by Lisa Daniels
Chapter Five – Ellie
Going to the police proved nerve-racking, at the least. The kind of nerve-racking that left her doubtful and wondering if she’d be accepted as a credible information source at all, despite her previous confidence. Worse, what if they didn’t want to use Mason at all? Then she’d be stuck with a stranger, and the one person in her life who actually cared for her beyond everything would be gone forever.
She thought she’d been prepared to lose Mason before. She never expected how much it actually hurt when facing him directly, knowing what they once had, believing it to be gone.
She didn’t want him to be gone. She waited with him now, her foot nervously tapping the ground, as the police-employed necromancer finished up another interview, and then she’d be ushered in to offer her information and have them directly judge her.
It’s my sister, Talia had said. She’ll be cool, as long as your info holds true. Try not to look too nervous—she does hate obvious signs of weakness.
Comforting… not.
“You know what you have is gold,” Mason rumbled, his stark green eyes watching her carefully. “Just be sure you’re prepared to do this. It doesn’t come easy, to betray someone who did raise you.”
Ellie let out a snort. “Are you serious right now? The people who raised me were my mother and you. Not my dad.”
Mason’s brow furrowed in confusion. “You were excited to do the same thing as your father. You wanted to be like him. Or am I imagining that?”
Ellie flushed in embarrassment of the memory. Yes, okay, she did admire her dad, once. What little kid didn’t want to please their parents?
Right before she found out that everything was a lie. Her stupid, soppy, worshipful feelings felt like little worms in her now, unpleasant and not a part she wanted to exhume or remember, because that belonged to a past Ellie, an ignorant one, who still had a complete family and a bodyguard that was cool and honestly a great person.
She wanted to lock away that ignorant Ellie and forget she ever existed. She was newer, wiser—an adult who should have broken away from the situation a long time ago. It took her father’s incident with Crimson to be the straw that broke the camel’s back. After that, she didn’t want anything more to do with his world.
Even if she had gotten thrills out of it for a while. Even if a part of her enjoyed the attention of people chanting her name, cheering for her victory or screaming for her demise.
Now, however, she wanted to join the legal side of the world. She wanted to start earning her money in a more respectable way.
The call came for her to walk in. The nervousness wriggled through her as if being possessed, and it took everything in her to remain calm on the outside as she entered the interview room, facing the famous Rosen Grieves herself, the most prominent necromancer in the police force today. With one other surprise: a red-headed woman next to the dark-haired Grieves observed her with bright, attentive eyes.
Ellie recognized her immediately. “You’re Crimson, aren’t you?”
The red-haired woman twitched her lips into a smile. “That I am. Nice to meet you… Eleganza.”
“How? How are you here? What—” It dawned on Ellie the moment she let the questions slip out of her mouth. “You were part of a sting operation, weren’t you?”
“Unfortunately,” Crimson said. “There were a lot of bodies going missing, and a lot of angry people. They summoned me all the way from Ireland to help do something about it.”
“Lucky you had that guardian angel to help you, right?”
“Lucky,” Crimson agreed. “She’s gone now. She made a new oath to me. So your real name is Ellie Lockhart. Mine is Morgana Hargraves.”
“Not sure if I’m pleased to meet you,” Ellie replied, though she reached out her hand to shake Morgana’s all the same.
“Rosen Grieves,” said the stern-faced, dark-haired woman who looked as though she could murder with a look. Ellie gripped her hand and found Rosen squeezing the life out of it. She hid the sign of pain as best as able, until Rosen let go with a hawkish smile on her mouth.
“Morgana is here because she has interacted with you before. She offered to come back to America when we asked, because you would need a fellow necromancer to help you get integrated within the service if this does work out, and I’m busy, mostly,” Rosen said. “I’ll still find some time to work with you, of course.”
Morgana gave Ellie a long, hard look. “Are you planning to tell on your father?” It annoyed Ellie, the amount of concern she could hear in Morgana’s voice, as if she understood. Worse, she probably did. She’d spoken directly to Ellie and Regal when disguised as Crimson. She knew something of their interactions together. Ellie had only intended to help Morgana out so that her guardian spirit didn’t get stolen. Perhaps that spirit meant something special to Morgana. Perhaps Regal was planning to kill her. Either way, Ellie helped…
And fed information to the police as a result. Because this bitch was with them the whole time.
“I wouldn’t have made it all the way here if I wasn’t prepared to do what I must,” she responded curtly. She noted how the bodyguard that was with Morgana happened to be a different one from the bulky male she’d seen before. Namely, being female and having faint suggestions of bear blood in her. “What happened to the guy that you were with last time?”
“He’s busy on another task,” Morgana said. “But we keep in contact.” Something in her tone suggested that it was more than just contact, but Ellie wisely kept her opinion to herself.
Prompted by Rosen, she began to divulge all the information she could think of. She started with her father’s experiments on two guardian spirits he’d managed to procure, in conjunction with his super boss, Zaimov. No last name provided, though by the looks of it, Rosen had heard of Zaimov as well. Her confession tumbled along about the various deadrings set over the country, and some of the names of the necromancers involved in the sports, though she only knew their stage names. Everyone kept themselves secret. Probably for the reason of what Ellie was doing now.
“Okay, this is enough to get you under witness protection,” Rosen said, when Ellie finished. “I bet my sister will be delighted. We’ll have to keep an eye on you, as I’m sure you’ll understand. As long as you do what you say you’re going to do, everything will be workable.”
“Can you guys hire Mason to be my bodyguard? If you’re planning to get one to protect me,” Ellie said casually, though her heart was in her mouth. Now that she thought about it, there was a high chance they’d say no, right? Since he was a direct link to Regal. “If he goes back home without me, he’ll be fired. Or worse.” She wasn’t sure if Regal knew about Mason’s family. She’d never said anything, and she couldn’t remember Mason saying anything, either.
“Hmm.” Rosen now examined Mason, taking in his slight build. “You have the qualifications?”
“I do.” Mason drew himself up straighter, more proudly. “I can forward my CV and ID number.”
“Do so. What kind of protector are you? Your eyes are an abnormal green.”
“Dragon. Low-caste,” he added, when Rosen’s eyes popped in amazement.
“Ah. So you wouldn’t be that expensive. Is a low-caste worth it?”
“Absolutely,” Ellie said fiercely. “He’s really good. And he’s only on a wage of twenty-four thousand a year. You can afford that, right?”
Rosen smirked. “Don’t get too excited. It’s not a promise we’re giving.”
“I won’t accept anything else,” Ellie said, grabbing for Mason’s hand and holding it tightly. About a second or so later, she regretted the move, but to save face, she hung on gamely to Mason, beaming brightly and sharply to ward off any potential questions. Mason’s hand was strong and warm in hers, and she’d held it plenty of times before. This time wasn’t any different, right?
At least the approval didn’t take too long for the police to accept Mason after all that.
With Mason’s online docum
ents, and his ID verified, the police saw no reason to dismiss him. Within a week of Ellie selling her soul to the police precinct, it was official. Mason had become her bodyguard, and proudly so.
The sense of relief that offered was amazing.
“I can’t believe you were seriously considering dumping me forever,” Mason said. “Very rude of you.”
“I would have paid for you if I could,” Ellie said, smiling fondly at her protector. “You think I want to leave behind the person who gives me piggybacks and buys take-out treats just so I can experience them?”
“Oh, I see,” Mason said lightly in response to that. “You just want to have a servant around, correct?”
“You’re not just a servant! You’re important!” She fell silent, though, a slight trace of guilt within her. She was prepared to leave him behind. Even with all their background. Just as she was prepared to leave her father. A part of her thought they should still separate, because she needed to cut every last tie of her life back then away. How else could she start completely afresh? How else would she avoid the temptation of her former life?
But the moment she realized she didn’t have to lose Mason, she’d leaped on it instantly. Because in spite of everything, she wasn’t quite as mentally prepared as she thought.
“The new wages will be better for your family now, Mason?” she asked, idly stretching out on one of the newly set up deck chairs in the garden. Mason stood a little awkwardly beside her, the shadows of the huge, pink umbrella shade casting peach light contours around him. His green eyes were darker, less luminescent, his nutmeg-colored hair pinkish at the tips.
“They will be. I’m just… I’m hoping this won’t bring down the wrath of Regal on them.”
“He doesn’t know, right? You never said?”
“Does that matter? It’ll be obvious I have some kind of family—everyone does. No, I didn’t mention them, and he has no awareness of where they might live if I had ever let something slip.”
“Just don’t tell him you’re with me. Just act like you couldn’t find me. I left the country, I lied to you. He doesn’t think you have an independent mind, after all.” It stung a little to say that, but her father did think of Mason as a faithful meat-puppet that followed Ellie around as per his instructions. Mason’s mouth thinned into an annoyed line. “I don’t think my father will hurt you.”
Not unless he really, really wanted me back. Rosen didn’t think that Ellie returning to Regal as a double-agent would be smart. She had a strong suspicion that Zaimov would arrange for a way to make Ellie and Mason disappear. He might even have some awareness of where Ellie went, or suspected she might have been a liability to defect for some time.
Ellie wasn’t entirely sure, but there was something about Zaimov that suggested maybe he could see all your secrets, including the ones you didn’t want to admit to anyone.
Like she’d be more sad in her life if Mason were to die, rather than her father.
“I want this job. Rosen’s shown me the contract; I get almost double what I was being paid before. I ain’t complaining.” He grinned, though the grin died almost instantly. “Though it does mean my time with you will be limited, once you settle. Because I may need to defend other targets in the future. We won’t be together like we were anymore.”
“Better than not seeing you at all,” Ellie replied, meaning it. “So I consider all of this worth it.”
Mason finally mustered the willpower to sit down, rather than stand and hover awkwardly. He rapped his fingers on the white, plastic table, ignoring the orange juice planted there for him. At that point, Talia passed, intending to head toward the pet cemetery to visit her favorite cat, Willow. Visiting meant something entirely different to a necromancer, of course. She stopped to look at them, a rather mischievous smirk upon her features. “Good news from my sister, right? You get to spend a lot more time in Mason’s presence. D’you know, I remember you talking about Mason when we were messaging and voice chatting together. How he’s the best, most wonderful bodyguard you could ever hope for...”
Ellie blushed red like a beetroot and violently motioned for Talia to shut up. Meanwhile, Mason just looked more and more amused.
“I don’t say any of this to him! Come on, Talia, that was private.”
“You two don’t seem all that private to me,” Talia responded, grinning. “When’s the wedding?”
At this, Ellie’s indignation expanded inside until it threatened to explode. “I’m going to murder you!” She dove after Talia, who sped away, cackling like a witch. Talia wasn’t quite as fast as Ellie, so they ended up in an ungainly heap upon the ground, acting less like adults and more like little kids. A brief surge of anger made Ellie contemplate just what it might be like to face off against Talia in a deadring, before she clamped down on that and let her friend get away with the teasing. The world of deadrings didn’t suit Talia at all. But maybe Talia was just a nice person, with a good upbringing, with no one pushing her into illegal activities.
When Ellie returned to the table, Mason’s drink was fully drained and his arms were folded as he regarded her in amusement. “You’ve not changed much, I see,” he said, now luxuriously stretching himself out, putting tension upon his muscles. “Still eager to wrestle people into the mud.”
“Excuse me, but did you hear what she was saying?” She turned to Mason, still puffed up indignantly. “We’re just friends, hanging out, doing friend things.”
“Of course we are,” said Mason. “Though we are definitely what you might call ‘friends with benefits’.” Just when Ellie thought she would explode with shock and embarrassment, Mason added, “Because I’m also your bodyguard, of course.”
“Oh. Yeah. Right,” she said, patting at her face as if it might cool down the heat in her cheeks. Only time did that.
“I couldn’t resist. You’re far too easy to wind up.”
“I hate you both,” Ellie mumbled, though she was able to see the funny side of it a moment later. She didn’t know why it bothered her. Talia knew that there was nothing between her and Mason. How could there be? He was just her bodyguard. A friend, too… but nothing more than that. She squirmed a little on the spot.
He’s just my bodyguard. One she was happy to have, happy to see by her side. She and Mason continued to engage in conversation, with Talia adding her own opinions when she passed back, though Ellie was unable to completely shake off the words from earlier. On the outside, though, she acted perfectly normal. Because things would be normal, even if circumstances were different. Mason was no longer under the control of her father. Neither was she. No longer did she need to go into deadrings and quietly stash money on the side—money that her father would never touch. It’d seemed so little at first, but it had piled up over the years.
Again Talia’s words came to mind, and again Ellie felt a burst of anger. Mason wasn’t—she couldn’t—it was stupid. That was all. Sure, Mason wasn’t exactly bad-looking. Ellie had definitely noticed that, growing up. Stoic, dark-haired figures with ethereal green eyes did tend to stick out, even without the shapeshifting behind it all. Sure, a part of her was surprised when Mason admitted that one time that he didn’t have room for relationships in his life beyond his job. Too many people depended on him, and a relationship required work as well, and he wanted to do it right. She’d been sad that Mason never got a chance to experience life the way he should have.
I’ll get him a girlfriend, Ellie decided. He shouldn’t have to avoid life anymore. He should have all the opportunities that were denied to him. Happy with her plan, the uneasy knot in her stomach lessened. Yes, this would work out just fine.
After all, there was no way she could be attracted to Mason. He was her bodyguard. She’d known him for years. He turned into a dragon, for Christ’s sake. She piled up reason after reason, until secure in her own mind again.
Chapter Six – Mason
Strange, to finally sign a new contract. One that offered so much more money, that he didn’t
know what to do with it. According to the precinct, they were still paying him less than what a bodyguard should have earned, but he was hardly in a position to complain. In the wake of that contract, life went on, without being under Regal, though his shadow reached over, still. Since Mason was sitting on that phone call.
He needed to do it, and Rosen had recommended a clean break, since she didn’t think it a good idea for them to be double-agents. Best to cut things off while they were out of his grasp. He found himself delaying that phone call, though, because he didn’t want to experience the fallout just yet. Regal made no attempts to contact him, however, and Mason wasn’t sure if that was a good sign either. Perhaps something had happened. Or perhaps he just didn’t care about his daughter vanishing as much as he claimed.
When he told his family the news about his raised paycheck, they reacted with delight. He felt a little sour that his brother and mother had reacted with a sort of now you can buy us better stuff, because it made him feel like a piggy bank, but his youngest sister was immensely grateful. She kept offering to pay him back for everything he’d done, but he refused each time. Her love was payment enough. Her gratefulness, too.
I did foist this kind of situation on them, he thought sadly. I took all the bills upon myself, and my mother didn’t try as hard to look for a job as she could have done. But at least she wasn’t snorting it all down the drain like before, and was trying to clean herself up for her children. His dead father had left a huge hole in what should have been a stable, if low-class, working family. He was lucky enough to get his security job by bluffing, and then taking lessons on the side to train properly for it until he was fully fledged in the role.
A small pang of guilt went through him for having lied to get his job, and for potentially risking Ellie’s life until he became good enough at his job to look for security risks and protect her.
Her entire life was a security risk, in all honesty.
