Fire Storm Read Online Free Page B

shelters to transients, loners who had chosen a solitary life, or the occasional trouble-maker. Approaching the house on the edge of town, she realized it had received a new coat of brown paint since she’d been there. Had it been that long? She shook her head. Just more proof she hadn’t been giving the shifters enough of her time. She pushed the all-hours button.
    The suspicious face that peered from the window immediately smiled, and the door was opened for her. “Guardian,” the headkeeper said. “Always delighted to see you. But today, I could use your advice.” The matronly-looking werewolf was in charge of the facility. “Got a bit of a problem.”
    She swung the door wide, and Ari immediately saw the source of the trouble. A young werejavey.
    “I thought they left town.” Ari stepped inside.
    “Well, not this one. They either forgot about him or just didn’t want to mess with him.” The woman whispered behind her hand. “Only a baby, but he is so unpleasant. Stinks, and language straight from the sewers.” The headkeeper put her fingers briefly to her nose, then turned a cheerful face to her young charge. “Mangi, this is the Guardian. Say, hello, and try to mind your manners.”
    The half-boy, half-peccary javey snorted at her. “All I want from y’all is food, none of yer prattle. Do this, don’t do that. Ya ain’t my mama.”
    “And thankful I am about that,” the woman retorted. She looked at Ari. “What am I going to do with him? He showed up about an hour ago, and already he’s run everybody else out for the night. I can’t keep him here, but I can’t turn him away either.”
    Ari walked over to where he sprawled on a couch. “Where’s your home? Your parents?”
    “S’none of yer bus’ness. ’Sides, ain’t got any no more.” The javey scratched his snout.
    Great. A homeless, unwelcome visitor. What were they going to do with him?
    “While you’re thinking, I’ll see to his supper.” The headkeeper disappeared into the kitchen.
    For fifteen minutes, Ari tried to draw more information from Mangi. He sneered and snarled, being generally disagreeable. She finally lost her temper and threatened to turn him into a cockroach if he didn’t cooperate.
    Mangi’s eyes bulged. “You’s a witch, ain’t cha? I figers you cud prob’ly do that. S’worse than what I is.”
    “So cut out the fake gutter slang and talk to me.”
    He dropped his eyes and eventually told her his home had been near Waco, Texas, and he’d been a teenager in high school until two weeks ago when he’d been attacked on his way home from a meeting of his chess team. Afterward, the gang had insisted he take them to his home, where they’d ransacked the house, murdered his parents, and forced him to go with them. Two days later the gang had given him to six adult javeys. He’d traveled with them until they’d disappeared last night.
    Good Grief! He’d been a nerd. Behind the obnoxious behavior he was lost, confused, and depressed. She mentally sifted through possibilities, searching for a way to provide a different life for this kid than total rejection by everyone he met. Sending him to Texas would put him back with the violent gang who’d left him behind. She couldn’t do that. If given a chance, it was possible even a javey could be something better.
    She stuck her head in the kitchen, taking in the aroma of fresh chopped vegetables and stew meat cooking on the stove. “I may have an idea. If you can keep him busy for a while, I’ll be back soon.”
    The headkeeper pointed to extra pots of scraps and vegetables sitting on the table. “I reckon these will keep him content for a while.”
    Mangi, who’d followed Ari, squeezed past her and immediately stuck his head in one of the pots. He began to make contented smacking noises.
    Ari grinned and waved a hand at the werewolf. “I’ll be back. I promise.” She had her cell phone in her hand before she reached the front door.
    Andreas answered