Bearing It All (Grizzly Affairs Book 1)

by Magenta Phoenix

  “What actually do you think I could do?” He asked cynically.

  “You're closer to her than anyone on this planet. You could get us her contacts. That has to be the first step to taking her down.”

  “Us? Please tell me you're not referring to your big bear boyfriend. He doesn't stand a chance against Malca and her forces—and neither do you.” Moving forward again they began running once more. Running through the woods seemed all too familiar to her, like something from dreams long since past.

  Keep up, little mermaid...A soft male voice echoed in her head making it ache. What was that memory that kept coming back to her? Who did that comforting voice belong to? Part of her worried what it would mean for her present life if her past resurrected it's self. It seemed the closer she got to finding Malca the more diaphanous the fog of her memories was becoming.

  Raoul slowed in front of her as the forest opened up onto a ghostly dirt road. Turning to the right Raoul continued running, causing Aria to follow suit. After running for a mile or so more, the road ended at a tall steel gate connected to a long chain linked fence that stretched along both sides. A sign; barely readable, was mounted on a twelve foot high post next to the gate. Most of the sign was erased by years of rust and neglect but Aria could only read the words 'Lumber Co.'

  This was where the others had come to ambush Malca? Walking over to the pad lock on the gate, Raoul gripped the lock in hand before snapping it away like it was made of thin plastic instead of steel. Shoving the gate open, he walked ahead of her in slow steps. His eyes swept over the whole area with heavy suspicion. Following with soft steps, Aria could see what Robert had said about this place being abandoned. Towers of cut timber stood rotting and forgotten under blankets of snow. Beyond several eight foot high mounds of uncut trees, Aria spied a tall warehouse a short distance from them. More than likely it was where all the wood was sent through for processing.

  “Why are we here?” She whispered at Raoul's back as she glanced around. It was too quiet here. In this graveyard of a lumber she couldn't shake the eerie chill that hit her to her bones. Pointing toward the back of the warehouse, Raoul indicated to a less dense section of forest.

  “A few miles through there is the facility that Malca uses as her processing lab.”

  “In the middle of miles of forest land?”

  “Think about it, if someone escaped there would be no one around to hear cries for help and plus no one can get very far on foot. You got lucky. No one else has ever escaped from Malca and survived.”

  “Let’s get going then.” She urged, ready to rush forward. She found herself jerked to a halt when Raoul's hand shot out, gripping her upper arm. Squeezing her arm tightly, he pulled her back a few steps. Looking up at him, she saw his square jaw tightening with suspicion. Something was wrong.

  “What is it?” Slowly looking around the wide open space around them, she saw nothing. Whatever Raoul was sensing—she couldn't.

  “We are not alone.” He whispered in warning. Releasing her arm, he took a step forward. With his head lifted high he drew in a deep inhale, similar to what she'd seen Doyle do when picking up a scent. Was Raoul a shifter? Taking a cautious step back to her side, never taking his eyes off the quiet area before them he held out a hand to her.

  “Give me your blade.” He ordered with fiercely.

  Covering a hand over the pocket against her thigh that held the concealed blade, she narrowed her eyes at him curiously. “How did you know I had a blade?”

  “Just give it to me.” He snarled out. When she made no move to trust him with a weapon he urged harshly, “Hurry.”

  Not seeing much of a choice, she pulled the knife and sheath from the pocket and laid it in his open palm. Closing his fingers around the blade, he pulled it closer to his body. Pulling the blade from its sheath he tucked the sheath away against the waist band of his pants. Gripping the hard handle of the blade tightly, he turned his attention back to her.

  “Alright; now, you need to listen to what I say and do whatever I tell you without question. Got it?” Nodding, she looked back with a hard look nearly equal to his tense expression. Nodding as well, he turned his eyes away. “Malca must have left someone behind in case you came this way. They more than likely are under orders to bring you back alive, same as I was. But that doesn't mean that they won't attack you in the process. Be prepared to use that gun you’ve got hidden when the time comes. If I tell you to go, I want you to leave me and go after Malca on your own. If you are captured your boyfriend's life is worthless. You cannot allow yourself to be taken, got it?”

  “I got it. I'll do what I have to.”

  He nodded in satisfaction at her reply. “Good. I'm going to step out first. Don't move unless I tell you to. If we're lucky they won't know you're here with me yet and we'll know how many are here exactly.”

  Concealing the blade against the side of his leg, Raoul stepped out into the open. There were no towers of cut timber to hide him from view anymore. Nothing happened. Slowly he continued to walk into the open until he stood parallel with the mouth of the warehouse. Out of the stillness, the sound of clapping hands faintly echoed around them.

  Striding from out the shadows of the warehouse, stepped a figure clapping his hands mockingly at Raoul. As he stepped outside into the mid-day light, Aria could see from her concealed position that he looked identical to Raoul. The only difference she could tell was a dark shadow of cruelty in his eyes while Raoul's were unreadable and silent.

  “Well done, brother.” Letting his clapping hands fall to his sides, Thomas smirked across the space at Raoul. “It's not every day a man rises from the dead.”

  “It is if an idiot can't do the job correctly the first time.” Though Thomas's cruel smile never faltered, his eyes held a boiling rage at Raoul's taunting words.

  “Well since you're here, why don't we rectify that?”

  “Tell the others to come out and I'll kill just you.” Raoul ordered with a point of his sharp blade.

  Holding up his hands in false innocence, Thomas looked around him. “Do you see anyone else here? I'm on my own. But I'm sure I can kill you without any help and this time—I'll make sure you stay dead.

  Not looking away from his deadly twin, Raoul flicked the handle of his knife toward Aria's hidden position in a silent signal meant for her. If they were the only ones here, he could buy her enough time to slip away while he killed Thomas. They were running out of time. No one ever knew where Malca's home base was, not even her trusted soldiers did. They had a small window to catch her and if Aria thought she could bring Malca down, he would do what he could to give her a chance.

  * ~ * ~ *

  Palming the small handgun, Aria rose from her crouching position. Without a sound she made her way around the large towers of snow covered timber, making sure to keep low as she moved. After a minute she heard rushing feet across the snow just a few meters away as the two twins locked together in a fight to the death. Glancing around the edge of the shielding timber she watched as Raoul purposely drove Thomas back into the dark warehouse as he slashed out with his blade. Knowing she'd move quicker without holding onto her weapon, quickly she placed it back in its place, against the waist band of her pants. Bolting from her concealed spot she ran on silent feet along the side of the warehouse.

  Rushing for the tree line, she was barely past the warehouse when she was suddenly struck from the side before she could react. The iron like punch to her face sent her spiraling into the snow with surprise. A dark shadow overcast her as her attacker drew near. Above her stood a smirking soldier dressed in dark camouflage. He flexed his hand a few times while licking his lip mockingly.

  Touching her bruised lip, her fingers came away smeared with blood. The slight of it seemed to make something click within her mind. An instinct deep within her began to resurface. A small grin curved along her lips as she slowly rose to her feet. This guy wanted a fight? She’d give him a fight.

  “Want me to kiss it better?
” His rough voice teased as he pointed at her bloodied lip. Spitting out some blood that began to leak between her lips, Aria shoved at the few stray hairs that had escaped from her braid.

  “Why don't you come over here and try?” She said, challengingly.

  Smirking back at her the soldier tilted his head at her challenge. Reaching behind him, he withdrew a thin rod. With a flick through the air the rod lengthened. Pressing the button on the hilt, the soldier held up his weapon threateningly as sparks of electricity shot from the tip. Reassuring herself that her gun was tucked against her stomach, she waited as the cocky soldier approached.

  Running at her, his thickly muscled arm swung towards her with the cattle prod in hand. Ducking under the sharp thrust of his weapon and spinning, she ducked under his arm before throwing a sharp kick to the back of his knee. With the satisfying sound of a bone snapping, the soldier fell to his knees with a low groan. However to her surprise the man slowly rose to his feet as the sound of a bone snapping back into place echoed through the air.

  Turning around to face her, he rushed at her again. Stabbing the cattle prod towards her, Aria jerked to the side of each thrust his weapon made. Kicking off from the ground, she delivered a high kick across his face; causing him to stagger back as his head snapped back. Before he could react, she swung her fist upward, only to be surprised again at the force that she hit him with. Her punch caused his nose to shatter as his own dark blood spattered across his face.

  Kicking the cattle prod out of his hand and out of reach, Aria watched as his eyes narrowed on her. With a yell of rage, he threw all his weight behind his fist before she had time to block it. Hitting her square in the chest, she was thrown off her feet, landing on her back. Hitting the snow covered ground so hard that the wind was knocked out of her.

  Still stunned by his quick hit, she gasped as he straddled her, heavily pinning her to the cold ground. His heavy weight crushed her soft form with a bruising force. Wrapping both of his hands around her throat he squeezed the tender column with a crushing strength. Clawing at his thick wrists she drew from her power deep within.

  “Let me go.” She gasped out as her air was cut off. Her fingernails claws at his strong hands with desperate effort.

  He smirked down at her red face, his voice rumbled out uncaring. “Your powers won't work on me. Just let yourself go, you won't have much fight left soon.”

  As black dots began dancing before her eyes, a flash of a memory gripped her. She was pinned down, only this time it was on a blue wrestling mat with several cheering soldiers forming a circle around her and her opponent. Among the cheering men was a man with short blonde hair dusted across the top of his head. Crouching down to her level he slapped at the mat.

  “Don't give up, Ari! Fight! Get up!” he sent his hand striking the mat between each command.

  Get up...Get up...Fight...

  The words faded as she forced her hands to fall away from her attacker's hands. Reaching between them before he could notice what she was doing, Aria wrapped her hands around the hidden gun. Jerking it free, she stabbed the muzzle against the underside of his chin. As his eyes widened in realization her finger squeezed the trigger. With a loud bang, she felt her ears ring as blood splattered her face like warm rain drops. Closing her eyes as his hands fell away from her throat she deeply inhaled with relief.

  The heavy weight of her dead attacker fell against her as more of blood covered her. Franticly she shoved at the bleeding corpse above her before rolling onto her stomach she dragged herself out from under the dead weight. Not daring to look back at what she was forced to do, she stumbled to her feet. Ignoring the shaking of her limbs, she gripped her gun tightly in hand. Increasing her strides until she was running for the tree line, she left behind the smell of blood and burnt flesh.

  * ~ * ~ *

  Thrusting the sharp blade toward Thomas smirking face, Raoul scowled when Thomas quickly blocked the blade at the last instant. Stopping the blade just inches from his throat, Thomas jerked Raoul's knife wielding hand to the side before wrenching it hard. The satisfying sound of Raoul's wrist breaking was short lived as Raoul smashed his head into Thomas's cocky face.

  Moving back, Raoul gritted his teeth as the bone reset its self not a moment later with an agonizing snap. Flexing his wrist while maintaining hold on his blade, he was relieved to see it had healed. One benefit about being one of Malca's cloned soldiers was instant healing. Broken bones healed within minutes depending on the severity of it, unlike bullet wounds that could take days to fully heal. It took a lot of effort to kill cloned soldiers. Good thing he needed the exercise.

  The sound of a struggle from outside nearly drew his attention away from what he was doing. Slowly Thomas began moving in a wide circle around him with a taunting smirk. Bending over, Thomas reached at his left ankle and withdrew a similar knife from its sheath. Pointing at the back of the warehouse with a cocky look, Thomas laughed.

  “Let me guess, you're helping that escapee?” Not bothering to wait for answer, Thomas smirked. “When are you going to get it? That explosive in your chest—” He indicated with the tip of his knife. “—Malca will never take it out and you will always be her property. While I on the other hand; am free.”

  “She can hit that button any time she wants. All I care about is being rid of you for good and then I will be free.”

  Lunging forward his hand slashed out. Blocking Thomas's pairing strike Raoul sunk his blade into Thomas's unprotected shoulder. The knife sliced through his skin like warm butter. Jerking his blade free, blood blossomed against Thomas's camouflage jacket mixing with the mute colors of green and brown. Kicking out and catching Raoul in the ribs and then his stomach as Thomas's fist joined the party. Raoul found himself thrown through the air only to stop once his back fell against a high steel bench.

  Wincing, Thomas rotated his injured shoulder with a look of irritation. Kicking away Raoul's fallen blade, Thomas slid his own away. He refused to deny himself thrill of killing his bothersome brother by simply slitting his throat. Slowing moving to where his twin had fallen he couldn't help the smile that formed along his lips at seeing his brother struggling to his feet. Encircling his hand around Raoul's throat, he chuckled as he felt Raoul's windpipe strain under his punishing hold. Jerking him to his feet while ignoring his punches and efforts to get free Thomas slammed him onto his back onto the conveyor belt of the large head rig saw.

  “You ruined my favorite jacket.” Thomas muttered out with mild displeasure.

  Reaching for the remote that hung from a dusty cord above his head, his finger pressed down on the green button marked start. A second later the head rig just a few inches from his position turned on with a chilling sound.

  Jerking his eyes to the spinning blade, Raoul fought to get free as the conveyor belt began to pull him closer. Walking along the belt, Thomas held his brother pinned under his crushing grip.

  “Do you remember how they use to say that you were my better half in the labs?” Only Raoul's struggling, purple face answered him. Thomas laughed maliciously. “Let's see which is yours.”

  The whirling of the blade grew louder as his head came within inches of the deadly edge. Slamming his fist down on Thomas's forearm as the bone snapped with a satisfying sound. Raoul's hands gripped Thomas by the labels of his jacket, jerking him down to the conveyor belt Raoul rolled them. Looking down at his shocked brother, Raoul smirked at him.

  “You first,”

  Throwing his body over the side of the conveyor belt, Raoul watched as Thomas rolled onto his side in a wasted effort to get off the belt as well. He closed his eyes as the saw bore down onto his twin. The sounds of wet slicing and heavy, sickly thuds echoed seconds after Thomas cry of horror.

  Falling back against the cold, packed earth beneath him, Raoul shut his eyes with relief. Coughing, his hand reached up to rub at his bruised throat. Already he could feel his body fighting to heal the damage done but it did nothing to alleviate the pain he felt from e
ach injury. Rolling onto his knees, Raoul slowly stood. Reaching a bloody hand to cup his broken ribs he began walking toward the entrance of the warehouse. The sound of the still running saw behind him faded into the background as he continued walking.

  It was done. All the murdered innocents of Thomas’s past had been avenged as he’d vowed long ago. Now he was finally free and no one would own him again. Limping slightly, he continued to walk with only pain and the dead silence as his companions. A strong wind picked up from behind him, striking at his exposed flesh with icy fingers. Then for a reason unknown to him, he stopped. Turning to look back, his eyes glanced toward the large, clustered woods that Aria had escaped into. With any hope she'd find Malca by evening. Her survival and that of her bear- friend was in her own hands now—or was it?

  19

  Darkness had blanketed the empty sky after hours of running. Sweaty and tired Aria slowed her furiously relentless pace to a slow walk. Her breath panted out in soft, chilled clouds in front of her face. The chill in the air had her sweat slicked skin shivering endlessly. What she wouldn't give for a hot bath and a warm bed right now. Doyle had so much groveling to do after this and boy was she planning on collecting.

  The woods around her caused the fine hairs at her neck to stand straight up. The forest was quiet, disturbingly so. Each sound caused her to stop, her eyes jerked over her surroundings with every snapping twig and the ghostly rustling of dry leaves above. Tree branches reached towards her like thin fingers, seeking to grab her and keep her from getting to Malca. Shoving her nervousness aside she continued to put one foot in front of the other.

  Her mind slowly began to drift back to that memory that had surfaced moments earlier. She focused on the determined face of the man calling out to her. How he'd said her name felt...warm and comforting. Who was he? And why had she been surrounded by soldiers that apparently knew her? The more she thought about it the more her head began to ache. Refusing to let go of the image in her mind she held firm.