Berserker's Rage

by Elle Boon

  He ran his hand through his hair. “I do have control to an extent, I just thought I hid it better than I obviously did. Why didn’t you ever say anything?”

  “It’s not like we walk around with signs saying what our super powers are. Besides, it’s no big deal. You look the same… only bigger.”

  With an exhale, Hal released the breath he wasn’t aware he’d been holding.

  “Did you think you turned into a version of the Incredible Hulk or something?” Brax asked.

  “Something like that. I mean I would hear seams rip and my clothes would be ten kinds of screwed, sort of like the big guy you mentioned.”

  Hal narrowed his eyes as Keanu started laughing. “Can you do something to make him stop?”

  “I’m afraid to look into his mind. The last time I did…let’s just say he has really dirty thoughts, and I couldn’t look at Cammie for a while.”

  “Hey, it’s not my fault she calls me her Louisville Slugger.” Keanu smirked.

  “I really don’t want to know what he’s talking about, do I?” Hal asked.

  Brax rubbed his eyes with the palms of his hands. “Not enough brain bleach in the world my man.”

  “You’re just jealous, captain. One day you’ll find a woman who thinks you…what the fuck is that?” Keanu asked.

  Hal’s head swung back to the front of the vehicle, and saw a streak of red was flying toward them. “That would be Slater. Damn he’s fast.”

  When the big red wolf stopped outside the Sidewinder, he shifted back to a naked Slater. “Yeah, so the pyramid is empty this time of the night. From what I can tell it’s run by a couple people during the day, but they seem to have been gone for a while. I smelled your girl and at least a dozen other males. I saw four armed guards stationed around the grounds, but I didn’t see where they were holding her.”

  “You just going to stand around with your junk hanging out?” Keanu asked.

  Slater raised both his hands and gave Kea the middle finger. “Eyes above the shoulders, unless you want to see what I’m packing.”

  “Children, unless you want me to fuck with both your minds, shut the fuck up.” Brax growled.

  The sound of howls split the air. “What the hell was that?” Hal looked around.

  “You didn’t think I came alone, did you? I brought a few of my family members. I figured we’d need a little back up.”

  Keanu raised his brows. “Again, are you driving nekkid, or what?”

  “I’m going to bite you.” Slater growled.

  Hal knew his friends were trying to ease the tension, but until he had Felicity back in his arms, safe, there was nothing that would make him relax.

  “I think we should go on foot. There could be camera’s set up, or traps, in my shifted form I can sense things I can’t in my vehicle.”

  “Don’t say it, Keanu,” Brax warned.

  “I was actually going to agree with him.” He laughed.

  Hal climbed out, followed by Keanu and Brax.

  “I’ve sent my pack mates a head, they’re going to fan out, check for traps and be our backup. Trust me, they are the best of the best when it comes to defense.”

  “If they are as fast as you, I think it’s safe to say I feel confident they will be there quickly. However, are they prepared to take down men who may, or may not, be armed?” Brax asked.

  “This isn’t our first rodeo, boys. Let’s go, one of my guys said there’s movement from inside the pyramid structure. Something about the floor opening up.”

  Slater shifted seamlessly back to the big wolf, his size easily three times that of a normal one. Leaving the three of them to follow in his wake, he took off at a fast run, knowing they had roughly two miles between him and where Felicity was being held. By the time he was close enough to make out the triangular structure, he was sure he felt the being inside him rise closer to the surface. Hal allowed his body to accept the other, knowing he would need all the extra strength.

  Through the darkness, with the help of the berserker, figures were easily seen. Five men walked the perimeter, occasionally stopping to speak into ear pieces, but not loud enough for them to hear.

  He watched as the wolves took out the guards simultaneously. The attack happened so quickly and viciously, he was shocked there was no noise from them.

  Once Slater indicated the Pyramid was clear, he wasted no time entering. Keanu held his hand up, a ball of fire illuminating the room.

  “From what I’d observed earlier, the floor opened up here,” Slater indicated the center of the space. “I kept this one alive, but he’s not being too cooperative. Think you could work your magic, captain?”

  Brax moved forward, a look of concentration on his face. The man held by Slater slumped forward after a few moments, sweat pouring down his face.

  “There’s a veritable fortress down below. A community of men, women and children who have lived their entire lives underground. Only a select few are allowed up above. Most believe there is no above ground. They’ve been taught that the world collapsed or some such shit. Fuck, the Prophet is batshit crazy. I don’t know what his plans for Felicity are, but there is no way he could allow her to join the community, until he’s fucked with her mind, body and soul.” Brax stepped away from the man.

  “Does he know where she’s at?” Hal asked, grabbing the man by the shirt, lifting him two feet off the ground. The bald man began to shake, but didn’t utter a word.

  “I was able to get the layout of the underground world from his mind. He didn’t say anything, Hal, I took from him the info I wanted. That’s why he’s in the shape he’s in.”

  Seeing the anguish on his captain’s face, Hal dropped the man. “I know you don’t like to use your powers like that, Brax, I’ll owe you for the rest of my life. Anything you want, if I can get it, it’s yours.”

  Brax smiled weakly. “Let’s just bring your girl home safe. Follow me, and stay close. Once we are down there aren’t any guards. It seems the Prophet believes he doesn’t need to keep guards on his followers, because they all truly believe he’s like their king or some other crazy shit. Fuck, I’m going to need that brain bleach. For Felicity’s mama to have escaped from him, she had to be very strong of mind and spirit.”

  “A few of my pack are going to stay up here to make sure there isn’t any trouble on the surface, I’ll go ahead of you.” Slater had slipped on a pair of sweats.

  “You don’t know the layout. I’ll lead, you stay right next to me. Hopefully you can scent any danger. Are you going in as man or wolf?”

  “I’m going in as a man, but I will shift if I need to,” Slater said.

  Brax used the man’s hand to initiate the opening of the floor. From what he’d seen they’d need him again once they landed at the bottom. Three of the wolves had stayed in their shifted forms, their growls made the hair on Hal’s arms stand up. Their heads reached him mid chest, making them the thing of most people’s nightmares. Their coats ranged from red like Slade’s to the blackest of night.

  He watched the largest wolf corral the other two into the center of the lift, clearly the leader. His eyes met Hal’s, the laser blue shown intelligence. The big wolf gave a regal nod before turning to face the only doorway. As the circular space came to a jarring stop they all went on alert, the wolves ears perked up.

  “My brother says they don’t hear anyone outside, but they can’t say for sure. I have more of my senses in my shifted form. Hal, you take this guy, use his palm to scan, then I’d suggest knocking him out, or whatever Brax thinks.” Slater passed the still dazed man over to Hal.

  “He is a man who knows right from wrong. He’s travelled outside of the compound, yet keeps all those down below in the dark. The things he’s done, all for the Prophet, and for himself, is disgusting. I’d say kill him, but I think the feds should handle all of them, except this one, I’ll take care of him.” Brax pushed a finger on the man’s forehead, causing his eyes to roll into the back of his head before he collapsed against
Hal. “He should sleep like a dead man for at least twelve hours, and when he wakes up he’ll have the worst headache. I think that is more than enough time.”

  A simple laying of the hand over the palm reader had the doors opening into a corridor of concrete halls. The recessed lighting reminded Hal of what you’d see in an underground warehouse. He wondered how they’d achieved such a structure without alerting the authorities.

  “This way.” Brax led the way.

  Slater growled in his human form. “I need to go that way. I can’t explain it, but something is drawing me in that direction.”

  The big black wolf shifted into a man even larger than Hal. “I’ll go with you.”

  “I need you to go with them, Bodhi. I’ll just scout the area. I’ll keep in touch.” Slater tossed the sweats off, before racing down the hall.

  “He’s caught the scent of a woman. Maybe his woman.” Bodhi turned to watch the wolf run.

  Hal watched as the red wolf disappeared from sight. “If you want to follow him, I’ll understand, but I need to find Felicity.”

  The man Slater called Bodhi turned away from the empty hall. “We will go with you, but if he gets in trouble he is our priority, he’s pack.”

  Brax started moving away from the elevator. The corridor became wider, they started looking more like hallways, as if they were meant to look more like a home. Hal recognized some of the paintings or remakes of famous paintings. He heard female voices talking in low tones. The six of them pulled up short.

  Brax looked around the corner, coming back with a scowl. “There are three women all sitting on a sofa. I don’t think we can sneak around them, but I can possibly get inside their heads. I hate to fuck with them, when they’ve already been through so much already.”

  Bodhi eased around them, his body like a shadow against the grey walls.

  “They are going to bed. They are the first wives, so they get extra alone time at night. However, the Prophet is busy, which they understand.” Bodhi made a gagging sound.

  “What the fuck does that mean?” Hal asked.

  Brax put a restraining hand on his arm. “It means they aren’t getting to see their husband, but that doesn’t mean he’s doing anything with Felicity, just that he is sending them to bed alone. What we do know is we are going in the right direction.”

  “They’re gone. I smell your woman’s scent much clearer now. I will lead. There are two guards that are heavily armed. I also smell about forty women in this section of the compound, along with five other men. These are not young men, the only ones I sense that are going to be problems are the ones outside of the door. Be prepared to kill, gentlemen. They are not going to let her go. I can sense that, too.” Bodhi spoke in an all knowing tone.

  Keanu walked up to him. “How do you know all this?”

  “We are shifters, but more. That is all you need to know fire breather.” He shifted even quicker than Slater had, the other two wolves standing next to him were not quite as big, but every bit as impressive.

  Keanu formed a fireball in his palm, tossing it back and forth. “Let’s do this, boys.”

  Chapter Nine

  Felicity stared at the room in which she’d been taken. The man who claimed to be her father informed her she had half an hour to get showered and changed, then he’d come and get her. He’d left without another word. Like he expected her to do as she was told, as if she was a child. The bathroom was little more than a concrete room with four walls, a toilet, sink and a small shower stall. She wondered if there was even hot water. The bed was a cot that looked straight out of a jail. As far as amenities went, she was not given the royalty treatment, clearly being the daughter of the big guy didn’t get you the best room in the house.

  She sat on the end of the bed, she cringed when she heard the springs squeak. How had her day gone from facing her fears to being thrown straight into a living nightmare? Thoughts of what would happen if he came back and she hadn’t followed his dictates had her standing on shaky legs. The caftan he’d said was part of the uniform all the women wore was folded at the end of the bed, but there were no clean underwear. Felicity grabbed the outfit and made quick work of washing off the grime of the day. The thought of putting on the same panties was better than going without.

  A brisk knock was her only warning before the door opened and a large man entered. He looked her up and down. “The Prophet is waiting for you. I’m glad I didn’t need to call for one of the handmaidens.”

  His voice was grating while his eyes went all around the room. “Fold your dirty clothes before we go. There are rules for you to follow. Your training starts now.” He crossed his arms over his massive chest.

  “Excuse me?”

  “Women have a place here. You will not be waited on like you were in the up world. Down here your role is to serve your masters. Those are your dirty clothes. You will walk over there and fold them into a nice pile for the cleaners. If your job is to clean you will appreciate a good woman who doesn’t leave her clothes in a dirty heap. Do as I’ve said or I will punish you.”

  What his punishment entailed she had no clue, but picturing him putting his hands on her had bile rising in her throat. The side slit of the caftan showed her leg as she turned to do his bidding. Making quick work of folding and placing her outfit on the bed she waited for his instructions.

  “Very good. I see you’ve been disciplined before. Now come.” He gripped her arm.

  The hallway was painted a warm tan with gorgeous pictures hanging up and down the walls they passed. He kept his hand wrapped firmly around her upper arm, his fingers constantly squeezing.

  When the hall split right or left, the grip on her arm eased some. She realized he didn’t want the Prophet to see him holding her tightly. He led her into a large courtyard filled with sculptures and greenery, she wondered how the plants lived.

  “You look lovely in our clothes, my dear Felicity.” The Prophet sat in a large white chair that resembled a throne. “Ah, are you wondering how we keep the plants alive? Solar panels generate everything down here. All these plants are indoor plants that don’t need the sun. We are very self-sufficient, you see. Your mother and I were both born here. She was mine from the day she was born. As you should have been.” His eyes narrowed.

  Her voice shook. “My mother never mentioned anything about you or this place.”

  The Prophet steepled his fingers beneath his chin. “You look just like her. Maybe even more beautiful than she was.”

  His words didn’t give her any ease. “What do you want from me? You have to know my family is looking for me.”

  His relaxed pose disappeared. “Your mother never should have left. For twenty-five years I have mourned the loss of my first wife. My one true love. Then, to find out she not only left me, and our community, but she took one of my precious children. It’s unforgiveable. The only thing required, to make what she has done right, is for you to take her place. You will fill her shoes.”

  Felicity stumbled backward. “What do you mean? I thought I was your daughter? That’s…that is incest and gross. I won’t. I’ll die first.”

  “You’ll come to understand our ways, Felicity. For tonight I suggest you get some rest. Tomorrow is a big day.” He prowled toward her.

  “What do you mean?” She tried to avoid his touch.

  “You had some amazing plastic surgery. You really don’t want to undo all that work now do you, hmm? Don’t shy away from me. As for what is tomorrow? Why, it’s our wedding day.” He bent down and kissed her on the cheek. “For tonight you will sleep alone, but after that you will only sleep alone if I choose it. If I decide to let my most trusted have you, you will allow them access to your body. You say you’d rather die, well that is a shame. Now that I know where your whore of a mother lives I can, and will bring her back to me. Make no mistake, Felicity, it’s you or her. I’d much rather have the younger version, but I’ll take her just to get my pound of flesh.”

  “Why? If you have so man
y wives, why do you want either of us?”

  He waved his hand in a dismissive manner. “Because you are mine. Take her to the first wife’s quarters. I’ve already had it cleaned for her.”

  “Are you sure she deserves such a place?” One of the guards asked.

  “Do you dare question me?” The Prophet dropped his relaxed pose.

  “My apologies, Prophet. I will do as you say, and then take myself to the sanctuary for prayer.”

  “See that you do. And, Christoph, if you ever question me again, you will lose all privileges for a month.”

  Christoph held his hands out in front of him, awaiting something, of which Felicity wasn’t sure. The Prophet walked toward him then kissed each palm. A loud crack rent the air, when Christoph turned to face her he had a red hand print on his cheek, hatred gleamed in his eyes.

  “This way, please.” His voice held no inflection, and he didn’t touch her.

  They walked, with her one step behind him, in complete silence. She turned to see the Prophet staring at her. He had a grin on his face. Fear skidded down her spine. He’d just kissed a man’s hands and then slapped him hard enough to leave an imprint, while the man did nothing to protect himself. The hallways were completely devoid of people, with doors every ten feet or so apart, yet no sound came from behind them. If she were to scream would anyone come to her rescue? Would Hal know where she was? Her heart ached at the loss of what could have been.

  The door he stopped at was larger than the others they’d passed. “There are no need for locks here. If you decide to try and run, there will be a guard outside the door. I suggest you go inside and get some rest. Tomorrow is a very important day for you.”

  “He hit you.” She reached up to touch his cheek.

  “It is his right. I will now go. Joseph is coming. He is not as kind as I am. Don’t speak with him. Go inside and shut the door, now.” Christoph stepped away, sadness written all over his demeanor.

  A man with a jagged scar running down one side of his face turned toward her. On instinct, she stepped back and shut the door. Looking around the first wife’s quarters, she realized it was more like a nice hotel suite. The chair under the desk had a rounded top and she thought of wedging it under the door handle, but the image of the scarred man bursting inside had her leaving it.