The elevator doors swish open and a woman dressed like an evil Disney queen floats into the lobby with a regality that straightens the floor tile and makes me question my tie.
“Agent Parker, or should I say [UNPRONOUNCABLE]?”
I freeze at hearing my actual name spoken in my actual language with the correct tones and pheromones and subgutterals. I close my eyes and savor it.
“Madame Beitidh, what a pleasure.”
“Lt. Flowers rarely sends an emissary.”
“We have a wolf.”
Her eyes chill to icy white blue orbs and her nostrils flare.
“Do we.”
“On behalf of the local constabulary, I’m activating the wolf clause of our accord.”
Beitidh closes her eyes and breathes deep. Long slow measured breaths.
“I don’t smell it, but I will accept your activation. I love a good hunt.”
“Please bring the creature alive to the Tank.”
“I will do no such thing. I will gut it and turn it into a purse.”
“Beitidh.”
“Nowhere in our clause does it state in what manner I dispose of these vile abominates, only that I shall do so discreetly.”
“It’s a request,” I finger quote, “from Flowers.”
“Flowers may wedge his tongue firmly in my ass.”
“I will pass that along, Madame.”
“Will you hunt with us, Parker? Despite my natural derision for your alien odor, I do respect your ferocity.”
“I consider it unprofessional.”
“Suit yourself, Spaceman. Lourdes!”
The receptionist snaps to.
“Sound the horn.”
The Sidhe are total. Batshit. Psychopaths. Trustworthy, but unpredictable. They are the original lawyers. Their contracts bind generations. They do not play nice and no one likes them. When the Sidhe enter a situation everyone runs. They are very useful when there is a breakout of Werewolves because they love to kill. The problem is they see it as a quid pro quo thing and hiring them means being in debt to them and if you don’t pay your vig, they won’t play ball. Beitidh leans down to me.
“We expect payment upon delivery.”
“Betty, I don’t handle finance. I’m–”
“Pay us upon delivery or I will use your alien skull as a chamber pot you phlegm-riddled sub-bureaucratic interloper.”
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