Options

Nai'dqa watched from the shadows as three Kallutan females passed by, completely unaware that he was even standing there.

He listened as they grumbled about a Treasure who wasn't behaving as it should. He cocked his head to the side, not really caring about what they were going on about. He was there to learn more about the illusive Kallutan people, what made them tick and what would kill them.

While their Rein had given the green light to become allies with the species, Nycteromys were not the sort of people to ever really become allies with anyone. There was no such thing as friendship, only blood ties and mutual interests.

While he might have grown up with Vi'dta and He'dtaalh, he wouldn't go so far as to claim they were friends. They all pledged their loyalty to the Rein, and that was the extent of their connection to the other.

He knew his place well, and after 480 revolutions, he doubted anything was going to change.

Once he was sure that the females had passed and no one else was in the area, he pulled the shadows back into his body and continued his way down the hallway. Cursing the smaller species for not building a bigger palace, he was brought up short when he encountered something unexpected.

The barrier in front of him didn't seem like much, gold bars that were so soft, his nails alone would be able to cleanly slice through them. But it wasn't the barrier itself, it was the scent coming through it.

Taking in a deep breath, Nai'dqa felt his chest expand, growing bigger than he thought possible. He couldn't pinpoint what the scent was, it was covered by the stench of a Kallutan, but it was there… faint, but there.

And he needed to get to it.

Looking down at the flimsy door, Nai'dqa curled his upper lip back in a sneer. He had no idea what it was supposed to keep in or out, but it was child's play to him. Flicking his index finger, he revealed a long, black talon. The tip of it curved down, meant to deliver gouging slashes to enemies, but it also worked as a lock pick in these circumstances.

After all, he didn't want anyone to know where he was, and anything locked in a golden cage was surely valuable to the Kallutan.

Closing the door silently behind him, he stopped and took in another breath. He could smell the cleanliness of the plants around him as they purified the air, the humidity of the environment brushing against his leather-like flesh, causing drops of water to appear against his markings.

Toning down the purple swirls that decorated his skin and announced his identity and accomplishments, he forced his skin to become a darker grey, able to blend in with the shadows provided by the leaves of the trees. There was nothing he could do about his white eyes, but whoever was around would have to know that he was there and look up at his 8'3" in order to even catch a glimpse of them.

He could feel his shadows dancing across his skin as the stench of the Kallutan started to dissipate, leaving behind just the addictive scent. He couldn't put his finger on what it actually smelled like. It was a mixture of sun-warmed fields of flowers with the darkness of shadows.

Either way, it was driving him completely out of control. If the Kallutan's had created the scent in order to use it as a weapon against the Nycteromys, then the Rein needed to know about it, and fast.

Preparing for the worst, his muscles getting heavier and heavier with every step he took toward the sources, Nai'dqa pulled his shadows in close, disappearing in the middle of the artificial forest.

-----

I started to swim to shore, my arms and legs getting tired of keeping me afloat in the middle of the pool. Knowing that it was my safe place, I promised myself that I wouldn't venture too far. I had seen a swing set up just off to the side of the water that looked inviting.

Besides, it wasn't like I had a lot of other things to do.

It wasn't until I could feel the sandy bottom of the pool that I felt the presence of another.

I should have known long before then. The birds had stopped calling to each other; their chirps cut off suddenly in the presence of an intruder. Worried that it would be the three women from before, I ignore my tired limbs and swam back out to the center of the pool, waiting for their arrival.

But it never came.

Don't get me wrong, I could feel someone staring at me, their eyes moving all over my face, the only thing exposed from the water. But it wasn't threatening.

I wanted to say that it was almost comforting, like the embrace of a parent, but let's face it, I never knew what comfort was either.

Part of me wanted to call out to see if anyone answered, but part of me didn't want to do that quite yet.

My legs were starting to cramp up, and my arms felt like lead, ready to pull me down under the water.

I took in a deep breath and contemplated my options. I could die here, a wet, watery death, or I could take my chances on land.

I might have been named after a mermaid, but drowning was not my choice of death. Ready to take the chance, I once again swam to the shore.

As soon as my feet touched the sandy ground, my legs started to shake, unwilling to support my weight. Collapsing onto the beach, I pulled my body forward onto dry ground, panting with every inch that I gained.

Looking around, I tried to find a makeshift weapon of any kind. If the presence I felt was there to hurt me, I would make sure that I hurt them back first.

"What do you want?" I asked, my eyes narrowing at the leaves in the distance. Was it just me, or were there more shadows than when I first entered the water?

Shaking my head, sure that it was a matter of me being so tired that I was seeing things that weren't there, I closed my eyes.

"If you think I am an easy target, think again. I will kill you and dance on your body when I am done."