The warning caught Aurora off guard. ‘Why not?’
‘We shouldn’t meet again,’ he said, ‘it’s not safe for you.’
There was something malign in the tone of his warning, but Aurora ignored her rising dread. ‘I don’t mind a little trouble, really,’ she countered. ‘I can handle myself under —’
‘No,’ he said gently and put money on the table for the bill and a cab home. ‘But thanks again.’ The pilot moved to stand, but Rory blocked him.
‘Not so fast.’ She grabbed his sleeve and sat him back down. ‘Don’t I get a say in this?’
‘No.’ He was more insistent this time.
Aurora was stunned by his blunt response, and another thought occurred to her that she had not considered before now and her eyes welled with tears. ‘Is there someone special in your life already?’
His stance softened a little and he shook his head. ‘If I’m too dangerous for you, Aurora, I’m too dangerous for anyone!’ he complimented her wild child nature and she appreciated that. ‘It was an honour to meet you, and I hope our paths cross again in the future.’
‘Somewhere among the stars?’ She recalled his prediction for her, if she kept up the study.
‘Sounds good.’ Starman smiled and without so much as touching her, he rose and left the café.
Aurora’s welling tears of disappointment finally flowed down her cheeks, and she brushed them away. She didn’t get any of her answers, and in reality she couldn’t ask the questions without exposing the dreams she’d had about the man. Better that it remains a mystery than I end up in prison, or dead! She breathed deep to regain her sensibilities, paid the bill and went home.
Two days later, Aurora awoke from an after-lecture nap, distraught. Her dream hung over into her waking state to taunt her: she saw Starman getting very cosy with twin beauties and the prospect that he’d lied to her made her furious!
She jumped out of bed to wake herself properly. ‘It was just a dream!’ She gripped her gut, which seemed completely convinced that something was not right with him. The feeling was not jealousy, she realised; it was more like panic that was urging her to seek him out. ‘No!’ She insisted she was not going to chase him, when he’d made it perfectly clear he wanted her to stay away.
Under the pelting heat of the shower, Aurora calmed a little. Her thoughts turned to approaching Starman’s unconscious form the night she’d driven him home and the memory of touching him invoked the same euphoria and attraction as it had at that moment. Yet the day he’d said goodbye in the coffee house, she’d not felt that same inexplicable attraction — why? I must just like him better drunk than sober, she figured.
It was a week night, no gig, and Zanthie was on a date, but Aurora was not going to Zeven’s place! She was in the gig van with her government pass on the seat beside her, but she was not going risk using it again. Against all of her better judgement her vehicle was headed toward the government checkpoint, when she spotted Zeven’s unique convertible heading into the public sector with a couple of female passengers enjoying the ride with him.
Despite how close she was to the checkpoint, Aurora did an illegal U-turn to pursue him. I just hate being right all the time. She was back to feeling jealous, furious and a tinge scared, upon realising that she was still having dreams about Starman. Why him? Why this guy?’ Why was she having visions at all? What if Zanthie is right: what if I do have one of the Powers? Even thinking it made Aurora uncomfortable and she felt sick in her gut. Either I confront Starman about these dreams and risk arrest, or I continue dreaming about his exploits for who knows how long! Aurora didn’t think she could take that, not if she was not allowed to be involved with him.
The Borealis entered the car park of a luxury apartment block, so Aurora found a street park for her van. She then dashed toward the foyer of the high-rise, and through the glass she spied a couple entering the lift containing Starman and his two cuddly companions. Aurora waited for the lift doors to close before moving to observe the lift stop on the fourth four, and then proceed all the way to P level at the top. Recapturing the glimpse she’d had of the two fashionable creatures Starman had in the car with him, the penthouse seemed a fitting destination for them.
Aurora was in the elevator speeding her way toward the top floor before she realised she had no idea what her next move was? What in the world was she going to say to him? Even now, with no plan or reason, why was her gut still compelling her to stay her course?
The doors parted on to a very elegant and modern foyer, containing only a few plants, a beautiful floor mosaic and a door. As the elevator doors threatened to close once more, Aurora’s instinct compelled her to step into the foyer, whereupon the elevator left her stranded there.
Given a moment to observe the mosaic on the floor more closely, she realised it was of a sword crossed with a quill and this depiction had particular significance.
‘The symbol of the Sermetic royal family!’ Aurora gasped and looked to the door before her more warily. ‘Are you shitting me?’ Her instinct urged her forth, but her rational mind overruled and she backed up toward the elevator doors once more. The lift was all the way back at the ground floor, and she pressed the button several times in the futile hope of getting it back sooner.
‘Can I help you?’
Aurora looked to the only door to find a woman — very tall, very beautiful and very well armed — heading her way. ‘I was just looking for an ex-friend of mine,’ Aurora ventured, knowing she’d made a mistake — maybe he’d got off on the fourth floor? ‘He goes by the name of Starman.’
Aurora expected a perplexed reaction from the woman, but instead the beauty grabbed her arm and began leading her across the foyer toward the penthouse door.
‘What are you doing?’ Aurora protested, but did not resist — the Sermetic royal family were well loved since Anselm had become president and she didn’t feel she would be harmed.
‘I’m taking you to your ex-friend,’ the security woman replied. ‘Why, ex-friend?’
‘He is here?’ Aurora was stunned, but thinking that would not do her cause any good, she tried to collect herself.
‘Do I look like a liar to you?’ The femme fatale stopped and looked down upon Aurora.
‘Absolutely no’, Aurora assured her, and she was led into a security office and assigned a chair.
‘What is your name?’
‘Aurora DeCadie.’
‘Sit there and don’t move,’ the woman instructed, and as she left the office the doors locked shut.
Aurora immediately released her pent up panic. He’s part of the royal family! She freaked out at the worst case scenario. Or maybe he’s just visiting? Her racing heart calmed a second, but panic prevailed in the end. ‘Who am I trying to kid, I don’t have a hope in the universe with this guy!’
4
THE SERMETIC ROYAL LINES
ANSELM AND VIDOR
Zeven was really enjoying drinks by the pool with Rada, Rebi and Anselm — it almost felt like family, but if that were the case then there was someone missing. He may have been growing fond of Anselm, but he still missed Taren every day and more when he was with her father; it seemed to make it all the more obvious that she wasn’t around. Zeven was hoping that Taren was the reason that Anselm had wanted to see him in the private sector this evening.
‘I have something for you,’ Anselm announced, motioning to the blonde twin, Rada, who was more than happy to fetch the item in question.
‘A gift? What this time?’ Zeven couldn’t think of anything he needed, but he did like surprises.
‘You may not like this delivery as much as the last.’
Zeven grew wary. ‘How could you top the Borealis?’
‘Speaking of very fast things.’ Anselm held up a finger. ‘I heard from Hunzo earlier today, and his revised stealth vessel will be ready to test in two days’ time.’
‘Two days!’ Zeven sat up on the deckchair on which he’d been reclining. ‘But I’m still on
leave!’
‘You can add a couple of days onto your next leave?’ Anselm suggested. ‘Of course we’d like you to be the one to test her.’
In truth, Zeven didn’t really mind. A few days of his own space had felt like moving in slow motion; he was craving the kind of adrenaline hit that he only got on the job. ‘Mythric is going to be pissed.’ Zeven noted Tyra striding toward them with Rada in tow, appearing confused.
‘Starman, there is a woman by the name of Aurora DeCadie here to see you,’ Tyra informed and Zeven went into mild shock.
‘She’s here?’ He stood, alarmed and excited.
‘Is that not what I just said?’ Tyra replied dryly. ‘She claims she’s an ex-friend of yours.’
‘An ex-friend?’ Zeven noted warily, and as he made a move to follow Tyra to the security office he asked Anselm, ‘Is this the surprise you had for me?’
Anselm shook his head. ‘But mine will keep.’
‘Is she the one you’ve been pining about?’ Rebi asked curiously on his way past.
Zeven gave a hesitant nod and kept going.
As they crossed the living room, the chime on the front door sounded and Tyra unlocked her room via remote so that Starman could enter. She then moved to see who was at the door.
As he entered Aurora stood, appearing angry, but he smiled all the same. ‘How did you find me?’
‘You lied to me!’ she replied, venomously.
Zeven knew he didn’t have a hope of remembering what she was talking about and so aimed to just be polite about it. ‘I know I was very drunk the night you drove me home —’
‘Not then, that night was rather wonderful.’ Aurora waved off the fond memory of touching him. ‘I’m talking about the day after that, when you took me to coffee, gave me the third degree and then told me you didn’t want to see me anymore, remember that?’
‘No?’ Zeven was perplexed; had he lost another day somewhere?
‘What do you mean, no?’
To his memory, that day he’d argued with Mythric about whether he should seek out Aurora, and they had decided that it would not be wise. ‘I wanted to find you and thank you, but I would have been subjecting you to undue risk, so I never did.’
‘What?’ Now Aurora was not only mad, but concerned as well. ‘I was there, Starman, you took me in your unmistakeable car for coffee. You asked me a whole lot of questions about what you’d told me about your line of work, your boss and something about voodoo?’
Zeven gasped and nearly startled Aurora out of her wits. ‘Juju?’
‘That’s it,’ she confirmed despite being startled, her feelings all in a jumble — if what he claimed was true then he’d never told her that he didn’t want to see her again!
Starman looked like he wanted to swear, but was refraining in case he scared Aurora again. ‘I asked you about the boss and the Juju?’
Aurora nodded very firmly.
‘Oh shit,’ he stated, repressing his inner horror as he backed up toward the door.
‘Something is wrong. Tell me what it is?’
‘Stay here and don’t go anywhere.’ Zeven was in a flurry.
‘Am I in trouble?’ She appeared concerned and he smiled at her fears.
‘Not with me.’ He opened the door, still in turmoil, but he would not allow her to see it. ‘I think you just did me a massive service, actually. So please, wait here?’ He requested more than demanded this time. ‘I’d really appreciate it, if you would.’
‘Okay.’ She smiled at last, despite how confused and even frightened she might be. ‘Don’t forget me,’ she requested as she sunk to a seat again.
‘Impossible,’ he stated and then, closing the door, he turned to confront Anselm, Tyra and two policemen. ‘What’s going on?’
Anselm fronted up to explain. ‘Apparently, your ex-friend —’
‘No, we’re friends again now, I think,’ Zeven corrected, looking hopeful.
‘— your friend, did an illegal U-turn just outside the government sector and these policemen have pursued her here to question her about the incident and charge her.’
‘Not a good idea,’ Zeven advised warily.
‘And why is that?’ Anselm wondered.
‘If I may speak with you in private, I am fairly sure you will agree with me.’
Anselm decided to hear Zeven out. ‘Tyra, would you get these policemen some coffee?’
‘This way, gentlemen.’ Tyra motioned the officers to the kitchen and they seemed to have no objection, especially when they saw Rada and Rebi waiting to serve them.
The president beckoned Zeven to follow him deeper into the house.
As Zeven followed he considered the questions that he’d apparently asked Aurora, on the date he never attended, and those taboo topics he’d raised very few times — only with Mythric when they’d met and in the last few days. I’ve been bugged, he thought. Something I’ve received recently and take with me everywhere? Zeven gasped as he whipped the car key card and his apartment key card from his pocket. ‘One moment,’ he called Anselm to a halt, as he headed back to see Tyra.
Zeven pulled the security guard aside, then held his hand up and made a handwriting gesture across it.
Tyra nodded, pulling a pen and paper from a nearby drawer.
Starman scribbled a note and gave it to her, holding a finger to his lips when she went to answer the question he’d asked her on paper. Tyra bit her tongue and nodded, whereupon Starman give her his key cards and, giving her the thumbs up, he backed up to speak with Anselm.
In Anselm’s private study, Zeven brought the president up to speed — Anselm was disturbed by what he heard and Zeven was furious with himself.
‘Me and my mouth. Why do I have to be such a showoff all the time? Thank the universe that Mythric and I speak in code or all of the boss’s plans might have been exposed. I should have listened to him.’
Anselm felt Zeven was being hard on himself. ‘Those keys came through my office, they should have been scanned then! But, by the same token, it might be wise to exercise a little more caution in future.’
‘Caution is useless, Khalid knows I exist now.’ Zeven was perturbed.
‘You are going to have to do a disappearing act,’ Anselm agreed, ‘that much is certain. But we’ll have to time it so he doesn’t know we are onto him … if indeed Khalid is behind this.’
Tyra knocked, entered and closed the door behind her. ‘All clear now.’ She tossed Zeven his keys. ‘I removed and deactivated the device that was in the car key.’
‘Shit.’ In his mind Zeven attempted to recall everything he might have said to Mythric since he’d taken possession of his automotive treasure.
‘Our adversary knows your taste.’ Anselm raised both brows to state.
‘He sure does.’ Zeven gave a deep, heavy sigh.
‘Thank you, Tyra,’ Anselm excused her, ‘tell the officers that Miss DeCadie was on urgent government business, and offer to pay any outstanding fine on her behalf.’
‘Yes, sir.’ She departed and closed the door.
‘At least we know we can speak freely now.’ Anselm sought a bright side.
‘Can Khalid shape-shift?’ Zeven wondered how he’d been impersonated.
‘Not to my knowledge,’ Anselm replied, ‘but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have someone working for him who can.’
‘Now Rory is in danger.’ Zeven was very annoyed about that.
‘But if you hadn’t bumped into her, we would not now know that someone is already onto you.’
‘I owe her big time for this one.’ Zeven considered how many times in the long gone future that Aurora had saved his butt.
‘Then the kindest thing you could do is let her go. It is only her connection to you that places her in danger,’ Anselm pointed out. ‘Were you to perish in, say … an accident …’
Zeven’s downcast gaze shot up to meet Anselm’s, not liking the sound of that suggestion.
‘… then, I doubt very much that anyone
will have any further interest in her,’ Anselm concluded.
‘Not the Hunzo interceptor?’ Zeven couldn’t bear the thought of so much research and ingenuity being destroyed in a cover up.
‘Hardly,’ Anselm assured him. ‘No, we’ll find some other less extravagant vehicle for you to kill yourself with.’
‘And so, due to no fault of our own, it all ends badly once again. I am so not meant to be with this woman!’ Zeven threw his arms in the air in frustration.
‘You know it has to be done. We have no choice if we are to keep you hidden. And I will personally see to her protection,’ Anselm offered. ‘There is an upside to your imminent death.’ He pulled a missive bearing the royal seal of Sermetica from his pocket.
‘What is this?’
‘It’s a royal summons from the Dowager Duchess, Lady Vidor,’ Anselm explained.
‘I told you I wasn’t interested in seeing her,’ Zeven objected.
‘Well, she wants to see you. That is a royal command, so, should you fail to meet with her, she’ll have you arrested and dragged before her.’ He shrugged in conclusion. ‘Sorry.’
‘Just great!’ Zeven rolled his eyes.
‘The upside is that the summons is for Friday,’ Anselm noted. ‘So I have already sent word that you will be otherwise employed on government business that day.’
Zeven looked to Anselm with an expression that implied that was not very comforting.
‘I regret now that I stuck my nose into your past, Starman.’ Anselm humbled himself as he rarely did. ‘I truly thought I was doing you a favour and I didn’t think my ageing relative was going to be so damned insistent. She hasn’t issued a royal decree for decades!’ He emphasised his surprise. ‘So I shall attempt to stall her until we arrange your timely death.’
‘But I was just starting to enjoy life — shit! I mean, where am I going to go now?’
‘I suggest you pose your query to the boss,’ Anselm said and Zeven’s spirits immediately lifted and then waned.
‘I’d rather not tell her that I have blown my cover so quickly.’ Zeven had lost his vibe for a reunion now.