Niklosi's Nightmare (First Wave Book 10)

by Mikayla Lane

Again the scene changed, showing the winged people coming to the human children in times of need, whose minds were still open enough to see them and speak with them. Others were there at the moment of the human’s death.

  Nik had to walk around to the other side of the waterfall to see what happens next and was acutely aware of BJ at his side. All thoughts of her fled his mind as he looked at the mural.

  A UFO was clearly crashing into the earth a great distance away, and a large man appeared to the winged people. The man and a winged woman were then seen as mates, and surrounded by four children.

  The other murals showed more of the tall men and women coming and taking a few of the winged people as mates. Children and other generations followed until it appeared to show recent times with a comingling of the hybrid winged people and the humans coexisting together as a community.

  As he stood staring at the mural he gasped when he saw another UFO appear. One that looked exactly like the transport craft he and Traze had been in. It was confirmed moments later when two figures that looked exactly like he and Traze appeared to float from the ship towards the ground.

  “What the fuck?” he whispered in awe.

  “It’s our history. It records it for us in the tradition of the elders. You and Traze are now part of that history as well,” BJ said as she looked at the wall.

  Nik’s mind reeled with the story that it appeared to tell, but he had to make sure he understood it correctly.

  “Does it mean that one of our Valendran crash survivors came here and mated with one of the winged people long ago? What you call an elder?” he asked.

  “Yes. It was he who was the first to discover the elders and understand what they really are. He then fell in love with Lamoratri, the queen, and she bore him four children that were hybrids. It was these hybrids that met and fell in love with your hybrids, creating an even more unusual hybrid than the kind you are used to,” BJ explained, wondering if he’d understand what she meant.

  Nik’s eyes widened and he had to ask.

  “You’re a hybrid of the winged people aren’t you?”

  BJ looked over at him and nodded her head.

  “My mother is a direct descendent of Lamoratri, and my father was one of your hybrids,” she admitted, wondering if he’d be as afraid as Traze.

  “Whoa,” Nik whispered as he looked at the winged people on the wall, then at BJ again. “Holy hell. What are you?”

  BJ tried not to flinch at the way Nik asked, his tone bearing a hint of betrayal, even though she’d done nothing to deserve it.

  “I’m no different than any other hybrid you’ve come across. I just have different abilities,” BJ answered, easily disguising her disappointment in his reaction.

  “We don’t have hybrids that have wings sprouting out of them!” Nik growled, not understanding why he felt so angry at her.

  “The hell you don’t!” BJ shot back as she crossed her arms over her chest and stood toe to toe with him. “Besides, I can’t sprout wings or fly.”

  “Who? And how the hell would you know who I know, being in this place with its creepy caves and living houses?” Nik fired back.

  “I know because I felt his presence in his father and mother! Your leader’s son is a light bringer, and he has wings!” BJ growled out as she looked up at Nik’s accusing eyes.

  “You felt his presence? I thought you only tracked bad guys, hid your energy, and saw the future with your super twin powers? Now you can sniff out winged people through their parents? What other abilities do your crazy people have?” Nik angrily growled back at her.

  “Seriously? This is how you’re going to handle your fear? By lashing out at me? Why don’t you just tell me that you’re scared to death to mate with me because you don’t understand and fear what I am? You’re a coward, Niklosi, and I don’t want you either,” BJ whispered before she ran out of the cavern and into the tunnel they’d come in.

  Nik stomped around the cavern and growled out his anger, a little disturbed by its ominous echo. He knew he’d been a harsh ass to her, and the worst of it was that he knew she was right—he didn’t know what the hell she actually was, and it scared him. He didn’t want any mate, but he definitely didn’t want a mutant one either.

  He also couldn’t stand the look of pain on her face before she’d fled the cavern either, and knew he needed to at least apologize to her before calling for Grai to come and get him and Traze. He saw no reason to stay any longer.

  Nik had every intention of making sure BJ and the town were able to get rid of the soldiers, but he wouldn’t come back down from the transport unless absolutely necessary. There was no need for him to make an already bad situation worse.

  With that thought in mind, Nik went out of the cavern and back into the tunnels that led to the surface. In his mind he rehearsed his apology and subsequent departure with Traze, determined not to hurt BJ’s feelings any more than he already had.

  He called out to Traze through the shengari’ to ask him to meet him outside of the strange home and was surprised when he didn’t get a response. Minutes passed and Nik tried to contact him again and was again met with silence. Fear skittered up Nik’s spine, and he started running through the tunnel to get to Traze.

  Chapter Ten

  Traze swallowed the huge lump in his throat as he looked across the room at Bess. Keeping his chair between himself and the crazy witch, he quickly assessed his chances of getting to one of the doors before she could catch him. His eyes flew to hers when she laughed.

  “I’d still catch you, child. No matter which door you choose. But I will gladly walk with you outside,” she offered with a smile.

  I’ve got a better chance to escape once I’m out of this killer tree house whether that crazy bitch escorts me or not, he reasoned.

  He nodded his head and watched cautiously as Bess headed towards what he considered to be the front door. He waited until she was a few feet in front of him before he followed.

  “You know,” Bess began as she led him to the door and opened it, “if you open your mind just a little, amazing knowledge could be yours.”

  Traze snorted his disbelief.

  “Yeah, I’m the rocket scientist kind of guy looking to learn your delusional knowledge. No thanks,” Traze retorted, then sighed in relief when they were finally outside.

  Gibly ran past him and began jumping around the small clearing as if playfully chasing something. Traze had to admit he felt a little better knowing the loyal cat was there-even if Gibly and the others cats had scared the hell out of him earlier. This time when he saw the flashing eyes looking at him from the bushes, he didn’t panic.

  “One of these days you must face the challenges before you. You can’t hide behind your brothers forever,” Bess said softly as she clasped her hands behind her back and looked up at the starlit sky.

  “I’ve been doing just fine,” Traze countered, considering all talk about her teaching him anything a non-topic.

  “Have you, child?” Bess asked, still looking at the sky. “Have you found your ability yet? The one that speaks to you? Have you achieved the true potential of your power? I would say the answers are ‘no,’ or you would have never been caught by my Bessemiah. When you decide to face your fears, come back, and I will help you find that which you’ve lost.”

  Traze shivered at her softly spoken words, refusing to admit even to himself that she may be right. He turned to Bess in anger that she’d hit so close to home.

  “What the hell do you think you can teach me? You’re just some backwoods witch who hasn’t had to deal with the real world and the horrors it entails!” Traze erupted as he rounded on the woman, preferring to look in her eyes when he continued.

  “You don’t have to see what the humans are capable of doing to one another, how easily they are led to my father’s cult of fucking unevolved trash . . . you have no idea what I’ve seen or how hard I fight every day to not get jaded or give up on the human race! I should be teaching you how to not be so f
ucking naive!” he spat.

  “Oh, child,” Bess said as she put a comforting hand on his shoulder. “I’ve seen it all.”

  Suddenly Traze felt like he was falling, but he couldn’t move his body. His mind became flooded with images he couldn’t quite see as they rushed by. As the barrage began to slow, he felt the heat of fire and heard the frightened and agonized screams as dozens of people shouted, “Burn the witch!”

  The next scene flashed, and he could feel the intense panic and hear the heavy breathing as people ran in fear. He could hear angry voices screaming out, “Find the witches and their evil consorts!”.

  He could feel the glee of the crowd when they found supposed witches, the noose tightening around their necks as they were dragged to the nearest tree, hung, and then burned.

  Traze began to gasp and struggle to bring air into his lungs as the intensity of the fire in the vision increased. Suddenly he was standing back in the clearing, and Bess was helping to hold him upright.

  When he was able to catch his breath again and shake off the emotions brought on by the visions, he glared at Bess.

  “What the fuck was that?” he demanded.

  “That was only a few of my memories. I’ve seen much of humanity evolve and become less inclined towards the violence they were so proud of in the past,” Bess said as her voice betrayed the emotion she still felt about her past.

  Traze snorted and shook his head.

  “It may be that way here and in a lot of other places, but there are many more places where they still haven’t evolved—where they categorically refuse to evolve because they enjoy wallowing in their violence and hatred. It’s these people who join my father’s cult and flourish in their beliefs, which are wholly incompatible with life. Keep your magic trees and your truths. I will return to the real world where someone has to fight the animals my father helped create before they destroy everything beautiful,” Traze said with a sneer as he moved away from Bess.

  “I don’t ask you to stop fighting for what you believe in. Nor do I expect anyone to turn their back on someone in need,” Bess said softly as she moved to stand beside him again. “I wish to help you find your true power so you can better protect the innocent and destroy the evil overtaking this world.”

  Traze snickered at that.

  “What the hell do you think you can teach me? You don’t look like you’d be too hard to take down with or without a weapon,” he countered before looking back up at the sky, searching for the transport he hoped was nearby.

  Traze never knew what she’d used or even how it happened, but he was suddenly on his back on the ground, looking up at Bess’s smiling face.

  “There is more than one way to take down an opponent who is bigger, stronger, and better armed. I will see you soon, Traze T’Alq,” Bess said before she calmly walked away from him.

  Traze sat up, saw Nik coming towards him, took Nik’s outstretched hand, and pulled himself to his feet. He shot an angry glare at Bess, who waved to them before disappearing into her living treehouse.

  Nik shot a glance towards the house and wasn’t surprised to see that BJ was nowhere to be found. He felt a little bad for the things he’d said.

  But damn! he thought. A mate that’s part ancient winged creature is a bit much for anyone to take!

  “Yeah, nice of you to come save me now, asshole! I hope boinking hobo-cop was worth it,” Traze accused as he dusted off his pants.

  “I didn’t touch her. Now where the hell is Grai?” Nik asked as he scanned the skies.

  The transport appeared above them seconds before they were ported inside the craft and met by Grai.

  “What the hell happened?” Grai demanded, his hands on his hips.

  “What did you hear?” Traze asked curiously, trying to figure out what his brother may know of the disastrous visit with the witch.

  *****

  Major Kyle Morris watched his men whispering quietly among themselves instead of the normally boisterous antics he was used to seeing. He only hoped the ridiculous locals hadn’t filled their heads with talk of mythical creatures and outrageous phenomena.

  “Soldiers!” Kyle shouted, tired of the quiet. “The mayor specifically stated that you could be as loud as you want since you wouldn’t be bothering anyone in town.”

  He was met with only a few mumbled responses before everyone resumed their whispered conversations. It irritated the hell out of Kyle. He turned to Greg.

  “What the hell is the problem?” he demanded.

  Greg scratched his head and winced a little.

  “Well, sir. Some of the men said when they went in the woods to piss they heard some strange growling sounds. Not like a dog or a cat, but something else,” Greg admitted, then quickly added, “I haven’t heard anything.”

  Kyle rounded on the captain, his anger about the whole situation breaking free.

  “You’re telling me that a bunch of highly trained soldiers are afraid of a few growly sounds?” he asked, his voice loud enough for all of the men to hear.

  “Sir, it’s not just that,” a brave soldier spoke up. “It’s this place and these weird people. There’s flashes of light in woods, voices where no people are—”

  He never got to finish before Kyle stormed over to him.

  “You’re afraid of some fucking lightning bugs, echoes, and forest animals? Is that what you’re telling me, soldier?” Kyle roared in anger.

  Kyle watched the soldier’s face flame with embarrassment before he looked away and shook his head.

  “No, sir.”

  Kyle stood and looked at the rest of his men.

  “Who the hell else is afraid of small animals, bugs, and things that go bump in the night?” Kyle demanded, noting how many men refused to meet his gaze.

  When no one else would say anything or look at him, Kyle snickered in disgust.

  “Show me where you guys were pissing. I need to go,” he ordered.

  He shook his head in disgust when several men, including Greg, just pointed to a heavily wooded area on the other side of the road from the police station. Without another word, he took long strides past the police station and across the barren street.

  Kyle admitted to himself that he was grateful for the half-moon in the sky and the two lights outside of the station because once he stepped into the woods, the darkness felt as if it surrounded him.

  He shook off his feelings of unease and headed a little deeper into the woods for privacy before he unzipped his pants. He was just getting ready to start peeing when he heard light footsteps coming from further into the woods.

  “Hey, you’re not fucking funny,” he called out, assuming it was one of his men or a crazy townsperson.

  He turned slightly away from the sound and began to do his business when he heard what sounded like heavy growls and more footsteps much closer to him. Kyle hurriedly zipped his pants and drew his sidearm as he turned back towards where he thought the noises were coming from.

  He saw shining, dark eyes staring at him before he heard another set of growls, and he stumbled back a few steps towards the road. The eyes disappeared, and his breath caught in his throat as he scanned the area for whatever had been there.

  Another set of growls towards his right caused him to spin around in that direction. When he heard more growls to his left he gave up all pretense of finding out what it was and took off running towards the road. The moment he hit the well-lit street in front of the station, he turned back towards the woods and gulped in air as he saw several sets of golden eyes peering back at him.

  He walked backwards, keeping his eyes on the woods until he reached the station. Kyle dusted off his fatigues, ran a hand through his hair and turned around to see the entire camp of his men staring at him.

  Fuck, he thought. Now what do I say?

  “OK, men, whatever mountain cats or wolves they have in this area, they are damn prolific and hungry. Use the bathroom in the station tonight. In the morning, if you go in the woods, do it in pair
s only,” he ordered.

  “Did you see the eyes?” one soldier asked.

  “What did the voices say?” another shouted out.

  Kyle went from sympathetic to angry.

  “There were no fucking voices, and it was just some local predatory animals! Try and pretend like you have some balls!” Kyle screamed at the men and watched as they scattered around the camp, huddling together in groups.

  Kyle turned on Greg, who flinched at becoming the object of the major’s anger.

  “What the fuck is wrong with everyone?” he demanded.

  Greg shrugged and looked away from the major’s penetrating stare.

  “Sir, they’ve been listening to the locals and the stories they were telling about the creatures roaming around here,” Greg admitted. “Some of the guys were looking it up online like some of the folks suggested, and there’s real witnesses to the howler, and a lot of people in Joplin did see flying people who saved them from a tornado.”

  Kyle was so pissed off and his stomach acid was churning so violently, he was beginning to think he could really breathe fire. He struggled to calm his rising anger and looked at Greg.

  “You’re telling me that a team of trained men were listening to some hillbilly fairy tales and are now scared of some mythical flying creatures and something called a howler?” he asked between gritted teeth.

  “Uh,” Greg muttered, trying to think of something to say that wouldn’t anger the major any more than he already was.

  “Don’t answer that, or I’ll lose what little respect I have for any of you. Get the men set up on watch and get the rest of them to bed,” Kyle ordered.

  He watched Greg set off to do what he was told before he stormed off to his own tent, pitched a short distance from the larger tents that his men would share.

  He was starting to roll out his sleeping bag when he heard a slight scratching sound coming from outside the tent. He figured it was just the men moving around as they got ready to bed down and ignored it while he finished.

  Kyle just sat down on the sleeping bag and decided to leave his boots on while he slept when the scratching outside began again. He stood quickly, determined to chew the ass of whatever idiot was screwing around outside of his tent. He was out of the tent and walked around it to catch whoever it was, but there was no one there.