Page 28 of Minding the Minotaur
“Let’s say he’s a close family associate.” Otis rubs a tusk with his thumb. “Known the guy since we were kids.”
“Why, then?” I burst out. “Why are you doing this to him?”
He huffs. Stands back and plants his huge green hands on his hips. I keep my eyes on his tusks, but for once he doesn’t look mean. He looks worried. “He’s been taking illicit trips to Sparkle. If he gets caught, he’ll pay a heavy price.”
I wonder if he means vaporization, but after Jax’s reaction when I mentioned that word, I decide to keep my mouth shut.
“Besides,” Otis mutters, “the work he does is… very important to our economy.”
I frown. “So he’s an asset as well as a liability?”
Otis’s lips hitch, not quite a smile, but close. “Guess you could say that.”
“What’s his job?” I ask.
But Otis has already turned his attention to the deck of screens and the control panel on the desk. “Okay, let me show you how this all works,” he says brusquely.
Subject closed, for now, but my curiosity is piqued.
Otis gives me a thorough briefing on the panel of screens that flips between rooms. I note there isn’t one in Arlo’s bathroom and frankly, I’m not sure if I’m relieved or disappointed.
Afterward, Otis takes me to the kitchens, where a guy who looks like a lizard of some sort, judging by his scaly green skin, is securing bars to the windows.
A willowy figure is prepping food at the kitchen bench. She could almost pass for human with her cute, pointed face and bright red curls. What are not human however, are the soft, fur-covered ears that poke out of those curls.
I wonder what species they both are, but don’t like to ask for fear of being impolite. Luckily, Otis barks, “In case you’re wondering, Len is a lizard man.” Well, that’s reasonably straightforward, I guess. “He does odd jobs around level one. And Tippy is a vixen shifter.”
“Wixen, actually,” Tippy corrects him.
“Yes, sorry Tip, should have acknowledged your witchheritage. Tippy here is Arlo’s nutritionist. Tippy, this is Samantha Buggins, Arlo’s minder.”
“Strike me down to level ten,” the lizard mutters, staring at me out of yellow eyes. “A paper skin.”
“Yeah, she’s human, Len. They don’t have thick scales like you,” Otis barks. “And she’s doing an important job, keeping that bloody bull in line. Show some respect.”
“Sorry, Sheriff, just caught me by surprise.”
Unsure what to say at being called a paper skin, I mumble, “Nice to meet you.”
Tippy puts down the knife she’s been cutting fruit with, wipes her hands on her apron and comes over to shake mine. Her fingers are the longest I’ve ever seen, with pretty silver nails that are curved like claws. “Don’t worry about cranky scales, his cold blood gets the better of him at times,” she says, with the sweetest smile. “It’s lovely to meet you, Samantha.”
Len bares a set of sharp, pointy fangs in a grin. “Don’t trust Tippy. She looks sweet, but she’ll poison your food as soon as you turn your back.”
Otis rolls his eyes. “Cut it out, you two. We don’t want to scare Samantha off before she’s even started.” He gives me a curt nod. “C’mon, we need to finish your briefing.”
As I follow Otis back down the corridor, I can’t help smiling at the exchange. It’s weird, but I feel like that interaction with two monsters was more meaningful than any I’ve had with my human neighbors in the five years I’ve lived in Garnet Gardens. Even though Len clearly doesn’t think much of humans, I felt weirdly at ease with their banter.
When we reach the control room again, Otis throws himself down at the desk. “Guess I’d better fill you in on the do’s and don’t’s.”
At last, an opportunity to ask some questions.
But Otis keeps talking before I can even gather my breath.
“So, the do’s. He can have the run of his home during theday, but don’t leave him alone in the garden. He’s strong and big enough to vault over the wall. If he tries to, zap him.” He hands me a taser in a holster.
I vow silently that I won’t ever use it on Arlo, no matter what. “I’m sure I can talk him out of doing anything like that.”
“He’s impetuous. If he decides to go AWOL, he’ll move fast. A short, sharp shock will stop him. He likes working out in his gym—that’s fine, he can spend as long as he likes in there to let off steam.”
