Ishtar Anomaly

by Natalie Gibson

  “You misunderstand. I know I have no right to question you. I gave that up when I let Mother push you away. She said it was best for everyone, you included, but I should have kept in touch...but that's another conversation.” He looked embarrassed and dropped his eyes to the floor. “He's not right for you.”

  Exasperated Camilla tried to end the conversation. “We love each other and I think I am the only one who can say who's right for me.”

  “I'm sorry to hear that you love him but he can't love you. Camilla, he's a gay.” Camilla did a spit take, brown coffee spotting the white blanket covering Tommy. Dad continued, “I'm not just being paranoid. When I woke up this morning I came to find Tommy and opened the wrong door. I saw them. They were...naked...in bed...having...making the beast with two backs.” He rubbed his eyes as if he could wipe away the image burned there. “Camilla, there's sin,” he gestured towards her tummy, “and then there's SIN. Even God loves a bastard baby and can forgive it's parents if they confess and repent, but what they were doing...I'm sorry honey, but that's unforgivable. It's an abomination.”

  Camilla laughed at him. He bunched his fists at his sides. He opened his mouth to continue and Camilla interrupted him. Her tone said otherwise but she said, “I appreciate your concern but taking it in the ass is no sin, even if you are a man.” His mouth dropped open at her course language. “There is only one sin, as it were, in this world. You wouldn't understand if I told you so I'll save my breath. I will tell you that Israel, Raphael and I all love each other. We are together in every sense of the word. This,” she rubbed her tummy, “is our baby and the three of us will raise it without the bigotry and ignorance that plagued Tommy's childhood.”

  He saw a movement out of the corner of his eye and spun to find the two men in question standing in the open door. Both looked angry. Didn't a father have more of a right to be angry with the two men conning his daughter than they had? They just blocked the doorway, waiting for something.

  Camilla spoke to them, “My father needs some fresh air. Izzy, can you show him to the balcony?” Once her dad was gone Camilla asked, “Nanae, can you take a look at Tommy and tell me what you think?”

  He approached the bed slowly, cautious that she might be more upset than she let on. No one wants their father to think badly about them or the people they love. “I can make him forget, if you would like.”

  Camilla looked confused for a second before realizing who he was talking about. She shook her head, “No. Daddy just needs some time to think some things through. He needs his memory of what he saw and what I said. He'll come around once he sees us all together more and when he sees how happy, healthy and well loved our baby is.” She tipped her chin to her brother. “What do you think?”

  Nanae looked. The boy was getting better. He would be awake in a matter of hours, probably feeling better than he had in years. “He'll live.”

  “And our son?”

  Nanae was beside her in an instant. His hand was warm and nearly covered her entire distended torso. “Heartbeat and blood pressure are good. He seems very content to stay where he belongs. Your ability caused him no trouble last night.”

  “Good. I was a little worried. I don't think I've felt him move since we landed yesterday.” She put her hand on top of his. It looked like a child's in comparison.

  “He sleeps. This is like a break to him. A night away from the capacitors means he can grow at a steadier more normal rate.”

  Camilla's shoulders dropped a fraction of an inch in relief. “I'm glad you got to rest too. You need a break as much as he does.”

  Nephilim didn't need much sleep but when it was not an option for months at a time, it could get exhausting. He didn't want to say it but this little boy's sickness was just what Nanae needed. He could easily make it through the rest of this pregnancy. “I am rested and fed. Now it is your turn.”

  Chapter 11

  The shower was huge and, with her two men to do all the lathering while she just stood, it was also heavenly. She could still feel Izzy's fingers massaging her scalp while she towel dried her hair. Izzy and Nanae were drying off but still naked when the doorbell rang. Yes, their suite was big enough to merit a doorbell. Camilla had on her plush robe so she volunteered to get the room service. She was the one of the three who'd be eating the food anyway.

  Tommy and Dad's door was closed. Maybe the bell only rang in the master bedroom. Camilla swung open one side of the double door and none other than the devil herself strode in.

  “Wadahellchewdowidmydommy, youbabykiller?”

  It had been seven years since she'd seen her mom and time had not been kind. Maybe it was the vodka that had been unkind. Either way her mother looked like shit. It was only slightly past eight in the morning and she was already drunk. Or still drunk, who knew. Her eyes, crazy from drink and anger, roamed all over, never really focusing on anything. Her hair had not been washed in quite some time and was pulled back into a very greasy ponytail that had more gray than color. Her skin had a yellow look, a sign that her drinking had advanced her expiration date. Camilla gave her mother's liver a month, maybe.

  She hadn't shouted her question and insult, but it was loud enough for Nanae to hear. He came barreling out of the bedroom in nothing but a towel. He had her by her throat before her eyes could even focus. “I want to kill you.” He pressed the mother of his Sinnis against the wall close to where Camilla still stood in the foyer with the door in her hand.

  Camilla closed the door with a shove, never moving her feet. “Beast, how good to see you again. Let me introduce my mother. Hers is the neck your mitts are wrapped around. It won't hurt me if you kill her so if that's your intention, you're wasting your time.”

  “I would drain you now if I didn't think your blood would curdle in my stomach.”

  When she heard his voice again she realized this was not the beast at all, but Nanae who wanted to kill her mother. “Raphe, let her down. She just needs to see that Tommy is alright and then she'll leave. I'm sure she's got a bottle Gordon's down in the car that's just calling her name.”

  Nanae kept her pinned. He wasn't choking her but the way her venomous stare went to Camilla when she mentioned her alcohol issue made him want to. “If you ever speak to Camilla like that again, I will kill you.” He smiled at her, allowing his incisors to lengthen. He let her see the flames in his eyes. It didn't matter if she knew what he was. She was a drunk, a reject of society, and no one would believe a word she said.

  Israel handed Nanae a pair of pants. “And I will help him.” He crossed to Camilla after having locked eyes with her mother. He hugged his baby momma and kissed the top of her head.

  Camilla's mother stared at them for a moment before she took it all in. Her pregnant daughter, hair wet from the shower she obviously shared with these two men so ready to kill for her and a look of disgust crossed her face. Her nose wrinkled up and her top lip lifted in a snarl. She wanted to say something but Nanae's growl stopped her.

  Nanae couldn't help but growl. That pathetic excuse for a human was thinking of insulting his Sinnis again, in his presence, after he'd warned her not to. She couldn't be very smart. He slipped his legs into the pants one at a time, pulling them up under his towel. He didn't bother with underwear. He fastened the five buttons of his fly and tossed the towel on the ground.

  Nanae grabbed her forearm and pulled her to one bedroom door. He opened it to reveal a scene she never thought she'd see again. Her son was jumping on the bed, laughing. Jumping. Laughing. When he saw her, he stopped. He quickly sat on the edge of the bed. Roy Brewster stood up, “Linda...”

  “Shudup. How dare you take mukid atta tha hobistal! Tommy, cummon, I'm takinya back.” Linda Brewster went to grab little Tommy's arm but Roy slapped it away.

  “You are drunk. You're not thinking clearly. Tommy is fine right where he is.”

  “Yeah, Momma, Milla made me all better. She says I don't have to go back to the hospital.” It was the first time Nanae and Izzy had hear
d him speak. Tom's voice sounded small. Scared.

  “She said, huh? Your sister's a...she can't...doesn't...” Linda searched for a response that wouldn't get her killed. “She said! I'm your mother and what I say goes. I say you are going back to the hospital right this minute.” She spun towards the room where her daughter and her two lovers were and threatened them. “I will go to the police and they'll come here and arrest all of you for kidnapping.”

  Camilla, sitting on the couch, had her eyes closed as the lanky brunette male model, brushing out her wet hair, laughed at her. The man spoke with contempt in his voice, “You do that. It'd solve our problems for at least 12 hours. They'd throw you in the drunk tank and impound your car. I can't believe you're so sloshed that you didn't think of that.”

  Still staring at the couple on the couch, Linda backed towards the foyer. Her hand behind her searching for the door knob closed around something much more fleshy. She let go and turned around, making her lose her balance and set the room spinning. Nanae, who had appeared between her and the exit, caught her before she fell. He tossed the inebriated woman over his shoulder. Deaf to her protests he dumped her on the bed in the extra room and closed the door. Her cursing stopped shortly.

  She'd found the mini bar. Mercifully, no one said it aloud.

  “I'm sorry. She called my cell when you all were showering. I had to tell her where Tommy was. She came unhinged when I told her that Camilla was here. I thought she was too drunk to do anything. I thought she'd sleep it off. I didn't think she would actually drive over here.”

  “It's okay, Daddy. You didn't know.”

  “What I didn't know could fill a library. I'm sorry, Camilla. For a lot of things. Israel told me...about your healing ability, your work with the Daughters, your suffering because of what that ability means for you...about Momma...the baby clothes...”

  His father's voice drifted off but Tommy's interest was peaked. Something significant was happening to his family but he didn't understand what. Daddy came and helped Camilla stand. He hugged her. Tommy ran over and joined the family hug. They could hear Linda murmuring beyond the closed door.

  “Let me go get dressed and I'll come in your room to finish up. We'll have you better and headed home in no time.”

  “Can I play the X-Box while you doctor me?”

  Camilla ruffled his hair. “Sure, big guy. Whatever you want.”

  ***

  Tommy slept on the big bed on top of the covers. He'd fallen asleep while Camilla healed not only the disease but the damage the disease left behind. Now that she was finished with him, he was the most perfectly healthy ten year old specimen on earth. She backed out of the room, watching him sleep until the door's edge met the door frame. She pulled it closed while keeping the knob turned so the click wasn't very loud when the seal was made.

  She stepped back and her foot slipped. Large strong arms kept her from falling and she leaned back into the supportive chest. He slipped a heavy blanket over her shoulders. His hands were working on some type of fastening at her belly and a clicking sound made it tight. She looked down.

  The vest now locked to her chest and stomach was unfamiliar but Camilla recognized it. The wires, lights and blocks of soft putty marked it as a bomb. She didn't bother to scream, just turned to see who had outfitted her with such horrific attire.

  There were a half dozen men standing in the common room of their suite. Their casual dress said civilian, but their stance screamed military. Some she recognized from the attack on the compound. All of the men who had stolen Nanae's blood were there. The man standing closest to her, who had strapped her into the bomb vest was the one who had done the actual stealing. He handed her a phone. She put it to her ear. “Hello. I can see and hear everything that happens in that room. I also have the detonator to the lovely vest you're wearing. If at any time, I don't like what I see, all I have to do is push a button. I am safely away and have no quabes about killing. Test me and you and your bastard spawn will be jelly, understand?”

  Camilla nodded.

  “Then you better make sure your Guardian does too. Where is he?”

  Camilla pointed. Right on cue, the bedroom door opened up and Nanae filled the space. He didn't speak. He grabbed the man nearest him (one who had stood guard while his blood was taken), lifted him up and brought him down sharply. A large crack filled the room. Nanae had snapped the man's spine across his knee like a twig. He tossed the man out the window like a used tissue. They could hear him screaming, falling.

  Every gun in the room was pointed at Nanae. Nanae disappeared and then materialized behind another man. He reached out and snaked his arm around the gunman's neck. Guns cocked all around her. Camilla begged, “Don't hurt him.”

  “We won't, sweet Camilla, as long as he does exactly what we say.” They actually thought she was begging them. She was asking Nanae to have mercy. “I'll give you a free pass on the first kill. I'll chalk it up to surprise. It will be the only one.”

  The voice coming from the phone had a familiar accent. The speaker was from Texas, if Camilla had to guess. She spoke to the phone, “I'm sorry. It won't happen again.”

  “No, I know.” Three men split and one headed to each bedroom. That left one each with Camilla and Nanae. She looked up at him and the voice said, “Don't even think about it. They're not going to hurt your family. Christ, we're not monsters. But the blast'll kill everyone on the floor, so if you do something stupid, they will die.”

  Camilla nodded again but she was mad. She watched as the man carefully opened the door she had come from. He looked around, checking the closets and any place a person could hide. He came out quietly closing the door behind him. He spoke into the phone. It was so close to Camilla's face that she could smell his breath when he talked. “Just the kid. He's sleeping.”

  One of the men on either side of Nanae went into his room where Izzy was no doubt. Everyone could hear the shower going. The man disappeared, closing the door behind him. After a few seconds Camilla heard the tale tell 'pffft...pffft' sound of a gun with a silencer. Camilla quietly cursed the man on the phone.

  His reply was only, “I said we wouldn't hurt your family. Israel isn't your family. He's a sexual deviant. Can't leave too many loose ends, you know.”

  The two men that had gone into the room where Camilla's parents were, came out fairly quickly. Linda and Roy were first, hands in the air. As they passed near Nanae, Roy grabbed a large candlestick from a table behind the couch. He swung it at the head of the man holding Nanae. The older man was weak and slow and the young guard easily dodged it. The familiar 'pfft' dropped Camilla's dad on his face. A red spot grew both under him and on his shirt.

  Nanae jumped down and put his face to the wound. When the men moved to stop him the voice said, “No, let him. Let Camilla see what kind of monster she's chosen to side with.” Horrified, she did watch. She tried not to hear the slurping gulping noises but the room was otherwise silent.

  Her mom's voice tore Camilla's eyes away, “Idiot.” Linda plopped down on the couch and picked up the remote. She put it on Fox News and laid the remote beside her. “I told him to just go along and we'd be fine.”

  It was then that Camilla realized that her mom was calling her dad, now dead on the floor being sucked dry, an idiot. “You did this.”

  Her mom didn't answer. She was watching some clown blubber and cry about some lost utopia of America that no longer existed because of liberals and sexual degenerates. The Texan answered for her. “We had this whole cover story ready but once we talked to your mom, she gave us everything we needed. She didn't need the story. She was willing to give you up free of charge.”

  The man who hadn't discharged his weapon but had escorted the older couple from their room went to check on the man who killed Izzy. Tears stung Camilla's cheeks, but she didn't have time for grieving now, for her father nor the father of her unborn.

  Both men came out of Izzy's room. The first was chuckling. He pointed his thumb over his shoulde
r at the man behind him. “Gay guy's dead in the shower and this moron decides to take a piss.” Izzy's murderer shrugged and finished with his buckle.

  Camilla very calmly and quietly promised the man, “You are going to pay for what you did to him, if I have to kill you myself.”

  The man laughed. Camilla's eyes narrowed. The other men laughed at the idea that a grossly pregnant woman could exact any vengeance on them. Nanae straightened, his face covered in blood, and spun on the man who started this infectious laughter.

  Someone threw a giant coat around Camilla's shoulders, she assumed to hide her bomb. They got into formation. They were leaving. Frantically trying to come up with a plan that would keep her remaining family intact, Camilla left her mother sitting on the couch next to her dead father's body while her kid brother slept in the next room. A man on either side of their prisoners and one following behind, Camilla was in front with Nanae right behind her. She did not see Nanae's easy grin.

  Chapter 12

  Camilla held the phone during the ride. The Texan continued to talk to her. He assured her that they didn't care about her, didn't want to hurt her. She was just insurance that her guardian would stay docile. They just wanted his blood. After he gave it to them and they had changed it into a more stable compound, she and he would be free to go. Her guard, the only one sharing her bench in the van, elbowed her. The Texan had asked her something and she wasn't listening. She muttered some affirmation that seemed to please the voice enough that he continued.

  She tugged at the vest and her guard warned her, “Pull the wrong wire loose and it blows anyway. You're safer with it on. We won't kill you as long as it stays put.”