Page 20 of Shadow Dreaming

A couple minutes later, Duran reappeared. “All right,” he said. “Kyann, you—and you alone—meet me tonight and I’ll take you to PortalWatch.”

I nodded, impatient. I wanted to go now, but I was at the mercy of the Crystal Court. “Where should I meet you?”

“Give me your address. I’ll pick you up.”

I gave him my address. “Remember, Penn’s my best friend, as well as my roommate. I need her back, safely.”

“I’ll see you tonight around eight. Until then, hold onto hope. You have no idea how strong we’re taught to be. Penn will be okay. I’m sure of it,” he said, though he sounded anything but sure.

I had no clue how to dress, so I dressed in a black pantsuit with a cobalt blue shirt, and a pair of ankle boots, along with my leather jacket. I brushed my hair back into a ponytail, and touched up my makeup. PortalWatch was part of the Crystal Court’s military organization, as far as I knew. Then it occurred to me that, given that, Penn was actually part of the military.

I decided to forego the backpack and opted for a nice leather tote. By the time I was ready, I had managed to calm my nerves, though I kept seeing Penn in my mind, and my imagination wasn’t being kind to me. I longed for another glimpse through her eyes, to know she was alive, but Murdoch had just acted like a regular cat the rest of the afternoon.

A few minutes after eight, I jumped as a knock sounded on the door. I’d been waiting for Duran, but so deep in thought that the noise startled me. I opened the door and saw him, looking far more formal than he’d been out in the woods. He was wearing a formal suit, with navy blue trousers and a silver Nehru jacket. His hair was pulled back in a braid. He looked older, in a way, or maybe more daunting.

“Welcome to my home,” I said, suddenly feeling awkward. “On the way, maybe you can tell me what to avoid in terms of topics? And who will I be meeting?”

“I believe you’ll be meeting the head of PortalWatch. This is serious so they escalated matters.” He was silent for a moment, then said, “Do you think Penelope will be all right?”

It was in that simple sentence that I realized he was as afraid as I was. “I hope so, Duran. She’s an important part of my life. In fact, she’s part of my heart.”

“I sensed that,” he said, starting up the car.

All the way to PortalWatch, Duran remained silent. He seemed deep in thought. I wasn’t sure where we were going, and after about twenty minutes I decided to ask him where our destination was.

“Where’s the headquarters?” I asked.

“Oh, the actual headquarters is in the Crystal Court. We’re going to the local branch. It’s on the top floor of the Star Tower. We’ll be there in a few minutes.”

The Star Tower?

I blinked. That was one of the newer buildings in town, and I knew the rental space came dear. But then, as far as I knew, the Crystal Court was wealthy beyond counting. The Witch Queen was from an ancient family, the crown had been handed down through Elsabetha’s family throughout the centuries.

“Tell me,” I said, “I never thought to ask Penn, but does the Crystal Court collect taxes from its members?”

“You’re asking how we stay afloat?” Duran asked.

“I suppose. It occurs to me that the Court can’t eat through its savings to supply and fund the military and all the employees.” It also occurred to me that the Worldwide Shifter Council must have some similar ruling organization, as well as the Vampire Federation. I knew the Fae Courts were on sovereign land, as well, divided and at odds, but both holding equal power.

“You’re correct. Every member on the rolls is taxed. It’s not a huge amount, and it’s based on income level, so the less you make, the less you pay. There’s a flat fee to be kept on the rolls of about twenty-five dollars per year per person, and then a two-point-five percent income tax, flat across the boards. Individuals making less than thirty-five thousand dollars a year only pay the flat roll fee.”

It sounded pretty straight forward.

“Do the demons have any groups here, in this dimension?” Duran asked.

I shrugged. “If they do, I don’t know about them. I’ve always known I was half-demon, but until a month or so ago, I didn’t have a clue what clan my blood came from. I’m only now discovering what it means to be half-demon. I’m just coming into my powers and trying to learn how to control them, instead of them taking over,” I added.

He pulled into the underground parking garage and parked near the elevator. “All right, we’re here. There’s not much I can tell you in advance. I’m the one taking responsibility for bringing you here.”

“I’ll try to behave myself,” I said, feeling like a child who had just been chided.

Duran slid out of the car and came around to my side, opening the door before I could even unfasten my seatbelt.

“Thank you,” I said, sliding out. “Who exactly will I be meeting with?”

“I’m not entirely sure.” He led the way into the elevator bay, where he inserted a key to summon the car. Apparently, the Star Tower took security seriously.

He punched the button for the 27th floor and we headed for the top. I wasn’t sure whether there were residences at the top, as there were in many of the big multi-purpose buildings around Seattle, or if it was all office space. We could be heading for an office, or a penthouse, for all I knew.

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