by Susan Bliler
“And do you speak it?” Bellis ground out.
Sam lowered her chin, narrowing her eyes on him. “Fluently, motherfucker! I’m not turning on my people to save my own ass. That’s not how loyalty works.”
“So, you’d die for them?”
“Wouldn’t you die for your precious Walkers?” She angled her head. “We’re the same, just on different sides.”
“No.” He shook his head. “Walkers wouldn’t expect me to die to protect their secrets.”
“Yeah, but you’d do it all the same.”
He threw her words back at her. “You don’t know me, Princess, don’t pretend you do.”
She sighed, a bored sound, and her mind went back to two weeks ago.
***
Odium sneered at her. “The fire of my hatred burns brightly.” The Megalya’s grim expression morphed into a wicked smile revealing sharp, shark-like teeth. “I am not unable to avoid this violence. I am unwilling. Do you not feel it, sissster, or do you foolishly still cling to your need to belong to their society? They didn’t want you, remember? Have you forgotten their betrayal?”
Sam stared straight ahead, unblinking. She hated this place that she, Odium, and the other Megalya were currently calling home. It was a sewer, and there was no way to sugarcoat it. It made her feel like some fucked up April O’Neil every time she had to scan her surroundings before pulling back the manhole cover and climbing down to the literal shithole that Dr. Chambers had secured for her and the Megalya monsters. She didn’t like it, but she got it.
Dr. Chambers, the moron with all the plans, believed he could control her brother and the rest of the Megalya experiments. Still, he knew enough to house them separately from the scientists, guards, and other lackeys under Megalya employ who were hunting Skin Walkers in an attempt to replicate Skin Walker shifting abilities.
Standing on a concrete platform, surrounded by sewer water that ran from a grate at Odium’s right before flowing through several other grates throughout the large room, Sam wrinkled her nose at the nauseating scents permeating the air. “No, brother. I am but hardened by it and the lessons of life.” She recited Odium’s mantra with a cadence that spoke of repetition. She knew what Odium expected to hear, what he wanted her to say. “I do not need them. I do not want them.” The words were bitter on her tongue. What she didn’t want was to be related to Odium, to be part of his treachery, to be a Megalya, to be a part of any of this.
She tried to ignore the high-pitched clinking that always drew her eyes and made bile rise in her throat. At his waist, Odium kept Walker halos clipped to his belt. Trophies of Skin Walkers he’d murdered and then decapitated. Her brother and the rest of the Megalya believed that if they drank enough Walker blood, they’d glean Walker shifting abilities. It hadn’t ever happened, but it didn’t stop the Megalya from hunting, from trying. Sam glanced at the now-dull halos and had to fight to keep from retching. Most of the bands were smaller than the others, indicating Odium had taken them from women or children. It was horrific and a constant reminder that her brother was a monster. They were a constant reminder for her to never go soft, for weakness was as good as an invitation to a Megalya. If she couldn’t hack it, she’d be disposed of, pure and simple.
“Two weeks and we make our move.” Odium peeled his lips back and flashed his wicked teeth at her. “Then, you get tested.”
She swallowed hard. The plan was to move on the Skin Walker compound located in the Highwood Mountains of Montana. The Megalya had been striking out at one Walker at a time. Dr. Chambers and his superiors decided that wasn’t working, and that the best course of action would be to go into the Walker compound to take what they needed. No more waiting, and then the scientists planned on trying on Sam what they had unsuccessfully tried on Odium and the others.
Megalya weren’t born, they were created. Her brother had been one of the first humans to volunteer for the experiment. Volunteered! He’d talked their mother—a crackhead who’d all but abandoned him and Sam—into granting legal custody of Sam to him. He’d signed Sam up for the program too, but the scientists had waited. Thank God! They’d only wanted full-grown male subjects at that time. It had been Sam’s saving grace.
The scientists had promised shifting abilities, immunity to illness, and extended life. None of that had happened. Her brother had been turned into a monster. At first, there’d been no visible change to Daniel--his name given at birth—but then, within a day, all his hair had fallen out. All of it. By the second day, his ears had become more pointed on the tips and his teeth started falling out. The scientists kept promising that it was just his body attempting to shift to animal form for the first time. Then Daniel had been quarantined, and Sam didn’t have to be a fucking genius to see the fear and confusion on their faces when the scientists spoke to each other. Seven days later, Daniel emerged from quarantine, but he was no Daniel she’d ever known. In fact, the scientists declared he was now to be called Odium, but his name change was the least of her concerns. Daniel’s eyes had become a permanent solid black. His teeth had grown back, but they were wickedly sharp and layered on each other all crooked and lethal, like a shark’s. His skin had lost all color, but all of his physical changes paled in comparison to the changes in the man. He was different. His movements were always jerky like he was constantly being startled, and he made odd hissing sounds. During those first few weeks there wasn’t even a hint of recognition in his eyes for her. Then one day after “testing”, he came out and hissed, “Ssssissster.”
It had been one of the most disturbing moments of Sam’s life. That had been eight years ago, and compared to the things she’d seen since then, the moment now paled on her scale of disturbing moments.
Each subsequent year after the scientists had failed with Odium, they’d tried unsuccessfully to change others. All failures. All monsters, and now all under Odium’s control. The hive! It’s what the scientists called the group of Megalya beasts they’d created, yet couldn’t truly control.
***
Bellis’ voice drew her back to the present. “Where’d you go, Princess?”
Blinking, she jerked back a little when she realized he was squatting in front of her, his head canted as he studied her intently. Sam blanked her expression and reclined back on her mat, curling her legs up and placing her hand palm side down beneath her head as a pillow. Ignoring the whine in her muscles at the unforgiving concrete through the thin mat, she closed her eyes. “I’m done talking to you, and anyone else for that matter. Bring me your Dominant.”
She thought she’d get the last word, but realized she’d been wrong when Bellis growled. “Sleep, Princess, but know that when you wake, I’m gonna be right here.”
The threat sent a shiver coursing through her that she hid by rolling to her side. She needed to come up with a plan of escape. She had to get back to the hive. She needed to find a way back to Odium and his monsters so she could know what their plans were. Without her, Odium would go off the rails. She’d been the only hope of keeping him in check. The thought of him on his own made her stomach churn. Stupid Walkers! If they knew what he was capable of without her, they’d free her right now and give her keys to a damn jet plane to get her back to the Megalya as fast as possible.
Chapter 5
Unable to sleep, Sam ignored Bellis’ threat. “Sleep, Princess, but know that when you wake, I’m gonna be right here.” She feigned sleep, forcing her eyes to stay closed, knowing Bellis was in fact watching her from the corner of her cell. Her shoulder, hip, and back moaned at how hard the floor was. She may as well have been lying directly on the concrete, because the thin mat offered zero cushion against the unforgiving floor. Rolling to her other side, she faced the door and the darkened wall. Her eyes peeked open, tracking to the corner where she saw the eerie neon-blue of Bellis’ eyes from the shadow as he continued to watch her. The blue of his eyes was so close to the color of her own eyes that it almost made her feel a kinship with the Demon. That, and his affinity for t
he darkness spoke to her, reminded her of herself.
She’d called him a Demon Walker, but Bellis was no demon. No, she knew demons, and Bellis was the opposite, regardless of how he tried to portray himself. Opposite of a demon. Angel? She chuffed a quiet laugh. Skin Walkers called their mates Angels. Hell, they even bore halos that they gifted to their Angels. Demons, Angels, Megalya. Lying on the floor in the cell she wondered at her place in this biblical plot. Did she even have a place? For so long she’d thought she was on the right side, doing good, but after so many years she wasn’t so sure. Skin Walkers were good, she knew this to her bones, but they hated her. She was, for all intents and purposes, a Megalya, and the Megalya were bad. Did that mean she was bad? Her mind swirled with all the things she’d done over the years. So many lies had fallen from her lips that she’d stopped keeping track. She existed beneath so much deceit and hate and subterfuge. She’d lost herself somewhere in the swirling vortex of bullshit that was her life, and she was certain now that even though she’d tried to leave a trail, there was no going back. The old Sam was gone. This false Sam, the one she’d created to survive, was who she was now. It’s all she ever would be.
The door opened, and disappointment was swift when King entered the room again with the same man from earlier. They stopped in front of the opened door and stared at her.
Sitting up with a quiet moan, she scraped her fingernails against her tingling scalp. She wanted a cigarette in the worst way. Damn Walkers! She’d started the disgusting habit as an excuse to exit a room when she needed, but after years of pretending, the bad habit now registered true cravings. The blessed little things helped calm her nerves and diminish her hunger. Both had become necessities.
Her head was beginning to pound with the need for escape, which triggered a need for nicotine. She refused to show any sign of her weakness. Lifting her head she glared at King, refusing to cower in the Second’s presence.
“Ready to talk?”
Getting to her feet, she eyed the open door, responding immediately to King’s query. “No.”
“Your lack of cooperation is staggering, Ms. Michaels. Worse, it’s insulting. I’m attempting to help you get yourself out of a situation that is more than detrimental to your health. I am not a patient man and, unfortunately for you, Monroe StoneCrow is even less so. Your time and luck have run out.” King’s eyes lingered on her for a moment as if giving her one last chance.
Silence.
Finally, he spoke. “Bellis, Ms. Michaels now belongs to the Keepers. She is of no further use to us.”
Sam’s gut wrenched as her mouth suddenly dried up. He wouldn’t! “You can’t just give me to them! I’m not property to be discarded. I haven’t even spoken to Monroe!”
“And you’re not going to. He’s preoccupied with his family, and I’m making the executive decision to ship you out. If you’re as valuable to the Megalya as I think you are, then I don’t want them coming here for you. No.” He shook his head hard. “One attack on the Estate was enough, and it’s left me quite busy. Thanks to your Megalya, I have neither the time nor the patience to interrogate a traitor. You’re going to the Keepers, because I’m certain they’ll be more forgiving. You won’t stay here at StoneCrow. It’s done.”
Behind King and Bishop two menacing figures stepped into the room. One stepped forward, and for a moment, Sam couldn’t see his face beneath his dark, hooded cape. Lifting his head, he shoved the hood back.
“This is Fatal,” King informed. “The ruling Keeper.”
With his pale complexion and long dark hair, he looked more human than she’d expected.
“Keo!” Fatal growled with clear pleasure lighting his eyes. “Take the traitor to the North Fortress.”
Sam stepped back as this Keo approached. He was tall, lanky, but covered in corded muscles that bunched and flexed as he moved. He was a stark contrast to Bellis whose frame was much wider, beefier. Keo was all golden sun-kissed skin, covered in tattoos that weren’t any designs she’d ever seen. The markings looked like black dots on his shoulders where the skin was exposed by the formfitting tank top he wore. The dots went all the way down both arms and up his neck. His golden eyes were outlined in black that ran from the corner of each eye down on either side of his nose and ended under his chin. He looked like some kind of cheetah or leopard. His short hair—the color of honey—was cropped close on the sides and longer on top where his bangs were gelled up and back. He had a trimmed goatee and looked like he belonged on some underwear ad. He was handsome, if you were into boys. Her gaze shifted from Keo to the corner where Bellis’ eyes glowed brightly.
Keo’s arm shot out too fast for Sam to even see. His hand locked on her bicep in a painful grip, and he jerked her forward before shoving her in front of him and forcing her into motion. His hold on her remained bruising. His golden eyes were hard as he stared straight ahead.
***
Bellis watched everything play out, his dark eyes tracking the Keeper, Keo, as he exited the interrogation room with Sam. He didn’t like how rough the Keeper was with her, regardless of the fact that she was a traitor. If Fatal hadn’t turned to him just then, he would have followed Keo to relinquish the Keeper of his duty.
“Bellis,” Fatal growled accusingly as he pinned the Walker with angry eyes, his nostrils flaring before his lip peeled back in clear disgust. “She is not viable.”
“Didn’t say she was,” he growled. “Wasn’t looking!” Bellis knew what he meant. She’d be no Skin Walker or Keeper’s mate. She was now a prisoner, which meant she’d relinquish the information they sought, or take it to her grave.
Bellis nodded once, but he couldn’t extinguish the small spark that had flared to life within him, warning him that he needed to protect Sam. He knew that there was something else going on with the woman, something she refused to divulge.
“I’ll assist in her delivery to the North Fortress.”
“No,” was Fatal’s simple reply, but it wasn’t up to him.
“Monroe has put me in charge of her. It’ll remain that way until she’s delivered to your compound.” Without another word he exited the room to follow after Keo and Sam.
Chapter 6
The armored transport vehicle was parked outside and waiting, but the Keepers had yet to move to get Sam into the back. No, they held her outside where Rohm was speaking to her. Keo kept an hand locked around her bicep. Her hands were cuffed in front of her, her angry blue eyes narrowed on Rohm, but she didn’t respond to whatever it was he was saying to her. Every few seconds though, her gaze would leave his and she’d study the Estate. He was thinking the same thing she was, that now would be the best time for the Megalya to make a play for her if they were going to.
“Tell me again why we’re not transporting her by air?” Bellis didn’t even glance at King as he waited for explanation.
“The attack on the estate drew the attention of local law enforcement, as well as showing up on the radar of the United States Air Force.” There was an air force base located in the town of Great Falls, a mere fifty miles from where StoneCrow was nestled in the Highwood Mountains. “We’re going low key until this blows over. As it stands, Monroe’s got officials coming up to investigate. They weren’t satisfied with the excuses we’ve provided.” He titled his chin toward the sky. “Probably got satellites or drones watching us at this moment.”
Enough! Exiting the main Estate house, Bellis locked eyes on Rohm. “Get the prisoner in the transport vehicle. Now!”
Rohm’s head snapped to the side, his odd, clear eyes locked on Bellis. His jaw clenched but he didn’t say anything. Instead, he looked back at Keo and nodded. The Keeper hauled Sam to the back of the truck and Bellis followed. Before Keo could pull his key free from the open door, Bellis had his hands circled around Sam’s waist and lifted her into the vehicle. Keo shot him a dark look, but Bellis ignored it. The kid had a shit-ton to learn about giving dirty looks.
Pulling himself into the back of the vehicle, Bellis secu
red the cuffs around Sam’s wrists to the metal rod down the center of the floor. He took the seat beside Sam, and when Keo climbed in and stared at Bellis as if he expected the Walker to move, Bellis jerked his chin toward the bench on the opposite side of the truck. Keo sat hard, and glared at Bellis.
Several minutes later the back doors were secured before two more doors slammed shut and the vehicle lurched into motion. Bellis knew the Keeper’s North Fortress was in the Crazy Mountains. There were two routes they could take, the faster route through the Lewis & Clark National Forest. If they were ambushed there, it’d be better for trying to make a break for it on foot. The other route was through the prairie, which meant they should be able to see an attack coming, but would have no cover if shit went down. If it were up to him, he’d go through the forest, but who knew what the Keepers would decide. Either way, they were looking at about three hours.
After a half hour or so of silence, he asked, “What was Rohm spewing off about?” He looked at Keo, but the Keeper looked away in annoyance. When he thought his curiosity would have to go unsatisfied, Sam spoke.
“He warned me not to try and tempt any Keeper into claiming me in hopes of escaping my fate. He said it wouldn’t work anyway, because I am not like women Keepers desire. He said I am not beautiful or desirable to them. Rohm explained my status.”
A muscle in Bellis’ jaw twitched. Not beautiful? Clearly, the fuckers were blind. She was beautiful, fuck that, she was gorgeous. Everything about the little traitor was sexy as all get out, from her silky cropped hair to that goddamn suit that clung to her like he wanted to. Her lips were lush and full, and those damn eyes could make a Walker feel like he was drowning. “And what did Rohm say your status was?”
Sam stared at the far side of the truck. “I have no value. I am insignificant. Unwanted. He said I’m not viable. That I’ll be a prisoner until I’m…” Finally, she showed some emotion by swallowing hard. “Discarded.”
