by Aral Bereux
‘She’s lost too much,’ Daniel said.
Caden’s hands pressed against the largest of the holes and she screamed with the pain that he thrust into her. He leaned his weight through his arm, ignoring her screaming pleas to stop.
Her eyes rolled back until they closed.
Daniel took the other wounds.
‘Come on, J Rae. Come back to me, darlin’,’ Caden called quietly.
The open gash reluctantly closed and drew in what little blood oozed over, but she didn’t react. Daniel sat back on his haunches, the smaller wounds already healed. Caden pressed harder as the sweat rolled into his eyes. He shook the dampness away; keeping them hidden and healing Julianna at the same time was wiping his energy. He nodded angrily at Daniel for more help.
No, you can’t, can you? Maybe if you had listened to me more, maybe—
Calm the fuck down, my brother, and focus! Bastiaan’s ever-present voice snapped into his consciousness.
His voice called her again, stronger than ever, calling her name and pulling her back, demanding she respond.
‘She’s not answering,’ Daniel whispered.
Caden pulled away and all that he left underneath were the lines of dry blood caked around a crevice of freshly healed skin.
‘It’s not your time, Julianna Rae, come back to me now.’
Caden reached into her mind. Trying desperately to pull her back into their world. Julianna didn’t want his voice to keep calling her; she tried to ignore it. The place where she rested was peaceful and bright, he could feel the warmth that she felt. His dark world disturbed her but he kept calling, kept tugging and pulling, relentless in his quest to beckon her back. She moved her cheek away from his soft touch as he stroked it. Then the stroke became a gentle but annoying tap.
‘J Rae, come on, girl, it’s not your time...’ He slapped her. ‘There’s too much fighting to be done, sweetheart...’ He slapped her hard. ‘And I can’t do it alone.’
The last slap split her lip.
Her eyes flicked open and her lungs tightened as she sucked in her first new breath. Caden listened to her thoughts coiling in her mind: Was it a dream? No, dreams can’t hurt, but her side hurt a lot. She couldn’t recall ever feeling this from a dream. He held her side firmly to take away what pain was left and winked when she rested on his gaze and crawled into his embrace.
He wrapped his large arms protectively around her and rocked her gently. ‘It’s okay.’
Caden smiled over her shoulder at Daniel’s snarl. Two for one deal, Caden thought. She’s all right and Daniel’s pissed off because I’m touching his sister. He flicked him the finger and held her closer against his chest. ‘You’re okay, Julianna. You’re safe now.’
He tipped her chin to kiss her gently. She nodded when he moved and snuggled more into his strong embrace.
Daniel rolled his eyes. ‘Now what?’
‘She needs blood. Without it, we still risk losing her. She can’t fight without it, and right now I’m betting she fights more like a man than you do, Danny boy.’
‘Fuck you,’ Daniel said.
The sky parted and the stars above twinkled teasingly at their slip up. Both men looked into the sky. Time was running out, and they both felt exhausted. They needed to move again, or risk being found.
‘Concentrate, will you. I can’t do this by myself,’ Caden snapped and the sky closed up again, shrouding them in darkness. ‘Bas needs our help and we still have to get past any barricades Taris sets.’
Caden encouraged her to sit, but she slumped, and he bent his knees so she could prop between them.
‘She needs blood. She can’t fight,’ Daniel said. ‘Like you said.’
Caden started rolling his sleeve back. ‘Yes, she does.’ He said coolly and reached for her knife he’d taken from the car. He pointed its tip into his forearm.
‘Oh no, no you fucking don’t,’ Daniel shook his head and jumped to his feet. ‘Not her. You’re not having her.’
‘You want her to die then?’ He slit the blade along his skin, parting it deep enough for the blood to spill freely.
Daniel lunged forward. ‘This isn’t right!’
‘Hell, Daniel, I’m not binding her, I’m feeding her up. I’m sure she’ll forgive me in the morning.’ He put his arm to her lips. ‘You I don’t give a shit about.’
Caden held her head firmly against his wrist until she latched on, ignoring her attempts to pull from his grasp. He waited for her hunger to take over. ‘Drink as much as you like,’ he said gently as she started to feed. ‘Drink until you feel full.’
‘This isn’t right.’ Daniel paced again and then found the bike to lean on. He watched Julianna feed, unaware of what she was doing.
‘You could do it.’ Caden pulled her hair away from her face and then he screwed his face up. ‘Nah. A little weird, you being her brother and all, but she doesn’t know that one, does she?’
‘Yeah. Your job to tell her she’s the Seer, haven’t done that either, have you? Was meant to do that twelve months ago, but you didn’t, did you?’ Daniel crossed his arms. Their arguing broke their concentration and the skies opened again.
Caden glanced upward. He was too tired to fix the problem and she was too hungry. It was her first feed and she’d tear him apart if he moved. He liked where his arm attached to his shoulder, so he sat still, waiting for her to finish.
Caden calmed down. ‘Spoken with Isis lately?’
‘No.’ Daniel looked away. ‘You?’
‘Last we heard you became a Commander of the Militia.’
‘I lasted eight months in the rank. Didn’t like the discipline.’
‘You never did,’ Caden muttered. Julianna’s sucking slowed, and he helped end her temptation by holding his arm high and healing himself. She rested her heavy head against his chest, clutching at his shirt as she fell into a deep sleep. ‘Blood drunk,’ he said quietly, laying her down into the grasp of the tall grass. It curled protectively around her, blanketing against the wind, and he moved to his feet.
He looked up at the stars and felt his pockets.
‘Here,’ Daniel threw him his own cigarettes and lit one for himself with the tip of his finger.
‘Neat trick,’ Caden stated, and lit one of his own with the matches he still had tucked away in his shirt pocket. He threw the packet back and watched her sleep. The grass curled more. ‘She needs her brother.’
‘Needs her father more.’
‘She can’t have her father,’ Caden said quietly. ‘You know that.’
The conversation stopped. Caden crouched on his haunches and nodded silently.
‘She’s no great mystery, you know?’ Daniel said.
He glanced up. ‘Neither are you, sunshine.’
Daniel pushed from the bike and threw his cigarette to the ground. He held his arms out, pushing his sleeves to his elbows, and beckoned Caden to step into his space.
Caden flicked his cigarette away. ‘I’ve been itching for this for a long time, Danny boy.’
‘Me too, old man, me too.’ Daniel raised his fists.
‘The old-fashioned way? How about we settle this like the watchers we are instead?’ Caden threw a glance at Daniel, smashing him into a tree with his thoughts. He pinned him by his ability alone. His invisible hands stretched along Daniel’s body, raising him farther into the tree, scratching his body against the trunk.
Daniel kicked at the branches curling around his body to hold him. He kicked out again, and Caden ducked playfully as the boots narrowly missed his face.
Daniel chanted. Caden counter-acted and the tree tightened its grasp. The powers he invoked gifted the tree a cruelty. Caden admired his work and Daniel flailing against the rough bark.
Daniel chanted again. The tree fell timid and he dropped heavily into the grass. The self-preservation chant packed another punch, sending Caden sliding along the damp grass until he arched his back and flipped to his feet.
‘Now we settle this like the men we on
ce were,’ Daniel hissed.
‘Have it your way,’ Caden said, and the first punch connected with Daniel’s nose. ‘I’ll still win.’
They rolled on the ground, throwing punches and cursing each other. Their noise pulled Julianna out of her trance-induced sleep, and she shouted for them to stop as she pushed the warm grass away. It slid back, offended by her rejection.
‘Just stop fighting, the both of you!’
‘Yeah, Caden,’ Daniel teased.
Caden stood up with a raised fist. ‘Fuck you, too, Danny boy.’
They were back to where they’d left off. Caden lined up Daniel’s nose again. Only when Julianna unsteadily stood between them did he abandon the thought of smashing it into his face.
She stumbled against Caden and he caught her around her waist before she hit the ground. He held her close, walking her to the bike, gently helping her throw a leg over the seat.
Daniel stood silently behind them, fingering the blood running over his top lip.
Caden started the bike. ‘You coming?’
‘Just like that?’
Caden shrugged. ‘Bas needs us and Julianna’s awake. So, yeah, Danny, just like that. Now, are you coming or not?’
Daniel looked toward the city lights that he could reach by morning – but his Sector pass had been confiscated by the Militia, along with his bike and everything else he’d held in his possession. Right now, a fight with a few more soldiers held brighter perspectives for them all, than being arrested for the lack of identification.
Caden lowered his tone and revved the bike. ‘We don’t have all night. I have to find my camp.’
‘How do you propose we get through the RV point? They’ll be on alert by now…she’s still weak.’ Daniel saddled behind Julianna and held onto her waist.
The trees parted from their bow and the night lightened again. Caden took the helm and turned the key in the ignition. Mother Nature obeyed its master readily as the bike slowly moved along the track. The grass retreated into the ground and the path opened up before them.
Caden moved the bike cautiously onto the road. He lowered his leg; with Daniel’s foot firmly on the other side, the bike balanced without Julianna needing to move. There was no one in sight. Caden looked behind and then in front. The road ahead was dark and misty and the night was truly upon them. The birds were asleep and the crickets still chirped for the air to be warmer. It was an impossible scenario – but, with some luck, they might just succeed.
Julianna’s arms slipped around his waist and he looked at the hands locking together. Her skin remained pale, and he knew Daniel was right. She needed more blood. It crossed his mind that he should bind her and feed her again, but they were out of time. He doubted she’d go along for the quest readily now she had her mind about her.
‘You okay, J Rae?’ Caden asked.
She nodded against his back. It was enough to convince him.
Caden revved the bike and gravity took Daniel once more as they traveled to their next evening battle. Very bad odds, dangerous circumstances, and the unlikely event they’d succeed.
Caden couldn’t think of a better night to tempt the angels of death.
Chapter 17
0200 HOURS.
THE NEW CAMP, WEST OF THE SECTORS.
The first thing Bas knew of the ambush were the headlights jumping through the trees at full speed and opening fire from the back of the Jeep from an assault rifle, cutting down anyone who dared move from the shadows. The clearing had served well, though, the Jeep was center to their squad and bullets rang over his head. He ducked, while the ammunition whistled past his cheek and cut down the driver and gunner in seconds.
They had the place surrounded. Bas peered from where he laid, sniper rifle in hand, and waited. The long grass covered his body and the ditch they had dug sunk them farther from initial attack.
Devo looked across nervously and he gave her a firm nod to pull up and move to her next position behind him. He didn’t want the risk tonight, not with her, and so she pulled up to offer him cover as he lined his sights for the next oncoming vehicle.
It came booming through, with a second vehicle for support. Both gunners turned their guns on the camp as the hover drones formed single-files through the trees, scanning for rises in temperature. Bas let a shrill whistle go. His first gunner fired over his direction, showering bullets from behind, and Devo took her first man out. Bas looked back and gave her another nod before lining his sniper scope for the hover drone furthermost from the battle. He wanted to give the enemy an impression of being surrounded while he had the advantage of cover.
He looked down his scope, a prize he had won when gambling with an officer in Sector Three on a leave pass. Caden had told him to have a good time, and he had. It was the first date Katherine and he had taken, and though she was on official duties, with him accompanying her for safety, the unintended happened and he never looked back with regret.
The hover drone was in his sights. The crosshairs guided the first round into the red flashing light, spinning its lost balance into the two drones in front. He peered above the rifle to watch the midair explosion and gave another shrill whistle, accompanied by a wave of his hand. He was signaling for his company to fall forward while they had the advantage.
That was for Katherine.
He didn’t love her. For him, that was a stretch, but he cared about her. Cared deeply. Their first night together was the happiest he’d been in a long time and he was on cloud nine for a long time after. Until the mission, he thought. Stupid, freaking mission. Man enough to admit war and pleasure didn’t mix well, man enough to admit it was his call to send Katherine into the arms of Taris. Man enough to admit her blood was on his hands and not Julianna’s.
He wiped the sweat from his eyes with the crook of his elbow. The gunners saw the move for what it was and opened fire again. The sickening sounds of bullets rang as bodies were hit. Thwaaat-thuds and then the bodies were falling down in a tidy row, one after another.
A younger member of the Rebellion Company fell beside him, his eyes still open and gazing at his Commander, gasping for air from the gaping rip in his neck. Bas watched him for what seemed an eternity as he passed over, before turning his attention to the one responsible. He lined his sights again and pulled the trigger. The gunner fell from the Jeep, his driver ducked, and silence ensued as the enemy aimed their infrared at the lethal sniper.
Bas loaded again, aimed and fired. The second driver slumped over and the firing resumed as the drones were called in for a closer pursuit.
That was for Katherine, too, fuckers.
There were four more drones hovering; more would follow to offer their support. Bas took two out before they discovered his heat signature in his self-made trench. All firearms were aimed in his direction now, and he could see the drones approaching as he rolled onto his back and moved farther into the ditch for cover. Devo exchanged worried looks with him and he gave her a four-fingered signal. She shook her head and raised her hand to show five fingers. Five fingers meant five more drones.
He checked his ammo, and he counted three rounds left before he would need to pull his sidearm. He looked up at the sky; it offered no solace.
Where the fuck is Cade?
Devo commando-crawled to his side, using the fallen body as cover, just as he had taught her, but Bas was pissed. She was meant to stay to his back and he’d promised Katie to keep her safe; there was no need for her to be so close when they had made his location. They raised their weapons together, Devo offering a deflective so he could get a good visual on the other drones. Again, he aimed for the back one, and again the predictability of the crafts was a blessing. It hovered for a moment, suspended by an invisible spring as the bullet ricocheted inside its metal casing, and it took out the drones to the front. It was a known fault to bounce forward when struck by something sudden. Bas was playing it to his advantage.
More Jeeps followed. Grunts approached under their cover and Bas knew it
was time to retreat. The unmistakable whirs of more hover drones were in the distance, and only a miracle could to get them out of this one. His crew would need to charge and he knew the risk of mass losses, but it was their only chance of pushing through without capture. As he contemplated this – and his missing brother – the youngest star of the team edged along the first Jeep to capture it.
Bas heard Devo speak and he followed her sight to the Jeep in front where Christopher, was skulking about. No one else had seen him, only them.
‘What are you doing, son?’ Bas whispered, his voice was full of remorse.
Bastiaan watched on as the events unfolded in slow motion. The dark-haired boy, barely fifteen, pushed his back against the Jeep tire for cover. His rifle slung over his shoulder, his sidearm was still strapped to his thigh, and he held his dagger tight in his sweaty fist.
Bas raised his scope and watched through it. Chris nodded to him, as any man would before going in for a kill in war, but this was no man. Bas had found him hunkered down in the debris of a burnt-out house beside his mother’s charcoaled remains. His father had been a Militia traitor, siding with the Rebels and exchanging details when he could. He had been one of the founding contacts when they first established the outlying camp, and it was him who’d put them into contact with their missing friend, Isis. Chris had been thirteen going fourteen when Bas carried the sobbing boy in his arms to the safe house. Now he was watching this boy stumble along into a manhood, which might only last him moments.
Chris took his first step into the Jeep, keeping low. The last hover drone floated in the front lines and spun angrily in his direction with its red laser flashing quickly. It was preparing for an attack. Bas raised his sights and pulled the trigger before it fired its laser at Chris and the drone crashed to the ground with nothing in front to attract it forward. It was the golden opportunity for a boy to become a man. Chris leapt behind the assault rifle and spun it around on its perch to cut down all those who were standing.
