by Angela White
“Are we going in the house?” Edward asked as they got set to go.
Mentally snickering, Alexa asked, “Is it something we need?”
Edward wasn’t sure and he didn’t lie. “I don’t know. It has a…”
Alexa concentrated and caught the vibe he was centered on. “Safe Haven. They’ve been here.”
Edward was glad to have that feeling confirmed. It was faint enough to be doubted.
Alexa led them into the main yard of the house, counting windows and floors to judge the size and possible threats inside. From the wild appearance, they could probably assume it was empty, but she would never let them treat it that way. To do so might get them killed later by carelessness.
The home was large. Seven windows with bars over them lined the front of the ranch home, and that same well-covering ivy had grown over top of everything, including water-stained birdbaths and garden gnomes. The landscaping implied the people who’d called this home, preferred flyers, and all of them flashed back to the last town.
Edward and Jacob did a quick scan of their rear and then above them for an ambush.
“Two to the door, two up high,” she ordered, getting set to fight. She had noticed that the undamaged front door actually had large and deep gouges in it, as if something had tried to get inside. That was contrary to the deserted feel and the coolness of being ready for battle fell over her mind.
Alexa’s serious attitude told the men what was expected and they hurried into the house like a team of professionals, efficiently clearing each room.
The inside of the home was basic and bare. The walls were stripped, leaving only dust squares, and even the lampshades were gone. Empty curtain rods, no wooden furniture except what couldn’t be ripped out to burn for warmth, and lack of carpeting said the residents had tried very hard to live here. Alexa was sure they would discover fire cans and ash dumps if they searched hard enough. These people had used everything they had to keep warm. “Things got bad that first winter,” Alexa murmured, remembering. “The winter took a heavy toll.”
She moved them on before depressing thoughts and memories could distract them all.
They went through half a dozen dusty, neglected bedrooms before they moved down the cold halls, feeling like they were in a disease outbreak movie when it ended in a main room with a huge bed full of gray lumps. As they neared the warped bed, they realized it was a pile of bones, though the skeletons were much bigger than what they were used to.
Alexa paused as flashes of the past burst into horrifying detail in front of her. She could hear the screams, could see the bleeding Wildman that she assumed was their protector. She could smell the blood as they tried to tend the huge man’s wounds and defend their home.
Alexa came back with a small jerk and looked around, mind automatically comparing it to what she had just witnessed.
Plastic and sheets of metal were over the widows in this room, and over the vents, with caulking and brittle tape over baseboards and cracks in walls. Appliances had been pulled around half the bed to form a barrier and baskets of long-molded corn sat at the foot of it.
“Did they try to burn the corn for heat?” Jacob asked, confused.
Alexa didn’t answer. Neither of her theories were pleasant, but if she had to pick one, she would say it was intentional. They’d chosen to die of poisoning instead of starvation or freezing.
Alexa spotted scat and narrowed in on its condition to determine age. With the house shut up, it could have been months or years, despite the bodies being skeletons and she wasn’t able to determine a timeframe.
Alexa pointed to the plastic curtains, and Edward and Mark rushed through them with guns out.
“Clear here,” Mark called, wrinkling his nose at the strong odor of rotten corn.
Alexa took a quick scan of the kitchen. The kitchen wasn’t very large, but it felt that way by how empty it was. No table and chairs, no cabinets left on the walls, and dusty squares proclaimed that life had fled from this place. The floor did sport a rug- a shabby, circle carpet of only a few feet in size. It had faded as if left in the sun and sat there glaring dingily. Even the walls were hostile, carrying scrapes and gouges, and holes that had been filled with what smelled like toothpaste.
“They tried so hard,” she murmured. “We’ll honor that by not burning this too.”
She narrowed in on the floor and sole surviving rug. “What’s down there?”
The trap door was almost hidden under the shabby rug that made a loud ripping noise when they tore it up. The carpet, like many other house items, had molded to the floor.
“A tunnel,” Edward said, dangling down by his big arms. Mark had a strong grip on him and Alexa allowed herself a moment’s enjoyment of her men. They were beautiful to watch in action.
“Describe it,” Alexa stated, eyeing the empty counter.
“Used to be a sewer or maybe a storm drain. There’s an old rope-n-ladder set, but the rope’s pretty frayed. Can’t see much beyond piles of bones and a stack of crates that I wouldn’t put a feather on.”
“Water? Wildlife?” Alexa led, body flashing need that bled through her tones.
“No, to both. Doesn’t even look damp for being a tunnel. You want me to drop down and scout it out?”
“No,” Alexa answered, feeling the temperature in the room rising. “I have other duties for you.”
Both males felt her warm regard and moved her way without waiting for the invitation. What she wanted was clear and they were willing. It was something each man had already considered and decided he could tolerate or better.
Alexa tugged the plastic back over the doorway, and Daniel grinned as he realized what was going on. Her moments of need usually came at night when they were camped, but it wouldn’t be the first time that she’d stolen a moment during the day. He signaled to Jacob and the males left the house, both slightly jealous.
Outside, David and Billy took the news the same way-amused and the tiniest bit jealous.
Inside the kitchen, Alexa swiped a hand across the counter that she assumed had held large boxes from the shape of the dust prints. “It will be a while before I can do this again,” she said gently, other hand going to the buttons of her cloak. “Lock that door back...”
The males did as they were told, then stared at the woman opening her shirt.
Alexa slid onto the counter with a low groan, and leaned back. Breasts spilling from the top of her bra, pants down around her ankles, she slid a hand between her legs. “If you outlast me, I’ll bend over.”
It was a challenge that both men were eager to take her up on, and they tried to keep their hands still as she moaned again and sent lust into their minds.
Outside, there was silence as the guards and the guest tried to hear what was going on inside that kitchen. Even the corn was suddenly quieter and it was easy to become distracted.
Billy realized that and caught Daniel’s attention. “Up high?”
Daniel was glad for the excuse to stop thinking about it. He was so hard he could barely walk. “Good idea. One roof, one tree?”
The two men settled it and then left the three rookies there to suffer through the torture of listening and not reacting. It wasn’t as if they could sneak off and take care of it and the two top men out here had already experienced that hell. Making camp that night had been greatly anticipated, with early goodnights given.
David and Jacob were tormented, especially the blacksmith who hadn’t been used yet. Jacob hadn’t been touched again since his joining ceremony, but at least he had the memory. It was rough on him and the woman-loving blacksmith. For Paul, it was demoralizing. He believed it was also intentional. Alexa was showing him that she didn’t want the future he could provide, that these wild men were what pleased her.
Back inside the kitchen, things were nearing the peak. Alexa’s groans and gasps were a perfect torment to the hurting, sweating males who still hadn’t touched themselves, and she opened her legs wide as the climax burst t
hrough her.
Edward went first, remembering to back away at the final moment and Mark took his place with a cry of devotion that echoed to those outside. Mark took advantage of the moment and stroked his rough hands down her long braids, skin tingling. He tangled his hands in them and lowered his mouth to hers eagerly.
Alexa twitched in satisfaction as Mark pounded, fighting the urge to hold him close as he too backed away. It was a woman’s duty to accept that offering and nourish it.
The trio recovered without speaking, dressing and sharing glowing stares of contentment. They weren’t bound by the old rules and had no one to hide from, so there was no shame to ruin the moment. They emerged happy and ready to continue on their quest.
Alexa took the lead with a rare smile at the waiting males and the feeling of her pleasure was a balm to the small jealousy that remained. Mark and Edward had pleased her and that was good. Too often they all felt like she was disappointed in them and it was a relief to have a few moments free of that heavy weight.
Mark felt a bit differently about the moment. He’d felt Alexa’s pause, that brief instant where she’d almost pulled him deeper instead of wasting his seed. It had made his heart thump and his mind race. What would a child with Alexa be like? He’d never had that happy family life that some of the other cons had talked about incessantly. He’d never missed it either. Until now. A life with Alexa was wonderful. It was why he was here. He’d never been more alive, more useful, more deadly, but to have the dream that had been stolen from him was an impossible world that he tried not to spend much time dwelling on. That was his old life. Now, there was only the quest and these stolen moments. It would have to be enough.
Alexa was aware of Mark’s slight discontent, but didn’t do anything about it except send him to set fire to the storeroom. Facing this world, these new ways of living, was hard for all of them. The convict would do his duty and then some, and be happy with it all in the end. Alexa planned to handle the futures of all of her men when this quest was finished. It was what they deserved if they survived-a life of love with a deserving female chosen from Safe Haven’s loyal herd. What more could a man ask for?
3
“Those bones were big,” Paul commented a while later, finally emerging from his sulking. He’d chosen to view the kitchen moment as proof that she needed to be serviced by one of her own kind. She hadn’t needed a nap or even a rest after being with both men. They weren’t enough to satisfy a woman like her.
“They were giants,” Alexa told them, motioning Edward to drop back and cover their rear. “Would you hear the story?”
She was clearly in a good mood and Daniel spoke up quickly, “Yes.”
Alexa began to roll a smoke, slowing them a bit to keep from spilling or being too distracted to still scan the endless corn. “Giants prefer the cold. They stay in the mountains as much as they can. With their rocky skin and hulking forms, they blend rather well despite being so large.”
“You’re talking like they exist,” Paul observed.
Alexa adjusted their path to the north by a bit. “When I was little I stayed in the mountains for a year and learned how to survive there. Giants were great training tools.”
Not sure if they quite believed it, no one spoke and Alexa added, “Honestly, my pets. Giants are the bigfoots of old world legends. They’re no mystery, simply a race that prefers to be left completely alone. They don’t even usually stay with a mate for more than a few years. It’s rare to have an entire family down here. Very curious.”
Now there were plenty of questions.
“So they were real giants?”
“Why didn’t we take any of the dust from them?” Billy asked respectfully. He had been expecting it.
“There’s no demand,” Alexa explained, motioning for them to eat while they walked. “People are still like Paul. They don’t believe giants exist.”
“Does the dust have power?” Billy wanted to know.
“Oh, yes, very much so, but not the good kind. Much like trolls, giants are a cursed species. Their ashes can be used for all sorts of dark spells that such as us will never have contact with.”
It was a relief to hear.
“What could have killed a giant? Besides us, I mean,” Jacob asked arrogantly.
“Didn’t you smell the corn?” Mark spoke up on that. He’d brewed enough homemade alcohol in his day to know that answer. “Fumes are deadly.”
“They die easily,” Alexa informed them gravely. “As does anything else when you know its weakness. Giants are large and rough, but they’re also primitive and slow. Another thing that makes this family unique.”
“Do you have a theory?” Billy asked. He did and wanted to compare.
“They were too different,” Alexa answered promptly. “They were probably forced out by their own kind for being too advanced.”
Distracted by his disbelief, Paul started to argue and forgot to be careful. An old watering trough sticking from a pile of moldy stalks caught his boot as he tried to step over it instead of going around. He fell forward onto the pile of rotting wood, sending noise through the peace.
Alexa sighed, still warm and tingling, and ignored it instead of handing out a punishment. The fire from the storage room would attract a lot of attention anyway. Paul’s clumsiness wouldn’t get them killed right now. Time would only tell about later.
“No guns,” Alexa reminded her men.
The enemy knew they were here from her shot at the corpse child, and the fire would narrow their location, but they wouldn’t know exactly where her group was by the time someone tracked it down.
The fighters double-checked to be sure they weren’t adding any noise, and Edward reluctantly dropped to where Paul was and helped him do the same. Despite his good mood, he still loathed being saddled with the scientist and part of the reason why was having to do this. He’d checked, repacked and tightened everything Paul had, but half of it was loose again from where the man had gotten into things and not repacked it correctly. He’d done it by the book for Alexa, though he hadn’t sealed the pouches correctly, which meant he could have taken care of his own gear the same way, but didn’t care enough to.
Paul did as he was shown without speaking, not even to say thanks. He was still stinging in places from his falls and from the blows he’d taken. He was ready for Alexa to call it a night so that he could cry himself to sleep.
Angered by the thought, Alexa glared at him over her shoulder and then switched into a full run.
Not sure what had flipped her into anger, only sure who had caused it, Paul was forced to endure the nasty attitude from the others as they shoved by him to catch up.
Paul realized he hadn’t been shielding his thoughts and groaned, “Why can’t I get it right?!”
Edward shoved the scientist into position and started slapping him on the back to keep him running.
Chapter Two
Evening One
1
The day was hot and sweaty for the group, no breeze to be had except for the one made in passing, and every man there was glad when Alexa finally stopped running hours later. It had been especially hard on Edward, who had once again scooped Paul over his shoulder to keep from being left behind.
Alexa led them toward the only tree they could see in any direction. The large cottonwood was wide, moldy, and light on orange leaves, but still surviving.
Edward dumped the drowsing scientist on the ground and moved to a guarding position that was as far away from Paul as he could get. The smells of neglect were rank.
“That hurt!” Paul whined lowly.
He was ignored.
“We’ve made too much noise to go further without paying for our mistakes,” Alexa stated. “We’ll make an early camp and be on our way before dawn.”
Paul wisely kept his mouth shut about the early rising, but he couldn’t stop the more pressing worry. “We’re sleeping here? Not in a barn or something?”
Edward scowled across their small
area. “Shut up.”
“But I’ll be in the bathroom area in the tent again!” Paul argued anyway. “I get pissed on there!”
Alexa knelt down by Paul’s feet and used her knife to scrape away the thick, stinking layers of moldy tassels beneath the topsoil. Under it was a layer of squirming, crawling, fleeing insects and spiders that sent Paul leaping back in disgust.
“Uugg!”
“You can sleep outside if you prefer,” Alexa told him, recovering the queasy mess of bugs.
Paul was pale except for two furious red cheeks, and Alexa gestured toward the clear area next to where her men knew she wanted their tent erected. “There’s room for your own tent, Paul. We made sure you have one. If you insist on being with us, you’ll tough it out in whatever way you can.”
Paul dropped his head and the other men shook theirs. What was he doing out here, with them?
Alexa motioned to the spot beneath the tree and her two rookies hurried to get things set up. It was rare that Alexa called it a day before the sun sank and both men hoped she might spend some of that free time with them, talking. There were a million things they wanted to know, but questioning her wasn’t something they could do openly without a punishment now that the Rabbit had come and destroyed Alexa’s patience. But, they could lead him into asking and maybe still get the answers they wanted.
“I’ll be back. Stay here.”
Mark went with Alexa anyway, being careful not to get in her way when she began a round of the area. He trailed her softly, listening to the wind moan through the nasty stalks that surrounded them. This place is bad news, he thought.
“Yes, it is,” Alexa agreed. “And we’re only at the edge. Deeper, it’ll be much worse.”
Mark didn’t doubt that. From the blackened vegetation, to the huge insects they’d been crunching under their boots all morning, there was nothing that indicated any improvement was coming. Mark pushed that away for the moment.
“I’d like to talk to you about something that’s bothering me. Is there a time when we can have a few minutes?”