Scales (Avery Rome Book 1) Read online

  Ed nodded.

  “It’s in a vacuum container, so it won’t do that quickly. Anyway, Avery, when you need to sleep, come back here and I’ll take you home? That was the question there, correct?” He smiled, his teeth seeming very white and gleaming.

  “Yeah. I don’t know where I fit in. Where to go, or what to do. Thank you, for thinking of me. Eve, too.” She sounded shy, small and probably a bit embarrassed.

  Lenore smiled at the man and nodded.

  “I wasn’t aware that Avery was staying with you and Eve. That’s a nice idea. You have that extra room.”

  Edom set the coffee tray on the booth table behind them, then moved back behind the counter, since the other thing he’d need to do would require him to sit on Lenore or Tara’s lap. Avery hurried, even if she didn’t have to, since Lang was going to need caffeine if she were getting up for the day. Her shower would be over soon, if it wasn’t already.

  Standing a bit, trying to get the remaining food into her, Avery moved to the side. Snagging a napkin, she wiped her mouth carefully, then cleared her empty containers, throwing them away in the trash. She hadn’t left a mess on the table, which meant it didn’t need to be cleaned up yet.

  “Who needs to go where? I can…” She waited, since Bey stood along with her, as did Lenore. Tara followed along, but the older Vampire nodded toward Avery.

  “I can work from here for the time being. Very well, in fact, since I have use of a dwelling in this city. Attack isn’t likely yet, either. Thanks to you we’ve been moving position too rapidly for Humans to follow. I should be in contact with the others however, lest they worry that I’ve been too inconvenienced by the government here.” The words were softly spoken, a small bow coming at the same time.

  Avery looked around, then shrugged.

  “I’ll try to be back every two hours or so, in case anything comes in. Oh, can I get the number for here…” She needed something to write with for that, she decided. Before it could be mentioned, Edom came from around the counter again, handing her a card. It had the location information as well as his personal contact info. That was helpful, so she put the bit of paper in her front jeans pocket.

  Bey moved then, picking up the tray with the coffee container and fixings on it. Edom went wide eyed, but didn’t move to take the thing from the smaller man. He did get some spoons and napkins though, which was brilliant, since the offices in Australia might not have things like that at all.

  In the back room, next to the glowing and swirling node, she held her hands out to the council member who handed the tray filled with things to her directly.

  “Thank you, Miss Rome. Your aid is most welcome.”

  She ducked her head, feeling shy again. Then she went through the node to the Shifter offices where Lang was still out of the room. The Ambassador came into the back area where the node was, saw the tray and shook his head.

  “A bit like sending fighter jets to get the doughnuts, isn’t it?” He waved at the set up, but didn’t seem upset about it. He also didn’t descend on it, since he’d already announced he didn’t do that kind of thing. What was provided was a desk in the outer space so that the tray could be put down someplace. Then Avery was kind of stuck, not knowing what was next. Except that she sort of did.

  She had people to check in with. Eric, Lars and of course, Calley and whoever the hyper Bat woman wanted her to move around. So there was that.

  “Hey, how do I find the Mages here?” She didn’t know how big the place was, or if they were locked in, or out of other areas.

  The leathery fellow nodded, walking away suddenly.

  “I can take you. They’re just down the hallway here. It’s a walk, but not bad. We have fairly good relations with the locals.”

  The hallway was smaller than the ones at the malls were, but made up for it by being longer. Carpeted too. It was an ugly orange color, short pile and clean. That meant someone cared for it pretty well. There were no windows however. Not even sky lights. The roof was about twelve feet above her, solid and oppressive.

  The mage offices were behind a wooden door. Ambassador Bane knocked for her, as she realized that she had no clue if that was his actual title. He could be the assistant, or just the guy who got the paperwork filed. That didn’t stop him from going first, standing in front of her like he was a guardian instead of just being some guy who barely knew her.

  It took a few seconds for someone to come to greet them. When that happened it was a younger looking man who seemed concerned. At least he was clutching a silver and crystal device in his hand, like he was ready to use against anyone coming to harm his people. That was a good sign as long as he didn’t attack for no reason. People could do that when scared. He was doing better than that.

  “Hello?” The man had a light accent. It was a bit different than the one that Bane had, from what could be heard in a single word. Flatter, with a slightly nasal overtone.

  Avery was suddenly front and center, as the older man moved to the side. She tried to seem polite, standing up straight and speaking loudly enough to be heard from four feet away instead of whispering. Mages had poor hearing after all. About like Humans did, more or less.

  “Hi. Um… I’m looking for Eric Weise and Lars? Big fellow? Maybe with some large friends of his?” She held a hand up, over her head, feeling stupid while doing it.

  The man in front of her looked at her closely, his face a bit skeptical for some reason.

  “May I ask who’s calling?”

  It was a strange way of saying it, given that there was no phone visible, but she understood what he was saying, more or less. The man wanted to make sure she was a person that had some kind of right to be there. The thing there was that she didn’t. Not really.

  “Avery Rome. I’m here to see if they need to go anyplace? I’m in charge of travel for them.”

  “Oh? Let me ask after them? One moment.” Then the door was shut in her face. Bane just smiled at her, his visage seeming relaxed, instead of annoyed.

  Her face was probably a bit more like that, bothered by the door being shut on her, she knew. Not that she had a right to feel that way. The man was being careful. During a time when strangers might be anyone, doing anything. So Avery waited, trying to be more adult than she felt at the moment. It didn’t take long, since the door was opened about two minutes later, Eric Weise behind it.

  His suit was wrinkled, his silver hair messy and there were dark circles under his eyes.

  “Miss Rome? Is there an emergency?” He was holding something in his right hand, looking at Bane as if the Shifter might be the problem.

  “I’m checking in to see who needs to go where. Bey is back in Vancouver now. Lang is probably heading back to Colorado. Where do you and Lars need to go? His friends too, if they’re around anyplace?”

  The man blinked, his face a bit tired seeming even as he fought for awareness.

  “I could use a trip to Washington. D.C. The main node complex there. It’s a risk, as far as attack goes, but that and Sparks will be where the main action takes place. That doesn’t have a node, the Coalition Embassy, or I’d request a trip there.” The man wasn’t acting like he was suggesting anything in particular. Just that he was cognizant of what would be easiest for her.

  She took a breath, trying to figure out what would work best.

  “Are you up to walking a few miles? I have to get to Sparks anyway, after I see to everyone in our group. Um… Edom, Ambassador Freeman, from Vancouver? He and his people are taking messages for me. I’m supposed to check in there every few hours. I have a number for that. We can go to D.C. first, then Sparks? Where does Lars need to get to?”

  There was a low rumble from the interior of the office. It was a vast thing, compared to a Human sized being moving around. A few moments later her Trollienkeine team fellow was standing behind Eric. His heavy brow looked just as sleepy as Weise did. A big hand reached out and patted her shoulder over the Mage’s head.

  “Avery Rome! You cam
e back for us? I should have expected thus. What plans do we have now?”

  “I’m getting everyone where they need to go. Where do you need to be?”

  The man was silent for a bit, then he tilted his head for a few seconds.

  “I… Would it be allowed to go to my home, here? Then to the lands of my people? That trip might need be our headman, rather than me. It…” He stopped, just looking at her as if what he was asking for would be nearly impossible to set up.

  “We can probably do that. Certainly going to Vancouver. The rest might have to wait, or… I can do that now? So that, D.C. then Westfield, followed by Sparks? Then I can go and see about the rest of what’s needed?”

  No one told her that was foolish or anything. Still, she had to get Lang back to Colorado first, since the woman was in her chain of command. Sort of. Technically she was working for Bey and his people first, but the Shifters were important as well. They all were. Including Lars’ people. They were in the back of the Mage embassy, not having their own in Australia.

  She could hear them shifting around.

  “Would it be all right to take all your people to your homeland first? I can go in a few days to get them and whoever they need to bring back? Or… I just don’t want to leave anyone here just to have them be attacked.” She worried for a moment that her words would be insulting, but Lars smiled hugely at her.

  “That is possible? We could do that… The payment…”

  She blinked, then shrugged.

  “It’s an emergency right now. Besides that, Bey is paying me. I’m just not certain what order to do things in, that’s all. So the best plan is to do it fast?”

  That worked pretty well. There were twelve giants in the back but Avery got to keep Lars. One of the women, who looked younger than the rest, asked to be taken back to Vancouver, since their embassy needed to be staffed. Even if she was doing it alone, sleeping there for the time being.

  “I have not been home in a while but this is important as well, don’t you think?”

  Avery nodded. The mission came first.

  “It is. When this is over, if we’re both alive, you can take me to your home and show me around? I like going new places.” Plus, it would be a free trip for the woman.

  The Demon man, Zack the Line Walker had suggested she be useful to the Trollienkeine. She didn’t get why in particular, but being nice wouldn’t hurt her, if it was timed right.

  So about fifteen minutes later Avery was headed back to the job she’d started with.

  As it turned out Lang Peterson was fine going last, so she could have some of the coffee that Edom had provided for her. That meant coming and going several times to different places, taking the older Shifter to Colorado just before returning to get Eric from D.C. to Sparks. They had to walk in, using shortcuts to make the trip faster. Getting all of the Ambassadors out of the building would be interesting, given that fact.

  The door had guards on it, including armed men, women and a few strange looking beings that could be any gender including things she’d never imagined, who were on top of the large funny shaped building. It had deep windows that were behind other windows all over it, as well as solar panels in places. The whole thing sparkled nicely however, like a pretty gem. One set in a glittering necklace of chrome and steel.

  On the great side, no one pulled a gun on them when they got there. Not that they were allowed in or anything like that. Eric didn’t seem put off by that part of things at all, for himself. Avery wasn’t going to have an issue there either, she decided. There was no reason in the world for anyone to know who she was in particular at the location she was standing in front of. Even if she had been to the door before with Gregory.

  The Mage member of her team spoke first, his voice professional sounding.

  “I’m Eric Weise. Would it be possible to speak to the Mage Ambassador for this location? Tindle, I believe her name is? Sara Tindle?”

  The man at the door, who looked more or less like a regular Human being, simply nodded.

  “Let me call that in? It might be a few minutes, I’m afraid. Everything is a bit confused at the moment. How about you miss? Are you seeing Ambassador Tindle as well?” The white guy, who didn’t seem that old, had short hair and a clean face that was lean enough to demonstrate he exercised a lot. His gaze was direct, but not hostile or doubting of her place in the world.

  “I… Really, I should see Calley Hale? Shifter Ambassador here, I think? She asked for me. Um, Avery Rome?”

  The man nodded, then tapped his ear, speaking plainly enough for everyone to hear. Even Eric got it all. His Mage person was asked for first, but Calley came down to get Avery at a run. To identify who she was, the small rust headed Bat tackled her into a warm hug. That required pushing past the guards to do it.

  “You came! I didn’t know if it would be possible, to be honest. Clyde seemed to think that my asking after you was a bit out of place.” There was a lot of movement then, as she let go, stepping back quickly. “I was just trying to ask for some help. We can’t really cover line travel out of the budget. Most of the groups here will be stuck because of that. So I figured that asking about it wouldn’t hurt. He’s a Dragon, you’re a Dragon… I figured that might work better than if I did it myself? I mean, who am I to you, right?”

  That all made sense to her, at any rate.

  “It would be easier if we had a node nearby. I can move people around though, if they don’t mind walking? Or… We could get some cars, or a few busses, to move people between the shortcuts?” It wasn’t that far, but three miles of foot travel was a lot for some people.

  Calley hugged her again, as if she were suggesting brilliant plans, not just going over what was easiest that day for most of the people involved.

  “Cool! I can set all that up. We can have the people that don’t mind walking go first? It really isn’t that many. Just about ten over all. Well, ten groups. About forty people in all. Is that too much? Do you need to eat? Clyde mentioned that to me. So did his sister. She’s the Assistant Ambassador here. Have you met her? Merisy?”

  The name meant nothing, but from what had been said earlier, the woman would be a Dragon, too. If what Clyde and Zack had mentioned was right and their kind was different than the rest of the Shifters. Being aliens, originally.

  “Nope? I don’t know her. Is she nice?”

  That got a shrug from the Bat woman.

  “Sure? Not bad anyway. Let’s go in? I need to make some calls and see about timing issues. Um…” She stopped, looked at Eric and then winced. “You’re Lisa’s father, aren’t you? We probably shouldn’t leave you standing out here alone. I can clear him to come in?” That was for the guards, who both nodded, as if it made perfect and reasonable sense to them. It was kind of cold outside, even though that wasn’t really bothering Avery yet. Changes in temperature really didn’t. Not that often.

  The Mage Ambassador didn’t come down herself, having sent a staffer to do that part for her. That got Eric to smile at Avery, nudging her with good, if tired, humor.

  “I guess they actually know who the important person is here today. I didn’t rate our local head jogging down to greet me. No, I get a strolling and yawning intern.”

  The boy, who wasn’t that old at all, being no more than Avery’s own sixteen, just looked at the man as if he were being a horrible person.

  “Sorry about that. I’ve been up for a while. The Ambassador has as well. She’s on with Maddy Morse right now. It wouldn’t work for her to have broken off…” The kid stopped talking, getting that saying almost anything would probably be the wrong way to go.

  Eric just took a deep breath.

  “Understood. I should get with Maddy anyway, if she’s still available. Things are so confused right now that no one knows what to do next.” He stopped, then looked at Avery directly. “We’re to put in requests for travel with your Vampire friends in Vancouver, Washington? I think that was mentioned, but I have to admit, my brain is a bit fuzzy at th
e moment.”

  She nodded, reminding him that they’d made a copy of the number, which was in his pocket. Instead of having her called names or barked at, the man just patted her on the shoulder. For some reason Calley did the same, as the other two walked away. The inside of the lobby was large, open seeming, since it had a wall of glass, as well as marble floors and walls. It felt cool, even if the temperature was about sixty-five. The polished white, blue, green and gold stone was a bit garish to her, but she knew that most people saw things differently. After a few seconds Calley charged toward the stairs, her black skirt, white stockings and mustard colored frilly blouse seeming a bit old for the rest of her image.

  They traveled for about five minutes, moving fast enough to count as low level exercise. They went through several doors to end up in the main Shifter offices. Those were a good deal nicer than either of the Mall locations or the rather businesslike Australian complex. The whole thing looked like someone had taken a top end hotel and outfitted it with luxurious desks, chairs and even several leather sofas. The floor was a brilliant red carpet, the walls polished and gleaming real wood.

  Around the space were metal name plaques as well.

  Calley waved toward the back of the space.

  “Here we are. Home sweet home. I need to get with those people I mentioned. Do you need to eat? Or a nap? You can use the sofa in the side room, if you want?” They were moving the whole time, not stopping until they got to a closed door, which Calley tapped on, politely. She spoke from outside the thing, but there was no answer.

  “Morisy? You awake?” The answer was clearly no. The only sound coming from inside of it was too high pitched for Avery to hear at that distance.

  Calley it seemed could make out what was happening pretty easily.

  “She’s snoring away. Not that I blame her. I could use a nap myself. Let’s get to the node travel schedule first? Or food? I can have something brought up?”

  Avery thought about it, but shook her head after a bit.