“You do?” Megara asked, leaning forward.
“Yes”
“Why don’t you use it?”
“I don’t want to.”
Allen glanced at her, “Why not?”
“Is it so hard to believe that I wish I was as human as Mom?” Alexis asked.
“Yes, it is.”
“Well it’s true. I don’t use speed, or strength, or even nose around with my hearing, in an attempt at some humanity.”
“I’m the opposite,” Allen said. “I’d turn full heku if I thought it’d work.”
“Me too,” Megara said. “Humans are weak and pathetic.”
Alexis smiled, “I want to be like Mom. I want to be more human than anything, with just a hint of heku.”
“That’s just because you want babies.”
“Not just that.”
“It may not matter how much strength you have,” Allen told her. “I’m not sure the two of us can restrain him. He’s too much like Dad.”
“Still… two of us have to have a better chance than one.”
“I just wish I could ash,” Megara said again, starting to pout.
“I haven’t decided where you are in the vast world between Mom and Dad,” Alexis told her. “I’d imagine one of these days you’ll come into your own and find out.”
“The only thing we have on our side is discipline and training,” Allen said, interrupting what was sure to be an argument.
“He has brute force,” Megara said.
“I know, but he doesn’t know how to use it.”
“Yeah he does… you just have to hit harder than your opponent.”
“You make it sound like we don’t have a chance.”
“You don’t.”
***
“What do you mean they left you with the baby and disappeared?” Chevalier asked, looking at Miri.
She stood before the Council with Asher in her arms, “They said they just needed to talk. The next thing I know the island is on alert because ashes are found in the prison, and a prisoner is missing.”
“Which prisoner?” Kyle asked.
“Niccolo”
“That’s odd.”
“Not really,” Miri said. “Allen and Niccolo are friends. It was Allen that convinced Niccolo to try out for the Cavalry.”
“Who broke him out of prison?” the Chief Investigator asked her.
“Alexis and Megara did.”
Chevalier sighed and sat back, “I don’t understand what’s going through their heads.”
“They are going after Dain. Plain and simple,” Miri said. “I got into an argument with Allen over Dain last night. Garrett said he and Alexis were fighting over the same thing.”
“They wouldn’t take Megara though.”
“I suspect that she knows where Dain is.”
“We have no idea?” Zohn asked.
Miri shook her head, “No, none. So after the alert I went looking for Allen and heard about what Alexis and Megara did. I had a sneaking suspicion, so I went to find the yacht, and it’s missing too.”
“Emily’s airplane isn’t in the hangar,” Kyle told them. “Air Traffic Control said it headed south almost 24 hours ago.”
“What after that?”
“They went to radio silence. They were last seen flying into Mexico, where the U.S. radio control lost their signal.”
“They could be anywhere,” Chevalier said, starting to get angry.
“Get with Garrett,” Zohn said to Mark, who was standing behind Miri. “See if he’s heard from Alex.”
“He hasn’t,” Mark answered. “He hasn’t heard from her in almost three days.”
“The information that the plane was heading south doesn’t mean a lot,” Quinn said. “However, why take Niccolo?”
“He’s a pilot,” Miri told him. “He’s also Allen’s best friend.”
“Even after what he did?”
“Yes. Allen claims that Niccolo was trapped between lying to the Council and protecting Lady Emily.”
“How so?”
“I don’t really know. That’s just what I’ve heard.”
“Stay in Council City,” Chevalier told her. She nodded and then disappeared with Asher, “Mark… get with Garrett again. Go over every house he owns, anywhere Alexis might have mentioned going, anything.
“Yes, Elder,” Mark said, and then blurred away.
“Those four cannot take on Dain,” Kyle said, looking over at Chevalier.
“I’m not sure there are four involved.”
“Niccolo though.”
“Alexis kept saying she wanted the family to take care of Dain. If I had to guess… Niccolo was just the pilot.”
“He wouldn’t allow them to go out alone though would he?”
“If that’s what Allen wants, then yes.”
***
It was dark when Alexis and Megara left the road and started across the dense Amazon. They’d been traveling for over an hour to get near Dain, and now it was time to head out on foot. Allen was a safe distance behind them and after hours in the car, Megara and Alexis didn’t have to fake arguing.
“It’s a waste,” Megara said, pushing aside some leaves.
“I’m not discussing this with you! Choosing not to use my heku abilities isn’t something I’m putting up for a vote.”
“I don’t see why you have some and don’t use them.”
“I don’t want to.”
“Being a mortal would be boring.”
“No it wouldn’t. Aside from the blood, I live as a mortal,” Alexis reminded her.
“Well I’d give anything to have heku strength.”
“You may.”
“I doubt it.”
“You’re closest to Allen in abilities, and he’s way stronger than any mortals.”
Megara rolled her eyes, “But way weaker than heku.”
“He holds his own.”
“What are you going to do about Garrett?”
Alexis and Megara froze when they heard a sound off to their left. They both watched the trees, but the noise stopped.
“What was that?” Megara whispered.
“Could be anything.”
“Dain?” Megara whispered.
When no one answered, they started walking again, this time more quiet. It wasn’t until a monk saki screamed in the night that any noise was heard.
“What the hell?!” Megara screamed, and tried to run.
Alexis held her arm, “Stop… it’s just a monkey.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes”
Megara stopped pulling against Alexis and looked around the dark, “I don’t see one.”
“Look up,” Alexis said, and then started to walk.
Megara looked high into the trees and saw the form of a large, black monkey, who was looking down at her. The young girl ran to catch up with her sister.
Alexis was laughing, “Pretty brave for a heku.”
“I wasn’t scared.”
“Yes you were.”
“I was not! I’m not scared of a monkey.”
“Wimp”
“Stop it, Alex.”
“No! Not until you admit you’re more human than heku.”
“Don’t insult me.”
“It’s not an insult. It’s the truth.”
“Who screamed?” Dain asked, appearing behind them.
They both spun to see him crouched in the trees.
“Dain!” Megara yelled, and ran into his arms.
“The brave little heku was afraid of a monkey,” Alexis said, watching him.
“Leave her alone, Alex,” Dain said, irritated. He watched Alexis carefully but never met her eye.
“No! You have no idea what a pain in the ass she is.”
“Stop”
Alexis rolled her eyes, “It’s not my fault that she’s not a full heku, and I don’t want to hear her bitch about it anymore.”
“Don’t turn on her. Us kids are all she has for a family
.”
“She has Mom and Dad.”
“Mom, sometimes. She’s never had Dad.”
“I don’t want to turn this into a Dain vs. Dad argument,” Alexis said. “Why did you call me out here to this God-forsaken jungle?”
“To knock some sense into you,” Dain said, pushing Megara off to the side.
“Do what?” Alexis asked, stepping back.
“Not literally! Stop acting like I’m going to attack you.”
“You already did.”
“That just got out of hand.”
“You killed Mom.”
“She came back.”
“Still…”
“Lay off of her, Alex.”
“She hates the heku,” Megara said, pointing to Alex. “She hides her abilities and pretends to be human.”
“I know that. She’s too influenced by society and neglects her instincts,” Dain said. “However, I’ve decided how to alleviate this from happening to Megara.”
“How’s that?” Megara asked. Everyone knew how badly she wanted to be a full heku.
“I’ll turn you.”
“You will?!”
“Dain, no,” Alexis said sternly. “There’s just so many things wrong with that.”
“I did some research, and there’s never been a child turned. I bet after turning she would still grow up.”
“No!”
Dain shrugged, “It’s not up to you, Alex.”
Megara looked at him, “You think you can turn me alone?”
“I bet I can. You’re tiny, and I’m stronger than most heku.”
“You don’t even know how,” Alexis said. “You’ll end up killing her.”
“Oh, I know how. It’s all hokey ancient crap that they go through for the ceremony, but it’s not needed. It’s just tradition. I’m banking I can bypass all of that and turn her myself.”
“You’ll kill her.”
“I drain her to the brink of death, and then she drinks from me,” Dain said. “How hard can that be?”
“That’s what they do on television!” Alexis said, starting to panic. “Heku aren’t T.V. vampires.”
“The ceremony isn’t necessary.”
“You think!”
“I’m smarter than to fall for the traditions. It’s unnecessary, and if Megara wants to be a full heku, I’m not going to make her stay mortal any longer.”
“We don’t know if she’s even mortal.”
Dain turned to Megara, “Do you want to be a heku?”
She looked nervously at Alexis, “I don’t know.”
“Don’t pay attention to her. She’s not a true heku at heart and doesn’t know the pain you’re going through being forced to stay human,” Dain told her.
“What if I die?”
“You have to trust me.”
“I don’t know,” Megara said again.
Dain produced a long stick from behind a tree, “I’ve been thinking this over, and I’m going to turn you into a heku.”
Her eyes grew wide, “I said I’m not sure!”
“You are though. How can you possibly want to stay as mortal as you are?”
“Dain, no,” Alexis said again, placing herself between him and Megara. “I’m not going to let you do this.”
“You can’t stop me, unless I look in your eye.”
“I’ll try.”
“I’m not dumb enough to do that,” Dain said, and then held his hand out. “Come here, Megara. Trust me.”
“I don’t want to,” Megara told him, taking Alexis’ hand.
“You trust her over me? How can you trust her? She follows Dad.”
“I don’t want turned right now.”
Alexis spun when Dain disappeared, and she turned just as he appeared behind Megara and grabbed her. He lifted her up so his teeth were at her neck, and she screamed.
Out of the trees, Allen blurred past Alexis and slammed into Dain, knocking Megara free. She ran toward her sister and watched as the fight started. Alexis didn’t wait to see who would win. She ran forward and tried to grab onto Dain also. She knew Allen couldn’t stop him for long, and now Megara’s life was at stake.
With Alexis’ help, Allen was able to trap Dain’s hands behind his back long enough for Alexis to try to force him to look at her. As her hands took his head, he lashed out and bit her on the neck, tearing off a chunk of her flesh.
Spinning on Allen, Dain wrenched his arm behind his back, and he roared as the bones crushed beneath Dain’s fingers.
Dain pushed Allen to the floor of the forest and spun on Alexis, keeping his eyes away from hers, “That was stupid, Alex! Why did you bring Allen? Are you seriously going to try to take me down? I’m a full heku!”
“We have to, Dain. You have to be stopped.” She was grasping her neck tightly to wait out the bleeding.
“Not by the likes of you two! You’re freaks… not human, not heku, and I used to feel sorry for you, and now I just might put you out of your misery.”
“Don’t touch them,” Megara said, stepping toward him. “I won’t let you.”
“You’re too young to know what you’re ta…” Dain’s words were cut off when Allen lunged at him from behind and tried to twist his head to the side.
Alexis jumped at Dain when they tumbled to the moss-covered ground. She landed on his chest and tried to help Allen, but Dain threw her aside, and she slammed into a tall tree.
Megara ran at her as she slumped to the ground, and the small girl turned just as Dain and Allen blurred into a fight that she couldn’t seem to see clearly. Blood saturated the ground beneath them, and when Alexis was able to stand, she stumbled back into the fight.
Using Dain’s own strength against him, Allen nimbly dodged Dain’s next attack and swung him to the ground, pinning him with his arm behind his back, his wrist wrenched painfully to the side. Dain bellowed angrily and finally got the leverage to throw Allen off of his back. He dove at his older brother, and their fight blurred into fast movements.
Digging in her back pocket, Megara produced a small vial that was corked shut and filled with scarlet liquid. She looked up as Dain roared and Allen fell, unmoving. He was covered in bites and blood, with long gashes along his entire body.
“Dain?” Megara said, pulling out the stopper.
The second the scent hit the heku he froze and turned to her with predatory eyes. The mere hint of Emily’s pregnancy scent wiped all reason from his mind, and his instincts took over instantly.
“No, Megara!” Alexis yelled, seeing what the girl had.
Megara put the stopper back in the vial and tossed it to Alexis when Dain lunged at her. He pinned her to the ground and instantly plunged his teeth into her tiny neck as Alexis pulled the stopper.
“Come get me, Dain,” she hissed as he let go of the girl and turned toward his sister. It was apparent that he was no longer thinking rationally, and it took only one small glance at Alexis for her to get a lock on him and send him to ash beside Megara.
Megara was crying as she grasped her bleeding neck in her hand and crawled over to Allen, “Allen?”
He didn’t move when she took his hand and looked back at Alexis. She was slowly sliding the ground, leaned up against a tree. She was covered in blood, and her arm hung limply at her side.
“Are you ok?” Megara asked her through sobs.
Alexis shook her head, “You need… to get… back to the plane.”
“I’m not leaving you here!”
“Listen to me… Niccolo is there…”
“No, Alex! I’m not leaving you.”
“Megara, I can’t heal fast enough, and I’m losing too much blood,” Alexis whispered. “I don’t know if Allen’s alive. You have to get back and take Dain’s ashes to Dad.”
“Allen, wake up,” Megara said, shaking him. “Please, Allen. I need you.”
“Go, Megs. It’s ok,” Alexis said, forcing a brave front.
“No, I’m going to get Niccolo,” Megara said, standing up. “He can
help.”
“Don’t get him involved in this. He’s in enough trouble without being here when two of the Elder’s children die.”
“You aren’t dying!” Megara said, and then disappeared.
“Take Dain!” Alexis tried to yell, but fell back onto the ground as she started to cough blood.
Alexis could feel the life draining out of her. She knew she couldn’t heal fast enough and was afraid that Megara wouldn’t return to get Dain, leaving him to reappear in only 10 short years. She was able to look up at the forest’s canopy and wished she could see the stars before she died.
She was just starting to wonder if she might make it through the night when she heard someone talking from far away. The voices grew nearer, and she realized that Megara had returned with Niccolo, though his voice was muffled.
Niccolo appeared beside her and looked her over, “You’re starting to heal.”
“Allen,” Alexis managed to whisper.
“He’s alive,” Niccolo said. “I’m going to take you back to the car, and then I’ll get Allen.”
“Dain…”
“Megara is gathering up his ashes.” Niccolo gently picked Alexis up and then blurred through the trees. She held onto him, not quite sure how to deal with the emotions going on inside of her. Dain was banished, taken care of, but she and Allen were hurt badly, and she still had to tell her Mom and face the Council and Garrett over leaving.
When Alexis was lying down in the rental car, Niccolo went back after Allen and returned helping him walk with Megara following them. It wasn’t more than an hour later that Niccolo was doing flight checks while Alexis and Allen recovered in the back of the airplane.
Once they were at cruising altitude, Niccolo put the airplane on auto pilot and went to check on the others. He knew he was in enough trouble as it was without bringing back dead Winchesters.
“How is she?” he asked, sitting down beside Alexis where Megara was watching over her.
“I think she’s asleep. The bleeding stopped.”
“I see her arm’s broken.”
“If I had to guess, arm, cheek, hip, and maybe her leg. It’s pretty swollen, but I’m not sure if it’s broken.”
“And you?” he asked, looking over at Allen.
Allen was still in a great deal of pain but was at least sort of propped up, “Still healing. Mostly bites.”
Banishment : Book 9 of the Heku Series Page 32
