“Dragons?” I asked. “They must be looking to exit life. Why would they need me?”
“You tell me,” Monty said. “Did the call sound urgent?”
“It wasn’t a call to catch up, that’s for sure. The call was deliberate. They wanted me to know.”
Monty nodded.
“They wanted you to know they can reach out and touch not only you, but those close to you.”
“Violently if needed,” I said. “Shadow Company doesn’t do invitations or suggestions. If I don’t make this meet, they will convince me it was a mistake.”
Monty turned to glance at the Transporter.
“Sounds like you need insurance, don’t you think?”
“Is this going to hurt?” I asked. “It’s too early for agony, and I haven’t had my coffee.”
“Not in the way you think,” Monty said. “You’ll be fine.”
“Those sound like famous last words.”
EIGHT
“Do you have something for me?” the Transporter asked.
“Why would I have anything for her?” I asked, confused. “I didn’t even know we were coming down here.”
“She’s addressing me,” Monty said and gestured. “Will this be sufficient?”
A large brown and gold box appeared in his hand. It was wrapped with a red ribbon that easily came undone as the Transporter removed it. I could tell it had some heft to it, as he needed both hands to hold it in front of the Transporter. She clapped her hands together like a small child and took the box from Monty.
She opened it slowly and took a deep breath, inhaling the aroma of the contents. Even I could smell what it was…chocolate. Not just any chocolate; this was the most chocolate-smelling chocolate I had ever smelled in my life.
“What is that?” I asked as I did my best to keep from drooling. “More importantly, can I have some?”
“That is a box of Teuscher Select chocolates. Dolf is known as the best chocolatier in the world,” Monty answered. “This box is their special Aztec blend of cacao, not available to the public. Dolf makes these boxes exclusively for the mage sects. The answer to your second question is no, you can’t. This is her payment.”
The Transporter squealed with delight as she took a small piece of chocolate out of the box and ate it. She took out another small piece and held it, as the box disappeared into her coat somewhere. It moved too fast for me to follow.
“You’re paying for our insurance in chocolate?” I asked, incredulous. “Seriously?”
“Yes,” Monty said with a short nod. “I don’t make the rules. Transporters expect chocolate as their preferred form of payment. The more difficult the request, the higher caliber chocolate needed.”
“So I just can’t give her a Snickers and expect a shift?”
“Precisely,” Monty said. “That would be viewed as an insult. She would probably shift you to Antarctica.”
“Ouch.”
“Without clothing.”
“Whoa, she takes her chocolate seriously,” I said. “I’ll keep that in mind if I ever need a chocoshift.”
The Transporter still held the small piece of chocolate in her hand. At this rate it was going to be a chocolate mess if she didn’t eat it soon. She turned to me and held out the small piece of chocolate.
“Bloody hell,” Monty said under his breath. “This is…unprecedented.”
“Is she offering me a piece of chocolate?”
“What does it look like?” Monty asked, semi-exasperated and completely flustered. “I’d suggest you take it.”
I extended a hand and she placed the piece of chocolate in my hand. I looked down at the chocolate confused.
“What do I do now?” I said. “Is there a Transporter chocolate protocol?”
“You eat it,” she said with a chuckle. “It will make the next part easier.”
Monty gave me a look that said, Eat the chocolate…now.
I quickly put the piece of chocolate in my mouth. The flavors exploded across my tongue and overwhelmed my senses. It was absolutely the best chocolate I had ever tasted. The Transporter came over to me and nodded.
“Good, isn’t it?” she asked.
“The absolute best,” I answered around the flavor explosion in my mouth. “Is it always this good?”
“Not always,” she answered with a small wink. “I may have added a little something to make it special. Now, hold still.”
“Hold still?”
“This will be over before you know it,” she said with a nod, and then put a finger to her lips.“Ready?”
“Ready? For what?”
The Transporter slowly removed the finger from her lips, pulled her hand back, and formed a fist. It seemed to be happening in slow motion. I turned to look at Monty, who nodded at me.
“Brace yourself,” he said. At least I thought that was what he said—his words were stretched out and distorted, sounding more like, “Brayyyce yourrrsellf.”
The Transporter’s fist began to glow with golden light and I found myself transfixed by the energy coming from her hand. I still tasted the chocolate in my mouth and wondered at how that could be. It was a small piece; it shouldn’t have lasted this long.
I was about to ask Monty, when the Transporter slammed me in the chest with her glowing fist. A rush of emotions washed over me. It ran the gamut from grief to elation and back to grief in the span of milliseconds.
Every happy memory flooded my brain followed by every moment of sadness. This was chased away by moments of rage, anger, and regret. One moment I was laughing with joy; the next, tears of anguish were streaming down my face.
As soon as it began, it was over. I felt drained, spent and in need of a long nap.
“I have him,” she said as I staggered back. I would’ve fallen if Monty hadn’t grabbed me by the arm. “Your signature is known to me, mage. Do you wish another reading?”
“No, Grandmother,” Monty said. “My mental state is a bit…fragile at the moment. One of your readings would be contraindicated.”
She nodded.
“You have stepped into darkness. It pulls at you. Have you balanced?”
“Yes,” Monty said after a pause. “Yes, I have.”
“Very well,” she said. “Remember, there is always the cost.”
“I shall.”
“The scion of Cerberus
