Dark Princess: Shadows (The Children Of The Gods Paranormal Romance #89)

49. Morelle

49

MORELLE

T he cart slowed as they approached a bridge spanning a small ravine. The houses on the other side looked bigger than the ones they had passed so far and farther apart.

"We're crossing into the newest section of the village," Brandon explained as they started across. "This is where Annani and her children live, along with the council members and many of the Guardian force."

Morelle tried to follow as he detailed the village's expansion—something about phases and different groups settling in different areas. There was mention of someone named Kalugal wanting his own section, but she found her attention divided between his words and the overwhelming sensory experience around her.

A bird called from somewhere nearby, its song unlike anything she'd heard before. Even the air here carried different scents than the dense vegetation of her home planet, which always smelled a little of rot because of the humidity. It was much drier here and more comfortable.

Her mind kept drifting back to Brandon's story about Aliya. He had a gift for storytelling, making even the shortened version come alive in Morelle's imagination. She could picture Annani's daughter, he hadn't told her which one, touring with a group of immortals or maybe leading them in some remote area on Earth, and then someone having a prophetic vision about a girl. Poor Aliya, living alone in those caves, terrified when the warriors chased her...

Morelle wanted to ask about the seer, and whether it was common for immortals to have visions, but before she could voice the question, the cart came to a stop in front of a house with wide windows and a large porch. It wasn't much different in size or style from the other houses lining the pathways, but it was easily recognizable because each house had a few features that were different from the others. This one had straight white railing posts, while the one next to it had an iron railing with a scrolling design.

The front door opened and two squat males, who couldn't possibly be immortals given their weathered features, hurried out to meet them. They looked almost identical and were dressed similarly.

Were they human?

Did Annani employ human servants?

Despite looking elderly, they moved with an oddly fluid grace that set her instincts on edge, and when they bowed in perfect synchronization, she felt a chill run down her spine.

These were not humans.

"Welcome, Mistress Morelle, Master Brandon," one of them said. "We came to collect the packages."

"Thank you," Brandon replied as he exited the cart.

He came around to help her down and offered her his hand, but she was still observing the two strange males.

Something about them bothered her. Their scent was wrong. Not quite living, but not dead either. She wrinkled her nose, trying to place the strange chemical undertone. "Who are these people?"

Brandon's arm slipped around her waist, supporting her as they walked. "Have you heard about the Odus?"

A shiver ran through her body as she remembered what she had learned about the creatures. "I have, but I've never seen one. They were destroyed on Anumati, and no more were made. Is that what those two are?"

"Yes, and they serve the Clan Mother. You have nothing to fear from them. They were vilified on Anumati through no fault of their own. The gods reprogrammed their servants to become killing machines and fight the Kra-ell, and then they blamed the Odus for the bloodshed. It's like blaming the weapon for killing and not the person pulling the trigger."

"We were told that they malfunctioned."

"It was a lie." Brandon helped her climb the stairs to the porch, patiently waiting as she lifted one leg and then the other. "The Eternal King, your grandfather, realized that the Odus could be mobilized against him once everyone knew it could be done. That was why he ordered them to be destroyed, along with the blueprints for how to make them. Naturally, he put a benevolent spin on the move, making himself look like the victim and the savior."

After she had made it over the three steps, Morelle had to stop and catch her breath. "It is embarrassing how difficult it was for me to climb these. I should be able to leap over them."

"You will before you know it."

She looked over her shoulder at the Odus, who were done unloading the cart and were waiting for her and Brandon to clear the steps before following them with all the packages.

They seemed so accommodating, so harmless, and yet she couldn't shake the feeling that they were dangerous.

But Brandon was right.

They were just a device, a tool, possibly a weapon, and how they were used was up to their owner. She had to trust that Annani would only use them for good.

"How did they get to Earth? I thought they were all destroyed."

Brandon's arm tightened around her waist. "Someone must have sent them to Earth to save them. Perhaps the god who created them wanted his creations to survive. These two and five others were found wandering the desert, their memories of their past wiped away. One of the gods found them, and they were given as a gift to Annani."

"Excuse us," one of the Odus said as he and his twin passed them by, each carrying a mountain of packages.

They disappeared into the house, and a moment later, one of them returned. "Please, come in. The Clan Mother is awaiting you in the living room." He bowed and retreated inside.

"They are very efficient," Morelle whispered.

Brandon chuckled. "They're also excellent cooks, keep the house spotless, and never sleep. Your sister is very fond of them, and she treats them as if they are sentient, which we all believe they are becoming."

The hint was obvious. She needed to treat the Odus as if they were people because that was what her sister expected.

As they entered the reception room, Annani rose to her feet, looking resplendent in a green gown, her flowing red hair looking like a live flame in the light streaming through the large window.

"Welcome home, sister of mine," Annani said and opened her arms to Morelle.