by S. L. Morgan
Levi directly went to his saddle bag, unraveling the leather straps that held it together.
“Son, we must keep going,” Navarre said as he and Harrison approached.
“I will not arrive at a location for our safety with my wife dead in my arms,” Levi returned. “If you wish to move on, then go.”
“Uncle, we may be safe in this location for the time being,” Harrison added. “As you mentioned when we stopped, we haven’t seen any signs of life or creatures for hours.”
Navarre rubbed the back of his neck thoughtfully. “Very well.”
Levi glanced back at the men. “There is trout in the water. She can safely eat it raw; therefore, we can keep our location concealed without having to create a fire.”
Levi reached for a branch of a tree, broke it off, and began stripping it of its leaves with his dagger. Harrison and Navarre followed Levi’s actions by fashioning spears from tree branches and attaching their daggers to the tip of them with leather ties.
“Spearfishing,” Harrison chuckled. “This might be illegal in this part of the world, you know.”
Levi finished wrapping his dagger to the long stick. “Call the cops,” he said dryly as he walked back toward the river.
By the time Harrison and Navarre completed their spears, Levi had already speared a fish and returned to where Reece lay sleeping in Angeline’s lap. Levi brought another dagger out and began carefully cleaning the fish and preparing small bites for Reece. Little by little, Reece accepted the raw fish that Levi was feeding her, sipping on water after each bite.
“She will start coming around soon,” he informed Angeline as Harrison and Navarre approached with their catches.
As they all sat together, eating and allowing the horses to graze and rest, Harrison looked over at Angeline as she forced the raw fish into her mouth.
“My lovely Angeline,” Harrison said after swallowing a bite. “It appears as though all of your dreams have come true.”
Angeline looked at Harrison as if he had lost his mind. “I am eating raw fish in the wilderness as we dodge evil creatures. Please enlighten me as to which part of the adventure we are on that is fulfilling my wildest dreams.”
Harrison grinned. “You have always desired to join the Guardians in protecting Earth, you highly enjoy the planet, and now,” he laughed with disbelief, “it is your new home.”
Levi sighed. “Let us hope that is not the case, my friend.”
Navarre stood after hearing a rustling in the bushes, prompting the horses to become uneasy.
Levi and Harrison followed Navarre’s lead, studying the bushes around them. All men had drawn their swords as they walked toward the foliage. Before they could take another step, a rabbit leapt out of the bushes and scurried into the forest.
All three men sighed in unison, forcing a laugh from Harrison.
“This is absurd,” he blurted out. “This is how we must live on this desolate planet? In fear?”
“Until we can find a way out of this situation, nephew, I am afraid we cannot trust any noises or beings of any kind,” Navarre responded.
Levi solemnly looked at both men. “We will destroy Mordegrin. Of that, I am sure now. Reece is recovering, it is best that we be on our way. We need to settle into a location and start figuring out how we will locate and destroy him. Reece may not be in possession of the stone’s powers, but there is hope that with the Olteniaus genetics within her, she can help us in some way to destroy him.”
Navarre nodded his head in agreement. “We will not lose hope in her or our cause. We have been charged to protect Earth, and we will find a way to uphold our duties.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Reece had been in and out of consciousness for the last few hours. She was extremely exhausted, but she understood the severity of their situation. She let out a cry of relief when the journey through the rugged mountain terrain had finally come to an end, and they spotted an old abandoned cabin on the banks of a river. The thickly wooded area that they traveled through opened up to pastures and tall trees surrounding their location.
After they had dismounted the horses, the men inspected the cabin. Surprisingly, the cabin was in better condition on the inside than it was on the outside. Dust covering the neglected furniture in the room was really the only sign to show everyone that no one had occupied the home for quite some time. They entered one of the four small rooms, and Reece shrieked in horror when she saw the remains of the previous occupant lying on the bed.
Levi left Reece’s side to examine the skeletal remains. “The human appears to have met his demise quite a few years back,” he said as he took his dagger and moved the bones, which lay underneath dusty, worn out overalls and a flannel shirt.
“We shall give him a proper burial on this land,” Navarre interjected. “Living in a cabin so very secluded, I would not be surprised if he had been withdrawn from civilization. No one would have ever known of his death. It seems he may have passed in his sleep.”
“There’s a happy ending!” Harrison quipped.
Reece felt much more energized, but still somewhat weak. When she leaned against the wall for support, Angeline was directly at her side.
“You are quite pale,” Levi said as his eyes roamed over her face.
“I’m feeling better, just a little weak,” Reece sighed.
Angeline brought her arm through Reece’s. “You men go deal with properly burying that poor man. Reece and I shall get some fresh air before we look for some things to start cleaning this place up.”
The men walked out onto the porch with Navarre, who carried a folded up sheet in his arms. He looked back at Harrison and Levi. “We cannot be positive that we are in complete isolation here. Levi, take Areion and my stallion and do a perimeter search of this location. Harrison, I need you to stay as close to the ladies as possible and be prepared for anything to arrive at any time. We cannot be so sure that Celosia and her warriors aren’t searching for us. I will return to help once I have finished giving this human a proper burial.”
Levi knelt before Reece, who was sitting on the porch next to Angeline. “I will return soon. If you begin to feel ill, let Harrison know immediately. I should be in close enough range for him to telepathically communicate with me.”
Reece covered his cheek with her hand. “I’m going to be fine, quit worrying so much.”
Levi stood and turned back to Areion. After he swiftly climbed onto the horse’s back, he was off and disappeared into the forest that surrounded them.
Reece looked over at Angeline and smiled. “Shall we get to work on cleaning this place up?”
“One thing for sure is that this place isn’t going to clean itself,” Harrison said as he walked around from the side of the cabin with a large metal pail, a broken handled broom, and a frayed mop. “Have at it, ladies.”
Angeline and Reece stood in unison. “Why don’t you make yourself useful, darling?” Angeline said wryly. “Why don’t you remove all the bedding and find a way to clean them so we can rest in some comfort tonight?”
“On wet bedding?” Harrison eyed the area. “How do you suppose we dry them, lovely Angeline?” he taunted.
“I am quite certain you are clever enough to figure something out. Your cunning is half the reason I married you, you know.” Angeline had winked at her husband before she and Reece turned into the cabin.
It didn’t take as much time as Reece had imagined to freshen up the cabin. Soaps and cleaners had been stored in a closet, along with other supplies, making the job much easier than anticipated. After Levi had returned with reports that there were no signs of any danger to them in the vicinity, he assisted Harrison in making clotheslines to hang the bedding on to dry. After Harrison found an old washboard, Reece and Angeline couldn’t resist the urge to sneak around the cabin to watch him scrubbing the linens.
Navarre located a root cellar underneath the cabin and noticed the location where the former occupant had planted a garden when he was alive
. Together, everyone worked tirelessly to get the cabin in a livable condition.
Reece swung a broom hard into one of the rugs she had been cleaning, and she was startled after she turned to find Levi beaming at her.
“Levi, after everything we’ve been through, you know I hate it when you sneak up on me. Why must you insist—”
Levi’s lips silenced her momentarily. “Forgive me,” he said as he brushed her hair out of her face. “Harrison and I are going to be down by the river. Hopefully, we will catch enough fish for our dinner tonight.”
Reece sighed, as the day of cleaning this cabin was finally catching up with her. “That sounds wonderful. I really am starving. Eating dried fruit all day is getting kind of old.”
Levi rubbed along her arm. “You and Angeline have been at this nonstop. Perhaps you should relax in the cabin for a while.”
Reece rubbed her dusty forehead. “I can’t relax. Tell me I’m a spoiled brat, but being covered in dust all day makes me want a shower more than I ever have wanted one in my life.”
Levi looked beyond her at the river. “Until we can figure out a way to repair that water wheel and bring power into the cabin as it once had, you may consider bathing yourself in the river,” he said hopefully. “I will have Harrison remain at the cabin while I watch over you.”
“Just go get us something to eat. I’m sure I’ll survive,” she teased.
“Certainly, Reece.” Harrison stepped out toward their direction, with his horse trailing behind. “Which fast food restaurant would you prefer?”
Reece eyed Harrison. “Very funny.”
That evening after finishing the meal Levi and Harrison successfully caught, the group sat around flickering candles and tried to enjoy their momentary reprieve.
Navarre chucked another piece of wood into the fireplace and leaned forward, bringing his attention to where Reece sat at Levi’s side. “Reece, where did Mordegrin take you, and how is it that you no longer have the power of the stone?”
It was the first time anyone had an opportunity to discuss what happened when they had split up. She looked at Levi, remembering the wound on his neck and wondering what he had gone through himself.
She cleared her throat and remained focused on answering Navarre. “After Mordegrin had brought me to the great pyramids in Egypt, I battled him the best I could, but he was more powerful. Everything happened so quickly. When he drained the stone’s powers from me and destroyed the stone, I was sure he might kill me. But he sent me—”
“To a location where he knew we would find you and realize that we are helpless now,” Levi interrupted. “He wants us to know that we are at his mercy.”
“It may feel that way, yes,” Navarre said. “But you both have proven you can overcome Mordegrin’s torture.”
“And that is why we will somehow be victorious,” Harrison added as he draped an arm around Angeline and plopped a boot up on the table before him. “That wicked fool is not wise to allow us time to think and plan a way to end him.”
“Harrison, I have no powers,” Reece said.
“You need to do some meditation or something of that nature.” He nodded toward her and Levi. “You kissed Levi and transferred the stone’s location into his mind before you ever touched the stone. You also have the ability to impress your thoughts into Levi’s mind.”
“He is correct, Reece,” Navarre added. “You may not feel it within you now, but you were exercising abilities before you received the stone’s powers.”
“What is it that you want me to do? Create a new stone?” Reece laughed incredulously.
Levi shifted and looked directly at Reece. “If your ancestor was able to create such a thing, you may have the ability to do so as well.”
Reece fidgeted with her hands. “I will do my best.” She glanced around the room. “I suppose it is our only option to get out of this place.”
They continued to debrief each other on everything that had occurred since they were forced out of Pemdas. All of it was surreal, and Reece knew that now more than ever she had to search deep within her to try and pull out whatever abilities she naturally had without the enhancement of the stone.
As she curled up on the stiff mattress next to Levi, she struggled to sleep, even though she was exhausted.
“Levi?” she whispered as she reached up and ran her fingers through his wavy hair.
“I figured you would be sound asleep by now.” He looked over at her.
“How can we be so sure that Mordegrin will not send anything out to kill us?”
“We cannot.”
“Then why are we going to bed like nothing could rush through the doors of this place at any moment and kill us all?”
Levi twisted to face her and brought his hand to her face. “Is that why you are struggling to sleep?”
“How can anyone sleep? Why isn’t someone staying up and standing guard or something?”
“You do realize that there is a group of war horses outside, and if they sense any form of danger approaching, we will definitely be alerted to it.”
She licked her dry lips. “Do you think Marian is okay? What if Mordegrin has destroyed the galaxy where your father sent everyone?”
“You cannot allow your mind to be consumed with so much negativity.” He smiled warmly. “Try to focus on the fact that we have overcome much together, and we will do it again.” He kissed her lips, letting his lips linger for a moment before bringing her into a tighter embrace. “Please try to rest.”
Reece sighed and let the security of Levi’s strong body comfort her. She closed her eyes and envisioned them back at their home in Pemdas. Her mind was filled with images of them strolling Marian through their gardens, Mozart skipping and flying around the habitat Levi created for him, and any other positive memory she could conjure up. Those images were the last thing she remembered before three hard knocks resonated through the small room where they slept.
Levi lurched from the bed and jerked the door open, wearing nothing but the flannel pants that Reece and Angeline found along with other clothes neatly folded in drawers.
“Harrison?” he questioned. “What is wrong?”
“There is an announcement that must be made, and I’m afraid my wife and I have waited long enough.” He brought his arm around Angeline.
Levi exhaled. “Very well, but given the situation we are currently in, do you not believe it would be wise to be less dramatic? Even the sun has not yet risen.”
Reece got out of bed and rushed to the door, riddled with excitement. Navarre stood behind the couple with a proud expression.
“I’m with Levi. I thought we were under attack; but please, what’s the news?”
“Last evening, Angeline and I heard the heartbeats resonating from within her womb,” Harrison said cheerfully. “She is carrying two babies!”
“Twins!” Reece giggled as she reached out to Angeline and hugged her tightly. “This is so wonderful to hear!”
Levi shook Harrison’s hand. “Congratulations to both of you. This is fantastic news indeed,” he said as he brought an arm around Angeline.
“I believe Harrison is about to have his work cut out for him. This might be nature’s way of paying him back for being such a mischievous child.” Navarre laughed. He looked at Angeline and Harrison. “Congratulations again, to both of you. This news has served to give me hope that life for all of us will indeed go on, and we will find a way back to our families and put an end Mordegrin’s threat to our world.”
“I agree,” Reece said, feeling more determined than ever to start the process of wakening her abilities within her.
“Two young princes shall soon join not only us but also all of our families when we reunite with them!” Harrison declared proudly.
Levi grinned. “Indeed, I believe my father is correct!” He clapped Harrison on his shoulder. “Knowing that you are about to raise two young boys gives me much satisfaction. This surely will be a delight to watch.”
Angel
ine intertwined her fingers with Harrison’s. “We both will hold you and Emperor Navarre to those words!” She kissed Harrison on his cheek.
That afternoon, the men were dressed in more clothes that Angeline and Reece and found. All wore flannel shirts, and all of the men had to roll their sleeves up because they were much too short for them. Reece laughed at the realization that all this man had worn were denim overalls and flannel shirts. The men had transformed from their impressive Guardian attire into rural farming attire, and Reece couldn’t restrain her laughter.
“Laugh it up, Reece,” Harrison said as he tugged on the straps of his overalls. “You are wearing flannel, too, you know.”
Reece brought her arm around Levi, ignoring Harrison. “Be safe on your patrol this morning, you handsome lumberjack.”
Levi arched a brow and brushed a finger over her nose before kissing her. “Perhaps if you focused extra hard on your meditations today, you could help us destroy Mordegrin sooner than later, and I can wear more suitable clothing.”
“I think we bring this attire to life,” Harrison said as he stepped down off the porch. “If I’m honest, I quite like the liberation I feel while wearing these overalls. Sometimes a man needs to not be so constricted.”
“Good.” Levi walked out toward Areion. “Perhaps the comforts of your attire will help you speed up your work, and you will have fixed that water wheel by the time I return.”
Levi hoisted himself up on Areion, Arrow at his side. “I shall return with any news in a while.” He winked at Reece, and then both horses raced off toward the woods.
Reece folded her arms and inhaled deeply. “How am I supposed to meditate in this environment?” she said, studying the menacing sky above them.
“For starters,” Harrison picked up a bucket of tools, “quit staring at the gloomy sky that Mordegrin has created. Close your eyes and think about the beauty of the sky in Pemdas.”
Reece smiled down at him. “Go fix the water wheel!”
