The Heart’s Lost Souls: Part One: The Binding

by Trinity Blacio

  The wind was warm and Detroit didn’t look like anything she remembered. “I don’t know, but I know they were twin boys. You know how much it hurt me to lose them. I was ready to take off and go away, and raise them myself,” Shannon said, a tear rolled down her cheek thinking of the little ones she had carried for three months.

  Shannon turned the corner and smiled, seeing all the bikes parked there. “I should warn you. I’m kind of blocking everyone from finding us. Well shit, except one,” Shannon frowned as they pulled their bikes up next to where Bull was leaning on his own bike.

  She did have to admit the man was still hot for someone so old, dressed in leather as she was. Shannon shut her bike off and stared at the man. “Did you tell them where we are?”

  “They know where you are. You cannot hide from them, but they are allowing you to do this as long as I am here. But they will appear if any trouble starts and I have a feeling the three of you are going to start it. Am I wrong?”

  “No, and if I had it my way every single jackass in there would be torched, but I promised Shannon the honors of Garret. But I get a sister and Melody gets the other one,” Tabatha said and Bull laughed.

  “Well then let’s proceed, shall we?” Bull said and guided them to the door. Shannon stopped and looked at the old one.

  “They’re not human, are they? That’s why you’re allowing us to go. Because if they weren’t, you wouldn’t want Tabatha’s dragon to be known. Shit, they’re here, watching.” Shannon growled. “Damn it, this is important to me.”

  Bull nodded. “That’s why they’re not here, but watching. Let’s go. Your friends in there know we are here.”

  “Really,” Shannon smiled and glanced at Tabby. “How hot does it have to be to melt bikes, I wonder?” she said, and Tabatha laughed. “On the way out, my friend.”

  Shannon didn’t wait for anyone as she walked ahead, the door opened on its own. She had waited so long for this day. As soon as she stepped into the club her pants turned to a short leather skirt to match the corset she was wearing.

  Of course, Zeus’ love marks were visible, but she sure didn’t care. It didn’t take her long to spot Garrett sitting on the couch, watching some girls strip on the stage. “What’s wrong Garrett? Wasn’t Angie enough?” she asked, quietly as everyone in the room turned to look at her and her friends.

  Garrett stood, smiling, looking the same, which made her want to deck him even more. “Alas, I’m afraid poor Angie didn’t last long. I do say you have improved with age, Shannon. Have you come back for round two?” he asked, as his gaze flicked to Melody and Tabatha. “I see you have brought your friends. How nice, but I don’t know the one next to you?”

  She moaned and glanced to her side, seeing Apollyon there. “This is mine. Do not interfere, please,” she pleaded.

  He leaned down, placing a kiss on her lips. “You are running the show, but we are here for you always.”

  Shannon sighed and nodded, turning her attention back to the man that had been her world for four years. She stepped forward. “Tell me something, Garrett, what are you? Because I know you’re not human, just like most of these beings that follow you aren’t. How much did you get paid to keep me in line?” she asked. That’s when Shannon and everyone else heard Belen’s snarl.

  “You guys promised Belen,” she said. The gentle touch of a finger tracing down her cheek made her shake her head as he moved down the steps into the club. She turned her attention to Garrett “I’m waiting?”

  The man always did have balls. He jumped up on the ledge where he had been leaning. “Oh, the last part is easy. We were promised no one would interfere with us living here, of course. That meant all the food we can eat and we could do anything we pleased, so you were a breeze to handle, until another came to take over. Tell me how is Harold, or should I say Sufort?”

  She smiled, as Tabatha snarled behind her, drawing his attention. “I really wouldn’t worry about Tabatha, even though I know she’d love to roast you, but I’ve given her permission to handle Kim, your little she devil of a sister. Where is the bitch? Oh, and Melody would like to tango with your other sister, Karen. As for my dead husband, well I don’t really know what happened to him. I know the Supreme Ones saw him and then my mates were allowed at him. I really didn’t want the gory details. I’ve had enough of those.”

  Over to the side, Shannon heard the threats as his sisters came running forward, but both Melody and Tabatha jumped in their paths, waiting.

  “Shannon, do we really have to do this?” Sunshine asked, coming around the sisters, glaring at her.

  “Really, you still haven’t figured it out yet? You were one of my best friends, sad really,” Shannon waved her hand and a black trunk appeared in front of Sunshine. “Do you know who’s this is? Aha, I see you understand,” Shannon said, as she opened Kim’s personal trunk in which she kept her treasures. Sure enough, Sunshine’s jacket that she had been accused of stealing was right there on top of it. Two things Shannon wanted back came at her as she held out her hand. “Aww, I knew you took these. This was from one of the humans that I can actually say I loved, Grams.” Shannon put her rings on her hand, smiling.

  “Sunshine, go home to your kids .You have done nothing to me,” Shannon said and she disappeared from the room. “Now, I still believe you owe me some answers.” Shannon addressed Garrett as Fallon appeared next to him, making him jump off the ledge and back away.

  “I thought I recognized you. You’ve been gone from our world how long now?” Fallon asked, stepping forward.

  “Okay that answers one question. Fallon, you guys promised. I’m not done with the asshole,” Shannon frowned at her mate.

  Garret looked from Fallon to her. “He’s one of your mates?” The man finally looked scared which made her laugh.

  “Okay Fallon, what did you do to put such fear in the man’s eyes? I swear it’s the first time I’ve seen it.”

  Fallon smiled, but it wasn’t a friendly one. She shivered. “Okay, I’m glad you’re on my side, but please I need some answers from this asshole. Where are they, Garrett? I will ask this only once.” Shannon moved to Fallon’s side and twined her fingers with his.

  “Who are you talking about?” Fallon asked.

  “My twin boys. My first pregnancy, at least that I can remember. I was 15 when I met him. God, I loved him. Anyway, I got pregnant and he wasn’t happy,” Shannon said, never taking her eyes off of Garrett.

  Garrett glanced to the left, and Fallon pushed her behind him as a man appeared in the room, one she didn’t remember at all. Gently, Shannon was lifted and once more placed by Apollyon, and Tabatha and Melody were now next to her.

  “Well, whoever this one is, it must not be too good, if all our men are here now,” Tabatha grumbled.

  She had been so focused on Garrett, that Shannon hadn’t seen Tabatha’s or Melody’s mates appearing. Hell, even Belen was now there standing with Bull in front of this man, so that couldn’t be good. “Okay Apollyon, who is he?” Shannon asked, leaning over and whispering.

  He smiled and shook his head. “You don’t have to whisper. Everyone here heard you. He is from a place that not even we know where it is, like Suzerian. I believe your people would call them giants. He is the brother of what we knew as the leader of their kind, Kebar. He is called Nedril.

  Shannon grabbed onto Apollyon’s arm and looked up at him. “Kebar is important to us.” Shannon said, into her mate’s head. She didn’t know why, but just his name, Kebar made her heart race, like she had felt upon seeing Belen.

  * * *

  Therbelenth heard Shannon’s words as the man appeared next to his brother. He had never met or seen Kebar.

  Hearing Shannon’s sigh. “Other mate,” she whispered to them all, but this Kebar wasn’t only her mate it would seem.

  “Here why? I told you to stay away?” Kebar said to his brother in their language, but as soon as Kebar looked around, he spotted him. Therbelenth knew he recognized what they were to eac
h other.

  “Don’t even think it, asshole,” Shannon snapped and that’s when he realized Shannon wasn’t where he had put her.

  As soon as he swung around, this Garrett grabbed hold of Shannon, and disappeared from the room. The other half of him let go, the death call of his kind, hunting for what was his. Now, this situation was in their hands.

  Large hands grabbed onto him before he could leave the room. He swung around to see Nedril. “You will not kill him,” he ordered.

  “Your friend just took your brother’s woman and ours. He dies after our woman gets her answers,” he told him in his language, shocking him and his brother as he disappeared, following his woman. But not before he heard Nedril’s grunt and whine.

  “I didn’t know,” the man said, but right now that didn’t matter, Shannon mattered. “Has he hurt you?”

  She laughed. “Please, he is taking me to our children, at least he better be. I have also informed Tabby and Melody they may do as they wish with the sisters. But I really think Kim needs to go to Queen Carmen. She really hates spiders and I think it would be fitting.”

  “Not before I roast her a little, then you can have her, since it’s obvious they can’t die, the little suckers. No offense to Fallon,” Tabatha said, to everyone.

  “None taken at all. I will be dealing with the rest of the men when we return, so if your mates would be so kind as to keep them occupied, I would appreciate it,” Fallon said.

  “Not a problem at all. I think Wol-item even needs to vent some frustration, other than on my ass,” Tabatha grumbled.

  “Do not worry we will keep them busy, but I’m afraid I will always be beating on my mates lovely round ass,” Wol-item said and Belen had to smile, hearing Tabatha’s growl.

  “Belen?” Shannon called him, and only him. The connection was strong.

  “Yes, my Little Queen,” he answered back.

  “You and Kebar are mated?” she asked.

  “Yes, does this bother you?” he waited.

  “No, it’s kind of hot. I saw how he… You mother fucker!” Shannon yelled and the connection was gone.

  There was no stopping it, his other half took over. No one took their woman.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Shannon floated, staring in horror at her two sons, shackled, whip marks marring their bodes as they worked below on something. Next to her, Garret was frozen, her anger was beyond furious. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she set down behind her sons, who appeared to be like that of her new mate, Kebar.

  Each man had to be over eight feet tall, bald, and had ‘so many scars,’ she whispered out loud, which had both of them spinning around ready to strike her down, but they froze upon seeing her.

  Yet, those that kept her sons in chains did not freeze and came running towards her, with weapons she knew nothing about in their hands. Shouts and screams were all around Shannon, but she ignored them all.

  The chains around her sons’ arms and legs vanished. “You are free. You can come home with me and meet your brothers and sisters if you would like,” she said, but turned, glaring at a man who had started to point his weapon at her sons.

  “No, no one will hurt them again,” Shannon snarled, lifting the reptile-looking man up and shaking him, before throwing him down into a stone wall in the ravine they were in. “Belen, would you please take care of the men aiming their weapons at us so I can speak with our sons,” she asked as he appeared next to her.

  Without a word he pulled her to his side, waving his hand and what appeared to be freezing the men in question, just like she had done to Garrett. “My Little Queen, you scared me and I don’t like it.” He glanced over to where Garrett was.

  “Yes, sorry about that, but when I saw our boys here, well I got kind of mad.” She looked where Garrett was. “Do you believe he was going to try and leave me here too? What is this place?”

  “Somewhere you shouldn’t be,” Apollyon said, appearing next to her.

  “Well, I sure wasn’t going to allow our sons to be stuck somewhere, but now that they are free… ” Shannon smiled and slipped out of Belen’s arms. “I’ve been waiting a long time to do this.”

  Garrett fell to the ground, just as she swung with her right, connecting with his jaw. “That is for all the shit you stole from me.” She brought up her leg kicking him in the nuts, “and that’s for making me believe my sons were dead.” Shannon growled, and went to hit him again, but Apollyon wrapped his arms around her.

  “No, you will allow Belen, he’s been waiting and needs to,” he whispered to her, before kissing her cheek. “I think our sons have finally come out of their shock and might need to speak with us.” Apollyon lifted her hand, kissing her bruised knuckles. “Plus, you shouldn’t have to deal with this kind of thing.”

  She snorted. “I’m not a delicate princess, Apollyon. I don’t think I could ever be that if that is what you want.”

  “We want you just as you are,” Apollyon reassured her as Belen moved by him, but not before touching her cheek.

  “Take care of our sons My Little Queen, while I have a few words with the people who run this place and take care of the trash,” Belen said, his voice a growl which sent a shiver down her spine, as she noticed the beast close to the surface.

  Shannon smiled, turning toward their sons seeing Kebar there next to Fallon, Star, and Zeus. All of her mates were there but one, but Shannon’s gaze turned to her two oldest children. She knew which was the first born, her Vidar.

  “Do you understand me?” she asked. At first, they stared at her, then looked at each other.

  “Yes, we are really free?” Karsten asked.

  “Yes, and you have a home if you want to come there. It’s up to you. If you look inside here.” Shannon tapped her head. “You will see who you are, where we are from.”

  For a few minutes they frowned, but then looked towards Kebar. “We are like you in form, but all of you are our fathers? This is confusing,” Karsten said.

  Shannon snorted. “You’re telling me. Will you come back with us, meet your family?” she asked, but already Vidar was shaking his head.

  “We must stay here. We have families and friends here,” he said, which tore her heart apart, but she knew they were not ready.

  She looked up at Apollyon. “The others are freed?” Shannon asked. “No one should be enslaved.”

  “From what I can see Belen is telling me, most have been here since birth, but no. There will be no more slaves here,” Kebar said. “I also have my brother coming here. He will stay with our sons and these people helping them decide what they would like to do. Since my brother has decided to go against our rules he can help here.”

  Shannon frowned. “I’m sorry, but I don’t know if I can trust your brother with our sons. I mean you no offense, but he was working with Garrett and the others.”

  The giant man smiled and reached out touching her cheek. “You are beautiful and I promise my little brother will not disappoint me this time, especially now that he knows you are mine.” Kebar glanced behind him and sure enough his brother was there.

  “Look at the scars on my children. You and your family did this,” Kebar snapped and slugged the man again. “You will stay here, help the people, my sons in all that they need. We will be back to check on all of you, but my mate should not be here. The risk is too great.”

  “What do you know?” Apollyon tensed up pulling her into his arms when Belen appeared again next to her.

  Vidar stepped forward. “Our mother is at risk?” he asked.

  “I’m afraid your mother will always be at risk,” Belen said. “There are many who do not want us together. It’s also the main reason you were put here. We don’t know how many of your sisters and brothers are out there.” Belen leaned down and placed a kiss on her head. “Your mother is a fighter and she has been through too much already, but as Kebar has said the threat will always be there, since they see her as our weak link.” Belen laughed. “Little do they know she has a me
an right hook.”

  Shannon rolled her eyes. “If you think that’s something, you should see Tabby fight. Now she is downright scary.”

  “Time to go back,” Apollyon said, right before everything went black.

  * * *

  Belen stared down at their sleeping woman. She would be angry that they had brought her back here, but it was safe at Wol-item’s home. Until they could figure out who was coming after her, her protection was the most important thing right now.

  Even though he hated to admit it, leaving his sons there with Nedril was not something he had agreed on. Belen glanced over at his mate, Kebar. “What I want to know is when did Pinkillon become a slave world? And how did the Voddies get all the way over to this star? Their planet is across the galaxy and the last we knew they were not equipped to move around like this? Did your brother know about this?” he asked Kebar.

  “No, my brother had no knowledge of this. You each are aware I can probe my people and find out the truth, and believe me I have done so with my brother. The pact he had made with this Garrett was done long ago, but it has been broken now. Believe me my brother will not harm our children.”

  Belen sat down next to his Little Queen, brushing her hair out of her face. “This makes no sense. So many things are not as they should be, not to mention the fact that the Ancient Ones and the Anasazi were not informed of all of these changes. It is surprising they hadn’t wakened before all of this. That slave planet has been here a while. What else are we not aware of?” he asked, just as Bull appeared in the room.

  “Those are great questions and believe me the rest of my clan are investigating. Did you also know another solar system has been formed next to the Great Shield? Not only this, but it would seem a few of the Reverse Realms have crossed over to a few of the closer planets.”