24
The look on Kandomere's face was priceless. He looked almost stunned as if he didn't just hear me say that. He then shook his head as I began to pull my attention back to my bag.
"That orc? Your roommate?" he blurted.
"Yes. If he is with me then I know I will be perfectly safe." I explained pulling out a yellow sundress.
"Odette, he needs special permission- clearance to be in this town." he argued. I leaned back up and looked at him.
"Woah what a coincidence that you're a part of Homeland Security with ties to the Magic Task force." I said. He frowned.
"Odette-"
"That is what I want Kandomere. If you can't get him here then fine, but either way I am leaving this room." I stated, and he just exhaled through his nose tucking his hands in his pocket and attempting to stare me down. I just arched a brow sharply.
An hour later, there was a firm knock on the door and I moved over to open it. I smiled wide.
"Nick!" I said happily, and he stepped in and hugged me immediately.
"O, I heard there was trouble last night. Thank God you're safe." he said wrapping his arms around me and holding me close. We pulled back and smiled at each other. He was in uniform which was probably a really good thing with him being here. Kandomere was standing a few feet away staring with his arms crossed and I turned and looked at him with grateful eyes.
"She has errands to run. You will take her to see her family and buy her a new phone and come right back here." he demanded pointing down to the polished floor.
"Understood." Nick said with a firm nod and Kandomere took out a card and handed it to me.
"Buy whatever you want." he said, and I shook my head pushing it back to him.
"It's okay, keep your money. I'll be fine." I said lowly.
"But I want to spend my money on you." he replied.
"Someone could think I stole this from you. Remember I look like a human and using this inside your city, even down town, they could think something. I don't need you to be distracted with the fact your card company telling you your money was stolen. I'll be alright." I explained. He knew I was right. Elf currency, their plastic was different. He needed to be focused on the Inferni not getting a call every few minutes to be informed of strange purchases made on my behalf. He gave a gentle smile curling his fingers under my chin and rubbing my cheek with his thumb.
"I want to hear from you every hour. I don't care what it is: text, call, voicemail," he said before looking down with sudden annoyance, "Mr. Jackoby I am entrusting you with my mate meaning your job is to give up your life to keep her safe. Do not fail and make sure she calls every hour. You got that?" He finally turned to my roommate who was doing his best to hide his annoyance. My mate, so dramatic.
"Yes sir." Nick replied looking at me. "You ready?" I gave myself a look over to make sure I wasn't missing anything. I wore my dress with brown heals and a brown and black necklace that hung beneath my breasts. My hair was moisturized and wild and I felt fierce.
"I'm ready." I said and we all left the room. Kandomere moved with speed as he walked down to the hall. He had his phone out and was talking to someone.
"Have my car ready." I blocked him out after that and looked up at Nick who was eyeing everything around him.
"Wow. Never been in a government hotel before." he said, and I nodded.
"Me neither. You get eyed by the receptionist?" I asked, and he nodded, his eyes popping some.
"Oh yeah." he said. Kandomere pushed a button on the elevator of which I only assumed was the down button. Once inside we stood across from each other. I was in the middle with Kandomere to my right and Nick to my left. The air in here was thick as the elevator moved down. I glanced at Kandomere who was just looking straight ahead, a serious glare in his eyes. Nick was just looking ahead awkwardly as if not wanting to look my way.
"So what are we going to eat tonight?" I asked. In seconds both men spoke asking what I wanted and finally shot each other a glare. I closed my eyes and groaned inwardly. I was used to Nick, but I was really asking Kandomere. The silence was awkward yet again. Look at us, an elf, a siren and a orc in an elevator. Now why couldn't the world be like this. The elevator opened finally and we all stepped out. Now the lobby was busy and filled with nothing but elves in designer clothes and shoes. Jewelry hung from their neck and ears and most of their noses were in their forms. But the second we all moved toward the receptionist guest, elves parted from us quickly. It was like we were the plague or something. But their eyes were mostly on Nick.
He did a good job acting like he wasn't bothered. Kandomere spoke to the receptionist who nodded at him immediately. He then looked at us.
"I only got clearance for him to be in the city for 24 hours." he replied. Nick and I both nodded as he looked at his watch. "I have to go. Anything happens call me or Montehugh." He pecked my lips quickly before pointing at Nick.
"Eyes on her for 24 hours." he demanded. Nick nodded.
"Yes sir." he said and Kandomere nodded and gave me a quick warm smile before walking over to the black car that was waiting out front. Nick and I watched him leave before he sped away. Now we were left in the street surrounded by walking elf dolls who just looked at us with disgust in shock. A "human" and an orc here? Why I never! I looked up at Nick who looked down at me.
"Ready?" he asked.
"As I'll ever be." he said and raised his hand toward his police cruiser. We got in and he took off. "So what's first?"
"My parents and then my phone." I said and he nodded with a smile.
"Copy that." he said and we began to drive through the city staring at the clean and expensive cars. "So how are you doing? You know after last night?"
I sighed heavily and shook my head.
"I'm getting by… I'm shaken by many things, by the attack downtown, by the attack last night. But worst of all, I'm haunted, Nick." I replied. He looked at me for a second.
"I can tell. Your entire scent is off." he said. "But what haunts you?" I looked out the window not really seeing any of the stores and elves we passed.
"I killed a siren downtown the day of the shooting." I replied.
"I heard there was an incident with a siren." he told, and I nodded.
"Her kid had been killed. In rage she used her screech to hurt as many as she could to get that pain out. I had to kill her." I replied softly. His eyes softened.
"I'm sorry you had to go through that, O." he said gently, and I feel my eyes water as I look down some.
"I know how you feel now. Every day you have to arrest and sometimes kill other orcs. I always wondered how that must really feel. Now I do." I replied lowly, my voice dry and weak. He patted the top of my leg now.
"I do it because I have to keep people safe. I saw the damage of her screams, Odette. You did what you had to do to keep people safe." he said. We stopped at a red light an he finally turned to me. "You'll think about it a lot, but with death, it'll get a little easier each day."
I stared at him for a moment feeling the tears stream down my face I looked down at my lap.
"Thanks." I replied sniffling some. He gave my leg a pat.
"No problem." he replied. We finally left the elf district and I felt the air change almost. I gave a big inhale. I needed the mood lightened now and seeing the familiar streets brought up my spirits. "At least there's a bright side to this day." I looked at him curiously and he glanced at me with a smirk.
"We both are visiting your parents… and your mom loves me." he said.
"AHHH is that Nicholas I hear!" my mother squeals from the front door as Nick cut his car off. We got out and I watched my mom saunter down the steps in a black jumper and a colorful silk kimono flowing down her feet. Her hair was pinned up in tight curls with a red scarf around her forehead. Nick smiled with respect as he approached her.
"Hello Mrs. Odell." he said with his arms opened. Mother embraced him lovingly. I walked around the car and over to my mom and she glanced at me holding her arm out for me to join the hug. I let myself be absorbed and she hugged us both tight.
"We heard what happened and praise the old and new gods you are safe." she said seriously kissing my forehead. "Both of you come inside. Mr. Odell wants to talk to you both." She pulled back and turned moving inside. I glanced around at the rooves of the house to see a few sirens staring down at us. They didn't wear masks but the bottom halves of their faces were covered. We followed Mother inside and toward the familiar direction of Father's den. Mother slid the doors open and we entered seeing Father at his desk.
"Raphael." she called and Dad's head raised and he looked at me with kind eyes.
"Dette." he said happily standing up and moving around the desk. I smiled and met him beside the fire place and he embraced me, kissing the side of my head. "I am so relieved to see you safe. Who knows what could have happened had Marco no been there." He looked over at my roommate and gave him a respectable nod.
"Nicholas." he replied. Nick nodded with respect and held his hand up in a light wave.
"Mr. Odell." he said and my father nodded looking back at me with serious eyes.
"You shouldn't have gone to the elf district." he said. I winced and nodded.
"We thought it was a good idea-"
"We? Who is we?" he asked.
"Kandomere and I." I responded, and he shook his head with disappointment.
"The paper's read that no one knows what species the assailant was, that the police are still looking for evidence. But what I've heard in the streets are that it was an elf." he said looking at Nick now. "Is this true?"
"Your guess is as good as mine, sir. The local police are no longer handling the situation. Homeland Security is taking over." he replied. Father scoffed.
"Homeland Security, filled with humans who think they are the law and elves who know they are the law. Elves always kept secrets… but I know the secret they are trying to keep from everyone," he said before moving over to his large window and then looking back at me. "The attack on your… mate's home was not coincidence. Marco told me the person he killed that night was indeed an elf. I have strong believe an elf was responsible for the attack, an elf was responsible for killing one of our own and last night, the daughter of our family." I tensed at his words and looked over at Mom who just looked at my father sternly and Nick who just looked out of place.
"We cannot ignore this." Mother finally said. Father nodded.
"We cannot. We will do our own investigating on this matter and find out what elves will never see the light of day again." he decreed. This was bad, so very bad. I couldn't tell them what I knew, because that could put more trouble on Kandomere, but I also couldn't not tell Kandomere, my family was now out for blood. My father was an upstanding citizen and leader to the siren and black communities. Even some of the orcs heavily respected him. He decided to strike, they would fall behind him.