by Regan Black
She wanted to snap at him, but it would upset the others, Daniel especially. She was tired of his 'stay safe at home' routine. Of course, she'd tried to leave him behind. Twice. Although the bunker couldn't count because she was only mad there.
He laughed softly in the dark. Clearly he'd heard her thoughts. "At least you've given up the detachment thing."
"True." He brushed his mouth across her ear.
She didn't try to hide her satisfied smirk.
"You were mean back there," he complained without much intensity.
"You earned it," she said. She wouldn't apologize again. "I trust you." Implicitly. She understood that now. Even when he was distracted and testy she wanted him by her side.
"No matter what happens," she began.
"We're connected. I'll still be in your head."
The words came on a warm whisper against her ear. She snuggled back against his chest as his arms came around her. Together they watched the scenery blur away as the driver pushed the bus to its limit. Considering this might just be the start of an apocalypse, engine care didn't matter much.
"Are you scared?" she asked, feeling a small tremble in his muscles.
"Not precisely."
Meaning he wasn't scared for her. She wanted to look into his eyes, but moving would break the moment. She settled for studying his reflection in the window. "I won't let you down."
"Never thought you would." His arms banded tighter, then eased. His breath shuddered in, then out. "You are impossibly strong. So steady in your beliefs. It's a high standard to maintain."
Ah. He was back to this. Funny, after all they'd shared in and out of each other's heads it was a wonder he didn't know how unsure she'd been. She thought about the challenges and the tough choices they'd both been forced to make.
"You did what you had to do," she offered. She knew he was thinking about other things, but she was remembering his harsh words in the infirmary. She'd needed that kick in the ass. Man, that 'martyr much' line had lit her temper.
"And you pulled my ass out of the fire. Literally. Sort of."
The idea made her giggle. A sound she didn't think would be any more welcome on this bus than airing her fears. When did she get so girly? Did this sort of change happen to everyone on the brink of death?
"Don't try and deny it," Nathan was saying. "You were right. I was in over my head to go after Kristoff that way."
"No. You were right to stick with it. Infiltration was your primary mission."
Nathan snorted and the window's reflection showed the pain and self-disgust on his face. "I should've known when to modify the goal."
"You don't like mods remember?" She twisted in his arms, capturing his face between her hands. "Listen. There is no blame, no regret in me when it comes to us. Whatever we're about to face, it's going to take both of us to finish the job. Trust that, trust us, no matter what happens, okay?"
"Oh, would you two get a room already?" Daniel said from two seats back. "I'll tell Grandma on you."
Cali ignored the idle threat, determined to know if Nathan understood. "Well?"
"Marry me?"
TWELVE
Opportunities multiply as they are seized. Sun Tzu
"You can't ask me that. Not here. Not now."
Not ever, added the part of her mind that always deferred to logic. He wasn't of a guardian clan. It wasn't possible. They'd be cast out and shunned.
Of course, that assumed they survived the day.
Nathan turned his face to press his lips to her palm when the bus lurched into a sideways slide down Highway 163. He sheltered Cali with his body as they slammed into the seats in front of them.
From the seat behind the driver he heard Gideon swearing. Daniel was tossed like a rag doll and Nathan used his mind to ease the boy's landing.
"Oh, this bitch is so going down!" Jaden jumped to her feet, her balance perfect, before the bus even stopped rocking.
"Guess it's game time," Brian said, with a calm that sounded out of place considering the circumstances. "Stick to the plan everyone."
Then he and Jaden were out the door and charging to the battle line Nin-Hur-Sag had drawn.
Gideon wrenched the driver from behind the wheel and checked him over. Then he grabbed Daniel up off the floor. "Stay in contact. No excuses." He cuffed the boy's ear. "That thing still working?"
"Yeah."
Daniel's eyes were wide and Cali hated herself for dragging him into a war no child should see. Thank God he hadn't been home to witness his father's slaughter.
"Focus," Nathan reminded her.
She locked back into the moment, watching Gideon apply the body armor to Daniel, then himself, cinching straps tight and slapping them down.
"Now, don't freak when Nathan snaps an order in there, all right?" Gideon tapped Daniel's forehead, before handing over Daniel's quiver and bow. "Think sniper and you'll do fine."
"Laser tag on juice," Daniel said.
"You got it. Now it's time to party."
Nathan felt Cali shiver as she watched Daniel in Gideon's shadow. "If I survive, Serena's gonna kill me," she admitted.
"I'll make sure Gideon gets the blame if anything happens." The useless threat brought a wan smile to her face. Nathan counted it better than the worry that had been there a moment ago. "Shall we recap?"
"God no. Let's just get it done."
"What's the goddess's weakness?"
"Arrogance. Among her other flaws."
"How will you capitalize on that?"
She answered him with a hard punch on the shoulder.
He couldn't complain as he was about to invite a more severe beating just by stepping off the bus.
"Fine then." He kissed her hard, running his hands lightly over her weapons. Just in case he had to use one for her. "No bleeding!" he added, jumping out of her reach. He raced off to the cliff's edge where their friends were already engaged with Kristoff's elite soldiers.
"Petra? You there?" he asked, opening the connection to his sister.
"As much as I'm able," she grumbled.
Nathan felt sorry for her, but no one would let her risk an astral flight or let her anywhere near a battlefield while she was pregnant. "Keep me informed." They were left with only the intel provided by a satellite feed that she would relay from her post twenty miles out.
Nathan wanted to reach out to Cali, but he was too close to the evil goddess to risk it. If the assumptions were correct, Kristoff would try and turn Nathan in the heat of the conflict and then follow the emotional trail back to Cali.
There were only six of them against Kristoff, his loyal soldiers, and the evil goddess he served. It sounded ludicrous, but if they each pulled off their part, the odds were actually in their favor.
All praise for positive thinking, Petra deadpanned.
Nathan ignored her. The Commandant's team was surely executing the new assignments. There'd been a heated discussion, but they all agreed there was no point in bringing them to the front lines once Kristoff had seen them.
Nathan charged forward, deflecting bullets on his way to the battle. One of Kristoff's soldiers lunged from the cloud of dust and set on him in hand to hand combat, but Nathan used his mind to turn him against his closest comrade while pressing on to his real goal: Kristoff.
The macabre dance seemed a violent illustration of ancient conflicts he'd studied in the military. While he'd been trained in close combat and martial arts, he knew his talents paled next to Jaden. She moved with an elegantly lethal grace, quickly dispatching one combatant after another.
"Yeah, yeah, she's gorgeous. Focus or I'll tell Cali."
Nothing like a sister to keep a brother on task. Nathan pressed closer to his target, until he was finally within reach of Kristoff's private guard. He reached out with his mind, when suddenly a line of blood bisected the man and his entrails oozed in slow motion to the ground.
"Feels good, doesn't it?"
The question was in his mind, but a terrible laughte
r was pinging in his ears. Though they'd discussed it and he'd prepared for the intrusion, Simon still managed to shock him.
Thank God Petra leaped into the breach through the mental connection she'd fostered.
Nathan gave up that portion of the battle to her, trying not to listen as Petra impersonated him in this bizarre mental relay. Instead, he zeroed in on the man who'd engineered the back door that left them open to this horrific type of intrusion: Dr. Leo Kristoff.
Nathan swallowed the bile that rose in his throat and pressed on.
* * *
Kristoff whipped around, taking his eyes from the battlefield to the feet of the wicked goddess. "Do something. He's nearly on me."
"Calm yourself." Her voice rolled over him, prickling at this skin like liquid needles.
"But you have the maps," he cried. "I've paid my debt. You must save me!"
An odd rasp which might have been a laugh, but felt like a hot wind, blasted his face. Kristoff cringed away from it, grateful no one was close enough to see the desperate fear he could no longer conceal. "I met your bargain," he insisted as the ingrate Nathan bellowed, calling him to the battlefield.
"And you have always served your purposes above mine. Stand against the telepath on your own and earn your reward."
Kristoff fell prostrate at Nin's feet. "Please, my Queen." Nathan's telekinesis dragged at his body and his fingers dug for any purchase in the hard-packed clay until his nails were gone and only tracks of blood led back to Nin's throne.
The noise of battle swelled around him, and Kristoff tried to resist Nathan, tried to regain control of any part of his body. "Simon!" Where was that boy? "Simon!" he shrieked in terror.
Nathan sneered, ready for the fight. "Your pet is distracted, Doctor. Which means I have you all to myself."
Kristoff looked about wildly, searching for any help. Nathan hadn't lied, Simon was busy eviscerating the same soldiers he'd led on recent missions. "What have you done?" he demanded, his scientific mind needing the explanation.
"I've shown Simon a new truth. He was so very adaptable, thank you."
Kristoff felt a sharp pressure behind his ear that circled around his skull. Then, like a vise, that band of pressure tightened, becoming an unbearable pain.
"You'll never forgive yourself," he gritted, fighting the affect. Through squinting eyes he saw Nathan's stony expression. "I created you."
"You know nothing of creation. You only know destruction."
Kristoff felt Nathan advance with his mind rather than his body.
"Reap your harvest."
Kristoff prayed for relief to any deity who might listen, but all turned a deaf ear to him. "You'll lose your lovely girl if you kill me now."
The pain eased a fraction, and Kristoff took advantage. He managed a single breath before the vise tightened again.
"You lie."
"No! The queen is not vulnerable as you believe."
Nathan swore and with only his mind, wrenched Kristoff into the air. He kicked his feet and his hands clawed at the air, but he was helpless against the telekinetic fist gripping his throat.
"You are nothing but a rat."
Probably true. Certainly the queen treated him no better than the rats he used in his lab. "Look inside. Truth." His vision was failing and the battle noises grew distant. Death was close and not unwelcome.
Suddenly Nathan's hold broke.
Kristoff tumbled to the ground. He heard the pop of bones breaking in his arm, but the pain didn't stop him from crawling as fast as possible from the myriad threats.
Nathan ignored Kristoff's retreat in his panic to reach Cali before the queen destroyed her.
"No, Nathan! Stay with Kristoff," Petra shouted, her voice ricocheting around his head.
He closed her out, desperate now to reach Cali. Running back to the bus, he sent his mind ahead, searching for her. His legs felt like lead slogging through a swamp. He couldn't get there fast enough. He knew, well before he reached the bus, that he was too late.
* * *
"Calisto, my dear," the evil queen said, strolling toward her as if they were meeting for a picnic. She was still several yards away, but Cali could hear her perfectly despite the clashing of men and women. She flexed her body to run, but she was paralyzed. "It is such pleasure to make your acquaintance."
Cali barely resisted the urge to spit in Nin's face when the goddess closed in. Only knowing the queen would happily seize any possible part of her body kept her lips sealed.
"The Guardians have ignored me far too long. Surely you and I will come to an agreement."
Cali looked with terror on the ancient evil currently posing as a tall woman with the luminous healthy glow of alabaster skin. While it pained her to admit it, the guardians, mainly her father, had frequently ignored her too.
"Historically woman succeeds where man's ego interferes. This is your historic moment, Calisto."
Cali's first instinct was to reach for Nathan. Her last, fraying thread of logic knew it would be a fatal error. She had a vague comprehension of his power, but she knew with total clarity that Nin could capitalize on it for her own selfish intentions.
The goddess queen advanced and Cali sought the memory of Petra's restful voice during her training and research. 'Let the demon lead you to her downfall.'
A horrible roar doused Cali like a wave of fire racing along her skin. She told herself the smell of burning flesh was an illusion.
"We can both stand, child. Just prove yourself worthy. Look at what I offer you. Want what I offer you."
Whether Cali opened her eyes or if the demonic and deranged queen was forcing the imagery into her head didn't matter. It all looked real enough and felt terrifying enough.
A beautiful landscape stretched out at Cali's feet. It was a blatant opposition of Cali's rather stark childhood home. Green grass, wildflowers, and trees. In the distance a forest and somewhere close she could hear a cheerful waterfall.
A waterfall? She listened, but no sounds of battle or conflict remained.
She inhaled the clean scent of grass and rich earth and considered the offer.
Compromise. Easy. Compromise simply meant two bending enough to become a stronger whole. Compromise. Easy and smart.
Who knew temptation would speak so softly? It was a little thing to sink her feet into the soft, thick grass and create a moment she'd never had as a child growing up in the desert.
The goddess surrounded her, embracing her without any real contact. "This will be your domain. You want what I'm offering." No question just a simple statement.
Of course she wanted. Even without the hypnotic coaching, she wanted this vista all for herself. She wasn't sure she'd ever miss Nathan if she could stay here. Cali tore herself away from thoughts that led to Nathan. Much too dangerous. Here was exactly where she needed to be.
"What shall I do, my queen?"
Battle sounds blotted out the waterfall and the air clogged with the coppery scent of blood. "Dispatch he that has displeased me. Do that which you were trained to do, my little guardian. Guard me against all threats."
Cali bowed her head and layered her hands at her heart. "It is done."
Then she turned, drawing her short sword and charged into the fray in search of Kristoff.
She didn't have to fabricate anger or hide behind a veil of obedience. She'd wanted to skin the bastard scientist since the moment she'd learned he'd caused Petra pain. Adding all he'd done to Nathan, and then her family only compounded her determination to make him suffer. At the moment, the urging of a nasty goddess wasn't necessary.
She spotted Kristoff at the edge of the canyon and picked up her pace, short sword in her right hand, dirk in her left. The ultimate reward was in her sights.
Kill Kristoff and gain the peaceful meadow.
She lunged for the escaping coward, but a man covered in blood deflected her and they spun to the cliff's edge.
Nathan watched the scene unfold with horrified awe. Cali and Simon
circled each other and then clashed, knives meeting, sliding, sparking in the weak pre-dawn light. She dipped and rolled away as he took a swing at her midsection. She kicked his knees out in the process. Too soon, they were both on their feet, circling again.
Nathan closed his eyes against the temptation to interfere. It would be so simple to throw Simon over, but Cali had to make it look good. The plan was working – working too well – and it frightened him more than seeing the woman he loved take on an insane serial killer.
"Why won't he die?" Nathan asked, but there was no one to answer, not in his head or nearby.
"Petra?" He tried to remember when he'd last heard her. "Oh, you better not –"
"Too late." She was a wavering transparency beside him.
"Gideon will kill you."
Her astral self rolled her eyes. "Found the maps." Her astral hands wrapped around his. "Moved." She pulled him by his hands, down to the ground, burying them both up to their elbows in the sandy desert.
Nathan's view rippled along the surface to where Nin's cloak brushed the sand. The goddess had managed to open the box and she'd applied the true maps as a lining to her cloak. When Cali offered her blood as planned to illuminate and trap Nin, the goddess would have the access she craved.
Why hadn't anyone thought of this?
Petra's departure barely registered as Nathan raced toward Gideon's position to adjust their strategy.
* * *
Cali had danced with Simon long enough. The one scratch above her elbow had been hard to come by as he was so intent on laying open her abdomen. Allowing all her suppressed fury to surface – this monster had put Petra through hell – Cali slipped under his guard and pressed her short sword into his gut.
Simon's eyes went wide. Stunned, mortally wounded, he dropped to his knees. She immediately snatched his Keris away, twirling it in front of his face.
"Do you want to finish it or do you want to live?"
