Snake Charmer (2 page)

She poured the wine and smiled when her mother took it. “Aren’t you worried about the little one?”

“He is exposed to one of the strongest venoms on Earth on a daily basis. He can handle some wine and cheese.” Yvetta sipped and sighed. “You always did have the best taste when it came to wine.”

“Go by the flavour, not the price.” Yvena grinned.

“At least I taught you that.”

They laughed and worked their way through the platter. When they reached the halfway point, Yvena confessed. “I am glad you are here, Mother. In four days, I leave for the Crossroads.”

Yvetta spluttered. “Really? So soon?”

“If the last few months have taught me anything, it is that life is not predictable. You have a limited time on the planet and you need to make it count. I am going to look for a mate. I am not interested in another snake; I just want someone of my own that I can depend on to be there.”

The smile on Yvetta’s face was softer than any of her other expressions had been so far. “I could depend on your father. Carlos was always there, even when I was shedding my skin. I still wake up in the morning expecting to see him and have to face the fact that he is gone. It has been eighteen years, and I miss him every day.”

Yvena smiled, “I want to feel a version of that for myself. In recovery, I met a great guy, but his caregiver status put him out of reach. He wouldn’t break the trust, and I wouldn’t do that to him.”

“What was he?”

She wrinkled her nose. “He was my handler when I had to shift. He kept me under control no matter how much I was freaking out.”

Her mother looked hopeful. “Another snake?”

Yvena sipped her wine and rubbed the back of her neck, “A mongoose.”

Yvetta spluttered, “You are joking.”

“I am not. I was so damaged after my imprisonment that I couldn’t shift back for a few days. He had to be there to keep me in position during my treatments. Once I was able to shift, he accompanied me to therapy and healing appointments.” She sighed and leaned back into the couch cushions. “He even brought me warm milk and honey at night when the nightmares woke me up.”

“Wow, it sounds like he was the perfect guy.”

Yvena chuckled and sipped at her wine. “The perfect guy at the exact wrong time.”

“So, what are you going to look for at the Crossroads?”

Smiling softly, she looked at her mother, “The perfect guy at the right time.”

The house was sealed up and ready for her return. She met with the transporter on her porch, swinging gently as she signed all the documents he had brought.

Transporter Igorson was a handsome young man who looked very nervous as she handed him the vial of venom to go with her mother’s and sister’s skin samples.

“So, you have your council’s agreement that they will uphold the mating?” he was looking at her like she was going to bite.

“It doesn’t work that way with serpents. Am I your first?”

He blushed furiously. “First serpent? Yes, ma’am.”

She winced. “I am not that much older than you are. Stow the ma’am.”

He blinked. “Yes, m—miss.”

She grinned. “Better. When do we do this?”

“The portal will be aligned in fifteen minutes. Are you ready?”

She gestured to her carry-on. “As ready as I will ever be. How long have you been a certified transporter?”

“Five months. I have done ten transports.”

“How many to the Crossroads?” She was rocking slowly on her swing. He was sitting in one of the lounge chairs on her porch.

“This will be my first. I can feel the connection getting closer. I will have a two-minute window to send you on your way.”

“Can you do it?”

He sat up straight. “I believe I can. It is essentially no different from a standard transport; I just need to concentrate on the location. The difficulty arises in that I haven’t been there before. It is like catching a soap bubble.”

Yvena smiled. “Good. I hope everything goes well.”

He muttered, “So do I.”

The time ticked heavily between them. When he got to his feet, she stood and grabbed her bag. She was ready when he was.

Light spluttered and flared, finally brightening and widening to the point where it was large enough for her to walk through. She checked the payment charm, the grip on her luggage and, with a nod from Igorson, she jumped through the portal and, hopefully, she would land at the Crossroads. At this point, she wasn’t too fussy as long as she arrived in one piece.

Teal took her on the tour around the Crossroads and escorted her to the bed and breakfast that she had booked. Finally, Yvena’s savings were paying off.

“So, you were one of the stolen shifters?” Teal blurted it out as if she had been stifling the urge to ask and lost the battle.

“I was. They pulled my venom for use in spells.”

Teal shivered. “That must have been painful.”

“Oh, I assure you it was. But, now, I am on my way to a new life and a new partnership with, hopefully, the right man for me.”

“Well, that is why we are here. A safe environment to meet other shifters, no matter the species. That said, you are aware that the manager of the Open Heart is not precisely a shifter?”

Yvena cocked her head. “What species is it?”

“Teebie is a djinn. We just try to warn new arrivals. She doesn’t mind folks staring, but she does things a little differently.”

“Okay. I have met a djinn before. Generally good folk, though a little stuck up.”

“Teebie isn’t like that. She also has traditional colouring.”

Yvena smiled, “Extremely blue then.”

“That is the word for it.”

They turned down the walk toward the large Victorian-style building. The door opened when they touched the steps, and a blue woman in jeans, a t-shirt and a long, flowing chiffon coat stood in the doorway.

“Yvena, welcome to the Open Heart Bed and Breakfast; I am your host and my name is Teebie. Did you get the complete tour?”

Teal snorted. “It is a slow day. I was even able to show her a sunny rock to curl up on.”

“Good. Please, Yvena, come this way.” Teebie stood aside to allow her entry into the building.

Teal inclined her head. “Come to me if there is any question that Teebie can’t answer. She knows almost everything going on around here but something may pop up.”

Teebie snorted. “Almost everything.”

Yvena smiled, “Thank you for the tour, Teal. I am sure I will see you around.”

Teal waved and headed back down the sidewalk.

Yvena turned toward her host. “Thank you for your welcome into your domain.”

Teebie smiled, “You have met a djinn before.”

“I have. I went to high school with one. He could pass for human when he wasn’t using magic. The moment he did, he went as blue as a summer sky.”

They crossed the threshold into the entryway, and Teebie examined her payment charm for a moment. “I have keyed it to your room. The ouroboros is on the door.”

“I haven’t eaten my own tail for weeks.”

“Funny, Yvena. It is just a method to tell the differences between rooms. This week, I have three people. One will be leaving tomorrow and one arriving.”

“And I am here now.”

“Precisely. I have increased the heat in your room as well as providing you with a relaxation spot if you choose to shift.”

“I am a little off shifting right now. I am sure I will get over it, but right now, it isn’t in the cards.”

Teebie led her up the stairs and showed her to her room.

The snake eating its tail did give a definite impression. The lock on the door unlatched when she reached for it. Yvena opened it and sighed happily at the bright and lush surroundings. The hot rock was situated in a corner and didn’t interfere with the flow of the room.

“It is lovely, Teebie.”

“Thank you. I designed it based on the specifications in your forms. There is a reason we make you fill out all that crap. It isn’t just because Transporters are jealous of us having our own dating dimension.”

Yvena shrugged. “I know that the fey are. They miss the good old days when they could spirit their lovers away to a place outside time and space and get rid of them when they were done.”

Teebie snorted, “Nostalgia means different things to different people.”

“Very much so.” Yvena put her bag across the luggage rack. “Do you have the time?”

“It is late afternoon. Would you like some coffee?”

“Please, if I am not taking you away from your normal routine.”

“You are not. I am sure that you have questions that have cropped up. Let’s have a nice chat. You are the first serpent that has come through my doors. I would like to ask a few things as well if possible.”

“Of course. A trade of information.”

They headed out of the room and the door closed behind her.

She was in the Crossroads; it was time to let nature take its course and her nature needed information.

Walking into the Crossed Star Bar was a little unsettling. When Teal had brought her in during the tour, a man named Chuck had been restocking the glassware. Yvena had heard of nagas before but never met one. He was also wearing the band that Teebie had said indicated he was married.

Yvena exhaled in relief. He was a man her mother would have approved of, but he wasn’t the type of man for her.

She went up to the bar and smiled. “Hello.”

He inclined his head. “What can I get for you?”

“What do you have in the red wine range?”

He grinned. “What would you like?”

“A dark, fruity pinot noir.”

“I have just the thing.”

He plucked a glass from the rack and poured a glass of deep, rich red, finishing it with a sharp twist.

He handed her the glass, and she inhaled deeply. It was heady and rich. She smiled. “Thank you, snake lord.”

He chuckled. “Call me Chuck.”

She extended her hand. “Yvena. My compliments on your manners to your lovely wife.”

He laughed, “I had the manners long before Ivy, though she does help me with my witty retorts. You are a serpent?”

“I am. Was. I am not sure anymore.” She smiled. “Thanks for the wine. I am going to have a seat and weigh my options.”

He dried a glass off the cleaning rack. “It is a varied selection tonight. Good hunting, Yvena.”

Hunting is what it would be. With a slight frown, she headed toward some of the open tables with high stools. She perched on one and watched the bar slowly fill up while she sipped at the wine.

Now that she was here, she was a little unsure at how to proceed. It wasn’t like snagging a mouse in a field; the prey was much larger and probably not as attracted to grain.

She felt her skirt swirl around her calves and went through the motions of the dance with the charming man who had asked her after her previous partner had released her. Yvena wasn’t feeling a spark with either of them, but they were good dancers and they got her away from her solitary splendour.

“Have you been here long?” He spoke softly in her ear.

“No. I just arrived this afternoon. I am a little unnerved by the process.” She smiled sheepishly at him, kicking herself mentally for lying. There was no spark, and she didn’t want to tell him.

“I would be happy to give you the benefit of my two days of experience here.”

She grinned, “I would love to hear it, but I have to make my rounds first.”

The song came to an end, and he took the hint, escorting her back to her table.

She had finished two glasses of wine and danced with four men. There were no sparks yet, but it was her first day. She got to her feet and headed for the door, giving Chuck a quick nod.

As she always did when walking alone, she flicked her eyes to serpentine and popped her fangs. It was a habit that she didn’t see herself breaking anytime soon. With her dark hair, dark dress and dark shoes, the only parts of her that were visible were her arms and calves.

Her senses were on alert and she opened her mouth to taste the air. She had been off her guard one time and it had almost cost her her life. She would not make that mistake again.

Her shoes crunched on the ground as she walked toward the bed and breakfast. Yvena heard someone behind her, but when she turned, it was a couple heading toward the shadows of the forest, giggling softly. She grinned when she recognised her first dance partner. Apparently, he had struck it lucky and found a woman willing to test drive their compatibility.

She wasn’t counting on that kind of luck, not right away. She flicked her tongue out again before confirming that she was alone. Sighing, she turned and headed for the one place she knew was completely safe. The Open Heart Bed and Breakfast was completely warded by Teebie and knowing that there was a haven for her that no one could break into made Yvena feel comfort for the first time in months. She might even sleep tonight.

Struggling to free her head consumed her, and Yvena sat up with a gasp as she shook loose from the dream. “Damn.”

Shaking, she got out of bed and put on her robe, heading down the stairs into the sitting room, curling up on the couch and staring into the fireplace, though there was no fire in it.

How much longer could she stay up in the night and catch the missing sleep during the day? Her family were day hunters. Night was not where they did their best work and she didn’t need to be awake.

There was no mystery as to why she woke up in the night. That is when they had come for the venom and that is when she had been fed.

The humiliation of having a syringe of mulched mouse jammed down her throat and injected into her belly had been second only to the pain it caused. Her jaws had worked but they had kept well clear of her.

Twice, she had ripped through the nails that had pinned her to the board. That is when they turned to clamps that had been scavenged from jumper cables. When she had been rescued, her cobra’s hood had been in tatters and she had been unseeing and unable to think.

The rescuers freed her and put her in a bag, carrying her to the medics. They had used a snake handler’s hook to hold her down while they began the first treatment to stop the bleeding.