Page 31 of Taking Jenny
We turned to find an older woman in a simple black uniform. Her voice was calm but carried the faintest hint of amusement.
“Yes, we are,” I said.
“Master takes his breakfast on the patio, on the rare occasions he eats it. The others are out there, lazing through their meal, if you’d like to join them.”
The others…Longshot, Discord, and Surge.
I was hungry enough to endure the trio and their antics. “That would be appreciated.”
“Follow me,” the woman said.
She introduced herself as Vine and offered any assistance we might need. She had tan skin which shimmered a faint blue, making me wonder if the older someone was, the less shiny they were. Her hair was black, but her tail was almost bare, gnarled like an old tree root, which I found unsettling.
At the end of a long corridor, she opened a pair of French doors which let out onto the patio. The rear terrace of the mansion surrounded a huge swimming pool and extendedaround both sides of the building. It was paved with tight fitting gray stone and had all the features I had come to expect of high-end hotel terraces—fire features, water features, comfortable seating areas, uniformed servants, and enough potted plants to make Home Depot blush. It was all so human, rather than an alien palace.
But around the main table were three distinctly not-human people. Evidently, breakfast was a casual affair, as each of them were in loungewear. Longshot smiled politely while Rhonda, the strigella/snake thing roped around his arm, eyed me. Discord sneered with disdain, and Surge said, “Hello.”
Platters of bread and unrecognizable items were spread out on the table, and I didn’t care what everything was, so long as I could eat. We said our good mornings and sat next to Longshot this time, on the opposite side of his strigella. It was around then that I remembered the biggest issue I ever had with travel.
My head began to throb. “Is there any chance anything here has caffeine?”
Discord’s sensuous lips pinched at one corner. “Wearea civilized race, Jenny. No need for further insult.” She flicked a finger, and a servant came to us. “Bring her a pot of…” She raised her eyebrows at me.
“Would you happen to have coffee available?” I asked hopefully.
“What varietal would you like?” the servant asked.
I blinked in surprise. “Wait, are there Earth varietals?”
Their brows furrowed in confusion.
Discord huffed in that annoyed way of hers. “What type of blend were you going for, girl?”
“Something low acidity with enough punch to wipe out my caffeine headache.”
Discord addressed the servant. “Bring her the Grenevar varietal, medium roast. Cream and sugar?”
I shook my head. “No, thank you.”
Discord waved the servant away then looked down her nose at me. “Your…captor has an appreciation for your people and their wares, Jenny. If there is something you need, just ask and he most likely has it on hand, or something similar.”
“My captor has an appreciation for my people, but you don’t?” I guessed. “Am I to understand you do not like humans?”
“Your people are not without their charms,” she replied airily. “Though I find your politics offensive.”
I laughed. “As do I.”
“Perhaps there is hope for you yet.”
I tilted my head, wondering if I was somehow managing to make my way into Discord’s favor. “Perhaps.”
The servant delivered the alleged coffee and poured it into a delicate, dark blue cup. It smelled and looked promising—rich, warm and strong—but the truth was in the taste. Carefully, I took a drink. No acidity, full-bodied. A hint of natural sweetness to balance the bitterness.
“Oh,” I said, completely surprised and delighted. “Oh, that is quite good.”
Discord gave me a sly smile. “One of my personal favorites.”
I took another sip. “There’s an earthy note, almost like mushrooms, but in a good way. I’ve never tasted anything quite like it.”
