Read Online Tales Of The Sazi 02 - Moon's Web by C.t. Adams . Cathy Clamp - Free Book Online
Authors: C.t. Adams . Cathy Clamp
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kids have. How would I know? I've been here all of two weeks." Nikoli glanced at Bobby with shock that approached anger. "Santiago said he would be trained in our ways before he reached Chicago!"
Bobby stared at me open-mouthed. "You had the books, Tony. I saw Betty give you our historical records before we left the island."
I furrowed my brow, trying to remember. I shook my head. "Dr. Perdue gave me a couple of novels to read. You remember— you were there. She said, 'here's something to read if you get bored.' I didn't get bored. Besides, I don't like fantasy novels. The covers looked like sword and sorcerer stuff. I like mysteries and thrillers." The shock I was feeling rose to my voice. "It would never have occurred to me that you would actually put the history of your people in print! Are you nuts?"
I glanced back to see Nikoli nodding in agreement, but there was something under the surface that made his eyes glitter darkly. "Very well. I will see that you are properly trained. You seem to have made a few logical conclusions, which I will give you some credit for. Each pack position has benefits— and responsibilities. One of the primary duties of the Omega is to help maintain our secrecy among the humans. The only way to do that is to eliminate the signs of our hunt to passersby. As payment for this duty, the pack provides food, shelter and protection to the Omega."
I didn't want or need protection, as I'd just proven to Sergei. I am not burying bones. I glared soundlessly at Nikoli. He glared back, as though he could hear my thoughts. Without taking his eyes from mine, he snapped his fingers.
From the corner of my eye, I saw movement in a shadow in the corner of the room. A petite, beautiful Oriental woman stepped into the light. Where had she come from?
She stepped onto the platform and stood near Nikoli. She rested a tiny hand on his shoulder and stared at me coldly. Her slightly almond-shaped eyes were perfectly proportioned beneath penciled brows in an oval face. Her features and coloring put her origins somewhere south of China. Straight black hair framed the face and softened the broad nose and thin lips. I tried to place her nationality. Maybe Thailand?
Nikoli gestured to the woman with a small smile and a scent that was somewhere close to lust. "This is Asri. She is my enforcer. Her duty in the pack is to punish those who have broken our rules. Anton, you disobeyed a direct order today. Regardless of whether you know our history, I instructed you to bury the remains of our hunt and you failed to do so. You went so far as to attack our Omega. Normally, I would allow Asri to seriously injure you for your infractions. However, Agent Mbutu says it is in the best interest of all of the Sazi for you to remain conscious. So, my lovely Asri, make sure you leave enough of him to speak and travel." The woman nodded once and stepped forward with eyes only for me. Fine. I'd take it like a man. Right now, I was about on pain overload anyway. Maybe she'd knock me unconscious for awhile. That'd be nice. I didn't move as she stalked closer. I realized with a start that it was the Asri that smelled like moldy fish. She'd been in the room the whole time. I hadn't seen or heard her. A testament to how much pain I was already in.
"Still," Nikoli mulled. Asri instantly froze when he spoke. "You've impressed me today, Anton. You managed to break through when I called you home. You have endured the pain I have inflicted on you and remain standing even yet. You defeated Yurgi in the woods— although, admittedly, that isn't much of a challenge. But you also injured Sergei when he was in attack mode. That earns you a certain prize. Hmm, what should that prize be?"
Actually, his scent was a vague combination of oranges and cloves. I wasn't sure if it was a good thing to impress him or not. But call me cynical, I would've bet the bank he already had just the perfect prize in mind. I heard Bobby clear his throat. Nikoli turned
Bobby stared at me open-mouthed. "You had the books, Tony. I saw Betty give you our historical records before we left the island."
I furrowed my brow, trying to remember. I shook my head. "Dr. Perdue gave me a couple of novels to read. You remember— you were there. She said, 'here's something to read if you get bored.' I didn't get bored. Besides, I don't like fantasy novels. The covers looked like sword and sorcerer stuff. I like mysteries and thrillers." The shock I was feeling rose to my voice. "It would never have occurred to me that you would actually put the history of your people in print! Are you nuts?"
I glanced back to see Nikoli nodding in agreement, but there was something under the surface that made his eyes glitter darkly. "Very well. I will see that you are properly trained. You seem to have made a few logical conclusions, which I will give you some credit for. Each pack position has benefits— and responsibilities. One of the primary duties of the Omega is to help maintain our secrecy among the humans. The only way to do that is to eliminate the signs of our hunt to passersby. As payment for this duty, the pack provides food, shelter and protection to the Omega."
I didn't want or need protection, as I'd just proven to Sergei. I am not burying bones. I glared soundlessly at Nikoli. He glared back, as though he could hear my thoughts. Without taking his eyes from mine, he snapped his fingers.
From the corner of my eye, I saw movement in a shadow in the corner of the room. A petite, beautiful Oriental woman stepped into the light. Where had she come from?
She stepped onto the platform and stood near Nikoli. She rested a tiny hand on his shoulder and stared at me coldly. Her slightly almond-shaped eyes were perfectly proportioned beneath penciled brows in an oval face. Her features and coloring put her origins somewhere south of China. Straight black hair framed the face and softened the broad nose and thin lips. I tried to place her nationality. Maybe Thailand?
Nikoli gestured to the woman with a small smile and a scent that was somewhere close to lust. "This is Asri. She is my enforcer. Her duty in the pack is to punish those who have broken our rules. Anton, you disobeyed a direct order today. Regardless of whether you know our history, I instructed you to bury the remains of our hunt and you failed to do so. You went so far as to attack our Omega. Normally, I would allow Asri to seriously injure you for your infractions. However, Agent Mbutu says it is in the best interest of all of the Sazi for you to remain conscious. So, my lovely Asri, make sure you leave enough of him to speak and travel." The woman nodded once and stepped forward with eyes only for me. Fine. I'd take it like a man. Right now, I was about on pain overload anyway. Maybe she'd knock me unconscious for awhile. That'd be nice. I didn't move as she stalked closer. I realized with a start that it was the Asri that smelled like moldy fish. She'd been in the room the whole time. I hadn't seen or heard her. A testament to how much pain I was already in.
"Still," Nikoli mulled. Asri instantly froze when he spoke. "You've impressed me today, Anton. You managed to break through when I called you home. You have endured the pain I have inflicted on you and remain standing even yet. You defeated Yurgi in the woods— although, admittedly, that isn't much of a challenge. But you also injured Sergei when he was in attack mode. That earns you a certain prize. Hmm, what should that prize be?"
Actually, his scent was a vague combination of oranges and cloves. I wasn't sure if it was a good thing to impress him or not. But call me cynical, I would've bet the bank he already had just the perfect prize in mind. I heard Bobby clear his throat. Nikoli turned
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