Nimravid (The MacFade Chronicles Book 1) Read online

  “Don’t you dare!” she hissed as two of the older woman looked up. I smiled warmly and gave them a small wave. “Afternoon, ladies…” Turning to shield my face I bent over to be nose to nose with Claire. “This is a family reunion, full stop, massive public exposure, Claire!” I reduced the tone of my voice to an angry horse whisper. “I walked into this without my Glamour. There are at least two dozen people that have already seen me. I can tell, their stares are boring a hole right through my bloody forehead! With this many people you might as well have a news van out front. Not cool Claire, not in the least.” Claire spoke soothingly and took my face in her hands. She never plays fair! “Alex… Try to calm down, breathe.” She pulled me in close and gently kissed me. I inhaled her scent deeply, not fair at all, I NEVER get to win these arguments. “Everything will be alright. I admit, this is a few more—”

  “A FEW?” Claire tightened her grip on my face, her voice becoming stern. “A few more people than I was expecting, no one here is a reporter, a trans-normal or a secret member of any one of the organizations currently hunting you. You’re perfectly safe here.” I puffed out my chest and crossed my arms like a petulant child. “You know I don’t like crowds and PLEASE, you have no way of knowing if any of these people are trans-normal or super natural for that matters.” I said grumpily. Claire smiled, “Mai?”

  “Not a single one.”

  “Thank you, Mai.”

  “Anytime, Claire.”

  “Bloody, conniving females…” I growled, as laughter echoed through my head. “I’m not going in there without my Glamour. Not going to do it. And be serious…I’m never perfectly safe ANYWHERE.” Claire smiled patiently. With her body pressed up against me like this, she knew all she had to do was wait. The bluster would melt away. I really hate that…A bloke should be able to stay angry if he wants to be.

  “Alex, think about it… a couple dozen people have already seen you. Most are very eager to meet you because of how much I’ve told them about you. How much harder is it going to be to explain the sudden change in appearance or disappearance as the case may be? Please just trust me. I only want them to meet the wonderful man, and beautiful soul, I share my life with. It hurts me to think you always feel the need to hide. You know, you’re not as remarkable looking as you think…” She was baiting me. “Oh really?” I knew she was right but I was too irked to care. She stuck to her guns. “Yes, really.” I did a pretty good job of covering my fangs and the sunglasses concealed my eyes but that wasn’t all we had to deal with. “Have you noticed how fair your family is? I had no idea. Bloody Hell, Claire, with your skin tone, your pop must have been next to transparent!”

  “Yes, my father was very light skinned what does that have to do with anything?”

  “I’m sorry, what color is the sky in your world?” I said sliding my right bracer up to expose my forearm. “With my coppery complexion, I’ll stand out in there like a traffic cone!”

  “Are you kidding me? Even I wouldn’t buy that one!”

  “Butt out, Mai. It isn’t you who is arse out in front of all these people.”

  “You’re being a child.”

  “You’re just being ridiculous.” Sounds familiar. “You’re HONESTLY concerned that you aren’t light skinned enough to fit in with my family?” You’re bound and determined to find any excuse you can, aren’t you? I have heard you tell stories of fighting nine foot monsters with the strength of ten men and here you’re terrified to SOCIALIZE with my family? Do you have any idea how pathetic that is? Mai, could you please talk some sense into him, if that is in fact possible?” Mai projected directly to Claire. “He’s a lost cause right now, girlfriend.”

  “Oh, now I’m pathetic? A lost cause? You’re both right, I should leave before I embarrass anyone,” I grumped, turning to go. A hand clamped down on my wrist so tightly that it caused me pain. “Suck it up, you big baby! What you’re going to do is put a smile on that sour puss, a real one, no Glamour and follow me into the house. After that, you’re going to spend time with my family and you’re GOING TO HAVE FUN! Is that understood?”

  “Oi! She sounds pissed.”

  “What was your first clue Sherlock, the name calling or the threatening overtones?”

  “I am assuming there is some ultimatum following this diatribe?” I asked evenly. Claire’s smiled twitched, ever so slightly. “No ultimatum, just consequences.” That didn’t sound good. “If you think MY wrath is something to behold..?” Here it comes. “You’ll have no idea what hit you if Aunt Effie finds out you were here and left.”

  Well, there is that…

  “Just do it Alex. No one here bears us any ill will.” I sighed and dropped my head to my chest. If Kolann were here, he would be rolling on the ground, laughing himself stupid, by now. “A promise is a promise, right?”

  “Yes, it is a matter of honor, Alex-chan.” Claire quipped rubbing her victory in just a little. Of course, Japanese Alex’s presence was being requested, as promised. I took a deep breath and let it out, in an exhausted sigh. I was only running on six hours of sleep. “You didn’t have to go there.” I could already feel dozens of eyes glued to me. “Yes, yes I did,” Claire said primly. “Now come along. Everyone wants to get a good look at you. By the way, no READING the family.” This is so gonna suck!

  “Yes, it just might, but in for a penny…”

  “… In for a pound,” I finished. Claire turned to me and smiled chucking my chin. “That’s the spirit, honey!”

  As we walked around to the side yard, I noticed an elderly man watching us from what seemed like a parlor window. It was obvious, they were all curious about me. I nodded to him in the traditional male to male greeting. He smiled and nodded back. Alright, so far so good.

  As we approached the back porch, there were four more elderly men seated at a card table playing dominoes and talking smack. Uncle Joe was among them, just my luck… “Hey! It’s Claire and her beau.” A small cheer went up from the seated men. Uncle Joe stood to give Claire a kiss on the cheek and turned to me. “What’s happening Day Glow?” He offered me his hand. I promised to be a good sport. As I raised mine in return, he yanked his back. “Oh! Day Glow too slow!” A roar of laughter erupted from the men at the table. I don’t even know these guys and they are ragging on me. What the fuck? The other men stood up and began the introductions. “It’s the culture. Once you’re IN you’ll be expected to hand it back.”

  “Oh I can take care of that right now!” a weapons grade zinger formed in my head, but, when I started to open my mouth… “Not yet.” Claire and Mai said simultaneously. Claire squeezed my hand and I squeezed back. “Oh…You owe me HUGE,” I mumbled

  “I know.”

  “HUGE, Claire.”

  “I’m well aware.”

  “I’m talking 10 minutes alone in a locked room with Decker, HUGE.”

  “We both know that’s not going to happen. Mai, do you have any way of tranquilizing this big lug?”

  “I wish.”

  “She says oral sex is the only thing that really works. Let’s go!”

  “You pig! She knows better than that!”

  “Keep it up and I may PERMANENTLY forget what that is, Alex.” Claire growled.

  “OK…I’m confused.” I whispered back. “Am I, SO SAFE, here that we are introducing me as Alex?”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “You have openly called me Alex three times now.” Claire looked aghast and for good reason. “Oh God!”

  “Indeed.” This was going to be a long night. At the time, I had no idea how truly long it was going to be.

  Chapter 23

  Uncle Joe gave us a broad smile, meaning of course, he was up to no good. “Say Day Glow, I think I seen one of your peeps last week. I was driving down 44 and there he was, on the median, with a big yellow flashing light on top his head.” All four men shared a raucous laugh. Oh, ruddy smashing, we are already starting with the traffic barrel humor.

  “Uncle Joe is
beginning to annoy me,” I groused. “Ahem,” Claire cleared her throat for emphasis. “Now Uncle Joe, I know you want to be nice to Dalton. After all, what would Aunt Effie say if she heard you dissing a guest, IN HER HOME?” Uncle Joe sat down and his face lost some color. “No no no, don’t tell Effie. I’ll be good. I’ll be good. I’m sorry day… Dalton. We was just funning witcha.”

  “That was a quick attitude adjustment. The other men in the group also tensed just at the mention of Effie’s name.”

  “Who is this woman, Mai? The big bad wolf of Benton Park?”

  “Just watch your step, Alex…and especially your mouth.”

  “Wise ass.”

  “I’m being serious.”

  “Making it worse…”

  Claire patted Joe’s shoulder and kissed his forehead. “Thank you, Uncle Joe. Maybe Dalton can join the game after dinner?”

  “Yeah yeah… That would be cool. You play?” I held my hands up in a helpless gesture. “Afraid not, old timer, Mahjongg or Go are more my games. I’d just be in the way. It looks like you blokes play for scratch; I’d just end up emptying my wallet.” Uncle Joe looked hopeful, Claire took care of that for him. “They can teach you and they don’t have to play for money, do you Uncle Joe?” Claire’s stare bored into the poor old man. I actually felt a little pity for him. This was clearly a matriarchy. “Don’t rightly see what the point would be,” he mumbled. “What was that?” Claire bent over pretending like she didn’t hear him. “We’d be happy to teach the boy to play, sweetheart. Wouldn’t we boys?” There were a few grunts of assent. Claire straightened and beamed at me, turning to Joe she said, “Good, now that that is settled. Where’s Aunt Effie?” He gestured to the door. “Where else? The queen in her castle.” Claire grabbed my hand and started to pull me along. “Kitchen, the command center of any Southern black household.”

  I followed her into the kitchen from the back porch. It was a cacophony of activity. Two older women were at the kitchen table shucking corn and snapping green beans. Claire explained that these were her identical twin aunts Velda and Thelma. A very large, older woman was in front of the stove stirring a pot of something that smelled like spinach and bacon. I had to make a conscience effort not to drool. I am somewhat of a bacon enthusiast you see.

  The over six foot woman tapped her spoon on the side of the pot and placed it in a crude ceramic spoon rest that read “Happy Berfday Big Momma.” She wiped her hands on her apron and lumbered over to us. “I see the guest of honor has arrived…finally.” She had salt and pepper hair, cut close, well-muscled arms and legs, a very particular bearing. Ex-military, I’d stake my life on it. Early 70’s I reckon, hard to tell, since black women tend to age so gracefully. As the saying goes, “black don’t crack.” She looked tough as nails and carried herself like someone who is used to being in charge, offering me her hand immediately and introduced herself. “Master Gunnery Sergeant, Efthemia Mae Barnes, retired.” I accepted her hand, a crushing grip, she was testing me. We stared each other down for a second. She was looking me straight in the eye, impressive, most people can’t. The golden Nimravid pupils usually creep them out straight away. Well, two can play at this game.

  “Easy Alex. I sense no hostility. This is just her way. Don’t hurt her.”

  “I am if anything, at all times a gentleman, Mai.” Explosive laughter echoed through my head. “You’re not being very helpful.”

  “Pfft! My day off, Claire’s turn to babysit you. I just get to sit back and enjoy the show.”

  “I hate you sooo much, right now.”

  “I’ll live.”

  I traded grips with Effie, nothing overpowering just equalized the pressure. “Security Consultant, Dalton Walker, struggling to make ends meet, is how I believe you yanks put it.” She looked me up and down. “Mmmm hmmm.” Oh, God help me! Another one, it’s a conspiracy! There has got to be an underground school for girls somewhere teaching this stuff. She shook my hand once and released me. I patiently waited for the circulation to return to my fingers. “My friends and family call me Effie. You can call me Ms. Barnes.” OK, this is going well. Not the warm welcome I was promised but better than town’s people with torches. “Efthemia, that’s Greek for well spoken, is it not?” Effie looked impressed. “That’s correct, Mr. Walker. Do you speak Greek?”

  I shrugged and rocked a hand back and forth in front of me, “A bit here and there.” I was being modest. As you might remember, with Mai, I can speak and understand any language. “So, you’re an educated man?” I nodded. “You could say that, I have a degree in Mechanical Engineering.” She placed a kitchen knife and a pile of peeled onions in front of me. “So why are you a security consultant? Didn’t you like engineering? Here, make yourself useful.” I washed my hands and speed chopped the onions as I replied. “It’s not that.” Wait a minute, speed chopping? “Mai?”

  “I’ve always wanted to try that.”

  “This is not the place to show off.”

  “Fine, be a poop, see if I care.”

  I continued, “It’s just that my appearance tends to be rather distracting to others.” Effie turned from her pot to respond and noticed the big pile of diced onions, which seemingly appeared as if by magic. Close enough… Effie frowned at little, “Boy, you trying to show me up in my own kitchen?” I tried to act casual. “No ma’am, just trying to keep things running smoothly. Most of the dishes in here smell like they are just about ready and onions need to cook for a bit. I thought it best, to get them done quickly.” I replied as I washed the onion juice off my hands. She eyed me suspiciously, “Mmmm hmmm.” Taking the onions, she dumped them into a big pot with green beans, ham hocks and potatoes. “Thanks a whole bloody lot, Mai!”

  “How was I to know she would react that way?”

  “Oh I don’t know. Could it be because it has been clear, since we arrived, that she’s the Alpha of the whole ruddy block? You just had to show off, didn’t you?”

  “Oh please, you’re one to talk.”

  Effie turned her back to the stove, crossed her arms over her chest. “I don’t understand what you have been so concerned about Mr. Walker. From where I stand, you’re one fine looking brother.”

  “Amen!”

  “You tell it sister, the Lord is good!” chimed in the twins.

  I think I may have actually blushed, Effie smiled broadly. “You know, Mr. Walker, I traveled all over the world in the United States Navy and I have yet to come across a brother with a skin tone like yours. It’s quite striking.” Claire started to titter. I HAD to be glowing like a traffic signal by now. “You’re Australian, from the looks of you, there seems to be a little Asian influence mottling your accent.”

  “That was impressive.”

  “No kidding.”

  Claire tittered some more at my look of utter confusion and awe. Effie slapped her hand down on the table, letting out a raucous cackle. “I’m just playing. Claire told me all about you, had you going there, didn’t I?” I gave her a patient smile. “Bloody Hell, she’s one of those.” More explosive laughter echoed through my mind. “Perhaps not reading the family was a mistake or perhaps this is exactly what Claire had in mind.” I leaned over to whisper in Claire’s ear. “Someone is due for a good SPANKING when we get home.” She smiled evilly. “Only if you’re a good boy, Mack.” Not the reaction I was expecting, but... not a “no” either. “Claire told all of us about you alright, all the girl ever talks about,” mumbled Thelma. “We were starting to think you was imaginary, young man,” added Velda.

  Effie reasserted her control of the conversation. “The beans and potatoes will be ready shortly, so I’ll take this time to introduce you around. That will be alright by you won’t it, Mr. Walker?” She fluttered her eyelashes and let out another cackle. “I’m just playing. I know you don’t like crowds but there are certain members of the family you’re REQUIRED to meet. Shall we, good sir?” She gestured to the back door. I glanced at Claire, the grin on her face told the whole story. “And my c
hoices, are?” Effie also grinned, “ABSOLUTELY none, Baby.”

  We walked out to the back porch with the rest of our group in tow. Effie took my arm and looked over to Claire. “I got this, Girl. He ain't going to get far.” Claire stepped back and gave her aunt a little bow from the waist. “Yes ma’am, I’ll leave you to it.” I gave her a pleading look, which only inspired more giggling. “Go ahead, Mack. She’ll take GOOD care of you.” I gave her the hairy eyeball. “Attention everyone!” Effie called out. Only a few people in her immediate vicinity, paid her any mind. “I said attention, everybody!” Her voice boomed out. Still, there was no real change in the crowd. “Just a minute, baby.” She walked over to a small cabinet in the rear corner of the porch and produced what looked like a military surplus bull horn. It was the largest I had ever seen, painted battleship grey and on the side, printed by hand, in white paint “The Wailer”. Oh, great merciful Thomas Edison!

  “She wouldn’t…”

  “I just love your optimism, sometimes.

  “HEY! I SAID SHUT THE HELL UP, Y’ALL!”

  “So much for low profile.”

  It was so loud, my vision jumped back and forth, causing a short wave of nausea. I honestly thought I had sustained some sort of brain damage. Looking back at Claire, I could she her chest vibrating from restrained laughter and she refused to make eye contact. Oh, I had most definitely been set up. All activity in the yard ceased. The music stopped a second later; you could have heard a pin drop. “Thank you everyone, that’s so much better. Now I would like to introduce my niece Claire’s beau, Dalton. He’s a little shy, so instead of walking him around to everyone, I wanted to do one big introduction. As you can tell, he looks a little different from most people and is bit sensitive about it, so no stares and no stupid ass questions.”

  “Kill me now.” I mouthed over my shoulder at Claire. She looked like she was about to explode. I would find a way to get even with her, if it killed me…

  “We gonna eat here pretty soon so we’ll say the blessing now. Everyone bow ya heads.” Everyone bowed their heads. Everyone except me, that is, I was unfamiliar with this ritual. Effie noticed, much to my chagrin. “Oh Lord, what a blessing! Our guest of honor has volunteered to say the grace. Go on Baby, nice and loud now.” I looked back at Claire, in stunned silence, desperately searching for support. I found none…She was restraining herself to the point that tears were streaming down her face and her knees wobbled, actually looked like she might be having a stroke. Oh, if only she could get so lucky…