by Marilyn Lee
She inclined her head. “I will await communication from the Alantee.”
Chapter Five
After Lassie disappeared along the trail, Myrika headed off in the opposite direction. She suppressed her desire to seek out Lavea and make love to her. Although she had made the decision to break all ties with the Agency, she and Barroni had worked together for some twenty-five years. For five of those years, Barroni had kept her secret. That prior loyalty drove her on now. She reached the spot where she had left her vehicle and climbed in. Activating her tracking crystal, she started the engine.
* * *
Accompanied by three other Compliance Agents, Barroni emerged from the regional warehouse where their earthbound vehicles were kept. Myrika alighted from a parked vehicle across the street. Barroni turned to the other agents. “Return inside and give us a few moments.”
One of the other agents tensed. “If she’s out of compliance, we should take her.”
Barroni looked at the other agent. “Who said she was not in compliance?”
“If she were, we would not have been dispatched to assist you.”
“That’s right, Leda, you have been dispatched to assist me. Assist me by returning inside.” Dismissing the woman, she crossed the street to face Myrika.
“Have you come to your senses?”
Myrika placed a hand on her shoulder. “For the last twenty-five years, I have been certain of one thing -- that you would be at my side. That assurance has allowed me to forge the reputation I have. Your safety and happiness are important to me. I have come to warn you… to ask you… to beg you to give up your search for Susoma and Kyla. They have formed powerful alliances with beings who will not readily surrender them.”
Barroni narrowed her gaze. “Then they will die! And if you side with them, Myrika, you can expect to share their fate.” She touched Myrika’s hand where it still rested on her shoulder. “I haven’t yet reported your dereliction of duty. If you return now, we’ll forget your brief lapse.”
“I won’t be returning.”
“Come to your senses, Myrika, or you’ll lose everything we’ve both worked so hard to achieve.” She wet her lips. “And I’ll lose you. I don’t want that to happen. Come back, and we’ll forget this ever happened.”
Myrika shook her head. “I regret the loss of our… friendship, but I’ve made my choice.” She took up a combat stance. “Call them out and tell them I await them.”
Barroni shook her head. “Go -- before I change my mind. If we meet again, it will be as enemies.”
Myrika turned and quickly crossed the street.
Barroni watched through a mist of angry, hurt tears as her former lover drove away. She waited a full half-hour before she returned to the warehouse. “Myrika has abandoned her duties.”
Leda stepped forward. “We will pursue her.”
Barroni swung around to stare at her. “Our first duty is to find and retrieve Susoma and Kyla. We have no orders to pursue Myrika.”
“She is out of compliance. Once that is established, it is our duty to --”
Barroni grabbed her arms and stared into her eyes. “Your duty is to do as I tell you! If we encounter Myrika trying to interfere with the completion of our duties, we will do what we need to do. Other than that we will not engage her until we have orders from the Agency to do so.”
Leda inclined her head. “As you say.”
“Yes, as I say! Bear that in mind and this won’t be your last off-world assignment. Now. We’re going to track down Susoma and Kyla. Anyone who gets in our way will be dispatched.”
Leda’s eyes glinted. Barroni sighed. She suspected the other agent thought taking down Myrika would put her on the fast track to building a huge reputation for herself. Some females had to learn everything the hard way.
* * *
Susoma merged her car into the exit lane of the interstate. Once she had made the change, she glanced in her rearview mirror. Two dark SUVs traveling several yards behind her had also merged onto the exit lane. Her hands tightened on the steering wheel. For the last twenty or so miles, both SUVs had mirrored every lane change she made. Her pursuers made no efforts to hide their pursuit.
But then Compliance Agents were notorious for being arrogant. They were no doubt confident of their ability to capture her because she was pregnant. She tightened her lips. Pregnant or not, she was still a daughter of one of Telmira’s strongest citizens. She would die before she allowed herself to be taken.
Keeping her gaze on the dark ribbon of road ahead of her, she drove on, her thoughts racing. Aside from the Alantee who were too far away to arrive in time to help her, there was one other individual on Earth who would come to her aid without reservation or question.
She gripped her crystal in her left hand and cleared her mind. Kyla. Kyla!
* * *
A hand descended on Kyla’s shoulder. “We should leave.”
Kyla stood several hundred yards from the Safe House. She turned to find Rechazes standing behind her. “Has he returned yet?”
“No.”
Kyla sighed, overcome with grief. First she lost her mother, then Susoma did not return after her woman journey, then Eros refused to flee Telmira with her, and now Lassie had deserted her. She swallowed several times, blinking rapidly. “Can we wait a little longer? He might --”
Rechazes squeezed her shoulder. “We should leave. He can take care of himself.”
“So can I.”
“Yes, I’m sure you can, but it is the pleasure and obligation of the Daughters of Takira to shelter and protect the offspring of she who gave so many the courage to follow their convictions.”
Kyla wrapped her arms around her body. She needed something… anything to hold onto. Rechazes put an arm around her shoulders. “I know you have undergone much recently, but you are now among those who would die to protect you. Come and be welcome into the Alantee, sister.”
Kyla nodded and followed Rechazes. As they entered the clearing in front of the Safe House she stopped, her lips parted in startled surprise. Pavala and Jocenta stood facing a tall, naked man with dark eyes and long dark hair, who stood smiling at her. She closed her eyes, but when she opened them, he was still there. It couldn’t be! And yet…
Rechazes tensed beside her. “Do you know him?”
“Yes!”
“He is rather well endowed. I’d better see if there’s something in the Safe House he can wear.”
Kyla nodded. “Eros!” She rushed forward, clinging to him and burying her cheek against his shoulder as the tears flowed. “I’m dreaming again, but hold me anyway.”
Strong, comforting arms closed around her, warm lips pressed against the top of her head. “This is no more a dream than our lovemaking earlier was.”
She lifted her head to look at him. “That wasn’t a… how did you get here?”
He smiled, wiping at her tears. “I came with you.”
“No. Lassie came with…” She stopped. “When Lassie and I were… that was really you?”
“Yes.”
“But how?”
“I am… Lassie.” He frowned. “We’re going to have to talk about that name you’ve given him.”
“Don’t you like it?”
“No.”
“I don’t understand.”
“He and I are one. I’m not sure how or why. I think it’s because I am from Aeolia and on my home planet, many of my kind have Keddi.”
“What are Keddi?”
“They are native to Aeolia. They are living creatures, some of whom are shifters… like me. They are generally very small, but some are very powerful. When they align themselves with an Aeolian, the two share many things. Often the Keddi will be a mirror image of the Aeolian. Sometimes the Keddi will be the opposite, exhibiting qualities or attributes the Aeolian represses. Since I did not have that outlet on Telmira, I think I created Lassie to be everything that I wanted to be, but wasn’t.”
“So when you’re Lassie you’re a
Keddi?”
“Sort of. I know it’s confusing. It’s confusing to me, but Lassie and I are one and the same.”
“But I don’t understand. Why didn’t you or he tell me the truth?”
“I think on some primitive level, I half knew, but I don’t think he knew until we arrived here.”
“Why did he know here and not on Telmira?”
“I don’t know. Maybe it was coming home that triggered the awareness.”
Rechazes touched her arm. “We need to leave now, Kyla.” Rechazes looked at Eros, her gaze moving to linger on his lower body. She held out a pair of pants. “The trip will be less filled with sexual tension if you cover that luscious-looking cock.”
Eros took the pants and pulled them on. Rechazes extended a pair of large shoes. “These are from home and will stretch to fit you.”
“Thank you.”
She nodded and turned to face Kyla. “We have picked up transmissions from communications crystals. The agents have called in reinforcements. We really need to leave. Come.”
Kyla caught her arm. “Who are they going after? Me or Susoma?”
“Susoma. They have a lead on her.”
“Then I will go to her aid.” She turned to Eros. She bit her lip. “You’ll come with me, won’t you?”
He touched her cheek. “I think you’d prefer to have Lassie.”
She sighed in relief. “Yes!”
“We will both come.”
She flushed. “It’s not that I don’t appreciate you as you, Eros. It’s just --”
“That Lassie is more formidable in a fight.”
“I… value you both!”
“I know and I understand.” He smiled. “If I were in danger, I would prefer to have Lassie there as well.”
Pavala stepped forward. “You must come with us, Kyla.”
She shook her head. “No. If Susoma is in trouble, I must go to her aid. There is something you should know about me. Our mother was stronger than most Telmirans, which is why no Compliance Agent was ever able to force her back. When she returned, she did so without the use of physical force.”
“The physical prowess of Takira is well known.”
“Susoma is even stronger.”
“So we have heard.”
“But I am stronger still. If Susoma is in danger, I will go to her aid.” She looked at Pavala. “I will require a vehicle and someone to drive me.”
“Where are you heading?”
Kyla’s shoulders slumped. “I don’t know.”
Eros spoke. “I know where we can find out. I encountered a Compliance Agent while I was gone.”
Pavala and Rechazes tensed. Jocenta looked excited. “Are you sure you were not followed?”
“Yes. No one follows Lassie without his knowledge. This agent has fallen for a vampire fem and is now out of compliance herself. She’ll help us.”
Pavala stared into his eyes. “Are you certain?”
“Yes.”
Pavala sighed. “Then Rechazes and I will accompany you and if necessary, battle to the death.”
Jocenta spoke. “I will come as well.”
Pavala shook her head. “No, Jocenta. If we are asked to pay the ultimate price, it will be easier doing it knowing you are safe. Return home to Erena.”
“If you are going to a mortia I will come as well.”
Kyla glanced at her. “A mortia?”
“A death battle.” Pavala sighed. “We do not engage in them lightly or frequently. However, once our allegiance is pledged, the Alantee are bound.” She turned to Jocenta. “This is a difficult time for Erena. She can ill afford the emotional toll of losing us both. Do this one thing for me, Jocenta. Return home and help comfort her should we die.”
Jocenta’s eyes blazed, but she nodded her head. “I will do as you ask, but I warn you, Pavala, if you and Rechazes fall, I will spend the rest of my life avenging you!”
Pavala nodded. “As will be your right.” She hugged Jocenta. “Until we meet again, live, love, and stay free, little sister.”
Kyla recalled the heart wrenching pain of saying goodbye to Susoma as she left Telmira for her woman journey. She had felt sure her heart would break being separated for the first time from her beloved sister. She would not have the same thing happen to Pavala and Jocenta.
“I appreciate your willingness to battle at my side, but I am Kyla, born of Takira Andandre, and I require no such assistance. It is my right and my pleasure to defend my sister. Take me where I need to go, but do not interfere. None of the agents they sent after Takira were successful, and I am far stronger than she was. No matter how many Compliance Agents they send, they will not prevail once the Daughters of Takira are united. They will either withdraw or they will be killed! Come. I must find Susoma and guard and protect her.”
She turned and rushed toward the SUV, confident the others would follow. Half an hour later as they were heading back toward Pennsylvania, Kyla felt a familiar brush against her thoughts. Seated on one of the middle seats of the SUV, she stiffened and closed her eyes, opening her mind. Susoma?
Kyla! I am alone and I need you. Where are you?
Susoma! I am coming. I’m coming with help! Take cover and be safe. Please. I am on my way and I will protect you. Just please be safe until I can get there!
She opened her eyes and leaned forward to touch Rechazes’ shoulder. “Rechazes, you must hurry. Susoma is alone and in need of help. She just called out to me.”
Rechazes swore. “Where is Sean?”
“I don’t know and I don’t care. Drive faster.”
“Where is she?”
“I don’t know!”
“Use your crystal. It’s from the same base source as hers. It will lead us to her.”
Kyla nodded and sat back in her seat, pulling her crystal from her shirt pocket. Seated next to her, Eros placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. Kyla closed her eyes, feeling the crystal vibrate in her hand. Images coalesced in her mind. She opened her eyes. “I know where she is. We must hurry. They’ve found her, and she’s in danger!”
* * *
Sean Patrick flashed through the mansion for the third time before tossing back his dark head and releasing a roar of rage. “Susoma! Where are you?”
“She’s not here, Sean.”
He swung around. The only other person in the room was tall and muscular with dark hair that was nearly as long as Susoma’s. He stared at Sean with a pair of intense silver eyes. Sean had always found it difficult to tell if the other male was Latin or Native American. Sometimes his skin looked olive, sometimes bronze with reddish highlights. “I know that. What I don’t know is where the fuck is she, Chey?”
Enola Cheyenne shrugged. “I don’t know.” He pulled his hair back from his face, securing it behind his head. “I can attempt a psychic track, but I need something of hers to help get me spiritually in tune with her.”
Sean thrust a dark negligee at him. Chey took it, burying his face in it. He sank down to the floor, leaning against the wall behind him. He breathed slowly and deeply. After an eternity, he opened his eyes and shot to his feet. “She’s being pursued.”
Sean grabbed his shirt. “Do you know where she is?”
He closed his eyes again. “Yes.”
“Is she safe?”
“I don’t know for how long.”
Sean turned and flashed out of the living room with Chey at his side.
* * *
Susoma glanced at her gas gauge and swore softly at the big red E. Once again, Sean had failed to fill the gas tank. She considered her options. If she remained on the highway, the agents would overtake her and dispatch anyone foolish enough to come to her aid. If she found a place where she didn’t have to worry about others getting injured or killed, she was confident she could hold the agents at bay until Kyla arrived.
She exited the off ramp and found herself on a quiet, dimly lit stretch of the waterfront. She found a parking spot near the water, abandoned the car, and, keeping
to the shadows, fled along the pier.
The sound of boots slapping the pier reached her ears. They were upon her. She looked around. The flat landscape offered nowhere to hide. A wall blocked her path to the right, the river to the left. In front of her was nothing but an endless stretch of pier. Behind came the Compliance Agents.
Weary and frightened, but still confident, she decided to make her stand.
Four women dressed in black leather approached. Susoma took a deep breath, clenched her hands into fists, and crossed her arms in front of her, her gaze roving among the four women.
A woman with dark eyes and short dark hair worn in a bob stepped forward. “Susoma, born of Takira the Unnatural, you --”
Susoma lifted her chin. “I am Susoma, proud to be born of Takira Andandre.”
“You are out of compliance. I am Barroni, born of Tessia, here to apprehend you. Surrender peacefully and you will not be harmed.”
“I will not return to Telmira.”
“You will return or you and your unborn child will die.”
“I would rather that than have my child raised on Telmira.”
“You have no regard or affection for our home?”
“It has never been home to my family and I will not return.”
“Then you will die.”
“If so, I will not die alone.”
Barroni inclined her head slightly. Two agents moved closer.
Susoma pulled two small throwing knives from the side pockets of her carpenter’s pants. Keeping her gaze on Barroni, who would clearly be directing the assault against her, Susoma gave a flick of her wrists.
Twin groans, followed by the thud of bodies collapsing to the ground, assured her both weapons had found their marks and buried themselves deep into the hearts of her attackers.
The remaining two agents shouted and charged her. She turned to engage Barroni, judging her to be the more dangerous of the two. Her fingers closed over Barroni’s throat. She lifted the gasping, struggling agent from her feet. She tossed her several feet along the pier. Breathing deeply, she turned to face the remaining threat. She only got her body halfway around when something heavy and hard slammed against the back of her head, just behind her right ear.
