by Lexi Ander
The dark puddle oozed across the floor, reaching the opposite wall, and then slinked up the vertical surface. Zeus gaped. He had no idea that Alpha could cling like that. As he watched the two, he did not have any idea what they planned. Surely they did not think the two of them could take on the group of Numina by themselves. He was still struggling to think of a way Alpha could help Kryp. He was small and weaponless. And yes, Alpha had shared his memories of the Arthro War. The Alpha in those battles was the size of the one Zeus had met in Valespia. But his Alpha was not the size of a transport shuttle or even that of a hovercraft.
The Numina quieted. Zeus and his Monticore halted mid-step. Kryp turned to smoke, melting into the shadows. It was amazing to watch, and he made a note to have Kryp teach him how to disappear like that.
The Numina grumbled about moving on without their liaison. “We cannot leave empty-handed,” one of them argued.
“The youngling is trapped in one of the rooms. Surely she cannot hide that well.”
“And yet, she has not been caught,” snapped a newcomer, a large Numina who approached from the left. “Any one of you should have captured her already. She is a youngling, not one of the fabled Monticore.”
The others glanced around guiltily. One was braver, responding cheekily, “Well, it is rumored she is being raised by the Son of Triton and calls the Striker Uncle.”
The big Numina bared her teeth. “If the Striker is the warrior the Mar’Sani claim him to be, he would have purged the royal family of the soft-skin long before now. No matter that Poseidon allows him to swim in the Waters.”
“They say the soft-skin is the Striker,” countered the brave one.
She snorted. “Lies to make us look for danger in the wrong direction. It is impossible.”
Zeus clenched his teeth around the enraged bellow that wanted to escape and pushed away the anger. He reasoned with himself that they did not know who or what he was, and they had not found Matsya.
The large Numina pushed her way through the group, grumbling, “After I show you how to find the youngling, we are leaving this tomb.”
When all the Numina’s backs were turned, Kryp materialized from the shadows and attacked with lightning speed. A low whir was the only warning the Numina had. The staff had blades on both ends and the Dire D’Noss spun the weapon expertly in his deft hands. Zeus rose and sprinted down the hallway on light feet, drawing his second sword. There were at least ten Numina but Kryp moved so quickly, so expertly, that Zeus had only taken a few steps when the dead started to topple.
The other Numina fell away from Kryp’s lethal staff, surrounding him in a loose circle. The sound of the Monticore’s thudding boots stole their attention from Kryp. Knowing the Monticore had his back, Zeus focused on the large, mouthy Numina. Upon seeing him, she sneered derisively. Two others stepped into the mouth of the darkened corridor to meet his challenge, one lunging and swiping a club at him almost lazily. Zeus dodged, running up the wall of the shadowed hallway and over their heads. Then he pushed off and flipped, landing almost on top of his target within the circle. Kryp smoothly stepped aside, as if he had been expecting Zeus’s aerobatic charge. The Numina stumbled back, but not quickly enough. The kiss of Kryp’s staff bloodied three and Zeus’s sword sliced through the neck of another.
The big Numina laughed. “Someone let the little monkey out of his cage.” The words were so close to what Timsah had once said that Zeus paused in shock.
The momentary lapse almost lost him his arm. His dodge was not quick enough, and the spikes of the club raked over his shoulder blade, followed closely by white hot pain. Zeus dropped and rolled past the smug Numina, slicing her calf muscle to the bone. She fell with an earsplitting screech, and Zeus jumped on her back as she toppled, riding her to the ground. His blade bit into her neck.
As she died, he looked at the astonished Numina and said, “I am the Striker.”
Kryp used the distraction to lop the head off an opponent. The remaining Numina roared and surged at them with renewed fervor. Zeus heard running feet, and he cursed that Ariafella and Rathmar had disobeyed Captain Hesperos and were coming to join him in battle. He hamstrung the closest combatant and dodged a spiked club, his shoulder going numb when he ran out of room and hit the wall. He expected to be hit again but strangely nothing happened. A dark green form was flying through the air, stealing his attention from the fight. A look of stunned horror crossed his opponent’s expression and he frantically swiped his club at Alpha.
“No!” Zeus roared, charging forward only to be slammed in the side by another Numina.
He grappled, and clawed, and stabbed at the person who tried to take him to the floor. He was unable to tear his gaze away from Alpha. His heart beat hard before it shuddered to a stop as Alpha split in two before the club even touched him. Somehow Alpha changed trajectory and both parts of himself slammed into the Numina’s face.
Zeus literally saw red and fought like an enraged bull. He maimed and killed everything in his path to Alpha. The Numina Alpha landed on clawed at him, trying to pull Alpha off. Unexpectedly, the Numina went limp.
“We have your back!” Ariafella yelled.
Zeus caught the body as it slumped. Alpha leaped from the Numina to Zeus, and he dropped the deadweight to put both hands on his amor. Heedless of the fighting going on around him, Zeus sank to his knees, forehead pressed to Alpha’s dark green form as he gulped air.
“Zeus, calm down. Your noises are causing the Monticore to worry.” Alpha caressed his cheeks.
With great difficulty, he swallowed the sounds of distress. “I have never been so terrified.”
Alpha snuggled closer, and Zeus breathed in the scent of his mate. “If an exploding star cannot kill me, then a poorly wielded weapon is nothing.”
He wanted to argue, to hide his amor away. But time was precious, and they still needed to find Matsya. He lifted his head and took in his surroundings, gratified to see the protective stance of the Monticore surrounding him.
“Prince Zeus, how is Alpha?” Kryp asked, pulling down the material that covered the bottom half of his face. He truly looked like a ninja with too-big eyes.
Pressing Alpha to his neck, he rose to his feet. “Better off than I am,” he replied with a weak chuckle.
The Monticore dispersed and they were joined by Captain Hesperos and those he protected. Ariafella and Rathmar searched the dead bodies for weapons. Kryp wiped his blades clean.
“Let us find Matsya and get the rest of you evacuated.”
“She is this way,” Kryp said, stopping next to Zeus to squeeze his uninjured shoulder.
He agreed with Kryp’s assessment, sensing movement in the direction Kryp indicated. “How do you know?” Zeus queried.
The Dire D’Noss shrugged, uncomfortable. “I feel her here.” He pressed a spot at the back of his head. “It is a caregiver trait.”
One day, he would have Kryp talk to Meme about the life threads that connected her to her young. For now, he motioned for Kryp to remain next to him. The Numina were a small challenge so far but, ninja nanny or not, he could not let Kryp rush ahead and get injured. Sohm’lan and Mestor would have Zeus’s tail if something happened to their friend. At that thought, a deep longing squeezed his chest, but he squashed it. He had grown up content to be himself, but the last few moons he had begun to want things he simply could not have, things that were impossible. No matter what small-minded people thought, he was Mar’Sani even though he did not have the scales, barbs, or a tail, but there were days when he wished he could look how he felt on the inside.
They quickly moved down the hallway to his brother’s suite. The door was open, but no sentry was posted. The leeches were confident of their success at putting down any opposition and neglected to watch their backs. If they heard the group approach, no one checked.
“Hurry up! Bucca will have our hide if we do not produce the brat soon. There are only so many places to hide in these rooms.”
Zeus peeked aro
und the corner of the open door. No one was in the receiving room, so he darted to the other side of the doorframe so that Kryp could see in. Kryp knew Mestor’s rooms best and would have an idea where Matsya would be. Some furniture had been turned over and broken. With aid, Matsya was learning to walk, so it was logical to think she would hide underneath something. Rage burned like wildfire in Zeus’s veins at the sight of the old birth bed in the corner, ruthlessly smashed to pieces.
Two figures exited the poolroom. Above them, on top of the ornately carved weapon’s cabinet, Matsya looked down with such scorn that Zeus almost laughed. The twins often spoke of how they vexed Meme by climbing on things and hiding. How she got up there when she could not walk confounded him.
As carefully as he could, he mentally reached out for her. “Matsya, we are here with Kryp to get you.”
“Good. They tore up Tori and Lanlan’s space. They also stink.” With that proclamation, Matsya spit acid on the two Numina. The thick, grayish globs smacked onto the top of their heads. Their scales immediately started smoking. Zeus was highly impressed with her aim. She gave a screechy, chirpy whoop when the Numina hissed in pain and hopped around smacking at the burns, then shaking out their hands as the acid spread.
Kryp slipped in, silently making his way through the debris, and Zeus followed. When the Numina saw them, they dropped to their knees, surrendering, begging for help. Basilisc took them into custody as Matsya fell from the top of the weapon’s cabinet, completely confident that Kryp would catch her. He did, cooing over her and checking her for injury.
“How brave and strong you are. You hid so well and waited for me before attacking. I am so proud of you, my little sweeting.”
She pressed her forehead to his and closed her eyes, promptly falling asleep.
Two Orion came forward to be the escort to the evacuation tunnel. Ariafella and Rathmar mutinously refused to leave him, but Canry wavered.
“You do not need to stay, brother. They will try to retake you if they see you. If we are both captured…” Zeus pressed, wanting Canry safe.
Canry snorted. “As if they could keep me. I need to be with you. I am not sure why. I just know there is something only you can teach me. So, I will stay.”
Zeus sighed in defeat, looking to Rheax.
“I, too, will remain,” she replied to his unasked question. He could read her expression just as easily as he had Ariafella’s and Rathmar’s.
His gaze fell upon Amlyn. She nodded as he signed for her to guard Canry. After seeing Kryp and Matsya off, they headed back to the public area of the main palace. He was glad to see the palace had been secured as he swept through hallways. The blast doors to every room were in place. He found his father in the atrium giving orders. Zeus had never seen his parent look so regal or deadly.
Numina were exiting the water at the palace’s private inlet. As a security measure, the stairs from the palace to the beach had been retracted a couple days ago. Numina would not gain access to the palace by that route. The inlet was surrounded by cliffs except for the slope connecting the beach to the main palace grounds. The path was wide enough that twenty people could stand shoulder to shoulder without touching the retaining walls of the earthen ramp. His father planned to confront the invaders on that stretch of field, the slope giving them the advantage of high ground.
Valdor scowled when he saw Ariafella, Rathmar, and Canry but said nothing, listening to Zeus’s report. The Monticore helped Zeus remove his jacket and inspected his wound. After he was given antibiotics, spray sealant, and was field dressed, he was brought another uniform jacket and given a couple of injections that would help with the pain and boost his energy. Basilisc were leaving the armory with stun batons as well as a few projectile weapons.
“If possible, incapacitate rather than kill the opponents on the field,” Valdor commanded. “Enough people have died today, and once Warlord Sohm’lan is victorious and Poseidon briefed, these people will be Atlainticians and under new laws.”
Zeus did not believe the Numina had considered they could lose. They seemed to have trouble seeing past their need to be isolated and hidden. The forces he had come up against so far were disorganized but determined to find a way to reverse time and keep the status quo.
Quickly, his father laid out his strategy for the Basilisc, Monticore, and soldiers, keeping Zeus’s party with him. Zeus insisted the Orion were added to their protection detail. Reinforcements had been contacted and they only needed to hold the Numina until their airships arrived.
One of the Monticore brought in an ornate box. His father opened it and donned one of the most ostentatious crowns of Atlainticia’s throne then led their modest force across the vast lawn to the slope. Zeus strode on his father’s right and Canry his left. Canry had refused to take any weapon other than his trident. Rheax was Zeus’s shadow. He was so used to her presence, it was as if she had become an extension of him. The Orion flanked them, their blue-patterned mantles protected by their interlocking chitinous exoskeleton plates. Ariafella had chosen a quarter staff from the armory similar to the one Kryp had used. Rathmar was dual wielding like Zeus, his set of short blades were wide in the middle then curved into a tip.
Zeus did not want his friends to fight. Mar’Sani were warriors, it was in their blood, but many had never served in the military and fewer still had taken a life. He would rather his friends not have that experience, and galaxy willing, he could keep them from ever experiencing the ultimate relief of surviving battle but also the utter sorrow that they had taken several lives to remain standing.
The span of green that followed the cliff’s edge to the slope was longer than Zeus remembered, though he rarely walked the distance since the palace had quick access to the Waters of Poseidon. The storm clouds had continued to build even though he had been inside, and he sensed their connection to him. If he metaphorically plucked at the tethers, he could make the storm stronger or trigger his electrical element. For now, he left the ties alone. He would only use them if he needed the assistance.
As had been reported, Numina were gathered on the beach. Did they know their effort to take the palace had failed? He suspected they did, otherwise they would not be milling aimlessly on the sand.
Behind him, their small force blocked the incline. The Numina would have to climb the steep cliff face or fight their way past. One figure stood out among the Numina. They wore armor like Canry’s, but instead of gleaming mother of pearl, it was a vibrant green. That person was the first to notice the Mar’Sani slowly descending the earthen ramp and barked orders that had the Numina forming up.
Overhead, dark purple clouds already churned, matching Zeus’s rising fury. Rheax placed a hand on his shoulder, and his temper banked at her gentle touch.
“You are the one in control of the storm. You decide when and where lightning strikes,” she whispered for his hearing only.
He sensed her checking the shield he’d placed around the Mar’Sani. It would not protect them from physical blows but from the devastation of the storm’s light and fury. Valdor halted, and they waited to see what the Numina would do. Their leader left the main body with six guards and walked toward them. Valdor selected those who would parlay with him. Zeus insisted that at least one Orion accompany him. What his father did not know was that Zeus had already given Rhee his orders. His father would not like Zeus’s plan, but Sohm’lan was not there to argue with his father about what emperors did and did not to do in battle. Later, he would seek forgiveness.
With Canry, Zeus flanked their father. Still Rheax remained next to him, her red and gold rosettes sparkling like gems, even in the gloom. Their party was rounded out with two Monticore that Zeus covertly assigned to protect Canry. With his family’s welfare secured, he stroked Alpha, curious at his amor’s silence.
“I have been trying to convince the Numina to surrender,” Alpha said softly, as if he was straining. “Since I am Poseidon’s father, I thought that in his absence they would listen to my counsel. Ther
e is much suspicion and anger, but some are paying attention to what I say. Telepathy without a physical link is difficult for me. I cannot speak with them and be here to listen to your conversation with their leader.”
“Keep trying. Each person swayed is one less we fight. Do not worry about me,” Zeus soothed. “I will be perfectly fine.”
They met the Numina halfway. The giant regarded Zeus then Canry smugly. “I see you have come to surrender and brought me gifts.”
Zeus’s temper flared. Why was he having problems keeping his emotions in line? His center of calm was anything but since he discovered he had abandoned Rathmar to be tortured and maimed. Kaldor and Rheax insisted he was experiencing his second maturity, a new phase of quickening that changed the chemicals and hormones in his body. They had warned he would be moody, his temperament unstable. Listening to the disrespect thrown at his father only added fuel to the fire Zeus was desperately trying to control.
“His name,” he ground out, “is Emperor Valdor Vondorian.”
The Numina gave him a sly, cruel look. “I see the rumors are true, land dweller. You brought a hairless human into your house to foul your already weakened bloodline. I guess he makes a good pet, as defensive as he is of you.”
Again, Zeus was smacked with words that echoed Timsah’s vitriol. Did the head of House Cordyl have contact with the Numina? Had he plotted with them?
“Bucca Charybdis,” Canry snapped. “You are out of line. When Poseidon discovers—”
Bucca threw his head back and laughed. “Oh, youngling. Poseidon does not care what we do here or he would have intervened long before now.”
The Numina accompanying Bucca did not seem to agree with their leader. They glanced at each other with a hint of fear.