“Trax, has there been any sighting of the child?”
“No. But anything could have happened to her if he left her alone.”
It was true. If the shark people found her she would be fine, but other beings on their planet weren’t good with children of any kind. If unsupervised she could have slipped or crawled into a pool of water and drowned. A water portal could leave her anywhere. Even on another planet. The worry was eating him up inside.
“I need to see Crash,” Arax said. He took Trax by the shoulders. “Your female friend, will she help us locate him?”
Trax seemed surprised. Arax had known for a long time his brother had a not-so-secret crush on a shark female. For a second Trax looked like he would deny everything until he hung his head and nodded.
“I’ll go ask her now.” Trax took off at a fast pace.
He returned shortly with Crash and his sister Reef. Reef hung back behind her older brother, peeking at Arax. She was pretty for a shark, dainty. She looked nothing like her arrogant, ugly brother.
“Your brother got the looks in your family,” Crash said.
“That’s funny, I was just thinking the same of your sister,” Arax replied.
“Arax, Reef has learned of something. Something you’re not going to want to hear. She’s afraid of telling you since there has been so much distrust. I believe her, and I think you need to listen,” Trax said.
Arax glanced at Reef who stood wringing her hands. She was paler than many of her species, her silver was more dominant, and Arax took a closer look. It hit him then, the little female was a mix of water warrior and shark warrior people. Half-sister to Crash.
“You are of mixed blood,” Arax said.
“Yes,” she replied. “I have the same father as Crash but my mother is, or was, of your kind.”
“Was?”
“She died after I was born. There was no fault, she was injured and unable to get to the healer.”
“A lie and you know it,” Crash thundered. Reef winced. “Your healer refused to aid Reef’s mother because she gave birth to a mixed child. He left Reef alone to die, thinking the mix not good for his people or for you.”
Arax was stunned. “But he is a healer. It’s not up to him who lives or dies.”
“You should have mentioned that to him sooner,” Crash spat.
A cold chill washed over Arax. “What do you mean?”
“It was the healer who lured Meadow out for Dacquel,” Reef said. “He showed you what the human woman Bertha went through, her memories, but not all of her memories. He decided all humans were bad if they could treat their own so cruelly. He set Meadow up so she ran. I followed, but Dacquel was too close.”
“How do you know this?” Arax demanded.
Reef stepped beside her brother. “I am privy to your portals and ours.”
“You opened the portal for your brother.”
“Yes. Dacquel is too strong. I couldn’t help your daughter or your mate. Dacquel took them away, but as far as I know he let them live. I went right to Crash. We were on our way here when Trax came for me.”
“Why would you help?”
Trax stepped beside Reef and held her hand. “Because I love Reef. She will be aunt to Neola and sister-in-law to Meadow. The healer will never get his hands on her or any offspring we have. Crash has agreed to accept me if you won’t.”
There was defiance in his brother. Arax had known his brother loved a female, but a mixed female? Now he declared he wanted her as a mate? When had his baby brother grown up? It occurred to him his baby brother grew up long before Arax gained maturity. Now he knew why Trax had been away for so long. It pained him to think his brother would switch sides. Sighing, Arax took responsibility. His little brother shouldn’t have had to go elsewhere for acceptance.
“Lock the healer up. Reef, I would be grateful if you would take me to my mate and my daughter.”
“We’re all going,” Crash said. “Your brother will be family. Dacquel needs to be stopped. We’re going to need a strong hold for that prick.”
“I have the perfect place for that son of a bitch and his followers,” Arax said. “Have no doubt, he will be caught. If he’s hurt my family, I’ll kill the bastard.”
Chapter 8
Meadow sat inside a massive underwater cave on a ledge where she could breathe air, watching Dacquel warily. She understood better what it meant to mind battle, but too late because Dacquel had her in a place where she couldn’t kill him. She would be trapped. She would never reach the surface alone without aid. Dacquel had taken her deep into the ocean while her brain recovered from the assault the being had inflicted. She was also making some interesting discoveries from said battle. Her newfound enhanced brain was trying to deal with the knowledge she didn’t know she could possess.
Regardless of the enhancements, she couldn’t strike out on her own. Drowning wasn’t an option. But she could enjoy some sport as she got her images under control. A big ass lightning bolt came to mind. As Dacquel approached she mind zapped him and he stumbled back.
“You will cease or the child will be harmed.”
“Neola isn’t down here, and I have no clue if she’s alive. Why would I do anything you say until I had proof?” She remained as calm as possible, but there was a niggling in her mind the baby was safe. She didn’t know how she knew, but she did. She wondered how much the alien had altered her brain.
When Dacquel swore in a strange language Meadow was surprised she understood him. Dacquel stood and sneered, but she tossed him back again.
“She is alive but won’t be for long, you bitch. You will tire, I know it. Arax will never find you.”
“We can play this game all day. Arax is leader of the water warriors. Do you really think you can keep me hidden in the ocean? No wonder you can’t mind battle, you are a dumb ass. Bring me my daughter, unharmed, or the floor and your ass will have a love affair like no other.”
“You bitch.”
“You have no idea. And we’ve covered that quality in me.”
Meadow enjoyed her new talent and smashed Dacquel up against a rock. She yawned. Her temples began to throb, and she wondered how long she could keep him at bay. When he changed into a megalodon beast she crept into a crevice and hummed. His overwhelming size took up a great deal of space in the cave. The idea of blasting out of his mouth wasn’t pleasant. Avoidance seemed to be called for.
“Come out,” Dacquel exploded. His booming shark voice ricocheted off the walls. She waited for the echo to cease.
“Nope.”
“You will do as I say.”
“Nope.”
“I will kill the child.”
“Nope.”
At his approach Meadow scooted further back. He’d never fit, even in his massive humanoid form. A small indentation gave her a reprieve from his ugly face. Dacquel smashed again and again at the cubby she’d hidden in. The floor shook from his furious determination. Rocks crumbled first as a small cascade, building in magnitude until larger rocks fell. Meadow lifted her arms to shield her head. Her mind tossed as many of the rocks away as possible, but Dacquel was out of control. A larger boulder cracked and fell, and at the last moment she deflected most of it. Meadow was still hit and went down hard. The upper part of her body was now visible to him.
She heard Dacquel laughing. He changed back into his smaller form and reached for her, tugging on her arm before stopping short. Her last effort to throw him back onto his ass was short lived as he jumped to his feet. He was enraged. Then suddenly he left her line of vision.
Meadow closed her eyes. She was in agony. Her skull was on fire. Blood oozed between her fingers when she reached a shaky hand to touch her sodden hair, her mind growing hazy. There was too much blood. The red substance dripped down her wrist to pool on the floor. Head wounds bled a great deal, but Meadow knew there was something seriously wrong. Parts of her body stopped working. An idea formed; the only reason she was still alive and able to think was because he
r mind was altered. The being who’d attacked her mind, the being she had killed, had given her something that was saving her, but not for much longer.
A sudden burst of excited war play filled the air and Meadow opened her eyes, shifted slightly, and peeked out. She saw Dacquel struggling with Arax and Crash and many others. Meadow soon discovered the enormity of Arax’s power over water at his disposal. No wonder he was a water warrior, he battled with water. Meadow had seen him play games, make innocuous images, entertain Neola and her, but this was war. Deadly took on a new meaning.
Dacquel had changed back into his ancient shark form. Waves rose up to make harpoons, hammering against Dacquel’s flesh. Razor-sharp teeth formed in the cloudy white caps of the water Arax manipulated. The set of teeth latched onto Dacquel, drawing blood. Before long the others stood back when they realized rage fueled Arax, he needed no help. The massive megalodon’s head snapped back as he was pummeled. Blood dripped from his sides and oozed from his gills. Rows of his teeth were shattered and scattered across the cave floor, one landing near Meadow who marveled at the size.
Her mate, her warrior, was pissed. He unleashed his power repeatedly. Meadow was dying and yet she smiled, thinking this, his awesome skills, was definitely part of the boasting arrogance he was right about. Arax was his own hell. Dacquel didn’t stand a chance, and if he survived he would be stupid to try her mate’s patience again. Neola would be safe. In true mother form, that was the only thought that mattered to Meadow. Her eyes fluttered.
“Where is my mate?” Arax screamed, making Meadow jump. “Give her back to me or I’ll take you apart piece by fucking piece.”
Fucking? He really is pissed.
“I should have killed her when I had the chance. She won’t be as lucky next time.”
Wave after wave smashed into Dacquel until his shark form crumbled. He lay supine, drenched and half-drowned from the aggressive, repeated battering. His body wasn’t in pieces as Arax had threatened, but he was a broken being. The battle was over and Dacquel, out of his megalodon appearance, and unable to change back, was gasping in large breaths. Arax had won, and Meadow was filled with pride.
My proud water warrior, how brave you are.
“My warriors will come for me,” Dacquel said and groaned.
“Why don’t we take you to them?” Arax said. “Meadow?” he bellowed as he spun in a tight circle.
When Meadow emerged, trying to crawl from her hole, Arax took her into his arms.
“Neola?” she asked.
“She’s fine. Our beloved is fine. Meadow?”
A thought had formed in her mind that Neola was fine, perhaps she was right about the alien altering her thoughts, but it was nice to hear it confirmed.
“I’m too tired.”
“You’re injured. Meadow, my little starfish, what did he do to you?”
Meadow felt bad, he sounded so sad as he cradled her to him. She wanted to reassure him, but her mouth couldn’t form words anymore. She was safe and finally in the arms of her mate. Slowly, his image began to fade. Arax stroked her hair. Her last sight was his large hand covered in dripping blood as he changed into his warrior form. He haloed her face with bubbles before plunging them into the ocean. She felt his power as he sluiced faster than she thought possible. Finally, she gave in to the darkness.
* * * *
Arax ran with Meadow in his arms. He raced for the healing chamber. The healer was there, brought by sent word. The absolute guilt on his face was prominent.
“If you place her in there, she will revert like Bertha. You will be left with two charges,” the healer said.
Arax glared at him. “Look at her. The blow has split her skull. She is dying. I would rather lose my mate and gain a child than lose her altogether.”
“Humans are evil. You saw.”
“When did your mind become so warped with hate? I saw what was done to Bertha, not my little Neola. I saw the evil inflicted on Bertha. She never hurt another. You are directly responsible for the harm caused my mate. Because of you Neola will lose a mother. A wonderful, loving mother. Now fix her, you bastard. Fix her, or so help me they will never find your body.”
Gingerly, Arax lowered Meadow into the chamber. He placed his hand onto her forehead. The pain in his chest was unbearable. The irony of his situation hit home. Now he knew how Titus might feel if Bertha were to be returned to him in infancy. Only Arax would now live it.
“I will wait no matter how long it takes for you to love me again. You will never know fear or pain, my little starfish.”
Arax lowered the chamber lid. The tears flowing from his eyes blinded him. The healer set the machine in motion under Arax’s glaring, heated gaze that was reflected back to him off the machine. The clicks and grinds of the engine started. Arax knew Meadow had broken her arm at five, but she didn’t explain how. She said she was too young to remember. Or she had blocked the memory. Arax wasn’t certain if it her first injury, but he would find out. The machine’s memory board was set up and attached to the machine—it had been used recently. Arax and the healer watched the screen. Her memories fled backward.
Arax cringed when her first memory was of the astounding attack of the Angano. He puzzled for a mere moment, thinking the last attack suffered was from Dacquel. Hands held to her head as though on fire, she battled the winged alien creature, knowing if she died Neola would die. With blinding rage for their endangered child, she struck back at the being while the bastard Dacquel laughed. The burning Angano filtered to ash and the memory ceased as Arax caught his breath. She had battled and won for their child. His heart filled with pride. He may lose his mate, but she would remain spirited. That wasn’t something anyone could take from Meadow.
Arax clutched at his chest, caught by surprise, when the monitor revealed her frightened agony after being hit by the boulder. The insides of the small cave were hammered repeatedly by Dacquel. She did her best to reflect the rock, but it was too large. The rock would have killed a lesser human; the Angano must have altered her thoughts and abilities. If that was so, there was no telling where her memories might take them. She lay on the floor in her own blood, fingers a small waggle while reaching for Arax as she watched him fight Dacquel. Fear shone in her eyes, but it was for him. She was dying, and yet her thoughts were focused on Arax. My proud water warrior, how brave you are.
A lump formed in Arax’s throat as the memories moved on. This was the first time he had ever heard memory thoughts come to life in his own mind. I can hear her words. He cast a fast glance to the healer who also appeared bemused. The deck of a vessel came into play. Being onboard the ship and being injured by pirates was the next injury the machine fixed. A large pirate shoved her to her knees and blood dotted a shin. Arax fisted his hands.
The prick is lucky he’s already dead.
“You see they are all evil.” The healer sounded smug.
“Silence,” Arax snapped.
It hurt to watch his mate flung to the ground, battered over the two years on that miserable vessel day in day out. Her rebellious nature gave him little comfort when she endured a hard open hand to her cheek, making it blaze red. So much suffering and yet his mate persevered. Arax seethed. Never again would she bare the marks of violence.
I will not lose my humanity. Her thoughts again popped into his head when a frozen, skin cracked and starving Meadow handed food rations to a woman and her children. The pain she endured when she snuck food out a portal, risking the wrath of so many. Back farther she went in her memories, boarding the ship for the first time, her fears, her hopes, the tiny room she shared with others. The first night a storm smashed her into a bed, but she said not a word. Many were injured, some lost. Terror was alive in the air. Her eyes dripped quiet, lonely tears, nothing more, and Arax sucked in his breath when he heard the word of each tear.
I’m strong, the others need help.
Back her memories spiraled to when she fell from a tree, injuring her ankle as a teen. Her mother was there,
lifting her into her arms. Meadow wasn’t sobbing. As she struggled to rise on an obviously twisted ankle, she was laughing. The loving endearment of her mother’s touch to her cheek was familiar. Meadow used the gesture on Neola a number of times. Meadow was forever running her fingertip down the side of his cheek like Meadow’s mother did to her. The gesture was one of love. She must have loved him from the beginning.
Back again the machine spun until she turned five. Arax held his breath. The machine had slowed. This would be her last memory of a significant injury. The day was beautiful. Meadow and her father played in a large, forested area. The animal that attacked wasn’t known to Arax. He had seen a cat before, but this was the largest cat he had ever encountered. Dark eyes of death made his skin crawl when the tawny beast screamed. Meadow’s father was knocked to the ground when the beast went for the more vulnerable victim. Powerful jaws snapped Meadow’s arm. In a blind rage, her father jumped up and stabbed the beast. Razor claws slashed the man to a bloody mess. So too was the animal. The pair were well-matched.
The beast lay on its belly while the man bellowed repeatedly that nothing was allowed to harm his baby. Not my baby. Unbidden, the memory of beating Dacquel thundered into his mind. Arax had wanted his mate, needed to know where his Meadow was. The man didn’t stop until the beast didn’t move, as Arax hadn’t stopped until Dacquel could move no more. In the end, both human and animal succumbed to injuries and died. Arax had lived, and he vowed he would take care of this man’s baby. Forever.
Arax wasn’t the only one to have tears streaming down his face as the memories stopped and the machine clicked to a halt. The healer was sobbing.
“You see,” Arax said quietly. “Not all humans are evil.”
“I didn’t know. But I see that now.”
Angry, Arax turned to him. “What of Reef’s mother? What evil did she do?”
The healer blanched. “What will you do with me?”
“I haven’t decided.”
Arax motioned a warrior near. He took the healer away. Arax wanted to be alone. He took a deep breath and dried his eyes. Meadow would be frightened, she would want her mother and father. All she had was Arax. He planned on being the best of both parents to her. The moment of truth was upon them. Arax opened the chamber ready to reach for the five-year-old to soothe her. Pure white smoke filtered and cleared. Meadow lay naked, the machine had totaled her clothing—and left her body unchanged. Arax blinked. His mate stretched, yawned, and smiled at Arax.
In His Alien Hands Page 9
