by Mikayla Lane
Once again the vehicle took off at a good pace, alternating between flat surfaces, lift systems and climbing. A little over two hours later the vehicle came to a stop and Tara lifted the flap and looked out before jumping down and holding the flap for them.
Gracus was a little surprised that they were still in a building, although he couldn’t imagine that it was the same one that they had entered. Tara hit the back of the vehicle a few times and it made a U-turn and headed back the way they had come.
Tara grinned. “Sorry about the drive, but we had to get you out through the back and unused areas. It seems the men are escalating an already bad situation so we’re on alert and I didn’t want to take a chance you’d be discovered.”
Rebecca looked at Tara with sympathy. “Should you come with us? When they find us gone, you’ll get in trouble,” she said, worried that the woman would be punished for helping them escape.
Tara laughed. “Yeah, they’re going to be pissed. But, since I have vid of Gibly there, finding the exit, it’ll be easy for me to blame him for being so smart and stealthy,” she said as she kneeled down to the cat. Gibly surprised them by rubbing against her and purring.
Tara sighed and stood. “Ok, here’s the deal. You’re going to end up in the Fairy Caves near Glenwood. You know how to get home from there right?” she asked Rebecca.
Rebecca was stunned and just nodded her head. While Gracus turned to Tara. “I don’t understand the anger or why we are fighting, but I am very grateful that you helped us. It will not be forgotten,” he said honestly.
Tara looked at him fully for the first time. “It’s not that we hate you, we were taught to hate you. But, not all of us agree with it. Unfortunately, it won’t matter because if we are called to fight, we will. Just like your people will. I truly hope I haven’t released you, only for you to die because of the ignorance of our leaders. Now go!” Tara said as she opened the door to a completely dark tunnel.
Gracus didn’t need to be told twice and he grabbed Rebecca’s hand and led them through the door. Rebecca turned and said, “Thank you,” before the door disappeared and became a solid rock wall.
Gracus looked around the darkness and said, “Gibly, can you get us out of here?”
The cat snickered. “Of course, follow me,” he said as he took off at a moderate pace to make sure they could keep up with him.
It wasn’t long before they came to a place that had been roped off with a “Danger” sign. Slipping under the rope, they ended up in the area of the cave that was lit and easily followed it outside.
Rebecca dropped to the ground and gulped in deep breaths of fresh air, while Gracus immediately sent a call to Grai. When only silence remained, he called Scaden and got an immediate response and confirmation of transport pick up, not far from where they were.
He took Rebecca’s hand and kissed the back of it. “My people are coming to get us,” he said as he led her down the trail to the pickup location.
Rebecca was glad that Gracus had taken the initiative. She honestly wasn’t sure what she was supposed to do now that they were free again. She thought about her old life and she couldn’t imagine how she was supposed to go back to it after everything she’d seen and heard. Her life could never be the same again.
Gracus could feel her fear and concern in her energy and he squeezed her hand as he turned to smile at her. “It’s going to be ok,” he said before turning back to the trail.
Rebecca just nodded her head, wondering what the future was going to bring and what if any part she may have in Gracus’s future. He hadn’t said anything about staying together, she thought. Granted, he had said he loved her. But, they were also stuck in the middle of a war.
Rebecca sighed. “Will your people really go to war with them?” she asked, hoping it wasn’t true and wouldn’t get that far.
Gracus looked around the skies for the transport craft as he shook his head. “I don’t know. I don’t know everything that happened while we were gone, but I’m going to find out,” he promised, turning to kiss her.
Rebecca barely heard his words as a strange ship hovered above them. It was too dark for her to make out much of the craft and the bright lights surrounding it, didn’t help much either. She was more than a little startled when Gracus put his arm around her and they lifted through the air, into the belly of the craft.
“Whoa!” Rebecca said with wide eyes as she saw the heavily armed men inside the craft.
Gracus sat her in one of the seats and buckled her in, while he turned to one of the men seated nearby. “Someone help Gibly get secured in a seat and give me status,” Gracus ordered immediately, his tone surprising Rebecca.
He sounded so… commanding, and much stronger than when he spoke to her that she was surprised at this new side of him that she was seeing. She watched as he buckled himself in the seat across from her and next to the man Gracus had spoken to.
“Sir, we’ve set up a mobile command center at the cabin you were staying in. We’re taking you there for debrief,” the man said with a respectful nod.
Gracus nodded his head, becoming seriously worried over the situation, but unwilling to let Rebecca see it. Instead, he turned back to the hybrid warrior. “Who’s commanding the mission?” he asked, assuming it would be Ivint.
When the man blushed a little and looked away, Gracus looked at him darkly and ordered again, “Who’s commanding the mission?”
“Tricia T’Alq,” the man said, shaking his head as if he was still in disbelief.
Gracus’s mouth dropped open. He couldn’t help it. “What the fuck is Ivint doing letting a pregnant mate anywhere near this situation? What the hell is everyone thinking? Is everyone else dead?” Gracus asked, his fear escalating.
The man’s eyes got huge. “No! The problem seems to be that they hate us. Valendrans. The consensus seems to be that if we let the hybrids in there, deal with our hybrids, we can avoid bloodshed and get everyone back safely,” he admitted, with a shake of his head. Leading Gracus and Rebecca to believe there was a lot more to it than he was telling them.
Rebecca heard the pilot call out, “Ready to drop in thirty! Get our new passenger prepared to drop!”
Rebecca looked up as Gracus stood and unhooked her seatbelt, pulling her to her feet. He kissed her briefly before pulling her closely to his side. “I need you to hold on tight. This won’t hurt a bit if you just relax and ride the wind down, ok?” Gracus said as Rebecca looked at him with wide eyes.
Rebecca had no idea what to expect. What the hell did ‘ride the wind’ even mean, she wondered as the floor beneath her feet opened up and she fell out of the craft with Gracus.
Gracus yelled out, “Don’t fight it!”
But, it was too late. Rebecca had immediately panicked and had let go of Gracus, flailing her arms and legs. Gracus tried his best to keep hold of her, but they both ended up in a flat spin towards the ground at ever increasing speeds until Gracus grabbed her and flipped her above him, just before he hit the ground.
Gracus hit the ground so hard the air didn’t rush from his lungs, it felt like it had been violently ejected and he gasped, trying to suck in needed air.
“Damn Gracus! What the hell?” Scaden asked as he ran over to the couple to see if they were alright.
Amun was already checking Rebecca, who was sliding off Gracus’s body and looking around like she was still a little stunned. Gracus was still catching his breath when he took Scaden’s hand and allowed his friend to help pull him to his feet.
Gracus turned to Rebecca to make sure she was alright and she blushed deeply at him. “I’m sorry… I panicked…,” she said, completely embarrassed that so many people had seen their disastrous landing.
Gracus chuckled. “I did worse before, all by myself. Don’t worry about it,” he said as he put his arm around her and led her to the cabin.
He walked inside and was a little stunned at the transformation in the place. The entire living room had been transformed into a command center. The furniture
had all been pushed to the outside perimeter of the large room and there was now a conference table in the center of it, surrounded by chairs. A 3D image of the entire mountain range was displayed on the table.
The large screen TV, hanging above the fireplace was projecting a close up image of the cave entrance they had entered and the small hybrid team posted outside of it.
Rebecca looked around the room in amazement. She was still in shock over the ride in the UFO and this room didn’t do much to help her mind comprehend everything she was seeing. She watched curiously as a heavily pregnant Tricia moved through the people in the room towards her, towing an adorable but tired-looking Tristan behind her.
Rebecca hugged Tricia close for a moment before Tricia pulled away and looked at Rebecca with tears shining in her eyes. “I am so glad you are alright,” Tricia said.
Rebecca looked around. “Where’s Grai?” she asked, wanting to smack the big man for not telling her about this alien and hybrid crap a long time ago.
Tricia shook her head. “They are holding him and his team, hostage inside the cave. Another one of our hybrids, True Demetrios, is also missing inside,” Tricia said, still holding one of Rebecca’s hands.
Rebecca was stunned. “Is this what Tara meant by the men starting a war?” she asked, turning to Gracus.
Tricia sucked in a breath. “They are planning for war? What did you hear? Tell us everything!” Grai’s mate begged, pulling Rebecca and Gracus towards the table.
*****
Grai had no sooner noticed an odd smell in the cave when he and his men began dropping to the floor, passed out. He’d come to, moments ago, and found himself secured to a chair in a dark room. The darkness was so thick, even his enhanced vision could not detect anything around him.
He chuckled to himself and leaned his head back, taking stock of his body to see if he sustained any injuries. He had just finished realizing that he was perfectly fine, other than the restraints, when the door opened. Grai turned his head from the blinding light streaming through the door and looked up as the door closed and a more muted light remained on in the room.
If he wasn’t so pissed off, Grai would have been impressed by the pair of large men standing in front of him. One of which, he had no doubt at all, was Fiorn Erikson. The other man, who was a much younger, but perfect copy of Fiorn, was obviously his son.
Grai studied the two men as they studied him, each one looking for strengths and weaknesses as they assessed one another. Grai chuckled when Fiorn and his son began walking in different directions around him. Not to study him, but to intimidate.
“What do you find so funny, mutant?” Fiorn growled, his fists flexing as he held them behind his back.
Grai looked up into the man’s one blue eye, the other covered by a large black patch. “You think to intimidate me with childish tactics. I have to admit, I expected better than this of you, old man. I’m a little disappointed by the legend,” Grai said honestly.
Both men stopped walking around him and Fiorn moved to stand in front of Grai, leaning down, his face inches from Grai’s. “I couldn’t care less what you think of me, mutant,” Fiorn said with a snarl.
Grai chuckled again. “You can call me childish names all you want, it doesn’t change the fact that my mother was a victim of the Relians, captured from your planet at a time when you were supposed to be the Supreme Guardian of the place. Your failure to protect your people is the reason I exist. But, if you were really interested in the truth about me, I wouldn’t be restrained, now would I?” Grai said, knowing he was right and mocking Fiorn’s inability to protect his mother, so long ago.
Grai could feel the hatred pouring off of Fiorn in waves and he knew it had as much to do with his Valendran blood as it did his Relian. And he really didn’t care. He’d had enough of this pompous ass.
Fiorn laughed bitterly. “As if I would believe the words of a creature that comes from the two greatest lying species there are! Do you really think I give a damn that you are part Valendran?” Fiorn asked, laughing again.
Grai remained silent, knowing a response wasn’t necessary and that the blowhard was getting ready to vent. He was right.
Fiorn snorted. “The Valendrans are not much different. Hell, look around you, fool! I’m here because they left me here! They left all of us here to die because they are cowards! They have no honor!” Fiorn said, his anger turning his face red.
Grai rolled his head back dramatically. “Oh Wah! Wah, wah, wah. Grow the fuck up old man! Shit happens, in case you hadn’t figured that out yet! They made a damn mistake. So you intend to what? Kill them? To get even? Don’t you think your people and mine have better shit to do on this planet than that? Ever hear of a Dark Prime? Play with that bastard for a while and then we can talk about someone with real issues,” Grai said contemptuously.
Grai didn’t feel the least bit sorry for Fiorn. But, he did notice the look that passed between Fiorn and his son when he mentioned the Dark Prime. Obviously, this fool didn’t know everything, Grai thought with a grin.
Fiorn leaned down, face level with Grai, drawing his attention from his thoughts. “Mock me, mutant. Go ahead. I’m not the one in chains, that will die soon,” Fiorn said, his hatred causing him to tremble.
Grai laughed. “All you’ve done is pull my people from important missions, in order to deal with you and an ancient temper tantrum,” Grai said as he turned to look at the son, standing by the door.
Grai ignored the blustering old man and spoke to the son. “You really think this is the way to go? Cause from where I’m sitting, at least I can say I had the balls to walk away from my unreasonable bastard of a father. Hell, I was the one who killed him. Maybe you should think about this before innocent people get hurt over an ancient, emotional boo boo,” Grai said, noting the flare in Fiorn’s son’s eyes as he spoke. Yeah, someone has daddy issues, Grai thought, filing that away for later.
Fiorn’s fist flew out and connected with Grai’s face, jerking his head to the side. “Keep it up, mutant and I’ll vent all that emotional boo boo baggage on your face. Before I kill you!” Fiorn said, his face turning a bright red in his fury.
Grai casually looked around the old man until he could see his son and said, “He’s looking a little rough, maybe you should take him to MedLab? Because, I can’t imagine that any sane man would want to instigate a war among our people! To what end?”
Grai noted that the son looked away from him before Fiorn blocked the man from Grai’s view. “Instigate a war? You want to see an act of war you pathetic, mutant whelp? I’ll show you one,” the large man said, before his equally large fist connected with the side of Grai’s face again.
Grai ignored the blood exploding from his lip as he held his head high, refusing to give this man the satisfaction of breaking him. The man faced him again, his one eye glaring at him with a hatred Grai hadn’t seen since he’d last been ordered to his father’s side.
Grai didn’t flinch as Fiorn leaned down and spat, “You have no idea what we’re capable of and what we’re doing here. And you, are of no consequence. To anyone. Not anymore. And neither is anyone allied with you.”
Grai would have liked to have seen the look on the son’s face when Fiorn had said that. It would have given him a lot more insight into the dynamic going on here. Unfortunately, the large man made sure to stay in front of him. It didn’t matter, though, because Grai realized that the man in charge, Fiorn Erikson, was certifiably insane. He had to be in order to be willing to start a war that would have no winner and many losers. Including, the human race.
Grai decided to try another tactic, hoping something might click with the son since he had no hope of getting through to the father.
“So, we pit my hybrids against your hybrids and what? Make them kill their own? To what end? So, you can say you beat the Valendrans? Why now? You’ve known we were here, why kill them now? Because, we found a cave?” Grai asked.
Fiorn stalked around him again, giving Grai anot
her chance to study the son. “Why now?” Fiorn yelled. “Because, I’m tired of dealing with the interference of you and the Valendrans, in my plans. And because you were dumb enough to knock on my front door and hand yourself over to me.”
Grai chuckled again. “You’re such a fool, old man. Because, if you think the hybrids will just start killing each other, you’re dumber than you look,” Grai said mockingly.
Fiorn punched him in the face again and Grai just grinned as the man spit and raged. “You have no idea what my people are trained to do! You’re the fool! And soon, you will be a dead fool!”
Grai looked up and stared into the blue eyes of Fiorn’s son as he spoke, “The conversion is coming, the humans and our own people are in danger. And the Prime have come, bringing with them a creature more dangerous than my father ever hoped to be. If you don’t stop this, everyone will die, because we are all that stands between the Dark Prime and the human race. That will be your legacy. World killers.”
Grai saw a brief flash in the eyes of Fiorn’s son before a series of powerful blows by Fiorn forced him into unconsciousness.
Epilogue
Rebecca looked around the room in amazement, unable to believe that there were so many others out in the world that were like her. She’d met Jax, who could talk to animals, crafters, psychics, fire starters, healers… her mind swam with it all.
What had surprised her the most was the feeling of family… like she belonged. Everyone she met, had treated her like a long lost friend, greeting her with hugs and welcoming words. And amazingly, they did all of it while preparing for war. Against their own kind, to get their own back. That part, just made no sense to her.
She and Gracus had told Tricia and the others everything that had happened the second they got to the cave. Even how Tara had helped them escape and had told them cryptically how there were others like her, who didn’t agree with what her commanders were doing.
That information had surprised everyone, but really didn’t do anything to change what was going on right now. She had asked, more than once, what she could do to help and Tricia had told her there was nothing she could do. So, she attempted to stay out of the way of all the people who were running around the place.
