Niklosi's Nightmare (First Wave Book 10)

by Mikayla Lane

  Though everything appeared to be going well, and the conversation remained light and friendly, Nik couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right. He was so tightly wound that he had his weapon levelled on the intruder on the transport before he realized what he’d done.

  “I do not believe you will need that,” Rolantro stated as he pushed the barrel of the rifle away from his chest.

  “What’s wrong?” Grai asked as he stepped towards the leader of the demigods.

  “Why, nothing,” Rolantro replied. “I am here to glamour you all before we take you down.”

  All personnel on the craft had gathered near the demigod, staring at him in curiosity. All but Traze, who was again looking around for who his brother was speaking to.

  “Seriously? Still not going to let me see you?” Traze asked as he threw his hands up in frustration.

  Rolantro waved his hand, grabbed Grai, and the two completely disappeared from the craft. Seconds later, another one of the demigods appeared and took Disc. It continued until Nik and Decano were the last standing in the transport, but Decano was to remain with ship.

  Without any warning, Nik felt like the craft was spinning, and moments later he was wobbling around and blinking his eyes to clear them. He looked around the kitchen of the mercantile and saw the other demigods steadying some other people.

  He turned to the beautiful woman holding him upright while the dizziness passed.

  “Thank you,” he whispered.

  The tinkling laughter that erupted from the woman held a pleasant musical quality to it.

  “If you hurt my cousin again, you won’t be thanking me,” Tori whispered and let go of Nik’s arm when she saw that he was able to stand on his own.

  Nik turned to talk to her, but she disappeared in a small flash of light. He looked around the kitchen and saw several people talking to Rolantro, and he walked over towards them, not knowing where Grai or the others were.

  “What the fuck did you do to me?” Traze screamed out in a small voice from the other room.

  Nik headed into the other room to check on Traze and make sure he was alright. He walked through the short hallway and into the showroom area where all the basic goods were sold, but he didn’t see Traze or the others anywhere.

  He was just heading back into the kitchen to ask where Grai and the others were when he turned towards Traze’s voice.

  “What the fuck? This shit isn’t funny, you bastards!”

  “Traze?” Nik called out, wondering if Traze was sitting behind one of the stocked shelves.

  “Nik?”

  “Yeah . . . where are you?” Nik called out as he walked through the store.

  He’d just turned down a short aisle when he was surprised by a young boy. Nik smiled at the kid and was moving to the next aisle in his search for Traze when he heard Traze again, and he turned back to the aisle. He stood there speechless for a moment as understanding slowly dawned on him. Then Nik burst out in laughter.

  “You asshole! This isn’t fucking funny!” Traze growled out.

  The noise brought the people from the kitchen into the store area, and Nik tried to contain his laughter long enough to scan for Grai and the others until he realized why he hadn’t seen anyone. He raised his hand up.

  “I’m Nik,” he said, dying to see the glamour the demigods gave him. From what he could tell as he looked down at himself, they hadn’t changed his appearance much.

  Not as much as poor Traze, he thought as he again looked down at the small, red-faced boy who appeared no older than a five or six-year-old human child.

  “Grai,” a mid-50s man called out with his hand raised as he headed towards his brother and Nik.

  “Discorian,” a strapping young man added.

  “Blade.”

  Blade appeared unfazed by his sudden change into a shaggy haired teen, and it only made Nik more curious to see what he looked like, so he moved over to the mirror standing near the register.

  He was shocked to see he was an attractive looking young man with dark hair that needed to be cut and dark brown eyes. He was also a good eight inches shorter.

  Still damn glad to be me and not Traze, Nik thought as he saw Grai trying to calm him down.

  He couldn’t help but grin when he heard BJ’s voice in his mind.

  “Momma said she had plans for that boy, but I didn’t think she’d do that,” BJ said by way of an apology.

  Nik looked up and saw BJ waving at him through the mercantile window as she, Kyle, and Greg headed down the street to the station while Dennis, Irwin, and Bess headed towards him. He gave BJ a brilliant smile and waved back at her. When she disappeared from view, he found himself walking to the windows to see her again.

  “You fucking bitch! Put me back!” Traze screamed, launching himself at BJ’s mother the moment she came through the door.

  His small fists were flying at Bess before she grabbed them both in one hand, turned the boy around and gave him four solid whacks on his backside. When she was done, she turned him back around and stared into his tear-streaked eyes.

  “Since you refuse to learn in your own way, you will learn by mine. Now take yourself into the bathroom and clean yourself up. When you get back out here, you show some respect, or I will teach it to you my way,” Bess warned, then turned him towards the bathroom and swatted his bottom gently until he started walking towards it.

  Traze was halfway to the bathroom door when he turned towards Bess.

  “I hate you!” he screamed then ran into the bathroom and slammed the door shut.

  “Is this really necessary?” the middle-aged Grai asked Bess as he looked towards the bathroom with concern.

  Bess turned angry eyes to Grai.

  “If you want what is best for that boy, you will leave him to me.”

  “I know he can be impulsive and piss people off, but I think you’re taking this too far. Maybe you can just send him back to the ship,” Grai suggested, trying to find a happy medium and spare his brother the humiliation.

  “There is much he needs to learn and not much time to learn it. Do not interfere,” Bess warned then stormed off to the bathroom.

  Grai was getting ready to follow when Rolantro’s hand stopped him.

  “Leave him to Bess,” Rolantro warned, his glamour unable to hide his swirling blue eyes.

  “Why?” Grai asked in exasperation. “Why does she dislike him so much?”

  “She likes him enough to skirt our laws to save him. The only soul meant to be kept this weekend is your brother’s,” Rolantro warned.

  The blood completely drained from Grai’s face, and Nik gasped in shock, turning to the demigod.

  “What?” Grai asked hoarsely. “You said no souls were meant to be taken!”

  “No military souls. Your brother will die here if Bess cannot get through to him,” Rolantro said. “So to say she dislikes him is incorrect; she is risking much to save him.”

  “How is he supposed to die?” Grai growled in fear.

  “Though Bess chooses to tempt punishment with her actions, I cannot. His fate rests in his own hands; his only hope is Bess,” Rolantro explained.

  “I want him on the ship then. Now! I want him out of here. I’ll send him back to Dillon,” Grai replied, trying to think of the fastest way to get Traze away from there.

  “You can’t stop it. He’d only die in your ship, or when he landed, or any number of other ways. The only one who can stop it is Traze. Bess is trying to help him,” Rolantro explained.

  “I don’t understand . . . how can it happen if he’s locked up at home?” Grai asked, shaking his head and still determined to get his brother out of Baker’s Creek.

  “It is he who is choosing the path. It is he who must stop it. His reckless and disrespectful behavior has far-reaching ramifications. It is this refusal to accept responsibility for his own actions that will cause his death,” Rolantro explained.

  When he saw that he still wasn’t getting through to Grai, he we
nt further.

  “If he stays here, he could lose control and accidently kill someone, setting off a chain of events that would see him shot and killed. If you send him away, he could do something reckless in a fit of anger that causes the ship to crash. He is running towards death with his actions, and Bess is trying to help him find the brakes,” Rolantro said, seeing the dawning understanding in Grai’s eyes.

  Grai looked towards the bathroom where Traze was now standing outside of it while Bess dried his tears. It reminded him so much of the times he’d done the same for his brother when he was a child that he almost choked on the need to hug the little boy to him and protect him.

  “If anyone can reach him, it is Bess,” Rolantro assured Grai as he put a comforting hand on his shoulder.

  “Don’t take him,” Grai choked out.

  “We don’t want to, which is why we’ve allowed Bess to skirt our laws and her obligations. But she can only go so far; your brother needs to meet her halfway. Give her some time,” the elder demigod said.

  Grai saw the little boy that was his brother nod his head at Bess before he reached up a small hand and placed it in hers. She smiled broadly at him as she led him into the kitchen.

  “What is she trying to do? How can she help?” Grai asked, desperate to save his brother.

  “She will give him back that which he has lost,” Rolantro replied.

  “What has he lost?” Grai asked, at a loss what the demigod meant.

  “The destiny he is meant to fulfill is bigger than the problems he’s facing within himself. I cannot say anything more, but I hope that Bess is successful,” Rolantro said with a tone of finality.

  Grai looked as if to speak, but closed his mouth and went into the kitchen after his brother.

  “We shall wait until they are settled at the station then discuss the plan for the evening. Make yourselves comfortable,” Rolantro called out to those gathered.

  Blade and Disc went into the kitchen to check on Grai while Nik continued to stare out of the window even though he’d lost sight of BJ a while ago.

  “You approve of your glamour?” Rolantro said from right beside Nik.

  Nik was a little startled at the man’s sudden appearance beside him but shook it off quickly.

  “Yes, it’s fine. Thank you,” Nik said, truly grateful they’d finally let him off the ship.

  “I know you fear for her. There is no reason. She will leave the moment we put them to sleep for their mental readjustment and not return until before we allow them to awaken. Use the time with her wisely; you will only have this one chance to repair the disaster you made of your first impression,” Rolantro warned then turned to walk away.

  “Wait, does that mean I can spend some time with her?” Nik asked, his hope rising.

  Rolantro laughed.

  “I would think you need to ask her that,” he said and chuckled as he walked into the kitchen.

  “Well, hell, when are you putting them to sleep?” Nik asked the now-empty room.

  A thread of excitement coursed through him as he headed into the kitchen to find out when the readjustment would begin so he could ask BJ on a date. He had no idea what he was going to do on the date or even where they would go, but he was too thrilled with the chance to care.

  “Yeah, asshole. Too bad you had to fuck this all up first, only to end up at the beginning again,” Targe complained in his mind.

  “Shut up and help me figure something out,” Nik growled back at his beast.

  *****

  BJ was tired after helping the military string fishing line with cans around the wooded perimeter of the station. Although Kyle and Greg had a private meeting with their men earlier, she could see their disbelief as they mocked the preparations being made for the evening.

  Won’t be so cocky in a little while, she thought with a grin.

  It was hard to believe they were brutal killers and torturers of her people as she watched their jovial banter and the innocent smiles. Though she knew the events of the evening could change from what she and Mojo had seen, she knew the men would never be the same again when it was all over.

  They deserve the wake-up call that’s coming, she thought as she sat back down at her desk and propped her feet on the desk.

  “So, what are your plans for this evening?” Nik whispered through her mind.

  BJ almost laughed at the question since it was pretty obvious what she’d be doing.

  “I get to babysit these fools,” BJ replied, a small smile playing across her face that he was still watching them.

  It hadn’t taken her long to figure out that he was waiting until he knew she wasn’t busy to talk to her. The only way he’d know that was if he’d been watching her the whole time. It was really sweet that he was so concerned for her.

  “Rolantro didn’t tell you?” Nik asked, wondering why he’d been told hours ago and BJ hadn’t been told at all.

  “I know only the basics. The details are up to Rolantro. What do you know?” BJ asked, frustrated that she’d been forgotten about.

  “He said you’re leaving there the moment those men are put to sleep and will come back before they’re awakened. No one told you?” Nik asked, incredulous they’d left her out of the loop.

  “Yeah, that’s new, but I’m sure my mom would have told me. Mojo says she’s riding Traze pretty hard right now,” BJ said, sympathy for the man-child oozing through her energy.

  “Yeah, from what Rolantro says, she’s his last hope,” Nik said.

  “He’ll be OK. Momma won’t give up on him or let him give up on himself,” BJ assured him. She could tell Nik really liked Traze and felt his concern.

  “I hope you’re right,” Nik whispered, looking at the small boy Traze appeared to be.

  Nik had to admit Traze looked adorable with his feet barely hanging off the seat he was in as Bess stroked his bangs back from his face and handed him a cookie.

  “So what are they having you do tonight?” BJ asked him, hoping to find out more about the plans she’d been left out of.

  “I’m not doing anything. Rolantro said he only needed Blade and Disc. I think the rest of us are down here for peace of mind only,” Nik admitted, unwilling to tell her what Rolantro had said about fixing things with her.

  “There really isn’t anything you can do to help them. Blade and Disc’s abilities are the only reason they’re being used,” BJ explained, hoping Nik wasn’t offended about not being included.

  “I’m glad they don’t need me. I could use the night off,” he said with a chuckle. “Are there any other cool places like the grotto?”

  Nik felt the sweat pop out on his brow and knew it had nothing to do with the humidity and everything to do with his fear that’d she’d outright reject the chance to spend time with him. When she still hadn’t responded after a long pause, he was getting ready to brush it off when she finally spoke.

  “Yeah, we have a few other interesting places. I could draw you a map,” she suggested softly.

  Nik could feel the hesitancy in her reply and crossed his fingers that he wasn’t getting ready to blow it again.

  “If I was that good with maps, I wouldn’t have run right into you to begin with,” Nik said with a chuckle, praying she’d get the hint.

  His hopes soared when she laughed at him.

  “Yeah, I guess you’re right. If they don’t come up with something for me to do, I suppose I could at least get you started in the right direction,” BJ offered, hoping she wasn’t reading him wrong.

  The happiness she could feel exuding through his energy made her smile broadly.

  “I would love that,” Nik managed to say calmly, though he wanted to shout in excitement.

  “Have you even eaten yet?” BJ asked.

  She wasn’t really sure what else to talk about, but she was also unwilling to stop hearing his voice in her head just yet.

  He grows on you, she thought with a grin.

  “I grabbed something on the ship. You have an idea
of what they’re going to do tonight, don’t you?” Nik asked, figuring she had to know something if she’d tried to warn against doing it.

  “Yeah, I know the gist of it. Grai had it right, they’re going to show them what their future holds. I can’t imagine it will be good,” BJ admitted with a sigh.

  “Kind of like a scared straight kind of thing,” he prodded, wanting more details of why she’d be against it.

  “Sort of, only with mixed results,” she agreed.

  “Mixed? How?” Nik asked as he relaxed in a chair in the corner of the kitchen.

  “They’re human. Even Kyle is half human; they have free will and can choose their fate. Some will see the warning and change to become better people, others may see it as an excuse to live as lawlessly and evilly as they desire since they believe where they go is inevitable,” BJ explained, wondering which-if any-of the men in the room with her would be the latter.

  “Damn, I didn’t consider that. Can’t the demigods tell which ones will go bad?” Nik didn’t want to think about dealing with them if they no longer feared their fate.

  “No, it’s all up to the humans and how they perceive what they saw in the days and weeks afterwards. I would bet my badge a few will retire though,” BJ said, looking at the ones she suspected would quit.

  “They’ll just replace them though,” Nik thought sadly, wishing there was an end in sight to their unknown war.

  “That may be true, but it’ll take time, and they won’t be coming after you so hard if they’re low on personnel,” BJ added, hoping it would make a difference.

  “This is them with low personnel,” Nik said with a grin. “We reduced them by half over the last several months when we thought they had Grai’s brother, Koda, held captive. It looks like they’ve only replaced half of the ones they lost.”

  “Wow,” BJ was impressed. “Then we need to see about making them lose half again.”

  “You really think this is going to work?” Nik asked, still doubting that any vision or dream would make the humans stop.

  “For some of them, yes. For all of them, no. But it’ll definitely get them out of here,” BJ admitted with a grin.

  “It could bring a swarm of military to your door too. What’s to stop them from becoming obsessed with this place the way they are with our people?” Nik still hadn’t heard anyone talk about a plan and had no idea how the demigods expected it to all work out.