Chapter 9 – New and Painful Experiences

  “How the hell are we supposed to know? It’s not like anyone ever wrote this stuff down.” Order Stabilitas genetics researcher when asked how half breeds get dominate traits.

  “Should I wake her? Its nearly 7.” Kurt asked himself as he paced in the kitchen. He had woken up around his usual time and rolled out of bed to get started with his day. He groggily went about his morning routine and made it all the way to the kitchen before he remembered the ‘talk’ he had with Val.

  Now he was pacing back and forth, listening for any sign that she was awake and debating if he should wake her up. He was set on his decision, and he was prepared to have a reasonable, adult conversation. Why was his stomach in knots?

  A few minutes ter his keen ears picked out the sound of a doorknob being turned. Door opened, door closed, step, step, door closed. “Right, bathroom. Ok, here we go.” He said to himself as he began making coffee.

  While Kurt was having a minor mental argument with himself, Val was ying in bed with her face pressed into the brand-new pillow. She was also having a conversation with herself, just not internally. Where Kurt naturally rolled out of bed with his arm, Val liberally used the snooze feature. On this particur morning, she ended up cancelling it after recalling the talk they promised to have.

  “Who the fuck sets a date for it!” she all but screamed. “I need to go out there. No, wait, yes. We agreed.” He voice was completely muffled by the pillow and barely registered as words. “No, I don’t, I can stay here. Maybe he will come to me?”

  She groaned as her bdder decided to weigh in on the decision-making process. “Ugh, fine. I go pee. Then I… go talk to Kurt. I know what I want, I just need to be a big girl and say it. Yeah, honesty and open conversations with the guy that you have been failing to seduce for the st day and a half.” Without further dey, she opened her door and committed to 2 things, first was the toilet and second was talking to Kurt.

  A few minutes ter both Kurt and Val were seated at the table, gingerly nursing cups of coffee. Neither had said much, a couple very awkward greetings along with the usual pleasantries. They then both migrated to the dining table and sat down to stare at their cups while shooting gnces at each other.

  Finally, Kurt couldn’t take it anymore, took a deep breath and broke the ice. “So, I thought about it.” He began and immediately hated the way his voice sounded. “I think…”

  He was cut off as Val stood up, crossed the intervening distance and wrapped herself around him in a hug. It was one of those full body hugs that required the use of both arms and legs to properly achieve. She squeezed for all she was worth, and Kurt hugged her back, savoring the close contact.

  After a moment they both broke away and took a deep breath. “I take that as a…” Kurt began but was cut off again.

  “Yes!” Val said. She then kissed him briefly before wrapping her arms around him again and doing a strange wiggle, rubbing against him.

  “And what are you doing now?” Kurt said, very confused. In his opinion they still needed to talk about what the retionship was going to be like but apparently Val had other ideas.

  “I don’t know. My instincts are telling me to rub all over you. Probably scent or something I don’t know.” Just as she said that her tail came around and started brushing against Kurt too.

  Kurt didn’t mind and took a deep breath, pulling in her scent of ozone, linen and something more. There was a third smell mixed in. It was more… natural. A sort of very faint spicey scent. It wasn’t an actual spice but a more personal odor.

  “I just have one question.” Val said as she sat upright and looked him in the eye.

  “What?”

  “Can you make me another of those breakfast sandwiches?” she said with a teasing smile.

  He couldn’t help but ugh out loud as she slid off his p and made her way to the kitchen, grabbing her coffee along the way. “I’ll make 4 then.” He called.

  While they ate, they chatted, actually talking about the retionship. Kurt was more than a little surprised that the order didn’t really care as long as it didn’t get in the way of the job. He then learned that Val was told, in no uncertain terms, there was a reason that agents were often couples.

  She said it was how her parents had met but didn’t originally mention that they filled the same role as her, and Kurt would. Apparently, the order, along with whatever Jay was doing, fully expected them to form some sort of bond. The demon also expected them to be a step above other agents with their odd internal and external magics.

  “And that’s where the nanobots come in.” said Val. “It has something to do with casting?” she sounded unsure. “I can ask Penny about it. She should be coming by with the crew at some point.”

  Kurt then remembered the crews were supposed to be installing the contents of the mystery box that day. “Hey, do you know wh…” He stopped talking as he saw the fsh of sunlight on gss. A van was making its way up the driveway. “Never mind, I suspect this is them now.”

  The van was naturally the same grey as the truck with a familiar logo on the side. The driver pulled right alongside the garage and the passenger jumped out. Literally a jump since the figure was all of 4 and a half feet tall. He was wrapped in a very puffy jacket which had been zipped all the way up to his chin. After a short conversation with someone in the van, he shut the door and trotted up to the house.

  Kurt and Val met him on the steps. “Morning.” Kurt said.

  “Morning. I assume you know why we are here?” The man asked.

  “To install whatever is in that container.” Kurt said. “I’m Kurt, this is Val.” He introduced both of them to the short man.

  “Datric. And you got it in one.” He said, shaking hands with both of them. “We would like to add it on to the barn over there if you don’t mind. That way it will blend in better.” Datric expined, shivering slightly despite his puffy coat.

  Kurt didn’t think it was that cold out. Sure, it was still in the low 60’s but it was tolerable. “Um, are you going to be, ok? You seem cold.” He thought the man smelled familiar but couldn’t pce it beyond reptilian.

  Val leaned in. “Kobolds.” She provided before looking to the short man. “You guys are part of Altrimoz’s group?”

  Datric grinned. “Well, at least one of you knows a thing or two. We will be fine after it warms up. Although in a couple months we won’t be going north of the Carolinas until at least May.”

  “Want some coffee? I can make a fresh pot if that will help.” Kurt offered. While he wasn’t exactly thrilled with a bunch of strangers poking around the property, he would try to be hospitable. Like he had said some magic words, the panel door on the van slid back and half a dozen more short figures piled out, looking expectantly at him and holding out a cup. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

  15 minutes ter, Kurt and Val had handed out steaming cups to the crew of kobolds. They all seemed super appreciative of the gesture and were chatting happily as they sunned themselves on the driveway. They were very careful to stay in the lee of the garage to block the breeze as they enjoyed their drinks.

  Datric had said that they should be all wrapped up by early afternoon and that they didn’t need to stick around if they had other business to attend. Kurt and Val talked about it and decided that they should reach out to Penny. They wanted to know if they were expected to be around at any point.

  Penny told them that she would stop by around 2 in the afternoon and brief them on a few things. After some quick showers and a few preparations, Kurt and Val left with a long list of things they wanted to get before being potentially locked down.

  Kurt was also mindful that he wasn’t alone anymore, and that Val might appreciate some creature comforts. He already had a list of things that he wanted to get for just the increased consumption for a second person.

  “Hey Val, is there anything you need besides basic groceries? Or anything you wanted to get?” He asked as they were driving.

  She thought for a moment. “Hmm, I don’t think so. Penny said she will bring the rest of my things.” She pulled out her list and read through it. “I am not sure what the grocery store will have but if we don’t find something, maybe we can look tomorrow?”

  Kurt nodded. “Or today. I can take a look at your list and let you know.” He could faintly see her smirk returning out of the corner of his eye and braced himself.

  “Oh? Are you sure you want to read my list of ‘personal necessities’?”

  Shooting her a gnce, he had to burst her bubble. “You do know I had a girlfriend before, right?”

  Val nodded then her expression changed. “What happened with that?” she was curious again which seemed to be one of her primary moods next to teasing and hungry.

  “The veil.” He said and saw her frown. “Probably for the best. I was going to break the news to her but when the veil broke, she found out what I was.”

  Reaching out, Val put her hand on his, resting them on the center consul. “I’m sorry.”

  Snorting, Kurt expined. “Don’t be. Going by the reaction she had, it wouldn’t have worked anyway. Oddly enough, she didn’t mind the half elf thing but pretty much ran away over me being a werewolf.” He made quotation marks with his fingers. “She said ‘I don’t want to get bit and turn into some freak like you.’ Which I found interesting since we had been together for almost a year, and I didn’t bite her.”

  “Humans.” Val cursed.

  “They aren’t all bad.” Kurt reminded her. “Hell, most are probably good people but got scared and a lot of bad decisions were made by the people in power, that made a sort of stigma.”

  Val sighed, returning her attention to the window. “I suppose you are right. It’s just hard not to make assumptions after being in the order for so long.”

  They eventually pulled into the grocery store, stopping at the gas station just inside the entrance. Kurt topped off the car while Val looked around, looking like a tourist. He supposed she might be mistaken for one with her slightly strange looks.

  When they got inside the store, Kurt grabbed a cart, and they found a good spot to stop inside. They compared lists, crossing off a couple from Val’s as she had some cross over with Kurt. They made it through the store rather quick, getting everything they needed and several things they didn’t.

  Val had seemed rather interested in several of the ‘junk foods’ and picked some out to try. She also got a little distracted in the aisle with the magazines and other such items. She briefly thumbed through a bunch before putting them down and following Kurt to the checkout.

  “So, people like, read those?” She asked. “They seem rather expensive for not a lot of content. I think the car one was half filled with adds.”

  As he put the groceries on the belt, Kurt expined. “They are kind of a holdover from before internet. That was how people got specific information.” He paused while trying to sort things on the belt and make more room. “I know plenty of hunters that still have subscriptions to some, despite all the info being avaible for free. I think it’s a generational thing.”

  Val nodded along while throwing a few packs of candy on the belt from the impulse shelf. Kurt gave her a look and she just smiled back. “I’m trying new things.”

  He had to shake his head and just ignored it as the conveyer started moving and it was time to check out. When they got to the car, he opened the back hatch, revealing a cooler. He put all the meat and dairy in there while the fresh and boxed foods just went in alongside. It was a little trick he had picked up to keep food fresh if he had to stop on his way home.

  They drove back to the house, chatting and specuting about the jobs they would be getting. Val was pretty keen on finding out more about the men that had tried to abduct Kurt. While that interested him, he also wanted to know more about what was being installed on his property and the rifts that would be attached to it.

  Things had definitely changed in the couple hours they had been gone. For one, the kobolds were all out in the open, no longer wearing their concealment charms or puffy coats. He and Val watched the scaley little people moving back and forth from the shipping container to the side of the garage. They were carrying crates and what looked like rolls of metal wire into the addition that had sprouted from the side of the building.

  Kurt wasn’t sure what he had been expecting but it wasn’t a seamless addition that looked like an office style room. There was a door and at least one window that Kurt could see. Naturally he couldn’t see into the window but assumed that was from some protective film.

  “Wow, look at them go.” Kurt muttered. He could sit there and watch the surprisingly strong mini humanoids for hours. “Bunch of tiny dragons.”

  “Oh, don’t call them that.” Val warned. “They don’t appreciate it since they are now their own species. Also, actual dragon kin might take offense. Well, maybe, the one I know doesn’t seem bothered, but she is kind of an odd duck anyway.”

  Not quite sure what to say, Kurt nodded and hopped out of the car. They began ferrying groceries into the house and eventually into the garage for the second refrigerator and freezer. Shortly after everything was put away Kurt noticed that one of the kobolds was holding a phone to his ear. After hanging up, he began walking their way.

  Kurt and Val walked out to meet him on the porch. “Hey Kurt.” Said Datric, his voice now recognizable despite his change in appearance. “We are all done with our part. I think there should be someone to activate it here shortly.”

  “Well, it was nice meeting you Datric.” Kurt said, shaking his hand. “Need anything before you all head out?”

  Datric looked back to his crew, who had all climbed back into the car. “Nope, we are all set. Someone will be back to pick up the container in a couple days. Anything else, the order can handle as it comes.” Then he remembered something. “Ah, don’t go in there yet. Nothing dangerous or anything but the ritualists can get uppity if things are disturbed.” With that, he touched a ring on his left hand and blurred back into a human. Almost as fast as they had gotten there, the crew was gone again.

  Val turned to Kurt. “Coffee?” and they both went inside to have a little afternoon pick- me-up.

  15 minutes and half a cup ter, there was another bright blue fsh from the driveway. Kurt and Val had been sitting on the porch and chatting when it happened and saw the people appear. This time they didn’t drop a few inches, instead arriving with feet firmly on the ground.

  One of the people was Penny, standing in front of a few moving boxes. The other person was an elf who looked for all the world like they had just stepped out of a fantasy movie set. She was, tall and slender with an ethereal grace. Her nearly ptinum hair flowing freely and resting atop the shoulders of her blue and silver robes.

  Penny and the elf spoke briefly for a moment then split up. The elf went to the newly constructed office and Penny came their way.

  “Hey Penny.” Val said. “Is that the rest of my stuff?”

  “HI! Yes, it is. I had someone pack it up this morning.” She said with a happy smile. “Agent Kurt, it is nice to see you again.”

  Kurt raised his mug in a half toasting motion. “Sup.” Val swatted at him pyfully.

  “Be nice.” The kitsune chided before turning back to Penny. “So, here to give us the run down? We can go inside and talk over some coffee or tea.”

  Penny hesitated and looked back to the office. “We should probably handle the activation of the hub first. Also, we should probably get your stuff out of the driveway.”

  A few minutes ter, they had moved all the boxes into the living room and were entering the office or what was being called the hub. Kurt noticed that there was an already hard concrete sb put down which baffled him on how they managed to cure it so quickly. The room was retively small with 2 doors besides the entrance. One led to a small room with the elf and some sort of stone and metal altar. The other led directly into the side wall of the garage.

  “Well, that’s weird.” He said as he opened and closed the door to nowhere.

  “All will be revealed in but a moment.” Said a clear and noble voice. “Once we complete the binding, you will see the truth that lies before you.”

  Great, one of those kinds of elves, Kurt thought to himself. “Alright how do we do that?”

  The elf nodded and gestured for them to follow her into the other room. Kurt saw a series of ritual paths drawn from the alter to a smaller ritual circle. He had studied these sub circles when learning about enchanting but had never needed to use one. “I will need a drop of each of your blood and for you to pce your hands upon the sigils.” She expined. “From there I can bind and seal the anchor. Once it is bound, we can establish the connections.” She held out a small shallow gss dish and an automatic plunger bde still sealed in its wrapper.

  Other than the blood and touching a spot, Kurt had no idea what she was talking about. So, he picked up the small spring-loaded bde and pricked his finger, quickly forcing some blood out before his lycan healing kicked in. Val repeated the function on her own finger. The elf collected both samples and pced them in the sub circle she had drawn from the altar.

  Then they both walked up and pced their palms on the sigils. They turned back to the woman leading this ritual and watched as she pulled out a crystal that was practically overflowing with mana. She held it like a dagger and drove it, point down, into the center of the sub circle.

  A bright fsh of light raced along the pathways from the sub circle. “Oh, fu…” Kurt was cut off before he could say any more. A searing pain struck him in the hand that was connected to the altar. It was like being electrocuted where you couldn’t pull away from the live wire. He ground his teeth, barely suppressing a shift for the fraction of a second pain coursed through him. Still, he ended up pulling in some extra mass which made him incredibly dense.

  Val had a simir experience but was not nearly as pain tolerant. She tried to scream but failed, her muscles too locked up to even let her expel the air in her lungs. It was the worst thing she had ever felt, and a deep ache set in as she colpsed to the ground. She couldn’t do much more than curl up in a ball where she id and try not to cry. She blocked out everything but faintly heard heavy steps coming her way.