Rare Find (16 page)

I don't know, Stefan,
she cried.
I just tried to build a stronger bonding energy with Tango so I could travel here, but I can still feel the older female.

The other tiger is an older female? Older than Tango?

Maybe a little. I don't know. Why?

Could she be related?

No, I don't think so,
she answered slowly then remembered the odd coloring,
I'm not so sure they are the same variant. She's got an odd tint to her fur.

More likely she panicked and sent out a cry for help on the ethers.
Stefan paused again.
Tango would likely be open and responsive and like you said, through him, she found you.

Stefan studied Tango as if trying to see her face, at least that's what she thought he was staring at. In truth, through Tango's eyes, Stefan looked odd. Gray, yet distinct.

Stefan asked,
Has Tango ever done this before
?

Not like this. I've connected with other tigers – Tobias being one example – but I haven't noticed other tigers connecting to me. At least I don't think they have.
She shrugged mentally
. But maybe it was natural for them and felt natural to me so I never noticed.
It was starting to sound like she'd been unaware of a lot happening lately. Had her life disintegrated so much that she'd been this far off balance?

So what's different now?
Stefan asked.

There was a long pause as they both thought about it. Tango lay down on the floor and rolled on his back, happy and content. Tabitha laughed.
He's so not bothered
.

Have you done this with him before?

Sure,
she said.

He paused.
Sure what?

Yes, I've been communicating with him since forever, and there is no closer communication than telepathy. But because he doesn't use the same language, I found it easier to hop into his energy and spend time with him that way.

The shock coming through the airwaves made her pause and ask,
Why?

It's very unusual. You know that, right?

What is?

The jumping in and out of other people's psyche.

Well, I'm not jumping into anyone. Only animals. And Tango was open to the idea at the beginning and now we both love our time together. It's a wonderful feeling.
She shrugged.
We played our version of hide'n go seek too. I'd disappear and he'd come find me.

Sure,
he said humorously.
But that just makes the situation all that more unique. Have you done this jumping in and out with other animals?

Yes, if they were doing poorly and I couldn't figure out why. I can enter their energy systems and check out their bodies. Dr. Maddy does a similar thing.

Similar, yes. But she doesn't jump into other people's minds and take possession.

Shocked, she jumped back, affronted.
I'm not taking possession. Holy crap. That would be just wrong.

He stood in front of her, his head tilted to the side.
So what is it then?

I'm not making Tango do anything. I'm a visitor. Spending time with him. He can't come to me so I go to him. I don't make him sit up, roll over, or roar.
She hated that feeling of justifying her actions. She'd never do anything to hurt Tango.
I'm here like you and I speak telepathically with Tango in a similar way.

I'm not accusing you of going too far or of doing anything wrong. What I'm trying to understand is the ease with which you do it.
He shook his head.
I can slip into people's minds and speak with them, show them images, give them information
–
but I've never tried to persuade them to do anything. Because to me, it is morally and ethically wrong.

Me too.
She let her breath out on a long sigh.
Sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you. I hadn't considered that what I was doing was wrong. Tango and I are so close that it never occurred to me that I wasn't welcome.

Given the complete look of happiness on that overgrown tabby cat, I'd say you were very welcome.

Mollified, she said,
I hope so. I'd never do anything to hurt him.

And that bond between you is obvious. It's also probably why this other tiger, once she caught scent of your connection, had no trouble yanking you into her space. You were already used to it.

No. That's where you're wrong. Tango never yanks me.

Stefan laughed.
But if you look at the times you're in his space, I'm sure you'll see a recognition of what you're doing on his level. Whether he ever initiated the contact or just put out the suggestion and you responded by jumping in, this other tiger did no less. When you didn't respond initially, she reacted with a stronger message.

True. And...
She thought about the number of times she felt compelled to be with Tango after her grandfather had died. Had that been at her instigation or his?
I never thought of our bond in that way,
she admitted.
But now that I take a closer look, I guess that's reasonable.

The real trick is to figure out how to break the connection. As far as we know, if you are in the person when that person dies, then you are likely to die too.

Especially considering that we're not sure how I'm still alive at the moment.

Stefan took a huge gusting breath and added gently,
If you are still alive.

***

Stefan waited a long moment. From the shocked silence and then a weird blankness in his mind, Stefan understood Tabitha had withdrawn. How far back, he didn't know. He pinched the bridge of his nose and sent her a warm hug. He had no idea what to say to help her deal with her situation. He could only hope time would help. He just didn't know how much time she had.

Nothing was ever what it seemed, and most people lived out their lives never understanding this other layer of existence going on around them. An underground society was probably a better way to look at it. Maybe it was just as well. Those that were aware were often too overwhelmed by the circumstances their intimate knowledge brought them.

As if the ones with awareness were forced to step up and deal with things others had no inkling of.

He turned around to survey the room. It was colder than when he'd first arrived. He glanced back at Tango and found him asleep.

Hosting a second being in your aura had to be draining – a hell of a sleep aid.

Still, as long as Tango wasn't being hurt by the visits, who was he to judge? And as he studied the old cat, he realized Tango was likely enjoying an extended life because of the way Tabitha'd handled him physically and psychically. Tabitha would have taken care of even the tiniest ailments her beloved pet might have experienced. Even pushing off the discomfort that old age often brought.

So Tango might have the best deal after all.

Was she doing the same for the ailing old female she'd joined, too? If so, they might have a little more time to find a way to help Tabitha there as well. Once that female died... Stefan shook his head. He didn't want to imagine the consequences of that connection to Tabitha being severed.

They had to find the host tiger and help her. Maybe then Tabitha could be released.

And he knew just who to ask for help in finding that tiger.

***

Ronin?

Ronin bolted to his feet, accidentally kicking the hospital chair backwards. The question came out of the blue and was so sharp and clear it couldn't be anyone other than Stefan. Damn that guy anyway.

Sorry. I just thought you'd like to know that I spoke with Tabitha.

Ronin walked to Tabitha's side. He'd stopped at the hospital on his way to the office, wishing to hell he knew how to help her.

"How can you speak with her?" he said, casting a glance around to make sure he was alone. "I'm staring down at her unconscious body and there is no way in hell she's awake or even conscious."

She's inside Tango.

"She's
what?
" he asked incredulously. He studied the pale, waxen features of the woman in front of him. So not possible.

And yet, apparently it is. Because I'm at her house and talking to her.

There was only so much woo woo stuff any normal guy could stand, but being a cop who'd recently had that whole believe-it-when-I-see-it thing going on, he was still adapting.

Staring at Tabitha and wishing to hell she was berating him again for his attitude on cats was a whole different thing than understanding she was inside that damn tiger.

Except...that's where she was. At least part of her.

Ronin pounced. "A part of her? What part?"

He stared down at the main part, her body, that hadn't moved since he'd arrived.

Part of her consciousness. So I know this is going to be tough, but we need your help as soon as possible. Here's why.

Stefan gave as clear and as concise an explanation as possible – and left Ronin completely confused. He struggled to sort through the bizarre concepts. "So let me get this straight. There is most likely an old tiger captive in a cage, most likely hunted down by poachers, most likely getting ready to be sold to yet another person, in some country somewhere in the world, that I'm supposed to track down."

I guess that sounds a little bizarre when you put it that way,
Stefan said.

"You think?" Ronin snapped. "And how do you expect me to help here at all?"

Um yeah, Tabitha says they are in a warehouse with lots of cages.

"Oh, that's great. Does she have any idea what country she is in? Do you know how many countries could have an English-speaking captor?" He paced the small room. "A little more information would help, you know."

That would be too easy,
Stefan said, his voice all business.
What I can tell you is that if that sick tiger dies while connected to Tabitha, well...I wouldn't give a penny for her chances of surviving this trip.

And he was gone.

Shit.

***

The tiger didn't look so good. Fez winced. She'd slumped into the far corner. And didn't move – even when prodded. They needed a vet in here and fast.

But who'd pay for it? His boss should. They'd hoped to make this deal happen faster than this. He didn't understand what was taking so long. None of them had time for this. Especially not this female tiger.

He glanced at the haunch of fresh meat lying untouched beside the water. So not good. At least the asshole, Keeper, had done what he was told.

He studied the tiger's still form. There was still blood on her flank. Maybe there was something else going on. He wouldn't trust those damn poachers to not have shot her with real bullets. Hell, she could be riddled with buckshot and no one would know. It's not as if she'd received the care she needed from the beginning.

It was all too possible they'd left it too late now.

There wasn't much in the world that made him feel so low and like such a loser as what he was doing with this female cat. Going into it, he'd looked at all these jobs as easy money. He'd only been working for the boss for five months and it was four months too long. At least now that he'd seen that thing in the river. And understood he himself was living on borrowed time. This job could be the catalyst for his own deep swim.

The tiger was caged. But he was starting to see bars in his own world. How could he get out of this mess? There was nothing nice about seeing a floater.

All Fez could think about now was getting the hell out of here – with no holes in his damn skin.

Go back East. Find a job where he could hold up his head. Instead of this. The animal was tearing his heart out.

Who'd have thought he still had one?

Sunday early afternoon

T
abitha burrowed deeper into a ball. She didn't give a damn whether she was hiding from her problems. The ethers had always been her comfort zone. Her escape from the painful reality of her physical existence. Okay, so it wasn't the same type of escape as for other people. But she'd dare anyone not to do the same, given the shock she'd just been given.

Was Stefan right?

Was she dead?

God, she hoped not.