by Cree Storm
Shaking his head, Oleander said, “I don’t think it was ever taken from you, I think you all took it from yourselves.”
“What the fuck does that mean? Why would we do such a thing?” Throg asked angrily.
Oleander held up his hand, “Hey, I wasn’t saying it was purposefully done, but you said yourself that after the attack the Nakaka scattered. They did this to the point that no Nakaka even ventured into another’s clutch, nor have they ventured into the general public. Hell, this clutch is under a massive fucking island. You cut yourself off from the outside world.”
Nodding, Throg listened as the doc continued speaking, “Look at it. Hron found his mate with a Nakaka from a different clutch house, Khall found his in a human that was brought here, and you... you found yours with a shifter from the outside world. Who’s to say this wouldn’t have happened had you all not shut yourself off from everyone. I could be wrong, but I don’t think so. You all were mourning the loss of your families, loved ones, and friends. Sometimes depression will hold a person back from living and make it to where they only exist. It’s not always easy to get out of that rut. Hell, most struggle their entire lives, but with work and therapy, it can happen. The question is, are you willing to take that chance. Are you willing to set aside the fear and take what is yours? Are you willing to allow yourself to be happy?”
Throg couldn’t say a word. Was Norval right? Was he not accepting his mate into his life, because of fear? Then again, what was he afraid of? His mate turning on him? Mentally Throg shook his head, no, Spencer wasn’t that kind of person and he was Throg’s mate. Spencer could no more turn on him than he could try and kill Throg in his sleep. Mates were everything to a shifter. Then, what was the fear?
The doc took a sip of his drink, then gave a soft laugh, “Maybe I was wrong. Maybe those people did win the war. They got you all to hide away and just exist from day to day. In effect, they killed you. Hell, you refuse to believe that you’ve paid the price long enough for what happened two hundred years ago, that the one man made entirely for you, who is pregnant with your child is better off without you. Existing is as good as dead if you don’t at least try and live. Spencer wouldn’t be looking at a very lonely life without his mate and a child to raise alone, if you were willing to take a chance and live again.”
Good question. Was Throg willing to take a chance? Would the gods allow him to take a mate? What if he tried to mate with Spencer, but couldn’t? What then? Throg wanted his Viata more than anything. He wanted his child. He wanted... he wanted... oh, fuck! He wanted to live!
Krerr stood up so fast his chair hit the floor. “We need to get to Hron! I think I know what’s happening!”
“What? What are you talking about?” Norval asked.
“I’m talking about the war. The one you two were just talking about,” Krerr said anxiously.
“War? That war was two hundred years ago,” Norval argued, quickly following Krerr to the exit.
Krerr stopped and turned. “That was the battle, but what you said made me realize... we’re still in the war!”
CHAPTER 9
“Spencer? Are you okay?” Elijah whispered.
“He wants me,” Spencer said quietly, but loud enough for Elijah and his friends to hear. Then, he turned to them, asking, “You heard him, right? He wants me. I didn’t get that wrong. I mean... I heard him right... right?”
Nodding, Abe answered, “You heard him right, Spenc. Sounds like he has a lot of shit to get past, but he does want you.”
Elijah nodded. “He does. I heard him, too, but Spenc, it sounds like he’s fighting it like crazy.”
“And from what he said, he has good reason,” Petree whispered.
“Yeah,” Spencer said, letting out a deep breath. “I need to talk to him. I need to let him know I won’t get in the way of his duty. I need—”
“Oh, shit! Back up!” Bryant hissed, pushing them all, so that the men rushing from the room couldn’t see that they had been being spied on.
Spencer gripped Bryant’s shirt. “Where are they going? What’s going on?”
“I’m not quite sure. They were talking about a war and then they took off,” Bryant answered.
“We need to get to the command center,” Spencer said, turning left, then right.
“What? Why?” Elijah asked.
Spencer turned to Elijah and huffed, “Because I can’t let Throg know I was spying on him.”
“What are you doing?”
Spencer, Elijah, and Petree squeaked in surprise. Petree hissing, “Nug, that was a crappy thing to do.”
“Sorry. We saw you guys and wanted in on whatever it is you’re doing,” Nug answered.
“We’re looking for the quickest way to the command center. One way no one will catch us.” Spencer said hastily.
Jory quickly answered, “Follow me. I know a way.”
Spencer and the others quickly followed Jory to the kitchen area. People were working on the meals as they always did this time of the early morning. The Nakaka went into Nestling during the day. That was when they turned to stone and were the most vulnerable... unless you were mated and had the opportunity to go through the shedding. This was when the Nakaka were able to turn into their gargoyle at will. It was something many had not been able to experience, because they had only just started finding their Viatas once more.
“Jory, we said a place no one will catch us.” Elijah hissed.
“It’s fine. No one gives a crap at what we’re doing, and where I’m taking you it’s going to be fine. No one will see.” Jory said, making his way past the kitchen and into the pantry room. Once there he went to the far side and pressed a button. A small door opened and revealed what looked like a dumbwaiter. “Go ahead and get in. All you have to do is press whatever button you want and it will take you to that area.”
Spencer stepped forward, but Petree stopped him. “Spencer, I don’t know if that’s safe.”
“It is. I swear. I wouldn’t let Spencer or any of you go in there if it weren’t. Nug and I use it all the time and it takes both of us, so weight isn’t an issue,” Jory said assuredly.
Nug pursed his lips and raised his brow. “Are you saying I’m fat?”
“No, but come on, Nug, your butt isn’t the smallest either,” Jory answered, as he helped Spencer inside.
“Excuse me? I have you know my ass is perfectly proportionate to my body,” Nug stated, with a firm nod.
Jory snorted, “If you say so.” Then, he smirked. “Not that I’m complaining about it.”
“Well, I would hope not, because my ass is—”
“Not a subject any of us want to debate. Now what do I do?” Spencer asked anxiously.
Jory leaned in, and said, “This is the button that will take you to the command center, and anywhere you need to go on the left side of the building.”
Petree looked at Jory, “Just how many of these dumbwaiters are there?”
Jory gave a wary look to Nug, before answering, “Three.”
“And why is it none of us knows about these?” Petree asked.
Jory licked his lips nervously, before answering, “Chantal had them put in, because he said it was taking too long for his meals, and it was a way that his people could get messages to him fast. I’m sure there were other reasons, but I only know about them, because I was the one responsible for all his meals.”
“And you didn’t think this might be something we needed to know about? Jory, this is an opening to the Caliph and others that could...” Petree stopped talking as his voice had risen. He finally took a deep breath, then let it out slowly. “We’ll talk about this later. Spencer, is there room for one of us to go with you. I don’t want you going on your own.”
“I’m pregnant, Pea, not disabled. I’ll be—”
“No. Someone tried to kill you once already. I want someone with you,” Petree insisted.
“Abe and Bryant are too big. Honestly, I’ll be fine,” Spencer insisted.
Shaking his head, Petree said, “I’ll go with you.”
Elijah let out a deep breath. “No. I’ll go. If Hron finds out you stuffed yourself into that contraption, he’ll kill all of us for allowing it.”
“For the love of...” Bryant stepped forward, “Spenc, get out a second. I’ll be damned if I’m going to go at it with Khall. As it is, Throg is going to kick all our asses if he finds out we let Spenc go up in this thing. I can guard Spencer and make sure he stays safe.”
Spencer did as Bryant ordered. Bryant settled, then said, “Come on Spenc. Sit on my lap and let’s get this shit over with.”
Spencer raised a brow, but soon did as Bryant directed. It wasn’t ideal, but the dumbwaiter didn’t seem to have a problem with their combined weight either.
“We’ll take the regular elevator and meet you up there. This way it doesn’t look so suspicious,” Petree said.
“Okay. See you in a few,” Spencer said, pressing the button that would take them to the command center. Spencer watched as the door shut, and the small elevator started to lift them higher.
“Gods, I hope this thing doesn’t get stuck. It would suck balls,” Spencer muttered.
It was surprising how fast the thing got them to the command room and stopped. Pressing the open button, Spencer scrambled out of the dumbwaiter, and almost fell on his face. However, Bryant caught him before that could happen.
“Thanks.” Spencer said, rushing towards his computer and turning it on.
Bryant had just gotten out and closed the door, when the door opened, and Throg walked in with Hron, his fathers, Dr. Oleander, and Groth. Spencer bent his head down, as if he was looking at something of great importance, ignoring the men as best he could.
Spencer’s skin tingled, his heart raced, and his body practically vibrated with need. His mate wanted him. He had heard it, and so had the others. Throg wanted him, but thought that he couldn’t have a mate and be an ancient guard as well, Spencer didn’t know how, but he had to show Throg he could have both.
“Spencer, Bryant, what are you doing in here?” Hron asked in surprise.
“Where are your guards?” Throg asked, looking around.
Fuck. Spencer had never been a good liar... ever. Besides, if he even tried it, Dr. Oleander would know. He was a shifter, and damned if the man’s nose wasn’t as brilliant as his mind. “Uh... I uh...”
“I’m guarding Spencer while he does whatever he’s doing,” Bryant quickly answered.
“Where are Mennen and Torro?” Throg asked angrily.
Spencer sighed, “Don’t get mad at them. I kind of snuck away.”
“You kind of... Spencer, damn it, someone is trying to kill you, and you snuck away? What the fuck is wrong with you?” Throg snapped.
Pursing his lips, Spencer stood up, hissing, “I’m not a child, Throg. I can take care of myself!”
“You are with child! My child! I will not have you running around the clutch house with someone—”
“Don’t you dare! Don’t you dare fucking use our baby as a way to make me feel guilty, or get what you want! I won’t have it! Bryant and Abe are perfectly capable of keeping me safe, and I know them! I know they won’t let anything happen to me, or my child!” Spencer shouted back, emphasizing the “my” strong enough, it had Throg pulling back.
Spencer felt horrible when he saw the hurt in Throg’s eyes. Damn it, he always did say shit without thinking first when he was nervous, scared or trying to find a way not to say something without actually lying, and right now he was going through all three at once.
Hron held up his hand, before Spencer could apologize. He sighed, “Spencer... Throg, we can talk about this later. Right now, my birth father is about to come out of his skin, unless he gets out what he has to say.” He then gave Spencer a pointed look. “We will be discussing this directly after that.”
Nodding, Spencer muttered, “Yes, sir.”
“I’ve already contacted Petree, Peth and the others. They should be here shortly.
No sooner had Hron spoken, when the door opened. The gem walked in, and Petree and the others were walking in behind them, and funnily enough, so were Nug and Jory, neither Nakaka looked at all happy.
“Hron, I need to tell you...”
Hron stopped Petree before he could finish. “Not right now, little one. My papa has something he says we all need to hear first. We can talk after I’m finished here.”
“Okay.” Petree said, giving Nug and Jory a stern look, “But, just so you know, it’s something you’re going to need to hear.”
Spencer tried not to look at Throg, but it wasn’t easy. Sitting in the same room, smelling his mate, and knowing that he might have a chance to have his mate, had Spencer feeling anxious and nervous and a bit fearful, if he was honest with himself. How? How was he supposed to get his mate to see that he had no intention of holding him back from doing his duty? How could he get Throg to see that he could have it all, if he would just give Spencer a chance?
Throg had said he wasn’t influenced by what had happened to Spencer. He said, the rape and abuse Spencer had gone through, didn’t have anything to do with his refusal to accept Spencer into his life. What if that wasn’t true? What if Throg had just said that, so the others wouldn’t judge how he really felt?
“Okay, papa, why don’t you tell us why you called us all together?” Hron said.
Spencer pulled himself out of his thoughts, and did his best to focus on the meeting.
“Norval, myself, and Throg were talking, and Norval made a comment that got me to thinking,” Krerr stated, looking at everyone around the table.
“Okay,” Hron said, with a slight nod.
“We were talking about the attack on our people two hundred years ago. Norval made the comment that we might not have won the battle, but we had won the war... then he rethought it a bit later, and said maybe we hadn’t won the war... I won’t go into why it was said, but it really got the wheels rolling in my mind. What if Norval was right? What if the war never ended, but was held back for some reason,” Krerr said.
Hron looked thoughtfully at his birth father. “But papa, the humans involved in the war died a long time ago.”
“The humans that actually attacked... yes, but not the shifters, and not the children of the humans slain that day. If you recall, they were let go.” Krerr said, then sat forward. “Think about it, Hron. If someone had killed you father... your mother... hell, even an older sibling, what would you do? How would that make you feel?”
“I agree the shifters would be alive, but the humans’ children? It’s been two hundred years, papa. They would be long dead, as would their children after them,” Hron gently argued.
Nodding, Krerr said, “But not their teachings.”
Doctor Oleander nodded. “That makes sense, Krerr. I never even thought about that when we were talking, but it could be true.”
Hron sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “I don’t see how. We’re talking two hundred years ago. That would mean the people continuing on with the war would be the great, great, great... hell, maybe another great grandchild. Who would hold onto hate that long?”
“White supremacists began in the seventeenth century, the KKK began in eighteen sixty-five, neo Nazi’s began after World War Two, and all of them, and so many more, are still alive today. Hate has been studied for centuries. Some feel it is something taught to children by others. Some believe it is learned. What most agree on is that it isn’t inherited at birth.”
“Uh, Doc, isn’t that the same thing?” Groth asked in confusion.
“Teaching is lessons, but learning is gaining that knowledge,” Jory whispered.
Doctor Oleander smiled wide, “Exactly, Jory.”
“But, in order to learn something, you’d have to be taught it... right?” Mason asked, sounding as confused as Groth and the others looked.
Sighing heavily, Oleander said, “Let me see if I can clarify it. A child can learn by someone other than a teacher, bu
t a teacher can’t teach without the person there to learn.”
The confusion cleared up quickly, and Hron asked, “So you’re saying, if my papa is right about a war, it’s because the kids taught their kids who taught their kids and so on, until these people learned to hate us, even though they never met us?”
“Exactly.” Doctor Oleander said, sitting back in his seat.
Elijah softly said, “It doesn’t matter that the people never met you Hron. Actually, that might be something that hurts the Nakaka in the long run.”
“What do you mean, Pipit?” Khall asked gently.
Shrugging, Elijah answered, “You already know that most humans don’t even believe in the paranormal world, although that shit’s changing a bit with all the shows of ghost hunters, caught on camera shows, and stuff, but still, even if we think it may be true, we don’t really know, and when faced with the truth... well, I can tell you from personal experience it’s mind-blowing. Anyway, what little we do know is taught to us by those kind of shows I mentioned, or movies, and let me tell you, Gargoyle movies do not show you in a good light.”
“How so?” Krerr asked.
Shrugging, Elijah answered, “I don’t know if I’m going to get it right, because trust me, those movies were really, really old. Rise of the Gargoyle and Gargoyle Wings of Darkness are just two movies that come to me. Each depict vicious beasts attacking and slaughtering innocent people. These movies show your kind ripping humans apart limb by limb, and some depict you feasting on human flesh.”
“Then there’s the documentaries,” Mason said. “I watched one a while back, and it talked about how people thought the gargoyle was the soul of the condemned. Because of the sins they committed, they were turned to stone, to show others what could happen to them if they went down an evil path. Then you have the ‘all gargoyles are demons’ or devils...”
“But there are still others that do believe the gargoyle is a guardian of the gates of the gods’ church.” Bryant said.
Nodding, Elija replied, “True, but those believers are few and far between.” Looking at Hron and the others, Elijah said, “The point is, Gargoyles are not depicted as you truly are, so if you add in the teachings of those kids from all those years ago to their children... the kids that I’m sure saw just how their family was slaughtered... no matter the reason... well, I have a feeling that many of them learned real fast how to hate the Nakaka.”
