Page 50 of Changeling
“Nathan,” Shiarra said with an air of authority, “he was being wholly sincere. If you’ll recall, my senses for reading people’s emotions, for reading whether or not someone islying, are—”
“Supernatural,” Nathan broke in, “just like what we’re dealing with. He’s hiding something and I want to know what.”
Shiarra didn’t say anything for a few minutes, but Nathan could feel her eyes watching him as he drove only a few miles down the road and then pulled over. “You think he’s the one we’re looking for?” she asked.
Nathan frowned. “He has something to do with this. I want to get a look around his place. I think we should wait and see if he leaves, and even if he doesn't, we might need to break in. I'm not worried about a little B&E if it means getting Sasha and Jim back to normal. Whatever it takes.”
There was silence in response and, after a while, it started to make Nathan nervous. He could feel Shiarra’s eyes scrutinizing him.
“What?” he finally asked in exasperation.
“Nothing. You just remind me of someone,” the succubus said with a small smirk. “It’s uncanny…the way you care for Sasha so fiercely, for your brother, too. I wanted to dislike you in the beginning, you know. Just as I wanted to dislikehimwhen we first met. But then you have to go and be like this, admirable really, so intent and in love so deeply with someone of my family that I can’t help feeling…happy for him. I always knew Sasha was too much like his mother. Apparently, he has her same taste in men, too.”
Nathan blinked at her. "Uhh…thanks," he said, since he wasn't really sure how else to respond, though it all definitely seemed complimentary. From what little he knew of Sasha’s father, Nathan didn't mind being compared to him.
Knowing they probably had a while to wait, Nathan decided to give Ula a call and check up on the boys. As the phone rang, he thought to himself how much he hoped the next time he saw Sasha and Jim they would be their normal selves again, but then, if that happened, Ula would be alone with them when they changed. A surge of sudden dread overcame Nathan as Ula answered.
“Twilite Motel!”
He’d called the front desk. She was at the front desk. “Are Jim and Sasha okay?” Nathan asked without greeting.
“Oh! Nathan? Of course they’re fine. Is everything all right? Jim and Sasha are in the back playing. They’ve been wonderful all day. I’ve only had to watch the desk every so often. We’re never that busy this time of year.”
“No…don’t worry about it,” Nathan said, “I understand you need to stay up there to check for customers, but we need youto move the guys to our room now, okay? We’re going to be a bit yet, but they…need to be in a room.” Nathan hated how little sense that made, but it couldn’t be helped. There was no way to know what kind of aftereffects ending the spell on them would have when he and Shiarra took care of Faust.
“Uhh…okay,” Ula said, sounding confused, “I can move them back into the room right away, and keep watch there. My mother is going to come in and take the rest of my shift in a few minutes.”
It almost pained Nathan how nice the girl was. “Thanks. Can you grab Jim for me so I can say hi?”
“You bet! Back in a jiffy!”
Nathan glanced aside at Shiarra, who probably could have overheard Ula’s exuberance even without super-hearing, and had to smile. At least there were still a few good people in the world.
Less than a minute later, Jim’s voiced boomed in the receiver. “Hi, Nathan!”
“Hey, pal. You behaving for Ula?”
“Of course! She brought us some balls and board games to play with. Ula’s great! Way better than if we were with someone normal.”
Nathan snorted at the comment. “Right. And Sasha’s good too?”
“Uh huh. When are you coming home?”
Nathan cringed.Home. There never really was a home anymore. “Not too much longer, but Shi and I need you two to play it safe, okay? We think we’re close to solving this thing and getting you guys back to normal, so if that happens while we’re still gone and you’re with Ula, just…try to be careful.”
“Okay, Nathan. I’ve been real good so far. Sasha and I were playing ball before you called, and I can make it move real slow, like floating, just by thinking about it. Slow-motion catch! Butwhen Ula came in, I made sure I let the ball drop so she wouldn’t see.”
Nathan processed that for a few moments. “You…made the ball move with your mind?”
“Yeah! And don’t worry. Ula’s in the back with Sasha now. She can’t hear me. But Mom is right, Nathan! I do have nifty powers as a changeling.” Jim’s words were all excitement, enough that Nathan could easily picture the wide grin on his brother’s face.
“Yeah…Mom…always knows best, right? You just…you keep being good for Ula, okay? We’ll be back as soon as we can.”
“’K! Love you, Nathan!”
“I…love you too, pal.”
There was silence at first, then Ula’s voice came over the line again. “Nathan?”
