Captured Obedience

by Tasha Winters

  It was good and right that her dream walker was the one who took her first, just as her dream foretold. He was careful and loving. It was another sign that she was following her path. She wondered if Sterling knew they would experience many nights like last night. She had never done more than kissed boys as a child. When she became of age to take a husband, she didn’t allow a man to touch her. She searched but that flush of heat, of attraction, never came until she found these men.

  Maya knew there were times you gave to your husband because he had needs. She also knew if a man loved his woman, he would not let her go without that special feeling. The same tingling thrill that her men had given her. The same that Sterling had given her last night. There would never be any need to worry about her men wanting her, however, it was time to be concerned about stopping Lakan.

  She needed time to explore what the full significance of her vision meant. It was frightening and exciting at the same time. She wondered if it was simply as it seemed—she was for each of them. Together. They seemed to have no qualms about the arrangement. Her dreams told her to submit to them. But something told her she needed them all to take her, mate with her, before she could battle Lakan. It was something she knew in her core. When the men of her destiny claimed her, she could finish it.

  Maya thought back to the tale of Sage Woman. Her mother had made sure Maya understood that it was only for a few women who did great things for their clans, their tribes. These were special women that had three men to love, protect, lead her in the home.

  Grandmother spoke of Sage Woman who had left her home to pray and dream, looking for a cure for the illness that had come upon them. Sage Woman had told the leaders of her tribe not to drink from the stream but because she was a woman and they had always done so, they didn’t listen to her. In her dreams she learned how to save them and brought water from the place she camped. She’d fought with grandfather bear to get the water, almost dying from her injuries because she had hidden from her husbands, who would have protected her. They forbade her to go to the stream to gather the herbs, putting her life in danger, but Sage Woman knew her destiny and mixed the water with herbs growing along its banks to make a tea. She fed the tea to the people and they were well again.

  Her destiny demanded she give up living amongst her own clan to have her three husbands, but it was good for Sage Woman. Her mountain men took her home with them and she became Mountain Sage Woman, forever. Maya’s grandmother told her she was destined to be another Sage Woman.

  She must always listen to her dreams and the things around her when they spoke to her. That was her strong medicine. Her path was decided. Her future lay before her. The past only held shame and death.

  Last night, when she went back to sleep, her sleep was full of Lakan, his crimes against his people, this people, and his revenge against her for leading him into this world. Maya did not understand what it all meant but she knew one thing: the skinwalker wanted her life and he wanted her.

  He was killing others to lure her out. In her dream, he shifted into the coyote and killed to eat. Then he came after her. In his anger, he killed any time he could not get her. He was going mad and ultimately, he would take her from her future, her men. If she were like the seer of old, she had to protect others, protect those whose paths intertwined with hers. The end of the dream had been missing. Grandmother said if her dream had no end it was because it wasn’t decided yet.

  Her men had taken care of her. Calmed and reassured her of her safety. She believed them as much as she could. They didn’t understand the spirit world like she did. Their world lived surrounded with evil and she knew the skinwalkers were part of the problem. It was a matter of time before things became clear but might be too late for them to have a future. She prayed not. It was the one time she wished she could see into her own future, not just others.

  Later, once they had all gone back to bed, after she crawled into the blankets with Sterling, her world relaxed. He had caught her dream and sent it back to her across the heavens. As they lay in bed, her body drawn near to his, Sterling’s touch thrilled her. She fell asleep naked against one of the men who would be her future if she survived her path to forever. Maya pushed away the danger of the skinwalker for a few hours.

  Food was still a challenge. Maya didn’t like cheese and Zander said they needed a new staple. Whatever that meant. Milk was from a cow that Zander had purchased for Maya. While raw goat or cow’s milk didn’t appeal to Paxton or any of the men, Maya enjoyed it. So, they continued to get their milk from the store and Maya learned to extract hers from the source. Today, she also had fruit on her plate and mint tea she found in Paxton’s herb box.

  She was sitting as though worried by something or someone. Paxton imagined she worried about many things today—namely last night’s revelations and today’s unknowns.

  “Hey little rabbit, are you feeling better this morning?”

  She nodded. “I don’t know what to do now. Sterling has not told me this week’s list of chores.” The translator did its job. Paxton knew it was still unsettling for her to hear their words translated but that need would soon be unnecessary. He couldn’t imagine what it would feel like to have the implant—having the words and thoughts reorganized to make you a native speaker and in essence, having your brain interacting with a modified computer. If Maya knew the full meaning of assimilation and implant, she would be more afraid. Simulation, integration, assimilation had become daily words to his partners and himself and still they held concerns he rarely gave voice to.

  Their life, by choice, was enclosed. All the living and part of the working areas of the compound existed within a dome to regulate the environment, keeping the too hot sun and the too cold winters from stopping their work. The rest of the preserve was wide open to the weather. The animals could stay in it or find a place under the many trees and coverings spread throughout the property. It was this open area Maya wanted to explore.

  Four months out of the year the sun was too strong to be in it for long. Plants would burn up rather than grow healthy. Four months out of the year, the winter weather was so severe, that they rarely left the safety of the compound. And for two months in between each of the two extremes the weather was perfect. Now, it was summer, and the heat was oppressive outside the dome. The sun cover was shielding them from the UV rays, like living behind sunshades.

  “Sterling’s busy this morning, so keep me company for a while.”

  “You mean the implant something.”

  “Yes. Stay with me while I eat. Then I’ll take you with me.”

  “Good. Working with my hands relaxes me.”

  “I’ll show you my newest project and you can explore in there. No one has been in yet to see it, so you’ll be the first. Afterwards, you can do what you like while I finish recording. I’ll have the robots and other gardeners do the plant care, but I’ll have things for you to work on in the seedling room. I have your peaches and pears growing in there.”

  Sitting down to a cup of coffee, he tried to give her a sip, but she turned away. He hoped she’d never get a taste for the brew. He attempted his version of small talk with his little rabbit. The kitchen door slammed against the inside wall, causing both to jump.

  “What the hell, Zander.”

  “Don’t swear in front of our baby badger there. Sterling won’t like it.” They both knew Sterling was one for teaching correct language and when the implant went in, she’d be saying the words she heard most often. But assimilation was Sterling’s job, not theirs. He said the immigrants picked up slang, especially cursing, quick enough on their own.

  “Hell, Sterling isn’t my wife, I’ll just tell Maya not to say hell.”

  “Good luck with that. Right now, I’m pissed, sorry Maya. Don’t say pissed or hell. Something got onto the compound and killed a gazelle. I’m unsure—”

  Maya jumped up and ran to the pens. Zander caught up with her before she could find which pen the little gazelle was in. “Come back inside,
baby.”

  “No, I need to see the animal.” She closed her eyes as though she were trying to think of something. Or listen for something. Paxton showed up carrying a pair of sandals.

  “Now what’s going on?”

  “Maya, stop and wait until I’ve spoken to Paxton. Well, I’m sure this is what set the alarm off last night. We’re doing well building up this species, but they aren’t robust enough to release them into the wild, let alone allow other animals to kill them. I checked the tracks, but I want your opinion on what you think did it. Maybe we should send her back to Sterling. I’m not sure it’s a good idea for her to see the animal.”

  “The translator has just told her everything you told me. If anyone can handle seeing a dead animal, it will be our girl here.”

  “You’re right, except…Well, all right. We’re doing the implant today, so might as well start the crazies now. I’m suiting up for that battle, by the way. We’ve waited long enough.”

  “I hear you.” He held out her sandals. “Maya, put your shoes on, baby.”

  “I don’t want them.”

  He grabbed her sandals and tried to put them on her feet as she stood. “No. I don’t want those.” She reached to stop him.

  “Maya, honey, you need shoes.”

  “Why?”

  Zander laughed. “Maybe you need shoes, but I’ll bet she has spent most of her life without them.”

  “Point taken. Fine, no shoes. Let’s go, little rabbit.”

  After securing her wrist computer to continue the translations, they headed for the door. The wrist device kept a monitor on her should she wander off. Zander kissed her forehead and put her in between Paxton and himself as the three left in search of the dead animal.

  The men saw the animal as a prized preserve animal. Maya saw something different. Maya saw the dead creature and cried out, running to it. She dropped to the dirt beside the torn animal and cried. “It’s the one who was frightened yesterday. Zander, he knew.”

  He reached out to hold her, but she pushed him away. “I told you: it was Lakan who killed the animal. Look at those tracks.” She pointed to the paw prints all around them.

  “Gazelle. It’s called a gazelle, honey, and why do you say Lakan? He’s the one that came after you in the cave, right? The one you dreamed about last night.”

  “Yes, the shaman. I dream about him every night. He came here last night. He’s evil. He turns into any animal he wants, but it takes much food and rest to recover from the changing. He must kill for meat. These animals are in fencing, not free in the wild. It’s easier to kill a captive animal. It was the skinwalker. And he chose this one because I cared for it.”

  “Zander, I hate to give any credence to something that sounds so bizarre but on the camera feed from last night, there was a man who was nearly naked running through the grounds and then he disappeared into the brush. A coyote or wolf came trotting out just a small distance away. It looks like she might be telling the truth.”

  “Zander, Pax, do you have Maya?” Sterling’s voice came over an intercom.

  “Yes,” they answered in unison.

  “Good. I need her here and the two of you if you can spare the time. I have information on the skinwalker legend. It seems there are quite a few tribes that speak of them, not just one and they are always evil. Some tribes don’t even mention them for fear of bringing them to their doorstep, so to speak. Maya’s tribe doesn’t seem to be as worried about it as some others.”

  “On our way.”

  Sterling

  Sterling was sitting on the sofa. When Maya came into view, he opened his arms for her and she crawled into the shelter of his embrace. Her sorrow filled his heart with tenderness. He had put food he knew she’d enjoy and could identify on the table, encouraging her to eat. There were nuts and fruits. Water. She needed a physical. It had been greater than two weeks and he was still trying to earn her trust, so he could perform it without too much hoopla. It had been long enough. They had been intimate.

  But for now, there were things they needed to discuss, like what Maya had told him last night, and what he had discovered.

  “I’ve done more research this morning and have found out new information. First, we’ll keep Maya in her room officially but after our talk, I think she’ll want to sleep in our bed. One of ours at a time, anyway.”

  Silence and skepticism greeted Sterling’s statement.

  “I won’t disagree on the sleep companion, but what gives?”

  Sterling looked at Pax, his oldest friend if continuity was the qualifier, and could see the conflicting emotions before he shut them all down. Paxton kept his emotions and thoughts to himself for a while before disclosing anything. He would voice his concerns, as needed. Sterling had some success at drawing them out.

  “I think it’s what’s best for her, and us. We need to step up the time line on everything. This is a good way to do it.” He turned towards Maya. “You want to share our beds, right?”

  “Yes,” she said, snuggling even closer to Sterling.

  “Right, next thing is the issue with the skinwalker. In a nutshell, I now believe, as Maya does, that evil is what a skinwalker embodies. Usually, he has done some unforgiveable transgression, like killing a family member, or purposely endangering someone in the tribe. Most often, it involves acquiring power, or prestige for him. Greed, the ancient evil motivator. Anyway, once he has done the deed, he becomes a skinwalker, wreaking havoc on everyone. He can shift into the form of any animal he chooses but coyotes, owls, bears, and mountain lions are what they change into. According to legend, there are many of them and they are found where evil is.”

  “There must be millions roaming the time we’re in,” commented Zander, tongue in cheek.

  “Yes, that is true,” verified Maya. “I’ve seen them on your news.”

  “Honey, I think he was kidding,” said Sterling.

  “No, I think Maya may be on to something. It makes sense, about our skinwalker. I need you to watch the feed from the surveillance last night. Darla, play last night’s intruder visual. While you watch this, keep in mind the description Maya gave us for the first night she was here when the alarm went off.”

  “Playing it now.”

  The men looked at the screen in front of them and Maya became agitated.

  “Lakan, that is him. Our skinwalker. He followed me here. I must find him and destroy him.”

  Sterling pulled her close to him. “No, Maya. You do nothing without one of us.”

  “That cinches it for me, Sterling. This animal-shifted human killed my gazelle.”

  “You lost a gazelle last night? That’s why I felt Maya’s sadness. I thought it was because of last night.”

  “Yes. The footprints appeared coyote-like and I heard one last night. The cry started the same night we brought Maya home. I thought it was a coincidence, since I haven’t been here long myself, but I’ve had Darla record it every night. There was an odd quality in the yelping. Not like it was hurt, though. It was a lone call and I don’t think it was asking for help. I can’t describe it. Hold on. Darla, play the coyote sounds from last night.”

  “Playing coyote sounds, Professor.”

  They listened. Maya shivered. “Lakan.”

  Sterling drew her closer and as she snuggled in, she looked at Paxton as though he’d protect her as their group leader. Pax had always seen Sterling as their leader if push came to shove. He didn’t go in for chain of command since leaving the military.

  “Okay, so if we are to believe skinwalkers exist, that they are evil, that we have one here, and he is her shaman, how do we get rid of him?” Pax asked.

  “Say his name.”

  “What, Maya? Didn’t you already say his name? And how do you know it’s him?”

  “Because he changed in front of me and I saw who he was. He thought he could catch me when he was a coyote. He would have but his fear of the cave stopped him. They say the cave itself is evil, too. It’s where people have gone in
and never returned. He cornered me and leaped. I fell against the rock and but instead of hitting the stone wall, I was here.”

  “But you said his name, and nothing happened,” said Zander.

  “No, I was frightened and didn’t know what I’d seen at first. I never saw him come through the wall with me. I didn’t even know I had gone through until I was here and then it was so loud, and hard to breathe, and…”

  “We know baby. We won’t let that happen again. You’re better prepared now. You aren’t alone, either.” Sterling seemed to ponder things for a moment. “Okay, so now you know it’s him, you just say his name and he’s gone? But he isn’t.” Sterling looked perplexed.

  “No, because while I said his name it wasn’t his true, full name and I didn’t say it to his face.”

  “That will not happen, young lady,” Paxton said firmly. “We’ll figure out another way.”

  She shook her head, long shimmering black hair swaying heavily. “No, it’s the only way.”

  “Okay, then we surround him, and we will say his name. You will teach us his name and we will say it to his face.”

  “You cannot say it. It must be me. I’m the one who saw him change. I’m the one he revealed himself to and I’m the one who must call out his name.” She took a breath as Paxton stood in agitation. She spoke softly. “And you cannot be with me because he won’t come out.”

  “Well, it won’t be you, that’s for damn sure. We’ll figure something else out.” Paxton was clear.

  “There’s more. He doesn’t just kill animals. If a skinwalker becomes angry, he kills other humans. Once he has killed a human, it’s easy to do again.”

  “Then we have to stop him. It sounds too fantastical to think we can sell this story as reality, so no law enforcement.” Zander was always rational.

  “Well, more than all of that is the fact that if we want to keep Maya out of the government’s hands, we need to make sure her assimilation is complete, and we keep her talents secret.” Sterling was clear on his duty and theirs.