Whispers From the Past

by L. S. O'Dea

  She lurched forward, but Gaar’s grip tightened, stopping her. She trembled as the Guards continued to kick and hit Hugh. He couldn’t take much more. They were going to kill him. She glanced at Gaar. His face was an angry mask but he remained motionless.

  “Enough,” said Jethro, wiping the blood from his lip

  The Guards pulled Hugh to his feet.

  “Seems like I’ve hit a nerve,” said Jethro.

  The Guards’ laughter was a bit strained as they watched the two Almightys.

  Jethro walked over to Hugh until they were chest to chest. “I’ll give you one last chance to tell me where she is.”

  She unsheathed her knife. If anyone touched Hugh again they’d deal with her.

  Gaar grabbed her arm, sliding the knife back into the sheath and shaking his head.

  “I don’t know,” said Hugh.

  Jethro turned and spun around, punching Hugh in the gut. The blow was fast and hard almost bringing Hugh to his knees.

  “I’ll kill him.” Trinity started forward, but Gaar grabbed her arm again.

  “Watch. Wait.” Gaar turned her face toward him. “If we need to, we’ll help but only on my lead. Understand? This many trained Guards won’t be easy to kill.”

  “We can—”

  “Yes, we can take them, but there are others here and they’ll join in.” His eyes bore into hers. “Jackson, who’s injured. Hugh.”

  Cold fear swept through her. Hugh was so close. It’d be easy for them to kill him. She nodded. She’d wait. She’d obey.

  Jethro punched Hugh again. She glanced at Gaar but he remained as still as the trees.

  “Jethro, stop.” Kim started across the camp.

  A Guard grabbed her arms.

  “Get your hands off her,” yelled Jackson, struggling again with his captors.

  “I think you’re lying.” Jethro tipped his head, studying Hugh. “And I think I can make you talk. A good beating loosens the tongue.”

  “Don’t do this,” pleaded Kim. “You promised not to hurt him.”

  “I promised not to kill him.”

  “This is going to kill Mom and I’ll—”

  “My flogging didn’t kill her, so I’m sure she’ll get past his. Although, it may make holiday dinners a bit awkward.” Jethro started removing his belt. “Unfortunately, I don’t have a cat-o-nine, but we’ll make do.” He waved his belt. “Hold him up.”

  Two Guards each grabbed one of Hugh’s arms, stepping apart. He struggled, throwing his body around but it was useless.

  “Keep him still.” Jethro snapped the belt.

  Three Guards moved over to help. One grabbed his shoulders and the other two help to hold his arms.

  “I was given twenty lashes with the cat-o-nine, but I only have this.” Jethro snapped the belt again. “So to be fair, I guess I’ll have to give you one hundred and eighty lashes.”

  Hugh would never survive one hundred and eighty lashes. Trinity didn’t pause to think which must’ve caught Gaar off guard because before she knew it and before Gaar could stop her she was in the camp. “Leave him alone.”

  Everyone turned toward her. Several Guards moved forward, surrounding her.

  “Damnit, Trinity,” yelled Hugh.

  “Little One,” whispered Jethro, then in a louder voice he said, “So, glad you decided to join us.”

  Her heart raced frantically as she let the Guards escort her to Jethro. He was furious with her. She could smell the hate wafting off him, but she was furious with him too. All she needed was a moment alone and she’d attack. She could take any Almighty, male or female.

  “Mine at last.” Jethro’s hand trembled slightly as he ran the back of his fingers down her cheek.

  She shifted her head away from his touch. It was unbearable that she’d once had feelings for this monster.

  “Leave her alone.” Hugh broke free from the Guards and ran toward them. He’d only made it a few steps before two Guards tackled him, slamming him into the ground.

  “Hugh!” Trinity started for him.

  Jethro grabbed her around the waist, lifting her in the air. She kicked, hitting his leg but he only grunted as he put her down and shoved her toward Indy. “Watch her.”

  “Let her go. Take me.” Hugh looked up from under the Guards. “I can end this war. You win. Take me.”

  Jethro turned, staring down at Hugh. “Don’t offer me what’s already mine. I can take you both.” His eyes met Kim’s. “But I won’t. I’m done with this war. Mom might lose the house, but I...I’m done.” He nodded to the Guard who held his sister. “Let her go.”

  Kim hurried over to him. “We won’t lose the house. Davies gave us the deed. You don’t have to do any of this.” She touched his cheek.

  He rested his head on her hand for a moment before turning and walking back to Trinity. He stopped in front of her and their eyes met. For a second, his were sad and he reminded her once again of the boy he used to be—kind and lonely—but then the anger returned and he looked over his shoulder at Hugh. “She’s mine. She was raised in my camps and she belongs to me.”

  “I don’t belong to you,” she said. “I’m not property.”

  “Ah, but by our laws you are.” Jethro stroked her cheek again. “And I can do whatever I want with you.”

  “I’ll kill you.” Hugh bucked and thrashed but there was nothing he could do against two Guards.

  A Guard screamed and Mirra sauntered into the yard, holding the Guard in the air by his neck, his legs twitching. “Let Little One go.”

  “Mirra.” Jethro pulled Trinity away from Indy and to his side. “You, I have no problem capturing and turning over to the authorities for the bounty.”

  Mirra bared her teeth and with a flip of the wrist broke the Guard’s neck and dropped him at her feet. “Bah, you no catch Mirra.” Her eyes gleamed as she surveyed the area. “Mirra kill you all.”

  Jethro smiled, shoving Trinity at Indy again. “Tie her up and make sure she doesn’t escape.” He waved his hands and at least twenty more Guards moved out of the bushes.

  “Sorry about this.” Indy yanked her arms behind her back and started wrapping a rope around her hands.

  Not again. She threw herself backward, her claws sinking into the flesh near his groin.

  He pushed her away. “Holy Araldo, you almost neutered me!”

  “You say that like I should care.” She raced to Mirra.

  “You safe. Now, we kill.” Mirra patted her head.

  Indy grabbed Jethro’s arm with one hand, his other still covering his private parts. “We should get out of here.”

  “We can take the Tracker.” Jethro’s knife was out and he was moving toward Mirra.

  “Yeah, but it’ll cost us.” Indy unsheathed his knife, staying by Jethro’s back.

  “I’m feeling pretty good today. I think we’ll do okay.” Jethro eyes never left the Tracker.

  Mirra stood her ground, flexing her claws. “Stupid prey seek death. Mirra help him find.”

  Gaar stepped into the camp. “How do you think you’ll do if you add a Handler to the mix?” He moved over by Mirra and Trinity.

  Indy’s jaw dropped and he tugged on Jethro’s shirt. “We need to reconsider...”

  “We’ll be fine.” Jethro moved forward.

  “Don’t do this.” As much as she hated him, she didn’t want to witness this. Gaar and Mirra would tear him apart but they might get hurt too. There were a lot of Guards.

  Nirankan prowled into the camp from the same side that Mirra had. Jethro stopped, snarled and then motioned for his Guards to gather behind him.

  “You think you get to walk away from this?” Hugh scrambled to his feet and rushed toward Jethro.

  “Yes, but I’d love to gut you first. Mom wouldn’t expect me not to defend myself.” Jethro’s knife glinted in the sunlight.

  “I think you’re a little too cocky.” Hugh slowed down, watching for an opening. “By my accounts the tide has just shifted.”

  Tatani
a moved into the camp from the forest followed by another female Handler.

  “Then you need to count again,” said Jethro. “I still have your troops in my prison and all the Producers in my camps.”

  “But you’re here.” Hugh motioned and as Jackson finished untying the few Guards, Servants and Producers they began to circle around Jethro’s troops.

  “Yes, but I left Guards behind with strict orders.” His eyes met Trinity’s. “They’re to kill one Producer every day I’m gone. It’s already taken me three days to get here. I’m sure my Guards have been eating well.”

  Trinity’s knife trembled in her hand. She wanted to make him feel what it was like to fear.

  “Go then.” Hugh moved over to Trinity and grabbed her arm. “But this isn’t over.”

  “No, it isn’t.” Jethro and his Guards backed away.

  “We’ll make sure they leave the area,” said Gaar as he and the other Handlers and Trackers followed Jethro and his team.

  Trinity took a step toward Gaar, but Hugh kept ahold of her.

  “Let go of me.” She’d use her claws if he didn’t let her leave.

  “You’re not going anywhere.”

  “I’m going to kill him.”

  He grabbed her by the shoulders. “Think for once in your life. That’s exactly what he wants.” He shook her, hard. “You!”

  “I don’t care.” She shoved him, her claws poking his chest, before she stumbled backward. “I can take care of myself.”

  “No. You can’t. Not always.” He reached for her but Jackson grabbed his arm, pulling him back several paces.

  “Don’t go.” Kim stepped in front of Trinity. “I know you can take care of yourself, but please...stay.”

  “I can’t.” She had to kill Jethro. He’d never leave her alone and that put everyone she loved in danger.

  She shoved past Kim but Travis strode up to her, wrapping his arms around her and holding her in place.

  “Hugh’s right. If you follow, Jethro will catch you,” said Travis. “You won’t be lucky enough to escape him again.”

  “Pack up.” Hugh jerked free from Jackson and stormed toward his tent. “We need to leave as soon as Gaar returns.”

  “Let me go.” Her body shook with rage as she struggled in Travis’ grasp.

  “Not until you calm down.”

  “Please,” she whispered as a tear ran down her cheek.

  “Travis.” Kim touched his arm. “It’s okay. Trinity isn’t going to go anywhere, are you?”

  Trinity shook her head. She didn’t want to cry. She was afraid she’d never stop.

  “Promise,” said Travis.

  “I promise.”

  He put her down and she hurried to her tent. Travis followed and stood outside her door. She dropped on the cot. Great, now she had her own personal guard to make sure she didn’t do anything foolish. She sat up. She could escape from Travis, but then what? She was still mad but she didn’t think she’d actually be able to kill Jethro and that meant he’d have the advantage. They were right. She was better off staying here.

  CHAPTER 38: JETHRO

  JETHRO SAT ON the couch in his living room, staring at the wall. Indy was in the kitchen cooking something but he wasn’t hungry. He’d taken his shot several days ago and was still tired, but to be fair, it may have more to do with his failure than the serum. He’d lost her. She was Hugh’s now. He grabbed another beer from the six-pack near his side. This was his fifth one, but it wasn’t dulling the pain.

  Indy walked into the room and handed him a plate of spaghetti.

  “Thanks.” He put it on the coffee table.

  “You need to eat.” Indy dropped on the chair next to the couch.

  “Not hungry.” He downed half of the beer. “But I am very, very thirsty.”

  “I’ve never seen you give up before.”

  “I haven’t given up. I’m thinking.”

  “More like wallowing,” mumbled Indy around a mouthful of pasta.

  “Screw you.” He finished the beer and opened another one. “I need you to go to the store and get more beer.”

  “Sure, but you’re coming with me.” Indy continued to eat.

  “Don’t want to.”

  “Too bad.”

  “I’m the master, not you.”

  “If you don’t pull yourself out of this lovesick funk you’ll only be the masturbator.” Indy laughed.

  “At least, I can still do that.” He took a gulp of his beer. “She almost took that option away from you.”

  Indy stuffed more food in his mouth, nodding. “I knew she had spunk when she drugged you to escape, but that was a low blow.”

  “Good thing it wasn’t an inch or so lower.”

  “You don’t need to tell me.” Indy finished his spaghetti and traded his plate for Jethro’s.

  Jethro frowned.

  “You can have it.” Indy held the plate out for him. “Unless you’re too heartbroken to eat.”

  “I’m not heartbroken.” He shoved Indy’s hand away. The Guard was just trying to annoy him enough to eat but he was working on a buzz and didn’t want food to get in the way. He wanted to drink until he passed out without one thought in his head.

  “Right.” Indy started eating again.

  “I’m not. I’m in lust.” He stood, stretching. “There’s a difference.”

  “Not for a male there isn’t.”

  He stared out the window at the brick buildings surrounding his house. They were all either dull gray or brown, fitting colors for the Warehouse District. “There is for me.” He’d loved Trinity years ago, but that was gone, replaced with death and betrayal.

  “What?” Indy snorted, half-choking on the pasta. “Are you saying you’re in love with what’s her name?”

  “Who?” He glanced at the Guard.

  “That Almighty girl.” Indy licked the plate.

  “Jason’s granddaughter?”

  “Yeah, her.” Indy picked up the other plate and carried them both into the kitchen.

  He laughed. “Hardly, but she is payment for the house.”

  “And for Tee,” Indy said quietly as he reentered the living room.

  He nodded and looked back out the window. His life was bleak. Before long, he’d be married to Stella.

  They’d met a few weeks ago at a small dinner at Jason’s house which he’d been forced to attend. It’d been a very unpleasant evening. Jason’s wife had made it clear she wasn’t happy with her husband’s choice for their granddaughter. Jason had reassured him she’d come around. He kept praying she didn’t. He had no interest in Stella. She was attractive in a blonde, bland sort of way. Her skin was smooth and white, like a statue’s, and her hair was long, straight and a light blonde. She had no spunk, no passion. She was only there to obey and reiterate his opinion. He’d wanted a marriage like his parents. No matter what had happened to his mom when she’d been young, she’d loved his father and his dad had loved her.

  Instead, he had a choice of being bored out of his mind or finding passion in another female’s bed. Neither was appealing but he knew himself too well to believe he’d remain faithful to Stella. If he could capture Trinity, he wouldn’t be bored. He’d be faithful to her, except when he had sex with Stella. He did want kids someday and no matter what Hugh claimed, it wasn’t possible. Conguise had shown him the reports and DNA didn’t lie.

  “Come on.” Indy handed him the last beer.

  He opened the bottle and followed the Guard outside to the carriage. Indy was stubborn enough to refuse to go to the store if he didn’t tag along. He stared out the window as they headed down the street. Stella wouldn’t like living here. Jason would probably give them another house in a more affluent neighborhood and he wouldn’t like living there. It’d be too crowded with too many Almightys surrounding him. Too bad he couldn’t live in the woods with only a few Guards for company and Trinity. He’d definitely need her. No matter how mad he’d been, as soon as he’d seen her his anger had fled. She’d
only drugged him because she hadn’t trusted him and he couldn’t blame her for that. He’d treated her badly the last few years. He’d wanted to apologize, to tell her he understood but the look on her face when his Guards had tackled Hugh had sent the anger and jealousy racing through him again. She loved Hugh. He couldn’t fight that. He could kidnap her and persuade her body to want him, but her heart belonged to Hugh. He sighed and Indy punched him in the shoulder.

  “Ouch. What was that for?” The Guard’s disgusted look spoke volumes. “Never mind. Don’t say it.”

  “Listen, I like working for you. You’re a good master, but I’d rather go back to Cal than stay with you when you’re like this.” Indy gently slapped Jethro’s cheek. “Have some pride man. Either let the female go or win her back. Don’t just mope about.”

  Indy had a point, but the Guard was cocky enough as it was, so he wasn’t going to admit it. He looked back out the window. The carriage had stopped but they weren’t at the store. They were near the end of a road in a nice, middle class subdivision. “Where are we?”

  “Watch that place over there.” Indy pointed to the last house on the street.

  It was an average home—average size, average color and average lawn. “Why? Are you trying to bore me to death?” He finished his beer. “Couldn’t we have stopped at the liquor store first?”

  “I need you focused, not drunk.”

  “I can focus better when I’m not thirsty. Let’s get more beer and come back.”

  “Later.”

  He sighed but this time he dodged Indy’s hand. “That was because I have no beer. Not because of her.”

  “That’s almost as bad,” said Indy.

  They sat in the carriage, watching that place for hours. He’d tried to get more information from Indy but the Guard had been closed mouthed about who lived there. He leaned forward as the door to the house opened and a large Guard stepped outside.

  “That’s the Guard from the bar,” he said. “The one who helped Hugh.”

  “Bruno. I figured since we had some time, maybe we should find out why he was meeting with Truent the other night.”