Chapter Thirteen
Ilid had spotted movement at the corner of his eye and stared at the window beyond where Mitag sat.
A shadow outside betrayed its presence as it shifted position.
A Dark.
He jerked, a precursor to lunging for Charity, who stared at him. Detodev grabbed his leg under the table and gripped it tight. “Have you tasted chocolate cheesecake, Ilid?”
The Nobek’s gaze was intent. His head offered the slightest of shakes. He’d seen it too.
Detodev said he can’t see Darks. Something else occurred to Ilid. He’d looked directly at the shadow beyond the window and had seen its shape…the form of humanoid head and shoulders. Darks were only detectable in his peripheral vision. Their silhouettes were blobs with tentacles.
It’s a human or Kalquorian. He almost shouted in relief despite realizing they were being spied on…perhaps by the very person who’d attacked Charity.
“No, I haven’t had it. Have you?” He was shocked he could speak coherently.
“Never. Before I go on this journey of culinary discovery, I need to visit the restroom. Please excuse me.” Detodev stood and left the room.
Charity and Mitag stared at Ilid in confusion. They’d no doubt caught the stilted nature of the exchange and were startled by Detodev’s sudden exit. Fearing they would comment on it and spook the lurker, Ilid smiled brightly.
“As the prospective manager of a bakery, I’m eager to sample this dessert Charity’s drooling over. If it’s on par with our dinner, it’ll be wonderful. You chose amazing food tonight, Mitag. Do you use that particular restaurant for your events?”
“Uh, yeah. I do. It makes sense to do so, since they offer both Earther and Kalquorian fare.” Mitag glanced at the door Detodev had gone through. His brow creased as he tried to figure out the situation.
Ilid stretched his leg and tapped his toe against Mitag’s shin. “I assume you have your favorite go-to caterers?”
The Imdiko’s eyes widened as realization lit them. Ilid was thankful he’d caught the conversation was a ruse to cover Detodev’s absence. “Yeah. Yeah! Hey, you know what we should do? A tasting of your bakery’s offerings. Maybe I can swing some business your way.”
Charity’s eyes narrowed as she looked from one man to the other.
“I appreciate the kind offer,” Ilid enthused. “As soon as we have everything up and running properly, I’ll—”
Shouts came from the open window. The shadows beyond moved. Detodev’s face appeared, a snarl twisting his features. In that instant, he appeared as animalistic as he’d claimed his breed was. Someone else screamed as the Nobek ducked out of sight.
Ilid ignored Charity’s and Mitag’s shocked cries. He raced to help Detodev subdue whomever had been spying on them.
He shot from the door they’d entered through and rounded the home’s corner to find Detodev had taken an Earther male to the ground. The stringy man wearing a flannel shirt and jeans struggled vainly to escape the Nobek crouched over him and pinning him down.
“Get off me, Kalq!” The thin face was in a rictus of fear. He stared at Detodev, who showed his fangs.
His voice lost in a growl, Detodev kept his eyes on the prowler. “Ilid, he dropped a blaster when I knocked him down. Can you pick it up? Don’t get your fingerprints on it.”
Ilid caught sight of the pistol-shaped firearm, the design and size clearly made for typically smaller Earther hands. He yanked a leaf from a nearby plant big enough for him to fetch the weapon without touching it.
As he secured it, he shot a glance at Mitag, who stood in front of Charity in a defensive posture. The pair had raced to the scene behind him. The Imdiko was poised to fight though it was clear the spy wasn’t getting loose from Detodev. “Mitag, she’s safe. Detodev has this asshole secured. Com Nobek Groteg to come here as fast as possible.”
As the Imdiko obeyed, Charity approached Ilid. Her regard locked on the subdued man. “Are you here because of me? Are you stalking me on someone else’s behalf or your own?”
Ilid doubted the man would hear her, thanks to the terrifying sight of the Nobek who hung over him. However, rage filled the human’s expression. He glared at Charity. “Caught you being a filthy whore, didn’t I?”
Detodev’s furious bellow split the air. The spy promptly forgot Charity to gibber a desperate plea. The Nobek’s head started to dart down, as if he’d tear the Earther’s throat out. He checked himself and froze. He quaked, his gaze darting toward Ilid.
“Listen to me, asshole,” Ilid snarled at the human as he stood over the pair. “Keep your nasty mouth shut about her. Otherwise, I’ll tell this Nobek to shove his fist down your throat…then I’ll have a turn. You won’t have a tooth left in your ignorant head when we’re done. Understood?”
He didn’t care when the bastard sobbed an agreement. His command had been for Detodev, to give him an alternative to unleashing the fatal violence he hated so much…and to assure him some aggression was reasonable in this instance. The Nobek shot him a look of gratitude before resuming a baleful stare at his prisoner.
Groteg showed up at Detodev’s home several minutes ahead of a couple of his officers and the Earther side of Haven’s security. The Earther detachment included its department head Wright Connelly and his second, Martin Wilkes. Since the case involved humans as perpetrator and supposed intended victim, Connelly’s group would take custody of Scott O’Neal.
“Drunk and disorderly not enough for you, O’Neal?” the gray-haired and immensely competent Connelly said in his gruff voice after hearing witness testimony. Nearing retirement age didn’t hamper him from doing an impeccable job, in Groteg’s opinion. “Adding stalker to your rap sheet now, huh? Sounds like you’re an Earthtique to boot…which isn’t a crime, but Haven’s an awfully strange place to make your home if you don’t approve of Kalquorians and Earthers mixing. Makes me wonder what your plans here are, exactly.”
Safe from Detodev’s dangerous hands, O’Neal scowled rebelliously and refused to respond. The majority of his ire seemed to be aimed at Wilkes. The assistant chief stood by impassively, disapproval written on his harsh features.
“Get him outta here,” Connelly told the officers standing guard where Detodev had caught him.
“I can write him up for you, boss,” Wilkes offered.
“You do that. I’ll join you in a few minutes.”
The human law enforcement group, with the exception of Connelly, escorted O’Neal to their shuttle. Groteg could tell his human counterpart wanted a word, so they stepped off to speak privately.
“We’ll keep you in the loop, seeing it’s Detodev’s property O’Neal was trespassing on.”
“Thank you, Chief,” Groteg said.
Connelly eyed him, his faded blue scrutiny typically sharp. “Any idea why O’Neal would take offense to your ward seeing a potential clan? Considering how many mixed-species relationships we have here, it’s funny he’d single out the newest kid on the block.”
“It does seem strange,” Groteg admitted, his thoughts churning a mile a minute. “Almost obsessive in nature. She says she never met him before, but perhaps she forgot him approaching her when she was out having drinks.”
“She might have turned him down. A girl as pretty as her no doubt gets her share of attention, wanted and otherwise. If booze was involved, there’s a chance she wouldn’t remember one out of several flirting with her.”
“O’Neal doesn’t have a history of stalking young women, does he? On Haven or prior to coming here?”
“We never got a complaint I’m aware of. There’s the possibility he got in trouble elsewhere, but we do a thorough check of those who move in from Mercy and New Bethlehem. At least I do.” Connelly frowned. “He’s been here since before me.”
“Maybe your predecessor missed something.”
“I’ll give his entry documents another look, just to be sure.” Connelly called to the knot of those waiting to be released from interviews. “Terrific job catching him, Nobek Detodev.”
The Nobek dipped a nod, his gaze averted. Connelly bid Groteg goodnight and departed in his private craft.
Groteg assigned his officers patrol duty on Detodev’s property. O’Neal was far from the size of Charity’s previous assailant, judging from her description. It brought a spark of fury to realize there was more than one person involved in the attempts to kidnap her. How many ruthless bastards had the bounty set against her?
He tamped down his rage and joined the foursome of Charity, Detodev, Ilid, and Mitag. “I’d like to add my commendation to Chief Connelly’s, Nobek. You did well capturing and holding O’Neal until we got here.”
Detodev appeared unsure if he deserved the approval, but he accepted it. “Thank you. I’m glad to have helped.”
Groteg could have added his admiration that the younger man hadn’t ripped the bastard apart. It was probably what Detodev considered his greatest accomplishment in the affair. The elder Nobek doubted mentioning it would have been appreciated in front of Detodev’s peers. Better to treat it as perfectly natural, he decided.
Instead, he directed his next comment to Charity. “Do you need a ride to the farm?”
She grinned, as pert as if nothing of particular note had happened in the last hour. He marveled at her resilience, especially considering O’Neal’s stalking had come on the heels of the attack in the barn. “Thanks, but we haven’t had dessert yet. I refuse to let some weirdo peeping jerk deprive me of chocolate cheesecake.”
He chuckled, expressing his appreciation for her strength. “I’ve learned it’s a bad move to get between a human woman and chocolate anything. It’s a wonder you let O’Neal live.”
She laughed. “Sara taught you well.”
He glanced at the young men. “Detodev, my officers will stand guard until one of you brings her to the farm.” He paused. As offhandedly as he could, added, “They’re already working graveyard shift, so it doesn’t matter how late dessert goes.”
The trio of Detodev, Ilid, and Mitag couldn’t hold his gaze as they mumbled their thanks. On the other hand, Charity’s smirk was pure wickedness.
He thanked the ancestors as he headed for his shuttle there were three of them to entertain her. He had a feeling they needed all the help they could get where Charity Nath was concerned.
* * * *
Ilid’s anger and excitement at the threat O’Neal had posed ebbed as they trooped in Detodev’s home. In its wake came the memory of the shadow at the window.
He paused in the dining room’s doorway as the rest returned to the table and began cutting generous amounts of cheesecake. As usual, Charity and Mitag were full of chatter, praising the typically quiet Detodev for taking down the spy.
The Nobek’s demeanor was dark, however. At last, he broke into their compliments. “I could have killed him. It would have been easy. If Ilid hadn’t been there to talk me down, it might have gone badly.” He glanced at the Dramok. “I owe you thanks for helping me.”
“You were fine.” Ilid noted the hoarseness in his voice. “You stopped yourself before I said a word. I watched you do it.”
“You see?” Mitag insisted to the uncertain Nobek. “You aren’t the uncontrollable child any longer, Detodev. You’re a man in full command of his actions.”
“What I wanted to do though—”
“Hey, I was ready to cut his balls off,” Charity said. “I almost asked you to hold him there so I could. We aren’t our urges, big man. Mastering ourselves is what counts. You did so.”
He was quiet as he considered. In the end, he seemed to take strength from her insistence. “Maybe. I still feel I owe you gratitude, Ilid. You cut through my anger and gave me a chance to think before I did anything.”
“As a good Dramok does,” Mitag said.
“A good Dramok?” Ilid shook his head. He brought his hands from behind his back to show them how violently they shook. “Does this look like the reaction of a real leader to you?”
“Ilid.” Charity hurried from the table and flung her arms around him. “Why didn’t you say you were upset about the freak holding a blaster on us?”
“I’m not. I mean, yeah, learning he was armed was some bad shit, but it isn’t why I’m…fuck. Fuck!”
He gently pushed her away and stomped to the window. It was dark, a world of shadows beyond. He stared at the blackness and considered the monsters potentially lurking in it.
“I’ll never be free of them, will I?”
“Free of who?” Detodev’s voice was surprisingly gentle.
Ilid swallowed. The rest had told their stories, and it was his turn. He’d recognized much of himself in Detodev’s tale. The difference was, the Nobek was true to his nature despite himself, and he wasn’t as bestial as he feared. He only needed to recognize he had gained control of his urges since he’d gained maturity.
Ilid, however…he’d lost any claim to the Dramok mindset of unhesitating leader.
“I thought O’Neal was a Dark when I saw him through the window. I believed we were good as dead. Or worse.” His mouth was dry. Further words stuck in his throat. Remembering his first sight of the moving shadow sent his heart into overdrive. Dread of the horrors of the past and the terrors the future might hold filled him with his own darkness. He rasped, “Mitag, I can’t. Tell them for me.”
After a second’s hesitation, the Imdiko shared Ilid’s story as the young man stared through the window, unable to stop searching for movement in the formless night. Haven was secure for now…but could its authorities and their safeguards truly keep out the entities determined to strip their dimension of sentient life?
He noted how Mitag glossed over his stay in the psychiatric hospital. Ilid turned to the openly horrified Charity and Detodev to tell the story properly. “I wasn’t suffering from mere trauma I could talk through after I returned to Kalquor. I had a complete and total breakdown. I hallucinated the Darks everywhere. I relived the medical experiments I was put through without benefit of anesthesia. I screamed myself awake each and every night, soaked in sweat. At one point, I tried to kill myself. I couldn’t stand the idea of dragging my parents into my abyss. I’m coping now, for the most part, but tonight showed me how uncertain my mental state remains. If I face the Darks again, I’ll probably fall apart. Anyone who’s in my life as a serious partner or clanmate…I’ll be useless to them.”
They gazed at him. Detodev, in recognition. Mitag’s sorrow for his suffering was obvious.
Charity appeared touched. She came to him and stopped just in reach, though she didn’t try to make contact. “Can I ask what would you have done if it had been a Dark outside rather than O’Neal?”
He blinked. “Huh?”
“When you believed there was a Dark ready to come at us, what were you going to do?”
“I was ready to grab you, toss you to Detodev, and let you three run for safety and help while I tried to keep it from you.” As if he could do anything else.
Mitag approached too. “In other words, you’d have been the leader sacrificing himself for the good of the rest. You had no intention of running and hiding, though it scared you. You don’t get more Dramok than that, Ilid.”
Ilid stared at him. Mitag thought he’d behaved as a Dramok should?
“He’s right.” Charity’s voice was soft and feeling filled her features.
Mitag’s regard went to Detodev. “While we’re pointing out the obvious, you couldn’t have been a more mature Nobek than you were when you snuck outside to stop a blaster-carrying asshole. You held him and caused no serious injury. Instead of taking him apart, as many would have…as I wanted to…you waited for the authorities to sort out the situation. You were strong and upheld your vow to be a pacifist. You struck the perfect balance, Detodev. I could tell even Groteg was impressed.”
“I’d say you and Ilid have your shit together as far as your breeds dictate.” Charity smiled at the pair.
“I guess…I guess we did okay.” Detodev eyed Ilid. He appeared far from convinced, but there was a spark of hope in his expression.
Ilid’s mind whirled. Had he acted like a Dramok? He mostly remembered the fear, but he’d also been ready to assume as much control over the situation as possible.
Charity’s warm attention abruptly lessened, as if something unpleasant had occurred to her. Mischief invaded and held sway as she planted her hands on her hips and affected impatience. “I declare the matter settled. Can we have dessert already?”
Ilid had little consideration for her silly hijinks. He exchanged another look with Detodev, who looked as shocked as he felt. Charity and Mitag were right about the Nobek behaving as a true, honorable warrior and protector. Were they correct in their assessment of Ilid too?
The cheesecake was delicious, but Charity couldn’t offer it the regard it deserved after the events of the night.
She’d wished to make the men to feel better about themselves. She’d wanted Detodev and Ilid to emerge from their shells, if only for a moment or two. Long enough to realize they wouldn’t be destroyed if they revealed why they were so reserved.
She hadn’t expected Mitag’s revelation. She hadn’t guessed the horrors Ilid had survived and still fought in his head. Detodev getting the unforeseen opportunity to show himself his breed didn’t equal mindless violence had been a meaningful development. She had yet to process the fallout of O’Neal’s treachery.
Such considerations paled in comparison to recognizing the shift in her view of her friends. On the shuttle heading to Haven, she’d seen Ilid as a sexy potential recreational interlude. She’d had the same attitude toward Detodev and Mitag once she’d met them. Then she’d discovered she liked the men. The opportunity for novelty sex involving a species she hadn’t tried had grown less important in comparison to earning their respect and trust. The camaraderie they’d incited made them important to her.
To discover they’d experienced painful pasts and losses on par and beyond her own had changed her perceptions again. Ilid, Detodev, and Mitag weren’t mere playmates to alleviate her boredom. They were no longer distractions during her exile on Haven. She couldn’t imagine treating them as such.
She set down her fork, having finished her slice of cheesecake. She grasped Ilid’s hand and smiled when he looked at her, his face sweet from confused vulnerability. She turned to Mitag and took his hand too. Grateful Detodev was in reach, she placed her and the Imdiko’s hands on top of his.
“You aren’t sure of yourselves and for good reason. I hope someday you can learn how wonderful you are.”
Surprisingly, it was Detodev who answered. He rotated his hand on the tabletop, his fingers long enough to grip hers and Mitag’s. “I wish I could see myself as you do, Matara. It hardly seems possible.”
“Give yourself the chance. All of you.” She smiled at them. “I thought my sister had won the ideal clan; the best Dramok, Imdiko, and Nobek to exist. I’m glad to see there are three additional Kalquorians just as perfect in this crazy universe.”
Detodev stared at the hands in his. He felt how Charity and even Mitag held tight to him. When his gaze lifted, he saw Ilid looking at him. Not in revulsion or pity. Respectfully. This from a man who’d encountered a shattering enemy and fought a battle that made Detodev’s insignificant self-doubt a joke.
They accepted him. A woman, who had every right to expect a rational protector guided by concern instead of bloodlust, and two of his fellow Kalquorians, who should have looked upon him in derision.
They accepted him.
The implications shook his foundations. For the first time he could remember, he felt optimistic his path wouldn’t be lonely. Perhaps he did have the prospect to win others as he truly was…a Nobek desperate to leash his inner beast. Mitag had pursued his companionship unknowing, but he radiated the same interest in Detodev as ever. Ilid’s easy Dramok control had soothed the monster in him while he’d had O’Neal at his mercy.
Charity’s issues presented an opening for continued trouble, but she believed in him. He wanted to keep her safe from those who’d harm her. If Ilid were close should she came under threat again, he could hold off Detodev from his worst.
Charity had no intention of staying on Haven, but why would Detodev refuse the time he could have in her company? Especially after their encounter in the barn, when she’d granted him the best night of his life?
He had no business dreaming of the impossible. Surely they’d turn from him when he showed he couldn’t defend them from threats for fear of going too far and killing someone. Nonetheless, he spoke, giving voice to a portion of his ridiculous hope.
“Would you three care to spend the night?”
Their grins lit his world. He lost no time leading them to the sleeping room.