by S. E. Smith
“I wouldn’t,” Zeb warned. “If you kill me, Crag will snap his neck before you can save him.”
The symbiot took a step closer and crouched. The symbiot’s body shimmered in a wide variety of colors. The display of colors reflected its feelings of aggression. Zeb gave it a nasty grin.
“Did I mention that my other friend is with the woman and the boys? You can’t save them all. What is it going to be?” he demanded. He waited until the symbiot backed down. “You will go into the back room. If you try to come out, I’ll have all of them killed.”
Zeb knew the symbiot understood him. He could see its eyes narrow. Stepping closer to Asim, he nodded to the room in the back. “Go or they are all dead.”
The symbiot hissed and rose back up. It moved with slow, deliberate movements. Zeb stiffened when it paused as it drew even with them before it snarled and continued to the back room. He followed, giving the symbiot a wide berth. Only when it was in the room did he close the distance and locked the door.
“What about this one?” Crag asked.
“Break his leg and lock him in the other barn for now. He won’t be able to heal without his symbiot. We don’t want him transforming into his dragon or being able to fight. We definitely don’t want him and his symbiot near each other. Once we have the woman and feathered beasts, you can come back and finish the job,” Zeb instructed.
“I hope we make a lot of credits off the feathered beasts. We are going to need them,” Crag grumbled even as he turned and dragged Asim out of the building.
“Boys, come here,” Pearl said in a sharp tone.
Jabir and Roam looked up from where they were coloring. Both sensed the authority and alarm in her voice. They scrambled to their feet and hurried into the kitchen.
“What’s wrong?” Jabir asked.
Pearl’s face was tight with worry. She knelt down, and whispered to the symbiot wrapped around her wrists. The thin bands of gold dissolved and divide before wrapping around each boy’s arm.
“Something has happened. I don’t know for sure what is going on, but Pokey is showing me images. Asim needs my help,” Pearl said in a quiet, urgent voice.
“We can helps, can’t we, Jabir? We are good at helping,” Roam said.
Pearl reached up and touched Roam’s blond hair. “I need you to hide. Can you do that for me? Can you hide where no one can find you until Pokey tells you that it is safe to come out?” she asked.
Jabir nodded. “We can goes to my favorite rock. Daddy and I made a fort in it,” he said.
“Where is it?” Pearl asked, searching the little boy’s face.
“It is in the meadow. It is the one with the tall rocks that sticks up,” Jabir explained.
“You have to be very quiet. No one can see you,” Pearl said. “Those… They are coming. I need you to go now.”
“We’ll be just like Grandpa Paul – really, really quiet,” Jabir promised.
“I’m always quiet. I’m a cat,” Roam stated.
“Hurry and don’t get caught,” Pearl ordered as she stood up and reached for the knives on the counter. “I’ve got some trash to take out.”
“That means she’s going to kick their asses,” Roam whispered. “My mommy says that when she gets mad.”
“Shush! Let’s go,” Jabir said, shifting into his dragon.
Pearl watched both boys disappear around the corner. They were going up the stairs to the upper balcony. Realizing that she had to trust in their natural ability and knowing that the small symbiots attached to their arms would help guide them, she turned her focus on the men who harmed her mate.
Rules? Her dragon asked.
Let’s start with rule number eleven, Pearl suggested with a grim smile as her fingers curled around one of the knives she was holding.
I like that one, her dragon chuckled.
Hans silently climbed over the railing and landed on the deck. He knelt and glanced around. Through the large section of glass windows, he could see the woman in the food preparation area. He didn’t see the kids. He wasn’t worried about them since they were too young to be a threat.
He started forward, pausing when his view of the woman was blocked after she activated the window shield. It wouldn’t matter nor hinder his mission to capture her. One female was no threat to a cutthroat like him.
He stood and walked across the deck. He had seen the symbiot leave a short while ago and knew that Crag and Zeb were capable of handling it and the old dragon warrior. He almost winced at how easy his job would be in capturing the old woman.
He stepped up to the door and tested it. A humorless smile curved his lips when he found it unlocked. Pulling it open, he silently stepped inside.
This is too easy, he thought as he entered before the smile died and was replaced with a frown.
Hans stared at the woman who gazed at him with a smile on her lips. Unease stirred inside him, but he pushed it away. His gaze ran over her slender form. She looked cool, composed, and – he reluctantly admitted – good in black leather for her age.
“Where I come from it is considered rude to enter someone’s home without being invited,” the woman said in a cool voice.
Hans frowned. “You are coming with me,” he ordered.
“I don’t think so. What have you done with my mate?” the woman quietly asked.
Hans gaze narrowed on her face. He could normally tell a lot about his adversary by their eyes. A flicker of fear, a hint of desperation, and panic were normal, but hers were clear and calm. She looked as if she were ready to battle him – and felt confident that she would win. Once again, an uneasy feeling rose in his stomach. This time it was a little more difficult to push away.
“Do not give me any trouble, female. I’ll snap your neck as quickly as Crag is going to snap your mate’s. Then, I’ll do the same to those two younglings,” Hans snarled.
“Listen, asshole, I asked you a question. I’ll ask one more time. What have you done with my mate?” the woman demanded.
Hans sneered at the woman’s show of defiant bravado. He closed the distance between them. Stopping in front of her, he towered over her. Her face was tight with resolve and determination.
“What species are you?” Hans demanded, his gaze narrowing on her face.
“One you don’t want to underestimate,” she replied.
“Your mate will be dead soon. If you fight, so will you,” Hans threatened. He reached out and wrapped his hand around her upper arm. “Come….”
His breath hissed out when her knee connected with his groin in a swift, hard blow. His eyes widened as pain exploded through him. Dots flashed before his eyes and his fingers loosened on her arm.
A loud groan escaped him as the pain spread. He was defenseless against her next blow. She pulled back her arm and slammed her elbow into his cheekbone. Reaching out, he grabbed at her jacket as he fell backwards, pulling her with him.
The woman’s hand rose and she struggled to break free, but his larger frame and gravity were no match for her. Together they fell to the floor. Pain ripped through him and his body jerked in surprise at the source.
He froze and blinked in shock. Following the woman’s gaze, he looked down at himself. It took a second for him to realize that he was dead, his mind and body just hadn’t recognized it yet. The woman must have had a knife in her hand. When he pulled her down, she instinctively raised her hand to cushion her fall. Unwittingly, the knife between their bodies had pieced his heart.
“How? You are… female,” Hans muttered as his body began to tremble.
“Rule number eleven: If you are going to hit someone, make sure they stay down the first time, because you might not get a second chance,” she said in a quiet voice, gazing down at him with a mixture of determination and resolve.
“Rules… What rules?” Hans asked in a slightly slurred voice.
“Pearl’s Rules for Living,” she replied. “Where is my mate?”
“Others… Zeb has him… in… the… barn…,” H
ans replied before his eyes dimmed and his head fell to the side.
Take out trash, her dragon growled. No want dead body in house.
“Amen to that, sister,” Pearl replied, stiffening her spine and pushing up off the dead man’s body.
With the added boost of her dragon’s strength, Pearl awkwardly dragged the man’s body out of her house. Once she was done, she shifted into her dragon. She searched the darkness. She was torn between going to Asim first or making sure the boys were alright.
What gut say? Her dragon asked.
The boys – my gut says we need to find the boys, Pearl said.
Then, we find boys, her dragon replied.
Pearl felt the muscles of her dragon contract before she pushed up off the deck. Her wings swept through the air in wide, powerful strokes. She flew low to the ground, following the slight scent trail of Jabir. Her dragon’s gaze swept the area, mindful of their other visitors.
Rule number twenty, her dragon whispered.
Yes, Pearl replied.
Rule number twenty was one that had protected her and the girls many times over the years. If you or your family/friends’ lives are on the line, ignore all other rules except Rule Number 1. She would use her brain. She was smart, tough, and determined. She might be outnumbered and outpowered, but she had a good head on her shoulders and had enough fights under her belt to know when to fight dirty.
Whoop-ass time, her dragon growled.
Yes, it’s time to open a can of whoop-ass, Pearl agreed.
14
Asim awoke to excruciating pain. Nausea churned in his stomach. The pain rocketed through him when he rolled to his side. It was so intense; he feared he would lose consciousness again.
Damage…, he choked out to his dragon.
Left leg broken, jaw fractured, his dragon replied, pacing inside him. You no can shift to me.
I know. Symbiot…, he asked, trying to breathe through the pain.
Locked away. They threaten kill mate, his dragon snarled.
Asim clenched his fists against the floor. His head was pounding, making it difficult to think. He had to get to his symbiot. He couldn’t shift into his dragon with a broken leg and he couldn’t fight. Breathing deeply, he forced himself to roll over. The bits of symbiots around his wrists were moving over his body. The bone in his leg would be too much for the small pieces, but they could heal his jaw.
The symbiot moved upward and slid over his jaw. Some of it slipped beneath his skin. He could feel the tingle of bone being mended. When it finished, it resurfaced through the cut on his lip and healed that as well.
“Thank you, my friend,” he murmured.
The small amount of symbiot warmed under his touch. He could feel it moving down his body to his leg. Such a small amount of symbiot would take days to heal him.
“What happened?” he demanded.
Not know, his dragon replied, continuing to pace.
Asim gritted his teeth and forced himself to sit up. Sweat beaded on his forehead and he swallowed back the groan of pain. Holding his broken leg, he waited until he felt like he wasn’t going to pass out before he drew in a deep breath again.
“Come to me. I need to connect with Pokey,” Asim ordered in a strained voice.
The tiny strands of gold shimmered, but moved onto the palm of his hand. Asim wrapped his fingers around it and closed his eyes. Focusing, he connected with his symbiot. Within seconds, the images and conversation about what had happened while he was unconscious streamed through his mind. Panting, he released the faint connection and opened his fingers. The tiny threads of gold looked pale and listless.
“Pearl,” he whispered, bowing his head.
“Where is he?” Crag asked.
“He’ll be here. We need to find those damn creatures,” Zeb said, glancing around the large meadow with the vision magnifier. “There! I see one of them about half way down the meadow.”
“Hans should be back by now,” Crag said with a frown.
Zeb lowered the vision magnifier and glared at the other man. “He said he would meet us at the barn. It may take a while if he has to carry her. The skimmer,” he snapped. “We are running out of time. Let’s go.”
Both men slid onto a skimmer. The land transport had a long, narrow seat, a handle bar, and foot pedals that operated the speed and brakes. It was simple, but utilitarian. The bikes rose up off the ground. Leaning forward, the men shot out across the ground, cutting a path through the tall purple grass.
Behind them in the barn, two large creatures – each with four arms, two legs, and a knack for locks – climbed down from the rafters. Moving across the bare floor of the barn, the female climbed up on the shoulders of the male and inserted a piece of wire into the lock. It took several tries before the lock clicked and disengaged and the door opened. A slow smile spread over the two Grombots’ faces when the enraged Werecat with wings turned to face them.
“Jabir… Roam… Are you in here?” Pearl softly called.
She climbed up onto the rocks and peered into the narrow hole in the rock. Fear gripped her when there was no answer. She turned around on top of the large boulder and searched the darkness. She froze when she saw a movement in the tall grass a short distance away.
A soft laugh escaped her when she saw the familiar eyes of an emu staring back at her. A moment later, a second and a third one joined it. Sliding down off the rock, she listened. The smile grew when she heard Roam.
“Why’s didn’t we do this before?” he was saying.
“Cause we didn’t know it was fun,” Jabir replied.
“Boys, come here,” Pearl ordered.
She blinked when the three more emus appeared near the rocks. Searching, she almost missed Jabir and Roam. Both boys peeked around the neck of an emu.
“You’re riding them?” Pearl exclaimed.
“They’s just like playing horsey, only better,” Jabir said with a smile. “They said they would help us.”
“They said…,” Pearl started to repeat before she shook her head. “How?”
“They are real good at being soldiers. Jabir says they are a neutral,” Roam replied.
“Not neutral – natural. They’s smart, Grams,” Jabir said.
Pearl turned when her dragon hissed out a warning. In the distance, she could see two skimmers heading their way. Those would be the men that the dying man had mentioned. If the men were heading in this direction, she couldn’t help but wonder what they had done to Asim.
He not dead. I know if he dead, her dragon assured her.
“Boys, we need to keep them away from the barn and Asim. Jabir, can you tell the emus that I need a distraction?” Pearl asked, turning back to the little boy.
“Yes,” Jabir replied.
“Whatever happens, don’t let those men catch you,” Pearl said.
“We won’t,” Roam replied with a grin. “We needs reins if we are going to goes real fast. It is hard to holds onto their necks.”
The symbiots on the boys spread into a thin bridle and reins. Pearl whispered to the boys to be careful once more before she shifted back into her dragon. It was time to show these assholes who they were messing with.
Launching up off the ground, Pearl focused on her plan of attack. She needed to keep the men away from the barn long enough to find Asim and Pokey. Once they were together, there would be no stopping them.
Below her, Pearl could see the dark shapes of the emus moving through the tall grass. She was shocked at how fast they were! She estimated they had to be running at close to fifty miles per hour.
They ran in a V-shaped formation toward the men riding the skimmers. Pearl swooped down behind the men and released a long stream of dragon fire. The tall grass ignited in a flaming wall. She twisted, and rose again, rolling several times when one of the men turned on the skimmer and fired at her.
The man turned back around just in time to swerve when the emus emerged from the tall grass in front of them. The men stopped, shocked to see the
birds circling them. Pearl could hear the strong, powerful legs striking the ground. Bits of grass and dirt flew up under their feet. As one, they turned back the other way.
The larger of the two men lifted a blaster and aimed for one of the young birds. In a flash, the emus scattered in all directions. The man who had fired at Pearl turned and yelled for his partner to go after the emu carrying Roam.
Pearl circled around. She couldn’t release any dragon fire for fear of hitting one of the emus or the boys. Instead, she swooped down again with her claws extended.
The man – Zeb, she suspected – raised his laser rifle to shoot at Jabir. Pearl’s claw snatched the rifle – and the man holding it – right off the skimmer. The added weight was too much for her dragon and she couldn’t gain altitude without releasing him.
Pearl’s dragon roared in pain when Zeb swung his hand up and the sharp edge of his blade sliced a deep path across her front claw. She opened her claw and released the man. Unfortunately, the move threw her off-balance. Tumbling through the air, she curled her wings protectively around her body and hit the ground on the other side of the wall of flames. Rolling several times, she finally came to a stop. Shaking her head to clear the dizziness, she shifted back into her human form.
Lying on the ground, she stared at the man on the other side. He was searching for her through the flames and smoke. Defenseless, she remained frozen.
Several long seconds passed before he turned away. Trying to push herself up, she drew in a hissing breath when her arm gave out on her. She glanced down and cursed when she saw blood dripping from under the sleeve of her jacket. This was the first time she had been hurt in her dragon form. It would seem it carried over to her human one.
“Son-of-a-bitch!” she muttered.
Standing up, she glanced through the flames before turning to look at the barn. Torn once again, she could only hope the emus were as good as Jabir said they were. She took off at a fast run for the barn.
“Where are they?” Zeb growled.
“I don’t know,” Crag said, glancing around. “One second they were there and the next they were gone.”