Chapter 9

CHAPTER 9

H ow did these guys know? Bel spoke first to cut off whatever Lio might say. "We're not sure. We were told there was something here that we needed to find."

The six-foot-tall man with a bad attitude took a protective stance in front of the blond man, a study in contrasts, like light and dark. The blond man snorted and shoved his way around Morrisey.

"Down, boy. I don't need protecting."

"And you don't know what the hell you're looking for?" Morrisey didn't have to sound so incredulous. He tried to push the blond man behind him again.

"Damn it, Morrisey! Need I remind you that I scored higher than you at the firing range last month?"

"And need I remind you that you're the only cook in this partnership, so if one of us is shot and needs to be nursed back to health…."

The blond winced. "You have zero bedside manner." He stepped away from Morrisey and addressed Bel and Lio. "I'm Farren Austen, he's Morrisey James, and the woman attempting to drive the SUV in heels high enough to make my ankles ache in sympathy is Jessalain Baker." He hiked his thumb in the woman's direction.

"Hi, honey! Call me Jessa," the woman called out from the window with a little wave.

"All three of us are from Domus. We're part of the FBI's Alternate Entities Task Force," Farren continued. "The task force was formed to police travelers from other realms and, when needed, help them acclimate here in the Terran realm. Task forces like ours have done their best to document all travelers who came to this world from our old one. We ensure they settle into their new lives and obey the law. If you mean no harm, we're here to help. If you willfully break laws, I'm licensed to banish you, and I have zero qualms about doing so."

Domus? "Are you Magestra?" While Magestra ranked below Bel's rank of Princeps, he wouldn't make that announcement, not when Lio still didn't know his beginnings.

Farren bowed slightly in acknowledgment.

"I'm your friendly neighborhood succubus." Jessa's smile was sharp, and then it disappeared. "Unless you threaten my friends."

"What are you? Magestra?" Morrisey focused his attention on Lio. "I can barely read you, though Jessa sensed something."

Lio glanced at Bel with wide eyes.

"He doesn't know how he got here or who he was before," Bel said. Lio needed time to remember and put the pieces together on his own.

"I don't believe you," Morrisey snapped, his anger almost palpable. He took a menacing step forward. His partner grabbed his arm.

Bel shifted to put himself between Lio and Morrisey. "It's true. That's one thing I hope to accomplish here. Find out his background."

"You know Domus is gone, right?" Jessa asked, her tone kinder than Morrisey's.

"Yes." The ache in Bel's heart began anew. But these were people from his own realm. Shouldn't they welcome him? "I left right before the council closed the portal."

Morrisey exchanged a raised eyebrow glance with Farren. "That was five years ago. Where have you been since then?"

Bel ignored the question. "You're a Tenebris!" He may have been a little loud, based on all three strangers doing quick right-left perusals to see who might have overheard. Oops. He would have to be more careful.

But if Morrisey was a Tenebris who hadn't destroyed the world, someone must've provided balance.

If Lio was indeed the Tenebris Bel sought, couldn't another one help him? Particularly one assigned to help those from Domus assimilate into this world.

Farren dropped his shields, revealing his shining aura. Realization dawned. Morrisey and Farren. Contrasts. Light and dark. A mated pair: Lux and Tenebris. "You're a Lux."

Why had Udeall not mentioned a Tenebris/Lux pairing living in the Terran realm? This must have been what Errante meant by finding help. Still, doubts remained in Bel's mind. It couldn't be this easy to merely stumble upon the very people who personally knew and had overcome Bel's situation.

"I am," Farren answered. "Morrisey is my partner, and therefore, he's not the big scary bogeyman most of our people make Tenebris out to be." One side of Farren's mouth lifted in a fond smile.

"That's news to me." Morrisey's warmth for his partner made him appear nearly approachable. But then his smile fell, and he faced Bel and Lio again. "I was also Princeps in Domus, but we don't hold to a tiered structure in Terra in case you still put stock in that shit."

That tidbit of information piqued Bel's interest. "One of you is Princeps, and the other is Magestra. So that's allowed here?"

"Like Morrisey said, we don't hold to the tier system here," Farren explained. "Besides, even Domus made exceptions for Tenebris/Lux pairings. But that's beside the point. We need you to come with us to headquarters so we can brief you on life here. Where have you been since you arrived in Terra?"

Made exceptions for Tenebris/Lux pairings. Bel's hope raised its head and sniffed the air. "It's hard to explain, but we weren't exactly in Terra." Their whereabouts might be hard to discuss without exposing the Carnival. Errante didn't explicitly say not to, but so much was happening so fast, leaving little time for Bel to make informed decisions.

"He's telling the truth, boss," the woman said in bored tones that belied her keen focus on the conversation, as demonstrated by the myriad emotions passing over her expressive face, from curiosity to concern. "But what about security? They don't have clearance."

"They're Tenebris and Lux. It would be more dangerous not to share information." Farren stalked to the vehicle and flung open the back door.

Lio hesitated, the terror in his eyes putting Bel on high alert and making him want to put himself between Lio and any possible harm. He scanned the area but didn't see a threat. "What's wrong?"

"The last time I was in a car, I got dropped in the desert." Lio's voice came out in a hoarse whisper. He trembled, taking Bel's hand.

Morrisey's eyebrows arched upward. "The desert? Georgia has a lot of backwoods but no desert."

Bel held Lio's hand, grateful for the excuse to touch him as much for his own sake as for Lio's. Though they weren't bonded, he attempted to send calm and reassurance through the contact. Based on what he'd been told, a distressed Tenebris could become destructive. But if so, why hadn't Lio fought back against the men who'd hurt him?

"C'mon, I'll be with you. I won't let anything bad happen." As the words left his mouth, Bel took them to heart—a solemn vow.

Slow step by slow step, Lio approached the SUV, squeezing Bel's fingers to the point of pain. While Bel wasn't too keen on going anywhere with strangers, Morrisey, Farren, and Jessa were likely his best choice for getting answers.

He climbed into the SUV's back seat first in an effort to show Lio it was safe. If it wasn't, he'd tell Lio to run again. He nodded his encouragement and slid over to allow Lio room.

Lio released Bel's hand, climbed in, and then promptly grabbed Bel's hand again. His entire body trembled.

Bel put an arm around Lio's shoulder, pulling him close and whispering into his hair, "I'm here. I've got you." He must project a calm demeanor on the outside for Lio's sake, but he was still mentally calculating ways to escape if they needed to.

Farren climbed in and sat on Lio's other side. "Buckle up."

Buckle what? Bel accessed his host's memories. Oh, right. He fastened his seatbelt first and then Lio's. Lio's eyes were still wide, so Bel unclicked the buckle.

"It's for our safety. See? You can get out of it at any time. It's just to keep us in the seat if something goes wrong with the vehicle." Probably not the most reassuring words, given Kevin's fate, but they were all Bel had.

"Or if Jessa's having a bad day," Morrisey commented from the front passenger seat.

"You're usually the cause," Jessa shot back.

Bel returned his hand to Lio's now sweaty grasp. Lio's breathing grew ragged, and Bel held on tighter. "We'll be okay," he whispered. Lio, the big, bad Tenebris, who was supposed to be so dangerous, was more afraid of others than they were of him.

Jessa adjusted the dials on the vehicle's controls until soft music came from different locations around them. "My Ambient playlist always calms me down," she said as they drove down a narrow, pock-marked street. She made a few left and right turns before easing the vehicle into fast-flowing traffic. So many cars. So many people!

The music must have done the trick because, after a time, Lio relaxed enough to rest his head against Bel's chest. His breathing remained ragged, though.

They drove past tall buildings. "What are those?" Bel asked.

"Apartments," Jessa answered, turning the vehicle again. "Now we're entering an industrial area."

Several buildings rose high in the sky, appearing to be made of metal and glass. They passed the new-looking buildings, slowing down in front of a rather plain-looking building when compared to its neighbors. Tall metal fencing surrounded the premises. The SUV stopped at what looked a lot like a ticket booth.

"No flirting," Morrisey snapped.

"Buzzkill." Jessa said, "Hiya, honey," to the guy in the booth, her laughter a musical sound. "Did you miss me? I've been gone a whole two hours."

"You know it. I counted the minutes." The guy winked and grinned. He didn't display the aura of a traveler. Human? A gate lifted, and he waved the vehicle through.

So far, Farren, Morrisey, and Jessa's interactions seemed innocuous, some even playful, like they were merely people and not ones who could make or break Bel's mission.

Jessa parked the SUV near several cars in an area made to hold three times the number. Farren got out and waited beside the vehicle. Lio turned to Bel.

"It's okay," Bel told him, sensing nothing sinister about these people except for Jessa, who might be dangerous to human men. "Go on," Bel encouraged, giving Lio a gentle nudge. "I'll be right behind you."

Lio finally got out, though he didn't let go of Bel's hand. The five of them walked in silence to the building.

Large glass windows made up much of the front of the building, though they were darkly tinted, preventing Bel from seeing much but vague movement within. The front double doors were made of clear glass.

Morrisey entered first, stepping into a tiny glassed-in area barely large enough for the five of them, with another door opposite. On one side, a floor-to-ceiling glass panel showed a few couches and chairs. On the other side, a man with an impressively full mustache sat behind a glass window. Bel briefly got the impression of another face superimposed over the man's—a Domusian face. Another traveler?

"It's okay," Morrisey said. "New arrivals. No IDs. But they're with me."

A buzz sounded, and Morrisey opened the door at the other end of the booth, herding them through. This place was so different from the Carnival. It resembled the hospital but was quieter. Too quiet. Bel would rather hear carousel music and happy laughter.

Lio looked around, watching the mustached man a moment before moving on. He turned his head one way, then another, taking in the details, pausing a moment to study a framed picture on the wall or peek into an open door.

Farren led the group to three metal rectangles in a wall with buttons on the outside. The word elevator popped into Bel's head.

Lio's breathing came in gasps, and his face paled to an alarming shade. Bel wrapped an arm around him. "Shh… it's okay."

The silver panel of the elevator in front of them slid open. "No!" Lio shouted, backing away. "No! I can't go in there."

Jessa came closer. "I'll handle this." She stood near Lio, not touching, not smiling, just standing. "It's okay, Lio. I'm going to absorb some of your negative emotions, which will leave you a bit calmer. Is that okay?"

Lio nodded emphatically, and the tension seemed to flow out of his narrow frame.

"Strong emotions," Jessa said with a wink. "Not just for breakfast anymore." Was she feeding from him? From them all?

They all boarded the elevator, and the door slid shut. Bel couldn't fault Lio's reaction. The place was small, with barely enough room for all five. Though Lio breathed evenly, his grip on Bel's fingers tightened.

A dropping feeling hit Bel's stomach as the elevator descended. Underground? They were going underground? A chime and an orange light over the door announced their arrival on the right floor moments later. Bel and Lio both relaxed when the doors opened.

Morrisey stopped by another desk and spoke to the woman seated there. Bel shifted enough to get a good look at her and casually inserted himself between the possible threat and Lio. She appeared to be another traveler from her dual visage, but she looked like a tiny human female with her hair pulled back into a wheat-colored bun. She didn't appear dangerous, but still, she bore watching until Bel knew her well enough to trust her. Farren and Morrisey marched them over gray carpet, past gray walls, and up to a gray door.

Farren opened the door. "Come in. Have a seat."

The room looked like an office, although it was larger and more sparsely furnished than Errante's. The main focus was a desk with one chair behind it and four chairs arranged in front. Lio pulled his chair close to Bel's. Farren sat behind the desk, with Morrisey leaning against the side. Bel felt Lio heave a relieved sigh when Jessa left an empty chair between herself and him. Bel should've sat between them.

The woman from the desk came in after they were settled, pushing a loaded cart. "I have coffee, Coke, and bottled water. I grabbed what snacks we had on hand in the breakroom. I even gave up some of my precious chocolate stash." She narrowed her gaze at Farren. "I expect proper appreciation."

"Thank you, Arianna," Farren replied with a wink in her direction. "I know what that sacrifice meant to you. I promise to pay you back."

"You'd better," Arianna snapped before she exited the room.

Bel knew little about these people other than they appeared to work together, yet they seemed to be friends, even playful with each other. That had to be a good sign. Bel thought of his old friends in Domus and their lighthearted banter. What happened to them? Had any managed to escape? Were some here in Terra, where he might rediscover them someday?

Farren gestured to the cart. "Please help yourselves."

"Do you want anything, Lio?" Bel tried to stand, but Lio held him fast. They'd been interrupted during breakfast. Lio needed to eat.

Jessa pushed the cart closer. "There, take what you want."

Bel prepared a cup of coffee for Lio, more to occupy his hands than anything, though Lio didn't release his hold on Bel's arm. He eyed the chocolate, so Bel gave him a candy bar—anything to put him more at ease.

Farren spoke again once everyone had a drink before them. "Forgive us if we seem less than professional, but we've found that new arrivals react better when we aren't so formal, and our bantering can be useful to distract suspects. Not that we consider you suspects," he added quickly.

"From what you've told us," Farren continued, "you missed five years since Domus fell. We'll address that later. Now, what are you called?"

Interesting that he didn't ask for their names before. "Bel Am'I," Bel replied, "though here I'm called Bellamy or Bel." He turned to Lio, who remained silent. "This is Emilio or Lio."

Farren cocked his head to the side, regarding Bel with a thoughtful expression. "You're Princeps."

Bel nodded. "Yes, but I don't know about Lio."

Farren exchanged a glance with Morrisey. "I could access his memories if he'd let me."

So much for letting Lio find out his history at his own pace. "I was told it's best to let him remember on his own."

Beside Bel, Lio began trembling again. Bel scooted his chair closer. If he had to, he'd take Lio onto his lap.

Farren stroked his chin as he gazed at the opposite wall. "Possibly, but given what he is, that might not be the best course of action."

"What am I?" Lio blurted. All eyes turned to him. "I've heard the word Tenebris, but what does it really mean?"

Morrisey answered, "You hold within you untapped energy that can build up and cause massive damage if it's not properly channeled." He nodded toward Bel. "He's the light to your darkness like Farren is to mine. If you'll let him, he can disperse the energy and make it safe."

"What do you mean, energy?" Lio's grip on Bel's arm grew painful.

"Like this." Farren glared at the cart. A bag of chips took to the air and landed in his hand. He opened the bag and took out a chip. "Have either of you been able to do anything similar?"

"I threw a bag in the trash." Lio kept his gaze firmly downcast. "And I've moved small objects around."

Bel might as well tell the truth. "I've sensed things about people, moved objects, and disabled electronics."

"So your skills are manifesting in this realm. That's good, but only if they're properly channeled." Farren stood from behind his desk. "You have separate and distinct auras, so you haven't bonded. Until you do, we'll need to watch you, Lio. We have to make sure you don't have a magical overload."

"What could cause that?" The more Bel knew of Lio's condition, the more he could help.

"If he's scared, pissed off, or hysterical. Any powerful negative emotion can set it off." A dark, pained look filled Morrisey's eyes. He might be speaking from experience.

Errante had said much the same thing. "What do we do?"

Jessa spoke up this time. "You stay here and learn to be what you are."

Lio shot to his feet, knocking his chair to the floor. "We're prisoners?"

She smiled too sweetly to be believed. "Think of it as protective custody."

Unease squirmed in Bel's stomach. Were they to be held against their wills? If so, he'd find a way for them to escape.

Morrisey folded his arms over his chest, which didn't lessen the intimation factor at all. Something about him said Morrisey didn't care who a person was; if they stepped out of line, they'd answer to him.

Voice soothing and radiating patience, Farren said, "There're folks out there who'd take advantage of Bel's status as Princeps or try to use your power for themselves, Lio. We can't let that happen. Keeping you on the FBI compound is the safest way. We have an entire residential floor belowground, and they'd have to go through one hell of a lot of security to get to you."

Lio growled at Morrisey, which reminded Bel of a kitten challenging a wolf. "Why would they take advantage of Bel?" If the kitten could suddenly grow fangs and horns.

Morrisey didn't respond to the challenge. "Some who came here hang on to the old ways, and asshole Princeps could gain followers, which would fuck up what we're trying to do to assimilate with humans. Those types don't want to assimilate. They want to conquer, violating our treaties with the human government."

"Or," Farren added, "others might use Bel to get to you, Lio."

"Why me?" Lio's protectiveness now turned defensive, but he met Farren's gaze.

"Remember what happened to Domus?"

Wrinkles appeared on Lio's forehead. "Not really."

"Some Domusians believe that we all should have died with our realm. Since we're in Terra now, they want to finish what the destruction of Domus started."

"Which is…" Bel prodded. Wasn't this the catastrophe he'd been sent here to prevent?

Farren glanced from Bel to Lio and back again. "To eliminate every one of our kind, even if they have to destroy all life in the Terran realm."