Page 7 of Drakhana's Treasure
“She says you told her to say it.”
“I told her to say good luck!”
“Well. She’s close, I guess.”
“Shit!” I slam the phone back into my pocket and run for the doors. When I get there a big guy in a leather vest is leaning over Kirralee. She doesn’t look scared, just a bit uncomfortable.
Then he lunges and grabs her arm. It affects me suddenly and deeply, a sharp flare of anger bursting in my chest.
Smoke puffs from Kirralee’s nostrils and the guy jumps back, screaming. His hand is red and blistered. She flamed up, right here on the casino floor.
I nod to Frank.
“Get that guy to medical and compensate him.” I don’t even slow down, I stride straight over to Kirralee and grab her arm, yanking her into a service entrance.
“What the fuck are you doing?”
She frowns. “What does fuck mean? I’ve seen it and heard it but I’m not really sure… That big guy said yeah let’s fuck but I don’t know what he meant.”
“Good luck. I told you to say good luck.”
“What’s the difference?”
I stare at her for a few seconds and realize I’m almost out of control. I can see tendrils of smoke around my face wafting by my eyes.
“Fuck is mating!” I try to keep my voice low but I end up screaming. “Fuck is dirty mating, messy mating. Do you get it?”
She wrinkles up her nose in disgust. “Why do humans have a word for that?” She shakes her head. “Who decides what’s dirty?”
“Oh fuck.” I mutter behind my palm.
“Okay, Kirralee. I’m going to send you a list of slang and swear words. I want you to google them. Normally I’d consider this by itself to be a serious incident, but did you seriously just flame up in front of humans?”
She scowls now, standing up tall and looking me in the eye.
“He touched me. He had ill intent.”
“In the human world, females call for help.”
“Why?” she actually scoffs.
“Because you are hiding amongst humans!” I totally lose it, unable to hold back my rage any longer. “Did you plan to expose all of shifter kind on your first fucking day? Undisciplined, reckless and just plain stupid. This is exactly what you are here to learn and the consequences could be a lot worse than getting sent home.”
Her lip trembles. I can sense that she’s got questions but is too upset to voice them. I’m affected by her misery, but I’m too angry to let it stop me now.
“Get to your room.” I snap sharply at her. “Try not to set it on fire.”
I watch her run up the hallway, crying. She’s got to go. After only just a day I can see, she doesn’t belong here.
I hurry off to check on the others. Surely some of my new recruits have aptitude.
Five
Kirralee
Iget lost in the service halls running back to my room. It’s all white and gray and the doorways don’t make sense. I finally run into a security officer who helps me get to the right floor. After the morning I’ve had, his kindly manner is very welcome.
I can’t hold in my tears and I don’t see why I should. I tried as hard as I could. I knew that I was going to screw up, in a way this is their fault for not listening to me.
