CHAPTER ONE
1543 Words
“Hazel! It’s so nice to see you! What brings you this far out of town?”
John Delaney greeted the blonde pixie of a woman at the heavy wooden doors of his earthship home. The sun was obscured by gray clouds and small clumps of snow could be seen all over the extensive gardens that enclosed the subterranean house and the surrounding countryside.
“I got a call from Aspen this morning.”
“Oh? What about?”
“Are Willow and Heather here?”
“Allie went with the girls into Waco about an hour ago. Becca’s in the bath right now. You should’ve called. What’s up?”
“May I come inside? It’s f*****g cold out.”
“Oh, yeah! Certainly! Come in, come in!”
He led her inside and into the kitchen. The smell of aromatic herbs filled the air from the planter boxes in front of the bank of tall plate glass windows. She sat at the island in the middle, taking off her thick, quilted, kelly green captain’s coat now that she was somewhere warm.
“Need something to drink? Coffee? Water?”
“Coffee sounds good.”
“Coming up!” He looked at her face as he poured her a cup out of the pot that was still half full from earlier. “So, care to tell me why Aspen called you?”
“I want to wait until Willow gets out. That way I won’t have to say this twice.”
“Want me to go check on her? She should be out soon.”
“That’s alright. Tell me, how are you doing? You seem happier than I’ve seen since before…”
“I am. Those two have done wonders for me. That and the girls. You know that I always do better when I have someone to care for.”
“I do, It’s why you seemed so happy when you were taking care of Alia. Do you see this as a long term thing? I know it’s been over a year already, but you were with that last one for over seven before y’all broke up.”
John just shrugged.
“I know you can’t experience what I do, you’re not an ovate, but you should know it’s never a good idea to look into your own future. I mean, just read ‘Dune.’”
“Yeah… At least you’re happy right now. I’m just glad to see you smile with your eyes for a change. You’ve been so stoic, so sad, the past several years. It hurt me to see you like that.”
“I know, I know…”
“Know what?”
Becca stepped into the kitchen doorway, a large fluffy towel wrapped around her short gymnast-like body. She was brushing out her long red curly hair, green eyes flashing as she caught sight of the tiny blonde.
“Hey, Hazel, What brings you here?”
“Good, you’re out.”
“So, what was so important that you came all the way to the house to tell us? What did Aspen tell you?”
John sat down close to Hazel, tilting his large head as he watched her face as she decided on how to phrase why she came.
“Three days ago, one of our reliquaries was broken into.”
“Was anything taken? Did they find the one who did it?”
“Yes, and yes…”
“Come on, Hazel. Don’t make me pry it out of you.” There was a worried edge to John’s voice.
“It was the one in Winnetka, you know, the white house that used to be the Mahayana Buddhist temple.”
“And?”
“And, the thief was found in his home over in Pleasant Grove with his throat slit. The house was locked and his roommates swore to the police that they didn't do it. Forensics cleared them. They really didn't do it, but there was no sign of a break in. All the doors and windows were locked tighter than an ice queen’s legs.”
Becca stepped further into the kitchen to stand next to John, resting a hand on his arm and pressing her nearly nude body against the seven-foot giant that towered over both of them, even though he was sitting down.
“What was taken?” It was like John was pleading with Hazel, hoping for a different answer than what he already figured out.
“Nemhain’s Talon.”
“What’s Nemhain’s Talon?”
The three of them jumped a bit and turned towards the new voice. They had been too engrossed with Hazel’s recounting that they didn’t hear Allie and her daughters come in. It was Tamara, Allie’s youngest that had asked the question, her head tilted in curiosity.
“Order business?” Allie asked, already knowing the answer. “Okay, you two, go ahead and find somewhere else to be right now, please.”
“But, mom,” they both cried in unison, but soon left the room to another part of the house.
“So, what is Nemhain’s Talon?”
Allie sat between John and Hazel at the island, flipping her wavy black hair over her slender shoulders.
“It’s a rusted dagger, about ten inches long, with a black wooden handle,” John explained.
“So, what’s so special about it?”
“Macha, Badb, and Nemhain were The Morrighann,” Hazel started. “The goddesses of magick, fate, and war. Nemhain, the wife of King Nuada, was the very personification of battle frenzy and would often get allied armies of troops to fight each other just for the laughs. Even her own if she thought it funny. The Talon was the focus of her abilities. In the right hands it can change the tide of battle in your favor if you know how to use it right. In the wrong hands the effects can be disastrous. That’s why we had it in a reliquary.”
“Had?” Allie’s eyes popped a bit. “What happened?”
“It was stolen three nights ago from one of our people in Winnetka Heights in Dallas,” said Becca.
“And the thief is already dead. We don’t know where it is…” John’s brow furrowed.
“That's why Aspen called me this morning,” Hazel said. “They just made the connection between the dead thief and the break in today after combing the police blotters trying to find anything weird. They hit pay dirt with this one. He wants you, Rowan, to come up to see if you can pick up anything from this, ovate-wise.”
“Isn’t there anyone else up there that can do that?”
“Actually, no. The only other ovate in the state is over in El Paso right now on a different case. She’s trying to track down a chupacabra that’s been terrorizing the locals or something like that. Aspen asked for you specifically and you are the closest to Dallas right now. Like it or not, he needs you.”
“Well, then. How can I refuse?” He looked at Allie and Becca. “You two up for a trip to Dallas?”
“We need someone to keep an eye on my little monsters, but I don’t mind.”
“Same here.”
All three of them looked at Hazel.
“Oh, no! I am not a babysitter!”
“Oh, come on now, ‘Auntie’ Hazel,” Becca said as she gave Hazel a big hug. Her towel started to fall. Winking at her, Becca continued, “I’ll make it worth your while.” Then she kissed the little blonde woman full on the mouth and didn’t hold back.
Hazel stiffened a bit as their lips touched, but soon relaxed into it and gave back as good as she received.
“No,” Hazel said as they came up for air.
“Ro, Allie, help me out here.”
“Oh, she doesn’t want me,” said John. “We tried that out a while ago. She was too small for me. Go ahead, Allie, if you want.”
Allie looked at Hazel and thought about it. It wasn’t like the blonde woman wasn’t attractive to her, but she was still trying to shake off old canalizations. Still, it sounded like it could be fun. She reached over and took Hazel’s face into her hands. Leaning forward, she started kissing her gently, but Hazel surprised her. She grabbed Allie’s hips and practically leapt into her lap.
“Only if it’s both of you,” Hazel said, finally, pulling Becca closer to them both, her towel falling completely to the floor. “Rowan, you’re allowed to watch.”
“As if you’d get them to agree without that condition. You have no idea what you’re in for, Hazel. That red head is insatiable, and they are both kinky little minxes. Chances are they’re going to drag me in regardless.”
Becca beamed proudly.
“I am an insatiable minx, and you forget that at your own peril. I’m just lucky that both of you two are too, Ro. Enough to keep me satiated, at least.”
- Writer
