Lost Moon

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

pleasant smiles hide cold winds

damp matches that never light

“Ohalo, little brother,” I called, waving to Jonah. Before he could stop me, I put my hand to his neck and pulled him in, touching my forehead to his in silent greeting. He might wish he’d never been born into our family, but he would always be a part of me. I felt his neck muscles tense under my grip even as he sighed and released him.

“Was that really necessary?” he whined, rubbing his face.

I ignored his words and spoke my own. “Fancy seeing you here, among the magicals. Or are you here as a representative of the CCPD?”

“I’m just here, okay? Can we leave it at that?”

“Sure, whatever you want,” I said, grinning at him.

“Good.” The relief was evident in his voice. “Actually, I came because I knew you’d be here.”

“Hey, cuz!” Viv had bounced up, throwing an arm around each of us and drawing us in. “Did you bring a date? Because I told Ava to send you a plus one. I mean, I know it’s hard, being, well, you, but I figured there must be someone who-”

She was interrupted by a loud cough. A small woman – fair, buxom, and most definitely not ket – stood before us unsmiling. “There is.” She thrust out a hand, which Viv accepted after an awkward heartbeat. “Sargent Joyce Finelli.”

“Ah. Hello.” Viv blasted a 100-gigawatt smile, a smile so bright even my-stick-in-the-mud brother reciprocated. Sargent Finelli? Not so much. “Wonderful to meet you. Been dating long? You must tell us everything. Jonah hardly speaks to us.”

“I can’t imagine why not,” Finelli said. Was that sarcasm?

I wasn’t getting a warm vibe from the lady. But then, Jonah had always tried to be as un-ket as possible. Frankly, I was surprised he had even brought a friend from the precinct to meet us since I knew he’d been trying to keep his heritage a secret from his co-workers. Jonah could pass for human and he’d always liked it that way. He kept his magic under wraps and pretended he was as regular as he looked. I knew he found his heritage embarrassing, which begged the question, why was he here with a date?

Unless it was serious. Oh, Tara’s toes. Could he really be thinking of marrying this humorless reg? I decided to put forth my best behavior, just in case.

“Ohalo, Joyce. I’m Nikta. Welcome to the Circle,” I said, using the reg name for the Enso. “It’s so nice to meet one of Jonah’s friends from work. He’s very happy there.”

“He should be.” She beamed with pride. “Has he told you that he made Detective last month?”

“Yes, he did,” I said, smiling back at her. I would not diminish the accomplishment by pointing out that he had not earned the post entirely on his own, that I had been the one to demand his promotion in return for my continuance as contractor with the CCPD. Jonah didn’t know I’d made it a condition of my contract and I planned to keep it that way. He was so stubborn, so contrary, he would probably abandon the post if he knew. I couldn’t allow that, not when he actually deserved the promotion. He was a good cop. A s**t brother, but a generally good person.

“We are very proud,” I said instead.

Viv opened her mouth to speak and I whipped a tendril of ice cold air down her throat before she could blurt out something that would ruin the moment. She bit back a grin, understanding, and nodded. “Let me find Ava, she’ll want to say hello. And you both must meet Spiren before the night is over, too.” She stalked away, but I only had eyes for Joyce. Her expression had gone from general distaste to clear nervousness at the mention of the Arch-mage. Whatever her feelings for Jonah, she clearly held no good will for magic.

What had he told her? Did she even know Jonah had powers of his own? Suddenly, my own nerves were jangling. I had little tolerance for subterfuge.

“So, Nikta, any news from Prime?” Jonah saved me, trying to fill the silence. Usually, I was the one to make overtures between us – everything about tonight was different.

I c****d my head, considering. “Not really. Jericha’s single again, though I don’t think that’s gonna last long.” I gestured towards the bar with my chin and Jonah laughed. Jericha’s lips were puckered and she was leaning forward to let the bartender apply a bright red gloss to them.

“Another cousin?” Joyce asked, arching one brow.

“An old friend,” Jonah said, and I added, “Like family.”

Joyce chewed her bottom lip and I realize she’d misunderstood.

“Jericha’s my best friend. But don’t worry,” I said conspiratorially, “Jonah never dated her.”

“Not that Jerrie didn’t try,” Jonah boasted and Joyce’s mouth tightened. I thought about smacking Jonah in the forehead. What an i***t he was. Couldn’t he see Joyce didn’t want to know these kinds of things? Again, I wondered why he’d brought her here.

“So, Joyce, tell me about yourself. Did you grow up in Chalinex?”

“Mmm, yes, and what are your intentions towards our baby cousin?” Viv butted in before Joyce could answer me, rejoining our group with Ava and the Arch-mage on her arm.

Joyce’s jaw dropped and suddenly she looked ten years younger. Small and afraid. Ava and Viv certainly made a stunning pair, both with ice-white hair and night-black eyes, dressed in similarly draped floor-length silvery gowns with deep plunging V’s – though of course where Ava wore hers to expose her back, her long hair piled high upon her head in twisting braids, Viv’s dress slashed down between her breasts. But it was at the Arch-mage the policewoman stared. I couldn’t blame her. He was incredibly tall with the build of a willow, his long black hair queued down his back. His face boasted strong cheekbones and skin that defied what I knew was an advanced age. Only the deep crinkles beside each eye betrayed his years and, I assumed, a good humor.

“Leave her alone, Viv,” Jonah said irritably, which seemed to snap Joyce out of her reverie. She looked at me, color rising in her cheeks as she realized she’d forgotten to answer me.

“Yes, I was born here. My parents immigrated from Sector 89-T.”

“Why, that’s halfway across the galaxy!” Ava exclaimed. “What brought them here? I’m Ava, by the way, Vivien’s sister. I gather you met?”

“Yes, we met. Joyce Finelli. Nice to meet you,” she said in a tone that gave lie to her words. “My parents were missionaries, they traveled all over before landing here.”

“Couldn’t resist our beautiful planet, eh? Juniper Spiren, pleasure.”

Joyce shook the Arch-mage’s hand, looking unhappy. “You could say that. They felt called here, said they could not forsake any planet so godless as Renga.”

“Godless!” Ava exclaimed. “But we have many gods.”

“And the festivals to prove it,” Viv joked.

Joyce’s lower lip jutted out in a pout. “Many gods, but no true reverence. Faith is not about festivals, it is about devotion to the one God.”

“Ah. I see.” Ava peered at Joyce thoughtfully. “Thankfully, Renga has always been a welcoming planet. Easy to terraform, easy to love. And we welcome all kinds and faiths. Is this not why we gather tonight in celebration, to celebrate the union of the moons themselves, our very own holy trinity?”

Joyce hissed, a ket-like sound if I ever heard one. Somehow, I knew she would not take kindly to the comparison. “There is nothing holy about moon worship.”

“Easy ladies. Tonight we come together as a circle of all faiths. There are no sides, no ends, no beginnings. There is room for everyone here. Please,” The Arch-mage urged and I could feel the tension leaving the group. Something about his voice… was this his magic? Was this how he had risen through the ranks to become one of the most powerful men in the city? If so, this was a gift I could stand to learn, my social graces often as lacking as Viv’s. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must continue making the rounds. Nikta, a pleasure seeing you again. Detective Kozan, Officer Finelli. Girls, if you’ll join me? I have some people I’d like you to meet.”

He gave us a slight bow and walked away, Ava and Viv flanking him. Joyce watched them go, then excused herself to find the bathroom. I whirled on Jonah.

“Why did you bring her here? Did you know how she felt? How can you date her?” The questions burst forth without planning.

Jonah’s fists clenched. “People are staring,” he ground out.

“Sorry,” I said in a low tone. “Wouldn’t want anyone to think you’re a racist. Oh. Wait. Too late.”

“That’s not fair,” he complained, his eyes flashing with an inner fire. Good, he was mad. So was I.

“You’re right. You’re just dating one. Does she even know you have magic?”

Jonah squirmed, the light in his eyes shuttering.

“Dammit, Jonah. What are you thinking? You can’t hide your true nature, it’s not healthy. You’ll only wind up hurting yourself, or her. Besides, what if you get married, have babies – what do you think she’s going to do if she has kittens? Kittens who can control the wind, make fire, change the flow of water? Do you think she’ll still love you then?”

“She’s not as bad as you think,” he muttered.

“For my brother, she needs to be the moons and the stars and everything in between. Not just “not that bad.” Sometimes, I just don’t know where your head is at, I swear.”

“She only found out I’m even part ket last month, you know, after the bombing. I think she’s come around nicely in such a short time.”

“Part ket?” I blinked, unable to credit what I’d just heard. “Jonah, you couldn’t be more ket if you’d been one of the first settlers. Just because you don’t have mama’s ears or papa’s eyes, doesn’t change who or what you are.”

“Shh,” he shushed me. “She’s coming. Please, Nikta, just give her a chance. She’s giving you one.”

“Giving me-” I broke off, too angry to speak. Which was for the best, because Joyce was indeed approaching.

“Hi, guys. You didn’t have to wait for me out here,” she said shyly to Jonah, blushing. Then she looked at me. “I’m sorry about all that in there. Sometimes, my past gets the better of me. My parents, they raised me to fear magic. The Enso. All of this.” She gestured back towards the party. “I was terrified to come here, to meet you, frankly. But I’ve been trying to see things your way, your brother’s way.”

“That’s good,” I managed, giving her a wan smile, not wanting to tell her that Jonah’s way had not been my way for many years. “All I want is for Jonah to be happy.”

“Me, too,” she said.

“Which I am,” he said, taking her hand in his, giving it a squeeze. “Very.”

“Good,” I repeated, trying hard to mean it. “Listen, I have a bunch of letters to deliver early tomorrow and I don’t think that sushi is sitting well with me. I’m going to retire to my room and get some rest. Can you tell Jericha I’ve released her from duty as my date?”

“Of course,” he said, c*****g his head towards the ballroom. “Though I don’t think she’ll miss you.”

“No, she’ll do fine without me. Like you,” I said and kissed his cheek. “Goodnight, little brother. It was good to meet you, Joyce.” I inclined my head deeply, not caring to see whether she returned my bow.

I left quickly, navigating the hallways of the Enso through blurred vision, tears threatening to fall. But I would not cry. Not tonight. Not for my brother’s newest folly.

I retreated into my room, sealing the door with ice that would melt only by my command, sealing out the noise of the party, of disappointing siblings and meddling cousins. I collapsed onto the soft feather bed covering my tatami mat and clenched my hands into fists, extinguishing the lights in the room. Above me, clear through the glass, stars glimmered companionably; swirling clouds of nebulous gasses twinkling and shifting; three moons overlaid just above the horizon in near concentric circles of blue, white, pink.