Out of Time Chapter 19-- I get Stuck on Scouting Duty

Something large tackled me. At first I thought it was a dog, but then I realized that I was close, but not entirely correct. It was Tatiana. She hugged me so fiercely, I thought I was going to explode from the pressure.

“M.C.! I’ve missed you!”

I made several squeaky noises, and she released me.

Tataiana, Tyren, Julian, Sai, Gordon, Noddah, and I stood in a large room covered in maps and odd gadgets. It reminded me of a Victorian strategic room. Apparently, this was Tyren’s hangout. We stood around a table arranged with a large map of London and markers showing different locations of zombie troops.

Tyren frowned at the mess the werewolf had made of her troop positions diagram. “Look, hound, you are permitted to show explosive affection, but can you please do it away from important things?”

Tatiana knocked over another piece for good measure. Tyren pinched the bridge of her nose between her finger tips. However, now, I could see the ever so slight smile.

“Did ya miss me?” Tatiana asked.

“No. Do not tempt me to injure you again.” Threateningly, she waved the stick she was using to point at things at the werewolf. “Now, as I was saying before I was rudely interrupted, we do not know about the enemy’s movements in this area of the city, here.” She pointed to the area across the Thames from Noddah, who was acting as our base. It contained no little pieces that represented the occupation of the zombies.

“So then we need someone to scout it out and return with the information,” Julian said.

“Easier said than done. We do not know the location of Melinda’s headquarters. It could be in this area. If it is, our scout will be captured and tortured to death.”

Tatiana waved her hand dismissively. “Nah, it’s not there. You know Melinda. She has to have it somewhere flashy—somewhere important.”

Tyren arched an eyebrow. “Any suggestions? I’m all ears.”

“I always knew you were batty. Anyway, Buckingham Palace? The Tower?”

“Buckingham Palace?” Tyren laughed. “Are you telling me Melinda has taken up residence with the queen?”

Tatiana scowled. “It’s a possibility.”

Tyren snorted.

Shaking his head at their antics, Sai came to Tatiana’s rescue. “While I do not believe Melinda to be residing with Her Majesty, Queen Victoria, Tatiana has a fair point. Melinda is not likely to set up her headquarters in a little known part of town. She will most likely have it in an important sector.”

Tapping her hand with her stick, the vampire nodded. “I see. That is a good point.”

Tatiana threw her arm around my neck. “M.C. and I could scout it out—see what we will see.”

That sounded like a brilliant idea to me. I was about to go cavern crazy under this city. Besides, that way I could get away from Gordon for a while.”

However, Tyren shook her head. “Putting two heirs together on a scouting mission is just begging Melinda to attempt a capture.”

“That’s a stupid reason!” Tatiana exploded.

“You have done it before, my friend. You put the mage heir and the vampire heir on the same team.” Sai looked pointedly at Tyren.

“Yes, and look what happened.”

“If I remember correctly, you would be dead if you had left M.C. here.”

Tyren thwacked her palm repeatedly with her stick. After several intense seconds of silence, she pointed at Sai with her stick. “How confident are you in his abilities to keep himself alive?”

Sai seemed unperturbed by the stick near his nose. “Very. M.C. has learned fast under my tutelage. He has been tried twice in battle. Besides, Tatiana will be with him.”

Tyren jabbed her stick in the werewolf’s direction. “You have to stick with him. Keep him safe. Do not do anything stupid. If there is a fight, I want you to return with your lives. If that means turning tail and running, do it.”

Finally, it was my turn to be at the wrong end of Tyren’s stick. “Stay alive. Keep Tatiana safe. If you get yourself captured, I will personally murder you. Savvy?”

I nodded vigorously.

Tatiana threw her arm around my shoulders again. “No worries, Tyren. Me and M.C. can handle ourselves. You’ll have troop positions before you can even blink.”

Tyren blinked. “Do not get captured, or I will kill you both. And for silver’s sake, get some 1888-appropriate clothing on that boy.”

~~~~~

Tataina and I lay on our stomachs on top of a roof, Noddah napped in my hair. There had been little movement on the streets below. We had seen two zombies pass by, but as Tatiana had pointed out, that didn’t mean the place was occupied.

For the fifth time, the werewolf passed the spyglass to me and asked, “See anything?”

For the fifth time, I looked through it—admiring Sai’s genius in inventing night vision long before its time—and responded, “Nope,” before handing it back to her.

For the fifth time, she groaned. Putting her head on the shingles, she mumbled, “This is so boring.”

“You’re the one who volunteered us for the job,” I pointed out.

“Well, yeah, but I really just wanted to get out of the base.” She shuddered. “Werewolves are not meant to be in holes.”

I had to agree with that one. Humans weren’t supposed to live in holes, either. I liked the open air as much as she did. Well, to a certain degree. I liked it as long as I wasn’t forced to do any work in it.

The roof offered a nice view of the city. Frowning, I realized I had been under the city far more than I had been in it. “I think I need a tour of London,” I announced.

Tatiana wiggled her nose. “You’d have to get Tyren or somebody to do that. I don’t know this city very well.” She nudged me. “Hey, you could ask Gordon.”

I scowled. “I’d rather pour Tabasco in my eye.”

Tatiana frowned. “I have no earthly idea what Tabasco is, but I’m guessing by your tone it’s not good for your eye.”

“Correct. It stings like none other,” I growled.

“Why? What’s between you and Gordon?”

I shrugged. “I just don’t like him.”

“Why?”

She seemed generally perplexed, which struck me as odd. I tilted my head to look at her. She had her head cocked to the side, very reminiscent of a curious puppy.

“Do you have any brothers?”

She shook her head. “No, I’m the only pup my parents had. Why?”

“For a girl who hangs out with guys all the time, you don’t seem to understand them very well.”

She shrugged. “As Tyren is always pointing out, there’s a lot I don’t get.”

I ran my fingers through my hair, trying to figure out how to explain it. “It’s like when you have two strong male wolves. You don’t put them together, because they’ll end up fighting each other all the time, right?”

She nodded, understanding dawning in her eyes. “Yeah, but often times they’re fighting over a mate.” She regarded me through squinted eyes. “You’re not fighting for a mate, are you?”

I turned bright red. “What?! No! Of course not!”

“Oh, you’re fighting for Tyren, aren’t you!?”

If it was possible, I think I blushed even more. “No! Well, sort of, but not like that! It’s more of a friendship thing.”

She frowned. “Why?”

I sighed. “It’s like the male wolf thing. We don’t mesh. We can’t just let the other get the upper hand.”

Nodding, understanding flowed into Tatiana’s eyes. “So, basically, you two are fighting for a sort of beta position in Tyren’s friends list.”

“And yours.”

She snorted. “M.C., Gordon’s a fun guy and all, but you are always my beta over him.”

“Thanks. It’s nice to know I take precedence over a vampire on your list.”

Tatiana’s laugh was cut short by Noddah’s cry of, “Look out!”

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Wednesday. Yeah, I'm sorry. This week has been... interesting. What have I been doing? Working, finishing Babs's grad present (*coughalsolatecough*), dealing with family stuff. Oh, and caring for Pickles, who now has one wing. Cursed raccoon. 

However, I should have posted for you all. I have no valid excuses.

Anyway. Tati's better. She and M.C. get a little heart-to-heart. That's nice. 

Tune in next week, haha.

Sorry, I'd say something more interesting, but I'm a tad tired.

Have a great week!