Page 85 of Darkness

“I don’t know everything about your world or you. I only know when I’m with you, I feel more alive than I have in a long, long time.” Morrisey placed a kiss on Farren’s forehead and drifted off to sleep.

Chapter Twenty-seven

Farren worked late in the drab gray confines of his office, reviewing a list of travelers he knew well enough to question, while Morrisey visited Captain Gaskins of Atlanta PD to see what the cops might know—especially about the dead rookie, though he’d go in an unofficial capacity as it wasn’t officially the FBI’s case.

Yet.

Farren also sensed guilt whenever Morrisey spoke of his former captain, so maybe they had some unfinished business.

“You’ve been here nearly as long as I have. Have you ever come across a Tenebris?” If Arianna intended to stare at him so intently, without speaking, Farren might as well put her to work.

Arianna occupied a chair in front of Farren's desk, her bare feet curled against her skirt-clad bottom. She shrugged, taking a sip of fragrant tea from a delicate cup—a part of her personal collection. She’d learned about pretty teacups and yard sales in the same week after arriving and would soon need a bigger apartment. “I’d never met one before I came here. I’d just learned about them during my formal education. They're unusual and kept isolated from the remainder of our race. Imagine my surprise when you brought one into the office. A human, no less.” Arianna inclined her head. “How is that even possible?”

"What made you believe he’s a Tenebris?" Farren tapped his ink pen on his desktop, realized he’d seen some of his more annoying coworkers do the same, and stopped.

Arianna rolled her shoulders. “I don’t know. I just did.”

The same occurred to Farren the night he’d saved Morrisey. Or rather, not saved, but assisted. Morrisey’s bearing suggested the status, similar to how the two EMTs who’d arrived on site fairly broadcast their place in society. Having grown up within the tiered framework, Farren couldn't say how he knew. He just knew. “But is he really human? Have you ever met a traveler who didn’t know they were a traveler? Who couldn’t recall our realm?”

Arianna pursed her red lips. A lip print marred her cup, the color a perfect match for the tiny roses decorating the porcelain. “I once met an accident victim with a head injury. The doctors said she had amnesia. She never got her memories back and now lives as a human. We keep her monitored.”

Could Morrisey have suffered trauma, leaving him unable to remember the past? Nothing in his file indicated a serious injury. Could an emotional injury have the same effect? Such as losing a loved one, perhaps?

Morrisey. Human enigma.

Or maybe not so human.

Arianna reached into her oversized purse, extracting a plastic bag filled with cookies. “Okay, enough business. You must try my latest creation.” She tossed the bag onto Farren’s desk.

“What’s this?”

“I’m not saying. Guess.”

Farren removed a cookie from the bag, studied it with a critical eye, and after a sniff didn’t induce gagging, he took a tentative bite. Arianna’s last experiment turned out to be a pie based on sushi. Brr… her all-time worst creation to date. No taste of fish or seaweed this time. Farren took another, larger bite.

“Verdict?” Arianna demanded.

“Unusual. Nothing like I’ve had before.”

Arianna gave a soft laugh. “You didn’t spit it out. That’s a start, I suppose.”

“No, it’s really quite… interesting.”

She smirked. “Get Grumpy to try some.”

“Grumpy? Which one?” Farren asked between bites. The flavor really grew on him. And he worked with more than a few grumpy people.

“Morrisey. I don’t bake cookies for Leary. He’s… unappreciative.”

“What’s in here?” Farren snagged another cookie, hoping to encourage her.

“Licorice.”

“Hmm… An acquired taste, maybe, but I like.” Not Arianna’s worst experiment.

Arianna smiled. “I’m glad.” Her smile fell. "You're one of the rare few around here who'll try my experiments. I mean, how am I going to learn if I don’t experiment?”

“Exactly. Has anyone been giving you a hard time?” Had Morrisey?

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