Page 128 of Within the Veil

"Guys. Did one of you drug me? There's a giant lion standing next to a woman who looks just like Charlie except, Charlie isn't knocked up," one of them finally says. after a moment, rubbing his eyes as he looks back and forth.

One of them is growling. He looks a bit like an angry vampire.

"Who's the angry vampire?" I ask, and Charlie and the girl burst out laughing.

"Why the fuck does everyone think I'm a vampire?" He throws his hands up.

"Well, maybe you shouldn't look like Damon Salvatore. I mean, that's like copyright infringement, right?" I make a sweeping gesture with my hands and step closer.

"Oh my god, I don't know about the sister thing, but she sounds just like you. It's scary," the woman standing at her side, whispers.

Charlie looks at me with a small frown, "Mom and Dad couldn't have kids. They told me I was their miracle baby. So I'm not sure what's going on here."

I rub my head, realizing that explaining is going to take a lot longer than we had time for. We already wasted enough time waiting for the class to end. I look over at Xena.

She strides forward,I am Xena. Hear me roar.She projects into everyone's mind and I bite back a smile as the men take a step back.

"Oh, she is so pretty. Can you imagine jumping onto her back and riding into battle?" Charlie coos.

Xena preens and I look pointedly at Zane, who rolls his eyes.

We do not have much time, so I am going to show you all that I know. You will see that everything I say is true, as I will also open up my mind to show you my intentions.

"What do you..." One of the guys says and moments later his mouth drops as Xena shares all the information she can, leaving out anything that is not pertinent.

A couple of minutes later, they all pause and stare at each other, probably having their own private talk, judging by the fleeting emotions on their face.

I step even closer, "Charlie, I know you don't know me. You're surrounded by a bunch of giant men and two fabulous women, one of whom looks just like you if you were seventy-eight months pregnant and a late-night television Disney character. Not to mention a huge lion who just brain fucked you with tons of information. I'm sure you didn't wake up this morning and choose 'acid-trip.' If you're anything like me, and it looks like you are, you chose violence.

But more than the fact that some weird ass people who live in the sky say we need you, and we do,Ido. I would also like to get to know the person who is technically my sister. I never had one," I add nervously.

A small smile touches her lips, "Stop begging, I'm too cute to bed and you look just like me. I'm coming," she looks back and her mates nod. "Do we have time to pack a bag?" She asks, moving forward towards the door.

I have already collected your things and have secured them back with the Dragons for now.

I look at her curiously, "why the Dragons?"

I had to check-in.

I nod, and look back to Charlie, "Also, we are the same size, well, when I'm not a beached whale, and Ryder has a shopping addiction. You're covered."

Xena turns her head just as King's voice comes through clearly in mine,We have to go. Now.

Fuck.

"Okay, works for me. Let's go. Can you do that magic thing? Because chances are..."

No problem,Xena says and we are suddenly standing before the Veil.

I narrow my eyes, planning to ask her furry ass why we couldn't have done that to get here in the first place, but King is suddenly tugging me through the Veil and Charlie and company follow through.

* * *

Hudson

"Oberon's men said there is movement towards the camp," we need to move quickly," King says seriously.

One of Charlie's men frowns, "movement? Are you under attack?"