“I feel it,” he sighs, shaking his head. “But I’d do it again in a heartbeat.” He flicks his eyes to me for a beat, then to Ben. “Everything set for you guys and Gerry tonight?”
Ben looks up from his phone when he senses Rolland’s voice is aimed at him. He pushes his glasses up and brushes his long fringe away from his eyes. “Yeah, there’s no more I can do from a screen till they touch down tonight.” Ben looks up the table and back to Rolland. “They’re not planning on going in, it’s just to get a feel for the place. We need to get the timing right between the pick-up and drop-off points. Once we have that down, we’ll go in together next week.”
Rolland nods and looks over at Gerry. “Gerry?” At the sound of his name, Gerry looks over from where he sits between Ant and Brad. “No contact, yeah? Just scope the place out.” It’s not a question. He wants confirmation.
Gerry rolls his eyes. “Don’t worry. I just want to get a feel for the streets, public contact, exit points and see what vantage points Mike can get,” he confirms. Satisfied with his answer. Rolland stands and begins clearing the table, which seems to have a domino effect, causing everyone else to do the same.
Gerry and the boys have left, leaving the house quiet once again. I’ve just spent the last hour trying to get a hold of Gregg to see if he’s got any results from the sample I gave him, except he’s not answering any of my calls or messages.
Making my way down the steps to the kitchen, I hear the sound of pans moving around coming from behind the door. As I push in, I find Seb cooking yet again, though he doesn’t seem to be happy about it. “You okay?” I query, ambling into the room.
He’s rifling through the fridge, hunting like a madman. “I’ll be fine, though I’m glad you’re here.” His voice is off, as though he’s barely containing his temper.
“What can I do?” I ask with concern, watching him continue to pull ingredients from the fridge, setting them aside next to the hob.
“There’s not much you can do, but,” he lets out a breath, “Rolland should hear this too, though I’m just not sure how I’m going to speak to him without Kia about.”
My stomach starts to churn. “I’m listening,” I encourage, stepping over to the breakfast bar to take a seat, making it clear he has my full attention.
“I spoke to Jack last night, before Kia jumped on Gerry,” Seb starts, a small smile playing around his mouth, though it quickly falls away. “I gave him a rundown of the day’s events in return for some information that he would rather not have told me, given the choice.”
After our last conversation regarding Jack, and what he told Seb, the feeling of dread increases.
“He told me where Rolland and I are from, plus a small part of our history,” he continues as he begins chopping lettuce, putting it into a colander as he goes. “Then he shared with me a few details about the Ayran species.”
Something about his words raises the hairs on the back of my neck. My mind starts coming up with scenarios of various ways they could be seen to be bad, but I can’t seem to fit Kia into any of them.
“They have no hierarchy or systems in place like those here on Gaia. They’re vegans by nature, don’t need food to survive and usually bear only one child.” My mind seems to snag on the one child part for some reason. “It’s incredibly rare, but they have been known to bear two or three, and even then it’s only been known to happen a few times.”
Which would mean she has no siblings; her parents must be so worried about her. Guilt settles into my stomach. To have only one child and then to have that child go missing - it would be heartbreaking. I pull myself out of my thoughts to find Seb watching me. It as though he’s reading my thoughts, even though I’m not projecting them.
“They have no males in their species,” he finishes.
“What??” I puzzle, frowning hard. I know I didn’t hear him right because that’s impossible. Well not totally impossible as jellyfish, snakes and other animals are known to be asexual. But not a human, not that she’s human. My head starts spinning. “Did I hear you right?” I ask looking back to Seb, but find he’s already resumed his chopping. “Sebastian?”
He stops what he’s doing, though doesn’t look over at me as he says, “Jack went to meet with some Atlantians last night to see if they would cleanse Kia so that she can enter into Mid Gaia.” He stands motionless, staring at the chopping board.
My ears are ringing, and I can’t seem to take oxygen into my lungs. My rational mind knows she must go, yet my heart and some deeper part of me screams that I can’t let her.
Blinking my eyes to clear them from stinging, I manage to pull myself together. “Thank you for telling me, Seb,” my words are barely audible.
Silence follows as Seb continues to stare at the chopping board. “I don’t know if I can let him take her, Matt,” his voice raw. Neither do I, but what choice do we have? Can we really protect her? She’s already nearly healed and our time is running out.
My thoughts return to the pool. The taste of her lips. The feel of her body and the way her eyes change with her emotions. There’s still so much I want to know about her, and I’ve not even had the pleasure of hearing her speak yet.
Like a madman fighting for his crazy pills, she’s become an addiction you can’t bring yourself to admit to. Admitting to it would mean you had to face facts.
Facing the fact that you care about someone so deeply, that even though you’ve never heard them speak, and know nothing about them, you would still be willing to give your life for them.
“How are you going to tell Rolland?” I manage.
Seb has finished cutting and is now washing the salad with the purified water. He doesn’t answer for ages, and I’m beginning to think he won’t, when he finally speaks up.
“I’m not.”
Chapter Forty
Jack
After conversing with Hiliarchian, and returning from Russia once again, I head off in search of Jerhaner in hopes of sharing some more of my thoughts and concerns regarding Kia.
Heading straight for his office, I am fortunate to find him there without the need to search the entirety of the mountain. He appears to be studying a book, of which the pages look to be Tyrian made.
Feeling my presence as I enter his study, he straightens then turns to face me. A small nod grants me permission to close the door for privacy. I feel energy sealing the door from behind, giving me some comfort.
“Jack, I have never known you to question yourself so much,” Jerhaner muses, his tone curious and light. Is it that clear to see?
Questions plague my mind after Sebastian’s and Matt’s revelations over the last twenty-four hours. I would have returned sooner to check on Kia’s recovery if Kerboran had not obtained me when I had finished speaking with Hiliarchian. I cannot say I entirely regret assisting him, as my aid in helping him at the cut off points in a Russian mountain meant he was able to corner a stranded Brahducas, a shapeshifter that had been stranded by himself for four hundred years, with no contact except that of animals. Whether the twins will ever be able to get him to shift back into his humanoid form is another matter.
“Kia. She questions all my logical thoughts every time I step into the room with her,” I begin. Jerhaner holds my gaze steady. “When I returned home after speaking with you yesterday morning, I encountered a Gjinn.” Jerhaner’s eyes flicker ever so slightly at my words. “There is also the possibility she has a Draconian after her.” Not all Draconians are malevolent, but most on Gaia are. My stomach churns at the thought of them.
“How certain are you?” Jerhaner queries, his features remaining steady, though his thoughts do not.
Far too many lives have been lost to them. Just like The Swarm, they feed on the essence of life around them. An Ayrans life force is the equivalent of a hundred human lives. Undiluted, untampered, pure of corruption from other influences, it is not so easy to take the life force, or essence, from an Ayran as it would be from a human.
“It was t
hrough a vision Matt had of her,” I confide in him.
“Do you think Matt is getting his abilities back?” he asks pensively. This question has run through my own thoughts after what we have come to learn about Matt and his powers. Our knowledge was already limited, and with Matt being the only one of his species to aid in the war, it has left us with very little information regarding his abilities and power.
“I would not like to say, though Kia was able to manipulate his shield and turn it into more of an Ayran’s cocoon barrier,” I disclose, keeping my eyes on him for a second longer, before I turn to pace slowly - something I usually only do in his presence. “She is also displaying Tyrian type behaviour,” I continue, glad to have someone to voice my thoughts to. “Sebastian informed me she is speaking through Rolland’s mind and is becoming attached to him.” I tilt my head to look at Jerhaner, although his face does not reflect shock as I had assumed it would. What is he not telling me?
“Jerhaner, would you care to enlighten me as to what is running through your mind right now?” I ask curiously.
“I would not like to hinder the path that has been set for that which is already a precarious balance.” His eyes hold mine and I begin to wonder if he refers to Kia or me.
“Hiliarchian is willing to administer the serum into Kia once she is at full health. Her advice was to shelter her here, where the mountain can cloak her energy,” I confirm, watching as a fine line, unnoticeable to those with average eyesight, appears across his brow. His mind seems torn between two choices. A part of him wants to tell me, yet something holds him back.
“Would you be willing to acquaint me with Kia, before she arrives here?” he requests.
My thoughts turn to Rolland and Sebastian, although Rolland is more in the forefront. His connection with Kia has deepened far past any kinship I have ever witnessed between an Ayran and another race before. Then again, her last display of dominance would suggest that she would not allow him to defend her if she is in full health.
“I see no reason to deny you once she has fully recovered physically,” I grant him.
Perhaps he could shed some light on her mind or, at the very least, her behaviour. Will Kia display the same Tyrian display of dominance to Jerhaner? The thought curls my insides, setting a deep frown upon my face, which I cannot conceal.
“Jack?” Jerhaner’s voice stirs something within me. Shaking the thought away, I turn my gaze back to him, finding his features drawn in. “What happened just now?” he asks, slightly concerned.
“I am sure it is inconsequential,” I try to deflect, still not willing to acknowledge my feelings.
“Perhaps it is. Then again, I have not seen that reaction from you in a very long time, not since our last attempt at using the serum,” he says with understanding. The last time we tried cleansing someone, they did not pull through, nor did the several before them. Their hearts were too infected, and with such little energy remaining within them, their minds gave out. Any hope of freeing those of us left was annihilated, putting more pressure into finding any remaining survivors and rebuilding the craft.
“I must return to England to check on Kia’s recovery. I shall let you know as soon as she is stable enough,” I inform him with a heavy breath.
The energy on the door at my back disperses and Jerhaner nods in a sign of acceptance. I return his nod, then make my way out of the central part of the mountain so that I can teleport to the house in England.
Back within the comfort of my own room in England, I change into something lighter. As I pull on a loose, silk tunic, I feel Kia’s energy move closer. Her power and energy are exceptionally strong, and it feels as though she has fully recovered. I pause, getting a better sense of it, and discover it to be a stronger energy than I have ever felt from any fully matured Ayran. Her mind prods at my awareness, the dormant imprint I left within her simply waiting to see if she falls into her mind again.
Her presence moves steadier toward my door. Is she looking for something? I trace along the connection that joins us in order to get a read on her thoughts and emotions. Like Rolland, I can pick up on some thought patterns, but it is not stable enough to distinguish a complete train of thought.
Finishing the button on my tunic, I step over to the door, opening it slowly. Her thought patterns do not change, so I wonder if she did not hear it. A dim-witted thought to pacify my own tortured mind - of course she heard it.
Stepping through the doorway, I keep my eyes up, focusing on the walls until I have the door secured, its seal in place. Once that is done, I push some energy through, fortifying the wards and charms that are in place. Those who reside in the house can see the door, yet not open it. Any intruder would merely walk past, thinking it just another wall.
Turning down the hallway, I find Kia studying a painting. The one she is appraising caught my interest many years ago, in Sweden, and it had been painted many years even before that. I pace over, pausing on her left, taking in the painting that has always brought me such pleasure. A unicorn, or as Ayrans know them, Erkenstar, is grazing in a woodland much like those found on Gaia, yet it has such profound colours that it leads the mind to think it could be from another place. The artist either had insight or a very vivid imagination.
Fallen into mythology along with the dragons that Brad craves the knowledge of, they were once known to many races and species, much like the wild deer of Gaia. Ellusive by nature, sure-footed on any terrain, and can move at speeds that would outrun any other land animal known. They roamed the lands freely, healing and nurturing life, keeping the balance of free will, that which every living entity has the right to. Long ago, they had something close to kinship with all sentient beings, but after the invasion of The Swarm, their trust and discernment of us changed, leading the way to them becoming no more than memories, even to those who knew they really existed.
Wishing I could ask Kia what thoughts play through her mind, I settle for studying her face, taking in her skin that seems so much more vibrant than it did just hours ago. A small frown skims across her forehead as though she is concentrating hard. Checking in on her thought patterns, I find that it feels as though she is chasing something within her mind. A blockage causes her to falter; she pulls back from the painting, as though the thought causes her pain.
“Are you well, Kia?” I ask, concerned. Is she unable to access her memories?
She straightens at the sound of my voice, mirroring my posture into a stance of confidence, then takes a small step back from me. Her energy hits me, driving through me, just like a Tyrian would when testing for power to find a suitable partner. She pushes hard, but I stand my ground, pushing back at her. A small flicker crosses over her eyes at my response. Thankfully, she pulls back on her energy and I feel a small relief from her retreat.
Her eyes pulse from sapphire blue to silver, then begin to swirl. Energy creeps up my root chakra, which is entirely open to her. Drawing down on my shields to close her off, I feel them struggle as her energy slips further up into my sacral chakra, warming it through. I feel a tug, followed by my desire to take her lips, claiming them, marking her with my essence. Thoughts of keeping her by my side, in my homeland, as my partner, surface. That idea triggers some rationality to return to my mind, so I slam my shields down hard, and push her out completely.
Kia takes an audible breath, which tugs at my heart. She blinks slowly, then pulls her gaze away from me to look back at the painting. My mind feels abused by what just happened. She steps forward to resume her appraisal of the picture, and her thoughts have wholly returned to the way they were before I interrupted her, as though I had never spoken.
“I have more paintings of the same nature if you would like to look at them?” I try to ameliorate. She turns to me, offering a smile with a small nod. Relieved to have reconciled things for now, I offer a small smile in return.
“I need to speak with Sebastian first, and then it would be my great pleasure to share them with you,” I offer, running my eyes over her
small frame. Sebastian has done remarkably well in healing her considering the amount of pain she endured and the damage she has sustained. I expected it to take him far longer to heal the broken bones along with her back. It would undoubtedly have used more energy from her to recover than anything. Guilt simmers within me for not being here more, though I wonder what her reaction to my presence would have been if I had, in fact, stayed.
Kia nods to my offer, returning her gaze once more to the painting in front of her. Leaving her where she is, I continue on through the house to find Sebastian, who’s energy stirs within the kitchen.
Chapter Forty-One
Sebastian
Matt still sits at the breakfast bar, deep in thought after my last words. Neither of us have spoken since I said I wouldn’t talk to Rolland about Jack’s plans to take Kia to Mid Gaia.
Kia’s fruit salad is complete, though I wish I had more of a variety to give her. The fridge is barely stocked since Matt had to abandon the shopping, plus our cleaner who usually brings in fresh produce from our local market wasn’t able to leave anything since Brad had to send her away. I’ll need to make a trip myself tomorrow morning, perhaps some exotic fruits would suit her pallet better than what I have stocked. My thoughts turn to how we will explain the guys eating meat to her. A whole race of vegans is mind-boggling, and Jack says they’re more powerful than any other race?
How are we going to keep her safe from all those that seek her out? Perhaps we could take the serum. Chance it that we pull through. It stands as our only option right now if we want to stay with her. Take the serum and hope we all pull through, or let Kia go and stay here waiting for the craft to be finished. Perhaps we can find her once we have passed the ice circle. Would we still be infected once we crossed the storms that surround Gaia? My head buzzes with questions.
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