5. Pride And Anger
Chapter 5
Pride And Anger
The three lionesses had a blue SUV that seated eight people comfortably. Arel drove Liliana to the Magoro home the evening after they’d first spoken. She gave Liliana the shotgun front seat. The other two lionesses sat behind her. Liliana felt like a child inside the giant vehicle. It was meant for much larger people.
The Magoro home was at the back of a suburban neighborhood, the only house on the end of a cul de sac. It had a small, neat lawn in front, stood two stories tall and looked like it could house a hundred. Since the land was wedge shaped, she suspected the back yard was far larger than the front. All around it the forest still stood. It appeared to have been made from the logs of the trees that used to stand where the lawn was now. A peaked metal roof sheltered , polished and sealed natural logs that framed huge windows.
Daniel Magoro, a massive man with very dark skin and iron-grey hair cut short, opened one half of the double front door big enough to drive the SUV through. A small, fluffy black and tan dog also met her at the door, barking furiously.
Arel gestured to her. “This is Madame Anna, the seer I told you about that Kazi saw on the surveillance video defeating her old bosses. She wanted to meet you.”
Liliana looked up at the Magoro patriarch, who picked up the dog with the piercing bark, quieting it. “Andrew Periclum was not a worthy king of lions. Tray Bradley will be worse. My father was lion-kin. I am a pride-child. I am not going to permit the pride to have another unworthy king.”
Daniel nodded. “Arel said you might shed some light on what we could do about the situation.”
“You should invite me in, first.”
The big man huffed a deep chuckle. “So I should. Come on in, Madame Anna.”
“I am Liliana. My friends call me Lilly. I might die for you, so, you and your family can call me Lilly, even though Kazi is not my friend. She hates me.”
Daniel looked at his daughter.
She shrugged, lips tight, not denying it.
Marilyn Bradley bid them good night, even though it was early evening. She went straight upstairs as soon as they entered the house. Liliana glanced after her with her fourth eyes. Marilyn was packing. She intended to get herself and her son out of North Carolina before the Challenge. She did not believe that Liliana could win.
The spider seer approved. Regardless of whether she won or lost the fight in two nights, Marilyn Bradley and her son would be safe. The spider seer had already saved two lives and she hadn't even fought the battle yet. Liliana's decision to fight for a worthy pride-king was a good one. If she died, then it was an excellent death. If her father were here, he would be bursting with pride.
Of course, if her father were here, she would not have to fight in the dome against a big lion. He would do it instead. Liliana missed him desperately, but she could not wallow in old grief now.
She walked into the cavernous central great room of the Magoro home and marveled. As beautiful as the house had been from the outside, the exposed beams, the high roof with light pouring in from giant windows edged in beveled glass on either end of the massive central room–made her stop for a moment and stare.
For once, she didn’t have to search for something nice to say. “Your house is beautiful.”
Daniel Magoro spread his arms wide in the middle of the great room, smiling. As large as he was, he fit comfortably into the big open space with plenty of room to spare. “This was one of the first things I built once my business took off. I always hoped we’d have a big family to fill it up.” He shrugged. “Best laid plans. It’s been good to have Marilyn and her boy making it feel more lived in.”
“You are in the business of building things?” Liliana asked.
“I own Magoro construction. I’m up to more than sixty employees these days.”
Liliana opened her fourth eyes. She looked into the past.
Daniel Magoro began a business with one big pickup full of tools. He’d paid for the downpayment from his savings doing yard work as a teen. At first, he did smaller construction jobs, but they rapidly grew. Many lion-kin worked for him now, as well as the jackal-kin and hyena-kin who seemed to always live on the fringe of any pride. Beast-kin of a dozen other species, including some of mixed heritage like her. There were some in the beast-kin world who looked down on those who made children with mates outside their own race. Daniel Magoro was clearly not one of them.
The spider seer sat on a giant leather couch that left her feet dangling like a girl’s while she watched Daniel Magoro of the past with her fourth eyes. The huge lion directed his employees with authority and fairness as his business flourished.
His company built this whole suburban sub-division. He claimed a big piece of un-developed property at the back as his own. Not just the house and yard were his, but the entire cul de sac.
She saw him hold his wife’s hand through the difficult birth that nearly took her life. Doctor Nudd managed to save both mother and child but advised them against having more. Liliana watched Daniel playing in the newly landscaped backyard with his young daughter. As she grew, Daniel taught Kazi fighting skills, just as Liliana’s father taught her.
Liliana smiled, feeling a strange mix of joy and melancholy. Daniel Magoro reminded her of her own father so strongly. They looked nothing alike, but under the skin, Daniel Magoro and Simon of Nemea could be brothers. Since her brothers Petros and Jason’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren might still live in North Carolina, it was even possible there was a blood relationship between them.
They were similar kinds of men. Good men. Strong men to whom strength meant the ability to help and protect others, not the ability to force others to do their bidding. While Arel and Kazi went to the kitchen to fetch tea for her–she had no idea why that took two people–Liliana told Daniel why she was there. “All three lionesses who came to me for help believe that you would be a better pride-king by far than Tray Bradley.”
Daniel, sitting in a huge reclining armchair that fit his mass well, huffed another deep chuckle. “Tuffy would be a better pride-king than Tray Bradley.”
Liliana looked at the tiny, fierce ball of dark fluff in Daniel Magoro’s lap. “Tuffy?”
He winced, and pet the fluffball, who immediately jumped down. “Kazi was still a child when she named him.”
The dog sniffed Liliana’s ballet slipper. She pulled her dangling feet up, folding them under her. Dogs were somewhat unpredictable about how they reacted to spider-kin.
The dog jumped onto the sofa, sniffed her skirt while she held very still, then laid down next to her, seeming to decide she wasn’t dangerous.
Liliana was not quite as certain about the little dog.
“He doesn’t bite,” Daniel Magoro commented. “He just barks a lot.”
“Okay.” Liliana petted the dog’s thick fur warily. When her caress appeared to be acceptable to the little beast, she looked at the man she came to meet. “Your family believes you would be a good pride-king, but that you cannot beat Tray Bradley in the dome.”
Daniel Magoro sighed. “In my youth, I could have showed that excuse for a man the error of his ways.” He rotated his right shoulder making an audible cracking noise. “Don’t ever get old.”
“I would prefer to get old than not.”
Daniel huffed that deep chuckle again. “No argument there.”
As a final confirmation, she looked into him with her third eyes as she sipped the tea Arel Magoro gave her before returning to the kitchen with her daughter, leaving her alone with Daniel.
Bleah.
Made from concentrate. The tea tasted like overbrewed black tea that had been left on the counter for a week. She knew the social rule about not showing her displeasure, so she took a polite pretend sip and set the cup on the end table next to the couch.
Her third eyes told her what she expected to find. Daniel Magoro was, in fact, the man that his wife, daughter, and friend believed him to be. She saw a strong will, a lot of stubbornness, but also compassion, deep love for his family, and loyalty to his pride.
She also saw something else.
She saw a vision of a likely future with him fighting Tray Bradley, to challenge for the right to be the new king. The big lion was past sixty. Tray Bradley was a dome champion two decades younger. But Daniel’s honor demanded that he at least try, even if it meant his death.
That is a problem.
Liliana stood up, dislodging the fluffy dog that had settled with its head in her lap. She faced Daniel in his big chair. Suspecting his intention was not something he’d want his wife or daughter to know, she said quietly, "You cannot fight Tray Bradley, Daniel Magoro."
He stood from the chair to face her. “I can and I will.” He also kept his voice low.
Liliana felt very tiny standing in front of the patriarch of the Magoro family but didn’t relent under the big man’s glare. "There is no possibility that you will win. Tray Bradley is not fighting to first blood.” Her voice had started to rise. He held up a big hand with a glance toward the kitchen, asking her to keep the argument quieter. She whispered, “He will kill you."
The old lion crossed his giant arms over his impressive chest. "Maybe I'll take my chances."
Liliana sighed in frustration. Deciding whether or not to fight for him was why she came, rather like she had done with the Fae colonel. She hadn’t anticipated having to convince a former champion of lion-kin dome fighting that a petite spider-kin girl should fight in his place.
"It is not just your own chances that you take, Daniel Magoro, but the chances of every member of the pride of North Carolina.” The spider-kin stepped closer to the lion whose arms were as big around as her waist. She pointed at his chest with her finger, scolding him like her first mother used to scold her. “I am a lion’s daughter. This is my pride, too. If Tray Bradley becomes the pride-king, the lions, jackals, hyenas, cheetahs, the pride families of North Carolina, all beast-kin in the area, will once again be ruled by a man who knows nothing of honor or justice."
“You’re just giving me even more reasons I should challenge.”
There was no way she could win this argument with words, the least effective weapons in her personal arsenal.
"There is only one way to settle this." Liliana walked out the front door. The fluffy little dog trailed behind her.
Daniel Magoro followed. His wife and daughter who heard the door open followed them out.
Once they were outside, Liliana found a good clear place in the lawn and lifted her fists. She would not use her arm blades on the man she was supposed to be fighting FOR. "Fight me."
Daniel stopped a few feet in front of her, his quizzical expression turning to laughter. He threw his head back, patting his knee. He thought she was joking.
Liliana’s lips twisted in annoyance. She hated being laughed at. For once, she could do something about it. While he was off balance, she foot-swept the huge lion-kin onto his butt on the grass.
He stopped laughing when he hit the ground. With some groaning and popping of knees, he got back up. He brushed his hands off and shifted his weight into a good stance. “Fine, let's do this. If I can’t beat a pint-sized girl, you’re right. I’ve got no business going into the dome." He threw a carefully pulled swing at the spider-kin.
In one motion, Liliana ducked the blow, stepped diagonally, and shoved on the back of Daniel's shoulder at full extension while hooking her ankle in front of his.
The big lion went face first onto the grass this time, with a grunt of pain, as his elbow on the side with his bad shoulder smacked down hard enough to scrape. He rolled over and sat up, holding his elbow. "Okay, I see your point." The big man sighed. "It just doesn't seem right, though. The dome is supposed to be the test for kings."
"I am good at fighting. I am not a leader. I am not even lion-kin. No one in the pride would follow me.” Liliana held her hand out to him, the polite thing to do. It was also an apology to the man who she hoped would soon be her king. “You have already earned my loyalty and I just met you. You will be a good king."
Daniel accepted her hand. "I'm glad one of is sure of that."
"I must pass this test for you. Once you are king, then your test will begin. The pride has not had a worthy leader in decades. They will not be easy to lead."
Kazi, who had watched the exchange, bristled with anger. “Just because you can beat up an old man doesn’t mean you can defeat a dome champion in his prime.”
Liliana sighed. She’d just defeated Kazi’s magnificent father in front of her. She had already thrown her mentor off a building. The only way it could be worse would be if Liliana stabbed her fluffy dog. “I have the best chance of anyone available.”
“Tray will turn you into a bloody smear.” She clenched her hands at her side. “Why are you even here?” She let out a gusty sigh. “Get that Celtic werewolf. That’s who we need.”
“Pete is already busy that night, fighting four assassins protected by powerful magic, protecting an innocent Other from being torn apart, and keeping the fabric of reality from being destroyed by an evil Fae princess.” Liliana used the hands throwing in the air gesture she’d seen Siobhan use. It fit her feelings. “Believe it or not, your problems are not the worst that need dealing with just now.”
Kazi blinked, then her scowl returned. “Right. And your dad was a Nemean lion.”
Liliana sighed. She suspected something was going on that she didn’t understand. She opened her third eyes to look into Kazi. Oh. “If someone has to win the dome battle for your father to be king, you wish it were anyone but me. But most of all, you wish it were you.”
Kazi scowled even harder.
The spider-kin wondered if her face would be lined by bitterness when she was her mother’s age, rather than laughter.
“Daddy taught me how to fight. So did Stella. I’d have a better chance than you.”
“I defeated both Stella and your father.” Liliana dropped into a fighting crouch holding up one finger.
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“My finger is a knife. You are left-handed. Your left arm from elbow to wrist is a short sword. We will fight as if this yard were the dome. If I kill you with my knife, I will fight as your father’s champion. If you kill me with your sword, you will fight for him.”
Kazi’s scowl flattened to a grim line as her lips tightened together. “Deal,” she said, holding up her arm with hand flat like a blade.
Without further warning, she drove the flattened fingers toward Liliana’s face.
Liliana dropped to one knee, removing the support of her legs so gravity pulled her down faster.
Kazi’s hand skimmed the top of Liliana’s hair as the spider seer’s knees hit the lawn grass.
Liliana poked the tall girl in the belly with her finger.
Kazi looked down. Her deep frown returned. “That wouldn’t be fatal.”
Liliana shrugged and stood again with her weight on her toes.
When Kazi swung the “sword” toward her neck in a feint, spun with a foot-sweep and finished with a slashing blow to the body, Liliana stepped in close to her opponent. The feint would have missed so she ignored it. Liliana skipped over the foot-sweep and trailed her finger along Kazi’s neck as she spun, deflecting the final blow with her wrist to the taller woman’s elbow.
“GRRR!” Kazi growled and started to shift.
Her father’s hand closed on her shoulder. “So, my daughter is a sore loser. Is that what I see?”
Kazi froze. Her shift reversed before her dark skin had finished growing tawny fur. “She cheated! She only won because she’s small. I can beat her in my other form.”
“She will still be small in the dome,” Daniel Magoro said. “She’s been careful not to hurt either one of us. That alone should make it obvious she’s better than either you or I. It’s a lot harder to defeat without harm than to hurt someone to win. You taught me that.”
Kazi blinked tears. “Stella taught us that when she was training us to use minimal force as a bouncer.”
Liliana closed her first eyes and opened her fourth. She watched Stella teaching angry young women with chips on their shoulders, Kazi among them. They were all angry for multiple reasons but being strong women in a world that encouraged strength only in men contributed to the rage in them all. Stella taught them to channel it, to control it, to turn that rage into an advantage.
And Kazi loved her for it. Liliana could see the admiration radiating from her young face as she looked at Stella in an unguarded moment in the past.
When Liliana opened her human eyes, a tear streamed down her cheek. “I am so sorry.” But she knew there were not enough apologies in the world to ever make this right. “I cannot bring Stella back. You may not believe me, but I would if I could.”
There was only one way she could atone. A life for a life. “Your father will die in three days if I do nothing. He intends to challenge Tray Bradley, himself.”
Kazi looked up at her big father in horror. “Daddy, is that true?”
Arel, who had been watching up until then, shook her head in exasperation. “We talked about this.”
Daniel shrugged. “The man is going to target my family. Plus, I couldn’t just stand by and do nothing this time.”
Arel put a hand on his massive arm. “You had no way of knowing Periclum would be such a terrible king.”
“Maybe not,” Daniel growled. “But I know now. I won’t let it happen again.”
Liliana cut into what looked to become a heated family argument. “It no longer matters. I will face Tray Bradley. If I live, Daniel may not believe he can be a great king, but he will be a better king than Tuffy.”
Daniel huffed his surprised chuckle breaking the tension. Even Kazi was surprised into cracking a half smile.
Liliana turned her full attention to the young woman again. “I will give you a life in exchange for the life I took. Either my life or your father’s. If I die in the dome, my life is given. If I win, then your father’s life is given, since I will keep him from dying in the ring.”
Kazi crossed her arms. “What are you talking about?”
Arel put an arm around Kazi’s shoulders. “There is a very old custom. Life price is paid in gold or something valuable to the surviving loved ones, but another life is considered the true price to pay for a wrongful death. Usually, the life of the murderer is forfeit.”
She looked at her mother. “She’s offering to pay me for killing Stella by either dying or keeping Daddy from dying?”
“Exactly.”
Kazi’s watery eyes looked down at Liliana, then away. “I saw the footage. All the footage on a backup system the military cops didn’t know about.” She shrugged. “Stella was about to chop up a friend of yours with a meat cleaver. Instead of attacking her, you tried to talk her into leaving. She tried to kill you anyway.”
Liliana nodded. That was true.
“You don’t.” Kazi stopped and cleared her throat. “You don’t owe me anything. I’d have done what you did in your position. Stella just wasn’t who I thought she was.”
“She was loyal and in love,” Liliana said. “Maybe you would have done the same in my position, but I think I would have done the same in hers.”
Liliana turned to Arel, wiping tears from her own eyes. “I will go home now. The day after tomorrow, come pick me up at my house and take me to the dome. I will be Daniel’s champion.”
Arel Magoro drove her home in the giant navy-blue SUV. Marilyn and Kazi rode in the seat behind them. The three lionesses seemed to go everywhere as a set.
“Do you really think you can win?" Arel asked when she pulled into Liliana’s driveway.
Liliana looked forward in time with her fourth eyes to see if she would win in the dome against Tray Bradley. Possibilities flickered. Some of those possibilities showed her own brutal death. Some involved his. Neither seemed more likely than the other. She might win. She might not.
"It is possible, yes. If I do not, and you do not leave North Carolina right away, then you will die. Your daughter will die." She turned to look at Marilyn. "If you stay, you will die, and your son will be raised to become a cruel bully, just like his father."
Marilyn shifted, tawny hair crawling over her skin in a moment, filling the SUV’s huge back seat, her rounded ears brushing the roof of the big car. She growled a lion's deep warning. "I won’t let my son become like Tray."
Liliana looked. “You and your son will survive if you leave the state before the challenge, but without a pride, I do not see an easy future for a lone lioness with a little child.” They would survive, but they would not thrive.
All of the lionesses looked grim.
"There is another possibility, though," she offered them.
There was little hope in the three faces, two dark and human, one tawny, large-eyed, with a wrinkled nose and lifted upper lip showing fang tips.
"I could win,” Liliana said. “This is of equal probability to the other outcome. If I win, Daniel will become king. And your son, Marilyn, would be king after him, a good king like the man who helped raise him."
Marilyn's split demi-lion lips covered her teeth, her half snarl fading away. She looked down. "What will you want from us in return?" she rumbled, wariness in her tone.
Liliana blinked all her eyes. "I want a worthy pride-king."
"Why would you risk your life for us?" Kazi challenged. "You're not even lion-kin."
"I am a lion's daughter."