The pain in her head slowly increased until it was no longer a pounding pain. Instead her skull felt it was splitting in two. Halting her steps she gripped her head as she gasped in agony. Fire raced along her skull as she refused to let the memory go quietly. Crying out, she fell to her knees as pain raced through her whole body, making her feel dizzy and sick all at once.
Then it stopped. No pain or unbearable heat attacked her skull. As though someone was playing a movie from behind her eyes, images began to flow and she was helpless to stop them.
* ~ * ~ *
Rising from the waves Aria's mouth opened in a deep inhale. Today was perfect. Lifting a dripping hand up to shove her wet hair out of her face she smiled with happiness. Laying back to float upon the undulating surface, she closed her eyes with a sigh of content. The sun was bright today, bathing her in an abundance of warmth. Today was her recreation day. No marching, no drills, and no combat training, today she was free.
"Hey!" A warm, teasing voice called out to her. "Don't drift away little mermaid."
Moving into an upright position, her head snapped around toward the direction of the beach. Standing in a white t-shirt and loose gray sweats was Tyler—her twin.
Waving at her with a grin he motioned her to come to him. Turning onto her stomach she swam back to shore. Once it was shallow enough she waded the rest of the way until her feet touched warm sand.
“How did you find me?”
“Come on, Ari. Give your big brother some credit. Don't you know everyone on base knows you come here on your days off?” Slinging a warm arm around her wet shoulders Tyler pulled her close for a hug. “I've got some news.” He whispered softly against her wet hair, pulling back he met her curious expression.
“What is it?”
Taking a deep breath, he smiled down at her. “I got promoted.”
Leaping at him, she wrapped her arms around his neck with excitement. Tyler had been working so hard for years to get promoted to head of their team and she was happy he'd gotten it. Both of them had joined the Army straight out of high school—anything to get away from their horrid foster parents. He'd always vowed to never abandon her like their parents had done so many years ago. They'd been together ever since.
“Congrats! I knew you'd get it.” Leaning back Aria caught the look of foreboding in his blue eyes. Something was wrong. “What's wrong?”
“They are sending half the team out on a mission.”
Letting her arms fall away, she took a step back. “What type of mission?”
“The top secret type, I'll be going to Thailand with half the crew to set up an undercover operation to catch a new terrorist cell.”
“What about me and the others?”
“You will stay with the rest of the guys and wait for orders. Malca said your team may be needed for a different mission soon.”
Releasing a deep sigh, she crossed her arms. She didn't trust this 'Malca' person. The old woman seemed too secretive and malicious. Their unit had been transferred to her base over a year ago and then it was nothing but training and routine missions. None of them even knew why they were following the orders of her anyway. But orders were orders. This was the first time Malca was allowing them to go off base on a mission and she had to stay behind? The whole thing bugged her.
“Don't worry little sister; I'll be back before you know it. Hopefully you can kick some of the guys into shape by the time I get back.” He teased.
She scoffed. “And who is going to kick your butt when you get too cocky?”
Laughing, Tyler pulled her close to his side as his arm hung loose around her shoulders. “Don't worry so much. I'll be back.”
* ~ * ~ *
As the memory faded Aria fell backwards from her sitting position against a nearby tree. It all was back. Her memories and everything she thought she'd never possess again. She finally remembered who she was. Lieutenant Arianna Koski of Malca's enhanced army. Nausea filled her mouth at the memories of what she'd done working for Malca.
Not two days after Tyler had left on the Thailand mission, Arianna remembered being summoned to Malca's office for a private meeting. The conversation from five years ago rang in her mind with perfect clarity.
“Tyler is dead.” Malca's voice admitted, clasping her wiry hands together over her desk.
Standing before the cold doctor in her normal uniform of a gray t-shirt and light camouflage pants, Arianna stood rigid. The news was like a punch in the gut. Tyler was dead? Images of his teasing smile and protective nature flashed behind her eyes as she fought to keep a blank expression on her face. Emotion can give and take away everything you have as a soldier—as Tyler used to say. Any signs of weakness could harm a soldier's career. Inhaling a slow, deep breath she fought to keep her face unreadable.
“Permission to be dismissed?” She asked with an impassive voice.
“Wait a moment.” Standing, Malca walked around her desk with a serious look. “Before you leave I want to talk to you about furthering your career within my ranks.”
“Excuse me?” Her twin just died and this cold fish wanted to talk business? She was seconds away from storming out this office and off the base forever.
“Right now you are part of protection detail for I and the other scientist here on the base supplied by the Army. However I have another position that needs filling and I want you to fill it.”
“Permission to speak freely?” Arianna practically bit out.
Smiling, Malca nodded. “Please do.”
“Why should I do anything for you? You sent my brother—my twin out on a mission without proper reinforcements and now he's dead. Why should I help you in any way after that?”
Malca chuckled as she leaned back against her desk. “Good point. However I am not the one that killed Tyler and his team. If you help me, I will give you the tools to hunt down the ones responsible for his death.”
“And if I don't?”
“Well,” Malca straightened looking hesitant. “If you don't, then I have no need of a soldier that refuses to obey orders. You'll be stripped of your rant and shipped back to wherever you came from.”
She would like to say that at the time she'd felt like she had no other option, but the truth was she wanted the tools that Malca offered her. She had made a deal with the devil and doing so she knew her brother wouldn't even recognize her if he could see her now. She remembered the testing that she willing submitted to and how she'd help Malca's enhanced soldiers snatch innocent people off the streets for test subjects.
It didn't matter to her who the people were that she handed over to Malca. All she'd cared about was that she was one step closer to becoming a stronger soldier to avenge her brother's death. It wasn't until years later that the injections began changing her. At first she became stronger, faster, and better than any other members of her old team. Then as time went by her body started to turn against her. With seizures and with constant bleeding from her nose and ears she'd found that who and what she was had begun fading away until there was nothing.
Once Malca had realized what had happened she gave the order for her to be imprisoned with the other test subject. Like a child with no understanding of why Malca did the things she did to her, Aria fought her confinement. The new serum had changed everything. Once she’d started receiving it, she began to change. It wasn't until years later that the serum began bonding with her body and mind; it was then that she was able to escape Malca.
Everything had come full circle. Slowly standing, she couldn't help but feel like she was drowning in self-loathing. Was she no better than Malca? How many innocents had died in Malca's countless prisons with no hope because of her?
She was jerked from her morbid thoughts as twin lights appeared from behind her. Crouching down, she remained hidden amongst the dark cover of trees as a large tarp covered truck passed by her. The truck disappeared around the dark winding path through the trees. She remembered riding in similar trucks when she and others went out recruit
ing. There could be innocent people drugged and tied up in the back of that truck. Which meant she still had a chance to make things right.
Keeping off the road, she ran amongst the cover of the trees while following the heavy rumbling sound of the truck. For two more miles she ran until she came upon Malca's processing facility. A small concrete building stood amongst the towering dark trees. There were four soldiers outside the entrance. Two of them stood with their backs to the building while the other two seemed to help unload unconscious people onto hospital beds as people in white lab coats wheeled them through the entrance with robotic movements. Edging around a small section of trees, she rushed from her hiding place and began creeping around the truck as the last two soldiers and scientists disappeared through the open door.
“Freeze!” Someone shouted from behind her along with the sound of a handgun cocking. Raising her hands in the air she froze in place. Three years of not living as a soldier was making her sloppy. “Turn around!” The voice ordered again. Turning with her hands still in the air she looked at the scowling face of the burly soldier.
“Listen,” She began, “You don't have to do this—”
“Shut up.” He cut her off. “You think I don't know who you are? You have two choices come along willingly or I put a cap in both of your knees and we drag you to Malca, it's your choice.”
Just as the sharp tentacles of icy fear began to grip her causing her stomach clench, her eyes caught a dark shadow moving beyond his shoulder. A dark silhouette of a predator raced toward them with fluid animal grace. Had Mark or Robert followed her? The thought had her lips curving in a slight smile. Jerking her eyes back to the gun wielding soldier in front of her, she shrugged her shoulders uncaring.
With her unthreatened expression, the soldier clenched his jaw in anger. His hand tightened impossibly tighter around his gun. “Have it your way.” He bit out as he took aim at her knees. Before his finger could even squeeze the trigger a haunting snarl erupted from the dark interior of the trees.
A dark creature flew from the shadows with jaws wide as it came crashing down onto the armed soldier. As the two crashed to the ground the soldier fired his gun in a vain effort to kill the beast that now had its jaws clenched around his throat. Frozen in place she watched as the animal savagely twist it's clenching jaw it snapped the soldier's neck like a twig.
“What's going on out there?”
At the sound of the gunshot one of the previous scientist's came running out of the open doorway. His spectacle covered eyes widened with fear as they landed on Aria and the snarling beast behind her. He turned back around and fled the way he came. In a smooth motion, Aria jerked her concealed gun from against her back. Taking aim she fired one shot to his retreating back. Slowly his running steps faltered as his knees buckled sending him face first onto the ground.
As the scientist remained unmoving, Aria felt her stomach clench as a chill washed over her heart. She'd killed before but never had she killed in cold blood. Shaking it off, she clenched her hand around the handle of the smoking gun. Turning back to the fallen soldier, she saw the dark creature limped away from the bloody corpse. Green eyes glowed back at her as the animal stepped from the protective shadows. Standing as tall as Mark's cougar form was a wolf with fur so black it nearly had a blue tint to it. Thin streams of mist began floated off the wolf's form causing Aria to take a step back while she held firmly onto her weapon. Slowly the wolf's form melted away and grew until a man stood in its place.
Breathing heavily, the man raised his glowing green eyes to hers. The moonlight cutting through the thin branches above shown over his slicked back hair making the sweaty black strains shine in the darkness. He had an oval shaped face with a strong, square jaw. His form was pleasing to look upon, which he noticed immediately.
“Most of the time, a girl knows my name before she has the pleasure of my body.” He commented with a flirtatious grin. Jerking her eyes away from his strong pectorals that rose and fell with every panting breath he took, Aria locked her eyes on him.
“Who are you?”
“Jason De'van. I work with Eric Daniels. Mark and Robert sent me to track you down and keep you safe.”
Rolling her eyes, she dropped her hand as she tucked her weapon away. It looked as if Doyle's family had dispatched another wolf to keep her in line. “Leave while you have the chance.” She growled out as she moved toward the fallen scientist she'd just shot. Rolling his dead weight over, she stripped him of his lab coat and security badge. The back of the coat had a small hole with a blood stain around it. However she was certain with the length of her braided hair she could cover it up.
“I have orders to bring you back to the compound.” He stated. Looking at her curiously his dark brow rose as she shrugged on the lab coat and struggled to quickly button it up. “What are you doing?”
“I won't be able to walk around Malca's facility looking the way I do. Scientists don't get noticed as much. With this—” She gestured to the lab coat and security badge. “–I'll be able to sneak past her guards and get Doyle.”
“And what then; walk out the front door?”
Resting his hands on his hips, Jason scoffed at her plan. As fetching as this mysterious woman was, her plan went against all of his orders. Once Mark had called Eric to inform him on the situation of the Darkwood Springs Alpha being taken by humans, Eric had decided that they may need a wolf they could trust. Upon arriving at the pack's compound Mark informed him that the Alpha's mate had gone off to play hero. He was ordered to bring her back safely and quickly.
“Look,” Spinning around Aria glared at her would-be rescuer. “Thanks for the help but I'm not going back without Doyle. You can either help me or tuck your bushy tail between your legs and run on home.”
“Actually it's more fluffy than bushy.” At her answering glare, Jason held his hands up in defense. “Alright, look. I was ordered to bring you back safe and sound. However they didn't say I couldn't help you with your foolish mission in the meanwhile.”
Nodding her head, Aria jerked her chin at the dead soldier behind him. “Strip his clothes and put them on. You'll blow our cover walking around naked.”
“I'll blow anything you tell me to boss.”
Without even looking at her, he knew another one of his comments were on the way to earning him a slap. What can I say? I love it when I get punished. Smirking at his inner thoughts he crossed over to the soldier's body and began to remove his clothes. Once dressed in the borrowed and bloody camouflage uniform, Jason dragged the corpse away to hide it from sight. When he returned Aria had rolled the other corpse under the truck and was putting the thin black framed glasses on her face.
Giving him a quick glance over, she nodded in acceptance. Without a word she stepped through the open door without a backward glance to him. An automatic light flickered on above them as they closed the door behind them. The room was empty with the exception of several hospital beds lined together on the opposite side of the room. To the right, across the length of the room was a silver elevator door. Moving towards it, Aria noticed to the side of the silver door was small scanner identical to the ones on the doors of Malca's labs.
Pulling her stolen badge from her pocket she waved it over the scanner. With a high pitched beep, the doors of the elevator slid open smoothly. Stepping inside with Jason right beside her, Aria drew in a deep breath as the doors closed and the elevator descended smoothly. There was no buttons on the interior of the elevator. With no other option but to wait until they reached the underground level she glanced at Jason with curiosity. He seemed obvious to her observation as he tilted his head every which way as if he was carefully listening to everything.
As the carriage came to an abrupt stop, the doors slid open without a sound. Jason stepped out first. She carefully followed after him until she came to stand beside him. He tilted his head back as he drew in slow, deep inhales through his nostrils as she'd seen Doyle do many times before.
As Jason be
gan quickly striding down the long, white tiled hall, Aria kept stride with him while her eyes darted around every corner they passed. Abruptly, he came to a jerking halt in front of a long observation window. Her gaze hardened at the sight in the next room. Scientist's were processing the unconscious prisoners that were strapped down to beds. She watched as some scientist's were placing shock cuffs around their wrists while others were taking blood samples. Jason's fists clenched so tightly at his sides that she could hear each of his knuckles crack.
“What are they doing?” His question emerged with a low snarl.
“Processing them and preparing them to be shipped to Malca's testing labs.” Jerking her eyes away from the window she looked at his tense expression. “We don't have much time. Let's find Doyle and get these people out of here. Malca's going down.” With her blood thirsty promise Aria kept moving ahead of him and looked for any sign of where Doyle would be. She was jerked to a halt as Jason's hand closed over her shoulder with a strong grip.
“Wait.” He deeply inhaled once more as his head jerked toward a separate corridor. “This way,”
Rushing down an unlit corridor, she felt her heart hammer hard against her chest. For a moment she could have sworn that she could practically feel Doyle’s presence reaching for hers. The dark hall suddenly ended at a long staircase leading down into further darkness.
Without waiting for Jason to go first, she pulled her gun free and held it against her side as she moved quickly down the cracked concrete steps. The air felt colder the further down she went. As she stepped off the last step small light bulbs above flickered on with faltering light. With each step she took more lights turned on and lit her way. At the end of the dank passageway was a large steel door.
The sound of Jason inhaling deeply once more was the only sound in their dark surroundings. “I smell a bear.” He whispered from behind her.
Bearing It All (Grizzly Affairs Book 1) Page 25
