David's Dilemma

by Sydney Addae

  Minutes later the chattering and shivering stopped. David exhaled and moved slowly out the tent, grabbing the makeshift rope and untied the knots.

  That whole ordeal scared him.

  Someone’s life had been in his hands. One mistake and Lucas would’ve died. With the water rising, there may not have been a second chance. David’s throat tightened as his head dropped forward. How did his father handle such an awesome responsibility? It boggled his mind.

  Reading, studying and discussing the mechanics of being an Alpha didn’t prepare you for the fear of failure or the adrenaline coursing through your body when forced to act. The utter determination not to lose and the reality of the possibility of defeat were two sides of the same coin. He leaned against the wall with his eyes closed to slow down his heart.

  Did he have what it takes to be an Alpha? Did he want the job? Unsure of the answer, he glanced toward the tent and exhaled.

  Time would tell.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  The first copter set Silas, Jasmine, Hawke, and Asia down at the Knight campground near Ungava Bay. Their Inuit guides made it clear the electric fence and armed guards surrounding the camp was necessary to keep away polar bears.

  Silas and Jasmine smiled politely and waited for the other copters to arrive with their pups. Once they assembled, the guides explained the campground, discussed local legends and offered to return for additional tours into the mountains.

  “Thank you. Your government has given us 48 hours to find my son and leave. As you can see, our people are here and have been waiting for us.” He pointed to the Knights. “Once we have our son, we’d enjoy sitting with you for a meal. But right now, we must find him.”

  The Elder looked at Silas, nodded and walked away from the camp. The Knights came forward and picked up their bags. “This way, Sir.”

  Silas followed and spoke to the lead Knight. “As soon as we put the bags down, I’d like to see the prisoner.”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  They entered a large tent. Jasmine looked around and opened her bag for a snack. “Once Asia gets here, have her use the chameleon on the prisoner while I talk to him,” Silas said after refusing her offer of food.

  She finished her muffin and nodded. Moments later, the entire group entered their tent. “Asia, Jasmine, Hawke and I are going to meet the prisoner. When we’re done we’ll go hunting. Dress warm,” Silas told his pups while ushering Jasmine and Asia out the tent.

  “This way, Sir.” They followed the Knight and entered a tent in the middle of the camp. Inside a blond, dirty version of Jarcee sat in a chair with a neck brace Angus had retrofitted from the Liege’s stash, to secure prisoners.

  The full-blood’s eyes widened when he saw them, the collar prevented him from any other movement. Smiling at him, Asia moved forward and placed her hand on his shoulder.

  “What’s your name?” Silas asked.

  “Baez,” he whispered.

  “Tone down the collar,” Silas told the Knight. “I need answers, he can’t talk with it turned up that high.”

  “Yes, Sir.” He released most of the pressure on the collar.

  Baez looked up at Asia.

  “How do we get inside the mountain to find my son?” Silas asked, drawing his attention.

  Baez frowned and looked at him. “Your son?”

  “David. He killed Sage,” Silas said.

  “He killed them all. Nadira is alone.” He spoke haltingly and looked at Asia. “What are you doing? I feel butterflies in my head.”

  “Nothing just wanted to get up close, personal,” she said before glancing at Jasmine.

  “Do you have enough information?” Jasmine asked Asia.

  “Yes, to take more would damage him,” Asia said removing her hand.

  “Who is Nadira?” Jasmine asked moving to stand in front of Silas.

  “My Queen,” Baez said with a hint of pride.

  “Why is Nadira locked in the mountain?” Jasmine asked.

  He frowned. “The High Priestess Isodora punished her.”

  Silas’ brow rose.

  “What did she do?” When he didn’t answer, a swirl of Jasmine’s energy whipped around the room. Baez jerked as his eyes widened.

  “What did Nadira do to be punished by the Priestess?” Jasmine asked.

  “Sold her sisters into slavery,” the prisoner said.

  No one expected that. “How long has she been imprisoned?” Jasmine asked a few moments later.

  “I don’t know. Decades,” he said watching Jasmine.

  “Can she escape? What happens if she escapes?” Jasmine asked.

  “I don’t know, she’s never left.”

  “Do we contact this Isodora, ask her to release our guys? That may be the easiest way,” Jasmine asked Asia and Silas. She looked at Asia. “Ask your mom if she knows a Priestess Isodora.”

  “There’s a High Priestess for Salah the Blessed named Isodora,” Silas said slowly.

  “Who?”

  He explained the story from the apocryphal Book of Jasher.

  “Wait, you mean there’s a record of you guys talking to the patriarch Jacob from the Old Testament and you’re just telling me?” Jasmine stared up at him, incredulous.

  “There are several mentions of dual-natured beasts in the Book of Jasher which is one of the reasons it wasn’t canonized. Be glad it’s not widespread knowledge, the last thing we need is to be validated by humans.”

  “Your snobbery is showing in front of this human,” she told him with an arched brow.

  He smiled, kissed her cheek and said. “My apologies, Sweet Bitch.”

  “Stop sweet talking me, what do you want to do with him?” She tipped her head toward Baez.

  “Depends on what Asia learned from him,” he said.

  “Mom’s heard of the High Priestess and will try to get information on how to contact her,” Asia said. She looked at Baez. “Tough story with that one. His litter-mates served Nadira for 12 years. This was the first time he left the cave in all that time and only because he was the only one alive to get food. He’s worried that she’ll starve and die. All of his thoughts revolve around her well-being.”

  “Is the path in and out the cave in his memories?” Silas asked.

  “It’s a dance using certain steps. I have the pattern but not the cadence or rhythm which is equally important. But, two can enter at a time. If we send him in, he can take one person with him.”

  As soon as Asia said it, Silas sensed Jasmine’s response and waited. For several moments indecision rode her hard and him as well. His beast fought to remain quiet to allow her to decide.

  She looked at the full-blood again and then at Silas. “We could have him return and bring out one person at a time.”

  Afraid he knew where this was going, he nodded but didn’t speak.

  She continued. “That way we wouldn’t need to negotiate with Nadira.”

  “His allegiance is to her, he won’t leave without her permission,” Silas said.

  “The dead can’t speak,” Jasmine said before looking at Asia. “It has to be a female, Nadira compromises male energies and the full-blood will obey a female.”

  Silas had seen the full-blood’s submissive response to Jasmine and agreed. “How do you want to handle this?” He didn’t like it but would trust her judgment.

  “For one thing, we need to take them some food, and a few supplies.” She frowned and then looked at him surprised. “Can Asia merge with him? Take his place?”

  Silas’ brow rose. She continued to amaze him. He’d forgotten about that ability inherent in the chameleon. That way Asia would have knowledge of how to bring David and Cain out.

  “Great idea, she could go alone—”

  “No. As part of a team, two of us are going in with food.” She met his gaze.

  He read her determination and nodded. “What will we do? Hang around outside waiting for bears?”

  “You could shift and hunt.” She smiled at him.

&n
bsp; “Since we don’t have permission, chances are we’d get shot.” He pulled her close, inhaled deeply and said a small prayer for her safety.

  “Send out the Knights, Asia’s going to merge with him. Hawke’s going to remain here with her body until we come back.”

  Silas looked at Hawke, who nodded. Silas sent everyone out. Asia walked to the full-blood, touched his shoulder and moments later exchanged bodies. Hawke released Asia’s body from the collar and shackles and laid her on the cot.

  “Ready?” Jasmine asked Asia.

  “Ready.” They strode out the tent and met the others. Tyrese’ brow rose as Jasmine explained the plan. Each person took food from their tent and entered the copters. Soon they were in the air, headed back to the cave that held David and Cain.

  Silas tried to contact Cain but couldn’t. He reached out to Abel, and through him spoke to Cain. “We’re here and on our way. Here’s’ the plan.”

  WHEN THE HELICOPTERS touched down, the group spread out. Dressed in heavy fur coats, hats, boots and gloves, Renee and Jackie used their phones to take pictures of the beautiful mountainside. Storm, Quinn, and Tyrone remained close by while watching the full-blood prisoner lift the bags of food on his shoulder.

  Silas watched Rose and Danielle try to stuff more supplies into a separate bag for Jasmine to carry inside. Tyrese stood next to him, silent.

  Jasmine glanced at Silas. “Thoughts?”

  “Has Asia heard from her mom about the Priestess?” he asked thinking it would be a good idea to have permission to go inside first.

  “Not yet. What’s your gut on this? Think it’s a problem or should we wait to hear from her?” Jasmine met his gaze.

  “I’d feel better with permission to enter since this is a prison of sorts,” he said.

  She stared at him a few seconds. “How long should we wait? It’s cold out here. Do you want to return to the base and wait there?”

  He heard her frustration as he thought about it. “Ask Asia to contact Amynta again. See if there’s a way for us to contact the High Priestess directly to ask permission.”

  Jasmine nodded.

  A few minutes later, he heard Asia’s response through Jasmine. “Isodora hasn’t responded yet. Mom says it takes time and suggests we wait, there’s a reason for the imprisonment.”

  Silas nodded.

  “I can take the food in,” Asia said. “Cain said they were almost out of food.”

  Even though Asia had merged with the full-blood, Silas didn’t want to take a chance of her going inside and something happening to her. “An hour or two won’t hurt. They can wait,” he told Jasmine.

  “Can you talk to David? I need to hear his voice,” Jasmine asked Silas.

  He asked Renee if he could merge with her as she connected with David. Seconds later Silas saw his son sitting on the ground in front of the tent. “How are you, Son?”

  “Okay. Cain said you and Mom were here and had a plan. She’s coming inside with Baez, bringing supplies.”

  “Yeah. That was the plan, we’re waiting to get permission from Isodora, the High Priestess who imprisoned Nadira. Do you know anything about it?”

  “Only that she thinks Isodora sent us to harass her. I’m glad you’re checking first though. Nadira’s mental. I’d hate to be responsible for her getting out and hurting people,” David said.

  “She’s dangerous?”

  “Could be, especially to full-bloods. Ask Mom. Nadira packs a nasty punch.”

  “We’re thinking of allowing Asia to come in with supplies. She’ll look like the full-blood,” Silas said. “It’s highly confidential, you can’t speak of it.”

  David frowned. “Huh?”

  “It’s a tool we have and use sparingly that allows a person to merge with another for a short time. Asia’s merged with Baez and has food that she can bring in. Since Baez’s been there before, we’re thinking it might be okay.”

  Jasmine met his gaze across the field.

  “Based on what I’ve seen, I don’t think that’s a good idea. The way Nadira’s slaves serve her is intense. I don’t see Asia doing the things she’d need to do and Nadira might kill Asia for disobedience.”

  “She would try,” Silas said confident of Asia’s ability to defeat Nadira.

  “Nadira owns them completely, I don’t understand the merging thing you’re talking about, but if he’s alive, a part of him will serve her,” David said.

  “How’s your food supply?” Silas asked.

  “Gone. But we’ll be okay for a while.”

  Jasmine frowned but still didn’t speak.

  “We’re going to wait a while to hear from the High Priestess, so we can bring in supplies and negotiate your release. How’s the slave?”

  “Lucas?” David asked.

  “Yes. Is he well?”

  David told him about the accident and his fear.

  “It’s a good sign that you were afraid but didn’t allow it to stop you from acting to save his life. I’m proud of you. We’ll see you soon,” Silas said, ending the transmission.

  “They’ll be okay,” he told Jasmine.

  “For now,” she said as he walked toward her and the girls.

  “Yes, we’ll return with the food and get it to them, I promise,” he said taking her hand and kissing the back of it.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  THREE HOURS LATER THEY hadn’t heard from Priestess Isodora and Amynta had no other news or advice. Afraid David and Cain would suffer from lack of food, Silas agreed to allow Jasmine and Asia to enter the mountain.

  The copters returned with a smaller party to the cave, Renee, Rose, Danielle, and Jackie remained at the camp with Hawke, Storm, and Tyrone. Tyrese, Quinn, and Silas accompanied Jasmine and Asia to the area where the full-blood would enter. Concerned the full-blood would fight her once inside, Asia took him over completely. With several bags of food, and Jasmine’s hand on her shoulder in the exact manner she’d seen it done in Baez’s memories they entered the cavern.

  Asia completed the complicated foot movements as they moved forward. Something hard slammed into Jasmine’s chest, knocking her backward. The bags fell and rolled forward behind Asia.

  “Jasmine!” Silas called and ran forward to help her stand.

  Dazed she stared at what appeared to be a solid wall. “What happened? Where’s Asia?”

  “Inside I guess. What happened to you?” He scanned her to ensure she was okay.

  “Something hit me in the chest, knocked me back, I fell, wasn’t expecting it.” She shook her head and looked around. “Did the food make it?”

  “We don’t know. Can you reach Asia?” Silas asked concerned.

  “Asia?”

  “Mistress? Where are you? What happened?”

  Jasmine explained. “Cain knows you’re there, he’ll tell David. Find them before Nadira comes to you. The food is for them.”

  “Yes, Ma’am.”

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  ASIA HAD TAKEN A FEW steps when David appeared. He looked her over and then smiled. “Let me help you with that. We have a few seconds to get back into the tents before she realizes you’re here.”

  She handed him the bags of food and picked up a bag Jasmine had dropped. “Go take it, I’ll follow.”

  David took the bags and ran.

  Asia moved slowly, looking around as Baez memories filled in blanks. Then she felt it, the screeching call from his mistress to report immediately. She and Mistress hadn’t decided how to handle this, one thing for sure she wouldn’t be the same Baez who left yesterday. Nor would she allow Nadira to kill anyone, if necessary she’d fight the woman.

  The command came again but wasn’t as bad this time. Hawke’s interference all but neutralized the call. She walked slowly, looked at the camp area. David nodded at her from the inside. She saw the feet of someone and tossed David the remainder of the supplies. Rather than walk up the steps as she was being commanded, Asia sat on a large stone near the camp.

  She sensed Cain
’s approach and someone else's.

  Asia looked up into the furious gaze of Nadira in her naked glory. She flicked her fingers and erected a barrier between them before the woman reached her.

  “Where have you been?” Nadira asked in a low growl.

  Asia looked at her shrugged.

  Nadira frowned. “What is wrong with you? You’re not responding. What happened?”

  Asia cut her eyes at the woman and shrugged again.

  “Kneel in my presence,” Nadira demanded.

  Asia gave her a ‘get real’ look and leaned back against the wall.

  Gaze narrowed, talons extended, Nadira swiped at Asia and jumped back holding her hand. “Bastard! What is wrong with you? What did they do to him?” she asked Cain.

  “I don’t know,” Cain said frowning.

  She threw a punch into the shield. “This is from your people,” she yelled at Cain. “They compromised him. Fix it.”

  “What?” Cain said in a low tone.

  “You heard me.” She took several steps backward, began an incantation.

  “Get ready,” Asia told Hawke and braced herself for a mental assault.

  Nadira slammed into her mind with brute force. Searching and seeking for something to attack or attach. Hawke kept things fluid, frustrating her ability to lock Asia down.

  A look of horror crossed Nadira’s face. “What have they done to you? It’s like your mind is neutered. Who is your Alpha?” she whispered.

  “La Patron,” Asia said boldly.

  “They sent you here to negotiate terms for their release?” She pointed at Cain and then David.

  “Yes,” Asia said, making it up as she went along. They hadn’t heard from the High Priestess, but it was time to get these men out of the mountain. Neither the Canadian government nor the Inuit Elders would allow them to remain in the mountains much longer.

  Nadira grinned and rubbed her hands together. “Good. I will release the men if La Patron releases me.”