Safeword: Storm Clouds(48)

Okay, I guess that's the best we can do, for now. You tell Eric since you've got the mind link with him. That way we don't have to take him back out of the way somewhere to talk to him.

And so Kendra played a game of pool with herself while Eric and Abbot spoke without speaking.

Finally Eric came to her and hugged her so he could talk low and into her ear. "There is more out there than just vampires? Like fairies and dwarves? Tinkerbell?"

Kendra smiled, most humans went straight from Vampires to Werewolves, but it didn't surprise her that Eric went straight to Tinkerbell.

She spoke softly. "Eric, we have this saying in the supernatural community, 'not my secret to tell'. That means that I can only tell you my secret, not anyone else's secret. You and Ranger are going to be put into a difficult situation for a short period of time. You will each know of the existence of a supernatural being, but a different one. You will be allowed to speak to each other about supernaturals in general, but you will not be able to talk about the specific being you each know about. The penalty for telling a secret that isn't yours can be death, Eric. This is pretty serious. I'll work to find a way to get the information to you and Ranger so the two of you can talk a bit more freely, but for now it would be best if the two of you just don't really talk much at all about this, to try to be on the safe side. Okay?"

He sighed, "Okay. I know you're doing the best you can do, and I guess we're into something bigger than either Ranger or I can comprehend at the moment. But, it's still hard to understand why we can't just talk to each other about what we know."

"Ranger will be used to keeping secrets, it will probably be easier for him than for you."

"Kendra, after seeing my story line today, Ranger will probably figure you out before they get out here."

Abbot? Eric shared the vampire storyline for his new video game with Ranger today. He thinks Ranger is going to figure things out pretty quickly.

We'll deal with it if he does. But if he does not then I don't want to tell him anything.

Okay.

"Eric, if he figures it out then you can't verify it, just say, 'not my secret to tell' until either Abbot or I contact you with more information, okay?"

Eric just nodded his head, not happy but not arguing about it anymore, either.

Ranger looked more relaxed than he should have when he came back out with Aaron and Nathan. He should have looked freaked out. He should have at least smelled a bit freaked out, but he didn't. Aaron looked at Abbot and said, "Ranger has accepted our job offer and will be coming to work for Drake Security. He has another almost three months left to work for the government before he moves here and begins working for us."

* * * *

Kendra and Eric rode back to his yacht in her car so they could talk while Ranger drove Eric's Range Rover back.

"Kendra, I've got to be honest, tonight was another of those nights that almost made me freak and need to think again. But, that's got nothing to do with you, just with the idea of what else might be out there that I don't know about, and the idea that if I tell someone about it, I could die. That's... harsh. Anyway, my point is that I'm not going to pull away from you, in fact, I think it might be better if I tell you how much you mean to me. Ranger is going back tomorrow and I won't see him for another three months. I'd like for you to come to the yacht tomorrow and do whatever you need to do so you and I can talk in our heads. And... I guess I need to know exactly what options there are for how you can do that, if that is the next and last step, or if there are other steps beyond that. Things you haven't told me about yet."

"Eric, I was afraid you were never going to want to be tied to me metaphysically. Are you sure you want it? I will of course explain everything to you. I'm just.. I guess I'm touched that it's something you are willing to do."

"Yes, but not tonight. Tonight I need you to hang out with Ranger and I. I'd like for you to be around so if he guesses what you are you'll be around to deal with it. Knowing him though, he'll wait until tomorrow when he will figure you'll be sleeping before he mentions it to me."

"If he does just tell him it's not your secret to tell. What time does he leave tomorrow?"

"He's got to be back at Drake Security at 10:00 and then he goes straight from there to the airport a few hours later. I could probably arrange to be asleep tomorrow when he wakes up so I don't have to talk to him at all tomorrow."

Kendra opened her mouth to speak, then closed it, and finally said, "Eric?"

"Uh oh, this sounds serious.. what is it?"

"You told me a while back you didn't want us to be exclusive. If you are ready to take the next step metaphysically... I guess I just want to be sure where we are with that. I don't want any misunderstandings."