by Debbie Behan
Rory gently picked up her hand and got her to her feet. She grabbed at him as she almost passed out again but regained control and leant into him, grateful for his help.
‘Maybe I should take you to a hospital,’ he offered.
‘You know we can’t trust any of the doctors here, Rory. I’ll be okay. I’ll just sleep it off.’
‘Well, if it gets any worse we’ll have to trust someone,’ he said as he helped her out into his car.
Caitlin slept on and off for two days solid before she felt better. Rory and Bree came around after work and made her dinner at night. Afterwards, Caitlin went straight back to bed and let them see themselves out. It had really knocked her around. It was a few days later when she finally woke and began to feel much better. After a shower, she heard familiar voices and quickly dressed to go out into the kitchen and join her friends. Rory and Bree had stayed the night and had started breakfast.
‘Glad to see you look better Cait,’ Rory said as he flipped the eggs.
Bree wrapped arms around her and, Caitlin feeling more sociable today about many things, didn’t shrug her off. She was glad Bree made Rory happy but so help her if she didn’t.
In the kitchen, Rory was in control, as usual, ordering Bree around and yet there was an expression of guilt when he looked up. Caitlin knew he blamed himself but so he should. This might never have happened if Rory hadn’t been trying to get Bree into bed. His own rule was never to leave a team member behind. He had failed and as the leader and the only man in the world she trusted, he should have left the sizzle until after he had checked she was okay.
Rory went crimson under Caitlin’s watchful glare. He figured out what those eyes were saying and knew he had put that faith she had in him on the line. If he didn’t want to lose her, he had better not let her down again. Certainly have no intentions of that… Her body language told him she was still mad at him and doubted she would believe one word he had to say just yet.
Caitlin’s attention darted to the door as Zeke and Nathen arrived. They were both tall and well built. Zeke had dark hair, eyes and complexion. Nate was entirely different in every way. With blond hair, fair skin and eyes of the palest grey, he was also the softer of the men in her life. Neither were short of female company yet they preferred to stay as she did, single and without care. They took it in turns to lift Caitlin up, hugged her and skylarked around until Rory butted in. ‘Come on guys, this isn’t a free ride, set the table and make the drinks.’
While they were busy, Caitlin brushed at her tangles from across the room, laughing at Rory still going crook at the guys as she opened the door to the last member of their group.
Lisha breezed in the door, hugging Caitlin and turning to the others, all smiles after what looked a good night out. With her cropped blonde hair, hazel eyes and tanned complexion, she oozed sex appeal. However, puffy eyes showed a lack of sleep and the smile spoke volumes.
‘You had a win?’ Caitlin raised a brow at Rory’s sister. They were absolutely nothing alike, but he had her adoration. Like the rest of them, Lisha would do anything for him. He was the only person who she’d jump through hoops for and was one of the hardest workers when they trained together. Lisha was stand-out and knew it, but Caitlin liked this about her. It made her strive harder and she valued the rivalry.
‘You bet, sweetie.’ Lisha held up a perfectly manicured hand and ran the back of it down her cheek. ‘You okay, sugar? Rory tells me you’ve been sick. Sorry about the other night, won’t happen again.’ Pulling her hand away, she waltzed off. Laughing in her over- confident way, she went over to hug everyone, openly bragging of her huge win at the pokies and what a great night she had with Zeke and Nate.
Caitlin smiled as she watched her friends, each one so different in personality, and yet it worked between them. Primarily, because of one thing they had in common. It was something that kept them all together and had done for many years. They never aged; not one line, not one wrinkle. It was as if they turned twenty, had a growth spurt overnight and then nothing. Caitlin was the only odd one in the bunch. Her skin had never matured as she grew. It stayed soft as the day she was born. It tore easily and was so delicate that when she shook hands with anyone, they would hold her hand and study it, unsure why it felt as it did, yet not bold enough to mention it. Her knight in shining armour had also done this to her. It made Caitlin smile, thinking of him again. She shook her head as she listened to them all chat. This and other strange powers they possessed made them fear others, choosing to keep out of the public eye, hiding from all those that might turn them into lab rats, or worse. They had been in this city for five years and today was their get-together. It was a planned meeting to decide what city they would live in next. None of them ever wanted to stay anywhere for too long, in case their oddness caused curiosity.
Nate handled the passports and personal papers side of it. His computer skills were remarkable. They quite often called Zeke, Radar, due to his skills at picking up sounds from miles away. Rory laid out the plans for them and they listened to him. He was the one who had found them, brought them together and ensured their safety and well-being. As their leader, he also made the final decision on where they went and what they did when they got there. At the moment, to keep them together, Rory had organised that he, Bree and Caitlin worked as buyers. Lisha was employed as an office assistant and Nate and Zeke as the sales reps in a corporation he helped set up from scratch. This was Rory’s way of keeping them together and safe.
Caitlin sat on the couch, careful not to wrinkle her dress as she spread the pleats out in her skirt. She wondered how Rory managed to cook in her tiny kitchen compared with the condo he currently lived in, with his large chef’s kitchen. Nate, Zeke and Bree were more like her. They lived in apartments not far from each other so they could hang out. They enjoyed parties, clubs and the opposite sex far too much to worry about tomorrow. They all saw Rory’s point about saving something for the future, but each time they moved to a new location, with new people, the fun always won over logic, and none of them could keep their promises to him.
This time when they moved, though, Caitlin had already decided she would stop blowing everything she earned and start building a nest egg for the future. A few nights ago they had gone out to celebrate her birthday. It was a wake-up call, not only to be drugged and losing Rory to another, but she had a revelation about having nothing to show for her thirty years. She was going to give up the high-life and settle down in the next city. She’d save money instead of living as if she had all the time in the world to enjoy the finer possessions in life. Rory had been her only possession. She had lost her hold over him, and it hurt.
It wasn’t until the meal was over that Rory enlightened them on a new life-changing job offer he’d been given, an offer for all of them.
Chapter Two
An Intriguing Offer
Their group arrived at a restaurant where they were to meet the man who was going to change their lives. Caitlin slammed the car door shut and spun around, her eyes taking in the city below. Up so high on the mountain, the tall buildings and rolling hills that surrounded them disappeared into the clouds. Caitlin took a deep breath. The smell of damp wood and pine combined with the sweetness of lavender that grew wild in these parts revived her senses. It had been days since feeling this well and Caitlin enjoyed just being out with her friends.
As they followed Rory towards the steps of the rather old, rustic building, she noted only one other parked vehicle in the customers’ car park. It was a European car that looked far too expensive to belong to the owners of this possibly historical site. It appeared their possibly new employer they had come to meet was either seriously wealthy, or else a salesperson, and they were all going to be selling cars for the next five years.
As expected, the restaurant was empty except for one person. Caitlin assumed his name was Axon Stanton, the contact they were to meet. At the bar,
he sat with his back to them drinking from a glass. His attire was neat and casual, yet his awareness and character were questionable as she assumed if this was him, he would get up and greet them. If this was their guy, her concerns for this new adventure would be expressed when her turn came to give an opinion. She was already worried.
The table Rory picked for them was near open shutters, the breeze cooling and welcomed. Leaving the others with the waiter, he went over and sat next to the man at the bar.
Caitlin ignored the longing to go with Rory as she always did and ordered a drink instead. ‘I’ll have a caramel latte, thanks buddy.’
She was the last to order and after, the little Spanish waiter with a moustache too big for his face scurried off. While waiting for Rory’s return, Nate and Zeke entertained them with jokes. Laughing, none of them noticed him come back to the table with company.
A large shadow looming over the table quietened them down, and all eyes were now on the man from the bar, possibly their soon-to-be new boss. Caitlin coughed and spluttered as her drink went down the wrong way when she recognised the stranger from the other night. She felt the colour sting her cheeks as his lips parted slightly in a smile. She excused herself, meaning to escape to the ladies’, but he moved in front of her path, leaving no room in between the next table and Rory.
He put out his hand in a gesture to shake hers. ‘Hi, I didn’t get your name the other night. My name is Axon Stanton.’ He smiled politely. ‘And you are?’
‘Caitlin Warner.’ She lifted her chin, the fight in her eyes emerging, knowing he had caught her and there was no way out of this predicament. She figured any minute now he would do the guy thing, blab what happened, and make a joke out of it.
He turned to the others, excusing himself. ‘I need a minute with your friend. We have already met, and I’d like a private word.’
She knew Rory would already have guessed by using his sixth sense that this was the man she took home the other night.
Axon had surprised her again, keeping hold of her hand. He guided her out the door and into the garden.
‘Are you well now, Caitlin Warner?’ he asked once they were out of earshot.
She tried to keep as calm and polite as he was, but her nerves felt on edge with every brush of his thigh, every gentle caress of his hand that he still kept on hers. ‘I’m fine now, thanks for asking. I slept for two days, but feel better today.’
‘I could see you were ready to run in there and apologise for trapping you, but I hope you’ll accept my request for forgiveness. It was unthinkable that I should have taken advantage of you when you were unwell. To steal a kiss the other night was wrong of me. I hope you can keep the personal side of our knowing each other from what I wish to discuss with you.’
‘If you can then I can too.’ She felt happy he was putting it aside but a little sad he was dismissing it so easily.
A little willy wagtail darted between them and was enough to distract her from how close he stood and the effect it had on her. She looked at him. ‘I also would like to apologise for being such a handful and a rude one at that. You were very kind, and I have a habit of saying things before I think.’
‘Truce then?’ He captivated her with charming good looks.
‘Truce!’ was all she could get out as she stared into dark, intoxicating eyes.
The outcome of their talk must have been pleasing to him, for the rhythm of their matching stride as they walked back made her feel happy. Strangely, she noticed his steps hardly made a sound as he walked beside her. The deal clincher for liking him was when he pulled out her chair. Now that’s a true gentleman. Already he was a pleasure to be around, and she grinned as he made her comfortable before moving on to the other side of the table to fill the empty seat next to Rory.
What was to come next left them all wide-eyed and speechless as Axon explained that his boss, Zoren, was an archangel and the guardian of the heavens. He took a breath and gave them time to catch up and once they had quietened down he continued. ‘Zoren already has an elite group of super powerful immortals called the Cloud Riders. They are the peacekeepers of the many Home Worlds on the stars. However, they are kept extremely busy. Therefore, due to my new position as Lord of the Planets, I’m in search of my own group of Riders to arbitrate and be the peacekeepers of Home Worlds on the planets. The Rulers are in turmoil and your position will be to mediate with them and solve their arguments peacefully.’
‘Universal peacekeepers, how cool,’ Nathen responded.
Caitlin didn’t think her mouth could open any wider, but it did when he added that the Riders moved from planet to planet via portals and on the backs of mythical horses, namely the legendary Pegasus winged horses.
‘You have to be kidding me.’ Rory sat back with his arms up and hands on the back of his head. By this stage, he looked more relaxed and spoke to Axon confidently, as if they’d been mates forever.
‘Seriously,’ Axon continued. ‘The Cloud Riders use the different cloud formations to jump the horses and riders from one portal to the next, depending on the coordinates of the mission.’
They all laughed, but in their minds knew this was no fairy-tale, believing, with their gifts, they were destined for so much more than their current mundane existence.
Rory leant back in his seat, eyeing Axon. ‘So you’re Zoren’s right-hand man?’
‘Yes.’
Rory was uncertain and shared his sudden worry. ‘It must be a big job if he has had to put the best of the best in charge. What has me concerned is you’re looking at us to help; we haven’t got that kind of powers you will need to go up against gods at war. Sorry man, but we’re not your warriors, no way.’
‘Yes, you are, Rory, and more; you just haven’t had any training yet. By the time the Cloud Riders finish with you lot I can guarantee, from the power I feel around this table, you’re just what I need. All I’m asking is that you trust me and give it a go. You honestly can’t tell me you’re happy working in a boring office every day, not with your strengths. How you lasted this long is beyond me. ‘
‘We train at night and use up as much power as we can so we don’t take it into our jobs. The younger ones of the team party until all hours to use theirs up. And no, it hasn’t been easy to hide, but we do the best we can.’
‘Well, I’m offering you a chance of a lifetime. Stop with all this hiding and nonsense, quit mucking around with your lives and come with me now. I will make no promises about the future, but I am sure of one thing, none of you will ever want for anything again.’ His eyes roamed over everyone now as he stood up, jokes and fun all gone from his tone. ‘I’ll give you time to hash it out, but I’m not waiting all day.’ He was making them commit now, this minute! And the six of them sat speechless as he strolled back to the bar, parked his butt up on a stool, and switched off from them as he did when they first arrived.
Rory breathed out. ‘So that’s it, guys. Do we follow the Lord of the Planets to the heavens? Do we agree Axon Stanton will be our new boss or not?’
They leant in and privately discussed the fantastic tale Axon had told them, a wild story that they instinctively knew was true. If it were possible that they were immortal and had powers, then why question his story there were other super humans such as them. They then agreed it was possible for gods to be fighting and a universe of planets in jeopardy.
Rory interrupted the debate. ‘If we say yes, we go now, today, leave everything behind, not a single trace of what happened to us.’
Caitlin stretched and huffed. ‘So we have to go get training. What’s that all about, Rory? Geez, we all know what we can do. Can’t you tell him we’ll be just fine on our own? I’m not good at other people telling me what to do.’
Zeke gently pulled on her curls. ‘It’s the red hair, ain’t it, little scruffer. Got a temper when you get riled up, don’t you girlie.’
‘Give you
girlie!’ She punched his leg under the table.
‘Ouch!’ He laughed, rubbing his leg.
‘Okay guys, give it up. This is serious, and I need each of you to give me an answer. One doesn’t go, none of us do, fair enough.’
They agreed and quietened to listen further.
‘So, here’s the deal with our living arrangements. Axon has organised a home on acreage for us to move into after we finish our training with the Cloud Riders. He insists it will keep us safe from prying eyes and we can live there indefinitely if we like it.’
‘Most likely an old ranch but we can do it up, I guess,’ Nate put in.
‘Yes, we can do what we like so he tells me. What won me was not only that it’s secret from the world, but whether we make the cut or not, we can stay as long as we want this time. Except for his equipment to travel to the heavens, everything else is ours for giving it a go. He’s trying to help us either way.’
‘So, he’s just an all-round good bloke then,’ Zeke said.
Rory agreed, ‘that’s the way I see it. I really liked the guy on sight, not sure about the rest of you.’
The group nodded.
‘Well, we know Red did.’ Bree chuckled, and spoke quietly enough for only Caitlin to hear, forgetting about Lisha’s super hearing.
‘Is that what all that was about, you’ve met him already?’ Lisha whispered loudly enough for them all to hear.
‘Later, guys,’ Caitlin said with a smile. ‘Continue, Rory, and no more tales out of school, Bree.’
‘Come on, no more stuffing around. Axon is waiting.’ Rory stopped the chatter. ‘Any more questions?’
Lisha frowned. ‘Okay, I got one. Between the ranch /homestead, or whatever we call it and the action in the sky, you say Kayden’s Cloud Riders presumably don’t get much time for anything else.’
