Determinant, a YA Paranormal Romance (Book 3 of The Guardians of Vesturon)

by A. M. Hargrove

  “No need to worry. Vesturions are immune to small pox. My lord, where are Maddie and Rayn?” Julian asked.

  I thought for a moment before answering. “I believe they are on Vesturon at the Universal Leadership Conference. Can you confirm that before I take the female to the Compound?”

  “Yes, I must. Since Maddie is part human, she could be at risk. She must stay clear of Earth until we find the source of this outbreak.”

  “Julian, contact my father and Rayn. I need to move the human as quickly as possible.”

  “I will do that and I shall see you shortly.”

  I gathered her into my arms and lifted her. Her lifeless eyes fluttered open again and she began murmuring.

  “You are so beautiful. Surely you must be my guardian angel. Are you here to help me die?” She whispered so quietly that if I didn’t have such acute hearing, I doubt I would have heard her. She tried to raise her hand but it limply fell into her lap.

  “I am here to help you. I am taking you somewhere so you can be healed.”

  “No...you must stop angel. Please…I want to die,” she pleaded.

  “You are terribly ill; you cannot mean that.”

  “Oh, but I do. I cannot take my own life and I cannot go on like this. Please angel, stop for just one minute.”

  Against my better judgment, I did as she asked. She kept staring at me with her unusual soulful eyes.

  “Why do you want to die?” I couldn’t help asking her.

  She smiled wistfully and struggled to say, “It’s a long story. Please…sit and hold me for a moment? I have never been held by someone... I like the feel of your arms around me.”

  I could not believe no one had ever held this beautiful creature before. It must be the delirium of the fever making her say such things. Who would ever allow something like that to happen?

  “Surely you have been held by someone...your mother maybe.”

  “My mother hates me and will be happy when she hears of my death. She won’t have to worry about me bothering them anymore. Please...just for a minute...hold me...” she pleaded, her voice weakening further.

  I sank to the ground on my knees and leaned back on my heels. I placed her in my lap, holding her close to my chest. She attempted to smile at me and I felt my heart constrict. I couldn’t stop myself from delving into her mind and again I felt such deep pain...not just physical but emotional pain. I was mistaken. She was not delirious...she had never experienced the feeling of being held by anyone before. There were no memories of such comfort in her mind. How cruel to live a life with the absence of touch.

  “You are in my mind angel...I can feel you there. That’s good...you know I am ready to see God now. Thank you for holding me. I understand why people crave this...it is so comforting.” She struggled to move her arms again but didn’t have the strength.

  I took her hand in mine and placed it upon my cheek. Then I heard her mutter, “I never knew my guardian angel would be so beautiful. You remind me of the sun setting...you are glowing. Have I passed? Is that why you are so bright?”

  I was shocked by her questions. That made several things she said surprising. First, as a human, she shouldn’t have felt my mind probe. Second, now she was seeing my aura. Humans didn’t have the ability to do that. No wonder she thought me her angel.

  “You are still alive, and I intend for you to stay that way.”

  “Angel, you must know it is too late for that.” She still smiled at me.

  I rose to my feet and resumed walking. I went behind the rhododendron thicket and entered coordinates to take me to the Compound of The Guardians where I could mend this lovely creature. Before I had a chance to activate my shadar, she placed her hand on my chest and simply said, “Thank you for holding me. It meant more than I can ever say.” Then her eyes closed and she was silent.

  I activated my shadar and we appeared in the lawn in front of the Compound. Julian and Zanna met me and we took her upstairs and placed her on the bed in one of our guest rooms. Once she was settled, I teleported back to her vehicle and collected her belongings.

  Chapter 2

  The young female had been at our home for two weeks before Julian felt she would make a full recovery. She had hovered at death’s door for much of that time. Her fever raged and during those spells, she would scream at some unknown being that seemed to be torturing her. Julian assured me it was the fever causing these spells, but they worried me nonetheless.

  Julian had sent a robomedic to see to all of her medical needs. She was given IV fluids and medication such as antibiotics, but the virus was incurable and would have to run its course. We were troubled over how she contracted this disease.

  Her name was January St. Davis and she was a college student at Western Carolina University. She had interned as a medical technologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta from June until August and had an employee identification badge that indicated as such. We speculated that perhaps this is where she had been exposed to this horrific virus.

  My brother Tesslar, who was an expert in both human and Vesturion technology, had been monitoring the hospitals around our location.

  “Rykerian, you need to see this,” he called to me one day.

  I made my way to the Command Center where he was running checks of hospitals.

  “There are reports coming in around Atlanta of humans with this disease.”

  I checked his screen and saw that indeed, the medical reports showed the same symptoms that the human female originally had.

  “Our worst fears are coming to light,” I murmured.

  “We must contact Father and Rayn. This can be catastrophic for the humans.”

  “Indeed,” I said. How could this have happened?

  “Tesslar, can you plant some directives into the homeland security and into emergency preparedness programs everywhere?” I wondered aloud.

  “Yes…I see where you are going with this. We can get these agencies on Red Alert now so they can start instituting quarantine methods. This may help stop the spread of the disease.”

  I shook my head, glad to see he was thinking along these lines. I left the Compound, intending to go to the kitchen in search of some lunch when I heard the blood-curdling screams. They were coming from upstairs. What is happening? It must be the human…

  Using my Power of Speed I made short work of the stairs and burst through the bedroom door. She crouched on her knees in the corner, wide-eyed and trembling.

  “Fear not, we mean you no harm,” I gently said.

  “Liar!” she rasped, scrambling tightly into the corner.

  What? Why would she think me a liar?

  “I know not why you say such, but I am no liar. I am here to help you,” I explained gently.

  She looked terrified. Her large eyes were nearly popping out of her head and she held up her hand, palm facing me as if she intended to ward me off.

  “It is impossible for me to lie, this I swear.”

  “That…that thing over there hurt me so that makes you a liar.”

  I turned and glanced at the robomedic. “Stand down robomedic,” I ordered.

  “I am programmed to contain the subject and said subject attempted to exit the room,” the robomedic explained.

  Great! Just great! The bloody robomedic zapped her!

  “You’re so bloody right! That bloody whatever-it-is, bloody zapped me.” Every time she said bloody, she held her hands up and bent her first two fingers. Her gesture confused me.

  “Robomedic, alter programming. Remove containment order and stand down,” I ordered.

  “Affirmative. Programming altered. Robotic Medical Assistant 3279 standing down.”

  I turned back to the female and apologized. “I am very sorry for that. We only wanted to ensure you were safe, so it was programmed to guard you. I didn’t intend for this to happen.” She cocked her head and gave me a hateful stare.

  “Truly, I am sorry.”

  She made no atte
mpt to respond or rise as her eyes drilled into mine.

  “Here, let me assist you back to bed.”

  “Stay away from me,” she croaked.

  She cringed when I reached toward her. Great day, I am frightening her!

  “Damned right you’re frightening me!” she exclaimed.

  “How did you…?” It was then I realized she was hearing my thoughts and that clearly baffled me. I immediately blocked my thoughts and then I did the only logical thing I knew to do and delved into her mind.

  She is terrified, puzzled, weak and confused.

  “Who are you people and what is that thing?” she asked with a jerk of her head.

  “Oh, yes well...,” I stammered. What should I tell her? Should I tell her the truth? Would she freak out if she knew I was an alien? Would I harm her with the truth? I could not lie so I decided on the honest path.

  “Please forgive me but that is what is known as a robomedic or a robotic medical assistant. It can perform all the functions that a live healer can and sometimes with more precision.”

  I looked into her eyes. The whites were no longer red and her skin only had pale splotches where the hemorrhagic areas used to be. She looked like she was recovering from a mass of bruises. And I had never seen a lovelier female.

  “So who are you?” she asked, her voice edged with suspicion. She remained crouched in the corner.

  “Please, let me assist you to the bed and I shall answer all of your questions. I promise.”

  She continued to eye me warily, and I was troubled by her lack of trust.

  “Please. I swear to you on my life, I will not harm you.”

  She inched her way up but remained plastered to the wall to steady herself. I was next to her in an instant, holding her upright. As soon as I touched her, I felt the tension drain from her.

  “How is...why am I not scared of you anymore?” she whispered.

  I helped her into bed and covered her with the blanket, holding her hand lightly.

  “It is my touch that comforts you,” I stated.

  “Huh?” I saw her eyes cloud with doubt.

  “I am Vesturion and I am able to impart that to you.”

  “What is Vesturion?”

  Although I did not relish the thought, she would have to be told the truth about us. She could not go back to her former life, for in all probability it no longer existed. It saddened me for her as I recognized that the world she knew and remembered had ceased to exist. Since I had no other choice, I patiently explained to her that I was an extraterrestrial...and she did not believe me for one minute.

  “Okaaayyy. So E.T., how did I get here, and where am I?” she smirked.

  “Are you making fun of me?” I asked, slanting my head. I was unsure of how to handle this creature.

  “You seem to be the one making fun of me. Do you honestly think I’d fall for the E.T. thing?” She began to chew on her lower lip.

  I scratched my head, not knowing what to say or do. I decided to start from the beginning.

  “May I begin again?” I asked her.

  She nodded, still wary of me. “By all means!”

  “I am Rykerian Yarrister and I am a Guardian of Vesturon. I discovered you in the woods. You wandered away from your car and you were gravely ill.”

  “How did I get there?”

  “I do not know. I was hoping you could provide us with those answers Ms. St. Davis.”

  She shook her head, and furrowed her brow. She began rubbing her neck. I was concerned her fever was returning.

  “How do you know my name?”

  “It was on your student identification card and your driver’s license in your purse. I brought your belongings here. Are you feeling okay? Let me check your body temperature,” I said raising my hand to use my shadar.

  She immediately began screaming.

  What in bloody hell is wrong with her?

  “What is that thing?” she screamed.

  “What thing?” I asked, confused.

  “That thing...on your hand!”

  “Oh, this. Forgive me. It is my shadar and I was going to examine your body temperature,” I patiently explained. “It is giving me a normal reading of 98.5 degrees. It would appear your fever has not returned as I had feared.”

  “Who are you?” she asked.

  “I am Rykerian Yarrister.”

  “I know that. I meant who are you really?” She shook her head and rubbed her forehead.

  “As I said, I am a Guardian and I am Vesturion.”

  She blew out her breath in exasperation.

  “Are you in need of food or maybe drink?” I asked solicitously. I was at a loss, not knowing how to continue with her.

  I delved into her mind again to see how I should best proceed.

  “Would you quit poking into my mind? That’s very rude you know.”

  I shook my head trying to clear it. How could she possibly know I was breeching her mind, I mused?

  “I just know it okay? I’m a freak. So there! Now quit trying to push your way in. If you want to know something just ask it. Of all the rude things,” she murmured.

  “Forgive me. I am quite astonished to know that you have telepathic ability. Are you human?”

  She gave me a look that spoke volumes. She thought me an idiot.

  “You are the second person to ask me that. What do you think I am? A dog? Of course I’m a human!” she responded indignantly. Then under her breath she said, “Of all the idiotic questions!”

  “Ms. St. Davis, do you remember anything at all? Becoming ill, or anything?”

  “No, not really. I…I was driving home from Atlanta. My internship with the CDC—The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—was complete so I was heading back to Cullowhee for school. Oh crap, what day is it? I have classes!” She threw back the covers and started to get out of bed. I put my hand on her arm and she was abruptly calmed.

  “You cannot go back to school for several reasons, but mostly because you are still not well.” She kept trying to pull her arm out of my grasp, but I would not allow it.

  “You don’t understand. I…I HAVE to go back now,” she insisted.

  “Ms. St. Davis, it would appear you are the one who does not understand. You cannot go and that is not an option. You are recovering from hemorrhagic small pox, a highly contagious and fatal disease. We do not know how you contracted this illness, but that fact that you have survived it is a miracle in itself. There are reports of people falling ill all over the world and Earth is on the brink of a pandemic. We must uncover how this happened, and we believe you are the key.”

  Her eyes conveyed everything she was feeling. Shock, sadness, concern, fear...and lack of trust. I kept my hand on her arm and saw her eyelids begin to droop.

  “Sleep now,” I whispered to her. When I was satisfied she had drifted off, I left the room and called to Julian.

  Chapter 3

  Julian assessed Ms. St. Davis and agreed she was out of danger and would indeed survive the horrible virus she had contracted. Now she needed to eat and gain her strength, which I had placed in the capable of hands of Zanna. Hopefully, we would soon be able to put the pieces of the elusive puzzle together to determine how this disease spread.

  I heard them before I saw them appear. Rayn, my brother, and his mate, Maddie, were arguing even as they materialized in front of the house.

  “I don’t care what you say Rayn, I am going in there. That is a human female and I’m quite sure, she is scared half to death,” Maddie shouted.

  “Maddie, this is not up for discussion. You were there when Julian explained that this female might be contagious for several more days. You are part human and therefore, this presents a great risk to your health. I, for one, will not let you place yourself in harm’s way.” His love for her was obvious to anyone but he exasperated her as well.

  “Ugh! You are so controlling Rayn.”

  “I must be with anything that concerns you. I make it my duty to protect you
at all costs.”

  This should have been a private moment between them, for the way the stared into each other’s eyes made it look extremely intimate. They never were good at concealing their feelings for each other.

  Feeling like an interloper, I cleared my throat. “I must agree with my brother. Maddie, you place yourself at great risk by even being here. As leader of the Compound, I must insist you return to Vesturon...Now.” I wasn’t going to relent on this.

  She looked at me, wide-eyed, and I prepared myself for her arguments. To my surprise, she looked back at Rayn, nodded, tapped her shadar and teleported back to Vesturon.

  “That was a shock. I had prepared to defend my stance,” I declared.

  “Yes, we have argued over this all morning. I am glad you used your position of authority with her. I’ll have to remember that!” he exclaimed.

  I rolled my eyes at him. “You are fooling yourself if you think that will work.”

  “Hmm…you are probably correct. So, what is the situation on Earth?”

  I filled him in on the outbreak of smallpox. Schools were closed, airports had been closed, and cities were quarantined. Businesses had been shut down and everything had come to a screeching halt. The National Guard had been called in and no one was allowed to travel between cities. Hospitals were inundated with the sick and the disease was spreading like wildfire.

  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention wanted to create a vaccine but the virus samples they had stored had somehow disappeared. They were blaming it on a break-in that occurred several weeks prior.

  “What steps have you taken in stopping the progression?” Rayn asked.

  “Initially, Tesslar was responsible for getting Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness up and running. Though now, I’m afraid we are stymied. The human casualties are growing so quickly that we cannot keep up. I am afraid of this Rayn. This beginning to look like the plague.”

  Rayn dragged his hand through his hair and sighed.

  “Rykerian, we have to find a way to supply the Centers for Disease Control with new virus samples,” he affirmed.