Succubus Tear (Triune promise) (36 page)

“Vincent?”

“Lass?”

“Do you want company later?”

Vincent slightly recoiled from Stella’s offer. But he would accept. Men always did.

“I am lonely, lass. The dark-haired beauty has given her heart to the lad. I can stand and talk to her, but she doesn’t talk to me like you do. And the lad doesn’t have much tae say. But, you think I’m here tae satisfy carnal pleasures? I am a man, not a dog.”

Stella scoffed. “Coulda fooled me. I saw the way you drooled over us both. What changed, Vincent? If there is anything I ever learned, and the one lesson no one argues with, it’s people don’t change.”

Vincent nodded. “Aye, I suppose people have little reason to change. They oft’ see the world with the flavor they were dealt with. But tell me, lass, can ye truly lay with a man who doesn’t love yeh? Could ye lay with a man who could never love yeh?”

“You speak as though you and the world are not guilty of such a thing, and I am the only one. What about you? You sell your ship out for money quick enough, harboring God knows what kind of people, maybe even the unwilling! As far as you know, I could be a murderer! And you can’t tell me you haven’t taken a wee little lass for a ride on your boat—both of them!”

Vincent held up his hand. “Lass, have I been anything less than a gentleman? Ye may accuse me of being a mercenary. But in truth, my employer approached me. Ye may accuse me of being a kidnapper, but you’re free to go. And now yeh think I am a dog?” He shook his head. “No wonder you’re alone. Your heart is so closed off with bitterness. Yeh look like an angel, but you’re a prisoner of your past. I just hope ye don’t drown in yuar bitterness,” Vincent said sadly, and walked off.

“A more poetic meaning would be ‘caged heavenly angel.’”

“Shut! Up!” Stella muttered under her breath. She went below decks, no longer wanting to be in the cold. As she neared her room, she felt an alien surge of intense happiness wash over her, causing her to stumble and lean against the wall for a moment.

Why her happiness? Why her love?
Stella wondered bitterly. She thought back; of all the times Al’bah’s emotions spilled onto her, they were always positive. Her sorrow produced nothing. Her anger and jealousy never brought a hint of sensation, save for the panic and anxiety she felt from facing an angry Demon.

She breathed heavily to catch her breath, tasting Al’bah’s vanilla scent with each gasp. She glanced up; the scent originated from the room across the hall from her own.

“Good for you two,” she said to herself once inside her room, staring at the ceiling, wondering when she would be tired enough to sleep at last.

Next Step

“Paula, you’re my sister, and I love you. Don’t forget that, ‘cause one day you might need me, and I don’t ever want you to think I won’t come.”

—Cain Lamentson

Cain opened his eyes. It was the early morning of the third day since he had to run from the city.
The Dalish Dreamer
pulled into port late last night, but Vincent insisted they stay, as getting a hotel wouldn’t be a possibility.

He glanced at Al’bah, curled up against his chest and muttering every so often in her dreams.

“…dai-teem…oh my heart…so…so…happy.”

Cain chuckled, and the gentle motion brought Al’bah to consciousness. She stretched and clutched Cain closer. “Hungry,” she whispered.

Cain loved how Al’bah would often speak one word or a short phrase and convey so much more. He wasn’t sure how he knew, but though Al’bah said “hungry,” she made three statements and asked two questions.

“Are you hungry?”

“I am hungry.”

“Maybe Vincent made waffles.”

“Is it time to eat?”

“I like raspberry jam.”

And Cain found himself beginning to respond to her speech in a similar fashion. “I like honey.”

Al’bah looked up, grinning ear to ear. She kissed him deeply. “Let us face the day.”

Teeth were brushed, a light shower was taken full advantage of, and clothes were donned. Just as Cain closed the door, Stella’s door opened from across the hall. She seemed first upset then embarrassed. They had seen little of each other all day yesterday, and were now sharing the mother of all awkward moments.

Al’bah thankfully broke the silence. “Stella, might I carry your bag?” she said with a docile look to her face.

“What? This bag is yours, isn’t it?”

Al’bah shook her head. “Cain gave you this as his gift. Will you not accept it with a heart full of gratitude?”

“I, uh. Yes, thank you, Al’bah, and you, Cain.”

As they exited the lower hold and walked on to the deck, the bright sun and balmy air seemed to lift everyone’s spirits.

“Oh! Huy-Sheen!” Al’bah exclaimed, dropping the bags and raising her arms to a sudden swell of wind that carried her hair in a magnificent cascade.

Stella’s brow furrowed. “What she say?”

Cain had to forcibly work the smile from his face. “She’s happy. She feels alive. She is grateful for the day,” Cain replied. Indeed, he felt more alive today than he had in a long time.

“Ah, there yeh are! A wee bit of breakfast and tea before you go out into the world?” Vincent called out from the forward galley’s balcony.

“Vincent! The day is astounding!” Al’bah called out and rushed to the door and inside long before Cain or Stella.

The forward galley was bright and cheery. A table was set with a pristine orange cloth and laden with all sorts of breakfast food.

“Enjoy yourself, kiddos,” Vincent said from behind the bar.

“My gracious and honorable captain, please join us.”

Cain pulled out Al’bah’s chair, and Vincent for Stella.

“Raspberry jam!” Al’bah squealed in delight as Vincent passed it to her. She unscrewed the lid and took in its tart scent. “So pure. There is nothing in here save what the Earth grows. Life, connection, and sweet sensation.”

Vincent grinned, pouring tea for everyone. “It’s just jam, lassie.”

Cain eased back as he chewed on his waffles slathered in honey; he traded a glance with Stella and shrugged. He wondered how Stella would take the next step. Especially considering who was already in town to meet him.

“What?” Stella said, making Cain realize he was staring.

Cain was startled and took a quick glance to Al’bah, worried she might be mad. Al’bah glanced at Stella, then to Cain. She quirked her head in a strange manner. “Well planned, my Bond.”

“What is it?” Stella huffed.

“The next step. I can see a well thought-out plan in my Bond’s eyes. All that remains is to see how it will end.”

Stella seemed to be reminded of the harsh situation she was in and rose from her chair. “Guys, I’m gonna wait at the dock.”

***

“You take care of yourself, lad,” Vincent said, handing him a card.

“What’s this?”

“A little something tae remember me by. If you ever find yerself outta the mess you’re in, lemme know.”

“Thanks.”

“So what now?” Stella said, looking depressed. “I hope you have a few more good ideas, because I don’t much care for the idea of following you two for the rest of my life.”

“Actually I do, but I need to do a few things or we won’t last long.” He walked over to one of the many novelty shops and got hats and sunglasses for them all.

“Why do we need to wear these, Cain?” Al’bah protested. “There is an aspect to this that makes my skin uncomfortable.”

Cain pointed discreetly to an electronics store. “That’s why,” he said quietly.

Stella gasped slightly. The picture on the flat screen was a bulletin for all three of them. She gaped as she watched Cain enter the store without hesitation with Al’bah, who increased her pace to keep up.

Cain waited for the man behind the counter to approach and set down Stella’s phone that was pieces of a broken case, circuit board, and battery.

“Woa! I don’t think I can do anything with this, pal,” the clerk said.

“I know. Actually, I want to send it to Blackberry through you guys. Is that okay?”

“Huh, they won’t repair that, you know. They’ll just send you another one,” he said, getting a box under the counter and wrapping up the phone. “And charge you for it.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know,” Cain said. “I’d like to send it next-day express.”

“Can’t,” the clerk said, still wrapping up the box.

“Why not?” Cain asked, feeling a little uneasy.

“Shipment already went out, that’s why not. It will be sent out first thing tomorrow.”

“Oh, well that’s okay.”

“That’ll be eighty-five dollars,” he said, sliding out some paperwork to Cain.

Cain filled out the paperwork with Walter Stratton’s information and his law firm as the return address. “By the way, I need to fill out an internal department letterhead for reimbursement. Is it okay for it to be sent with the phone?”

“Sure, just staple it to the back of the first form.”

Let’s see how Walter likes this,
Cain thought to himself as he finished the paperwork Walter gave him. If the bastard signed it with the few alterations he made, it just might mean the end of him.

Al’bah’s eyes locked onto the business card and hissed in Cain’s ear, “Get rid of that—it will telegraph our movements.”

Cain felt cold upon hearing those words, and when the clerk was ringing him up, he slipped the card in the seam of the box.

“Right then, Mister Stratton. Hope you have a nice day, and here is your receipt.”

“Cain,” Stella said upon leaving, “where do you come up with these ideas? The cell phone in the lady’s purse, then the other one to be sent to Blackberry?”

Cain grinned inwardly as he felt Al’bah clutch Cain’s arm fiercely as Stella asked her question. “I guess you could say I’m one of those people who believes in big brother. Not that I think that everyone is being watched all the time. But I see no reason to make it easier for anyone to find me, especially since they are certainly looking hard.”

Cain turned to Al’bah. “By the way, what was that you were saying about that card?”

Al’bah raised her eyebrows. “That thing had a piece of Taint upon it. Taint gives a piece of corruption to thralls and slaves to keep track of them.”

Cain remembered his perfect timing in meeting with Walter. “I see, and how did you know what it was?”

“I am used to detecting his presence. I did spend four thousand years in captivity, after all.” She sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose, as the cheap sunglasses continued to irritate her skin.

“Right, then. Well, what do we do now?” Stella said, her arms crossed.

“We wait,” Cain said, looking around the town center, “right here.” He pointed at a tavern that was named O’Bourbon.

“What are we waiting for?” Al’bah said, sitting down in a booth in the corner.

“Charlie. Three waters, two house salads, fish and chips, and loaded nachos,” Cain said to a waitress that had just arrived.

“Cain, I am not hungry. I am sure you are not hungry either,” Al’bah said as soon as the waitress was out of earshot.

Cain nodded. “Gotta order something, or we will look suspicious. Just pick at it, okay?”

“Why would Charlie come here?” Stella said with a half-curious, half-intrigued voice.

“Yes,” Al’bah said, placing her arms around Cain, demanding his attention. “Why would he come here?” Al’bah asked, her voice laced with irritation. Cain understood why;
 more people around meant that his attention would be more divided. He was sure that Al’bah didn’t like that much, and she really didn’t care about having her question answered; she just wanted him and his undivided attention.

“I had a feeling that I would wind up having to run for my life. I asked Charlie to meet me here if I had to flee.”

Surprisingly, only a few minutes passed before Charlie came. His face held a morose expression with no small amount of irritation. He sat down next to Stella, who was trying hard not to smile. 

“Damn, Cain, what the hell is going on? Do you know how long it’s been since we’ve used that cipher?”
 

“Cipher?” Al’bah said.

Cain waved his hand dismissively. “In the boat, I tweeted an encoded message that Charlie would have been able to decipher. It told him what time I expected to be here. I also sent a message to my boss to let him know that I won’t be able to work for him anymore.”

“Where what began?” Stella asked, noticing the shadow that crossed Charlie’s face.
 

Cain ignored that question. “Look, Charlie,” he said. “You know I would never get into that kind of trouble, or you into this kind of trouble.”

The Blessing of a Hateful Friend

“You do realize trying to follow me won’t work?”

—Charlie Tsukada