Page 106 of Home to the Hollow

“Mother, the choice has already been made,” Edgar replies, cutting his eyes to the blackened teeth shaped burn on Jolene’s neck. “More than once.”

A shriek of recognition escapes her as she follows his gaze to the shiny, half-naked doctor sporting a matching mark on his shoulder. The vet in question bats his lashes, smirking as she realizes he has a cascade of feathered marks on his other shoulder. It must belong to the other doc, but clearly, young Wolfgang is a mated man.

Peanut frowns, not understanding why old Maggie’s having an episode, so I push through the crowd to shield the lot of them. My eyes flash with the power of my people as I stare her down. I can call upon immense strength if I need to, and the powers from the other side aren’t anything to shake your head at. She may be a harpy, but I am much more powerful, and I can take her down without revealing what I am.

“Perhaps ye might reconsider your position, Missus. Insulting my mates innit the best plan, ye see. I won’t hesitate to defend my girl and her men. I doubt the higher ups would forgive us if this devolves into something… less friendly.”

The old bird’s eyes widen, and the Senator stiffens.

“Mother, this is my family. I have plenty of money and influence, even if you threaten to cut me off. You don’t have a card to play. Back off and let the debutantes have their stage back. We’re supposed to be the adults in the room,” Edgar calls from behind me.

His words make Peanut flush and she edges closer to him, holding onto his arm. The doc comes to the left side, and the vet steps back to be welcomed into the arms of all three. Doyle moves to flank her from behind, his eyes dark as he watches the self-righteous couple huff. He’s older and more powerful than me, Andromeda, or any of Julia’s boys, and boy, does he look pissed.

I wouldn't want to be the Boones in a few days. That shifty little arsehole will make their lives a misery for some time. He doesn’t appreciate humans or lesser beings judging his antics—I can’t imagine how he feels about them criticizing people he’s taken as his own.

“Peanut, if we’re done taking out the trash, I’ve got a mind to find some alcohol. How about you?”

She grins, her lashes fluttering as tosses a sarcastic smirk at the stodgy old buzzards. “Bourbon is the balm for all wounds, Seer. Welcome home, bestie.”

I don’t know if I agree with the bourbon, but I am glad to be home. I missed my girl, and I can’t wait to hear what she’s been up to.

Bad Guy

Looking around the room, I tilt my head. We’re several levels below the Society meeting place in the same room they held the trial in. The Mayor asked me to be present as security, though my skills aren’t made for aggression. She’s aware I can’t warn her of impending doom even if I see it, but she insisted I attend this secret consultation. The chamber is quiet, and the lamps flicker on the walls as I sit as far back as possible without being outside of the room. Nelia asked for an observer, and I can do that.

The Mayor enters from the back of the room with Zareb, a hooded figure following her. I can’t see the face, as it’s shadowed by the large opera cloak, and the voluminous size of it conceals everything but their height. The person's presence piques my senses, but I haven’t had a vision yet. That’s strange, but the room hums with a power level I rarely experience outside of my homeland.

“I have asked Hugo to observe only because I am hoping you will trigger something in him. As you know, he cannot relay any information that could alter the course of events. However, if he gathers new information to report back to his source, they may decide to impart some of his findings. We are at an impasse,” Nelia says, glancing at me.

Zareb raises his head, sniffing the air as he senses something, and I feel the air in the room grow tense. He stalks back the way they entered, shaking his mane in aggravation. I arch a brow and the hood moves as a low, throaty laugh echoes in the room. Nelia watches her companion exit, her braids clicking at her waist as she joins the stranger in chuckling.

“Your companion is quite agreeable, Cornelia. He is watching the others while you give me updates on your progress.” Her guest crosses the room, stopping in front of the enormous relief artwork in the wall. The silence settles over us as we wait for the mysterious visitor to study the figures and symbols on the artwork.

“It’s beautiful,” Nelia murmurs. “Perhaps not accurate to the letter, but…”

Another laugh makes the cloak tremble. It’s raspy this time, and I feel a familiar zing as my eyes cloud. I don’t know why that sound is setting off my powers, but I lean back in the chair to allow the flow of the universe to run through me. This is the reason she wanted me here and I’m curious what will come of it.

“Ah. Your friend is having his moment.” Boots click on the floor as they approach. “I’ve never seen one of his kind that isn’t female. Everything has changed so much over the years. We rarely come out of hiding unless the Society requires our presence for a vote. When all of this began, we had to stay hidden and now we have grown quite accustomed to staying under the radar.”

Nelia sighs, leaning against the rostrum. “It was a different world. What you’ve helped build made our town possible—it made all of our lives possible. The supe world is better for what you’ve sacrificed.”

“Yes. Our intent was to make a more tolerant world for our children—for all the children. I fear the foundation we worked so hard to put in place may be in danger. The key may lie with your undertaking, Cornelia.”

Sucking in a breath, I see colors and shapes and scenes that I can’t place. Usually my visions are more coherent than this, but like everything about this evening, my power seems to be shadowed in darkness. I don’t think it is the Mayor’s visitor, but it may have to do with whatever this ‘undertaking’ is.

“You were successful, old friend. But the darkness never rests. Many prominent individuals opposed the changes and have continued to vocalize their opposition. Is it possible they may be responsible for the fog?” Nelia gestures at me, and I know she realizes that I’m not receiving the same signals I normally do.

The shadowy figure steps away from the artwork, walking towards me. Raising a hand within the robe, it points at me, murmuring, “Eleftheróste to myaló tous. Sikóste tin omíchli?1.”

Power tugs at my skin, crawling over me like bugs. I’ve felt nothing like it and I spent most of my life at the feet of the most powerful beings in existence, but this is different. Mayor Cornelia’s strange guest is wielding a mix of energies so potent that it knocks me back into my seat. I close my eyes as visions flood my consciousness, playing at hyper-speed.

“Holy fuck,” I cry out, struggling to control my form as the magick she’s drawing on strips me of all of my carefully constructed barriers.

“Be careful. You cannot harm him,” Nelia warns. “The wrath of his brethren would be severe, and it will displease me. They have not forced me to show my true self outside of my home in decades.”

“Nelia, it is not good for shifters—especially ones with your gifts—to stay in human form for too long. Your mates do you a disservice,” the shadow replies. “I will not harm your seer. I need to see if imbuing my unique powers will break the block placed around her.”

Placed around whom? What is this meeting about?

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