WalkingHaunt (2 page)

She heard low voices and straightened her shoulders. It seemed they had some sort of client.

Niisa came and greeted her in the hallway with a quick look from head to toe. “Caf and a roll with cheese, coming up.”

“Who are they?”

“Citadel reps. They need your assistance in determining what happened to a world before it was cleansed by Scorchers.”

“What was the species?”

“It was another Ysheer colony, so their souls should be in holding.” Niisa said it all quietly as they walked toward the office proper.

“Anything else?”

“Yeah, they are both kinda cute. I will get that caf.” Niisa patted her arm and sent her on her way.

Trying to keep the smirk off her lips, Yohwen entered her office and slid into her chair before looking at her guests. “Good evening, gentlemen. May I know the nature of your business?”

One of the men was grinning, and his robes marked him as a Citadel Healer. The other man wore the red-and-smoke trimmed robes of a Scorcher. The Scorcher was staring at her with a startled expression in his deep red eyes. “You are the Master Haunt?”

She grinned. “Yes. I have to tell you, the formal wear required is very uncomfortable and the makeup is ridiculous, but it is a celebration, and tradition must be upheld. Now, what can I do for you?”

The Scorcher leaned forward. “We need you.”

Niisa was approaching the desk with the caf and the roll. She paused and bit her lip to keep herself from laughing. The man in Healer’s robes rolled his eyes.

The Scorcher’s deep grey skin darkened. “I mean, we need your services as a Haunt to find out details of a world destroyed.”

The Healer leaned forward as Niisa set down the caf and the small plate. “A world settled by your people has been ravaged by a plague. The Scorchers have destroyed all flesh on the world, but there is no indication as to what started the disease. We need to know how it started.”

Yoh sipped at her caf and sighed in relief as she woke up by increments. “If you have destroyed the bodies, there is nothing to attach the souls to.”

The Healer sat back and cocked his head. “We have been told that you are the one person who could possibly help us. Out of all the Haunts here, you are the one that was pointed out to us by our Seer, so you are the one we need.”

Sundown was coming, and she could feel the prickle along her mind. Her grandmother was on the way. She tried to wrap this up. “I am sorry, but I don’t think I can help you. I have never been off my home world, and I don’t intend to start now.”

The Healer frowned and looked as if he would argue, but the Scorcher held up his hand to quiet him. “There is another plague that has been released, and we think it is the same one. We need your help to let us talk to the physicians who first identified the pathogen. Their records have been destroyed, but if they can still speak, they will help us save millions of lives.” The Scorcher leaned toward her. “I don’t want to burn anymore dead if I don’t have to.”

Blinking rapidly, she met his smoked red gaze with her blazing orange one. “How long will we be gone?”

Niisa pressed a hand to her shoulder, “Yes, how long will we be gone?”

Relief flooded Yohwen as she realised that Niisa would not let her head off with strangers. Her grandmother emerged next to her from the floor. “Keep warm, sweetie. I will be here when you return.”

The Citadel reps were sitting back in their chairs, staring at the glowing form of Yinway Dahl.

“Gentlemen, this is my grandmother, Yinway Dahl. Gran, these men are representatives of the Citadel.”

The Scorcher stood up and bowed. “I am Scorcher Orkill, this is Healer Debarren. We are pleased to greet you on behalf of the Citadel.”

Yinway bowed low, her body flickering as she moved.

Healer Debarren asked, “Are you buried nearby, madam?”

“Why, Healer, I haven’t been flirted with in ages.” Yinway floated through the desk and over to his side. “No, I am not buried nearby. When my granddaughter moved to Teeger, she offered me a chance to come with her, so I said sure. She anchors me to her, and I keep her company when Niisa is off on the business of promotion. I also deal with souls who are not happy to be pulled from their stellar rotation.”

Yinway was smug, and it made Yohwen smile. Her grandmother did enjoy showing off. “You will be safe at home for the rest of the celebrations while I go off on whatever this is. I promise to return home as quickly as I can so that you can celebrate Minway’s first birthday with her family.”

“Of course, my treasure. But if you don’t make it back, I am sure that they will hire a local Haunt to bring me home. Just let them know if they might need to. I won’t be as strong as when you bring me, but I am sure that it will be fine.” Yinway smiled and drifted back to Yohwen where she brushed a kiss against her cheek. Sparks flew as the power worked against Yoh.

Scorcher Orkill sat down and cocked his head. “What was that?”

Yohwen opened her hands wide. “My power against my skin. Because she is blood, I can hold her together and pull her tight to my side as well as let her project as much of herself as she wishes.”

Healer Debarren smiled and crossed his arms, “Can other Haunts do that?”

Yinway stood up proudly. “My granddaughter is the only one on Wedderal who can hold a soul like this. Her birth may have been unfortunate, but her power is the strongest I have ever encountered.”

Both of the visitors tactfully ignored the mention of her birth. Scorcher Orkill asked, “When can you leave?”

“How long will we be gone?”

“Six days, perhaps ten.” He shrugged.

Yohwen turned to her friend. “Niisa?”

Niisa winked at the Healer and went into her office, closing the door. She started cancelling appearances and moving appointments.

“Niisa will be coming with us.”

The two men looked at each other in shock.

Orkill asked, “Why?”

“She is my handler. When I am using my talent, I lose contact with the world around me. She keeps me fed, watered and rested so that I can maintain control of my skills.”

Debarren cocked his head, “I can do that.”

Niisa returned to the office. “Yoh, you need water.”

The glass was placed within reach of her hand, and Yohwen drank.

“Niisa is a high-level diagnostic talent, but she chose to spend her time as my assistant. She will be coming with us, because she has always dreamed of seeing the stars.”

Niisa perked up, her midnight blue eyes sparkling with excitement. “I get to go with you?”

“Of course.” Yohwen smiled. “Can you prep bags for each of us for two weeks while I hammer out some details with these two gentlemen?”

Niisa winked at her and disappeared.

Yinway rounded on the two men quickly. “What are you going to offer my granddaughter for her assistance?”

Yohwen put her booted feet up on her desk as her grandmother put her skills as a Negotiator into high gear. Niisa may have been excellent at dealing with Ysheer traditions, but no one took aliens to task like Yinway Dahl, ex-armoured Negotiator.

Yinway had served her people in a metal suit for ten years, negotiating with other races and keeping foreigners from their soil. There were others doing the job now, but no one had the skills that Yinway had exhibited.

Her skills had made her the head of her family. The Dahls took a step up in the world. Now, her granddaughter was watching as her spectre went through contract terms with the Citadel representatives until she was satisfied.

Yohwen smirked when she saw that the Scorcher was sweating. “Would you like a glass of water?”

He nodded. “Please. I tend to overheat in stressful situations.”

Yoh got to her feet and went around the corner to the water dispenser. She filled two glasses and handed one to each of her visitors.

They thanked her quietly, and the moment the glasses were empty, Yinway cleared her throat. “Call it in, please.”

Orkill pressed a small button on the collar of his suit. “Did you get all that, Relay?”

A female voice came through, “You mean you getting your ass handed to you? Oh yeah. I got it. The agreement will be waiting on your shuttle.”

“Exactly as dictated?” Yinway was persistent.

“Yes, madam. Exactly as dictated.” The voice was even and secure.

“Good. My granddaughter is in the hands of the Citadel and Sector Guard. I want her back within two weeks or the Ysheer will disrupt all traffic through this sector.”

“I understand, madam. She will be back.”

Debarren said, “You know that your government did allow us to take one Haunt from your world.”

Yinway frowned. “I don’t care what they said. She is my descendant, and I want her back.”

The men nodded in unison, “Yes, madam.”

Yohwen reached into her desk and brought out some weshkin wine. “Grandmother, thank you. I think you have scared them enough for one night.”

Yinway chuckled and sat in her favourite chair in the corner, rocking back and forth though the chair didn’t move.

Debarren extended his glass for the wine, and she uncorked it with a pop. “Gran was an off-world Negotiator in her day. She still remembers a few things from the old days.”

Yinway smiled brightly and kept rocking.

Orkill looked over at her grandmother and extended his glass. “Please.”

Yoh smiled in sympathy and poured a hefty slug of the wine into it. It was all she could offer to offset the trauma they had just suffered at the hands of a senior who had been dead for twenty years.

Chapter Three

Niisa brought in the luggage, and Yohwen smiled. “When will you gentlemen be ready to leave?”

“We are ready now. Our shuttle is standing by. Do you have anything you need to do before you leave?”

Yoh looked at Niisa. “Are we good?”

“Well, my mother is mad that I will be missing the celebration, but I promised her a private haunt, if you don’t mind, when we return.” Niisa winked. “She can’t pass up an opportunity to have me see the stars.”

“Excellent. Grandma, do you mind?” Yohwen looked at the glowing figure in the corner.

“Sigh. I suppose I will return to the sky and wait for my turn to visit with the new baby.” Yinway grimaced. “Hurry home, Yohwen. I don’t enjoy spending time with that idiot half-brother of yours.”

Yinway floated up and dissipated into the ceiling.

Yohwen corked her wine and tucked it back in her desk. “So, shall we get going?”

“Why do you keep that in your desk?” Orkill looked at her in surprise, setting his empty glass on her desk.

She smiled and finished tidying her workspace. “Not everyone is sanguine about contacting the dead. Even my people think twice before they get an honest answer from their ancestors or deceased spouses.”

Niisa whisked the dishes away and quickly scrubbed them, putting them on the drain board.

Yohwen recognized the sounds as she got to her feet and stretched. “What is the weather like where we are going?”

Debarren smiled, “You will be wearing protective suits. You will be insulated from the environment.”

Yohwen blinked. “You don’t know how my talent works, do you?”

He frowned and shook his head. “No, I assumed that you simply drew the energy from the air.”

“No, I pull it from the ground. My feet have to touch the surface of whatever world I am haunting. My feet will be exposed. I thought you guys watched the ritual last night.”

Debarren winced. “We did not realise the significance of your lack of footwear. What is the importance of the sand?”

“It is a conductor. It helps separate the energy into tendrils that reach through the ground to call the dead. I match the dead to the energy above. They know who they are, but a Haunt calls them to their home where their family is waiting.”

He blinked. “I don’t know how we are going to do this.”

Orkill burst into laughter. “Masuo. No wonder they insisted we swing by Morganti. Relay gave us a box of emergency equipment and there is a pair of Masuo in it. I thought it was weird, but now, it makes sense.”

Yohwen frowned. “What makes sense?”

Scorcher Orkill explained, “Masuo are durable plants that develop a symbiotic relationship with their host. They can be transformed into clothing, belts or footwear. They will extend and retract as needed.”

“What if I don’t want it after this mission?” Yoh wasn’t sure how she felt about having something in symbiosis with her. Niisa was bad enough at times.

“It can be transformed into an ankle cuff that is barely visible. It won’t be a problem.” Orkill was sure of it. She could hear it in his voice.

“Well, if it will save lives, fine. Let’s go.” She grabbed her bag and headed for the door. She waited outside while the two Citadel reps and Niisa caught up with her. She fished her key out of her cleavage and locked up the office. “There. Now, I can go with a clear mind.”

The vehicle that the reps had brought took their baggage easily. They sat quietly on the way to the capital, and it was novel for Yohwen to have her palm and irises scanned for departure by a customs agent.

Niisa giggled as they did the same with her, and then, the vehicle was moving toward a parking pad near a shuttle.

The vehicle was huge. Nine city transports could be put end to end and they still might not pass the length of the shuttle.

She carried her pack over one shoulder, Debarren helped them up the steps of the shuttle and showed them where to stow their luggage. “You will be able to retrieve it if you need anything. The galley is here, and it has rations provided that are compatible with Ysheer biology.”

Yoh laughed. “Oh good. I was afraid that something would contrast with my biology.”

He ignored her and showed Yoh and Niisa how to work the lav, how to fold down a bunk and where the data pads were for the Citadel version of in-flight entertainment.

“The Scorcher is the pilot?” Yohwen was nervous as she squirmed in the seat she had been assigned.

Debarren grinned. “Of course. It is his ship.”

Yohwen sighed. “Of course it is.”

She settled back and waited with the excited Niisa, who was trembling with bookish eagerness as she ravaged her data pad. Niisa loved the entire idea of life beyond Wedderal, but she also wanted to stay home. She was conflicted.