Z Day +41

  JAMES

  It didn’t take us as long as we thought to devise a plan. We had an address on Natalie but didn’t know if she’d be there. She might have bugged out with the others or simply moved. But that was all we had. So, our brilliant plan was to go to her place and see what happens.

  Turned out, Natalie had a straightforward, plain-looking house in the middle of a very average suburban neighborhood.

  *Seriously?* Shae looked at the little one-story house.

  *Maybe being an all-powerful blood-worker doesn’t pay that well?* I offered.

  It hadn’t taken us that long to get here. Thankfully, even Texas back roads were relatively spacious, so even when the bike came across a traffic snarl, we could usually either ride the side of the road or take the median.

  We’d decided to take the bike with the sidecar. While I felt silly sitting in the sidecar, I had to agree taking two bikes meant using twice as much gas. That and while I could ride a motorcycle, I wasn’t very good at it.

  Considering our natural speed, I’d asked why we didn’t just run. Shae had vetoed the idea due to not only my fledgling status (I could trip and rip my head off) but also that the more we did supernatural things, the more blood we expended. And as it was, people to get a “refill” from were in short supply.

  On a weird side note, it turned out that drinking animal blood was some sort of taboo. Who knew? When I pressed Shae about why, she seemed embarrassed and didn’t want to discuss it.

  The closer to town we got, the more shamblers we saw. Most of them seemed to wander around old businesses and developed areas. I wasn’t sure if that was due to muscle memory or what. We didn’t see too many in the more rural areas. We still hadn’t come across any giant hordes, not that I was complaining.

  Natalie’s front door was unlocked. We stepped inside and stopped to listen. Neither of us heard anything.

  “Hello? Natalie? Are you home?” I called out and then waited, listening. There was no movement anywhere in the house I could detect. Frowning, I closed the door, and we started in.

  The inside of the house was just as normal as the outside appeared to be. Slightly worn couch, older TV, and messy kitchen. I was starting to think maybe our Intel was wrong when Shae pointed at several pictures on the wall.

  *That her?* Shae asked.

  I looked, and there were several pictures with Natalie and other random people. I never saw the same person with Natalie twice. Each picture was in a different location, too. One looked like a vacation photo from Mexico, another from an unknown beach, another in snow-covered mountains, and another on the bow of a cruise ship.

  *Yup,* I pointed at the last picture, *that’s Natalie. A cruise ship? That seems a bit reckless.*

  *Probably the Triumphant. They offer a “vampire-friendly” cruise several times a year,* Shae said.

  *Seriously? I’ve heard of gay cruises and nude cruises, but not a vampire cruise,* I thought about it for a moment. *How do they...* I started.

  *You probably don’t want to know...yet. Let’s just say they have a lot of “in-cabin services” not normally provided.*

  *Sounds...naughty,* I finally managed.

  *Naughty?* she thought about it for a moment. *Yeah, I guess you could look at it that way. Let’s keep looking.*

  We’d been speaking in each other’s minds pretty much non-stop. It seemed to come naturally to us. When I wanted to speak aloud, it took an actual act of will to do it. It was strange at first, but it made talking on the bike trip over pretty easy.

  The rest of the house offered nothing interesting until we found the bedroom. Shae started working on a laptop she found there; it still had battery power.

  *I thought you weren’t good with computers,* I said.

  *Just because I don’t know what a blue death screen is doesn’t mean I don’t know how to work a computer,* she scowled.

  I was walking around the bed when the floor squeaked, causing me to freeze. *Austin still has that high water table, right? That hasn’t changed since I lived here, has it?*

  *Nope,* she said off-handed, continuing to type away.

  I got down on one knee and felt around the thick carpet.

  *What did you find?* Shae asked, not looking over at me.

  *I think...I found a basement,* I replied.

  *Austin doesn’t have basements; the water table is too high...oh!* she said.

  I glanced up at her, unsure if she had said “oh” to me or something else. It was something else.

  *Check this out,* she turned the laptop around and pointed it at me.

  On the screen was an open e-mail that outlined how Drakes would continue to function during the current crisis and, for a not-so-small fee, offer its elite clientele sanctuary until the crisis was resolved.

  *Nice work,* I said as my fingers found the latch I’d been looking for. Part of the carpeted floor swung up and out of the way, revealing darkness below. I started to reach for the small flashlight I had in my back pocket when I stopped.

  *Shae.*

  *Yeah?* she said.

  *Come here and look at this.*

  She was beside me a moment later. *What? Looks like a big black pit.* Then she got it. *Why can’t we see down there?*

  *Yeah.* I pulled the flashlight out and clicked it on. I shined the beam into the hole, but the darkness swallowed the light.

  *OK, that’s just creepy.* Shae took a step back. *Leave it alone.*

  *But what is it?* I asked.

  *I don’t know. And in my experience, when I run up against something I don’t know, I leave it alone,* she said.

  I shined the light on the floor and let it trail into the hole. As soon as part of the circle of light passed from the floor to the lip of the hole, that part of the light disappeared.

  Her hand touched my shoulder. *There are still many things in our world that I don’t know about and can’t explain. I seriously believe there is magic at work around us, and this would fit into that. LEAVE IT BE.*

  I lowered the hatch and stood up to face her. *You don’t have to command me,* I said gently, placing my hands on her arms. *I trust your judgment, especially regarding the weird shit I’m not into.*

  *I can’t help it,* she sighed. *You have to understand, this is a first for me too. I’ve never been connected to anyone like this outside of direct blood contact. When I get worried, it just sort of happens. Besides, I just kept seeing a tentacle slide out of there and drag you down,* she grinned.

  *Yeah, tentacle monsters...never really got into that myself, but thanks for saving me,* I smiled and batted my eyelashes at her. *Awww, you worry about me?*

  *Goddess knows why,* she sighed.

  *Don’t get me wrong,* I smiled, seeing how this bothered her as much as it bothered me. *I don’t mind doing everything you say, especially under certain circumstances.*

  She shook her head and rolled her eyes, *All the time with you. Come on, let’s try Drakes.*

  *Wait. All the God talk earlier, and you still never told me why you keep saying Goddess,* I said.

  She looked thoughtful for a moment, *No. I didn’t, did I?* Then she walked outside without another word.

  I swallowed my frustration and followed her.

  On the way to Drakes, I found what Miria had asked me to keep an eye out for. I stowed it away for later.

  Downtown was a mess. We had to try two bridges over Town Lake before finding one with enough room to squeeze by. As we approached Drakes, I realized it wasn’t there anymore. The entire block had been gutted by fire.

  Shae didn’t slow down as she turned into the parking garage for a nearby conference center. As we drove through it, I noticed there weren’t a lot of cars here. I cringed at how much noise the bike was making inside the concrete structure. She parked on the third level above ground and turned off the bike. The silence that followed was almost as deafening as the bike had been.

  I was immediately on my feet and scanning our surroundings to see what unwanted attention we’d attracted. But everything was tranquil.

  *Relax,* she said. *This is a protected place. I doubt even zombies could get through these wards.*

  *Wards?* I asked.

  *Magic, remember?* Shae said. *All sorts of fun and imaginative things protect Drakes. The place is a veritable fortress.*

  *Fortress? Why don’t we bring the others here then?* I asked.

  She looked at me flatly. *Ords can’t walk into Drakes. They either have to have business there or be escorted. Even if they did get in, do you think they could handle being entirely in my...er...our world?* she corrected.

  *Wait. I was at Drakes right around Z Day, and it wasn’t here. It was like two blocks over in that burned-down area.* I pointed.

  She smiled at me patiently. *Things change when you cross the barrier, James. Part of the protection of this place involves illusions, misdirection, and straight-out giving you the heebie-jeebies. Now that you are part of the world Drakes exists in, you’ll see things for what they are.* She turned and headed off towards the back wall.

  *Wait, you’ve been here without me?* Shae asked as she approached a plain metal door. *Oh yes, I remember catching a glimpse of that fiasco in your head back on Z Day.* She stopped at a plain metal door and reached out to turn the knob.

  The touch of my hand stopped her.

  *Yeah, um...I probably should have mentioned that,* I started.

  *Oh?* she said.

  *I kinda got thrown out,* I frowned.

  *You what?!?* she yelled at me. *Wait, you did, didn’t you. What exactly happened? The only way to get thrown out of Drakes is to threaten violence. You didn’t?*

  I shrugged, *I was trying to find you. I kinda lost my temper. Drake was very nice about tossing me out.*

  *He usually is. How’d you get in?* she asked.

  *That’s another story altogether.*

  She removed her hand from the door and listened as I explained what had happened.

  *Usually, getting thrown out means you get barred.* She frowned.

  *He didn’t mention that.* I said. *He actually commented on the fact he’d see me again next time.*

  She tapped her chin in thought. *In that case, you should be the one to open the door. To make sure you’re allowed,* she said.

  *Actually, Drake said it was you, not me, that wasn’t allowed in here,* I said. *His exact words were “Not since me” but he wouldn’t explain.*

  *That’s odd. I haven’t done anything. Of course, I haven’t been here in ages, so...* She shrugged.

  *OK,* I said and put my hand on the plain metal doorknob.

  The door burst to life in bright colors. It was as if the entire door was a giant video display with multi-faceted colors swirling around it. I was momentarily stunned. I’d never seen anything like this. It definitely hadn’t happened on any of my previous visits. The colors solidified into the simple name of Drakes. If I looked close enough, each mote of light that made up the letters seemed alive and quivered as they held together to form the name.

  *Wow,* I managed.

  *Yeah, it’s like that the first time for everyone. Kind of cool getting to see it through your eyes, though. Looks like you’re good to go; open her up,* she said.

  I twisted the handle, and the door swung inwards without a sound. At first, I thought the place looked the same. Rectangle bar in the center of the room, surrounded by round tables and ringed by private booths. But then I saw there were now multiple levels to the place.

  Three more levels were above us; the first was just catwalks crisscrossing the place, and the second was a balcony that framed the room, leaving the center open. Finally, at the very top, there seemed to be several dark rooms with glass walls that looked down on the club.

  This time, the club was not empty either. Dozens of people lined every level, mingling with one another. A grand piano sat off to one side of a small stage where a jazz quartet was pounding out a loud, lively rhythm that reminded me of time I’d spent in New Orleans.

  *Oh, Demetrius is playing. I love his band,* Shae smiled as the words of “Watermelon Man” floated to her across the club. *This is one of my favorites. He combined Oscar Brown Jr.’s lyrics with Herbie Hancock’s rhythm. It’s just amazing,* she reigned in her gushing. *Sorry, I guess I’ve missed this place a bit more than I thought.*

  I had no clue what she was talking about and just nodded.

  The door closed behind us on the outside world. Inside, there were no problems, no troubles, no worries, and no zombies. I noted that I walked freely this time, nothing grabbing at my feet like last time as we approached the bar. The absence of the growling noise was a pleasant change as well.

  Drake was behind the bar, alone again. I didn’t recall ever seeing anyone else tending bar, and as I watched, I could tell why. Drake appeared to be everywhere at once. He seemed to shimmer between four identical versions of himself. One was behind the large bar and I could see at least three more copies of him walking the floor, delivering drinks and taking orders.

  *How—* I started, trying to make sense of what I was seeing.

  *Drake is one of a kind. I have never seen anyone like him,* Shae said in answer to the question I hadn’t even finished.

  *But there’s more than one of him,* I said again in confusion, my brain stuttering with what it was seeing.

  *Yeah, the most I’ve seen is 12…I think. No one knows how he does it. Some say he’s an alien, others a powerful sorcerer. Personally, I think he’s the bar,* she said.

  *The bar?* I asked, watching the copies of Drake moving about, taking orders, delivering food, and holding conversations.

  *I think the bar is alive and just projects Drake to make it easier for us to accept the place,* Shae said.

  I thought about that as we sat down at the bar. *Well, the bar definitely looks like it’s bigger on the inside,* I said, but from Shae’s blank look, she didn’t recognize the reference.

  Shae turned back to the bar as Drake appeared. “Drake!” she said aloud.

  It was the first time I’d heard her voice in a long time. While it was definitely the same voice I heard in my head when we spoke, it was somehow different. It was less, almost like it was hollow, if that makes any sense.

  “Ms. Shae, so good to have you back with us.” He turned to me, “And Mr. James. I see you found what you were after; I’m glad.”

  “Yeah, listen,” I started, “about last time, I’m really sorry about how I acted. It was inexcusable, and I apologize.”

  “Pish posh. We all have been known to act a bit...theatrically from time to time, especially regarding affairs of the heart. Water under the bridge and all that. And might I say, you look rather well considering how you appeared last time we met. Are you feeling better?”

  “Yes, thank you,” I grinned. “You ever figure it out?”

  He touched the side of his nose. “Not completely, but that doesn’t matter now, does it?” He held out his hand for mine.

  *Careful,* Shae cut in.

  *What?* I asked.

  *Just be careful. He doesn’t usually touch anyone,* she said.

  I held my hand out for him to examine again. Just as before, he turned it this way and that, looking for something.

  “Curiouser and curiouser. You are a strange one, aren’t you, Mr. James?” Drake asked.

  “I try,” I said, not sure what to say.

  Drake smiled. “I’m so glad. It does get ever so tedious with the same-ole-same-ole. It’s like a breath of fresh air when something new strolls through my doors. And as such, a celebration is in order.”

  Drake pulled two cups from beneath the counter and set them in front of Shae and me. Both handless, ceramic mugs were filled with a dark steaming liquid. He pulled a third cup for himself from behind the bar. His cup was made of iridescent crystal filled with a glowing fluid that seemed iridescent as well. He held it up to us in toast, “To new beginnings.”

  “New beginnings,” Shae and I repeated, picking up and hoisting our cups.

  The mug was warm like it was fresh from a dishwasher. I brought it to my lips and took a sip. Just before it touched my tongue, I smelled spices, like cloves, and then the liquid was coating my tongue. Its warmth filled my mouth, causing my sinuses to open in surprise. It reminded me of the spiced glühwein I’d had in the Christmas markets of Germany. But this was so much richer, with layer after layer of flavor. I found I’d unintentionally drained the cup in one go.

  Shae looked at me, slightly startled, as I put the empty cup down.

  *What?* I said.

  *Thirsty, are we?* she asked.

  *It was good!* I said.

  *Yeah, well, take it easy. We don’t know how much it costs yet,* she cautioned.

  Drake smiled, putting his own drained cup down on the bar. “So, what brings you out into this wretched apocalypse? I’m sure it couldn’t be my humble establishment unless you’re looking for sanctuary, but I feel that is not the case as of yet.”

  *As of yet?* I asked.

  *Hush,* Shae replied.

  “We’re looking for someone,” Shae started, taking another small sip from her mug.

  I looked down and found my mug full once again. I hadn’t seen Drake refill it, but I wasn’t about to look a gift mug in the mouth. Then I thought about what I’d said, chuckled, and looked the gift mug right in the mouth as I brought it to my lips. I took a moment to enjoy the aroma before taking a mouthful. I managed to control myself with the single mouthful and savored it.

  The first cup was already setting fire to my insides, the flames radiating from my stomach. This one chased after the first, and once again, I found the cup empty.

  “She goes by Natalie,” Shae said.

  I put my cup down and kept one eye on it, watching to see if it magically refilled itself again.

  “Oh yes, the young mistress is here, has been since this whole mess began. It’s always a blessing when she comes to visit. She always brings such interesting stories,” Drake said.

  “Where can we find her?” I asked, glancing up at him and then back down at my cup. It had filled itself in the moment it took for me to ask my question. I found my hands were already around its warm ceramic.

  “I’ll see if she’s available. Drake?” Another Drake seemed to appear next to Drake at his summons. “Could you check and see if Ms. Natalie is accepting visitors tonight? I have a pair that would like to speak to her.”

  “I’ll try, but she’s a bit...shall we say ‘pre-occupied’ at the moment,” the other Drake said.

  Drake nodded, and the second Drake disappeared into the crowd.

  My cup was empty again.

  *How many is that?* Shae demanded.

  *Uh...* I managed. The fire had spread to my arms and legs, heading up towards my throat. I was feeling good, REALLY good. I was mellow, that comfortable feeling I always sought when I drank.

  *That’s what I thought.* She put her hand on top of my cup before it could refill and took it away.

  “The young master has already paid if that’s what you’re worried about,” Drake offered, “and you’re more than welcome for the evening if events get...carried away as it were.”

  Shae and Drake locked eyes for a long moment. Something passed between them that I couldn’t catch, and then the other Drake was back. The warm fuzzy in my head made the room sway back and forth slowly.

  *No, the room’s not moving, that’s just you. You’re swaying on your stool, you lush,* Shae said, reading my mind. Her hand on my shoulder made the room stop moving.

  “She says to send them right up,” The other Drake said as he returned.

  Drake beamed, “Excellent!” before turning back to us. “I’ll have your things sent up.”

  The other Drake motioned for us to follow him and headed towards the back wall.

  “Thanks, Drake!” I slurred slightly, standing to follow.

  “Not at all,” Drake replied.

  The other Drake passed the stage to where a small elevator sat in an alcove. He stepped inside and held the doors open for us. Once inside, the doors closed, and the elevator moved swiftly but silently up to the third balcony.

  I had an idea. “Drake?”

  “Yes, sir?” Drake said.

  “Last time I was here, you said Shae wasn’t allowed back here because of me. What did you mean?” I asked.

  “Don’t ask me that; I’m not allowed…the rules, you know,” Drake tutted.

  *He said the same thing last time I asked,* I said.

  *Then he doesn’t want to talk about it. I’m here now; that’s all that matters. Let it go.* After a moment, *Seriously, that was a horrible movie.*

  *Sorry, the songs are catchy. I couldn’t help it,* I said, still humming the theme song.

  *Try,* Shae sighed.

  Drake led us down a short hall and stopped by an unmarked door before knocking slowly. “Your guests, madam,” he said and then left us, heading back to the elevator.

  The door opened just as the elevator doors closed.

  ∞?∞

  SHAE (more or less)

  Natalie stood in the doorway looking just as James had described her: a meter sixty tall, platinum blonde hair below her shoulders, and a pouty expression. What he hadn’t mentioned was her curvy figure and rather large endowments. She wore a silky off-white nightdress complete with a matching robe. All she needed was a long cigarette holder and she’d look like she’d just stepped out of the 1920’s.

  “Hello, Ms. Natalie,” I began but was ignored as Natalie threw her arms out and pulled James into what his panicking mind called a “squishy booby hug.”

  “My shiny!” Natalie squealed before holding James out at arm’s reach and examining him more closely. “Oh, but how you’ve grown, exactly as I remember. Amazing! Come, come inside and sit,” Natalie said excitedly.

  James looked at me with panic-stricken eyes as he was pulled into the room.

  *Help me,* James’s intoxicated brain cried out to me.

  Chuckling, my only reply was *Squishy booby hugs?*

  *I like yours better?* He offered by way of an apology.

  *Oh, hush you two, you’re being rude!* Natalie’s voice came through both our minds clear as a bell. Natalie pushed James down into an overstuffed armchair and climbed onto his lap, dangling her legs over one arm of the chair.

  Natalie gently stroked what there was of James’s hair. “Not as nice as before,” She sighed but didn’t stop petting him.

  “Shae, please lock the door. Thank you,” Natalie chimed like a bell.

  *How are you in our heads?* I frowned as my body responded to Natalie’s affections of its own accord. This wasn’t what I’d expected.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  *And what did you expect, my dear? Ouija boards and crystal balls? Besides, it’s not just your heads I’m in,* Natalie grinned devilishly. *It’ll be confusing at first, but it’s a necessary evil.*

  *Wait,* Natalie sat up in James’s lap and looked over at me, *are you still mad at me?*

  *Still mad at you?* I asked. *For what?*

  *Oh,* Natalie seemed to search her own thoughts. *I’m not making you angry, am I? I honestly don’t mean to.*

  *Uh, no?* I ventured. I wasn’t angry, just confused by this odd woman. I’d heard blood-workers were a bit off, but this was something more.

  *Don’t worry, my dear. The six of us are quite good friends; you two just don’t know it yet,* Natalie smiled.

  Before I could express more confusion, Natalie continued.

  *And don’t worry, neither of us is the jealous type. He’s always been yours; he always will be, no matter how many of us get our hooks into him,* Natalie said, relaxing back into James, who didn’t appear to mind in the slightest.

  *You’re not making any sense,* I said.

  *Seconded.* James finally seemed to find his voice.

  *I will. One day, you will look back on this and understand. For today, just know I love all of you and couldn’t be prouder of what the five of you’ve done together,* Natalie beamed like a proud parent.

  *Five of us?* James asked, looking around the room in confusion.

  Natalie gave a little huff before saying, *Listen to me now, think about it later.* The bad Schwarzenegger impression disappeared as Natalie continued. *Trust your instincts. Inside, you know I am not going to hurt you, either of you. Besides, what have you got to lose?*

  I quickly ran through everything that had happened since we’d walked through the door, trying to see if I’d missed anything that would help make sense of the situation. Before I could come up with anything, Natalie continued.

  *So, what is it this time?* Natalie asked.

  *This time?* I managed.

  *You’ve come to me before, haven’t you?* Natalie looked between the two of us. Her eyes seemed a bit wild and out of focus. To me, it looked like she was hopped up on something.

  *Nope, no drugs,* Natalie giggled.

  *Uh no,* I said. *This is the first time we’ve been here.*

  *OH!* Natalie’s eyes got wider. I didn’t think that was possible, but they did. *Oh,* she said a moment later in a softer tone. *You must excuse me; I don’t always experience things...linearly.* She turned to look at each of us in turn. *Understand?* She pointed at James before he could say anything. *Yes! Correctamundo!*

  *What?* I asked, my head starting to hurt from the woman’s chatter. I was getting tired of being confused.

  *I didn’t say anything...or think anything that I know of,* James said helplessly as the image of a marshmallow man briefly appeared in his mind.

  Natalie reached over to the table and picked up a mug before wrinkling her nose. *Ick, this one’s yours.* She handed the mug to James.

  It looked to be the same mug from downstairs. James took it and, before I could say anything, drained it without hesitation. I sighed.

  *Literally?* James slurred slightly and smacked his lips.

  *Linearly,* Natalie corrected. *Weren’t you listening?*

  *Time. You’re talking about time,* I interjected, happy to have found at least one piece of this messy puzzle, not that it helped.

  *Uh huh,* Natalie nodded, grinning hungrily at me. *God, I can’t wait to get you in bed. We haven’t yet, have we? I would hate to have missed it.*

  *No…* I said carefully to the woman wiggling in James’s lap. I felt waves of intoxication mixed with lust coming from James and…it was strange. The strangeness wasn’t his feelings, I was getting used to his hormonal outbursts. The strangeness was that I was feeling what he felt, almost as if we’d traded bodies. Something Natalie was doing was causing the bond James and I shared to…blend to the point I couldn’t tell whose emotions I was feeling. It made me dizzy.

  James seemed to feel my distress and finally had the sense to set his drink down and push it away.

  *Wait, what?* I sighed in frustration, feeling like I’d said the word twenty times already. Natalie’s mind bounced around like a pinball. It was hard to follow. As soon as I thought I knew where she was going, she bounced off in a seemingly random direction.

  *Both of you, of course.* Natalie glanced at James, then turned to me and winked. *But that’s not why you came this time,* she sighed, then paused, *or was it?* She was staring at me now. *I already know his answer,* Natalie wiggled in James’s lap, causing him to shift uncomfortably.

  *Maybe next time, he’s still a bit fresh,* I said as something inside me seemed to relax and all the anxiety that had been building in me drained away suddenly.

  I felt James suddenly starting to panic, but Natalie reached over and patted his cheek.

  *It’s alright,* Natalie soothed James. She smiled at him and turned back to me. *I can wait. For that, I’ll wait,* she sighed.

  I felt James connect another piece of the Natalie puzzle just before he said, *You’re—*

  *Out of phase,* Natalie completed for him. *Just a little disconnected in time...sorta...kinda...more like I’m at most of the points some of the time...like now...* She ground herself into his lap with gusto. *I see both of you...this room. God, y’all are hot together,* she sighed wistfully. *So annoying not knowing when I am.*

  *Wibbly wobbly, timey wimey,* James said.

  *Yes! Correctamundo!* Natalie squealed.

  I glanced at James to see if he recognized Natalie’s comment from earlier. He was looking at me with the same expression.

  *You. Shae,* Natalie purred, *please come hither,* Natalie’s voice was throaty as she said it. She had one arm around James’s neck and held the other out to me as I hesitantly approached.

  Natalie looked up at me through her lashes with her best pout on. *Come now, don’t be shy. It’s not like we haven’t done this a hundred times already.*

  I locked eyes with Natalie.

  I could feel my anxiety return, almost as if it were a tangible thing. Something in me was fueling these emotions. It was beyond the simple confusion of the here and now.

  Natalie nodded, *Yes, part of you knows what happened back then and is terrified of me. No one can ever cover it all up, not even someone like me.* Natalie unhooked her arm from James and took my hands in hers.

  In my confusion, my body didn’t resist as Natalie pulled me down to eye level with her. I barely felt it as Natalie’s hand snaked behind my head and swiftly brought our lips together.

  It wasn’t the first time I’d kissed a woman, far from it. But it was the first time I’d seen stars at the touch. It felt like explosions were going off in my head, and I found I couldn’t move. The surprise and soft warmth of Natalie’s mouth distracted me long enough for her to slip deeply into my mind.

  A moment later, my head started to resist, quivering beneath Natalie’s touch. The world returned as my legs gave out, and I found myself on my knees, still connected to Natalie at the lips.

  *You’ll have to do better than that,* Natalie said in our collective mind as she crawled through my skull.

  I still resisted, not understanding, as my thoughts struggled to make sense of this odd woman. *What was she doing? Who was she? What was going on?* One thought after another came, and still, I was frozen, unable to move.

  *Fine,* Natalie sighed, breaking our kiss. *Let’s start with him, then.*

  I found myself being gently guided until my mouth found James’s.

  My body reacted on its own at his touch. My mind could no longer stop it. All the hesitation and fear my mind had used to keep my body in check these past weeks disappeared. My mind gave up trying to stop it as my hands clawed at the back of his head, pulling his mouth harder into mine as our tongues danced.

  The sudden need for him was intense, insatiably so. I wanted him like I’d never wanted anything else in my life. The memories of our frantic couplings all those years ago slipped into my mind from out of nowhere. My mind tried to stop and ponder this, but my body growled at it in frustration, and then I didn’t care anymore. My brain stopped thinking and I just kissed him with everything I was.

  My need filled my mind to bursting. The stars I’d seen when Natalie had kissed me began to explode all over again. These stars didn’t scare me or confuse me as before. These weren’t Natalie’s stars. These stars were from…my…boy.

  *That’s the one,* Natalie’s voice suddenly rumbled in my mind, her touch returning to the back of my head.

  My eyes practically burst from their sockets as my body involuntarily tried to escape Natalie’s touch. I arched as if being electrocuted. Every synapse was on fire, and my body crackled with the energy flowing through it.

  Then it was over. The energy was gone, and I collapsed onto Natalie’s lap, unable to move. My mind felt like an open book, lying on a desk for anyone to read.

  Natalie cradled my head gently, her hands sliding my hair out of my still-open eyes. I felt Natalie’s fingers as she began to delicately sift through my mind, searching for something.

  Without my direction, my mind reacted, swirling as if trying to get away. But Natalie was persistent, searching until she found what she wanted and pulled.

  A cascade of suppressed and altered memories erupted from a hidden place in my mind. Like a damn bursting during a flood, my entire existence exploded in sound and color behind my eyes.

  *Yes,* Natalie said gently. *Easy now, not too fast.* Natalie’s featherlike touch continued sifting through my mind. She slowly organized the chaotic jumble of my memories into their proper places.

  *Don’t worry about all of them at once; you’ll have plenty of time to sort later,* Natalie said.

  Amongst the chaos of my own mind, I felt a thin thread of need and followed it into Natalie’s mind. Natalie desired me; she had ever since we’d first met 14 years ago in Pagoda’s compound on the night my master died.

  *Oh?* Natalie said, surprised to find me inside her mind. *Are we that eager then? Fine, but first, allow me to explain myself before you…decide what to do with me.* Her trepidation was unexpected but sincere.

  *Of course it's sincere. You’re in my head Shae, I can’t lie to you in here.* Natalie sighed, *Now let me get this out.*

  *Pagoda contracted me for a standard mind alteration, nothing unusual at the time. Plus, I really needed the money back then.* Natalie said.

  *Before an alteration contract can be finalized,* Natalie started, *I had to first ‘examine the goods’ as it were. AKA, I had to examine your mind to see if it could be done. If it couldn’t, I’d erase my presence of ever being in your head, get paid a small fee, and go home. If I could do it, then terms would be hacked out and the contract finalized before I did anything else.*

  I lay, unmoving, as Natalie explained all this to me. She’d somehow cut James out of this, giving us our privacy. James, in the meantime, sat there like his personal pause button had been pushed.

  *I’d done forced alterations before, it was something I did when I was desperate.* Natalie said. *I was never proud of it and tried to forget it afterwards but it always stuck with me, no matter what I tried.

  *I knew there was a problem before I ever touched you,* Natalie said. *Pagoda, the dumbass, had already bloodbound you and tried altering your mind himself. Of course, the amateur had fumbled the job; they always do. You resisted him and he couldn’t handle it. The problem was, in your battle of wills, your mind had been torn to pieces by Pagoda’s hack job. You weren’t quite a mental vegetable, but you were pretty close.

  *At first, I straight up refused. I told Pagoda there was too much damage and I couldn’t do it. Of course, he threatened me and tried various underhanded tactics to get me to bend to his will. He made me dive back into your mind again and again but all it did was strengthen my resolve to not do it.

  *But, during these dives I started finding pieces of you. Involuntarily, I started stitching them together and the more I found, the more I wanted to know about you. I quickly became obsessed and agreed to the job but told Pagoda it wouldn’t be a quick fix. This was going to take time. It was true, it would take time but I dragged it out because I wanted to know you more.

  *Pagoda agreed to my conditions, he didn’t care, he just wanted it done. He practically gave me a blank check when he signed my contract without reading it fully.

  *I had my work cut out for me and I took my time. Not only did I want to put you back together again properly, but I wanted to know how your story would turn out. I wanted to be a part of it. By the time I was done, my obsession with your story was absolute. I’d made you whole, but at the same time I’d made you Pagoda’s property. The only thing that helped me sleep at night was the fact every memory I changed, I’d tucked away for safekeeping in your mind. When the day came, I’d be able to fix all the wrong I’d done to you, to your mind at least. I knew it wouldn’t be enough for forgiveness, but…I hoped.*

  Natalie cleared her mental throat. *Now, I’ve put everything back the way it was before that night. If you want, I can change the time between then and now. I can make it so you don’t remember what you went through these past years. I can change as little or as much as you want. It’s the least I can do for you and your story…* Natalie trailed off.

  I felt it as Natalie withdrew from my mind, but I chose to remain in hers a while longer.

  I wasn’t sure what I felt yet. I knew I was whole, and my mind was clear, but there was a lot to take in.

  Focusing on Natalie, I searched her feelings. Everything she’d told me was true. Pagoda had destroyed me, he’d threatened Natalie, and he would have killed both of us if she’d refused. She didn’t have to save my thoughts; she could have done the job and never looked back. No one would have been the wiser. But she hadn’t.

  *I know what it’s like, being forced into necessary evils—* I started when an avalanche of Natalie’s thoughts, feelings, and memories engulfed me.

  I couldn’t breathe; images flashed through my head, scenes blurred before my vision, and a cacophony of voices, thoughts, and feelings pummeled me. I couldn’t keep up. It was too much. Just as I was about to be ripped apart, it all stopped, and the world disappeared.

  ∞?∞

  (???)

  Water.

  Drowning.

  Heat.

  Hissing.

  Cold.

  Falling.

  “I’ve got you, Mom.”

  ∞?∞

  SHAE

  *NO!*

  Natalie’s voice in my head jerked me back to the present. My body shuddered, and my eyes popped open.

  I slowly sat up from Natalie’s lap and leaned back.

  Natalie watched me with a shocked expression, *How did you do that? You shouldn’t be able to do that!* Her voice was filled with real fear, not the teasing, unhinged voice from before.

  *What was that?* I said, glancing at James, who was still seemingly frozen.

  *That…that was me. That’s how my mind works. I said it before. I am not always in one place. You got caught up in one of my jaunts. It should have ignored you or killed you. But that’s not what it did.*

  I couldn’t read the expression on Natalie’s face.

  *What was—*

  *Shae, you can’t be there yet,* Natalie said, all pretense of the confusing woman act from before gone. *I have to take that back,* her voice dripped with genuine remorse.

  *Take what? I don’t understand.* I said, finding I couldn’t move.

  Natalie reached out and touched my forehead.

  ∞?∞

  SHAE

  *I know what it's like, being forced into necessary evils—* I started.

  *Forgive me,* Natalie whispered, interrupting me.

  I looked up at her from her lap and couldn’t identify the expression on her face. Was it sadness? Her eyes looked moist. I sat up and leaned back slowly.

  *Shae?* James said, drawing my attention. He was moving again, and back in my head.

  My James.

  ∞?∞

  JAMES

  Shae came up to kiss me so fast that our teeth bumped, something that only happens to teenagers. But that’s what it felt like we were, and I couldn’t help but grin stupidly as tears formed in the corner of my eyes.

  *Shae, what—* But I was interrupted as Natalie’s hand tapped me on the forehead.

  *Learn.* The voice was Natalie’s, but it also wasn’t. It was ancient and filled my head with memories.

  Shae and I were sitting on the car's hood at the nature preserve all those years ago. She was holding my engagement ring, and I told her to think about it.

  The scene shifted. Shae came to her hotel room later that night, where a dozen vampires awaited. She was “escorted” to Pagoda’s compound.

  Shae’s master was dead. Pagoda was claiming dominance over Shae. While she could do nothing against the claim, her mind used my memory as an anchor during the rite.

  This angered Pagoda when he saw it through their new bloodbond, and he tore Shae’s mind apart.

  Then Natalie was there. She stood in dark robes, shades of black on black. She reached out at Pagoda’s command and dove into Shae’s mind.

  Pagoda ordered Shae’s memories of me to be erased. He went as far as to have me replaced with himself in some of her memories, further twisting Shae’s mind to his will.

  I opened my eyes in the here and now to find Shae staring back at me. We stared at one another for a long while, saying nothing, thinking nothing, just staring. Finally, she broke the silence.

  *We’re not losing anymore time,* Shae said before turning to Natalie, *and you’re not going anywhere either.*

  I sensed hesitation from Natalie. Then she shrugged and grinned. *I hadn’t planned on it. This is my room, after all.*

  What followed would have filled a year’s worth of Penthouse Letters. Whatever power Natalie had over us was complete. The strange link the three of us shared continued and deepened. Half of the time, I didn’t know which of the three of us I was.

  TWO DAYS LATER

  The three of us were on Natalie’s bed together when I returned to any sense of reality. I wasn’t sure I knew what normal was. I wasn’t sure of anything anymore.

  Natalie stirred behind me. Her arm was wrapped around me, cupping my breast while she pressed into my back, her lips on my shoulder blade. I was draped around James, my hair a complete disaster.

  Then I remembered I was James, and Shae was curled on my chest with Natalie behind her. They were both asleep. I tried to lie still, not wanting to move for fear of waking them. It took a moment for me to realize the mental rapport we’d shared the past few days was still going, and they were slowly stirring.

  *What,* my mental voice seemed out of breath, *was that?*

  Shae’s voice answered first, *Amazing?* I could hear her mental sigh of contentment. *Truly, truly amazing.*

  *You’re welcome,* Natalie mentally yawned.

  *Did we really just spend two days—* I started.

  *Making the beast with two backs?* Shae completed my thought.

  *Three backs,* Natalie corrected, teasing my...er, Shae’s body.

  I watched Shae reach back and softly caress Natalie.

  Natalie snuggled closer, nuzzling behind Shae’s ear.

  *Three lovely backs,* Shae amended, mewing like a kitten.

  Then Natalie’s words came back to Shae from before *It’s not like we haven’t done this a hundred times?*

  *Spoilers.* Natalie kissed the back of Shae’s ear.

  *I don’t think ‘thank you’ is a strong enough expression,* I added.

  *Well, I would take money,* Natalie’s mental voice seemed to stretch as she did, *but money’s not worth anything anymore.*

  *Eternal servitude?* I offered.

  *Ditto,* Shae yawned, starting to move a bit herself.

  *Done and done,* Natalie sealed the deal. She reached over and ran the back of her hand down my face. *Be good. I’m going to take a shower...if I can make it that far.*

  I smiled and enjoyed watching Natalie roll out of bed and get to her feet stiffly. She raised her hands high above her and stretched up onto her tiptoes, a little squeak coming out of her at the apex. It made me chuckle, and she grinned back at me.

  *I think you ruined him,* Shae said, seeing Natalie through my eyes.

  I couldn’t tell when Shae was doing that. There was no sensation when she was in my head now.

  *He’ll be expecting this every time now,* Shae chided.

  *I’ll teach you how to do it,* Natalie winked at me.

  *Really?* Shae picked her head up from my chest to look at Natalie.

  *No,* she grinned evilly. *If you could do it, y’all wouldn’t need me anymore, and I’d never be invited.*

  Shae threw a pillow at her, but Natalie stepped out of the way at the last minute and closed the bathroom door.

  *Your cups are on the nightstand,* Natalie started, *You both need to finish them off completely before you leave. That includes refills. And before you ask, just shut up and drink.*

  We looked over, and sure enough, our mugs from before were steaming on the bedside table. We sat up and took tentative sips. It had the same wonderful flavor as before, but we instinctually knew it wasn’t spiked this time. Both famished, we drained our mugs. They immediately refilled and we drank again.

  *Truth?* Shae asked Natalie as I was chugging my drink.

  *When you need it,* came her gentle reply.

  *Was it all necessary? Could you have given my memories back without...all this?*

  *True truth?* Natalie asked.

  I could feel Shae thinking about it. I knew she’d always wonder later if she didn’t ask.

  *Please,* Shae finally said.

  *Yes,* Natalie smiled.

  I could actually feel Natalie’s smile over our link.

  *Which one?* Shae growled.

  *I never hurt the ones I love, sweetie. Not permanently, at least,* Natalie said.

  Something about the way Natalie said it made me hesitate, and I could feel Shae do the same. Then, Shae seemed to let it go, so I did as well.

  *But, I do need to say this,* Natalie said to Shae.

  I could still hear her, but I knew Natalie was directing it toward Shae. This link was so weird.

  *I saw several of your memories had bled through before today,* Natalie started. *That shouldn’t happen. That doesn’t happen even to the weakest blood-worker. Once we’ve sealed something away, it stays sealed until we open it. I don’t understand how you broke the rules and got ahold of those memories.*

  *Don’t ask me, I don’t know how it works,* Shae said.

  I waited until I knew they weren’t going to say more and jumped in. *Shae?*

  *Yes, dear?* Shae said, finishing off another mug.

  *Is this how all vampire sex is?* I heard Natalie snort from the bathroom and saw Shae throw a dirty look her way.

  *No. Nothing like that at all. That...that was something else entirely. I think she might have ruined me, to be honest,* Shae admitted.

  *You’re making me blush,* Natalie said, turning on the shower.

  I was both relieved and disappointed at the same time. I was blown away by what we’d just experienced. There was nothing in my life or fantasies to compare this to. It wasn’t sex, and it went well beyond lovemaking. This was...I didn’t have words for it.

  *Still blushing,* Natalie said.

  I’d forgot they could hear my thoughts and quickly tried to rein it in as my cheeks burned.

  *Why is Deadpool shooting a ‘hang in there’ kitty poster with a dart gun?* Natalie asked in confusion.

  It was Shae’s turn to snort with laughter.

  I watched Shae laugh and smiled to myself. She seemed to be more comfortable with herself and with me, for that matter. Whatever Natalie had done had seemed to…‘restore’ her. That was the best I could come up with to describe it.

  *Anyway, Natalie showed me what happened to you back then Shae, but…* I tried to think of how to phrase my question in a way that didn’t sound stupid.

  *What exactly happened?* Shae asked. *It's not a stupid question. Let me see if I can break this down for you.* Shae took a moment to collect her thoughts.

  *In a nutshell, Pagoda killed my master, bloodbound me to him, and then had Natalie mess with my head,* Shae said.

  *It’s a living,* Natalie was shampooing her hair.

  Shae continued, *Pagoda was so pompous he gave Natalie the wiggle room to lock away my memories, not erase them.*

  *It wouldn’t have mattered.* Natalie was rinsing her hair now. *Contracts terminate upon death. Since I know you’ll kill him, I wouldn’t have been bound by it. If anyone asked, I would have told them—*

  *Wibbly wobbly, timey whimey,* I muttered.

  *Spot on Mr. Smith.* Natalie started in on conditioner.

  *OK, what do you keep saying, and who’s Mr. Smith?* Shae chimed in.

  *You’ve got your work cut out for you, James,* Natalie chuckled.

  *Yup,* I laughed and felt Shae grabbing me in a way no man should ever be grabbed in anger. *OK, OK, I’ll tell!*

  *Y’all don’t have time for that,* Natalie interrupted. *Sadly, you’ll need to be moving along soon.*

  *Awww,* the two of us said in concert. I could hear Natalie’s eyes roll.

  *Gluttons,* Natalie mumbled.

  *Seriously though, Natalie. How long is this rapport thing going to last?* Shae couldn’t keep a worried tremor out of her voice, causing me to look at her.

  *Don’t worry; it will fade as you leave,* Natalie said, then paused. *More Deadpool and kittens, what IS that about?*

  *James’s attempt at a block,* Shae said.

  *Does it work for you?* Natalie asked.

  *Nope,* Shae said.

  *Me neither,* Natalie said.

  *But it’s cute to see what he comes up with,* Shae smiled, her hand releasing its hold on me and turning it into a caress.

  *Not enough time,* Natalie chided us. *I’m out of the shower, jump in, jump out, and get dressed.*

  *Yes, Mom,* we said in unison, finishing our mugs again. As we sat them down, they refilled yet again.

  *This rapport thing is weird,* I said to Shae. *Our normal mind link is one thing, but this is so much more than that.*

  *Y’all are both weird. Now get out of my bed!* Natalie said, starting to sound impatient.

  An unfortunately short time later, we were toweling off. Natalie had disappeared on us while we were in the shower.

  *She seem different to you?* I asked.

  *Who Natalie?* Shae asked.

  *Yeah. I mean, she was all sorts of loopy when we first got here. Now she seems…*

  *Lucid?* Shae provided an end to my sentence.

  *Yeah, I guess that’s as good a word as any,* I said.

  *I honestly don’t know what to tell you,* Shae shrugged and continued to towel off. *She’s the first blood-worker I’ve met, so for all I know, they could all be that way.*

  Shae hesitated and then looked at me. *Nat had to make a hard choice. It was a decision that was worse than ‘the lesser of two evils.’ Something tells me you can relate.*

  *Uh, yeah.* I said slowly.

  *Well, now she’s living with the consequences, and I’m not the type of person to make that sort of thing worse. There’s not always a ‘good’ or ‘right’ choice, and in my experience, we’re less forgiving with ourselves than strangers are.*

  I stopped and looked at Shae in a whole new light. She would never have said something like that to my younger self. I could never have understood it back then if she had.

  I realized I had been looking at Shae all this time through the eyes and memories of an 18-year-old child. I couldn’t do that anymore. I owed it to her to open my eyes and start thinking of her as more than a childhood fantasy.

  Shae looked at me and smiled kindly.

  *I don’t deserve this woman’s love,* I thought solemnly.

  *That’s for her to decide, James. Just make sure you continue to earn it.* Natalie’s voice came through gently, and I knew Shae couldn’t hear it this time.

  I nodded to myself as I continued to dry off

  *OK—* I started a minute later, but Shae cut me off.

  *I was wondering how long it would take,* she said.

  *Can you really read me that well?* I asked.

  *Right now, I’m having difficulty telling which of our bodies is mine,* she sighed. *It’s going to make getting dressed really difficult.*

  *Tell me about it, the shower was hard enough,* I chuckled.

  *Is it all back then?* I asked, *your memories, I mean.*

  Shae stopped drying her hair and looked up at me with familiar eyes. *Hello, boy,* was all she said before kissing me deeply.

  We reluctantly broke and stepped away from one another.

  I couldn’t stop grinning. Her calling me by my old pet name caused my eyes to get a little moist.

  *OK,* I cleared my throat, trying to calm myself down. *So, what just happened? Don’t get me wrong, I’m in no way, form or fashion complaining about the last two days, but…to put it simply…huh?*

  Shae chuckled softly, dropping her towel. *First off, a little perspective. Most of us who’ve been in the vampire world a while now...kind of...well, we shed social stigmas after a while. We get sick of playing games meant for other people.

  *Some stick closer to normal human ways, and some run 180 degrees in the opposite direction. It’s all a matter of perspective. So, when you’ve been following an uptight, strict morality code for a hundred years, it’s not surprising that we want to cut loose occasionally,* Shae said.

  *So...what does that mean...for you...for us?* I said, trying to wrap my head around it.

  Shae turned and faced a mirror, pulling her hair back into a ponytail. *I’m not one to jump into bed with people I just met.” She glanced at me in the mirror. “I don’t think Natalie really counts as ‘people.’*

  *Granted,* I sighed, not being able to turn away from watching her.

  *Look how long it took me with you,* Shae said.

  *Oh, I remember, trust me,* I nodded.

  She turned to face me. *I’m doing this all wrong; it’s not coming out how I want,* she sighed. *I am faithful.* She closed her eyes momentarily, taking a deep breath, and then locked eyes with me. *I keep faith with the ones I’m with. I never cheat, and I never lie when it comes to the heart.*

  *I can get behind that,* I said softly. Our conversation was taking an unexpected turn, but it didn’t feel like the right time. *Listen, this...feels like something we should talk more about, but not here, not now. Does that make sense?*

  *Surprisingly, yes.* Shae had been standing in front of me for a few moments now, her hands on her cocked hips without a stitch of clothing on.

  My breath caught in my throat, and my heart did a weird double-beat thing when I realized she was showing off for me. My heart hadn’t done that since I was in high school.

  Shae smiled, seemingly satisfied with my admiration, and continued. *Anyway, back to what that was all about. From what I got from Natalie’s mind, blood-workers aren’t like vampires. Once they’ve had contact with your blood, they can access your mind any time you’re near. The only time it goes both ways is during direct blood-on-blood contact, just like a vampire. We both avoid it because it’s unpredictable.*

  *How so?* I was finishing up drying off and sat on the bed.

  *Contact with someone’s blood directly links to every aspect of their being: thoughts, memories, and emotions. It comes through raw and unfiltered. It can be overpowering and potentially damaging if they’re not careful,* Shae said.

  *Then, why would you do it at all?* I asked.

  Shae strolled across the room and straddled me, sitting on my lap and putting her arms around my neck. *You would do it for someone you cared about. So they would know, without a doubt, how you felt. What do you think the last two days have been about?*

  My blank look caused her to kiss my forehead.

  *But how?* I said.

  Shae grabbed her mug from the nightstand and held it up a moment before finishing it.

  I’d lost count of how many times our mugs had refilled now.

  *What do you think we’ve been drinking? Who do you think you’ve been drinking?* Shae corrected.

  My eyes grew wide. *That was Natalie’s blood? With all the stuff in it?*

  *That’s her blood straight, no additives. She made sure Drake had it ready to go when we walked in. She’d seen us coming. I’ll be honest; I’ve never tasted anything like that before, so you’re right to be impressed.*

  *Did you know?* I asked.

  *Nope.* Shae kissed my cheek. *I, like you, thought they had added spices or something.*

  *But how did she—" I tried, but Shae was being very distracting, *get our blood?*

  *The ways of the Jedi are subtle and often overlooked by the weak-minded,* Shae said, kissing down my jaw to my collarbone.

  *More Star Wars references?* I was mentally out of breath as my body reacted instinctually.

  *Seriously!* Natalie’s mental scolding came from nowhere, trying to throw cold water on our blossoming amorous activities. *Knock it off before I turns on the hose!*

  Shae slid off my lap and knelt beside the bed, her head in my lap. *Make me,* her voice was a throaty whisper in my mind.

  *Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow!* Shae was on her feet, on her tiptoes, her head cocked to the side as if someone had grabbed her by the ear and lifted her up.

  Natalie was still nowhere to be seen.

  *Now,* I felt Natalie’s voice ‘turn’ to me. *If you would be so kind as to put on some pants while I have a little conversation with Shae here.*

  I didn’t need any other prompting and started pulling on clothes like a kid who’d just heard his girlfriend’s dad’s car pulling up to the house. While I knew Natalie wasn’t speaking to me, I could still hear their conversation.

  Natalie turned her attention to Shae. *OK darling, here’s the deal. There are legitimate reasons I am trying to get you going. It’s not because I want you gone. If I had my way, neither of you would leave my bed for a month, possibly longer if I thought I could take it. But you both are on a dangerous path right now, and there are more threats to you out there than you know of. I’m sitting with one of them right now. So, pretty please, zip it up and get on the road, OK?*

  *Yes, ma’am,* Shae said as she was lowered down from her tiptoes. She rubbed her ear sulkily as she pulled on her clothes.

  *You know I love you, so don’t pout,* Natalie whispered.

  *Now, you two have a bit of a trip ahead of you. I recommend saving any more discussion until you’re safely back home. You two are too easily distracted for your own good.* I could feel Natalie’s mental eyes glowering at Shae. *Now shoo, more later.*

  Drake awaited us outside the door to escort us back to the elevator. Drake seemed to be trying to ensure we didn’t deviate from our course.

  Once in the elevator, Drake said, “I hope you enjoyed your visit here. Know that we always have a room available if you wish to pay another visit or perhaps stay a bit longer.”

  “Thank you,” I managed while Shae kept to her sullen silence.

  The bar downstairs was relatively quiet. I glanced at my watch, realizing the sun had just set.

  Drake saw us to the door.

  “Once again, thank you for your patronage. Please be careful upon leaving the garage; it’s still rather…unseemly out there.” He nodded once and closed the door when we were outside.

  Natalie was right; we should have saved the talk for when we got back to the Hacienda. Instead, we talked via mind-speech the entire way back, oblivious to the fact we were being followed.

  We came to the turn-off where we normally stashed the bike. We had decided to have the two trucks at the house for real emergencies. Anything else we needed more regularly, like the bikes, was stored a good kilometer from the house. That way, the noise they made wouldn’t attract attention to the house. Shae’s bike was kept on the opposite side of the property.

  We stashed the bike under a tarp and then pushed it into a pair of overgrown bushes. It wasn’t perfect, but you would have to be looking for it to find it. I scuffed over the tire tracks.

  Shae took my arm and leaned her head against my shoulder as we walked back. I could sense that part of her was still trying to accept her “new” memories. She hadn’t been comfortable with public displays of affection before, but since she got her memories back, she didn’t seem to care anymore. It was an odd mix that was confusing for her. If we hadn’t had this mind link, I never would have been able to understand what was going on with her.

  On the other hand, I was anxious. Shae had all her memories back now and seemed to be OK. I wasn’t sure what would be coming next for us. It wasn’t as if she was a completely different woman. She was still the same woman I’d spent the last month with. We just had to figure out how we fit together now.

  *Shae?* I asked.

  *Yes?* She looked up at me from her own thoughts.

  My train of thought was interrupted as we came in sight of the Hacienda.

  I signaled the lookout as we came out of the trees. We’d come up with all these signals and watch rules. It took some getting used to, but it was now the norm for everybody.

  Miria was on the roof and waved back.

  “Well, well, well,” Miria called once we were close enough. “You finally decided to come home?”

  “Yeah, sorry. We got...sorta...sidetracked,” I said.

  “Uh-huh, seems to be a habit with the two of you,” Miria said, looking from me to Shae and back.

  “We miss anything?” I asked.

  “Nope,” Miria said.

  “Good, coming up.” I used the lip of the roof to easily swing up. On the way up, I thought I heard something but dismissed it as the roof creaking under me.

  Shae followed effortlessly behind me.

  “Did I miss something?” Miria looked back at us and nodded at how intimate we were acting.

  “Hush, and watch your sector,” I grinned. “Oh, here you go,” I said, handing her the brown paper bag containing what she’d asked me to get.

  There was that sound again.

  Shae also caught it this time and looked back the way we came.

  “Oh shit!” came a woman’s voice from the tree line.

  Even Miria heard that and moved her rifle to cover the trees.

  A moment later, I heard a body hit the ground.

  Shae and I were off the roof and into the trees moments later. We found the body in question just inside the tree line.

  The woman was dressed in the remains of an expensive blue dress with matching shoes that appeared to be broken. Her extremely long black hair was a tangled mess about her, and she had scrapes and cuts all over her body.

  *Where do you think she came from?* I asked.

  “Speak aloud, we’re home now. From the looks of her, she followed us from Drakes,” Shae frowned.

  “We weren’t followed. I didn’t see a single car the entire trip,” I said.

  “She was running,” Shae replied, not taking her eyes off the woman.

  “Oh.” I shut my mouth. I knew we hadn’t been going that fast, but I still couldn’t believe someone had kept up with us on foot the whole way back. “Well, I guess you were right about the run tiring us out.”

  “Let’s get her inside before we attract any more unwanted attention,” Shae said, scanning our surroundings.

  I didn’t realize how large the woman was until I tried to pick her up. She wasn’t fat, she was tall and had serious muscle on her. Parts of her body were hard as a rock.

  “Down boy,” Shae teased, shaking her head. “Men.”

  “Sorry.”