The Pearls

by Michelle Farrell

  “Justine, my love” Gabe placed his finger under her chin and lifted her head so she would look in his eyes “My Love, you are a true Onyx Dragon. I don’t think I could love you anymore than I do right at this moment. You have just given me purpose and a leg up in this fight when it comes to protecting you.” Gabe placed a small kiss on her forehead and felt her heart soar in delight.

  “I Love you” she whispered

  “And I love you” He pulled her into his arms and held on to her tight

  Gabe looked at Kaiden and Zoe and mouthed “Thank you” to them. They both nodded and moved a little closer to each other.

  “My love I need you to go back to the cabin. I haven’t seen them at all, but they may find you here, and I want to stay hidden for now. Once you guys get what you need from that lawyer, I want you to head to New Mexico. Get a new car and some fake ids, pay cash for everything, and continue east. When it is safe I will meet up with you guys and stay with you.” Gabe looked straight at Kaiden while speaking

  “Are you going to come with us to my home?” Kaiden asked

  “You mean to Ireland? Yes, but I need to go home first, and if you allow my King, I would like to bring the woman who raised me, she is fully human.” Gabe firmly looked at Kaiden

  “Gabe I know that my place is King, but I do not want to rule over anyone. I would like to have a nice big family. Zoe and Justine have made themselves sisters and all I would like is for us all to be friends and family. And yes you can bring the woman who raised you. I am sure Justine would like that as well. All I want is for us to be safe and happy Gabe.” Kaiden said feeling the animosity that Gabe felt ease.

  “Kaiden is a good guy Gabe.” Justine said looking into his face. She felt his distrust and something else she could not place.

  “I know, I just fear the Dictatorship that my parents have explained to Mary and they left me journals about it. And I don’t want that for my family or myself.”

  “I am sorry, my father did not rule like that and neither will I. To me we are one race and I would protect you as I would protect the others that we will meet. We are the last of our race and it is up to us to restore it. I will not tell you what to do, I will however give you guidance as a friend and I would hope you did the same to me.”

  “I am sorry man, I meant no offense. I think we will get along quite well if you are looking for a friend and family. I know I could use that as much as anyone.” Gabe smiled at Kaiden.

  The boys reached to shake hands and Gabe glanced at the cabin. Justine followed his glance and gasped. There were two men looking in the windows and a third at the door.

  Chapter 19

  Gabe quickly grabbed dirt and sand and stomped the fire out. They all got down in a crouch position and watched the men at the cabin.

  “Do you know how to fight?” Gabe asked Kaiden

  “Shh! they might hear us.” Justine hissed

  “My love we are too far away, I couldn’t hear you guys in there.” Gabe assured her

  Kaiden looked panicked “I know the basics man, but I have never been taught, Charles was always there for that stuff.”

  “Who is Charles?”

  “He is like my Uncle, he was my father’s right hand man and he is a Fury. They last adult Dragon I know of that is alive. He is at home waiting on us.”

  “Can’t wait to meet him, he got kids?”

  “Dalia was lost before she conceived. He has been making half-bloods though since her murder and has four children in our barracks.” Kaiden said sullenly

  “Right half-blood, part of our current problem, you going to have us make half-bloods?” Gabe asked with disgust

  “That is completely up to you man. I won’t be making any and I would not ask that of my family, Charles does it because part of him thinks there is hope, and the other part he feels he is the last and just doing his part.”

  “Ok, well to the task at hand, we are going to go down there, and this time I am not going to beat these guys up, please don’t think wrong of me my love, but these men are there to take you or take them and kill you. Before they can do that I am going to kill them.” determination laced his words

  “No judging here, how can I help?” Justine asked feeling his determination lace through her as well

  “You get to stay put and run if you feel fear in me. I didn’t want to say where my home is, but if we don’t come back, you look for Mary Aachen in Wyoming.”

  “Please let me help? “Justine begged. She did not want to leave him now that she found him.

  “You two stay here. You are the most important things to us. If you go down there and something happens to you that will just be a distraction that could get either of us hurt.” Gabe tried to make her realize this fact

  “What’s the plan?” Kaiden asked trying to defuse the tension.

  “I want at least one alive. I want to know what their dear father knows and has planned.” Gabe said scornfully

  “Got it, I take it you know how to fight so how about I go after the one we want left alive and subdue him, that one over there.” Kaiden said pointing at the one farthest from the other two men

  Gabe went to his back pack and pulled out some rope and handed it to Kaiden. “Tie him up as quickly as you can and remember you are stronger and faster than them.” Gabe then pulled what looked like a belt out of his bag. He stood and buckled it around his waist it had several throwing knives and two knives that looked like a pitch fork.

  “What are those?” Justine asked

  “These are bladed Sai. Mateo, one of my fighting instructors, gave me his pair after I impressed him with everything else he taught me. I am not really sure the types if fighting I learned I just tried to learn them all.”

  “Charles is going to love you man.” Kaiden told him

  “Can’t wait to meet him too, now let’s go and be as quiet as you can.”

  “Right behind you.” Kaiden said as he placed a kiss on Zoe’s lips.

  Gabe looked at Justine and whispered “be safe” in her ear and then kissed her forehead. Justine grabbed his hands and forcefully kissed his lips “you be safe too and come back to me.”

  Zoe and Justine watched them run down the cliff and then break apart from each other. They were both scared and held on to each other.

  “He is so calm.” Justine whispered

  “Kaiden is nervous, but they got this.” Zoe said

  Kaiden got to his man first and lassoed the half-blood around his waist then ran around him in circles making the rope go around the man and pin his arms in place. Kaiden then kicked his feet out from under him and wrapped the rope around his feet. The man was so shocked at first he didn’t know what was happening. The half-blood got a quick yelp out before Kaiden was on him and had his mouth covered.

  On the other side of the house Gabe was closing in on the other man, he let two throwing knives loose on the man at the window. The knives let out a gentle whistle as they soared through the air. The man didn’t even know what hit him before he went down. Gabe ran to him to check for a pulse, there was none. He then backed up into the darkness and rounded to where he had seen the man at the door. The half-blood was no longer at the door, Gabe rounded wide around the cabin, he found the man inside the house, and holding a cell phone while looking through the wallets on the floor. Gabe didn’t think he just ran up as quick and silent as he could and snapped the man’s neck.

  As soon as he knew the man was dead, he cleared the rest of the cabin, Gabe ran outside to where Kaiden should be, and found him. Gabe couldn’t help it when laughter erupted from his mouth. All he saw was a man hog tied and Kaiden straddling him with both his hands covering his mouth.

  “You good man?” Gabe laughed out

  “Depends, can I get up now? This dude is licking my hands.”

  Gabe burst into laughter and nodded his head up and down. They both heard the girls rushing towards them and the same time.

  “I felt your relief and then joy” Justine blurtedr />
  “And I felt your frustration.” Zoe said trying to hide a smile.

  Gabe sucked in the laughter and grabbed the half-blood’s feet as Kaiden jumped off and grabbed the half-bloods’ shoulders. The boys carried the half-blood in the cabin and the girls followed. When they passed the first dead man the half-blood tensed and started struggle around.

  “You killed my brother!” he screamed

  “Shut it, no one can hear you, and no one here gives a crap.” Gabe spat

  When they entered the cabin the half-blood saw his other brother and stopped his complaints and fear crept up on him.

  “What are you going to do to me?” The half-blood asked

  “Depends on what you tell us.” Gabe hissed

  They took the half-blood to the bathroom and placed him in the tub. Justine grabbed a radio from the bedroom and took it to the bathroom, she set it on the counter and turned the music on full blast.

  “Good thinking my love.” Gabe crooned

  “Well I was thinking if their hearing is not as good as ours then that will drown out what we say out here.” Justine replied

  “What are we going to do with the bodies?” Kaiden asked

  “First we are going to get their wallets and cell phones and any other thing that looks important. Then we are going to take them to the cliff make some cuts and throw them in the ocean. The sharks should do the rest for us.” Gabe explained

  “And let me guess we stay here again?” Justine asked disappointment in her tone

  “Nope we could use your strength and get them both at the same time.” Gabe told her. Gabe knew that Kaiden and he could handle the two men, but the combined strength of the four of them would get it done faster.

  Justine beamed and Zoe looked quite sick to her stomach. Kaiden was at her side in an instant, once he felt her disgust, and was now rubbing her back.

  “Is this your phone?” Gabe held up the phone that the half-blood was holding when he snapped his neck.

  “That one is mine yes, well same model, let me see it so I know for sure.” Kaiden held his hand out and when Gabe placed it in his hand he turned it on and verified that it was his by his home screen. “It’s mine.”

  “Good, this guy here had it open along with all your wallets, I just hope he didn’t call anyone with it or send anything.”

  Kaiden quickly checked his phone to make sure no calls or anything went through. “Nothing was sent.”

  “Good, ladies this one is a bit smaller than the others so if you please.” He gestured to the dead man and headed out the door.

  “I get the legs.” Zoe said

  “No problem” Justine replied

  They quickly grabbed him up and followed the boys outside. The guys got the other man and they all took off to the cliff. When they reached the cliff they emptied the man’s pockets and Gabe pulled a pocket knife out and started to rip areas in their pants and shirts.

  “Zoe and Kaiden could you please go back to the cabin and watch after our hostage? We will be there shortly.” Gabe asked them

  Zoe absolutely did not want to see what he was about to do and Kaiden could feel her disgust. She nodded and Kaiden grabbed her hand and they ran back to the cabin together. Relief was washing over her as she ran with Kaiden back to the cabin.

  Gabe then looked at Justine and saw the approval in her eyes to continue. He made several deep cuts the some main veins on the half-blood’s bodies and together Justine and Gabe threw them off the cliff with as much force as they could. When they were done Gabe pulled Justine in for a very deep kiss and then they ran back to the cabin.

  Chapter 20

  All the blinds were closed and the radio was on full blast in the living room. Kaiden had added more wood to the fire so now it was blazing. The girls were on the couch quietly watching what was happening. The half-blood was tied to a chair near the fire with Gabe and Kaiden standing over him. Only problem was the half-blood was not talking.

  “Who sent you?” Gabe asked

  Silence

  “Doesn’t matter I know who sent you, but what I really want to know is what the plan was when you got here?” Gabe asked. Kaiden looked at Gabe shaken at what he just heard. Kaiden thought Gabe might know who the enemy was, but hearing it confirmed now sort of surprised him.

  Silence

  “Alrighty then. Zoe if you are squeamish you might want to leave now and if you need to go to where I was you may. You won’t be able to hear way out there.” Gabe looked to Zoe with concern

  “This is not going to be the last time is it? Whoever sent us is going to keep coming till we are all dead right? Well as much as I don’t like this I need to get used to it, so do what you got to do.” Zoe was determined right then and there that she would not be able to feel safe anywhere until whoever was hunting them was found.

  Gabe nodded his head and grabbed one of the fireplace pokers and placed it in the fire. He then looked to the half-blood and asked “You sure you don’t want to tell us, I hear brands hurt, a lot.”

  The half-blood just looked at him.

  When the poker was blazing red, Gabe took it out, and placed it near the half-blood’s hand.

  “Last chance to talk man. I am sure you have been told that once you turn, your hands are your weapon. If you don’t start talking you won’t have any weapons left.” Gabe stated as he drew the poker a little closer

  The half-blood kept his mouth closed and just stared at Gabe in disbelief. Then the poker touched his flesh and a scream was ripped from his chest.

  He could smell his flesh burning and the pain was mind consuming. The poker was lifted off of him and he watched as Gabe put it back in the fire. A few minutes later the poker was hovering over his other hand. He just stared in amazement as the poker was then placed on his skin once again. The pain was intense and his throat was dry from screaming. He closed his eyes having a mental fight with himself. If he told them what he knew and they left him alive his father was sure to kill him. If he didn’t talk they would kill him. But if he told them they may be able to find Vivi and keep her safe. He didn’t care what his father was doing but he loved and cared for Vivi.

  “ALRIGHT!!!” The half-blood screamed

  “Do you have something to tell us?” Kaiden asked

  “Look I don’t know who all of you are, not your names except for Blondie over there, we know hers. Anyway what I am about to tell you, I will surely die if I go back to him like this. So please let me explain and then you have to do something for me.” He said

  “What is your name?” Zoe asked as she placed a cup of water at his lips. She figured she would get more out of him with compassion. She had walked out of the room to get a glass of water for the half-blood when started screaming.

  “Oh Zoe. You knew how to stay hidden until you went home. You would have been safe forever had you not gone there. My name is Blake.”

  “Blake, why are you looking for me?”

  “Because you are key to what he wants.”

  “What who wants?” Zoe asked

  Kaiden was staring at Zoe in amazement as she talked to this Blake guy with all the compassion his mother had. Justine stood and walked to Gabe’s side and watched the scene unfold.

  “Father Dearest”

  “Your father? Why would he want me?”

  “Because when my older brothers caught your mother they made a huge mistake and she died. Your Father though was taken and he is well uncooperative.”

  Zoe tried to keep the horror out of her voice, she knew it was possible after reading the journal, but to hear it spoken shook her to her core. “My father is still alive?” She whispered

  “Yes”

  “Please tell me how we got here. I just recently found out who and what I really am and now I am being hunted by you and your brothers.” She pleaded

  “I need you to make me a promise first.” Blake stated

  “You tell me my father is alive, that your brothers took him. You must be holding him hostage and no
w you want a fucking favor?” She yelled

  “I am sorry, I didn’t do that. This is not a favor for me per say, it’s for my baby sister Vivi. She managed to run away from father and now she is in hiding. Well she is looking for her soul mate and a better life. I would like you to find her and take her far away and keep her safe. There is a Sect in Ireland. Their land is impenetrable by my father and by us, hell we can’t even find it. I know the King and Queen came here and got killed. They flew right over the camp where they were watching your parent’s house.” Blake said

  Kaiden flew at Blake and toppled the chair over. Kaiden had gotten two good punches in before Gabe pulled him off. “YOU KILLED MY PARENTS!!!” Kaiden screamed at him.

  “It wasn’t me man, there are always only three of us at the camp at a time. We usually do two year stretches, this is my first year!” Blake screamed back

  Kaiden was breathing really hard and Gabe still had a good hold on him. Zoe picked the chair back upright and looked Blake in the eyes and demanded “Tell me how to finish this!”

  Blake didn’t listen to her instead he looked towards Kaiden, “So you’re the kid of the Sect in Ireland?” Kaiden just nodded his head up and down. “Good get them all to your home, get them all safe.” Blake looked impressed.

  “I will once we finish this.”

  “You won’t finish this unless you kill my father.”

  “We will.” Kaiden and Gabe said at the same time.

  “Good, but not all of us are bad you know. We are forced to be there and do his dirty work or die. While he sits back and plays king. He is an evil man. I was never asked to be born to this life, but growing up as a slave and then being told once we find her, that we will all become Dragons like him, it kind of draws an incentive to the things we have to endure. Because if we are Dragons too, we may be able to kill father ourselves. Her father refuses to shift and that alone is killing him. And if he does slip up and shift when the pain gets too intense, he mind blocks us, makes us see dear daddy. And father refused to just kill him. He knows she was born and knows that her soul mate was born. He thinks that if we get her before you found her that we could use her to get her father to bite us all.” Blake coughed out and this time Justine handed him a glass of water and looked him in the eye.