Shadow Revealed (The Enlightened Species Book Two) (7 page)

Sam and his two sisters were born and raised in a blood/breeding compound. Sam and his sister, Sofia, had become informants for the SOSC after his other sister, Sarafina, had been taken into the breeding program upon reaching sexual maturity. Sara was subsequently rescued by the SOSC. Sophia had died during the raids.

Jess had gotten tired and offended on behalf of the females over the last year; she hated the females being referred to as “victims.” She, Nin, and others who had participated in the rescue had gone on a campaign to change the reference to “survivors.” It was a huge success. This ball was the first SOSC event where all four of the species, protected and unified under the Symbiosis of Species Council, would be represented in their true forms. Hereditary representing humans, Elven and Hulven representing the Volaticus, and many members of the Aquaties, who resided primary in water, and the Tellus, who preferred to live underground.

The ulterior motive, Enlil was sure, though Jess and Nin refused to admit it, was a way to get the Hulven females in a room with Elven males and see if any of them were bloodmates. Elven female births had significantly plummeted since true bloodmating had become an anomaly in the last five hundred years, though some of the elder mated Elven like Sargon and Ninlil were still examples.

Then Shane had met Jess. Not only were they one of the few, possibly only, modern-day bloodmates, they were the first known to have happened between a Hulven and an Elven. Their mating had summarily improved the hopes of the entire Volaticus species.

The SOSC embodied the desire of all four intelligent species to live a symbiotic existence. They all worked for the common good of the people and planet. However, since humanity had yet to enlighten, proxy currently represented them in the council.

The success of the raid was being attributed to the coalition and cohesion of all three enlightened species. Unfortunately, there were also casualties, including Sam and Sarafina’s sister Sofia. This event was also honoring the victims—scratch that, the survivors, the rescuers, and the fallen brethren.

Most of the details had already been worked out. They would be having the bash at the pacific human integration-training course. The location was much like the one in Mesa that Shane was commandant over, which sat directly behind their property and home. The training facilities were created to prepare the Elven youth to go into the world of the humans, safely. Most youth would initially start in the Elven-run International Red Cross, the Peace Corp, or some other form of public service function. Jerika was a Mesa police officer.

For the upcoming ball, Jess, Nin and the other organizers had elected to use the training facility that Nin’s son (and Shane’s mentor) Gilgamesh was commandant over. With the number of people coming, the fact that Gilgamesh’s facility, euphemistically referred to as Meshy Hell, was an unmapped island in the Pacific Ocean between the coasts of Hawaii and Mexico ensured that the attendees would be able to be in true form without risk of human discovery.

Jess and many of the other organizers would be leaving for the island in a few days. They would spend the week before the actually event at Gil’s to make sure the event went off without a hitch. Enlil suspected that this girls’ night was an excuse to get out and cut loose after months of trying to organize what had originally been thought of as an impossible task because of its scale.

“As much as I would love to participate in your ... girls’ night, I have some things that require my attention with the SOSC. Hopefully, I will be able to clear my desk in time to at least help with the final preparations at Gil’s before the actual event,” Nin said, her voice a naturally soothing, calming cadence. The current humanity representative with the SOSC for the Americas, Nin had been a huge contributor to Jess’s planning, and she was also tremendously busy taking care of human interests in all SOSC meetings and projects. She had the added task of aiding the heredity survivors who had elected to settle within her jurisdiction. Most had chosen to live here in Mesa or in Montana, where Sam’s sister Sarafina and her Elven son Nathan had a community. A few others were now in the Seattle area as well.

“Oh, you’ll be there to help, Nin, don’t make me come get you,” Jess teased. “So if you didn’t come to ppaarrtaay with us, what are you doing here? Don’t tell me Sargon needed a wife escort for Shane’s poker game.”

“A whole room full of super hearing powers, and not one of you hear me knocking on the damn door.” Aymee walked in, interrupting the conversation. “What’s up with that?”

Jerika asked Aymee, “So you must have gotten someone to cover my Seals Long Sword class today.”

Aymee grinned. “That new, cute little Hulven girl … female … instructor … whatever—the one Jess just hired—jumped at the chance to teach the class. The Navy boys took one look at her and totally didn’t care that she didn’t know long swords. They offered to teach her. I think she is going to fit right in.”

Jerika chuckled. “Nice.”

Never one to give up an opportunity to get to Sam, Aymee batted her eyelashes at him. “Hey, dimples.”

Unintentionally encouraging her, Sam blushed again, flashing his signature smile. Twin indentations on both his cheeks, and his friendly, honest face, lent boyishness to the otherwise fierce male. Jerika and Aymee went back and forth on which one of them was going to “make a man outta him,” usually having the debate right in front of the poor guy just to see how dark a shade of red he could actually go. Though Enlil still appeared to be in his late twenties, he was continually reminded of his antiquated thinking by today’s youth.

Jerika joined in. “Quit flirting with my dimple, Aymee. We agreed the right dimple is my dimple. You are definitely standing on Sam’s right.” Shane’s protégé came to stand by Aymee, hands on her hips in false annoyance.

Aymee’s fingers went to her mouth in mock shame, and she darted to Sam’s left side, leaving Jerika on his right. Sam to turn his head fully right or left to see them. “You’re right, Jerika. My bad, won’t happen again. Besides, I got the deeper dimple here on the left.”

Sam, who always seemed to lose his ability to speak when these two took after him, began to back up. He was probably hoping to keep them where he could see them both without having to take his eyes off of either. Mercifully, and amazingly, they allowed his retreat and stepped side-by-side, watching him grin and blush.

“Shane, can I go for the day?” Jerika asked. “Aymee and I are going to try on every piece of slut-gear we own to decide what we’re going to wear for girls’ night. Sam is going to be the fashion-show judge, aren’t ya, Dimples?”

Sam seemed incapable of speech; even his grin had faltered some. He was currently looking from Aymee to Jerika, and not their faces either. It was obvious he wasn’t sure if the girls were serious or teasing him. You could almost see his mind click off the possibilities. Sam swallowed audibly, his gaze darting between Aymee and Jerika. Enlil couldn’t help but grin too.

“Sure, you’re free to go. Don’t know why you need to try on slut-gear for girls’ night, but have fun … all three of you.” Chuckling, Shane freed Jerika from mentor training for the rest of the day. Sam narrowed his eyes, glaring at Shane like he was a traitor. Shane laughed out loud. If these girls did allow Sam to pick out their, eehhhmmm, outfits, Enlil hoped it wouldn’t take Sam long to overcome his shyness and maybe turn the tables on the girls.

Jess threw her own curve at Sam. “Ya know, Sam, if you would simply tell these girl to either put out or shut up, they would lose the ability to get to you so easily.” Sam turned the betrayed look from Shane to Jess.

“That’s not true. I promise, we will still make you blush, even if we put out.” Winking over to Jess, Aymee put her arm around Sam and led him toward the door with Jerika following behind. Sam gave a pained groan, pleading with his eyes over his shoulder to Shane for help. Shane gave him a salute.

Before the door swung closed, it was pushed open by another member of Shane’s family. Shane’s niece, Irsu, spoke over her shoulder to Jerika. “I’m calling you later. One of my friends is coming in this afternoon from Scotland to go shopping before the ball. I want you to go with us.”

Enlil heard Jerika reply, “You got it, mom.” Irsu continued into the room.

Nin looked pointedly at the newcomer. “What are you doing here, Irsu?” That was a weird question from his sister. Enlil studied her for a moment. Something was going on.

“I just came to see if Shane and Jess had room for me and Umbrae before I head out,” Irsu defended herself. “My message told me to bring her with me; she should be here in a few minutes.”

Jess answered the first question looking between the two females. “You can have the back bedroom. Where are you both going?”

Irsu’s eyes widened at the question. “I have to go gather Umbrae.” She glanced over to Enlil with a guilty expression, then dropped her eyes and ported.

Ninlil let out a sigh. “Sargon and I actually came to steal my brother from you.” She met Enlil’s gaze, holding it meaningfully. “The Morsdente that we’ve been searching for has been sighted. He is currently being tracked by Irsu’s unit.”

“Where?” Enlil could hear the anger quaking his voice, he didn’t care. Etana’s killer had been spotted.

Ninlil shook her head. “The High Ones won’t divulge that information until you appear before them. They’ve gone so far as to bar Irsu’s unit from reporting in to the SOSC, and the reports are going directly to the Oracles via the High-Ones panel Fates advisor. I’m not sure what is going on, Enlil.”

“Wait. Is this the Morsdente that killed Etana we are talking about?” Shane clarified. Sargon nodded. “He’s still alive?” Enlil couldn’t fault Shane for his blunt question. People had long avoided speaking of Etana in his presence in hopes of minimizing the pain he felt at her loss. Truth was, the last few months of mentoring Jess had eased that pain significantly, though nothing would ever fill the hole her death had left in him.

Enlil stepped up to Jess, placing both hands on her shoulders, a form of embrace or connection within Volaticus customs. “I am going to go with Nin and Sargon to see about pest control.” He placed a fatherly kiss to her temple. Enlil may have looked only a few years older than Jess, but he was genealogically Jess’s great-grandfather. With the potential for immortality, chronological aging had very little relevance in the Volaticus culture. Growth and maturity in skills and knowledge was the measure of respect. It was the effort to achieve the fruition of potential within an individual for the advancement of the species as a whole and the betterment of the world. At least the majority of global society sought that.

Jess was biting her lip, concerned for him. “Can I go with you?”

Ninlil answered. “The invitation was specific. They want Enlil and Sargon. The only reason I will be able to sit in is because of my status with the SOSC.”

“Once I am sure of what the High Ones want, I will find and eliminate the Morsdente. You need not worry. Sargon and I have hunted them many times. It would also seem the High Ones have placed a supporting unit on the ground already. It is my right to destroy the beast,” Enlil assured her. “I will let you know if I need any assistance, you have my word. You will be busy planning the ball. Do not fret over this.”

Releasing Jess, Enlil turned to Shane. “We will not make your game.” Apologizing for both himself and Sargon

“Shane doesn’t mind if we miss, he wanted a chance to win.” Sargon’s deep rich voice boomed with humor. The male laughed often and was easily amused; he simply lacked initiative in creating jests. His Native American dark features were housed in a two hundred seventy five pound, six foot tank of a body. His arms alone were bigger around than Enlil’s thighs. As the SOSC Warrior council leader for North America, he was known to be fierce, but he had a gentle side to his nature too. Jess called him a gentle giant. She’d only seen him snap necks and call out orders once. There were few Enlil trusted more to watch his back than Sargon.

Jess was smart. Enlil did not try to deny the tension he knew she must have been sensing. Jess had never encountered a Morsdente. They could be unusually strong and unpredictable, especially if they had recently indulged in a killing and were infused with psychic energy. The victims remained aware to a certain degree within the killer. The Morsdente acted like a forced medium until the victim’s residual energy could finally diminish and be released from the Morsdente back into the universe.

“I would be happy to aid the hunt,” Shane said. Enlil wasn’t surprised; Shane was ready, willing, and able to offer himself for the task.

Sargon looked to Enlil, eyebrows raised in question. Shane was a hell of an asset for any mission. “Sargon and I can more than handle this. Enjoy your game.”

Jess’s face became even more concerned, but she remained silent. Enlil gave her one last hug before porting, taking Ninlil and Sargon with him.

Chapter Seven

Zakel sat hidden in the blind that overlooked the campus. This was an interesting sight; the SOSC had quite a spread. Every species wandered around or hustled from this building to that building. Others meandered with friends, talking. It is the ultimate inter-species college, how quaint. It would also be the ultimate feeding ground if he could figure out how to get past the weaves undetected.

He’d spent five years trying to locate his stolen slave. Even at his most high, he had been unable to reach her through his bond to her, making him angrier with the SOSC. They were messing with the natural order of things. Blood bonds had always been a universal truth—how had they kept the female from him?

Steering clear of Osiris had not proved difficult either until a few days ago. The male would choose to make contact when Zakel was at his weakest. His hunts had become increasingly difficult, and the victims he had been able to locate seemed to fade out of his psyche far quicker. The fact that the Aquatie, Tellus, and Volaticus youth seemed to be banding together, canceling the others’ weaknesses, was a key factor in his difficulties of late. Now he could see why the shift in dynamic was so pronounced. If he could reclaim his property, he knew that he could return to Osiris’s good graces. Then he would be taken care of. How dare that kurva hide from him?