Submerge (Apalala Clan Book 3)

by Dzintra Sullivan

  “It will happen for all of them eventually,” V said calmly.

  “He isn’t going to like it.”

  Volos sighed loudly. “Neither did we when it happened, but you can’t fight nature. It selects who it wants and when it wants.”

  “True, but he isn’t going to like it.”

  “No, he isn’t,” V agreed as the brothers all started to walk in and take their seats around his desk.

  “What’s this meeting about?” Ladon mumbled grumpily as he flopped down into an over-padded sofa. He still hadn’t recovered from last night’s enlightenment. He would have been a lot happier had the recovery period been related to a truckload of booze having been consumed. It was not. The person he had been so actively hunting on his Warcraft game had turned out to be a small wisp of a woman.

  The journey home had been in engulfed in a deathly silence. Only the sound of his boots hitting the stone as he went to his room was heard as the others merely stood and watched him.

  At first, it had been shock. A woman? Who knew that they were capable of such a feat? The shock soon turned into anger as he accused her of lying and deceiving the game’s players and as such should be banned from the game for life. Of course, all this was done in Ladon’s head as he paced up and down his room. Unable to even look at his laptop without wanting to pick it up and smash it against the nearest wall, Ladon had tossed and turned the entire length of the night’s darkness.

  Yesterday morning he’d planned to hunt Doug down and make him pay with his screen life. In light of knowing he was, in fact, a she, would he still be able to blindly wield his ax and dismember her avatar without hesitation?

  “You, ya dick,” Jo’s scoff came from the back of the room.

  “My dick? Why would a meeting be called for that? It’s not like I was the one flashing it for all of Aberdeen to see,” Ladon poked back at his heavily tattooed brother.

  Jo laughed at his brother’s jab. “Just giving the people what they want.”

  Ladon ignored Jo as he turned back to look at V. “This isn’t about me… is it?”

  “Well…” V started to say.

  “If this is some weird intervention because you all think I can’t cope with being beaten by a woman—”

  “She’s the one who beat you?” Jo blurted out followed by a large dragon roar, resting his hand against the wall as he braced himself. “Not only is my brother a gamer nerd, but he’s been beaten by a woman.”

  Kylee coughed from the door as she walked in. Within a few steps, she was close enough to put her foot behind Jo’s leg, and with a quick shove to his shoulder, dropped the laughing dragon on his ass. She bent over to look down at him. “If I ever hear you say that shit again, Jo, I will kick you so hard the next tattoo you have will be my footprint on your ass.” Jo looked up at her. “You’re my best bud but fuck if I will let you stand there and belittle women.” Kylee stood up straight and walked away with her head held high. She found a seat near Tor and silently took her place.

  V struggled not to howl as Kylee put Jo in his place. It was one of the most valuable qualities Kylee had. She might be human, but she wasn’t afraid of them in the slightest. Kylee spoke her mind clearly and wasn’t worried about telling a dragon exactly what she thought of them. Ignoring Jo as he got off the floor and leaned against the wall, he was a dragon nursing his damaged pride.

  “Ladon, this meeting is not an intervention—” V started.

  “It kind of is,” Tor interrupted.

  “It’s exactly what it is, and he needs to know what’s happened,” added Kylee.

  “I don’t care what it is, can it be over? She’s a girl. I get it. Hardy-har-har.”

  Payton got up from where she had been sitting next to V and walked over to Ladon. Perching on the arm of the sofa, she looked at him. “It would seem she isn’t just any girl.” Ladon’s confused look caused her to smile warmly. “Doug noticed a smell from our table.”

  “It was probably Jo. He’s like a fart machine,” Ladon growled over his shoulder as Jo flipped him the bird in lieu of a reply.

  Payton shook her head with a soft motherly smile. “No, not that kind of smell, a sweet smell. A very sweet smell. Specifically, from you.”

  The room seemed to freeze as they all waited for the penny to drop with their brother. His face turned from a creased brow of confusion to the blood draining from his face as his eyebrows met his hairline. “No,” he said.

  “It would appear so.” V nodded with a look of understanding. He had been exactly where Ladon was standing, watching the entire earth move from under him, and no longer knowing what or who to trust.

  “No,” his tone was firmer this time.

  “Bro, it’s not that bad. These ladies have their benefits,” Tor said as he cuddled Taryn closer into his body.

  “No!” Ladon growled this time with a quickly growing spike of anger.

  “Ladon, get a grip man,” Kylee said. “It’s not like you just got told your dying. It’s a chick, and from what I’ve seen, she’s fucking awesome. Suck it up, man, you just got yourself a mate.”

  Ladon stood up, his head shaking in disbelief of what a dramatic turn this day had taken. “I got myself nothing except a bunch of brothers who have their tales twisted.” Shaking his head firmly. “You’re all mad. Deranged. Completely unhinged.” His voice rose with every word he used. “I don’t have time for this.”

  The room watched him walk out, mumbling about the lunacy of his family and how he could be related to such insanity.

  “Should we follow?” Tor asked.

  “Nope,” V said. “Give him time to come to terms with it.”

  Ladon had gone to the cliff opening and dove straight off, clothes and all. He had never needed to escape his family more than he did right at that moment. The boys kept a collection of clothes in a locked box close to the mainland for moments where they might be caught needing a quick change.

  He found himself standing across the road from Sykes Bar. He needed to see this woman—

  he needed to prove the boys wrong. When he’d called the bar, the owner said she would arrive mid-morning to open. Prepared to wait, he found a bench on the pavement a few feet down and sat.

  Thirty minutes later, her red hair caught his eye. This time it wasn’t gathered up on her head. It was the most glorious lion’s mane of red curls that Ladon had ever seen. Why would she pull her beautiful hair up and hide it from the world?

  She came walking down the street, a confident stride to her turn of foot. She carried herself with a conviction rarely seen in young women. He watched her speaking to an elderly woman pushing a flower cart before opening the bar’s front door and vanished inside. Slowly, the lights came on, and he could see her moving around inside as she busied herself with the preparation of the day’s business. She walked outside and placed the sign on the footpath with the day’s specials. Clicking back the main door as she walked back inside, she signaled that the bar was now open for business.

  Ladon walked in wearing a pair of blue jeans and a plain white T-shirt. He found a menu and held it up to cover his face. Making his way down to the back tables, he took a seat. He could watch Elyse without her seeing him. As she moved, he moved the menu to block her vision of his face.

  She was so friendly with the men who had already come in and sat at her bar. She spoke to them like they were family, brothers of sorts. Ladon inwardly shrugged, they could have been her family for all he knew. Apart from the amazing fighter he knew on the game front, he also knew nothing of this redheaded barmaid who busied herself behind the bar.

  “Doug?” one of the men said loudly.

  She turned to look at him. “Yes, Peter?”

  Ladon watched them carefully from behind his cardboard barrier.

  “Seen any more birds?” Peter then jumped off his stool and started to flap his arms, squawking and jumping around the bar like he’d lost his mind. He stopped to look at her. “I think I grew feathers last night.”

&
nbsp; “You certainly didn’t grow a brain,” she replied with no interest in playing whatever game this Peter fellow was playing at.

  “I can’t believe you actually fell for that drunk bum’s words. Seriously, Doug, I know you’re a gamer, but even discarding that… birds? Men who turn into birds? That’s fucking crazy shit.”

  Ladon’s ears pricked sharply.

  What was this man speaking about?

  Men who turned into birds?

  Did Doug see something?

  Ladon leaned in closer, lowering the menu slightly. He jumped when he saw Doug was standing right in front of him.

  “I can smell you from way over there. What are you doing back here?” Her words were lacking any warmth. “Feel like having yet another gender-based jibe at me?” Her eyes narrowed. “I noticed your absence last night, I felt sure you’d come for revenge.” She shrugged. “I assumed you’d be more of a fighter. My mistake.”

  Ladon wasn’t expecting this kind of verbal assault from such a small petite package. He didn’t know how to tackle such a strong standing woman, especially from a seated position where she towered over him. Ladon stood slowly, he needed at least his height on his side.

  “I wanted to apologize,” he half-lied. While an apology was something he knew he owed her, this was more of a reconnaissance mission.

  She shrugged as she looked up at him. “You aren’t the first man to underestimate me, and I’m sure you won’t be the last.”

  “I really am—” he started.

  “Don’t care. I have work to do. Besides, whatever that cologne is your wearing…” her eyes went wide as she waved her hand in front of her face, “… it’s way too sweet. Way, way, waaay, too sweet.”

  Ladon looked at her. This was the moment he knew. Fate had come and given him a gift in the shape of a feisty redhead, who presently detested the very air he breathed. Thanks, thanks a lot he said inwardly to the goddess.

  “Be careful, mate. She knows birdmen, they come and getcha.” Peter shrieked maniacally from the bar as he lifted his beer for Doug to see it was empty.

  “Birdmen?” Ladon asked cautiously.

  Doug looked at him and shook her head. “Just go home. This isn’t any of your business.” She turned her back on him and walked over to the bar. “Peter, I swear to God, you shake an empty glass at me again like I’m your slave, and you will need a proctologist to remove it.” She leaned on the bar to stare Peter in the eye. “You know how I feel about manners?”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Peter’s eyes dropped. “Please, can I have a refill, Doug?”

  She nodded with a smile that never reached her eyes. “Of course, it would be my pleasure, Peter.” Her eyes flicked to Ladon who was still standing and staring at her. Her head tilted as her face questioned why he was still there.

  His body shook from the dream he was in as he turned and walked out of the bar. He needed to get back to his brothers. There was more going on here than fate having delivered him a heavy blow to the cahooties.

  His chosen one had seen birdmen, here, in Aberdeen.

  Volos was going to lose his shit when this information hit the desk.

  “Your parents didn’t make it, sweetheart. We will find somewhere for you to stay.”

  Looking up at the face of an older lady, the pity in her eyes made my skin crawl. I knew my mother had died. I saw her lifeless eyes. I wanted to know about the big bird I saw behind the car.

  “Don’t worry, I’ll look after myself,” I said in my defense. I was sitting on the bed of a cold, dank hospital room where they had brought me to check me out. Remarks of divine intervention were being used as to why I didn’t receive so much as a scratch. They knew I flew through a windshield, was tossed on to the road surface, and yet, not a single mark to show.

  “Sweetheart…” The way she said it made me want to run if I had anywhere to run to. “We just can’t let you go, you’re nine years old.” She tapped my knee. “It’s okay, sweetheart, we will sort something out.” She left the room to make phone calls, or so she told me.

  Looking around, I saw the window was slightly ajar. Getting up, I pushed it further open and stuck my head out. Sighing, I noticed I was on the ground floor. Without a moment’s hesitation, I hitched up my foot, and I was gone into the night’s air. I had no idea where I was going or how I was going to live.

  All I knew was I needed to run.

  Elyse sat bolt upright in bed again, the sweat having drenched her pillow once more. This was the second of these dreams in a few nights. Quil rubbed against her leg furiously as he mewed with worry. Her sheets were all messed up and half on the floor. The dream obviously was causing her to physically react. She got up and walked to the kitchen. It was still in the dark hours of the early morning, but sleep wasn’t going to be coming back anytime soon. She popped on the coffee machine and went to have a quick shower.

  Coming back out to the smell of freshly brewed coffee definitely improved her morning, even if it was accompanied by Quil’s insistent cries of hunger.

  “You don’t even eat breakfast, Quil.” She grinned but weakened. She had never been able to say no to his cute furry face. Placing a scoop of cat biscuits into his bowl, she put them away and finished making her coffee.

  Elyse tucked her feet under her as she sat on the sofa, opening her laptop and waiting for her favorite game to start. She didn’t expect to see Nadol on there this early, and she wasn’t sure if he would ever front her again. She knew she was rude to him today, but he started it with his chauvinistic assumptions. She had fought the male hierarchy her entire life, and she’d be damned if she would ever lie down and roll over again. Bill had taught her she could stand on her own and make something of herself despite the past. She wouldn’t let him down. Ever.

  Clicking a few buttons, she confirmed he was indeed not there and hadn’t been on since she beat him. With a shrug, she felt a pang of pride as she saw her name was still at the top of the PvP charts. The competitors had seen her arrive and were starting to descend. She might not have Nadol to kill again, but surely some of these other poor sacrificial lambs might bring her some relief, albeit temporarily.

  As the sun started to dance across the floor, Elyse looked at the clock and realized she had been playing for over three hours. It had been the distraction she needed from her dreams. She had bested four opponents and claimed some further awards on her journey. It wasn’t the same as claiming the warrior again, but it would do.

  Elyse got ready for work and left Quil to protect their home.

  “Wyvern,” Ladon said as he walked into the youngest of the dragon warriors’ room. It was nothing like anyone else’s. Wyvern was the ears and eyes for the security of the entire clan. It was thought if a phoenix farted, he would know about it. Untrue, but Wyvern kept well ahead of the technology train, and in most cases, could see danger coming within a safe time to prevent it.

  “Brother?” Wyvern said from his desk. The entire living room of his sector was wall-to-wall screens. They had vantage points and cameras set up not only all around the cave but further afield as well as at major junctions like the airport, train stations, and even some more secretive ones behind the law’s front line. He sat like the quintessential puppet master, facing the triangular screen display. He spun on his blue chair shaped like a racing seat as he looked at his brother.

  “How likely would it be that there were birds on the mainland and you not know about it?”

  “Depends on the birds in question. If you are referring to a certain clan of man-size birds, I would say highly unlikely,” Wyvern replied, leaned back in his chair crossing his arms as he took in his brother’s question cautiously.

  “Unlikely or impossible?”

  “Why?” Wyvern’s brow raised.

  “Why what?” In walked Jo, and he leaned against the wall.

  “Nothing,” Ladon growled lowly. Dammit, he had wanted to talk to Wyvern privately. He didn’t need the input of all his obnoxious brothers.

  �
�Is it a party in Wyvern’s room?” Tor walked past and stopped. He looked in to see his three brothers all giving off a different energy. “What’s going on?” He turned and stood in the doorway.

  “Nothing. Nothing is going on.” Ladon went to walk out.

  “Ladon is asking about the chance of birds being on the mainland,” Wyvern spoke softly, the silence after his words were deadly as Ladon turned to look at him accusingly. “Ladon, when it comes to security, I will not have secrets. Ever. Our very clan depends on it.”

  “What are you asking about birds for, Ladon?” Jo asked with a tilt of his head.

  “Just curious.”

  Tor shook his head. His bulk had blocked Ladon’s escape from the room, and he knew it. “Curious, how?” he asked. “Care to expand on that?”

  “Not really,” he mumbled.

  “What’s going on? Are you planning my birthday surprise next?” V asked as he appeared beside Tor at the door. Blocking any attempt to push past his brother, Ladon felt the room closing in on him fast.

  “Ladon is asking about birds,” Jo blurted. “And now he’s all evasive.”

  Volos’ head turned to look at Ladon, his brow raised with an unspoken question.

  “Fine,” Ladon blurted loudly. “I went to see Doug.”

  Jo burst into laughter. “I knew it had to do with the girl. You might have stomped off all wings in a flap, but I knew you’d go to her. Is the pull that fierce, brother?”

  “I didn’t go because I was pulled. If anything, I went to dispel all your fantasies,” Ladon said. “I went to prove you all wrong.”

  “Are we?” V replied with a delicacy of not only the clan’s leader but his eldest brother. Ladon shook his head, confirming that they were all indeed correct, and the goddess had declared his mate publicly. “If it is any consolation, neither Tor nor I handled it very well either.”

  “V kidnapped his and held her in a cage, remember?” Jo scoffed.

  Flicking his brother with a look of embarrassment, V said, “Yes, well, let’s move on from that, shall we?”