Nesia 026

(I go to write the next post today, only to realize I had not published the last one.  It was all ready to go, but apparently I selected save draft rather than publish.  Sorry about that.  And this is after my promise of a post once a week on either Monday or Tuesday.  I might have to write a short side view to make up for this mishap.  Anyway, here’s what was supposed to be posted last week.  It’s not super long but I hope it is still good enough for someone to read.  Enjoy.)

“Spirit thingys?” Nesia asked, resisting the urge to roll her eyes.

“Don’t tell me you’re going to make me try to pronounce the proper terminology,” Preston said with an accent.  It was obvious he was imitating someone.  “I swear Card is the only one capable of even saying such a word correctly and Ludi doesn’t count.”

Nesia stared at the stuntman for a while but nothing stirred a memory.  She finally sighed in frustration as she realized she was missing an inside joke.  “Pretend like I don’t understand anything you’re saying.”

“Really?” Preston asked.  “But, that was such a perfect set up.  My timing must be awful.  See.  This is why I didn’t go into standup comedy.”

“Preston.”

“Demons, spirits, paranormals, et cetera,” Preston finally answered.  “I’ll give the short version since we’ll have time later.  The classifications aren’t important right now.  There are things science can’t deal with, though Ludi is making great progress there, and few people who can.  Well, few who can on an equal level.  It gets complicated real fast.”

The fake blonde opened her mouth a few times but finally gave up as the questions she wanted to ask eluded her.  All Nesia knew was that she believed him.  She had a brief memory of the terror caused by one of those things.  There was also the undeniable fact that she had an unusual ability.

“Anyway,” Preston continued.  “We’re the best…negotiators when it comes to them.  We can handle most of the violent ones, but this one was not normal.”

“How so?” Nesia wondered.

Preston ruffled his hair as a look of worry and annoyance crossed his face.  “I couldn’t sense it until it attacked you.  Mark couldn’t see anything.  What I could sense for that brief moment was… different.  I’m still trying to classify it but I didn’t get much time.  You’re the only one who might have an idea.  I don’t know what you did to it to get it to send a rabid cat at you with the heir to the house nearby.  At least that’s the best I can figure.”

“I don’t know either,” Nesia sighed.  “I can’t remember anything from that day except for what I was told about how Don…  I need to call him.”

She could not explain the rational immediately, but she found herself already in the process of digging her phone out of the purse that was probably more expensive than her clothes.  It was important to call the Asuraeson Heir, but her mind was waiting for someone to connect the reason for her.

“Does he know something about it?” Preston asked.

“I think, maybe, I’m not sure,” Nesia admitted.

Preston thought about it for a moment.  “His father keeps his study on the fifth floor.”

She dialed Donavan’s number immediately.  “His father.  If I don’t speak to Donavan before he talks to the lord then I won’t be able to talk to him about anything for at least a week.  Certainly won’t be getting out of a marriage let alone any informa…”

“Katherine,” Donavan’s smooth voice interrupted her thoughts.  “Why did you call?”

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How should Nesia answer?

1 – Flirty: “I haven’t talked to you in a while and I missed you.”

2 – Teasing: “What?  A girl isn’t allowed to call her arranged fiancé?”

3 – Blunt:  “We need to talk.”

4 – Friendly:  “Well you promised you’d come to Izen’s competition.”

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