OLIVIA…
When the time finally came for Marie to walk me to Blake’s private rooms, I didn’t hide an ounce of my relief. My quick steps soon outpaced Marie, and I opened the entrance door to Blake’s building myself.
The hall was quiet as the Others skimmed along the walls to guide me. Hints of grilled chicken flavored the air, and my stomach growled. I didn’t try to hide any of my reactions. He’d be pleased that he could provide food for me when I was so hungry. Blake in a good mood meant I could return to my room sooner.
“Good evening, Father,” I said as I walked into the dining room.
“Olivia.”
He stood and pulled out a chair for me. The courtesy was an illusion, a way for him to get closer to me so he could decide if I had been appropriately punished for my small slip. I sat and waited. After a moment, he moved away.
“Were you sufficiently distracted from your thoughts today?”
“Yes, Father.”
“Good. Leave your sisters to me. I have several men searching for the fighter. I have no doubt they will find her before the dreamer and the rest do.”
I reached for my napkin to distract myself from thoughts of my incomplete letter. The Others moved around the room, outlining everything, so I could see the covered plate before me. After settling the napkin on my lap, I turned toward Blake. He was watching me, waiting for my acknowledgement.
“Of course they will. They were very close with Gabby.”
A growl escaped him at the reminder of just how close he’d been.
“Joshua is lucky he’s dead. I should have killed him myself for his incompetence with her.”
He reached across the table and lifted the lid off my plate. I inhaled deeply, showing my appreciation.
“Eat,” he said.
I picked up my fork and knife and carefully cut a small piece from the chicken breast on my plate as I considered his frustrated tone.
Blake had also entrenched himself in the human world, creating a network of contacts and playing the market to build an empire. It was through sheer luck that he’d found the provider. I knew very little about her, other than Blake had kept her isolated from me.
His mood had been high with both of us under his thumb, and everything had been going well until one of his spies had reported an Elder had found the locator, Gabby. Blake could do nothing while she’d lived with the Elder, fearing that he would give away his hand too early.
So, he’d planned and waited, putting the oldest half-breed he’d had in place. Joshua was supposed to make it possible for an Urbat to Claim Gabby. Instead, some unknown werewolf had shown up at Gabby’s residence, preventing all challengers from getting close to the girl.
Blake had lost the locator, who was his key to finding the two missing Judgements. Not only that, the provider had escaped just this spring. They had all been at the werewolf Compound just weeks ago when the dreamer had shown up and Claimed Joshua. From there, Blake’s plans had completely fallen apart. Except for me.
“You’re very quiet,” Blake said.
I swallowed my bite of peas and gave him a small smile.
“I’m lost in my thoughts and looking forward to returning to my room. The book,” I said, as if to clarify why.
“Ah, yes. I suppose you’ll need a new one soon. Do you have one in mind?”
“I have no particular title in mind, but I do like the suspenseful ones.”
“Very good. I’ll order something new for you.”
“Thank you, Father.”
We ate in silence for the rest of the meal. Blake didn’t believe in small talk. At least, not with me. My basic needs were met. My time suitably occupied. There was nothing more to say. As usual, he finished before I did. With food still on my plate, I set my fork aside and thanked him for the meal. He stood and pulled out my chair for me, extending manners as a well-practiced pretense, then walked me to my room.
I read for thirty minutes before I pulled the letter out from the drawer. With the help of the Others, I painstakingly continued to write the brief message to the fighter.
The grey mists around me slowed and brightened, and I looked up to see the Lady beside my desk. Where the Others were shades of grey, she was light, almost white.
Dear one, are you certain you want Slith to occupy one of the Urbat?
“He’ll be able to find her?” I asked softly.
Yes.
“Then this is worth the risk and the price.”
****
One of Blake’s men poked his head in.
“There’s a problem.”
I continued eating as if the man wasn’t there.
“What problem?” Blake asked, setting his fork aside.
“They’ve found the fighter.”
It had been days since I sent the letter. Plenty of time for her to receive and listen to what I’d written. I struggled to contain every hint of my regret.
“And?” Blake asked.
“Not our men. The locator, the controller, the provider, and the dreamer.”
Though they knew the names of the ones already found, the Urbat refused to use them. They only ever used my name.
I lifted my napkin just as Blake picked up his plate and heaved it against the wall. The bits of broken china and food bounced off the material I held in front of my face. Calmly, I set the napkin aside. I didn’t touch my food again.
“Olivia, back to your room.”
“Yes, Father.”
****
It took over another week before I felt the next shift in our world.
I was just stepping into Blake’s office when the swirling grey around me changed suddenly, and I stumbled in the abrupt stillness. Without their movement, I couldn’t see the real world.
Have courage, the whisper of the Lady’s words drifted through the veil. It will all end soon.
“Olivia, what are you doing?” Blake asked impatiently. His voice didn’t change the calm of grey around me like it usually did. It was as if my companions were frozen.
“Father, I can’t see,” I said, keeping my tone respectful.
“You haven’t been able to see your entire life. It’s never prevented you from walking before.”
“I think something is happening,” I said instead of acknowledging his words.
“What do you mean? Your sisters?”
I nodded, and he made a sound of impatience.
“Tell me.”
“There’s nothing to tell. I only have a feeling.” I bowed my head as if ashamed. “I’m sorry, Father.”
“I don’t need apologies; I need information.” His shoes scuffed against the floor as he moved to his desk. The shadows of my world remained still. They’d never done that before.
“It’s something big. World changing,” I said with quiet realization.
“Without you, it can’t be world changing. Now, don’t just stand there. Sit.” His barked order echoed in his office.
Holding out my arms, I tried to recall the layout of his office and made my way to the chair before his desk.
I’m here. The words were a hissed sigh, and with them, I saw a slight movement to my left. I turned and watched Slith drift toward me. His shadow molded into the shape of a chair. Taking small steps, I walked toward him then reached for the back of the chair.
The television, a familiar, gentle voice said. Tell him to turn it on.
“Father, I think you should turn on the television.”
His anger grew.
“Something is changing. I can feel it,” I said again.
A shuffle of noise came from before me then the room filled with voices.
“You’re coming forward with some astounding information I know our viewers won’t believe. A new species exists among us.”
“Not new,” another voice said. “We are as old as humans. Here since the beginning.”
“And what are you?”
“The most popular term is werewolf.”
Shock hit me hard. The werewolves were exposing their existence?
“You can’t expect us to believe something like that without proof.”
“Of course not. You might want to move back.”
I wanted to ask what Blake was seeing but kept quiet.
Blake swore loudly and started yelling for his lieutenants. The conversation on the television continued as he shouted out orders.
“Are you dangerous? How many of you are there? Was that dog attack earlier this year one of you? Why are you coming forward now?” the reporter asked.
“There are two Urbat close to the station. I’m sending them in,” Blake said.
“I’ve come forward because we are all in danger. We are not the only species hiding within the human population. There is another species, Urbat, who are very similar to us in appearance but not in nature. They would see the human population devastated.”
Blake made another strangled noise.
“Start rounding up the women and children. I want this place cleaned out in thirty minutes.”
Everyone who he’d called in left the room to start the evacuation.
“Urbat,” the reporter said. “Why do they want our population devastated?”
“Because your numbers are a threat to their goal. They want to rule. The population, the planet, everything.”
“What are we supposed to do?”
“Our time here is over. The Urbat are coming for us because we’ve shared what they didn’t want us to. Find Blake Torrin, their leader. Cut off his connections. He’s everywhere and has enough money to do much damage.”
Blake roared his anger.
It is time, the lady whispered.
I gathered my courage and made my move.