The Secret of Site G_A Shifter Paranormal Romance

by Elvira Bathory

He held his hands up and gave a sheepish smile. “I was visiting family in New Mexico when I was told I needed to check out the scenery in Colorado so I decided to drive through on my way home. I guess I must have gotten turned around because I have discovered that I’m really quite lost. So, when I saw how bright the stars where shining here and the rolling hills covered in all of this green grass, I thought I would pull over and take a stroll, try to clear my head and regain my bearings. I didn’t see any no trespassing signs or anything that would warn me not to walk here. I apologize for stumbling upon whatever this place may be.”

  The men looked at each other again, as if gauging the truth of Adahy’s words, as the one who seemed to be in charge took a step forward. “I see. Well, you need to get back onto Interstate 80 and follow the signs to get you back to Oregon. Do you have a GPS in your car?”

  The centaur nodded, sensing Arabella’s anxiety. “I do! That is a great idea. I just need to input the directions into the GPS. I wonder why I didn’t think of that.”

  The military man chuckled as Adahy continued to back away. “Sometimes common sense eludes us when we are feeling anxious. We will let you off with a warning, sir, but please be on your way now.”

  Adahy nodded. “But of course! Thank you so much for helping me with my indecision.”

  The men did an about face and walked back the way they came, talking amongst themselves about how tourists were also showing up on their site without an inkling of what lay under their feet. Adahy waited until they were out of sight before walking toward the hill that his beautiful companion was hiding behind.

  “We need to get out of here now, Arabella. Before they decide to come back and check up on my story,” Adahy said as he pulled her small frame toward him.

  The mermaid nodded her head in agreement. “I had a terrible thought while you were talking to them. What if they let us escape from the facility? What if they are following us to our home, our families?”

  The centaur let her pull away from him in her desperation and released his magic, returning to the form he was most comfortable in. He held his hand out to her, waiting for her to stop her pacing and notice he was ready to go.

  Arabella stopped her pacing and looked at the beast standing next to her, fear flashing in her eyes as she took his hand. “If they chose to let us go so they can follow us home, they wouldn’t need to send people on expeditions anymore. They would have every paranormal creature at their fingertips!”

  Adahy helped her hoist herself onto his back, his voice so soft she almost didn’t hear him. “That would be catastrophic on so many levels. But, if you are right, love, that means we will need to be extra careful on our way home.”

  Chapter Eight

  As they made their way to the closest airport, Arabella was lost in thought about the military faction following them to their homes. “Adahy?”

  The centaur looked over his shoulder, “Yeah, Arabella?”

  She took a deep breath. “You never told me where you are from. I mean, the stories about centaurs have them living in forests, but they never pinpoint an actual location. Do you live far from Arcadia Beach?”

  Adahy smiled. “Not too far, actually. My family, my tribe, lives in the Clatsop State Forest, but you would never see us unless we wanted you to because we are really good at hiding. It’s why there are rumors stating that centaurs are extinct. We prefer it that way. The illusion of centaurs no longer existing keeps trouble at bay. Or, at least, it used to. I’m not sure what happened or how Site G found me, but somehow they did and now it’s up to me to warn everyone.”

  The centaur slowed to a trot, deep in thought. “But you know, I’ve been thinking about what you said before we left the grassy hills of Colorado. If the military faction really did let us go just so they could follow us back to our families, our homes, how can we be sure that we aren’t just leading them there? Is there a way to fool them into thinking they’ve found what they’re looking for?”

  The mermaid patted him on the shoulder. “Stop for a minute. Let me get down so that I can look you in the eyes when I tell you what I have to say.”

  Adahy came to a stop, feeling the weight shift as his passenger climbed off of his back. He watched as she made her way around to come to rest in front of him.

  Taking his face into her hands, she stood on her tiptoes, trying to make herself eye level with him. “I have an idea but it’s going to sound crazy. I just need you to stay quiet until I finish and then you can tell me what your opinion is.”

  The centaur nodded his head, letting the magic swirl around him so that he was standing on two legs and was able to lean his forehead against hers. “What is this crazy idea of yours, love, pray-tell?”

  Arabella kissed his forehead and took a deep breath. “I say we allow them to follow us home. Let our people show them why we keep ourselves hidden from the human world, but the only way this is going to work is if we get a message to our families ahead of time. And, lucky for us, it just so happens that I have a way to contact my parents.”

  She rubbed the tattoo on her right wrist. “Which helps with my people, at least, but we need to get a message to your tribe as well. Do you have a supernatural way of getting a hold of them?”

  Adahy sighed. “I do, but it hurts like hell so I don’t use it very often. However, this is an emergency so I’m willing to deal with the pain.”

  He gave her a mischievous grin, desire burning in his gaze. “Will you kiss it better when I’m done?”

  She giggled. “Of course I will. But, first, let’s get this message to our people so that we can return home.”

  Arabella watched as the bow and quiver on Adahy’s left shoulder began to shimmer. She saw his wince of pain as the light became brighter, causing her to cover her eyes for a brief moment. Arabella dropped her hands when she heard a voice that was deeper than Adahy’s.

  “Adahy, my boy! We have been worried sick! Where have you been?”

  The mermaid gaped at the see through vision before her. It was an older version of the centaur that had saved her; his hair was grey but he was just as tanned and well built. Arabella started to walk around the apparition in wonder.

  Adahy watched the mermaid for a few minutes before turning his attention back to the image before him. “I have been the guest of Site G for the last few months, Father. I have been trying to find a way out that entire time. It wasn’t until they brought a mermaid in that I was able to escape. I strongly believe that change was only because they were so preoccupied with a paranormal being they had never encountered before that they lost immediate interest in me. Whatever the reason, I was finally able to leave that place and I brought the mermaid with me.”

  Adahy’s father turned his ghostly gaze from his son to the mermaid standing slightly behind him. “So I see. I also see that you are in human form. Is there a reason for this, son?”

  The centaur gave a shrug, “To keep myself from being noticed mostly.”

  The older centaur continued to look at Arabella, curiosity flaring in his eyes. “Is that who I think it is, Adahy?”

  The mermaid stepped in front of Adahy, putting her hands on her hips as she addressed the older centaur. “You’ve seen me before?”

  The ghostly figure gave a regal nod. “Of course I have seen you before, my dear. I have a seat on the Paranormal Federation. Our families are rather close, Arabella.”

  The mermaid stared at the figure with her mouth open. Why don’t I remember meeting these people?

  The older centaur laughed as he watched his son step closer to the woman and place a hand on her shoulder in support. “My name is Xaxantos and I am king of the Malean Centaurs. Conway and I have been working together in search of you. How fantastic that I should find you with my son.”

  The figure turned his attention once more to his son. “Things must be dire for you to be using your tattoo to communicate with me. I know how much you dislike the sensation. What news are you wanting to share with me, Adahy?’

&nb
sp; The younger centaur grimaced. “Arabella and I have reason to believe the military faction allowed us to escape so they could follow us back to our families. We thought we would get word to you so you could prepare before we arrived home.”

  Xaxantos nodded his head. “That makes sense. If I were collecting humans and wanted to end the long search for them, that is something I would do. Where are you so I can send some of our warriors to escort you home?”

  Arabella sighed. “We are in Colorado on our way to the airport so we can catch a flight back to Oregon. Listen, I hate to cut this conversation short but I need to contact my people and give them the warning so they can prepare as well, and we need to work on getting tickets. The sooner we get back to our homes, the better.”

  Xaxantos nodded and turned his attention back to his son. “Do what you need to do. Contact me again once you have landed in Oregon. I will send some of our best warriors to meet you and escort you both back home.”

  Adahy looked at Arabella and smiled. “Yes, sir. Now we are going to have this conversation again with her family.”

  Arabella returned Adahy’s smile as she massaged the trident tattoo on her wrist. She was more than ready to return home.

  Chapter Nine

  The conversation with Arabella’s father was more strained than that of Adahy’s with his, but the two were able to convey the message that humans were coming to collect more of their people to experiment on. The mermaid couldn’t say that she was feeling especially warm and fuzzy about having to see her parents when she returned to her castle under the ocean, but she would be relieved to see her best friend again. And, her centaur hero would be by her side through all of it. Or, at least, that is what he promised her once they were standing inside the airport.

  Arabella watched as the humans ran to and fro, looking for their luggage or racing to the gate that held their flight. “Have you figured out how we are going to get on one of those things?”

  Adahy chuckled as he watched the humans with his companion. “The same way as the humans; buy a ticket and board the plane.”

  The mermaid wasn’t so sure it was going to be that easy. “How do these planes work again? How do you stay in the air without any working wings like the birds that fly?”

  The centaur stopped watching the humans milling around the large building they were in and turned to the woman at his side. “I don’t know all of the mechanics, love. I just know that a plane will get us where we need to go much faster than my four legs will. Besides, don’t you think it is best to blend in with the humans while the military is searching for us? At least, until we return home?”

  Arabella ducked her head, her white-blonde hair covering the left side of her face. “I suppose you’re right, but I have never flown before and I have to admit that I’m a bit terrified of heights.”

  Adahy laughed so hard the human couple that had been walking past them turned to stare. “I can’t say I’m surprised with that revelation. We are ground beings, love. Our feet were made to stay planted firmly on the Earth, but it is vital that we return to our home and save it from the destruction the humans have planned for it.”

  He pulled her into a tight hug. “I’ll be right by your side, Arabella. Nothing can tear me away from you now that I have found you.”

  She leaned her head against his chest, listening to the sound of his heartbeat as she sighed. “That eases my fear some, my brave centaur. Come, let’s go get these tickets and fly home.”

  The two made their way to the ticket booth, each lost in their thoughts of what their homecoming would be like. Adahy had meant every word he had uttered to his mermaid; he wasn’t planning on going anywhere. Centaurs mated for life and he remembered a story his father had told him when he was just a child. Xaxantos would sit him down late in the night while they looked up at the night sky and tell him of a time when all paranormal and mystical creatures roamed free, without fear of the humans hunting them down for research or sport. A childlike smile would grace Xaxantos’s lips when the story would continue to the part where he met his beloved, Plezeus. At the mention of Adahy’s mother, no matter how many times it was told to him, the young centaur would get excited waiting to hear how his parents had found each other. The story never grew old and the centaur remembered every word of it. His mother was long gone, taken in the great War Of The Tribes, but he could still picture her clearly.

  Arabella clutched her ticket until the paper began to wrinkle. “What was the gate number again, Adahy?”

  Pulling his mind back into the present he glanced down at his own ticket, “35, but the plane is leaving in ten minutes so we must hurry.”

  The two raced through the airport, arriving at the gate just as the passengers were boarding. Finding their seats, they settled in for their plane ride.

  The mermaid began to fidget next to him and Adahy cleared his throat. “Perhaps a story will help keep your mind off of the fact that we will be in the sky, love.”

  Arabella could feel the ice around her heart melt a little each time the centaur smiled at her, and she knew she had found the man she would be with forever. “I would love to hear a story, Adahy.”

  The centaur chuckled. “Let me tell you about the centaurs. Did you know that we believe there is one mate for each of us?”

  The mermaid shook her head. “I didn’t know that. Tell me why that is.”

  The stewardess spoke over the intercom system, interrupting their conversation. “Please bring your seats to their upright positions and buckle your seatbelts as we are about to take off. And, thank you for flying with Pegasus Airlines.”

  Arabella looked at the man sitting next to her. “What does she mean? What are seatbelts?”

  Adahy hid a smile as he reached over her lap, grasping the strap. “This is a seatbelt, and all you have to do is pull it around your waist like so and attach it here.”

  She watched in amazement as her companion demonstrated and when she heard the click she laughed in delight. Her fear of heights was temporarily forgotten as she gazed in wonder at the contraption binding her to the seat. When the plane left the tarmac, Arabella felt her stomach drop to her feet and she gripped the chair’s arms until her knuckles turned white.

  Her companion leaned closer and whispered in her ear, “Would you like to hear that story now?”

  The mermaid didn’t trust her voice so she simply nodded, looking to her centaur with fear in her eyes.

  Adahy ran his thumb over her cheek. “As I said before we were interrupted, centaurs choose one mate for life. My father would tell me stories when I was young about our history, but the story I loved hearing the most was how he met my mother. As I grew older, I wondered if there was someone out there for me. When I would ask my father, all he would tell me was that I would know if I found her.”

  Arabella was captivated by what her companion was telling her. She held her breath, not sure where he was going with this story of his. The mermaid reached up and stroked his cheek with the lightest touch, wanting to show him how grateful she was that he had whisked her away from the horrible facility that would have killed her just to get the answers they longed for.

  He leaned his face into her touch and cleared his throat. “I believe I have found my mate in you, Arabella. And, while it is not completely unheard of for different paranormal beings to pair up, I have never heard of them being together for all time. I don’t know how mermaids choose their mates, nor am I sure how you feel about me, but I know that I couldn’t live without you in my life. Do you think we can make a go of this?”

  Arabella was speechless. Her head was reeling with the centaur’s revelation and her heart felt ready to explode with the tenderness she felt toward him.

  Could we perform the mating ritual? Would we have to perform two just so that it was valid for both of our people? How do I explain all of this to Daddy? The mermaid’s thoughts seemed to trip over themselves as she reached a decision.

  Chapter Ten

  “Please bring your s
eats to their upright positions and make sure you are buckled. We will begin our descent into Portland, Oregon soon,” the stewardess said over the loudspeaker before Arabella could give Adahy an answer to his question.

  The mermaid had never laid her seat back or unbuckled her seatbelt so she had nothing to worry about. The centaur, though, had to buckle himself back in as he had unstrapped himself so he could turn to look the woman next to him in the eye. Adahy settled himself back into his seat and reattached the belt across his lap.

  Arabella glanced out the window she was sitting next to and yelped. The ground was coming up to meet the plane at a fast pace and she was afraid they were going to crash.

  Adahy reached over and pulled the mermaid close to him, holding tightly. “Don’t look out the window, love. It will only heighten your fears. We should be on the ground in about fifteen minutes, give or take, so think about what it will be like to be reunited with your family instead.”

  The mermaid buried her face in his side, so he could barely understand her response. “I suppose you’re right but I can’t wait to get off of this metal contraption.”

  When the plane started its descent to the ground, Arabella felt her stomach lurch to her feet once more and she gripped her companion’s arm tightly. When the plane bounced once as it initially touched the ground, she squeaked and buried her face further into Adahy’s side. He chuckled as he wrapped his other arm around her, pulling her as close as he could with the arm of the seat between them.

  When the plane came to a full stop, the stewardess’s voice once again sounded over the intercom. “We will be deboarding soon, so if you would remain in your seats until one of us reaches your section it would be greatly appreciated. This way we can be nice and orderly as we disembark from the plane. Once again, thank you for flying with Pegasus Airlines.”

  Arabella sat up and had a look around. She saw people at the front of the plane moving toward the exit and watched as the stewardesses moved between the rows, helping those in need of it. Once they were given the okay to disembark, the two made their way slowly to the front of the plane, ready to be on the ground once more.