“Good, just in time.” His voice is rough, like he smokes a pack of cigarettes a day. “We need someone to put out the hologram emitters, and I thought that Lila should learn to do it as well.”
“Hologram emitters?” I ask. “Nobody has mentioned them over the last few days.”
“Yes, it’s how we trick the humans into believing that the tent takes a day or two to dismantle. We place them on the ground, and they show a pre-recorded simulation of a large group of people packing up the circus into trucks. Meanwhile, the ship has actually returned to the main one and we’re halfway across the world, hovering over our next destination.”
“That's awesome, but what happens if someone sees what’s really happening?”
“They don’t. The emitters have their own cloaking abilities, and when the program finishes running, they are pre-scheduled to be beamed back to the ship.”
My mind has been a nonstop tornado for the last week while I try to assimilate all this new information and technology. Is it any wonder I’ve been crashing every night, asleep before my head even hits the pillow?
“Ok, cool. If you show me where they are and how to use them, I’ll get started on that. How hard can it be?”
“I can’t spare any of the crew at the moment. They’re all busy with the show,” the captain says gruffly. I kind of get the feeling he doesn't like me all that much, but John has insisted that’s just his way.
“That’s okay. I've arranged for someone to show Lila what to do,” John assures us all.
“Who?” demands the captain. “There is no one else.”
“Captain Lester, I’m quite disappointed to find out that I’m so easily forgettable.” The melodically accented voice has us all spinning around. Standing at the entrance to the control deck is some kind of humanoid shape that’s shrouded in darkness. Like a shadow, you can’t quite make out who it is. The captain blanches at the sight of the newcomer.
“Prince Xavier, I assure you, you are anything but forgettable.” The shadow steps forward, practically pulsing with power. Being near him is like standing next to a power grid, and it makes my jaw hurt from clenching. Holy shit, this is the warlock. My gaze darts to William and John who look completely unaffected by this man … creature... alien? I really have to figure out the polite thing to call someone. This is starting to get ridiculous.
“Xavier, thank you for doing this.” The shadow shrugs what I think are his shoulders.
“Anything for you guys, you know that.” William and John exchange a look, but they both nod.
“This is Lila, our granddaughter. She needs to learn how to put up the holo-emitters. Lila, this is Prince Xavier Colest, heir to the warlock throne and our man in charge of anything mystical.”
William gestures to the blur, and I wave. Yeah, it’s super awkward, but what else am I supposed to do? It’s kind of hard to greet someone when there’s no hand to shake or eyes to meet. Considering I really only have a vague idea how tall this dude is, I could be making eye contact with his nipples right now for all I know. In fact, I’m not sure how he’s even going to show me how to operate the holo-emitters either.
The captain holds out four palm-sized devices, and the blur reaches out and picks them up. Well, okay then, I guess he’s solid, not a mist or shadow, though maybe that’s some kind of illusion. My eyes scan his form, looking for some hint of solid shape or mass, and it’s not until I get to his head that I see a flash of something. Deep within the mist, a light shines, and the closer I try to look, the brighter it becomes. It’s a pale, pale green, and I feel myself sinking deeper into its magnetism, my mind growing light and my body becoming insignificant. I want to touch the light, to be one with it, to let itconsumeme. It’s calling me; I can feel how much it wants me, needs me. Suddenly, the feeling starts to change, and that warmth becomes desire. Our energies touch, making my nipples pebble and my breath become harsher, almost a pant. Oh my god, I’m going to orgasm in front of everyone. What the hell is going on? I grit my teeth so I won’t moan, but then it suddenly feels like it’s starting to drain from me. With nothing to tip me over the edge, the orgasm I thought was coming is just out of reach. That desire and teasing pleasure is slowly draining down and out through my limbs, moving toward the shadow.
“Goddamn it, Xavier!” William’s shout knocks me back into reality, and I stumble as the trance leaves me. “What the fuck were you doing to Lila?”
“Shit, I’m sorry.” The melodic voice sounds shaken and disgruntled, but there’s no doubting the sincerity in the rushed apology. “I’m not sure what happened. It’s like she locked on to me and dragged me under.”
“Me? Uh, nope. That was all you. I’m human, remember? No freaking crazy mind powers here.”
“Nothuman,” William grumbles. “And that better not have been you doing what I think you were.”
“Defective Skarrian then,” I offer in an attempt to lighten the frigid tension in the room.
“Did you seriously not do that?” John asks Xavier, a curious lilt to his voice.
I watch as the blur shudders violently. “No, I’m not sure exactly what happened. It’s like our consciousnesses merged until we became one. I’ve never heard of something like that happening to a warlock. We are taught how to do that from a very young age, so our minds are like steel cages. I’m going to have to consult with my parents about it.”
I wish I could see his face and get a read on him, see if the surprise in his voice is mirrored by the rest of him. That’s if he has a face... maybe this is his permanent state? Damn it, I wish I could ask about it, but that would just be fucking rude. Even I know that.You can’t just ask people if they have faces, Lila.Those kinds of questions probably end with dueling at sunset or something else to make amends. I’ll have to ask one of the grandpas next time I get a chance.
“Alright, come on, we need to get on with it. It’s almost intermission, and people will be going out to smoke. We don't want them seeing the two of you out there setting up,” Captain Lester grumbles.
I start to head toward the exit, hoping that Xavier will follow me, but John puts his hand out to stop me. “No time for that now. Xavier will have to teleport you down there; it will be quicker.”
A nervous squeak escapes my mouth, but I slap my hand over it, hoping no one heard. But from the amused smiles on the men’s faces, I’m almost certain they did.
“Teleport? Can he really do that? Is he allowed to take people?” I’m pretty sure Dylan told me all about warlocks that second day, but I’ve learned so much in such a short period of time, things were bound to be forgotten.
The blur rumbles, giving a sound of amusement. “Am Iallowed? You are funny, young Lila. Nobody tells me what I can and can’t do. Teleporting is child’s play for a warlock. We have to put bands on our children to stop them from using these powers when they are small. Teleporting babies is stressful for parents.”
