Beastmora- The Golden Six

by Kayley Behler

  “Not really,” V choked out, the pain in her leg burning more fierce than it had before, but there was only one thought on her mind as she looked back at Neferna who lie unmoving behind them, “Is she...”

  “The halfling is dead, yes,” Florence said, pulling Valeria to her chest. Then both of them relaxed as they held onto each other, “I’m so happy you are okay. When I heard your voice, I swear my blood ran cold.”

  Valeria pulled away from her mother to see tears gathered in her eyes, “Mom, I’m sorry.”

  “You don’t have anything to be sorry for, this is not your fault. Do you-” Florence grunted as a flaming dagger pierced through her blood armor, her face scrunched in pain before anger replaced it. Valeria watched with bated breath as Florence grabbed the tip of the blade and pulled it all the way through her chest. Her fingers burning as she held onto the flaming weapon. In one fluid motion, her mother tossed it across the room before turning on her heel towards her assailant, her blood sword forming in her hand just as quick. Everything seemed to flow in slow motion as Florence slammed Kamilah down into the table and ran the blood sword through the phoenix with a fierce hiss. The phoenix thrashed against her mother, letting out noises that Valeria had never even heard a wounded creature make.

  “You think you can kill me with that little trinket,” Her mother hissed pressing the sword further into the phoenixes gut, “Now tell me, who are you and why are you possessing this phoenix?”

  With Kamilah on the table, Valeria was able to get a good look at her ex-RA. The phoenix looked nothing like she did a few nights ago. Kamilah had black veins protruding from her skin. Her once orange eyes were corrupted with black lines in her scleras and crisscrossed in her pupils. Even Valeria knew that these were all signs of possession. This was why Kamilah didn’t remember taking the journal because it wasn’t her. Someone was pulling the strings, and it didn’t take a genius to know that this was the Demon King.

  “I am the Demon King,” It said, stopping its movement to laugh in Florence’s face. The sound of it sent chills running down her spine. This was the same voice from the hallway, but that begged the question, who was the other voice?

  “Let this phoenix go, she is innocent in all this” Florence hissed, her grip on the blood sword tightening. Her mother’s face was ablaze with fury.

  “Tell me where the First Survivor is, and I’ll let her go,” It answered, trying to move up but Florence pushed it back to the table. If it was possible, her mother looked even angrier now.

  “You will never touch her again,” Florence said with poorly veiled anger, “I will find you, and I will rip out your throat and feed it to those who you wronged.”

  “I look forward to it,” It laughed before the body slumped, the veins retreated, and her body began to crack, falling away into ashes.

  Florence pulled the sword from the table before slamming a hand hard onto the table, “Dammit.”

  “Mom,” Valeria croaked, and Florence looked back at her with a crestfallen expression, moving to kneel in front of her. Her mother lifted her into one of the chairs around the table, easing her down with careful hands.

  “I’m sorry you had to see that,” Florence murmured, brushing a hand across her cheek, “Are you alright?”

  “Was Kamilah a halfling too?”

  “No, she was just a phoenix that had been possessed for several phases,” Florence responded softly, “She was dead when he took full control. No beast has ever survived a full possession.”

  “Okay,” Valeria said with a sigh, taking in everything and wincing.

  “Unfortunately, blood healing only works on infections and flesh wounds so I can’t do anything for broken bones,” Florence said as she examined her broken arm and leg, “I’m sorry, my love. We will have to wait until a Healer gets here. I’m sure your sister will be arriving with the rest of them.”

  “Um, Emalia is here,” Valeria admitted, and Florence’s eyes snapped to hers.

  “What?” Her mother asked, and she did not sound happy, “Is she alright? Where is she?”

  “She’s fine. Neferna knocked her out and made me put her in the closet. She came with Callan and me.”

  “It’s bad enough that you came to fight the Demon King, but Callan let Emalia, and you come into harm’s way,” Florence said her eyebrows almost all the way to her hairline, “He is going to get it.”

  “Mom, Callan is dead. Neferna killed him,” Valeria whispered, glancing into the other room where the wolf lay dormant on the ground. The reminder of having to tell her sister about his death made her want to be sick.

  “No, but he will wish he is when I’m done with him,” Florence muttered before her eyes softened at Valeria’s expression.

  “Mom,” Valeria exclaimed shocked her mother would speak of her partner that way.

  “I’m going to tell you a secret, one that cannot be spoken of to any other,” Florence said her voice dropping low even though they were the only ones in the room, “The mark on my neck and on the necks of the other six, does not only mean that we are chosen by the Creator. It also prevents us from dying before our purpose is fulfilled or we are killed by someone else who bears the mark.”

  “Wait… so Callan is alive?” Valeria questioned, looking over at Callan, and he didn’t look very much alive to her, “But he isn’t moving.”

  “You took his blood for your blood armor, correct?” Florence inquired, and Valeria nodded not even a little surprised that her mom had figured it out, “That is why it is taking so long for him to wake up, but I can speed up the process.”

  “What does that even mean?” Valeria asked, her head was really starting to hurt now.

  “Here, I will show you,” Her mother stood up and pushed Valeria’s rolling chair towards Callan’s still form where it lay just outside the control room. She took his face and moved it gently to the side, revealing the gold moon that marked him as a member of the Golden Six and placed her finger in the center of it. Her mom closed her eyes before they opened, gold instead of red. Valeria watched as the golden from her mother’s mark ran down her down and to her finger where it connected to Callan’s moon. The mark seemed to light up as golden line shot to his wounds, once the lines touched them, they closed up, and Florence removed her hand. Moments later, Callan’s eyes snapped open, bright gold.

  “Holy shit that hurt,” He gasped, clutching his chest as he sat up from the floor. His olive skin was no longer pale, and the holes from his chest were completely closed up as if they’d never been there at all.

  “You imbecile,” Florence snapped, smacking the back of Callan’s head.

  “Ow, Florence, I just died. Have some mercy, ice queen,” Callan complained, raising his hands protectively over his head.

  “And you’re going to die permanently if you ever put my children in danger like this again,” Florence scolded, glaring at the young wolf with a disapproving stare.

  “Are you kidding me? They are YOUR children. You think I could’ve left your offspring behind, you are the imbecile if you think they wouldn’t have just followed me here,” Callan shouted, and Florence just rolled her eyes before turning back to Valeria who sat there with wide eyes. She’d watched him die like ten minutes ago, and now he looks more healthy than she does, and he got stabbed several times.

  “I’m going to get your sister, make sure he doesn’t stand up yet. If he does, he will just fall down, and I will not help him up when he does,” Florence stated and stood, moving to the closet where Emalia and Will were in. She opened the door with ease, quickly getting them both untied. She wasted no time after that moving to the projected keyboard and typing a couple things before the alarm shut off.

  “How did you do that?” Callan asked in disbelief from his spot on the ground, “You don’t have the master password, only the Captain- wait did Xander give you the master password and not me?”

  Florence moved back to Emalia, ignoring Callan, pulling her daughter into her lap and tapping her cheek lightly,
“Little wolf, it is time to wake up now.”

  Emalia groaned, pressing her nose into her mom’s thigh and murmuring, “I don’t wanna. Five more minutes, Mama.”

  “Wonderful. She is delirious,” Florence claimed with a sigh before sending a glare to Callan, “How hard did that halfling hit her?”

  “How am I supposed to know? I didn’t see it happen and I knew Cheeks was fine.”

  “Just because she isn’t dead doesn’t mean she’s okay, Callan,” Florence hissed before turning back to Emalia and tapping her cheek again,” Wake up, Emalia. Right now or no meat skewers.”

  Emalia shot up before Florence turned her to the side, and her sister vomited, “I think I am concussed.”

  “I know, darling,” Florence soothed, rubbing her back gently before picking her up and moving to set her down in the chair by Valeria and Callan, “It is a good thing that you are a wolf. That hit could have killed you. I leave for one appointment, Callan ends up dead, Valeria is beat to a pulp, and you have a concussion. I raised you three better than this.”

  Emalia just sighed and leaned her head against Florence’s shoulder, “Sorry, Mama.”

  Florence sighed, pressing her hand gently against Emalia’s head, “Oh, you really are concussed. You haven’t called me Mama since you were a pup.”

  “You okay, Cheeks?” Callan asked, pulling himself up on his elbows and looking much healthier than he did a couple of seconds ago. Emalia hummed in response as Florence gently settled Emalia more into the chair before standing and moving back into the control room.

  “What are you doing?’ Valeria questioned, watching as her mother leaned over the console and started typing.

  “Deleting the evidence. I am erasing just enough so the other agents can’t tell he died,” Florence responded the projected screen making a confirmation noise as she finished erasing the record. Her mother came back out, grabbing the phoenix dagger, Kamilah or the Demon King had stabbed her with before returning to the console once more and with a swift strike, thrust it into the console, “They will blame the lost record on the damage.”

  “I told you, she is a snake,” Callan murmured to Emalia who giggled softly, her fingers intertwining with his.

  “What about the cameras in the control room?” Valeria inquired as her mother returned to her side again, brushing a hand through Valeria’s messy hair.

  “I took care of that with the memory swipe,” Florence responded softly, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

  “Florence! Callan! Are you in here?” Valeria turned to see Xander and her father rush in with the rest of Team A behind them.

  “Dad,” Valeria breathed out, relief poring over her at seeing her dad’s face and he rushed to her side.

  “Valeria needs a Healer. Her arm and leg are broken,” Florence stated, a medic rushing forward and kneeling beside Valeria.

  “What in the Creator happened?” Xander demanded, coming to stand in front of them looking a little worse for wear himself.

  “Demon King possession and a halfling tried to kill Callan and I. They stabbed Callan a few times, and he passed out from the pain, but he’s all healed now. They attempted to use Valeria as bait, but she subdued the halfling, and I took care of the possessed,” Her mom explained, keeping an eye on the Healer examining Valeria, her gaze was distrustful and flashed when Valeria grimaced, “Be careful, Healer Ashhole.”

  “Hard to do that with you breathing down my neck,” Healer Ashhole replied, scanning Valeria’s arm with some kind of medical tool, she turned to ask Emalia what it was but her sister looked like she was going to be sick again, “Your left leg, right arm and two of your ribs are broken. Other than that you’re fine but maybe next time be quicker to avoid water. It should take about a week to heal, just drink four servings of blood every night and don’t do anything reckless.”

  “Oh, this is your genius observation, Asshole?” Callan drawled rubbing Emalia’s back as she put her head back into her hands.

  “It’s pronounced Ash-ole,” The sorcerer muttered his purple eyes glaring at Callan as his hands moved over Valeria’s leg tentatively.

  “I know,” Callan smirked earning an eye roll from Ashole before he snapped his fingers and all of Valeria’s broken bones set back into place.

  “Ouch,” Valeria whimpered, her father, who had been kneeling beside her, shot up and grabbed her mother before she could lunge at the Healer.

  “You could’ve given her something for the pain,” Florence hissed.

  “I don’t tell you how to do your job, Dracul. So, don’t tell me how to do mine,” Ashole snapped and before her mother could retort Xander interjected.

  “Let’s all play nice here. It’s been a tough day for everyone. Ashole be more careful, and Florence let the beast do his job.”

  “Alright, Grey,” Ashole said, moving to Emalia’s side, “Give me your hand, you know the drill.”

  The wolf made a disgruntled noise as she lifted her head to look at the other beast. Her sister put one hand protectively over her stomach before offering her arm, “Do you think the hit could’ve endangered my pup?”

  The room was silent for a moment before Callan let out an indignant squawk, his eyes not on his mate but on their mom, “You knew?”

  “I’m a mother, I know everything,” Florence shrugged, not looking the least bit sorry.

  “I’m getting a grandchild,” Derik said his voice in awe as he stared fondly at Emalia.

  “I’m going to be an Aunt,” Valeria whispered as she looked at her sister’s stomach. She couldn’t see the bump under the sweater Emalia was wearing. Now that Valeria thought about it, the mood swings from her sister and the rounded stomach made a whole lot more sense now.

  “I guess congrats are in order, Claire. You’ve got your own bastard now,” Ashole snorted, waving a hand over Emalia’s stomach to check the pup and giving a confirming nod once it was done.

  Callan turned his glare to Ashole and lifted his left hand, showcasing the engagement ring on his finger, “Not if we’re married when they are born.”

  “But they were conceived-,” Ashole trailed off with a sigh before shaking his head, “It doesn’t matter. Hold still, Grey, while I heal your concussion.”

  The sorcerer waved his hand over Emalia’s head, it looked like purple snowflakes were landing on the wolf. The little snowflakes seemed to seep into her sister’s head. When Ashole retracted his hand, the color had returned to her sister’s round cheeks, and she smiled gratefully at him, “Thank you.”

  “Dracul, were you stabbed?” Ashole questioned, finally noticing the blood staining her clothing, “Let me-”

  “Don’t even think about it,” Florence cut him off with a glare.

  ◆◆◆

  After getting everything squared away at the GSI, they all headed back to the Grey Manor, even Xander who told them of how Snow had saved his life when halfling’s descended into the Captain’s meeting. When Valeria went to ask questions, her mother promised to answer them after they had all gotten cleaned up. Henrik had spent the whole ride home, telling Valeria about the Mind Healer and how cool her office was. She didn’t mind though, it was kind of nice to be distracted from everything that happened. Now she was cleaned off and waiting in the sitting room while everyone filed in, with the exception of Henrik. Blue had taken her younger brother outside to play with Thoren and Nebby. Nebby had been at the Manor the whole time, staying with her egg to make sure Valeria didn’t touch it. It was time to get some questions answered.

  “I’m sure you have some questions you want to ask,” Florence began, crossing her legs as she settled into the loveseat beside Derik. Xander was standing in front of the fire with Emalia and Callan seated beside Valeria.

  “That is putting it lightly,” She said with a huff, “How did you know you couldn’t die? How did you know only another member of the Six could kill each other? Who killed Adella? Also, who killed Seamus, and why did the mark pass to Callan? How does the whole dying and getting
back up work? Why were you able to jump-start Callan waking up? Have you died before? Did you die in the wars?”

  “Damn, I didn’t know you had a whole paragraph,” Callan said with a huff, “Not even Emalia had this many questions.”

  “And another thing, how did Emalia find out and why did no one tell me?” Valeria asked, “Who else knows?”

  “There is only so many times you can feel your mate die before you start asking questions,” Emalia answered.

  “Ivan, Emalia, your father, Zoar’s mate, and children and I believe Veronica’s mate knows as well,” Florence responded, “We did not tell you because it’s a dangerous secret. If people knew that we were basically invincible, our enemies would use our families to hurt us instead. Aside from that, the Council already fear our power.”

  “At first, they didn’t want us to be together, meaning they wanted us across the planet from each other in fear that together we would take over Beastmora,” Xander spoke from his place by the fireplace.

  “To answer your first question, we died and got back up,” Callan piped up, “Ugly business really. Fortunately, I had someone to tell me I would get back up, these guys didn’t.”

  “To answer your second question, we knew that only a member of the six could only kill another member of the six because Veronica accidentally killed Adella. As you know Seamus died before the Demon War.”

  “We still have no idea who killed Seamus,” Xander interjected before Florence continued with her explanation.

  “Adella was not well when she discovered her mate and sons had become demons. We put them down in her stead, which drove her mad, and she attacked us. Veronica pushed her with magic to throw her back, and Adella hit her head on a rock. Once we all saw she was dead, the mark faded, and that is when we knew we could only kill each other. We believed the mark would pass on as it did with Callan, but it never did. Our only explanation is that Seamus still bore the mark on his neck even after he was dead.”

  “We have a running theory that it was either Zoar or Veronica or even Adella that killed my dad. All three of them had a motive,” Callan said, clenching his fist so hard they turned white.