Free Other Worldly Ways (Anthology 1) by Connie Suttle Page B

idea."
    "What's that, brother?"
    "I'm not allowed to interfere."
    "I know that. You've hammered that into my head often enough over the centuries."
    "But I am allowed to protect myself."
    "Also aware of that, brother."
    "What if I disguise myself as you?"
    Merrill sat in thought for a very long time. "This has possibilities," he admitted, smiling widely.
    * * *
    Monday, April 12th
    The flight was uneventful, and Joey was playing with his seat belt during our trip. Neither of us bothered to buckle up. He was still wearing the same clothing from the night before; we'd find him something when we landed. I had a safe house lined up, one I'd used several times before and on a nicer scale than the one in Memphis, although it was housed in the basement of a high rise that the Council owned.
    After buying two outfits for Joey, a cab dropped us off at an address nearby. Joey and I walked three blocks to get to the warehouse. I had a key, which got us through the outer door, then punched a series of numbers into a keypad inside. A steel wall slid aside, revealing the "safe" portion of the place. A button on the inside closed the door behind us. Joey was happy the moment he walked into the place. A big screen television with cable took up one wall. A computer was also provided. Joey was in heaven. He flipped the television on and surfed through movie channels, finding something he wanted to watch. I left him to it.
    * * *
    "Merrill, let's get Chessman first."
    "All right. Then what?" Merrill glanced at his friend, who cut into a steak Franklin had prepared for him.
    "Well, I think we should pay the Seer a visit. As twins, you know? See if he attacks either of us. If he decides not to attack, I have the feeling you can wipe his mind easily. I say it's worth the effort."
    Merrill looked thoughtful. "Yes. I think you could be right about this. Let's do it, brother."
    * * *
    Tuesday, April 13th
    Joey and I both fed when we rose; we were planning to go to the coffee shop first, where Merrill's card was used. We took a cab, and I was handing the driver money as we exited the vehicle when the mugger knocked a woman down and snatched her purse right behind us. He never knew what hit him. I reached out and snatched the purse back with one hand, grabbing the thief's jacket with the other. I tossed him over the roof of the cab. His body made a crunching noise as it landed; I was surprised to see him struggle up from the concrete and hobble away.
    Joey had gone to the woman and was helping her up when I handed the purse back to her. She thanked us, but we might as well have been alone in the crowd of people walking past us on that sidewalk. That suited me perfectly—we didn't need the notoriety.
    We walked into the coffee shop, and I got what might be the biggest surprise of my life. Merrill was there waiting for us.
    I was already in attack mode when someone else cleared his throat nearby. Joey was standing a few feet away, I noticed, his mouth open in an 'O' of surprise. I turned to see who had made the noise, and saw another Merrill.
    "If you attack that one over there, you could be very sorry," the one closest to me said. Only then did I take in the entire coffee shop. Every person inside had gone perfectly still, as if they were suspended in time. I couldn't begin to imagine what was going on.
    "I'm sorry to confuse you this way, but we have to remove that compulsion, one way or another," the first Merrill told me.
    "Chessman, if you'll just look at me for a moment, we can take care of that," the one closest to me said. I didn't know what to do, or which one to guard against. I had fangs and claws out, but was desperately trying to hold on to some sense of rationality. I turned to the one closest to me; he seemed the more immediate threat.
    I looked at him. He caught my eye and that was it. I was drawn in. I could no more look away from those eyes than I could stand in the sun. "I am removing the compulsion the Seer has placed upon you," he