“Football. Hate it. But you have to admit a Hail-Mary pass is exactly what we need, besides I just love the words together.” A genuine smile came across her face as she watched her mom smile at her. It had been a long time.
“Hate to break up the love fest children, but we have to go. Dora I know what these two can do, but what do you think you can do to help?”
Reaching behind her back she brought out a sword that looked lethal. “I was a very apt student Charon. Worry about yourself.”
“Tara, if you will do the honors.”
Without hesitation she opened a door to Raimel’s mother’s room and walked through. Later, after it was all said and done, she would wonder how she opened that door. Later, she would panic and wonder if she was losing herself, disappearing inside of something she had never asked to be born with. Those conversations were for later. Now she had to focus on saving a life.
The room hadn’t changed. It was dirty and dingy. The woman that laid on the bed seemed just as frail, but this time she was dressed to go out. She began to rise as Charon approached, helping her to fully stand.
“It is time. I smell the faint aroma of hope about to be born. This time we will not fail.”
Charon put his hands around her and simply disappeared. The rest took a deep breath and followed.
They were not in the brightly lit and highly antiseptic hospital Tara was still hoping she would see. They seemed to be in the bedroom of someone’s house, if you could call it a house. It looked more like a shack that had nothing resembling running water or sanitary conditions. In the middle of what should have been a bed was a female Demos who was heavy with child. Kneeling beside her was a male that Tara assumed was the father. There was no doctor or midwife in the room. There was just the two of them as she panted and pleaded for somebody, anybody at this point, to help her.
“I am going to help her.” Paul was holding a bag in his hand that she had not noticed earlier.
“Is that even permitted?” Tara asked Caron as she looked at Paul.
“I don’t really care if it is not.” Paul replied as Charon stayed silent. “I am going to save this child just like I saved the child on Earth.”
Tara heard his unspoken words. He had lost the father and the mother and barely saved the child and he would not permit another to die if he could help it. She watched as he stepped out of the protective area with his hands up. It was the universal sign of I mean you know harm. The father did not seem to either believe that or know what it meant.
He got up and ran towards the intruder in his house. Paul managed to side step and only got clipped in the leg. Limping he pointed to himself and then the woman on the bed. Doctor he kept saying, as he battled the soon to be father. The woman on the bed screamed as her body shook, which brought the semi fight to an end.
“I can help her.” Paul said, “I really don’t care if you understand me or not. I will not let that child die.” He was standing toe to toe with the father now. There was a shake of the father’s head and he pointed to the bed.
“What happened?”
“There is not enough time to let Paul discover he can speak Demos, so I translated for him. Next time he’s on his own. Spread out.”
Charon took his frail bundle and sat her at the side of the bed before drawing his weapon and fading into the mist. There was the sound of uninvited guests moving closer to the house, their loud voices filled with anger. They were Demos, those that had become use to being hopeless. They were the ones that capitalized on it. They had preyed on their own people and other worlds for many years. They didn’t want hope to somehow interfere with their lives.
Tara caught one last glimpse of Paul checking to see how many centimeters the woman was before she was fighting. They weren’t nice and they were out to kill her. It was almost like they could sense the very thing they hated inside her body. She took her sword and fought back, swinging the blade as if she was born to it. Yet she knew there was no way she would win. She was bound to die on this planet and she was now sure she wanted to live. The knowledge was like a secret elixir in her blood.
Swing, parry, thrust. Over and over again that was all she did. Her mother and sometimes Charon would have her back. The majority of the Demos were coming after her, which meant they were leaving Paul and the child alone. Anytime they seemed to be about to turn away, she would try to release the feeling of hope in the room to once again capture their attention.
Swing, parry, thrust. Swing, parry, thrust. It was official. She was not the best fighter, but she was holding her own with the help of Charon and her mother. She wouldn’t be tweeting about her mother coming to her rescue at her age. Although she had to give her credit. She definitely knew how to fight. They had been at this for what seemed like hours and her arms were beginning to get tired.
The waves of Demos seemed to be slowing. Many had been injured and limped off to lick their wounds. Hopefully, none of them were planning to regroup.
“How are you doing, Tara?”
He looks like he just woke up she thought resentfully. “Doing well. Don’t worry about me.”
“Good because more are on their way.”
“How may Demos can there be that want to kill this child?”
“These are not Demos. This next wave is just a few of the rest of the galaxy.”
The room was filled with beings she had never seen before. Very few of them were humanoid in appearance. Holding up her sword she knew there was no way she was going to make it.
Swing, parry, thrust. Swing, parry, clatter. Her sword had been knocked out her hand by a reptile looking villain. It was long and thick and it slithered, but it also had something that mimicked arms and hands. It had to be one of the most disturbing species represented and almost all of them disturbed her. It opened its mouth to reveal long fangs and it seemed to smile at her. She stumbled backwards as it slithered closer to her.
Think Tara, she screamed at herself. You’re this doorway and you’re supposed to have all this skill. How will you survive? Both Charon and Dora had their hands full. This time they wouldn’t be able to save her. She had a sudden memory. When she was younger there was a friend. She always thought she was just an imaginary friend, although she could see her as plain as day. Her friend would say, ‘Tara hope must always survive. It’s a potent weapon. Let me show you how to make it into a weapon of good.’
Then she would work with her into forming tiny sparks of hope. When your hope is finally released, you will be able to bring down your enemies with it. Well, it was now or never. The slithering creature was tall in the air with its mouth open about to tear into her with those fangs. Turning inward, like her friend had taught her, she tapped into what looked like a bright golden ball. Hope. She mentally formed a spear and watched it appear in her hand. As that mouth dropped down to end her life, she thrust the spear up watching as it lodged in its lower jaw.
The creature gave a huge cry, as if it had been stabbed in the heart. It immediately started falling, making Tara jump out of its way. Its body started to convulse as if something were taking it over, as it cried out in agony. The other creatures in the room had a horrified look on their faces and then as if they were telepathically talking they ran at her in one large group. Fearing for her life, she began to shoot balls of hope, hitting her targets in the front row. Almost as if the command to retreat had been given, they left, leaving their fallen comrades on the floor writhing in pain.
“Took you long enough.” Charon said in that dry voice he sometimes used on her.
“I was beginning to think she would never remember.” Dora beamed at her in pride.
“I knew she would remember.” This came from Charon again. “I just wasn’t sure if she would do it before we died.” The look he threw her way was somehow disapproving and approving at the same time. Once again Tara was confused, but at least she was alive.
The sound of a babies cry rent the air.
“Paul?” He looked at her and smiled.
“He is perfectly healthy.” He cleaned the baby up and laid him on the mother’s chest.
They all crowded in to look as the mother kissed her child. The father knelt besides them with a smile that was blinding. Raimel’s mother sat there and cried.
“Charon.” She said with power and authority. The frailness of her voice having faded. “Where will you take them?”
“I cannot tell you that, Tayrel. They will be protected. No harm will come to your grandchild.”
She nodded in what seemed like acceptance. “Make sure no harm comes to my younger son, Charon. Remember your promise.” With that she walked out of the shack, leaving all the occupants inside with mouths open in surprise.
Tara pointed to the male on the bed. “That is her younger son?”
Charon gave a mirthless laugh. “Of course not, Tara. You know who her younger son is.” With that he collected the family and disappeared from the room.
“Raimel.” She whispered knowing she meant to kill him.
Chapter Eight
The battle had drained more energy than any of them had realized. They had made it back to the warehouse and practically dropped where they stood. When Charon finally showed up, they asked him when they would be going in search of Amanda. His reply had been, none of you are ready for another battle. Then without another word he had simply disappeared. That had been two days ago. So they had spent their time trying to adjust to their new world order, which was mostly tension.
Paul was now sitting in what he considered the living room (although it was in the middle of the warehouse) alone.
“All alone?” He looked up to see Charon standing by a rare window.
“Yes. Mother and daughter took the car to buy groceries. Nice of you to drop in BTW.”
“As usual, you’re welcome. I was out hunting information on your human friend.”
Paul took the time to look at him. “What did you find out?”
“Not much and that’s disturbing. Seems we are going to have to take a different approach to finding her.”
“Why don’t we just go knocking on his door?”
“Because no one knows where his door is.”
“Just ask his mother. You seemed rather cozy with her.”
“Did you miss the part where she said not to hurt her baby boy? Or did you miss Tara’s, look of murder? I on the other hand missed neither.” His voice had a distinct mocking tone.
“So what do you suggest we do?” Paul stood and began pacing. Why couldn’t anything be easy in this new world order? Really maybe someone should die and make him King. He would demand peace in the land.
“Go dancing.” There was total silence as Paul refused to take the bait. “There’s a night club in East Liberty that the non-humans like to frequent. There you can ask some subtle questions and with a little luck we will get closer to finding his hideout.”
“So just go to a night club, dance and listen to all the gossip. Sounds rather easy to me.” Take Tara dancing. That had a nice ring to it. Tara, in a little slinky dress with high heels and those luscious hips swaying. This could be the best thing to happen to him in a while. Now how to persuade her to mix business with fun?
“You do realize this is nice chance to wine and dine her.”
He was saved from answering that when the door to the warehouse opened. Tara and Dora came in carry bags and laughing. The outing must have done them well, as there was less tension between them.
“Charon your back.” Dora said with a smile.
“Yes. It seems that I have to leave again. Although I will be back tonight. Tara have fun dancing.” With that he shimmered out.
Show off Paul thought, before turning to Tara to explain. “Charon suggested we do some undercover work tonight at a local night club. He said it would be filled with non-humans and we should be able to pick up information on Raimel.”
He watched her closely, looking for signs that she was interested in spending time with him. The look on her face gave nothing away, but it was raising his level of frustration. That cute I want you, I don’t want you vibe she gave off was beginning to bother him. He was lying to himself. It was beyond bothering him and headed straight into if she didn’t know what she wanted then the hell with her. Then she would smile at him and of course he was caught up again.
She turned to look at her mother. “What will I wear?”
“Shopping trip. Paul be a dear and put the food up.” They were out the door leaving him alone again.
************************************************
They had driven to the mall. It seemed the best place to go for a quick outfit. Tara was in the dressing room discarding one outfit after another.
“What does one wear to a club? It’s not like I spent lots of time in them. You know fighting for my life and all.”
“Will you ever forgive me for leaving you?”
“Couple of hundred year’s maybe. Will I live that long?”
“Barring sudden decapitation. You will live that long and longer.”
“Exactly how will I fool the people around me?”
“No one said your whole eternity had to be lived on Earth.”
She stopped, slinky skirt half way up her hips. She hadn’t thought of that. She could have a future. Sure beings were still trying to kill her, but at least she knew why. Besides, she had more weapons at her disposal and although she may be a freak of nature, at least she was a worthwhile freak.
She could have a boyfriend. A man friend. Whatever. She was grown. She could have a lover. A pair of beautiful green eyes popped into her mind, but she ignored them. She had spent so much time hating herself and her life that she never got past fantasy when she thought about a man. Feeling a twinge in her back, she pulled the skirt up and discarded it after one look. Tonight she needed to look perfect.
“Tara, am I going to see any of these outfits on you?”
‘I am looking for the perfect one.”
“I doubt anything could look bad on you. Besides, Paul will love whatever you wear. Try on the dress Tara, the red one.”
She grabbed the red one from the hanger. This one had practically jumped into her arms the minute she walked into the store. It was beautiful on the hanger. It was such a rare and vibrant red. She had never seen this particular shade before. Down one side were what looked like precious gems encrusted into the dress. The other side was held together with what could have been strings of silk. When she moved you would be able to see her skin in the light. The back of the dress had a deep V that came to the small of her back. The front was almost conservative. There was a nice V, but not a plunging neckline. Yet the material almost seemed transparent at times. Almost as if you could catch her at the right angle you would see everything. She slipped out of the dressing room to show her mother.
“Absolutely beautiful.” Her mother said with a gasp. “You will be the center of attention tonight.”
Taking a good look at herself in the three way mirror, she had to admit she looked good. She turned just in time to see several customers pointing to her, asking for a dress like hers. They could forget getting their hands on this one.
“Time to go Tara.”
It didn’t take her long to dress and take the dress to the counter for checkout.
“Let me purchase this for you.”
“Thanks mom, but I got it.” True she was fighting for her life and had a death wish or use to have one, but starving and not dying was not fun. She had quickly learned, she needed money. Since she rarely spent money preferring to constantly move, she had a lot of it.
The brunette behind the counter rang her up with a happy smile. “That will be $210.00.”
She looked at the dress and then back at the brunette. “That’s all?”
“That’s it.”
Pulling out her wallet, she paid with a smile, waiting until she left the store to confront her mother.
“Would you like to explain that?”
“Look lemonade an
d soft pretzels. I haven’t had one of those in forever. Take a seat. I will get us some.”
She watched as her mother made a production of biting into her pretzel and taking a sip of her lemonade.
“I am still waiting.”
“Will you believe anything I say?”
“Will it be the truth?”
“Fine. The dress is not from Earth. Call it a plant put there for you alone to find. Anyone else looking at it would think it was ugly until they saw it on you. That’s when they would see its beauty. The woman at the counter thought she was cheating you because the dress was so hideous.”
Did she want to know anything else? The dress was beautiful and she wanted it. “Who planted it there?”
“Let’s just say it’s a gift from your father and that’s all I can say.”
“So my fathers is alive? He can give me gifts, but doesn’t want to see me?” She didn’t know how she felt about the dress, but she was sure she didn’t want it anymore. It was bad enough that her mother had just turned up. Now her elusive father, the one she thought might be dead, wasn’t dead. Not only wasn’t he dead, but he wasn’t showing up in her life.
“It’s complicated.”
“I don’t care. I didn’t ask for complications.”
She got up and left the dress at the table. Somebody else could wear it. Her mother, whom she had adored, had disappeared one day. It was like she was just gone, it had created a gaping hole in her heart. Her father had never been there, although sometimes she thought she had seen him as a small child. Being left alone to fend for one’s self was no picnic, but she had always reminded herself other kids had it just as hard as she did. Seems she was wrong. No one had this cosmic load of junk to deal with.
“Tara, like it or not there are still things you will discover when the time is right. This dress will look beautiful on you tonight with those heels. Allow yourself to have one night of fun. Come on. You have a man to make speechless.”
Chapter Nine
Hope (Other World Protection Agency Book 1) Page 6
