Riding the Veil

by Claudy Conn

She had heard so much about Apollo’s heroic son, how he worked with their peacekeepers both in London and New York, places she was curious to see.

  She had just turned eleven that day, and Apollo had given her a birthday party. She should have been thrilled, and for the most part she was and grateful. At times, survivor’s guilt brought her low as well.

  She left the excitement of her birthday celebration back at the house and took her basket to gather wildflowers and wild herbs, just the way she used to do with her mother.

  Footsteps scraped pebbles and she looked up. Her witch hearing, which was always exceptional, had been improving, even in the short month she had been on Devos.

  The sun’s rays blinded her and she raised a hand to her forehead and squinted against the bright warm shafts of sunlight.

  A male’s shadowy form—brought the word enormous immediately to mind as he came into full view.

  The mountain moving towards her stopped, and Jacie stared.

  He was not only huge, but one of the most handsome Cumas she had ever seen…equal in looks to even Apollo. In fact, he looked like the portrait hanging…?

  It dawned on her almost at once. This was Retaal, Apollo’s son.

  She stared. She could do nothing else. He was his portrait come to life.

  He chuckled and when he spoke, his voice was soothing and casual as he said, “Well now, you must be Jacinta. How do you do? I am so happy to meet you.” He put the distance between them away and bent to give her a gentlemanly bow.

  Jacie’s mother had always called her Jacinta. She had not heard her full name used in so very long. As she remembered their first meeting, those feelings, his voice, all of it came flooding back and she had to sit, dropping to her bed for a moment.

  Topsy curled at her feet and sighed contentedly.

  So many years had passed and yet she remembered their first meeting like it was yesterday. Retaal had taken her hand and she looked up to find his bright silver eyes, so much like Apollo’s and yet so very different. His twinkled with mischievousness.

  At eleven, she had no recourse but to immediately crush on Retaal.

  She always thought of herself as “only” a witch. The otherworldly beings, which primitive humans had called Gods, were a race far superior in magic and science. As a child, she looked at Retaal and thought, Here was a God, not a ‘demigod’, but a full-fledged God. Her young heart beat nearly out of her chest. He was totally unaware of the affect he had on her.

  Retaal wore his dark blond hair in layered waves all around his chiseled handsome face. A T-shirt of gray stretched across his broad chest. An ancient rune tattoo circled both biceps. Jeans and sneakers finished his wardrobe, and Jacie laughed out loud and said, “You are Apollo’s son, but you look like a human…” An exceptional human, she thought.

  He chuckled. “Indeed, one of the things I have enjoyed while in their world is their casual style of dress. Don’t you like it?”

  She found her cheeks suddenly hot, but she had managed an affirmative nod. For a long moment after that, she could not find her voice.

  He chuckled and put out his hand. “Will you walk with me and tell me how you like it here on Devos?”

  She gave him her hand, and once she started talking to him, she couldn’t stop.

  They strolled over the cliffs, down to the walking trails of the glorious parkland of Devos, and she had chattered on and on.

  Retaal said all the right things at just the right moment and seemed to understand without her having to explain.

  He was such a good listener, interrupting her now and then to ask a question. His interest in her answers wasn’t feigned. He was sincere. Even a young witch recognizes insincerity.

  At some point, he led her back to Apollo’s garden, where the party was still in progress and ice cream and ambrosia were being served.

  “So then, you are enjoying school?”

  “I love school,” she said, and nodded.

  “Making friends?” he asked.

  “Oh yes, children on Devos are all kind…for the most part. There is always an idiot wherever you go, but most of the kids my age are great,” she answered.

  “Who shall I leave you with then, who is your favorite friend?”

  “Balla…there.” She nodded with her chin towards a Cuma about her age. “But do you have to go?”

  “I do. I have a few things to discuss with my father, but I hope I will see you later,” he said.

  She couldn’t stop her hands from clapping and, in fact, she nearly squealed with delight.

  He laughed, waved, and walked off.

  She never took her eyes from him until Balla and her other friends circled her and demanded to know if that was Apollo’s son, Retaal.

  After that, she became Retaal’s shadow.

  Life on Devos was…for her, after Retaal arrived, quite perfect. Retaal remained on Devos for just over four years then, only leaving for short periods each month.

  She had been fifteen—nearly sixteen, and fully infatuated with Retaal when the day came for him to leave for an extended period of time.

  She had overheard talks between him and his father and knew this day would be coming. How could she bear it? She watched him come towards her as she cut long stemmed roses for her room.

  Retaal towered over her as he took her hand and said, “Jacie…come, let’s walk for a bit.”

  She stood her ground and their eyes locked for a moment.

  “No,” she answered. “I don’t want to hear it.”

  “Jacinta…come, we must talk,” he urged, his hand outstretched.

  She knew it was time for him to say good-bye. She lowered her head. What did it matter if he left? He had only always treated her like a little girl—a sister.

  It did matter, though. Even if she could only be his sister, it would be better than not having him around. He brightened her days and made them special. He made her think, as he called it, ‘outside the box’. He told her stories of Zeus, who because he was disheartened with the humans had retreated to Olympus, where all Gods and demigods were welcome if they did not speak of war.

  Topsy had been stretched out on the rich green lawn while Jacie cut her flowers. He padded over to her as Retaal took her hand, spun in place and waited to see their direction.

  As they began walking, he barked at a butterfly and ran ahead. Jacie laughed and looked up at Retaal. “I shall always be thankful to you and Zeus for Topsy.”

  “Indeed, a puppy from one of Zeus’ pack is indeed something special,” he said, and smiled.

  She saw his eyes full of concern. He was trying to find the right words to tell her good-bye.

  She decided to change the subject just for a while. “Why don’t Zeus and Apollo work together?”

  “Humans baffle Zeus, as they do many of us. They are even now, after all these years, driven by primitive needs. It will be centuries before they evolve…perhaps longer. Zeus withdrew from humans, as he could no longer be a witness to their inhumanity.”

  “Similar to Apollo in his point of view?”

  “No, my father is more of a warrior…who wants to help the humans along through strength and peaceful resolutions. Zeus just can’t be bothered,” Ret answered, obviously anxious to broach the subject of his leaving.

  “Tell me, Ret…what is wrong?” Jacie asked. She knew what it was. He was leaving. She had heard the rumors.

  Ret shrugged. “We must all decide what we want, where we stand, and follow through on our convictions, Jacie.” And then he told her, but he promised to stay in touch.

  He said he had a mission to work amongst humans. He said it was his job to find a way to make humans understand that they could live in peace, and even be helpful to the human race. He had said that too many of their own were being captured, and he believed tortured for information they didn’t even have. He had to free them and turn the tide. Apollo had given him a mission he could not, did not wish to turn down.

  Jacie still blushed, even now, all
these years later when she thought of how she had grabbed hold of his hands and begged, “Ret…can I come with you, please, please don’t go without me. I can help. I am nearly sixteen…and my magic is superior to so many of the witches my age here on Devos. I know I can help.”

  He squeezed her hands and then let them go. A frown drew his dark brows together. He looked away from her and she watched his handsome profile as his dark blond, layered waves of hair blew around his head. She was filled with adoration for him.

  “Jacie, this is your home. You are not even sixteen, as I see it. I can’t have you in danger, I just can’t, and you would be if you travel with me. It isn’t your time yet to go out into the world. One day, down the line, it will be, but right now…you need to finish your education and training. Everything you need to continue to become all that you can is right here with Father.”

  She moved away from him and kicked at the grass. Tears filled her eyes in spite of the control she was attempting to exert over her emotions. He was going to leave and her heart was breaking. “Yes, but I want to be with you.”

  She had put a short distance between them.

  “Jacie…it is impossible,” he said, putting away turf and taking her shoulders.

  She turned and glared, pulling out of his hold. “No…it isn’t. If you would just see who I really am, but you won’t. All you see is a child!”

  He again stepped up to her and took a strand of her long hair and played with it for a brief moment before he softly told her, “Ah, my young Jacie, you will need to curb that strong will of yours and see past what you want to what you need. Here on Devos, with my father on hand, you will blossom as you complete your education and training. You could never get that kind of care and training away from here. I have a job to do and wouldn’t be able to attend you.” He grinned. “I know it sounds exciting to think about jaunting about the world and learning about that world firsthand, but you are still too young. Don’t you see that?”

  “No, I don’t see that. I am a witch—a powerful witch. I can help you. I want to go with you,” she said, and stomped her foot.

  He laughed. “My little redhead has quite a temper, eh?”

  She blushed. She knew she had a temper. It was one of the things Apollo had told her to work on and get under control. She pleaded with a scrunched up face and a whine, “Pleeeease, Retaal…?”

  “No, little one, I am off to do my part for the Cumas. They need me to help them escape their prisons, and I wouldn’t be around for you. You need to stay here and learn every skill my father can teach you.” He flicked her nose. “However, when I can…I will be back to visit you here. Time will fly by and I’ll be home once again.”

  She nodded but kept her eyes lowered.

  He laughed and said, “Now hug me and wish me well.”

  She hugged him around his waist, plastering her face to his middle and said, “I do, I do wish you well. Be safe, Ret.”

  He laughed. “Have you not heard? I am a God, son of Apollo.”

  Four long years had passed. He had never returned to Devos—not once.

  Apollo told her Retaal was in the very heat of undercover work amongst the humans and simply could not spare the time. Retaal’s undercover work might be jeopardized if his whereabouts couldn’t be accounted for.

  And then the unthinkable happened.

  Two months ago, Retaal had struck out to find where three supernaturals had been captured and taken. The next thing they heard was that during his investigation, Retaal had been captured. Everyone wondered how that could be. Had he let down his guard? Did the humans have some new kind of weapon?

  Word had been sent to Apollo that his son was being kept prisoner in the bowls of the secret tunnels the Crawly militia managed beneath his high-rise building headquarters.

  Apollo had fully expected his son to use his powers and escape, but apparently, Crawly’s scientists had developed something that kept the supernaturals in a state where they were unable to use their powers. That was all they knew, as their shifter informant sent word directly to Apollo.

  Until now, Apollo had been confident that Retaal would escape and free the others as well, but as time passed, it became apparent that Retaal was in serious trouble.

  Jacie had heard the rumor of Retaal’s capture and had begged Apollo to be allowed to go and rescue him. Until today, Apollo had refused to allow Jacie to join the small force he had put together to rescue Retaal and the others.

  Jacie was all grown up and no longer infatuated with Retaal. In fact, because he had not kept his promise, not once, she always felt a well of anger when his name came to mind. She had not even received a word from him on her birthdays.

  Not a word in four years. Nothing.

  Her infatuation was at an end. His absence had been bad enough, but when he neglected to even tell Apollo to give her his brotherly love, she cut him out of her thoughts. Yeah, damn straight, her infatuation with him was over, but he was Apollo’s son and worthy. She would save him and then have nothing to do with him!

  With that thought, she changed into the leathers with the emblem that designated NYC ACE, when Apollo’s voice in her head told her, “Little one, bring Topsy to me before you go. I will keep him as happy as I can while you are gone.”

  Right, she thought, and patted Topsy’s head. “I have to leave you, Topsy my boy, for just a little while, but you will be looked after here with Apollo, no worries.”

  Topsy slumped to the floor, and she bent and hugged him. “Come on, I’ll shift us to Apollo. You can hang with him until I get back.” She shifted him to Apollo and returned to her room. Eyeing the buzzing portal, she thought, just as she stepped inside its swirling mass, And so it starts…

  ~ One ~

  JACIE STEPPED OUT OF THE portal and saw him standing there, grinning like he had just won first prize!

  “Dog!” she screamed, and rushed him, throwing her arms around him, nearly knocking them both over.

  “That’s me. Ruff!” he teased. “Didn’t Apollo tell you?”

  “No, he didn’t. Man, am I ever glad you are my partner.” She stood back and looked at him. He was tall, lanky, and sported a shadow beard. His auburn hair freely hung in layers, carefully styled to look windswept, which always drew a giggle from her. He was a werewolf determined to make a style statement. He was fond of telling anyone who would listen that his hair was his best feature.

  As he smiled at her, his eyes started to glow with Alpha wolf yellow and he asked, hands spread wide, “How do you like your loft? Look around, but don’t take too long, we have to go. I’m supposed to bring you down to headquarters to meet the colonel.”

  Jacie did look around, aside from a modern fully operative kitchen, a couch, a bedroom with a mattress on the floor, the huge loft was empty. She laughed. “Could you have made it any sparser?”

  “What?” His shoulders went up. “It has everything you need. No matter, you’ll choose what you want in the way of furniture. No time now, off we go. I’ll fill you in on a few things on our way.”

  “I want to know about Crawly…everything you know and I want to know about the Dank in the Lower Planet,” Jacie said as he grabbed her hand and pulled her along and out the door.

  “You know already that is where Retaal is being held. It is the worst part of their underground prison. The colonel said he would give you a tour of the place once you have been indoctrinated to ACE One. That is our unit. I’ll get the tour at the same time. Only been here a couple of weeks, and since we were bringing you in, he said we would go together.”

  Dog’s cell rang and he grimaced as he answered, “Yeah?”

  Jacie’s hearing was exceptional, but even if it hadn’t been, she would have been able to hear the man on the other end shouting, “Get her over here! What is taking you so long?”

  “She just arrived and we are on our way,” Dog said, and put the phone back in his pocket. “Jacie, whatever you hear, whatever you see, you can’t show empathy for the victims. Our un
it is the most vicious. We hunt and capture supernaturals. That is our job, and you and I are supposed to be exceptional at it. No sympathy allowed.”

  Jacie made a face. “It is what they are—humans, vicious.”

  He frowned and pulled her out of the elevator, across the street and down 9th Avenue, where they ducked down a side alley.

  Before them was a tall gray building that Jacie guessed to be about thirty floors or more. Emblazoned above the front doors was the name Crawly.

  “He makes no secret of this being his?” Jacie said.

  “No, what is secret, truly secret is what lies beneath,” Dog said, and led her inside the main lobby. A round information booth sat in the middle of the huge marbled floor, but Dog, pulling Jacie along, bypassed this and went to the rear, where there was a small black and locked door.

  He put his palm to a black box, which glowed at his touch. They heard a latch come undone, and they went inside where an elevator waited.

  They got out on B-level one.

  Jacie said, “B-level?”

  “Basement level one is where we have the offices,” Dog said. “Now get ready, it is always bustling with agents and administrators.”

  They stepped out of the elevator, but what met their eyes made Jacie wince inside. No emotion, she told herself.

  The main corridor led to glass cubicles, where people worked at their computers, but standing in their path were two agents. Each agent looked stone cold as they held a young female by her wrists.

  She looked no more than sixteen or seventeen and her nose was bleeding, as was a corner of her mouth, suggesting that she had been roughed up. The girl looked scared to death and tears freely flowed down her cheeks, but what struck Jacie even more was the fact that she was a human. She was not a supernatural! So what did they want from her?

  Dog stiffened at her side and whispered, “Hush.”

  “Yes, but…she is…”

  “I know, just wait,” Dog cautioned.

  A tall, bald man with a husky build and a scar across his left cheek stepped forward and said, “Take her into interrogation room two.” He turned to Dog and nodded towards Jacie. “The new recruit, huh? Good, just in time. Both of you, come with us.”