by Karen Kelley
Yeah, well, she might be determined, but she was also scared silly.
You can do this. We can save Kristor. Ria, we’re his only hope.
I know. Just don’t fly into a tree or anything.
Pffft, as if that would ever happen. Just watch and see what I can do!
That was exactly why Ria was afraid. But Shintara was right. Ria was Kristor’s only hope, and she wouldn’t fail him now.
Ria closed her eyes tight. Think animal guide.
She swallowed past the sick feeling at the back of her throat.
Think hawk.
Something was starting to happen. She grit her teeth.
“What is that?” Carly asked.
“Just the fog, dear,” Ria’s mother explained. “Remember, she told everyone there would be a fog.”
Ria heard their words as if from a distance as the burning pain grabbed hold. She groaned, slipping to the floor.
“Think hawk,” she murmured.
“Ria, where are you?” Heath’s voice bounced off the walls.
“I don’t think she can hear you. She’s too busy shifting into a hawk,” Ria’s mother told him. “I’ve always told everyone that our daughter was special. And she is. Certainly better than Vickie Jo’s daughter who is just a pharmacist. Ria’s a shapeshifting alien. Just watch and see.”
The voices faded. Ria stretched her arms and feet out. They drew back as the shift began. Beak, talons, and feathers replaced her human form.
I can feel it, Shintara’s thoughts came to her. Ohmygod, this is what it feels like to be me. I think I might cry.
Did hawks cry? Ria didn’t care as she was engulfed in the transformation. Her breathing became ragged. She heard the cry of a hawk. Fog swirled around her.
The burning eased.
Ria blinked, and looked through the eyes of a hawk, then quickly closed them tight.
I’m alive! Shintara spread her wings.
I’m frightened.
Don’t be scared, Ria. Open your eyes and see through mine. Now we are truly connected.
Ria tentatively opened her eyes as the fog began to lift. For the first time Ria felt the strength of Shintara’s emotions as they flooded her entire being. She finally realized the pain Shintara had felt being unable to shift into her true form.
“Ria?” Carly asked.
“Hello, Shintara.” Ria’s mother knelt in front of them.
The hawk screeched a hello.
“Shintara?” Neil asked.
“Her animal guide. They coexist,” her father explained.
“The voice she talks to,” Heath said. “All these years it was real.” He nudged his cowboy hat higher on his forehead. “I’ll be damned. And the naked man in the woods that day was Kristor. Everything she said was the truth. Aliens do exist.”
Carly moved closer. “You’re part alien.”
We need to leave, Ria.
Ria’s stomach churned. Then let’s do it.
Shintara flapped over to the screen door. Her father opened it. Once out on the porch, Ria had second thoughts.
No turning back. Shintara stretched her wings. The span was impressive, to say the least, and she took off. It was more like a dodge-and-wobble takeoff, though.
I thought you said you could fly!
All hawks can fly, but you have to remember this is my first flight. It will take a little getting used to.
Getting used to! Shintara hadn’t said anything about having to get used to flying. Oh, God, Ria was going to be sick. She looked up as a large object appeared in front of them.
Tree!
I see it. Calm down.
Branches!
I see those, too
Could hawks vomit? Why the hell hadn’t she read up on them? Anyone with half a brain would have googled hawks if that was their animal guide. But noooo, she’d never thought she would have to shift into one.
She could feel the wind on her face. That wasn’t bad. Kind of like when she went running. She glanced down as they flew over the town. Oh, God, she was going to die!
Drama queen. You’re not going to die. And if looking down bothers you, then don’t freaking look down.
You’ve really copped an attitude lately, you know.
And you’ve let something that happened when you were a child consume you with fear. All your life, it’s held you prisoner. Now we’re both free.
She was right.
Of course, I’m right.
You heard my thoughts?
You didn’t block them.
I can do that?
Sometimes, Shintara reluctantly admitted.
Ria would file that away for future reference. She didn’t want Shintara knowing everything she was thinking.
There’s the van, Shintara said. She swooped down closer, flying near the window on the driver’s side.
Truck! Ria’s mind screamed.
Shintara swooped up and out of the way with barely a feather being ruffled. I saw it. Remember, my eyesight is superb.
I’d just as soon not play chicken with oncoming traffic if you don’t mind.
I’m a hawk, not a chicken.
Whatever. But she was glad Shintara had found Kristor. Now she would be able to free the man she loved. Well, as soon as she figured out how she would go about doing it.
Kristor thought about Rianna, wondering if he would ever see her again. She was special. His family would like her—that is, if she decided to make the journey to New Symtaria. A deep throbbing pain ripped through him. He couldn’t imagine life without her.
Adam turned slightly in his seat, glancing back at Kristor. Kristor returned his gaze with stoic indifference. Adam’s eyes narrowed before he faced front again.
The man was taunting him. It was a maneuver meant to intimidate the opponent. Kristor had used it. By the time they arrived at their destination, he was supposed to be ready to tell them whatever they wanted to know. Adam’s ploy wouldn’t work. Not this time.
According to the clock on the dash, they’d been in the van two-and-a-half hours. Kristor shifted on the bench, but no position helped ease his discomfort. Jack looked even less comfortable and had already loosened the tie around his neck and removed his jacket.
They passed a sign that said Dallas was twenty-five miles away. He’d been there when he searched for Rianna. It was big. Much bigger than any town on New Symtaria. Would Rianna or her father be able to find him among so populated a place?
But they turned off the main road a few minutes later. Jack sat straighter.
“This isn’t the way to the office.”
A tingle of worry crept up Kristor’s spine.
Jack tapped on the glass. Adam turned, sliding the partition open.
“Did you make a wrong turn?”
“We’re not going to the office. Like I said, I’ve been in this business a long time, and I’ve seen a lot more than you have.”
“So where are we going?” Jack asked.
“You’ll see.”
Kristor knew he would have a better chance of escaping from a place with fewer people. They’d just made it easier for him. But ten minutes later, he wasn’t quite as sure as they drove up to a small building with glass windows surrounded by a twelve-foot fence.
A guard stepped from the building as they approached. The driver of the van slowed, then stopped, his window sliding silently down.
Adam leaned forward. “Agent Adam Richards,” he said, then handed his identification to the guard.
His words were muffled on the other side of the glass partition, but Kristor could understand what was being said.
“One moment, sir,” the guard told him.
He went inside the building. Kristor watched as the man raised a phone to his ear and spoke. He put down the phone and returned to the van, handing Adam his identification.
“Once inside, turn to the right. The buildings are lettered. You’ll be going to C Building. Someone will meet you there.” He went back inside. The metal arm rose in fron
t of them to let them through.
Kristor looked at the buildings as they drove past: cold, stark-gray buildings. They pulled in front of Building C and parked. Maybe he could make a run for it. Woods surrounded the perimeter. If he could get loose of the metal bindings, he could shift, then escape.
But when the back doors of the van opened, Kristor saw that two guards stood on either side of the doors. Jack grabbed Kristor’s arm, and one of the guards grabbed the other. They didn’t let go after he jumped to the ground. As they walked inside, Jack moved away and the other guard took his place. They didn’t say a word.
“There’s a cafeteria down at the end of the hall,” Adam said as they went inside.
“Where are you taking him?” Jack asked, nervously looking at Kristor.
“It’s classified,” Adam said with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Someday you’ll get to play with the big boys.”
“Ass,” Jack mumbled, but Kristor thought he was probably the only one who heard. He agreed with Jack.
Adam, Kristor, and the two guards turned and walked down the corridor opposite to where the other men were going.
“What do you think you’ll find out about me? I’m nothing special,” Kristor said.
“I don’t think I’ll find something, I know I will. Oh, yeah, I know exactly who and what you are.”
They put him in a small room with a tiny window in the door. Chains were bolted into the back wall.
“Chain him,” Adam said.
“You would treat me like an animal?” Kristor jerked away from the guards.
“But isn’t that what you are—Symtarian?” Adam cast a fierce glance toward the guards. “I said chain him!”
Kristor fought against the men, but he was handcuffed and they were two to his one. Still, he managed to kick one on the shin. He would have felt a lot better if it had been Adam instead of the guard, who was only following orders.
His efforts were futile as two more guards came running at Adam’s command. They managed to chain each wrist and both ankles to the wall. But they didn’t do so without taking some bumps and bruises. At least they didn’t look quite so stiff and stoic, and they were panting.
As soon as Kristor was secure, Adam waved the guards from the room and stepped in front of him.
“You might as well have just let us chain you, alien. What did you get for your effort? Pain?”
“I am a warrior.” He stood tall. “That was not so much pain as it was gratification.”
“I’m glad the thought of pain doesn’t seem to bother you. Over the next few weeks, you’ll have a chance to experience much more than what the guards gave you.”
Kristor would not let Adam see that his words bothered him. He would find a way to escape. They could not hold him.
“Aren’t you even curious to know how I guessed you’re Symtarian?”
People like Adam enjoyed bragging about how much they knew. Kristor understood his kind well. They liked to push weaker men around, or men in chains. But when it came to real fighting, they were the first to run away.
Still, he wanted to know if there were more Symtarians caged. So he asked the question. “How did you know?”
Adam fairly glowed with anticipation. “I knew as soon as I met you that you were alien. The mark on your ass when the towel came loose proved it. You’re Symtarian. All Symtarians have the same rose symbol, different from a tattoo.” He laughed. “It will give you away every time.”
“And how many Symtarians have you found?”
His chest puffed out. “My fair share.” He frowned. “Some of them didn’t know they were Symtarians. I thought that was strange at first. But then I figured that out, too. Your people dumped them here so they could breed with people from Earth.” His lip curled in distaste. “Is that why you’re here? To breed with that slut you were shacked up with?”
Kristor tightened his fists. He wanted to kill this man like he had never wanted to kill another person. But he couldn’t. Not right now. He had to keep Ria safe.
“Get her with child? I think not. I am a prince. She is not worthy to carry my seed. But she did give me some relief, no matter how distasteful it was to relieve myself by using her body.”
“Why, you filthy alien!” Adam doubled his fists and punched Kristor in the gut.
Kristor sucked air, but not enough to let Adam know he’d caused him anything more than mild discomfort. “Don’t hurt yourself,” he told him.
The door suddenly opened and a gray-haired man wearing a white coat stepped inside. “Agent, you’ve been warned about harming the specimens. The last one died too quickly. I think you can leave now.”
Adam smirked. “I want to see him squirm.”
“He won’t be squirming today, so you can leave.”
Adam cast one last glare in Kristor’s direction before leaving the cell.
“I’m Dr. Rigby,” the gray-haired man said. He nodded toward the door. “Agent Richards is an imbecile, but we have found him useful for our needs.”
“What? Torturing people just because they aren’t exactly like you?”
“We don’t torture. We perform tests. If your people should ever attack, we need to know what makes you tick so we can defend ourselves.”
“That will never happen.”
“Attacking us?”
“Being able to defend yourselves.”
The man looked taken aback by his truthfulness. Kristor continued, “We’re far more advanced than Earth people. We’re able to travel between planets. But we’ve learned something that you haven’t.”
The man looked genuinely interested. “What would that be?”
“Destruction breeds destruction. You gain nothing through wars so fierce that they will destroy your planet.”
He sighed. “I wish our time together could be more pleasant. I would like to sit down and talk about your home. Those are not my orders, though.”
“If you harm me, they will find you.”
The man looked surprised that someone who was chained would threaten him. Just as quickly, he recovered his composure. “But they won’t know we have you.”
“Yes, they will. I don’t think I’ve properly introduced myself. I’m Prince Kristor Valkyir, of New Symtaria. My parents rule our planet. I have brothers and sisters. None of them will appreciate people from Earth experimenting on me. So heed my words carefully. They will discover what happened to me and there will be destruction like you have never seen before.”
The man’s eyes grew wide as he stumbled backwards, running into the door. He turned, fumbled with the knob, and rushed out.
Kristor might still be chained, but he was satisfied that he had taken away some of the man’s superiority. He wouldn’t be quite so condescending the next time they met. And they would meet, but next time he wouldn’t be in chains. He looked at the metal that bound his wrist. Metal that he could focus on.
Kid’s play.
It would be dark soon. People would leave for their homes. That’s what people from Earth did. There would only be a few left in the building. And then he would escape.
Chapter 29
Watch the fence! Ria said.
I see it, Shintara told her.
Shintara glided gracefully over the fence. Maybe Ria was a worrywart, but it wasn’t easy overcoming a lifetime of fear in just a few hours.
There’s the van. Shintara landed on a branch in the wooded area at the edge of the compound.
Ria watched as they brought Kristor out of the back. If they hurt one hair on his head, she’d kill them.
Kristor! Ria called.
Do you really think he can hear your thoughts?
So maybe he couldn’t. Which was probably a good thing, but it had felt wonderful to call his name.
But damn, it had hurt to see him in handcuffs. If it was the last thing she did, she would help him escape.
We’ll wait until nightfall, Shintara said. There will be fewer people around.
Ria wasn’t a p
atient person. She was ready to storm inside the building right now. But Shintara was right. Besides, she would have to figure out a way to find clothes. She really doubted anyone would be afraid of a woman streaking through their building.
So what are we going to do until then? Ria asked.
Fly, Shintara said with more than a little exuberance.
Ria had to ask. She closed her eyes as Shintara dipped between the trees and dodged branches. After a while, she realized she could block out everything around her and let Shintara take complete control. Much better. Now she didn’t feel quite so woozy.
Wake up! Shintara screamed.
Ria jerked awake, looking around. Where am I?
For the last couple of hours you’ve been snoozing. You snore, by the way.
I do not.
Whatever.
What time is it?
Late. Around ten. The compound has pretty much shut down. By my estimations, there are only about twenty people inside C Building.
How did you figure that?
There are twenty cars in the parking lot.
Smart ass.
I don’t suppose you found me some clothes.
I’m good, but I’m not that good. Now, are you ready to shift?
As ready as I’ll ever be.
But nothing happened.
Hey, Ria, Shintara said in a serious voice.
What?
Thanks for shifting.
I think I would have anyway.
Yeah, I’d already guessed you would. She cleared her throat. I’ve got your back if you need me.
Warmth swelled inside her. Let’s do this.
Shintara swooped down closer to the building, landing around the corner from the door. Ria began to concentrate on her human form. Nothing happened at first, and there was a moment of panic. She didn’t want to remain a hawk.
Just concentrate, Shintara’s thoughts came to her.
Concentrate. Yes, that’s what she needed to do. She closed her eyes and thought about how it felt to have Kristor hold her close, to feel his hands caressing her.
The burning began in the pit of her stomach. She moaned as her body began to change. The hawk screeched. Their thoughts blended and for a moment, they were one, no separation between them. An incredible feeling of bonding flooded through her.
