City of Katalina

Thank the Underworld for tinted windows. I hate sunlight and in Katalina, it hits the strongest. They're closer to the sun or something. Where would Maya be? I drive down Sunset Rd and find a parking spot a few blocks away from the Market I just drove past. I reach into the back seat and pull out a pair of shades.

The City of Katalina used to be part of Spica and the disputed Shifter Lands. After the war, the last Shadow Queen disintegrated the Shadow Realm gifting a portion to her son who merged it with the Dark Realm and one to her daughter-in-law who turned it into the Realm of Assassins. Spica is below the old Shadow Realm and was granted the right to rule itself. My great something lost a portion of it to the shifters who in turn lost their lands to Katalina.

She united the shifters and gifted the farmlands to those who could no longer fight. In turn, the city was named after her. During the merging of worlds, they ended up obtaining an island that they've connected to through several bridges for those who would rather drive an auto across.

The market is buzzing with vendors and shoppers alike. Females are selling tiny figurines sculpted from clay. A man claiming, he only has the most authentic gold. None interest me. What I want are the food vendors. I sniff the air and follow the direction of fried dough and seasoned meats.

My mouths watering by the time I find the food. Vendors are selling fried tacos they call flutes and others selling fried pork. Also a few selling gorditas there a type of food made out of corn dough. They're shaped into a disc and dip fried then cut open and stuffed with meat, cabbage, salsa, sour cream, and cheese. I find a spot to sit at and order two gorditas one with picadillo de puerco con papa y zanahoria (ground pork with, potato, and carrot) and one stuffed with seasoned chicken.

His scent hits me before I see him. How?

Zheng leans down resting his head on my shoulder, "So, this is where you ran off to?"

"What do you want?" I ask, my good mood ruined.

"How did you break the barrier?" he asks taking the seat next to my own. He's dressed in a black t-shirt, with jeans and combat boots, his hair now reaches his shoulders.

Why did he cut it? Who cares, "It wasn't very strong," I say thanking the female as she hands me my food and a cup with rice water.

Zheng looks at my plate and frowns, "you didn't get me any," he says just as I'm about to bite into one of my gorditas.

"What?" I ask.

"Food," he points at my plate.

"You shouldn't even be here," I say, biting into the crunchy gordita. I'm pretty sure I moan a little as I savor my food.

"What kind of wife are you," he says causing me to choke.

"Who's your wife?" I growl out once I've managed to swallow my food.

Instead of answering he orders himself three chicken flautas. The female steals glances at us from time to time. She hands him his food and he asks for agua de Jamaica (hibiscus water).

We eat in silence and only when I'm done do, I ask, "why are you here?"

He leans in and whispers, "Master sent me."

I glare at him and he shrugs asking for our cups to be refiled.

"Are you done?" he asks.

"Yeah, why?"

"So, I can pay," he says handing the female a silver coin. She starts digging for change but he waves her off.

"At least you're good for something," I say fishing out my cellphone and texting Master, "why did you send Zheng?" knowing her she won't get back to me until tomorrow. I think cellphones are one of my favorite things because everyone can communicate quickly. No need for a telepathic link. Although telepathy does tend to come in handy when you're chained to a chair and the such.

Zheng follows me through the market paying for everything I find. I wonder how much longer he'll put up with it. The last thing I buy is a pound of guavas they smell so sweet I can't wait to eat them.

"How are you going to carry all of this?" Zheng asks, probably expecting me to ask him to shrink everything.

I smile and keep walking until we reach my truck.

"Oh," I hear Zheng say as I unlock the back door and dump the various bags on the floor a few on the seat.

Zheng holds out his hand I guess I have to pay him now. I rummage through my bag and pull out a silver bar, "here you go," I say, walking around him. Within seconds he's in the passenger seat.

"I was asking for the keys," he says tossing the silver bar into my bag.

"What are you doing?"

"Giving you, your money back."

"You know what I'm asking."

"I told you Master scent me."

At that my phone rings I press answer, and place it on speaker, "I don't recall telling you, you could go," Master says from the end of the line, "if anything I told you to stay out of it."

"You just had to tell her," Zheng mutters, "I'm already here might as well help her."

"You're just like that man always doing things no one asked you to."

"Didn't you marry him?"

Master growls not in the irritated growl but in the I'm kicking your ass the next time I see you growl, "you're lucky your one of my favorites or you'd be dead."

Zheng smiles as he says, "love you too grandma."

"Don't get killed," Master says and cuts the call.

"What did you call her?"

Zheng seems to realize something and clears his throat, "It pisses her off."

"Oh," why do I feel like he's lying?' I start the engine and turn the ac on another thing missed while in Spica being able to cool the room without the use of magic. Of course, the truck's powered by magic-infused crystals but still not my magic.

"So where to?"

"I have an old contact I need to find," I pull out of the parking space and head down the road, "he only comes out at night frequents the fight clubs."

"Vamp?"

"Yep."

Zheng shifts in his seat and looks me over, "Ex?"

"Why?" I ask with a smile, "if I say yes will you kill him."

"Maybe."

I roll my eyes and turn on the stereo Dark Siren's Forsaken is playing. They're a rock band consisting of a werewolf on drums, a jaguar on bass, a mortal on lead guitar, a vampire on vocals. The band was named after their old lead singer who became the target of a crazed fan. The fan splattered her guts all over Surial's apartment and posted it online for all to see.

"You don't strike me as the rock type," Zheng says.

"And you don't strike me as the stalker type but here we are," I say, "don't you have better things to do then follow me around."

"I'm not a stalker," his voice is somber, "I just figured since I removed your seal there was a chance, you'd need help."

"With what?"

"Your magic," he says, "last I checked you're only used to using small amounts of it."

"Oh, I hadn't thought of that."

"Clearly, he leans back resting his head against the window.

"You're too flirty," I blur out, "also aren't you Prince Fie's bodyguard."

He gives me a small grin, "he went home. I only needed to accompany him to his engagement."

"I kind of liked him," I say, "he always had candy. Tried to bribe me with it while you were away."

"Sounds about right," he mumbles, "what are we doing until sunrise?"

"Sleep," I say as I pull up to the Grand Royal, "where's your luggage?"

"Pocket."

"Could you pretend to be mortal."

"Sure, but what about you?"

"Dammit, I completely forgot. Can you make us both seem mortal?"

"Done," he says but I don't see a change at my frown he adds, "you and I know what we look like so it doesn't work on us. To everyone else our ears are round and our looks are downplayed for Fay."

"Go it," when I open the back door, I find a black duffel next to my own and everything Zheng bought missing.

"It's in the duffel," he takes both our bags and walks to the entrance. I lock my truck and set the alarm.

The Grand Royal is decorated with palm trees and hibiscus flowers. There's a sitting area with white sofas and a glass table. The concierge greets us with a smile and when I ask for two rooms, he tells us there's only the honeymoon suite left. Before I can argue Zheng hands him his credit card.

"Enjoy your stay Mr. and Mrs. St. Night," the concierge says.

Zheng takes the card along with our room cards and leads the way. We step into an elevator and go to the fourth floor. Now elevators I can live without there loud and can drop at any moment. Our room is at the far end when we step inside, I find its actually an apartment.

"You can have the couch," I say taking my bag from Zheng, "I'll take the bedroom Mr. St. Night."

"Like you don't have many names," he says tossing his duffel on the coffee table, "I'm using your bathroom."

"Why?"

"I need to shower," he starts pulling his boots off, "I had to take care of something before heading here. Even though I used magic to clean myself it feels like I'm covered in grime."

"Go for it," I walk back into the living room and look out the long windows. The view overlooks the city square the temple of Celeste can be seen from here or maybe it's my fay sight that makes it seem close by.

"It's all yours," Zheng walks out towel wrapped around his waist. I close the curtains and hurry back into my bedroom. Clothes fly off as I step into the shower and set it on cold. The water is icy but has the desired effect. After my shower I text Poppy, "could you look into Queen Elena?"

Poppy: sure, why?

Me: just do it

Poppy: I don't know, seems like a waste of my time

Me: can't tell you right now

Poppy: you owe me one

Me: I know.

With that taken care of, I slip into the covers and fall asleep.