by Mikayla Lane
“They will hate me and fear me now.” Melina said as she began crying harder.
“No! No honey they won’t!” Jax said reassuringly as she hugged the little girl tighter.
Melina just nodded that she believed they would and Jax couldn’t stop the chuckle that bubbled up and came out. Ignoring Reven’s disapproving look, she gently pulled Melina away from her chest until she could look into her pale blue eyes.
“They will respect your abilities. And the more they get to know you, the more they will want to try to learn from you. They may never be as good as you, but they will try to learn. Just as you will learn things from them.”
“I know that’s how it will go; it's how it went for me and lots of the others just like me. And just like you.” Jax laughed for a second before continuing.
“You have no idea how much I felt like a freak when I first got around the others. I was the only one they had ever known of that could speak to animals, and everyone was curious. I thought their curiosity was because they thought I was a freak. But I was wrong. Just as you are wrong.” Jax said with a gentle smile.
Melina looked shyly up at Reven, and he gave her a bright smile. “We are warriors, little one. Like you. We respect that. I think Niklosi is probably jealous too.” Reven gave Melina an exaggerated wink, and she tried to stifle her giggle.
Jax grinned at the crazy man, grateful that he was helping to comfort the distraught child. “He’s right you know. We are all warriors, and your abilities are amazing. I wasn’t kidding about wanting to learn.”
Reven knew he needed to steer them to meet with Grai and pressed the issue he felt would get them there quicker. He had no doubt it would be about the display of power and skill that Melina had displayed in front of the humans in town.
Their gifted children were taught at an early age to hide their abilities from the humans, and it was dangerous for Melina to do so. Any word leaking from a family member to another could easily end up carrying the tale all over and lead to their discovery by the Relians.
Reven knew they had to carefully control their existence and that of their children, but he wasn’t sure it warranted the child being called to their headquarters.
“How about we go to the office? We can grab some lunch there, and maybe you could show us some of those moves in the training room.” Reven suggested, trying to hide how much he wanted everyone to agree so they could get this over with.
Jax shot Reven a curious look, and the stare that he gave her told her that they were definitely being called to the building, most likely by Grai. She stifled her sigh and turned brightly to Melina.
“Seriously, we have awesome food there and everyone is like us, so no one cares if we’re different. Besides, I would love for you to show me how you did that to Niklosi. One second you were near the door the next you had the knife at his throat. That was pretty da… darn cool, honey.” Jax said, trying to censor her language.
Melina looked questioningly at Reven, who knew she needed his approval before she’d feel a little better about going. “I promise; it will be ok. We’ll grab some food, and Jax can show you a few moves that she knows, and you can show us some of yours. If you feel uncomfortable, we will stop immediately.”
Melina nodded slowly, and Jax decided she wouldn’t give her a chance to change her mind. “Scoot over little one!” Jax said as she gave the small girl a push to help her.
She pulled herself in the set beside the girl and closed the door. Turning to Melina, she gave her a genuine smile. “I love fighting with my friends. Just for play of course. But it helps me stay ready and strong. I like knowing I’m always ready to protect the people I care about. Or myself. This will be fun.”
Melina looked at Jax like the woman had lost her mind. She had no need to practice something she was already frighteningly good at. Maybe, she thought, brightening her mood, maybe these people were just like her in that way too. Maybe she wasn’t as different as she thought.
She kept that hope in the back of her mind as they arrived at the building and headed inside. Jax led them past the public areas and into the places where only the hybrids, aliens or human allies were allowed.
Melina was a little surprised at the people they passed. Each seemed very kind and looked at her and Bayla with sad eyes. She could feel their pity for them in their energy and as much as it stung her pride, it made her feel better that they weren’t frightened of her. Only curious. Like Jax said they would be.
She was surprised and a little taken aback when they walked into a boisterous room of varied people. The happy and friendly energy in the room was contagious and Melina couldn’t help the small smile that came over her face as she looked around.
Greetings were called out to Jax and Reven while they moved to the side of the room. Reven grabbed two trays and set them on the counter in front of them.
Bayla babbled happily in Jax’s arms while Melina stayed close by Jax and the baby. Until she saw the food spread out in front of her and gasped, drawing the attention of the man behind her who chuckled.
“I look at that every day and think the same thing. When I was a boy growing up, we barely had any food at all. Some days, you’d find my sister and me eating dirt, just to fill the emptiness in our bellies.” The huge man said quietly to the little girl who looked at him with a sympathy that only someone who had done the same could feel.
“What happened to your sister?” Melina asked shyly.
“When Grai found us on the street, he gave us a home and an education. We were poor, but she was smart. Really smart. Now she heads up an undercover team in Europe. No matter how much we have now; we've never forgotten what it was like when we were young. I am Discorian, but everyone calls me Disc. My sister is Alaina.” Disc said with a gentle smile for the little girl.
Melina looked at the man strangely for a moment, blindly moving along the line with Jax and Reven. Who were quietly arguing over what would be best to put on the trays for she and Bayla. Reven and the staff that was serving the food were apparently winning on what Bayla could and couldn’t have with only two teeth.
Melina felt strangely compelled to touch the strange man and against her better judgment, she brushed against his hand and was stunned with what she felt. She turned wide, surprised eyes to his and spoke without thinking.
“You’re a spirit walker. But you’re not like the other one. The bad one. Can’t you stop him from finding us?” Melina asked the stunned man.
“What is a spirit walker? Who is the other one?” Disc asked, uncaring that they were drawing the attention of the others near them. Something in the child’s voice and fearful eyes told him that he needed to listen to her.
“The one hunting us. Can’t you feel him? Can’t you stop him?” Melina asked, becoming agitated.
Disc kneeled down until he was eye level with the strange little girl. “Honey, I can tell you right now, if there is anyone hunting you, they will not succeed. There is not a person here that wouldn’t lay down his or her life for you and your sister. Who is this other that you believe is hunting you?”
“The other spirit walker, like you. The bad one who told the others that I was there. He was the reason they caught me. I heard him. He laughed and said that I was his hundredth find. He laughed. Even though he knew what they would do to us. Can’t you find him?” Melina asked, looking hopefully at the man.
“Wait…” Reven began before Disc cut him off.
“Honey, was this man, the bad one who found you, was he one of us? Is that what you’re saying?” Disc asked, sure that he had heard the child wrong.
Melina nodded her head, ignoring the gasps of those around them. “Yes! He said he used his gift to find us for the bad people. The ones who do bad things. He said that we weren’t the ones he was looking for and gave us to them. Can’t you find him and stop him?” Melina asked, ignoring the tears filling her eyes.
Disc tried desperately to contain the rage he felt and placed a gentle hand on the child’s shou
lder. “I promise you this; I will do everything I can to help the others find him. When we do find him, we will make sure he is punished for what he is doing to our people. To our precious children.”
The round of cheers and agreement by others in the room, startled Melina, who became suddenly very embarrassed and looked at the tips of her shoes before looking back up at Disc shyly.
“You can feel him. The same way he feels us to find us. You can hunt him if you want. I can help you.” Melina offered, although the bad man scared her, she was willing to help Disc find him. To stop him.
She was so caught up in trying to get him to help; she didn’t notice that everyone else was being directed to leave the dining room.
Chapter Twelve
Grai radiated fury as he strode quickly down the hallways to the dining room. The Shengari’ was lit up like a firestorm with the child, Melina’s accusations that one of their own was helping to hunt and catch their children.
Until he knew more, he was taking no chances with his people or the humans under his protection. He barked out orders through the Shengari’ as his people fled from his path.
“Get the whole damn place on lockdown! I want the cats unleashed. Every damn one of them. I want every damn hole in the ground searched, extra patrols on the border and undercover patrols in the town. Someone get me some damn intel on the people who were trying to sell those kids! We need to back trace this guy! There may be more we can save.”
Grai stood outside the closed dining room doors and tried to calm himself down so he wouldn’t scare the child.
“I’m not afraid of you.” The tentative, shaky voice in his mind startled the hell out of him and his beast, Death.
Since there was only one other person he knew of that could invade his mind like that, he had no doubt that the child was a Prime. Damn if he wasn’t proud that little girl was his brother's mate, he thought with a grin as he walked through the door.
Pale blue eyes met his as Grai approached the table where Melina was sitting between Disc and Reven, with Jax and the smiling baby on the other side of the table. He strategically sat himself across from her and next to Jax before speaking.
“You are a very clever girl. Do you remember me?” Grai asked gently.
When the little girl just nodded her head, he continued. “I’m sure you realize how stunned we all are that one of our own may be harming our people. Our children. We want him found and stopped. Quickly. Can you help us do that?” Grai asked, going straight to the point.
If this animal was out there hunting their children, he had to be found and dealt with quickly. No matter what she said, the little girl was scared, but brave. If she was willing and able to help them, they needed to do this. Now. Grai thought.
“He can find him.” Melina said, nodding to Disc who looked at Grai with surprise.
Grai nodded at Disc, knowing he had no idea what the girl meant. “How can Disc find him honey?”
“He’s a spirit walker, like the bad man. That’s how he finds us, he walks our spirits. He finds out if we’re special, or if we’re just normal. The special ones are taken somewhere else; the normal ones are… they do other things with them.” Melina said quietly, looking down at her lap.
Reven put an arm around her thin shoulders and pulled her close to his side. “You’re very brave Melina. You’re safe here. We will allow nothing to harm you, little one.”
“I don’t understand what a spirit walker is… I don’t really have an ability like the other hybrids. None of us male hybrids do.” Disc said in confusion. He would do anything to help find the asshole betraying their most innocent, but he had no idea what the child was talking about.
Grai called out to Lara, hoping she could clear up the confusion and wasn’t too surprised when she walked in the door, followed by Viper and Dog’ee.
Melina gasped and pressed closer to Reven as Lara moved to the table and kneeled by the child.
“Let me help you child.” Lara said as she placed her hand on the little girl's head. Melina’s eyes rolled back causing Jax to surge to her feet.
Lara held her other hand out and spoke to Jax. “She is fine mother bear. I am helping to clear her thoughts, so I can see what she has seen.”
As she spoke, Melina’s eyes rolled back, and she smiled at Lara and nodded her head. Lara smiled gently at the child and stood. She moved to sit next to Grai and nodded patiently at Melina.
It was clear to the others that Lara and Melina were holding a private conversation, and they had decided something between them because Melina looked up at the others more confidently and began speaking.
“He walks our spirits and our beasts trying to find the ancient ones, like her.” Melina said, nodding at Lara before continuing.
“He knows our gifts and how to counteract them. He could even see me. I don’t know how. No one has ever seen me before.” Melina said sadly, causing Reven to hug her closer to try to comfort her.
“Explain this, because I’m just getting more confused.” Jax said, irritated that she felt so helpless to find the bastard that betrayed her children.
Lara smiled gently. “She speaks of one of us. One with the ability to sense us, our gifts and our beasts. Spirit walker is what the man called his own gift. It is an accurate term for what he can do.”
“Wait…” Disc said with confusion. “I can’t do anything like that.”
“You can!” Melina said, unwilling to back down.
“Easy, little one. They are still learning, like you.” Lara told the excited little girl with a smile. Then she turned those eerie golden eyes on Disc.
“You mistake the gift of balance as no gift at all. The child has easily seen what you have not. You who can ‘guess’ the gift of every hybrid you meet. You who was the first to notice something was different about my beast, but kept it to yourself. You who can sense when one of us is near and can easily find them.”
Disc looked at Lara’s golden eyes with an open mouth as she spoke. “Wait… how did you… What the hell! You mean I’m one of these spirit walkers?”
Lara nodded. “Yes, you are.”
“But the male hybrids aren’t gifted.” Disc said quietly, trying to understand.
Lara laughed. “As I said, you mistake the gift of balance for no gift at all. Our female hybrids are all much smaller than the males. They have mostly been left to fend for themselves and are more in need of the physical gifts than the larger and stronger males.”
“As a strong, well trained warrior, what use would you really have of a gift of fire or telekinesis? It would be a redundant trait for a male. Think of balance. For you males, you benefit more from the less physical gifts. Like Risk’s gift of technology or yours as a spirit walker.”
Grai shook his head, stunned that he’d never figured it out before. “Wait, you’re saying all of our hybrid males have a gift that they probably don’t realize they have because they are expecting something as cool as the females?”
Lara laughed. “Well it’s not that simple. In their defense, most of them like Disc, don’t realize it because they aren’t looking for the balance so much as the dramatic abilities so predominant in the females. Like Dare and her telekinesis, True and her fire or Jax with her command of the animals. They do not overlook it intentionally.”
“So I can find this bast… this guy?” Disc asked, trying to control his anger and his hope that he could help.
Lara looked at Melina closely, her eyes glowing a darker gold for a moment before she answered. “Yes, Melina believes that you can, and I do as well.”
Disc immediately became excited. “Tell me how. Tell me what to do.”
“Can you help us draw a picture of him? Can you tell us what he looked like?” Grai asked Melina, hoping Sarex or one of their psychics could draw an accurate sketch with the girl’s description.
“I can do that. Melina has shown me his image and the details that will help us find him. I can also help Disc so that he can track him.” Lara said
with a smile at the brave little laustio.
“I want to help.” Melina said as Reven and Jax immediately started arguing.
“Enough!” Lara said getting everyone’s attention.
She turned her golden eyes on Melina for a moment, and the little girl shook her head sadly. “Melina understands she has much to learn before she can help us. Just as we have much to learn from her and of the others here who have overlooked their gifts. This battle is ours and no longer hers.” Lara said with a gentle smile at the little girl.
“Come, we have much to do, and I believe Melina was going to show her new mother some of her abilities in the training room. It is time for many things to be revealed and many eyes to open in order for our true purpose to be achieved.” Lara said cryptically as she stood and walked to the door.
With a heavy sigh, Disc stood to follow her, unsure of what to expect and hoping he could help even though he didn’t feel confident that he could.
