Page 54

Bad Guy

L ooking around the room, I tilt my head. We’re several levels below the Society meeting place in the same room they held the trial in. The Mayor asked me to be present as security, though my skills aren’t made for aggression. She’s aware I can’t warn her of impending doom even if I see it, but she insisted I attend this secret consultation. The chamber is quiet, and the lamps flicker on the walls as I sit as far back as possible without being outside of the room. Nelia asked for an observer, and I can do that.

The Mayor enters from the back of the room with Zareb, a hooded figure following her. I can’t see the face, as it’s shadowed by the large opera cloak, and the voluminous size of it conceals everything but their height. The person's presence piques my senses, but I haven’t had a vision yet. That’s strange, but the room hums with a power level I rarely experience outside of my homeland.

“I have asked Hugo to observe only because I am hoping you will trigger something in him. As you know, he cannot relay any information that could alter the course of events. However, if he gathers new information to report back to his source, they may decide to impart some of his findings. We are at an impasse,” Nelia says, glancing at me.

Zareb raises his head, sniffing the air as he senses something, and I feel the air in the room grow tense. He stalks back the way they entered, shaking his mane in aggravation. I arch a brow and the hood moves as a low, throaty laugh echoes in the room. Nelia watches her companion exit, her braids clicking at her waist as she joins the stranger in chuckling.

“Your companion is quite agreeable, Cornelia. He is watching the others while you give me updates on your progress.” Her guest crosses the room, stopping in front of the enormous relief artwork in the wall. The silence settles over us as we wait for the mysterious visitor to study the figures and symbols on the artwork.

“It’s beautiful,” Nelia murmurs. “Perhaps not accurate to the letter, but…”

Another laugh makes the cloak tremble. It’s raspy this time, and I feel a familiar zing as my eyes cloud. I don’t know why that sound is setting off my powers, but I lean back in the chair to allow the flow of the universe to run through me. This is the reason she wanted me here and I’m curious what will come of it.

“Ah. Your friend is having his moment.” Boots click on the floor as they approach. “I’ve never seen one of his kind that isn’t female. Everything has changed so much over the years. We rarely come out of hiding unless the Society requires our presence for a vote. When all of this began, we had to stay hidden and now we have grown quite accustomed to staying under the radar.”

Nelia sighs, leaning against the rostrum. “It was a different world. What you’ve helped build made our town possible—it made all of our lives possible. The supe world is better for what you’ve sacrificed.”

“Yes. Our intent was to make a more tolerant world for our children—for all the children. I fear the foundation we worked so hard to put in place may be in danger. The key may lie with your undertaking, Cornelia.”

Sucking in a breath, I see colors and shapes and scenes that I can’t place. Usually my visions are more coherent than this, but like everything about this evening, my power seems to be shadowed in darkness. I don’t think it is the Mayor’s visitor, but it may have to do with whatever this ‘undertaking’ is.

“You were successful, old friend. But the darkness never rests. Many prominent individuals opposed the changes and have continued to vocalize their opposition. Is it possible they may be responsible for the fog?” Nelia gestures at me, and I know she realizes that I’m not receiving the same signals I normally do.

The shadowy figure steps away from the artwork, walking towards me. Raising a hand within the robe, it points at me, murmuring, “ Eleftheróste to myaló tous. Sikóste tin omíchli ? 1 .”

Power tugs at my skin, crawling over me like bugs. I’ve felt nothing like it and I spent most of my life at the feet of the most powerful beings in existence, but this is different. Mayor Cornelia’s strange guest is wielding a mix of energies so potent that it knocks me back into my seat. I close my eyes as visions flood my consciousness, playing at hyper-speed.

“Holy fuck,” I cry out, struggling to control my form as the magick she’s drawing on strips me of all of my carefully constructed barriers.

“Be careful. You cannot harm him,” Nelia warns. “The wrath of his brethren would be severe, and it will displease me. They have not forced me to show my true self outside of my home in decades.”

“Nelia, it is not good for shifters—especially ones with your gifts—to stay in human form for too long. Your mates do you a disservice,” the shadow replies. “I will not harm your seer. I need to see if imbuing my unique powers will break the block placed around her.”

Placed around whom? What is this meeting about?

The Mayor didn’t ask me here to observe, that much is obvious. She wanted me to be this person’s guinea pig. Nelia has a plan, and she needed someone with my strength to experiment with. I wouldn’t have been opposed to it if she’d asked, but I’m a tad insulted she felt she had to deceive me.

“She has completed a mate bond, but the fog persists. The others believe it may continue to lift as her other sides emerge and she completes the bonds with them. I’m unsure if that is accurate, but I’d like to find out before our enemies find their way here. She’s not ready.”

Oh, now I understand.

Cornelia Sykes is playing the long game—she’s hoping that she can shake the suppression spell from Jolene by calling upon this ally. I don’t know yet why that’s important nor who these enemies they’re speaking of are, but it’s possible this is all part of the cloudiness in my mind surrounding our lovely art teacher.

“Only one so far.” The laugh is deep from behind the hood. “Times change and misogyny remain the same. In a world where the buffet is limitless, we continue to allow society to put us on a diet. I have not been restricted in centuries and much like you, I’ve found life has only been sweeter.”

“Agreed.” Nelia looks over at me, tilting her head. “Hugo, how do you feel?”

Like a Mack truck hit me and offended, they chose me as a science experiment, but I don’t say that. Before I respond, I take a moment to inventory my body, mind, and power center. “I feel as if something may have freed up inside of me, but I can’t tell you what. I don’t know if what you were attempting was successful yet.”

“You’re upset with your Mayor. Don’t be; she wasn’t a fan of my plan but I insisted. I didn’t believe it would work as well if you prepared yourself. We need to understand this suppression spell placed on your friend—it wasn’t the doing of the Society and we haven’t been able to identify the magick.”

I blink. The Society doctor did not do Jolene’s suppression before she was adopted. Who outside of the snakes even knows that’s how the lost children are managed until adulthood? Why would anyone want to interfere with one specific hybrid?

“She’s not the only one, Hugo. Jolene is the one we have access to. She may also be the only one to inherit multiple sides, but we don’t know that, either. One of our own has to be involved in targeting specific individuals and use our own practices to hide their devious ways.” Our mayor sighs, looking tired under the Ramonda costume. The Queen of Wakanda suits her, but the obvious staring does not.

“Nelia, is she in danger? Is that why we are here tonight… of all nights? The veil is thinnest, and we gathered the entire town in one specific place—while we are across town with a hooded guest with the powers of multiple species running through them?”

The stranger claps in delight. “He is clever! I shall report that to his patron. The females of his kind are quite dim. That’s how the golden boy has always preferred them. But your seer is special, Cornelia. Keep this one close. Oh, I cannot wait to tell Leo about him. He’ll never believe it.”

Who the fuck is Leo?

“Give him and the others my best. It has been so long since we’ve all gotten together. You barely leave your compound anymore, and my mates hate international travel. It makes it so difficult to keep in touch,” Nelia sighs.

“I will. My polykoúlas prefer to stay where it’s safe ever since… well, you know. Masaru took the loss the hardest, and he has never reconciled the choice we had to make. Leonidas and Kedar try to draw him out, but it never bears fruit. I occasionally venture out like tonight, but I have Shade, Ariell, and Dax with me. They have the companions back in the castle we rented out for the weekend.”

Castle? Sweet merciful Artemis, who is this person and how does Nelia know them?

Anyone who can rent out the only castle in the entire state for a quick trip is more wealthy than most rock stars. Maybe that’s the reason for all the secrecy—this is a shifter celebrity still in the closet. If so, they’re hiding a cadre of people and a compound overseas.

“I hate to interrupt the catch up session, but is anyone going to answer the question? What is happening tonight that made this meeting necessary?” I ask, feeling irritated that they seem more concerned with gossiping than providing information.

Nelia gives me a sad smile. “We’re not sure, Hugo. Andromeda and the other Guardians have returned with less than fortunate news from Salem. There may be a rogue faction headed here and we are uncertain it doesn’t connect to this situation. The bad guys are multiplying and they have far too much power to ignore.”

Sitting quietly, I absorb their words. I haven’t been able to get as close to Jolene as I’ve wanted to, but she’s been so consumed with her students and the townspeople bothering her. I felt bad for trying. I don’t want her to be harmed, nor do I want anyone to whisk her away to protect her before I get the chance to rectify my error.

“I’ll help Bane search for the witches. I’m not needed at the ball, and your absence will be noticed soon.”

The cloaked one chuckles again. “Ah, the valiance of youth. Come, MacAuley. We will locate Andromeda and assist her. It has been even longer since I have seen her.” The pause is heavy as the stranger sighs. “She may not be as eager to see me. Best be cautious.”

Cannon fodder for a centuries old rivalry—sounds like a Saturday night at home. I’m not sure I want to be the monkey in the middle for that, but since I volunteered, I have little choice. Nelia winks at me, and I roll my eyes. She knew and didn’t warn me. Yet another demerit for her in my book; she’ll be in the negative soon.

“If Andromeda Bane will be displeased to see you, I’d prefer to follow you in rather than lead. I don’t know you well enough to take a shriek from her as my punishment for arriving with you in tow.”

“It will be more than a shriek, I guarantee.”

Marvelous. I can’t wait.

1 ? Free their minds. Lift the fog.