by Sydney Addae
“What the hell?” She stopped and looked around. People moved but something was different in the air. It seemed thicker which made no sense. She couldn’t put her finger on what was wrong exactly, but the hairs stood on the back of her neck.
“Are you lost?”
“No, just...” Sarita leaned back and looked at Halas. “What are you doing here?” Too surprised to ask more than that, Sarita allowed Halas to pull her along. They cleared security and kept moving until they entered a room on the concourse.
“Stop. Hold up.” Sarita pulled back and held up her hand. “I’ve got a flight to catch.” She frowned as Halas shook her head.
“Not yet. Maybe later, right now you’ve got to come with me to get your problem fixed.
Hope warred with the need to help David. Whatever was going on with him, called to her. She couldn’t explain it, he was in danger. “I ... I ... I can’t. Someone close to me needs my help. I’ll come back as soon as we’re done.” She looked down at Halas hoping the woman would agree and understand.
“What do you mean? I’ve gone through a lot of trouble to find the Priestess to help you. Your vines are too close to your neck, that’s not good. I’ve never seen anyone with such a bad case. You need to get that taken care of now. There may not be time later.” She stared at Sarita.
“David?” Sarita called needing his advice.
“Listen,” Halas said gently. “Right now, your heart may be in the right place but you’re in no condition to help anybody. I didn’t want to alarm you before, but you’re sick, really sick and need help immediately. You shouldn’t even be at the airport around all these people or anyone. The more vines covering your body, the higher the risk of contagion.”
Sarita’s hand flew to her mouth as she thought of her pregnant aunt. Had she infected that family? Goddess, no! “I didn’t know it really was contagious, no one’s caught it so far.” She gulped a breath trying to stem the rising panic. “For years I didn’t want to take a chance and didn’t go home. Aunt Pia’s mate’s been away, and she begged me to come keep her company, otherwise... but I’ve been around her. She touched my face.” Sarita wiped the tears from her cheeks. “Did I infect her? The babe in her womb?”
Halas’ eyes closed, and she shook her head. “She’s with child?”
“Yes,” Sarita whispered.
“And she doesn’t know of the vines?”
“No.” Her throat clogged as her heart splintered. How could she have passed on this curse to those she loved? She’d tried to be careful, didn’t expose her skin, wore long sleeves and high-necked clothes. None of that mattered if she infected her aunt and the pup.
“Come, we’ll ask Isodora, she’ll know if you’ve passed this on to anyone and help correct the problem. The curse comes through the direct line, but the disease itself can be passed to anyone without the ramifications of the curse.” Halas looked at Sarita. “Understand?”
Sniffing, Sarita nodded. “Now I do. No one gave me a straight answer, I didn’t know who to believe, what was right or wrong. Thank you.”
Halas nodded and awkwardly patted Sarita’s shoulder. “Come along.”
Sarita followed her out the room down the concourse, and down the second set of stairs to a small waiting area.
“Sorry we’re running a bit late,” Halas told the woman behind the counter.
“No problem, the pilot’s on board and ready whenever you are. Enjoy your flight.” She typed in a code, opened the door and escorted them to a mid-sized plane.
Confused, Sarita looked at all the much larger commercial aircraft as she took the stairs to enter the plane. Inside, they were the only two passengers. She took a seat next to Halas as one of the pilots closed the door and locked them inside before returning to the cockpit.
“Whose plane is this and where are we going?”
Halas covered her hand. “It belongs to the Priestess, and we’re going to see her. I told you that.”
“How come we’re the only ones on the plane, besides the pilots, I mean?” The plane was moving.
“You’re contagious, no one else can be around you right now, I thought you understood that.”
Never in the past five years had Sarita sensed the devastation of this curse or disease as she did right now. A feeling of being unclean swamped her. When she thought of all the places she’d traveled in her quest for answers, the people she spoke to, sat next to, she cringed. “Please, please, please Goddess, don’t let anyone suffer because of my ignorance,” she silently prayed.
Halas patted her hand. “Things will work out, you’ll see, have faith.”
Sarita inhaled and wiped the tears from her eyes as they taxied out. “How did you know where to find me? I never told you where I was going.” She needed a distraction, something to take her mind off her life swirling in the toilet.
“Priestess. I told you, your vines are a beacon, easy to track and find. She wants to meet you.”
That surprised Sarita. “Tell me about her. What’s she like? How did she become this person? Is she old? Did she know Salah?”
Halas chuckled. “So many questions. Where to start? With Salah I suppose.” She glanced at Sarita whose hand curled into a tight ball as the plane lifted. A few seconds later she released it.
“Salah’s spirit lives on in every Priestess because she chooses them based on a variety of reasons. Strength, honor, loyalty, knowledge, wisdom...” She waved her hand. “Lots of reasons. But I think the most important reason is to ensure Salah’s story, the legacy remains alive. Salah’s example of a mother’s love is all-encompassing and must be passed along to future generations.” She glanced at Sarita and smiled. “The plane has leveled, we must get our own refreshments.”
Halas removed her seatbelt and walked to the back of the plane while Sarita remained seated, thinking. The mothers she knew were serious nurturers. Mama Jasmine and her mom would’ve done exactly what Salah did if one of their pups were missing no matter what danger they faced. She snorted and placed her fingertips against her forehead. Mama Jasmine would’ve fought the patriarch himself if he interfered with her search to find any of her pups, so would Asia.
So how did Salah’s line differ from the natural maternal desire to care for pups? Why make it a religion? Or something needing a Priestess? There had to be more to this.
“I didn’t know what you’d want to drink or eat so I fetched this, take whatever you want,” Halas said pointing at the cart.
“Thank you.” Sarita took an orange, peeled it and looked across the aisle at Halas who drank from a bottle of water. “I know there’s more.”
“Oh, there is. Quite a bit more. There was a time when pups were destroyed for being imperfect or used as bait to catch larger prey. The Alphas believed weak pups couldn’t survive harsh climates or long treks when the Pack moved on to find food. Pups were treated abominably for years. We lost several generations.” She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “Bitches had no choice, no say in the matter back then, couldn’t protect their pups. It was a dark, difficult time.”
Used as bait? Killed for imperfections? She thought of Lilly and Alpha Cameron’s pups and shivered. Most of them were scarred from their time with the Liege. No doubt they would’ve been cast aside back in those days.
Sarita had been born in a lab and spent the first few years of her life with cold, callous men. But the bulk of her life was with her family at the compound. The love and acceptance she received wiped away the harsh earlier memories.
“How does that relate to Salah’s legacy? I understand she put her life on the line searching for her pup and was caught by the patriarch’s sons, but I still don’t understand why or how all this led up to me sitting here today.”
“So impatient,” Halas muttered before taking another sip. “To correct injustice there’s often a cost, a price to pay. Yahweh gave Salah gifts, but she paid for it with the life of her son. If asked, she would’ve preferred her pup instead of the gift. With gifts from Him came the
responsibility to prevent the deaths of pups by ensuring an end to evil practices. In this generation, you don’t see the horrors of the past. That’s why you don’t understand the need for Salah.”
Halas met Sarita’s gaze. “It’s because of Salah’s work that this is your reality.”
Sarita nodded slowly. “We’ve escaped those fates because her people work in the background to make sure pups aren’t destroyed anymore? Is that what you’re saying?”
“Yes. Alphas who sacrificed pups were systematically removed by her heirs, hence the need for the skillsets you don’t appreciate. To go against an Alpha, it’s important to move like the wind, without being seen.”
Sarita nodded. That made sense. “Since the danger has passed, why am I marked? Why am I going through this?” She hated the whiny sound in her voice, but frustration choked her. “I’ve lost the past five years of my life trying to discover if I was dying, only to discover the lines crossing my body are from a group no longer in operation.”
“I never said they no longer operated,” Halas said quickly. “As long as full-bloods and breeds exist, there will always be a need to oversee the health and safety of pups. The moment we stop is when their lives fall into peril again, and generations lost, possibly the end of our people.” Halas’ gaze and tone sharpened.
“You’re involved?” Sarita had wondered why Halas kept showing up. “Are you the priestess?”
“No, I’m not. Do you want to know about Isodora? The Priestess?” She pursed her lips for a few seconds before speaking. “Isodora is a survivor. She’s tough but fair with a large heart for the less fortunate. She’s served as Priestess for decades and has done a great job at a tremendous cost. I hope she finds some comfort soon, her heart has been heavy for a long time.”
Sarita stared at Halas to see if she were being honest but couldn’t read her. No matter, she’d see for herself soon. “Do they expect anything from me?”
“What do you mean?” Halas asked before eating a cube of cheese.
“These lines mean I’m a descendant of Salah, right?”
Halas nodded.
“Does that mean I have to do anything in particular? Work or service?” Before being struck with the lines, Sarita had her life planned. She and David wanted to open a robotics company to fully explore the work the Liege started. They both believed it was better to deal from the offensive, rather than defensive position.
“I don’t know.”
“What do you mean? What about the others? What do they do?” Halas had to know something, anything.
“They serve the Priestess, righting the wrongs.” She looked at Sarita. “Everyone is different. You will talk to the Priestess and come to your own decision.”
That didn’t sound good or promising. Heavy-hearted, Sarita sat back in her seat and stared out the window at the clouds. Could her life suck more?
CHAPTER SEVEN
David woke slowly and sensed the presence of someone close. Too close. Still protected in the bubble, he looked down on a cap of blond hair laying at his feet. David moved. The guy who mourned Sage’s death woke and stared up at him.
Arctic blue eyes met his gaze.
“What are you doing?” David asked while testing the strength of the bubble, it had held fast.
“I’m Lucas, your servant.” He bent his head in submission.
David’s brow rose. “No, you’re not. Yesterday you wanted to kill me.” He stood and stretched while looking around. There was no movement from the tents. Had they left to go hunting on the outside and he missed it? Moving toward the tents, he saw Lucas fall to his knees and clasp his hands together in front of his chest.
“Please, they’ll kill me if you don’t take me. I... I’m not a fighter. Not against them. The Queen said I must beg your protection, she refuses to help me.” He sounded bitter.
“I don’t need a slave. I’m not interested in men. I’m mated.”
Lucas inhaled and frowned. “You are? Sage never would’ve come after you if he knew that.”
David growled under his breath. “I am mated. It doesn’t matter if you can tell or not. I’m not interested in a relationship with you or any man.”
“You’d take a woman? Like the Queen?” Lucas persisted.
“No. Mates don’t cheat, what’s wrong with you? Have you been down here all your life? Don’t you know protocol?”
Lucas stood and glared at David a few seconds and then exhaled. Yesterday, he looked smaller while standing next to his large Alpha. Standing a few inches shorter than David’s 6’3” but not as wide, several emotions flew across Lucas’ face, anger, regret, sorrow, and acceptance.
“Yes, I’ve been here most of my life, the past 20 years I’ve served the Queen’s men, through no choice of my own. Because I’m not swayed by her powers, she punishes me by tossing me to them to use as they see fit.”
Astonished, David searched Lucas’ words for deceit and found none. He didn’t know what to say. Brix and Leo were mated, so were Matt and Davian, but no one he knew had been used in the manner Lucas claimed. It was hard to wrap his mind around a full-blood being treated like that.
“Why were you angry when I killed him, then? Why not be happy to be free from his abuse?”
Lucas’ eyes widened and then narrowed as he snorted. “Sage protected me from the others. Would you prefer to be taken by seven thugs or one?”
David couldn’t imagine being in either situation. “I see.”
“Do you? Now I have no protection, no one to stop them from raping or using me however or whenever they choose. That’s why I’m offering my services to you.” He held up his hand, stopping David’s objection. “Doesn’t need to be sex, in fact, I’m glad you don’t lean that way. It’s not my preference either, but I wasn’t given a choice. We can be whatever you decide, just make it known I’m under your protection.”
David stared at him for a few seconds. “I need to discuss it with my Alpha.” He glanced up toward the grotto. “How do I know this isn’t a trick from the Queen to coerce me into service? She may attempt to use you, threaten you in some way, to get my obedience.” He met Lucas’ troubled gaze. “Make no mistake, I’ll never betray my Alphas or my pack. I’d give you up in a heartbeat before allowing that to happen.”
Lucas nodded. “Understood. If the Queen could control me I’d have spent time between her thighs like the others. She’s tried, but for some reason, she can’t control my thoughts or actions.”
Knowing Cain was currently under Nadira’s control left a bad taste in David’s mouth. He changed the subject.
“Where are they?” David tilted his chin to toward the tents.
“Resting inside. The fight yesterday took a toll, it will take time for them to completely heal.” He looked at David. “When they wake they’ll be hungry. You should eat before they rise. There won’t be anything left when they’re done.”
David nodded.
Wearing nothing more than a dark, tattered loin-cloth, Lucas walked off. David followed him to a small, cool cavern a short distance from the makeshift campsite. and released the bubble. He smelled the meat and food-stuffs before he stepped inside. Lucas placed several pieces of dried meat, berries and grain on a long piece of smooth wood and gave it to him.
David ate half of the tasteless meat and vowed to eat in his mom’s kitchen for a week when he returned home. Lucas filled a half-cleaned bottle with water and handed it to him. David drank and gave Lucas the plate.
“Thank you,” Lucas said drinking the water and ate the rest of David’s food. David contacted his father through Adam and explained his newest dilemma.
“Touch him,” his father said.
When Lucas stood, David placed his hand on his shoulder and sifted through his memories along with his dad. Lucas had spoken the truth. He’d been stolen from his home as a pup and brought here against his will. The Queen and the others beat him severely over the years while refusing to allow him to leave.
Another victim, Davi
d thought.
“He hates her and wants to leave that place. When you go, we’ll take him, help him find his family,” his dad said. “For now, he needs a friend, you need a guide. Work together to stay alive until we come for you.”
“Yes, Sir.” David removed his hand.
“What was that?” Lucas asked. “It felt like butterfly wings in my mind.” He sounded amazed.
“Did you get enough to eat?” David asked looking at the large food supply.
“No. Would you like more?” Lucas bent down and filled another plate and offered it to David.
“Eat, take some of the dried meat with us. I want you to show me around this place.” David took a few steps back and replaced the bubble, this time he included Lucas.
Wide-eyed, Lucas touched the bubble, grinned and touched it again.
“Eat,” David reminded him.
Lucas nodded and stuffed meat and berries in his mouth. For a smaller person, he consumed a lot of food. When he finished, he drank another bottle of water, refilled it and offered it to David.
David took the bottle and drank a little more. “Take some dried meat for later.”
Lucas pulled a few strips, wrapped them in a strip of cloth that kept the berries and nodded. “I’m ready.” He extended his hand for the bottle.
“We’ll take it with us.” David turned.
“It’s best to leave it so the others can drink, otherwise they have a reason to attack.” He looked at David.
David took another long sip and gave it to Lucas.
“Thank you. I know they’ll eventually kill me, but I don’t want their deaths on my conscience,” Lucas said softly as his cheeks reddened.
“Show me the path Sage took when he left to gather food,” David said.
Lucas bit his lip and pointed. “This way.” They walked away from the tents. The air changed, grew thick, heavy.
“Are you sure?” David said when they stopped and leaned against a wall of rock.