by Angela White
Jennifer didn’t slow at the sound of a huge explosion ahead of them.
Kyle didn’t interfere. She was merged with the witch, eyes glowing, body cat-like, and Kyle knew better than to get in her way.
They ran into the clearing in front of the base that Jennifer had tracked down, but she still didn’t pause as they sighted the enemy rushing through the destroyed gates of a base.
“There!” Kyle shouted, discovering a Safe Haven marker in the upper window.
Jennifer already knew. She brought forth her mother’s rage to throw at the soldiers starting to turn her way.
The mental blast was harmful to everything it reached, rupturing the eyes and ears of those closest. Soldiers fell screaming in agony as blood poured down their faces.
Jennifer sent another blast, this one only a bit weaker.
A second line of the now panicking solders were injured, blood gushing.
A third blast was too risky as Kyle came to her side. They shoved their way through the soon-to-be corpses and broke through into the courtyard.
“Marc!”
Marc was in a struggle for his Colt against a mammoth Marine wearing a spiky vest.
Jennifer raised a hand, lifting the man into the air.
Marc quickly stabbed his knife through the man’s stunned eye and started reloading as the body fell. Despite being one of them, the moment shocked Marc a bit and he reloaded slower than usual as he calmed himself.
Moving away slightly, Jennifer sent out another blast, directly toward the gate this time.
The screams began to fade as the surviving soldiers fled.
Damn, Marc thought. Angie was right again. I’d never know what to do with that.
Marc looked up at Kyle, and took the arm, staggering to his feet. He’d taken a hell of a beating by Goliath.
Marc spit blood and groaned as a part of his tooth came out with it. “Tats gonna hurt, right?”
“Where is my baby?!” Jennifer screamed, bringing a halt to the relief the fighters had started to feel.
“Where is she?!”
Marc scanned the camp members inside the base and felt his stomach drop through his boots. “She’s not here.”
Jennifer spun on him and Kyle grabbed her around the waist as she fought to get to a target.
“Maybe you could clarify!” Kyle suggested, grunting as Jennifer’s arm slammed down on his shoulder.
Marc saw Peggy coming from the den with Doug, both wanting an update, and ran toward them. “Who has Autumn?”
Peggy frowned. “She came and got the baby yesterday, said Angela wanted Jennifer to know that she was caring for the baby herself.”
“You didn’t think that was odd?” Kyle demanded, still holding Jennifer, who had started to cry and shake.
“Yes, of course, but the den was attacked and I thought she had to stay here,” Peggy explained, looking around. “I didn’t know she left!”
“Who, woman?” Doug demanded. “Who took the baby?”
“Lilly.”
Jennifer’s scream was the worst sound any of them had heard all day.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Unfinished Chores
1
“Can we talk?”
Crista stopped, waiting impatiently. She’d just come in with Zack’s team. She had only a short time to get cleaned up, eat, and head out to her next site.
They’d all reported to the boss, as much to verify that Angela was okay, as to deliver the news that their missions had been successful. Then, she’d been invited to rejoin Zack and his team for a quick meal. Crista had accepted in surprise. Zack was the only one with a full team. Everyone else was split between Angela’s most valued positions.
Jeff swept her, noting the filthy clothes and skin, the hungry expression as she stared at his arms. He felt his remaining resistance give. How bad could it be?
“I’m okay with it, I think. The…baby.”
Crista was too tired to give him the hell he deserved for hesitating. “Good. We’ll talk about it later, okay?”
Jeff watched her go toward the farthest shower camp and water tanker and followed, not on duty anywhere. “You, uh, need some help?”
Crista started to shoot him down and then nodded tiredly. “You can do my back.”
Jeff caught up and ran a hand over her cheek. “Wherever you want it, baby.”
Crista giggled as the pair disappeared into the shower camper.
Across the campsite, Zack saw them and tried to control his jealousy.
“That’s the last of our teams!” Greg called. “Lock us down!”
Activity filled the small area, but Angela tried to give her full attention to the filth-covered Indian coming toward her with careful footing. The mud had made the entire site a slick trap.
“I’m glad you’ve made it,” she said, but was unable to force a smile. The death shroud was almost covering her now. How many hundreds had she killed?
Atolius held out a hand, hoping this gift would be more to the demon woman’s liking.
Angela accepted the gift without a protest, much too tired to keep up a full act. She pulled out the machete in surprise, immediately liking the strength it gave her hand. “Thank you.”
Atolius could tell he’d pleased her this time. He inched away respectfully, trying to end the encounter without reoffending her.
Angela turned toward her command tent, sliding the sharp weapon into the pouch. She tossed it to Greg. “Hide that for me, will you? I’ll have Marc show me how to use it.”
Shawn slid the pouch onto his belt, nodding.
Angela continued toward the crowded command canvas.
Satisfied, Atolius raised his chin and spun around to rejoin his men. “My curse has been lifted!”
At that moment, Dog sailed over the gate and landed on Atolius, knocking him backward into the mud.
The wolf, happy with a soft landing, licked the furious man in the mouth and walked across his chest to avoid the mud.
Angela wanted to join in the laughter she heard, but that was impossible as she stared at the screen Jeremy turned her way. It showed their position and the signatures of camps around them. The soldiers had gathered faster than she’d estimated. The final showdown was about to begin, but she wasn’t ready yet.
“I will be,” she muttered, moving toward the tents that held their POWs. She had a full dozen of those now.
Angela ducked inside the soaked canvas and swept the bound, snoozing men and women. These were traitors, soldiers they’d captured, and Adrian. Conner was still among the wounded, now healing without complaint in exchange for food, water, and a possible second chance at his life.
Angela’s attention landed on Heather, noting the woman’s nose was still bleeding lightly. She’d been fed and watered with the other prisoners, but she gaped at Angela with fear she was right to have.
“What?” Heather demanded angrily. “Don’t look at me that way!”
It got the attention of the sleeping men. They all jerked as Angela came to the stand in front of her former Eagle.
“Tell me why.” Angela already knew, but it was important that everyone else did too.
“I’m sick,” Heather admitted reluctantly. She didn’t expect help or sympathy from the enemy.
“I didn’t have to be the enemy,” Angela began, but Heather snarled, “Save it!”
Sighing deeply, Angela knelt in front of Heather’s cage. “I could have healed your disease. A weak immune system isn’t like Cancer.”
Heather wasn’t going to be swayed by proof of any kind. Her mind raced furiously through escape plan and even murder plots.
Angela reached a hand out. “Let me show you something.”
Aware that Angela could force it, Heather slowly extended her hand.
Angela clasped it gently, voice sad. “I find you guilty and sentence you to be reclaimed.”
Heather screamed, jerking back, but Angela’s hold was like steel. She stole Heather’s life with a vicious, re
gretful mental yank.
The withered corpse fell over, hitting the bars.
Shouts for mercy filled the tent as Angela stood up. Heather had admitted to revealing Safe Haven locations and protection to the government. She’d followed her traitorous orders and trailed the recon teams. Angela had counted on someone doing that, but she’d known the government would have them on the satellites anyway as the only thing moving across the country. Heather had sacrificed herself for information that the enemy didn’t even really need. It was pathetic.
Ignoring the screams and her dying soul, Angela continued to the next captive.
Adrian watched her take the lives that these men and women had wasted. They would have been shot or hung later. It was better that Angela took their energy, and through her, they would remain in a fashion, finally serving the greater good. He had no worries that he was next, despite deserving it. He waited for her to stop in front of his cage before speaking. She’d spared only one of them.
Next to Adrian, Sergeant Wallz remained silent and grateful that Donner wanted him enough to trade for.
“Be careful with Donner,” Adrian warned. “He’s not stable.”
“We know.”
The double timbre of both witch and woman was evidence of the merger he’d suggested.
Adrian nodded his approval. “You’re right on track. The pieces are in place and you’re about to end this ugliness forever. How does that feel?”
Angela’s face lit up with the first real smile he’d seen from her in a long while. He noted the gray in her hair still standing out in stark contrast, but he didn’t comment on it. Donner didn’t need to know she’d fed recently. That was intentional.
Angela held out a hand.
Adrian placed his in hers with only a twinge of nervousness. She was powerful enough to kill any of them now.
Angela searched his mind for last minute details, always suspicious of tricks, then pulled out. She let go of his hand and left the tent. She’d needed a brief second of human contact before she went out to face her people. After this, she might be dead or a prisoner for the rest of her life. She was unable to see that future and now knew that was because there wasn’t a future for them until this moment was decided.
Angela hit the button on her belt as she stepped from the tent that was surrounded by her guards and friends. They’d come running to help her when the prisoners had begun to scream, but they’d quickly retreated from the canvas when they’d discovered the reason for it. A few of the witnesses had fled to other parts of this campsite, but Shawn stayed close to his boss as she walked through the cold drizzle.
“This is Safe Haven. We are surrounded...Do it now!”
Outside the gates, a massive set of explosions went off, circling the cliff and blasting away chunks of stone. Set by Kenn and Jeff, the detonations had been carefully placed to chip away a large part of the flat area, creating a wide gap that the soldiers would have to jump across, exposing themselves. Pieces of debris wouldn’t cover it and the enemy no longer had gear or the will to scavenge anything sturdier.
As the dust settled over everything, the radio lit up again.
“This is Donner, Ms. White. That was your last act of defiance. My men will overrun you in less than an hour.”
Angela didn’t answer yet, waiting for what she needed to hear.
“End it now and I’ll spare them.”
Angela’s mind flipped into the fourth ring of her plan. She answered with loathing, “Come on in and we’ll settle the terms.”
“On my way.”
Angela knew it wouldn’t take long. Donner was ready for this moment.
Angela went to the command tent, waving a few of her closest people along. It was time for the part she’d been dreading.
Neil, Jeremy, Cynthia, and a few others followed her in silent disapproval. Neil and Jeremy went first.
“The last two numbers were in her Will.”
“Why did Samantha leave us her Will?”
Angela faced them with the truth. “Because she wasn’t sure if she might die today.”
Neil and Jeremy shouted, but Angela lost her patience. She mentally shoved them both out of their chairs and onto the damp canvas floor. Her gifts were still growing.
Both men stayed down, but continued to demand answers.
“You had no right!”
“She’s pregnant! How could you use her?!”
Show some respect! the witch bellowed. The mental pain sank in, ringing and silencing every activity across the camp.
Angela brought the witch under control and slowly went to her chair, sat in it.
“Get Adrian. Its time he told everyone the truth.”
There was restless muttering as Shawn went for Adrian and the crowd around the tent grew.
Adrian didn’t resist, taking the chair across from Neil and Jeremy when Angela waved him into it.
Adrian met her eye. “You’re sure?”
“We’ll win,” she answered tonelessly. “I’ve seen it.”
That was good enough for Safe Haven’s former leader. He used his un-cuffed hand to push the button. “My name is Adrian Mitchel…and I work for the United States government. I have for most of my life. After the war, I was supposed to take Safe Haven to the nearest bunker and hand them over. The government doesn’t want survivors to gather. They want you to die.”
2
Donner listened to Adrian’s tale with frustration. He was unable to get through until Adrian let off the radio transmit button and that man wasn’t going to until the story was finished. The main bunker was controlling the radio waves now, watching and listening. Donner might be able to get one of his fleeing men at the den to cut them off anyway, but by the time it happened, this call would be over.
After a minute, Donner tried to put these newest pieces together for his profile. It was something that nearly everyone listening was doing. The idea that Adrian–their very reason for being together–was a traitor and secret agent, was overwhelming.
“When the bunker made contact, they didn’t like how long I was taking. They threatened my son. When I refused to hand over Safe Haven, they began hunting him to draw me in. It worked. We went into Little Rock and killed them all.”
Donner put that piece into place with a snap of understanding. Something had delayed Mitchel and the bunker had thought he’d turned on them. “Bad choice, threatening his son,” Donner murmured. “Especially when he was already on your side.”
Adrian’s voice had paused. It came again, broken. “I was supposed to die there. I wanted to, for the sins I’ve committed, the trusts I’ve destroyed. I’m…I’m sorry for all of it. I’ll be executed knowing I owe a debt that can never be repaid.”
As if they knew he wouldn’t cut them off now, the radio stopped crackling and then Angela’s voice came.
“Why did you work for them?”
“I was born in the lab. I didn’t have a choice.”
“You could have refused when you were older.”
“I was already corrupt by then. I didn’t have a reason to change.”
“You found one, leading Safe Haven?”
“No. I gathered Safe Haven’s flock and guards to watch my ass while I went to Little Rock for my son. They meant nothing to me until you came.”
Now Donner understood what the delay had been and how Adrian must have been tortured by trying to earn what he would never have when the truth came out.
“Because with me, you could be free of them?”
“Yes, but not only me. They have our kind enslaved across the planet. I didn’t need to change myself. I needed to change the world.”
“Which is why you didn’t try to stop the war?”
“Yes. The herd had to be thinned anyway, but the weakened governments would provide us with that opportunity.”
“I thought you said you were corrupt.”
“I was,” he admitted shamefully. “Because I had refused my destiny, my purpose, until the war came. I c
hose not to fight when I couldn’t win.”
“So you sided with the enemy until it was convenient to reveal your truth?”
“It’s not just my truth,” he pointed out. “You all believe in it too or you wouldn’t be here dying.”
“But we didn’t help cause the downfall of society and then cover it up!”
“No, you would never break that way.”
“No.”
There was silence for a minute where Donner waited eagerly for more, not bothering to look at the destruction below the noisy chopper. He didn’t care.
“What was the master plan?”
“To gather enough descendants to fight them!” Adrian shouted, clearly growing angry that she didn’t understand. “They have no right to hold us! Experiment on us! Take our kids! That world is over now and I’d do it all again!”
The radio went dead.
Donner contemplated it as his pilot flew them closer to his life-long dreams. If he could have produced his own children, none of this would be happening, but Donner was suddenly glad it had worked out this way. Using Angela to eliminate the remaining government was perfect justice for their kind, a neat sentence for her becoming a traitor to her rulers. The child would be his reward. Donner’s good mood rose to the surface and he slapped the pilot on the arm, grinning. “Great day for a ride!”
The pilot, nervous enough, gave a weak chuckle and concentrated on landing where Donner wanted him to. Once he got the crazy Major to the cabin, the pilot planned to vanish into the night. After witnessing the devastation below, he didn’t want any part of Safe Haven and the descendants. They hadn’t even used magic to accomplish all that! What could Angela do if she unleashed her full powers? The pilot didn’t intend to stick around and find out.
3
“Stay away!”
Greg and Shawn were trying to keep the pissed fighters from dragging Adrian from the tent. It took Angela coming to stand behind them to calm the mob down. They had a deep respect for her.
“I’m trading him for our people,” Angela announced. “He’ll be in a government cell before dawn.”
The small crowd frowned and muttered, and Angela raised a brow. “Should I put a bullet in him and try to buy Samantha and Tracy? What about Seth and the others?”