Out of Sight (Betas in Waiting #40)

Chapter One

Ted finished the code, set it to compile, and stretched. Another app ready for another happy customer. Well, grouchy customer when his wife wasn’t there.

Sabin Skarov walked in and scowled. “When will it be ready?”

“It’s compiling now. The framework is solid.

You will be able to get a data entry clerk to populate it with all of your materials for calculation.

There is a file for wall thickness and foundation presets.

Another set of files for roofing and plumbing types.

You have all your options set, as per your initial specs for this project. ”

He paused. “Wait. It’s done?”

“It’s done. I make the framework, you install the databases as per my direction, and then you have someone look over your information to make sure you didn’t fuck it up.”

Sabin grinned. “This is two weeks earlier than your estimate.”

“You left me alone. It is amazing how many folks just don’t leave me alone.”

He blinked.

She checked the progress and smiled. “I am being nice and installing the database you were going to use. It will give you samples right away.”

“I admit to some excitement.”

“Good. Nora is coming down the hall. Point it that way.”

He narrowed his eyes. “How did you know?”

“I have spooky nerd powers. Plus, she smells like chocolate, and Aurora has been eating apples. My nose would have to have gone dead to miss that. It’s a walking fondue.” She got to her feet. “I am going to go get some coffee while I wait.”

He turned to greet Nora and their daughter. Astonished, he said, “It’s finished.”

Ted walked around her desk in the small office and said, “It will be complete when I leave this evening. I will send you the completed files and give you the blank framework on an external drive. I will be available for consultation at the price of two hundred dollars per hour, but I don’t think you will need it. ”

Aurora waved her apple slice, and Nora smiled.

“Ted, thanks so much for taking us on last minute. We have been feeling a little left behind, and now that we have an app for our guys on sites, this will speed our ability to make accurate quotes and get them in our client’s hands with a cold outline of what is promised.

No saying we promised different materials when they have the printout in their hands. ”

Aurora squealed and reached for Ted. Ted sighed and let the toddler stuff the apple slice in her mouth. “Thank you, Aurora. How did you know I was hungry?”

There was a giggle and clapping. Sabin smiled. “Did you want to join us for an early dinner? We try to feed her before we head to family events.”

“Are we talking chicken nuggies or higher?” She smiled as she chewed the apple.

“Slightly higher. The sports bar around the corner. It is family-friendly.”

“Well, then, marshmallow boy, get walking.”

Nora covered her mouth, but her eyes were dancing.

Sabin sighed. “You were much more polite at the start of the contract.”

“That is when you were the client. As soon as my computer finishes chewing on the data, you are a previous client.”

Nora sighed. “Can we still invite you for barbeques?”

“Yes, but if I am working, the answer will be huh?”

“Fair.”

Nora walked with her, and they exited together and headed for the restaurant.

Ted eventually ended up holding Aurora while the toddler shoved bits of buttered roll into her face.

Sabin smiled. “I thought we would have enough time to introduce you to some likely partners.”

“Why?” She looked at him blankly. “I have as much sex appeal as a soggy potato.”

He frowned and looked at her. “Your features are lovely, but you don’t have any scent.”

“Nope. An ex-boyfriend killed it.”

Nora gasped. “When?”

“Six years ago, I had a boyfriend, and he marked me and fucked off. I had to subdue the mark as it was pulling on energy I needed to live. I can’t afford to get it scrubbed, or I would.

I can’t get him to reject me because he has plans for the energy he’s taking from me. He’s using it to buff up his stats.”

Nora asked, “Why don’t you ask the book club?”

Ted frowned. “The what?”

Nora murmured, “The book club. They help betas who have been altered or preyed on by alphas.”

“Oh. I haven’t heard about them, but then, my life is my computer and the occasional movie night out on my own.

My friends don’t remember me after I leave.

You two won’t remember me the moment I am out of sight.

That’s why I sent the bill already. If I gave it to you in person, you would discard it. I have learned that the hard way.”

Sabin frowned. “We will forget you?”

“Yes. As soon as I clear out my office. I am literally out of sight and out of mind.”

Nora frowned. “I wanted you to come over this weekend.”

“If I do, you will remember me when you see me. I just disappear when I am not in front of you.”

Aurora fed her some fries.

Nora said, “Aurora, too?”

“She will remember, but she doesn’t talk much yet, so she can’t tell you who I am in detail. It’s okay. I am used to it.”

Nora muttered, “I am not. I don’t know many women who threaten to use industrial adhesive to stick Sabin to his office chair so he leaves you alone to work.”

Ted smiled. “I get cranky when I work.”

Nora asked softly, “Do you know who else has forgotten you?”

“Um, sure. Dell, Artemis, my friends Jessica and Stihl.”

Nora stared. “You are kidding.”

“Nope. I knew them all to one degree or another, and then I left their sight, and I was gone. That is why I focus on apps. They are short-term, and I get in and get out without making friends. Losing that often hurts.”

Sabin frowned. “How much does it cost to remove the mark?”

“I have been quoted forty thousand because it wasn’t an attack and was voluntary.”

“How much more do you need?”

“Twelve thousand. Your final payment of four thousand will get me to eight thousand.”

Sabin said, “May I give you the final eight thousand?”

“Yes. But it has to be done today. If it is tomorrow, you won’t remember.”

Nora said softly, “How many times has that happened?”

“Four. The weird thing is that I heard the dark elves were so nice. I never thought one of them would do something like this.”

Nora froze. “Dark elves?”

“Yeah. Hrinian is a dark elf. He’s the one who put the lock on me.”

Nora looked at her. “I am going to make a call, and you are not going to leave my sight until I get someone out here. They police their own, and this should have been dealt with.”

Ted nodded. “Sure. Aurora is busy trying to find more food that isn’t squishy or sticky. We have some time before we finish our mains.”

Sabin looked appalled and finally asked, “Was it a bite?”

“Oh, it isn’t a mate mark. It’s a thrall mark. He’s using my power as if I was a servant and owed it to him.”

Nora spoke quietly into her phone and relayed a little of the information. She paused and said, “They want you to go to the palace.”

“The moment you hang up, they will forget about the call. Right now, you are the tether.”

Nora nodded and explained the issue with her being out of direct view. It was going to be a person-to-person handoff.

There was a hazy mark on the sidewalk out front, and a dark figure took shape inside it.

“Oh, I get it now. That makes more sense.”

Nora whispered. “What?”

“Hrinian isn’t pure dark elf. He’s a descendant and needed a boost. I was the boost.”

The figure walked into the restaurant and came directly toward their table. He sat and looked at Ted. “You have been marked?”

“A thrall mark. Six years ago. It is making people forget me the moment that I am out of their sight.”

“Ah, hence the direct contact. May I see the mark?”

She pulled the neck of her t-shirt down to show the thick black band. “It goes all the way around. No variation or glyphs. It is a straight power draw.”

“You know who did this?”

“His name is Hrinian. After seeing you, he was a photocopy error. I think he was descended from dark elves but definitely doesn’t have the same vibe you do.”

He blinked. “Are you flirting?”

“Um, no. I don’t do that.”

Sabin smiled. “She doesn’t.”

“May I touch the mark?”

She shrugged. “That is rather the point, right?”

He carefully extended one finger, there was a bright crackle of static, and he was zapped. “Oh, dear. That wasn’t a dark elf.”

“What was he then?”

“Shadow mage. Fortunately, there are new mages who should be able to help you break that link.”

“You can’t do it?”

“No. It is like AC versus DC.”

“Ah. Great. Thank you for coming here to assess it.”

He leaned back. “You think I will leave you like this?”

“Sure. I have had folks look at it before. They always forget.”

He shook his head. “I am going to be at your side until the curse is broken. Thanks to the new djinn and mages camping on the new palace’s doorstep, the current power flows freely, and we now have a variety of energies to call on.

You will not be alone until we have solved this.

Coms will be open, and we will find the source of this curse. ”

Ted looked at him. “I need to finish the project first so that the office is cleared out and you have the app. I also need the payment.”

Nora smiled and held up her phone. “Payment has been issued. You are good.”

“Thanks, Nora. Sabin isn’t worthy of you.”

He grinned. “I know. I consider myself lucky every day I draw breath.”

Nora smiled, and Aurora pressed her sticky hands to Ted’s face, squeezing her cheeks. “Me face!”

“Yes, Aurora. You face.”

Avor looked at the toddler with a soft smile.

Ted smiled. “Imagining Ira at this age?”

He blinked. “We have met before?”

“Oh. Yes. I helped your wife make an in-house app so that inventory gets easier when she steps back for her new duties. I met you then. We all had dinner and discussed the tricky parts of dessert making. There were several dark elves skulking around and waiting for leftovers. Nice place. You two went off to tuck Ira in, and I ceased to exist.”

Avor’s face was horrified. “We have met?”

“Yes. I didn’t explain the curse yet. I was saving that for after coffee, and then everyone was gone, and no one came back in. You two had gone on to other nocturnal activities, and that was that. I left.”

“When was this?”

“Eight months ago. Right after Vaayu came by.”

He closed his eyes and thought about it, his eyes wide. “Oh no. There it is. You were helping Ira colour a project for school.”

Ted smiled. “Yes, I was.”

“How long has this been going on?”

“Six years or so. Since before the current festive population came out.”

Avor paused. “Why don’t we all go to the office? You finish that project handover, and then we will all go to the new palace where experts can hopefully be assembled.”

Ted shrugged. “Just let me finish lunch, and we can be on the way. I am not doing any of this on an empty stomach.”

The entrées came, and Ted and the others ate quickly. Aurora helped by stuffing meatballs into Ted’s face and laughing when she growled.

Ted got some chicken nuggets into Aurora, and then she was handed over to her dad. Sabin got his daughter eating, and Nora gave a warm smile. She glanced at Ted. “That is why we are having another one.”

“Because he can wrangle a dino-nugget?”

Nora smiled. “Because he did it without me asking.”

Sabin snorted. “Aurora and I have a deal. I keep finding dino nuggies, and she goes to bed on time.”

The toddler stiffened and said, “No nap!”

The restaurant patrons turned to look, and Aurora stood on her father’s legs, clapped her hands on his cheeks, and said seriously, “No nap.”

Sabin grinned. “No nap. Now have another dino and some juice, and then we can go play with Ted.”

Ted finished her food and wiped the meatball residue from her face.

Nora said, “We will wait here if you want to wash up.”

Ted looked at her. “The moment I turn the corner to the restrooms, you will all forget I exist, and this effort disappears.” She dunked her napkin into her water glass and scrubbed until the fabric stopped turning red.

Nora blinked. “I hadn’t realized it was that fast.”

“Instant. At the office, I kept you guys reminded about me with emails that started at the beginning of the day and lasted until I left. Then I sent the emails again before I entered the building. That way you remembered me as long as the email was in your inbox.”

Avor frowned. “So you have found your way around it?”

“Only for work. I keep thinking that this kind of thing was supposed to drain me and kill me.”

“Shadow mages are famous for that sort of technique.”

“What technique?” She looked at the man who was also the largest dragon in the world at the moment.

“Draining magic out of others for their own use.”

Ted leaned back in her chair. “Well, fudgenuts.”

Avor blinked and then looked at the child and grinned. “Indeed. Once we analyze the signature on you, we may be able to find other victims.” His phone alerted, and he smiled. “She has representatives of three types of magic here. One of them should unravel this.”

“Good. I need at least two people with me at all times. Nonnegotiable. One moment with no one aware of me, and I have to explain why people forgot me. They will remember me if they see me, but the explaining will be difficult... and repetitive.”

Avor looked at her and finally seemed to see her fatigue. He said softly, “We won’t leave you alone.”

She exhaled slowly. “That used to be a threat from guys. Now I find it comforting. Knowing that I just have to run around a corner to get away has been helpful over the last few years.”

She smiled, and they finished eating, got everything tidy, and moved back to her office as a group. When the thumb drive was set on Nora’s desk, Ted exhaled. Another job finished.

Avor smiled. “They are waiting. Regis has a dessert tray ready. Are you ready?”

“Yup. Let’s see what the new magic can do.”

Nora gripped her arm, Sabin held Aurora, and Avor transported them all to the new palace.

Time to see what new magic was capable of.