by C. J. Parker
“Where are Hylton and Stephen?” Troy asked.
“They stayed in the trees keeping watch,” Derek answered.
Dragging a chair from the dining room to one of the windows, Troy spared a glance in Derek’s direction then returned his gaze to their surroundings. “This isn’t about you, Derek. This is all about them.”
Kangee nodded toward the bedroom where the women were. “The prophecy has been around nearly since the beginning of time. The Protectors have been around as long. You heard earlier about the story of Cain and Abel?”
Derek nodded.
“When Cain slew Abel, God cursed him to wander the earth, knowing anyone who saw him would hate him.” Troy stretched out his legs and crossed his ankles. “His sin was passed to his children and to their children. God knew the time would come when human kind would turn on those with the mark, so the Sentinels, or protectors, were appointed. We’re born in the human world, but we’re different. We know who we’re supposed to protect, but I screwed up and lost Rhonda. When her mother gave her up for adoption, all record of her ended. I never stopped searching.”
Kangee moved from the windowsill to sit on the chair watching his new friends. “The prophecy says when Cain’s curse is brought to an end, the brothers will rise again to amend the sin. What the prophecy doesn’t tell us is how it will be amended. Will Abel exact revenge with the blood of his brother or will he walk away and forgive?”
“Cain and Abel are supposed to walk the earth again and the time table seems to be now,” Troy continued.
“How?” Derek frowned, glancing from Kangee to Troy. “Did someone like Tabatha bring them back?”
Kangee was content to allow Troy tell the tale. He’d have his own soon enough.
“No.” Troy leaned back in his chair. “No one knows who they will be, but they are supposed to be born again. Not as the Bible mentions being born again, but actual rebirth.”
“Oh, I get it. You mean like reincarnation.” Derek nodded.
“Not exactly, but close enough.”
“The war to end all wars.” Derek swiped at his face with his hands.
The walls were closing in on Kangee. He stood and stepped out onto the front porch. Winds whipped the trees, but the rain had stopped. The water swirled around the stilts of the house. The storm inside him churned fiercer then anything a mere hurricane could throw at him.
Something stared out of the forest at him, no man, no creature, but something tangible, full of sorrow and wrath. Was there forgiveness for him? Would there ever be? And what would he have to sacrifice for it?
Kangee had realized his past identity when Aetheria showed him killing his brother, Abel. He remembered the blood, the shame, the grief of what he’d done. But most of all he remembered the fear of God’s wrath. His shame tightened his chest.
His head hanging low, Kangee returned to the living room and settled cross-legged on the floor.
Silence stretched out in the room. “Maybe we should get some rest.” Derek moved toward the couch.
“I am Cain,” Kangee could barely raise his tone from the grief swirling inside of him.
That comment seemed to knock the air from Derek’s lungs. “What?”
“You can’t know such a thing, Kangee.” Troy walked to his side.”
“I realized it in the Council House. I watched them play out the scene, and I felt my hand holding the stone. I felt the warmth…of my brother’s blood on my hand. No matter my remorse, I knew God would be angry.”
A great sob tightened his chest, but Kangee refused to let the men see his weakness. “I swear, I didn’t know the punishment would be passed to my bloodline for all the centuries.”
Troy shook his head. “We were all affected watching it, my friend.”
Kangee cut across Rhonda’s protector with a hard gaze. “The same way?”
Troy opened and closed his mouth, but no answer came.
The door to the bedroom opened and Aetheria stepped out.
Kangee stood and faced her. “Mother, I want the truth. Am I Cain?”
She stared at him for long minutes. “You have Cain’s spirit in you, Kangee, yes. However, the choices you made in another life are separate from those you make in this one. We all are given free will. Remember that, son.”
Kangee heaved a wearisome sigh. “Did you heal Rhonda?”
Aetheria tilted her head to the side. “Do you doubt my skills now?”
“No.” He shook his head. “Never that.”
Kangee watched the emotions play across Derek’s face and his shoulders slumped. Kangee braced for Derek’s judgment.
“If it means anything,” Derek looked him squarely in the eyes, “I think you’re a good man, Kangee. Whether you are Cain or not remains to be seen, but it makes no difference to me. I have very few friends, I’m proud to count you as one.”
“Thank you.” From the corner of his eyes, Kangee saw his mother nod with a slight smile.
“Were Verdun or that other man hurt?” Aetheria glanced out past the doorway. “Did we draw blood?”
“Phelps is dead. Bobbie killed him. And two other men are dead.” Troy turned guarded eyes to his fellow Sentinel. His reaction to Kangee’s announcement remained well hidden and made Kangee wonder what was going through his mind. “Verdun got a cut on his lower neck. He will heal.”
Aetheria nodded sagely. “Verdun believes he was cheated, and he will not give up until he feels he’s been repaid.”
Movement in the courtyard drew Troy’s attention. “We’ve got company.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Verdun slammed the door of his Lexus so hard the window cracked. He settled onto the leather driver’s seat and heaved a great sigh. “You cowardly son of a bitch. You held back and let us do the fighting. Dean and the twins are dead. You’d better have a damned good excuse.”
Sagar settled against the seat with calm ease. “I wasn’t expecting to see Bainbridge and Jackman there.”
The pressure in Verdun’s head increased with his rage. “Who are they? Why are you afraid of them?”
“I’m not afraid of anyone! They’re…just men I know. The agreement was to eliminate the girls, maybe that birdman, Kangee. Those men were not part of the deal. This is getting out of hand, Verdun. I want no part in murdering normal humans.”
Verdun shoved his finger against Sagar’s chest. “Bainbridge and Jackman should have chosen their girlfriends with more care then, shouldn’t they?”
“Having monsters as girlfriends isn’t enough incentive to warrant murdering the men.” Sagar slapped Verdun’s hand away.
“You, the new Lord of the Guardians, are getting sticky over whom you’ll kill?” Verdun scoffed. “Did you think twice about killing that old woman in her jail cell? How do you think Tabatha Gray will react when she finds out what you did? I wonder if she’ll think twice about cutting your dick off?”
“How’s she going to find out? As far as the authorities are concerned, Nyssa died of complications from her injuries. And good riddance.” Sagar leaned forward to straighten his jacket.
“We’ll get this done. But let me get those men out of there. They have no idea who they’ve got themselves mixed up with. And you,” Sagar pointed his index finger at Verdun, “are more responsible than anyone. You brought those men to fight but told them to stay back. What was that about? If you want this to be some kind of revenge, then send everyone home and take care of this by yourself. But I’m getting Derek and Troy out of there.”
“How did you get where you are being so stupid?” Verdun turned the key, slammed the car into gear and sped away sending mud flying up behind the car. “You think once they find out who you are they’ll suddenly change sides?” The car slid sideways nearly slipping into the gutter.
“Be careful! I want to get out of here before Mona hits us full force, but I’d also like to do it without flying head first into a tree.” Sagar reached behind him to grasp the seat belt. “If you ask me, this was the epitome
of stupidity, coming out here with a storm bearing down on us. What did that girl take from you that’s so special?”
“My position. My respect. My cl…” He bit his tongue. Can’t slip. The son of a bitch would go off on him if he knew he was shifter. That fucking bitch, Bobbie. But not only her. Her brother, her father, her grandfather. They took everything away from me. Not good enough.
“You’re speaking in riddles. Those abominations need to be wiped from the face of the earth. Freaks of nature.”
Verdun swallowed the rage building into a volcanic eruption deep within his gut. When this was over, he’d show Sagar what a freak of nature was capable of. He’d wish he’d never been born. “I was the tainted child.” Verdun’s bitterness nearly choked him. “That woman and her brother were his precious ‘whole’ children. The offspring of the true blood. I wasn’t good enough to rule, he said. Only a half-blood.”
“Half-blood? You mean you’re only half Indian?”
Verdun’s heart skipped a beat. Almost let the cat out of the swamp on that comment, Verdun. Be cool. “You wouldn’t understand.”
“Okay. I’ll buy that. The white man has never really understood your people. Red man, white man, always trouble.” Sagar nodded. “So, what’s the hurry? Why does it have to be tonight?”
“In the writings of my ancestors is a prophecy of a moon known as Noom Revo Su. Tonight is that moon.” Tonight, he would take his rightful place as King Moran. “The older I got, the more I thought it was a story to frighten small children into behaving. But what if it’s real? What if it happens tonight and I miss my last chance?”
“Gather your men. Do what you have to do, but Derek and Troy aren’t to be harmed. Do you understand me?” Sagar shifted his gaze to the right. “The water is rising out of the swamps onto the road. Move it.”
Verdun pressed down on the accelerator. “Where’s that worthless nephew of yours?”
Sagar shrugged, a gentle roll of muscle across his shoulders. “Probably with that slut he sleeps with. I swear we’re going to have to give him a bath in penicillin. Don’t you worry about Cuda. He’ll be there when you need him. I trained him well, Verdun. Have no doubt about that.”
~~~
Bobbie’s house filled to standing room only with the arrival of Hylton’s cats. Dressed in nothing but loincloths, the men eyed her with wary interest. She wondered if they sensed her most dominant animal, the panther, or if they could smell the snake trying to slither deeper for protection.
The darkening clouds had turned the room into a scene of blacks and grays, colors faded from lack of sun. She glanced at the mantle clock—ten after six. She flipped the light switch, thankful the solar panels had collected enough power to keep them in electricity for the night.
“Welcome to Moran Village. While I thank you from the bottom of my heart, I don’t want trouble. Therefore, there will be a few ground rules I’ll expect you to live by while you’re here.” Bobbie eyed a couple of old cats paying a bit too much attention to Lexie. She moved to stand between the girl and the old men. “This is my daughter, and she is not available.”
“Gads, Mom.” Lexie crossed her arms and rolled her eyes.
The two cats snarled, but jumped as if shot when the front door slammed shut and Stephen strutted past them. “Damn straight. She’s my woman.”
The larger of the two moved forward, eyes narrowed, hands clenched into fists at his side, he appeared ready for a fight.
Stephen didn’t back down. He hunched his shoulders and his gaze hardened in an instant.
The larger cat backed away.
Stephen straightened and strutted over to Lexie’s side.
Bobbie was sure he believed he’d frightened the competition. She smiled and gave a negligible nod of thanks to Hylton who had come up behind Stephen and warned the other cat away.
Hylton laughed stiffly at the other old cat, who didn’t budge, but still stared hungrily at Lexie. “Jonas, you are nearly two-hundred years old. This girl is younger than your great grandchild. Have you lost your senses?” A rumble of agreement rolled among the other cats and the old one turned away.
“I will lay the next ground rule.” Hylton moved to stand with Rhonda, Derek and Tabatha. “These are the queen’s chosen. Besides that, they are her personal friends.”
His eyes narrowed and his face grew hard as he met the gaze of each member of his own clan. “They are not shifters, but they are not Outsiders, either.”
He nodded to Derek, who acknowledged the recognition with a nod of his own. “They are not fodder for your enjoyment. Nor are they on the menu. I have a feeling either of these two women alone could destroy our entire clan with little more than a thought.”
Murmurs traveled through the crowd, as did renewed glances of interest. Hylton relaxed a little. “We owe this clan more then we can ever repay. When we were homeless, we were given not only shelter and food but also land. Given. Not leased.”
He paused as if letting that sink in. “Queen Moran has offered a deed of ownership, not for payment of our help, but merely out of the goodness of her heart. None of you is to take that kindness lightly. Where her brother was a true king, Robertina Luckman is the true queen of our kind.”
Uncomfortable with this kind of praise for simply doing the right thing, Bobbie nodded and quickly changed the subject. “There are pressing things to talk about. I have no doubt they’ll return. Verdun thought he’d find us vulnerable.”
Rhonda raised her hand, drawing everyone’s attention. “The weather report says the storm has lessened in strength to a category four, winds have slowed to one hundred and four miles per hour. It’s expected to hit land at daybreak tomorrow.”
A young man, fair skinned, long blond hair and ice-blue eyes stepped forward. His movements were slow and guarded, resembling a wildcat stalking prey. “What about the surge?”
Rhonda swallowed hard. Whether it was from fear or the raw sexuality the man emitted, Bobbie wasn’t sure. From the heavy mixed scent of copper and musk, she guessed it was a little of both. “Twenty feet, max.”
Hylton ran his fingers over his chin. “How high is this house off the ground?”
Kangee spoke from behind Bobbie. “All the raised homes are exactly twenty feet. There are steel posts driven deep into the ground and they are bolted to steel framing at the bottom and corners of the houses. Only one building will be lost. And its owner has been ousted.”
An old man lowered his head in respect, addressing Bobbie. “My name is Zane. I am Hylton’s second. I am at your service. How may we help?”
“First, we’ve got to spread out. Divide yourself up into the other homes.” Bobbie made her way to the window and looked out. “I suggest you go now. The flooding is getting worse. Feel free to eat any food that remains in the fridges first. Once the power goes out, it will be out for a while and the food will spoil anyway. Everyone was told to fill tubs and any jugs they had handy for when they returned. Don’t waste it. I’m not sure when fresh water will be available after the storm.”
Hylton grinned. “We’re from Texas, Bobbie. We’ve been through a few hurricanes. We’ll be fine. I’ll set lookouts to keep an eye for intruders.”
Bobbie nodded. After making a count, Bobbie came up with one hundred and forty one people. Divided by twenty-one houses, they separated into groups of seven. “The tree house is off limits, but any other raised house is open to your use. We’re full already.”
Hylton laughed. “I think she told us to get out, boys.”
A gray-haired man stepped forward as if to intimidate Bobbie. He looked up and down with dun-colored eyes, nearly hidden under gray bushy eyebrows. “I hate water.”
“We all hate water, Travis.” Hylton rolled his shoulders. “So, let’s go. Make a list of food in each house and how we need to split it up to last for a while.” He walked forward and stopped as if rethinking it. “And remember these homes belong to families, so take care. If you break anything, I’ll break you.”
Travis’ stomach rumbled as he passed Derek and Tabatha sitting on the couch. Derek smiled. “I’m too old and tough. Plus, I bite back.”
With a mighty snort, Travis bared his teeth. “No worries, human. I like birds, myself.” He turned his attention to Kangee.
Kangee hefted the man over his head, carried him to the landing and tossed him over. “Swim home, cat breath. We don’t need you.”
The other cats in the room rose with a rumble to their feet, but Hylton waved them back into their seats.
Working his way back to the stairs, Travis crawled half way up, fury in his dark eyes. He found himself face to face with a Spirit Warrior. He swiped at the phantom and tumbled away, apparently preferring the flood to the thing standing in front of him. “What kind of place is this you’ve brought us to, Hylton? It smells of every animal, and its queen smells of cat and snake and all manner of other creatures.”
“We are the future.” Lexie stood in the doorway. “We will have to bond and not worry about the animal within and gather in number against our enemies. Learning to live and fight together will save us.”
Pride swelled in Bobbie’s heart for her daughter. “Who are you and what did you do with my Lexie?”
Lexie shrugged and smiled. “I…I get it now.”
The sound of a small boat motor sounded in the distance. “Who on earth is that stupid?” Bobbie searched the dark expanse outside the windows to find the source.
A small skiff entered the village. Jebez shut off the motor at the base of the steps and climbed out. “I need to talk to you, Bobbie. Give me five minutes. Alone.”
“What do you want, Jebez?” Lexie stepped forward, followed closely by Ionna. Kangee, Derek and Tabatha circled Bobbie. Hylton and his men moved against the walls. Bobbie didn’t bother to wave them away. “If you’ve been sent to warn us, you can turn around and leave.”
Jebez nodded. “Five minutes.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Bobbie pushed past her “keepers.” “Let her pass. Give us five minutes and then come get whatever is left of her, Kangee.”
