Fahan
The embassy was a grand structure on Palmyra. It was only my second time there. The enterprise was as large as any of our mines on our home planet. I had been pacing that blasted rock for… I do not know how long. First, I circled the platform for a day, waiting for Ian to come back and help me. After I slept, I knew he was not coming. He was serious when he told me to learn to sail. I had stayed at the top, avoiding the water at all costs, unwilling to even entertain the idea. It took only another hour of the unbearable heat to force me down the many flights of stairs, which was challenging and strange for my big feet. I struggled to make it down alive. Their human form had its advantages.
As I took the last flight of stairs and neared the water's surface, it became slippery, and a strange, soft green plant grew in every crevice. My nerves tightened around my chest. My feet were sliding around. I had to hold onto railings and felt useless and unable to take another step. The room at the bottom of the mountain only had glass between me and the waves that crashed and thundered in anger. I had never experienced vast amounts of water. But an ocean that did not stop moving, over and over, brought me down to a new low of cowardice. A feeling I never thought I would have to overcome.
I looked to the only exit from the mountain. The doors opened to a walkway of rocks as far as the horizon. I had to stand there for a while. The sear size of the waves and the depths of the water consumed my every thought. The boats were tied to the wall of the walkway. It would not be hard to climb into a vessel. Let the rope go. But how would I manage the waves crashing into the thing? Making it go up and down. For the first time in my life… I was terrified. I did not want to die. I understood why the dogs lived there. If they fell in the water, they just paddled to the surface, drifting along or diving low to catch fish. With their large chests, they could probably be submerged for some time before they even needed to come up for air.
The day Chris asked me if we sink or swim, I knew I had put it off for too long. After they sent me back to the Palace, I had gone into Brylee's bath. While I stood there, the water did not even reach my stomach. It was a bath for a human creature. I had let Dimitrios tie ropes around my waist to test our own ability to be able to swim. Our planet's water was limited. To survive, we did not need to drink and eat every day… all day. The water we did have came out of the rocks in gentle little streams. We had never even been submerged in a waterfall or any amount of water, for that matter.
I slowly walked into that heated bath, adjusted to the feeling, and settled myself to stare at the water for as long as needed. To see if anything would happen to our skin, our scales, and the flesh underneath. I had made the decision and fell backward. It was like two stones were woven into my shoulders and more all around my hips. I hit the bottom with force, and the clang resonated into the water as I held my breath. I tugged on the rope in desperation as my ears and nostrils flooded. Dimitrios had dragged me out. His chest was full of laughter. It was the first time we had relaxed in each other's presence. I could not help myself, but I laughed as well.
I had not heard anything from Dimitrios again. I did not know what had happened after Caleb killed the vamps. Those men were all I had. Another bout of laughter filled my chest, staring at the crashing waves. That water would be cold, deep, and I would drown… The thought that Ian wanted me dead was the only thing playing around in the back of my mind. I puffed up my chest and gathered the little bit of courage I could muster. I had two options. I could enter a vessel and dare to get out of that cave. Or, I could stay and wait. Marcus and Caleb were making their way there. If they had not come and gone already. I wouldn't even have known. That was if Dimitrios failed in my order to kill them.
Another avenue I would explore was the red rocks we mined on our planet. I needed to get back there. Make more weapons that could counter them more effectively. Juliet and her son, who could come and go, were a huge issue. I caught myself enjoying the thought of Caleb coming for the men. Avenging his father. Such a son was what I wanted. And Aries being raised by anyone other than me… I would not allow it. I could not stay there. I could not wait for someone to come and save me. How would that look? We have not even figured out how they caught fish. We had tasted the white flesh. They had pools around the city where they bred them. We had taken a liking to the slippery and slimy beasts.
Sink or swim…No… I stay on the boat or die. That was my choice. I walked forward and untied the first vessel to see what would happen. It started drifting sideways, crashing into another one, being tossed here and there. But it was not something I would not be able to handle. The embassy's dock was large and long. There were ships of all sizes. I walked down the row to look at all the vessels and to choose the right one. I decided that the larger it was, the better. I got on just fine. My footing was shaky at first, but my weight seemed to have much to do with stabilizing and steering the haul. As I walked on the deck, I felt movement. A beast's movement. I could hear unfamiliar sounds. Splashes and animalistic noises.
That specific vessel had one large post in the middle. It could be steered! There were ropes tied to it. I touched it to see what would happen. Moved it forward and backward. The jerk was so sudden and powerful that I could only look back on the broken cord that had tied the boat to the rock. My large hands gripped quickly around the pole. I was being pulled out into the dark depths by a… fish.
***
Marcus
Sirius woke us up. The first faint light flashed over my face, irritating my eyes to open. The boat was still rocking violently beneath us. Caleb had traveled us to the largest vessel in the harbor. I had decided we would make camp first. All the boats left, drifting in the water, were anchored. The smaller ones that were there last time were gone. Thinking back, I could not understand how we made that trip at all. We were in such a small boat compared to the giant we were on at that moment. Their seas must be as influenced by their planet's rotation as ours. Sita did come to Earth at certain times of the month. I was sure we were in the midst of a gravitational pull. That the waves did not wake us up was a miracle.
As I lifted my torso, the water crashed into the rocks across the harbor even worse than before. The first thing I looked for was if the boat had its fish attached. There was nothing at the end of the line. With those giant killer fish in the water, they must have eaten anything stuck in one place. We were lucky that we got a boat the previous day. So high upstream into the city, the water was still tranquil. Caleb stirred, hearing me walking back and forth.
I was still tormented for bringing him without Michael. I was going to kill him when he came back. If he… If they… ever came back. I was going to kill my wife for leaving with him.
"Is it me? Or is the water worse today?" Caleb asked.
I shook my head and pointed to the embassy far across the water. "There are no more boats. This was the last one. In the dark, I thought there would be more."
"So we're stuck on this one? Or?"
The boy was relentless in his optimism. He was just like Juliet. There was no defeat in his vocabulary. And for some reason, they thought…I… would have all the answers. Like I was trained for situations like that. We never took our armies to jump out of helicopters into raging seas or take part in water exercises.
Caleb jumped up, ready for the day. "Well, if we're stranded. I'm going to take a look around."
I gave him a dirty look. Caleb shook his head and opened a trapdoor leading down into the haul. He teleported down, and I wanted to grab him by the ear or shake him like Chris always did with Juliet. I longed to be back home. Even if it was in a bed with her and another man. Safe around the fire, drinking a beer. Her head on my shoulder. Her hand always in my hair. Juliet dancing in front of me was still vivid in my memory. The whole afternoon in that room played around in my thoughts. The way her body moved. Dark eyes held mine as she seduced me with elegance around that pole. How we both would have ached if she had been there. If it wasn't for Michael. I could focus on nothing else but controlling myself and letting her finish her dance. How my blood was humming to bury myself in her.
Caleb started tossing tools and rods out. I rubbed my brow to rid myself of what she had started down in those tunnels. How brazen and brutal she was. Juliet was growing up in more ways than one. I swallowed hard to get my thoughts under control. Nets and equipment were landing on the wood.
"If this incessant noise could just stop, I would be able to think clearer!" I pushed out the words.
"Yes! I'm not used to it either! On Zoreah, it was so peaceful! In France, even more quiet! At the compound in that desert! I could hear every insect!" He hollered from below deck.
"I never liked the compound! I actually hate it there!"
"What?" Caleb asked, sticking out his head.
"I don't want to live there anymore. I never did like where the Earth banned us to."
"But your house… the setup. It's amazing."
I bent down on my knees and peeked into the space. "It was all for your mother." Caleb picked up a bucket of something and lifted it up to me. I hauled it into the air. It was filled with slimy little beasts squirming and swimming in a thousand directions. "Are you really going to go fishing?"
"I'm hungry. And… I've never had fish before."
"You can hardly call anything in that water trout."
I jumped down and made a tour of the space. They had sleeping bunks. "We could have slept in here, I suppose."
"Didn't really have time to look around last night. We were exhausted. Are you at least feeling better?" Only thinking about Juliet against that wall and her legs wrapped around my body made me a little more optimistic. I manifested. Caleb tilted his head and did the same. His weight made the wood crackle underfoot. My head had snapped in the direction of the embassy. "What is that?" Caleb asked nervously.
"I don't know… But if I'm not mistaken, it's another boat." I groaned.
We stood staring at each other. "Get on my shoulders. First, let me know if we are not losing our minds. We heard more noises. It was their alarm sound. A mimicking, but nonetheless. "Don't tell me they are looking for us, and the Chadari had decided to test the waters."
Caleb got on my shoulders, pushed up on his arms, and disappeared. I guessed he was balancing for a while and dropped down. His lips pouted left and right. Eyes darting around. "I don't know how to say this, but… It is a boat. There is someone on it. But you might not like the answer."
I jumped up and grabbed at the edges of the opening, pulling myself up and out back onto the deck. If it was Juliet. I was going to tie her up in that chair. I came up and looked out over the water. "For F- sake!"
"Hey! No cussing!"
I pointed out towards the water with an outstretched arm. Caleb chortled. "I said you won't like it."
"If I tell you to stay where you are, would you?"
"Not a chance." Caleb teleported to next to me.
"Will you at least stay hidden?"
"Maybe." The side of his mouth quirked just like Juliet's. I dragged the boy under my shoulder.
Fahan was having a hell of a time maneuvering the vessel or his fish. It was a strange shape and built for speed. The fish in the front was also not anything I had seen before. It was a bright blue, light color. Its scales glistened in the sun every time it surfaced. Seemed that some of the boats still had their masters attached.
The dragon had not seen us yet, and Caleb disappeared for good measure. He was having all his days leaning and pulling on the shaft in the middle of the deck. His mouth was in a tight line of nerves. "Guess they don't swim. Guess Ian left him there." Caleb said. I didn't know if I should let him pass. Or make myself known. Would we fight in this muddle on wood? Die together in this water. If I challenged him, I could drown him. I let go of Caleb.
Fahan's eyes eventually came up. They had no expressions, but the look on his features was priceless. He rocked forward and pushed the pole with his body. The fish obeyed and slowed down until it came to a stop. I hoped we would be lucky. That those giants would not eat his fish while we had it out. He stood for a moment. Two calculating minds staring at each other through thin slits. Guess the challenge was issued. Our boat was a lot bigger than his.
"If I kill you. All your people will disappear. It's not only Jade. You two are connected with the branding, and it can be either of you."
I wondered how old Jade was. Was there a time limit for their species as well? If she added Dimitrios to the trio… It would be worse for us. Luckily, we had Michael. Where was the guy when you needed him? When you wanted him gone, he was everywhere, up in everyone's business. When you needed him, he was somewhere off cheating.
"That might be, but we will die anyway. You've made sure of that."
Fahan moved the fish with precision into a swim. It moved slowly as he pulled back slightly. He was edging closer and closer. "I'm glad you're getting the hang of your new home."
"I think we have talked enough, Marcus. Everyone tells me to be careful of you. But seeing you so close. Taking the time to assess the threat. I regret not meeting with you sooner. I do not think you have it in you."
The corner of my mouth lifted. I was underestimated… again. I gave him a sardonic chuckle. The only reason I fought lower down in the fights at the arenas was not to give away my true potential. Kubra wasn't really a higher-tier fighter than me. I always had to hold back. A smile crossed my lips. That night, Juliet appeared out of nowhere, realizing she had an ability. It was one of the happiest moments of my life. A way for her to be safe… Then she didn't disappear when my father beat her. She was doing it for me. "It has been a long time since I was in a good fight," Fahan said.
"The stakes are high enough."
I didn't want him to come to our ship. So, I took the opportunity and jumped over the railing of the deck. I landed squarely and cracked my neck. Fahan tied the ropes slowly to the post. If Caleb and I could get him away from the vessel. We could turn the whole thing around. The last time I had to fight, I had a cause. At that moment, my motivation was carrying my child.
Fahan was large and tall. It didn't mean he had my two hundred years of strength. And I was just growing up. My grandmother called me a baby. I chuckled again, amping myself up. Silvanus stood three meters, manifested on a full moon. I would not need to climb Fahan. He was closer to two and a bit. He didn't have the enormous horns the Riphaths had, and his body was in proportion. His legs were sturdy. Their skin was a faint blue, dark grey color. They had no flesh, and the muscles seemed on the outside of his body. Every fiber was visible.
Yes, they had scales. Small and flat, lying almost translucent on their skin but not everywhere. Only the most vital parts were protected. I took in all of him to make sure I knew where his weaknesses lay. The problem was the armor that was infused into their surface. Strategically placed by his creator. Fahan circled me slightly, hunched over. I wondered if they knew anything about fighting hand-to-hand. I kept examining every inch of him as we circled each other. Their thick black nails were constantly out, protruding from the points of their fingers. The armor on his hands started directly after the nail, ascending up his arm in bands. They were the ultimate shell of protection.
When his feet started moving, I had to reciprocate. No time for thinking anymore. My hands were up. His arms were broader and set next to his face. I closed the gap quickly, punching him in that flat nose of his. Some blood trickled down. He wiped over his eyes. It had stung. I kicked him on the shin. He shuffled away. I slammed at his jaw. He blocked me, lashing out with his other fist, and landed on my side. My head followed, and he clocked down at my ear. It hit, and the ringing followed. I dodged away before he could follow up.
We fought for some time. It felt like it would never end. The smell of our sweat, blood, and the stinky fishy water penetrated every breath I had to take. The stickiness of the sea air and the sun and waves made it so much harder to calculate and stay focused. Regardless of all his heaviness… Fahan torpedoed past me and moved with precision, bypassed my footwork, evaded, and retreated at the exact moment he needed to. His sheer size pushed me around the boat, forcing me back. I punished him every time for misreading the situation. He had the bulk but not the brain power. My last kick landed in his diaphragm. A gruff, low grunt resonated around me. My blood was pounding to get it done. My knuckles were bruised from the rough exterior of what they were made of. The punches he had landed would leave scars on our skin.
Fahan's muscles were tense and sore, trembling. He was shaking his hands next to his body, trying to get the blood to flow. My mouth was dry. The close combat was exhausting. I was used to grappling my opponent to the ground and forcing them into submission. I was at a disadvantage. No other species were made for groundwork. On my last leg, I whacked him right under his ear, confusing him. He pushed back a few steps. I waited until he would come at me again. I jumped up, grabbed his head, and smashed his jaw into my knee. His upper lip pulled up in pain. Large fangs protruded from his lips. I knew I had him. He crashed down on the wood, creaking the beams. I grabbed those small pointy horns, stepped on his face, lifted my leg, and stomped down below his ear. "Double-tap. Always!"
I picked him up over my shoulders. My knees buckled as I walked. Caleb teleported over and stopped me before I threw him into the water. "I'll take him over. We don't want to kill Aries's father and a whole other race… do we?"
I was considering it. We would have both abilities. Have Palmyra back. And like the werewolves on Earth that didn't die. Maybe it would be just the leftovers on their planet who wouldn't make it. Jade would be dead, and I was sure Dimitrios would be a more willing leader.
Caleb took Fahan from me and decided for me. He held him in his arms. I was already busy untying the ropes and maneuvering the fish around.
Caleb landed next to me. We both looked back to see if the dragon would awaken. My hands were shaking. It was a little different fighting and knowing you held two other people's lives in your hands. It was not only Juliet and my baby who would die if I did. Having so many people to love had changed me. Fahan would not have thought twice about tossing me into the deep. Caleb's hand rested on mine. "I think I'll manage. Sit down, Marcus."
I fell back and let all the emotions rush over me. I covered my eyes with my arm. It wasn't long before the embassy towered over us. "I don't know what's going on. The fish is not listening anymore."
"Let him be. He will guide us in."
"Marcus! I never want to fight you for real. I never knew what the fuss was about. You being the trainer and war machine… I had never seen anything like it."
"Give yourself two hundred years with me. I'll take you into the ring."
"I watched my mom and you three fight Ahasuerus. Everyone says that we grow stronger as we age. How lethal was he in that ring?"
"All three of us had never fought that hard. He… was something else entirely… If it was just me and him or your mother." I shook my head. "I would've died in five minutes."
"But Michael killed him so quickly."
"Yes… all three together. All that power. Instantly all grown up… I can't even imagine it. However, I will give him a go when he comes back. No… to get him down, you need to use your brain… I don't think Ahasuerus saw it coming. I just hope… what I taught your mom is enough when the time comes."
"She can disappear."
I sighed. "Yes, she can… But your mom has the annoying arrogance of facing every opponent head-on."
Caleb laughed. "Just like you." His words brought a smile to my face. Juliet and I didn't connect in a lot of ways. But in the ways that matter, we were all there.
Caleb jumped to the rock landing that framed their dock area. I tossed the rope at him. My head dropped while he was busy. I was standing with my hands on my knees. "Why did you stop me? We should have killed them."
Caleb held out his hand and pulled me onto the slippery surface. I held on to him. We were walking while he was talking. "Well, he didn't really do anything that bad. The vamps took my great-grandfather and kept him alive for how long to figure out how to harness that ability. Back then… And with his age, he would have been strong… But look what it did to Chris in a few days. And after that! What did they do? They controlled and manipulated their way through the galaxy."
I sighed. The boy was right. Our species seemed to be the problem all around. Fahan was only trying to save his people. And if we could give back the child, it would all be over. "Can we give Aries back now?" I asked.
Caleb was quiet while we climbed the stairs. We entered the first floor. It was a containment and shipping section. Scary as hell with the water crashing into the glass. The next floor was filled with desks. I expect that was where they monitored the comings and going on Palmyra. "What are we looking for?"
"Anything that resembles tech."
"Something like that?" Caleb pointed at the wall.
We had been walking through the space. Entered what seemed like a separate office from the rest. It must have been Liv's office.
"What is it?"
"I have no idea. I've never seen anything like it."
"It seems like vampire tech. It's glass and round, larger than the normal plates. On Zoreah, we have this little nook that charges all our devices."
My eyes drifted over the space. If she needed to charge it. There would be a spot. The vines that lit all their rooms were manipulated to run along the roof of her office. The stones that grew out of it were dead. It was dark, and only Sirius's light made it possible for us to see anything.
"We have to find their electrical current. It would be water generated."
"The whole place seems dead. Even those vines seem to be taking a beating. Why would they have shut it down?"
"I don't know. Brylee's husband could still be alive. It wouldn't surprise me if we had it all wrong. And somewhere on this planet, some of the werewolves survived."
"We were down in the basement. I didn't see any way for the water to flow and cause currents."
"No, but we are in a mountain."
I ran up the stairs. Caleb following. We circled the platform regarding the water down below. "Where is their harbor wall?"
"Last time we were here. We had an easy time. The water didn't meet at the gate. I thought it had to do with rotation or gravitation. The waves were manageable. That's why I thought the boats would be a good idea. Today, it's like the Atlantic."
"Those killer fish weren't supposed to be there when my mom came the first time... They wouldn't want all their trained beasts to be eaten waiting at the rope's end."