Page 73 of Gates of Tartarus

“Fallon,” she snaps. “I had an unexpected call. Can you get Senator Tennireef?” She hangs up and waits, fingers tapping impatiently on the desk. It’s not a gesture I’d associate with her; the call from Magda must have shaken her more than she let on. When the phone rings a moment later, I can tell from her expression that Fallon’s been unsuccessful. “Right,” Elizabeth says shortly. “We might as well go over the latest accounts, then. Tell Mr. Pierce to meet us in the boardroom.”

She ends the call, then enters another number. A second later, I’m jolted by the sound of a phone ringing. I look around; where is it coming from? I can’t see a mobile. The ringing persists and distracts me enough that the vision starts to flicker at the edges, just as with Tennireef. I watch as Elizabeth replaces the receiver and stands up, smoothing down her skirt and hair. Then she’s walking towards the door and, as she reaches it, the scene fades, and I find myself back in my body.

I look up to see two pairs of eyes fixed intently on me, one silver grey and the other cobalt blue. Emlyn is the first to speak, wanting to know if I saw Tennireef. His face starts to fall when I shake my head, then comes alight when I tell him about Magda. That news elicits a startled “aikona!” from Seef, who tells me that my phone rang while I was “away”. It shows a missed call from Elizabeth. She hasn’t left a message.

Seef’s already pulling out his own phone to call Maddox.

“Mybru!” he almost shouts into the mouthpiece. “You’re not going to believe what just happened.” Quickly, he explains the content of the conversation with Magda. “Cole’s in another meeting now, but we need to put her in touch with a sketch artist as soon as possible. She might be able to provide a usable photofit. He listens for a moment, then nods. “It’s as we suspected. Kronos is trying to get their hands on the drug… Think she’ll accept a security detail…? Try to convince her… Yes, I know she’s a ball-buster…” He laughs: “Better you than me,my bru! All right. Let me know.”

I leave my own message for Elizabeth afterwards, asking her to call me when she has a moment but that the US team will also be in contact. After last week, when we thought we’d hit a brick wall, the knowledge that we have a fresh lead is invigorating, and we all leave feeling slightly giddy.

???

I’m so inspired that I decide to reread the Babylon dossier on precognition after dinner that evening, curled up in a plaid throw on my couch. It’s not that I don’t like reading – quite the opposite. But I think my brain’s been enjoying the break from serious books and the unexpected chance to gorge on novels. And it’s difficult, even after everything, to overcome years of training in academic analysis, which says that soothsaying is a load of tosh. Still, I do like a good mystery, even if there’s frustratingly little to go on.

I scour the material for information on techniques, starting with the Oracle of Wadjet, the Sibyls, and Cassandra. I can try to use scrying – gazing into a crystal ball, a pool of water, a candle flame, or even the backs of my eyelids. Or meditation – sigh. Or incubation, though where I’m supposed to find a sacred space in London, where I can receive a message from the gods in my dreams, I do not know. Dream incubation sounds a bit more promising. Apparently, if I focus on a problem before falling asleep, I can train my mind to dream about it. So, if I think of Magda, Tennireef, or Rhea when I close my eyes, I might be able to learn to see what they’ll be doing a day, two days, a week from now. Although, I frown, how will I know what is an ordinary dream and what is a vision? If I see Magda bonking Tennireef, does that mean that they’ll actually get down and do the dirty, or would it merely be a subconscious expression of mounting sexual frustration on my part? I haven’t quite figured out how to let the guys know, but I really would like it if one of them would just come over, bend me over a chair, and shag me senseless.

Rather than continuing to torture myself, I decide to try staring at the backs of my eyelids. Tennireef is the only one I can picture at all, and I dutifully will his face to mind: the square jaw, the cupid-bow mouth, the long lashes, the smarmy smile. I stare, and I wait, and I stare, and then I think about the guys: Emlyn, Jorge, Kavi, and even Seef. English, Spanish, Indian, South African. It’s like an international buffet. I’m starting to suspect the guys have an unspoken pact to keep things low key for the moment, to let me get used to our new relationships. And, of course, that’s very considerate. Yes. Gentlemanly. Which is wonderful, because this is a weird situation. But, although I sincerely appreciate my boyfriends’ thoughtfulness, I can’t help but hope one of them will try something on soon, because I’m starving.

A ping announcing the arrival of a text interrupts my reverie. It’s from Elizabeth: “Problem this morning, but I assume you know that? Meeting Wednesday with Agents Smith and Donovan. They don’t seem to understand that I can’t just drop everything. Let’s speak after.”

I smile. The agents sound awfully like Seef and Emlyn. I pity them if they’re trying to butt heads with Elizabeth.

Banjaxed

Tuesday, 20 November – Maela

Booster day has arrived, to my excitement and unease, and all of the guys decide to accompany me – into the clinic room no less – despite my saying I don’t need any help. Sometimes, I feel like I’m speaking Maela-babble, an arcane tongue known only to me. Maybe, when I say “thanks, but I’m good,” all the guys can hear is “yip, yip, yip, yip.” I really do need to work on my assertiveness but not now; I can tell they’re nervous for me, manly smiles and squared shoulders aside. As it turns out, nothing happens. It’s the same set up as last time. I sit down, take a puff of the inhaler, and… nothing. Now I’m the one who’s worried. Is the drug not working properly? Shouldn’t I be feeling banjaxed? Have I negated my abilities? I fret all the way home, and Jorge clearly picks up on my distress because he gives me a big hug and kisses the top of my head. I cling to him, taking comfort from his warmth, and allow myself to be cajoled into a movie, action adventure, of course.

It’s half an hour into the movie that I feel the tension suddenly drain out of me. My head actually rolls forward, as a feeling of pure relaxation spreads outwards from my core. And then a pulse of pure delight. I smile goofily and slide my eyes over to take a peek at Jorge, who’s lounging next to me. He, like the others, is focussed on the screen and is in profile to me. Dear God, but he’s beautiful. His dark-brown hair is tousled, a few errant locks tumbling across his forehead, and now he’s laughing, showing white, even teeth. I suspire and snuggle into his side.

“Hey! Hey, Jorge, hey!”

He looks down at me and smiles distractedly. “Hey,querida.” Then something explodes on screen, and he goes back to watching.

I sit up and look over my shoulder at him, tossing my head coquettishly. “Wanna play?” I’m going for seductive but overbalance and end up sprawled across his lap. Now I’ve got the attention of the others, and I giggle softly. “Oops! Why, whathavewe here?” Jorge gives a strangled yelp and picks me up, pulling me firmly into his side and glancing quizzically at Emlyn, who’s sitting on the couch with us, and Kavi, who’s in the armchair. Emlyn raises an eyebrow.

“Let’s just watch the movie, Maela.” Kavi’s looking amused and a little concerned all at once, and I take a moment to study his heavily lashed, jade-green eyes.

“Kaaaaaay, Kavi.” I wait a few seconds. “Kaah-vi?” He glances over at me, somewhat guardedly, and a bolt of lust sizzles through me. “You’re re– really attractive, you know.”

“Thank you,priya.” Now, no one’s watching the movie.

“Maela, how are you feeling?” Emlyn’s voice is calm, but I realize he must be feeling left out and hasten to reassure him. “You too, Emlyn. You know that, right?” I look worriedly at him.

“I do, Maela. Now, what’s going on in that pretty head of yours?”

Preening, I sit up again and twirl my braid. “Why, you sweet talker, you! I’m feeling wooonderful.” I lean towards him and whisper loudly, “Wanna have sex?”

Emlyn chokes, and I take the opportunity to jump on top of him, bouncing up and down like a puppy and peppering his face with kisses. “Sex!” I pause, waiting for him to make a move. “Sex! Sex! Sex!” He seems to be a bit slow on the uptake, which is disappointing, and I pout.

“That’s a lovely idea, Maela, but maybe not right now.” Emlyn holds my arms at my sides, keeping me still, a small smile on his face. “Maela, honey. I think you’re having a reaction to the drug.”

“Nuh-uh!” I give a little wiggle, and he lets me go. “But ifyoudon’t think you can handle me…” I get up and give a little twirl, raising my shirt to show off a glimpse of my waist. “Jor-ge! Ka-vi! Let’s have a threesome!” The two of them go bright red, and Emlyn freezes. I continue to twirl, running my hands lasciviously over my stomach and then up and over my breasts, imagining it’s their hands. I’ve managed to render the three of them speechless and grin. “Come on! I’ve been fantasizing about it!” I shake my hair free from the braid. “No? No takers?” I frown: “You guys suck at being boyfriends!”

“Maela,querida, why don’t you come lie down?” Jorge sounds a little faint.

“Pah! Don’t wanna!” I glare at him and then, for good measure, at Kavi and Emlyn. Three boyfriends, and all I’ve gotten in five days is a few measly kisses?

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