S.A. Price (25 page)

"Are they Ophidians or are they going to be the police? I don’t have much faith in the cops." She groaned sitting back down and leaning back against the cage stretching her legs out. The movement pushed her ripped skirt up flashing him most of her upper thigh.

So the girl was a snake? Interesting. He lowered his voice. “You haven’t changed have you? At all?”

"I'm not stupid and you didn't answer my question..." She finished stretching one leg and moved onto the other.

“I can’t tell you that, cuz I don’t know if she’s Ophidian.” He sighed.

"And you let her go?" She groaned sighing. "Great, just great."

“Fuck I didn’t know any of you really were, still don’t to be exact. And she was the one they gave me... Fuck it was the only chance I had for you guys.”

"It's better than nothing I guess. Can I get out of this thing now? I'm pretty sure my legs will support me."

“Just don’t kill me ok? I’m only trying to help you.” He unlocked the door and offered his hand to help her out.

She took it bracing herself as she came out straightening her legs. "Damn that feels good. I haven't stood for a while."

“How long since you been out?”

"Don't have a watch on, about a day I guess. I need to go to the bathroom."

“That I can do. Bathroom is through that door.” He pointed to the door behind them. “Take the time you need. I’m going to rouse the rest of them, get them ready to go should we need to. Anyone else you think might be useful should shit hit the fan?”

"We've not been talking. It isn’t exactly a knitting circle here."

“Obviously, but you are pretty fit for this.” he smiled. If you’re hungry I have some snacks too.”

"Food's a great idea. I'll be right back" She winked at him walking unsteadily over to the bathroom.

Homer let her go, checking on the rest of the girls, assessing their situations. There were a few that were too weak and delirious to work with, and they would have to be watched closely now, and protected. If Catherine didn’t slouch on him, there was a possibility he could help the majority of them, but unless Evelyn brought help, he was going to have to sacrifice some of them to help those who could help themselves, and that was the last thing he wanted to do. He turned to see her come out a bit better for a quick clean up. She was attractive, long strong legs, blonde hair, and bright cerulean eyes. He could see why Jax wanted a crack at her, but if he had anything to say about it the only crack the fuck would be getting would be from getting whacked on the back of the head. “You better?”

"A little." She smiled pushing her hair behind her ears. "How are they coping?"

“Touch and go with a few. I don’t know. Some will be ok once they wake. If we don’t get reinforcements, it’s going to be hard to get them all. There’s a sandwich on the desk and a juice.”

"Thanks." She smiled moving over to it perching herself on the desk and grabbing the sandwich.

"So what's your story? You're not like the others. How the hell did you end up here?"

He smirked. “I’m a plant, so to speak.”

"Uh huh... you don’t look all green and leafy to me."

He smirked. “Yeah I’m lacking the proper foliage.”

She rolled her eyes. "Apparently so... who are they taking with them?"

“They picked seven, and you apparently are one of them. The lunatic chose by what the ‘goddess’

wanted.”

She blinked, "Excuse me? Did you say goddess?"

~101~

“You didn’t know why you were here?”

"Musta missed the induction, sorry."

“Figured those asses wouldn’t tell you. Ok crash course? Cristof, I’m sure you have met him, weasely guy with the cane? Well apparently he’s trying to resurrect a lamia goddess in the hopes of gaining eternal life. To do that she’s gotta inhabit a vessel, one of you.”

"Back to that goddess part again. Vessel? Eternal life?" She shook her head; "This is getting way too sci-fi for me... I pretty much just thought that it was one of those sex things you hear about. What would happen to this vessel? You know, me?"

“Apparently a woman can only be a vessel if she shifts, so far something you and the other six have done something for them to be hopeful. As to what would happen to you, I don’t know, they don’t make us privy to the rituals, but I can bet its nothing good.”

"Looks like we just have to hope your little human friend pulls through then."

“I’m not so sure she’s human, regardless, Evelyn only has a few hours left to get here.”

"Great only a few hours to kill before my fate’s decided. Don’t suppose you've got a deck of cards around?" She slid off the desk and began to stretch herself out, placing her hands flat on the floor and bending her body into very compromising positions considering her torn clothing, which would have been skimpy to begin with.

He chuckled. “Sorry. Would you want to get changed? Not yet, of course, but closer to post time?”

"That might be a good idea." She smiled up at him from her position. "Sorry it just feels so good to be able to move."

“Yeah I’m sure. I wouldn’t stay in that position very long.” He chuckled. “Eat, you need your strength.”

"Perk of the job," She smiled straitening out. "I can stay in one position for a very long time. My strength’s fine, I have been getting fed, although what it is I have no idea. Suppose I should just be thankful that they're not feeding us defrosted rats with tweezers."

“Indeed.” He smiled at her. She was quite a woman, sexy and feisty, but she didn’t hold a candle to Evelyn, his stunning Evie. He checked his watch and then sighed. “Well don’t let the sandwich go to waste.”

"I guess, though it would wash down better with a bottle of jack." She sprung back up on the desk eating the rest of the sandwich. "Why would they be taking us and not the others? I haven't done anything to give myself away and I haven’t been fucking anyone either."

“Which might be why they are taking you, to break you maybe. I know that the seven of you were chosen, but the reasons..” he shrugged.

"Great, just what I need."

“They won’t take you.”

"Not alive, no way some goddess is using my body as a vessel."

“They won’t get you either way.”

"Hey you're one of the ‘they’, you know."

“Hardly.” he smiled. “Not a chance in hell I’m anything like them. I’m more like you.”

"Oh yeah?" Her eyes traveled over him thoughtfully.

He nodded, winking. “Yep.”

"And in what way would that be?" She crossed her legs.

“I think you know Catherine.” he winked again and sighed. Evelyn had better be on her way there, or they were all in deep shit.

~102~

TWENTY-THREE

Evelyn was sure that she looked a mess. There had only been enough time for a brief shower and a fresh change of clothes. The clothes were something though and they almost fit which was better than the army fatigues Homer had smuggled for her. Fresh clothes made her feel better but they lacked his scent. That earthy, mossy smell that sent shivers over her body. She checked the clock in the car, it wouldn’t be long until she saw him again and once she had him she didn’t plan on letting him go for a very long time.

Myra was driving the car, following her directions. They were alone in the car with the plan being that as soon as the fighting started they could sneak in and grab the girls taking them to a meeting point. Evelyn liked Myra and was glad that she was the one coming with her; it could have been Aiden or worse Kira, though she severely doubted that Kira would stick her neck out for anyone other than herself.

Myra’s choice of men was a little disturbing though. “So you and Aiden then? What’s with that?

You do know that him and his little sister are like… unhealthy close right?”

Myra chuckled. “I highly doubt that. Kira seems to have an affinity for snakes, and Aiden, well he doesn’t. But I do like him. He smells good.” She winked and giggled. “And he’s a lot of fun. Only snake in my life to compliment me.”

"Aiden complimenting someone? Was this before or after sex?" Aiden was a sex pest, one who believed that he was more than god’s gift to women. Complimenting Myra was something he was bound to de before sex but after was a whole other story. "Then again he was stealing sneak glances at you when you weren’t looking. Why hasn't any snake ever complimented you?"

“It was after,” she blushed. “And as for the second question, I’m a bit of a pariah when it comes to shifting. They see me covering my scales in paint as blasphemy.”

"Why?" She shook her head; she'd never understand people, shifters especially "Eh men of all species are messed up. I guess that’s why I stick with humans... or at least am hoping to stick with humans. Truth is it’s been a long time since I've stuck with anything."

“You and me both woman. Aiden is the first man to give me any sort of attention in ages, and the first snake since I was eighteen.”

"Really? What’s it like? You know with another snake... It's never interested me before but I guess there are certain intimacies that you just can't have with a human."

“Well...” Myra blushed and then giggled, “Um... Aiden is different to me; he’s nothing like Dorian was. Dorian was ok, Aiden is amazing... being with a snake is different, but so much better. You can let go, not have to worry about your other side enjoying itself. My snake enjoys Aiden... almost as much as I do.”

"That’s a good thing, and if you can put up with him then I'm happy for you." She smiled at her new friend. Evelyn had never felt that she was missing out by not being with her own kind. Letting loose was a rare luxury that she couldn’t afford, hell she could barely sneeze without someone taking a picture and plastering it on the paper. It might have been nice to have someone to change with but she

~103~

didn’t need a man to share that with. A nice human would suit her just fine and it just so happens that she had one in mind.

“And you? You’re all hot to go back... What’s his name?”

Feeling her cheeks flush she looked away. "That obvious?"

“Only to someone else that is in the same situation. It’s why Elise went against Merrick. She knew. So who is he?”

"Ah... his name's Homer. He's the one who helped me escape; I really didn't want him to get hurt.

He should have come with me but he had to stay and look after the others, make sure they didn't get hurt."

“Admirable. Sounds like a quality kinda guy.” she grinned “Guys like that are hard to come by. If I ever get Aiden to stick around we should double some time? You know, after this.”

"That'd be nice. If it turns out that he doesn’t have a problem dating a reptile... or me."

Myra laughed. “Something tells me he will be open to it...”

"You think?" She asked hopefully, she really wished that he would be and nothing that he'd said gave her any indication that he'd think of her any differently. Then there was always her track record.

"I don’t know, I'm just death to men. I've had a grand total of three relationships in my life... three really bad relationships. I just don’t want to ruin a perfectly good man. I'm mean look at me, I've barely spent twelve hours with the man and I'm already obsessing."

“That’s not obsessing, that’s imprinting. Regardless of whether he’s a snake or not, the two of you had something, and you know that it’s the right kinda something. Same thing with me and Aiden, and with Merrick and Elise. Why do you think she’s waited for him this long? Or why she didn’t mate after she heard he had died?”

"Maybe. I suppose I can’t do anything but wait and see what happens. So what is Merrick and Elise's story anyway? I take it he didn't really die."

“Well you know better then we do, he’s your Archon.” she grinned. “No they have one of those tragic romantic relationships. Duty, honor, you know all that jazz. Well things went wrong I think, and Elise has been pining for him this past ten years, longer even, it was five years in I think, of him being gone, that proceeded that.”

"Wow... he never mentioned it. Then again he did always avoid getting into personal things, I admired that. He's such a contrast to other men that I honestly thought he was gay."

Myra barked out laughter. “Merrick? Gay? Oh lord! Hell, Knossos still rings of the hoots and howls coming from their suites before he left for South America. I was young then, and I still remember it. I always wanted a love like that. When he was deemed missing, then dead, the entire house went into mourning. He’s our Archon too you know? Elise always shared her power with him, a real partnership.”

"Then he's a very good man." Merrick had seen her naked on several occasions and hadn't even seemed all that bothered, if he wasn't gay then he must have truly loved her. Maybe something like true love did exist. "I've never even heard of a man that devoted, but why did he stay away? She must have been broken..."

“He had his reasons, I’m sure, though Elise is going to make him pay that’s for damn sure” she grinned. “And she was, completely broken. It was touch and go there for a while, and she was getting better, and then, well then this happened. She was a mess, and now well I guess they are getting back to normal. It will be good to see her happy again.”

"Yeah I wondered why it looked like she had his balls in a vice. I've never known anyone to talk to him like that."

“Elise is the only one I think. She’s always gotten away with murder with him, though it works both ways with them.”

"Yeah like disappearing for years. You know it’s weird; I think this is the longest conversation I've ever had with a snake that wasn't Merrick... It's nice."

~104~