Venators, page 9
Grey was listening but fascinated with the bit of magic he’d just witnessed. He reached down and picked up a piece of the dome to examine it. As soon as his fingers closed, it altered to a gel that squished between his thumb and pointer. When he relaxed his grip, the gooey magic started steaming, quickly evaporating into nothing.
“The old Venators always said they felt calmer on this side,” Tate told Rune. “They said time at home caused them anxiety.”
Rune jerked ramrod straight, the color fading from her cheeks.
Grey sighed. “So what now? The council wants us to step in where the old Venators left off?”
Tate chuckled. “You’ll need training. And some adjustments in procedure will have to be made. There used to be hundreds of Venators—now we only have two.”
A strange howl went up, joined by more and more until it morphed from one lonely call to a multitude of frenzied barks and yips. Tate’s hand moved to his belt of weapons. “Werewolves.”
Grey looked to his arms. They were still shining pink and purple. “Do our markings alert us to werewolves?”
Tate nodded in the affirmative.
“How close do they have to get?”
“I’m not entirely sure.”
“Of course not.” Rune bolted to her feet and began to pace, three steps in one direction, three steps in the other. After several passes, she took a deep breath and planted her feet, her game face on. “OK, if you’re telling the truth about us being stuck here, I want to know what to expect. So far we’ve encountered faeries, werewolves, and goblins. What else?”
The howls slowly went quiet, and Tate relaxed. He leaned back on his elbows with a lopsided grin. “Anything and everything you’ve ever read about probably exists here. It’s all real.”
Grey found a place to sleep that was just below a break in the canopy but near enough the fire to enjoy the warmth. He lay with his arms behind his head, staring up at the mess of glinting stars. An abstract masterpiece.
Rune’s voice broke the magic. “What do you think is going to happen when someone finds those bodies in your room?”
“After they get done freaking out? I don’t know. Some government agency will probably swoop in and shut down the entire campus.”
Rune shook her head. “No, that’s not what I meant. Before we left, Tate started to say that we needed to dispose of the bodies, but there wasn’t time. Why would Tate care if our government is confused? What are they going to do? Decide to find a portal to an alternate dimension? Invade? No way. Tate knew that none of us were coming back to that room. Which makes me wonder why he was so concerned about eliminating the evidence?”
The way she asked it was less of a question and more of a push—hoping Grey would vocalize the answer she’d already arrived at. “You obviously have it all figured out. Why don’t you just tell me what you think?”
“Tate said being a Venator is genetic.”
“So?”
“Sooo.” She propped up on her elbow. “Contact with the supernatural was what turned these markings on, Grey. What if one of our parents is shown the bodies, or something else crazy, and suddenly they have glowing tattoos? Or—” She waved one hand in a small circle, searching for a new scenario. “What if someone at the police station just happens to have Venator blood? What then?”
He hadn’t thought about that. “I . . . I don’t know.”
Rune huffed and dropped back flat, staring up.
“Maybe if they’re dead, it won’t—”
“It doesn’t matter. Good night, Grey.”
“Uh . . . good night.” Suffering from emotional whiplash, he found himself just staring at her in confusion. He’d known Rune forever, and she’d never been as short with him as she’d been since crossing. He couldn’t help feeling like a puppy who’d just been kicked. Nursing his hurt feelings, he closed his eyes and tried to empty his mind. He was almost asleep when Rune’s voice broke the silence again.
“Grey?”
“Yeah?”
“I can’t stop thinking. About Ryker and my parents and the fact that I’m in an alternate dimension. My mind knows I’m worried on an intellectual level, but . . .”
He opened his eyes. She was lying on her side again, staring into the glistening embers and blinking back tears.
“Tate’s right,” she finished. “All I feel is calm.”
“Why is that such a bad thing?”
“Because I shouldn’t be!” Her jaw clenched as if she could stem the tide of worries from flowing out. “Calm is the last thing I should be. I felt calm before we left, too—when I chose to go with you instead of checking on Ryker. I’ve always trusted my gut, but . . .” She slowly shook her head. The firelight reflected back the haunted look in her eyes. “I don’t know what I’m feeling anymore.”
“Rune,” he said gently, wanting to reach out to her. “It wasn’t your fault.”
She scoffed. “It doesn’t really matter, does it? We’ll never know what would’ve happened if I’d made different choices. My brother is here, my parents are devastated, and instead of looking for Ryker or trying to get home, we’re headed to meet . . .” She shivered. “The council.”
She’d heeded Tate’s warning about listening ears and did not expound. But her vocal intonation relayed what she couldn’t say—fear, resentment, and uncertainty.
“But we’ll stick together, you and me. It’ll be OK. We’re strong, Rune.”
“Strong.” She repeated the word, then exhaled with a scoff of disbelief. “You don’t even know me.”
Kit
Grey woke to someone shaking him. Grunting, he opened his eyes. Tate’s dark face filled his vision.
“Where’s Rune?”
It took a moment to process what Tate was asking, but when it registered, Grey sat straight up, slamming his head into Tate’s. “Ow!” Grey scrambled to his feet, his palm against his throbbing forehead. “She’s gone?”
“Didn’t she tell you where she was going?”
“No, no—nothing. You don’t think . . .” He spun in a circle, looking through the trees. “Rune!” he shouted.
Tate hissed and grabbed him from behind, wrapping a massive hand across his mouth. “I could’ve done that, you idiot!”
A rustling came from somewhere in front of them, followed by a snapping branch. Tate released Grey and slowly pulled a sword from the sheath at his hip. His eyes were intent on the source of the sound, and he bent his knees slightly, ready for battle. The sun glinted off the raised white markings on his neck.
Rune stepped into the clearing and then stumbled back at the sight of the sword in her face. She raised her hands. “Whoa! It’s just me.”
Tate huffed in aggravation. “Where were you?” He slammed the blade back into its sheath.
“Washing my face.” Her hair, braided last night, now hung in neat waves.
“At the hot springs?”
She looked at him as if he’d lost his mind somewhere in the night. “You said it was safe.”
Tate gripped his bald blue head as if it might explode. “No, I said it was safe last night. That does not mean it’s safe this morning.” Kicking dirt over the ring that had been their fire, he jerked his head. “Come on, let’s go.” And just like yesterday, he strode ahead without waiting to see if they would follow. Which . . . really, where else would they go?
Rune looked to Grey, her mouth partway open. “What was that all about?”
“You scared him, and me. Next time you feel like wandering off, how about telling me where you’re going?”
“I didn’t want to wake you. I was trying to be nice.”
“Well, wake me. OK?” He was snapping at her. But he didn’t care—his heart was still pounding.
“OK.” Hurt edged her words. “Sorry.”
“It’s fine,” he mumbled. Ducking under a branch, he followed after Tate.
The sun lit the forest, and for a moment Grey forgot they weren’t at home. Everything looked nearly the same. Then he spotted some glowing blue mushrooms with iridescent spots growing up the side of a trunk, and the illusion was shattered.
They hadn’t walked long before they crested a hill that overlooked a town. Grey squinted and resisted the urge to rub his eyes. It was like they’d traveled back in time and come upon a village somewhere in medieval Germany. The buildings were one to four stories high and covered in white-cream stucco with brown timber framing.
Tate turned to face them. His eyes rested on their flickering tattoos. “We can’t go any farther until I make you both presentable.”
Rune’s hands went to her hips. “I don’t look that bad.”
“The Venators have a reputation to uphold. Right now you both look weak and young. Not to mention strangely dressed. Stay here. I’ll be back.” Tate sprinted down the hill, looking far too graceful for a man his size.
“Dressed strangely.” Rune rolled her eyes and dropped onto the tall grass with a huff. “He should look in a mirror sometime.”
With nothing to add, Grey stood awkwardly. He crossed his arms, then shoved his hands in his pockets. He should apologize. He shouldn’t have snapped at her like that. But why did she—?
“So, Grey. Looks like we have some time. When are we going to talk about you?”
He flinched. “Uh, what about me?”
“Are you going to pretend I didn’t see anything last night?”
“Huh?”
“Yeah, you know—the fact that you probably could’ve kicked my brother’s ass, and instead you always just sat there and took his crap. Oh, and you don’t play a single sport, I’ve never seen you at the gym, and somehow you look like,” she motioned to him, “that.”
“You’re not letting this go, are you?”
“No way.”
Resigning himself to the conversation, he sat down a couple feet away. She pursed her lips in annoyance. The intentional distance hadn’t gone unnoticed.
“You’re right. I could’ve taught Ryker a lesson.”
With his strength, speed, and martial arts training, he could’ve kicked his ass eight ways to Sunday.
“So why didn’t you?”
“And bring the wrath of the whole school down on me?” He raised his arms in the air. “All hail Ryker Jenkins, lord of football.” He snorted. “Yeah, I could’ve, and I would’ve paid for it in spades.”
No way he could’ve fought off an attack from Ryker’s football posse without revealing some of his gifts. However, that hadn’t been the only thing holding him back. He couldn’t have stood the look on Rune’s face if he’d done to her brother what he’d wanted to.
“Hmm,” she grunted. “Maybe.”
“Not maybe. The football team would’ve made sure I ended up in the hospital.”
“And what about the other question? When did you start looking like that?”
Grey scrubbed his fingers through his hair. “I used my stepdad’s gym in our garage, all right? I also run a few miles a day and train at a local martial arts school after hours.”
“That kind of physique doesn’t come easily. We’re talking a lot of time.”
“So?”
“So! You work hard, and you hide it under baggy clothes like you’re ashamed of the way you look.”
Mercifully, Tate was coming back up the hill with someone who was obviously not human, saving Grey from any more questions. The woman was fewer than five feet tall, with green skin and bright-red hair. Her dress was minimal at best: a tiny blue thing that was cut out in multiple spots and covered only the basics.
Rune and Grey got to their feet as the woman’s eyes ran over them both with curiosity. “So, these are your little Venators?”
Tate pointed. “This is Rune and Grey.”
“Kit.” She inclined her head in greeting. “I gotta give it to you, Tate. I was convinced they were just a myth.”
“Can you help us or not? We’re on a schedule.”
“Don’t ask stupid questions. Anything can be done for a price.” She held out her hand, and Tate plopped in a gold coin. She peered at it as if it were an insect, seemingly unhappy with what she saw. Finally, she clenched her fist, and the coin disappeared. “I see my work is highly valued amongst the council.”
The sarcasm could’ve been sliced and served for lunch. Tate seemed oblivious to it.
“Very well,” Kit said, a dangerous glint in her eye. “Let’s get on with it.”
“How is she going to help us?” Rune asked.
One red eyebrow shot to the sky. “She’s annoying me, Tate. That’s going to cost you.”
Tate growled under his breath and put another gold coin in Kit’s outstretched hand.
“Annoying you! I didn’t do anything.”
Kit leveled her gaze at Rune, lips pulled into a tight smirk. She held out her green hand a third time.
Tate shot Rune a clear shut up look before slapping down one more coin. “I am not paying you another. Either help us or give me my money back.”
“I’ve been ready to help from the beginning.” She batted her eyes up at Tate. “Now then, how far are we going?”
“The inn.”
Kit extended her hands and began weaving green magic from her fingertips. Once she held a substantial ball of magic in front of her, she whispered to it. The orb changed from shimmering green to teal. She blew, and the magic burst out, fluttering around them like the stems of a dandelion puff.
“There.” Kit dusted her palms off on her legs.
Grey held out his arms, trying to figure out what she’d done, but he could see no difference.
“We look the same,” Rune said.
Kit’s eyebrows went up again, but Tate cut her off. “I said not one more coin.” He shook his head. “Kit enchanted the pair of you to allow you to walk around unnoticed.”
“Completely unnoticed, as if you were invisible . . . for the next ten minutes.” Kit winked. “I’d run if I were you.”
“Kit!”
“Tate, darling, you know the game. If I work for cheap,” Kit smirked and shrugged her shoulders, “the work is cheap.”
Tate growled something about fae as he nudged both Rune and Grey toward the village. “Go.”
Kit’s high-pitched laughter danced behind them as they ran. By the time they reached the village, Grey’s blood was just starting to pound, and his body ached with the desire to keep going. Man, he loved that feeling.
Tate cut in front of them and slowed to a walk. “Don’t touch anyone,” he whispered over his shoulder. “They can’t see you, but they’ll be able to feel you.”
Easier said than done.
Luckily the dirt beneath their feet had been packed so hard and flat from years of use that there wasn’t any dust as they walked. Grey and Rune stayed tight behind Tate as they threaded through the village, allowing Tate’s hulking figure and sullen demeanor to clear the path. Even still, a strange-looking man with vines for hair crossed right behind Tate, and Rune had to practically jump on Grey’s back to avoid running into the man.
None of the villagers seemed relaxed. Regardless of age or species, everyone looked both alert and on guard. Weapons bulged beneath several tunics, but most wore them outwardly—swords and daggers strapped to backs, arms, and legs. The few who didn’t appear to have any weapons walked in a way that suggested they held powers that didn’t require the use of them.
The overall vibe of this place made Grey nervous.
A little boy ran in front of Tate, chasing a goat. Rune snickered quietly. The animal had three horns and two pointed little beards on the tip of its chin.
Finally, Tate pushed opened a door to a three-story home that was twice as large as the small buildings on either side. The inside matched the rustic outside. They’d stepped into a pub. Rough, hand-hewn wood tables were spread across the room, anchoring the patrons who sat there with tin mugs. A barmaid bustled about, delivering drinks and plates of food.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Rune whispered. “Do they even have electricity?”
Judging by the candlesticks that dripped wax on the tables and the oil lamps that flickered on the bar, no.
Tate gave a subtle jerk with his head, indicating they should follow. He walked to the bar and leaned over, whispering something in the bartender’s ear. The man nodded and pointed up a set of stairs.
The stairs were coated with a thick layer of dust that puffed out with each step. Anyone watching would’ve seen Tate’s feet throwing up dirt, followed by two unexplained dusty clouds right behind him. Luckily, everyone in the room seemed to be intent on the food and drinks and nothing more.
When they reached the top, a long hallway stretched out, lined with knot-filled planks. Simple wooden doors stood on either side like old, gnarly sentinels.
Tate swung open two doors and stood back. “These are your rooms,” he muttered under his breath. “I’ll be sending some things up for you. Until then, don’t go anywhere.”
Rune slowly closed the door behind her, looking over the plain room—a single bed with a handmade quilt, a dresser with a washbasin, a candleholder, and a simple wooden chair.
She moved to the window and rested her fingers on the frame, looking out at the strange world they’d stumbled into. Another three-horned, two-bearded goat meandered through the village while people in a variety of different styles of clothing and skin colors moved around. Some looked very human, others not at all. One lady carried water in two buckets set across her shoulders with a stick. Behind her, a little boy hopped along, waving his finger like a wand to direct his water bucket as it floated through the air. The boy’s facial features reminded her of the woman, but his skin was light blue.
