by S. E. Smith
We will not only deal with it, but accept it when the time comes, Emma’s soft voice whispered through his mind.
I know, Ha’ven finally replied with a sigh. That boy better not break her heart.
Ha’ven….
“I don’t think I could bear seeing her hurt,” Ha’ven murmured as they reached the bottom step.
He watched as Emma glanced over at the children who were chasing each other. A shadow darkened her eyes and he immediately regretted his behavior. He knew Emma was remembering how she had been unable to be with her mother when she had passed away.
“Emma,” Ha’ven said in a quiet voice, gently cupping her chin. “I’m sorry.”
Emma shook her head and blinked the film of tears away. She gave him a sad, shaky smile and reached up to brush a kiss across his lips. He watched as her aura swirled in varying shades of colors as she fought to control her emotions.
“You have nothing to be sorry for,” she responded in a light tone. “Now, let’s quit worrying about something that isn’t going to happen for a long, long time and see if we can make it through the night without you guys getting into trouble,” she teased.
Ha’ven chuckled and a wicked gleam came into his eyes. “Now, where is the fun in that?” He asked in a mischievous tone while he slid his hand down over the curve of her hip.
“Oh!” Emma whispered, blushing when the other men suddenly turned their heads to grin at them. “Payback, Ha’ven. I’m thinking some serious payback later.”
“That is what I’m hoping for,” Ha’ven whispered in her ear before straightening when Creon came forward to greet them.
“Up to more mischief, I see,” Creon observed with a knowing grin.
“Always,” Ha’ven retorted with a casual shrug. “So, how has life been since we last saw you?”
*.*.*
“That’s good. The brake timing is perfect,” Cara yelled out before she turned and wiped a hand across her brow.
She raised up her thumbs to Dulce and the other men after the last test of the ride through the Symbiot Queen’s castle. She was excited and nervous. This had been a joint effort with Abby, the guys at the repair shop, and her. Abby outdid herself in her artwork for the ride. What surprised Cara was Ariel’s, Trisha’s, and Carmen’s enthusiasm for the project, as well. They had worked on the Tunnel of Horror with the other teams of engineers, artists, and programmers while Trelon, Dulce, and she had focused on the castle.
It had taken almost a year to complete the project. Built into the far side of the cavern, it was a splendid example of combined Earth and Valdier technologies and ideas. The use of holographic images, animatronics, and good old fashioned illusions made it appear that the castle actually was alive.
“This has to be the best attraction here, Lady Cara,” Dulce said. His gaze followed a flow of energy bands that danced up a wall and across to the throne. “Lord Trelon said he was almost done with the programming for the Symbiot Queen.”
“Yes, he has been working on it like crazy. It is driving me nuts because he won’t let me see it,” Cara replied with a sigh. “He says it is payback for what happened last year.”
Dulce chuckled. “Did you remind him that it was his fault for being impatient?” He asked with a raised eyebrow.
They were both remembering the previous Halloween when Trelon had resorted to hiding a tracking device on Cara so he could find out what she and the other women were up to. During one of her many nocturnal wanderings, she had discovered the empty cavern under the palace. Her imagination ignited, and with the help of the other women and a few of the guys from the workshop, they had worked tirelessly to transform the area into an underground amusement park for the residents of Valdier and an enchanting playground for the children.
Cara had suggested keeping it a surprise, but the men had been just as determined to discover what they were doing. Cara hadn’t realized what the men were up to until it was too late and Trelon had placed a tracking device on her to discover where she was disappearing to during the day.
“Oh, he knows,” Cara retorted, picking up her tool bag. “Also, if he ever puts another tracking device on me again, he knows where it will end up when I find it.”
“I’m sure he understands the danger of doing that,” Dulce responded with a slight grimace. “It sounds very painful.”
“It would be,” Cara laughed. “Thank you for all your help on this project, Dulce.”
“You are most welcome, my lady,” Dulce replied in a softer voice. “Are you ready for the first ride?”
“I think tomorrow will be soon enough,” Cara said, glancing around one more time before she turned and looked at Dulce. “I know the others are excited to see it completed. Trelon needs to finish the queen’s programming first, though.”
“I look forward to seeing their reactions,” Dulce said. “We’ll have everything ready once Lord Trelon has completed his program.”
“Thanks!” Cara replied with a cheerful grin that quickly faded to a grimace when she saw the time. “Ugh! I promised I’d meet up with the others almost a half hour ago.”
“I’ll finish the last inspections,” Dulce assured her, waving for her to go. “As you say, ‘I’ve got this’.”
“You’re the best, Dulce!” Cara said, gripping her tool bag and hurrying toward the exit. “See you guys tomorrow,” she called out to the other men with a wave of her free hand.
“Good evening, Lady Cara,” a chorus of amused voices echoed behind her as she disappeared through the massive front doors.
5
“This is incredible, Cara,” Paul commented, looking across the cavern at the entrance to the castle. “How did you get the outside structure to move?”
“A lot of it is just an illusion, depending on what angle you are looking at it from, but other parts of the building are all timed to change based on a series of programs that are running the ride inside,” Cara explained. “Trelon is finishing up the last piece of programming now.”
“I can’t wait to go through it,” Trisha admitted with a grin.
“Tomorrow! Dulce and the guys are finishing up the last inspections,” Cara replied.
“Do you think it will be too scary for the little ones?” Carmen asked, turning a worried gaze back to the changing figures on the doors.
“I don’t know,” Cara admitted, turning to look at the kids playing in the cemetery. “They haven’t been afraid of anything else here. I think because they have spent so much time running through the attractions with the lights on, they know it isn’t real. Still, I don’t think I’d take the babies yet.”
“I love the idea of the ride,” Carmen admitted. “Where did you get it from?”
Cara’s expression changed, becoming slightly secretive. “Oh, let’s just say I have two very curious little girls who like to put things in the replicator,” she chuckled.
*.*.*
“What do you think they’s talking about?” Spring whispered, peering over the top of the headstone at Alice, Amber and her sister, Phoenix.
“I’s don’t know, but they keeps looking at the castle that my mommy has been working on,” Amber replied, sliding down to sit on the fake grass.
“I’s saw Mommy running out of it earlier,” Jade said, coming up to sit next to her sister.
“We’s can find out for you,” Roam offered as he and Bálint came up to the small group.
“What’s do you think, Zohar?” Phoenix asked Zohar.
Zohar looked thoughtfully at the castle before turning to look at his mom where she was gesturing toward the new ride. He had been inside the castle a bunch of times with his mom. He frowned. All the mommies and daddies seemed excited about something.
“Roam, you’s and Bálint goes and find out what’s they talking about. Don’t let them sees you,” he ordered with a nod. “Jade, you and Amber goes and see what your daddy is doing.”
“Okays!” The two girls said with a wicked grin and shifted before taking off in the direc
tion of the control room high above the cavern.
“What do you thinks is the matter, Zohar?” Alice asked.
“I don’t know, but we’s going to find out,” Zohar replied with determination. “My mommy has drawings in her office. I will sees what they are.”
“Looky!” Jabir whispered, coming up to Zohar and staring at the group with wide eyes. “Your daddy has called the Twin Dragons. It’s must be something bad. My daddy says they’s are the meanest, strongest fighters, even stronger than mine.”
Zohar’s face turned grim as he stared at the stern looking faces of the two new adults who came down the steps with a smaller woman holding a baby in her arms. They did look scary. He watched as his father stepped forward and nodded to both men. One of the men glanced at the castle while the other one stepped closer to the woman and baby. He had seen his dad do that when he wanted to protect his mom and him.
“We’s needs to meet tonight in the big nursery,” Zohar whispered to Jabir, Alice, Spring, and Phoenix.
*.*.*
Jade and Amber carefully crawled along the narrow ledge under the window to the control room. They had flown high enough to keep out of sight of the adults before landing and shifting on the staircase. From there, they had quickly scaled the steps and climbed out onto the ledge so they could be close to the open window.
“What is the Queen up to today?” A man’s voice asked. “Is she still threatening to take over the world?”
Jade nudged Amber and jerked her head toward the window. Amber nodded and scooted closer so Jade would have room to peek over the edge. They saw the warrior staring down at their father with a dark frown on his face.
“She is a devious creature,” Trelon replied with a frustrated growl. “I thought I had her finished, but she just won’t cooperate.”
“Will you be able to finish her before tomorrow’s first run through?” The warrior asked.
“Probably, I’m just worried about the Queen’s minions. They keep showing up at unexpected places. Programming the weapons systems on a warship is much easier than some of the creations my mate comes up with!” Trelon replied with a chuckle. “I think I’ve figured out a way to contain them, but I won’t be sure until I run it through one last test.”
“What’s do you think the Queen wants?” Amber whispered to her sister as they peered over the ledge. “Mommy’s coming. Hide!” She added in alarm when she saw their mom walking up the stairs.
The two dragonlings sank down on the ledge when their mother walked into the control room. Their eyes widened when they saw Symba pause outside the door and peeked around the side. Jade raised one small claw to her lips. Symba nodded and glanced toward the control room before lying down near the entrance.
“We’s better go,” Jade said. “Mommy isn’t going to like us on the ledge.”
“Okay’s,” Amber replied.
Amber started to turn on the narrow ledge. Her eyes widened in fright when her back legs slipped over the side. She scrambled to grip the ledge, but it was too slick and she couldn’t hold on. Her mouth opened in a silent cry for help.
Jade still had her back to Amber, but must have sensed her sister’s distress. She quickly wrapped her tail around Amber’s left arm. The ledge was too narrow for her to get a good footing and she felt her body starting to slide as well.
“Flaps your wings,” Jade hissed when she felt Amber’s weight pulling her backwards.
“I’s trying,” Amber snapped, scraping her feet along the uneven wall to get a good footing. “Don’t lets me go yet.”
“I won’t,” Jade whispered even though she felt her body sliding backwards. “Amber, I’s gonna falls.”
A whimper escaped Amber just before she felt her body suddenly floating. Glancing down, a grin curved her lips and she shifted. A moment later, Jade tumbled into the small, golden hover craft that had formed under them.
“Thanks, Symba,” Amber murmured as the golden symbiot shimmered.
“Oh! This is a new shape,” Jade commented as she ran her hands over Symba’s form. “I’s likes it!”
The golden body shimmered in delight. “You is the smartest, bestest symbiot in the whole world,” Amber added.
“So, what’s do you think Daddy meant when he said the Queen and hers men… men… onions?” Jade asked while Symba silently flew through the cavern before gliding down and landing where the other dragonlings were playing in the cemetery.
“I’s don’t know, but he sounded like he’s wasn’t doing so goods. The other man says she’s trying to take over the worlds,” Amber worriedly reflected. “What’s if she and her men-onions do?”
“Mommy and Daddy won’t let them,” Jade replied confidently. “We’ll tells the others, though, just so they knows.”
“Okay,” Amber whispered, biting her lip when she remembered the warrior’s worry about the baby’s being scared. “Zohar will knows what to do.”
6
Bálint held up his fist and froze. The group of adults was spread out ahead of them. He knew Roam would recognize his signal to stop and wait until the area was clear. He focused on his mom and dad, where they were talking to the twin dragons. If there was trouble, then they would be the ones to help fight against it.
Creeping forward, he quickly crawled under the long table. He made sure the coast was clear before he motioned for Roam to catch up with him. He scanned the area while his best friend darted out from behind the large trash bin and then slid to a stop when he bumped into Bálint. Bálint waited until Roam shifted from his tiger form before he spoke.
“We needs to hear what’s they are saying,” Bálint whispered.
Roam nodded. “You listen to them,” he responded before pointing to his parents. “I’s going to go see what my mom and dad are saying. They’ve been all’s secretive since we came. I heard my dad talkings to Grandpa Paul about my baby sisters.”
“Just don’t gets caught,” Bálint reminded him.
“I won’t! I’s a Sarafin warrior. I’s good at hiding,” Roam retorted with a roll of his eyes before he shifted back into his tiger form.
Bálint watched his friend peek out from under the table before darting along the edge. He would have had a lot more confidence in Roam if the tiger cub had managed to make it to the stack of chairs without tripping over his own paws. Shaking his head, he grinned when Roam ended his dash with a roll and came to a stop just behind another trash can. A moment later, the white and black striped tail that was still visible disappeared as well.
Turning his attention back to his own task, Bálint carefully crawled to the far edge of the table. One of the twin warriors was standing close to the woman and baby. He scooted as close as he could without being seen.
“I’m sure that Hope will be fine, Calo,” the woman was saying while she rocked the small infant in her arms.
“Her nose has been stuffy and she has been fussing, Melina. Perhaps we should have the healer examine her,” Calo replied, gently touching the baby’s cheek. “Ouch!” He suddenly exclaimed, pulling his hand back.
Melina laughed and shook her head. ”She doesn’t need a healer, she is teething. It is natural for her to have some discomfort. I’m surprised that the symbiots even come near her right now. All she wants to do is chew on everything,” she added with a grimace when the baby turned her face toward her.
“She leaks a lot, as well,” the other twin warrior said.
“She doesn’t leak, Cree. She drools,” Melina replied in a dry tone. “How are things going? I’m so excited to be able to see the festival this year.”
“Trelon is fighting with the Queen’s programming, but Cara said he is almost finished,” the man named Cree replied.
Bálint leaned forward trying to hear what the warrior was saying. He had been able to get a few words – capture, minions, babies – but the sound of chairs falling drowned out most of them. He turned just in time to see Roam sprinting across the open area.
“Roam!” Vox roared.
; Bálint briefly closed his eyes and shook his head. Once again, his friend’s growing paws had gotten him into trouble. Still, he had heard enough to know that there was something going on.
7
Later that evening, the large group was back together, this time in Abby and Zoran’s living quarters. Zohar watched his mother and the other moms walk down the hallway before he turned back to the other kids. They were all gazing at him with worried expressions.
“Zohar,” Alice started to say before she fell silent.
“Bálint, what did you and Roam finds out?” Zohar asked.
“Roam can’t runs without falling?” Jabir said with a grin.
“I’s can, too!” Roam growled.
“You’s didn’t look like it to me,” Jabir commented with a thoughtful expression. “You dids run pretty quick when your daddy was chasing you, though.”
“I heard my dad telling my mom that the Queen of the Symbees was coming to get all the little babies,” Roam snarled with a lift of his chin. “My daddy said thats she’s sending her minions to takes them away.”
“Bálint, what dids you hear?” Zohar demanded.
“The Twin Dragons were talking. I couldn’t hear everythings, but it was like what Roam just said,” Bálint answered in a quiet voice.
“Our daddy says the Queen is being bad,” Jade said.
“Yeah, that she keeps doing things and might scares the babies,” Amber added.
“What do you think is going on, Zohar?” Alice asked in a soft voice.
Zohar watched Bálint move closer to Alice. He stared at all the others gazing back at him. Deep inside, he could feel his dragon moving restlessly.
