Wind-Scarred (The Will of the Elements, Book 1) (5 page)

“
Two hours, you say?” Ezra croaked. He didn't think his voice
could sound much weaker.

“
Yeah, it was a little shocking at first, but once everyone
figured out what was going on, they really got into it, even
throwing waterworks up to the gliders and trying to run along with
them. It's been so much fun! You really didn't see them earlier?
They've been everywhere!”

Ezra's mind was whirling, trying to make
connections. What were the chances of the Guild of Sundry doing
something exactly like what he had done at exactly the time he had
done it? Was this a good thing, or a bad thing? People wouldn't be
nearly as shocked at seeing him fly by anymore, they'd just think
it had been part of the event. He was so caught up in his train of
thought that he didn't notice the flirtatious smile that spread
across the girl's face as she swayed closer to him.

“
So,” she said in a low and sultry voice, “did you get any
footage of me dancing in there? I always try to stay where things
are wildest.”

“
Oh, yeah, uh, I'm sure that I saw you.” Ezra was still trying
to puzzle out what these gliders meant for his plan.

“
Really? I bet you got some really hot stuff of me. Can I
see?” Her voice was a husky whisper as she reached for the camera.
Ezra snapped out of his train of thought and tried to stop her, but
somehow her hand ended up behind his as she stepped in and pressed
her body against him again, going up on her toes to plant a quick
kiss on his mouth. Frozen, stunned, he had no chance when she
deftly disconnected the camera from its strap and retreated with
her prize, popping on the holoscreen and starting the recording
from the beginning.

“
What you are seeing here is actual footage...” His voice
sounded tinny and far away. Something unreadable flashed through
the mischievously pleased look on the girl's face, so fast that
Ezra thought he must have imagined it.

Her eyes glued to the image, she said, “This
doesn't look like the club at all. What is it?”

Ezra stared dumbly as the girl watched the
video. Whatever danger he was in, she would be in too if he
couldn't convince her that what she was looking at wasn't what she
was looking at. He had to protect her somehow. The thought jump
started his brain and his mouth began spinning out the most
believable tale he could come up with on the spot.

“
That's for a... new drama coming out next season! I must have
connected to the wrong storage device. Um, darn that outdated
technology. If you could just give that back I'll be
sure-”

“
Why are you narrating it like that?” She asked with a little
laugh. His recorded voice droned on, “Grass, trees, grass, more
grass...” How long had he gone on like that?

“
I, uh, thought it would be funny. That'll get taken care of
in the final cut, of course. Now if I could just see the camera for
one second-”

“
This is boring,” she declared with absolute certainty. Ezra
winced, but tried to look apologetic as he reached his hand out for
the camera. Just a few more inches...

“
But don't worry,” she said brightly, “I'll give you something
much better.” Just before his fingertips could touch the camera,
she whirled past him, depositing another lightning fast kiss on his
cheek.

And deleting the camera's footage.

Ezra felt as if he had been punched in the
gut. He just stood there, stunned. All of his careful planning, and
this party-girl, this... this nobody had ruined it in a matter of
seconds! He should be furious! He tried to get angry, to do
something, but his cheek was tingling traitorously where her lips
had brushed it. His mouth seemed to be in cahoots with his cheek,
as a stupid smile fought to spread over his lips.

“
Hi! I'm having the most
amazing
Founder's Day here at the
Eigen-Dance club! Well, I'm not actually in the club right now,
because it's too loud to talk like this, but that's fine because
it's amazing in there.” She had the camera on, turned toward her,
recording. “I
love
dancing, and they always have the best music and the best
atmosphere here. Let's see, what else. Oh, the Guild of Sundry
event tonight was absolutely awesome. Anyone who didn't see it
really missed out on one of the coolest things that ever happened
ever. I'll try to get a shot of them if they go by again, but if
you missed it then shame on you!”

Ezra was finally winning out against his
libido. He hadn't had time to make a copy of his footage, but that
was okay, he could plan to do this again. In fact, now that he knew
about that secret underground base, he might be able to tap into
their generators again to relieve some of the strain on his lab. It
would take a little planning, but he could make it work. This was
just a delay, that's all. It would be even easier next time, and
he'd be ready for what he saw, and he wouldn't get waylaid on his
way back. Yes! This was just a trial run and now he didn't have to
worry about the secret organization either, because there was no
evidence. He probably should have made this choice from the
beginning.

“
Okay, now more about me,” the girl continued, “Um, I like
chocolate and anything citrus-y. I love lemon meringue pie, but I'm
not very good at baking. Or any cooking, really. I enjoy sports, go
Knights, woo! I also absolutely adore flirting with cute guys in
back alleys.” She turned and winked at Ezra. Reason promptly lost
its battle with libido. But who could blame him? She said he was
cute.

“
Aaand that's about all that I'm willing to share, unless
you're buying me dinner.” She let out another infectious laugh. “So
that's it for me. Bye everyone! Love and kisses!” She puckered up
and kissed the camera lens hard, then turned it off and tossed it
back to Ezra. He fumbled it around for a second, then got a good
grip on it and reattached it to the strap. It took him several
tries, in which time she had closed the gap between them
again.

“
Now
that,” she said with an
emphasizing tap of her fingers on the middle of his chest, “was
much more entertaining than the other stuff.” She took a step past
him, wobbled briefly, and fell into Ezra again. He caught her and
managed to keep her upright.

“
Hey, are you alright?” He honestly wouldn't have minded too
much if she wasn't, especially if it meant that she kept falling
into him like that.

“
Guess I had a little too much to drink in there.” She managed
to put a hint of chagrin into her voice while simultaneously making
it obvious that she wouldn't have had it any other way. “I think I
may need to get home so I can sober up a little before the fun
really starts out here.”

She started to take another step and almost
collapsed again. If Ezra hadn't been there, he was sure she'd be
back on the ground by now. “You don't seem too steady, is there
someone I can call for you?”

“
I'm just staying at the university, right over there.” She
pointed back in the direction from which he had come. “I don't mean
to be too forward, but do you think you could help me get back
there? It would really mean a lot to me.” She hit him with a full
power smile, dimples and everything, huge eyes almost glowing up at
him. He never had a chance.

“
S-sure,” he stammered, “I could just walk beside you and,
um-”

“
Or carry me on your back”

“
O-or carry you on my back, of course.” This alleyway suddenly
seemed far too warm. “Sure, here, just, uh, hop on.” Once she was
settled, very warm and soft and supple and...
Darn it, Ezra
, he thought,
keep it together
. “Okay,
next stop...wherever it is I'm going.” He laughed
nervously.

Her head lay on his shoulder, her breath
tickling his ear as she sighed. “You're a really nice guy, so I'm
gonna tell you secret, okay?” Her voice had dropped back to an
intimate whisper. Ezra's heart seemed to be beating in
double-time.

“
Oh,” he croaked out, mouth suddenly feeling very dry, face
burning, “what's that?”

Her lips brushed his ear as she whispered
ever-so-softly, “You're under arrest.”

Something hard and cold pressed up against
his throat. “There's a taser under your chin.” Her voice steadily
grew more detached and formal. “Turn around and walk out to the
street, then left and five blocks down to the Department of
Ordinances holding facility.”

Ezra gulped and turned to comply. Just
before he got to the crowded street, he opened his mouth to ask who
she was. The object at his throat pressed in harder. “No
questions,” she said, “just follow instructions, don't make a
scene, and everything will be just fine. I promise that you won't
be hurt.” Ezra shut his mouth and continued on his way. Her head
still resting on his shoulder, she murmured directions to him as he
went.

Was she with DOLT, or the mystery group? Was
that really a taser? What would she do to him if he didn't
cooperate? He could threaten to let out the secret, but she had
already destroyed the recording and his leverage along with it. He
could claim to have a copy! Somehow, he didn't think she would buy
it. Or, worse, maybe she would. He stopped trying to think of what
she would do then as his feet ate distance and hope at an alarming
rate.

His eyes darted around wildly as they made
their way through the crowd. Couldn't anyone see that he had been
taken hostage? People moved out of his way and he saw a number of
knowing looks, and his last hope of rescue crumbled away. A young
man with a young woman apparently on the verge of sleep on his
back, walking through the entertainment district on Founder's Day.
The last thing anyone would think was that he needed help.

A pair of DOLT officers stood on the street,
eyes slightly unfocused and twitching as they coordinated with
nearby officers via a secure neural net connection. The girl
whispered calm and authoritative instructions into Ezra's ear.
“Admit to being in the museum. Don't say anything to anyone about
you-know-what. The DOLTs are looking for whoever did it, but they
don't know about the recording. They'll hold you until we can get
someone by to handle this. Just sit tight, be quiet, and keep
looking cute.”

She leaned forward – an action that Ezra
realized he probably would have greatly enjoyed only a few minutes
earlier – and planted another kiss on his cheek, then hopped down
and pulled his arm behind his back, holding it just on the verge of
where it would become painful. The taser vanished from his throat
and was suddenly pressed up against his wrist, out of view from the
DOLTs in front of them.

“
Good evening officers!” Ezra winced as her voice rang out,
altogether too loud. “I found this young man fleeing the
Conservatorium of Culture a few minutes ago, subdued him and, in
the spirit of civic duty, have brought him to your
custody.”

The DOLT nearest them stared with his mouth
hanging open, ignoring his net connection. His partner stepped
forward, bumping him and giving the now open virtual interface a
meaningful look. “Thank you for your enthusiasm ma’am,” he said in
a long-suffering voice. “But the Department of Ordinances and
Lawful Temerity has everything well in hand. I'm sure that this
citizen has nothing to hide and would appreciate it if you
would-”

The taser pressed meaningfully into Ezra's
wrist, and he squeaked out, “No, no, it was me, I was in the
museum, I triggered the alarms.” This earned him a skeptical look
from the officer. The tension on his shoulder increased as the girl
began twisting his arm upwards. “Also, also, I'm Ezra Hawkins! I
have my ID in my pocket! I believe you were notified that I would
be in the university district and should be apprehended.”

The first officer blinked,
stunned, then cleared his throat, and said, “'In the university
district
causing trouble
and should be apprehended' were the exact words, I
believe.” Ezra winced again.

“
Yes, I was causing trouble, I broke into the museum, I set off
the alarms, I knocked down the display cases. I admit to it all.”
The pressure eased on his arm and he chanced a glance over his
shoulder at the girl again. She was giving him a wide-eyed stare as
her mouth tightened into a hard line. So she hadn't known who he
was. Well, now she knew what she was dealing with. She had to know
now that this was too big for her. A triumphant smile began to
spread over his face as he opened his mouth to speak
again.

Her eyes narrowed into a hard
look. The taser bit into his wrist, sudden pain blossoming out and
coursing through his body. It hurt. It
hurt
. Every muscle in Ezra's body
convulsed and he fought to breathe. His legs went weak and he
started to fall. Someone caught him before he hit the ground and he
heard the girl explaining how he might have had too much to drink
tonight and of course she'd be willing to fill out any reports they
needed. She was probably smiling that winning smile of hers up at
them. He could almost see those adorable, evil little
dimples.
Damn hormones
, Ezra thought as blackness washed over him.