I couldn’t believe Mason didn’t make it. I was just starting to get to know him and really liked him. Just like Nishni, he died too young. I wondered if this was just another day in the life of a fae warrior on Earth. Would Lancer and the rest of my squad die within the next few weeks too? I needed to focus back on what was being discussed now. I could mourn for Mason tomorrow.
“We think it was an ambush intended to get you and kill the rest of us. Ash and Maliki only had the two rippers to contend with. But they were stopped by a couple of shop owners who saw some fighting and were worried. That is why they didn’t get to you in time.” While Lancer was explaining to me what happened, I remember that the Master had some human spies working for him. I wondered if they were the ones who stopped Ash and Maliki.
“Commander, while I was with the master he talked about having his human spies who owned a dress shop across from Joe’s check to make sure none of my team had followed me. I wonder if they were the same ones who stopped Ash and Maliki? And yes, it was an ambush. Those human spies saw us arrive and notified the master and he sent out ten of his best rippers, including First, who is second in command. The orders were to kill you all and bring me back unharmed. They never did figure out exactly who I was. They kept calling me human.
“They wanted to know where your HQ was located. I gave them wrong information.
“But I should really start from the beginning.” I told them everything that happened, including having to kill Marshall and that other guy, Mick, before they tried drinking from me. I did keep the information about mind reading to myself though. I don’t know all of these guys here and I got the impression from the General that they are very interested in me and how I develop.
While I was telling my story, I noticed that Lancer and Ash both were sitting very stiffly next to me and both had clenched their fists in their laps. They had a very upset look on their faces and Lancer kept running his fingers through his hair. This is what he did whenever he was stressed out. I hoped they weren’t mad at me for getting caught like that. At least I got myself out of there without any help.
After I finished telling my story, half of the extra troops went back home. But one of the squads were assigned to stay here with us. I asked how long they would be with us but the General couldn’t tell me.
“I think we need a two squad presence until we can destroy this nest of rippers. They have taken too many humans back to Sendryl and turned them into hybrids. And now we have lost two of our best soldiers to ripper attacks. Commander, you have whatever you need. The Council wants these beasts brought down and for you to make sure that no more hybrids make their way back to our home.
“There is chatter about another terrorist strike soon. We don’t have any idea where they will strike next, so if you can capture a few rippers and extract the information we might be able to stop the next attack.”
The General took me to the Commander’s office to finish his questioning of me. Lancer accompanied us since he was my squad leader.
“Please, take a seat B’Lana. Do you want anything to eat or drink?”
“Actually, I am thirsty and could use something to eat. Maybe a bagel?” Lancer went out and asked someone to get me a coffee and a bagel then came in and took the seat next to me. The General was sitting in the Commander’s chair behind the desk while the Commander was sitting in a chair next to the filing cabinet.
“Ok, tell me again how the ripper was able to taste your blood and what his reaction to it was.” I really didn’t want to relive that part of the night, shoot I didn’t want to relive any part of the night.
It was almost six am by the time I was done with the questioning. Lancer walked me back to my room and told me to sleep in as long as I wanted to. When I woke up he planned on taking me to my favorite café, as long as it was still light out. He wasn’t going to let me near any rippers for a while.
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When we returned from our late lunch, the general was still there along with one extra squad. Lancer told me that the squad would be looking around for the rippers and our squad would be back-up when the time came. But I was to stay back at HQ and monitor everything remotely. I was not too happy with that and we ended up arguing.
“Lancer you do know that I got myself out of the master’s lair, right? My abilities are kicking in and I think I did a really good job of taking care of myself.”
“Yes, you got yourself out of there, but you should not have been kidnapped to begin with. If you had been more prepared you wouldn’t have been captured.” Lancer gave me a very pointed look at that point. He was still quite upset that I was captured.
Just then the General approached me and asked me what my abilities were.
“Sir, I noticed that my strength and stamina were increased and I had an easier time of fighting off the rippers while I was escaping versus when I was kidnapped. I think the adrenaline rush helped me to further develop.
“In training when I used a sword it was heavier and I had a difficult time commanding the sword. But those two swords I stole from the master were lighter and easier to swing than our practice swords.” I looked at the general with confidence and certainty in my face while telling him about my new fighting abilities.
“I really think that I could do well in the field next time. With two squads I should be safe enough to go and test this theory, don’t you think?” I addressed the general and ignored the look Lancer was giving me at that moment. He really didn’t want me in the field. I almost took a ‘peek’ at what he was thinking, but decided I really didn’t want to know.
“B’Lana, we can’t take a chance that the rippers will be able to kidnap you again. Until your squad leader tells me you are ready for the field I am ordering you to stay back here and monitor the videos. This will be a good time for you to get in more practice as well. With all of the warriors here you should be setting up schedules to train with each and every one of them. They all have something they can teach you.
“Are there any more abilities you have noticed? Our history teaches that some of the hybrids developed special abilities; beside strength, speed and stamina. I wonder if you will develop anything else. Pay close attention and let me know if you sense anything new or different about your abilities. And Lancer, I expect you to report anything you notice as well.
“I will be here for another week and then I must go back home. I hope to see some of your training while I am here B’Lana. We have high hopes for your abilities.” The general then turned around and walked back toward the surveillance room.
“Lancer, he makes me nervous. If I were to develop any special abilities, what would happen to me?” I wasn’t sure I wanted to know, but I knew that I really did need to know what would happen if the General found out. I also needed to know if I could trust Lancer with my secret.
“I think you would be taken back to Sendryl and they would run some tests on you and want to see your abilities in action. It would all be safe, but I doubt you would come back to Earth.” Lancer looked at me with sad eyes. I got the feeling he would not have liked that outcome.
This was all starting to make me nervous. I needed to talk to someone about this but I knew that if I told Lancer and he didn’t report it, he would be disobeying a direct order from the General. I couldn’t put that kind of pressure on him.
I was actually surprised he hadn’t mentioned my mind reading abilities yet. I had mentioned it to him a couple times already. But he either didn’t believe it, or had just forgotten about it.
The only other person I could talk to was Ash. So I told Lancer that I was tired and would see him later.
I walked away and started looking for Ash. Turns out he was looking for me as well. I found him a couple of doors away from my room.
“Ash, I need to talk to you in private.” I said as I pulled his arm and directed him to my room.
“Oh, I like private.” He looked at me with a huge smile and was about to say something flirty but I cut him off.
>
“Ash, I’m serious. I need to talk to someone and I need it to stay between us. Can I trust you to keep a secret?” I looked into his eyes and debated if I could really trust him or not.
“Yes, you can tell me anything and I will keep it between us.” He said seriously. It was probably the most serious he had ever been with me. I decided I needed to trust someone and he was going to be that someone.
“Ash, when I was with the master, I could hear his thoughts. I think I have the ability to read minds. I need you to think something that you wouldn’t normally say to me.” He smiled and started to walk closer to me but I stopped him.
“I’m serious Ash. I really do think I can do this. When I was getting away, I could sense the rippers around me by listening for their thoughts. That is how I was able to get away.” I wasn’t about to tell him about the nosferatu.
Even though I trusted him with this huge secret, I wasn’t sure I could tell him what I discovered about the hybrid rippers just yet. It was just too creepy and scary to think that they might really be brain dead.
“Ok, seriously think something that I wouldn’t expect.”
I opened up my mind and focused on Ash and his thoughts. At first I wasn’t sure if he was thinking what I heard, but then realized he was. Of course he was.
I walked closer to him and put my hands on his chest then slowly moved them down over his pecs. Man this guy has some serious muscles! Then my hands moved down to his abs and I realized he had a six pack stomach, maybe even an eight pack. But I wasn’t going to bring my hands down low enough to check that theory. I moved my hands around his side and that was when he stepped even closer to me.
I heard his breath hitch as I stopped my hands on his sides, just above his belt. I was tempted to look into his eyes, but I was afraid of what I might see there. Or what he might see in my eyes.
When I moved my hands to his low back he put his hands around my waist and dug his fingers into my shirt. Did he just moan? I could have sworn he moaned. Then he pulled me up close to his body.
I ran my hands slowly up his back and he held me even tighter and leaned his face into my neck. I was really enjoying the closeness and started to feel my cheeks heat up as I was getting bothered by all of the touching. By the time I moved my hands up to his shoulders he had his mouth right next to my ear.
“B’Lana, if you don’t stop this I won’t be able to think straight.” Ash whispered into my ear. Which caused goose bumps all down my back.
I took that moment to kiss his cheek and then stepped back out of the warmth of his arms.
“Ash, is that what you were thinking just now?” I took a deep breath and then squared my shoulders and looked up to his eyes. What I saw there excited and scared me. For a brief minute his eyes showed how vulnerable he was to me right then and there. But also the deep passion he was feeling for me. I was more frightened of him in that moment than I ever was with the master.
Ash released the breath he was holding and slumped down on my cot. He ran his fingers through his hair while he was catching his breath.
“B’Lana, how could you know that was what I was fantasizing about? Can you really read my mind, anytime you want?” He looked at me with fear in his eyes. He was probably afraid I would be able to read him anytime I wanted now. But I had no desire to read his thoughts, romantic or otherwise.
“Ash, I thought I could read you and Lancer before we went on the op, but I wasn’t sure. I couldn’t always ‘hear’ what you were thinking so I figured I must be getting to know you both well enough to read you, not psychically hear you.
“But when I was with the master, I heard him say something that no one else reacted to. So I figured it was something psychic. I tried to listen to his thoughts while looking at him to make sure he wasn’t moving his lips. And I could hear his real plans for me.
“When he sent me to his quarters I continued to try to listen for his thoughts. I heard them but then he moved away and I lost the connection. So I figured I had to be close enough to the person before I could hear them.
“I decided to try the guy outside of my door. His name was Marshall and he was the first one I killed. He really deserved it too. That vampire was disgusting! I knew I was hearing someone’s thoughts because no way was he saying that out loud. So then I tried to listen to other rippers.
“I let my senses flow and found I could hear someone else too. It was another ripper who was thinking about me and drinking my blood. I heard his plans to try and taste me and decided that I had to get out of there before he talked Marshall into his plan. I knew Marshall would go for it based on what I heard from him.” I continued to tell him what I did to get out of there and how I used my ability to hear or sense the thoughts of others while I quietly made my way out of the sewers. I even told him about the human I crossed paths with once I got topside.
“So you see I can hear humans, rippers, and fae. As long as they are close enough for me to sense them. But I don’t know how far away they can be. This is something I should probably test. Will you help me keep my secret and test the distance?”
Ash stood up and put his hands on my shoulders and looked right into my eyes, “Yes, I will help you and I will keep your secret too.”
Just then I heard a knock on my door. I stepped away from Ash and called, “Come in.”
Lancer walked in and looked between Ash and me, when he looked at me both his eyebrows shot up and his eyes went wide with surprise. “I’m sorry if I interrupted something, but B’Lana you said you were tired. I thought you were going to lie down and get some rest. Why is Ash is here?”
“I was just checking on her to make sure she was ok. She had quite the experience yesterday. And I wanted to make sure she knew I would help her with hand to hand combat when she was ready. I don’t want her getting kidnapped again.” Ash looked at Lancer the entire time while he was fidgeting with his hands. He kept putting them in his pockets and then taking them out, like he was nervous.
“Lancer, thank you for checking up on me. Looks like my squad is a bit overprotective. But I appreciate the thought. I really am tired, so if you boys will excuse me, I would like to lay down, alone.” That last sentiment was directed towards Ash.
“Well, if you have any nightmares and need a hug, you know where to find me.” Ash said while winking at me, and then he walked out the door right past an astonished Lancer.
“Is there something going on between you and Ash?” Lancer couldn’t even look at me when he said that. He watched Ash walk down the hallway. But I could see the sadness in his face from his profile.
“Why, are you jealous?” I almost hit myself for saying that out loud. I couldn’t believe I was being so brazen.
“Wh…what do you mean?” He had a total deer in the headlights look and I almost laughed but caught myself before a small smile made its way to my lips.
“Nothing, I was just joking. Now, if you would be so kind as to let me sleep? Unless there was something else?” I knew my cheeks were red but for some reason I didn’t want him to leave yet.
He turned around and wished me a peaceful sleep as he walked out the door.
I sat down on my cot and put my elbows on my thighs and dropped my head into my hands.
What’s going on? Do I have feelings for both of these guys? I know that I can’t succumb to their fae charms now since I am part fae as well. This is very bizarre. I can’t possibly have feelings for one man who can’t love me in return and another who can’t stand to be in my presence, can I?
I decided it must have been something from being kidnapped and thinking I was going to die only a few shorts hours ago. A nap was what I needed. So I laid down and fell into a fitful sleep.
Chapter Five
When I woke up the next morning I knew something had to be done about my sleeping arrangement. I had a spasm in my back and my neck was so tight I was getting a migraine. I went to look for Lancer to see if he could get me a good bed and pillows. But found Ash instead.
> “Good morning Ash. Do you know where Lancer is?”
“Good morning, babe. How’d you sleep? Did you dream of me?”
I wasn’t laughing. “Ash, I need coffee before I can handle your jokes. Walk with me to the kitchen?”
As I was fixing myself coffee and a bagel, Ash told me that Lancer had left early that morning for some recon.
“Can you take me to get a better bed today? I don’t think I could sleep another night in that bed. I am so sore from everything going on and sleeping on a stupid cot.” I actually pouted, and it wasn’t the flirty kind either.
Ash came up behind me and put his hands on my waist and leaned towards my ear. “I have a bed that is very comfortable and would sleep two. You wouldn’t have any pain after a night with me, only pure bliss.”
I spewed my coffee all over the kitchen counter as he said that and moved out of his reach.
“Ok, let’s get something straight here. I am not going to share a bed with you, or anyone else. And I would appreciate it if you would tone down the flirting, especially in front of Lancer. It is very unprofessional to do that in front of our squad leader.” I tried giving him by best reproachful glare, but I wasn’t sure I was able to pull that off with my cheeks burning red from his statement.
“Can you be serious today and help me find a new bed?”
He stood up straight and looked me in the eye and said, “Yes, I can be serious and take you shopping today. How about we do that after our morning work out?”
“Great, I’ll meet you on the mat in fifteen minutes. I just need to make a fresh cup of coffee.” I walked back over to the coffee maker and started to make another cup since he caused me to spill most of the first one.
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Eclipse of the Soul: The Interdimensional Saga, Book 2 Page 4
