Romero
I tried to catch Charlene as she went down, feeling terrible about scolding her. She had saved me. Saved both of us... Again. And I had hurt her with my stern words… We didn't have much time to get out of there. At that moment, it was all I thought about. That thing dying would attract the rest of them. Or other beasts. I picked her up with a lot of effort. My side was burning and aching as I pushed her up and tied her down. Her hair flopped over her face. It wouldn't be comfortable, but I had no choice. She complained the first time. I was sure she would again. We were not even halfway, and it was our second day in there. All I wanted was to get her to safety. If I had not woken up, what would she have done? Her idea was to take me home or even to her world. What a disaster of a courtship.
I mounted my own beast and put them in a jog. Charlene was shaken by the motions. I tried to heal myself even more. There was nothing else I could do. We were both hungry and exhausted. My eyes closed several times. I was falling asleep but could do nothing about it. The trial was meant to pressure people. Bring out the worst in them. Our journey had hardly started, and I was failing her. I had snapped at her.
My head fell forward, jolting me awake for the millionth time. The patter of feet deep in the forest made the beast under me squirm. They were not walking at a steady pace anymore or trotting. They were moving from side to side and in circles. Lazily, my eyes tried to open. The noise in the distance became louder. I knew I had to wake up… It felt almost impossible. My eyes sprung open when the creature beneath me jumped up in the air. We came down with a thump. I yanked on the reins and peeked at Charlene. The two beasts were still tied closely together. I kicked as hard as possible to get us into the fastest gate those fat things could go. The dust cloud was darkening the trees at my side. They were close. With one hand, I loosened the bond between us. Jumped up behind her and let the other beast trail off behind us. It was the only way.
Screeches and bellowing came from behind me. I ventured to look back. There was a hoard surrounding our lost mount, ripping it to pieces. I pushed harder on the sides of the one I was on. It would have to run until it could not anymore. It was also tiring. But I did not stop driving him forward. We needed as much distance between them as we could get. I only hoped their appetite would be sated and they would not follow.
We had been running for a while. The creature faltered for the first time, stumbling over its own feet. I pulled back on the reins, making it walk. Its head sunk low to the ground. I untied Charlene. Picked her up and put her arms around my neck. I redid her bondages so that we were stuck together. If I had to. I would let the second beast die. Run as far as I could. Fight as long as necessary. It would be a blow to the next part of our journey. We needed it.
Charlene stirred as I pulled the rope tight around us. I didn't know how long the forest path could possibly go on. She was resting on my shoulder. Her hand came up and clutched her head. "Why do I have a headache?" She croaked.
I kissed her hair. Her arms wrapped around me. "Where is my horse?"
"Your horse…? It died."
"No! Really? Would you think I'm stupid if I felt bad about it?"
"No… Not at all." I was going to try to soften my tone with her and keep reminding myself that she was only twenty-one years old. Her chin lifted up. We were so close that our eyes could not even meet. "I know you feel this journey is important… But I'm exhausted. Hungry… Where will we even find food?"
The patter of feet behind us began again. It was distant but moving towards us. "We have company."
"Yes."
I did not see her turn into a Vampire. The black nail cut through the rope, severing our connection. She lifted her torso up and looked at me. "We have to fight Romero. There is no way we can outrun them all." It might be a mangled-up mess, but as I looked at her, it was all worth it.
The scurry had turned to loud stomping. Our horse had nothing left and wasn't even reacting beneath us.
***
Charlene
I could've teleported back to En-gannim and grabbed a weapon. A gun. Anything. I was too tired. I didn't think I would be able to come back or might not even make it. I braced myself as grey faces with white teeth came into view. I had trained for it. We could do it. "Let's fight together this time," I whispered to Romero.
He jumped off and faltered. I saw the blood on his shirt, remembering that he was hurt. He drew his sword. I manifested into a Riphath. "I'm going to toss them at you. High in the air. Get them as they come down."
He didn't have time to correct me or make a better plan. The fastest one was in the front of the herd. When I got to it. I whacked it on the side of its face, breaking its stride, and tossed it up so far that it was a second or two before it came down on Romero, gutting it as it fell.
I turned around for the next one, startled when they only stood staring at me. "What are they waiting for?"
"I think… We got the leader. They are deciding if they should retreat."
In the back, one scampered off into the trees. The rest followed, jogging lightly into the dark, and finally disappeared.
My chest rose and fell, catching my breath. I caught the scent of the dead beast. Before I knew… I was eating it raw and bloody. I didn't even recognize myself anymore. My body didn't care that I was ripping it to pieces. Romero stood gazing down at me. I gorged myself. Bit into its neck and sucked until my blood lust was gone. After finishing, I stood pointing for him to feast. He chuckled nervously. "We don't eat raw meat. We are not like you. I am not a creature."
"I'll build a fire. Will you eat if it's cooked?"
"Fire?"
My eyes darted at the trees and the branches. Would I be able to use that type of wood? Would it even kindle? I scanned the ground for rocks. If only I had a tampon to use as flint.
"What do you cook with? How do you heat up water?"
"A scalding liquid."
"Lava? Really? Never got fire from that?"
"No… I don't know if it is the same on your world… But let us call it lava." Romero suggested. He wasn't himself.
"Do you know of any sources around here? Lava?"
He shook his head. I swore. It was like being back on Earth. On En-gannim, we imported food or went to Earth to go to the supermarket quickly. For a long time, it was only Carl, me, and Warden. The only humans. Miné crossed my mind. I had been away for so long. Kubra came to mind. I was actually kissing him the previous night. My cheeks turned red, and my eyes stuck to the ground as I walked past Romero. Too guilty to tell him. He grabbed my arms and lifted my chin. "Your cheeks are red. Are you feeling well? I do not know if that meat was safe."
"We will find out. I'm fine. Now let me try and make some fire." I pulled my chin from his hand.
Romero watched me with interest. He had sat and was propped up against a tree. He wasn't complaining, but I could see he was in pain. "Should you not be healing?"
He shook his head. "I have nothing left." It bothered me. The journey was so important to him. He went into a rant when I only suggested that I take him to En-gannim.
It took me ten minutes of rubbing. The bark was receptive. There was no grass or dry leaves on the ground. I had splintered some wood with my nails into such fine pieces that it would be perfect. The first spark ignited, and Romero sat up, astonished. "I thought you had books? Teachings?"
"About our world. Yes. But not that." He scooted closer.
I stood and pulled out his sword from its sheath. I turned away from him, and he yelped. "What?" He lifted his finger into the air. It was red. I laughed lightly. "Not clever." He chuckled, sucking on his finger. "That's just going to make it worse."
I cut off some meat leftover meat. Our beast had lay down in the dirt. Pulled its feet under itself, lying like a loaf, sleeping. "We need to feed that thing. And I can't keep calling everything a beast. From now on, that's a horse."
He glanced over and laughed. "As soon as we can get out of this place… Things will go better."
Romero hesitantly ripped some meat off the stick. "Not bad. Bit chewy." For the first time, our eyes lingered on each other. I took it as an invitation and sat between his legs as he ate. He scrutinized my every move. When I laid my head on his chest, he stopped eating. "So much for personal space." He quipped.
I pulled his lips onto mine. It was only a short kiss. He devoured the rest of the food. We each took a few sips of water and gave the rest to our steed. Romero kept watching the flames kindling down. I kept trying to keep it alive. Romero tried healing again but failed and fell asleep. I was trying to stay awake. The fire kept us warm, and I drifted off.
I opened my eyes. It was as dark as the previous night. Kubra pulled me into him and held me close. "Why did you leave?" His voice was soft and pleading. "Where are you?" Kubra pulled my face towards his. I kissed him. Properly. Like I should have done before he branded me. I should have treated him better. I reached for his shirt, his arms lifted. I dragged his lips onto mine. Kubras hand was kneading my breast, the other holding me close. He reached for laces that kept my crop top secure around my chest. "Don't leave again. Stay with me." His breathing was heavy on my mouth. Why had I been so stupid? I had not even slept with him. Married him. His lips traveled down my neck. His fingers kept pulling on the strings of my bodice. He tugged on the material. It didn't want to open, and it was too dark for him to get it off.
I was in blissful ignorance, enjoying the caress of his tongue. "Help me." I snapped out of my yearning stupor. Kubra gave one hard yank on my all-in-one makeshift bra and top. I pushed him off and traveled. A sure destination made it much easier to find Romero in the cosmos. I stood in front of him. He was fast asleep. He didn't even know I had left. What the hell was I doing. I laced the top again. My fingers fumbling. Why did I keep traveling back and forth? Why when I was sleeping. I wormed myself back into Romero's arms. He wrapped his around me. "I'm sorry, Juliet," I whispered. "That I ever judged you." The hoard didn't bother us again.
***
Kubra
Charlene was in my arms, undressing me. Desperate to take that next step. I chuckled. If I knew… All I had to do was make her a creature. So she would be… hungry… I would've done it a long time ago. She was getting over all her fears. But she wasn't with me and didn't stay. Had on weird clothes. Stupid freaking bra… I jumped up and teleported upstairs. It was late. Our moon was high in the sky. I didn't knock or announce myself. I stopped dead in my tracks, glancing at Juliet's bed. I wasn't expecting anyone there. Michael's head came up. I spun around. "Can we help you?" He asked out of breath.
"Charlene," I said. "And you guys aren't supposed to be going at it."
"Where?" Juliet pushed Michael off her. He swore loudly.
"She was here! Just now."
"Again? Did you plant the tracker?"
I stuttered… "Mmm… We weren't talking." I gestured to the bed. "If you know what I mean."
"What? She sleeps with you and leaves." Juliet giggled. "That girl... What is she thinking."
"No. I wish. It's like she's sleepwalking. She goes at it… But as soon as she wakes up... She runs." Michael propped himself up on the headboard with the sheet over his legs. "We have to find her… I'm worried." I kept talking, too overwhelmed with seeing her and not knowing if she was okay.
"I know you are." Juliet was getting dressed as I spoke. She followed me out. She stopped and looked back at Michael. "Are you coming?"
"I was."
She laughed, "I.O.U." Michael threw her with a pillow. She pushed me out, and we made our way to her office.
"So this was the second time… Do you want to…"
"No! We can't set a trap and keep her here. No nets!"
"Why not?" Juliet asked as she lit up the galaxy in front of us. "Look, we have to find out where Brylee has been or not. Doesn't that make sense? If the Werewolves are somewhere… That might be where Charlene ended up." I nodded. "We need to discuss the different planets and start mapping."
"If we can just find out where Ahasuerus hid all his information and history of where they had been… Like I said, the planet we were on and fighting came down to an agreement. When we attacked, the vamps started dropping. Silvanus stopped the attack… That is the only one I know of… When I grew up on En-gannim. I was in the barracks. After the revolt, I was sent down to watch Marcus. I know less than you guys."
"How old are you?"
"It's a little late to ask now."
Michael came in through the door and grabbed a communicator. "I'm calling Jessy back. The only place we will find answers is on Palmyra. We need to go… And empty their libraries." He met my eye. It was more than searching for Ahasuerus's vault. If Fahan got his hands on their history. We needed the control. "This time, your whole army is going with you. We need to take watchers and fly. There has to be a way for us into the city without using a freaking boat." Michael went on.
I knew this thing with Chris had him on edge. I couldn't imagine how he was feeling. Juliet and I stared at him. Michael had never been that forceful or overbearing, just kinda in the background. I would have to try to salvage the situation. "Michael is right. That whole place is empty. If anyone gets there… And finds it before us… We will be even further away from finding Charlene."
Juliet eyed Michael suspiciously. "If that's what you guys think is best."
"Ahasuerus's clan has five thousand years of teleporting behind them. Mapping won't help us… It can literally be anywhere. But if anyone will have answers, it's Brylee." Michael said, irritated.
Juliet didn't like his tone. Neither did I.
***
Marcus
"We might as well talk, Louis… Kubra won't be coming for some time.
Louis shrugged his shoulders. "I can't believe we are tied up like dogs," he added. "At least Caleb told him to take off our gags. This is a real low point for me." He tried for the millionth time to get out of the bondages.
I laughed. "I've been chained up before… Worse than this. You know she is really resourceful, having all this gear that can tie us down. For someone that hates bondages… She does create a lot."
Louis watched me. "It's the first time you've spoken of anything that had happened to you."
"I can't really compare this to my… conditioning." My eyes darted around the built-in safe room. It was filled with stuff. If only we could get loose.
"I bet nothing prepared you for the life you're living right now." Louis quipped.
I snorted and laughed again, shifting up onto my knees. He did the same. Lying on our sides got tedious, and moving around helped. "How long do you think we've been here? It seems Chris did go through with it. But how long will we be stuck here?"
"Does it matter?" Louis said with a heaviness in his voice.
It didn't, really… Chris was right. We haven't been doing anything. I promised Juliet to work with her, and I didn't. I should've pushed more. Fought with her about what needed to be done. "Seems like our apathy is getting us in trouble." I finally said. "What did you think about doing… Neither one of us three had an idea what to do with ourselves… In that meeting we had. What was your limit with Juliet…? I sometimes don't understand how you can be so easy with her. Accept everything."
"I wasn't like this when we first met… On our first night together, I made her submit… It was the worst feeling in the world. Seeing her face like that. She was manifested, and then she wasn't… I almost lost her because I thought I had everything sorted out. I was going to swoop her off her feet..." Louis laughed at himself. I did it again when we were lying to her… Forced my authority on her…" Louis shook his head. "Just like you, I keep making the same mistakes… I do have one limit with her."
I waited for Louis to speak.
"I wouldn't be here if… she didn't choose me. Didn't want me with all her heart." Louis regarded me. I wasn't going to say anything. My limits were more shallow than his. "And you? Are there any more besides Soren? Maybe Michael?"
"No… I won't ask her to choose. Not again… If one of us does… she will break up with all of us and leave with you. Won't give you the satisfaction."
Louis chuckled. "I'm glad…." He said. I raised my eyebrows. "No, I am. I think a big family like this is stronger than having just one person. And looking back, I don't really want to do anything else with my life. I've studied enough. I've done enough. Had enough girls. Been free for so long… It becomes…"
"Redundant."
"Yeah."
"Has there really never been anyone else, Louis? Even if it was a human? Never been in love, and she died because you outlived her. A baby? A family somewhere?"
Louis was quiet. "You don't believe me."
"I find it hard… with your character and your ability."
"I'm not like you." He remarked.
"What does that mean?"
"I was conditioned to be humble. Where you were conditioned to hate yourself and others. Pride and being above everyone else… My father loved me. He loved my mother with all his heart… It took me a long time to set myself straight after… I had thought they both died… I didn't want anyone that I would outlive… I Made a conscious choice… And ended up drinking everyone dry when we were done anyway. Just to make sure."
I pulled up my lip. "That's a bit dark."
"And I had to make money. Steal secrets and businesses. It was interesting."
"What the hell, Louis? You're like a serial killer and white color thief in one."
"And now I'm working for one with far less moral standards than me."
I laughed lightly. "At least she didn't kill Soren when she was done with him."
Louis started laughing, and I joined him.
***
The door opened eventually. Kubra came in and untied us, and finally, we could stretch our limbs. "What's going on? Why are we free to go?"
"Michael and Juliet are working hard to get Palmyra empty of all important information… To find Charlene and to keep it safe... She still doesn't know. They were fighting when I left."
"Why do you look like that. Did he hurt her again?"
"Who, Michael? No… Chris is done. Fahan said he is staying for two days, and I don't know… It doesn't sound good. Caleb is there. It freaks me out that the boy is so brave."
Louis and I stopped to stare at him. It was done. Chris was not going to come and go as he pleased. No more teleporting at all. We had no idea what the implications were. I felt like I had let him down. Let Michael down and Juliet. We could've worked as a family and done something. Even if we fought and lost… It might have been better than the alternative. I wasn't quite ready to give up everything… For anyone like Juliet would have. But in the end, none of us got what we wanted.
I walked to my room and closed the door. She had given me a baby. I sat for a long time, thinking if I had more limits. And if Michael wasn't another. Why it was so easy for me to dismiss his importance. Why I never tried harder to find a solution to a problem? I could lead an army but not connect with a family. I still had a long way to go. The causes of my issues might have been eradicated. But, the symptoms seemed to have already done too much damage to the people around me. Caleb had said we needed to think about what I was going to tell her. I still had no clue.