Forging Day (Crucible of Change Book 1) (13 page)

Our caravan was down to one car, a van, an SUV and four motorcycles as we continued south. The forest extended all the way to the next major intersection, where it abruptly ended, returning to normal city streets.

The traffic was insane as we approached Colfax. Sirens blared constantly as emergency vehicles raced to the various medical facilities concentrated in this area. It looked even worse to the south, with the two hospitals further down that way. Mikah signaled for us to turn at the next intersection. We caught the next cross-street going west, avoiding the worst of the jam-up.

We headed south again, now less than a mile from home, as the crow flies. I finally saw what Ted had been talking about with the neighborhood watch. About two car-lengths in on each street leading into the neighborhood around the park, one or two vehicles were pulled across the road. There were people sitting in lawn chairs, often under some kind of umbrella for shade. Signs were taped to the sides of the car blockade. SHOW YOUR ID OR LEAVE. RESIDENTS ONLY.

The Botanic Gardens were coming up on the right. Given what we saw at the former zoo, I wasn’t sure what to expect. It was almost anti-climactic. The gardens actually looked mostly normal, no giant trees or towering prehistoric plants. What I did notice was a bunch of those weird bluebirds we saw back at the nature conservancy. They glared at passing cars, eyes glowing red.

Traffic ground to a stop again. Now what? I just wanted to get home and use the facilities. Was that asking too much?

I kept watching the birds. Those glaring eyes were too creepy. A guy on a skateboard, maybe twenty or so, came whizzing along the sidewalk. He saw the birds and stopped, and then walked over to get a closer look. Every instinct I had screamed
get away, you fool!
but I didn’t say anything. I just watched.

The birds started beeping, all in sync, and their eyes pulsed red. The skateboarder reached toward the nearest bird, and I heard a loud
beeep
, followed by a chain-reaction of exploding blue feathers—bird after bird going off like grenades with the pins pulled. When the smoke cleared, there was nothing left but drifting blue feathers, smoldering sneakers, scorch marks, and a large bloodstain. Two women screamed in horror and ran straight out into traffic. They’re lucky they weren’t killed.

“Did you see that? The freaking birds exploded!”

Kat looked like she was trying not to be sick. “Yes. Oh, Goddess, yes.”

“So much for happy little bluebirds,” said Tessa. “
Tweet. Tweet. Boom
.”

Traffic started moving again as we heard sirens coming this way. There was no point in trying to stop and help. Even Berto’s newfound healing required some kind of body to work with.

We drove south of the park, following Mikah and Berto when they turned north into our neighborhood. A pale, pointy-eared Elf with green hair waved at us to stop. Kat pulled over to make room for Korembi and the motorcycles to get out of traffic. The Elf walked over to Mikah. I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but it looked like things were getting hostile. Kat and I both hopped out of the car and went over.

He said, “Get back in your car!” and then actually looked at us. “Sorry, but we’ve had some Human-related hate crime incidents. He still looked wary, but his tone of voice got calmer. “Please wait in your car and I’ll be with you as soon as possible. This area is for residents only.”

“I told you, we are residents,” said Mikah. “Move that vehicle out of the street, or I will sue you so hard, your children will cry. I’m a lawyer. I can do that. I live here. Look at my bloody driver’s license already!”

“We’re with them,” said Kat, gesturing at the lot of us, “so you might as well deal with all of us at once. Those folks back there are friends. They’re invited guests.”

I said, “We’ve had a sucky drive home already, dude, and I really need to pee. Please, just chill out and let us go home.”

He stared at me—another Elf, but not the same—and looked a little nervous.

It finally seemed to occur to him that there were more of us than him, even after his partner, another Elf with green hair, came out of a nearby house. “Fine. Go ahead, but the Humans better keep their IDs with them if they’re in the neighborhood. Some people aren’t very happy with Humans right now.”

“We were all Human this time yesterday. People need to get a grip,” I snapped.

He gave Mikah back his license and the second Elf moved the SUV to let us pass. They never asked to see the rest of our IDs—Tessa stared at the first Elf as we drove by. She winked and blew him a kiss. It was kind of funny watching him try to sit and miss his lawn chair by a good foot.

It was odd seeing so few people out and about on a beautiful June day, but not too surprising that people were inclined to stay inside.

The wrought-iron gate rolled back as our caravan approached. There was plenty of room on the long driveway for everyone to park. The gate clanged shut behind us.

We all got out. I was so happy to be alive and home. I hugged Kat and Tessa tight, just feeling the moment, and then ran for the house. Behind me, Mikah said, “Welcome to Denver.”

We’re Here – Now What?????

I made a mad dash for the house and took care of business. After that, I went back outside to help unload the vehicles. There was another Elf standing there, talking to Mikah, with flowing golden hair, sapphire eyes, and a flawless complexion. “Ted?”

“Olivia?” He looked over at me. “I thought it was weird around here. Guess you guys got a taste of it too.”

Mikah made introductions. “This is Korembi and his wife Razaini. They’re paleontology professors. These are their grad students—John and Stacy, Henry and May, and this is Frank. We lost his partner, Sonya, to a crazy militia group just outside of Lyons.”

Ted went pale. I guess shit got real for him all of a sudden. “Where’s Kat—she wasn’t…”

She stepped forward. “I’m right here, Ted. I’m okay.”

His eyes got wide, looking her over.

“I know. Kat the Cat. Oh, the sweet irony,” she said. Her ears pricked forward and her tail lashed from side to side. She jerked around to see what was behind her, inadvertently chasing her tail for just a moment. I bit my lips and said nothing.

Tessa glided over to Ted, wings barely extended. “He’s pretty. I want to play with him. I’m Tessa and I like you.” She backed him up against the ivy-covered wall and kissed him deeply, gliding her hands down his back to cup his perfect butt. For a minute he even kissed her back.

Then he jerked away like he’d touched a hot stove. “I don’t think I know you, and I don’t play with girls.”

“I think you might, with the right inspiration.” She smiled and stalked toward him again.

“Tessa! Ted said no. Stop chasing him and come back over here.”

She gave me a beautiful pout, and only petted him once more, stroking the erection that I was trying to politely ignore, before coming back to stand beside me. “His mouth is saying no, but his body says yes. I’m so hungry, Olivia, and he’s so pretty. I have a right to feed too, you know.”

I gave her a horrified look.

“Not that way. I can feed without killing him. I have to feed. Sex or souls. I’d prefer sex. Why don’t you show me your room?”

“Not to be a spoilsport, Tessa, but we’ve been up all night. We need to help unload the cars. I need to shower. I think we all need to eat, and you had a pretty big meal in Lyons…” I covered my mouth, horrified that I’d said that.

“That wasn’t enough. It was like junk food. I have needs, Olivia.”

The red glow in her eyes should have been alarming, but her pull faded my worry to a whisper. I walked over and kissed her deeply, burning to be with her again. She grabbed my butt and wrapped one wing around me, pulling me into the house.

As focused as she was on me outside, now she stared all around her at the house. “I’ve never seen a place like this. It’s huge!” She idly pulled off my shirt and bra and dropped them on the floor as she looked around. “Tell me about this house,” she said while she teased my nipples.

She made me not care about anything but pleasing her. I arched into her hands, wanting her, still compelled to answer her question. I looked around, trying to see the house from her perspective. The entry foyer was ten feet across. The floor was tiled with rose marble and the walls were a warm, polished golden oak. The stairs to the second floor were ahead of us at the end of a long hall. Paintings dotted the walls, and you could just see the library through the archway to the left.

“Mikah inherited the house from his Grammy. His family made their fortune in mining and business stuff. I guess she liked Mikah better than her own kids, because she cut his dad and uncle out of her will and left everything to him. He’s still the CEO, but he has other people manage the day-to-day stuff. “I gestured to the right of the main entrance at the heavy, carved oak door. “Mikah and Berto have their suite down here. The family room and library are off to the left. Kitchen and dining room are in the back of the house. My room is upstairs.”

“Take me upstairs, then.”

I had a hard time climbing the stairs. I was ready to fall over, but she refocused her gaze on me, and that smile curved her lips. It was like bathing in warm honey. She trapped me against the wall, kissing me over and over and stroking me through my jeans. When she told me to pull them off, I did, leaving my jeans and panties on the stairs.

“That’s better,” she said, and stroked my bare skin. The glow became a blaze, and I kissed her back, desperately pressing my body against her. She easily lifted me, and I wrapped my legs around her. She licked my ear, and whispered, “Point to your room or I’ll take you right here.” I pointed.

She carried me down the hall into my room, and I fell back onto the bed with her riding me down. Peeka’s high-pitched barking filled the room. “Leave!” said Tessa, and the barking stopped. Toenails clattered on the floor as Peeka fled.

“I’m so hungry,” she whispered in my ear, and kissed me again.

She slowly licked her way down my body. She suckled gently at each breast before impatiently moving lower. “I can’t wait.” No one had ever adored my body as thoroughly as she did. Her hair tickled my thighs as she teased closer and closer. She licked gently at first, and then sucked hard, nipping ever so slightly. She entered me with her fingers, stroking in and out as her lips and tongue devoured me. I screamed, coming over and over, until everything went dark.

* * * *

A sheet slid up over my body, and I heard people in the room, but my ears were ringing so they sounded like they were a thousand miles away. I must have made some kind of motion, because a straw pressed to my lips, urging me to drink. Something annoying squeezed my arm. Someone stroked my cheek and I finally started drinking. It was chilled orange juice and tasted wonderful.

The annoying squeezing finally stopped and I heard the zip of Velcro as Berto removed the blood pressure cuff. My eyes were so heavy, but I finally pried them open. Kat held the glass and steadied straw for me. Berto’s stethoscope was draped around his neck. Tessa perched on the edge of the bed, looking unhappy. Berto gave her the stink eye.

“I don’t know exactly how your feeding works, Tessa, but Olivia is off the menu for now. I couldn’t even measure her blood pressure at first. If you keep this up, you’re going to kill her.”

Tessa’s eyes filled with tears. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry! I never meant to hurt her. It’s just that I was so hungry, and her energy tastes so good. I guess I got a little carried away.”

Berto’s look softened, but he still shook his head. “I know you didn’t do it on purpose, but we have to figure something out so no one gets hurt.”

Kat looked either worried or angry. I was having trouble telling through her fur. She squeezed my hand really tight, and there were wet streaks in the fur alongside her muzzle, so I was going to guess that was her worried look.

“How long was I out?”

“About six hours,” Berto finally admitted. “I want you to finish your juice, eat something, and then sleep yourself out. Your body has been through a lot the last day or so. Let’s give it a chance to catch up.”

He turned to Tessa then. “Please go warm up Olivia’s dinner and bring it up.”

She hopped to her feet. “I’ll be right back.” She looked glad to be able to do something to help.

“Stop trying to die on me,” said Kat. “My heart can’t take this.”

“I agree,” I told her. “Less dying. More not dying.”

She helped me sit up in bed and hugged me hard.

“Don’t cry, Miss Kitty. I promise. I’ll be more careful.”

She sniffled and wiped her eyes. Bending, she pulled my lap desk from under the bed. “Here. You can use this.”

Tessa was back in just a few minutes with a warm roast beef sandwich and some fresh fruit. Kat took the plate from her and fixed it on my lap desk. Tessa looked a little hurt, but didn’t say anything.

I thought about trying to soothe feelings and get up and help somehow, but my body agreed with Berto on food and a nap. I started out slow, but ended up wolfing down the sandwich. It was funny how much better everything tasted. Maybe my body was savoring the moment. A thought tickled my mind, and I laughed a little.

“What?” asked Kat.

“I was just thinking, if I were a cat, I’d be down about a third of my nine lives already. I’ve got to work on that.”

Berto shook his head and laughed in spite of himself. “I guess that’s a good sign. At least you’re getting back your perverse sense of humor.”

“Some things never change.”

“You need to drink more juice,” Berto said. “You’re pretty dehydrated.”

I was happy enough to comply. It did taste good, and the last few bites of sandwich really hit the spot.

Kat cleared the lap desk and dishes and sat them on my desk. “I’ll stay with her,” she said.

Tessa said, “I’ll stay with her.”

Berto overruled them both. “She needs to sleep. You’re both going. You can take turns checking in on her later. Out.”

He waited until they were both gone before he sat back on the edge of the bed. “Olivia, I am serious about Tessa. I don’t know what she’s doing, and I’m not sure she can control it. I’m the last person to tell you who to have fun with, but please don’t have sex with Tessa for now. We don’t want to lose you. If nothing else, at least give it a few days.”