My Girlfriends Are Pirate Elves! 1 Read online

  Zelda barked out a laugh. “You want to taste everyone you meet!”

  Lilly nodded. “There are other ways to get to know someone.”

  Syndra smiled. “My way is the best way. Vala and Hexnia guide me and I shall not abandon the path they have set for me.”

  “Following the ways of both goddesses can be very demanding,” the Captain shrugged.

  “They both speak to me, in one way or another. I’m sure their divine knowledge will open many doors for us here on Urth,” Syndra smiled.

  “Be that as it may, we have to keep him close and be ready for anything. We didn’t come here to destroy his life. We came here to help all of our lives,” Lilly said with a stern edge.

  Zelda eyed her Captain, “I’ve never seen you like this before. He’s truly touched your heart when you told us no man ever would again.”

  Lilly’s expression hardened as she crossed the small space and stood before Zelda. The First Mate bowed her head in shame, looking to the floor.

  “Don’t confuse my feelings for what needs to be done. Remember that the next time you think about questioning me again,” Lilly’s voice came out with a hard tone.

  “I’m sorry, my Captain,” Zelda said in a submissive tone.

  Lilly stepped back and looked to her crew. “We swore oaths to each other and that bond will never break. I promised to lead you and you all agreed to follow. We promised to protect each other, through the good and the bad. Trust my instincts, Jonathan Song is part of our oath, he just doesn’t know it yet.”

  Heads nodded in agreement.

  Zelda lifted her head and looked to Lilly, “What will you have us do now, Captain?”

  Lilly’s stern expression softened before a wicked smirk formed. “Search the house and report what you have found. I want to know every detail about our Shullkar before he returns.”

  Three

  Mario watched as Jon hefted a few pounds of wrapped meat, fish, and bags of rice on the counter. The store owner watched as the young man moved to a sushi aisle and began picking up containers of various sushi. Sunlight beamed into the store as several patrons moved about, some glancing over to the young man with ten sushi containers in his arms and wobbly making his way back to the counter again.

  Jon placed the items on the counter and looked over his shoulder for the next thing to buy.

  “Having a dinner party?” Mario asked with a pleasant smile.

  Jon nodded. “You could say that. I have some guests and they all want fish, seaweed, and rice. The prepackaged stuff is to hold them over until dinner time. I plan to roll my own sushi, but it’s been a while.”

  Mario nodded. “Sounds like a delicious meal. I’m sure you’ll remember and create something tantalizing.”

  Jon smiled. “Thank you, Mario. I’ll try my best.”

  The front door chimed open.

  Jon looked back down on what he gathered and thought it would be enough for now. With four women and himself, he would need a lot more over the coming days and weeks.

  What if it’s longer than a few weeks? What if it’s months or years? Am I okay with this?

  An image of the elves caressed his memory and Jon smiled to himself.

  I think I am.

  A shadow touched Jon’s food and he looked over. The inspector’s expression shifted to a shocked, but not so surprised look, like when you order lobster with three claws. Sure, it’s weird but despite that, you know it’s still going to be a good meal.

  “Greetings, Inspector Song,” Commander Locke said with a sickening grin.

  Jon eyed the Commander in his uniform for a long second. “Hello, Mr. Locke. I’m not working so you don’t have to call me Inspector.”

  Mario stood behind the counter, watching the exchange.

  Locke nodded. “I saw you come in here and thought we would have a little chat, if you don’t mind?”

  Jon’s senses dialed to eleven. “I’m actually in a hurry, so I don’t have time to chat.”

  Locke’s brow hardened but he kept his eerie smile. “Little birds told me that you have taken in four elves from Aquris through the Dimensional Exchange Program. Considering that you have lived alone for so long, I’m curious as to why you had a change of heart in the last twenty-four hours?”

  Mario began ringing up Jon’s items as Jon stared at the Commander.

  “It’s my personal business and I don’t have to explain anything to you,” Jon said with an even tone.

  Locke’s eyes narrowed. “Everything that happens in this harbor is my business. You stopped me from my own investigation on the Dark Heart and now you’ve taken in suspects. I need to know everything you know and I must know it now.”

  Jon’s blank eyes grew cool before tilting his head forward, shadows covering his eyes. “It’s very odd for harbor Commander to question me in public like this. If you had grounds for an investigation, I would have been brought in and talked to in private. You speaking to me like this only proves you don’t actually have a legal investigation. This seems more like an illegal questioning and as a citizen of Southvale, I don’t have to say a single word to you. The only reason I say any of this is out of civil politeness.

  “If you wish to question me, bring a warrant. If I’m not under arrest, we have nothing else to talk about.”

  Mario bagged the groceries and rang up the total.

  Locke leaned in close, his eyes filled with dreadful menace, “Those women are criminals. The longer they are with you, the greater the chance that when they are brought in, you also will be. Tell me what you know and I’m sure a deal can be struck.”

  Jon turned from the Commander and looked to Mario. “How much do I owe you?”

  “Seventy-eight soozes,” Mario smiled.

  Jon reached for his wallet from his back pocket. The moment his hand reached out and opened his wallet, Locke’s hand clamped on the young man’s wrist.

  “You think this is some kind of game,” Locke hissed.

  “Release me,” Jon said simply.

  “Release him,” Mario said as he held up his cellphone and began recording.

  Locke looked to the shopkeeper with disdain.

  “This harbor Commander is threatening one of my loyal customers and I will not stand for it. This recording will go live if he doesn’t let go of my patron and leave the premises,” Mario smiled.

  Locke glanced around as several customers began to look over, craning their heads to see more.

  The Commander growled before looking Jon in the eyes, “We will talk again.”

  Jon said nothing as Locke let go, turned and marched out the front door. Mario turned off his phone and looked to the young man. Jon pulled out his card to pay for the groceries.

  “Everyone has that man’s number. No one has forgotten his corruption,” Mario said, trying to be comforting.

  “I’m not worried. People like him always get what they deserve in the end. I just wish he would see what he’s doing before it’s too late.”

  Mario nodded. “You’re a good man, Jon Song.”

  “I just want to do right by everyone, good and bad,” Jon said with a small smile, wondering if he had bit off more than he could chew.

  ***

  Cora stood before the flatscreen, her fingers running along the surface. The glass was smooth and it reminded her of the small tablets many people of Urth liked to carry with them. Tapping at it, she frowned as it didn’t turn on like the tablets.

  Syndra was lifting things off a small shelf when she looked over to Cora.

  Cora took a step back and stared. “I thought it would turn on.”

  Syndra stepped away from the shelf and stood next to Cora, eyeing the flatscreen. “It looks like a larger version of those glowing tablets.”

  “I thought the same,” Cora blinked.

  Lilly came down the stairs and walked into the Living room. “The rooms are as plain as the rest of this house. I don’t think Jon has any dark secre… Why are you staring?”

 
“We thought this would turn on, like those tablets,” Cora said in a low tone.

  Lilly moved to the pair and stared with them. “I have heard tales of this device. It’s called a Flatscreen TV. I believe they have them in almost every home. It gives them information from all around the world.”

  “How do we turn it on?” Cora asked.

  Syndra lifted her staff up as her eyes flashed red. “I will consult the spirits!”

  An inky black aura enveloped the dark-skinned elf as arcane words dripped from her lips. Cora and Lilly took a step away from the sea witch, watching with intense eyes as she communed with the spirit world. The air grew darker as phantom skulls swirled about. Syndra continued her incantation until the air vibrated. When she finished, the vibrations died and the aura slid away to nothing.

  Cora and Lilly watched, silent and waiting.

  Syndra bent over and picked up the remote from the coffee table. She pointed it at the flatscreen and pressed the red button.

  The screen flashed to life with people talking.

  “The spirits told me that this wand will turn on the flatscreen. We can even change the channels. It seems there are hundreds of different channels for nearly every kind of story,” Syndra said matter of fact.

  Cora sat down on the couch with wide eyes, drinking in the talking people as they spoke about the weather. Syndra joined her, the pair watching with interested eyes.

  “We have to keep searching. There must be something here that we can use as leverage…” Lilly trailed off as Zelda stepped out of Jon’s bedroom.

  The tall, blue skinned elf had a strange bottle in her hand. She pressed down on the top and a creamy liquid fell into her waiting palm. The First Mate lifted it up and took a deep inhale, her nostrils flaring.

  “I found this by Jon’s bed. It says it’s co co butter. It tastes terrible, but it smells wonderful. I just want to rub it all over my body,” Zelda said with a sweet edge.

  Lilly eyed her crew before crossing her arms and sighing. “This is not an effective search.”

  “If you give me some time, I can commune with the spirits after nightfall. They will be able to tell us much more about Jon,” Syndra said without looking away from the flatscreen.

  Lily nodded as she turned her gaze to Zelda, the tall elf rubbing the lotion on her arms.

  The front door opened and Jon stepped in with several bags. The young man took in the scene, Syndra and Cora watching the news on the flatscreen. Lilly standing in the middle of the living room and Zelda rubbing lotion on her blue skin.

  My lotion!

  Jon looked away, hiding his reaction. He moved to the table, placing the many bags on it. Hands moved with deft skill, pulling out groceries and containers of sushi. He placed the containers on the table before each seat. Grabbing the bags with the rest of supplies, he brought them to the kitchen and began putting them away.

  Lilly stepped over to the perfectly contained sushi and looked down with curious eyes.

  “I’m starving!” Zelda said as she rushed over, picked up a container and bit into it.

  Jon turned around to the tall elf crunching down on plastic. “That’s not how you eat it!”

  Zelda lifted an eyebrow as she continued to chew.

  Jon stepped over, opened a container and broke apart a pair of chopsticks. The chopsticks between his fingers, he showed Zelda how to pick up a roll and he placed it in his mouth.

  Lilly smiled as Zelda pulled out pieces of plastic from her mouth. She placed what was left of her container on the table and opened it. Picking up the chopsticks, she split them, and put them between her webbed fingers.

  Jon nodded and smiled before he watched in disbelief as Zelda’s hand moved in a blur, deftly picking up each roll and it then disappearing into her open mouth. He never blinked as she didn’t chew, but filled her mouth with rolls. When her mouth reached full capacity, she chewed twice and swallowed.

  “Um, okay,” Jon simply said.

  Zelda’s eyes gleamed as they grew wider. “This is delicious!”

  Lilly stepped closer and looked down. She mirrored Zelda’s movements, opening the container, splitting the chopsticks and picking up a single roll. She looked it over before she placed it in her mouth and began to chew. Lilly’s eyes gleamed with starlight.

  “This is incredible!” the pirate elf sang.

  “These are store bought, but I thought we could make some later for dinner, if you’re interested?” Jon said.

  Lilly turned to the couch with the sea witch and the cabin mate. “Eat this now!”

  The pair were up, rushing over and sitting down at the table. Lilly and Jon showed them how to use the chopsticks, but Syndra and Cora couldn’t stop looking across the room to the flatscreen.

  Jon’s lip wrinkled after he tried to explain how to use the chopsticks to Syndra. The sea witch picked them up and began using them like she was a pro, her eyes never leaving the flatscreen. After a single bite, she looked down at the sushi and started to gobble it up.

  Across the table, Cora did the same. Hands with chopsticks moved in rapid succession, clearing out their containers in short order. When they were done, the sea witch and cabin mate were up and back on the couch, staring at the flatscreen.

  “It seems everyone likes it,” Jon smiled.

  Lilly nodded. “This is delicious. You must show us how to make…”

  “It’s called sushi and I’ll be happy to show you this afternoon.”

  “I’m still hungry,” Zelda growled.

  “I bought some meat and put it in the fridge. I’m not sure how you liked it cooked, but we can make some hamburgers for lunch.”

  Zelda stepped past her Captain and Jon, moving to the fridge. She opened the door, reached in and pulled out a plastic wrapped piece of beef. Lilly spotted the bloody meat, bolted toward her First Mate and snatched it from her hands.

  Zelda looked to her Captain, her pupils wide and black. She sniffed at the air, her expression that of a predator. Zelda took a step closer and Lilly put up her palm, stopping the tall elf.

  “This is not the time for bloody meat,” Lilly said with a hard tone.

  “It smells so nice,” Zelda spoke with a faraway voice.

  “What’s happening right now?” Jon said as he inched closer.

  “My First Mate has a weakness for bloody meat. It makes her aggressive and wanting,” Lilly informed.

  “Aggressive and wanting? You mean she gets violent and horny?” Jon scratched his head.

  Lilly kept her steady gaze on Zelda as she spoke out the side of her mouth to Jon. “I believe those are all the same things, but different words. She needs a little time to collect herself and she should be back to normal.”

  Lilly moved to the fridge and placed the wrapped beef inside. Closing the door, she rested her back against it and waited. Zelda blinked like she was in a waking dream. A long moment slipped by before her eyes turned back to normal and her entire seven-foot-tall frame wilted.

  “I’m sorry, my Captain,” Zelda moaned.

  Lilly stepped closer, reached up and touched Zelda’s cheek. “We all have our weaknesses. Nothing to be concerned with. But, for all our sakes, do not go into the cold cabinet.”

  “It’s a fridge,” Jon corrected.

  “Do not go into the fridge,” Lilly said.

  Zelda nodded, turned, walked to the couch and sat down next to her fellow crewmates.

  Lilly let out a long exhale.

  Jon moved to her side, concern in his eyes. “Are you okay?”

  Lilly nodded with closed eyes. “I believe we are stressed in this new situation. I didn’t think it would be this hard to adjust.”

  “I can show you around the place, to help with the adjustment?” Jon smiled.

  Lilly opened her eyes and looked to the handsome man before her. “That would be lovely.”

  The pair stepped away, Lilly following Jon. Jon made his way up the stairs to the second floor. Lilly remained silent, knowing she had already ex
plored up here, but letting Jon re-explain it.

  “There are four bedrooms up here and two small bathrooms. This house was my family’s summer home, but I decided to move here to get away from Spiral City. All of you can have your own room. They’re not big, but they should be fine,” Jon said as he opened doors and let Lilly peer inside.

  “Why do you stay on the bottom floor?” Lilly asked as she pretended to see the rooms for the first time.

  “I don’t have much need to come upstairs. I thought of making one of the rooms a hobby room, but I haven’t gotten to it. Besides, the large bedroom on the ground floor has a great bathroom. Also, I tend to watch TV a lot and it’s easier to slip into bed from the living room without climbing stairs.”

  Lilly nodded. “I’ll get my crew to the rooms so they can make themselves comfortable.”

  Jon smiled before it faded away. “All of you are so different.”

  Lilly eyed Jon with a pleasant smile. “There are different kinds of elves and races on Aquris. Zelda is Sea Elf. They come from the very oceans and can change their shape into their spirit form.

  “Syndra is a Shadow Elf, a below ground race who was forced above ground from their caverns and tunnels. The Illuminous Empire had taken over most of the scattered islands on Aquris, making her people become aquatic nomads, searching for a new home. Don’t talk to her about it unless you want to hear about her people being persecuted and taken from their true homes.”

  Jon nodded. “You and Cora look like you belong to the same race.”

  Lilly kept her smile. “You are very observant. The most populated race across Aquris are the Sun Elves. Our people control most of the land on Aquris, of which there isn’t very much. Sun Elves formed the Illuminous Empire, but Cora and I are not part of their evil domination.”

  “Sounds like there is a lot of drama back home.”

  Lilly nodded. “It’s deeper than you know. The empire’s ships patrol much of the thirteen seas. They execute without hesitation if you break any of their precious laws.”

  “Is that why you’re a pirate?”

  Lilly’s small smile melted away. “We are survivors, nothing more, nothing less.”