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Chapter -4- Reunited

The next morning, Cairo, Egypt ...

Karla sat up in bed and stretched. She glanced over at an adjacent bed, which was already made. Karla adjusted the fabric of her nightie and walked out onto a deck where Sinopa was performing calisthenics, alone.

"Hey. How's it going? You sleep well?"

"Good morning, Karla-san. Yes. I remember you coming in and changing into your jogging clothes, and a bit later coming in for a shower. Couldn't sleep?"

"Yeah, I was wired last night. And when I finally slept, I slept great. Had a weird dream, though."

"Oh? You were silent all night."

The succubus nodded with a wan smile. "That's always a good thing, I guess. I had a dream about the time I flew to Nigeria and hunted down those Boko Haram dickheads in 2016."

"I was not on Earth at that time."

"It was about a year after the Ebola scare died down. I hadn't thought about it in ages."

Sinopa replied with a flat glare. "You attacked a group of humans in Africa?"

Karla grinned at the memory. "Yeah. It was awesome. It was never in the news. The Esoteric Council scrambled to cover it up. But I convinced them I was a demon from Hell and that I was coming for their souls because of their actions towards women. I have no idea why I dreamed about it last night. It was satisfying. The thing is ... back then, I still thought I really was a demon. Like, a real, actual mythological sex demon. Falcon ruined that and gave me an identity crisis a few years later."

"The truth shall set you free, Karla-san. Would you like to join me in these cardio workouts? A healthy body makes for a healthy mind."

"I went jogging last night. So what's our next move? Any word on Sekhmet?"

"Iie," she said, pronouncing the word, 'ee-yah,' the Japanese word for 'no.' "I sent Kuda out again. He came back empty handed. I cannot imagine why she would have suddenly ceased her attacks."

Karla frowned at sat down on a sun-chair adjacent to Sinopa's workout pad. "I hope she didn't get in over her head. Some of those extremist people have serious weapons. Can a goddess withstand a direct attack from an RPG or something?"

"I know little of Sekhmet - only that she is a fierce warrior." Sinopa stretched, placing her hands on the deck rail. "Why did you attack the humans in Nigeria in 2016? I am sorry to ask, but for the Esoteric Council to allow such, even after covering it up and keeping it from the news, I just had to know why you attacked a group of humans."

"They were known for attacking women. Their name roughly translates to, 'Western education is forbidden.' And, until I attacked them, they had kidnapped over a thousand females since, like, 2009-ish. The Government never interviewed the girls who escaped. They ignored the girls, who were full of information on things like, the chain of command, the kind of guns these slobs used ... also, this group liked to perform forced marriages, forced labor; they tortured these girls, and often raped them."

Sinopa frowned and sat down on the mat. She folded her hands. "That is truly awful."

"Yeah, it was. Until I found a few of those girls and, with the help of a translator, I got all the information I needed for an assault. They forced these girls to convert to Islam and have children for these asshats. They forced these girls to wear veils and hijabs. I went in and leveled several camps in three days. Then I tracked down two hundred women that were recently sold into slave markets. I freed them, I killed the captors, and went Medieval on every member I could find. One leader was a village chief - I telekinetically sodomized him with the barrel of his own rifle and telekinetically kept his followers forced to sit and watch. It was pretty grim. I got in touch with the nasty bitchy side from my youth."

"Your ... your youth?"

Karla shrugged. "It's a long story and I'd rather not go into details right now. But it made me a bit of a bitch for a while. I lost touch with my humanity at one point. Well, that side of me came roaring back in 2016 and I went off on those Boko Haram douchebags. I ... it was a dark time for me. Nathan went to bat and told the council that I was raped when I was fourteen years old, right before I learned I was a succubus. The year was 1613. I vowed a small crusade against rapists ever since then. I don't tolerate it. Anyhow, the EC performed an investigation. They deduced that I killed seventy-two extremists. But not a single innocent was harmed. Because of that, and only because of that, they granted me a full pardon. But I was told I had to lay low after that."

"Mm, and did you?" asked Sinopa.

"For the most part. A few years later, I found out the government might have some information on my father. I broke into a secure US Government installation and raided their files. The whole 'raid' lasted less than thirty minutes, and no one died. No one saw me. I was a suspect and I admitted what I had done to a handful of people. Then I dropped off the radar for over a year. Nathan told me he wanted to move in for a few months and keep an eye on me, so he did. Then he moved back out in 2023."

Sinopa saw Karla's expression and frowned. "Do you miss Nathanial-sama?"

"Yeah. He was my best friend, Red. The worst part is that he told me he was going to die soon. And I was just so used to him being around that I didn't take it seriously enough."

"I saw him die," Sinopa said. "I tried to save him and could not. It was heartbreaking."

Karla frowned. "Reno's no substitute for the old man, but he's all we've got. And I don't want to lose Reno the way we lost Nathanial. So when he comes back from that island, I want to keep him close. We can't lose him."

"Hai, I agree, Karla-san. He is a valuable ally and a trusted friend." Sinopa placed her palms upon her knees, staying still, seated on the mat. "How did you meet Nathan-sama?"

"He found me," said Karla with a shrug. "In December of 1906. He found me and convinced me to not be such a bitch. He told me he knew I was capable of being more. He said he knew I was destined for great things. He said he believed in me."

"Ah. His confidence in you helped to...?'

"No," Karla interrupted. "Not even a little bit. I told him he was full of shit. I laughed in his face. And then he stopped telling me about what I was capable of doing, and instead showed me. He was one of my first crushes. He was friends with Nikola Tesla, who showed him how to dress dapper, and look as badass as his powers. He was intelligent and knew all these amazing things. He treated me with respect. He never sugar coated anything."

"Did you fall in love with him?" asked Sinopa.

"No. I mean, don't get me wrong - we had sex a few times. But we knew we weren't soul mates or whatever. We knew it was friends with benefits and we never complicated it. The sex was fun, the fun times were fun, the civil war was bordering on fun. We stayed best friends. When I did fall in love, in 1999, with a boy named Chance ... Nathan helped me keep the boy safe."

Sinopa rubbed her chin. "Marcus Howard?'

"Yup."

The kitsune lowed her eyes. "I met the boy. He was telepathic. Lost his memories, and couldn't remember what he was capable of doing. Had that car accident not happened, he would have gone far. If I may ask, how did he die? Tamamo has knowledge of his death but will not share the details."

"He bargained with Reinhardt St. Leonard. He surrendered himself, and received a lethal injection in exchange for my pardon. I apparently made Tamamo promise me that if Chance died, she would remove my memories because I knew I'd lose my shit. Apparently I went wild with grief, so Tamamo made me forget, just like I asked. I forgot everything. Including you."

"Hai. I also had memories drawn from me and suppressed."

"Yup. All part of the plan, Sinopa. Sucks, huh? The suppression held for quite a few years but not forever."

"Yes, I regained mine nearly twenty-five years later. But it seems as though Tamamo was less effective with your memories, Karla-san."

"Yeah." The succubus glared up at the mid-morning sky. "I never forgot Nathanial, of course. And he never told me what I was missing. And, uh, it didn't take long before I remembered Chance. But how I felt about him, and all the things I did with him ... that stayed swept under the carpet for a while. Eventually I did start to remember losing the love of my life. That sort of thing couldn't stay forgotten. I even took his last name to honor him. It wasn't until many, many years later that I remembered you, Peri Darken, Aris Falcon's drama, and everything else. God, if I had that stuff to do over, I swear I would have asked to keep my memories. I was being selfish."

"Why would you want them, while you were still in mourning?'

"Because, Sinopa - what if we could have stopped Aris Falcon from becoming a douchebag? What if we could have stopped him from becoming the guy that he is now? What if we could have changed things for the better, way back in 1999? Sinopa, we had the chance to repair everything fifty years ago. But we didn't. And, now, all these years later ... you and I paid the price for our hubris. We lost our children, our husbands, and our dignity. We lost everything but our lives."

Sinopa stared at the succubus for a moment. She looked down at her tails and drew one into her lap as if using it to comfort herself like a soft, furred pillow. "Hai."

"Red, you and me - we are going to get our kids back and bring all sorts of unholy hell to that damned city. We're going to free everyone and kill anyone who gets in our way."

Sinopa reached up and placed her palm atop of Karla's knuckles. "Promise me one thing."

"Yeah?"

The kitsune leaned close and made eye contact with Karla's twin mint hues. "We fight and we kill with honor. We do not torture. We will not sodomize people with their weapons as you bragged to have done to the terrorist man in that group you mentioned."

"Boko Haram."

"Hai, that is the group. You will not act in that way. You will act dignified and civilized."

"Since when is taking a life ever civilized?"

"When it is done for the good of society, and in a clean fashion. There has to be a warrior's code. We do not torture or humiliate our enemies. If they wish to die with information, then they die with information. We will fight with a code of conduct. Are we clear?"

"There are times when torture is justified."

"Then it will be discussed at such a time. However, on the whole, it is best that we carry out our business in a proper fashion. Quick, clean, and honorable. There will be no brutal tactics. We are above such."

Karla broke eye contact. "Okay, okay, stop staring at me like that. So what's the plan, fearless leader?"

"Iie - Karla, you have always been the leader."

"As Nathanial would say, 'Bullshit.' C'mon, you made it clear a few weeks ago that I follow your lead and I cannot and will not step out of line. So what's the plan?"

Sinopa gave Karla's hand a gentle squeeze. "I will lead us into battle. I will be our moral compass. But under your leadership in 2024, our allies found Aris Falcon's city and struck a blow in the heart of his citadel. The only reason we lost is because we split up."

"That wasn't even my plan."

"Precisely, Karla-san. You let us put it to a vote. Had we played by your rules, and followed your leadership, we might have survived that attack as a group."

Karla leaned back on the sun chair. "You really think so?"

"There is only one way to be certain. We should try again. We should work as a team. I will lead our battles. You lead our efforts to become coordinated. Allow Conner-san to lead battles. Let Reno lead investigations. We will play to our strengths and we will kill Aris Falcon."

"Sinopa, I appreciate the vote of confidence. But we need a real leader to keep all of us in line. To keep all of us focused as a whole. Someone who we can trust to make unbiased decisions."

"Who do you have in mind?"

"Kalen said he would wake up Natalia Kincade if Lance ever disappeared. Well, we haven't heard from Lance for a while, now. If we don't find him soon, I think we should have Kalen wake up Natty-boo. She's ... a bit of a hardass but she's smart. She's organized and she has a good head on her shoulders."

"She was one of your lovers in the past."

Karla laughed. "Half our team was one of my lovers at one point or another. That never caused problems. I treated them all the same way - a snack. There was no drama or jealousy or anything like that. Natalia is one of the few women I know who won't let her emotions interfere with her leadership. Hell, even if Lance still is alive, I think we should have Kalen wake up Natalia because she can help."

"Then call your friend and request him to awaken her."

"Fine, I'll do it right now." Karla reached her left hand out and her handbag appeared in her lap, along with Kuda inside. She reached in, beneath his warm furry body and withdrew her cellphone then dialed a number for Kalen Kincade. Karla put it on speakerphone mode.

It rang twice and then a woman's voice answered. "Greetings, my dear. Kalen is driving at the moment. How art thou, my errant girl?"

Karla swallowed. She licked her lips, trying to remember a proper response to appease Natalia but her mind went blank. After a moment, she cleared her throat and said, "Salutations, Mistress Kincade."

"I have news, Karla. We believe that my husband has perished. As per protocol, Kalen has revived me from my slumber. I admit, it is nice to hear your voice."

"Thank ... thank you, Mistress Kincade. I am with Sinopa Crevan-Guillot in Egypt. We are searching for a goddess named Sekhmet."

"Excellent. I have placed the Celestial Gift into hiding. Tell Sinopa it is safe hidden away in a secure location. Continue on your mission to find this goddess. We will speak again soon."

"Thank you. Take care."

"And you, my errant girl. I shall speak to thee anon." Natalia ended the call from her end.

Karla turned to Sinopa with a blank expression. "She, uh ... only speaks archaic words when she first wakes up. Within a few days, she'll gravitate away and use a modern speaking style. It's something her, uh, brother, Donovan, could never quite grasp. If she's still doing it, that means she only just woke up."

"Hai, I am very pleased she has put the mirror into a safe place. Now, if only our allies would show up."

"Soon, I guess." Karla rubbed her face. "I never know how to act around Natalia. I can't believe she's up and moving around already. Christ."

"She has very strict expectations of your behavior, I see."

"Yeah ... she demands I carry myself in a 'lady-like' fashion. It's weird, I can't say no to her. I'm afraid of her whipping my ass."

"She is that powerful?"

"I can't explain it. She can do what her brother did - what my husband did. But she makes those boys look like amateurs when it comes to shadow-play."

"I see."

Karla reached into her handbag and pulled Kuda free and drew the little animal into her arms. "I forgot the effect she has on me."

"Hai. I see the effect she has on you. It's extraordinary."

"Yeah ... I guess. So. Let's find this goddess chick and get the hell out of this city."

"Very well. Let us continue our search. What do you have in mind?'

Karla shrugged. "We start asking around and walk around like tourists. We've tried everything else."

"Very well. It will be a pleasure to act as tourists. I delight at the thought of seeing the Great Pyramids up close."

"Yeah ... so ... let me get cleaned up and find something nice to wear." Karla stood up, still holding Kuda, and quietly walked off the deck, back into the hotel room.

Sinopa frowned, watching Karla leave. "Oh dear. She acts like a scolded child, now. Perhaps I should have a conversation with Natalia-san. We will require Karla to be herself without judgment or reservation if we are to successfully survive what lies ahead."

X

X

Parker Island...

Conner broke the lip-lock with Tamae and rested his chin on her shoulder, panting furiously. He tensed his body then clung to her and shuddered. His body relaxed and he brushed his cheek against hers. "God that was nice."

"Mm. Very. Conner-kun, when you kiss me, I see it hurts you."

He scoffed with amusement in reply. "Nothing I can't handle."

"Do you have plans to see a dentist when we return to the mainland?"

"Not if I don't have to."

"Then speak to Evan-san. He can help for the time being. You have four broken teeth."

"Only the one is hurting," he said, resting his forehead against the pillow that cradled her head. "And when should we head back?"

"Mm. As much as I would love to stay here, with you, in this bed, until the end of time ... I imagine we are honestly ready." Tamamo reached down, trailing her fingers along the curvature of his back, until her hand met his athletic rump. She grasped it firmly and pulled his hips against hers with a sigh of content. "I know it is not in our culture to say words of affection. It is our way to show love, instead. But I know your western culture differs from my own, and I respect that."

Conner grinned against the pillow then lifted his head. "I love you, too."

She brought her free hand to his face, cupping it gently. "I love you, Conner. I adore you. I have not felt this way for a very, very long time. I now see what Sinopa found in the arms of a Western man. I scoffed at her. I ridiculed her. And now I must apologize to her. I was rude and closed-minded. Fate, if such a thing exists, has brought us together in an ironic twist to show me humility."

"Not ironic for me," he said in an earnest tone. "I've always sort of had a thing for Asian girls. But, to be honest, I think that's half of American men."

"Mm, so I turn you on, then?"

"God yes." Conner licked his lips then brushed his tongue over the hole in his molar that gave him so much trouble. "You are sexy as hell."

She kissed the side of his forehead. "I want you to do me a favor, Conner. Please."

"Name it. Anything you want."

"Accept your sister's relationship with the vampire. It embarrasses me that you treat her with such disrespect over her choice of mate. Show her maturity and acceptance, kudasai."

Conner licked his lips. How could he say anything other than 'yes' to the woman to whom he had just made love? Worse yet, how could he refuse the woman who just confessed feeling awkward over his behavior towards his sister?

Tamamo added, "She has shown support towards our romance. I am a woman with tails, inhabiting the body of another woman, with emotional instability and trust issues. Car-chan has shown maturity, acceptance, and honored me with conversation and shown me trust. I am humbled by how she has made me feel like family. Please, Conner, show her the respect she has shown to me. Honor me by honoring her."

Conner eased up onto his elbows and gazed into Tamae's eyes, which had faint vertical accepts to the pupils. He brushed his lips against hers, as if sealing his promise with a kiss. "I was scared for her but what I did not understand. While it would be easier for me to accept them if I saw them together every day for several months, the way she has seen us interact ... I promise you that I will be a better brother. I will accept it. I will do my best to act responsible and show acceptance. If, uhm, if I say something without thinking, just glare at me. I'll see that I've stepped out of line and..."

"It is not a matter of acting out of line, Conner-kun. I need you to become an open-minded man. Find humility in your heart and show Kalen-san the same respect that Car-chan has shown to me. Show him you are a man. Show your sister you are a man. Let them see you as the man I have come to love - a man who is mature, wise, and intelligent."

Conner brushed his nose against hers due to their proximity in the bed. "Help me to be my best. I'll do it. It's kinda funny, huh? Fifteen year old boys try to act like thirty year old men. Thirty year old men just want to be fifteen year old boys again."

Tamamo smiled. "The secret to life is to act twenty-five forever. From your teenaged years until you are old and grey. By acting as though you are twenty-five forever, you will enjoy life to its fullest, and live your days with confidence and gusto until the end."

"Heh, that's easy for you to say. You don't age."

"We all age. Young kitsune look upon my many tails and whisper behind my back as though I am an old hag. My kind does not judge one another by the elasticity of our flesh, but by the encumbrances on our soul. I wear my thirty-five hundred years on my aura the way a mortal woman clutches to a walker or cane. But you make me feel younger than I have in a very, very long time. Thank the heavens than our kind cannot grow more than nine tails. Thirty-five would be a burden."

Conner stared at her for a moment then broke into soft laughter. "Can you just imagine walking around with all those tails? God. Thirty-five all coming out of your backside. Just imagine yourself in your little fox form. The sheer weight of them would cause you to drag your body ... oh god, imagine them all if they were wet from rain. They'd all be heavy and dripping. You'd have hip problems."

"You have an overactive imagination. Perhaps you've been spending too much time around James and Evan."

"Just imagine how hard it would be to sit on the toilet. How do you even do it with nine?"

"In the Celestial Realm, I do not have a physical body. That is the reason I had to possess Tamae. She has no tails. There is no issue. Because I am a spirit in that realm, with the ability to manifest matter to feel physical, I am able to touch you in that plane. I am able to kiss you and make love to you. But I do not require sleep, or sustenance. I do not require a toilet. Again, you have an overactive imagination."

"Yeah I guess I do."

Tamamo gave his rump a squeeze again then reached her fingertips to his side and found his most sensitive spot. She tickled him, causing him to roll away, to the edge of the bed. She replied with a sly grin at the sound of his grunting and at the sight of his squirming.

Tamamo sat up and stretched. "Did you know, in Japan, women walked topless in the summer heat? There was no bodily shame until the western civilization brought the concept to Japanese shores? I am used to walking unexposed and confident without worry. My host could never even consider such a concept, and it would make our guests feel awkward. However, perhaps one day when Aris Falcon is dead, and Loki has joined ... the two of us can have a home together. A home where we have the privacy to brazenly walk around clad as we please."

Conner grinned at her. After a moment, he slid out of bed, wearing nothing. He stretched and turned to face her. "Let's get started. We have a god to kill and a wannabe god to assassinate. So, you'd want to have a house with me, as Tamae, until we both grow old?"

"Hai, Conner-kun. I can return to the Celestial Realm in my natural state once our bodies have been exhausted in this realm. I can give you children, here. I can give you a family. I can live as a happy, young wife in this realm. Tamae will live happily. You will live happily. All we have to do is survive the death of two very powerful men. And then the world is ours to live and languish as we see fit."

Conner arched backwards, cracking his back. "I'll find Raul. Let's get started today. I'm ready to do what needs to be done."

Tamamo grinned in reply. She slid off the bed and retrieved her folded kimono from the top of a nearby dresser. It was folded to perfect with every crease created to ceremonial perfection. "Then, your only nemesis would be the Pendleton family. Our future son could romance their future daughter, and bridge the gap while leaving her father and grandfather exasperated."

Conner smirked, pulling a pair of jogging pants up his legs. "Now who has the imagination?"

Tamamo replied with a knowing smile. "Well, it has to be the two of us, Conner. Your sister's betrothed isn't, mm, _lively_enough to make her a mother."

Conner replied with a round of snickers. "So when you're telling me to show them acceptance and respect...?"

"I mean, that is what you do. ...Outside the sanctity of our bedroom."

He grinned and pulled a shirt over his head. "Okay. I guess that's one way to make peace with it - to make private jokes between the two of us. I can do that. So long as he doesn't accidentally hurt her with those fangs of his."

"You worry too much." She turned to him with the kimono adorning her. Every inch of fabric clung to her figure just so. She moved with grace, placed her hands upon his face and kissed his lips. "Before you speak to Raul, I want you to see Evan about the broken tooth that is giving you pain. I fear the nerve is exposed. Covering it will help."

"We don't exactly have something for pain down here."

Tamamo tilted her head. "We have bourbon."

"I'm fifteen."

"Such laws were imposed by countries calling themselves 'civilized' in recent times. Alcohol was never so controlled until these nations saw profit in responsibility. Besides, it would amuse me to see you experience inebriation."

Conner sighed through his nose. "I'll talk to Evan, but I'm not interested in drinking. If the tooth hurts after receiving the cap, then ... I'll consider it then. But right now, it's not necessary. It can't be any worse than the pain I feel now. I'm used to it."

"Does it cause headaches?"

"Yeah, every now and then."

"Mm. Then your body is not used to the pain. Go and brush thoroughly. We do not want to trap any dirt or plaque beneath this new crown."

"You don't have to mother me."

Tamamo grinned. "You'll soon learn that when you are old enough not to be mothered, you then become old enough to be wife'd. Now go on." She watched him leave the bedroom then smiled.

X

X

Friday, September 10, 2049 - 11:35am Hawaii ...

Karla Loupe remained quiet, almost stoic. She kept her hands folded and wore a skirt that came down to just beneath her knees. Her handbag matched the vest she wore over her blouse and her hair was up in a carefully made bun. She looked more like a teacher than a student today.

She held her bag handle in her folded hands, facing a window near the security checkpoint of the airport. A moment later, a group of recently-disembarked people came from the adjacent hallway.

Conner, Tamamo, Reno, Evan, and Carmen came out of the group together. Reno approached the succubus and looked her over, brows arched. "Holy shit, look at you kiddo. Were we really gone that long? You changed your look."

Karla panned her eyes across the cast. "You're missing three people."

"Raul, James and Rachel," said Reno, speaking for the group. "Conner's got tooth problems but he won't let anyone help him. So why are you all gussied up?"

"Gussied? Don't try to talk like Rufus. Anyhow, Natalia is in the car. Other than Tamamo, none of you have met her. So where are the other three?"

Reno gave Karla a hug. "Here, looks like you need this." He whispered into her ear, "Rachel has been institutionalized. We had her committed because she was losing her shit - Tammy's memories and all. She's in Japan. We just visited her before flying here. She's doing okay. Conner is a little weird about it, so don't bring it up."

Karla, glad for the hug, gave Reno a firm squeeze. "Yeah. I guess that's best. Where's Raul then?"

Reno relinquished the hug. "He's going to catch up with us shortly. We're going to need to plan out an assault on the Celestial Realm. So ... we'll need that Egyptian chick. Did you find her?"

Karla shook her head. "No." She walked away from Reno and approached Conner. The succubus gently cupped his jaw. "Open."

"What?"

"Open," she replied in a commanding tone.

Conner cut his gaze to Tammy then back to Karla.

"I said open. Don't look at Tamamo. Look at me. Open wide."

Tamamo blinked. "She's calling me by my proper name. She means business, Conner-kun. Open your mouth."

Conner complied. He spoke with his mouth open, making it difficult to understand his words. "I don't want to go to a goddamn dentist."

"You're supposed to be fearless," she said. "But then you need to see a dentist and we're all reminded that you're still a fifteen-year-old-boy. You're going to get that back left molar fixed. It's worse than before - noticeably so."

"I don't want to have some guy drill into my teeth," Conner said. He drew his head back and closed his mouth. He spoke again, his words sounding proper. "I don't want the dentist drilling into my mouth. What if I don't wake up from the anesthesia? I had a friend growing up that never woke up from that."

Carmen frowned. "He's right, his best friend as a kid ... nine years old, this kid goes in to get a corrective surgery and never woke up from the anesthesia. Conner won't do that. I tried talking to him about it already. At this point, he doesn't want a drill near his mouth either."

"Unless the drill was chocolate," Conner chimed in. "I mean, chocolate is supposed to eat through teeth, after all. If there was a drill made of chocolate, I might be okay with that."

Karla eyed him for a moment then furrowed a single brow. "Hmm. No, The Chocolate Drill sounds like a porn-star."

Evan laughed. "And you guys were worried she changed. Same ole Karla. But Reno's right - you changed your look. Why?"

A smirk found the succubus' lips. "You'll find out when you meet Natalia. I can't wait until she leads this group from afar. I need to be me. She's cramping my goddamn style."

Evan offered Karla a hug. "Thanks for saying 'goddamn' instead of the 'F-bomb.' I could tell you wanted to use that instead. I appreciate your restraint."

"Yeah, yeah." Karla afforded him a slight smile. She waved the group to follow her. "Okay, boys and girls. Let's get moving. We have a rogue goddess to find."

Tamamo approached Karla on the left. "Please at least tell me that you have a plan in place when you catch her."

Karla grinned somewhat. "We get her drunk. I have a microbrewery working on red beer right now. Conner, you're off the hook for this one. Natalia is footing the bill."

"Perhaps we shouldn't get her drunk just yet," said Tamamo. "We'll need her as Sekhmet, not Hathor. At least when we head to the Celestial Realm."

"Yeah well, we're not going straight there. We're coming up with a plan first. And we need this chick to be manageable. She can Hulk-out later."

"I do hope you know what you're doing," Tamamo said.

"She does," Reno said.

"Natalia does," Karla corrected. "All of you behave in front of Natalia. She's a stickler for being prim-and-proper. Carmen, she doesn't yet know you're being Kalen's little ghoul."

Carmen narrowed her gaze. "Seriously? 'Ghoul?' Have some respect."

Karla rolled her gaze as the group walked through the airport. "God, I'm kidding. I have to get it out of my system before we get out to the limo. Sinopa and Kalen will be there, too. Rufus is missing in action. He's looking for his son or something. I'm not going to ask him to help because finding his kid is important. I empathize with him."

The group headed outside to a limo waiting. Kalen held the door at the back of the car. He murmured softly to each of the group members. "Welcome back. Watch your head going in, please."

Carmen was at the end of the line. She gave her lover a secret smile. "Don't you look nice ... in a cummerbund and bowtie."

Kalen returned the secret little smile. "Mm, watch your head madam Parker." He winked at her and then shut the door behind her. Kalen headed around to the front of the limo, slid in the driver's side, put the vehicle into gear and pulled away from the curb.

Karla looked around the group and settled into a leather sofa. She crossed her legs, placed her handbag on her lap and folded her hands over top the bag. "Everyone, this is Natalia Kincade. Mistress Kincade, this is Evan Balmoral - he is polite and far from socially crude. He prefers if you do not cuss in his presence.

"Here we have Carmen and Conner Parker, they are Jonathan's grandchildren." Karla turned to the two thieves and said, "Mistress Kincade knew your great grandfather, and your great-great grandfather." She nodded towards Reno. "Mistress, this is Reno Nevada. I legally changed his name to 'Nathanial Carrington' because of their supernatural similarities. There are quite a few things the two have in common, although to be honest, there's quite a few things they don't, too. For example, Nathan played chess and was extremely educated. Reno, here, has a degree in Criminal Justice but he was never into academia beyond that."

"I see," Natalia mused softly. "Mr. Nevada, consider getting yourself an education once the dust has cleared. The mind is a powerful tool, and immersing yourself in academia will make your tool sharper and far more useful." Natalia turned to Tamamo and bowed. "Tamamo-sama. I am honored to make your acquaintance again. I have kept the mirror safe. It is still in possession of the Kincade family."

Tamamo reached across to the other leather sofa and placed her hand into Natalia's own. "A Western custom."

Natalia smiled. "For men, my dear." Natalia moved across the limo to sit adjacent to Tamamo. She leaned in and kissed the kitsune's left cheek, then her right. "A lady has her hand kissed by a gentleman, but does not shake. A handshake was a custom to show that two men were disarmed in the name of peace. A lady customarily carried no weapon, for she was armed with wit, cunning and mettle."

"I stand corrected, Natalia-sama."

Natalia smiled softly at the honorific. "You are too kind. I am honored by your high praise."

Tamamo replied with a sly smile. She cut her amber gaze to Karla then back to Natalia. "Anyone who can tame the wild-hearted demon has my highest respect." Tamamo leaned in and kissed Natalia's left, then right cheek. "But, with all due respect, we need Karla as she was - in her comfort zone. When she is at her most confident, she is the most useful."

Natalia glanced at Karla then back at Tamamo. Her gaze shifted back to Karla again. "There is wisdom in your logic, madam kitsune-sama."

Karla looked away and mouthed the words, "Thank-fucking-God."

Reno moved up towards the front of the limo and grinned at Sinopa. "Hey, long time no see. You're awfully quiet up here."

Sinopa turned back to him with a wan smile. "Hai, Reno-san. Konnichiwa. I was enjoying the sound."

"The sound?" Reno asked.

Sinopa nodded. "Of everyone getting along." She gazed past Reno and nodded in respect to Tamamo. "Ohayo gozaimasu. O-genki desu ka...?"

Tamamo smiled softly. "Are you back to abusively saying desu?"

"Some habits are hard to break, sensei."

Karla leaned towards Tamamo and whispered, "She wants you to notice her, Senpai." A little grin tugged at the corner of the succbus' lips, not yet willing to show her informal-self in the presence of Natalia.

Tamamo arched her brows and turned to face Karla. It appeared as though they had a conversation with their gaze. After a moment, Tamamo simply said, "Quiet, kohai." The elder kitsune gave a grin that put everyone at ease. "I will 'notice' you all at a later time."

Sinopa stared at her sensei for a moment. "You've adapted."

"I have. I spent nearly six months with children who see our culture with a rather humorous slant." Tamamo turned to Karla and added, "No jokes about my eyes, baka."

Karla looked away, trying not to snicker. Sinopa looked the other direction, as if embarrassed for her sensei. Natalia folded her arms.

Silence.

Evan cleared his throat. "Well, it's a pleasure to meet everyone else. I look forward to working with you guys. But remember this - I'm fine with the joking around. It helps our chemistry as a team, but at the end of the day, I'm here to save my family. So let's remember we all have a loved one we're fighting for. And, as I understand it, we have three stages, first and foremost. Number one, we have to find the Egyptian lady. Number two, we have to restore order to the Celestial Realm to cut off whatever aid they would attempt to provide to Aris Falcon, and number three - we defeat Dr. Falcon and release the population of his city."

"You've matured," said Kalen.

"Pardon?" Evan asked.

"I met you in Oakland in 2023. You were in a park, fighting the mercenary crusaders. You helped to save the life of a man named Cybil Powalski. He later was titled as the new Oracle. Because you saved his life, he went on to save Rufus' life, among others. Listening to you speak, a moment ago, is proof that you've come a long way."

Evan moved up to the front of the limo and looked Kalen over for a moment. "Holy smokes. You're the guy that jumped off the building and landed in the street. You took out that sniper."

Kalen frowned. "I thought I went unseen."

"By Johann. At the time, I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me so I dismissed it. But I remember." Evan looked around the limo at the assembled cast. "If we all watch one another's backs, we'll all come out of this alive. But to be more effective, we should split up. Some of us should procure the mirror and gather supplies. Tamamo-sama, something tells me you'll be the most effective in Egypt. You said she knows you. So find her. Take Sinopa-san with you. Take Reno, so you can impress her. If she sees how powerful her new allies are, she'll probably respond well do it. I'll go with the Kincades to fetch the mirror and supplies. The rest of you should get the last artifacts."

"Artifacts?" asked Natalia. "Please clarify, young man."

Evan grinned at being called 'young.' He settled on one of the leather seats and said, "Carmen?"

Parker cleared her throat. "One is either the Nehushtan or Asclepius. Whichever one survived, since one of them was said to have been destroyed. It's one of two remaining items that Falcon is still looking for. And if we beat him to it, we can use them on him."

"Two?" asked Reno. "What are they? Not their names - what are these objects in laymen's terms?"

Carmen folded her hands. She glanced at her brother and gave him a smile as if to prompt a response from him. Her expression was soft yet demanding, as if trying to get him to look less quiet and glum.

Once Conner's expression lightened, Carmen cleared her throat and addressed the group. "The one I mentioned is a biblical scepter. The other is some sort of nut, or, like, a seed of a plant. After lying low in Falcon's city for a while, I managed to learn a few things. And, from what I understand, those are the two things he's still looking for. Not sure why, but if we beat him to the punch, it will give us an advantage. So the rest of us will find them and take them. Two world-class thieves and a woman who can teleport objects - nothing will stop us."

Reno rubbed his chin for a moment. "That seed you mentioned - was it, by chance, split into pieces and protected by gypsies?"

"I have no idea," Carmen said. "All I know is he's looking for something that can grow into a tree. It's pretty important to his operation but it's the thing he knows the least about."

Evan clapped his hands together and rubbed his palms firmly. "Well then, it's settled. We all have somewhere to start. Why don't we check into somewhere we can sleep tonight? Tomorrow we'll all fly out to wherever we have to go to get things moving."

Natalia smiled at Evan. "I like you, young man." She lifted her voice in volume and said, "Let us rest and book flights for tomorrow. Kalen, take us to a nice hotel. Somewhere with suites. Then return this rental while the rest of us check in."

"What's today?" asked Conner. "Friday right? We should charter something private to avoid the vacation crowd."

"Vacation crowed?" asked Sinopa. "How do you mean?"

"Labor Day," Carmen said.

Kalen glanced at Sinopa in the passenger seat then back at the road. "You were away a bit longer than you intended, Carmen. Labor Day was last Monday. Today is Friday the tenth."

"Oh." Conner frowned. "We were there a lot longer than we intended."

Carmen narrowed her gaze, watching Kalen's body language. She watched the way he rubbed at his neckline then tugged gently on his collar as if to take some unseen pressure off his throat.

Karla leaned towards Carmen and whispered, "What's that look for?"

"Something is wrong with Kalen," she whispered back.

"Let's have no secrets, please," Natalia said to them.

Without skipping a beat, Karla turned to Natalia and said, "She asked me if I have any spare tampons. Some things are better left whispered between us girls, Mistress Natalia. We're trying to be ladylike for the boys."

Natalia opened her mouth to reply but nodded instead. After a moment, she replied in a soft tone. "Very well, my apologies."

Carmen afforded Karla with a weak smile of appreciation for keeping her secret.

Karla smiled back, knowingly. Natalia didn't need to find out her childer was dating a human ... at least not yet, and not publically. It was a conversation for later, in a private place, and most likely best left between Kalen and Natalia. Karla reached into her handbag, drew out a small box of Kotex, and handed one to Carmen. "It'll have to be addressed eventually."

"I know, I know," Carmen said. "I was biding my time."

"Just handled it. No worries. I got your back, sister."

Carmen offered Karla a genuine smile. "Thanks for the support. I'm told you and mom had a falling out. But you and me? We're cool. And, uh, I just wanted to be the one to tell you - Elvena is still alive. I know exactly where she's at. In fact, she saved my life. She's in stasis, but I promise you, she's alive."

Karla felt a pit of emotion well up in her stomach. She drew in a slow, almost ragged breath then wrapped her arms around Carmen. "We'll find her together, sweetheart."

Carmen returned the hug and rested her chin on Karla's shoulder. In a soft tone, she said, "I feel responsible."

"You're not. Don't ever think otherwise."

Carmen's voice lowered further, whispering directly into Karla's ear. "Thank you for covering for me about Kalen."

Karla replied in return, just loud enough for others to hear. "I told you I have your back. I meant it."

Carmen smiled a bit. After a moment, she relinquished the hug and said, "The others are right, Mrs. Loupe."

"Just Karla. You're an adult now. You're not a kid coming over for a slumber party with my daughter anymore. You're a grown woman." Karla paused, then, "What are the others _right_about?"

Carmen leaned back in the limo's leather sofa. "You need to be your old-self. You can't be reserved. You can't be polite. You can't be prim and proper. You need to be a demon. You need to live up to the rumors about your past, and destroy everything that gets in our way. It's the only way we're going to survive this."

Karla smiled and gave the girl's cheek a gentle pat. "Honey, you're seeing my 'I'm happy to see my daughter's childhood bestie' face. But I promise you, the first time we engage? You'll see my, 'I'm going to snap some fucking necks,' face. I promise. These bastards murdered my husband and took my children from me. They lied about leaving me alone to live my life. They stole my future. Sweetheart, _I_am a 'woman scorned,' and believe me when I tell you that you and your brother will be working overtime to pull some family tricks concerning misdirection ... because I'm going to leave a trail of bodies a mile long in my wake. And that will be my way of just warming up."

Silence.

Karla turned to Evan, patted his knee and said, "Sorry for the language, dear."

Evan nodded. "I, uh ... you're being a demon. Just ... be a demon. There's no judgment here, Karla."

"So you won't be upset when I kill a few of these goons that will undoubtedly get in our way?" she asked.

Evan shook his head. "My family's life is at stake. If you leave even one witness, and if it gets back to Falcon that we're involved, he _will_kill Patience and Haley. I can't let that happen. You do what you have to do. I've spent the last few months on that island, psyching myself up for what needs to be done. I'm ready."

Karla replied with a devious smile. "God help anyone who gets in our way."

---

Next Chapter: https://www.sofurry.com/view/778051