by Jaymin Eve
“You have to think, always assume your opponent is better at fighting than you, and you need to outsmart them. Observe, watch how they move, and formulate a plan.”
Brace was playing with me. I attacked a few more times. Each resulted in me ending up flat on the floor. I pulled myself up again.
“Your moves are good, but you lack the ability to plan ahead. You simply react to what I’m doing. Make me do the reacting.” He continued to lecture me.
I let out a short breath, my eyes narrowing. He was just trying to help, but I hated it when I wasn’t good at things. It had never been a problem on Earth, although I guess there I had an unfair advantage. Not that I’d known it, but being half-Walker definitely gave me added skills.
I stopped attacking him for a moment, staying back as we circled each other. Moving slowly I remembered an old fight-move I’d seen on television – which I’d thought at the time was pathetic – I considered whether it would work.
Brace had his arms held up to the side, expecting my usual striking attack, but it was time to try something else. I started forward in the same manner, both hands held up defensively to protect my face, but just before I reached him I faked a stumble, dropping to one knee.
I groaned.
He was at my side in an instant, but before he could help me up I spun around, my other leg extended, smashing into his lower legs. Brace landed flat on his back next to me.
“Hell, yeah!” I shouted, bouncing to my feet.
Of course I should have remembered his long arms as he reached out and yanked me down to land next to him. He pulled me close, our skins flushed as we lay in a tangle.
“That was a cheap trick, Red.”
I laughed. “You told me to plan and use your weaknesses. I think I achieved both admirably.”
Jumping to his feet, he leaned down to gather me in his arms, cradling me close. “You did well, sweetheart, but don’t think the same thing is going to work on others.”
And with those words he let go, dumping me straight onto the padded floor.
Ass.
And the torture began. He spent hours forcing me to learn techniques and skills I’d never dreamed possible. He was a machine, highly trained and dangerous. Four hours later I was finally free to hobble upstairs for a shower.
“Remind me to watch a movie next time I’m bored,” I groaned as I passed Lucy in the hall.
“You look like half-beaten crap, Abbs.” She laughed at me.
“Brace better sleep with one eye open tonight is all I can say.”
“I sleep with both eyes open, Red. No one gets the drop on me.” He’d followed me up the stairs.
I glared at him, my aching muscles protesting as I marched past, Lucy and Brace’s laughter following me.
“I hate you both,” I called over my shoulder, wincing the entire way to my room.
The night before the battle Lallielle insisted on a family dinner. The last thing I felt like doing was forcing down food all the while trying to ignore my panic and worry. But she insisted. The reds were stationed around the house, so we were reasonably safe for the moment. The conversation was stilted as we attempted small talk.
Francesca was still missing, but Quarn was here. He felt so much like part of the family that I would have been sad not to see him all the time. And the tension that existed between Josian and Quarn had started to disappear. Even Quarn couldn’t ignore the love and devotion between Josian and Lallielle, and he was finally forgiving him for leaving her.
“You listen here, woman –” Josian was a brave man arguing with Lallielle.
“Call me woman one more time, and you’ll be listening to my fist in your teeth.” She cut off the rest of his speech.
Josian grabbed her clenched fist, opening it gently before kissing her knuckles. Their interaction at least worked to ease some of the strain in the room.
Lucy and Samuel were sitting side by side tonight, but I could feel the chill between them. Something definitely wasn’t right there.
“So who are you going to call for the battle?” I faced Josian.
I wasn’t interested in small talk, and if I didn’t ask the question, no one would. Silence descended over the room. Josian smiled at me. I glared back. I’d already asked earlier, but everyone was too busy to speak with me.
“I’ll call Brace and Grantham of Relli.”
My brow furrowed.
“He’s the leader of another Walker clan, and one of my very oldest friends. His people will stand with us tomorrow.”
“Do the ass-hole power-hungry morons in the Abernath clan ...?” I glanced at Brace, who was sitting across the table from me. “No offence.”
A grin spread across his face. I almost forgot what I was going to say in the face of his blinding smile. Josian cleared his throat. I tore my gaze from Brace, my face flushed and breathing slightly erratic.
“Sorry, so the Abernaths, do they have any powerful allies?”
I should have asked about the specifics of the seven clans of Walkers a long time before.
“The Abernaths have always considered themselves to be above the rest of the clans. For some reason our members are powerful, strong and ambitious. We have no ties to other clans,” Brace answered.
I hoped he was right. I blew him a little kiss.
His hard features softened.
I liked that it was something that only happened around me.
You look way too sexy tonight, Red. What on First World possessed you to wear that top? I’ve stabbed myself in the chin five times instead of getting the food in my mouth.
He locked me in his gaze, something he was so talented at. I wiggled on my chair. His words caused physical responses that were far too inappropriate for the dinner table. I might just have to attempt the underwear plan tonight. I needed some relief from the hormones.
“Is there a reason for all the questions, Aribella?” Josian interrupted my steamy thoughts. “I get the distinct impression you don’t believe we’re prepared.”
I shrugged casually, all the while thanking whatever gods there were that no one else could read my mind.
“I just think maybe all Walkers are a tad arrogant, and it doesn’t hurt to think of every possible scenario before just assuming you’re stronger and therefore will be the winner.” I swallowed as all eyes turned in my direction. “On Earth I often outsmarted much bigger and stronger men, even when I was outnumbered,” I smiled down the table at Quarn, “although I know on more than one occasion I had assistance. But my point is ... they never thought for one second I was a threat; they underestimated me.”
“You’re Walker, baby girl. You’re the biggest threat they will ever meet.”
I sighed. Josian was missing my point ... on purpose, I think.
“Just be careful tomorrow, father. Remember Mom’s threat about the fist in your mouth.”
“Yes, remember that, dear,” Lallielle said.
Josian flinched.
“Can you explain the Walker clans and hierarchy to us?” The question came from Lucy.
Josian nodded. “This is long overdue information for Aribella and Talina. There just never seems to be time to fit everything in.”
He wasn’t kidding.
“There are seven clans. On paper we’re even in status, each descended from one of the seven original Walkers.”
“On paper,” Brace reiterated, his tone sardonic.
Josian grinned. “Yes. Unfortunately, as with all powerful, long-lived creatures, we tend to create our own drama and power plays.” He paused briefly. “So, in very basic form the seven clans are Abernath, Doreen, Relli, Kaos, Gai, Laos, and Whar.”
He said the names fast, flicking them off one by one.
“Dad! You’re going to have to slow down or write them out for us.” I sighed.
Lallielle stood and handed me a piece of paper. As usual, she’d thought ahead. I looked down at the stark white sheet. In my hand it had a smooth texture, more so than anything I’d felt on Eart
h. For a moment I wondered what they made their paper from, before shelving the random thoughts and forcing myself to focus.
Lucy leaned over my shoulder to read the list out loud. Talina even moved closer so she could see the paper.
“Abernath – (black tribal), Doreen – (red lace), Relli – (gray swirls), Kaos – (brown stripes), Gai – (white spots), Laos – (golden sunbeam), Whar – (indigo patterned).”
She stumbled over a few of the words but no one corrected her.
“I just gave a very brief idea of the colors and differences in their patterns.” Lallielle smiled. “None of the clans have marks that are the same.”
Josian kissed her on the cheek. “You’re a genius, lady.”
“Golden sunbeams?” I asked, wondering how that was a pattern.
“You’ll understand when you see it.” Brace nudged me under the table.
It must have been the fiftieth time he’d done that that night. I stomped down hard where his foot had been, but he was quick enough to move it in time.
“Kind of like a sun starting in their center and then beams shooting off over their bodies.”
“They sound amazing.” I glanced down at the list again, trying to picture each one.
“So, I am an Abernath?” Talina sounded unsure, “and Que, the ultimate evil Walker, is my leader?”
Brace’s expression softened. “That’s true, Talli, but since he cannot sense your energy, it’s in our best interest to keep that information from him.”
“Could he make me go with him? Like some type of leader mind-control?” Talina’s eyes widened, fear flashing in their brown depths.
Brace snorted. “God, he would love that skill. No, Talli, your mind is yours to manage alone.”
Josian interrupted then.
“Lalli has listed the clans in the undefined order of power,” he said. “We have no real governing body. We basically self-govern our own clans. Order and control is carried out by the most powerful, the Princeps.”
I assumed that was like the king or ruler, and apparently that was Brace’s father.
“Can I borrow that writing tool?” I held out my hand to Lallielle.
She smiled and passed it down via Lucy. I examined the instrument for a moment, before deciding to ignore the strangeness of this semi-transparent, miniature object. I just pressed the pointed end to the paper and a dark blue mark appeared. Excellent.
“Okay, so who is the Princeps of each clan?”
I prepared to write.
Brace was the one who went through the list this time. I wrote as he spelled each name out for me. My scribble almost illegible compared to the lovely swirls of Lallielle’s script. This was my finished list.
Abernath – (black tribal) – Princeps: Que
Doreen – (red lace) – Princeps: Josian
Relli – (gray swirls) – Princeps: Grantham
Kaos – (latte stripes) – Princeps: Krahn
Gai – (white dots) – Princeps: Jedi
Laos – (golden sunbeam) – Princeps: Tatiana
Whar – (indigo patterned) – Princeps: Nos
I studied it carefully.
“Since you have clan two and three’s Princeps, technically you should be at an advantage.” I looked up. “So why would Que risk it then? He must know something we don’t.”
“He believes that he’s more powerful than all of the other Princeps combined,” Brace said, his voice was amused. “I’ve told him many times that his arrogance will be the end of him.”
“And we have clans one, two and three’s most powerful, baby girl.” Josian spoke softly. “Brace supersedes his father in power.”
That would make him ... the most powerful Walker in existence.
Brace chuckled. “That’s not technically true. I’ve never been tested against Que.”
I stared into his perfect features.
“That’s really ... damn hot,” I blurted without thought.
The table erupted into laughter. Heat spread across my cheeks, and I knew I was bright red. Lallielle and Josian refrained from laughing, but did sport large smiles.
I had wonderful parents.
“Abby’s starting to sound like me. I think I like it,” Lucy said as she continued to shovel the roast meat into her mouth. “A little sex-crazed is the way to be.”
I sank lower in my chair, trying to disappear. Josian cleared his throat then, before taking a huge drink out of his silver urn.
You’re lucky we’re in a room full of people, Abigail.
Brace’s eyes devoured me. He looked as if he was two seconds from caveman-styling me over his shoulder and departing the room.
More like two milliseconds.
Lucy leaned in close. “He’s eye-effing the crap out of you right now.”
I was thankful she managed to keep her tone low this time.
“You should hear what’s going on in my head,” I whispered back.
She patted my shoulder. “That’s my girl.”
Chapter 14
I attempted to concentrate on my meal, but I honestly tasted none of the flavors. I might as well have been eating the gunk that passed for food on Earth. Small beads of sweat ran down my temple, and it wasn’t overly warm in the house. I felt trapped, enclosed in this Walker situation. When I couldn’t take the food any longer, I stood.
“I just need a few minutes,” I told the surprised faces, before I ran out the door.
The moment the fresh clean air hit my lungs I breathed in a few deep breaths. Kicking my shoes off, I strode across the sand to the water’s edge, ignoring the urge to step out into the cooling water. I needed to start jogging again. Nothing else cleared my mind. Of course, I’d have to ditch my red Walker babysitters first.
“You should swim,” Talina said, startling me. “It’s amazing how clear one’s mind is while diving through the waves.”
I attempted a smile, which at best amounted to a painful grimace.
“I would love to flee from my constant mental worry, but somehow I know it’s still going to be here when I return.”
“What will become of us, Abby? Eventually someone is going to figure out how to stop this. Bad people will do anything to assure their plans are a success. If Que or someone else wants to free the Seventine, how can seven half-Walkers stand in their way?”
I knew right then she was thinking of Gladriel. Her bitchiness hadn’t been a surprise, but her plan, especially the part including Raror, had been unexpected. I took her hand, giving it a quick squeeze. She let our skins touch for a few moments before pulling away. It was the first real contact she’d allowed since Raror’s death, and I was going to take it as a positive step. There was a semblance of calm in her eyes as she stared out into the darkness. I pushed my hair off my face. The wind was light but annoying.
“I wish I had some answers,” I said. “I guess we just keep going with the plan, and hope that our luck holds out long enough.”
My words weren’t reassuring to either of us.
I couldn’t say how long Talina and I stood there, watching the play of lights over the ocean. Eventually the rest of my friends and family joined us. Brace stepped in close. His presence, as always, blocked everything else. I moved back until I was pressed firmly against him, soaking in his warmth and comfort.
“You okay, Red?” I could hear the uncertainty in his voice.
Sometimes it amazed me that he could be unsure of me ... of us.
I guess a lot of the time my random decisions were confusing to him. Walkers were slower but surer with their actions. I arched my head back, so I could stare up into his face. He lowered from the great height he existed at and kissed my lips ever so softly. I decided right then to stop some of the worry; I wasn’t ready to miss these moments right in front of me.
“I can’t believe I pushed you away in fear of losing you. I wouldn’t give up this time we’ve had for anything,” I whispered.
My extended neck was starting to hurt but I couldn’t pull my eyes away
.
“Don’t forget I was a lying McLiar.” He grinned.
“Who could forget every word that fell from your lying mouth?” Lucy piped up. She was sitting on the sand, Samuel next to her.
I snorted. “Privacy means nothing to you people, does it?”
Eventually, I couldn’t hold that pose any longer and had to straighten my neck. I plonked onto the sand, pulling Brace down to sit next to me, which lasted all of ten seconds. Reaching over, he picked me up and placed me squarely between his legs. As I sank into him, I had a brief thought that all of us as couples may be making Talina uncomfortable. But when I looked over she was being thoroughly entertained by Quarn. I squinted, noticing that he was spilling stories about my life in New York.
“... covered head to toe in slime from the pond in the park, she’s running flat out trying to escape some Gangers ...”
It was definitely an Abby story. I groaned.
“Want me to shut him up?” Brace leaned in close to my ear. “Or provide some entertaining distractions?”
I smiled before shaking my head.
“Nah, I guess I can put up with embarrassing stories if they make her smile.”
“I’m certainly enjoying tales of your youth.”
Would I have time to learn any of the countless things Brace had seen and done?
“We have forever if that’s what you want.”
“Let’s just get through tomorrow, and then we can worry about forever,” I said, closing my eyes and resting against his warmth.
I must have fallen asleep on the beach, enclosed in Brace’s arms. When I woke early the next morning, I was a tad surprised to find myself snuggled into my soft bed. I was alone, but I could hear movement, and as I rolled over Brace walked out of my bathroom. I eye-devoured his huge expanses of exposed golden skin, lingering on the band of his sweat pants. He was heading out for a jog. I knew he ran when he was stressed, something I could relate to.
“Do you want to come for a run with me, Red?”
I sat up, pushing my curls back from where they were trying to strangle me.
“Yes!” I said, excited. “Give me a minute to get ready.”