“I’d likely be more help if I knew what we were doing.” Nix observed dryly then frowned as he noticed Exodus hurriedly unbuttoning Shades bloody shirt. “Have you developed some fetishes that I don’t want to know about?” he asked cautiously.
Exodus paused in her work long enough to give him a withering glare then motioned toward the dead man he had brought at her request. “Strip him.” She commanded before returning to her own task of removing Shade’s clothes.
“This man died in the prison riots. He was a prisoner for the Aspects only know how long. I do not think there is enough gold in the entire city of Sanctuary to get me to strip him.” Nix informed her haughtily.
“I will assign you to protect Fidelity for the next three moons if you do not do as I ask right this moment. You have your choice, take five minutes to strip a filthy dead man or listen to Fidelity croon love songs for a season.” Exodus returned distractedly as she pulled Shade’s shirt off and tossed it to the side. She smiled at Nix’s angry curse and glanced over to see him scowling like a demon but following her orders nonetheless.
Within minutes she had Shade freed of his clothing and frowned as she examined the extensive damage to his body. His regeneration was trying to heal him, but if his limbs weren’t straightened soon he would be crippled in most of his left side.
Grabbing Shade’s torn bloody clothes she threw them at Nix and pointed at the naked dead man at his feet. “Now dress him in Shade’s clothes.” Exodus commanded as she dropped to her knee beside Shade and gently touched the side of his head.
“Why?” Nix demanded and Exodus could hear the stubbornness in his voice. With a sigh she met Nix’s eyes and realized she was going to have to explain what she was doing or Nix would argue through the entire process.
“Because in order for Shade Morcaillo to live. He must die.” Exodus informed him calmly and smiled at the confusion that lit Nix’s handsome face. “He has too many enemies and too many crimes to his name. This crash provides the perfect opportunity. I will hide him where no one will ever find him, right under their noses. No one knew he had company on this ship, and even if Grim would leave a helpless stranger to fend for themselves, Charm wouldn’t.”
“Are you certain this is what Finn meant?” Nix asked with obvious hesitation. The expression on his face was doubtful as he stared down at Shade’s broken body then glanced back to her.
“Finn said to ensure he lived no matter what. This is the only way I can do that.” Exodus said firmly then turned her attention back to Shade. With a deep breath she pressed her fingers tighter against his skull and pulled on the power of her Aspect once more to steal the gift of mind magic from Jin Han’shy. She smirked as she imagined the High Lord’s reaction to his sudden loss of power, but figured it served him right for refusing to use it to help others.
Leaning forward she used Jin’s gifts to dominate Shade’s mind and his body began to shift at her command. It took all of her focus to manipulate the Changeling’s body and she marveled at how much work was involved even in something as minor as darkening skin. Several long minutes past before she slumped back from the prone figure before her, and she smiled in delight at her handiwork.
“Are you certain this is what Finn meant?” Nix demanded again in a voice that was several tones higher than his normal voice.
Glancing up Exodus met Nix’s wide eyed stare and smiled widely before gazing down at the woman on the floor before her. She ran a finger lightly across the bronze cheek then idly twirled a strand of the long mahogany hair around her finger. “Would you ever guess who she truly is?” Exodus asked quietly as she admired her work. The woman was a work of art with high cheekbones and full lips not to mention the figure that curved in a way that could not be ignored. Men would fall over themselves to help Shade in his new form. There would be no lacking of protection for him either. Men would die for a beautiful woman. Jala Merrodin was a prime example of that fact.
“Just a few minor touches left to do.” Exodus murmured as she drew on her Aspect once more to borrow memories from a scattering of people in the city above. Hastily she crafted them together into a patchwork of memories and planted them carefully in Shade’s mind. He was horrible with keeping secrets, and Exodus knew if she didn’t hide the truth from him as well he would waste the effort she was putting out on his behalf.
It was a simple matter to store his true memories in the back of his mind and arrange for them to slowly trickle back to him over time. She wouldn’t steal his identity from him indefinitely. That would make Finn’s request to save Shade a moot point. Perhaps though in the time it took for all of his memories to return Shade would learn how to keep a secret from his friends. If he was going to survive he would have to. With Myth hunting him letting even a hint of his true identity slip could be fatal.
“I sincerely hope you are sure about this, because I most certainly am not.” Nix sighed as he returned to dressing the dead man with only occasional glances toward the beautiful naked woman that lay inches away.
Exodus smiled widely at him and nodded. “It will work perfectly just you wait and see.” She murmured.
*