by Flynn Eire
“I had no idea,” Alexander admitted, shaking his head. “I only knew the way used to be that no warrior was transferred from their camp until they came into their gift, as that needed specialized training as well. Now it’s not done that way.”
“It’s also why some get theirs so late,” Basilia added, shrugging when he shot her a confused look. “If you’ve been sent here, there, or everywhere, do you feel comfortable enough to delve into the next part of emerging as to who you are? Instability delays more than gifts. It’s seen in adolescence and much more in nature.”
After dropping a bit too much information on them, and after we got too much information, we had a talk with Gilroy, everyone else having long cleared out since breakfast. At first he was as nervous as could be, glancing at his older mate too many times for any of us not to figure out he was upset.
“Could you update my phone? Clear up these unneeded apps and check that it’s the right security measures, as Alastair demanded we get them?” Basilia asked, and from the moment he had the phone in his hand, something he knew how to do, he relaxed. Which was wonderful because he started almost rambling to answer. The information was good, and it helped us.
We had just finished with him and Xana when Alexander’s young mate, Dimitri, came rushing into the cafeteria. “I thought I could handle it. I don’t think I can. It was fine when I was here and you were away, but shit went down in Seattle, and I got too stressed. I know we’ve been mated a few years and we can go more than a few days at a time, but I was okay with a week when you were gone, but not when it’s me so stressed. Matteo warned me this is all important, and I’m so sorry, but we just landed and I have more—”
“You always come first, Dimika,” Alexander assured him, figuring out before I did that Dimitri needed a mating bite and was freaking out from being away from him too long. He took his mate’s hand and pulled the obviously upset larger male over to the corner of the cafeteria as we all ignored they were biting each other and climaxing.
“Are we agreed on the plan then?” I checked with the others.
“I want to see some of the program,” Basilia muttered but gave a slow nod.
“And I want to meet some of these council members,” Proximo added. “You’re talking about giving them a huge target to aim at, Alastair. You’re the best judge of character, but you also moved up the timetable by a month. Why? What is the rush?”
“Besides all the zakasac nests that apparently keep popping up at this location?” I drawled, not wanting my personal feelings to derail what needed to be done. In all honesty, meeting Zibon didn’t push up the plan, no more than a couple of days. The situation was worse than we’d feared. “I know more camps and councils need to be checked. We can still do that and go forward.” I nonetheless got a few frowns. “We might have more help coming.”
“No way you get them to come out of hiding,” Morggyan argued, shaking her head. “I agree we need to go forward. If the council is corrupt or there is a problem, then we do what we do best. The program here might need help, but it’s solid. We all agree on that and that it’s the best one. If the enemy is focused on here, then here we must be. It is how we’ve always handled these situations.”
“What ‘situations?’” Helios asked, glancing between us.
I raised an eyebrow at him. “You truly think this is the first time ever that zakasacs have banded together? That they’ve never thought to group together or form some type of hierarchy?”
“Well, now I doubt it,” he sighed, scrubbing his hand over the back of his neck. “I’m not young, Alastair, and I have faith in the Wyrok. If they say it’s never been done before—”
“No, they told us it’s not like they’ve ever seen,” I corrected. “They’ve seen them group together before, they do every thousand years or so on one continent or another. Across the world is a new one, and technology has made that possible given how they have to live to survive.” I gestured to myself and my friends. “We’ve even seen it where for centuries before they form together into massive attacks, there is a lighter presence of them, lulling many into a false sense of security.”
“Easing back on training like in Canada,” Basilia interjected. “Getting in the heads of too many that the war might be over soon as there are so few.”
“I heard that many times, as too many judged us for changing our training, updating and advancing it,” Alexander told us, letting us know he and Dimitri had rejoined us. “I was told that finding nests of five or ten was a good sign, that there were so few left, they could only survive if they were together, as they were young and stupid.”
“You obviously didn’t believe it,” Proximo chuckled, shaking his head. “How people love to put their heads in the sand. We have more enemies than just zakasacs, and being lazy or gluttonous for power never does anything but make us weak.”
“We agree,” Dimitri assured us. “I was told you were the one who shut down the West Coast camp leader, and now the Wyrok has assigned all the pre- and post-trans to come here. The first group came on our plane, but more are coming.”
“We don’t have housing for so many,” Alexander sighed.
“I received word this morning of the decision, and if you would forgive me for jumping steps, I’ve already arranged more bunk beds for their pre-trans dorm, and they can live with being stuffed together,” I informed him, shrugging when I got an annoyed look. “We’ve covered a lot of pressing matters, not learning each others’ favorite colors. I didn’t know they would start coming in now.”
“The look wasn’t for the help but the spying,” Dimitri guessed, rubbing the back of his neck when Alexander nodded. “What else do we need to know?”
“I’ve added provisions to come in on my private plane tomorrow. There’s also new, larger bunk beds for the tiny post-trans rooms, as you’ll have more of those as well, I would assume. We will help you keep them safe and whatever you need to protect our next generation. How you assimilate them to your camp we’re not here to interfere with.”
“We should have already started chopping month, but everyone’s been racing to catch up,” Dimitri muttered, glancing at his mate. “It would be a good gauge to see where they’re at physically right off the bat. Also, how much stronger our pre-trans are before they start throwing shit around about us being the Queer Camp or whatever bullshit.”
“We have been downgraded to the Homo Camp, I’ve been told,” he drawled, scrubbing his hands over his head.
“What is chopping month?” Basilia asked, glancing between them.
“They don’t have gas here for security reasons, and buying propane brings questions,” I explained for them. “And this camp has been severely neglected as opposed to the others, as they’re remote and don’t lick the asses of council members who control the funds we provide, so they don’t even have electric heating. They have to buy their own window units for air conditioning.”
“Dear lord, that’s bullshit,” she sighed. “And yet they’re probably the best camp. How was this neglect allowed? We set things up better than this.”
“We didn’t keep control after the last wave of people demanding the ancients be wiped out,” Proximo reminded her. “This isn’t on us, Basilia. We’ve had our own fights plus surviving the enemy, and I don’t only mean zakasacs.”
“I will handle getting the updated equipment with a vampire company that doesn’t want to go into a coven but might here,” Morggyan offered. She shot me a smirk. “I’m assuming you can get wind turbines here?”
I answered the unasked question. “I own a company that recycles steel and metal from wrecked cars that were stripped and makes them into wind turbines. Other countries, smaller and looked down upon countries, are more open to such environmental work and opportunities, as opposed to idiots lying that coal is clean energy and promising to approve more mines. Because several cities being able to light their water on fire isn’t enough, there needs to be more.”
“We’re not a fan of that idi
ot, either, and give up on humans if they elect such an asshat as the president,” Dimitri drawled, gesturing between him and his mate. “Well, okay, so you’ve got plans and ideas. Awesome. We won’t be the only wind turbines in the area, and we can help with permits and whatnot. I’m not sure how that works with the landing strip.”
“Right, so the part of the plan we were discussing when you walked in was I bought several hundred acres on the other side of the camp so we can build a private town like humans have to hide us in plain sight,” I informed him.
Dimitri blinked at us a few minutes while Alexander seemed unable to even digest that. Finally, Dimitri shook his head as he pushed back his chair to stand. “It’s a mother fucking miracle I’m not a raging alcoholic.”
5
“No one’s in trouble,” Marissa started the meeting with, looking at us all in turn. “Alexander was very clear on that. And also, you don’t have to tell us. Alexander and I won’t tell the council or Wyrok or anyone unless you give us permission.” I felt the tension in the room ease down a bit. “But an adult should know. Just in case. I’m not picking on Nate, but he’s a prime example of why.”
“You mean I almost burnt down my room, and if someone didn’t know to check on me, I could have been trapped inside with the flames and died?” he offered, bobbing his head. “Yeah, people have to know. At least if we’re getting our gifts because ‘adult supervision is required’ really, really applies here.”
“Can we tell you we’re getting it and just not tell you what it is yet until we’re comfortable?” I asked, admitting I was one of them basically.
“Yes,” Marissa answered after a moment. “As long as it’s not fire, or with emotions, as I speak from experience that it can eat you if you don’t get help the moment it starts.”
“No, nothing like that. I just—I need a bit more time. I’ve told someone, and I don’t think it’s something to worry over.” I glanced at Wally who shook his head. “I’d like to sit with it some more.”
“And that’s fine. That’s completely acceptable,” she assured me with a kind smile. “Prudent even, so good for you.”
“I keep breaking shit,” Norris blurted loudly, basically shouting it he was so nervous. “At first I thought I was just being super klutzy with the lack of sleep trying to get my pilot’s license and all the warrior tests I just completed, but I’ve gotten some good sleep and it’s not stopping. I think I’m turning into Xana. I didn’t think so, but then that ancient guy said there were five of us, and that makes me and Zibon the five.”
He was right about what his gift was. I didn’t want to say it, but he was right. If I did say it, I would have outed myself.
“Okay, well, you have someone here to help you then,” Marissa comforted him. “So we’ve got fire with Nate, an empath with London, Zibon’s super secret gift, and Norris who’s going to beat everyone up easily.” She gave Lance a sad look. “Time to say it, darling. I can feel your fear.”
“Have you ever heard anyone with that gift? What if I’m just crazy?” he choked out, all of us who were friends with him flinching he was cracking. I scooted closer and threw my arm around him.
“We’re all fucking nuts, man. Just say it, and if you’re wrong, we can wear straightjackets and bounce around padded rooms.”
“Asshole,” he chuckled, wiping his eyes. “Telekinetic. I think I’m telekinetic. Shit keeps moving, and I seriously thought I was losing my fucking mind with the family shit that’s coming up now, and I might need help with that because I don’t know what to do and I’m—I feel like I’m breaking. Nothing is ever where I leave it and—do you have any idea how that feels?”
“Most of us get fucked up families,” I assured him. “Not Mark. He’s from the Brady Bunch, but the rest of us. You’re not alone.”
“Neither are you, so stop pretending you are,” he muttered, bumping against me.
“Good,” Marissa sighed. “It helps just to say it, I promise. I went through a long time of denying what my gift was because I met an empath when I was young, and he was hollow. Everything ate at him, and I was terrified of becoming like that. But I promise, people knowing and knowing to look out for you helps.”
I shared a glance with London. I didn’t think things were so clear for us, but at least the rumors of what he really was were dissipating as someone jumping the gun, and now most thought it was an empath. That was safer for him.
And I worried what could be safe for me.
We worked on breathing exercises for about twenty minutes, finding center, and yoga/martial arts stuff that she promised would help on control. When we were done, I was at least super relaxed. I didn’t know it would work for me and London, other than maybe him needing to learn to block shit out. But I felt calm.
Which I hadn’t been after the morning drama.
“What’s up with you?” Mark asked me gently when she ended the session, saying she was going to work with Nate alone. “You were super excited after your crabs.”
“Why are there ancients here, Mark? Aren’t you scared? And there were more zakasac nests near us. Did you catch that over breakfast?”
“Yeah, yeah I did. Okay, good point.”
“I think we should stay and help Nate,” Lance muttered, nodding to our freaked out looking friend. “I think we grab some of the big fire extinguishers, load up the dump truck with water, and take it to Ashton’s land so he’s not shitting a brick he’ll destroy everything around us.”
“Good plan,” Mark and I said together.
It took a bit for us to work it out, all the new warriors coming with and a few that could swing it like Drake, Philo, and Lynx just to show their support.
“Okay, find your center, and stop panicking,” Marissa told him gently. “You’re not a freak, Nate.”
Drake snorted. “Dude, I talk to animals. You don’t even want to know what I went through figuring that shit out.”
“Right, okay, we’re all freaks,” Nate muttered and did the breathing exercise. When he looked calmer, Marissa simply nodded to the large tree ten feet from us.
“Light it up. Let it all out.”
I flinched as the tree instantly burst into huge flames.
“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry,” Nate rasped, rushing over to Mark to take his fire extinguisher.
“Nate, stop,” Marissa ordered, beating him to Mark and hugging him. “Stop, okay? Do you have any idea what you could do with this miracle? I don’t like warriors thinking of their gifts as weapons, but honestly, you could have an emergency ace in your pocket should you ever be attacked. Look how big that tree is. How many zakasacs would that be? Think of how you could keep people safe. That’s nothing to apologize for.”
“Right, okay, yeah, good way to think of it,” he agreed, hugging the tiny woman back. “Thanks, Marissa.”
“No problem, kid. Now, let’s do it again. Let it out full blast until you’re exhausted, and that’s step one. There’s a plan, and you don’t have to be scared anymore.”
That seemed to help him most, the hope that he didn’t have to be afraid. It made sense, being scared was one of the scariest things.
After about an hour of him making good sized trees burst into flames, he started to get tired, and I thought he was going to cry when he finally started a small fire.
“And now you know how to do it,” Marissa praised him, rubbing his back. “Next, we train you to default to that so if there’s ever an accident, it’s a small one. It’s all about working with what you’ve got.” She shot me a look as she hugged Nate, and I had a feeling she’d figured out my gift didn’t have levels. Simply that it worked or not.
I could live with people knowing that until I got a grasp on too many things better.
“Dimitri and Matteo need us back,” Lynx told the group, and we hurried to load up in the trucks we took. Philo said it was best to dump the water so the land Nate had been working with was wet and there was no chance for embers to start up while we were gone.
&n
bsp; I liked it when people were smart.
Dimitri was waiting to greet us, upset from what I could see. “Wyrok made a ruling on shit with the West Coast, and its training program is being shut down, all trainees transferred here. We just got word the same happened at the Eastern Canada camp last night, and the first plane was sent at the buttfuck of dawn their time. It was decided to do it fast before more shit could potentially happen. And there’s always more shit, believe me.”
“What do you need from us to help?” Philo interjected, understanding Dimitri looked about ready to pull out his hair.
“We don’t have beds and space ready. One of the ancients ordered a shit ton more bunk beds with nice new mattresses. I’d like our pre-trans who are getting displaced to get those,” he explained. “So I need room made in the pre-trans barracks and beds built. My understanding is they’re sort of idiot proof, sturdy, but nice metal ones. Also, there’s full sized bunks for post-trans rooms, and we need to get people doubled up.”
“What if we pushed aside the furniture in the bar area and got the old post-trans beds moved to there so we’ve got more room for just whoever?” I threw in, glad when Dimitri nodded.
“Good, you head over to Matteo who is getting our post-trans situated and doubling up,” he agreed, nodding towards our dorm. “Update him and then bring a cooler of drinks to the pre-trans dorm where we’ll all be working.”
I booked it over to Matteo, updating him and letting him know Nate was wiped but okay because honestly, it had to kill him that he wasn’t there to help his mate. I saw almost the physical weight get lifted off his shoulders as he thanked me.
I took a good look at the bunk instructions while people started moving the old mattresses and frames into the bar, moving the furniture too. I told one of them to hurry and vacuum the rooms as long as we had the beds up and most of the room bare.
“You’re going to have to double up. So pick who you can deal with in close quarters,” I ordered them.
