Enigma:What Lies Beneath (Enigma Series Book 1)

by Kellen, Ditter

  He turned to Hauke. “Know that I love you, fili mi.”

  “I do, Father.” Hauke kissed his mother on the cheek and stumbled toward the door.

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Hauke rolled to his side, careful not to wake his sleeping mate. With the child due to be birthed at any time, she needed all the sleep could she get.

  He silently slid from the bed and padded across the cool floor to relieve himself.

  The restroom, as Abbie called it, was clean and boasted of some sweet-smelling concoction she’d had Vaulcron order from Miguel.

  In the months since her arrival in Aukrabah, she’d made his rooms a home and had gone as far as having a kitchen fashioned, similar to the humans’.

  After washing his hands, he tiptoed into the front chamber to admire her handiwork. A stove of sorts had been carved into the wall and packed with lava rocks used to hold in heat when a fire burned inside.

  A special rack had been brought in that fit inside the stove to hold the food she cooked.

  She’d shown him how to make sushi, grilled salmon, and steak, which was his favorite. Most of the Bracadytes ate their food raw, but Abbie preferred a variety.

  She enjoyed some of the Bracadyte dishes and had developed a hardy appetite over the past few months.

  Hauke returned to the bedroom, slipping quietly beneath to covers to watch his mate sleep.

  He gently rested his hand on her protruding belly and worry ate at his gut. Bracadyte children were not easy births for the women of Aukrabah. How would his mate ever push a child of his from her tiny body?

  “Stop worrying, my love,” Abbie whispered, covering his hand with hers. “I’m stronger than I look.”

  “If something happens to you, soul of my soul, I will not survive it.”

  Abbie brought his hand to her mouth and softly kissed his fingers. “Nothing is going to happen to me.”

  “Perhaps I should have taken you to a human doctor before you became too far along to make the trip to the surface.”

  “Have faith in me. I can do this for you, me, and our son. Any news from Miguel about the condition of the surface?”

  Hauke’s face became grim. “Florida has been declared a state of emergency. It is on lockdown from the Alabama line to Miami. The lower parts of Alabama and Georgia are now under quarantine also.”

  “They can’t contain it for much longer, Hauke. All it takes is for one infected person to travel north, and it’s all over with.”

  “I do not know what is going to happen on the surface, my mate. I only know that I am grateful that you and my son are safely below with me.”

  “Hauke?” His sister mentally beckoned, catching him off guard.

  “Naura? Is all well?” he sent back.

  “I do not know. I am in the hall. May I come inside?”

  “Yes, of course.”

  He sat up and threw his legs over the side of the bed. “My sister is here.”

  Abbie sat up also. “At this hour? Is something wrong?”

  “I am not sure. She is on her way inside now.”

  Naura stuck her head around the corner. Her face appeared pale and drawn. “Are you dressed?”

  “Yes,” Abbie responded, patting the side of the bed. “Have a seat.”

  Stepping hesitantly into the room, Naura trailed over to the big bed and sat next to Hauke’s mate.

  “What has happened?” Hauke circled around and knelt in front of his sister.

  She fidgeted with her hands before glancing from Abbie to Hauke. “I have not told you everything about my trip to the surface.”

  A feeling of foreboding came over Hauke. “What is it, Naura? I am in no place to judge your actions.”

  “It was me that spread the bacteria to the land walkers.”

  “What?” Abbie whispered. “How?”

  “After the oil well exploded, I awoke in a human dwelling. The man who found me took care of me until I became conscious. Too weak to stand, I lay there helpless while he attempted to violate my body.”

  She grabbed hold of Hauke’s hand. “It was an accident, Hauke. I did not mean for it to happen. I held up my arm to defend myself against his unwanted advances, and he cut himself on the barb at my wrist.”

  “He tried to rape you?” Abbie gasped. “Oh, honey. Don’t you ever feel bad for defending yourself against a prick like that. He deserved what he got.”

  Tears sprang to Naura’s eyes. “That is not all of it.”

  “Go on,” Hauke prompted, squeezing her fingers in his.

  “I have been communicating with Abbie’s uncle Tony since the day he fed me in the bunker.”

  Abbie pushed up higher on her pillows, excitement on her beautiful face. “You could have told us that. We would never judge you for something so amazing. Is he okay? Where is he? Did he make it to Mexico?”

  Naura took a deep breath and resumed her fidgeting. “Your uncle is well, Abbie. But he is not in Mexico. He is here in Aukrabah.”

  Hauke sprang to his feet in shock. Abbie’s uncle had returned to Aukrabah. “How long has he been here?”

  “He arrived only today, Hauke. Please do not be upset with him. He brings news that concerns us all.”

  “Where is he now?” Abbie asked, her voice unusually high.

  “He is in my rooms, freshening up. I assured him that I would return quickly to fetch him.”

  Hauke hurried to the closet to grab a shirt that Abbie had made him, speaking over his shoulder as he went. “Bring him straight away. Keep your thoughts clear and be careful not to be seen.”

  Naura nodded and rushed from the room, leaving Hauke to prowl the floor in restless rage.

  “You have to calm down, my love,” Abbie reprimanded, climbing from the bed. “He wouldn’t have come if it were not important.”

  Hauke stopped his pacing and moved to stand in front of Abbie. “He risks us all with his presence here.”

  “I know, and I’m sure he will be on his way after he says what he needs to say.”

  “May we come in?” Naura whispered through Hauke’s mind.

  “Do not stand out in the hall. You risk being seen,” he impatiently sent back.

  Taking Abbie’s hand, he led her toward the front room. “They are coming inside now.”

  Hauke could feel his mate’s excitement over seeing her uncle again. He wasn’t completely immune either, but fear for her uncle’s safety tamped down some of his enthusiasm.

  Naura entered with Tony in tow. She pulled the curtain in place to hide his presence from otherwise prying eyes.

  Abbie waddled across the room and wrapped her uncle in a hug. “I have been so worried about you.”

  “There’s no use in worrying over me, girl. I’m like a cat with nine lives, and I still have four more left in me.”

  “Let us go to the bedroom where there will be less possibility of being overheard,” Hauke murmured, guiding the trio to the bedroom and pulling back the covers for his mate.

  “I can stand,” she argued as he picked her up and propped her against the pillows before tucking the blanket around her legs.

  Tony’s gaze seemed to touch on everything around him. “Let me just say that I have seen pretty much everything you can imagine in my travels with the CIA, but I have never in all my life seen anything like this place.”

  “Isn’t it amazing, Uncle Tony? You should see the bathhouse and the eating hall. Not to mention the throne room.”

  Hauke straightened and rested his hands on his hips. “It is not my intention to sound inconsiderate, but time is of the essence. Many will be rising from slumber soon, and you must not be found down here.”

  “Right.” Tony took a seat on one of the two chairs in the room and propped his elbows on his knees. “The virus running rampant through the south did not come from your people.”

  “But I know where it began,” Naura rushed out. “And that man became sick and died within days.”

  “The key word here is days. He died in days.
” Tony’s gaze bored into Hauke’s sister. “Did he foam at the mouth? Become insane? Combative?”

  A wrinkle formed between Naura’s brows. “No. He developed a fever and could not hold down his food. He died very quick.”

  Tony leaned forward. “My sources tell me that the Center for Disease Control experimented with bacteria they had grown in a lab—human bacteria known to attack weaker strains, destroying them before they do irreparable damage. The strain used to combat the Psinum Incola virus backfired on them, creating the deadliest form of rabid psychopathy the world has ever seen.”

  Chapter Forty

  Abbie pushed herself up higher on her pillows, stunned by what she’d just heard. “So the person at the lab that bit me had this same mutated strain?”

  Tony nodded. “And as of date, you are the only living survivor of it. How is that possible?”

  “My baby saved my life, Uncle Tony. I didn’t understand how it was possible until now. The venom in his barbs contains the Bracadyte bacteria, which was subtle enough that my body could fight against it. And the strain used by the CDC must have been one I had been previously vaccinated for.”

  “If they have a vaccine, then why is this virus claiming so many lives?” Tony’s question had entered her mind also.

  “I’m only guessing here,” Abbie pointed out, “but most folks wouldn’t have received the same vaccinations as the ones handling the bacteria. As a doctor, I was given many vaccines since I manipulated and tested numerous forms of bacteria. In this case it appears that mixing the manmade bacteria with the Bracadytes’ caused a mutation that neither humans or Bracadytes are able to survive.”

  Tony glanced at her swollen belly. “Your child is an anomaly, Abbigail. An enigma.”

  Hauke ran a hand through his hair. “This is why the human doctors want our child. He alone holds the secret to the cure they seek.”

  The blood drained from Abbie’s face. “I won’t let them get their filthy hands on my son. They would kill him for their research.”

  “Rest easy, my mate.” Hauke moved to sit next to her on the bed. “Nothing or no one will come near our child while he is in Aukrabah.”

  Tony leaned forward, tentatively touching Abbie’s hand. “I’m with Hauke on this. I will fight to the death to protect you both.”

  A flicker of emotion shone from Tony’s eyes—something Abbie hadn’t seen there since she’d been a child.

  Hauke suddenly turned to his sister. “How did you know Abbie’s uncle had breached Aukrabah?”

  She blushed, but held her brother’s gaze. “I am able to feel his thoughts.”

  Tony’s eyebrows shot up. “Since when?”

  Naura folded her hands in her lap and lowered her head. “I have had the ability to feel some of your thoughts since you gave me your blood in that bunker.”

  No one spoke for long moments. Tension grew thick enough Abbie could almost touch it. She decided to change the subject. “Are you hungry, Uncle Tony?”

  The grateful look Naura shot her didn’t go unnoticed.

  Tony stood. “I appreciate the offer, but I have to get back before daylight. If the boat is spotted and it’s empty, the coast guard will be called in.” He leaned in and shook Hauke’s hand. “Take care of them.”

  “With my life,” Hauke vowed, returning the handshake.

  Naura quickly got to her feet also. “I will see him safely to his boat. Get some sleep, Abbie. We will talk on the morrow.”

  Abbie watched them go with a heavy heart. What if she never saw her uncle again? “I love you, Uncle Tony,” she called out but was met with silence.

  Hauke placed a kiss on the top of her head. “He knows how you feel about him, my mate. I sent your message to Naura. She will relay your words to him.”

  Tears sprang to Abbie’s eyes, and she briskly wiped them away with the back of her hand. “I will be so glad when my body isn’t raging with pregnancy hormones.”

  Pulling back the covers, Hauke lifted her sleep shirt and softly kissed her belly. “I rather enjoy you being with child. Even with your many mood swings.”

  Abbie laughed, playfully slapping him on the arm. “That’s a good thing since I plan on giving you many sons.”

  * * * *

  A scream rose to Abbie’s lips with the pain of her next contraction. She gripped Hauke’s hand in an effort to keep from bearing down.

  “I need to push,” she panted, biting her lip to hold back a cry.

  Zaureth lifted the sheet that hung over her knees to examine her. “This will be uncomfortable, but I want you to relax as much as you can.”

  The feel of his fingers pressing inside her already tortured body nearly crossed Abbie’s eyes. “I can’t relax,” she gasped, squeezing Hauke’s hand tighter. “It hurts.”

  The healer straightened and washed his hands in a bowl of water that sat on the bedside table. “A word with you?” He motioned for Hauke to follow him into the other room.

  “Whatever you have to say, you can say right here.” Abbie wasn’t about to lie here and worry about what was being said about her baby.

  “Very well,” Zaureth relented. “The child you carry is not in the proper position. He is also larger than your body can expel without help.”

  Abbie’s vision blurred with the next jolt of pain that slid through her abdomen. She breathed her way through it before once again locking gazes with the healer. “What kind of help? Tell me my options.”

  “I need to turn the child so that he is able to leave the birth canal without breaking his and your bones.”

  “Then turn him and do it quick before he becomes distressed.”

  “It is not that simple, mate of Hauke. The child is very large, and you are smaller than our females. The pain of turning him will be greater than you can bear.”

  Her face grew hot with fear, and her heart felt as if it would burst from her chest at any moment. Another contraction gripped her, graying her vision so great was the pain.

  “What else can you do?” But she knew. As a doctor, she understood what he attempted to tell her. He had no choice but to reach inside of her body and physically turn her breeched baby. If he didn’t, she and her unborn son would surely die.

  “I am afraid there is nothing else that can be done.”

  “Then do it and please hurry.”

  Zaureth glanced at Hauke. “Perhaps you should leave the room. This may be too distressing for you to watch.”

  Hauke shook his head. “I will not leave her.”

  “Then I will ask that you hold her down, for she will be in great pain.”

  “Look into my eyes, soul of my soul,” Hauke choked out. “It will be over soon.” He nodded for the healer to proceed.

  Zaureth climbed onto the bed and knelt between Abbie’s knees, pushing them farther apart. “I am sorry, Abbie.”

  The feel of his fingers once again entering her body didn’t hold a candle to the white-hot agony that ripped through her frame as he pressed deeper, his large hand pushing through the birth canal to attempt turning the baby.

  “Hauke!” she screamed, her back bowing off the bed in excruciating torment.

  A lone tear slipped from his eye to drip onto her face. “Forgive me, my love,” he whispered, tightening his hold on her shoulders.

  Abbie’s body began to shake uncontrollably, fighting the torturous pain that ripped her apart. Her mouth opened on a silent scream that never came.

  Soft, warm hands cupped her face, pulling her back from the brink of hell. The pain became almost tolerable. She rolled her head to the side in time to see Naura hovering above her, her lips peeled back over her teeth and tears sparkling in her jade-green eyes.

  Abbie wanted to thank Hauke’s sister for removing some of her pain, but her breath became trapped in her lungs.

  “Push, Abbie,” a distant voice commanded.

  A shudder passed through Naura’s frame as she broke the connection she had with Abbie and her hands slipped away.

  The
voice came again. “Push, now.”

  Abbie realized the healer’s hand had left her body, and the need to push overtook her. She bore down with every ounce of strength she had left.

  “One more time,” Zaureth barked again.

  With Hauke holding her bent knee in his hand and one arm behind her neck for support, Abbie pushed one last time, sobbing in relief as the baby slipped from her body, taking the rest of her pain with him.

  “He is beautiful,” Hauke breathed in wonder, leaning down to press his lips to hers.

  A small cry rent the air, bringing Abbie out of her exhausted state. Tears spilled from her eyes to slide down her cheeks.

  “Where is he?” She lifted her head in time to see Zaureth hand the baby to Hauke.

  Abbie watched in wonder as her mate brought their newborn son close to his face to speak something softly in Latin. He bent and gently laid the baby on her chest. “Our son, soul of my soul.”

  The crying stopped the second her arms went around the baby’s tiny frame. She gazed into her son’s jade-green eyes and more tears began to flow.

  “What name will you give him?” Naura asked in an exhausted voice.

  Abbie brushed her lips across his tiny mouth and looked up at Hauke. “His name is Arcanum. It’s the Latin word for— ”

  “Enigma,” he finished for her.

  Hauke crawled in bed next to her and put his arm around her shoulders. “You have given me the greatest gift a mate can give. I love you, Abbie…until the end of time.”

  Abbigail Sutherland gazed around the room at the faces she’d come to know as family. She had never felt as whole as she did in this moment. She was home…

  Epilogue

  Six Months Later

  Abbie laid her head back on the side of the pool situated in the center of the bathhouse. She never grew tired of the warm, calming effect it had on her body.

  Several Bracadyte women lounged around the edge, taking turns holding Arcanum.

  “I believe he is becoming hungry,” Rauneca murmured with a chuckle.

  “He stays hungry. I’m beginning to wonder if I’m making enough milk for him.” Abbie glanced down at her full breasts in concern.