One hundred and fifty years ago, The Mist had consisted of twelve Lords ruled by their King. Each had possessed a unique power of strength, speed and the ability to mist and had thrived from mining gold and precious stones from the hills around their home. They had kept their existence secret from humans and had lived peacefully.
The King and his Lords had lived in a regal residence and had protected their kind, but an unknown evil had wanted The Kingdom for himself. He had sent warriors to take their power and riches and many of the entries had related to fierce battles, each one ending with the deaths of the Lords, until only the King remained. It had been then, that the King had come face to face with his thirteenth Lord, who had been exiled from his Court. A final battle had pursued, and The Kingdom had been lost.
It had been a long time since anyone had ruled The Mist and Elijah wondered how the female could be connected to the King. He thought about the unnamed thirteenth Lord. Who had he been and why had he been exiled?
Elijah mind returned to members of The Mist that now lived at the compound. He’d thought he was alone until Jonah had rescued him. Jonah had shown his incredible strength the day he’d helped Elijah escape from that cell, and his strength had grown considerable as the years passed. Training with Jonah had always been difficult. He was one of the strongest of them all, and keeping him held down in training had sometimes taken all of them at once.
It made Elijah smile as he remembered an occasion when Lucian and Tobias had tried to win a session with Jonah. They tried to outsmart him by using their powers. Lucian tried to take the training weapon from Jonah by lunging at him faster than his eyes could blink but, before he had a chance to pull it from his grip, Jonah sent Lucian flying across the training mat with one hard push. Jenson had had trouble keeping his laugh from escaping him as Tobias tried to remove the weapon from Jonah’s hands using his mind, but Jonah was too quick for him and he’d suffered the same fate as Lucian. Jenson had been unable to hold it in any longer and fell about laughing. You had to respect the pure power that Jonah possessed, Elijah thought with pride for the male who was his closest friend.
Elijah walked to his dresser and opened the drawers. Inside were folded piles of thick Aeron woollen jumpers and black leather pants. It was bitterly cold outside and the snowfall this winter had been enough to bury the compound, and the forest had looked like a sea of frozen ice. The forest animals had disappeared into their warm hiding places, escaping the biting winds and freezing air. He was going to be way too hot in these where he was going. It would be around forty degrees, so shorts and a T-shirt would be more suitable. He opened the second drawer on his dresser and took out some shorts and vest-tops and packed them into his black holdall that he had taken out from under his bed. He picked up his trainers from beside the dresser and laid them on top with his sun cream and toothbrush. Just enough time for a quick shower and nap and he would be on his way.
With large strides Elijah walked into his bathroom.
He’d designed it himself with large black tiles on the floor and walls that flickered from the spotlights above. Shadows reflected as he walked to the far end to turn on the shower.
He’d insisted on having a wet room design, and it had to be large and open, big enough for two people due to his size. Being six foot three inches tall with big broad shoulders and biceps meant having a normal bath in there was impossible. He would never fit, and he loved being able to walk straight into the shower easily.
After turning on the water he waited for the steam to drift from behind the glass divider to the main bathroom. There was a sink and a toilet, both in shiny black enamel with chrome taps.
As he pulled his joggers over his firm muscular legs, it was a relief to free the large bulge that had been kept encased in his joggers since his time in the Sanctum. He removed the joggers fully and pulled his T-shirt off over his enormous biceps.
He’d had a strange reaction when Jenson had mentioned the female. Elijah had been overcome with a sensation, one that he couldn’t place to begin with. His cock had stiffened instantly and he’d had to move on the couch to relieve the uncomfortable feeling without being noticed by Jenson. He’d sat there questioning what the feeling was that started in the pit of his stomach and made its way through his body down to his cock. He’d tried to think of what the feeling was that was going round and round in his head and had then sat there shocked. Possession. How could he have felt possessive of a female he had never met?
Elijah stepped under the hot stream of water and let it lave at him. The jets massaged the taut muscles of his back and sent water cascading down over his firm buttocks. He picked up the shower gel and poured some into his hands and gently ran them over his huge chest and across his taut abs, caressing each line of muscles leading to the smooth muscles of his lower abdomen and finally resting on his cock. He began to massage the creamy lather up and down the smooth skin held inside his hand and began to think of the female. What would it feel like to have her hands gently gripping him, running them up and down? The thought excited him and a deep groan rose from this throat. He began to move his hips back and forth as he rested his other arm on the tiles to balance himself. He pushed faster and harder against the smooth feel of the shower gel lubricating each thrust and tilted his head forward, imagining it was her who was holding him, feeling him. The thought brought him closer and closer to his release. He continued to thrust, feeling the pressure building in his balls, growing more intense as each thrust sent him higher and higher. A tightening sensation gripped his balls as the wave of pleasure began to soar through every cell in his body. He thrust harder, throwing his head back, and groaned loudly as his orgasm finally exploded through him. Pleasure shot through his cock as the first shot of his seed erupted from him, pleasure overriding his senses over and over as each shot burst from him until finally, breathing heavily, he relaxed, allowing the water to ease his tensed muscles.
Elijah turned off the shower, dried himself, and walked over to the bed. He climbed into the soft black satin sheets and lay there, wondering how this female had invaded his thoughts and created such an unexplained feeling within him. Tomorrow he would find her and try to make sense of the strange phone call he had received earlier. Maybe tomorrow he would find answers.
A sharp bang on the door awoke Elijah from his dreams. She had returned to his subconscious as an apparition, soft and beautiful, staring at him from afar. Not close enough for him to see straight into her caring eyes but he could only imagine the beauty that lay within them. He had almost felt her soft skin within his hands, but she started to fade away as he tentatively moved closer to her.
“Wakey, wakey. Rise and shine, sleepyhead,” Jenson shouted from the other side of the door as he continued his incessant banging.
“Come back when its morning,” Elijah replied, desperate to return to the vision that still played within his mind.
“It is morning. Get your arse up and out of bed before I come in and drag you out,” Jenson sniggered as he opened the door and strode in.
“Looks like you been sparring with Jonah in here. Must have been an interesting dream,” Jenson smiled as he looked at the dishevelled bedcovers.
Elijah stared at him, desperate to hide the reaction that had come from his vision. He saw a sudden change in Jenson’s expression. He knew that Jenson would be able to see within his mind and hoped that he would not attempt to try make sense of it. He was damned if he could make sense of it himself, so Jenson would have no chance. “Has Tobias got the car ready?” Elijah asked, averting Jenson’s curious gaze.
“All ready to roll, as soon as you can drag yourself out of that pit you call a bed,” Jenson replied as he turned and walked out of Elijah’s quarters, grinning at Elijah’s obvious deflection.
Elijah lifted the sheets and sighed at his dream’s effect. He had woken with his cock hard again. He was going to have trouble getting that down before he left his quarters and was sure that the other men would notice but did not have ti
me to give it the attention he knew it craved. He dressed in a pair of tan shorts and a white vest-top. He finished putting on his trainers, brushed his teeth, and grabbed his holdall as he pulled the heavy oak door shut behind him.
Jonah and Carrick were in the living area, eating a huge pile of buttered toast that Lucian had just made.
“Want some before you hit the road?” Carrick asked, shoving a whole slice of the warm, buttery toast into his mouth.
“It’s okay, I’ll grab something on the way.” He watched butter drip down onto Carrick’s chin.
“He needs a bib!” Jonah stated with a mocking tone that made Elijah smile.
“You’re fucking brave wearing that outside. Careful things don’t shrivel into nonexistence,” Carrick chided Elijah, making Jonah choke on his toast at Carrick’s crudeness.
Elijah winked at Carrick, knowing his friend’s sense of humour, and enjoyed his attempt at getting a rise out of Jonah.
“Can you check out all the females in the Swane area and call me on the sat link when you find out anything?” Elijah directed his request to Jonah.
“As soon as, boss.” He threw a set of keys to Elijah.
Elijah turned and shouted as he walked down the corridor to the garage, “I’ll let you know where I am staying as soon as I get there.”
Elijah opened the large oak door to the garage, turning on the lights, making them shine brightly against the shiny white tiled floor. Before him stood an impressive range of exquisite cars. Jonah had made some wise stock market investments through the years and his males had certainly taken advantage of the profits that The Order had amassed. Any dealership would be impressed with the assortment of sports cars and 4x4s which now stood before him. Elijah strode toward an SUV parked at the far end. He had always loved the deep blue paintjob that Tobias had meticulously done. He thought that the white leather interior had been a little too extreme but loved it just the same. The door unlocked automatically as he approached and he slid onto the luscious leather driver’s seat. The dashboard had an array of gadgets that Luca had insisted on being put into every vehicle. A large monitor in the dashboard had a direct link to the compound via satellite so that The Order could access all information from the main communications system no matter where they were. Elijah pushed the start button and listened to the roar from the engine as the garage door opened to reveal a long stone passageway that led directly into the forest. As he drove out into the silent winter’s day, flakes splattered his windscreen as his thoughts returned to his dream of the female. The gentle curve of her body and her hair flowing in the breeze. His cock hardened at the mere thought. Great! This was going to be such a comfortable trip.
Chapter 4
Major Harvey strode across the parking area at the Phoenix Headquarters, the wind biting at his face as he fought the storm to reach his SUV. He pulled his fur-lined hat tight over his short, dark hair and pulled the zip of the black leather bomber jacket up against his sharp, squared chin in an attempt to protect him from the harsh wind trying to force its way deep inside of him. He had known many winters over the years but this one had definably been one of the worst. The lights from the street lamps reflected on the white surface, making it appear lighter than the dusk evening should have been.
The parking lot was deserted. All staff except the bare skeleton shift had gone, leaving areas of bare tarmac where their cars had been parked. He had never been a fan of winter, its chilling wrath causing roads and paths to be covered in ice, making travelling from the Headquarters to the labs difficult.
He made the trip often but with this weather he knew that it would take longer which irritated him further. He only ever made the journey alone. It would not have been advisable to take his men along. Best they never knew where the lab was. It would put his plan at risk, and the more they knew the more likely The Order would find it. That was not an option he was willing to take.
As he approached the large metal security exit, the gates opened automatically. He had made sure that all the vehicles belonging to The Phoenix League had been fitted with signal devices that would open them automatically, just in case they needed to get out quickly. He drove out of the Headquarters and turned onto the main road, checking his rearview mirror for any signs of being followed. The drive would give him time to think. He had felt James’s anxiousness at delivering the news to him. Knew that his feelings had been in conflict about finding the female which had seemed odd to him. James was a loyal employee and he had recruited him shortly after they both left the military. They met whilst on a mission overseas and he had felt a connection that he had not felt for a very long time. James had shown over the years that he was able to carry out Harvey’s orders without question and had chosen a team of men that had similar skills in locating and eliminating any threat that presented itself. Still, there seemed to be something about the way James had told him about the female that did not sit well.
He continued to drive through the small town until he reached the outskirts of a deserted business park. Set to the left was a large grey building set on several levels. The top floors were fronted by large, smoked glass windows, and the lower levels were devoid of any entrances except two huge steel doors with security cameras on each side.
Harvey pulled his SUV into the empty parking lot, exited and walked to the entrance. The snowfall had been heavier here, leaving drifts of snow up against the building. He punched a code into the icy keypad and walked into the lobby. The interior of the building was bright and clinical. Corridors led on both sides, one leading to an elevator at the far end to his right. Harvey approached the elevator as its doors opened and stepped inside, removing his coat and hat.
As the elevator came to a stop in the basement, the doors opened to reveal glass-fronted labs. Harvey walked through the corridor, glancing left and right at the technicians with vials of blood running the various tests he had ordered. He walked to the far lab and entered, laying his coat on the desk.
“How are the blood sample tests going?” Harvey spoke directly to Dr. Drake, the lead technician in the labs.
“We have managed to isolate the cells but have not succeeded in transferring safely yet,” Drake replied.
Harvey stared at Drake, irritated that they had not progressed with the tests. “You’ve not achieved any further results since my last visit.”
“It takes time and we have many technicians working on it.” Drake could hear the displeasure in his superior’s voice.
“We need to find out how the transfer can be made. It is taking you too long!” Harvey said with a slight threat to his voice.
Drake knew that his boss wanted answers quickly and his team were working all the hours god sent to succeed. “We cannot compare the differences in the make-up without different blood types. We need more samples from different sources.”
“I am working on that. Hopefully soon you will have many more samples to work with,” Harvey assured the doctor.
A crease formed in Drake’s brow. “Have you found more of them?”
Harvey stared at Drake, his menacing eyes making Drake feel uncomfortable. “That is not your concern. You’re paid very handsomely to do your job, not to ask questions.”
“Sir, I was just enquiring if you had succeeded in locating others,” Drake said rapidly, aware that he had overstepped the mark with his enquiry.
Harvey turned and walked out of the lab, grabbing his coat from the desk. “Call me if you have any results.”
Harvey walked to the main office at the far end of the corridor. He sat in a large leather chair and opened up a laptop that lay on the desk, pressing a button to open up the surveillance cameras set up in cells located one floor below the labs. He watched the figures lying on the beds, sleeping almost peacefully. Even through all the tests that had been performed, Harvey was impressed by the resilience shown by the figures that now lay motionless.
Leaning back in his chair, he thought about how important his captives were to finding the answer
s he was searching for and felt no remorse at the testing that was necessary. He hoped soon that Drake would be able to isolate and transfer the special genes that would give him the thing that he most desired.
* * * *
James arrived at the small motel just outside of Swane just as the sun had started to set. It had been a tricky drive through the ferocious storm as he’d left the Headquarters, and several of the roads had been shut down, causing him to take an unplanned detour. As he drove further south the weather improved and he gained time as he hit the highway. He’d pulled up outside the row of small buildings, all with similar doors and windows. Not the most attractive of accommodations that he’d stayed in but it would suit his purpose. He climbed out of the SUV and pulled out his black rucksack he’d packed before he had left and walked to one of the rooms. As he approached the door, Tyler, one of his soldiers, opened the door, stepping back to allowed James to walk into the small living area. The room had two single beds with covers that matched the curtains, the fabric made from a cheap, man-made material. Nasty. He placed his rucksack on the bed and pulled out a small black box. He opened the lid and immediately a red light began to flash in the centre of three circles, one inside of each other.
Tyler was short and well-built, with short cropped hair, and stood at the closed door waiting for James to advise him of what Harvey had wanted at the meeting.
“We spotted her in town earlier this morning. She was getting some groceries,” he spoke aloud as James removed his coat and threw it on the bed.
“Did you see anyone approach her?” James asked, ensuring his voice was void of any emotion.
“There was a minute when we saw a man approach her but then he was gone. We don’t know where he went.”
“How did she seem? Was she concerned at being approached by the man?” James questioned, trying hard to keep his concern from being noticed by the other man.
Carlisle, Abbie - Elijah's Vow [The Order of the Mist] (Siren Publishing Classic) Page 3