Warrior's Plight (Cadi Warriors Book 6)

by Stephanie West

  Vintor quo Fortis

  He liked Gary instantly and not just because he was Maya’s family. If this were any other situation he would’ve smiled at the way the two wanted to protect each other. Maya was happy to see her brother, but her unease grew as they pulled up to the building with a bunch of youth milling about. The conjugo bond guaranteed he was highly tuned to every nuance of her emotions as if they were his own. The bond also heightened his senses, so he could protect her, but till he got used to the intensity of it, it was distracting, making it hard to focus on the danger that was stalking them.

  Relax there’s nothing but youth here, no warriors, he assured himself as he got out of the vehicle.

  “Are you ready for me to whoop your ass again?” a male who was barely full grown bumped into another.

  “Keep talking, bitch,” the other retaliated.

  “Hey!” Gary barked as he exited the vehicle. “What have I said about respect? Now get your butts over here and help me with these pizzas.”

  “You know we’re just talking shit, Mr. Roberts.”

  “Language, Tony, there’s a lady here, and that lady also happens to be my sister. So, do us a favor and again, show some respect for us and yourself.”

  “All right, all right. Nice to meet you, Mr. Roberts’ sister,” Tony replied as he grabbed several of the flat boxes from the back of the vehicle.

  Vintor smiled at the youth who had a curious pattern shaved into his short, curly black hair.

  “Does your sister and the mummy have a name?” the other young male asked.

  Mummy? Vintor cocked his head when the youth pointed at him.

  “Eric, seriously!” Gary scowled at the young male as he headed to the door.

  “My name’s Maya and Night of the Living Dead is my friend Vintor,” Maya replied.

  That was the second time she’d introduced him as her friend. Vintor started to correct her but stopped himself. It was futile to point out, least of all because the humans wouldn’t be able to understand him.

  What did you expect? He sighed and tried to focus on getting to a secure place for the night.

  “Ha, I like her,” Tony laughed.

  “Don’t encourage them.” Gary cast Maya a sideways glance as they headed inside the building.

  A score of youth abandoned the orange ball they were bouncing and swarmed the table as Gary, Tony and Eric set the food down. Gary quickly snatched one of the boxes before the horde ravished it.

  “In my office.” Gary nodded the way and they followed down the hall to the small room.

  Vintor salivated as Gary and Maya flipped open the box to reveal a round red and white dish cut into a dozen triangular sections. Maya grabbed a piece and the white substance on top stretched in one long, stringy line till finally it pulled free of the adjoining piece. He didn’t know what the dish was, but the tangy scent was mouthwatering. If he wasn’t mistaken the brown little disks were some sort of meat. Maya paused mid bite and frowned at him.

  “Oh, Vintor, I’m so sorry. I can’t believe how inconsiderate I am. Shit.” Maya nervously grabbed at her neck. “Dammit,” she exclaimed when she smeared red sauce on her skin.

  “Here. Relax,” Gary handed her a little white towel. “Can his bandages come off to eat?”

  “Yeah, Gary, about that.” Maya reached for her neck again then thought better of it. “You wanted to know what’s going on, well, it has to do with Vintor.”

  “Maya,” Vintor mumbled and gripped her knee. Gary wanted answers but once she revealed everything there was no going back.

  “That’s an unusual burn on your hand. I’m not a doctor but I’ve never seen one quite like that,” Gary commented, his eyes narrowing.

  Vintor had done a good job hiding his hands up to this point only to blow it. He slowly pulled his hand away from Maya’s knee. Maya was intelligent, and apparently it ran in the family.

  “It’s all right, Vintor. As much as I don’t want to involve my brother he needs to know. I’m done hiding.”

  Vintor sighed and nodded.

  “Maya?” Gary’s brow furrowed. Vintor could see the family resemblance in their matching expressions.

  “You remember two years ago when I wanted to help out after the meteor shower?” she asked.

  “Yes. You said some odd, unidentifiable virus had popped up.”

  Vintor settled into his seat, also curious about the story she had to tell.

  “Yeah, well, it was the government who hired me, and the virus wasn’t like anything I expected. It was more like a creature that swiftly matured after the meteors fell. They swarmed the cities closest to where the meteors landed and attempted to replicate by infecting us. Thankfully we possess a unique antibody that makes us immune and the overgrown viruses died off.”

  “Shit,” Gary exclaimed, his dark skin a shade paler than it was a moment ago.

  “That’s not all. People came to help us fight this virus, not knowing we were immune.”

  “Why do I get the feeling that when you say people, you don’t mean the Brits or Russians or something?”

  “No.” Maya shook her head.

  “This is crazy, Maya.” Gary stood and started pacing the small room. “You hit your head or something, right?” Her brother then caught a glimpse of Vintor’s hands again and froze, his eyes going wide as he looked at him.

  “The government didn’t hire me to help the people affected by this virus. At first, I studied the virus and those who were infected. Then I studied the people who were rescued and returned by the visitors, along with the visitors our government captured.”

  “Don’t beat around the bush, sis, call it what it is. You’re talking about aliens.”

  Maya nodded. “But they’re not bad people. If anything, we’re the ones who’ve committed horrible crimes, betraying people who came to help us while claiming to form an alliance. Gary, the things they forced me to do.” Maya’s eyes filled with tears.

  The sadness and sorrow radiating off her was crippling. Vintor took her hand and squeezed it.

  “Why?” Gary frowned.

  “Because they threatened you and everyone I love,” Maya choked on the words.

  Vintor growled hearing the pain in her voice. She’d been in torment for two years. He wanted to kill the people that did this to her.

  “Shit, they threatened me, and Mom, too, I bet. Dammit, I’m sorry, sis.” Gary shook his head, clearly having trouble taking all this in.

  “I’m sorry,” Maya cried as she nodded.

  “This explains why you’ve been so distant. And I gripe about not getting enough government funding to run this place. Now I know where the money’s going. Shit, my problems are a piece of cake. I’m so sorry, sis.” Gary grabbed Maya and hugged her tight.

  “There’s more. The alien races were able to create a vaccine because of us. And because we’re so valuable they’ve started colonies elsewhere in the universe. And in exchange for the people they’ve taken we get a certain amount of technology and protection.”

  “Alien abductions are real?”

  “It gets worse,” she sobbed.

  “I can’t see how.” Gary tossed his hands in the air.

  “Our government being suspicious as always. They hate that their new allies won’t give them all the technology at once. They can’t stand not to have the upper hand, so they’ve had me working on a new version of the virus, one the various races aren’t now immune to.”

  “That’s fucked up,” Gary growled. “Pardon me,” he apologized.

  “No, it is fucked up. But what’s worse, the part they refuse to listen to is that if we engineer a new virus that’s resistant to the vaccine derived from our biology, that means we too are susceptible. You have no idea what this virus is like. It’s humanoid looking. It stabs its victim with a long tongue then days later the host bursts open with over a dozen new viruses that quickly grow to the size of a man.” Maya fluttered her hands as she let everything out like an avalanche.

&nbs
p; Son of a metcor, Vintor swore, hearing about the horrific things the human authorities were conspiring. This virus made the threat of Jurou Biljana sound almost benign.

  “I know they were threatening you, Maya, but please, Sis, tell me you didn’t make this thing for them.” Gary gripped her arms.

  “No.” She shook her head frantically. Vintor’s shoulders eased. “But it was hard staying one step ahead of them, and…and…” Maya broke down in tears.

  Vintor had a horrible feeling as Maya’s scent of fear spiked again, quickly filling the room. He stood and pulled Maya to him.

  “This is why you wanted to go home,” he whispered into her ear as he held her close.

  “Yes,” she gasped as she gripped him tight. “If they search my house they could find everything. They’ll learn I was intentionally steering them down the wrong path. I may be good, but I’m not the only infectious disease specialist. With my research they could easily create the thing I was trying to prevent,” she sobbed.

  “Shit!” Gary paced the room. “You’ve been keeping this genie in the bottle all this time, so how’d it escape?”

  “Well, part of my job is to study the physiology of the other races, so when they captured a new race I was asked to heal him for study and questioning. Long story short because they thought I did such a shitty job creating the virus, they decided I was expendable and injected me with a language translator and sent me in to discover why this new species had shown up.”

  “They injected you with some crazy alien technology?” Gary interrupted, his expression turning grimmer than it was before.

  “Yes, but I’m fine. I learned the newcomer came in peace and to protect us from another race, but my boss discovered I hid certain details about this interview and decided he was done with me.”

  “Done as in…?” Gary grew pale again.

  “Yes.” Maya nodded. “But lucky for me, the government’s BS caught up with them and someone attacked the facility. Vintor managed to rescue me and here we are.”

  “I don’t know how you managed it but thank you.” Gary clasped Vintor’s hand in appreciation. Maya’s brother then took a second look at how small his own hand was in comparison.

  “Vintor, now that my brother knows, take off those bandages so you can eat.”

  His stomach growled at the mention of food. Despite all that was going on, he was starving. Vintor started unwrapping the bandages and Maya helped him. He watched Gary’s eyes widen to the point he was sure they might fall out of the male’s head. Gary plopped into a seat.

  “I—I heard what you were saying but…” Gary waved at Vintor.

  “Seeing’s believing,” Maya laughed morosely. “Here, Vintor.” She handed him a wedge of the strange food.

  It felt odd to be watched as he took a bite but quickly forgot about being a spectacle. The tangy red sauce burst on his tongue. It was tempered by the creamy, gooey white substance. He studied the treat admiring how the toasted bread acted as a carrier for the tasty morsels. He plucked one of the brown meaty discs off and popped it into his mouth. It was slightly spicy.

  “I’m guessing by the little growling noises you’re making it passes approval.” Maya grinned at him.

  Vintor nodded and finished off the pieces.

  “Please, have another.” Gary nervously gestured to the box.

  “Thank you for not having a total meltdown, Gary.” Maya grabbed two pieces, handed him one and took a bite of her own.

  “So, he’s one of the ones who came to help us?” Gary asked.

  “Yes,” Maya replied and Vintor nodded. “And we’re being hunted by the DOD. I need you to take us to a hotel and forget everything you just heard.”

  “Forget?!” Gary laughed hysterically.

  “Yes! And if they come asking about me, tell them what hotel you dropped me off at, with my bandaged friend. Say I was acting weird, secretive, but that’s it.”

  “You want me to just point the way? Shit, Maya, I can’t do that.”

  “I thought we weren’t supposed to cuss in front of ladies, Mr. Roberts.”

  They spun to see the young male Tony standing in the doorway.

  “Holy shit!” Tony shouted and backed up when he saw Vintor’s face.

  “Tony!” Gary jumped up and swiftly tugged the male into the room and slammed the door.

  “Dammit.” Maya slapped her forehead and hung her head.

  “Shit, that’s not a costume, is it?” Tony gaped.

  “Tony, don’t freak out.” Gary capture the young male’s attention. “You can’t talk about this to anyone, and I mean anyone. I can’t believe I’m about to say this, it goes against everything I’m trying to teach you all, but the government’s up to something shady. They tried to kill my sister, so it’s very important you keep this to yourself. Do you understand me?”

  “Yeah, Mr. Roberts.” Tony turned back to Vintor. “Does it speak? Can it understand us?”

  Vintor’s eyes widened.

  “Yes, he can speak, you just won’t understand him. He can understand you perfectly, and he has a name, Vintor,” Maya replied, trying to make the best of this.

  “Shit, dude, I’m sorry. You look straight out of a movie. That’s so cray. Say something.”

  “Tony, seriously,” Gary rebuked the excited male.

  “It’s okay. What would you like me to say since it really doesn’t matter?” Vintor replied.

  Tony and Gary’s eyes widened hearing his voice. Maya snorted seeing their expressions.

  “You understand him? What’d he say?” Tony’s head swiveled to Maya.

  “He asked what you wanted him to say though he didn’t think it mattered ‘cause you can’t understand him.”

  “Oh. Damn. His voice is all growly and frightening. Too bad you can’t come home with me later to scare the shit out of that meth-head who’s always posted up outside my apartment.”

  “Nope. No, no, no.” Gary shook his head. “On that note, Tony, take off and keep your mouth shut. Maya, Vintor, I better get you two out of here before things go all to hell.”

  “That’s probably wise.” Maya grabbed Vintor’s bandages and started to help him re-cover his head.

  “Here. I got some clothes in here. I think there might be a hoodie that’ll fit you.” Gary opened a closet and pointed to a box of garments.

  “Find him a ski-mask. I know you got some in there since you confiscate them from anyone who comes in here wearin’em,” Tony commented on his way to the door.

  “’Cause this is Florida and you know as well as I do the only people wearing ski-masks around here are up to no good,” Gary replied. “But it’s a good idea. Now get.”

  “Oh, and I know you still got the burner phone you caught that dealer giving to Eric,” Tony added.

  “Mmm hmm, boy, you better get, and keep that big mouth of yours shut,” Gary warned.

  Tony got an impish smile as he shut the door.

  “Jesus, we’re screwed.” Maya shook her head.

  9 A Moment in Time

  Maya

  It wasn’t that far to the budget hotel on I95. As Gary drove, Maya glanced at Vintor in the back seat and repressed a laugh. He’d gone from looking like a mummy to looking like he was ready to knock over a bank.

  “I’m glad you find this humorous.” Gary smirked.

  “Would you prefer to see me broken?” She side-eyed her brother.

  “You could pretend to bow your head and divert your eyes,” Gary snickered.

  Vintor looked confused by their exchange. She couldn’t see his entire expression, but his eyes reflected censure at Gary’s less than encouraging words. His concern was sweet.

  “Vintor thinks you’re being an ass,” she laughed.

  “What?” Gary’s eyes widened as he glanced into the review mirror with concern. Now that he knew who Vintor was he’d been walking on eggshells.

  “It’s kinda funny seeing my unflappable big brother lose his cool.”

  “Maya!”

>   “All right, all right. Vintor, Gary wasn’t insulting me. We were quoting a poem about persevering in the face of adversity.”

  “Mom loved Maya Angelou. She even named Maya after her.”

  “I’m sorry I wasn’t there when she was sick. I should’ve been.”

  Maya frowned as she thought of her mother and the time they’d missed together. Her mother might have admired Maya Angelou, but she was the one who worked two jobs to guarantee they didn’t go hungry and still found time to check their homework. She was the one who encouraged her to never settle, to reach for that next rung on the ladder no matter how out of reach it seemed.

  “Don’t, Maya,” her brother said sternly. “If Mom knew what you were going through she would’ve been sick with worry, but she would’ve been damn proud. I know I am.”

  Vintor gently squeezed her shoulder. She glanced back and saw sympathy and admiration in his eyes. She nodded in appreciation and dashed away the tears forming in her eyes.

  They pulled into the parking lot of a two-story motel. It was perfect, the individual rooms opened to the parking lot, so they didn’t have to go through a lobby.

  “I’ll go pay.” Gary exited and headed inside.

  “I like your brother,” Vintor commented.

  “Yeah. He’s a good guy.” She smiled. “I wish I didn’t involve him, but I think it’s also mended a rift. Things haven’t been good between us since the government got their claws in me.”

  “Your authorities have no honor. If we were to meet your society I don’t think we’d be able to be allies,” Vintor replied, sounding grim.

  “I understand,” she replied sadly. “They don’t represent all of us, though. The problem is fear. We’re on the cusp of becoming a player on a cosmic level yet we’re technologically behind and totally vulnerable. That desperate sense of self-preservation is making my government act a fool. I’ve seen cornered dogs behave better.”

  “True. You are in a unique and difficult position.” He nodded.