read them. I listen to audio books," he said. "I enjoy good mysteries when I have free time."
"I didn't realize wolves could be dyslexic," Ashe said. "Sorry, man."
"Not a problem. I like what I do. It suits me."
"Someday, maybe you'll teach me that Kung Fu stuff," Ashe said.
"We're working on that," Trace nodded.
* * *
"Are you sure this is what you want, Ashe?" Aedan leaned back on the glider with Adele.
"I think it is, Dad," Ashe said. "I mean, nobody really knows me anymore." He couldn't keep the bitterness from his voice. "What difference does it make how I finish high school?"
"Son, I don't know what to say," Aedan sighed. "It's almost too much. We've destroyed your friendships, I know. That's the only reason I'm allowing this now—perhaps you'll have new friends with Mr. Winkler's group. A few of them know what you are and what you can do."
/> "I like Trace, Trajan and Marco."
"I know. Don't give up on Sali just yet, Ashe. He's been a good friend all along. Perhaps things will work out eventually. In the meantime, I expect you to study and pass that test. We'll look into online courses over the weekend. You'll work four hours a day, Monday through Friday, for Mr. Winkler. The rest of the time you can devote to your studies. You won't have a teacher reminding you to turn in homework, son—you're on your own. Fail any class and this all goes away."
"Got it, Dad."
"I'm off to do patrol," Aedan rose and walked through the patio doors.
Ashe waited until he heard his father leave the house. "Mom, why is it always doom and gloom whenever I do something different? Does he expect me to fail now? I never have before."
"Honey, he's vampire," Adele said and left it at that.
"I think I'll go work out for a while and then study a little." Ashe stood and walked into the house.
* * *
"My Queen, your Jewels will not return." Friesianna had finally consulted Rabis. Even with injuries, her Sentinels should have returned or sent mindspeech. Her efforts to contact them had met with silence. If any had been conscious, they would have replied.
"That cannot be," Friesianna turned away from Rabis, but he'd confirmed what she'd begun to suspect. "The talismans," she whispered.
"I cannot see them," Rabis replied.
"What does that mean?" She whirled angrily, prepared to blow Rabis away from her.
"That can only mean one thing," Rabis bowed low. "I know of your opinion concerning the Ekdi H'Morr. But it speaks of this."
"Go," Friesianna said coldly. "Get that cursed book and read it to me. Now!"
"Yes, my Queen," Rabis bowed and hurried away.
* * *
"Honored One, I know your mind is made up, but I disagree," Charles ventured.
"I gave him fifty years. That ended yesterday. Can I help it that he wasted so much time?"
"But the boy is only sixteen, Honored One. Surely he needs his father close."
"Aedan is a very good Enforcer. One of my best. Draft the message and bring it to me before you send it."
"I think he expected an extension, sir." Charles knew not to beg. "Like the others received. He believed, I think, that you would allow him to remain where he is until his wife's death. Another fifty years is nothing to a vampire."
"Except I need him here. He should be thankful I'm not recalling Nathan as well."
Charles wanted to moan in exasperation, but that was conduct unbecoming. Wlodek had his mind made up and nothing would sway him. The information Charles gathered on underage turning had not revealed anything positive on the subject. The youngest turning on record was age twelve, and that had ended in disaster—the child became insatiable and was hunted and killed.
Older children tended to be morose and depressed following their turning, choosing to walk into the sun not long afterward. Besides, Charles had read the information on the Elemaiya. Ashe Evans was already immortal. The vampire race had nothing to offer him. Wlodek hoped to keep the boy under his thumb by compulsion—vampire law prohibited the turning of any human less than eighteen for a reason. "I will do as you say, Honored One," Charles left Wlodek's study.
"But you don't like it," Wlodek muttered at Charles's retreating back.
* * *
"My King, I was able to speak with one of our sources, after much effort," the guard stood before Baltis, panting with the exertion required to return to the King's quarters. "He has already spoken with the other spy and reports strange happenings."
"What sort of happenings?" Baltis asked.
"Water turned to fire to kill your Destroyers, my King. The Queen's Jewels died as well."
"May the gates be kind," Baltis muttered.
Chapter 5
"I heard you bought a study guide," Winkler said at breakfast Friday morning.
"Two," Ashe held up two fingers. "Already started reading them. They have sample tests I can do online, too."
"You're scheduled to take it three days before school starts here," Winkler said. "I got it set up this morning. Flunk and it's Star Cove Combined for you."
"I won't flunk, Mr. Winkler."
"See that you don't. Let's go. I think you still have some files to go through."
"Yeah. I do." Ashe got up and followed Winkler and the others out of the house.
Ashe listened to the rumble of heavy construction equipment most of the day—a crew had come to pour the foundation after more electrical and water lines were laid. He watched for a few minutes after coming back from lunch. Buck was there, wearing a hard hat and supervising to make sure everything was done correctly.
Ashe handed the folders to Andy by the end of the day, pointing out two that had problems. Andy was quite happy with the results. "I think we'll have more for you on Monday," he said. "And Winkler wants to take everybody to Victoria's for dinner, including your mother. Be ready around seven; we'll pick you up."
"Will do." Ashe waved and walked out of the house. Buck waved, too, when Ashe walked past on his way home.
* * *
"The candidates for Principal will be here tomorrow afternoon," Winkler announced over a dinner of lobster, shrimp and pasta. The restaurant employees had already heard rumors that Winkler had purchased Victoria's and there was no lack of service at the table. Adele watched how they served the tables around them, since she'd be supervising the employees soon. "We'll put the applicants up with Marcus, Nathan and Jonas," Winkler added, accepting a drink from a solicitous waiter.
"That should make Sali happy," Ashe said. A guest meant Sali would be turned out of his bedroom, and Ashe wasn't sure he wanted to invite Sali for a visit while the candidate slept in Sali's room.
"We'll take the candidates out for a meal on Sunday," Trajan said. "Just to feel them out. It'll be a late dinner; we'll wait until Nathan is up for that one. Then the official interviews will take place on Monday night in Winkler's office."
"If we don't hire him, the shapeshifter has another interview in Missouri," Winkler said, dipping a chunk of lobster in warm butter before eating it. "Lissa used to tease me about eating two lobsters."
"So she really was rare," Ashe observed. He remembered Winkler telling him that female vampires were extremely rare.
"Only fifteen or sixteen like her," Winkler nodded. "And they married her off to Hancock's sire." Winkler didn't look happy about that. "He made her life miserable."
"An arranged marriage?" Adele asked. "I'm not surprised."
"Sold to the oldest and highest bidder, that's what I understand," Trajan grumbled. "Lissa saved my neck, once. I wish you could have seen that." He smiled at the memory. "Winkler was challenged outside the full moon, and the challenger wanted the Seconds to fight. Old Karl brought in a werewolf blademaster as his temporary Second, and I only fight with my hands." Trajan held up the hands in question—they were large and capable, but they'd never held a sword. "Lissa stepped in for me that night, and it was something to see," Trajan shook his head in amazement. "I wonder what happened to that video Hancock had? Thomas Williams was there as a witness, wearing a lapel camera Hancock provided."
"You know, I think you may have to tell me the whole story, sometime," Adele said. "You're making me curious."
"Any time," Trajan said.
"Lissa was the only vampire to be Pack," Trace explained when Ashe climbed out of Winkler's van later. "She saved the Grand Master's life, too."
"But if they married her off to an assassin, was she an assassin, too?"
"Ashe, walk with me a little way," Trace herded Ashe down the street while Adele stayed behind to talk with Winkler and Buck about the restaurant they were building.
"Lissa wasn't sanctioned by the Vampire Council when she was turned. Her sire didn't report it. That made her rogue. The Council sent Gavin Montegue after her. He hauled her in after watching her for a long time. She was working for Winkler, back then. The vamps almost killed
her outright. Ashe, she had Elemaiyan blood. A quarter, if I understand right. She could mist and mindspeak. Gavin kept her on a short, tight leash, and they sent her out after the worst of the worst. That terrorist, Rahim Alif? She took him down. Several others, too, that Hancock or his successor, Bill Jennings, took credit for. And she took down the ringleader of all the Dark Elemaiyan vampires. I don't know that entire story. Winkler knows more, but he doesn't talk about it much. Somebody convinced her to go after another batch of bad ones after that. She died, killing them. Winkler wouldn't talk to anyone for a month after she was killed. Her grave is in Oklahoma, but there's nobody in it."
"Because vampires turn to ash when they die."
"Yeah. Let's go back. It's dark and I figure your dad will be out and about soon."
"He already is; I hear him talking to Nathan," Ashe said.
* * *
"I got a good feel for the restaurant tonight," Adele told Ashe's father when they met him outside the house; they'd walked around to get home. "The lobster was really good, too."
"I'm glad you enjoyed it," Aedan slipped an arm around Adele's shoulders. "Walk with me for a little tonight, my love."
Ashe walked into the house, watching as his parents strolled down the street, their arms around one another.
* * *
"We got a hit on the kid's email," Matt Michaels was on the phone the moment Winkler walked inside his temporary home.
"Did you get anything?"
"Oh, we got something, all right. I forwarded it to you. I'll wait while you get into it and we'll talk."
"Trajan, Trace, take a walk," Winkler jerked his head at his Second and chief of bodyguards. Both of them hurried from the house. Winkler settled in with his laptop and pulled up a private email account. He opened the message Matt forwarded immediately.
Hello, I am Ashe's grandfather, the message began. This message is for you and not my grandson. Never fear, you will not trace this sending. The boy must be protected. The Bright Queen and Dark King are only now learning what he is, and his life may be forfeit if they can devise a way to take it. Guard him closely if you value your lives and your planet—R.
Winkler cursed, then slammed his fist on the desk in anger and frustration before cursing again.
Vendetta (Legend of the Ir'Indicti #4) Page 5
