Page 40 of Deadly Deception
Easing down on the edge of Navarre’s bed, I rested my ass on a miniscule section. I should have asked Sara for a chair. My earlier adrenaline rush was crashing.
“You look like shit.”
My head shot up, my heart attempting to respond to the latest shock. It barely twinged and calmed easily when I found Aurelia standing there. I could make out the same backpack straps she’d sported earlier. This time, she had a small bag dangling from her left hand and a thick watch wrapped around her right wrist. Otherwise, she was decked out in the same nineties grunge music video apparel, complete with well-worn combat boots.
“Hey, Aurelia,” I said by way of greeting, my tone sad. “Thanks for the ego boost.”
Ignoring my sarcasm, Aurelia focused her attention on the necromantic lump behind me. “Is it alive?” She leaned forward, eyes intense before giving a satisfactory nod. “It lives.”
“Itis Navarre. He’s a necromancer, like me.”
Aurelia’s nose scrunched before she shook her head. “He may be a necromancer, but he is not like you.” She waved ahand around Navarre’s body and said, “I can sense the chaos surrounding him.”
Navarre stiffened and stirred. His head turned and I could tell he was listening. “No, he’s not exactly like me. Necromancers don’t all have the same abilities.”
“He is no threat to me,” Aurelia stated, apparently satisfied.
My heart swooped low, landing in my belly and fluttering like a wounded bird before soaring back up with relief. I’d been afraid how Aurelia would react. Her casual dismissal of Navarre was honestly for the best.
Incessant, obnoxious beeping sounded from Aurelia’s wrist. Thankfully, she hit the correct button, shutting off the horrid noise. Crouching low, she removed the backpack and set it on the ground. I watched in silent fascination as she rustled around in the small bag she’d carried with her, digging out a plastic baggie full of food and a container of water. She set both down on the ground before reaching into the backpack and scooping out the now mewing kitten.
“Peaches insisted I wear this irritating thing.” Aurelia waved her right wrist at me. “Peaches programed it to alert me when the creature needs food and water.”
Navarre shifted behind me and when I looked, he was sitting up. His dark hair fell against his face, covering his eyes. I didn’t need to see them to tell where his gaze locked. He was staring at the kitten, her face shoved into the bowl of kibble and merrily eating away.
“It is an annoyance, but I can see the utility of it,” Aurelia stated as she watched the kitten eat. “It has proven useful. The creature has been more appeased. The electronic device has other timers to alert me when the creature needs to eliminate and when it should be played with.” Aurelia sounded genuinely confused at the latter part.
Scooting off the thin mattress, Navarre sat on the even harder concrete floor. “Can I pet her?” he asked, voice so soft that I had to lean in to hear him.
“If you want,” Aurelia answered, sounding even more perplexed. “Though I do not understand the appeal.” That was obvious enough.
Navarre ran cautious fingers down the nape of the kitten’s neck. Her purr was quick to follow. The kitten had a very loud motor.
Aurelia’s eyes widened. “How did you produce such a sound?” She crouched down beside the kitten, and I had the very surreal experience of watching Navarre teach Aurelia how to pet a cat.
“It’s easy. Just be gentle,” Navarre answered.
“It is a pleased sound?” Aurelia asked.
I caught the edge of Navarre’s grin. “It is. She’s happy. Here, you try.” To my horror, Navarre reached out and grabbed Aurelia’s wrist, bringing her hand closer to the kitten. She didn’t protest and allowed Navarre to move her fingers. “See, just like that.” Navarre removed his hand and allowed Aurelia to take over.
I rarely witnessed Aurelia’s features soften like they did now. Peaches might just be a hidden genius. I never would have considered it possible.
“It is good,” Aurelia pronounced, looking up at me. “At first, when Peaches gave me this creature, it seemed like he was asking me to be her master.” Aurelia’s expression instantly turned dark. “I did not understand why he would believe I desired such a thing. But I am not her master. This creature does as she wants. I do not control her.”
Laughter bubbled up, flying from my lips before I could hope to contain it. The very thought… “Gaia, that’s funny, thinking you could be themasterof a cat.” I shook my head. “Trustme, Aurelia, cats would never tolerate anyone who thought they could be their master. The very thought…” I continued giggling, finding the idea more humorous than it warranted. I blamed my recent near-death experience.
“He’s right,” Navarre agreed. “Cats do their own thing. They don’t care what anyone else thinks. They tolerate us, not the other way around.” Navarre made a pleased sound when the kitten finished eating and climbed into his lap. “What’s her name?”
Aurelia stood, staring down at the pair. “I have not decided yet. Peaches tells me that naming a creature is an important task. I do not want to make a mistake. I will wait until I feel certain the name is correct.”
Navarre gave a solemn nod. “Names are important.” He shook his head and quietly spoke to something to his right. “Don’t say that. Names are very important.”
I stared. Neither Aurelia nor I had verbally disagreed.
Aurelia cocked her head to the side and regarded Navarre. “Your existence is not pleasant,” she stated flatly.
Navarre finally looked up, eyes watery and grin heartbreaking. “No, probably not.” He waved a hand around his head and said, “They won’t go away, and they won’t stop talking. All night, all day, all the time… No, it’s true, you won’t shut up,” Navarre argued with something, or more precisely, someone I couldn’t see.
