Page 82 of Defying the Relic Hunter

Xenia pranced around two startled soldiers. “We are invincible.”

“We are women,” we shouted in unison and walked into the mess hall.

People gawked at us.

I let out an ill-tempered growl. “What are you staring at?”

“Haven’t you heard a female sing before,” Xenia added, her eyes glowing brightly.

The cafeteria rapidly emptied out.

“Wusses.” I took one look at the poor excuse for Mexican food and shook my head. “I’m not eating that.”

“It looks like someone hurled,” Xenia said.

“Exactly.” I checked my bracelet. “There’s a Hilberto’s 2.1 miles away.”

Xenia looped an arm around me and poof! We appeared in Hilberto’s.

This shop was painted a glow-in-the-dark red. The interior walls were covered with awful velvet paintings of dogs playing pool, weird looking space creatures and Elvis. The Mariachi music was the same.

Xenia examined the menu and told the elderly Hispanic cashier, “I’ll take the taco special with a beer, please.”

He rang it up. “Eleven credits.”

Xenia swiped her bracelet.

He handed her a bowl of chips and turned his attention to me. “Have you decided yet?”

“I want the green chili enchiladas with a side of beans and a large iced-tea,” I said.

The cashier typed my order into an old computer. “That comes to nine credits.”

I swiped my bracelet across the scanner. “Thanks.” I took the bowl of chips he held out and headed for the table Xenia had claimed.

“You were told to stay on the base,”Ethan sniped in my head.

“And people in Hell want ice water, but we don’t always get what we want.”

“Kizzy,”Ethan growled.

I growled back,“Ethan.”

“After you eat, you’re to return to the base immediately.”

“Whatever.”

“You and I are going to have a long talk about the rules.”

“Rules are made to be broken,”I retorted.

“Kizzy.”

“Ethan.”Grinning, I sat down next to Xenia. Ethan’s aggravation was growing by leaps and bounds.

“At the first sign of trouble have Xenia teleport you back to the base.”

“Gee, I would have never thought of that.”The waiter placed our food on the table.

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