A Prison of Worlds (The Chained Worlds Chronicles Book 1) (11 page)

“Don't
worry.  I will do what I have to keep the bloodshed to a minimum,” I assured
the detective.  Mei gave me a skeptical look, probably remembering the
quartered vampire we had out back in storage, or maybe it was the accident with
the exploding werewolves.  I just gave her an exasperated look.  I mean really,
you can't expect me to play nice with people trying, and almost succeeding, in
killing me.

“So
anyone up for a movie before we go to bed?” I suggested.  It was almost time
for our weekly movie night anyway and Jeremy had just fixed the holo player. 
Again.

We
watched
Damnation Alley
which reminded me of home without all the people
and more deserts.  Afterward, I talked to Jeremy about some technical support
with an idea I had.  He handles all my technical issues.  I am not sure I could
have hooked up my vid without his help, let alone fix it every few days.  Even
if I could, it wouldn’t be worth it before it blew up again.  I stayed up and
read a bit after the others had gone to sleep.  I don't need much and a little
bit of meditation would recharge my mental batteries far more efficiently than
mere sleep.

My
mind wandered a bit while I read, slowing my progress a bit.  It roamed over
the situation I was in, both in this world and more specifically where I stood
in relation to Kingston.  I really had to believe we make our own Karma.  The
actions we take lead to the future as inevitably as an avalanche.  My minor
talents at precognitive always seem useless except at short term events.  If
they were more developed, I certainly wouldn't be where I was.  My friends
say... or rather used to say, I tend to over-plan, building castles in the air
that overcomplicate things.  I can't help it really; I have too much time on my
hands, I suppose. 

The
night passed much like this.  Thoughts flitting through my head until I gave up
even the pretense of study.  It was almost morning when I started my meditation
and my thoughts finally quieted in the face of my discipline.  It was well into
the morning when a knock at the door interrupted my soothing trance.

“Morning,
Conrad,” I welcomed with a smile.  Now that Mei was including him in our plans
I felt far more charitable towards the large policeman.  He was a little stiff,
but I could work with that.

“Morning,
Professor,” the shifter said politely.  I winced and my smile became a little
more plastic.  I guess I would have to get used to the unwelcome moniker.

“Come
in.”  I waived the officer in. “I hear that you had mixed results in the raid.”

He
grunted as he walked by.  “Yes, your advice was fine, but he's holed up.”

            “Yeah,
powerful circles like that are tough to bypass until they run out of juice.”

The
policeman turned toward me slowly, a suspicious look entering his eyes.  “You
seem well informed.  You mind telling me how you knew all this?”

“That
would be me,” a slight cough preceded this announcement.  Conrad kept his poise
as he turned to face Mei.  The slight Asian woman was dressed in a very
flattering silk night gown.  She had serious skills; I hadn't heard a thing and
apparently neither had Conrad, and his senses were no doubt significantly
sharper than my own.

“Miss
Ling,” the officer nodded.  Some of the tension eased from his posture.  “I
hadn't realized you and the Professor knew each other.”  I think Mei noticed my
flinch.

“Yes,
I will be staying at Derek's until my business here is done.  It's far more
convenient than a hotel and I am unsure how long I will be in town.”

Conrad
paused a moment, apparently mentally connecting my name with me.  “I am not
sure I thanked you properly last night.  Your help was invaluable.  The
Professor supplied a good description of what we could expect, but your
practical experience was a deciding factor that doubtless saved several
officers' lives.”  I am not sure, but I think he may have unconsciously posed
during that statement.

“You’re
welcome,” she gracefully nodded.  “I firmly believe that those of us with the
skills and abilities to make a difference should put forth every effort to help
those around them.”  She was staring me straight in the eyes when she said this
so I am almost positive she was directing this at me.  What did she want?  For
me to put a pair of tights and roam the city?  The fairies of the city would
have to get out and push.  She continued, “In fact the reason I am in the city
may impact you more than just a little.”

“I've
already been filled in about this part, would you like some coffee or tea?” I
asked as I made my way to the kitchen.  “Oh, by the way, make yourself at home.”
I gestured at the chairs and couches in the living room.

“Hmm,
sure, black, no sugar,” Conrad said as he settled himself in one of the chairs.

“I'll
have some of that tea you made last night.” I smiled at Mei's request.  It may
have just been a mundane mix of teas but my breed has a talent for cooking and
alchemy.

“Sure,
be right back.” I gave a lazy wave as I went into the kitchen.  The low mutter
of their voices made a pleasant backdrop to my preparations.  I frowned at a
slight scuff Jeremy had left on the counter and got sidetracked buffing it out
of the surface.  That unsightly blood stain had to go as well.  Oh well, I
would have to get Jeremy to earn his retainer and call it in for service.  Did
I mention that my vid phone had blown up again?  They could fix that too.

Midway
through my preparations, I heard a gruff exclamation that sort of sounded like “Demons.” 
I guess I knew what part Mei was in the story.  A few minutes later there was a
lull in the conversation and I came out with a tray.  I had added a few
croissants and a bit of bacon.  It wasn't really traditional but with predator
type shifters you really can't go wrong with meat.

“So
this wizard sent a horde of apprentices to fill the city with demonic pests,”
the officer was quietly snarling.

“Actually,
we're pretty sure that's just a side effect,” I interjected, as I slide the
tray on the coffee table.  “He is likely going for one of the big demons and he
is having his flunkies test out areas for good locations.”

“Alright,
what can we do about this?” he questioned flatly.  I nodded towards Mei.  She
looked a little startled at my last statement.  I hadn't specifically mentioned
it before, but after thinking it over last night it was pretty obvious.

“With
your help we can organize the packs,” she started earnestly.  “Get the
sensitive ones to identify the areas in the city where the magic is pooling and
stake them out.”

The
ill look on Conrad's face told me what he thought of that plan.  “Getting the
various packs in this city to act together is like herding cats,” he nodded in
Mei's direction.  “No offense.”

“I
know,” she said in soft sympathy.  I thought she was overplaying the empathy
thing, but it seemed to be working.  “But you’re the arbitrator, no one else
can get the packs working together.”

“Hmmm,
the jaguars and the panthers will be relatively easy,” he said reluctantly.  “I
will be trying to get them to join the force once the department is approved. 
But the wolves... they are difficult to keep in line, let alone work with us.”

“So
you can't do it?” Mei said in disappointed tone.

“No. 
I can do it.  I will just have to smack some pack leaders down on their ass. 
It's well within my rights, as this is a clear and present danger to our
territories.”

I
listened raptly; I doubted many had gotten this kind of insight on the shifter
hierarchy, especially the interaction of various races.  Where I grew up, they
stayed as far away from humans and other were-breeds as possible.  Apparently,
my attention was a little too obvious, and Conrad's eyes snapped to me.  I
tried to look as innocent as possible as I met his stare.

“I
would appreciate it if you forgot what we discussing.  It really isn't meant
for outsider's ears.”

“Didn't
hear a word,” I shrugged.  I was curious, but I really didn't feel the need to
share my knowledge with the world.  “Anyway, if we can get those areas covered then
we have a way to get the vampire's territory covered.”

“You
have vampire contacts?” Conrad was once more staring at me.  I was rapidly
becoming used to this.

“Yeah. 
You could say they volunteered.”  You can say a lot of things.  “Remember how I
mentioned that they were very territorial?  Well, they don't like random
entities running through their home.”  I still didn’t know what they were doing
in the Blight.  As far as I knew, that was no one’s territory.

“I
can imagine,” Mei said, smiling sweetly.  It was hard to imagine her as the
vicious shifter that dominated a thug into spilling his guts just yesterday.

“Anyway,
why did you come over?” I asked the officer.  Not that it wasn't convenient not
to have to chase him down, but there were obviously other things on his mind when
he first came here.

He
looked startled to be reminded of his original purpose.  “Oh, right.  I got
sidetracked by the demons.”

“Yeah,
evil wizards and demonic invasions can do that,” I agreed with some sympathy. 
I can get sidetracked by the little things too.

“As
you know the magic user that was raising the zombies has blockaded himself
behind some sort of shield.  I came to see if you would mind coming to examine
it.”

“Sure,
I would love to,” I said with interest, I hadn't seen a major magically working
since I had gotten here.  It would be fun.

“It
seems I have my work cut out for me with the packs, would you mind if I had
another officer escort you there?”

I
shrugged, it didn't matter to me.

Jeremy
had left for the day, to make the preparations I had asked for.  Mei and Conrad
went off to kick some pack leader butt and I sat at home for about an hour
before an officer came to get me.  It turned out that to be a familiar face.

“Officer
Cromwell,” I greeted him at the door with a smile.  “Long time, no see.”  He
didn't look well.  One arm was in a sling, perhaps broken and half the surface
of his face was covered in half healed yellow bruises.  The local technology
was good enough to make mending of broken bones an outpatient service, but he still
really looked beat up.  He must not have had time to get his injuries looked at
yet.  “You look terrible.”

He
gave me a weak grin.  I guess surviving a horde of zombies makes you happy to
merely be alive.  “I would have been dead if it wasn't for you.  Those things
on the floor went up like bombs.  I would have been in them instead of outside
them if it weren't for your warning.  Call me Mat.”

I
nodded in We watched
Damnation Alley
which reminded me of home without
all the people and more deserts.  Afterward, I talked to Jeremy about some
technical support with an idea I had.  He handles all my technical issues.  I
am not sure I could have hooked up my vid without his help, let alone fix it
every few days.  Even if I could, it wouldn’t be worth it before it blew up
again.  I stayed up and read a bit after the others had went to sleep.  I don't
need much and a little bit of meditation would recharge my mental batteries far
more efficiently than mere sleep.

My
mind wandered a bit while I read, slowing my progress a bit.  It roamed over
the situation I was in, both in this world and more specifically where I stood
in relation to Kingston.  I really had to believe we make our own Karma.  The
actions we take lead to the future as inevitably as an avalanche.  My minor
talents at precognitive always seems useless except at short term events.  If
they were more developed, I certainly wouldn't be where I was.  My friends
say... or rather used to say, I tend to over-plan, building castles in the air
that overcomplicate things.  I can't help it really; I have too much time on my
hands, I suppose. 

The
night passed much like this.  Thoughts flitting through my head until I gave up
even the pretense of study.  It was almost morning when I started my meditation
and my thoughts finally quieted in the face of my discipline.  It was well into
morning when a knock at the door interrupted my soothing trance.

“Morning,
Conrad,” I welcomed with a smile.  Now that Mei was including him in our plans
I felt far more charitable towards the large policeman.  He was a little stiff
but I could work with that.

“Morning,
Professor,” the shifter said politely.  I winced and my smile became a little
more plastic.  I guess I would have to get used to the unwelcome moniker.

“Come
in.”  I waived the officer in. “I hear that you had mixed results in the raid.”

He
grunted as he walked by.  “Yes, your advice was fine, but he's holed up.”

            “Yeah,
powerful circles like that are tough to bypass until they run out of juice.”

The
policeman turned toward me slowly, a suspicious look entering his eyes.  “You
seem well informed.  You mind telling me how you knew all this?”

“That
would be me,” a slight cough preceded this announcement.  Conrad kept his poise
as he turned to face Mei.  The slight Asian woman was dressed in a very
flattering silk night gown.  She had serious skills; I hadn't heard a thing and
apparently neither had Conrad, and his senses were no doubt significantly
sharper than my own.

“Miss
Ling,” the officer nodded.  Some of the tension eased from his posture.  “I
hadn't realized you and the Professor knew each other.”  I think Mei noticed my
flinch.

“Yes,
I will be staying at Derek's until my business here is done.  It's far more
convenient than a hotel and I am unsure how long I will be in town.”