Scorpion

by Cyndi Goodgame

  Cas on the other hand, had a clearer demonstration of his ability to break down my walls of icy coldness and was slowly being broken more and more when he was around. I could easily build it back up when Lee was around. He was still a traitor. I feel responsible for the way he is though I didn’t know he was a spy before we met. He chose his path.

  The others annoyed by our silence began to clear their throats once more.

  Who was now throwing fireballs in our direction more than the rest? Calum.

  Cas intervened, “But you can’t be responsible.” He was saying this out loud purposely. I guess he wasn't hiding our skill anymore. Something told me his motives have changed.

  Don’t do this! I shouted in my head. I was already dealing with the fact that Lee was sneering at Cas.

  Szar had to pipe out seeing the three silently kill each other with looks, “If you all fight over her, let me pop some corn first for the show.”

  “NOT NOW, SZAR!”

  Szar looked at Cas and dang it if he didn’t say out of his dog ugly mouth, “Told ya she would be trouble.”

  He popped Szar hard in the arm. I fisted my hand and hit him as hard as I could and not plaster him on the floor. He and I’d been in the ring too many times to not know each other’s limits.

  I hit him in the jaw. Cringing inside, I would never tell them how much that made my hand hurt. Yes, I would heal fast. No, I wasn’t immune to pain. I could storm off right now and make my point, but I had a BIGGER point to make.

  “Told ya my fist would connect to your face.”

  “You never said that!” Szar laughed at me trying to hide his real shame.

  “Just.Did!” So much for calm, cool, collected.

  Cas pulled me off him and forced me to calm down. When I was breathing like normal again, he had to bring back the last subject of choice.

  “He didn’t choose to spy on the Val court, let me make that part clear. He didn’t know what he was walking into until he was already there and well, unable to leave. And maybe he did lie, a little.”

  We’re back to him again? What was he hinting at? “Lee Dyer lie? Never. Not at all, right?” I glared at said liar.

  Cas halfed his statement by using our mega super talented telepathy for the part he didn’t want others to hear, “I admit I didn’t help him in any way though I could have. All for you!” I told you, Kissa. I’m a very selfish creature. I wanted you to be mine.

  “We all did.” Lee apparently guessed his mind talk as if some type of guy telepathy was expected. Great for them.

  This was all too dramatic and totally contradictory to the matter at hand. I squirmed in my own skin with anxiousness after living eighteen years never wanted it seemed and now suddenly I’m the girl for everyone.

  “Not me, sis! Not my type.” Szar had to speak. This didn’t break any tension.

  I forced a laugh. “No for more reasons than the obvious. Too head-strong. You prefer the ditzy helpless kind.”

  “Not fair. How would you know?”

  “Agreed! Just a guess. But probably a good one.”

  “End of subject!” Szar fumed.

  There were ample reasons to walk away from all this. I could easily give in and lose this whole cause.

  “But you won’t. You can’t leave us. Whether we feud or not, we can’t do this without you. You’re the ace and we are the wild cards. If we don’t work together, solve this, what will happen then?” Cas added to my thoughts.

  “He’s right. Whatever has happened between us, we have to work as a team. If we argue, we just die trying.” Szar was trying to defuse things and doing pretty good. The rest of the bodies in the room were moving around now.

  “This is a truly morbid discussion that elicits a hope for some type of compromise,” I was going to be sick. I really was Alice going down the rabbit hole. Can’t I just take them on some mad exodus to a safe haven far away and deal with this quickly?

  “You can’t take us away. Besides, do you think any of us would go willingly abandoning you to the other?” Cas was answering my thoughts yet again.

  “Very good question,” Lee said.

  “And if given the choice to follow what the other says, you would just walk the plank? All you do is fight.” I motioned to each of them indicating they would have to actually, I don’t know, get along.

  Calum studiously answered, “Well, I’d get wet, but I still would do as I deem. What needed to be done.” As was Calum’s way. When others saw walls, he saw opportunities.

  “You can’t do that.” My back stiffened worried he meant sacrificing himself.

  “We can’t always have what we want.” Calum painfully stated as his massive Hunter caveman walk entered the room beside me from where he’d been standing in the door still.

  Szar scoffed and stomped off his heavy boot falls sounding like a herd of something or another.

  Lee walked away mulishly knowing defeat.

  Calum’s eyes pleaded.

  Cas knew my heart.

  Yet, he knew my heart’s dilemma as well. I nodded at Cas to leave us alone. When he was gone I sat on the sofa signaling Calum to follow. His hand hid his face particularly as he rubbed his chin. I noticed the distinct difference in the lines that had formed across his forehead. They were more pronounced.

  The room emptied after I asked them to all leave. We couldn't meet under this kind of rage.

  “I can’t change things,” I said for lack of what else I should say.

  “Fitting response.”

  “What would you have me do? Never mind, what can I do to help you now?”

  “You can’t.”

  “Then you have to replace it with the power and strength I know you have. The battle strategy you keep hidden inside. Everyone needs to see that person. You are so much more than you let people see of you.”

  Define people. We aren’t exactly part of that mold.

  “Did it mean anything to you? Us?”

  “Calum, you mean everything to me. I can’t do any of this without you. I can’t sleep at night right now because my heart is breaking for you. I can’t give you what you need.”

  “Say it. DID IT MEAN NOTHING?”

  “I can’t!”

  “SAY IT!”

  “NO! Calum it meant everything to me. You are incredible. You are warm and courageous and…”

  “And not what you want!”

  “Wrong. I look up to you. You are my hero. I can’t believe I ever lived without you. I want to come ask advice of you almost every hour.” I remembered to try to be a people person here.

  “You haven’t answered the question.”

  Hurt and rage burnt through me like bolts of lightning and not from him. I wanted to hit him. “Yes, Calum. You mean a lot to me. You always will. But Cas, he’s everything to me. He completes me. Is this what you wanted to hear?”

  He stood fast, turned faster, and slammed his fist into my father’s wall releasing the energy we both held in. The hole, two handbreadths wide.

  And I felt it.

  “Do you see my point? You have power Calum. Combine that with what you know, you will be a powerful Hunter lord. You are amazing, you know that?”

  “No! You make me out to be, but I’m not!”

  “You’re wrong.”

  I made a rash decision to feel like I should comfort him. I moved over putting my hand on the back of his shoulder. He tensed. I kept it there regardless. His pleading eyes looked back at me so I watched him try to read my intentions. “I want you to be happy. I never wanted you to have this much sorrow.”

  He repositioned, straightened his face, and I felt his mood changing. The fear changed to a solid unreadable emotion. He disarmed me with his killer smile. “I will from now on, be whatever you need me to be. If that’s what you need. I will not let you down.”

  He sounded so formal. I wasn’t entirely sure he was being real or not. The Calum I knew made everything into a joke. This was a serious Calum. He was waiting for me to respond. S
o bipolar.

  “I’m serious Stace.”

  “Okay!”

  He stared at me intently.

  “Why so fast? That was very multi-personality like?”

  “I can’t change it, can I?” His troubled eyes watched mine.

  “No!”

  “Okay! So let’s start now. What do you think will be the main topic of tonight’s discussion?”

  I geared the conversation immediately to the coming events of the night hoping that I wasn’t showing all the signs of not caught up to the present emotions.

  The room busied again with Cas leading them back, who was obviously listening. Valkyrie ears didn't miss it either. Oh wait, Hunters have the severest sense to. So in all, everyone heard. They should have just remained in the room. No one said a word upon entering and Cas started us off this time with the time frame we had before we started.

  Each time any of them pelted me with strong signs of their uneasiness or spikes of anger with the mention of harm caused to me or our families, it made me pause. It was a bit overwhelming at times, but respectable and awe-inspiring to know they cared that much. But this love junk was disarming.

  “I believe that the docs will create a game plan for the long run.”

  That’s what I thought too. Borgon’s family dead, he would have it well thought out. My standard thumb to lip thinking position took effect. Calum laughed rubbing his five-o’clock shadow.

  “What?”

  “You’re thinking!” He pointed to my thumb. I knocked his arm sideways. And like that, we were best buddies again like at the Hunter school. In time, he will see this.

  We both laughed as Cas returned from answering a text. He’d heard everything I’d said and no doubt stood close enough for his Vampire hearing to hear everything Calum had said in "private". His eyes softened as he neared me waiting till I made the move. I stood reaching my hand out to his smiling unwillingly when fingers warmed instantly. At least, that’s how I saw it.

  Calum was gone to the other room to eat and we were left alone for the few minutes remaining before the docs arrived.

  That was very brave of you.

  That was not brave. That was cruel and arrogant and insensitive.

  Not hardly. And he’s a big boy. He will be fine.

  I glared at his too calm eyes and felt the quick indignant anger that rose in my chest. And how would you be if the role was reversed?

  His vampire face paled three shades lighter. That’s not what I intended. I felt like the horrible heathen girlfriend that I was. I’m sorry. That was wrong. I don’t ever want to see you hurt in any way. And never by me. I’m sorry.

  He curled around me making me rolled into him. I don’t want you to hurt. I want you to be happy, Kissa.

  I am happy.

  Are you?

  I leaned back looking up into those glorious beautiful deep pools of emotion that seem to only speak to me. I know I pretend to have this cold ice girl on the outside for people, but I can’t do this Cas. I can’t. I’m not this strong person that they make me to be. I’m just me.

  Cas watched me intently which in itself was powerful, but talking to me internally and keeping his soft gaze locked on mine was above and beyond the typical young love. It was more.

  And that is exactly why you are the person we need. You re selfless.

  I’m the most selfish person I know. I get what I want and don’t know how to be told no. Leaving home was the best thing I’ve done. I am so selfish.

  Stop! He gave me slow nod before squeezing me to him.

  I buried my face in his chest. Let’s get ready.

  Stepping away, I composed myself. Since it was hard to hide my feelings from Cas, I found it easy to turn on my ice to mirage my feelings in front of others.

  Chapter Six

  …cannot stand.

  The docs arrived exactly on time. Cas and I sat on my father’s sofa with Szar beside him who refused to sit beside me saying I was too high on myself at the moment. Calum and Dr. Green sat in the two winged back period chairs across from us that had been in my family since before I was born. Dr. Quinn was invited because he was the acting headmaster and was sitting alone perpendicular to my father on the opposite side of the room. Lee was there too acting as a partisan to the Hunters but it was never identified as to why we needed him there.

  My father stood choosing to get the party started. The silence held us in check long enough before father assured our conversation was private by shutting the doors. Yeah, but two traitors were seated right next to us.

  Why is Lee here?

  He is technically a liaison for the factions hired by your father originally and acquired by the rest when he pulled off the Anastacia episode as some call it. He is good at retrieving information. Forgive me. I thought you’d want to know the truth.

  I jerked my head too fast alerting others I was not at their full attention. And you didn’t tell me about my father hiring him?

  He said nothing. I’m sure he was just sparing my feelings.

  My father started off in that same droning tone he carried that only a parent or a supernatural faction leader can. “We will escort Lord Green to the Hunter palace at dawn tomorrow. We arrive with ample security from the Hunter court. Our two will sit close by or in disguise as needed. If a plan B is needed then radio copy will be “abomination” with no response needed. If such a case, all regroup at the newly located warehouse at the fastest ETA. If compromised only by normal circumstances, then abort and return to current residences. Dr. Green assures me he has the utmost security in motion for any such event. However, if something unmistakably out of sync happens on your watch, then all precautions will be taken to ensure the new leader’s arrival to his court.”

  At this point no one had been allowed to speak other than him. I, of course, knew this was typical. Control was his hidden middle name. I refused to move my face in any direction for fear of anyone assuming I yay-ed or nay-ed the situation. Nothing has ever happened before on inauguration day, but that didn’t mean it wouldn’t.

  “With that in order, what of Stace and Szar?” Dr. Green asked. And he didn’t just mean for the single event. My father has hinted to pushing in a younger leader and making himself the shadow.

  “They will make their own decisions. Szar will remain here. One will stay behind for the security of the future. He will take on as the heir to the throne.”

  I knew he was only securing the throne. Everyone was already aware of all of this. I looked over at Lee who was...watching me. I still wanted to know the “real” reasons why he was here. Crap. I wanted to know now!

  “Stace will stay at the Cross Manor where better protections are in place.”

  “What? I get no say?” I slapped the front of the sofa with both hands. Throwing an “I’m now independent and get a say so” fit was important no matter how childish it may look.

  My father neither smiled nor frowned, “Anastacia, you are no longer safe at the Hunter school. I have cut off efforts with Borgon so it will not be long before he starts attacking in larger forms aside from the one the other day. There are too many open places for your removal from the wrong hands. Lord Cross has graciously allowed me to move your needed things over. He has the protection you need that no one else can give.”

  Well then. La-te-da! Choices taken away again. I wanted to protest, but knew he’d never relent. If I needed to escape, I could. And he knew it. I saw Calum’s pained face and folded my arms to seem a little more perturbed for his sake. He smiled painfully at me, but it was a smile.

  “And they will join us only if plan B is put in action. She will be seen in the motorcade and then Lord Cross will take her out before anyone has any ideas.”

  Hello, why is everything about me? At least I’d have a radio. Maybe I could make waves of panic just to keep them guessing.

  Kissa.

  I made the huge mistake of looking at Calum out of a purely new habit called “care too much” that recently moved into my he
art. He was in complete heartache showing none of it on the surface, but I knew. It seemed like I recently realized how in tune with him I really am. I can predict his moves and him mine. What’s more hopeful is that he might accept the idea of a being great best friend. I need him.

  He knows that.

  Cas, he is in pain. The idea of me not at the school and housed up in the Cross Manor was eating at him, but he stayed silent. I eventually dropped my eyes away from Cas and back to Calum now.

  Dr. Green cleared his throat.

  “We need to deal with the matter of what will happen next with the four of you.” The Doc’s eyes circled one by one stopping at each of us for an intense three seconds each. “And Cord needs to be brought in.”

  I chose to lead wanting my say to matter. “I want to know what else I don't know that you know. The whole truth. And nothing left out. What do I not know?”

  My father hesitated. Dr. Green started to speak and stopped when my father’s hand flew up. “Before your mothers died, all four, they began to seek out the four lines that would carry on the factions. The Were’s were unattainable at the time. This didn’t hinder them in the least for it went well with their plan. We fell in love so easily and….” He looked at Dr. Green for some kind of understanding, comfort, or something else—I didn’t know.

  “We were easily trapped. We were told a week before each of your birth of each other’s reality and how all four would be born at midnight on the twenty-ninth of February eighteen years ago. We tried to rebel initially but you’ll find that the gods and goddesses are stubborn to say the least.” He looked at me to give me an osmosis charge of guilty.

  “After being forced to comply, we watched all four of you arrive somehow only seconds apart from each other. Szar arrived less than two seconds after Stace but within the first sixty seconds of the day. The late Lord Cross being able to read minds naturally made us painfully aware of just how connected you were to each other. I assume Stace and Thorn have already come to the conclusion of just how connected they are?” This was a question waiting for an answer.