by C. M. Kane
Odin stood and turned to her. ‘You went onto the Island based on that, the merest flicker of light? Damn girl, it could have just as easily been one of the pulse cannon conduits exploding.’
Loki cast his father a withering look. ‘I gather I should be grateful the girl saw the vid instead of any of my family and friends.’
Odin flushed with embarrassment and sat back down.
Tae shrugged. ‘Well, from my standpoint it looked like the emergency force field was kicking in, and from what little I read I knew Loki was clever, and that if anyone could keep himself alive it would be him.’
Loki’s mouth thinned in annoyance as Poseidon snorted derisively.
‘Besides, I had nowhere else to turn, and don’t forget, to add credence to my thoughts my mother and brother were kidnapped the same day, and my teacher was murdered. I knew this to be a fact because my friend told me she was outside the classroom window when she heard some thalien asking her for the seating plan for our class. She went in straight after they left but, unfortunately she found her already dead. I also knew there was no way my family would ever have left me voluntarily. My main problem was that I didn’t know which god or gods were involved, so I didn’t know who I could trust with what I knew. I reasoned if I could free Loki, he might help me in my quest to find and retrieve my family. After being trapped for so long, I figured he would want to know who did this to him, just as badly as I did.’
Thor interrupted. ‘Why not simply get a priest to contact Odin or myself? We are after all, his family, his blood.’
Tae looked around uncomfortably. ‘Umm, well, to tell the truth, I didn’t know how well you got on with him. There’s nothing much in the history files about your relationships.’ She noticed immediately that Thor was starting to look outraged at her words so she continued quickly. ‘Besides, when Loki did finally get out, the first thing he did was blame you both.’
Poseidon laughed aloud at Tae’s words and Zeus sniggered. Isis quickly ducked her mouth under her hand in an effort to hide her amusement.
A dull red flush began to creep up Thor’s neck as he looked over at his brother. ‘He should have known better.’
‘Forgive me, Lords Thor and Odin,’ Tae said, looking from one god to the other. ‘I didn’t know how much you genuinely loved your son and brother until I watched your faces when you first saw the Fenris revealed. I am merely an outsider to your family. As such, I just couldn’t bring myself to trust Mum and Jason’s lives to a guess at your relationships.’
Odin smiled and nodded. ‘After all you have been through to reach the pyre and free my son, I find that misjudgment quite forgivable, child.’
‘How was this vid made?’ Baste asked.
Loki looked at the vid and frowned. ‘Obviously our sensors picked up nothing. There were no other ships around so it would have had to have come from a vid-ball, and an incredibly heavily shielded one to have lasted that long after the blast. Because of my idiot captain we were already well into in the planet’s atmosphere before I got to the bridge. Once I realized we were unnecessarily close to the planet I ordered the Fenris brought straight back into orbit. We had just begun our assent when the volcano blew. After that it was sheer chaos. Unbeknownst to me, my Captain had also dropped our force field strength to below half of standard, the blast knocked out everything that wasn’t running from the crystals immediately. As it was, once the initial chaos ended we had to cannibalize what few crystals that remained unscathed into other, more important areas, and believe me it wasn’t much. We also had a reactor breach in engineering which contaminated every spare crystal that was in storage. It also took out most of the engineering personal along with quite a few maintenance staff before we managed to seal the leak. A hell of a lot of good men and woman died saving the rest of the crew. As it turned out, they were some of the lucky ones’ he added quietly.
He looked over at Tannan, his eyes questioning. ‘I thought you said you couldn’t find it?’
All eyes in the room returned to Tannan.
‘I couldn’t, my lord, and believe me when I say I looked thoroughly.’ He frowned at Tae. ‘I’m not quite sure how our young friend just did what she did, that file was obviously well hidden for me to have to have missed it in my initial search. I would like to take a detailed scan of her nanites as soon as possible, if I could.’ He turned to Tae. ‘As it is I can’t seem to find any form of registration for them after you say you received them.’
Tae realized everyone was now staring at her again. It was like some weird verbal game of tennis. She shrugged, thinking it was obviously a clerical error of some kind, something Tannan would swiftly sort out.
‘I had them injected at the Ballan Hospice. The Med-tech said he’d contact us to organize a scan to make sure everything was working as it should when he returned the following month, but he never came back. As I was having no problems and everything was working fine we never asked about them. I think mum figured the Hospice would contact us if something was amiss.’
Tannan frowned again and turned back to his com-panel. Issuing a series of instructions on one of the glowing screens in front of him, after a few moments he turned back. ‘You said your tech was a he?’ he asked.
Tae nodded. ‘Yes. He was really nice; he said he expected big things from me.’ She was now starting to become a little concerned at the puzzled look Tannan was giving her.
Zeus frowned. ‘Is there a problem, Tannan?’
Tannan nodded. ‘I think so, my lord. I have just searched the Ballan Hospice records, and the only tech to ever have the authority to administer the com-scan nanites in the last fourteen years is a Mrs. Eileen Mitchell. According to the work records for the day that Miss Tae’s appointment was originally down for, it says her appointment was cancelled, no reason is given. I’m afraid there is no record of her ever receiving anything.’
Tae’s eyes widened. ‘Then who was the tech? And more importantly, just what the hell did he put in my brain?’
Tannan shook his head. ‘I have no idea, Miss Tae, but I would very much like to find out. Once we get you back onboard the Olympus I will be able to give you a thorough scan and find out exactly what going on in that head of yours.’
Isis clapped her hands and smiled delightedly. ‘Yet another mystery! Really, Zeus, we must do this more often.’
‘Let’s not forget Ares,’ Hades added. ‘As in, where in all of Tartarise is he?’
Zeus looked over at Tannan again. ‘Did you send a message to the Kydomois, Tannan?’
Tannan raised his chin. ‘I did, my lord, but there has been no reply as yet.’
Poseidon looked at Hades with concern. ‘I don’t like the smell of this.’
Hades nodded. ‘That’s definitely not like Ares. I will take the Cerberus and begin a search around Chena,’ he said, standing. He looked to Isis. ‘I would ask that Persephone remain here with you in case I run into trouble.’ Persephone began to protest but he held up his hand. ‘I will not risk you. Besides, this will give you a chance to catch up with your friends.’ Persephone scowled and followed him into his jumper to farewell him in private.
‘I will begin a search of Thall’s space,’ said Poseidon rising to his feet, he smiled at Zeus. ‘If you want Loki to have a ship sooner rather than later, then don’t forget you now have the Hindishah spare now.’ He glanced over at Loki. ‘There was a small disagreement between Pan and Zeus, which ended with Pan flying his headless way into the sun in a jumper.’
Loki’s eyebrows rose in surprise. ‘Generosity? From you, Poseidon, I must say I’m touched.’
Poseidon smiled coldly. ‘Just making sure we’re on an even playing field when I visit you again.’
Loki smiled in amusement and raised his glass in a toast of acknowledgement at his words.
Zeus looked over at Tae. ‘Tannan will take you, Commander Vesh, and the others back to the Olympus where you can join your family. After you have rested and been scanned I will have someone escort you back
to Jaxburg, or to wherever Loki may wish if he decides to take you into his service.’ He waved a dismissive hand at her.
Tae kept looking at Zeus, she knew he was angry she had not chosen service with him. After hearing the news about Pan just now she decided it might be prudent to make a solid effort to keep on his good side, and to properly thank him as well.
‘My thanks again, Lord Zeus,’ she said, bowing low. ‘Without you none of this could ever have happened.’
Zeus looked at her skeptically, so she continued. ‘Jaden, the orange thalien that I killed, was about to either kill, or seriously injure me, while I was still on the parade ground at the WLE Headquarters.’ She looked at the other gods and explained. ‘As you can imagine I was very nervous, and I have the unfortunate habit of giggling when I let my nerves get the better of me. Once I clapped eyes on Jaden, well, I simply couldn’t help myself. I burst out laughing and couldn’t seem to stop, no matter how hard I tried.’
Tannan grinned at Tae’s reminder of the dead thalien, his fangs lengthening in pleasure.
‘Anyway, I was on my back with him looming over me, trying to grab my arm to pummel me, when the Olympus came into view.’ She smiled warmly. ‘Without you arriving when you did all of this could have turned out very differently. As it is I’m pretty sure I owe you my life, so please accept my sincere thanks. I feel like I’ve had a concerned father watching over me and keeping me safe this whole time.’
Like a father watching over her? The sentence stuck in Zeus’ mind, his ego taking a direct hit at her innocent, but poorly chosen words. He was outraged, he wanted her gratitude, yes, but he also wanted her in his arms showing him the full extent of her gratitude. And, to add insult to injury, he could see the remaining gods watching the scene with uncommon interest and amusement. Loki was actually grinning openly at him, as if he knew exactly what Zeus was thinking. Knowing how astute Loki was he probably did. Bastard, I might just let Poseidon have the skinny prick for that, he thought.
Tae smiled at him tiredly then turned and left with the old warrior and her aunt. Vesh and Tannan followed closely behind, the latter having what looked suspiciously like a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
Zeus wondered if he’d like to be demoted so far he’d be serving drinks to the damn thalien at the WLE Headquarters.
The small group entered the nearest jumper and sat, the padded safety harnesses automatically locking them into place. Tae leant her head back and closed her eyes. Soon she would be with Jason, her twin brother, and her mother again. She relaxed and sighed softly as sleep claimed her.
Chapter 2
She came awake, starting at the gentle touch of a hand on her shoulder. She was automatically reaching for her knife when she vaguely heard Brohan’s voice reach her sleep-fogged brain.
‘Tae, we’re here. Easy girl, you’re safe now, it’s over.’
She opened her eyes tiredly as reality slowly seeped back into her exhausted mind. Brohan was smiling down at her. ‘You drifted off as soon as you sat down, and although the commander here seemed intent on carrying you to your quarters,’ he gestured to the hovering wolven, ‘I thought your first priorities might be a little different.’
Tae smiled and suddenly became more alert. ‘Mum and Jase!’ she said, standing. She noticed Vesh was behind Brohan, he was watching her, smiling, his brown eyes warm.
Tae felt a delicious tingle go through her, settling somewhere low. She watched his head rise slightly and his nostrils flare as he scented the air. She smiled apologetically at him, she was simply too tired to care about controlling her stupid pheromones right now. Tae found this part vampire business was a bit of a pain in the arse sometimes, and having attraction pheromones leaking from her at inconvenient times, even more so.
‘Sorry about that,’ she said baldly, ‘I’m new to vampirism and pheromones and such.’
Vesh nodded, his eyes going from warm liquid brown, to a hotter, more intense chocolate. ‘Perhaps we could arrange to meet again before you leave?’ He asked with the hint of a smile.
Before Tae could answer, a frowning Brohan placed himself firmly between the two. ‘The girl’s overly tired and wishes to see her family, perhaps we will see you before we depart,’ he said, before firmly leading Tae away behind a beckoning Tannan and a delighted looking Valaria.
Vesh growled low in his throat before turning to walk back to his own rooms.
Tannan led them first to Kresley’s room, pointing out where their rooms were located along the way. A guard was posted at the doors to each set of quarters. At her mother’s room, Tannan left them. Tae walked in and went straight into her mother’s open arms.
Kresley looked her over carefully, taking in every detail of her now older appearance. ‘Are you alright, Tae? You’re not hurt in anyway are you?’
Tae shrugged. ‘Just a few scrapes and bruises, I’ll be right as rain once I clean up and have some sleep.’ She stifled a yawn. ‘Where’s Jase?’
Kresley sighed. ‘He didn’t take the news of Tamuer being your father very well. He’s in a separate room away from me while he mulls over the ramifications of my lies, and of having a half vampire father. I’m so sorry, Tae. Gods, I’m sorry for so much, my selfishness, my laziness, my stupidity. I don’t expect either you or Jase to forgive me but, please, let me try to make it up to you in some way.’ She grasped Tae’s hands, pleading with her.
Tae smiled softly. ‘You don’t have to make up for anything, Mum. The truth is, over the last few weeks I have learnt some very valuable lessons. I am who I am because of all my experiences; both good and bad. I’m not the same girl you left behind three weeks ago. Thanks to Brohan, and an exceptionally good arse kicking from Valaria, I’ve come to realize I don’t have to pretend to be anything other than who I am. I found out I actually like myself, just the way I am.’
She squeezed her mother’s hands gently. ‘And that’s partly because of the way I was raised. I admit, there were times when I thought I was never girly enough for you, but I always knew that you and Jase loved me, despite any silly little faults that I might have – or thought I had. I won’t lie, I am angry at not being told about Tamuer, but I’m not angry at him being my father; if that makes sense? I’m actually angrier about Valaria being kept from me because of a stupid lie when all this time I could have known her, and how wonderful she is.’ She turned to a now grinning Valaria and smiled warmly. ‘She’s part of my family too mum, that was wrong of you and dad, very wrong, but I’ll get over it, given time.’
Kresley pulled her into her arms and hugged her. ‘It makes perfect sense, and thank you for not hating me, and for giving me another chance. I love you so much Tae. Never ever forget that.’
‘I never have, and I never will.’ Tae smiled. ‘Now, before you all get weepy on me, I’m going to see Jase then get some sleep before I fall down.’ She kissed them each lightly and started back out the door.
‘When you wake up we’re going to be having a nice little chat about that job you just volunteered me for,’ Brohan said dryly.
Tae winked at him as she walked out. ‘No problem, I thought we might.’ She laughed. She headed straight for the adjoining room, unwilling to wait even a second longer. She quickly slapped the buzzer to announce her arrival before walking straight in.
Jason was sitting on a bunk watching the threedimensional display of the Island on a com-screen directly opposite. He turned to her. ‘Tae?’
‘Jase,’ she cried, running to him as he stood. They held onto each other tightly, laughing and crying for several minutes. Finally he pulled away.
‘Wow,’ he said, looking her up and down, ‘you’re all grown up. You look great.’
Tae grinned and turned to look at her bottom in a mirror on the wall. ‘I guess there’s no going back to my seventeen-year-old self now.’ She ran her hands over her new curves and giggled. ‘Still I can’t say I’m sorry, this isn’t so bad, and the end result was worth it.’
Jason’s face grew serious
. ‘I saw the fangs.’
Tae’s grin faded as she stared at him, trying to assess how he’d react to what she was about to show him. Taking a deep breath she opened her mouth and dropped her fangs, feeling suddenly very nervous.
What if he rejects me? What if he can’t accept the new me?
‘Well what do you think then?’ she said, lisping slightly.
Jason looked at them closely; he even raised his hand and poked at one gently with a finger. Then he leant back and studied her seriously, a slight frown marring his features. ‘They kind of suit you,’ he said at last. ‘Have you used them yet? I mean, apart from on that insane man on the Island?’
She shook her head. ‘No, not yet, but Valaria has explained a lot to me, she’s been wonderful. I really don’t know where I’d have been without her.’
‘Valaria?’ Jason asked with a puzzled look. ‘You mean the woman that works with Soola’s mother?’
Tae nodded. ‘She’s our aunt, Jase, and she’s absolutely amazing. I just know you’re going to love her as much as I do, I promise. I swear, if it weren’t for her, Brohan, Margarete, and Soola, I never would have made it. They all taught me so much, especially about me.’
Jason stiffened. ‘They should have made you stop. They should have done something to change your mind. What in Hades’ name were you thinking, Tae? You could have been killed, neither Mum nor I are worth your death.’
Tae grasped his hands as her mother had done to her. ‘Don’t blame the others Jase, you of all people should know what I’m like. I didn’t give anyone a choice in what I was going to do, yet they did their best to help me anyway. What’s more, you know damn well you would have done exactly the same for me. You’re my brother, my other half. I couldn’t just let you or Mum be taken away, not without trying to do something. I could never have lived with myself.’
