by Dale Mayer
Then I'm coming.
No, wait. Goran spun around. He'd heard something. He was sure he had. He crouched down closer.
And heard it. Someone moaned close to him. He punched a fist in the air.
Who? Is it Cody? Tessa? Are they okay?
I don't know. I can't tell.
Well, move the hell over. I'm almost there.
*.*.*
Jared woke up with the mother of all headaches. What happened? The last thing he remembered was a horrible groaning as the mountain gave a huge shake. He'd wondered about it being an earthquake, but then had been afraid the assholes he'd led into the mountain had done something bad.
Except they hadn't had enough time. Had they?
He sat up and put a hand to his temple. The area around him showed a few fallen rocks, but nothing like he'd expected to see. The one beside him had drops of blood. So Mother Earth had taken a lucky shot and hit him in the temple, knocking him out. The rock on the ground appeared to be what he'd smacked on the way down. Damn, but that smarted.
What was he supposed to do now? Was the mountain done shaking and grumbling? Was it safe to go any further inside? Or should he head back to the mouth of the tunnel and wait it out?
Wait what out, Jared? You showed them how to get in. How can you sit here and do nothing while they go in and annihilate your friends?
Because by now he did consider them his friends.
And that was a hell of a lot better than his family.
At the thought, he jumped to his feet. What about his father? Could he have survived this? He searched his surroundings, realized he was still alone, and bolted deeper into the mountain.
*.*.*
Rhia waited, her arms braced against the walls, for the waves to finally calm. Thankfully, the tunnel hadn’t collapsed. Then they were in the deep rock section, and that might have afforded them a little protection. She glanced back at Wendy. A very wide-eyed and frightened Wendy.
"I think it's over."
"For the moment. What if it happens again? And was that an earthquake or a bomb?"
At the mention of a bomb, Rhia winced. She didn't want to think about that. Neither option was good. Earthquakes were bad news on their own. Add a blast that could have set off the earthquake and it was really bad. Mines were often established along fault lines as that's where the minerals collected. Still, the area had to be somewhat stable because humans used dynamite all the time. And as far as she could tell, this had once been a working mine.
"I disliked this place before. Now it just gives me the creeps."
The shiver in Wendy's voice made Rhia pause. Wendy shouldn't be here. Neither should Rhia, for that matter, but she wasn't going to go home.
Wendy was a different matter.
She turned back to her and opened her mouth.
Wendy beat her to it. "No. I'm not leaving. We're here. Let's find the others and get the hell out."
Rhia studied the younger girl's determined face, turned back to the tunnel and said, “Fine. Let's get this done."
Tessa hated the shakiness wracking her soul. Never a huge fan of the great outdoors, this rock pile was bringing every old nightmare back to life while adding a slew of new ones. She might never sleep again. She shifted away from the hard rocky points jabbing her soft flesh. Dirt drifted, clogging the air. She shuddered, eying the boulder above her. That damn thing looked ready to crush her at any moment.
She heard voices and wanted them to be her family, but what if they were the assholes hunting her?
I think it's my father. Cody's whisper slipped through her mind on a warm wind.
Really? Do you think I should yell out? She perked up. Moments later she heard her father's frustrated voice calling out, "Damn it. They have to be here somewhere."
It is my father! She took a chance and cried out. "Dad?"
Silence.
The air filled with hollers. "Tessa? Is that you?"
"Are you okay?" Her father's voice moved closer. "Can you show us where you are?"
"Is Cody with you?" Goran's thready voice was thin with hope.
She sniffled back tears, unexplained laughter threatening to bubble up. "Cody is somewhere close by. But I don't know where. He says his wing is pinned."
Snaking a hand through the rocks, she poked her fingers upward as far as she could and wiggled them. "Can you see me?"
"There she is." She heard her father call out, followed by sounds of someone scrambling over rocks. She wiggled her fingers again. They were grabbed and squeezed.
"Gotcha."
"Oh, thank God." Cody. My father found me. We'll find you as soon as I can get out of here. Your father is searching for you. Can you call out? Give him some indication of where you are at?
Silence.
Cody? Damn it, Cody. Are you there? Can you hear me?
"Dad," she shouted. "Cody stopped answering me."
Fear propelled her to push up against the smaller rocks beside her. A small round circle of light appeared only to be instantly blocked by her father's face.
"Did you find Cody?"
Serus checked behind him. "Goran is searching for him. Let's get you out of here and we'll join in."
By the time the two of them had maneuvered enough rocks out of the way for her to slither though, she felt like she'd survived a session with a rock crusher. So not nice. And Cody still hadn't answered the calls.
Ignoring her own pain, she crawled over to the closest rock and sat where she could survey the cavern. Her damaged leg stretched out in front of her. As long as she didn't stare at it, the pain was tolerable, but if she let her gaze wander to the bloody mess, yeah, her stomach heaved and she almost passed out from the pain.
"Jesus, Tessa. Look at your leg," her father gasped
She gave him a wry smile. "Actually Dad, I was trying hard not to. Forget about my leg."
"Hard to do when it's right in front of me." Serus squatted in front of Tessa. "Can you make out Cody's energy at all?"
She shook her head. "Not from here. I need to stand up."
They both gazed down at her almost useless leg.
And then the pain started. Tears welled up and stabbing pains covered her left side. "Shit."
"Easy. You are doing fine. The leg will heal."
She glanced up at him. "Will it? How fast? Cody needs us now."
The rush of wings had her turning around to find Goran landing on rocks behind her.
"Tessa, glad you survived. Do you know where Cody is?"
She repeated what she'd told her father, adding, "If you carry me up high enough, I might be able to spot something."
With her father's help, Goran gently picked her up. She shuddered as her leg was jarred. She held it away from his body as he swooped upward until they hovered twenty feet above the rocks. She spotted David, Ian, and Jewel huddled against the tunnel entrance. She waved at them, relieved when they waved back. "Were they hurt at all?"
"No. We were just far enough behind you and Cody that by the time we reached the mouth of the cavern the rocks were already coming down."
She kept her gaze on the floor below as she listened to them. Horrible memories flooded her psyche, making it difficult to focus. Not being able to see much in the way of energy trails – just those made by the elders – made it that much harder. She swallowed hard and tried to concentrate. She watched her father's and her own energy trail from the rock prison rising into the air. But she couldn't find Cody's.
There should be his energy from the fall. If it hadn’t dissipated.
Damn. She was looking at it wrong. "Can you turn around? So I can see his energy path from his fall?"
Slowly Goran flew in a wide circle as she pulled the story together. There's where she'd fallen, and Cody...his energy dove into that rock pile...thank God. He'd come down about thirty feet away from her. And closer to the wall. There was no visible sign that he'd moved after falling. She pointed out the
spot. "I can't see him or his energy after he fell, so he hasn't moved."
She glanced behind her to find Serus already almost upon them. She wanted to help the men lift rocks out of the way, but she wasn't going to be able to stand on her own. And as long as Goran was supporting her, he couldn't help Cody. A flat rock sat off to the side. "Can you take me over to that spot, please?" He lowered her gently to the rock then flew off to help Serus.
Tessa stood on one leg and watched. Cody's energy lay low and quiet. Please let him be all right. Please. She watched her father toss rocks away fast and efficiently. Seconds later, he shouted, "He's here."
Oh, thank God.
Cody? Cody, can you hear me? Please talk to me.
There was only silence.
*.*.*
Goran landed on the biggest rock beside Serus. It was hard to pick the right place as he didn't dare land on a rock that might be holding his son down. He stepped over to where Serus stood and peered over the edge. Cody lay face down, half buried in rocks with only his shoulders and head free.
Working his way carefully downward, Goran cleared a path until he crouched beside Cody and placed a hand on his head. His boy was alive but unconscious with a huge boulder pinning his wing down, just as Tessa had said.
He winced. That had got to hurt. First things first. The rock had to go. After that, they'd need to find a place to hole up and let the two kids heal. Enough was enough – for all of them.
"Serus, give me a hand." With both of them on either side of the boulder, they might be able to lift it up.
Serus jumped down, careful to avoid Cody's legs, and crouched into position.
Goran looked at him. "We're going to have to lift it straight up and off to the side. So you'll have to jump at the same time I lift off – got it?"
Serus nodded.
Goran started the countdown. "Three. Two. One..."
With muscles bulging, backs straining, and their faces twisted with effort, both men finally managed to pick the boulder up off the ground. Below them, Cody groaned. Goran hoped that was in relief and not that they’d hurt him in the process of helping him.
Now that the rock was up, they needed to get it clear. At the count of three again, he unfurled his wings and slowly lifted. Serus jumped up and sideways. At the last moment, the boulder tipped to the side.
"Watch out!" Goran gave a hard shove, and the boulder rolled over to crash on the pile beside them. Rock shards flew in all directions.
Goran rushed back to Cody's side.
His son coughed, lifted his head and coughed again. A plume of dust rose up into his face and set him off on another coughing fit.
Goran reached down and helped Cody into a sitting position. His damaged wing stretched limply on one side.
"Shit." Cody's face twisted in pain. "Now that is not good."
Goran braced Cody's shoulder, then, after a long look at the damage, popped it back into place.
Cody roared.
Goran winced. "Sorry, son. Your shoulder was dislocated. Now we can get your wing to fold back up." He reached over and used just enough force to get the job done. He firmly refolded the injured wing. Cody's shoulders hunched and he pulled free from Goran's grasp, gasping loudly.
"It should be able to heal now. The good news is that it's not broken."
When Cody didn't answer, he squatted in front of him. Sweat beads rolled off Cody's forehead and a pulsing twitch pounded along his jaw. Goran gave him a couple of minutes, then asked quietly. "Are you okay?"
Cody lifted his head and gave him a short nod. "I will be."
Cody?
*.*.*
He glanced around to find Tessa standing behind him. Tessa. I'm fine. Or I will be. Are you okay?
She nodded. My leg is damaged, but I'm alive. That's what counts.
Pride and joy surged through him as she stood, injured herself but worried about him. She was such a warrior. You are so right. I'm going to be fine. Although I won't be taking you for a flight around town any time soon.
She laughed, the sound bouncing through his mind and making him smile. Using his hands to push himself up, he slowly straightened. Once back on his feet, he took a deep breath and gazed around at the devastation. Rocks, dirt, and clouds of dust everywhere. Hearing a sound on his left, he turned to watch David, Ian, and Jewel approach.
"About time you woke up. All you're doing is sleeping on the job." Ian reached out to hit him, then realized his fist was aimed at his injured shoulder, and swerved away at the last moment.
Cody glared at him. "Yeah. Thanks for missing me."
Jewel kissed him gently on the cheek. "I'm so happy to see you alive and well."
"Almost well." Cody straightened and shrugged gently, barely holding back the grimace of pain. "With any luck, I'll be fine in a few hours."
"And that brings us to the next item of business. We need food and rest. A place to stay in until you two heal and we can recharge. Doesn't have to be too long, but we have to make sure it's enough that we can fight our way out of here," David said with a pointed look at Cody’s wing.
Cody nodded. "Damn good idea."
"Tessa can't move without help," Serus pointed out. "Goran, can you carry her back to the tunnel opening? We'll scout ahead and see what we can find."
Goran nodded. "Give me a minute to move the two of them over."
Cody snorted. "I can get over there on my own. Go get Tessa."
With an assessing glance at his son, Goran lifted up and headed toward Tessa.
Stubborn.
He grinned at Tessa's voice in his head as he made his way slowly back to the tunnel. Maybe. But I can walk. You can't.
True. Her disgruntled tone made him chuckle. He caught their friends looking at him strangely. He dropped his smile and shrugged at them sheepishly. "Sorry. Inside joke."
"You really can talk to her, can't you?" Jewel asked?
He nodded. "It's weird. And fun."
"Sounds like it," Jewel said.
Serus stepped up and said, "Talk when we're back at the tunnel."
Cody straightened, hating the damage his body had sustained. It had been a tough week. As long as he wasn't floating ash, he was good with it. But that tunnel appeared to be a long way away.
In a quiet voice, Jewel asked, "Are you okay? Do you want a hand?"
He hid his grin as he gazed down at the tiniest vampire he knew. "I'll be fine. But thanks."
David smirked at him. "I could toss you over there."
"You and whose army?" Cody scoffed. "You can barely drag your sorry ass around without trying to lift mine."
The gentle wrangling continued as they made their way to the tunnel entrance. The whole way, Cody had tried to talk to Tessa, but she'd closed a door between them. Up ahead he watched his father land and stand almost protectively in front of her.
Was she more badly injured than they'd thought?
Tessa?
I'm here.
His breath wooshed out. You disappeared. I wasn't sure what happened.
You were worried? Her smile rippled through his mind. No need.
Then why did you leave. It's like you shut me out.
I did.
Silence.
Why? He asked cautiously. But inside, frustration built. Why would she do that? And how did she do that? He had no idea how to leave her mind at all.
Because the pain was so bad I didn't want you to hear me screaming.
Oh shit. Are you that badly hurt?
My leg. It might be healing, but it sure doesn't feel like it.
Yeah, it must suck to be human. He couldn't imagine a leg taking six weeks to heal. A bad break could take a vampire six hours, but normally a couple of hours would put one back to good health. In Tessa's case, he had no idea. And you didn't need to hide your feelings from me. I wouldn't have thought less of you if I heard you scream, you know.
She smiled again, so faint it was like a wh
isper, something he felt more than saw. How weird was that?
I hated hearing your pain.
Oh shit. Yeah, that changed things. He thought she'd been worried about what he'd hear, and instead she'd been protecting him from being upset at her suffering. Somehow, he felt like he'd failed a test.
No! No tests here.
Maybe, but I didn't understand, and I feel like I should have.
She laughed. We haven't had time enough to know how the other one thinks or reacts for that.
I know. But you're right. I hadn't considered what hearing you scream would do to me. And you thought of it before I did.
So? It's not a contest. Quit your complaining and get over here.
But her words were warm and tinged with humor, making him once again aware of how m ature she was.
Yeah, life is like that.
No, I mean it. You understand people like no one else I know. Except... He thought about it. Your mother, maybe?
Then that's easy, I learned it from her.
No. I think you learned because of the challenges you're faced. You might have gotten your big heart from her, but you use it differently. Look at Jewel and how you handled her. Look at Xana and how sorry you were that I'd been forced to kill her. She needed killing, but you were worried about the effect of doing so on me. See, that's all you. It comes from your heart.
Silence. He was almost close enough to see her face now. Her face was lowered. He wasn't sure, but it looked like she was hiding it.
Are you okay? He asked in alarm.
She lifted her face and he could see the shy smile and bright pink cheeks.
He'd embarrassed her. I tell you the truth and you get shy and hide away. He shook his head in bemusement. You're going to have to get used to it. I'm not going to hold back when I see something fantastic. Honestly, you're something very different for me, and I'm learning a lot about myself through you.
He could feel a hesitation in his mind. He rushed to add, Different in a good way. You're warmer, more caring than other females I've known. You're almost... and he held the words back.