Unnaturals

by Dean J. Anderson

  Scarla's shattered face burnt into her eyes. She was no more than a girl, broken. They would kill them both.

  `Shit — she's resisting!' Strong hands covered her mouth. Fingers forced a mixture of cloth and what felt like hair into her mouth.

  She couldn't breathe. Panic filled her. She couldn't move. Her body refused to obey. She was trapped.

  `Mason!'

  His face burnt into her mind as cold slapped her unconscious.

  Mason spasmed. He felt Ruth. He felt pain. Fear.

  `Ruth.' His gut churned. They had her. She was hurt.

  Renee grabbed his arm. `She called to you.'

  Wilson shook him `Dad?'

  Mason felt numb. Or was it Ruth who'd felt numb? Had she been drugged? The sensation faded. He was sitting in the ATV. Ruth was somewhere cold and dark.

  `She's hurt, unconscious,' he said, analysing what he had heard and felt. `They've drugged her.' Bitterness lingered in his mouth. `She was on something cold. Hard, like steel.'

  `A van.' Renee squeezed his arm. `I could smell fuel, rubber and blood. Someone else was with her. She must be in a van. It makes sense.'

  `You got all that from Mum?'

  `Yes,' Mason and Reneed said in unison.

  `They're connected, Wilson,' Nikki said, hands clasped over her stomach. `Pathing is strong in Hunters. But, it must be growing in Ruth. It comes in times of great danger to some.'

  `A survival gift,' Mason said, looking south. They'd travelled south, he was sure of it. He could track them as Hunter. He had Renee, together they could find her.

  A comms monitor chimed and came to life on the ATV's complex dash.

  `That's Max.' Wilson didn't look at the monitor, watching him instead. `He thinks you're dead.'

  Mason snapped away from Hunter's murmurings. `The emergency beacon?'

  `Yes. Can you really feel Mum?'

  `Mason,' Max grinned at him from the monitor. `You're alive.'

  `They took Ruth, Max.' Four words he had never wanted to say, knowing the pain they would trigger.

  `Understood, sir,' Max moved closer to the screen. `I need a report, fast. Injuries?'

  `We're fine,' Wilson said, as Mason tried to feel for Ruth again. He needed to hear her. `There are six of us on board and we think they went south. Apparently they can teleport as well, but only short distances.'

  `You connected to SATCOM yet?'

  Wilson pressed a touch screen and it powered up. Mason strained. He felt something. South. Definitely to the south.

  `Sweep the area to the south, Max. Pull every satellite we have. Don't care about protocols, just do it.' Mason paid attention to the screens in front of him. The ATV had been built for combat.

  `SATCOM is live and sweeping the area in ten kilometre sections now. There!'

  Mason saw the swirl of energy blurring the SATCOM image. The day they'd realised the flawed images often indicated Unnatural energy was the day they started learning how to track Bloodells. `Got it. They must have a rendezvous, to regroup.'

  `It's right beside the main highway,' Max glanced off screen as Mason studied the map, remembering the spot. `We've got chatter on emergency channels already. The attack on your home is known and there's been a major incident on the highway.'

  Mason nodded as the image moved in to show trucks and cars scattered across the highway. `Move, Wilson. Get this thing underway.' He knew what to do, how to track the Bloodells.

  The ATV surged forward. `They've got a good lead on us. It'll be hard to make up time.'

  `Confirming that a white van was seen leaving the site of that accident. Police have a description of it. It has to be them,' Max said looking back. `I can continue to track it by hacking into state and federal systems.'

  `Do it. If they're smart they will jump every chance they get. It won't be easy.'

  `Mason, any idea why they took Ruth?'

  Mason sat back. He heard Lilly move behind him, and reminded himself this wasn't her fault.

  `Mason?' Max waited for an answer. Wilson wheeled the ATV out onto the bitumen road. Silent.

  `They came for me,' Lilly said, leaning past Mason so the camera mounted in the cabin would pick her up. `They — my mother came for me.'

  `And who the hell are you?' Max peered into the screen. Finally, he sat back. `Ruth's a hostage then. They'll want to trade.'

  `Lilly,' Mason said softly, `is with us, Max, and there will be no trade. Bloodells don't bargain. They will use Ruth to get to me, and to Lilly.'

  `This isn't like Bloodells,' Max shook his head. `Something bigger is going on.'

  `I agree, but they don't know about us.' Mason glanced at Lilly, her face streaked with tears. `By engaging in open combat, the Bloodells must believe they have the upper hand. Whatever triggered this must be happening soon.'

  `Makes sense, kind of.'

  Mason glanced around the cab. Sally stared at Lilly. The ATV was moving fast but he trusted Wilson. Would they trust him?

  `Syrus, you ready to jump?'

  `Yes, Sire.'

  `What?' Nikki grabbed his shoulder. `Are you mad?'

  `No, Magi, he is not. It will work.' Syrus fell silent. Mason waited for Wilson.

  `You can do it, Dad?' Wilson didn't look away from the road but Mason could see he was unsure.

  `If we lose the van—'

  `Do it!' Wilson gunned the ATV past a slower car. `We've got to get Mum back.'

  `Oh, shit,' Nikki muttered.

  `Jump?' Max asked, frowning into the screen. `ATV and all?'

  `About to find out.' Mason stared at the image before him, seeking out the energy he'd used last time.

  `Sally, sit back and breathe,' Wilson said. `It will be cold and will hurt for a second, but you will be safe.'

  `You are its master. Call the gift.' Renee was confident. Relaxed.

  `I feel it.'

  `You're serious, aren't you?' Sally's voice quivered.

  `It's how we all came here. Mason brought us using his gift,' Lilly said, sounding as confident as Renee. `We will be safe.'

  `Oh god,' Sally whispered, then quiet filled the ATV.

  Energy crept up through Mason; a clear picture of the area locked into his mind.

  There. Go.

  It came. Cold energy rushed forth and the road before him vanished.

  Scarla clung to consciousness, determined. Her body struggled to heal, but she hadn't fed for so long she had little in reserve. She gritted her teeth, forcing her body to keep healing. She had to be ready.

  She must not fail again. Ruth needed her. She needed Ruth to live. She stifled a groan of agony as she edged across the floor of the van, closer to Ruth. If only she could move her arms, but other more vital organs required healing first. She lay still. Resting. Healing. Listening.

  `Don't draw any more attention to us, Yani!'

  `Yes, Priestess. Whatever you say, Priestess.'

  `Don't be a smartarse. Slow down!'

  `If you wish.'

  She felt the van slow and released her grip long enough to test her finger movement. Healing was slow.

  `Listen, you arrogant Roman prick, I will not tolerate your disobedience. Follow the plan, stick to the road, try to blend in.'

  `We have his wife, Michelle, there's no chance of us blending in anymore.'

  Scarla almost smiled at the sound her Mistress made at Yani.

  `Listen, whatever happened in the past doesn't give you the right to be familiar with me, ever again. Besides, they won't be able to track us. I will jump again shortly.'

  `So, the fact the boy has a gift is not of concern, then? You saw it. He has the fire in him.'

  `That was unexpected, but it matters not.'

  Scarla twitched, surprised to hear the flicker of fear in her Mistress's voice.

  `Perhaps,' Yani said, keeping his voice low. `But nothing went to plan, Priestess. The Darkells' Magi was with child, and she was stronger than ever before.'

  `You doubted my skill? Yet I live, and she is no mor
e.'

  `Just saying, everything felt wrong back there,' he said calmly. `The clans in London paid highly for their misjudgement of him.'

  `Do I detect fear in the mighty Yani?' she teased, dashing Scarla's hopes that they would fight.

  `Things might have gone astray back there but we have Butcher's wife. He will follow and bring Lilith with him. It has worked out better than expected. We will kill him and his whores and I will get my daughter back.'

  Scarla's hand curled into a fist. Good, her limbs were healing. She didn't move again.

  `Back there. At the house. Did you feel anything?'

  Scarla tensed; Yani rarely sounded so nervous.

  `You speak in riddles,' Michelle said, sounding calmer. `Age has begun to cloud your mind.'

  `Priestess, I was old when Agnes' sisters brought you to me to be trained. When Agnes was slain, I felt fear then. She was more powerful than any before her, yet she still perished. Before Agnes, in the great wars, I felt fear without truly knowing its source. Today, it was the same.'

  `You're serious?'

  Scarla cursed inwardly, afraid Yani's fear would undo her surprise.

  `We did not see him there today, but still our mercenaries all failed. None of the men survived either,' Yani said. `Butcher has killed many of us, but never in a mass conflict like today. Before, he always fought at his choosing. Today we had the advantage. Yet we two are all who are left.'

  `You're really going to waste your effort thinking on this? Tomorrow it will matter not.'

  Scarla held her breath.

  `Caution is all that I am suggesting, Priestess. Once we reach our reinforcements I will be happier. But you must be hungry, too?'

  `Jumping burns so much energy. But it is necessary.'

  Oxygen filled Scarla's lungs completely again. Her own hunger was a powerful distraction, but she pushed it away.

  `You should feed,' Yani said, and Scarla felt the van slow. `It is too dangerous for you not to.'

  `When we reach the others, Yani. I don't want any more attention drawn to us in broad daylight.'

  Scarla heard fatigue in her voice. Good.

  `You need to, otherwise you will burn out. Jumping is a dangerous gift when borrowed from another.'

  `It is still strong in me, Yani. Bemeon's gift has not fled me.'

  `Perhaps.'

  Scarla forced herself to breathe as the van came to a stop. It was too soon for her to act.

  `But you need to feed, Priestess. Like it or not, I'm right.'

  `Just be careful, Yani.'

  `Always. Be ready.'

  Scarla unclenched her hand as Yani got out of the van. She had to wait, stay unnoticed and accept that the time was not right to act. If she was going to die, it would be while freeing Ruth.

  Trees exploded into view in front of Wilson.

  `Brace!' he yelled, wheeling the ATV hard to the right. `We're in the bloody trees, Dad.'

  `So I see.'

  Wilson gritted his teeth as the ATV shuddered, ploughing through the bushland. He couldn't see the highway. How far off were they? A muffled scream came from the back seat. Sally?

  `Beside us!' Nikki yelled and Wilson saw the flashing lights. They had jumped into the bushland right beside the highway.

  Wilson cleared the trees as they raced along beside a highway full of stationary cars.

  `Mason.' Renee pointed across them and Wilson caught a glimpse of a camera crew.

  `Damn!' Mason grabbed a monitor. `There goes our cover.'

  `Watercourse, Master Wilson.' Syrus's usually calm voice rose suddenly over the roar of the ATV.

  `We can't get onto the highway without causing casualties.' He scanned the monitors. The bridge was full of cars and the creek too wide to jump.

  `Keep her straight, Wil, and don't back off.'

  He glanced at his father, eyes fixed ahead, hand clamped flat on the dash.

  `Jesus, Dad, no!' Cold cut his protest off and he tensed, waiting for the chaos. Bright orange replaced the trees. They landed clear of the creek but stacks of shipping containers blocked their way.

  `Wilson!'

  He reacted. `Mini cannon armed, Syrus.' Trigger mechanisms flicked out of the side of the control joysticks. `Brace.'

  He fired, sending thousands of rounds into shipping containers seconds before the ATV hit. Orange shrapnel flew through the air like paper as they slammed through the first container. He released the firing triggers.

  `Christ!' Mason lurched forward as the ATV tore through the shipping container into the holding yard.

  Wilson manoeuvred the big vehicle around the containers, heading back to the highway.

  `Goddess, what are they?' Renee pointed at the shapes blocking the exit.

  `Concrete dividers.' He cursed, glancing at the monitors. No sign of life showing on the other side of the dividers. For the moment the highway was clear.

  `We can't risk punching through them, Wil,' Mason said.

  `I've got it. We'll see what a couple of rockets can do.' Wilson flicked safety covers off red buttons on the side of the control joysticks. `Always wanted to use these.' Two dull pops sounded over the motor. A flash and the concrete dividers exploded.

  `Awesome!' Renee sounded jubilant. `Can I get one of these?'

  `No!' Nikki yelled from behind him as the ATV shot onto the highway. `Shit, I'm gunna be sick.'

  `Sick bags are above you, on the roof,' Wilson said not looking away from the road. Excitement mixed with his concern for his mother.

  `Head south. Make a hole in the traffic if you have to,' Mason muttered beside him. A soft sob came from the back. It could only be Sally.

  The comms monitor flared back to life. `Jesus Christ, Mason!' Max reappeared. `How did you get yourselves on a live news stream?'

  `They were onsite at the accident when we—' Mason glanced at him and Wilson shrugged. Might as well call it what it was. `When we jumped there.'

  `Right, where are you now?'

  `Heading south, leaving Fitzroy in about five minutes then we'll jump again. You got a location on the van?'

  Wilson bullied his way through the afternoon traffic, unforgiving as he pushed cars out of the way. He let Mason talk. Sally's soft noises played on him. He wanted to hold her.

  `Just passed through Mount Vale minutes ago, about fifty kilometres ahead of you.'

  Mason half-growled and Wilson checked to make sure it was still his father in the ATV, not Hunter.

  `And all this shit has just gone viral,' Max snapped as he touched the screen. `Live news and I've got some footage from mobile phones popping up already.

  `Yeah, well, the cat's out of the bag now, Max,' Mason muttered just as Wilson spotted the pursuing police vehicles in his monitor.

  `We've got company, Dad.' He nodded at the growing number of flashing lights.

  `They'll be a problem, unless… Max, can you show me the area outside the warehouse?'

  Wilson swerved to avoid a car. What was Dad thinking?

  `Here. It's all car park and loading area. Big enough?'

  Wilson glanced at the image displayed on the monitor. `You're going to jump there? What about Mum?'

  `We're too visible in the ATV and Max is tracking the van.' Mason looked up at him; scales rippled under his skin. `Renee and I can track and take the Bloodells faster by ourselves.'

  `No way, Dad! I'm with you on this. They've got Mum and I'm coming with you!'

  Wilson jammed the brakes on. The road was blocked with cars.

  `They need you, Wil,' Mason said, touching his arm and glancing at the back seat. `I need you to be safe and you have to think clearly here. Chances are the Bloodells have numbers in Sydney and you can defend yourself, Wil. Eleanor and her kind will need your help.'

  Sally reached over and took his hand. `Don't leave me, Wil, please. I, we want you to stay with us. Don't go.'

  Air escaped from him in a noisy snort. Dad was right. Even though he wanted to hurt those who had taken Mum, Sally did need him. Even Lil
ly needed him.

  `Let's go, then,' he said, aware they were almost boxed in. Police cars had stopped behind them and none of the cars in front moved. `Get us out of here, Dad.'

  `Max, get ready. We're coming.' Mason nodded to Wilson and put his hands on the dash.

  Wilson squeezed Sally's hand as cold filled the ATV and the world outside went black.

  CHAPTER 34

  Max stared at white static. They had gone. Again.

  Unnatural silence chilled the warehouse. Max spun around.

  Eleanor.

  `Where are my daughters?' She stood close, black eyes making her smooth skin seem so much whiter. He pushed aside the last thought, and saw Ralph standing stiffly against the wall behind her.

  `They're here,' he said. He felt the warehouse vibrate and the rumble of a huge motor burst the silence. `Well, they're outside.' He smiled, holding her stare, seeing only his refection in the inky black of her eyes. So dangerous.

  She moved back, maintaining eye contact. `His gift is very strong, to jump again so soon.'

  `I guess so,' he said, realising what she'd said. `You know about the attack?'

  `Aye, the Wolves.' Black bled from her eyes to be replaced by blue. `You have more men ready?'

  `Yes.' All Fund personnel had been mobilised, on his orders. But he expected she would have known that.

  `You do not fear me, Maxwell?' she asked, suddenly turning towards the door.

  He didn't lie. `No.' He followed her. `I respect you, but not out of fear.' He held the door for her out of habit. `Why do you think there is a war coming? You asked about more men, so there must be a reason.'

  `Never have the Bloodells come here in numbers, let alone attacked so brazenly. There is a shift of energy in this world. We have to be ready.'

  Ralph joined them as they approached the main doors, which opened. The ATV stood in the centre of the car park.

  `That would explain a lot.' Max stopped, waiting to see if anyone moved inside the ATV. Eleanor waited beside him. `Mason thinks as you do, and believes whatever is coming is nearly upon us,' she said as the doors began to open on the ATV. Ralph left them, striding towards the vehicle.

  Eleanor touched his arm. Max flinched.

  `If we survive,' she whispered, so close he could feel her breath on his cheek, her body radiating warmth. `If you and I survive this, I would very much like to…' Her thumb moved on his wrist, at his hammering pulse point. He blinked and looked down at her hand.