by Angela White
“Coming in,” a familiar voice notified them from outside the cave.
The veterinarian ducked through the blind. Surprise rolled over the Eagles.
“How did you know we were here?” Kyle demanded.
“Who do you think added the special coolers?” Chris sneered, going to Angela. He gazed at her with a clear adoration that drew notice from every male in the cave.
Finally! Jennifer judged. She’d always known the vet was hinky. It was about time the others felt it too.
“You did well,” Angela praised between bites.
Angela ignored him to finish her last part of this mess. “We’re all set?”
The vet handed her a photo. It was of a minefield.
“Channel fifteen,” Chris told Marc, a bit surprised the boy scout was here for this.
Marc switched to the new angle in pleasant surprise as he realized it was atop a tree that gave them a clear view of the road that the surviving train people would have to take to travel north. His elation faded as he realized the photo the vet handed around at Angela’s direction wasn’t far into the distance from the trains.
“How did you get close enough to do this without them knowing?”
“I did it before they got here,” Chris stated proudly. “It’s been in place for two weeks. I took this picture right before I shoveled dirt over it.”
“It’s now had fourteen days to sit and re-blend with the rest of the road,” Angela stated, pushing away the last bite. “I’m done. Get off of me.”
Adrian ignored her request and adeptly shoved the last bite into her mouth.
He scowled as she gagged. “Keep it down!”
Angela struggled to obey. It was hard.
Marc watched the tears stream down her cheeks, watched her recover herself and actually swallow the food. I wouldn’t have been able to do that, he thought, remembering his weak gut moments. It had gotten better over the years, but not that much. He also wouldn’t have been able to treat her that way.
“Good girl,” Adrian praised as Jennifer handed her the milk to finish. “You can sleep now. We’ll handle things.”
Angela held up a very sore arm. “I want to be awake for it. I did it. I have to watch.”
“I don’t think you need to carry this one,” Adrian refused, not touching her for the energy blast that she wanted. “If you want it, you’ll have to take it.”
Angela inhaled with a brutal tug and then used some of the energy to blast Adrian against a wall of the cave. He crumbled at her feet, barely conscious.
“He won’t say that again,” Marc commented, chuckling. He went back to studying the monitor.
Angela used the stolen energy to push herself up and join her mate at the radio. The food was trying to settle, but the stomach cramps were making it hard.
Feeling her discomfort, Marc reached out for her hand. As angry as he could be with her, as angry as he was right now, he still cared. That would never change.
“Same here,” Angela murmured, clasping his hand. They waited together to witness her latest atrocity.
Adrian slowly stood up, glad Marc was ready to offer comfort. She didn’t need to witness this.
I agree, Marc sent, hoping to surprise Angela with their open line. But I don’t want to be knocked out. You want to try again?
Adrian smirked. “No.”
Angela ignored them. The fleeing train survivors weren’t staying together as she’d hoped they would. If too many of them reached the trap ahead of the others, there might still be survivors.
“Shh. It’s okay,” Chris stated, still gazing at Angela. He hadn’t glanced away from her once. “I placed a second area in case that happened.”
Right on time, Angela tracked as the vet’s mental walls collapsed under Marc’s scrutiny.
“You’re a descendant!”
“Not now,” Angela pulled his attention away from the vet. “Be ready.”
Marc saw the box next to the radio and realized he would be the one to spring the trap.
“Let the traitor do it,” Angela ordered.
Marc stood up, wrapping an arm around Angela’s shoulders.
Shaking off the daze, Adrian ignored the lump on his skull to take over the controls. He fought not to smile.
Spotting his eagerness, Marc glared. “You’re loving this!”
The former leader picked up the box. “Eliminating our enemies? Yes. Why aren’t you?”
“Because I have a soul,” Marc spat. “Why don’t you?”
“Because I wasn’t put here to be a saint or a boy scout,” Adrian stated calmly. “I’m here to ensure the survival of our citizens. There isn’t anything I won’t do towards that goal. Let us know when you finally understand how that feels.”
Before Marc could send a scathing retort, Adrian hit the button and blew up the road.
Watching the carnage on the monitor was hard on all of them, even Adrian. Despite his bravado, he didn’t like doing this. Killing wasn’t the goal of a descendant and every time he did it or helped do it, he felt more alien to this world.
A small group from the train made it through the first explosions, only to be hit with the second barrage that Adrian triggered as they watched the monitors. Nothing moved after that.
Angela slowly turned toward the warm cocoon of her chair and blanket. As she pulled the quilt up to hide the sobs, Adrian turned off the screen. “As far as I’ve seen, we never have to do that again. This is the one and only time that Safe Haven will ever have to condone mass murder.”
Unable to take that lie, Marc suddenly wanted to be with the camp. “What else do we need to do?”
“Jeff’s new friend needs to be handled,” Jennifer stated, reminding them of other issues that were waiting. “He said Sally can’t come in our gates, and I believe him.”
“What does she want?” Marc asked.
“To be alone with her animals,” Jennifer answered. “Jeff wants to hook her up with gear and supplies and send her on her way.”
“What about you?” Marc wanted to know.
“She should be eliminated,” the teenager replied. “But Jeff said she saved their lives and they have to return the favor.”
“Angie will make the decision,” Marc passed the choice automatically. “Tell him she’ll–”
“No.”
Marc quickly rotated to confront Adrian. “You don’t get a say!”
“Angie is not in charge anymore,” Adrian pointed out stiffly. “These are your choices. Handle them and let her heal.”
Feeling the scold, Marc scowled. “Who the hell do you think you are?”
Adrian didn’t answer. She needed a break and he was going to make sure that she got one. Without a respite, she wouldn’t be able to get them across that ocean.
“Fine!” Marc relented, reading the thought. “When Dog’s ready to be brought in, we’ll swap out the gear and supplies, and send her on her way,” Marc chose, talking to Jennifer. “But if you get a real sign of a problem, tell me and I’ll handle it then.”
“You got it.”
“What else?” Marc asked, realizing he was fully in Angela’s place now.
“The bodies,” Adrian pointed out. “Poison meat isn’t good for nature.”
Marc sighed. Cleanup had to happen. “Okay… We’ll burn it on our way to camp. What else?”
Adrian gave Kyle a pointed look.
Kyle, still furious with the man, flipped him the finger, but did as directed. “What we tell the camp, what loot we take, level of discussion among the ranks, and then notifying their town that Sonja and her army are gone.”
Marc hadn’t realized there were so many issues still waiting, but it was embarrassing that he’d forgotten about the town. “Do that one now,” he instructed. “Does she have something scripted?”
“I’ve got it covered when you say the word,” Adrian stated smugly.
“Word.”
Amused, Adrian found the right channel on the radio that Kenn had made as pow
erful as anything in camp. “This is Safe Haven refugee camp. Come in, Altoona, Pennsylvania.”
The response came quickly.
“This is Altoona. Where is Sonja?”
“Sonja is dead. I repeat: your tyrannical ruler is dead. Safe Haven has handled her and liberated your town. You are all free to go.”
“Is this some kind of bad joke?” the man on the other end asked suspiciously.
“I repeat, Sonja is dead. Everyone on the train is dead. We consider all the subjects of Pennsylvania to be innocent victims of her tyranny, including those in her hometown. Safe Haven is open to trade and regular communications if you so desire.”
“We’re going to confirm this before we do anything,” the voice replied stiffly. “Altoona, out.”
“Have a wonderful evening, asshole,” Adrian muttered when he couldn’t be heard.
Marc sniggered. “Nice. She write that little freedom speech and warning combined?”
“I did,” Jennifer stated. “She approved it, of course.”
“So did I,” Adrian stated. “She wasn’t sure it conveyed enough of a threat. Judging from the response, I’d say it was perfect.”
Jennifer didn’t want to feel good about receiving praise from Adrian. To hide what she couldn’t avoid, Jennifer stomped over and sank down by Angela. “I’m staying here.”
Adrian shrugged. He had nothing to hide now. The feeling was amazing.
Loathing that, Marc motioned the Eagles toward the exit. “I’ll figure out the rest of it as we go. Let’s roll.”
Jennifer didn’t stand up until Marc gave her the specific glower that said he would pick her up and carry her. Aware that he was on the edge of his patience, the teen reluctantly stood, but she couldn’t keep from protesting. “It’s not right.”
“Get in the truck,” Kyle ordered, taking Jennifer’s arm. “He knows what he’s doing.”
“Giving her up?” Jennifer asked snidely. “Because Adrian will use this to bond with her. You know that.”
“Yes, I do,” Kyle conceded angrily. “Now, come on.”
Marc waited to be alone with Adrian and Angela. He had to let go of something.
Angela struggled to stay awake, the energy almost gone. “I’m listening.”
“I’ve always known that you belong with someone else. Even when we were kids.”
Angela would have denied that, but Marc didn’t let her. “I’m not giving you up or giving you permission to love him. I don’t have that kind of control over you.” Marc sighed. “I wouldn’t want that kind of control over anyone, but I mean it. I always knew we weren’t supposed to end up together.”
“That’s why you made the choice?” she asked, experiencing fresh pain from an old wound.
“Yes. I wanted the Marines. You were meant for better than me. That’s why I let you go. Every moment since then was spent in regret, but it was honest regret.”
“Because you still believe it was right?”
“Yes.”
Adrian stayed silent as they tried to remove one of the walls that had always stood between them.
“I was scared of you.”
“Why?” Marc asked in annoyance at the revelation. “I never put a hand on you that you didn’t beg me for.”
Angela couldn’t say it, forcing Adrian to supply the answer. “She’s terrified of males. Always has been, I would guess.”
Marc was floored by that. “I never knew.”
“I hid so many things as a kid,” Angela admitted. “I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you.”
“I wouldn’t have known how to handle it then,” Marc gave, coming over to her. “I guess the past never lets go, does it?”
Angela held up a hand to him. “I love you.”
Adrian winced even as he silently applauded the start of their reconciliation. He needed her to be happy. After all that she’d sacrificed for the dream, she deserved peace.
“Without change, there can be no peace,” Angela muttered chillingly. “Only survivors.”
“And we haven’t changed, have we?” Marc asked.
“Not enough,” she complained. “and it’s cost me everything that I needed.”
“You couldn’t have pushed them any faster,” Adrian tried to comfort.
Marc flashed him an ugly glare. “Stop lying to her. That’s an order.”
Adrian winced again.
Marc knelt down, finally ready to say what he’d been holding onto for a while now. “I can’t be with you like this. I love you too, but as long as you lead Safe Haven, I can’t be your mate. You’re too…”
“Evil?” she supplied tiredly.
“Yes.”
Adrian clamped down on a violent response.
“What about while you’re in charge?” she questioned, lids closing.
Adrian abruptly got up and left the lukewarm cave.
Marc gloated, missing Angela’s relieved flinch. “I’m making all those choices, with you doing nothing that I don’t approve?”
“Yes, please,” she instantly claimed the freedom. “I’m tired, Brady. I…I can’t do it.”
Marc stewed over it as if that didn’t fall right into his own plans. “I need to think on it.”
Angela didn’t speak as he kissed her cheek and left. She let the blackness come forward to remove the pain.
Marc didn’t acknowledge Adrian as he came from the cave to get into the waiting truck. He still didn’t as they drove off. He was afraid to talk to the former leader and reveal his plans before things were in place.
Adrian knew the sentiment. He was currently doing the same.
2
“You shouldn’t leave her alone with him,” Jennifer began as soon as Marc was out of sight of the cave.
“Yeah, about that,” Marc quipped. “You and I need to talk.”
Jennifer felt the unhappiness, but didn’t back down even though it was a man. She didn’t have very much of that old fear anymore. It was liberating, but also scary. “She isn’t safe.”
“Is there something you’ve seen that she missed?” Marc demanded.
“No,” Jennifer responded sullenly. “If I’ve caught it, I know she has.”
“Then butt out.”
“But she–”
“I said, butt out.” Marc drove on, glowering a bit. “Angie stayed out of your personal shit, right?”
Jennifer grunted.
Marc motioned toward their home. “I need you keeping the peace without the herd sensing your sting. Work on that now.”
Jennifer hadn’t realized she would have to continue enforcement duties in their camp.
“Of course you will,” Marc stated. “We have hundreds of new members and some are descendants who haven’t had our rules to follow. You and the other scanners will form a group to control the magic users in Safe Haven. Monitor and enforce–by Eagle rules, not descendant.”
“Openly?”
Marc nodded, timbre settling into stone. “We will not restart Adrian’s lies to the herd. If they ask, tell them.”
Before she could protest, Marc said, “That’s not all. As of this moment forward, all open use of magic or gifts without permission is expressly forbidden.”
“What?” Jennifer was shocked. “That’s not what Adrian and Angela wanted. They said we need the camp to accept us for what we are.”
Marc glanced over at Kyle. “You understand why.”
Kyle nodded. “Yes, and I agree. People are jealous.”
Jennifer thought of the ugly bruises on Angela’s neck and swallowed her instinct to refuse. Maybe it would be better if they weren’t so open for a while.
“What about the train?” Kyle asked, glad Marc had redirected Jenny’s focus away from Adrian.
“The same. We don’t hide it anymore.” Marc steered them toward the carnage. “We also don’t take photos. Set up a patrol when we get there. I don’t want a lot of witnesses.”
“Too late for that,” Kyle refuted, using the binoculars to explore their surroundings. �
��Big group of refugees ahead.”
“Heard the radio,” Marc guessed. He started to message Angela to ask how she wanted this handled, but the thought of facing Adrian’s scorn slapped him. He was in charge now. He had to make these choices.
“We’ll go around,” Marc ordered unhappily. He steered them toward a different road, quickly getting their convoy out of sight. He was doing what Angela would to clean up the loose ends, but after this, things would be done his way.
She’s right to get rid of the threats, his demon argued hesitantly. We’ve detected ugliness in their futures.
Marc wasn’t comforted. He, more than most, understood that they had to remove some individuals, but not like this.
Do you believe that group would treat you better? His demon left, not wanting to trigger an argument.
Marc knew it to be the truth. Scanning, he was able to read their lawlessness, the contempt for authority that kept shrinking their members.
She knew I would have to do this, Marc realized. Angie knew this would happen. That’s why she didn’t have instructions for the cleanup.
I think so too, Jennifer admitted, but I wasn’t a part of this plan at all. I was a tag-a-long.
Marc almost smirked, contemplating an old joke about loose women and a truck stop tag-a-long. We named them lot lizards in my day, Marc sent, snickering mentally.
Bite me, Jennifer retorted easily, glad Marc wasn’t mad. She cared too much to ignore their problems.
“I appreciate that, I do.” Marc waited for any last chance that Angie would contact him. When it was clear no reprieve was coming, Marc turned the truck toward home. “Come out tomorrow and verify the totals,” Marc ordered. “Then burn it.”
“Yes, sir,” Kyle replied, relieved. He wasn’t ready to clear that site yet. He was still occasionally haunted by the rest area. That ghost didn’t need company.
“Our escort just fell in,” Jennifer reported, seeing the Indians emerge from a long line of trees to their left.
Marc didn’t respond. Natoli and his warriors were still running under Angela’s orders. Since they were following him everywhere he went, Marc assumed they were there to keep him alive. He was just grateful Sonja hadn’t sensed them and thought it was a betrayal of their deal. Not that it mattered now.
