Chapter Two
When they left the Night Faire, Amy had her arms loaded with purchases. A few of the booths had given her a fifty percent discount instead of the twenty because Vaia never used hers. A deal was a deal.
“Thanks so much for taking me out tonight. This was so much fun.”
Vaia grinned and headed into the warehouse area of the city, where the food truck had its permanent setting. She weakly said, “Oh, great, the agents are on break. Three cars?”
Amy was looking around, and she started to blush. “Oh. They’re here.”
“And you are dressed super fancy. So, this is the day to be seen.”
“And I did get to run around the faire without getting manhandled. I think a bit of that was you?”
Vaia grinned. “Me? I didn’t do anything.”
“You are glowing with rainbows on shadows.”
“Yeah, I ate well tonight.” She put the car in park, turned off the engine, and they got out. Her cloak still covered everything. “Now it’s time to remind my body that I don’t just eat energy.”
“Oh, so this is a pattern for you.” They walked toward the food truck with Vaia sounding like a shiver.
“Yeah. This beats pancakes in the middle of the night.”
“If only they would serve me the spicy stuff.”
“Ah, I can fix that for you. Tell me what you want.”
Hopeful, Amy rattled off the list, and Vaia looked at her in surprise. “Wow. Okay. I guess you really don’t get to order for yourself.”
“I have always wanted to know what that part of the menu tasted like.”
“Fine, but you are carrying it.”
“Done.” Amy laughed.
They got in line and slowly moved up until they were standing in front of the counter server.
In high goblin, Vaia spoke rapidly, and when the woman asked with a query, Vaia made a confirming grunt, and the woman grinned. “Take a seat. We will bring it out.”
Vaia snickered. “Come on. Let’s see if any of the agents are done troughing.”
Amy watched Vaia glide toward the picnic tables. Emmers got up and waved, offering space at his table with a gesture.
Vaia looked at her. “You wish to be seated with him?”
“Yes, please.”
Vaia’s glide moved her toward the bench, and Amy saw the widening eyes in the dark elf, the Dullahan, and the bear shifter.
“Amy, you look spectacular.” Neekil’s smile took in her new leathers.
“Thank you. You look legal.”
Neekil grinned. “It’s what I was going for. The pants help.”
Amy snorted and took her seat. Vaia sat across from her with that sighing shiver that her clothing made.
Emmers smiled. “You ladies aren’t eating?”
Vaia said softly, “Not until there is something before us. We have ordered the menu. They are bringing it out.”
Emmers blinked. “The menu?”
“The menu.” Vaia chuckled. The sound was low and wicked with fun overtones.
Amy saw the other teams perk up and turn toward the sound. Some of the other diners looked as well.
Amy had to ask, “What are they hearing that I am not hearing?”
Vaia grinned and pushed her hood back. “You are immune to it. You have worn enough of my designs that my frequency doesn’t affect you anymore. And you are wearing one now, so you are good.”
Neekil leaned around. “Do you do wedding dresses?”
“Of course, when I want to. It is based on consultation. If I don’t like the bride... nope.”
The counter goblin came over with two trays and slid them in front of Amy. Amy grinned and clapped her hands. “Thank you.”
“Oh, I will be back.”
Vaia smiled and nodded.
Emmers stared. “What the actual hell?”
Amy was already eating, but Vaia said, “She hasn’t been able to order things properly before, so she’s trying out everything on the menu to determine what her taste is.”
Emmers went crimson.
“Easy, fuzzball. It just involves food. Giants have enormous appetites, and Amhoran is no different. Being unable to utilize it fully has been a point of stress for her. That one was not strictly about food.” Vaia chuckled.
Amy blushed but kept eating. Vaia’s food came with Amy’s third tray. Vaia ate calmly, and Emmers sighed as he had to get up. He touched Amy’s shoulder. “You look spectacular.”
Amy snorted. “You should see Vaia. She could stop traffic two towns away.”
Neekil raised his brows. “Seriously?”
Amy nodded. “Seriously. She moves like water over rapids.”
Vaia gave her a look with an arched brow.
Kairek checked his phone. “Aw, fuck. We missed it. The performance of the psychic vampire.”
Amy blinked. “It’s in your calendar?”
Neekil said, “Damn, I haven’t seen it in over five years. Ma’am, is your hair darker?”
“No. I just usually put a glitter spray in it.”
“Well, your dance still haunts my dreams.”
“Ah, that explains that particular dark tendril. It has been cut off recently, so congratulations on your new relationship.”
Neekil grinned. “Thank you. You kept me company in my prison, and I thank you for it.”
“My projection kept you company. My self was busy in my shop.”
“It still worked, and I am appreciative. There are several members of my people who would love to worship at your feet.”
“My feet are busy.” She paused. “And married.”
Neekil blinked. “Your husband encourages you to dance like that?”
“I am sure he neither knows nor cares. Aren’t you late for some kind of arrest?” Vaia flicked her hand toward him in dismissal.
He chuckled, and the other two joined him.
Amy was eating with focus when a hand set a cup down in front of her. A milkshake. She smiled. “Thanks, buddy.”
He sighed, kissed her temple, and left her alone.
Vaia was nibbling at a burrito. “Buddy?”
“Yes. If I can’t wear earrings or jewellery without him flipping his nut, he can’t claim to have more of a connection to me than we do. So, we are friends. No benefits.”
“The milkshake?”
“I said that it would be perfect to have with Dem-rah’s menu, but they don’t offer it, so he made one for me.”
“So, more courtship.”
Amy blushed and shrugged. “Probably. I put my foot down, and it can be a very big foot.”
“So, what do you think he’s doing about it?”
“Not my circus, not my bear.” Amy chuckled. She looked down and had done a tremendous job on the food. Her stomach was pleasantly warm. “So, what’s next?”
“I take you home, thank you again, and head home myself. It was a good night, it is now tomorrow, and I am going to send a quick message and then get you home.”
“Aw. We didn’t do anything for you.”
“I wasn’t alone. That was good enough.” She smiled, sent a message on her phone, and then exhaled. “Right. Now it starts.”
“What?”
“My divorce.” She smiled brightly. “Ready? You can keep your milkshake with you.”
“I never doubted it. Right. Let’s go.”
“First, feed the troll.”
The trash troll was in a container, and it grumbled and chortled happily as the packages of half-finished foods were stuffed into the flap.
Amy grinned, and they headed back to the car.
The wind kicked up and pulled at Vaia’s cloak, causing some whistles and growls from a batch of XIA at one of the tables.
Vaia ignored them and walked to her car, opening the doors and tucking herself in.
Amy asked, “Doesn’t that bother you?”
“Nope. It was one of them that caused the wind burst. I knew what was happening, and the audience tonight saw a lot more.”
They buckled up, and Amy was delivered back to her house. “Here you go. You have your garment bag? Did you want a hand to the door?”
“No, I will just get taller. Thank you, though.”
“No problem. Have a great night and a good day at work tomorrow.”
“You, too, Vaia. Happy birthday.”
Amy gathered her purchases and her garment bag from the back and walked to her house with her loot and new outfit. It had been an awesome night, but she felt guilt over Vaia’s lack of presents. Everyone needed presents.
* * * *
Vaia took her own garment bag and walked up the path to her house.
She felt shadows gathering and calmly walked inside.
She made another call. “Hey, Leo. Tell Matthias that I sent the documents today, and there seem to be five portals opening on my block. Could he send some of the agents with no lights or sirens?”
Leo said, “He says yes, and you need to get somewhere safe.”
“Do I have authorization for self-defence?”
Leo paused. “He said let it fly, but watch out for the agents.”
“The moment they try and breach the house.”
“Acceptable. He’s sending transport for those affected.”
Bullets sprayed through her house, and one caught her in the thigh and the other grazed her ribs. “They are using guns. Activating now.”
She reached out, found every cold and hostile mind, and filled it with the loss of a three-year-old girl who had just lost her ice cream cone. They fought her, but she consumed their cold purpose and gave them preschool.
She wrapped her thigh and cursed the loss of the costume.
She couldn’t pry her blood out of anything.
It was tenacious. On the plus side, she was able to get at her skin more easily.
Her ribs were exposed anyway, so she wrapped them as well.
She got her bag with her identification and limped outside.
“Hey. Emmers, right? Is there an ambulance on the way?”
“Yes. Wait. For you?”
“Yeah, shot in the thigh and ribs. Ribs are bleeding like crazy. I am guessing cursed bullets.”
Neekil walked toward her. “Who would be using cursed bullets on you?”
“My husband’s family. I filed for divorce this morning. It’s a huge disrespect from me to them. This was expected.”
Kairek looked around and said, “What happened to them?”
She smiled. “Psychic vampire. I took their cold aggression and gave them preschool battleground. Aren’t they cute?”
The mercenaries were wrestling over guns and eating the berries in the bushes. Her yard was filled with black-garbed preschoolers and a lot of heavy weaponry.
Neekil cleared his throat.
“Oh, don’t worry. Matthias is aware of me using my skills for self-defence only.” She swayed and then steadied. “Good thing I ate tonight, or this would have been fatal. You fellas can disarm them, but do it like you would with a child, or they are going to snap out of it.”