BirthMark

by Sydney Addae

  Silas threw out his energy and searched the compound. He touched every heartbeat to insure they had permission to be on the grounds. Afterward, he contacted Hank.

  “Do a roll call, make sure no one left the lab who could have passed on some chemicals or shot Rese. Whoever took him had help from inside.”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  “Jasmine?”

  “Yes?”

  “Are you locked down?”

  “Yes, the kids and I are locked in the tunnels. Don’t worry about us, focus on finding Rese and kicking some ass.”

  “Bloodthirsty bitch.”

  “You love it.”

  “Yes, yes I do,” he said, entering the lift to head upstairs to his control room.

  “They came too close, Silas. I can’t have them coming this close.”

  “I know and I promise you, I will take care of it.”

  “Thanks, baby.”

  Chapter 16

  Jasmine released a stream of air to quell her jittery nerves. He eyes landed on Lilly holding David while he slept. Adam lay across Thorne’s lap, laughing and trying to grab the small ball from Thorne’s hand. Renee was looking at a picture book with Rose, and Jackie was working her puzzle.

  Cameron returned after checking all the other rooms. “Everything looks good, do you need anything,” he asked her while glancing at Lilly.

  “Silas, but I’ll have to wait for that.”

  Her answer had him doing a double take before he smiled and nodded. “Yeah, won’t be long though.” He picked up the remote and turned on one of the TVs in the corner. The reception wasn’t the best, so he looked through the DVDs and put in a movie. Jasmine smiled at his choice, Finding Nemo. As soon as it started, Adam, Renee, and Jackie turned to stare at the screen. She smiled as Cameron slid into the seat next to Lilly, placed his arm around her and pulled her close. Those two were going to be fine.

  “I’m going to lie down for a minute,” she told Rose as she moved to the opposite side of the large area to lay on the sofa. She was worried for her sons. Tyrone was so connected to Tyrese that if anything happened to one…she wasn’t sure if the other would survive. Closing her eyes, she sought her mate. Seconds later, she watched him enter a large room she had never seen before and kneel in the middle of the floor. He clasped his hands together and bowed his head.

  Oh my God, he’s praying, she thought.

  The heaviness of his heart for his people touched and humbled her. She was stunned by the enormity of the weight of his confusion over the past events as he asked for guidance to do the right thing, to make the best decisions. He asked for protection of his family and those who worked diligently by his side daily to govern the wolf nation.

  Jasmine lay in utter shock as Silas communicated with the Goddess and asked nothing for himself, other than wisdom and knowledge on how to better take care of the wolves. She exhaled and joined with him. He stiffened initially and then merged with her as they asked for guidance as one.

  Opening all her senses, she was filled with Silas’ absolute confidence that the Goddess would be with him and guide all of his decisions in this fight. She was lifted along with him into a place where worries were released and left at the feet of someone greater. Bright ribbons of color swirled around them binding her closer to him, until their hearts beat in one synchronized rhythm. A curious lightness invaded her being, filling her until there was no room for fear. And then, she heard his words.

  “I and my mate humbly seek your guidance. Thank you, Goddess of light.” She was touched that he’d included her in his benediction and sent waves of love and support through their link.

  “Thank you, Jasmine. I’ve always done this alone. But it is good you are with me.”

  “We are stronger together. I can stay merged with you until we kick their asses.”

  Silas chuckled. “Not a complete merge, love. I trust those with you, but I need you alert to everything around you and the babies.” He paused. “Thank you for your trust.”

  “I’ve got your back, Silas. I’ll give you a lil' room, but I’m close if you need me.”

  “Okay.”

  Rejuvenated, Silas exhaled and turned on all of the monitors in the room. One by one, he opened files, turned on surveillance cameras, and reset all his links to the outside world. Within minutes he had eyes on his honor guards. The small packs with clothes and weapons they carried on their backs made their progress slower, but they'd soon reach their positions. They could not enter the mine, it was too dangerous. Their jobs were simple, no one was allowed to leave the mine alive.

  “They’ve stopped. The van stopped. I still can’t wake him,” Tyrone said.

  “Lie down and close your eyes. Just support him, don’t try to work through the drugs, they will pass through his system eventually.” Silas flowed through their link waiting to hear something.

  “You got him?” a voice asked after a door opened.

  “Yes, Sir.”

  Silas swept the area, all human.

  “Good. Leon and the girl? Did you see the meat-heads?”

  “Didn’t see the other three. Got the girl, couldn’t get Leon out, it would’ve taken more time. She was locked down but it was easier to slide her wrists through and she didn’t have ankle cuffs."

  The man snorted. “They always overlook women and this one…” The door opened, the men were near Tyrese and came in clear. Silas could smell the speaker’s nervousness.

  “She’s the best assassin in the ranks, probably the world. Can shoot a tick off a dog from yards away or maim a man in three seconds. Mind like a trap, sharp. Higher ups spent a shitload of money on her and the Lion. They want them back.”

  “I brought in these two, and we’re out.” There were other footsteps, Silas thought there were at least five men in the immediate area.

  “Okay…you sure you don’t want to get the other one?”

  “Yeah, come back, I’d love to meet you,” Silas whispered.

  “No. We’re done.”

  “Thanks. Job well done.”

  There were footsteps, a popping sound, and then the sound of flesh hitting the concrete. “Get them outta here. Take them down to the incinerator.”

  “Pull the van into the lift, send it downstairs. We have a lot of work to do before the plane arrives. Move it people, I want to leave this dumbfuck town before sundown,” he yelled.

  The van moved forward and stopped. There was a whirring sound.

  “It’s moving down. They’re taking him down, where are you Dad?” Tyrone asked.

  “I’m here but I don’t have a weapon yet, and they’re hot. I’m trying to get in a better position,” Davian whispered.

  Silas looked at the screen. There were men with guns walking the perimeter, and his guard still hadn’t arrived. “Davian, there is a guard walking near the northwest corner of the property, right now he’s alone.

  Silas watched as the guard walked by a small bush. An arm reached out and pulled him into the bushes. It happened so quickly it was a blur. “One down,” Davian said as he stepped from the bushes dressed in the borrowed uniform and holding a firearm.

  The van jerked to a stop as it reached the bottom. Once again Silas threw out his senses and smiled. There were two half-breeds nearby. One worked the communications console and the other worked security.

  “Put them on the gurney and follow me,” the same voice from outside spoke. There was some jostling. “Get two more men, do not drop him. It’s your life if you do.”

  “Good, now lay him here.” Tyrese was placed gently on a smooth surface and wheeled away. After a few minutes they stopped. “Ready?”

  “Yes,” another man spoke with eagerness.

  “Shit, shit shit,” Tyrone yelled. “They injected him with something that burns like fire. Oh my God, they poisoned him.”

  Silas clenched his fist in an effort to maintain control. His wolf wanted to hurt someone. Frantically he checked Tyrese’s vitals, and other than his heart racing, he seemed s
table. He inhaled and exhaled a few times to calm down.

  “I can’t go in. He needs me and I can’t go in,” Tyrone said, distraught.

  “I’m still in, it’s okay. I’m not leaving.”

  Tyrese’s body bucked and his eyes flashed open. In that moment, Silas saw two men standing back watching. One wore a white coat, the other a denim shirt and jeans. Silas flashed their images to every wolf he was connected too. These two men had just been named enemies of the nation and would be killed on sight no matter where they went.

  Tyrese collapsed back onto the gurney, closing his eyes.

  “Did it work?” one of the men asked.

  “I don’t know, it needs some time.”

  “It worked immediately on all the rest.”

  “You want to call it in, Trigg?” There was a note of derision in the man’s voice.

  “No, we’ll wait a few minutes. I guess being the Patron’s son might make a difference.”

  “You think?”

  There were footsteps leaving.

  “Fuck Trigg, screw all of them,” someone whispered harshly to Tyrese. “They have no idea what you can do, do they, son of Silas Knight. They watched the video and think they know you. They know nothing. This drug may weaken your wolf, but it will make your human side ten times stronger. I hope you kick their asses,” he finished.

  Silas guessed the man speaking was the one in the lab coat and wished he could talk the man. He sent Davian instructions to save the man in the lab coat if he could. Next he booted up the remote laptop and then grabbed the wolf of the half-breed working communications. It was weak like the detective’s, but that didn’t mean Silas couldn’t control the human through the wolf.

  Within moments, he was online to their entire communications system. Silas got his first look around the mine. It was dim everywhere except the main area. Bright flood lights provided the necessary illumination to move around safely. The area where they staged the operation had been the loading area for the carts going down into the mines. There was a small flat cleared area where they worked. Four steel posts held metal beams creating a square to support the ceiling. Silas felt better seeing those although this area was still below ground, just not that deep.

  There were a few areas, like communications, that were cleared as well. Pallets of supplies were stacked in random locations and a makeshift mapping area was near the van. The amount of trash made it obvious they had been there a while.

  “Hank?”

  “Yes, Sir?”

  “You got someone good who can run traces?”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  “It’s on the remote. I don’t want this coming back to anything here.”

  “I will bump it off-site to a fellow I keep around for just this type of thing.”

  “I’m sending it to you, send it to him and then get out, have him clean behind you. I want locations and names.”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  Silas checked on Davian. The man had entered the lower grounds. Silas switched on all the screens. “Stop Davian.”

  The man stopped just as two guards walked past him. “They gave Tyrese some sort of drug, he’s not as deep as before but he’s not conscious yet. I’ll get you closer to him.”

  Davian nodded but didn’t speak.

  “I’m back in,” Tyrone said.

  “I’m leading your father to him.”

  “You have eyes?”

  “There was a breed working the consoles. Another one walking around as security.”

  “You need help?” The note of hopefulness stopped the automatic ‘no’ that sprung to Silas’ lips.

  “I can always use a smart pair of hands. I’m in my control room, you’ve never been here. Go to the elevator next to my office and I will clear you once you’re in.”

  “Thank you, Sir.”

  Busy watching Davian creep down the dark corridor, he grunted. A ding alerted him to an elevator being used without authorization. He glanced at the monitor and frowned, he didn’t recognize the person. Silas allowed the elevator to move, but stopped it between floors. Using the elevator camera, he did a scan. Human. The person slapped the walls searching for a way out. The box was solid, made to contain wolves.

  Silas pushed the intercom button on the console. “Security?”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  “Elevator 5 has an unauthorized human, they are locked between floors, I’ll send the box to the lower level, proceed with care. Feel free to exterminate if they give you any problems.” Chances were they found the connection to Tyrese’ capture.

  “Yes, Sir.”

  “Tyrone?” Silas looked at the monitor and scanned the young man.

  “Yes, Sir?”

  “I’m bringing you up.” He hoped the human didn’t give security any problems. He would love to talk with him or her.

  Silas stood, punched in some keys on the keypad and waited. Tyrone looked like he hadn’t slept in weeks. His eyes were red and puffy as he walked silently into the room.

  “Sit here; there was a human sneaking around the gym tunnel area. I don’t know if they came in when I opened the shield for Davian’s car or not, but I’ve got to handle that. Time for some exterminating,” Silas said, returning to his chair.

  “What?” Tyrone sat in another chair and watched the monitor. “They’re taking him or her out now. What do you mean exterminating?”

  “Tell them I said take it to the bomb shelter, strip it, and toss it in. We’ll deal with it later, I’ve got a hot situation on my hand.” Silas worked the console, closing down specific areas in the compound as he issued a level three warning throughout the compound. “I’ve been Patron for decades, this is not the first time I‘ve been under attack. But with new technology, my systems get breached from time to time.” He shrugged as he pressed a few more buttons and waited. “So every year I have the security systems tested by professionals and they make recommendations how to stay secure based on the most current technology.”

  “So you’ve got an extermination system? I'm assuming it’s not the Orkin man.” Tyrone said. And then he relayed a message. “It’s a woman. They cuffed her arms and legs and are taking her downstairs. Okay, she’s in, they locked the door.”

  “Good. Now I’m monitoring Davian’s progress. He’s almost to Rese, but two men are arguing over what to do with him. Whatever they shot him with isn’t working,” Silas said, preparing to create a diversion.

  “I just issued code yellow. My people know what that means. When this light blinks, let me know. And no, it’s not the Orkin.”

  “Will do…I think he’s coming around,” Tyrone said, his voice rising.

  “Rese, if you hear me, don’t open your eyes. Just listen. They are talking about something they just injected into your system, Rone says it burned like fire. So if you’re feeling uncomfortable, that’s what it is.”

  Silas sensed Tyrese’s confusion.

  “Rone, sorry man,” Tyrese said in the lightest whisper.

  Tyrone cleared his throat and wiped his face. “We got this Rese, whatever you need to get out of there, we got your back. Silas is riding shotgun, so he has eyes and ears on the place. Dad is inside on his way to you.”

  “Dad’s here?”

  “Yeah, so is Asia,” Silas said. Noticing the blinking light, he placed his palm on the pad, waited a second and pushed a button that released noxious gases throughout the unsecured areas in the compound. The gas would knock out a wolf but was death to humans. His no trespassing signs and security guards warned everyone of the consequences of entering his domain uninvited.

  “They got her too?” His voice came through a bit stronger.

  “Yes, they have invested too much money into training her as a premiere killing machine to let her walk. It’d be nice to get her out of there too,” Silas said, remembering the young wolf was as much a victim as the others.

  “No doubt.”

  “They are getting ready to contact somebody, whatever he shot into me isn’t wor
king.”

  “I’m going to say hello. Keep pretending you’re out of it,” Silas said, happy to be communicating with the intense young pup again. “Davian?”

  “Sir?”

  “Find cover, I’m going to shake things up a bit.”

  He waited until he got the all clear. Closing his eyes, he envisioned a storm, felt it churning within him, building, growing stronger and stronger. When it reached its peak, he corralled the energy and targeted it. Above the building the wind blew wildly as if in preparation. Silas flung his energy toward the Darson building, lashing at it until the roof and walls of the old building collapsed. The exterior guards fell and many were crushed beneath the debris. Silas knew the lower level would have minimum impact because of the steel beams, but still he worried that something might go wrong below ground.

  In between deep breaths, Silas muttered. “Welcome to West Virginia.” He and Tyrone watched the horrified gazes of the people inside. They were trapped.

  “I’m here, Silas,” Jasmine whispered as she merged with him. Immediately his breathing eased and he was able to think clearly. He had released more energy than he realized.

  “Where the hell is the back-up?” Trigg yelled, brushing dust from his face.

  “Well that cut the numbers down nicely. If I have the breed guard take out the guards on the ramparts, and Davian hit the rest on the floor, that might work,” he said to Tyrone.

  Tyrese how you feeling?” Silas asked.

  “I’ve been better.”

  “Oh shit,” Silas said, watching the monitor as Davian was dragged in between two men and propped in front of Trigg.

  “Caught him lurking in the corridor, probably had something to do with that cave in.” Trigg whipped a gun from another guard standing next to him and shot Davian point blank.

  Tyrone gasped as his father folded to the ground. “Dad!”

  “I’ve got him, be easy, Rese. I’ve got him, Rone. Watch the monitors for me Rone while I work on your dad.”

  “Yes…yes, Sir.”