Olento Research Series Boxed Set: A Paranormal Science Fiction Thriller
Page 69
“It has been emptied of all animals and humans. The Lucidites have asked to handle that from here on out,” Zephyr said.
“What will you do now? Stay at the Institute?” It was Kaleb who asked the question. Zephyr had learned that more than any of the men, Kaleb was the one who craved closure. That’s the reason he wanted to know what Zephyr would do next. Kaleb was still working through his father’s death. And he’d soon return his mother to her home, since she was safe now that Mika wasn’t a threat. However, Kaleb would stay at the Institute because he’d finally found his home.
Kaleb sat next to Cole, whom Zephyr could be grateful to for healing his broken ribs as well as mending the internal bleeding that would have killed him otherwise. In a way, he owed every man in this room his life. He turned to the two women at his back. Adelaide stood on one side, Rox on the other. Actually he owed everyone in this room his life, man and woman alike. He turned back, a smile on his face.
“I plan to go into private contracting, utilizing my experiences from Special Forces. However, my first responsibility is to you all and therefore know that if you should ever need me, I’ll always be there for you,” Zephyr said, feeling the wolf inside of him greatly approving of this decision.
Chapter Forty-One
“There are two things we can’t do: We can’t interact with those in the physical realm. Our presence passes through them. And we can’t remove objects from the physical realm. It must stay in that dimension.”
- Dream Traveler Codex
The men filed out of the conference room, talking excitedly as they did. Clay was happy to be returning to his old life in Baton Rouge. Rio sounded like he wanted to return to San Diego briefly before traveling the world. Derek and Cole were also intent on sinking straight back into their old lives, a new appreciation for that which they’d taken for granted. And Malcolm, well he was going to become something new, something better. All men were cautioned to hide their super powers, but also that using them for good was encouraged by the Lucidites. Cole would do a lot of good in his role as a nurse in Destin.
Adelaide turned to Rox, who was smacking her gum and peeling her bright pink nail polish off her thumb. “So, Hooker, what are your plans now?”
Rox pursed her lips. “FBI needs me. I’m the only one there with a fashion sense who can also kick ass,” she said.
“That’s true. You know Kris now works as an agent. She’s the first Middling employed at the Institute. Just goes to show we don’t care what people wear, since she’s invisible and all, you know,” Adelaide said.
“Which is probably why Trent will decline my request to become an agent,” Rox said. She looked tired, like she’d lost some of her pep when held at Olento Research. She’d get it back. If anyone could rally it was Rox Spear.
“Well, that’s kind of why I positioned it that way. Apparently the Lucidites really don’t care what you wear, that’s why Trent wanted me to tell you he’d like you to be a full-time agent with us. But…” Adelaide said, trailing away in a teasing way.
“But what?” Rox said, hiding a grin but it showed in her bright blue eyes.
“But he wants us to consider working together…” Adelaide said. She actually hadn’t hated the request. Rox wasn’t always tolerable, but Adelaide had a lot of respect for the girl who held herself so well among strong men. Furthermore, Adelaide didn’t like the idea of having a partner who wouldn’t volley with her. She needed to work with someone who could take her insults and send them back with a grin. That was absolutely Rox, which Adelaide couldn’t consider a better partner now. Hard to think when she first started this case she loathed the idea of working with the blonde bimbo. Now she couldn’t imagine a person who complemented her skills better. Adelaide was the brains and Rox the muscle.
Rox pursed her lips and nodded her head. Then she extended her hand, the polish chipped on her fingernails. “Sounds good, Freckles,” she said.
Adelaide eyed the offered hand. “Yeah, it does. But remember you should never touch me, Helga. I have telepathy linked to touch,” she said.
Rox tilted her powdered face to the side, raising an eyebrow. “Right! And which is fucking badass,” she said.
Chapter Forty-Two
“It helps to visualize, to make a connection with the place. But just having the intention that you wish to travel to this location in your dreams is all you have to do. If you’ve done a sufficient job your vision will be blanketed in silver. This is the transport. At this point you’ve done it and the only way you can screw things up is by changing your mind. Actually there are lots of opportunities for snags and potential threats, but let’s not worry about those.”
- Dream Traveler Codex
Zephyr still didn’t like the sunlight, especially after all his time staying at the Lucidite Institute. However, there were many things that the wolf was going to have to get used to. One was behaving when he worked on various contract jobs. That really hadn’t been an issue since the integration, although sometimes the wolf barked loudly in his head.
Slipping his sunglasses down on his nose, Zephyr stepped out of the shadows of the neighboring house. He didn’t stop until he was standing straight in front of his childhood home. The door opened right on time. There were some things that never changed. He hadn’t appreciated that about his old life until now. Things had changed for him almost too much, but to stare at the older woman backing out of the house, carrying a few parcels in her hand, made him realize how much he needed static in other areas of his life. Zephyr’s mother turned, calling over her shoulder as she did. “Charlie, don’t forget—”
“The keys. I’m on it,” his father said, stepping out of the house, his eyes sinking straight on Zephyr at once. The keys he was about to dangle in the air dropped from his hand and he remained frozen, staring across the long yard at his son. Zephyr’s chin wrinkled as the tears prickled his mouth and eyes. His mother flinched, wondering what had made her husband freeze. She followed his gaze and dropped her parcels when her eyes connected with her son, standing in the distance.
“Zephyr,” the woman said, scrambling down the stairs of the porch, nearly falling as she did. Zephyr darted forward, using his enhanced speed, and he caught her by the elbow just before she fell.
“Mom,” he said, lifting her to her feet gently. Her hands were around him, her arms pulsating as she folded Zephyr in her embrace. He felt the warmth of his father press around them when he joined the reunion. His mother inched back, pushing her husband away. Her cold hands found Zephyr’s stubbled face, cradling it. “Where have you been, son? We thought…”
Zephyr reached up and grabbed her hand and pressed it to his lips. “I know. I’m sorry. I was taken, but I’m back now and for good,” he said, smiling against his mother’s fingers, feeling at home in the way only his parents could make him feel.
Chapter Forty-Three
“Only those dream traveling can see each other and interact in that realm. The interactions feel somewhat real, but not enough for true enjoyment, if you know what I mean.”
- Dream Traveler Codex
“Again! Again,” Lucien sang, jumping up and down on the couch.
“All right, Lucy, but this is the last time,” Adelaide said, snapping her fingers. That wasn’t really necessary for creating an illusion, but it made the whole thing seem even cooler. A leopard sprung up from the blue carpet. The graceful, full-sized animal sank back on its hind legs, stretching its front legs as it yawned.
“See, it’s even the kitty’s nap time,” Adelaide said.
“NO!” Lucien said, a wide smile on his face. He was happier than she’d ever seen him. It just showed that it was never too late for some people. She’d always thought of him as a serious child, but maybe that’s just because she’d never really been with him. She’d read from her father’s book that morning that being in the present moment was the hardest thing for most.
“We live in the past and fret over the future, but god-fucking-forbid any of us ac
tually live in the now,” it had said.
The leather-bound book was now under her pillow in her room. She didn’t need it with her all the time anymore. Maybe that’s because she now knew the one thing her father had been trying to teach her all along: that self-love is the most important one.
The book had been her crutch. It had been her strength, but now she had more. She had a belief in herself that she never thought she’d have. And she’d mended a rift with Lucien that at first felt akin to sewing up a gaping wound in her heart. All things can be healed though.
Pops sighed as he exited the bathroom, drying his wet hair with a hand towel as he did. “Oh, nothing feels better than a hot shower after a long day,” he said.
“Pops, it’s two o’clock,” Adelaide said, standing up and positioning herself in front of Lucien. Her son took the cue immediately, climbing onto her back as she extended her hand over her shoulder for him. She hiked him up higher on her back. “Maybe you need a nap, as well.”
“Just a bit of quiet time will do,” he said, smiling at the pair fondly. “And maybe a few less wild animals in the living room.”
Adelaide turned her head to her son, a mock look of offense on her face. “How dare you call Lucy that,” she said.
“I meant that,” Pops said with a laugh, pointing at the leopard who was now licking its paw.
“Oh, I thought you’d enjoy the company,” she said and snapped her fingers, making the big cat disappear.
Pops kissed both Lucien and Adelaide on the head as they passed. At the door for the bathroom, Adelaide paused, not sure why. Maybe it was because Lucien was fidgeting on her back. She let him slide down and toddle off to his room. Just then something in the bathroom caught her eye. She slid the door back, turning on the light. The steam from the shower filled the space, but that’s not what caught her attention.
“Pops, did you do this?” Adelaide called to him.
“Do what?” he asked.
“Write on the mirror in here?”
“No, I wouldn’t make a mess like that,” he said, grunting as the springs to the couch cried.
Adelaide knew then who had made the mess on the mirror. That was totally Ren’s style.
She eyed the words that would show up every time someone took a shower, mucking up the mirror. She always liked a good mess. The girl turned, feeling that there was no better set of words than the ones written on the mirror: I’m always here for you.
Chapter Forty-Four
“While dream traveling, the body in the physical realm goes completely slack. This is the tell-tale sign of dream travel, since the consciousness is absent and not creating tension in the body. It’s one of the reasons our race lives longer—our bodies aren’t damaged as much by the berating tension of our consciousness and subconsciousness.”
- Dream Traveler Codex
Adelaide opened her eyes when her feet hit the ground. She’d never been on a date before. And she’d never been to Portland. The city looked clean, with the way the green grass shone from the sunlight kissing it.
“It’s rare to have a sunny day like this in Portland,” Connor said, stepping up next to Adelaide’s side. He’d just arrived to the location where they’d agreed to meet via dream travel. It had been his idea.
“About like London, I’d guess,” Adelaide said.
“Do you know what Portland’s motto is?” Connor asked, offering his arm to Adelaide. She took it, strolling down the street, a large theater on their right. The lit sign read Baghdad. They were in the Hawthorne district, an area infested with hipsters.
“Tell me,” she said, allowing him to lead her down the street.
“Keep Portland Weird,” Connor said.
“How disgraceful. Londoners would never pride themselves on such a thing. Seems about right that you’re from this place,” Adelaide said.
Connor smiled, pulling her in tighter. She could hear his thoughts but they just seemed like normal conversation in her head.
“So what will you do now?” she asked, the nervous hum in her chest stronger than it was when she’d landed in this location.
“I applied with the Institute to work with the maintenance crew,” Connor said, pausing and coming around to stand in front of Adelaide.
“Good call. That’s right in line with your interests. Cleaning toilets and serving Dream Travelers mashed potatoes,” Adelaide said.
“Yes, but not without washing my hands between jobs,” Connor said, his grin speaking of the excitement he was hiding.
“I commend you on being a dog but not always acting like one,” she said.
“Well, I’m sorry to disappoint you, but I didn’t get the job,” he said.
“Oh, well, I guess you’d be better off donating yourself for science. Is this your way of telling me you’re going in for a lobotomy?”
“This is my way of telling you that I’m starting agent training,” Connor said, unfurling the smile he’d been hiding. “Trent thinks Kaleb and I would make a good team.”
“Trent has horrible judgment. He assigned Rox as my partner,” Adelaide said. Her father hadn’t assigned agents partners, thinking that working solo was better. It just showed that her father didn’t know everything. Having someone to rely on was a good idea. It made people stronger, utilizing the different talents of each person for the best strategy. Trent might not fuck up everything after all, as Ren had feared.
“Will you mind having me at the Institute full time?” Connor asked, and there it was. The fear. The fear of rejection. The fear that she’d say yes. That she’d push him away. The old Adelaide would have. She would have stormed away right then and told him that he was worthless and he was undeserving of such an honorable position. But that wouldn’t be true. That would have been Adelaide being afraid that she didn’t deserve Connor. She wasn’t that person anymore, and she did want him and she felt they deserved each other.
Cupping his face, feeling his reddish stubble in her hands, Adelaide encouraged Connor lower. “I don’t mind. As long as you don’t get on my fucking nerves,” she said, with an unabashed smile.
“Promise,” he said, and sunk his mouth down on hers. She heard the question in his thoughts as he kissed her, his lips gently caressing hers. The question presented itself over and over again. Do you really want me? Do you? Do you?
Adelaide slipped back an inch. “I do,” she said, her mouth caressing his as she spoke.
Chapter Forty-Five
“To change locations, wake up, use your power of mind control, or manifest a bloody cup of tea, you use your intention. Haven’t you figured that out by now? Everything in this world is centered around intention.”
- Dream Traveler Codex
Rox’s sundress rippled in the wind. She knelt down and plucked a sprig of mint from the earth. She inhaled the scent, rising to a standing position. The Santa Monica Mountains were her backyard and just down the road, the Topanga Canyon watershed guarded her house. She spun around to face the home that wasn’t big and it wasn’t small. It was an A-frame painted in a series of pastels and shaded by three large oak trees.
Zephyr stood on the porch. She’d offered him the house to live in when he had jobs in the area. He’d jumped at the opportunity at once. He, like her, loved being close to nature. Rox would spend most of her time at the Lucidite Institute and out in the field. But on her off-hours, she had a home. A place to belong. A place to feel free. She had her perfect job and her perfect palace. It appeared that the abduction of twelve men really did have a happy ending for most, even those who hadn’t been abducted.
“The garden is coming along,” Zephyr said, strolling in her direction. He stopped a few feet past the area enclosed by chicken wire which prevented the birds and squirrels from stealing her harvest.
“Yes, it should be full next year,” she said, kneeling down, tugging her sundress up from the earth as she ran her fingers over the soil.
“Never much took you as a gardener type when we met,” Zephyr said.
“Yes, right on schedule,” Zephyr said, waving to her as he strode for the trees.
Zephyr tossed his shirt, belt, and shoes by a nearby tree. He then slipped off his jeans, which just made the whole thing easier not to worry about them. Then he pulled his head up to spy the arch of men who stood before him. Connor was under the canopy, to his right. Beside him making a half circle were Kaleb, Rio, Cole, Clay, and Derek. All the men were bare-chested, wearing a look of hunger that only they understood.
“Ready to play?” Zephyr asked the pack.
“Hell yeah,” Rio said, slamming his fist into his palm.
“Okay, let’s go meet the night,” Zephyr said, throwing a punch into Connor’s shoulder. “You’re it!” He yelled the two words as he set off at a sprint, shifting from man into werewolf and finally into the wolf form. The silver and black wolf leapt over roots and tree stumps, the other seven wolves on his heels. The pack ran far into the Santa Monica Mountains, enjoying the freedom they’d never truly known. None of the men had experienced real freedom until they’d met the wolf. And now they couldn’t imagine their life any other way.
The new moon slipped over the mountain range as the seven wolves halted in a clearing, their snouts angled toward the starry sky. There they sang their song one howl at a time.
Epilogue
The Lucidites had evacuated Olento Research. They’d searched it. Found things that needed to be quarantined indefinitely, but not the alien. And they’d made the decision to bomb the site. The Lucidites probably thought that by destroying the building they’d protect humanity. They were right. There were things in that facility that could only be killed by fire. The operation was done cleanly, with every consideration taken for preserving the area around Olento Research.