by Maya DeLeina
“Chariana, you need to come with us to face the council. They just ordered Steffan to be executed because of Madeline. You are the proof we need!” Anya spoke feverishly as she wiped back her tears.
“Even with us together now, I still haven’t sensed the outcome changing. There is something we missed. An event, a connection, a person—I can’t tell. I think it has to do with only the two of you being here rather than the three I’ve sensed all this time.”
“I don’t know who the third person can be. Where is the connection with this person—with me, you, or Anya?” Steffan probed.
Chariana closed her eyes and concentrated. “It’s you, Anya.”
“Me?”
Chariana opened her eyes. “Yes. Are you still feeling dizzy?”
“A little. Not as bad as before though.”
“The dizziness is a reaction to the energy expenditure you just had in order to do your biokinesis on me. This also diminishes your abilities temporarily and makes you vulnerable. Quick, give me your hand before we lose this opportunity.” Chariana grabbed Anya’s hand.
“An opportunity for what?” Anya asked as she watched Chariana’s eyes dart back and forth.
“To see what’s inside of you, what is unique to you, why you’re the one.”
Chariana held on to Anya’s hand, her body vibrating with the exploration.
“Oh yes. How interesting. That’s it!”
“What?” Anya and Steffan said together.
“Anya. Your mother and father went through a radical in vitro process to conceive you and Anise.”
“They did? They never said anything to us about that.”
“Your father was a scientist, right?”
“Yes. He worked for the CDC.”
“When your mother and father found out they had infertility issues, they turned to in vitro. Your father was able to convince your mother that they would be the perfect candidate to test the new process in development, creating an embryo from your mother, father, and a third person. The process would reduce the chances for infectious diseases or inherited genetic defects. Anya, your DNA makeup is not dictated by natural law.” Chariana paused and shook her head. “Something inside of me is telling me the person that has a connection with you has something to do with the DNA anomaly. That’s all I can get at this point. Is this making any sense to either of you?”
“Steffan, its Brynne! She has to be the third person! She is the only one with an altered DNA like me!” Anya turned to Chariana. “But how is Brynne going to help?”
“I don’t know. I only sensed the three of you, but I don’t know how everything plays in together.”
“All right. You are coming home with us, to meet Brynne and see what you can sense from her. Then we can get you ready for the council meeting,” Steffan commanded as he slung the backpack over his shoulder and reached down to lift Anya back to the boat.
“We need Aleksanteri, too. The council already took him as proof consideration. We need to break his spell, reveal his true form and the events that actually happened so they can dismiss him as a credible evidence source,” Chariana stated.
“Wait! Aleksanteri is Alex? Our Alex?” Steffan asked.
“Yes. And from what I learned over the years, especially with the two of you, Aleksanteri and I are fated mates. Anya, I will need your help. I can break his spell, but I want you to restore his body like you did with me. And, I need your help with this.” Chariana reached for Anya and cupped her face with her hands to transfer an image that had plagued her mind ever since being restored by Anya.
* * * *
Steffan rummaged through Anya’s backpack.
“Would you happen to know what time it is? Anya and I don’t have our watches on and being underground is clouding my perception of time,” Steffan asked Chariana.
“It’s just past noon, why?” Chariana responded.
“We’ve been down here for almost eight hours. Anya, we need Defender.”
“Oh yeah, sunlight. That’s right,” Chariana said as she watched Anya kneel next to Steffan.
Steffan retrieved two syringes and placed them on the backpack.
“May I?” Steffan asked Anya as he pushed up on her sleeve.
Anya nodded in confirmation and Steffan injected a dose of Defender into her vein.
“What is the fastest way out of here?” Steffan asked Chariana as he injected himself in the arm.
“We can take the boat down to the end of the of this natural cave system. The man-made tunnels start there and can lead us all the way down to Old Colorado City.”
“Steffan, when we can get a signal from the cell, call Rhys and tell him to meet us with the Hummer at the old pottery warehouse on Highway 24. We need to head up to the Fossil Beds.”
“We’re headed to Florissant? Why?”
“Chariana projected the image of an old homestead. I remember seeing exactly what she projected in my mind out there. Madeline hid Alex there. I am sure of it.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Anya sat with the family, dividing her time between watching Eilian’s panic and Chloe’s reaction to him.
“Steffan, it’s almost midnight, where are they?” Eilian asked, pacing the living room of Steffan’s home. “I’ll have to escort you down in a few minutes.”
Chloe sat on Michelle’s lap in the chair, her stare buried in examination of Eilian when she suddenly jumped off.
“Here. Mommy said this helps you when you’re scared. You can hold it.” Chloe extended her hand to Eilian’s and placed the quartz crystal in his palm.
Eilian smiled. “Ddiolch.”
“Huh?” Chloe crinkled her nose at Eilian then turned to Michelle, climbing back up onto her lap. “He talks funny.”
“Honey, he said ‘thank you’ in a different language,” Michelle said, smiling at her daughter.
Steffan stood in front of the mirror and smiled as he watched Chloe in the reflection. “Eilian, they will be here. Chariana had to take Alex down to the cavern. He wasn’t doing too well after Anya restored him.”
Anya stood up and reached for Steffan’s sport jacket that hung on the back of a chair. She moved behind Steffan at the mirror, slipping the jacket over his T-shirt and jeans.
Steffan had asked Anya to select his attire for this evening, something she would like to see him in. While she would’ve rather seen him without a single stitch of clothing on, she’d settled for an outfit that she could easily slip him out of as soon as everything was over. If it wasn’t for the hope of reversing the council’s decision, however, selecting his death attire wouldn’t have been a task she would be delighted to partake in.
“Giggle monster!” Steffan said as he turned around, bent down on one knee, and spread his arms wide open. Chloe jumped from Michelle’s lap and giggled as she ran to Steffan. He scooped her up and lifted her in the air. Chloe’s laughter was contagious.
Anya stood there and smiled at their exchange.
Since earlier that day in the cave, she couldn’t shake the thought of having a baby with Steffan. Among everything else she was trying to deal with, the desire to be impregnated by the man she loved had begun to tear at her heart. And it wasn’t until this moment, seeing Steffan and Chloe together, that she saw him in a different light.
She saw him as a father.
Her heart ached, knowing this would never be in their future. Steffan caught Anya’s sadness, looked up and fixed on her gaze. He gave her a knowing look and smiled.
“Okay, kiddo, it is way past your bedtime. Let’s get you upstairs,” Michelle said. She stood up and walked over to Chloe who clung to Steffan’s neck. Steffan kissed Chloe on the forehead and placed her in Michelle’s arms. Anya followed up with a kiss on her cheek.
“Uncle Steffan, I’m gonna see you tomorrow, right?” Chloe asked. Her eyes were innocent but expressive.
Everyone silenced and turned to look at Steffan, awaiting his response.
After a brief pause, Steffan answered confi
dently, “Of course, honey, why do you ask?”
“I want to play Superman again.”
Steffan laughed. “We will play Superman tomorrow, and the next day and the next.” Steffan smiled as he tapped his finger on her nose. Anya and Steffan darted glances at each other as Michelle headed upstairs with Chloe in hand.
“Night, Chloe,” everyone said in unison.
Chloe kissed her hand and blew the kiss across the room.
Steffan turned to Anya and embraced her tightly.
I know, my love. I know. I imagine it, too.
He kissed her gently on the forehead and wrapped his arm around her shoulders as he guided them toward the window.
“So, Anya, biokinesis huh?” Eilian said, shaking his head in amazement. “That is simply remarkable. You and I need to work in the lab together, maybe you can help me with extending Defender.”
“I would like that,” Anya replied.
“She can help, after,” Steffan added.
“After what?” Anya asked.
“Later. You’ll see.”
Eilian sat back down on the couch next to Catrin. “You know, I would feel a lot better if Rhys were here right now. Was it really necessary to have him and Brynne stay with Chariana and Alex? Madeline doesn’t even have a clue that she’s here.”
“I’m not leaving anything to chance. Besides, Chariana wanted to meet Brynne, to see how she fits into the picture,” Steffan said, gazing down at the sparkling lights of the city.
“Steffan, are you sure it’s not too late? Will the council be willing to listen? Should we have not called a meeting prior to this?” Catrin asked.
Releasing Anya, Steffan turned to Catrin. “With the evidence we have, they’ll have no choice but to listen. Remember, Chariana’s sense of the future right now is hazy.”
“She used the term in limbo to be exact,” Anya interjected
“Yes, in limbo. Because of this, we need the element of surprise on our side. I couldn’t risk Madeline getting wind of Chariana’s presence. One wrong move and I could be gone in a matter of hours.”
Steffan sat on the daybed and patted his knee for Anya. Anya sat on his lap sideways wrapping one arm around this neck.
They rested their foreheads on one another. “No wrong moves. None. You can’t be taken from me,” Anya whispered.
Michelle made her way down the stairs and entered the living room. “She went down quick.”
“How did you manage that?” Anya asked.
“I told her the faster she fell asleep, the sooner she could see Uncle Steffan and play Superman.” Michelle winked at Steffan and leaned in to hug him and Anya. “How are you guys holding up?”
“We’re managing,” Steffan whispered softly.
“Oracle!” Griffin said with enthusiasm and ran to Chariana as she entered the room.
Rhys, Alex, and Brynne entered the room and maneuvered around Griffin as he hugged Chariana. “Uoy era gnuoy! Uoy era lufituaeb! Rouy seye, did Ayna od taht?”
“Yes, Griffin. I’m young. I’m beautiful, and Anya fixed my eyes. She fixed my speech pattern as well. You don’t have to speak backward. By the way, my name is Chariana.”
“Anya! My lady, you are good!” Griffin exclaimed.
“Good is an understatement. Come look what she did to my Aleksanteri!” Chariana grabbed Griffin’s hand and led him into the living room.
“Everyone, I would like you to officially meet Aleksanteri,” Chariana said as she wrapped her hands around Alex’s waist.
“Feeling better?” Steffan stood and shook Alex’s hand.
“Yes. I couldn’t manage to say much when you guys found me. It’s good to see you again after all this time,” Alex said as he held Steffan’s firm handshake. “And I am sorry for the predicament I’ve left you in. I was incapacitated for quite a long time.”
“I understand, Alex. We’ll get this sorted out,” Steffan said as he nudged Anya closer to Alex. “I believe someone else was worried about you, too.”
Anya moved slowly up to Alex, reaching for his face. She remembered the handsome man who had first walked through the door that day in Madeleine’s office. But what stood before her now was as close to perfection there was, just like all the men of Ambrose Heights.
He would make a good Mr. October for that calendar of hers.
“Alex, I can’t believe this is really you. I wasn’t too sure of what I was doing. Are you sure you’re feeling all right?”
“Anya, I feel great. I have so much to thank you for.” He hugged Anya tightly. “I don’t know of any words that could even begin to express my gratitude for bringing me and Chariana back together,” Alex whispered in her ear.
Chariana shook her head as she spoke. “Steffan, I still can’t figure out how Brynne is involved in all of this, but she is definitely the one. I can feel it.”
“Chariana told us it has something to do with the DNA linking Brynne and Anya. But Steffan, I drink from Brynne and have never felt the effects of the urban legend out there that she can provide extraordinary powers. I just can’t figure it out,” Rhys said to Steffan, shaking his head.
Steffan nodded in response. “As do I with Anya. Look, Brynne will just have to be close by for us to call on her when Anya senses the time is right.”
“That brings up a good question. What exactly is the plan here, Steffan? The council will not let everyone in the room. I have to inject you before we head down, and neither of us has the code for the Nemesis since the council changed it,” Eilian stated.
Rhys added, “And, we don’t know how these proceedings work. Only you and Eilian were ever involved from our family.”
“Brynne, Rhys, Chariana, I want you three to come down and wait outside the Nemesis, but only after the council seals the doors. If they see you in the tunnel any earlier, they may seal off the entire tunnel entrance. As for the proceedings, they’ll allow me to address everyone in the room. I will tell them of the news and just take it from there. If they refuse to listen, Anya will take over and use her kinetics to open the door and force your appearance so you can be heard. Rhys, I need you there to help protect everyone from Madeleine and Ryan. I’m sure they won’t just sit idly by as this unfolds,” Steffan said.
Eilian looked at his wristwatch and turned to Steffan with a dreadful look. “Steffan, it’s time.”
Anya started to tear up.
Steffan moved to the wingback chair and sat down. He pushed up the sleeve of his sport jacket and motioned for Anya with the other arm.
Anya kneeled on the floor in front of Steffan and gripped his free hand, lifting it to her forehead.
This has to work. They have to listen, Anya said inwardly.
Eilian stood on the other side of Steffan, preparing the injection while the family looked on in grief.
We will prevail. I promise you that.
Promise?
I never break a promise.
And now, you have two promises out there, one to me and one to Chloe.
Once we’re back here, don’t make any plans with the family to celebrate. I’m planning to take you upstairs and celebrate all over your body.
My, my. Was that the “after” you were talking about with Eilian?
No. That is a surprise.
Eilian sunk the long needle deep into Steffan’s arms. His veins pulsed erratically as the serum invaded his system. Steffan closed his eyes.
“What will happen to him? Will it paralyze him? How long does this work?” Anya asked.
“We developed this to incapacitate vampire abilities. Everything else in him will function as it should. The serum lasts less than three hours. I never tried to extend its potency since the victim would be…” Eilian trailed off and looked down.
“Dead,” Anya finished his sentence.
Michelle walked over to Steffan. “Steffan, I will see you when you return.” She hugged Steffan and then moved aside to allow the family members to say their good-byes and well-wishes.
* * * *
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Steffan and Anya walked hand in hand, tightly bound to each other as they made their way to the Nemesis. Their pace was slow. They trailed behind Eilian. Anya’s focus unwittingly settled on her surroundings, her senses capturing every detail of the subsurface quarters.
The elaborate honeycomb system of carved-out earth was an engineering marvel. She had toured the area before with Steffan, but couldn’t figure out why she hadn’t given it much thought back then. Maybe learning of the community’s vampiric background alone was more than she could handle at the time.
She looked at Steffan in sheer amazement. His preparation, prudence, and dedication for an undertaking of this project were immeasurable. He was a remarkable man.
“I can’t believe this.” Anya stopped in her tracks. “You created all of this, not for yourself, but for the entire family.”
She released Steffan’s grip and looked him deep in the eyes, holding her hands out to her sides. “Look at this, you’ve taken steps to protect and produce our synthetic composition formula. You created access points not only from the homes here in Ambrose, but throughout the labyrinth maze to allow unrestricted use of the training room and enthrall hall. Then there’s Nemesis, meant to keep the entire family safe and sound. Where is the loyalty in what you’ve done for all of them? Where is the justice? The same family that is reaping the benefits of their leader’s foresight, commitment, and intellect is the same family preparing to destroy you.” Anya shook her head.
Steffan sank his hands deep in his jeans pockets. “They’re only doing as I have trained them to do. They’re carrying out everything I would’ve done in the same situation, protecting the entire family by forsaking one that is proven to be a threat.”
Eilian spoke from behind Steffan, “Anya, the council is not making this decision without great remorse. No one wants to see this happen. No one wants to believe it. But the evidence was too strong against Steffan. Knowing the council members, they’ll want to listen to this new evidence we have. I think we will be all right.”
They made their way down through the tunnel corridors to the Nemesis. As they approached, they observed two council members manning the entry.
