Free Bridgeworlds: Rise of the Magi by Randy Blackwell

Never.”
    “I’m serious. I’m not a criminal. I don’t need that kind of trouble.”
    “All right, Doc, all right, you got a deal. We’ve gotten each other this far, so there’s no reason to make you mad now.”
    Omar was not quite sure that he believed Myles, but apparently he was an important part of this, so his word would have to do for now. Why did Misaki want me to bring a gambler? “Now let’s get on to the task at hand.”
    Myles was not used to all this talking. He was the kind of man to act first and ask questions later. He felt that life was just so much more fun that way. But Omar wasn’t half bad for being a nerd. Yeah, he’d told others before that he’d change and not get into trouble, but this time he really wanted to. The truth was that almost getting caught on that last con was just too close for comfort, and he needed to make a clean start.
    “Myles, are you listening to me?” Omar shouted.
    “Sorry, Doc. I zoned out there for a minute.”
    “Where did I lose you?”
    “At the beginning.”
    Omar rolled his eyes and sighed. “Look, this is important. We can’t just jump into this feet first.”
    “Omar, come on, we’ve been watching these critters for a long time. And what have we learned? Nothing, as far as I can see.”
    “Myles, I’ve learned a lot.”
    “Doc, you’ve just been watching and talking the whole time.”
    “You have much to learn about science, my friend.”
    “All right then, hit me with what you’ve got.”
    Omar handed Myles his binoculars. “The café is the place that seems to have the largest diversity of creatures. Are you there?”
    “I’m looking straight at it so what am I supposed to see?”
    “Look at the table on the far right side of the patio.”
    “Are you talking about that freaky, vampire-looking guy? Let’s see, jet black hair, skin as white as a sheet, fangs hanging out of his mouth, and sinister eyes that glow a putrid green. Now that guy is creepy! Whoa! He has shadows coming off him like smoke too!”
    “You have a good eye, Myles, but you missed three things.”
    Myles wasn’t used to being told that his observation skills were weak. He glowered at Omar, but the scientist wasn't finished.
    “Take another look. Science notices small details and you’re looking at the larger things. Now, tell me this—what’s he eating, what’s he drinking, and what do you see under his fingernails?”
    Myles pushed the zoom button on the high-tech binoculars. “Let’s see, he’s eating…oh, that’s awful! He’s eating some kind of raw meat. And what’s that he’s drinking…is that blood? I don’t know for sure about what’s in the cup, but I bet that dark brown stuff under those claw-like fingernails is dried blood. Wow! That guy is like a creature out of a horror movie!”
    Omar started to chuckle at Myles' assessment. “He does have a menacing look about him, doesn’t he? And if you notice the movements of all the other creatures, they steer clear of him, which he doesn’t seem to mind at all. The reason I pointed him out, however, is because of the creature on the opposite side of the patio. Take a look.”
    Myles swung the binoculars over to the other side and started to laugh. “Hey Doc, it’s a purple man! Where are the purple people eaters?” He was amused by his joke, but he kept gazing at the two creatures sitting there. “Hey look, he’s sitting next to a creature with grey skin and wings. That guy looks like you, Doc! And the purple one has wings too!” He dropped the binoculars and turned to Omar. “Is that dude glowing?”
    “Yes, he is, and the glow seems to change color with his facial expressions. When that horror movie creature with fangs sat down on the other side of the patio, he began to glare at him and gave off a red glow.”
    “He’s like a walking mood ring, isn’t he?”
    “Yes, exactly. Now look at all the grey-skinned creatures like me.”
    Myles lifted the binoculars to his eyes again.