Tales Of The Sazi 02 - Moon's Web (31 page)

I picked up the nearest radio and punched the call button. "Tony to Bobby." I watched him raise his hand to stop Asri's next comment. She crossed her arms and started to storm off. He grabbed her arm to stop her and then took a deep breath. A crackle and a cheep came over my set. "Go ahead."

I decided to let him hang himself. "How's the perimeter?"

Yurgi shook his head and pointed to the image again. I nodded and waved him off.

"Perimeter looks good. No action."

Uh-huh.

"Bullshit. Bobby! I've been watching your little spat. Wave to the pretty camera!" Bobby and Asri both got panicked looks and turned in a circle. I obliged by moving the camera from side to side with the joystick until they saw it. I watched him swear, and this time Asri did step out of view.

"Get your ass back to work, Mbutu! We had a contact on Camera Seven, in the alley. Yurgi said it was just a shadow, but it was moving fast."

I saw him move his head in frustration and put the radio in front of his mouth. "I've got to settle this, Tony! I need more time. Can't someone else look for the bogie?"

I shook my head and flicked the button again. "You've got your priorities whacked, Bobbo! You and your girlfriend have got nine months to settle that problem, but we've got a house full of delegates now!" Yurgi opened his mouth and a shock of surprised scent gripped my nose. I guess I shouldn't have mentioned the nine months part. Oops.

"Seven months, but that's not the point. C'mon, Tony! Just ten minutes. Then I swear I'll take care of it. Please!"

I remembered trying to concentrate on anything else when I first mated to Sue. I sighed. "Five minutes, Bobbo. Then I send Lucas to get you."

He didn't reply, but wore a startled look. He stuffed the radio back in his pocket and sprinted out of camera range. Great! Raven and Ivan were busy keeping the delegates from slaughtering each other, and Lucas was meeting with Charles. That left me to go searching. I stuffed the radio in my pocket and turned on a second one for Yurgi. I pulled my Taurus from the holster and checked the chamber. I turned to Yurgi as I was sliding it back into the leather and walking out the door.

"If I don't contact you in five minutes, send Lucas to get Bobby and get Raven or Ivan outside to pick up my corpse."

Yurgi took a surprised breath and stood up. "I go with you!"

I took a step back and put a firm hand on his shoulder to press him down. I was again thankful that nothing happened. "No, Yurgi. I need you here to watch the screens. Call me on the radio if you see anything on the cameras— and be precise. If you see something show up, give me a play by play." When he looked confused, I amended. "Like the television football, when the voice tells you what's happening." His face showed his understanding. "Ah! I see! Yes, I will do this for you, Tony!" I started to walk away, then he stopped me. "Oh! And I forget! I will miss the football game, with the tickets. Nikoli is pleased with Yurgi for being brave. He buys for me and Pamela a house! We must go to sign papers night of game." Nikoli was buying them a house for taking a paint ball? Then again, Yurgi hadn't known it was a drill. He'd been ready to take a bullet for his Alpha. It made me think better of Nikoli. "Cool! No problem on the game. It'll be on TV, unless they black it out."

"But I choose to remain Omega, Tony. Pamela, she is angry with me, but I am happy in position. Is it wrong to be— what is word— uh, content?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "I wouldn't think so. It's your life in the pack, not her's. You don't always have to make your choices to please other people. But I've got to get outside, Yurgi." I stepped out, shut the door, and shook my head. Bobby and Asri, Yurgi and Pamela. How do I keep turning into the therapist of the group?

I walked toward the entrance wincing at the noise from the banquet room. The shrieks, hisses and snarls made the place sound like a zoo. As I started to open the door, I noted that the kids shoveled the walk. Or so I thought. A blast of warm air greeted me as I stepped into the night. I've heard of chinook winds in winter, but this was ridiculous! It must be seventy degrees outside! The sky was clear and stars twinkled and the sound of running water greeted my ears. A glance down showed why. The melted snow was running down the gutter to exit into street drains. A slim, compact woman walked toward me. I recognized her.

"Hi, Amber! I see you made it in time for the meeting."

The woman smiled and I suddenly realized it wasn't Amber. Her hair was a shade lighter, and freckles were scattered across her tanned nose. Her scent was sort of like candle wax with red hot candies, and her voice was a bit more musical when she spoke, "A pleasure to see you again, Tony." She furrowed her brow lightly and cocked her head. "Oh, but this is the first time, isn't it? In that case, a pleasure to meet you."

"And you are… "

"Aspen Monier. I'm Amber's twin sister."

Okay, now I was confused. This is the woman who has everyone terrified? She seems a little flaky, but not particularly dangerous.

Another woman suddenly appeared. And I mean suddenly— she wasn't there, and then she was. I recognized her too, but from a dream. It was the old woman from the vision in Lucas's head. She looked just the same, but now I caught the scent of sweet yucca flowers. I must have started, because she spoke.

"Yes, that's right. You've already seen me. I'm Nana, the seer for the Boulder pack. I've seen you, too. A dozen times, in a thousand scenarios where you should die, but don't. So refreshing, your ingenuity." She turned to Aspen. "And so wonderful to see you again, my dear. I waited to come until you cleared the weather. Thank you. These old bones, you know… "

Aspen smiled brightly. "Always happy to oblige, Nana. I've never liked the cold. It's why I live in the desert. I thought I would bring a little warmth with me this time, but you knew that." Nana nodded and I could only shake my head at the bizarre conversation. This one could actually control the weather, not just affect it? And the other one expected it and waited until it happened? This was just so weird.

Another flash of despair gripped me briefly and I shuddered. Both women glanced at me.

"Ah! That's right!" exclaimed Aspen, and a burst of citrus filled the warm air. "I remember now why I came tonight! My sister is a wonderful healer, but quite heavy-handed." Nana nodded, and Aspen touched my forehead before I could react.

The blackness in my head disappeared, and warm sunlight replaced it. See? Isn't that better? I heard the voice, but couldn't place it. Then I saw Aspen step into the bright light. You only need control, young wolf. Mating should be a joyous exchange of lives, not bogged down in darkness. An object appeared at her feet and she picked it up and turned it in her hands so I could see it. It was a square block of glass. She put it down and another appeared. She stacked it on top of the first. More glass bricks appeared and she stacked them with blinding speed until they created a wall. The sunlight through the glass sent swirls of rainbows across my mind. With a swish of her hand, an old-fashioned screen door appeared in the wall of glass. A warm breeze flowed across me so that I shivered. But the warmth carried the scent of the summer forest, with ripe fruit and rich earth. I heard a heartbeat and quiet female conversation that didn't overwhelm me or suck me inside.

Sue ? The word echoed in my head and I felt her react. I could see her in a restaurant with Pamela. I walked to the screen door and could see the inside of a bistro, along with the waiter bringing plates to the table where Sue sat. When I stepped back, the scene disappeared. Just that easy. Aspen smiled in my mind. You see how simple it is when someone shows you how? You may open the screen when you love, and close it to be within yourself. Or, put on storm windows during a crisis. There are always options in our world, Tony. Then she disappeared.

I came to myself, standing in front of Nana and Aspen.

My head was still filled with rainbows and sunlight and I felt like myself for the first time in days. "Uh, thank you, I guess. I'm not sure what you did, though."

Aspen shrugged. "You already knew how to shield, this was just a… refinement. We'll need to meet more, of course, to train your other gift. You are so lucky to only have hindsight." Nana nodded. "And we'll meet, as well, so you can learn the benefits of second sight. It's not just seeing colors, you know. Although I hear they're quite pretty."

Lucas came out of the hotel just then, giving me a reprieve on responding. I didn't know quite what to say to these women.

"Nana! I'm glad you made it just when we're ready for you."

She laughed brightly. "Why would I show up before you were ready?" Lucas chuckled and then smiled warmly. He embraced the old woman. Then he did the same to Aspen. "I haven't seen you in centuries. Your siblings are looking forward to seeing you." Even I could smell the black pepper from that statement. Aspen laughed lightly. "I highly doubt that, Lucas. It's not yet the time for forgiveness from my brother, or my sisters."

Nana looked at her with interest, and the thick antifreeze of curiosity rose from her. "Odd you should mention that. I notice you haven't asked me the date or time since I arrived."

A bright smile lit Aspen's face. "That's right!" She grabbed Nana's arm in delight. "I'm only in Chicago once, in my whole life! I know exactly when I am! And," she said confidentially, leaning close to the old Sazi woman,

"I meet him today! I remember he was so handsome at this age!"

I was getting a little lost in the flurry of speech tenses, and I could tell that Lucas was, too. But Nana returned the bright smile, showing yellowed, but straight teeth. "Well, that is a cause for celebration, isn't it? Let's go inside and see if Lelya has some champagne!"

Aspen snorted. "Well, of course she does! Unfortunately, we won't get to drink it, will we?" Nana sighed. "No, I'm afraid not. But we should try. Maybe things will be different this time." They both laughed at a private joke, and walked arm and arm into the hotel. Lucas shook his head in frustration as we trailed slightly behind.

"Did you catch any of that?" I asked quietly.

Lucas shook his head. "I never do. Seers drive me insane! I wish they would talk about things in one tense. The back and forth makes me nuts."

I'd almost forgotten why I was out here, with the ladies arriving. I caught motion from my right side, and turned to see Bobby walking toward us. He glanced at me angrily, apparently deciding that I had told Lucas. He waited with a set jaw in front of the older wolf, who looked at him curiously.

"Is there something wrong, Agent?" Lucas asked after a second. Bobby's startled look said it all. He looked at me again and I shook my head lightly. I hadn't ratted him out.

He recovered a bit. "Uh, no, sir. Nothing's wrong." Then he moved his eyebrows slightly. "Unless you want to count inviting the entire Monier clan to a reunion. Lucas, we don't have enough agents here— hell, we don't have enough agents in the world— for that sort of fallout! We're standing at ground zero of a disaster."

"I didn't invite them, Bobby. Charles did. But we'll have to make do. If he says he can handle it, I have to believe him. I don't like it any more than you do. We've got one agent down already, so I'll be patrolling the roof myself. I've already informed Charles of the change."

Bobby looked absolutely terrified, and I knew he wasn't faking. His scent was strong ammonia that even his cologne couldn't block. "But I'm just one little snake, Lucas— the last of my kind. Isn't this considered genocide?"

Lucas looked askance at him and his voice was thick with sarcasm. "You're hardly little."

"And apparently not the last of your kind any more, either." The words slipped out of my mouth before I could stop them. I absolutely knew better, and normally have better control. Damn it!

Lucas closed his dropped jaw, but didn't get a chance to say anything. Bobby didn't seem to mind at all. All of us turned to the sharp sound of breaking glass and hissing from inside the hotel. "Great!" he snarled.

"That's all we need right now!"

A scream followed, but wasn't from inside the hotel. I turned toward the garage and started to move. A shadow… well, sort of scuttled, down the street at blinding speed. I stopped and tried to focus on it to see what it was. But there was no time to dwell on that, either, because I felt something heavy hit my back. I moved aside, but then had to catch Bobby's unconscious body with one arm before he landed face first on the pavement. As soon as my bare hand hit his dark skin, the street dissolved to blackness. Damn it! I definitely need to buy some gloves…

Something new happened, but it was sort of familiar. I was inside the snake, who was inside the dragon. I'd been in two places at one time before, but it was really strange to be a third party observer. I was walking across the cement floor of the parking garage. I'd just left Robart, and was angry, but also afraid. Too many things were happening. The life I'd planned was being torn asunder. A child— for so long dreamt of, and to actually have one, or more… But how would Nikoli react? I'd never been his favorite, but if I could give him a child, which no other of his mistresses had…

And what of Robart? He's a proud man— strong and fierce. Unlike the black wolf, it would be match that my father would have approved of.

They would have fought for my hand, and father might have let him win— even if he is a python. He is Wolven, and those who serve all Sazi have long been revered among my people. But, no. Robart is too controlling for this country, for this time. He would try to run my life, and I've run my own for too long. A sound from ahead stops me, and the lights go out. I call into the darkness. "Robart?" There is no answer. A familiar scent slips by me and it chills my blood— the pungent odor of the killer of Mila and of the human at the estate.

I've been careless. I'm in an unprotected area, and no one knows I am here. I would be stronger if I changed forms, but I'm more agile in this one. I glance up as the sound moves overhead, but I cannot see. I was foolish not to carry a flashlight!

Now the sound is to my left, so I move right, but bump into a car. My heart pounds and I can feel a cold sweat on my brow. No more of this foolishness! I close my eyes, as I have done a thousand times in exercises and focus on the scent. I flick my tongue out repeatedly. The scent is to the left. No, now overhead. Now behind. What is this thing?