by LeAnn Mason
“Oh, God, my eyes!” I recoiled from the intense brightness that suddenly burned through my eyelids as screeching sounds pervaded my ears. I couldn’t be sure if the sound had been the curtains moving along the rod or my vampiric scream of pain. I was able to hide myself, digging further into Holden’s side to escape the torture. He just laughed and waved at Jade as she continued on her morning fluttering.
I’m not sure I’ve seen her quite this perky in the morning. Something is brewing. Has she had her coffee yet? Will it get worse? Holden wrapped his body around mine, his nose to the crook of my neck. A bit of nibbling followed his query, and I had to wriggle away before I embarrassed myself in front of my bestie.
With a huff, I extricated myself from the all-too-comfortable embrace and cracked open my sealed eyelids. “What are you on about, Hell Spawn?”
Jade took the question as permission to pounce, as she literally jumped on the bed, making my body bounce around clumsily. My quick arm snagged a petite ankle just before another round of floundering ensued, and I yanked my bestie toward me by the captured appendage. She fell on her butt with a squeal, and I wrapped both arms around her legs to ensure she couldn’t continue her shenanigans. It was way too early for me. Holden seemed to be taking after me this morning, because he wasn’t in a hurry to move, either.
“We’re going on a field trip today,” Jade finally huffed once her piggish laughter died down.
“Isn’t that what this whole experience is?”
Jade rolled, bringing her knees under her so that she was sitting on them. She just looked at me with too-bright green eyes and flushed cheeks as she bit her lip in excitement. That’s when I finally registered what she was so keyed-up about.
“OMIGOD, really?!” I sat up so fast I nearly collided my forehead with hers where she sat perched toward the foot of the white sheets. Jade nodded like a demented bobblehead, and I couldn’t contain my squeal, which sounded a little too much like the sounds I had just been complaining about. “Oh! I need to get dressed! What do I have to wear?” Jumping from the bed, I began tossing through the dresser past the foot of the bed where the television sat.
What in the world has gotten you on the Jade morning train? It has to be good, Holden mused as he finally threw back the blankets and exited the cozy cocoon of the bed.
A wolf whistle sounded from my side, nearly deafening me as I continued my search.
“Holy poo, Jade. Sheesh. Quit ogling my man, and let’s get ready to go to the zoo!” I was more than thankful that Holden had slept in his sleep shorts last night and Jade wasn’t getting an eyeful of the package I so adored, though she was seeing enough.
“The zoo! Ah!” Jade’s excitement mirrored mine as we worked through exactly what we were most excited to see. Holden shuffled around between us, acting like we were crazy, but I knew better. His mental voice was all kinds of keyed up, and I knew Jade would be skyrocketing off all the happy feelings buzzing around our room at the moment. She was dressed and ready to rock. Makeup had been perfectly applied to highlight her eyes, cheekbones, and lips. Her golden locks even had an artful curl to them. I was going to be lucky to slap on some mascara and lip gloss, and we all knew my hair was getting thrown up in a ponytail. The style was just too easy, too practical to mess with changing.
Holden, being a guy, didn’t need much prep time either, so before I knew it, we were out in the hallway and gathering the rest of the team… and our chaperones. The sad thing was, we actually needed them, as evidenced by last night's events. The way Enhanced handled conflict and how Non-Enhanced would were very different. There was no doubt that we would win, and we’d proved it. That wouldn’t help the ninnies to feel safe about being among us, though, or rather, having us among them.
So much for making a good impression. I didn’t care at the moment, because I was too blitzed out about the prospect of being close to so many of the world’s animals that I’d never been able to set eyes upon in person. I’d think about the hardships coming our way later.
“They’re so majestic,” I whispered, my hand to the glass partition keeping me from being able to actually run my fingers through the short tawny hairs covering the large hide of the lioness currently pressed up against the barrier. I moved my hand back and forth, as if I was actually petting her. She pressed harder into the glass, almost like she could feel it and wanted more.
There’s that awed look that I love. Holden was standing at my side in much the same way, only it seemed that he was looking at me and not the ridiculously large feline.
“How can you be more enamored with me than with what you see here? We’ve seen zebras, wildebeests… giraffes! Now, those guys. Just…wow.”
I will always find you the most impressive specimen I’ve ever seen, Holden continued. He was being the mushy boyfriend, dragging my heart in that much further. I’m sure the smile I gave him was just as mushy as his words.
“Seriously, guys, take a moment from the lovestruck puppy routine. There’s so much majesty to behold in this place. Mind you, there is quite a bit of said majesty depleted by the,” Steve tapped the inches-thick plexiglass separating the lions from our group, “human trappings. Imagine seeing these guys in their element, on the open African Plains. No concrete or plastic shrubbery to be found for miles.”
“Wow, Boat Shoes, I think that’s the most profound thing I’ve ever heard escape your mouth,” Jade remarked.
“It would be a true test of my abilities to see if I could keep one of these truly wild beasts from moving. Then, my prowess couldn’t be protested.”
“Aaaand, he’s back.” Devlin strode up from somewhere behind our group to deliver Steve a sharp smack to the back of his head before taking up a prime spot in the viewing area and silently soaking up his own awe of the purely primal beasts. I imagined that Primals had even more respect for such animals; after all, they had many similarities.
While I knew the tactical team was around somewhere, I appreciated that they didn’t obviously lurk. Though, that could totally backfire on me, seeing as they were staying out of my mental range—most likely on purpose. It begged the question—why? Was it out of courtesy, or was it to keep me in the dark as to their plans, their orders, and their agenda?
Jade wrapped her small hand around mine and dragged me from the lion enclosure. We’d seen about all of the Africa exhibits, and it looked like Steve was marching toward the invertebrates. I couldn’t help the shiver that radiated down my spine. The idea of so many creepy crawlies in one spot was like a nightmare for me. “It would totally be my luck if they all escaped and scuttled all over my body.”
“What was that? I felt all that revulsion, but I didn’t catch the words. I assume it has something to do with the spiders…” Jade crawled her fingers across the base of my neck like little seeking legs, and once again, I shivered. Her laugh was loud and boisterous. The girl was enjoying this little expedition as much as I was. I couldn’t help the smile that took over my face as I scooped her up into a tight hug while we walked, tripping a bit over each other but laughing like loons.
Come on, girls. We should catch up. I see a couple of our guard meandering nearer. We seem to have strayed from the group. Holden wrapped an arm around both Jade and me, me on his left and Jade on his right, making him appear like quite the ladies’ man as he pushed us toward the foreboding building the rest of our team had already disappeared inside.
Luckily, nothing crazy like in the movies happened, and we re-emerged from the building unscathed. None of the scaled or eight-legged creatures broke out of their little glass boxes to kill me. Thank God. I released a deep breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding when we moved back out into the too-bright sunlight and humid air. It seemed warmer at the zoo than it had elsewhere in the city. Maybe that had something to do with all the oversized green foliage lining the brick pathway. I’d never seen plants like I’d seen here. There were some whose leaves looked like elephant ears and others that looked like giant grass skirts with tall
sprouts in the middle that kind of looked like brown cat toys. Bushes with big, bright flowers lined seating areas where wood-slatted benches were situated in case one needed to take a break from all the excitement. We didn’t. We did, however, need lunch. Pronto.
“You guys remember how to get to the restaurant place?” I asked just as my stomach rumbled loudly. I couldn’t keep it a secret when I was hungry, which was often. I felt like I ate as much as the full-blown Primals I knew. It seemed my metabolism was just as needy as theirs. Interesting.
The rest of the afternoon consisted of seeing bears, birds, and all sorts of strange creatures that I never thought I’d see, many of which looked to be weird amalgamations of two or three different animals. I loved everything about it. I was so engrossed in all the “new” that I didn’t get sucked into any of the thoughts floating around all the random heads we lingered amongst. I’d had my headphones secured around my neck and my music player tucked into my jeans pocket, ready to be used if needed, but my own awe seemed to be enough… so far. It helped that no one seemed to mill around us for too long, almost like they could feel the otherness about us and gave us a wide berth.
“What an amazing day!” Trent gushed while practically bouncing on his toes as we filed through the slatted exit gates of the zoo. Honestly, I was surprised the man was still going. He wasn’t in nearly as good of shape as the rest of us, being that he didn’t partake in any training except for the minimum accepted by the commander, and we’d walked a lot. Miles, easily. I was betting on the adrenaline guiding him and that he’d crash soon after we made it back to the hotel. I smiled at the stuffed pink flamingo he’d picked up at the gift shop. It was such a flamboyant thing, fit our techie perfectly, and I once again found myself smiling. I’d done more of that in a day than I’d ever remembered doing before.
“Has your uncle seen a zoo? Did he get to explore at all when he came out?” I remembered what Commander James had said about helping on a case many years prior and hoped he’d also been able to see the beauty of the animals of the world, not to mention the weirdness. I mean, penguins? Sloths? Vultures? I found myself grabbing for my necklace again, something I did often. It reassured me when I felt it hanging there, helped me breathe a little easier.
No, his was strictly a mission trip, though I do believe he was taken for a celebratory drink after all was said and done. That’s when he got his challenge coin. Respect and love colored his tone.
“I think it’s definitely something we need to impress upon him… and I wouldn’t mind seeing the lions again.”
“Hop in the truck, lovebirds.”
We’d made it to the vehicles during our convo and were now surrounded by our very-well-armed ninny bodyguards who were making impatient sweeping arm movements and shifty eyes as they tried to get the stragglers—Holden and me—into the vehicles. Our field trip’s field trip had come to an end.
“Shit,” the driver muttered as we pulled up to the hotel about thirty minutes later. His sentiment was quickly echoed by his partner in the front passenger seat. I couldn’t see what was causing the cursing, but I pulled the cause from their minds just the same as if I had.
“Reporters?” I asked dumbly. “Why would there be reporters here?”
Ignoring my question, Miller—the driver—continued addressing his comrade as if they were alone in the vehicle, despite the growing grumbling among the Enhanced within. “Check the news sites. See what we’re walking into. I have a pretty good idea but want it confirmed, so we know what they do.”
“On it,” was his cohort’s clipped response as he began tapping on a phone that he pulled from his person. I only cared to know what he would find. “Shit.” Well, that thought seemed to be foremost. “Not too surprising, but it appears that at least one person was recording the confrontation last night.”
“Damn it!” Miller thumped the steering wheel as we idled in a parking spot, determining our next move, I assumed, before he finally turned off the engine and picked up his handheld radio from the cupholder in the center console. “Media vultures at the lobby entrance. Did anyone clock the side entrance? Do we have a clean point of entry?”
A high-pitched beep followed by a faint crackle preceded the words from a babysitter who’d followed in a separate vehicle. “Negative. I don’t think we’ll make it in unnoticed unless we try going in smaller groups or send them through a side while we distract at the front.”
“I really hoped we’d make it more than one friggin’ night before the leeches found us out. Though, I guess that would mean that you,” he paused to eye us all in the rear-view mirror, pinning us with accusation of his own, “would have to go more than one night without flexing your abilities.” His words dripped with disdain, making me that much more leery of having this team as our backup.
“Hey, what would you do if some asshole was taking a swing at the back of your head?” Steve shot back. He was right. He’d only been defending himself, and the jackass hadn’t actually been hurt. “You’d have stopped him, right? If not outright retaliated?”
The looks passing over the ninnies’ faces made it perfectly clear that they’d have done what was necessary to stop him. I continued to watch, to listen. I really wasn’t sure I trusted these guys to have our best interests in mind…
“Well, that’s all I did. I kept the rude and inconsiderate NE from hitting me. Didn’t even hurt the guy. Gotta give me points for that.”
With no words, only a heavily-delivered glare, Miller spoke into his walkie-talkie-thingie once again. “Let’s split up. Hopefully, they’ll be able to slip up to their rooms if we go at the front doors outright. We’ll put Matthews and Broderick in center to appear as though they are our charges. Hope the reporters take the bait.” Then, he addressed our group. “We’ll be heading through the small side entrance, but we can’t go through as a loud, massive knot of people. That will draw attention. We want to avoid anyone looking for you guys specifically. Nathalee, Trent, and Steve, you’re with me in the first wave. Holden, Devlin, and Jade, you’re in the second wave with Porter. Eyes up. Be aware. Be casual. Be calm.”
“We still don’t understand the reason we’re hiding,” Devlin put out.
“I’ll explain it later,” Miller drawled with a look of pure condescension. I couldn’t imagine their manner was so bad with other protection details. They clearly didn’t want to be here. At least, Miller didn’t. That rubbed.
We watched as the other team members made their way in as a large group, in a protection formation, basically a circle around a couple of people huddled in the center. They looked like a posse surrounding the downed cowboy, feral in their defense. When the mass of excited people milling around the hotel’s entrance surged enthusiastically toward the oncoming newcomers, our group began its own path toward the hotel, hoping there were no stragglers that would take notice of our smaller, no-nonsense group. I didn’t get any reads, so I figured we were in the clear. Jade’s group would begin their trek just after we cleared the doors.
So far, so good, I thought as we entered the air conditioning without incident. A few moments later, the quiet melody pumping from the ceiling speakers was overpowered by the sharp click of the door opening, not only admitting Jade, Holden, and Devlin but also exclamation and thumping of several feet as they were pursued.
“I think they recognized Dev!” Jade panted as we turned and quickly made our way to the elevator bank down the hall.
“Why are you blaming me?” Dev’s deep baritone returned, affronted.
“They shouted about ‘the big guy from the video,’” Jade taunted with air quotes for emphasis.
The elevator was available without wait, the doors opening with a cheery ding when we pushed the triangle button pointing toward the ceiling. We filed in, Miller and Peters at the fore, acting as a buffer to the horde of people who were quickly descending on our now-trapped group. The doors began to close just as a million flashing lights and recurring calls about who and what we were all jockeyed t
o be heard over all the others, basically resulting in a yelling match that the elevator doors thankfully put an end to.
The collective sigh releasing within the mirror-box confines somehow made the air seem simultaneously lighter and heavier. Everyone was lost to their own thoughts, all of which circled around one basic concept: what would happen now?
The lot of us filed through my hotel room door at a frazzled and hurried state, all except for the protection detail who were much calmer. Annoyed, but calm. The room, which seemed large under normal occupancy now presented a myriad of problems, only one of which was lack of space. Excess body heat and mental rundowns had me itching for escape. I grabbed my necklace, fiddling with the metal. It was warm to the touch from being against my skin. Running my fingers around the EEA emblem’s lines soothed me, as it usually did.
“Turn on the news,” Miller instructed briskly as he moved slowly through the tangle of bodies smashed into the small seating area… and kitchen… and bedroom. We didn’t all fit in here together.
Steve leaned forward from his spot on the couch and scooped up a remote sitting on the coffee table. Practiced and monotone words immediately streamed into the confines of the room, quieting all the whispered chatter we’d been spewing. A well-groomed man, probably in his thirties, stared at us from a spot on the sidewalk of the very hotel we’d just escaped into. His hair was dark and artfully parted to the side, and a nose that seemed a little large for the slender face dominated features that were unremarkable. Words steadily streamed from his mouth without a hitch, without inflection. But the words themselves? Those little ditties were a game-changer.
“Last night, we received word that something remarkable happened, here, at this location just behind me.
Somehow, a man was rendered immobile in the restaurant of the Leo Hotel at just after seven P.M..He claimed that no matter how hard he struggled, he could not move a muscle.
