Nimara: Children of the Gods

by Patricia Halladay

  “Nimue!” I roar, landing where I last saw her, and notices blood. Looking frantically for any sign of her, that is when another gunshot goes off, and it is close. I pull my wings in tight, and roar. Calling for my most trusted ally and her mate, my brother Bronx.

  “Thane, what is wrong? Where is she?” Bronx got here quickly; he is hit with the smell of gunpowder and blood. He knows why I called. He shifts quickly into his gargoyle and takes off towards the sound of growls, I am quick to flow.

  “What happened? I thought you were going for a run with Nimue, my mate!” Bronx links me while running.

  “We were, but then she stopped, so I flew back to get to her and that is when I heard the first gun shot. I got to the spot where I last saw her, but she had disappeared. Then I heard the second gun shot and called for you.” I linked back, “Morgana is going to kill me, I let her best friend and Clan leader get shot, kidnapped or killed.”

  “She is not dead; you are safe on that one. But I would worry about the cheetah, nymph and I more than the sorceress.” Bronx says as he has stopped and is staring at the scene in front of him. I follows his line of sight. Literally only a few hundred meters from the village, Nimue is in the center of a fight. Battling rogues that have shifted and those that are still human. She is starting to slow down from blood loss, she has been shot twice.

  “Kill them Bronx, all of them, I will take one for interrogation.” I say and takes off into the air. As soon as I gets airborne, Bronx barrels into the fight and lets out a roar. Several of the wolves all go for Bronx at once. Two of the shifted wolves only make it feet from their starting position, as vines of purple flowers flow from the grass and trap them. The two start to scream as the juices start to seep out and coat their bodies. Wolfsbane, and it’s only getting worse as the plant seems to be alive and crawling towards the others, grabbing them, and twisting them within its vines. As one wolf lunges at Bronx, he smashes his fist into its head and sends it flying back into the vines. Like before they quickly encase the wolf and screams can be heard coming from the plant like cocoon. More rogues are landing hits on Nimue, we need to act quick. Using his head and shoulders as a battering ram, Bronx charges through the group making it to Nimue. I grab a rogue, take it into the air and let go. He comes back down just as fast, making a red splattered crater as he hits the earth, I released him from a good 300 feet in the air. Wolves don’t land on their feet.

  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

  “Bronx, put out The Call!” Thane yells, and Bronx howls. The rogues have to stop to cover their ears. Some of them aren’t fast enough, and blood starts gushing from their eyes, nose, and ears and within a second hit the ground dead. I lean against the gargoyle after taking my hands from my ears and whisper. “Don’t let them take me alive. If you have too, kill me.”

  “Kill the gargoyle, we need the bitch!” A rogue with a gun says. When he goes to point it at grounder with me, it melts and covers his body. Screaming, the hot metal’s burning him, and it’s worse than Silver. These burns are strategically placed over vital arteries and veins, blood starts to flows quickly from him and soon he dies. Some of the rogues start to retreat, only to be met with silver spikes shooting up from the ground straight into their bodies. Impaling them, causing blood to seep out slow and painfully. Those that are left, surrender as they see many of the other rogues either dead or dying. Surrendering doesn’t save them, ropes of silver come from the ground and wrap around their necks, wrists and ankles and start to pull in all directions. There’s a large crowd that has encircled the battle ground, closing off the rogues escape. I stand up from leaning against the grounder and start to walk towards the group closest to me. I make it halfway between the gargoyle and the crowd when someone yells …

  “Watch out!” I turn to see a huge bloodlust rogue charging at me, but I am too weak and fall to my knees. Hoping he’s far enough gone that he will kill me and not take me back to my Uncle. He’s moving too fast for the grounder to get to me in time. Just as the rogue lunges, a large cat goes sailing over my head and straight on top of it. Landing on its back, the cat sinks it’s jaw into the rogue’s neck with a sickening crunch. They both drop to the ground, the wolf’s not able to move his body, he’s just able to move his head, the wolf shifts back to his human and still unable to move.

  “Lex get me a portable blood transfusion kit for both donor and recipient now! Gargoyles line-up!” The Grounder roars, he too shifts back, and he slides just to my left. He start administering first aid and preparing me as much as he can to receive blood.

  “What the fuck happened?” Kenneth yells as he comes into my line of sight and we make eye contact. I have completely collapsed, and I am now laying on the ground. “Onyx withdraw your spike now, she needs help.” Kenneth orders, Onyx does as Kenneth asks and he rushes over to me. I watch the large cat rip the rogue’s head off its shoulders and drop it when our eyes meet. Just like Onyx, the large cat comes over to us but not on all fours like normal. He’s walking upright instead.

  “My gifts will be given to my mates.” I whisper softly smiling and looking at the Cheetah. I already know it’s Dexter. He’s beautiful with bright yellow fur and a particular pattern of spots that form a heart on his left shoulder. I always tease him about it. Scott shifts back and rubs a spot on my thigh. The Grounder is working fast as someone comes running over to him with bags.

  “Bronx everyone is ready, what else do you need?” He’s quick to get the transfusion kit ready to insert into my arm now that he found a vein.

  “What blood type is she?” he asks, while taping down the iv catheter on my arm.

  “AB negative” Onyx answers, to which I am shocked, I think it’s amazing that he would know that, but it’s kind of creepy too. Then again I am his clan leader, and he probably knows that about his mate also.

  “Anyone not O negative blood type, you can leave. I will need you to get a snack station set up, get my army tent set up and please get this mess cleaned as well. If you find any still alive, take them wherever Pride Leader Kenneth tells you for questioning.” Bronx orders and the gargoyles start to move quickly.

  “It’s not usually done like this, but we are running out of time.” He says as he prepares the donor kit on a strong female gargoyle and she lays down on my left, while we are being placed on a makeshift gurney for the time being.

  “So, which one of you is the elemental?” Bronx asks, looking at Scott and Onyx.

  “Neither that was me!” a young boy of five years old comes forward. Getting down from a very large blonde’s back. Onyx just smiles at the boy.

  “That’s a pretty awesome gift you have for someone so small.” Bronx says looking at the boy trying to see if he’s telling the truth.

  “It should be, I am the god Dionysus, and there is no way even as a child, I would let anything happen to my niece.” The little boy says looking at me and then back to Onyx.

  “Thank you my lord for helping, I truly appreciated it. If you ever need anything please don’t hesitate to ask.” Onyx says starting to cry.

  “No crying, I will be fine. We need to have cute babies!” I say, bringing my hand to rest on his cheek and the other over to Scott’s hand.

  “Leave it to you, to think of that, at a time like this!” Scott says with a small smile.

  “Ok I need to start another line for transfusion, she has lost a lot of blood, she’s not healing properly for a lycan.” Bronx says examining me for any sign of improvement. The wounds from the bullets have started to heal but there’s still some purplish coloring around the entry point.

  “Wolfsbane, I will be fine. It’s burning off quickly, as there was something else coating the bullets. Almost like whoever made the bullets wanted them to fail.” I replied and everyone starts to breathe again.

  The young woman gets up after about 10 minutes, kisses my forehead and says... “May the light shine brightly to guide your way.” When she walks away another gargoyle comes and takes her place
and the transfusion starts again.

  It’s been roughly 20 minutes; everyone has completed their tasks given by Bronx and cleanup is underway. I have been placed in an army tent on a large cot, its big enough for like 4 people, but that could be because I am a small shit. When I hear a woman start screaming …

  “What the fuck happened to her? Why Thane? You asked me to trust you with her safety!” Morgana screams at her mate, while all he can do is keep his head bowed to her and take her anger. Bronx starts to stride over to the yelling woman to calm her and scold her, when I beat him to it …

  “ENOUGH!” I roar. A shocked, frightened, and ghostly white Morgana turns and bows immediately. Everyone has dropped, even Kenneth. Bronx and Thane turn around surprised. I. AM. PISSED. I am still receiving blood from a gargoyle and feel kind of bad for drag her out here. Onyx and Scott are glaring at Morgana.

  “Morgana inside NOW!” I roar again, and she’s quick to move past me into the tent. “Please everyone go back to what you were doing and go back to the conference. This is an extremely important event. I will be fine, thank you for all your help and support. Please make sure that the Alpha King is also taken care of and safe.” I say much calmer.

  “Nimue … I am so sorry, I ….” Morgana starts to say but I quickly cut her off when I walk back in.

  “Don’t you fucking dare Morgana! You have no right to get angry at Thane for what happened, he had no control over me being attacked. He was coming back when I stopped because of something out of place. It was I who moved from where he saw me last to get more room to maneuver. So do NOT put this on him! If anything, this is on you! YOU were supposed to be with me this morning, NOT HIM! WHERE THE FUCK WERE YOU?” I scream at her, to see tears start to fall, and Thane immediately comes to comfort her.

  “It’s my fault she didn’t come, we mated and marked each other last night. She was extremely tired this morning.” Thane says in Morgana’s defense and holds her to his chest as she cries even harder.

  “Congratulations, but that still does not give her the right to treat you like that! I am not your responsibility. You are not part of the clan yet, if you wish to join we are happy to have you, but she is. In our clan, no one is above anyone else, including me. She’s my responsibility, I am hers. Just as it is with every member in the clan, they are mine and I am theirs. You just acted like my fucking Uncle, Morgana, and we all know how much I hate him! So why act like him?” Morgana has gone even whiter, while she just stares at me in shock. “You are not above Thane, nor am I! We are equals, and if you cannot treat your mate as such, then get the fuck out of my clan. You know better!” I say having to lay back down, I am starting to feel lightheaded.

  “That she does.” Tania says when she walks through the open flaps of the tent and then continues, “At least I raised you better than that Morgana Guild.” with a look of disappointment towards her daughter.

  “I am so sorry; I didn’t mean to treat Thane like that. I was scared. I don’t want to see you die Nimue.” Morgana says with full tears running down her face.

  “No one wants to see someone they love die! Do you not think, I had already thought of that! But that’s better, then my Uncle to use my gifts for whatever he wants!” I say frustrated.

  “What do you mean Nimue?” Tania asks with horror all over her face.

  “When I talked to the Fates, they told me that when I completely bond with Amara, my gifts will be given to my mates.” I say, anxiety, fatigue and pain starts take over my body. “He has never claimed Aunt Sylvia as his mate, why would he if he could have me? A daughter of a god”

  “What about Jenna? Did Sylvia had an affair?” Morgana asks, sniffling.

  “You can’t call it an affair, if your mate has never claimed you, never mated with you or marked you. Also, he fucks whoever he wants, whenever he wants. Whether they are willing or not.” Tania says staring out the flaps of the tent, she then turns to Morgana and Thane, “Where are my manners? Prince Thane, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Tania Guild, Morgana’s mother.” Tania says surprising Thane. I think the sudden switch in Tania’s mood has caught him off guard.

  “I don’t mean to be rude, but I need to sleep to heal. Tania, who’s looking after the clan?” I ask before I slip into darkness.

  “Elder Merlin came as soon as you were being taken care of. He brought this amazing little boy with him too. He’s just too cute.” Tania says, I just nod my head and slip into sleep. I am only slightly aware of movement as the transfusion line is removed from my arm and I can feel two strong bodies lay down on either side of me. I don’t feel the new line being put in my other arm. Onyx and Scott have come to snuggle with me, I was hoping for a better first time to wake up to them in bed, but this will have to do. Seriously!! What the hell? Merlin did say I would start to feel things immediately towards my mates, but could it be just wishful thinking on my end? Or are Scott and Onyx my actual mates. Too much for right now, I need …. and with that I am out cold.

  “Nimue ….. Nimue. It’s time to wake up child, you have important things to do. Your father and I are so proud of you! Keep fighting and never give up! Your instinct and heart have led you true, never doubt in yourself my baby girl! We are truly so proud of the amazing woman you are becoming!” My mother’s voice says, but I cannot see her. All I can see is black, I must still be asleep. That is short lived, when I wake up with a jerk because someone has put something extremely cold on my chest. This time I am not nice about it and grab their arm to the point it will snap.

  “Damn, easy tiger, you’re as bad as Onyx and Scott for not letting me check your vitals! I am Bronx by the way.” It’s the gargoyle from the attack, he tries to pry my hand off his wrist. Now that I am up close and personal with him, I can see his features better. He has a chiseled face, and it looks a little like Goliath from the kids TV show Gargoyles, actually come to think about it his gargoyle looks like a beefed-up Bronx from that show too. Wonder if that is where he got his name from? The smile he holds could be taken as arrogance, his deep brown eyes set off his nose, which has a bump in the middle. A telltale sign it has been broken a few times. He has beautiful ash blonde hair, it is shaved really short, like the military style. He is 6 foot even, but he still makes my short ass look short.

  “You should be used to it then, especially for being a Military Medic.” I say getting up into a seated position and releasing his wrist so he can do a vitals check. Smiling, Bronx watches me for a minute, then putting the stethoscope to his mouth and breathes on it to get it warm. Then places it to my chest. I breathe in and out several times and repeat the process with my back. I can’t hold it back anymore, I need to know who he is, because Thane wasn’t the one giving the orders.

  “So, your highness, would you like to tell me, why you're hiding and having your little brother playing your role?” I ask while Bronx is taking my blood pressure. He finishes taking it and says...

  “110 over 70, perfect considering you still have silver in your body. Being a Werewolf, you should be dead with it still in there.” The smile never falters, and he looks at me expectantly for an explanation.

  “Well, I’ll show you mine if you show me yours.” I say trying to get out of bed, only to be pushed back down by Bronx. It doesn’t go over well because like Kendra, he ends up against a wall with metal straps keeping him in place. The door burst open with Thane, Kenneth, Rachel, Onyx, and Scott coming in quickly.

  “Now, if you want down I suggest you and your brother start talking, your Highness. Or all of you can get the fuck off my territory! And don’t feed me the bullshit, I am sure Hephaestus would love for you keep the wing.” I say with a pointed look to Thane. I can see he’s trying to hide the shock, but I don’t miss it. “NOW!” I roar, scaring my friends enough that they all take a step back.

  “How did you know?” Bronx asks from the wall. An amused look on his face, I take it he likes this position, I will enjoy playing with his twisted little mind for sure! Fuck Girl! Get your head out of S
ex City and Gutter Alley!

  “Wasn’t hard to figure out, when your brother took Morgana’s abuse this morning but neither of you bowed when I used the Alpha tone. It is something all Alpha’s are taught by the Alpha King; it’s used when there is a large crowd to subdue. The only people it doesn’t affect are the Royal families of any supernatural species. That was the first hint, another was your fighting style and tactic. You fight in Royal Elite Guard formation, and finally only the oldest son of the Gargoyle King has the power to use sound waves to kill. Actually, he’s the only one to ever possess this ability. It’s named “The Call” I say looking at Bronx and releasing him from the wall, he crawls down to stand on the floor.

  “I think we should all talk in my office. Nimue, we will wait for you down there. Okay? Take your time getting ready, your still probably not feeling the best right now.” Kenneth says, coming over to give me a hug, and whispers “Please never go out without Scott again. He feels like shit that he wasn’t there when you needed him.” Kenneth pulls back and when he does he gives me a kiss on the forehead. “You’re like the 5th little sister I never wanted but couldn’t be happier to have. Please take care of yourself!” He says heading out the door, Bronx and Thane follow him out. Rachel comes over, gives me a tight hug, and cups my face in her hands. Tears have started to come to her eyes and I just can’t take it. I start to well up too, and just hug her again. I don’t want to let go but do. When she leaves I am left with Onyx and Scott, who both look relieved, angry, and hurt all at once.

  “What is wrong you two?” I ask walking over to them and give Onyx a hug and kiss first. When I pull away, I pull Scott over to me, he grabs me roughly and lifts me around him as he smashes his lips to mine, only seconds later to pull away and I see tears trailing down his cheeks. I cup his face and wipe the tears, I don’t care that my heartbeat is still incomplete, I will not let them hurt. I will fix this and that means killing my Uncle and Alpha Nickolas.