Smoke Dance

by Samantha Cayto

  Another door with another keypad lock and she was in the room filled with weapons. Here she dared to turn on the light.

  “Whoa!” This from Merlin, who stopped dead in his tracks and looked around with obvious awe.

  “Pay attention,” she admonished. “You are here for a purpose and that doesn’t include gawking at this…stuff.” She didn’t like things that killed, although she understood the need for them.

  Merlin’s expression turned mulish, but as always, he obeyed.

  Although the dog briefly voiced her unhappiness, Annika nevertheless tied her leash to the leg of a table by the entrance. She needed to be the Queen, not a little girl with a pet. Plus, while she was willing to risk being hurt herself, she wasn’t going to put her precious Babette in harm’s way.

  She strode across the room to the last barrier to her goal, Merlin still sticking to her heels, then paused and took a deep, cleansing breath. If she was supposed to be free of fear of her subjects, she was failing. There wasn’t enough of the emotion to stop her, but it did give her a moment’s pause before she opened the last door.

  Her subject was on his feet before she became fully visible, his gaze flicking only briefly past her—to take in Merlin, no doubt. The bright light in his cell emphasized its starkness, as well as the nakedness of the man. He held a book in front of him, shielding her view of his most private parts, not that she cared. She wasn’t a human child, after all, although it was a touch of almost gallantry that would be appreciated on this planet. So she chose to ignore it and focus on what mattered.

  Except, Mr. Petru, as she knew he was called, lunged as near to her as he could get and dropped to his knees in the next second. “My Queen,” he said and bowed his head. His fingers remained clenched around the book and its position didn’t waver. The metal collar around his neck dug in with the way he pulled to the farthest limit of the chain that kept him from getting any closer.

  Annika opened her mouth to tell him to get up then thought better of it. His devotion to her station, if not her personally, was a critical test of what she could accomplish.

  “Look at me,” she commanded instead, and she did so in the tongue of his world.

  When his gaze met hers, she relaxed a hair. She could see his feelings laid bare. If his submission to her was an act, she couldn’t detect it. It seemed unlikely, given how good she was getting at knowing the hearts of her subjects. The man waited for her to speak again. Now that she was here, her carefully thought-out script flew from her head. This man needed bluntness, not graciousness.

  “I am here to inform you of your role in my hive.” She channeled Elsa in her tone, although it was hard, given the chasm of differences in Earth languages and that of her alien father. She was delighted when Petru bowed his head.

  “I serve you, my Queen, however you decree.”

  “Very prettily said, but words don’t mean much on this world. You’ve been here a long time indeed. How do I know you can be trusted to follow the dictates of our people?” She’d almost said ‘your people’ and caught herself just in time. It could be hard having this duality in her identity.

  Petru rattled his chain. “Words are all I have to give you, my Queen. Set me free and I will prove my loyalty.”

  Annika trilled out a laugh. “I don’t think so.” She deliberately took a step closer to show she wasn’t afraid. Of course, with Merlin practically plastered against her back, it was easier. That was the reason she’d brought him. His presence helped, although she doubted he could best Petru, so fear did skitter up her spine. But demonstrations of fearlessness and confidence were helpful. “The time for your release will come, of course. Not by my hand. You are under the domain of the captain, for so long as I permit it. When you are let off your leash, he and his men will ensure that you don’t betray them. However, I require that you do just that when the time comes.”

  Petru shook his head, a human gesture, she believed, and one that she used herself without much thought. How long, she wondered, had it taken her men to adapt to Earth’s ways? How long would it take humans to adapt to theirs, once she demanded it?

  “I do not understand, my Queen.”

  “You don’t have to. However, I will explain this much to you, although it should be obvious to you all. I am Queen. I have only one biological imperative, despite the human DNA within me—to form and grow a hive. Living in secret from the humans was the right decision at the time that the captain made it. The situation has changed.”

  In the pause that followed, Petru’s face lit up and his eyes turned shiny. “You are going to subjugate the humans, succeed where Dracul failed over and over again.” He laughed. “Oh, my Queen, that is too delicious.”

  Annika turned her expression flinty. “Do not get ahead of yourself,” she snapped, satisfied when he instantly sobered.

  “Of course not. My apologies,” he said with a bow of his head.

  “Dracul made that mistake. This isn’t his planet to dominate, and you have no real notion of what it means to rule a hive. The humans will live far better lives under my beneficence than they have ever known. There will be no subjugation, only gentle herding in the right direction.”

  “I understand, my Queen. I have been under the influence of that madman for too long. I have promised Alex that I will go quietly away after we defeat Dracul once and for all. Naturally, I will break that, if you wish.”

  “I insist that all of my men fall into their ordained roles. That includes you and Alex. There will be no hiding away among the humans. I don’t know how matters will play out, so I am warning you now that, at the right moment, I will call upon you to do as I say.”

  She did take another step closer, almost putting herself within his reach. “From this moment forward, you are my creature and no one else’s. Do you understand?”

  He stared at her again and his fervor was back in his eyes. “Yes, my Queen. I am yours, only yours. I merely ask for you to grant me the boon of having my boy back.”

  “A human, yes?” She nodded. “If he wishes it. There will be no more forcing humans to do anything, except those that I dictate,” she added, although whether that was to reiterate that to Petru or herself was hard to say. This power didn’t sit as easily with her as she would have liked.

  Stepping away, she shepherded Merlin farther into the larger room, and taking the door in hand, she added, “You will say nothing of this visit to anyone.”

  Petru placed a finger to his lips and nodded as she shut him into his bright prison.

  Merlin moved in concert with her as she headed back to Babette. “I will keep quiet about this, as well,” he said.

  “Naturally.” She dismissed him with a flip of her hair, a move she’d gotten from Elsa. “Don’t touch anything!” she said when he ran his hand over a shiny gun.

  “I know how to use it,” he replied with his usual petulance. “When it comes time for you to take over this planet, you’ll need warriors who can fight for you.”

  As she reached to untie Babette, she narrowed her eyes at him. “It won’t be like that.”

  “No?”

  “Certainly not. Besides, I have warriors already.”

  Merlin raised his chin. “Then why did you have me come here with you instead of one of them?”

  Annika hugged Babette close to her and peppered her with kisses before answering. “I don’t have to explain myself to you. However, as you undoubtedly know, I must ease my warriors into the new way of doing things. Plus, you were bored.”

  “I don’t like being a prisoner any more than Petru does.”

  “Stop being difficult and you won’t be. And be nicer to your poor father.” She led the way out of the room.

  Merlin snorted as he closed the door behind them. “He’s…”

  “Your father,” she repeated. “He deserves respect and appreciation for all he’s done for you.”

  They quickly climbed the stairs. “If you say so.”

  She shot him a glare before openin
g the door back into the club. “I most certainly do.”

  Her luck didn’t hold out on the way back to her room. She and Merlin met Dr. Ric in the living room as they both entered the building. They stared at each other in surprise for a few seconds. Before she could explain her late-night wanderings, the human asked, “Annika, what are you doing up? Dafydd texted me that he had put you to bed almost an hour ago.”

  She held up Babette’s leash. “My doggie needed to pee,” she replied, deliberately using childish language to reinforce in the man’s mind that she was young. Humans underestimated the minds of their offspring, and she was far more advanced than her physical form indicated. “I didn’t want to disturb Mr. Dafydd, and Merlin was awake and happy to accompany me.”

  The doctor furrowed his brow, glanced suspiciously at the boy. “Oh, I don’t think anyone expected that.” He looked in the direction she’d approached from and his frown deepened. “Going outside at this time of night isn’t a good idea, even with Merlin. He’s not entirely safe, either, at his age.”

  Except, of course, he hadn’t found her in the alley or out on the sidewalk. She’d come from the tunnel that led to the club. That wasn’t a place to walk a dog. She changed tactics in an instant.

  “I’m very sorry, Dr. Ric. I just lied to you.”

  “No kidding. Did you two sneak into the club to watch the dancing? I know you’ve wanted to.”

  “Yes.” She latched onto his explanation, which was essentially what she’d intended to claim. The fact that he’d thought of it on his own proved it was a good excuse.

  “I wanted to see it, too,” Merlin interjected, then shrugged when Dr. Ric looked at him. “I’m bored being trapped here.”

  The truth woven into the lie was an excellent touch. She would have to reinforce her approval later with the boy. She lowered her gaze. “I know it was naughty of us. My father leaves for one night to do important work and I take advantage of his absence.”

  “You know that Dafydd took his responsibility to watch you very seriously?” The human’s tone was stern. Of course it was. He was worried about his man’s state of mind more than Annika getting into mischief. “And Alun doesn’t need the extra worry, either,” he added to Merlin.

  Given the importance of her activities for the hive, she could not feel guilty over what she had done. But she didn’t want to hurt these nice humans more than necessary. “I know,” she replied contritely. “He was very kind to me, too, reading a bedtime story to both Idris and me. Paddington Bear. I do love the classics, and Baby Idris seemed to like looking at the pictures.”

  That mention of father and child served to distract the doctor. He smiled. “Dafydd’s relationship with his son has improved greatly. I think the baby simply loves the sound of his father’s voice. He could probably read sports results and it would be fine.

  “None of which explains away your sneaking out,” he continued, the sternness returning. “I understand that among your kind, you are special. You’re still a child, as far as I know, and my concern is for Dafydd, first and foremost. This thing with Bran is hard on him. He doesn’t say much…”

  “You’re worried about him.” Annika was happy to keep steering the discussion back to Mr. Dafydd. “I am, too. I promise I won’t do this again. It was a whim, and now I know that I don’t like what goes on in that club.”

  “I did,” Merlin said with a smirk.

  “Not helpful, Merlin,” Annika chastised.

  “Neither of you should, at your ages,” Dr. Ric scolded.

  “Very true,” Annika agreed. “I guess I’m a little unsettled. My father has rarely been away all night before and never since we arrived in Boston.”

  The human’s expression morphed into compassion and understanding. His sincerity radiated off him. ”Oh, of course. I understand. Let me take you back to your room and we’ll say nothing more about it. I’ll see you to yours, as well, Merlin.”

  “I don’t need babysitting.”

  “Nevertheless.” Dr. Ric held out his hand to Annika as he smiled.

  She took it and returned the look. Now the guilt was setting in. Being duplicitous, playing on the human’s emotions, didn’t make her happy. She needed to get used to it, however. Being the Queen was going to be a lonely place for the rest of her life, one in which she did things that she didn’t like and with no one to confess to.

  * * * *

  Will was in his element—slipping from shadow to shadow, silently and invisibly making his way to the compound. The waiting was over. This night, he could see for himself that Damien was okay. There had been a brief sighting of the boy earlier in the day when all of the campers had headed down to the small lake situated on the property. They’d stripped to their skin for a quick dip in the cool water. Yup, having a whole gaggle of gay young men skinny-dipping was somehow supposed to be therapeutic. Frankly, Will was inclined to believe that whoever set the curriculum was merely trying to satisfy his own prurient interests under the guise of ‘help’.

  And who was that again? Oh yeah, the closeted politician whose own peccadillos had him sucking off randos in Boston clubs. Was the guy trying to sink his career? Probably. With self-loathing came self-destructive behavior. In any event, Will had been grateful for the peek at his lover, to know for sure that he was not locked up being bombarded with a water cannon or some other sadistic shit. He’d still sweated his way through the hours that followed until their time to meet. The text that Damien had sent giving him a thumbs-up thirty minutes before had helped a lot. The relief had left him almost dizzy.

  At the moment, however, he was concentrating on the mission. Val’s surveillance told him exactly where the security cameras were and what was their range. He had no trouble avoiding their line of sight and was able to get right up to the fence where they thought a blind spot was. Crouching behind a large bush, he opened his hearing to detect anyone nearby, nevertheless. It didn’t appear that the camp actually posted guards, but one couldn’t be too careful. It was already crazy that they enclosed what was supposed to be a voluntary experience as if it were a prison. The idea of a patrol in addition to the high wire fence wasn’t completely far-fetched.

  These people had the fervor of absolute certainty that they were right. He’d seen that in humans before, and they could do anything to justify their goals. That included keeping others confined against their will, if necessary. Fear for Damien swamped him for a moment. What if they’d found out that he was a mole? What might they do to him if they had?

  Except he was getting himself into a lather based on nothing. Damien was smart and he hadn’t been in the camp for more than a couple of days. He knew his job—to keep his ears open without going anywhere or doing anything he wasn’t supposed to and try to figure out where the asshat’s campaign kept their records. There was no reason to worry about his getting into trouble, not unless Damien had taken unnecessary risks, despite his clear order to the contrary. And now he’d just ratcheted up his worry again.

  Just fucking move, moron.

  Standing, he ran toward the fence, leaped over it and landed on the other side in another crouch—the right side, the one with Damien on it. How quickly his life had changed, where he wanted to be wherever his lover was. For years, it had been all about Annika, but he’d spent an entire night and most of the day away from her. Nothing bad had happened. He’d found her at dawn, tucked into her bed with Babette. Neither of them had stirred when he’d peeked in. She’d been her usual perky self at breakfast and hadn’t batted an eye when he’d told her he was returning to the camp and wouldn’t see her for the rest of the day.

  ‘Please do not worry about me, Father Damien. I will spend the day with Mackie once Mr. Val decides he’s fit to come down. And Mr. Dafydd and Dr. Ric will take excellent care of me.’

  The two men in question had been there, feeding Idris, although without Damien to pamper them, breakfast had been bagels and cereal. Something, a look, had passed between Annika and the doctor in particular. Will
hadn’t been able to figure it out, but nothing seemed out of place, so he chose to accept the truth that his daughter was fine with his being gone so much. At the moment, it was Damien who needed him more.

  With that thought in mind, he sprinted toward the rendezvous point. Nothing stirred, nothing shone. The security for this place really was for shit. Then again, as far as the assholes who ran this place were concerned, there was nothing but a bunch of confused queer men here and everyone knew they wouldn’t have the guts to do a runner. Yeah, right. In their insular world, gay men were never cops or soldiers or just plain ballsy like Damien was. He was ten times the man that Congressman Asshat was, if for no other reason than he’d had the courage to come out to his family and find a way to survive when they’d kicked him to the curb. How many other kids in this place had been treated the same and had come to this place out of desperation to be welcomed back?

  The idea that humans could treat their young in such a cruel manner infuriated him. It made him want to track down Damien’s family and rip their throats out. There was nothing that could justify turning your back on your child. Even if they did something you couldn’t forgive, you had to at least love them and do your best for them. The love he’d felt the moment when Luuk had placed Annika in his arms had been alarming in its ferocity and continued to be so. He would do anything for her, to keep her safe or help her with her troubles. Even if she came to him and said ‘Screw this whole Queen thing. I just want to be like a human girl’, he would fight Alex and all of the others if necessary to give her what she wanted.

  These thoughts and emotions weren’t going to get the job done, however. Amateurs they might be, but he couldn’t afford to get complacent. Instead, he raced to his destination and slid behind the old potting shed where Damien knew to meet him. This spot had no security cameras and there were enough bushes in the back to give them more cover if anyone came wandering around. Although he’d surveilled the place himself the previous night and had spotted no guards patrolling, one never knew what might have changed since then.