by S. E. Smith
“Creon,” Zoran murmured when the spinning universe had faded and only the ceiling of the castle was visible.
“Not now, Zoran,” Creon replied in a thick voice, holding Phoenix tightly against him. “Not now.”
Zoran nodded and pulled away to sit next to his youngest brother. The other men had grown quiet, pensive. They had all felt the power of what Phoenix had created, but they had also seen a part of the universe that they were unfamiliar with. Zoran watched his brother rest his chin against the soft black curls of Phoenix’s hair. She had shifted back to her two-legged form and was snuggled up against her father, almost asleep.
“I’s loves you, Daddy,” she whispered.
“I love you, Phoenix,” Creon replied in a husky voice. “Very, very much.”
22
“Oh, no,” Trelon muttered when the ride spiraled down and burst through the ballroom doors. “Oh, no.”
“Why do I get a bad feeling when Trelon says ‘Oh, no?’” Ha’ven muttered.
“Because that usually means it has to do with his two girls,” Paul replied with amusement. “What is it?” He called out.
“You don’t want to know,” Mandra replied.
“Definitely Amber and Jade,” Kelan stated, staring at the drunken robot wobbling around. “Trelon, I thought we destroyed all of those things.”
“So did I,” Trelon muttered in resignation.
“I also don’t remember them being that big,” Kelan added.
“I know, I know, but the robot isn’t what has me worried,” Trelon retorted grimly. “We need our symbiots!”
“What could be more worrisome than a six foot deranged robot?” Viper asked in exasperation.
“Hundreds of demented symbiots,” Trelon answered grimly.
“Demented symbiots? What in the dragon’s balls are demented symbiots?” Vox asked before he released a startled yell when a strange, deformed golden creature dropped down into his lap. He immediately knocked it off. “Trelon!”
“We need to catch them,” Trelon ordered, stopping the ride. “All of them.”
“How?” Viper asked, knocking another of the creatures off the top of his seat.
Trelon looked around and saw the dozens of buckets and lids lying on their side. He crawled out of the chair and hurried to several of them. Turning, he paled when he saw the masses of golden creatures all over the room.
“Put them in the buckets and seal the lids,” he said hoarsely. “I’ll feed them to Symba as soon as we get to the kids.”
Trelon watched Creon gently lay Phoenix’s sleeping form on the cushion of the seat before he climbed out and came to stand next to Zoran and him. Behind him, the other men were splitting up so that they could each take a portion of the room. He held out several buckets to Zoran and Creon.
“What are you going to do?” Zoran asked in surprise.
“I’ve got a robot to dismantle,” Trelon muttered.
*.*.*
Trelon dodged to the left and rolled when the robot reached for him. He pulled the small knife at his side, wishing he had something bigger. He barely had time to get to his feet and move out of the way before the robot turned awkwardly and reached for him again.
“I really need to hide all the cloners and replicators,” he muttered, striking out.
The sound of metal on metal and the reverberation from the impact sent an answering jolt through his arm. His gaze swept over the robot. He had built the damn thing, he could surely dismantle it! Of course, it had only been a couple of inches tall when he had built it.
His gaze narrowed on one of the fluid lines running through its left leg. If he could cut it, then it would collapse and he could cut off the main circuit behind its right ear. A grunt of pain exploded through him and he felt his body go airborne when the robot backhanded him with its bent arm.
He fell onto his back and slid several feet before he stopped. Shaking his head to clear the ringing in his ears, he glanced up in time to see Vox swirling around in a circle with five demented symbiots clinging to his head, neck, back, and legs.
“You okay?” Paul asked, holding out his right hand to help him up while his left hand held a bouncing bucket.
“Yes,” Trelon gritted, grabbing Paul’s hand. “How many have you got so far?”
“Two buckets,” Paul replied. “This one is almost full. We found that if we just let them attack Vox and Viper, they are easier to catch.”
Trelon turned in time to watch Ha’ven shoot a burst of energy at one of the creatures. It squealed and flew across the room. His gaze followed it and his eyes widened when he saw another of the damned deranged creatures – with a familiar black control box.
“Thanks,” he muttered to Paul before he took off across the room.
Trelon jumped the tracks, his gaze focused on the demented symbiot with the remote for the robot. He grimaced when it turned and looked at him with a mischievous, lopsided grin. A shout behind him warned him why the creature was delighted. He turned at the same time that a robotic hand closed around his waist and his feet left the ground.
“Kelan! The controller!” Trelon gasped to his brother who was sealing another symbiot into a bucket.
Kelan turned and glanced at Trelon who was struggling to break free before his gaze shifted to look in the direction that Trelon was pointing. He nodded and placed the bucket he was holding on the ground. Darting across the room, he ignored the myriad of faces peering at the spectacle unfolding in the room.
Trelon jerked wildly around, trying to keep his eye on his brother and on the robot at the same time. He watched Kelan scramble to catch the creature that was hampered by the controller. His breath caught when the hand around him suddenly squeezed.
“The other way, Kelan,” Trelon wheezed. “Turn the stick the other way.”
“Sorry, Trelon,” Kelan said, struggling to operate the controller with one hand while he fought to maintain his hold on the deranged symbiot with the other.
Trelon dropped to the floor and rolled when the robot’s hand suddenly opened. He drew in several deep breaths before he realized that the robot was lying on the ground next to him. Reaching over behind the robot’s right ear, he switched the power off and fell onto his back.
“Stuffed animals,” he muttered. “The girls are only allowed to have stuffed animals from now on.”
*.*.*
“Did you see that one hanging from Vox’s ear?” Calo asked in amusement. “I think they would make great earrings.”
“I’ll send you a pair for Christmas,” Vox growled out. “Trelon, I have to tell you, I’m glad I have a boy.”
“I think we should ban Trelon and Cara from having any more kids,” Cree stated, looking at the place where one of the symbiots had bitten him. “Does this look infected to you?”
“Too late,” Trelon chuckled.
“There goes the galaxy,” Kelan muttered with a shake of his head. “I hope you’re only having one this time, brother.”
“Well, we’ve made it through most of the castle. What’s next?” Ha’ven asked.
“The kitchen,” Trelon said.
“Kitchens aren’t bad,” Creon said, rubbing Phoenix’s back when she mumbled in her sleep.
“Yeah, how bad can a kitchen be?” Cree agreed.
23
“What happened to the kitchen?” Trelon asked, gazing at it in stunned disbelief. “This isn’t how I remember it.”
Ha’ven’s deep chuckle echoed throughout the room when they entered the Queen’s kitchen. Instead of looking like the medieval drawings from Abby’s illustrations, it now looked like it belonged in a dollhouse. Gone was the huge fireplace and stone hearth. In its place was a bright pink and white stove complete with a teapot and cups with smiling faces on them.
“Are you still being attacked by those damn Tickle Bugs?” Kelan asked.
“Creon, what does this remind you of?” Ha’ven called out.
“The girls’ playset in the nursery,” Creon replied.
“This looks just like Alice’s back home,” Ha’ven laughed. “I guess we know who’s booby-trapped the kitchen.”
“Alice says she likes happy stuff,” Phoenix murmured with a yawn. “She likes sprinkles.”
“And colors,” Ha’ven grimaced when he noticed the bright cheerful colors.
“Ha’ven, what are some of the things Alice can do with her powers?” Paul asked, holding up his hand when they passed through a bright rainbow crossing the tracks.
“Honestly, more than I realized,” Ha’ven admitted with a grimace, waving his hand in front of his face. “Why do you ask?”
“Daddy, you’s face is all pretty and shiny,” Phoenix giggled, touching Creon’s cheek. “You’s a rainbow.”
“I’m a…,” Creon started to repeat before he looked over at Zoran. “We’re a rainbow.”
Zoran’s eyes widened when he saw Creon’s face. It was different shades of pink, blue, yellow, green, and purple and it sparkled. He turned to stare at the dancing cups, plates, and silverware. The teapot bubbled happily, spewing hundreds of tiny bubbles into the air. Phoenix giggled and clapped her hands, trying to pop them.
“We’ve been sent to Rainbow Land,” Ha’ven groaned, thinking of Alice’s favorite bedtime story.
“Rainbow Land?” Kelan asked with a growing sense of dread.
“Is this a story that Hope will enjoy?” Cree asked, grinning at his brother’s shiny face.
“Probably,” Ha’ven replied with a sigh. “Everything is rainbow colors, sparkling, and bright. Alice has the entire Rainbow collection.”
“Look! Balloons!” Phoenix breathed in excitement.
“Don’t pop them!” Ha’ven warned.
“Why? What happens?” Paul asked, gazing up at the floating minefield.
“They are filled with glitter in the book,” Ha’ven warned, gently pushing one aside. “You’ll be covered in glitter and will shine for weeks. Alice coated me in it one morning so I would have a happy day training with my brothers. I didn’t know it until I was in the training center. I was lit up like a solar flare!”
“Oh, I wish we could have seen that,” Cree chuckled.
“Isn’t that the truth,” Calo agreed. “Oh, Ha’ven, don’t you look simply colorful and shiny today. Do you want some tea with that glow?” Calo said in a false soprano voice.
“I don’t mind if I do,” Cree replied, mimicking Ha’ven’s voice.
Ha’ven’s eyes glittered with mischief. Raising his hand, he shot out two bursts of energy. The sudden sound of two balloons popping and the startled yells of the twin dragons drowned out the music.
“Good luck trying to get it off,” Ha’ven chuckled.
“Yeah, well, try this,” Cree said, pulling a coin out of his pocket and flicking it.
The coin sailed through the air, barely missing the balloon over Ha’ven’s head and striking the one over Viper. Viper’s curses were almost as colorful as the glitter raining down on him. Viper’s head suddenly appeared over the top of the chair.
“That’s it,” he growled. “Stop the ride, Trelon. This is war.”
*.*.*
Trelon reluctantly stopped the ride. Almost immediately, Vox and Viper shifted into their cat forms. He shook his head when he saw Ha’ven’s unsuccessful attempt to create a shield. It might have worked, if his daughter hadn’t been the one to create the balloons. With a wry grin, he shifted. If he was going to be rainbow colored and sparkling, then so could his dragon.
*.*.*
“That’s strange, Mandra isn’t answering his comlink,” Ariel said, frowning at the device. “I wonder if it is working.”
“Ariel, girl, rule number one,” Riley said, reaching over and plucking the communication device out of Ariel’s hand and dropping it into Ariel’s purse. “No check-in’s on girl’s day out. If the guys need us, they know how to contact us.”
“Not to mention, it shows a lack of trust,” Tina said, looking at the people gathered around them.
“I trust him,” Ariel said defensively before she sighed. “Okay, I’m a little nervous. It’s just Jabir is so quiet and Mandra might forget to check on him.”
“What does your symbiot tell you, Ariel?” Morian asked, relaxing in her seat.
Ariel paused and stroked the pendant of gold at her neck. A wave of warmth flooded her and she grinned. Faint images of Jabir playing with the other kids flashed through her mind as well as images of Mandra laughing.
“That everything is fine,” Ariel admitted, relaxing.
“Enjoy the show,” Riley encouraged with another wave to a passing waitress. “I love live performances.”
Morian smiled at the other women. Her own fingers stroked the gold at her wrists and she almost burst out laughing at the images shimmering through her mind. The men, and their dragons, were indeed having a good time – and an exceedingly colorful one.
*.*.*
“That was great!” Vox chuckled, shaking his hair and sending a wave of sparkling dust everywhere.
“You’re just saying that because you and Viper tied the Twin Dragons,” Zoran laughed.
“We won,” Cree replied. “The balloon made it ten to nine.”
“That didn’t count,” Viper defended. “I broke that one over Vox by mistake.”
The men were tired, but relaxed when they climbed back onto the ride. Vox sprawled as much as he could in the narrow confines of the chair. His body and mind were buzzing from the balloon fight they’d just finished.
“Goddess, that was fun,” Vox said with a sigh. “The only thing that would have been better is if Roam had been here.”
“It’s good to see you finally relax,” Zoran said. “I know you’ve been worried about your girls.”
“Yes, but Riley was right. It was good to spend some time here and Roam would have missed it if we hadn’t come,” Vox said.
What’s left?” Viper asked, brushing the front of his shirt. “How long will all the color last, Ha’ven?”
“We just have the Library and then the Throne room,” Trelon replied.
“Mine is already fading,” Ha’ven answered. “I’d say an hour at the most. The glitter might take a bit longer.”
“I’s likes the glitter,” Phoenix replied. “You’s pretty.”
“You’d better enjoy that Twin Dragons. It’ll probably be the one and only time you’re ever called pretty,” Viper called out, drawing laughter from all the men.
“I wonder what traps are going to be in the Library,” Paul said.
“Roam was in theres with Zohar,” Phoenix responded, snuggling closer to her dad. “But, I’s didn’t sees what they were doing.”
*.*.*
Several minutes later, the ride spiraled down through several small drops, which was enough to leave them all flushed and excited. Cara and her crew had incorporated a series of hills in the ride to give the illusion of traveling a great distance over villages before entering the library on the upper floor. The chairs wend their way downward, while books danced back and forth in front of them as if they were in the hands of a ghostly librarian.
“That looks just like Emma and me,” Ha’ven said in surprise, staring at the apparitions that floated by them.
Throughout the room, ghostly figures floated and talked. Every once in a while, they would stop and stare at the men gazing back at them. Ha’ven spun the wheel of his chair, trying to catch a better glimpse of the figures he had just passed. His breath caught when he felt his chair spin around in a circle.
“Hey! How did you do that?” Calo asked, staring at Ha’ven’s stunned face instead of at the back of his chair. “You still have some of that sticky stuff and glitter in your hair, by the way.”
“So do you,” Ha’ven replied with a grin before he turned the steering wheel again.
“In this room, you can pick different paths for the chairs to follow, as well,” Trelon said. “We’ll all meet up at the same place before going on to the Throne room, just in different order.
”
“This is fabulous, Trelon,” Paul stated with a shake of his head. “Cara, Abby, and her crew have definitely outdone themselves with this ride."
“I have to agree, even with all the additions the younglings have made,” Zoran said, gazing around him. “It all looks so real.”
“What does this do?” Kelan asked from the other side of the room.
Trelon spun his chair around to look. “I don’t know,” he admitted with a frown. “I haven’t seen that before.”
“Don’t pull—, “ Vox started to say, but it was too late. “— that rope.”
Kelan had already pulled the dangling end of the rope that his chair had brushed up against. Like dominoes, more than a dozen buckets, suspended above them, tilted in slow motion. A deluge of colorful paintballs fell like thick raindrops, coating them in a wide variety of slimy, neon colors that glowed in the dark. No one was spared when the room suddenly took on the brilliant hues of a rainbow.
“This has to be from Roam,” Vox groaned as he wiped the colorful mess off his face.
“I take it you recognize his touch?” Paul laughed, flicking a wet glob off himself even as it began to vanish.
“Riley showed him how to do this,” Vox grunted with a nod. “She was mad because I told Roam that women weren’t good at fighting. She taught him how to make booby-traps. This is one he used over the bathroom door. I can barely get through the house without stepping into one trap or another anymore.”
“Well, this is a good one,” Ha’ven commented, touching his wrist cuff and turning off the small shield he had enabled. “Where did he get all the paintballs?”
“From the Paint House,” Zoran replied, recognizing them. “The kids love to throw them at the wall and each other.”